The Alfano Group's Blog

25 Facts about Airbnb, the vacation rental website

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:10:48 -0700

1. Based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a privately owned accommodation rental website, with 1,500,000 unique listings in 34,000 cities in 192 countries all over the world. 2. By renting out rooms, space, or even entire private residences, Airbnb is offers cheaper, more flexible, and often more charming and comfortable alternatives to a hotel room. 3. For instance, a recent query showed that a night in a hotel in San Francisco would set you back on average $229, however Airbnb was able to offer room at approximately $165 and cheaper. 4. It’s perfect for families who wish to rent out an entire apartment on vacation, young couples or solo travellers who wish to explore foreign destinations on a budget, or anyone who’s looking for more of an authentic traveling experience.5. While Airbnb is just about a household name today, the company started from extremely humble beginnings. In fact, Airbnb was born from the desperate attempts of two guys struggling to pay rent to earn a few bucks back in 2008. 6. Roommates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia couldn’t afford to pay their rent in their San Francisco apartment. So they came up with the idea of setting up and renting out three air mattresses in their apartment for travelers in the area, including breakfast as a perk.7. The even created a quick website, Airbedandbreakfast.com8. Soon they had their first guest, 2 men and a woman, who paid $80 each. 9. The light bulb went on that this was a great idea, so they enlisted their ex-room mate, Nathan Blecharczyk, into the fold to create a better website, promoting the concept of personal rentals to others, earning about $200 a week.10. The boys even raised their first $20,000 in funding to grow the concept. They decided they needed to advertise and promote their listings with better imagery, so went door to door in New York and took beautiful photos of their listings, which helped them ramp up to $400 a week and a slow but steady upward trajectory.11. Although they were spurned by bigger investors, they didn’t give up, and eventually went on to raise $119.2 million from various investors, including actor Ashton Kutcher (who is still a strategic advisor for the company.) 12. In 2011, the company started its overseas expansion, opening its first international office in Hamburg, Germany.13. Certainly no company has climbed to greater heights in a short time than Airbnb, as only six years after their inception, in 2014, the company earned a 10 billion-dollar valuation.14. According to The Wall Street Journal, Airbnb expects to climb to $10 billion in revenue by 2020 led by the current CEO, Arne Sorenson - one of the major players in the hospitality industry.15. The “traditional” hotel industry doesn’t think highly of Airbnb, as Marriott International stated on CBS that Airbnb was an “interesting experiment,” but they “did not see them as any threat.”16. Airbnb guests stay longer than average travelers (average travelers stay for 2.8 nights while Airbnb’s average is 5 nights).17. About 20% of people staying with Airbnb are staying more than 30 days or more.18. Less than 20% of people have heard of Airbnb and the movement that’s labelled “the sharing economy,” so the company is anticipated to still see exponential future growth.19. How much can regular people earn by renting out their homes? In New York City, one commercial host made approximately 6.84 million dollars from renting out their properties in the US between 2010 and 2014. 20. Along with their meteoric rise, Airbnb certainly felt some growing pains, as not all customer experiences were glowing. In fact, the company has endured a number of scandals involving theft, property damages and an array of sordid activities in hosts’ apartments. Here are just a few to mention…21. Airbnb recently promised to pay the damages, expected to be at $75,000 after a house was destroyed during a ‘drug-crazed orgy.’22. CEO Brian Chesky was recently shocked by an incident involving a woman’s home that was ransacked by an Airbnb renter. In response, he instituted a $50,000 Airbnb guarantee protecting future hosts from damage.23. An Airbnb guest once stayed at a house where the host died midway through their stay, confusing the matter of checking out and payment.24. According to reports in the New York Post, “entertainers” of questionable character regularly pose as tourists renting out Airbnb listings in New York City, helping them security avoid cameras and saving money compared to hotels.25. One Airbnb host was forced to pay tenants $1,700 to vacate her apartment after they refused after 30 days, citing California tenant's rights laws and demanding a payment of relocation fees before they left.Despite this small number of issues, the vast majority of Airbnb customers have wonderful experiences and thoroughly enjoy their stays.***Here are 10 of the most interesting rentals found on Airbnb all around the world:As well as offering less expensive, the site is famous for offering some unique and unforgettable abodes. Dog Bark Park Inn B&B in America ($98 per night)Have you ever wondered what it was actually like to be kicked out to the doghouse…now you can stay in one – a comfy one at that!Giraffes Manor in Kenya ($500 per night)Fit for a family vacation this manor is also home of a giraffe – beware while you’re enjoying your meals that this sneaky host doesn’t take a bite of your food.Edvard’s Igloo in Greenland ($327 per night)You can rent one of five modern igloo cabins, equipped with the tiniest kitchenette imaginable, television, and a bathroom with shower.Fairytale treehouse in America ($350 per night)This beautifully, mystic abode is totally surrounded by nature…perfect for a little weekend get-away out of the city.Water Tower in London ($187 per night)This round room in the sky is a converted water tower situated in Kensington. When the sun does shine in England, this room is flooded with light.Train Carriage in Australia ($114 per night)Set in the middle of vineyard country in New South Wales, you definitely will not loose out on sleep in this motionless train carriage.Seashell House in Mexico ($225 per night)With views of the Caribbean sea, you wont need to press your ear to this conch shell to hear the ocean…This exquisite house is definitely an unusual one!The glass treehouse in America ($500 per night)People in glass houses … shouldn’t throw stones! This Airbnb host wouldn’t be too happy.Stay the Night in a Beer Barrel in Germany ($115 per night)Spend a night in a 19th Century beer barrel that was in use until about 1995, just for something a little different!Boothouse in New Zealand ($233 per night)Ignore the old children’s nursery rhyme, ‘The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe?’

The Boomers are coming and ready to impact the real estate market.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:09:15 -0700

The Boomers are coming, and they’re set to make a significant impact on the real estate and housing market over the next two decades. Defined as people who were born between 1946 and 1964 during the post World War II economic and population boom and came of age in the socially and politically turbulent 1960s and 70s, the Baby Boomers number 76.4 million – a huge portion of the American population.Long a driving force economically with unprecedented income, consumer spending, and home ownership rates , the Boomers are now easing into the silver years of their lives. According to the Social Security Administration, 9,600 people a day will be blowing out their 65th birthday candles in 2015, up from only 7,800 in 2010, and continue at that rate for the next 20 years. In fact, if there are only 40 million seniors in the U.S. today, by 2050 there ranks will swell to 90 million. And with those nearly 10,000 new Boomers joining the ranks of senior citizenship every single day (buy stock in AARP!), there desire to reassess their finances as well as lifestyles will lead to big waves in the real estate market, too.Here are 20 statistics about Baby Boomers and their real estate and housing – but it’s not always what you’d expect!1. Baby Boomers – greatly vested in stocks, real estate, and other investments, definitely felt the sting of the economic downturn and Great Recession. Between 1991 and 2007, the number of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 that filed for bankruptcy increased by 178%. That led Boomers to reassess their values and plans on issues like retirement, investing, paying off their home, and home ownership in general.2. Even if Boomers haven’t shown a consensus that they’d like to sell, downsize, and relocate to senior communities in sunny climates, investors are going all in on that trend emerging soon by building senior communities in record numbers.3. For instance, in Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago, the number of new assisted-living units under construction represent more than 10% of the existing inventory. That’s a run on senior housing, as by comparison, in the 31 other major markets, only 3.4% of new building was for assisted-living communities as of 2011.4. Home ownership – one of the strongest pillars supporting the American Dream – was vastly important to Baby Boomers. In fact, thanks largely to Boomers prioritizing home ownership, U.S. rates hit an all-time high in 2004. Bucking the overall trend, homeownership in those 65-74 has actually only fallen by less than 3% (compared to almost 10% by those 35-44), and home ownership rates among seniors 75 and over have remained virtually unchanged.5. Boomers lived by the fundamental premise that they should own their home and work to pay it off, living mortgage free in retirement. Thanks to decades of work and writing checks to their mortgage company, a Merrill Lynch survey reveals that the average homeowner 65 and older has accrued an average of more than $200,000 in equity on their residence. Many have their homes paid off completely, but far more saw those plans derailed by the recession and mortgage crisis.6. The stereotype may be that Boomers are ready to retire and move to a state with a warm climate to enjoy their senior year as snowbirds. But in fact, 83% of new seniors who moved last year stayed in their same current state. 7. Merrill Lynch reports that only 48% of retirees surveyed live in a place with “pleasant climate/weather.”8. Boomers are definitely looking to make changes, but it’s not ensured that they will sell their current home and downsize. Already labeled the “Downsize Surprise,” only about half of Boomers surveyed say they’re planning on downsizing.9. In a startling revelation, about 30% of new seniors who have already moved actually bought bigger homes, reporting that they wanted room for family members or friends to visit.10. And of those who are downsizing, 49% report doing so because they want a simpler lifestyle, while 28% are moving to a smaller home to save money.11. So of the senior Boomers who are staying in their homes, surely they’re thinking about renovating their homes to make provisions for medical and aging concerns, right? Nope. Instead of adding bathroom bars, ramps, widening hallways, moving bedrooms to the first floor, etc., only 10% of Boomers say they’ve renovated or plan on doing so with future health concerns in mind.12. In fact, out of retirees who have renovated, the most popular construction project was creating a home office! (35% of those surveyed.)13. But surely the Boomers must be thinking about moving into senior communities, or at least living in neighborhoods with other seniors, right? Wrong again. Abouttwo-thirds (67%) of people 65 and older prefer neighbors of diverse ages and generations according to a recent survey, while only 53% of adults under 35 reported the same.14. In fact, only 7% of today’s retirees go on to live in age-restricted (senior) communities. And the occupancy rate for assisted living communities (84%) is actually down a few clicks, not on the rise. In a recent survey by a national real estate company, 96.3% of real estate agents polled reported that they were currently working with Baby Boomers.15. And 87% have Baby Boomer clients who already own, or are looking to purchase a rental property for investment purposes – a huge portion.16. The number of people in the Baby Boomer generations turning 65 is so great that social historians (and marketers) are already breaking the demographic into two segments by age, Early Boomers (47-55) and Late Boomers (56-65). Research reveals that there are profound differences between those two segments when it comes to housing, home ownership, and future plans:17. If and when Boomers do sell their existing home and move to a new locale, they have distinct priorities when selecting a neighborhood:66% say close proximity to healthcare facilities is important.34% say close proximity to parks and recreation is important.24% say close proximity to public transportation is important.11% say close proximity to a college or university is important.Additionally, 66% say it’s important to be close to family…but it’s not the most important thing. Much to the chagrin of their adult children, 68% of Boomers confess that being close to great shops and restaurants is an important factor when relocating! Among Early Boomers (47-55):34% are interested in purchasing a second home.52% are more likely to downsize than Late Boomers.31% are selling their current home and looking for a larger home.82% prefer a single-family home.In contrast, among Late Boomers (56-65):80% are interested in downsizing.22% are interested in purchasing a second home.47% want single-family homes.27% prefer an active adult community.18. In an unexpected twist, Boomers are forgoing their traditional ideas of home ownership and even households once they turn 65, getting creative with how they plan to spend their silver years – and where they plan on living. A large number of Boomers plan on utilizing creative housing solutions like condo conversions, boarding house conversions, co-housing, shared purchase of an apartment buildings and co-ownership/habitation of houses. As that comes to fruition, it’s reported that by 2024, there will be between 14 and 16 million new households formed in the U.S., many of them Boomers.19. Boomers may be aging like fine wine, but they don’t want homes that are long in the tooth. While you might think that they opt for older-homes in established neighborhoods, Boomers who are buying or relocating actually desire modern appliances, energy efficient features, low-maintenance landscaping, open floor plans, spacious kitchens, and even modern technology! Though it’s interesting to note that single-story housing is still a priority.20. Real estate analysts predict that a vast wave of Boomers selling their homes and moving into alternative housing units, whether that be assisted living communities, senior condos, etc. will create a huge influx of inventory, one that our current real estate market can’t necessarily absorb. While Millennials rival Boomers in number, they are in large opting not to buy and, saddled with debt, maybe cannot. Therefore, experts predict a huge swell of inventory in coming years that’s not absorbed or matching demand, creating downward pressure on prices in some markets.

30 things you probably didn't know about Social Security.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:05:30 -0700

America’s Social Security program is turning 80 years old this year, but some believe it’s somewhat of an auspicious anniversary, more reason for caution and nail-biting than celebration. But no matter if you love it or lump it, there is no debating that Social Security has been one of the single most significant, ambitious, and helpful government programs in the history of the world. And while the particulars of Social Security are covered ad nauseam in other financial articles and guides, we thought we’d cover 30 things you probably didn’t know about 80-year old Social Security. Happy birthday!1. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act that made the Social Security program law. 2. The program was founded because so many Americans had just lost all of their assets and savings in the Great Depression, leaving them nothing for retirement.3. 80 years later, 165 million workers are currently covered under Social Security, including 46.6 million seniors age 65 or older. 4. And about 60 million Americans currently receive Social Security benefits, adding up to $863 billion of payouts.5. To put it in perspective, that amount is the largest item on our federal budget and accounts for about a quarter of all spending.6. Within the next two decades, the number of SS beneficiaries should grow to 90 million.7. Compare the huge number of Social Security retirees today to the program’s first year of benefit payouts, 1940, when only 220,000 Americans were signed up.8. In fact, Social Security's first beneficiary was a woman named Ida May Fuller from Ludlow, Vermont, who received monthly payments of $22.54 a month for 35 years.9. FDR’s original Social Security program only paid benefits to retired workers. But later on, the program was expanded to offer disability benefits and payments for a beneficiary's spouse and children for widows and widowers.10. The average monthly payment for SS benefits now is $1,221, or $14,700 a year.11. Since Social Security first collected tax contributions in 1937, it’s collected more than $13 trillion in income and paid our $10.6 trillion, as of 2007.12. That amount of money that flows in and out of Social Security is so enormous that each year, it manages more money than the economies of all but the 16 richest countries in the world! 13. Each day, 182,000 people visit Social Security offices, and 445,000 people call the Social Security Administration.14. Just last year, there were 17 million applications to replace lost, damaged, or stolen original Social Security cards!15. 2010 was the first year that Social Security disbursements outpaced its income, if you don’t count interest on trust-fund assets. Even factoring in that interest, disbursements should outpace income by 2021, and that interest is expected to be completely exhausted by 2033.16. Only 8% of American workers are very confident and only 24% somewhat confident that Social Security will continue to provide benefits of at least equal value to today’s retirees and recipients.17. 33% of today’s workers say that Social Security will be a major source of income when they retire, compared to 46% who say it will only be a minor source of income and 20% who say they won’t count on it for income at all.18. Today, the average retiree gets 12 more years of Social Security benefits than a person did in 1940 due to the fact that we’re living longer AND retiring earlier (an average age of 64 instead of 68 in 1950.) 19. And while Social Security is still the largest source of income for Americans over 65, only one in three people depend on it to cover 90 percent. 20. Thanks to the increase in elder Americans (Baby Boomers), the Recession’s impact on stagnating wages, and a larger population receiving benefits, there are less than three workers paying into Social Security for every one retiree eligible for a payout. 21. That’s a sharp drop from 2009, when there were 3 workers per retiree, and 1960, when there were 5 workers paying into the system for ever person collecting a check.22. In fact, 75 million Americans are on the cusp of retirement and being eligible for Social Security payouts, as each day, 10,000 more people turn 65 and the oldest of the Baby Boomers generation turn 68 this year. 23. Each American citizen is assigned a Social Security number, shortly after birth since 1989. But many people don’t realize that those 9-digit combinations are not random. In fact, the first three digits are based on the geographic region you were born in, with lower numbers in the Northeast and higher numbers in the West. The middle two numbers are called the group number and issued in nonconsecutive order between 01 and 99. Meanwhile, the last four digits are issued sequentially. So far, there have been 420 million unique Social Security numbers that aren’t being reused after the person’s death.24. To save money, Social Security is phasing out paper checks. It actually costs them $1 to mail out each paper check, while electronic deposits and transfers only cost 1/10th of that. Does it sound like small change? In fact, going paperless is expected to save taxpayers $300 million over the next five years!25. The Social Security Administration is in dire straights, both financially and operationally. In fact, over the past three years, the SSA has lost 11,000 employees, about 12% of its workforce, and by 2022, about 60% of its supervisors will be able to retire. Additional budget cuts have forced 44 field offices to consolidate, 503 mobile contact stations to close, and eight new hearing offices to be suspended. Even call centers are under siege, with average wait times when someone calls in now over 10 minutes, when it used to be only 5 minutes as recently as 2012.26. The struggles of Social Security have been so well documented that we could easily write another book about its impending financial hardship. But basically, by 2016, the trust fund that supports Social Security’s disability payments is expected to be empty. If (when) that happens, the 11 million people who now receive Social Security disability payments will see an automatic 19 percent cut in benefits.27. The math gets even scarier when you consider that over the next 75 years, Social Security is projected to payout $159 trillion MORE in benefits than it collects in taxes. 28. If we adjusted that number for future inflation, that means our Social Security program will be underfunded by about $35.3 trillion in 2015 dollars. Just how big of a gap is that? $35.3 trillion is TWICE the entire national debt!29. It’s not a complete doom and gloom scenario, as Congress is already floating some ideas to remedy this shortfall and get Social Security back on track. However, solutions include increasing SS taxes, cutting benefits, and pushing back the retirement age – none of which are very popular with the American people. 30. But even a payroll tax increase of 1.3 percent, benefit cut of 16.2 percent, or any combination thereof, would right the projected Social Security deficit and allow the program to remain solvent for about another 80 years – in time for another birthday celebration.

