RISMEDIA, July 3, 2009 -- According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA) more than two-thirds of Americans will fire up their grill, smoker or fryer for the Independence Day holiday this year, the most popular outdoor cooking holiday. Blue Rhino, a leading brand of propane tank exchange, offers some cookout safety & preparation tips for your propane grill, making sure you are ready for your backyard celebration.
Gas Grill Cookout Preparation & Safety Tips:
Make Sure Your Tank is Ready:
- A damaged tank - consumers should not try to repair damaged tanks. - Obsolete tanks - tanks with round- or star-shaped handwheels do not contain Overfill Prevention Devices (OPD) and can no longer be filled. - Empty tanks - You can get a fresh, ready to grill tank that includes an OPD.
Transport Your Tank Safely - After you buy your tank, secure it upright in a well-ventilated area of your vehicle. Take it directly to the point of use.
Check for Leaks - When attaching your tank to the grill, use soapy water to check the tank and valve for leaks. Open the valve but leave the appliance off while testing. Don’t use a match or open flame to check for leaks. Blue Rhino includes safety and leak checking information on the side of your tank to help.
Lighting Your Grill - Before lighting, always refer to the grill manufacturer’s safety and operating instructions.
Tank Storage - When you store a tank, be sure to keep it in an upright, vertical position. Never store tanks in a garage, building, or enclosed area. Never store an extra tank under your grill.
A lot has been made about the recent Economic Stimulus plan's home buyer's tax credit. However, there is this lesser-known incentive, courtesy of the California Franchise Tax Board.
It's essentially a California-only tax credit for New Construction homes, which have never been occupied.
The link above will direct you to the State's Web site, which outlines the application process and lists the requirements to qualify for the first-come, first-served credit.
Also of note; as of April 8th, nearly 30% of the State's credit allocation has already been claimed. However, no acceptance letters will be mailed until May 1, 2009.
I'd love to be in the position to purchase a new development, and with the mortgage protection program, it's an excellent time to buy. Cash is definitely king right now.
Yes on A – SF GeneralHospital and TraumaCenter Earthquake Safety Bond, 2008:
Authorizes the issuance of $887,400,000 in general obligation bonds to earthquake retrofit San Francisco GeneralHospital. Allows the Board to impose and collect a general tax levy annually until such bonds are repaid. Allows landlords to pass through 50 percent of the increase in real property taxes attributable to the repayment of the bonds.
Charter Amendments
No on B – Establishing Affordable Housing Fund Using Set-Asides from Property Taxes:
Creates a baseline appropriation and set-aside equivalent to $0.025 on each $100 of assessed property tax valuation for the next 15 years to support affordable housing programs. Ultimately, could cost up to $2.3 billion – with all the housing dedicated to low- and very low-income people, providing little opportunity for working families to benefit.
No on C – Prohibiting City Employees from Serving on Charter Boards and Commissions:
Prohibits, except for specified positions, city employees from serving on Charter-created boards and commissions. There is no apparent reason to limit eligibility when the Board of Supervisors can reject a mayoral appointee.
Yes on D – Financing Pier 70 Waterfront District Development Plan upon Board of Supervisors’ Approval:
Creates a Pier 70 improvement district to preserve and restore historic buildings, make seismic upgrades, clean up toxics and fund parks and maritime facilities. Authorizes the city to appropriate General Fund revenues in an amount up to 75 percent of the projected hotel and payroll taxes attributable to new development.
No on E – Changing the Number of Signatures Required to RecallCity Officials:
Would double the number of signatures required to petition for recall of a member of the Board of Supervisors by increasing the number to 20 percent of the voters in the district, greatly reducing the opportunity for voters to recall a supervisor.
No on F – Holding all ScheduledCity Elections only in Even-Numbered Years:
Moves all elections of city officials to even-numbered years. Also, specifies that any person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors with more than two years remaining on a term who is then elected to fill the balance of the term has served one of the person’s allowable two terms. No major American city holds mayoral campaigns in even years because of the danger of the race being overshadowed by concurrent campaigns for President and US Senate.
Yes on G – Allowing Retirement System Credit for Unpaid Parental Leave:
Allows police and firefighters taking unpaid parental leave to buy back the time as total years of city service for retirement purposes. No cost to the city, and will help attract and retain public safety employees.
