Where You Live...

Welcome to my blog...

Welcome to "Where You Live". My name is Pat Willis and in this blog I want to share with you information and thoughts about things that affect how you live. This blog will cover current topics in residential and commercial real estate and will provide you links to mortgage and finance information. I will also provide you with a view of emerging programs and technologies that can help you “Where you Live”.  Thanks for your visit!

Where We "Don't" Live...

The title of this blog is "Where You Live..." and is intended to share with you items of interest from the worlds of real estate, green living, finance and construction. All timely topics and a reflection of where we are as a society today...But today I came across an organization that focuses on another realm...Another world literally...But you and I don't live there...It is the third world...people in need of the most basic forms of care and education, people in need of the very things we take for granted. WIRE  is the name of the organization...It stands for the Women in Real Estate Foundation Their goal is quite simply "to promote women's development around the globe by supporting organizations engaged in education, health, and microfinance targeted at women". Sounds easy doesn't it? I spoke with one of the founders, Susan Resnick, on the phone today. She said they believe that by bringing together the financial power, influence and voices of the strong women in the real estate industry, that they can make a difference in the lives of other women.  They are passionate about their cause...One woman at a time they are making a difference...

I invite you to consider how we are all connected...How strengthening one of us strengthens us all. We need to set aside our differences and remember what makes us all whole. We all need to become "Agents of Change".

This is my challenge to you today...To look beyond what is comfortable, to think globally, to consider the change that you can make. Go to WIRE and see how you can contribute...Let's see how we can make this a place where ALL of us can live.

Live in the possible...

Pat Willis

What's the best way to sell your home...?

Location, location, location! While true enough, even a home in the best location won't sell if the price isn't right. So how do you know what price is best? All of us want the highest price possible for the home we know and love... But the emotional investments we have in our homes and even the investments we may have made in upgrades don't necessarily translate into a higher sales price. Especially in the current market where inventories are high and interest rates are low, correctly pricing a home can mean the difference between a quick sale and a long wait. This article,"How to Get Your Home Sold", provides some tips on how to put an attractive and realistic price tag on your home. And don't forget to factor in the "what if" costs of a delayed sale in determining the price.

The market is always receptive to a well priced home. And a price perceived to be competitive or low often brings multiple buyers from which to choose...Sometimes less really is more...

Pat Willis

2011 Offers a Golden Opportunity...

Thinking about interest rates lately? With mortgage rates at historic lows many families now have more options for their home mortgage and the opportunity for lower mortgage payments. The attached article, "2011 Offers Golden Opportunity" offers some great information about increased affordability related to current low rates.

 

If you or any of your friends or family have questions about refinancing to get a lower rate or would just like to talk to someone about what it would take to purchase your next home in the current market just let me know. I know a number of excellent and trustworthy lenders who are happy to discuss the options with you!

 

Pat Willis

Extra Credit! (Tax credit, that is...)

As of this writing the California Home buyer Tax Credit, announced by Governor Schwarzenegger in March, is still available! According to State of California Franchise Tax Board  website only 57% of the First-Time Buyer Tax Credit (updated 7/29/10) and 70% of the New Home Buyer Tax Credit (updated 7/27/10) have been allocated. Check with your Realtor for updates and check the CA.gov - Franchise Tax Board website for updates on availability.

Time is running out...With interest rates remaining at record lows this is a great time to take advantage of these programs!

-Pat Willis

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs $10,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation

For all of you who have been waiting to purchase your first home it's time to get off the fence! Home prices are at 2002-2003 levels* and the rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage is still below 5%. 

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs $10,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation

In addition to The new Homebuyer Tax Credit Legislation signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, the Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit is still available. To qualify, homebuyers must have a binding contract by April 30, 2010 and the home must close on or before July 1, 2010. (IRS.gov - First-Time Homebuyer Credit)

Now is the perfect time to find your perfect home and make an investment in your life...What could be better?

Pat Willis

*(Data courtesy of California Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors - California/U.S. Existing Single-Family Home Annual Median Sales Price and Annual Sales Activity 1968-2008 -  Revised to reflect 1996 sample expansion)

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REGREEN Residential Remodeling

Take a look at this site for tips on Green Remodeling. Take steps now to REGREEN your home!

REGREEN Residential Remodeling.

Pat Willis

PUDs...

What is a PUD anyway? It stands for Planned Unit Development. Here is a definition from Wikipedia:

A PUD, is both a type of building development as well as a regulatory process. A PUD is a designed grouping of varied and compatible land uses, such as housing, recreation, commercial centers, and industrial parks, all within one contained development or subdivision.

At the risk of being accused of alliteration, PUDs are becoming Popular Properties in the current real estate market.  A PUD is also defined as "A project or subdivision that includes common property that is owned and maintained by a homeowners' association for the benefit and use of the individual PUD unit owners." (RealEstateabc.com)

Can there be a difference between a condominium and a PUD? Between a townhome and a PUD? Can a PUD also be a house? The answer is "yes" to all three. Are there condos and homes which are not in PUDs? Yes...there are buidlings which are erected without consideration for a master plan or compatible land use. Many of these are older developments.

Is a PUD advantageous? "Yes"... In the interest of making the most of our land and resources the development of PUDS is critical. Emphasis on "Planned" not "Haphazard" development. And considering urban sprawl and blighted areas resulting from lack of previous planning, we can all benefit from better planning and development of the places we call home...