Private jets are luxurious toys for the rich, the famous….and you?

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:03:50 -0700

Private jets are luxurious toys for the rich, the famous….and you?Celebrities, business men and royalty gallivant around on the world on private jets, unblinking at the price tag of a few tens of millions of dollars to add a two-winged toy to their collection. And while for any of us who have flown cramped coach, dealt with delays, and lamented over lost luggage recently that price tag may seem worth it (if we had it), there are now new ways for the average above-average patron to fly on a private jet.But first, let’s take a peek at some of the most luxurious private jets in the world – and their star-studded owners.A jet worthy of a prince.Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talai has shown us that anything is possible in the private jet design world by taking a standard factory design plane, stripping out the interior and remodeling it for a mere $200 million. Not only does this now-$500 million Airbus A380 have stables for both horses and camels, but the Prince apparently cannot go anywhere without his beloved Rolls Royce which is tucked safely into a 2 car garage onboard. Along with a concert hall for entertaining 10 guests, marbled steam room, 5 master suites and 20 smaller private rooms cleverly worked into the design, upon walking around the plane you will also stumble across the prayer room that rotates to ensure it’s always facing Mecca. Trump hates the movie selection on coach. Clearly Donald Trump wasn’t a fan of flying coach, nor the movie selection on standard airlines. So The Donald had a Boeing 727-100 custom built, estimated to be worth a whopping $100 million. The presidential hopeful’s jet features a 52-inch flat screen TV where Trump and his guests can access over a thousand movies with just the touch of a button.If one private jet is good, two must be better.Russian president Vladimir Putin spent over $155 million recently not on just one luxury private jet but on two. These planes are collectively setting back Russian taxpayers over $165 million while his country remains on the brink of economic disaster, a serious point of contention – if anyone was bold up to scold the former KGP agent. Travolta is so cool he owns a whole fleet!When it comes to deciding what plane to take for a morning spin, John Travolta takes Putin’s two jets and raises him nine! Yes, the hip swinging ‘Grease’ star owns and pilots 11 jets, including a full-size Boeing 747. If this doesn’t make him cool enough, after launching the Spirit of Friendship tour to encourage people to travel after September 11, the high-flying Travolta was honored with the title ‘Ambassador-at-Large’ for Qantas Airlines. Of course Oprah has a jet.With her insanely busy talk show/media celebrity schedule, Oprah Winfrey is the last person you’ll find lowering herself to the pedestrian standards of first class air travel. So for her frequent globetrotting, Oprah splashed out on a Bombardier Global Express XRS, big enough for Winfrey to entertain up to 14 guests as her entourage takes off and lands with unfettered access to 500 private airports in the U.S. alone. And while some celebrities enjoy the glitz and glam like P. Diddy and Mark Wahlberg, who touched down at McCarran International Airport’s private jet terminal in Las Vegas for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao Fight of The Century, some celebrities chose to follow the picture of frugality and fiscal responsibility, Justin Bieber. Or, you can fly like “The Biebs.”Yes, the Justin Bieber doesn’t own his own private jet, but that doesn’t stop him from posing inside a chartered G4 jet and posting the selfies on Instagram. Even though Bieber still paid a pretty penny to charter such a lavish jet, perhaps the kid has the right idea: charter a plane for one trip and be done with it – no additional fuel charges, landing fees, crew and maintenance costs to ever think about... So can you book a private jet, too?While booking a private jet for solo journeys still might be well out of reach of the typical middle class traveler, you don’t have to be a prince or Oprah to step foot on a private jet.Of course you can book a private jet for one trip, which might cost you anywhere from $10,000 to $150,000 depending on your destination, though you may be surprised to learn that fuel is always the biggest expense, not the plane or the pilot’s services. Fractional ownership is an increasingly popular way for business people and the rich (but not super-rich) to enjoy the private jet experience for special occasions or business clients without buying the whole plane. For a yearly fee that starts at a modest few thousand dollars, you can buy the use of the jet, crew, and pay off all the airport fees for a fixed amount of flying time (usually it starts penciling out if you’re going to fly more than 20 hours a year). Described as a timeshare for private jets, the popularity of the two biggest fractional ownership companies, FlexJet and NetJets, has increased after the financial crunch and Recession.“Empty legs” is an aviation term for private jets that return to their home airports without passengers, essentially doubling costs without collecting a fee on the return leg. So several charter and private airlines, including Delta Private Jets, have introduced the option for elite and award-winning flyers to come along for the ride. The drawback? They usually only have 24-hours notice to fly, it still might cost a sizable $300-$800 (not too bad compared to coach), and it’s only available for the best airline patrons. Taking fractional ownership and empty legs one step further, A 27-year-old entrepreneur, Sergey Petrossev, has just created an Uber-style app, funded by Jay-Z, which he claims will let anyone book a flight on a private jet with just one click. The app hasn’t really soared yet, but no one can accuse Jay-Z of not being a man of the people (although he and his wife, Beyoncé, do have their own private jet.)

The first market crash in history was Dutch tulips - Tulipmania

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:02:28 -0700

In recent memory, we’ve seen market crashes and bubble bursts revolving around different commodities: stocks, real estate, technology, mortgages, and even the banking system, itself. The fear and panic from a market crash is downright horrifying, shaking the very foundation of our economy and belief in the system to serve the individual.But has it always been that way? We can look as far back as the Great Depression in the United States as evidence that this phenomenon of an overinflated bubble meeting a sharp pin prick is not new, but was the stock market crash of the 1920s and 30s the first? Not even close.In fact, you’ll probably be shocked to hear that the first speculative asset to skyrocket in value and then crash entirely was Dutch tulips. That’s not a typo – I really do mean Dutch tulips. In the 1600s, certain market and geographic factors (and a whole lot of greed and irrationality) saw the price of imported tulips climb so fast – even 1,000% in one month – that some rare bulbs were worth an entire luxury home. Only months later, that same rare tulip wasn’t worth more than a common flower, sending the Dutch economy reeling. The Dutch tulip market crash was such a profound historical event that they even had a name for it: “Tulpenwoede,” or tulip madness.The buildup.1593 Tulips were first introduced to the Dutch when traders from Turkey brought them across the seas to Europe. Legend has it that a Dutch ambassador working at the court of Suleiman the Magnificent in Constantinople, Turkey noticed the magnificent flowers and sent some to a Botanist friend in Holland.The rich had already been in the practice of rampantly collecting luxury items from foreign shores at the time, from seashells to spices to artwork. When the Amsterdam stock exchange opened in 1602, bolstered by the Dutch East India Company, a thriving but informal future exchange market blossomed. Soon, flowers became a hot commodity, and among them, tulips were the most coveted.But what probably launched the Tulipmania value explosion – and subsequent market crash – was a strange twist of fate. The tulip crops were infected with a non-fatal virus known as mosaic, which didn’t kill them, but changed their appearance, causing brilliant “flames” of color to appear on their petal.All of a sudden, the already coveted flowers became rare and unique trophies for the rich. As a luxury item only available imported from Turkey, they had been selling at high prices before, but once the mosaic virus enlivened their appearance, the price shot up astronomically. Cashing in on the new tulip craze, but by the 1630s, a few tulip brokerages had opened for business, most of them wealthy merchants in the same tight circle or even family. The bubble inflates.Although the supply of new tulips, and especially those with the beautiful mosaic defect, was limited, people clamored to get more as the ultimate status symbol – or means to a quick profit as prices always seemed to rise. When buyers and garden centers bought as many as humanly possible, it further limited supply, fed demand, and skyrocketed prices. Traders and merchants stocked inventories of tulips as fast as they could, with no consideration for cost. "Neighbors seemed to talk to neighbors; colleagues with colleagues; shopkeepers, booksellers, bakers, and doctors with their clients gives one the sense of a community gripped, for a time, by this new fascination and enthralled by a sudden vision of its profitability," writes Anne Goldgar in "Tulipmania."Soon, it seemed like everyone was dealing in tulips bulbs, and a huge secondary market emerged where people bet on their future price increases, buying and selling options, not just the flowers themselves. The common perception was that the market for these tulips had no ceiling, as they thought they could easily unload tulips to unwitting foreigners, so people started cashing in or trading their houses, land, life savings, or any other assets they owned to get their hands on more bulbs.The craze was so out of hand that in the 1630s, a sailor was arrested and locked in a Dutch jail for eating a tulip bulb that he had thought was an onion. It was said that the mistake of eating the bulb was about the same cost as feeding his ship’s entire crew for a year!Everyone wanted in on the tulip madness, and by 1637, values were shooting up twenty-fold every month. And then, the bubble hit it’s ceiling over a one month period in 1637, when the price of Switsers, a popular tulip bulb, went up 1,100%, from 125 florins a pound to 1,500 a pound. Quite possibly, the zenith of Tulipmania was February 5 of 1637, when a historic auction was held in the town of Aikmaar to raise money for orphaned children. The prized sellers at the auction were two varietals of tulips: a Viceroy that sold for $4,203 florins and an Admirael Van Enchuysen that sold for 5,200 forins. Just how much is 4,000 or 5,000 florins? It’s enough to buy a luxury home in Amsterdam at the time. The value of these tulips had reached the point of abject lunacy. The bubble bursts.No one is exactly sure what happened to cause the market to crash, seemingly overnight. Some think it was traced to economic irregularities due to the Black Plague spread over Europe. Others think that the greed just hit its zenith, when people tried to sell their options and inventory more than keep buying. Or maybe someone just blinked, realizing the price increases and market craze was unsustainable. But all of a sudden, everyone wanted to sell. And the prices, which had been soaring exponentially every month, began to soften and then fall. The same mob mentality that drove the masses to buy and trade tulips out of greed turned to abject panic to get out. Prices completely collapsed in February of 1637. Not only did people completely stop buying, but also the huge options and futures market that revolved around the tulip trade was exposed as a house of cards. At the blink of an eye, with no buyers and a herd of sellers looking to dump their tulips or promises to buy inventory in the coming season, sellers, insurers, merchants, and bulb traders went bankrupt. The crash.The ensuing crash was such an economic free fall for a good portion of the population that on April 27 of 1637, the Dutch government had to step to try to stabilize the Tulipmania fallout. The federal States-General issued a proclamation that laid out a process for arbitration for those who couldn’t pay their debts or were no longer willing or able to honor their contracts. They offered a solution of allowing people to honor contracts at only 10% of their face values, with local magistrates arbitrating, but even that didn’t help. The panic that swept the nation as people realized they’d cashed in their houses, businesses, life savings, etc. in order to buy simple flowers. No amount of government intervention would help, as people couldn’t even give away the once invaluable tulips and contracts to buy them.The damage to the Dutch economy was total; even those prudent few people who weren’t involved with the tulip trade felt the impact of the ensuing national depression. For centuries, the aftershocks felt from Tulipmania kept the people, governments, and banks of Holland notoriously risk-averse. And even today, when they see a tulip, they think of something far different than just a beautiful flower.