No on H – Setting Renewable Energy Goals; Options for Providing Electric Power; Changing Revenue Bond Authority to Pay for Public Utility Facilities:
Grants authority to six members of the Board of Supervisors to municipalize electricity distribution in San Francisco. Requires the SF PUC by late April 2009 to issue a comprehensive plan to provide “cost effective” power to residents and businesses, including the costs and benefits of municipalizing PG&E. By the end of 2009 and without a further vote by the public, the Board of Supervisors could authorize the issuance of billions of dollars of bonds to force PG&E, or any other local utility to sell its local distribution system to the city.
No on I – Creating the Office of an Independent Rate-Payer Advocate:
Creates an independent rate-payer advocate appointed by the City Administrator to analyze and comment on rate proposals prepared by the SF Public Utilities Commission. Services to be paid from revenues of the utility rates that are the subject matter of those services.
No on J – Creating a Historic Preservation Commission:
Establishes a seven-member Historic Preservation Commission to replace the Landmarks Board. New commission would have the power to recommend landmark designations and historic district designations, certificates of appropriateness for work on landmark structures and amendments to the Preservation Element of the General Plan – powers that currently rest with the Planning Commission. Adds a layer of bureaucracy that could increase uncertainty in the building-permit process, and does not balance other planning priorities in the permitting process.
Ordinances
No on K – Changing the Enforcement of Laws Related to Prostitution and Sex Workers:
Attempts to illegally circumvent state law by prohibiting legal action against prostitutes. May encourage sex trafficking and other violent crimes.
Yes on L – Funding the Community JusticeCenter:
Authorizes the creation of the Community JusticeCenter, in collaboration with the Superior Court, to address crimes that negatively impact the quality of life of those living and working in the Tenderloin, South of Market, CivicCenter and Union Square neighborhoods. Authorizes the expenditure of $1,770,000 dollars for the court, $984,000 of which will come from earmarked federal grant funds.
No on M – Changing the Residential Rent Ordinance to Prohibit Specific Acts of Harassment of Tenants by Landlords:
Provides for both criminal and civil cause of action against landlords for “harassment,” including failure to perform a repair, abuse of a landlord’s right to access a unit, threats by word or gesture and other repeated acts or omissions designed to encourage a tenant to vacate a unit. Can expose landlords to unfounded complaints and litigation.
No on N – Changing Real Property Transfer Tax Rates:
Increases the real property transfer tax rate from .75 percent to 1.5 percent if property value exceeds $5 million, and reduces the tax on residential property transfers by up to 1/3 if, after January 1, 2009, transferor has installed an active solar system or made seismic retrofitting improvements.
Yes on O – Replacing the Emergency Response Fee with a General Tax (Access Line Tax) and Revising the Telephone Users Tax:
Ratifies and approves the city’s existing 911 tax and telephone tax. If the measure does not pass, the city would risk losing between $85 and $90 million in annual revenue.
Yes on P – Changing the Composition of the San FranciscoCountyTransportation Authority Board (a State Agency):
Replaces the 11- member SFTA board with five members: all of which must be elected officials: The Mayor and a designee, the President of the Board of Supervisors and a designee, and the Treasurer. The measure also makes it city policy to, to the extent feasible, merge SFTA’S functions into existing city departments.
Yes on Q – Modifying the Payroll Expense Tax:
Extends the 1.5 percent payroll tax to pass-through entities and shareholders of professional corporations for work or services performed in the city, excluding return on capital. Contains a 200 percent formula cap based on the average wages of the top 25 percent of a firm’s wage earners as a “safe harbor” to calculate the tax due. Also includes an expanded small business exemption for businesses with payrolls of less than $250,000.
Yes on R – Renaming the Oceanside Water Treatment Plant to the George W. Bush Sewage Plant
Another chance by the City to "stick it" to Dubya!
Yes on S – Policy Regarding Budget Set-Asides and Identification of Replacement Funds:
Makes it city policy that new set-asides or other mandated levels of spending must identify a funding source, limits the duration and any annual growth in the set-aside or mandated level of spending. Requires city controller’s analysis of the fiscal impact of any proposed new set-aside. Make everyone accountable!
No on T – Free and Low-Cost Substance Abuse Treatment Programs:
Prohibits the reduction of funding, staffing or the number of substance-abuse treatment slots so long as there is excess demand for the slots. No funding source identified for the additional cost of the program.
