CA Moves to Ban Black Cars! Not. - 03/28/09 06:18 PM
By now you've undoubtedly heard at least two versions of the story about the California Air Resources Board seeking to ban black cars. It was widely noted yesterday by everyone from Rush Limbaugh to every state and local pundit. Heck, if I'd have had time, I'd have done one myself.
It was a juicy story, wasn't it? Yet another California state agency run amok. Then it turns out ARB  had eliminated that section of the reg, not in response to public outcry mind you, if that section ever existed in the first place. They might have just been yanking our chain all along. 
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UCLA Anderson Forecast - Some Hopeful News For Housing? - 03/25/09 07:22 PM
If you didn't see todays Inman news, here's a summary of current reports from the UCLA Anderson Forecast. Overall, not the cheeriest of reports, as reports go. It summarized the current economic outlook as 'bleak'. But there are a few 'bright' spots - and to the extent they can be construed as good news, many involve housing.
For example, one report "The Global Slump" opines that the 'housing market can't get much lower' and calls for a tepid recovery in 2010. That's good housing news isn't it. We may be bumping along that rocky bottom NAR talked about last year.
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NAR Wants to Hear YOUR Land Use Issues. - 03/24/09 03:53 PM
There are times I've been critical of some NAR positions and pronouncements. But when they do it right it's a thing of beauty. I'm proud to be a Member of the Land Use, Property Rights and Environment Committee. Between national meetings the group usually has a Webinar or 2, as we did today preparatory to our meetings in Washington DC in May.
This Committee deals with a fascinating range of problems related to federal land use legislation. I've posted info on some issues like the checkerboard land use issue, water rights, coastal and riparian issues. As you might imagine, in this … (2 comments)

CA AG Brown Foils Massive Home Repair Scam - 03/23/09 06:16 PM
This is the kind of article you see written about the organized 'Gypsys' that still roam the countryside from time to time. Again, our intrepid AG has ferretted out another wrong-doer. No doubt he has shut down a large operation here but there are others. Always warn clients - especially elderly clients who are frequently victimized by these scamsters.
Typical scams include the roof and/or driveway repair that involves a light spray of used motor oil to darken the pavement or roof tiles. That it all washes off in the next rain doesn't matter - the repair guys are long … (4 comments)

Sacramento Bee Just Posts Unemployment Graphic for Cal - 03/20/09 04:14 PM
The Sacramento Bee has just posted this graphic to their website. It is a fascinating and frightening specter. Watching our Governor and his new BFFF Obama the past couple days, then you look at this map, it's like watching Nero fiddle while Rome burns.
Just click on the Sacbee page to slide the timeline. 

Yeah. We're havin some fun now. Of course that's just my opinion - I could be wrong.
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IRS Hosts Free Tax Prep in Riverside County - 03/20/09 10:57 AM
The IRS is hosting Super Saturday on March 21, 2009 to help provide free tax help.  Volunteers will prepare your 2008 tax return free of charge if you have an income of $42,000 or less.  See link below for the IRS flyer to read the necessary documentation you will need to provide.  
Click here to check out the flyer. 
The IRS locations in our region are:
Riverside
Casa Blanca Family Learning Center98 Madison St10 am - 4 pmEastside Library/ Cybrary4033-C Chicago Ave10 am - 4 pmGlen Avon Library9244 Galena St10 am - 4 pmRubidoux Library5763 Tilton St10 am - 4 pm Santa Anna
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A Conversation with Lake Elsinore Mayor Bob Magee - 03/19/09 08:24 PM
The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce presented 'A Conversation with Mayor Bob Magee' on March 19 in the Diamond Club at Storm Stadium.
The Mayor detailed a positive and optimistic summary of Lake Elsinore today. He stressed the job growth and new businesses in the area, new restaurants, auto dealers and retail stores. There is fresh development in and around the city as they look to capitalize on their unique aquatic attraction. They've also just opened the first golf course in 80 years - The Links at Summerly. The Mayor said that while the city coffers are off by some … (0 comments)

Project Homeowner Holding Riverside CA Seminar - 03/18/09 06:22 PM
Here is some information for you and your clients about another Homeownership Preservation program. Project Homeowner is a statewide initiative designed to keep homeowners in their homes - sponsored by Chase. They are holding one of these events in the Riverside Convention Center on 3/21. Sorry for the late notice - I just got it myself. If you know somebody drifting into deep weeds, pass this information along.

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CA AG Brown Cracks Another Scam - 03/17/09 03:47 PM
You've heard the ads, you've gotten the emails - tap into the magic of eBay or Craigslist or Yahoo and money just comes rolling in. It's a lot like those companies that'll get you the top spot on Google - for a small fee. Anyway, I know these guys have been big on the airwaves in Cali and I have no reason to believe they'd stop at our borders - so some of the rest of you are probably seeing these ads right now. If your state hasn't cracked down yet, send your AG a copy of this release.