10 Home buying mistakes to avoid at all costs.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 12:00:58 -0700

These common home buying mistakes could cost you time, money, and sometimes the chance to buy your dream home.Buying the oddball home.Homes go up in value when other homes with similar layouts in the same neighborhood sell for more. These “comparables” or “comps” allow an appraiser to officially justify an increase in value, and therefore you’ll have more equity if you want to sell or refinance. So it’s important to buy a home that is uniform to most of the other homes n the neighborhood, or else the appraiser will have few or no sales to use as comps. So don’t purchase the only 2-bedroom home in a neighborhood full of 3 and 4-bedroom homes, and never buy the nicest house in a bad neighborhood.Focusing on cosmetic issues.Too often, home shoppers walk into a sizable home with a great floor plan in a wonderful neighborhood, but automatically cross it off their list because it has ugly carpet, bright paint colors, or the kitchen or bathrooms are outdated. Don’t be afraid of cosmetic fixes, and in fact, you may get a better deal and have less competition because of them. It’s easy and cheap to get the minor cosmetic fixes and updates done, but adding square footage, putting on a new roof, or the opportunity cost of buying in the wrong neighborhood etc. can get prohibitively expensive. Becoming emotional.Of course buying a home stirs up feelings up hope, elation, and even a little fear, but buyers need to remember that the most important thing is that they focus on making good business and long-term decisions.Not having a strategy.House hunting takes a lot of time, energy, and diligence, but without proactive planning you might just be spinning your wheels. So make sure to sit down with your Realtor and formulate a plan of attack so you end up finding the right house at the right price in the right neighborhood most efficiently.Paralysis by analysis.There are two ways we choose a home: with information or with emotion. Hopefully, you’ll use both when house hunting. But some times, people get so focused in on analyzing every single statistic, detail, and shred of data that it holds them back from making any offers or having a chance at buying any house, their ultimate goal! Fear of making offers, not looking at the market realistically, and expecting to get every single item on your list of needs and wants for a home are all symptoms of paralysis by analysis. Overlooking important problems.At some point in your house search, you’ll probably walk into a home and very quickly think, “This is it!” But no matter how much it “feels right” or you love the house, don’t ignore flaws or problems. Always get a home inspection and pay close attention to the big-ticket problem items like foundations, roofs, electrical, plumbing, etc. just because you love the house.Not checking your credit report and getting preapproved.When do you start the home buying process? Ideally, you should begin getting your finances in order 6-12 months ahead of time. In addition to saving for your down payment and carefully budgeting, you’ll also want to check your credit score and take action to boost it as much as possible. The difference between a good and a great credit score could make a huge difference in the loan you qualify for, your interest rate and payments, or even being an attractive homebuyer to sellers and getting your offers accepted. About 2 to 3 months before you’re ready to get in a Realtor’s car and start shopping for homes, you’ll want to sit down with a mortgage professional to get preapproved for a loan. That will let you know exactly what you qualify for, what’s affordable for your budget, and therefore which homes in what price range you’ll be able to hunt for, saving everyone’s time - and probably money.Picking your real estate agent and lender blindly.You’ll need a great working relationship with your Realtor and mortgage lender, one that’s based on trust, market knowledge, and industry experience. It’s too big of a decision to just go with the first Realtor who approaches you or someone just because you know them. Contact some neighborhood experts, ask your friends and coworkers for great recommendations, read Yelp reviews, review their website and testimonials, and don’t be afraid to interview perspective agents and mortgage professionals. Not hiring a home inspector.Your home is probably the biggest investment you’ll make in your life; way too important to skip the few hundred dollars it takes to get a home inspection. A home inspection will disclose both cosmetic flaws and the big, important problems with the house that could cost you thousands of dollars down the road. Not researching your neighborhood.Remember the old home buying wisdom, “Location, location, location?” Well it still applies, as you’ll want to get to know the neighborhood very well. Are there train tracks nearby? Street noise? Crime problems? Good schools? Is it an easy commute to your work? Are values generally going up in that neighborhood? These are all questions you’ll want to ask with the help of your real estate agent.

The 10 most expensive watches in the world.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:59:02 -0700

What do you spend on a watch? $100? $250? Or do you really splurge and fork out $5,000 for that prized Rolex or Tag Heuer that really announces, “I’ve arrived”? Well even with the most expensive designer fashion or luxury watches we see in stores or ads in magazines, we’re not anywhere near the stratosphere of the world’s most expensive time pieces. These chronographs are more bejeweled, handcrafted works of art than just watches, but if you have a few million dollars to spend – or much more – you may find one on your wrist!10. FRANCK MULLER AETERNITAS MEGA 4Price tag: $2.7 millionDesigned by Swiss watchmaker Franch Muller in 1991, the watch with the full name “Aeternitas Mega 4 Grande Sonnerie Westminster Carillon” has 36 complications and 1,483 individual components, earning it the honor of being the world’s most complicated watch. 9. PATEK PHILIPPE 1953 HEURES UNIVERSELLES MODEL 2523Price tag: $2.9 millionPatek Philippe & Co. first started making watches in Switzerland in 1839, and is one of the highest quality makers of timepieces still today, guaranteed to appreciate in value. This model has an 18k gold case, shows several time zones, and a polychrome dial that details a map of North America.8. PATEK PHILIPPE 1895/1927 YELLOW GOLD MINUTE REPEATINGPrice tag: $3 millionThis watch was part of the Henry Graves, Jr. signature collection, built in 1895 with the case completed in 1927, it recently went for $2.994 million at a Sotheby’s auction.7. LE BRASSUS TOURBILLON CARROUSEL Price tag: $4 millionThe Swiss company that produced this masterpiece, Blancpain, has been around since 1735 but continues to innovate. With this watch, they combined two traditional methods of combatting the degenerative effects of gravity on time keeping, tourbillon and carrousel methods. It’s the first watch in the world to use both, making it an instant classic of quality. 6. LOUIS MOINET “METEORIS” Price tag: $4.6 millionThis chronograph is truly out of this world – and that’s not just my opinion, but fact! That’s because this watch, built as a series of four tourbillons in conjunction with Luc Labenne, is built with pieces of moon rock, but also a meteorite from Mars and an Asteroid!5. BREGUET & FILS, PARIS, NO. 2667 PRECISIONPrice tag: $4.7 millionHorophiles (time piece connoisseurs) appreciate the quality and luxury produced by the Swiss Group, and Breguet & Fils is a branch of that tree, founded in 1775 by Abraham-Louis Breguet. This watch is 18k gold with two timepieces and two movements. 4. PATEK PHILIPPE 1943 WATCH REF. 1527Price tag: $5.5 millionBuilt in 1943, this was the most expensive wristwatch in the world at the time. It features an 18k yellow gold case and a silver matte dial that accentuates its chronograph, perpetual calendar, and moon phase display.3. PATEK PHILIPPE CALIBER 89 POCKET WATCHPrice tag: $6 millionDesigned to commemorate Patek Philippe’s 150-year anniversary in 1989, this is the world’s most complicated pocket watch with 33 complications and 1,728 complications, weighing more than 2 pounds and taking the design team more than five years of research and 4 years of manufacturing to build. 2. PATEK PHILLIPE HENRY GRAVES SUPERCOMPLICATIONPrice tag: $11 millionThis watch comes not only with a big price but a fascinating story. Back in 1927, Banker and watchmaker Henry Graves Jr. entered a contest with his friend, James Ward Packard of the Packard Car Company, to produce the world’s most complicated watch. After four years, Graves emerged victorious when he produced this gold pocket watch with two faces and 24 complications. When it sold at auction, Sotheby’s appraised it at $5 million but it actually sold for a then-record $11,002,500.1. THE GRAFF DIAMONDS HALLUCINATION Price tag: $55 millionWe saved the best (and most expensive) for last with this only women’s watch on the list. Encrusted with rare gems and a face of diamonds set in platinum, this one-of-a-kind watch (they really only made one!) debuted last year at the iconic Baselworld watch show, becoming an instant legend – and a price tag that makes it the most expensive watch in the world.

15 Proven methods to detect if someone is lying to you.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:56:48 -0700

15 Proven methods to detect if someone is lying to you. "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." -Sir Walter Scott If you’re like most people, you probably tell a few white lies during the course of your day, half-truths to make others feel better, avoid conflict, or out of polite social necessity. But then there are the big lies – the manipulative or mean spirited falsehoods people spread that can really hurt others. So if someone lies as they’re trying to sell you something, lies to you at work, or the worst of all, lies to you in a relationship, how are you supposed to know what you can trust? How can you detect when someone is lying to your face? Numerous studies, such as those conducted at Stanford University as well as training offered by the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence organizations, have revealed that definitive patterns emerge in the nonverbals, physiology, and language of someone who is lying. These cues are accurate predictors of deception and when used in combination, are almost a surefire way to tell if someone is lying to you. 1. Ask unexpected questions and watch their initial response.It’s not the information in their answer you’re looking for as much as the way in which they answer. Carefully watch them during the first few seconds before they respond – if they pause, stall with “ums” and “ahs”, repeat the question, or lowers their voice and looks down, they are probably lying, no matter what they say next. 2. Look for insincere emotions and microexpressions.It’s almost physical impossible for most people to fake a smile - the timing will be wrong, it will be held too long, turn into a frown at the end, their eyes will be too squinted, etc. This is just one manifestation of what are called microexpressions, which last only 1/25th of a second and reveal the person’s true emotion when they are being insincere. 3. They provide too much information.If you ask someone a question or to explain themselves and they lie to you, they often ramble on and give far too much information. They also tend to use qualifying language like “to tell you the truth,” “in all honesty,” and “as far as I know,” that’s easy to spot. 4. Ask the person to tell their story or go over the answer in reverse chronology.Psychologists reveal that our brains aren’t wired to retell stories or reconstruct memories in chronological order, as we often start with the most emotional parts then fill in information. But when someone is lying, they carefully arrange the story – and retell it – chronologically, so asking them to do otherwise will trip them up. 5. Measure their attitude.People who are being dishonest often become agitated, defensive, or uncooperative when you ask to discuss something or for help filling in the details. 6. Verbal cues and speech patterns.Certain words and phrases or speech patterns reveal deceit. If a person uses excessive religious imagery (I swear to God), overemphasize their truthfulness and honesty, repeat themselves (a way to buy time while they’re gathering their thoughts), or question or attack the question, it may be an indication they’re lying. 7. Are they minimizing?"Minimizing language" is used to try and downplay or distract from the importance of the question or the facts, such saying “It’s not a big deal,” or referring to “the company” when they would normally say “we.” 8. Changing their head position quickly.When you ask someone a direct question and they make a sudden head movement, they could be lying. If their head is jerked back, retracted, bows down, or tilts to the side right before they respond, it could be an inadvertent signal. 9. Their breathing shifts.When someone tells a lie, their breathing usually changes, becoming shallow, their shoulders rising because the increased heart rate and blood flow, nerves and tension, change their normal breathing patterns. 10. They either stand very still or shift their feet.When someone gets nervous, defensive, or feels they are backed into a corner, their flight or fight response usually kicks in. That means they’ll either hold perfectly, unnaturally still, or shift and move far too much for relaxed conversation. 11. They touch or cover their mouths.One of the easiest ways to tell if someone is lying or at least being shifty is if they touch their mouth, their face, or put their hand over their mouth when they speak or answer a question. 12. They cover certain parts of their bodiesLikewise, if someone inadvertently covers up certain vulnerable parts of the body like their throat, chest, head, or abdomen, assuming defensive positions, they may be lying. If they bite their lips, pull on their chin, or play with their hair, it may be more signs of fibbing. 13. It becomes harder for them to speak.When someone lies, it can actually become physiologically harder for them to speak, as the automatic nervous system decreases the flow of saliva during stress, make their mouths and lips more dry. 14. They don’t blink enough – or too much.People blink more when they are nervous – like when they are lying - but some liars overcompensate and will hold a stare too long without blinking. 15. They point a lot.If someone points a lot during their answers to questions or explanations, it may be an unconscious sign of the passive-aggressive nature of lying.

Lloyd's of London has insured just about everything.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:54:18 -0700

The venerable and distinguished Lloyd's of London has insured just about everything. The history of Lloyd's of London:Lloyd’s of London is the most venerable and storied insurance carrier anywhere in the world, with a reputation for insuring anything and everything going all the back to the 17th century. It was then that Londoner Edward Lloyd, operating out of his coffee shop, started issuing marine insurance for ships and cargo. More than 325 years later, there really isn’t much Lloyd’s hasn’t covered, including plenty of celebrity’s body parts, fine jewels, space exploration, and even alien abduction. Here is a list of some of the most notable insurance policies ever issued by Lloyd’s of London, still headquartered in London today:Plenty of legs:Singer Mariah Carey signed with Gillette for their “Legs of a Goddess” promotion and they company promptly insured hers for a whopping $1 billion with Lloyd’s of London.However, when Rihanna was signed for the same campaign, they only assigned a $1 million policy on her legs.That’s the same amount famous Hollywood starlet Betty Grable insured her legs for in the 1940s.But they still all pale in comparison to the £100m Lloyd’s insurance policy on soccer great David Beckham’s legs, though they were protected for less aesthetic and more athletic reasons!Hollywood:There is a long lineage of Hollywood stars insuring their most notable assets against loss, including Bette Davis, who actually insured her waistline against weight gain with a $28,000 policy. In 1930, Jimmy ‘the Schnozzle’ Durante insured his sizable nose against loss for $140,000.America Ferrera, the star of Ugly Betty, has a smile so bright – sans braces – that Aquafresh insured her pearly whites for $10 million as part of their ad and charity campaign.Eerily, James Dean took out a $100,000 life insurance policy only one week before he tragically passed in an auto accident at age 25. Individual stars aren’t the only ones Lloyd’s covers, as the Oscar awards celebration is insured against fire, terrorism, and about $38 million on the hook for loss of jewelry.By land, air, and sea:Llyod’s of London started by insuring marine and shipping expeditions in the 1800s, and evolved from there to cover other forms of transportation.In 1904, they issued their first policy for the new form of overland travel called the “motorcar.” Their underwriters had no idea how to gauge the risk of motorcars, and in fact described them in the policy as a “'ship navigating on land.” In 1911, another vanguard of transportation begged the attention of Lloyd’s underwriters – flying. The company started insuring policies for experimental flights but after a few years of paying out on frequent crashes, they cancelled their services. In fact, according to official documents, insuring air travel was cancelled ‘in view of the fact that there seems to be no immediate future in aviation insurance and that there is no business to be had’.Charles Lindbergh was insured for $18,000 when he made his transatlantic flight from USA to Europe on the Spirit of St. Louis.Space exploration:Lloyd’s entered the realm of space exploration in 1965, with their insurance policy on the first space satellite, the Instelstat. Over the years, they covered other space missions against physical damage, business interruption, and even space debris and in 1984 helped launch a successful mission to salvage to rogue satellites.Lloyd’s foray into business-in-outer-space will continue, as they’ve started issuing insurance policies for space tourists, including 500 citizens of the earth who have already signed up for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic private space trips.Aliens, zombies, and vampires:Is it fiction or fact? That doesn’t matter to Lloyd’s, who will let people take out insurance policies against them being bitten and transforming into a vampire, zombie, or werewolf. And reportedly, 60,000 people have already signed up!There are also policies that cover “for a potential zombie apocalypse and the resulting cleaning costs.” What a mess that would be!Lloyd’s of London even issues insurance policies against being abducted by aliens, and 20,000 people to date have paid premiums for that peace of mind.One of those policies was taken out by legendary actress Shirley MacLaine, who is now insured for $25 million in case she’s ever abducted by extraterrestrials.***Look for part 2 of this blog, where we document how Lloyd's insures tongues, weddings, Loch Ness Monster sightings, and the possibility of another immaculate conception!

Are Real Estate Investment Trusts a sound vessel – or a sinking ship?