Declarations of Policy
Neutral on U – Policy against Funding for Deployment of Armed Forces in Iraq:
Makes it official San Francisco policy that Congress should vote against any further funding for the deployment of United States Armed services in Iraq, with the exception of funds specifically earmarked to provide for their safe and orderly withdrawal.
Yes on V – Policy against Terminating Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) Programs in Public High Schools:
Makes it city policy, though not binding on the school district, to offer voluntary extracurricular JROTC programs and to reverse the action by the Board of Education to terminate the program.
District Three (North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Financial District, Nob Hill)
Claudine Cheng | Former National President, Organization of Chinese Americans
District Four (Sunset, Parkside)
Carmen Chu | Incumbent Supervisor
District Seven (Parkside, Golden Gate Heights, Clarendon Heights, Twin Peaks, Forest Knolls, Midtown Terrace, Forest Hill, Miraloma Park, Sunnyside, Sherwood Forest, Westwood Highlands, Westwood Park, St. Francis Wood, Monterey Heights, Mt. Davidson, Balboa Terrace, Ingleside Terrace, Stonestown, Lakeside, Lake Shore, Merced Manor, Park Merced, Lake Merced, City College, San Francisco State)
Sean Elsbernd | Incumbent Supervisor
District Eleven (Excelsior, Ingleside, Oceanview, Merced Heights, Ingleside Heights, Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Crocker Amazon)
Myrna Lim | Former Planning Commissioner
State Legislation
Yes on 1A – SAFE, RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT.
Yes on 2 – STANDARDS FOR CONFINING FARM ANIMALS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Yes on 3 – CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL BOND ACT. GRANT PROGRAM. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
Yes on 4 – WAITING PERIOD AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION BEFORE TERMINATION OF MINOR’S PREGNANCY. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Yes on 5 – NONVIOLENT DRUG OFFENSES. SENTENCING, PAROLE AND REHABILITATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
No on 6 – POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING. CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND LAWS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
No on 7 – RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
No on 8 – ELIMINATES RIGHT OF SAME–SEX COUPLES TO MARRY.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
No on 9 - CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. VICTIMS’ RIGHTS. PAROLE.
INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
No on 10 - ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY.
BONDS. INITIATIVE STATUTE.
No on 11 - REDISTRICTING. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE.
New mobile devices save home shoppers from riding around on weekends with a newspaper and a map.
Here are a few of the companies delivering real estate listings to smart phones:
Trulia.com Mobile. This application for iPhones and other smart phones, including some BlackBerry, Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung models, can pinpoint nearby locations so buyers can search for open houses and listings without typing in specific addresses.
Terabitz Mobile. Terzbitz offers mobile listings for iPhones that search for Intero Real Estate Services and Frontdoor.com, the listings site operated by Home and Garden Television (HGTV).
REALTOR.com Mobile. This downloadable product for iPhones and some other smartphones lets users search listings and includes a “homes Near By” featurs that will search in a 10-mile radius based on where the user is.
HomeFinder. This iPhone application from Alexander Mobile draws listings from the Google Base database, which incorporates some but not all of the nation's MLSs.
Interest rates are likely to decline as Freddie and Fannie get government help. The rate for a conforming 30-year fixed mortgage already fell to 5.88 percent Monday from 6.26 percent a week ago, according to BankRate.com.
The Federal Housing Administration temporarily boosted its loan limits to $729,750 in expensive areas. However, the loan limit will revert back to $625,500 in about three months, when the FHA will make it permanent in 2009.
The FHA allows down payments of as little as 3 percent, but that will rise to 3.5 percent on Oct. 1, 2008. People scraping dollars together for a down payment should try to set their closing for the end of this month.
The tax credit will shave $7,500 off a first-time buyer’s federal tax bill due April 15. Buyers who don't owe tax, will get the money as a refund. (The government's definition of a first-time buyer is anyone who hasn’t owned a home in the last three years.)
For many people, one of the most fun parts about buying a home is redecorating it.
Most of these sites are trying to sell products, but they are free to use and could give new home owners some good ideas.
DesignMyRoom.com- This is a sophisticated and complex site. It opens with a series of brief videos with Robert Verdi, a charming "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"- style guide to the art of interior decoration. The site allows you to choose furniture, art and accessories for 30 generic rooms.
BHG.com - Choose from Color-a-Room or Color-a-Home (exterior).
AndersonFloors.com- The Image Builder Design Center is a basic program that will change the color of the flooring, walls, ceiling and trim.