If … (0 comments)

Southwest California Legislative Council issues Action Alert on Employee Free Choice Act - 03/16/09 05:37 PM

You may be aware that the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors has been a supporting Partner of the Southwest California Legislative Council since its inception. The SCLC, a coalition of Southwest California Chambers of Commerce, Legislative Representatives and business representatives - advocate on behalf of Southwest County Businesses. Each of you, as working Realtors, is the owner of your own business. The SCLC has proven to be an effective lobbyist for local concerns and we have a great dialogue with our local Legislators.  
Today the SCLC posted recommendations on the Proposition votes upcoming in May. I'll cover that … (2 comments)

CCRyder Rib Rub or ludes & Ritalin? You chose. - 03/13/09 07:43 PM
It's a tough call, this issue of pork. I've noticed it the past couple days and thought I was seeing things - but a writer commented on it somewhere today so I've got company in my little world at least.
We've all gone schizophrenic.  That's part of the problem I think. 
Even the Prez commented on it - and he added a reference to manic behavior to the mix.
This issue of pork? If you're reading the articles above the fold of your daily paper (assuming you remember what that was), those articles are decrying earmarks. Oooohhh they're so … (5 comments)

CA Thanks the Responsible States - New Budget is already $8 BIL under water. - 03/13/09 05:57 PM
Hmmmm, didn't CA Republicans tell us this was going to happen 2 - 3 weeks ago? I know I've told you about it a couple times as passed along to me by Sen.'s Hollingsworth and Benoit as well as Rep. Jeffries. The new budget simply doesn't work. I paraphrase Sen. Hollingsworth when he was elevated to Senate Minority Leader during the last budget farrago. "You can't balance California's budget on the taxpayers wallets," a cry that, unfortunately, fell on deaf ears. 
"Regarding the budget - the recently concluded budget negotiations. which had gone on since last May and threatened to grind … (10 comments)

California AG Issues New Fraud Warning. - 03/12/09 05:07 PM
Once again California Attorney General Jerry Brown rides to the rescue of homeowners by issuing a timely warning. This is what we need MORE of - but we'll be lucky if this info makes the papers at all.
This is a pretty sophisticated scam involving forged letterhead and people who apparently know the lingo, even got a business license from the City of LA. I swear if these people put the same degree of diligence toward a legitimate career, they would probably prosper as well. This is no fast street scuffle but was set-up to extract repeated payments from the victims.
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Don't Leave Your Home - SQUAT (just don't get cooked in it). - 03/12/09 03:52 PM

Tell the Banks - produce The Note!
Don't Leave Your Home - Squat. 
That's the advice of Representative Marcy Kaptur, 14 term Democratic Representative from Ohio and the House's longest serving woman legislator.
Of course the 'Produce The Note' theory isn't exactly new and it's not exactly successful, but it's a novel idea and good for a little free press. You can read a full article here:  Kaptur - Don't Leave Your Home.
You should know that Kaptur serves a slice of Ohio that graces the shore of Lake Erie from just west of Cleveland over to Toledo. Even in … (1 comments)

Riverside County CA - Prop 8 Tax Reduction Extended Back to 2001. - 03/11/09 08:51 PM
I spoke with Riverside County Assessor/Clerk/Recorder Chief Larry Ward yesterday about Prop 8 property tax reductions this year. He wanted everyone to know 2 things and communicate it to their clients.
EVERYBODY who had an adjustment last year will automatically be re-evaluated this year. Last year, you may recall, they re-assessed every property in the county that had been purchased since 2004. Those Buyers will get another swing at reducing their taxes - and with property values off by as much as 30% in some cases, chances are good they will save a few more greenbacks this year. 
This year … (3 comments)

Murrieta Recreation EXPO - Something Fun for Everyone. - 03/11/09 11:44 AM

Murrieta Community Services Manager Debbie Tharp would like to invite everybody to a Recreation EXPO next Saturday - March 21, 2009.
The EXPO will be held from 10am to 2pm in Town Square Park at Kalmia & Jefferson and provides a chance to see the classes offered by the City, meet the staff and teachers, watch performances from ongoing classes and even offers 10% off registration fees during the event.
The City of Murrieta just published their Spring/Summer Recreation Guide which runs to 30 pages of classes and activities ranging from Arts & Music to Swimming. There are … (2 comments)

Kids Eat FREE - Every Night of the Week. - 03/10/09 07:25 PM
Everybody enjoys an evening out, a nice dinner with the family after a hard days work, a break from the routing. But the economy has given everybody a little case of the shorts and it's not that easy to justify a pricey meal out if it means dining out or paying the rent.
So here's a handy little guide to Realtors and friends that will let you feed your kids for FREE every night of the week. It takes a little planning but it's worth it. Heck I made it through 2 years of college by knowing where the best … (2 comments)

Congressman Ken Calvert - Working the Realtors Corner Again. - 03/10/09 07:03 PM
I'm not sure how I missed the big announcement from NAR about these two bills. Let's see - every time they want me to support some hunk-of-pork stimulus bill or additional spending bill, I always get the email encouraging me to contact my legislator to get it passed.
But here are two bills by Assembly member Ken Calvert, the long-time sponsor of the Banks Out of Real Estate Bill, and I hear nada? H.R. 1245 brings the $15,000 buyers tax credit back to the table. You might recall this was on the table at one point of the stimulus debate only … (4 comments)

California AG Jails RE Fraud Group - 03/09/09 06:32 PM
Our Attorney General Jerry Brown has been raising some hell with scam artists this year. Prosecuting these cases is proving difficult for local DA's, especially with the current budget crunch impacting their offices. But Jerry is stepping up, he's cracking down on some of these perps very quickly, acting to reduce the impact on communities and giving them real jail time. Probably not enough jail time - but it's a start.
Locally we're still working on indictments for scams that occurred back in 2004 and 2006. While the DA diddles with figuring out why they paid $150,000 over asking price, that … (1 comments)