Anthony Alfano — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:16:36 -0700

Are REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) a sound vessel – or a sinking ship? REITs, or Real Estate Investment Trusts, have been hot product for investors the last few years, a sophisticated and risk-adverse method of leveraging a rising and rebounding real estate market. Simply put, REITs are companies or funds that own or finance income producing real estate, leveraging the benefits of the real estate sector without having to own – or manage – individual properties. But lately, cracks are appearing in the impenetrable hull of REITs, based on concerns and loss of profits amid Fed rate hikes. So are REITs still worth it, a safe and fruitful investments going forward? REITs were first modeled after mutual funds, a hybrid investment that’s traded on major stock exchanges, sometimes as public non-listed funds, or even privately owned entities. They’ve grown precipitously in the United States, reaching every state and supporting one million U.S. jobs, and have spread to several countries across the world. REITs offer indirect real estate ownership for steady income streams and long-term capital appreciation, but with flexibility and diversification where regular property ownership fell short. REITs collect rents or sell properties for profit, regularly paying out that income as dividends to shareholders, who can pocket the income or choose to reinvest, and sell shares as they see fit for liquidity many other real estate assets don’t offer. Investors are then responsible for paying their own income taxes on the profits. Essentially, REITs allow investors to buy stock in real estate, while the fund or REIT purchases blocks of property and property shares, called Equity REITS, or mortgages with Mortgage REITs. To qualify as a REIT, the company or fund must have at least 75 percent of its total assets invested in real estate, and derive at least 75 percent of its gross income from rents, profit from sales, or mortgage financing. REITS need to have at least 100 shareholders with no 5 shareholders holding more than 50 percent of shares.While most REITs trade ownership stakes in apartments, hospitals, hotels, commercial property, strip malls, nursing homes, office space, storage units, student housing, and care facilities, there are also trusts that invest in mortgages or mortgage securities for residential or commercial properties. While REITS offered steady positive income streams and great returns for investors – increasing about 10 percent annually on average - over the last half decade, they’ve stumbled recently, raising concerns that they won’t translate well to a rising interest rate environment. And with the Fed assuring a series of rate hikes over the second half of this year and into 2016, dividend payouts have faltered as analysts and investors start to sour on REITs. In fact, shares of seven of the nine REITs listed on the New York Stock Exchange actually turned in negative returns this summer, a far cry from a spectacularly profitable 2014. Through June 30, that’s a 5.4 percent decline on the U.S. REIT index, and a fragile 1.23 percent gain on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Part of the decline in profitability is due to tangible losses caused by rising rates, as trusts with commercial and other long-term leases but adjustable financing can’t raise rents to compensate for increased expenditures. That’s why hotels, multi-family housing, and apartments are considered a safe bet as rates escalate because it’s easy to increase tenant rents periodically, offering flexibility that long term commercial properties don’t allow. But financial analysts think the market is also playing a wait-and-see game with REITs, putting caution before risk as they watch the Fed’s every move. So are REITS here to stay? The most balanced advice you’ll probably read is that REITS are now showing their downside amidst these unique and temporary market circumstances. For some, buying and owning individual properties as private investors may offer far more control and long-term income potential. Or, several investors can come together to pool resources and own a few rental units together. But for those who want to park their money in real estate without every buying a garage and aren’t scared away by negative growth or stagnate income in the foreseeable future, REITs may still be a sound bet.

What luxury homebuyers are looking for, version 20.15.

Anthony Alfano — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:15:43 -0700

What luxury homebuyers are looking for, version 20.15. Surveys show that today's highly affluent homebuyer is looking for some things old and some things new, like technology, green homes, and outdoor living. As our economy climbed out of the doldrums of recession into today’s landscape of bluer skies and greener pastures, the luxury real estate market not only recovered, but exploded. In fact, sales of the most expensive 1% of homes in the U.S. are up 21.1% over the past year, following up on a 35.7% increase in 2013-14.And with an estimated 9 million millionaires in the U.S. – many of them self made and enjoying financial bounty for the first time – it’s great news for those current homeowners who are looking to sell their high-end properties. But luxury sellers really need to understand the market and whom they’re selling to in order to maximize their price and attract a bevy of full-price offers. The following information is based on several different studies, polls, and surveys of luxury homebuyers from a wide array of credible industry leaders.Understanding the new luxury buyer:The most profound shift in demographics of the High Net Worth Individual (HNWI) who purchases luxury real estate is that he or she is much younger than we’ve seen traditionally. And these younger HNWI are looking to spend more for the house they love than the typical 55 and older buyers. The younger HNWI spent an average of $2.1 million on their home, almost twice as much as their older counterparts bring the average to $1.6 million for wealth individuals. In general, all Millenials are the next big wave of homebuyers, though they are still taking a wait-and-see approach so they won’t get burned like the generation before them. It’s reported that 43 percent of younger wealthy consumers are considering purchasing residential property in the next 12 months, compared to only 21 percent of those age 55 and older.Younger HNWI also want to own two or more residential properties (38 percent of those surveyed) for their personal residences or vacation homes, and also consider looking out of the country for one of those purchases (6 percent). But one of the most significant changes between younger affluent homebuyers is that they’re not emphasizing square footage over all else. They still enjoy sizable homes, but are willing to sacrifice 1,000 square feet or so if it means they’re in better locations – such as closer to work or cultural attractions in a nearby city – or find the other luxury amenities they’re seeking. But they have certain expectations, priorities, and desires on their checklist. What’s "in" this year:-Some things never change, like the fact that 70 percent of respondents say the location of their home is the most important factor. Homes near the beach or mountains are still popular, with great views and access to leisure activities paramount, but many younger buyers are purchasing expansive property in the country or rural settings, too. And 54% of luxury buyers still put top priority on a chef’s kitchen when they go looking for their next home. 60 percent of affluent customers want hi-tech and wired homes, fully automated so they can control features like lights, security systems, video cameras and intercoms, climate control, TVs and music, window shades, and door locks from an iPad, remotely via a mobile app, or even with voice activation. In fact, almost 90 percent of this demographic of luxury homebuyer said they wouldn't even consider living in a home that isn't tech-friendly. Buyers want green and environmentally friendly homes that are also energy efficient. Two thirds of high end buyers looked for Energy Star-rated windows and doors and insulated glass, and 18 percent of those surveyed reporting that they a home's Green-LED certification was very important. Open floor plans are more important than ever according to 39 percent of high-end buyers. Media rooms still are in vogue, with 60 percent of respondents looking for homes that contain one, and 19 percent looking for home theaters. Home gyms and specialty exercise rooms were an important feature for 50 percent of buyers. 28 percent of luxury homebuyers want swimming pools.Outdoor kitchens are still a red-hot trend, with nearly half of new luxury buyers on the hunt for homes with that feature. But aside from the typical wet bar (desired by 42 percent of respondents), they’re also looking for warming drawers, sinks, and climate controlled wine, beer, and beverage fridges. Buyers also are looking for outdoor fireplaces and firepits in close proximity to the swimming pool and outdoor entertainment area. New trends in luxury home design: Mediterranean and French designs are in for luxury homeowners, with Victorian, Italian country, and Classical designs becoming passé. Instead of granite kitchen counters (don’t do it!), natural stones like sandstone are the new trend. Quartz countertops are the hottest new trend, the crown on any royal kitchen. Likewise, natural floor flooring has taken over the more slick and impersonal tile. Silver and nickel fixtures and hardware are being updated with brass. In the kitchen wood finished cabinets are considered extremely outdated, with white, gray, black modern cabinets the newest hot look, some with faux natural patterns and often purposely mismatching with other elements to highlight secondary and tertiary colors. In years past, luxury buyers wanted to enjoy sprawling, elegant bathtubs. But the reality is that we all take far more showers than baths, so the new wealthy buyer is looking for huge, luxurious showers. It’s now in fashion to show off a well-designed, extravagant powder room for your guests. Dining rooms have been depersonalized and are more modern and nontraditional, with simple, neutral colors and fixtures. New additions to the list of luxury home amenities:Open rooftops are being utilized as spaces for entertainment, exercise, reflection, yoga, and sunset watching, and also to create stunning rooftop gardens and green areas. The real ultra wealthy buyer isn’t treating the garage like the worst space in the house anymore, but making sure their luxury and specialty automobiles are highlighted with subterranean parking, high-tech automated parking, and even glass ceilings or walls so the autos are on display as you walk through other areas of the house. It’s not enough to have a wine fridge for luxury buyers; they want dedicated wine cellars with precise climate controls and also dining and tasting areas to host their friends for vineyard-quality events and parties. Affluent homeowners are equally concerned with leaving a smaller environmental footprint and improving their living space for health and wellness. That’s why super purification systems are one of the biggest new attractions in the luxury market, with filtration systems that include UV lights, humidification systems, and energy-efficient fans run to keep the air purified.

20 Fascinating facts about home ownership in the United States.

Anthony Alfano — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:51:19 -0700

20 Fascinating facts about home ownership in the United States. What percentage of people in the U.S. do you think own their own home? Has that number gone up or down in the last 30 years? What age group owns their home more than any other? What states have the highest and lowest home ownership rates, and how does the U.S. measure up against the rest of the world? When it comes to real estate, perception sometimes pushes consumer behavior more than facts. So these are some of the questions we set out to answer as we crunch the numbers on home ownership. You may be surprised what we found! We combed through numerous articles, reports and credible sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, Pew research reports, CNN, and Realtor.org to come up with these 20 interesting and illuminating statistics: 1. The U.S. homeownership rate, as per Q1 of 2015, is 63.7%, the lowest it’s been since 1990.2. Home ownership was at an all-time high of 69.2% in 2004, well before the credit bubble burst in 2008. 3. To put it in perspective, the lowest point of home ownership was in 1960 and 1961 in the 62% and change range, but it’s never dipped anywhere near 62% again. American home ownership rates: 1960 62.1% 1965 63.3% 1970 64.2% 1975 64.6% 1980 65.6% 1985 63.9% 1990 63.9% 1995 64.7% 2000 67.4% 2005 68.9% 2009 67.4% 4. The median value of a home has risen every decade throughout U.S. history since 1940. Even though home values took a temporary hit with the real estate crunch from 2008-2010, the median value was at an all time high as of 2010, at $179,900. 5. Out of the 45 top countries, the U.S. sits #34 for home ownership rates. Surprisingly, Romania has a 96.6% homeownership rate and Lithuania 91.9%, among many other Eastern European countries at the top of the list. 90% of people in China own their own home, India 86.6%, Russia 84%, Mexico 80%, Iceland 77.3%, Brazil and Italy 74.1%, Sweden 70.1%, Canada 69%, Australia at 67%, and the United Kingdom 66.7% right above the U.S., among others. 6. Of all U.S. homes, exactly two-thirds, 66.9%, are owner-occupied, and the others are rentals. 7. The U.S. counties with the highest average home values are: Manhattan, NY $812,300 Marin, CA $759,300 San Francisco, CA $737,300 San Mateo, CA $710,100 Teton, WY $705,600 8. The U.S. counties with the lowest average home values are: Lechter, KY $56,900 Willacy, TX $50,500 Coahoma, MS $54,700 Harlan, KY $54,400 McDowell, WV $39,000 9. Of adults 35 and younger, 36% own their own home. 35-44 years old: 59.1% 45-54 years old: 70.1% 55-64 years old: 76.6% 65+: 80% own a home! 10. Every state in the U.S. has a home ownership rates over 50%. 11. The states with the highest home ownership rates: West Virginia 76.2% Michigan 74.9% New Hampshire 74.2% Delaware 73.8% Maine 73.3% 12. The states (and district) with the lowest home ownership rates: Hawaii 56.7% Nevada 56.2% California 54% New York 53.8% District of Colombia 45.3% 13. New homeowners purchase more products and services in the first six months after moving than an established resident spends in a two-year period.14. The housing sector directly accounted for approximately 14 percent of total economic activity in 2009, but that has fallen dramatically. Still, about 40 percent of monthly consumer expenditures are housing related.15. Today, the average size of a home is 2,224 square feet. Compare that to the average size of 1,650 square feet in 1978! 16. With all of that extra room, do we have bigger families and more people staying in each household? Nope! These days, the average family size in a household is 3.15, but back in 1978 it was bigger, with 3.33 person per household! 17. 2012 Pew survey found that 86 percent of Americans now believe the key to a middle class life is a secure job, and only 45% say the same about owning a home. in 1991, 70% of respondents in a CNN/Time/Yankelovich Partners poll said home ownership was essential to membership in the middle class membership, while only about 50% said it was a white-collar job. 18. A recent survey states that 51% of people said the bust did not change their willingness to buy a home and an additional 27% said it actually made them more likely to do so. That’s about 78% of the population who want to hold keys to their own front door. 19. 86% of those surveyed, list the income-tax benefits of owning a home as a big reason to buy. Being able to choose a good school system for their kids, privacy, and being free to fix up their home as they wish were also important factors. 20. Nearly two-thirds of people surveyed still believe purchasing a house is a safe investment. In fact, 81% of those surveyed either currently own a home and want to keep being homeowners in the future, or currently rent but plan on buying within the next ten years.

Your year-round home maintenance checklist.

Anthony Alfano — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:50:19 -0700

Your year-round home maintenance checklist. If you’re a homeowner, then you’ll agree that it’s a whole lot of work to clean and maintain your house and yard. It might even feel like more of our time is spent mowing and painting and cleaning than with our families! But if you don’t stay on top of home maintenance, bigger problems can spring up that cost even more time and money! The good news is that with a little organization and planning, each and every weekend doesn’t have to be consumed checking off items from your home Honey Do list. Proactively following this list will cover just about all the bases to keep your home safe, in good condition, and free of major repairs. Monthly: Inspect/change HVAC filters. Pulling out the filter on your heating and air unit and giving it a good cleaning ever month will help your system work efficiently and put less stress on it. Inspect/clean out dryer filters and vents. In fact, a good portion of home fires start with clogged dryer vents or filters that aren’t changed. You should clean out the simply filter screen in your dryer just about every time you use it, but once a month, vacuum out inside the filter trap and behind the dryer. Clean out kitchen sink disposal. A good way to keep your disposal fresh is by adding a half-cup of baking soda followed by a half-cup of white vinegar, and then flushing with boiling water after 10 minutes. Clean range hood filters. Most kitchen fires start with grease and residue that layers on the range hood, which people often forget to clean. Quarterly: Test smoke detectors and carbon dioxide detectors. Make sure the batteries are working and test each detector. Test the garage door auto-reverse feature. People forget this one, so make sure the sensors are clear and the auto reverse safety feature is functioning. Check unused toilets/sinks/plumbing fixtures. Turn on sinks, faucets, showerheads, and flush toilets in guest bathrooms, garages, basements, and anywhere else that isn’t used commonly. Make sure there are no leaks, which can flood or freeze and burst, causing much bigger problems down the line. Check your fire extinguishers. Make sure you have working fire extinguishers in easy reach in a few areas around the house, and definitely in the kitchen and garage. Biannually: Check pressure relief valve on water heater. The pressure relief valve is a critical safety feature or else the water heater can build so much pressure that it literally explodes, so give it a quick test twice a year. Deep clean. Twice a year, clean your house thoroughly, including moving appliances and hidden surfaces. Check/clean garage, basement, and attic. It’s also a good idea to inspect attics, basements, and garages for leaks, evidence of pests and rodents, and any fire hazards. Vacuum refrigerator coils. People don’t even know you should do this, but cleaning up your fridge coils will help it work efficiently and last longer. Annually (by season): Spring: Clean gutters and downspouts. After the fall and winter, you’ll want to clean the leaves from your gutters. Shoot the hose on full blast down downspouts to clear them out Check the exterior of your home. Look for peeling or blistering paint, rotting wood, or windows and doors that need to be caulked. Get your air conditioner tuned up. Don’t wait until the middle of the summer to test your air conditioner! Turn it on in on a cooler day during the spring to make sure it’s running fine and schedule regular maintenance early in the season. Fix window screens. Holes in window screens will let mosquitos and other insects in when you have the windows open during the summer. Prune and trim. Spring is a great time to cut back over grown bushes, shrubs, vines, and tree limbs to keep them away from your structure, electric lines, and exterior heat and air registers and vents. Summer: Exterior lighting. Turn on and check your landscaping lighting, replace bulbs and re-bury wiring if necessary. You can also do this with exterior light fixtures and motion sensors. Inspect the roof. Look for displaced shingles or tiles, evidence of leakage, and the seal around vents and chimneys. But be careful – you may want to hire a professional to get up there if your roof is steep or high up. Clean windows. Give your windows a great cleaning, inside and out. Windex and newspaper works great! Inspect plumbing for leaks. Look under sink cabinets, in basements, and in crawl spaces for evidence of water damage or leaks. Root out insects. Roaches, termites, wasp nests, and other invited critters can do some serious damage if left unchecked. Deck and patio maintenance. Power wash your moldy or dirty decks, patios, and porches and apply a new coat of paint or stain to make it look brand new. Check stairs and railing for safety. Autumn: Flush hot water heater to remove sediment. You’ll be surprised what builds up in the bottom of your heater’s tank. Clean heat/AC registers and ducts Remove, vacuum, and clean out all of the heat and air registers and vents inside your house. Tune up the heating system. Just like you gave your air conditioner a checkup in the spring before it got too hot, make sure your heating system is working great and ready for the cold. Empty outdoor water fixtures. Shut off exterior hose bibs, hoses, and other water fixtures. Make sure they are drained empty. In climates that freeze in the winter, you may want to wrap exterior fixtures and basement and garage water pipes. Winter: Check your fireplace. Before you light the first fire of the season, whether it’s a gas unit or old-fashioned wood burner, make sure there are no cracks, breaks, or creosote buildup, which can be extremely dangerous. Caulk and grout in bathrooms, kitchen etc. You can either caulk over existing lines or buy a specialty tool to scrape out the old grout. Clean tiles and shower and bathroom glass. For a natural bathroom cleaner, mix vinegar and water in equal portions and scrub everything down. Shower gunk, bath rings, and hard water stains come off great with vinegar, water, and baking soda. Check your emergency kit. Early winter is a great time to make sure you have an emergency kit put together and accessible, with a first aid kit, flashlights with fresh batteries, warm clothes, drinking water, a whistle, candles, matches, and other essentials.