Pat Willis

Easy Green...($)

Come on, admit it...If you are like me, somewhere you have it...You know...the drawer with all the stuff that you can't quite throw away but that you never really use anymore. What do you do with your old laptop, your old phone, your old camera? You feel guilty about putting these in the landfill but seriously, what do you do with this stuff?

Some young men from Yale have the answer and a very clever one at that. They have launched Yourenew.com with the goal of recycling used electronics. You name it, they recycle it...The list is impressive: Phones, MP3 players, cameras, calculators, laptops...The list goes on. And,get this...they pay you cash for that stuff in your drawer! What could be better?

Tune in to this website at YouRenew.com and find out how easy it is to do something good for yourself and good for the environment at the same time. Just enter the name of your device and answer a few questions and the amount of your payment will appear in a box to the right. Shipping is free. You can choose whether you want to receive a check or if you want a donation made to benefit the environment through either carbonfund.org  or americanforests.org. 

This site has some great links to other information about recycling along with testimonials from satisfied recyclers. Schools and businesses have the option of doing bulk recycling for their old electronics. This would be a nice fund raising option for schools.

So do yourself and the environment a favor. Click on the site and clear out your drawer.  The check will be in the mail!

Pat Willis

Twitter...Life in Real Time...

Social Networking. A simple title for a technology that is moving so fast it is almost overwhelming. Examples of popular Social Networking sites are Linked In, Facebook, and Twitter. This blog is titled "Where You Live" but file today's article under "How You Live". The availability and speed of information on the internet is affecting how we live everyday. 

The Speed of Thought...

How do you get your information today? Diminishing circulation figures for major newspapers and the growth of internet traffic shows that an increasing number of us find our information on the web. And those sources of information are growing and changing with phenomenal speed.

The LA Times speaks to Twitter's growing influence in its Technology section, "On Twitter, mindcasting is the new lifecasting". It bears reading. Twitter users communicate by "tweets" which are short 140 character texts. You would be surprised how much information you can get from 140 characters. Twitter asks users "what are you doing?"  Think of Twitter as a micro-blog.

The Twitter user base has grown by almost 900% since its inception almost 3 years ago and its traffic is increasing rapidly. A TechCrunch article ("Whoa, Twitter Mania") shows that in February this year there were 4.0 million US visitors to Twitter. That is up from 2.6 million in January, a 55% month-over-month growth rate according to ComScore, Inc., and compared with a 33% rate in the two months prior.  In the LA Times article on Mindcasting Jay Rosen, a journalism professor and new media analyst at New York University, says that for him Twitter is a new way to conduct a real-time, multi-way dialogue with thousands of his colleagues and fellow netizens.

Hello...Who's there...?

You'd be surprised who you find on Twitter. Senator John McCain is a contributor. So are Barack Obama, Tony Robbins and also "The Real Shaq". You can find Coldplay, John Mayer, and Dave Matthews. News organizations such as National Public Radio(NPR) and the New York Times share tweets daily.  Lance Armstrong and the CEO of Zappos are also contributors. And these tweets are not just about how they are "feeling". These tweets are leading edge with real-time information. You can often find it on Twitter before you hear it on the morning news or read it in your newspaper. 

And as far as making the most of new technology, George Stephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) is doing a "Twitterview" with Senator John McCain next Tuesday, March 17 at 12 noon on Twitter. (abcNEWS)

Twitter is moving and it is moving fast. Some say it is at the "Tipping Point". Like e-mail and other means of communication, Twitter is evolving.

Take a look and see what it's all about...You're only a tweet away from some interesting connections...

Pat Willis

Shine a Little Light...

Fiat Lux!  CFLs only please...

Yes, you're right... For those of you searching for your old latin text book it means "Let there be light!". 

And a CFL is, well...It's NOT the Canadian Football League. CFLs are Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs. But I'll bet you already knew that...

Today I am going to talk about helping you go green with lighting. Lighting is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to begin to "green" your home. It is as easy, literally, as screwing in a light bulb. Your local supermarket or hardware store carries a large assortment of energy efficient bulbs and lighting products. Look for ENERGY STAR Qualified bulbs which use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. These energy efficient bulbs also produce about 75% less heat and can help cut costs related to home cooling.

According to ENERGY STAR, CFLs are recommended for lighting fixtures that are in use a minimum of 15 minutes at a time or which are used several hours per day. Lighting represents about 20% of the average household energy bill. 

GE Lighting's website explains the differences between Standard Bulbs and CFLs. For example, a 20 watt CFL produces the same amount of light as a standard 75 watt bulb. The GE LIghting website also offers you the "Smart CFL Savings Calculator" to estimate what you will save by replacing regular bulbs with Energy-Smart CFLs. Green and Save's website targets the average pay back time for CFLs as 0.8 years.

CFLs do require special disposal. Home Depot has launched a national in-store consumer CFL bulb recycling program in all Home Depot locations. Visit Home Depot's ECO Options web site for more details about the recycling program and for more tips on Energy Efficiency, ENERGY STAR appliances and Healthy Home options. Both Home Depot and Lowe's offer a wide range of ENERGY STAR appliances and products.

ENERGY STAR figures estimate that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, save more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800 cars.

Think about it...Just one light bulb. It's time for us to see the light...

Pat Willis