WoodFloors.org- From the National Wood Flooring Association, Design a Room is another basic wall and floor site.
Mohawk.Swatchbox.com - Mohawk DreamVision allows you to choose a room type (kitchen, bedroom, bath) and style (traditional, modern, etc.) then start designing.
Corian.com- The My Room Designer offers a good choice of cabinets, wall colors and of course, countertops.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, David Bonetti (08/23/2008)
In this day and age of Green consciousness and rising gas prices, it's become increasingly important for some to be able to ditch the vehicle and commute to/from work.
And for those that are fortunate enough to leave the ride and venture around on foot, here is a nice Web site of a software program that attempts to quantify the quality of walkability.
It figures that walkability is largely determined by the number of amenities within a mile -- and preferably much less -- of your dwelling, or any desired location, for that matter.
When you type in an address, it goes to Google Maps and looks for restaurants, shops, libraries, schools and anything else you might want to walk to. Then it determines the location of all that stuff and assigns a score. The more amenities in close proximity to an address, the higher the score.
Walk Score identifies San Francisco as the most walkable city in the United States, mainly due to the hustle and bustle of the Financial District and SOMA, and other smaller, gentrified neighborhoods like the Mission and Potrero Hill.
New York's Tribeca, Little Italy, and Soho neighborhoods helped it land a No. 2 ranking on the Web site's list of the most walkable cities, with Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, the District of Columbia, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Portland rounding out the top 10, in that order.
Experts say more people are moving to urban areas as a way to spend less money on gas, though convenience and exercise also play a role.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology -- which insists a shift in transportation spending is necessary to make mass transit more efficient -- says individuals reduce their annual gas expenses by as much as $2,100 when they live in urban areas versus outer-ring suburbs.
The housing bill Congress plans to send President Bush would:
> Give the Federal Housing Administration $300 billion in new lending authority and relax standards to provide affordable, fixed-rate mortgages to an estimated 400,000 debt-ridden homeowners. Any losses would be covered by an affordable housing fund financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that finance mortgages.
This is pretty self-explanatory. I'd rather the guv'ment pump in $300 billion into the mortgage industry than make qualms about a "bailout." Am I happy about the tax implications? Of course not. But for the greater good of the economy? So be it.
> Allow the Treasury Department temporary authority to lend money to Fannie and Freddie or buy their stock to avert a collapse of one or both of the mortgage giants. The authority would expire on Dec. 31, 2009.
Another major step to stem the tide. The operative word here is "lend," and I'm hoping that in 18 months, we'll see the housing market recover enough so that the U.S. Treasury can recoup some of those resources, and you know, apply it to more bailouts. Just kidding on that last part.
> Create a new regulator and tighten controls on Fannie and Freddie, including power for the regulator to approve pay packages for company executives. Create a new affordable housing fund drawn from their profits. Permanently raise the limit on the loans they may buy to $625,000 in the highest-cost areas. Allow them to buy loans 15 percent higher than the median home price in certain cities.
Still too low in San Francisco, but the fact that it's permanent is a small victory nonetheless. Beggars can't be choosers.
> Provide $3.9 billion in grants to the hardest-hit communities for buying and fixing up foreclosed property.
This is what troubles (pains?) me. "Hardest-hit?" To whose standard? I understand that squatters and distressed markets are never a good thing, but really -- who's fault is that? Again, for the greater good, I guess I'll take it. But fixing up foreclosed property that irresponsible buyers left a mess is asinine. Who's going to reap those rewards? More irresponsible buyers? Sounds like a vicious cycle to me.
> Modernize the FHA and allow it to back loans for riskier borrowers. Permanently increase the size of loans the agency may insure — currently set to revert to $362,790 by the end of the year — to $625,000 in the highest-cost areas. The agency could insure loans 15 percent higher than the median home price in certain cities.
> Forbid the FHA from insuring mortgages in which the borrower's down payment is paid by the seller, beginning on Oct. 1, 2008. Place a one-year moratorium forbidding the agency from charging premiums based on the riskiness of the homeowner, until Oct. 1, 2009.
A very good thing. If you allow buyers to acquire property with no money down, we'll run the risk of getting into the same mess that spurred this housing bill and mortgage crisis in the first place. Come to think of it, how are they buyers if they aren't opening their check books anyway? You're less like to default on a mortgage if you actually invested some hard-earned cash into it, right?