The most memorable, hilarious, and questionable street names.

Anthony Alfano — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:49:28 -0700

What's in a name? The most memorable, hilarious, and questionable street names in the U.S. Where do our streets get their names? With over 8 million miles of roads in the U.S., so many that even our government can't estimate how many streets, roads, lanes, and courts exist, highlighting the most memorable ones can be an entraining endeavor, but also gives us a glimpse of our history. As America was originally founded and developed, streets were often named after towns in England or Europe where settlers came from, or after prominent family names of those who were important in the new communities.These days, you’d expect street naming to be a far more democratic process. But in fact, when new subdivisions and communities need street names, the real estate and building developers usually get the privilege of proposing names. The good news it that there is a process to get that named approved, as many of them try to name the streets after themselves, their wives, or children. Each city or municipality may have a slightly different process, but usually the developer submits the name request to the city for review. This the building, engineering, and public works departments a chance to comment. Next, the police and fire departments have a chance to weigh in on the name, which is vital because they have to make sure the name isn’t confusing or hard to locate in case they’re trying to reach it during an emergency. Finally, the post office gets a final rule before it goes to a vote.What’s the most popular street name in the U.S.? That designation goes to Park, with 9,640 street signs across the country donning that name.After that, the most popular street names in America are inspired by trees and numbers; for instance, Second Street, Fifth Avenue, etc. And while you’d think there would be just as many First Streets, those are actually not as common because they are often renamed “Main Street.” Oak, Pine, Cedar, Maple, and Elm Streets are present in almost every city.Local landmarks (Ocean Side Drive, Old Mill Lane, Lake Shore Drive) and the name of Presidents who were born in the area are common.In Washington, D.C., there are streets named after all 50 states.After the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy Jr. and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., many cities in the country changed major thoroughfares to their names to honor them.There are plenty of streets named after Hollywood celbirities adorning the streets in and around Los Angeles: Bob Hope Drive, (Rudolph) Valentino Place, (Charlie) Chaplin Avenue, Will Rogers Street, (Fred) Astaire Avenue, Judy) Garland Drive, and more than one street named after Elvis Presley.Here are some other interesting, funny, and questionable street names across the country:Durt RoadCasco, MECrummy RoadClark Fork, IDDivorce CourtHeather Highlands, PennsylvaniaPsycho PathTraverse City, MichiganNo Name StreetTurnersville, New Jersey Wong WayRiverside, California, named after George WongBMW Drive,Griswold, Ct.Skunk Misery RoadLowell, Mass.Connecticut has some strange street names that maybe channeled their Puritanical fears, including Hell Hollow Road, Satans Kingdom Road, Beelzebub Road and Devils Garden Road.Quite A RoadLovell, MaineWhere o Where DriveNantucket, Mass.Pickle Dog LaneDeer Lodge, MontanaNo Name UnoGilroy, Calif.Oh My God RoadCentral City, Colo.Jackass Hill RoadLittleton, Colo.Upsan Downs RoadWilmington, Del.Triple XXX RoadChoctaw, Okla.Why Worry LanePhoenix, Ariz.Witts End RoadAndover, N.J.Thata Way and Whicha WayHemet, Calif.Zzyzx RoadSan Bernadino County, Calif.I Dream of Jeannie WayCocoa Beach, Fla.Jot-em-Down RoadCumming, Ga.Bimbo DriveFayetteville, N.C.Ice Cream StreetShreveport, La.Milky WayCupertino, Calif.Electric Ave.Westerville, OhioAnd trust me when I tell you, this is a just a small sample, with many more explicit and Rated R street names censored from the list!Here are the most popular street names in California:Park, 367Oak, 344Pine, 318Sunset, 306Cedar, 303Willow, 2891st / First, 271Cypress, 2692nd / Second, 266Redwood, 258In Sacramento, many streets were named after famous inventors from American history:Whitney Ave. namely Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin.Marconi Ave., named after Guglielmo Marconi, who helped invent the radio.Eastern Ave. named after James Eastern, who invented the compass.Hurley Way after Jonathon Hurley, who invented the hockey puck.Northrop Ave. after Jack Northrop, co-founder of Northrop-Grumman aviation.Fair Oaks Blvd., named after Higgins Fairoaks, who introduced the concept of planting trees close to roadways.Cottage Lane after Cyrus Cottage, who invented the picture frame.So if residents don’t care for the name of their street, is it possible to change it? It is possible through a long process of submitting a name change request, but getting it approved is extremely rare. There are just too many logistical problems when a street name is changed, with consideration for businesses, property owners, landlords and renters who would have to change advertising, stationary, business cards, and all of their bills and accounts. Most importantly, it would require a renewal of every mapping software and GPS system in the world. So if you don’t like your street name, you’re probably better off moving!

Wild and ridiculous trademarks that were denied (or still pending).

Anthony Alfano — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:48:21 -0700

Wild and ridiculous copyrights and trademarks that were denied (or still pending). Part 2 of 2 "The under-funded and over-extended United States Patent and Trademark Office does not have the resources to adequately evaluate the burgeoning number of applications, and too many low-quality patents are being issued as a result" -Viet D. Dinh In part one of this blog, we introduced the crazy and competitive world of trademarks and copyrights, many of which leave us scratching our head at their audacious or far-reaching nature. Maybe that's because just about anyone can file a trademark online through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site or by mail, which costs between $275 and $375. But having an attorney do it ensures it’s written up correctly and gives you the best chance of defending it against infringements and copycats in the future. Here is a good list of the wild and ridiculous patents, trademarks, and copyrights that were either denied or still pending: Applied but denied: The name Sarah Palin. Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin applied to trademark her own name as a means to inhibit those who would try to make money off her likeness, a very common occurrence with celebrities and notable figures. However, Palin’s application was denied and sent back to her. The reason? She forgot to sign the paperwork. Oops! 19-0. In 2008, The New England Patriots were heading to the Super Bowl after an undefeated season to that point, a perfect 18-0. They were cocky enough to submit an application for a trademark on 19-0, ostensibly assuming they would win the Super Bowl AND no other team had rights to go 19-0 and talk about it. They lost twice, as their application was denied AND they lost the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. The New York Post even clowned them by filing a trademark application on their behalf for “18-1.” Three-peat. Back in 1989, Pat Riley, then coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, trademarked this term as his epic teams marched toward a third straight title. The trademark was approved even though the Lakers fell short of three titles in a row. Years later, when Michael Jordan’s Bulls won three in a row two different times, the term Three-peat was used by broadcasters, in magazines and newspapers, and on plenty of t-shirts and merchandise. Guess who got paid? You guessed it – Pat Riley. Donald Trump’s “You’re fired!” The real estate mogul and leading man on the TV show “The Apprentice” filed to trademark his signature phrase, “You’re fired.” But The Donald was denied, not because people are fired every day, but because his rendition sounded too much like “You’re Hired,” an educational board game already trademarked. Snooki. Jersey Shore’s Snooki tried to patent her own nickname but it was denied by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who ruled that a cartoon cat in a children’s book held the rights to “Snooki.” Tweet. Believe it or not, Twitter does not own the trademark for “Tweet.” The multi-billion dollar social media company did submit a trademark request but it was denied because of an earlier request by Twittad, a Twitter-based advertising service in 2008. The noise of a Harley motorcycle engine. The Harley Davidson motorcycle company actually tried to trademark the noise of their engine revving. But the “vroom vroom’ was denied, as they couldn’t prove it was significantly different than any other motorcycle engine. A yellow smiley face. In 2006, Walmart displayed the ultimate arrogance when they submitted trademark requests for their yellow smiley face logo, which means that no one in the world would be able to use a yellow smiley face without permission or royalty. Thankfully, the request was denied when the courts ruled it was public domain. McDonald’s “Mc” on anything else. McDonalds has a history of suing any other company who uses the “Mc” prefix in conjuction with food, as it did with McCoffee café in San Francisco and the Filipino fast food chain, MacJoy. But in 2009, they lost a trademark case against a Malaysian restaurant named “McCurry,” after Federal courts ruled that no one would reasonably confuse the two. Still pending: The name “Orange.” Can you trademark a color? Syracuse University is trying just that, attempting to lock down the use of “Orange” as it pertains to sports teams. They applied in 2004 and 2006 with the outcome still pending, much to the chagrin of colleges in Tennessee and Florida who use the same term and color. Footlong. Subway, the popular sandwich chain, filed a trademark for the term “footlong.” They were so confident it was their intellectual property that they sent a cease-and-desist to two other eateries before they even were approved, a Coney Island hot dog shop and a general store in Iowa who were using the term. The general store fired back with a lawsuit and the whole matter is a big legal mess pending the outcome of their trademark. App store. Apple trademarked the term “app store,” even though the abbreviation refers to applications, not Apple. Amazon.com didn’t take kindly to that because they were using “App store” for actual apps with their Android phones so they went ahead and kept using it. Apple didn’t like that of course, and slammed them with a massive lawsuit. “Best Coffee in America.” Dunkin Donuts filed a patent for that accolade. Can you trademark a subjective opinion? We’ll find out, as it’s pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.” Seattle Seahawk malcontent Marshawn Lynch filed to copyright his signature phrase from the Super Bowl media week, though it’s yet to be approved.

The elegant natural beauty of trees built into living spaces.

Anthony Alfano — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 03:47:03 -0700

“Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.” -Rabindranath Tagore Almost every home contains a few houseplants and probably some fine landscaping outdoors, but now, architects and homeowners are taking the green living movement to a new level by incorporating live trees into their homes. And unlike a typical potted plant or tree, these residential real estate floor plans actually include trees rooted in the earth, creating stunning indoor nature-scapes that are redefining the separation of man, home, and environment. Building around venerable and grand trees instead of cutting them down is nothing new of course, but now, luxury architects and some of the world’s most exclusive designers are refocusing on the symbiosis with nature that results in these unique eco-loving visions. Logistically, it’s quite easy to do. When a tree is identified as sitting smack dab somewhere in the center of the future floor plan, the only options are to cut it down or keep it. From there, homeowners have myriad ways to exercise their creativity in keeping the prized arbor; building around it, letting it rise right through from floor to sky, encasing it in glass, building the house’s foundation on its roots, or allowing the tree to blossom and spread right inside the structure. A good number of tree species grow well in partial light and can endure a variety of temperatures, climates, and moisture levels. But whether a tropical tree house or ultra modern estate, from Argentina to Auckland, Mexico City to Manhattan, the Hollywood Hills to the jungles of Honduras, chestnut, fig, sycamore, ash, and even redwood trees are being used as a centerpiece of construction. So just like enjoying a silent stroll through a tranquil forest, we’ll cease the chatter and let you enjoy the emerald beauty of the world’s nicest houses with trees built into them.

Where Sacramento ranks for just about everything.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:55:17 -0700

Where Sacramento ranks for just about everything.Our beloved Sacramento has a rare gift of polarizing opinions - people seem to either love it or hate it. But how does The City of Trees rank against the rest of the country? We dug through dozens of articles, polls, blogs, and reports to come up with the most comprehensive Sacramento rankings…for just about everything you can imagine. Of course this isn't a perfect science. Some of these data sources included areas surrounding Sacramento, some did not. Polls tended to rank out of 30 large metropolitan areas, 100 cities, or 200+ cities. So to make this information easier to digest, I highlighted the bad stuff in red and the really good stuff in blue.Some of these might surprise you! Have fun!Where Sacramento ranks for just about everything:Lifestyle and livability. #5 Worst places to live in the country. #6 Most fun, affordable city. #12 Americas dirtiest cities #18 Worst run cities in America. #91 Best places to live. Economy, financial, and jobs. #2 Retirement financial readiness. #3 Fastest growing new car market. #6 Worst places to find a job. #7 Prosperity index. #10 Best for women in workforce. #12 Clean economy jobs. #34 Best credit scores. #38 Small business friendly cities. #60 Access to jobs via public transit. #97 Labor market for young adults. #259 Charitable giving. Online and tech. #1 Top digital small city (Roseville.) #4 Fastest growing for tech jobs. #5 Best airport for tech travelers. #9 Most likely for identity theft. #10 Most vulnerable to online threats. Pets. #2 Pet friendly city in America. #7 Best city for cats. #9 postal service dog attacks #11 Most pampered pet cities. #34 Best for dogs (no wonder why there are so many postal attacks!) Happiness and friendliness. #1 Happiest workers in mid sized cities. #7 Happiest young professionals. #8 Most stressed out cities. #9 Funniest cities. #10 Unfriendliest cities. Bikes, parks, and recreation. #1 Best family-friendly place to fish and boat. #7 Public park access and spending. #7 Park score index. #10 Best for urban forests. #11 best city bike paths. #11 Bicycle commuters. #24 Walkable cities. #25 Best bike cities. Sports. #1 Most valuable minor league baseball teams. #4 Best baseball cities. #23 Sacramento Kings ranked as a basketball team out of 30 NBA teams. #47 America’s manliest sports city. #122 Sacramento Kings as a professional sports franchise. (Dead last!) Crime, theft, and safety. #1 Least calamitous cities for natural disasters and storms. #6 Watercraft thefts. #13 Vehicle thefts. #23 Most dangerous cities for pedestrians. #53 Best city for crime. #140 Safest driving cities. #348 Highest crime cities in America. (Out of 437.) Affordability and housing. #1 Biggest housing inventory contraction. #2 Market for housing recovery. #3 Hottest housing market. #6 Home affordability. #10 Best destination for your vacation dollar. #21 Yuppie price index. #50 Gas prices. Education. #3 Library of the year voting. #10 Smartest cities. #46 Best college bang-for-the-buck. #66 Sacramento State college ranking. #84 Most eLiterate (Kindles, Nooks, eBooks, smartphones, etc.) Health. #1 City for bedbug pest termination calls. (Yuck!) #2 Most eye healthy cities. #3 Healthiest eaters. #5 Highest ozone days. #7 Healthiest cities. #8 Most stressful cities. #10 American Fitness Index. #11 Most glutunous cities. #17 Healthiest city for kids. #20 Most caffeinated cities. #44 Most sleepless cities. #72 Asthma capitals. #88 Cities for well being. #99 Allergy capitals. (99 out of 100) Dating, gender, and social life. #11 Best city for staying young. #11 Best cities to be a woman. #16 City for people 35 and younger. #20 Cities with the most handsome men. (Ranked last out of 20 cities!) #31 Most single city. #40 Best city for dating. #43 America’s most manly cities. (Haha!) #48 Most romantic cities. Funny and interesting. #4 GTL’s! Social media check-ins for gyms, tanning salons, and laundry mats. (Great!) #4 Best cities for nerds. (Atlanta, Seattle, and Portland are top.) #30 most generous tippers (Average tip is 18.7%, below the national average of 19.2%.) #4 Best cities to be a chicken (ranked by number of backyard chicken coops.) #8 Most redneck cities. #9 Top marijuana friendly cities. #15 Vainest city. (A lot of selfies!) #47 America’s luckiest city. (A stat compiled from lottery winners, golf hole-in-ones, and lightning strike victims!)

The 10 most common causes of home fires.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:52:52 -0700

With all of our awareness, safety protocols, and modern technology, home fires are still a significant danger. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), firefighters still respond to about 374,000 residential fires every year in the U.S. At that rate, we have a home fire every 10 seconds, and every 60 seconds a fire serious enough to call the fire department. Even more sobering, every three hours, someone loses their life to a fire in their home, about 13,000 a year on average. The price tag on fire damage is startling as well – about seven billion dollars a year. So where do home fires start? The statistics show that the usual suspects are to blame – falling asleep with cigarettes, kitchen fires, and faulty wiring. But there are also some unexpected culprits when it comes to home fires, so we’ll examine them all here. Home fires by the numbers: 374,000 Average number of residential home fires each year. 2,600 Average number of deaths each year from home fires. 12,975 Average number of injuries due to home fires each year. $7.32 billion Average annual dollar loss due to home fires. Causes of home fires: 56% Cooking. 16% Heating. 9% Electrical malfunction. 8% Other unintentional or careless. 6% Open flame. 5% Intentional. 1. Cigarettes: Smokers who fall asleep with lit cigarettes or fail to put them out adequately is a common cause of home fires. 2. Fireplaces: In places where traditional wood fires are still aloud, sparks or embers flying out of fireplaces not covered by a screen can easily travel all the way across a room, often unnoticed, and smolder until a fire ignites. 3. Portable heaters: Portable heating appliances can be very dangerous in the home, especially when people leave them on when they are not in the room. If they are too close to furniture, curtains, or even catch dust balls, they can easily ignite and cause fires. 4. Screws into the wall: Homeowners almost never think twice about putting a hammer or screw into the wall to hang a picture, mirror, or other decoration. But those can easily pass through the sheetrock and pierce exposed wires, especially in older homes who didn’t have protective wall plates built into their building codes. Once a wire is frayed or pierced, you have a nonstop electric current running among insulation behind a closed wall – a recipe for a blaze. Twice as many electrical fires are started by old or faulty wiring than by the appliances themselves! 5. In the kitchen. The kitchen is where most home fires occur, but interestingly enough, not where the highest fatality rates occur. That’s because people are usually present when they cook and can put it out or escape quickly. Most fires start with items too close to an open flame or hot burner on the stove – like paper towels, pot holders, aprons, aerosol cans, recipe cards, etc., as well as build ups of grease. It’s recommended you keep a three foot buffer around a hot stove, never leave a hot stove unattended, and keep a small fire extinguisher in plain sight in the kitchen. 6. The clothes dryer. Many house fires start in the clothes dryer. When people don’t adequately clean out the lint filter, the dryer has to overwork to push hot air through a combustible clump of flammable lint, with a predictable outcome. But even if you’re diligent about cleaning it, debris can still collect in the dryer cabinet where the heating element sits, at the bottom or in the back of the machine where it’s not easily detected. The venting system is another place materials can spark or combust with heat. It’s recommended you hire a professional to clean the dryer and venting thoroughly every 18-24 months. 7. Garage debris. Sawdust, oily rags, paint thinner, combustible aerosols, and gasoline cans sit unattended in your hot garage. A quick spark or electrical short can set them ablaze, or even spontaneously combust if the temperature rises enough. 8. Electronics. Computers, televisions sets, video games systems, and stereos often work hard and heat up to an alarming level. They are supposed to have internal fans to cool them down but Apple computers and video game systems like Xbox or PlayStation are notorious for heating up past the point of safety, especially if they are not properly ventilated or partially obstructed by papers, a blanket or bedding, a cabinet or wall, etc. With all of these electronics, power cords are another danger. Phone chargers that short out from electrical surges are now a growing threat of home fires. Laptop chargers that get way too hot can easily set off a flammable material like lint or papers. In sum, electrical fires account for more than 50,000 home blazes a year, causing $1.5 billion in property damage. 9. Dust and lint. No matter what room of the house, even small build-ups of dust and lint are a fire hazard. They can easily be kicked up or blown around into heating vents, portable heaters, open flames, cooking services, or ignite next to hot electronics. 10. Children setting fires. Children are naturally curious and it's common for them to go through a phase when they experiment with flame and fire, whether it's lighting things with a magnifying glass or messing around with matches. Once they see a flame, they often panic or run because they're scared of getting in trouble or don't know safety measures. 5% of all home fires are intentionally set (like from deep-fryers, back yard barbecues, etc.) and very few of those are arson - leaving curious children as a significant cause. *** Look for our next blog that breaks down how to prepare your house, plan, and keep your family safe in the event of a home fire!

Common neighbor disputes, part 1; Noise, pets, and water.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:50:49 -0700

Common neighbor disputes, part 1; Noise, pets, and water. Robert Frost, the great American poet once said, “Good fences make good neighbors.” While it probably wasn’t the most elegant thing he penned, it could be the most accurate. Yes, we’ve all had run-ins with neighbors, those strangers who become an important part of our lives just because of their proximity. The rule goes that if a neighbor is good, you probably won’t even notice them, but if they’re bad…they can make your life flat-out miserable. Whether you live in a house with a spacious yard, are stuffed close in a McMansion, or have neighbors above and below you in a condo or apartment, we’ve all had issues: loud parties on Tuesday nights, dogs who like digging up our grass, neon yellow paint colors, pink flamingos in their front yard, and not paying their fair share for that dreaded instigator of neighborly conflict –the shared fence. You could get mad, you could scream at them, you can even send your dog to their lawn and paint your house in pink and purple polka dots out of spite, but there may be a better way to handle challenging neighbors. Good communication and a level head are your best allies, but knowing some of the laws and regulations also prove invaluable. So here are a few guidelines on 3 of the most common challenges among neighbors: noisy neighbors, pet complaints, and flooding and water issues.Noisy neighbors. Neighbors who are excessively loud are one of the most difficult blights to deal with because how-loud-is-too-loud is such a subjective thing that’s hard to measure. Additionally, a backyard party on a Saturday night that goes until midnight may not offend most people, but an older or crabby neighbor might call the police. (And the police have to come if a complaint is made, regardless of who is right or wrong.) Condos and apartments are even more difficult with noise complaints because you usually have 3 or even 4 neighbors above and below you. Condos usually have association rules and apartments have policies that look to minimize noise complaints. Any grievances can be directed to the condo association or apartment management.For homeowners, most municipal codes have some sort of clause that lays out what constitutes a noise problem. For instance, it may define it as, “an unreasonable annoyance, disturbance or offensive activity that unreasonably inhibits another neighbor from using their property.” There are a few things you can do: to take the subjectivity out of it, you could take an acoustical test that measures exactly who loud the neighbor is on the decibel meter. Documenting that is a good start in case a civil action or complaint ensues. Before it gets to that, try to talk to the neighbor. Ask them politely if they could give you notice when they’ll have a gathering or event where the volume will be up, are doing early construction, etc. Ask for a pre-arranged beginning and end time to the noise. Hopefully, they will respect you communicating and respond. It’s a lot better than calling the police every time things get loud. Other common noise complaints are over noise that is “habitual or mechanical in nature,” like a loud bar down the street or a machine shop. Usually the City’s Code Enforcement Department is the place to contact to monitor the noise from businesses. Here is the Sacramento Police Department’s website page that deals with noise complaints: http://www.sacpd.org/faq/nuisance/ Pet complaints. You may have a crazy cat lady living next door who lets them infest the neighborhood, or a neighbor who has roosters who come alive at 3 am, but usually pet issues revolve around dogs. There are three kinds of issues with dogs: excessive barking, relieving themselves on your lawn (the dogs – not the neighbors,) and dangerous dogs not properly leashed or fenced. If a dog barks excessively – which usually happens when they leave a dog unattended in the yard – it falls under some of the same standards as noise complaints. Leash laws are laid out in most municipalities, requiring dogs to be properly leashed or behind locking fences for public protection. If a dog is not, your city or municipality will take it very seriously because it’s a huge liability if the dog attacks someone. Condos or apartments or homes with a Homeowners Association will have additional regulations that may get as specific as weight, size, and type of pet. Dogs relieving themselves on their lawn also fall under the verbiage of municipal leash laws. Generally, pet owners have a civic responsibility to clean up after their pet. All animal and dog complaints are handled by the City's Animal Care and Control Division, so give them a call before you contact the police. Here is Sacramento County’s web page on animal control and complaints: http://www.animalcare.saccounty.net/AnimalIssues/Pages/BarkingDog.aspx Flooding and water issues. Noise and pets may be incessantly annoying, but nothing can harm your property as quickly as water damage. Usually this occurs in apartments or condominiums where the upstairs neighbor has a pipe burst, bathroom leak, or appliance like washing machine, icemaker on a fridge, or dishwasher malfunction. When that happens, there is very clear accountability who is responsible (the neighbor) and who has to fix it (the condo association or apartment manager.) In California, the law always falls on the side of tenant rights so it’s a simple process to make complaints and force them to make it right. But water problems also occur between side-by-side neighbors. This is often from faulty irrigation or bad sprinklers that cause flooding, kill neighbor landscaping, or even reach the house and cause property damage. Of course you should document any water damage with photos/videos/and a log, and report to the proper municipal complaint agency or association. But with water damage, another very important issue could rear its ugly head: mold. Water damage over time causes mold, which causes serious health concerns that lead to hospitalization or even death in extreme cases. There’s a whole line of litigation that deals with mold but be aware that a landlord or condo association is responsible for remediation if mold exists, which includes replacing damaged sheetrock or other materials and proper city inspection. If you are having respiratory or health problems that you think are coming from mold (especially if you have children) then you can buy homeowner mold testing kits and from there, contact mold inspection and remediation companies. Here is the Environmental Protection Agency’s web page on mold issues: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html

10 Questions to ask about your homeowners insurance policy.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:48:58 -0700

What does it cover?Homeowner's insurance covers a specific array of damage to your property. These could a fire in your home, a windstorm blowing the roof off, or burglars breaking in. It also covers property damage, additional living expenses, personal liability, and medical payments. But different policies have different levels of coverage, so ask to see if you’re covered. For instance, your policy may cover you if someone breaks in to your car and steals something valuable. What doesn’t it cover? Every policy has exclusions, so it’s important for you to ask your agent what is not covered. Most policies don’t take care of you in case of natural disasters like earthquakes, landslides, sinkholes, and power failures, acts of war, nuclear accidents, government actions, and bad work by a contractor. Tornadoes and hurricanes are usually covered unless you live in a particularly vulnerable area. Ask if water damage is covered. Water damage to your home is a completely different animal with most insurance policies, so specifically ask how well you’re protected. Generally, water from below - like from flooding or overflowing sewers or broken appliances – is not covered, while water damage from above – rainwater or burst pipes – is covered. How much insurance do I need? It’s important to have enough coverage in case the worst-case scenario comes to fruition. That being said, your lender (if you have a mortgage) will decree how much minimum coverage you need. But ask your agent if you should bump up that amount to cover personal affects and property. What deductible is right for me? Setting your deductible correctly is one of the biggest decisions you have when getting a policy. Our first instinct is sometimes to go with the highest deductible to get the lowest possible policy cost. But that may not be wise, especially if you consider that every year, about 6% of homeowners file a claim, and 97% of those claims are for some sort of property damage. So set a deductible that you’re comfortable paying both monthly and if something happens and you file a claim. Should you opt for Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value? When taking out a policy, you’ll have the option between these two methods of reimbursement if something happens. Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild your home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation. It’s recommended your insurance covers at least 80% of the Replacement Cost. Actual Cash Value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage to your home after depreciation. Policies based on market value usually have lower premiums, but you’ll get less back if something happens.Are discounts available for preventive action and maintenance? Ask your agent if there are things you can do that will bode well with your insurer and yield discounts. Installing new smoke detectors, a fence around your pool, a new roof, or maintenance on your HVAC unit. Something as simple as installing deadbolts could save you 5%, and a new alarm system might get you a 15% discount! Can I save money if I bundle policies? By filling your insurance needs for homeowners, auto, and other policies, you usually get a significant discount. You should price the options for bundling versus separate policies. A word of caution - life insurance or insurance as an investment is totally different than homeowners and auto, so don’t worry about bundling these just for discounts. What about my jewelry? Most homeowner insurance policies have specific exclusions or rules when it comes jewelry. So if your wedding ring is lost or stolen, the fine print might only require them to cover up to $3,000 in value. So ask about the limits for jewelry (and sometimes electronics or cash,) because there are supplemental policies you can easily put in place to make up the difference How much time do I have to file a claim? You should read the fine print about time limits to file a claim if something happens. Too often, homeowners are overwhelmed, stressed, and confused if something catastrophic like a fire or flood happens, and take way too long to file a claim with the insurer. That puts them in jeopardy of their claim being rejected based on time limits. Sometimes, the window is as small as 14 days. What should I document? If you file a claim, the onus to prove the existence and value of your property will be on you, so document everything carefully. It’s recommended you make a list of personal property include serial numbers and model numbers. Save receipts and take photos of everything, keeping it on a flash drive in a different location. When you get home improvements or work done on the house, document everything including contracts and materials used. If you have to file a claim, it’s recommended you create a log with phone calls and emails to your agent, the insurer or any contractors.