> Provide $15 billion in housing tax breaks, including for low-income housing. Give a credit of up to $7,500 for first-time home buyers who purchase residences between April 9, 2008, and July 1, 2009. Allow people who don't itemize their taxes to claim a $500-$1,000 deduction on their 2008 property taxes.
Again, very nice. This is what tax breaks should be doing -- offering an incentive for an invested buyer to make a commitment. Further, allowing deductions for the average tax payer helps the buyer even more come tax season.
> Give states an additional $11 billion in tax-free municipal bond authority for low-interest loans to first-time home buyers, construction of low-income rental housing and refinancing subprime mortgages.
I'd like to see how this bond is dispersed in California. San Francisco does have subprime mortgage, but alas, we'll probably be last in line while depressed counties like San Bernardino, San Joaquin, and Sacramento wipe the coffers clean.
> Offer protection from investor lawsuits for mortgage holders that modify loans to borrowers who are in default or about to default.
A huge help for borrowers who want to stay in their homes, but cannot afford a higher mortgage due to a recasting of their interest rates. We really should not be penalizing homeowners who are diligently trying to make their mortgage payments, but just need a better financing plan.
> Provide $180 million for pre-foreclosure counseling and legal services for distressed borrowers.
This just warms my heart. Contrary to the stigma of people just walking away from their homes (read: responsibilities), there is a select few who want to keep their homes. I'm glad help will just be a phone call away.
These are skills every home owner should master to save lots of money over the years. Most can be tackled without fancy tools, although it helps to have a variable-speed power drill.
Or, a ton of patience and a trusty assistant like Al Borland.
Jacob Benaroya, president and managing partner of Biltmore Capital Group, which purchases distressed loans from a wide array of lending companies, offers these seven tips for home owners facing foreclosure.
Don’t hide. Open the mail; answer the phone. Respond.
Be proactive. Contact the bank or lending institution and discuss your financial situation.
Know your mortgage rights. Review loan documents so you know what your lender may do if you can't make payments.
Avoid foreclosure prevention companies. Don’t pay money for foreclosure advice.
Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds free or very low cost housing counseling nationwide. They’ll help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if assistance is required.
Prioritize spending. After health care, keeping your home should be your first priority. Review your finances and see what spending can be cut in order to make your mortgage payment. Look for optional expenses - cable TV, memberships, entertainment - that can be eliminated. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt until you have paid your mortgage.
Use other assets. Do you have assets such as a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that can be sold to help reinstate the loan? Can anyone in the household bring in additional income?
When faced with a difficult situation, it is sometimes necessary to take actions which, in normal circumstances, would appear extreme.
Facing foreclosure would qualify as a difficult situation, and you know how the saying goes: "tough times call for drastic measures" -- these are certainly a few ways to do so.
My Checklist for a Real Estate Investment property
Homeowners look for one set of criteria when buying – school district, curb appeal, low crime rate, proximity to job, number of bedrooms, right layout, perfect-sized yard. While location is still a primary factor when you invest in real estate, most investors also add these to their checklist:
1. New single-family construction 2. A neighborhood that is mostly a primary-home community (rather than renters) 3. Square footage between 1400 and 1600 4. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths with 2-car garage 5. Nice yard but no pool (too much of a liability) 6. Safe neighborhood with little or no graffiti on public structures, fences, etc.
Another factor to consider is close proximity to your own home. Especially when starting out, you may need to visit your rental properties frequently—to pick up a check, make minor repairs, etc. For these reasons, any property more than 45 minutes away becomes less desirable.
It is important to remember you are not purchasing for your own use but to attract a high-quality renter. Savvy investors choose properties based on the criteria above rather than their personal preferences. Doing so lets them pick from a wider base of homes and find the better bargain.
When you’re thinking about buying your first home, it’s essential for you to be confident in your decision to buy instead of rent.
However, you may not know about the many great reasons to buy a home!
Here are just a few of them:
Smart investment
When you invest in a home, it offers the possibility for appreciation in value. The equity becomes yours when you’re still paying off your mortgage. You even get to live in it while your investment matures.
Tax advantages
Since both mortgage interest and property taxes are tax deductible, homeownership can save you significant amounts of money every year.
Planned housing costs
You decide how much you spend on your home, including repairs and improvements. Unlike renters, homeowners with a fixed-rate loan can lock in their monthly housing costs.
Design to your taste
You can choose which improvements to make your own property, such as a deck, kitchen remodel, or new paint, instead of needing permission from your landlord.
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