Calculating the right rent for your investment property.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:47:25 -0700

Owning rental property is one of the soundest investments you could make, to the extent that 90% of millionaires have income-producing property in their portfolio. But making day-to-day decisions to manage those properties can be challenging if your not properly informed. There is no greater decision than what rent to charge a new tenant. If you read all the books on real estate investing, they cite a general rule as industry standard: To calculate rent, take 1.1% of the home’s value. That means if your rental property is worth $100,000, the rent should be $1,100. If it’s a $200,000 rental house, the rent will be $2,200. Universal axioms like that are dangerous when you’re talking about real estate because there are no “one size fits all” solutions. For instance, good luck getting 1.1% in California, where the median home price is much higher than the rest of the country. The good news about owning property in California is that our appreciation rates are much higher than the rest of the country during healthy markets – as we’ve seen with nearly 25% appreciation since 2012 in the Sacramento area. Also, whether you’re renting a house, a halfplex or duplex, condominium, or apartment in a building you own has a huge impact on what rental price is appropriate. Assuming that you have a single-family residence or halfplex or one side of a duplex (not a condo or apartment) in a decent neighborhood in the Sacramento region, how do you price your rent? First off, let me cover the three priorities of any landlord to frame the conversation. In reality, you have three goals as a landlord, in this order: 1. Avoid vacancies. 2. Get a renter who pays on time and doesn’t trash your unit. 3. Get a renter who stays long term. A renter who stays long term and pays on time helps minimize time, energy, and money-consuming transitions, where 90% of your work as a landlord will occur. Of course you want someone who takes reasonably good care of the property so your fix-up costs (above their damage deposit) will be minimal. And vacancies? Those are the enemy of the landlord – the monkey wrench that throws all of your calculations on profit out of whack. Point blank: vacancies kill landlord profits. The reason I bring this up is because too often, landlords try to charge the highest monthly rent they can manage, thinking it’s good business to boost their monthly income as high as they can “get away with.” But in reality, charging rent that’s above fair market value is detrimental to their business model. Why? They’ll have a smaller pool of applicants (who may have shaky credentials,) the tenants will move out more frequently or cause more problems, and it will take longer to rent the unit – all factors that contribute to a high vacancy rate. Imagine that we have a house in a neighborhood where most similar properties rent for $1,200 a month. At that price it’s easy to find good renters so let’s say the unit will have a paying tenant 12 months a year. That equals $14,400 a year in rental income. But if the landlord gets a little greedy and tries to charge $1,300 a month in rent it takes longer to find a tenant or they move out before the year is up. If it’s occupied 11 months out of the year at $1,300, that comes to $14,300 a year profit. If it’s vacant for two months, the total profit is only $13,000. It doesn’t seem like much, but any benefit of trying to squeeze an extra $100 a month in rent is wiped out by even one month’s vacancy. So as we determine a price for your rental property, we have those three goals in mind. What we want to offer is a rental price that is fair, a win-win for both the tenant and the landlord. I even like to price my rentals slightly below market value because I attract far more applicants. I can take my pick of those with the best credit score, income, stable jobs, etc. and I end up earning far more profit by eliminating vacancies, evictions, maintenance, etc. Here are the steps in determining the rental price that’s best for you: 1. Compare apples to apples. When researching what other similar homes are going for, make sure you look in the same neighborhood and at the same type of property. Don’t compare a condominium to a house, a unit in Granite Bay to one in Citrus Heights, etc. 2. Look into Craig’s List and other websites. Do your homework online by looking into Craigslist and other websites that advertise rental properties. This will give you a good sense of what other landlords are charging – your competition – and what options a renter has. You’ll come up with an accurate range – low, average, and high rental prices. 3. Talk to neighbors. Knock on a few doors, announcing your intention to rent the property and inquiring what rents are going for in the neighborhood. You may be surprised at the answers! 4. Add or subtract for amenities. Honestly assess what your property has to offer. If you have new appliances, new carpet, and a hot tub, you may be able to charge slightly more than a unit with old amenities in worse condition. But you still shouldn’t get too happy adding extra money to fair market rent just because your property is in good condition – that’s almost a necessity. It will help you attract more and better applicants, but definitely subtract off the rental price if your property is outdated or needs work. 5. Test the market. As you put your house up for rent and start advertising, listen carefully to what the market tells you. If you get no calls or interest, your price is way too high. If you get a few people looking but none want to rent it, they’re finding better and cheaper properties to rent. The more interest you generate, the closer you are to the fair market value price. 6. Have a set schedule of price reductions every week or two. That way, you’ll know you tested the market so you’re not leaving any money on the table, but you’ll get it rented soon without those dreaded vacancies. 7. Talk to a property manager. The most efficient way to make these rental headaches disappear is to hire a property management firm. A well-established company like Vienna Property Management in the Sacramento area has an intimate knowledge of rental prices, a pool of tenants looking, and all the marketing channels you need. If you think big picture, their help will free up your time and energy and eliminate vacancies, evictions, etc. – saving you money overall even with their small fees. If you need any help or would like some advice about pricing your rental property, give Vienna Property Management a call (916-520-1712) or email. They're great people and do a wonderful job turning rental properties into cash flowing smart investments!

The history of business cards.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:45:48 -0700

Early History -Business cards originated in 15th century China, where they were known as visiting cards, which announced a person’s intention of formally meeting with someone else. -These ancient business cards were made using woodcut and letterpress techniques and often very ornate, even with embedded gold. -The practice of exchanging visiting cards spread from Asia to Europe, probably by merchants and traders.Visiting Cards -Visiting cards were widely called visite biletes, the French term. - It grew to acceptance under the reign of the French king, Louis XIV from 1643-1715. But the practice was still reserved for the upper echelon of society. -Visiting cards at this time were about the size of a playing card and decorated with engraved crests or elaborate coats of arms. -The footmen or page of the aristocrat would present the card to servants of the home to announce their arrival, always collected with their left hand. -Cards were collected in a silver tray in the home’s foyer. In their entirety, they documented how many people visited the home and how prestigious they were (sort of like the first social media!) It also reminded the homeowners of their social obligations to pay a visit or return the call to those who left their cards. -These visiting cards, or visite biletes, were used to announce the imminent arrival of a person of royalty, wealth, or prestige to a town or home. -During the 18th century, old woodcut and letterpress techniques were replaced with copperplate engraving. -In the 18th and 19th centuries, if a gentlemen wanted to court a lady he’d start by formally calling on her at her home. Upon the first visit, he had to present a different visiting card to each lady in the household. -Or, he could fold his own card down the middle, signaling that it was meant for all members of the household. If the upper right hand corner of the card was folded, it indicated that the caller presented his card in person. -Lettering engraved on the cards (in French) signaled the intention of the visit – “p.f.” indicated a congratulatory visit, while “p.c.” was a condolence call. -He left the cards with the servants of the house at the front door, who collected all visiting cards on a silver tray that was kept in the foyer. The hostess would review the card and he would be admitted only upon her approval. However, she would never examine a card right in the hall, which would be an unheard-of offense. -If the female object of his affection never responded to the reception of his card, then he knew she had no interest and the matter was ended. -At that time, it was ok for a gentlemen to carry cards loose in his pocket but women had to carry theirs in a case. -By the 19th century, visiting cards were essential instruments of any polite gentlemen, who used them almost daily as a tool of introduction and upper social mobility. Trade Cards -While royalty and high society used visiting cards as an extension of their prestige, a version of the modern business card took hold for the new merchant class. -The Industrial Revolution saw the formation of a new middle class who engaged in commerce and trade like never before. The pomp and circumstance of formal society started to diminish, creating a huge divide and resentment between the elite class and the commoners. who were now better educated and worldly and not just in the agricultural trade. -In 17th century London, there was no uniform system of numbers and addresses or a well-established city newspaper. That made it hard for people to find certain shops, businesses, or offices. -Trade cards solved that problem by advertising a business and also showing a rough map of how to get there, all printed on the card. -Cards would be passed out in markets and public squares as promotional tools. -Their purpose was less and less for social purposes and more for true business. Leaving a card at a home could even signal that a bill was due. -Trading cards were still seen as an extension of the owner, and exchange created new business relationships and trade links. Signing your business card with terms written in even created a legally binding contract. -As an extension, these trade cards started to appear among entrepreneurs and merchants in the newly born United States – still under English rule. With the advent and popularity of the lithographic press by 1830, business cards started being printed on good quality paper with shading, small images of art, or even lettering in multiple colors was possible. -These cards were mostly printed on plain white paper with clear, bold black writing – a utilitarian statement that expressed rejection of the upper class. -The distinction between visiting cards and trade cards was a sign of the times that symbolized the mutual resentment between the common person and the rich, who treated the trade cards with disdain. -In the United States, business cards became widely popular in the 1890’s, the age of Captains of Industry and Robber Barons. -There was a new emergence of business cards in the fast moving and high-power 1980’s, the decade of consumerism. International Use And Etiquette -Business card traditions and etiquette are different around the world. In Asia, the process of presenting and exchanging business cards is taken very seriously. It’s thought that a person’s card is really an extension of themselves. Just like they would dress for success and have the highest manners in an important business meeting, a business card is supposed to be clean, unblemished or folded, mistake free, and presented with honor. -The standard size for business cards now is 3.370 x 2.125 inches. -In many countries, it’s rude to offer your business card with your left hand – just like you wouldn’t shake hands with your left. -It is also rude to immediately put the card away in your wallet or pocket when someone hands it to you. -You should not write on someone else’s business card. -Since it’s the international language of business, many cards have English information on one side. But the other side should have the same information in the hose country’s language. -In the international business community, it’s bad form to carry cards loose. Instead, they should be protected in a nice case.Modern Uses -These days, business cards are expected to list essential information about the owner – particularly their name, title, business, and contact information. They can also be adorned with logos, professional accolades and awards, educational degrees, and a photo. -But business cards are still evolving – during the age of super-saturated marketing messages, advertisements, and self-promotion; entrepreneurs use business cards as a first impression and a way to differentiate themselves. It’s fun – and perfectly acceptable – to break all the rules with creative shapes, sizes, cutouts, and art work on business cards. -Technology is also being integrated into business cards, far past just listing a website and email. QR codes and even embedded files, flash drive data, or mini-disc technology can be built into modern business cards. -The future of business cards is exciting and limitless, with hologram technology and multimedia mini computers expected to integrate soon.

35 Creative ways to improve your home's curb appeal.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:44:12 -0700

1. Hide your garden hose in a nice pot. Unsightly garden hoses and spray nozzles can easily be coiled and stored inside of a big ceramic pot or planter. 2. Reface your foundation. If you have a plain and boring concrete or stucco foundation, add faux or half bricks, tiles, or faux stone to turn a negative into one of its nicest features. 3. Highlight your address numbers. Instead of small black letters near your front door, why not get creative with larger letters built into in a false rock, concrete column or stone feature with built-in lighting. 4. Add a pathway. Build a pathway to your side yard or driveway with mulch, stone, great plantings, and stepping-stones. 5. Install shutters. Nothing makes the face of your home look better than nice shutters outside each window. Look at plenty of color patterns but try a glossy paint with deep, dark colors like black, crimson, or hunter green. 6. Get a new front door. Replace your humdrum front door with a classic stained wood or modern full window door. 7. Add window boxes. Remember those shutters we put up? Follow that up with box planters outside each window (or just the second floor) with colorful flowers. Stained wood or bright paint looks great on these. 8. Plant vines over unsightly areas. If there’s an area of the house that isn’t particularly nice to look at – like if it has utility poles, boxes, or lines – you can simply put up a vertical trellis in front of it and plant some vines. 9. Build a trellis above the garage door. Let’s face it – garage doors are ugly. But an easy weekend project of building a nice trellis over it, complete with interwoven vines and some accent lighting, and your garage will be the envy of the neighborhood. 10. Paint your front door. Don’t worry if your budget doesn’t allow for a brand new front door – you can repaint your existing one! To make sure the new layers of paint don’t keep it from closing properly, you might want to sand it down some before applying primer and paint. Match this too your shutters with glossy paint. 11. Create a container garden. Our first instinct is to plant everything in the front yard, but it’s way easier (and looks really cool!) to mix and match fun, funky, and colorful containers to hold flowers and plants. 12. Update your mailbox. Just like your address numbers got a makeover, spruce up your mailbox. Instead of having it hang by your front door, build a classic wooden pillar and have it sit out on the street, or wrap the base in brick or stone. Build in a sturdy mailbox but make sure it locks. 13. Set up a sitting area. It’s amazing how inviting a front porch or front yard looks with some simple outdoor furniture so you can sit outside and enjoy it. 14. Update your front porch light. Replacing outdated lighting with new, modern lighting is a great way to improve curb appeal without breaking the bank. 15. Replace your garage door. Trade in your dented and dated garage door with a gorgeous wooden carriage door or faux wood door. You can even get these to open horizontally to complete the look of a million dollar mansion! 16. Fix up your garage door . If you don’t have money to replace it, you can have a row of horizontal windows cut into your existing door and add screw-on hardware that makes it look like a classy carriage door. 17. Add new hardware to your front door. Add a new knob, big brass knocker, and brass kick plate to any front door to make it look brand new. 18. Add an archway. Build an archway on the way to the front door and cover it with vines, colorful flowers, and cool lighting. 19. Paint the exterior. You may not want to paint the whole house, but there’s nothing wrong with painting only the front, including a three-color pattern with the trim and the front door and shutters different colors. 20. Paint over concrete steps or porch floor. Paint old and weathered concrete steps or a porch with dark and glossy paint. Black looks great, but remember to prepare the concrete well first and use specialty mason/floor paint because of the high foot traffic. 21. Power wash. Rent a power washer for the day and spray clean your house, your roof, inside gutters, stucco, walkways, and your driveway. Just remember to wash from the top down so you don’t create a bigger mess. 22. Replace your welcome matt. Don’t forget that something as simple as a new, colorful, and personalized welcome matt can make a great first impression. You can even build your own out of painted wooden slats! 23. Wash windows. Take out the Windex and the old newspapers (better and less expensive than paper towels) and give your windows a good washing – they’ll really sparkle! 24. Plant a tree. To break up a monotonous lawn, plant a tree and surround it with a mulch bed and other lower plants or flowers. 25. Upgrade your porch railing. If you don’t have money for a brand new porch, you can replace the posts and spindles and repaint to make it look new. 26. Add edging stones to your driveway. I love this look – instead of a boring asphalt driveway butting right up against the lawn, set in edging stones, pavers, or bricks along the way. 27. Hang outdoor curtains. Outdoor fabrics are weather resistant and sheer enough to let light in, so use them as outdoor drapes hanging from your overhang or porch ceiling with tiebacks. The neighbors will rave about it! 28. Outdoor chandelier. While you’re at it, replace your boring overhead light fixture with an outdoor chandelier to make your front porch look like the foyer of a million dollar mansion! 29. Add lights to walkway. New landscaping lighting along pathways gives your home that welcoming glow at night. 30. Hang string lights. Wrap trees, posts, and front porches with strands of white outdoor lights. The key is being subtle so it doesn’t look like Christmas! 31. Put up hanging plants. You can make any porch pop by hanging pretty flowers or lush ferns from pots suspended from the ceiling, complete with their own mister watering system. 32. Rip out the lawn. Replace the front lawn with natural landscaping and symmetrical flower gardens to give it an organic, modern look. You can even have fun and recreate the beach with small crushed gravel that looks like sand, “beachy” grasses, and seas shells and starfish scattered around! 33. Put a bench in the garden area. Simply adding a sitting area can add curb appeal. Don’t be afraid to go with something bright and fun. 34. Add elements of water. A fountain, water feature, or koi pond makes a great signature piece in the front of your home. 35. Hang a porch swing. There is no better way to add curb appeal – and even add value to your home – with a hanging swing on your front porch. A nice one isn’t too expensive and you can easily attach it to a strong beam with chains or thick ropes. It will add instant charm to the front of your house!

Selling a haunted house is a ghastly affair without full disclosure.

Anthony Alfano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:43:00 -0700

Some people believe in ghosts and spirits that curse certain homes, spooking the occupants. Others think that the notion of haunted houses is nothing but a 365-day Halloween - irrational fear mixed with a healthy does of imagination. But what happens when these people are buying or selling a home they believe to be haunted? In real estate practice and under the law, what are the obligations for a seller to disclose they’ve been living in a home with paranormal activity? Believe it or not, the problem is more prevalent than you might think, and there are even a few legal precedents in place. When I Googled, “Selling a haunted house,” over 3.2 million results came up! Of course they technical definition of a home that’s visited by Casper isn’t ‘haunted,’ but they fall under the classification of ‘Stigmatized Properties,’ in the legal and real estate world. Stigmatized Properties (SP) are properties that may be devalued because of circumstances or events in their history, not their physical condition or layout. In real estate, SP’s include if someone was murdered on the property, died of AIDS, if there was a meth lab run out of the house, etc. But you can add to that list the belief that a house is haunted. It’s hard to prove, but the seller does have set obligations. The specific disclosure laws vary state to state, but usually the seller does have a duty to disclose ‘material facts’ about the property and its history. Those disclosures fall under one of two umbrellas: demonstrable (physical) or emotional facts. We know what demonstrable material facts may look like – mold or mildew, close proximity to a prison or an airport, etc. But how about emotional facts? The most common of such disclosures is if a murder occurred under the property. Under California Civil Code 1710.2, a death on the property (not just in the home) must be disclosed to a buyer if it happened within the previous three years. Additionally if a buyer inquires, the seller must disclose any knowledge of any deaths, regardless of timeframe. For that reason, many real estate firms use a supplemental disclosure form that asks just that. According to the National Association of Realtors, about half of all states require some sort of disclosure of material or emotional facts that would probably include the belief that a property is haunted. It’s not necessarily about buying into the seller’s spiritual beliefs but identifying any stigmas that may affect the value of the property, for any reason. Just as a seller has to disclose property taxes, construction done without permits, and lead paint, they have to spill the beans about the reputation of the property being haunted - warranted or not. Why? It’s all about ensuring fair value. A study by two business professors at Wright University concluded that homes where a murder or suicide occurred take 50% longer to sell and close at an average price 2.4% less than non-stigmatized comparable properties. A California appraiser who specializes in value diminution is on record that a well-publicized murder usually lowers the selling price by 15-35%. Of course there are those rare cases where a house supposedly being haunted actually attracted buyers, particularly in spooky cities like New Orleans, Los Angeles (because they’ll want to shoot films or TV shows there,) and St. Augustine. In that Florida city, a historic house that had a well-documented reputation for being haunted was purchased and converted into a restaurant. Business boomed as tourists and diners lined up for a good meal and in hope of seeing the ghost of the houses former owner, who dresses in white and appears only in mirrors. Another well established haunted houses sits at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, where Ronald DeFeo, Jr. once murdered his whole family. The events that took place in that house were later made into a famous book and several films, including Amityville Horror. But as a buyer, unless you are planning on turning your home into a haunted restaurant or subject for one of the numerous television shows about paranormal investigators, it doesn’t hurt to go over the seller’s disclosures thoroughly, talk to neighbors, and even Google the property address. The buyer will get their home inspection and what you thought was an ancient curse of the undead may just be a family of mice in the attic or faulty wiring. If you’re selling and suspect something other-worldly going on, then you should disclose it to the buyer so you don’t end up in court. Don’t assume the notion of a haunted house will be laughed out of court. Remember that it’s about anything that may diminish the property’s value, not proving ghosts exist. There’s even a firm legal precedent where the courts considered the presence of ghosts to be valid in real estate transactions. In 1991, Jeffrey Stambovsky was in the process of purchasing a home in Nyack, New York. Little did he know that the home was haunted, or so the previous owner, Mrs. Helen Ackley, claimed. Mrs. Ackley had in 1977 and 1982 sold her haunted house story to Readers Digest, officially verifying the existence of ghosts and paranormal activity to the magazine in exchange for $3,000. She’d claimed that ghosts left baby rings around for her grandchildren, woke her daughter every morning by shaking her bed, and apparitions in human form even appeared face to face in broad daylight, including a Navy lieutenant from the American Revolution. Whether it was true or not we’ll never know, but Stambovsky heard about it and backed out the real estate deal, and took the Mrs. Acklet and her real estate agent to court, claiming fraudulent misrepresentation. At first, the lower courts in New York ruled that the seller and agent were under no obligation to disclose the presence of ghosts, but in a groundbreaking revisal, the appellate court ruled that the house was indeed haunted – thanks to Mrs. Ackley’s written admission in Readers Digest. "Whether the source of the spectral apparitions seen by defendant seller are parapsychic or psychogenic, having reported their presence in both a national publication (Readers' Digest) and the local press (in 1977 and 1982, respectively), defendant is estopped to deny their existence and, as a matter of law, the house is haunted." Stambovsky was allowed to back out of the $650,00 deal and move on to another house. Things did turn out well for Mrs. Ackley, as publicity from the haunted houses court case brought a new group of buyers to the house led by the famous mentalist, the Amazing Kreskin.

DIY house painting tips.

Anthony Alfano — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 23:34:33 -0700

DIY house painting tips. Congratulations on buying your new home! Now comes the hard part - fixing it up and redecorating to your liking. You'll want to hire a professional painter if your budget allows, but if you're willing to invest some elbow grease and your weekend to the task, you may be able to save a bundle by painting some of the interior rooms yourself. Here are some DIY painting tips to make sure it comes out looking great! It’s all in the prep work. The secret to a great paint job is to invest time in getting the room prepped properly. That means scraping and sanding any loose paint, patching nail holes or cracks with compound, letting it dry and sanding smooth. If you’re painting over a very glossy existing paint, go over it lightly with sand paper. Once it’s all ready, wipe down the walls with a wet rag and you’re ready! Put the furniture in the middle of the room. Trust me, you don’t want to try all sorts of gymnastics to paint around furniture. So move everything to the center of the room and cover it with a tarp or an old blanket. Taping. Buy a roll or two of thick blue tape and mask off the edges you don’t want painted. It costs a lot more than normal masking tape, but that’s no good and will pull once you peel it off. I prefer the 3 or 3 ½” rolls. Run this carefully along the lip of baseboards. Put a baggie and rubber band around doorknobs and then tape around the outside. If you’re a beginner, you might want to tape the edge of window and door frames if you don’t plan on painting them – but keep in mind you’ll still probably have to touch them up because the tape isn’t perfect. Buying paint. I’ve used them all, and I recommend Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore paint. Ask if they have a contractor series, which is usually less expensive because they skip all the fancy advertising. If you have to use Home Depot paint, Behr is probably their best brand. Do not try to skimp a few bucks and buy cheap paint – the poor quality will show and it will be harder to work with. Stay away from Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren paints and such – you’re just paying a premium for the name. How much will you need? It’s recommended you buy one gallon for every 400 square feet. Keep in mind that’s just for one coat, and it usually makes sense to put two coats on. It’s always better to have too much, not too little. Mark the lids with a sharpie so you can store it and use it later for touch ups or to match colors. Standard ceiling paint and white trim paint is usually universal throughout the house, so always buy a gallon, not a quart. Choosing colors. The biggest mistake people make is rushing into a color choice. Remember that colors usually look much brighter and bolder when on a whole wall, as opposed to a small swatch in the store. So if you’re looking at any bold color, I recommend going two shades lighter or more neutral so it’s not shocking once you paint the whole room! Also, the store usually sells 1 quart sample sizes of colors, so take a few home and try them out first. What kind of paint do you want? You’ll look for an interior latex paint. Latex means it’s water-soluble so you can clean up with soap and water and it’s not toxic and doesn’t stink up the whole house like oil-based paints (which aren’t even available in a lot of states.) Rule of thumb – you can put latex paint over surfaces previously painted with oil or latex paints, but you can’t paint oil over latex. Choosing between flat, eggshell, satin, semi gloss and gloss paints. The sheen of the paint corresponds to how shiny it is. Gloss and semi-gloss paints have a nice shine to them and also are the most water-resistant. You usually want a semi-gloss paint (gloss probably isn’t recommended) in the kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Ceiling paint is standard flat, and believe it or not isn’t just plain white – ceiling pants usually have a tiny bit of blue tint in them. Baseboard and trim is commonly satin or semi-gloss for a little shine. Most living rooms, bedroom, hallways walls, etc. are flat or eggshell. Box paint. Shake and stir paint really well before opening (with a can opener, paint opener, or flathead screwdriver.) If you have more than one gallon of the same paint, pour all of them into a big f-gallon bucket. Mix them really well and then pour back into the individual cans when done. Even though the paint store follows computerized color formulas, each can of paint has tiny differences. You don’t want one wall to be slightly off, so mix, or “box” them all up so you know all the paint is uniform. Brushes. Again, you don’t want to skimp on brushes. Buy one good wooden-handled brush and take good care of it. The cheap ones will loose bristles as you paint, making a mess. Watch out because there are brushes for oil based painting and brushes for latex paints, which you'll probably use. You’ll want an angled brush – probably 2 ½” so you can paint the edges of the walls and also use it for trim. Wash it thoroughly and comb out the paint when you’re cleaning, and never let paint fully dry on there. Make sure not to push hard or bend the bristles back and you’ll preserve it. Put it back in the case and wrap it with a rubber band to preserve the shape of the brush. Remove wall outlets. Take the time to unscrew all outlet covers and light switch covers. Tape the screws to the covers so you won’t lose them and put them all in a central place. Then, cover the switches and sockets with a piece of tape so they won’t get splattered. Brown paper or newspaper cabinets, etc. Cover lights, chandeliers, cabinets, fireplaces, or anything you don’t want to get painted with newspaper or even better, the rolls of thick brown paper they sell in the paint department of your hardware store. Tape it down with blue painters tape so it doesn’t pull when you peel it back. Also, plastic bags work great. Cover your shoes. As you walk in and out, you may step on small paint spray, drops or spills, which you may unwittingly track on carpets and through the house. So I use small plastic shopping bags as shoe covers. To prime or not to prime? Many people get hung up on using expensive or specialty primers before they paint. Unless your wall is hot red or bright pink or you have new sheetrock, you probably don’t have to prime. Instead, just put two coats of paint over the walls. The primer is usually white, so you’ll probably need two coats AND primer if you go that route, though you can get your primer tinted. Tarp it. You may want to spend money on one thick canvas tarp. You’ll use this to run along the wall you’re painting. Instead of getting a giant square tarp, get one that is narrow (4’) but runs long (10’) which is ideal for painting walls. You can cover furniture and other things with old bed sheets and blankets and newspaper. Your #1 goal – don’t make a mess. Your first and foremost goal when painting is not to spill. Put paint cans and trays in the center of the room on a piece of cardboard so you don’t kick them over or step on them. Don’t over fill your paint cans or roller trays so it slops around. One little mishap can cost you a carpet or sofa, so exercise caution. Use an extension pole. When rolling the walls, they tend to come out smoother and more uniform when you attach the roller to an extension pole. But instead of spending money on a fiberglass telescoping pole, but one of the wooden ones that screw into the roller handle, or even use a broomstick handle in a pinch. If you're painting the ceiling, you'll definitely want to use an extension pole (and lots of tarps!) Caulk the ceiling line. Textured ceilings are a nightmare, especially “popcorn” ceilings. When you’re painting a flat wall that butts up against a textured ceiling, it’s impossible to run a straight even line as you paint, no matter how god you are. So here’s the best trick ever – take a roll of white, paintable caulk and run it in the corner of the wall and the ceiling. Run a good bead all the way down the horizontal wall/ceiling line all the way around the room. Then, smooth it out and wipe away the excess with a wet rage. When it dries, it will form the perfect smooth, paintable line to run your wall paint up to the textured ceiling. By the way, those roller pads that supposedly help you paint a straight line against the ceiling are junk – the wheels eventually get wet, which spreads paint everywhere. Keep you brush and rollers wet. Don’t let your roller dry out. When you’re using your brush, keep the roller wet by sitting it in the paint tray. If you have to leave it for a while, roll it in plastic wrap or the plastic cover it came with – it will keep it from drying. Keep your brush edge dipped in paint as well in the tray or a coffee can with a little paint in the bottom, or wrap it in plastic so it doesn’t dry out. Cut then roll into the wet edge. Take on one wall at a time. Use the brush to “cut” – paint an area about 6 inches wide along the ceiling, baseboards, trim, etc. Feather your strokes. Whenever you’re blending one painted surface into another – brush strokes into roller strokes and vice versa, feather it out by taking off the pressure, painting increasingly lightly so it all blends in. Don’t push hard. When you use the roller, don’t push hard or it will create lines and uneven surfaces. Make sure the roller is really wet but not dripping and dip frequently. Don’t push on a brush or it will spread out and ruin the bristles. Trim, roll, trim (then reverse.) I usually trim along the ceiling, baseboards, etc. and then roll in, making sure to feather my roller strokes to blend it in. Then, I move to the next wall, always leaving a wet edge. Once I go around the room and come back, I’ll roll it and then trim again if it needs a second coat. Paint the trim. If you’re painting the trim, too, remove all the tape the next day. Run a new line of tape along the floor and also against the now-dry wall. Use the brush to carefully paint with horizontal strokes, feathering in to each wet edge. Don’t leave too much excess or it will drip. Paint over any wall paint that happened to splatter or drip on the trim. Let it dry. Don’t be impatient and start pulling up tape and messing with the walls and ruin your work. Leave it over night to give it ample time to dry. In the morning, you can pull up the blue tape (which won’t pull paint off the walls,) put outlet covers back on, and put the furniture back in place. Clean up. Once you are done, take all wet brushes, rollers, pans, and paint cans out to the front lawn or the garage on newspaper. Pour all the excess in the can, seal it tightly with a hammer, and label it. Wash the brushes thoroughly in warm soapy water and spin them out by the handle to dry, then put them in their cases again. Hang brushes upside down so the bristles stay in form. Roller pads are usually cheap enough to just put in a plastic bag and throw out. Let any container dry in the sun before you put it away or throw it out. Never dispose of oil based paints or paint thinners in the drain, on your lawn, or in the sewer.