Time to Plant for Fall
October 14, 2011
Now that we are in the fall and the summer has come and gone veggies and fruits have already peaked and its time to think about next years crops and now is the time to start planning your fall garden. A few of the produce items that should be planted for fall include:
Broccoli needs to be planted at the end of summer around ten weeks before the first frost.
Cauliflower should be planted in rich soil and will need to be watered well to produce a good harvest.
Plant lettuce so new seedlings will be shaded from the afternoon sun.
Spinach is one of the hardiest vegetables that can last into the winter months. It should be planted five weeks before the first frost.
Cabbage does quite well in cooler temperatures as well but you should make sure you keep the soil wet and the seedlings should not receive a lot of sun.
Victorian Architecture
December 26, 2010
Victorian architecture mirrors a tradition in Europe of naming an architectural style after a reigning monarch. Victorian architecture covers closely the reign of the British Queen Victoria (1837 to 1901).
Architects during this time used geometry, history, and nature along with other resources to create their designs. The designs were really many different styles that were popular during the Victorian era. Builders normally borrowed ideas from each style. Home created during the Victorian period have characteristics of one or even more styles, which include:
Gothic Revival homes
These home mirrored medieval structures by including pinnacles, parapets, and battlements. Due to America’s large supply of wood, Gothic Revival soon became known as Carpenter Gothic which created wood framed cottages that were covered with Victorian ornately decorated trim, often referred to as gingerbread.
Italianate Style homes
This style was a rebellion to the formal classical designs usually two to four stories high normally with a flat or low pitched roof and Roman arches or segmented arches above the doors and windows. The arches of course were decorated elaborately. This style was popular in America through the end of the Civil War.
Second Empire Style homes
Late in the Victorian era, this style of homes was inspired by Napoleon III. Most of these homes had mansard roofs with two slopes on each side with vertical and protruding dormer windows from the sloping roof, paired columns, and tall first story windows. This style was mainly used for public buildings during Presidents Grant’s administration.
Queen Anne Style
This was the most lavish style of the Victorian era with steeply pitched, irregular roofs, tower and turrets, projecting wings, bay windows, several balconies and porches. This style was quite popular for a very long time until the realization of the expense and difficulty with maintenance was discovered.
Bed Bugs
December 19, 2010
Pest control companies are receiving more calls about bed bugs recently. As a matter of fact, the calls have increased 81% since 2000 as reported by the National Pest Management Association. The main reason this is occurring is that the awareness of these pests is not known by many.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny wingless bugs that feed on the blood of warm bloodied animals only. They range in color but are usually white to brown. Before the adult bed bug eats, it is about ¼ inch long, flat, and oval. After eating on blood, it can grow in size three times its normal size.
Experts Say
Experts in the pest control industry state it is very difficult to rid the home of bed bugs than other pests like cockroaches, termites and ants. Bed bugs can travel by way of luggage, pets, and other items you bring into your home. These nasty bugs will travel up to 100 feet to find a human host, can live for 10 months, and can live for several weeks without eating. Along with this, the adult female can give birth to 400 offspring.
Detection
It can be very hard to find bed bugs as they only come out at night, bite a human, and then return to hiding. Most people are bitten several times before they realize something is wrong and start searching for bed bugs. Signs of bed bugs are dark spots, which are bed bug feces that are found on the seams of the mattress.
Bed bugs will not cause any human disease. These bugs were quite common in the United States before Word War II. The creation of DDT and its usage decreased the infestation. Today, resistance to pesticides, international travel, and the high cost of eradication has led to the population explosion of bed bugs. For professional treatment of a one-bedroom apartment, the cost can be as much as $800 to $1,200.
Mortgage Applications Rose
November 26, 2010
The week that ended on November 6 saw retail sales increased 1.3 percent as reported by the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index making a year-over-year basis increase of 3.4 percent which is the best reading seen since August.
Inventories from wholesalers rose 1.5 percent in September after an increase in August of 1.2 percent. The sales at the wholesale level increased 0.4 percent in the month of September after a 0.5 increase in the month of August. Economists had believed inventories would increase 0.7 percent for the month of September.
The seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications as reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association for the week that ended on November 5 increased 5.8 percent, while refinancing applications rose 6 percent and purchase volume rose 5.5 percent.
A 5.3 percent decline in the trade deficit to $44 billion was seen in the month of September. Economists had believed the trade deficit would have fallen to $45 billion. Exports increased 0.3 percent to $154.1 billion while imports declined 1 percent to $198.1 billion.
The Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index for the preliminary reading for November increased to 69.3 after seeing 67.7 in the month of October. During the economic expansion, which ended in the month of December 2007, the index averaged 88.9.
Import prices increased 0.9 percent in the month of October, after a 0.3 percent decline in the month of September. The increase was due to a 3.3 percent increase in petroleum prices, making the year-over-year basis showing import prices are up 3.6 percent. Export prices increased 0.8 percent in October.
First claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 24,000 to 435,000 for the week that ended on November 6. Continuing claims for the week that ended on October 30 declined by 86,000 to 4.3 million, which is the lowest level seen since the recovery started.
Economic Calendar reports to look forward to include:
November 15 – retail sales
November 16 – housing market index
November 17 – housing starts
Housing Market Index Increased
November 7, 2010
The factory, utility, and mine industrial production decreased in the month of September 0.2 percent after seeing a gain in the month of August of 0.2 percent. Economists believed there would be a 0.2 percent gain. Capacity utilization decreased to 74.7 percent in the month of September from seeing a revision in of the August to 74.8 percent.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index increased three points in the month of October to 16. Economists speculated that a reading of 14 would occur. Any reading below the50 mark shows a negative attitude toward the housing market.
As reported by the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, retail sales decreased 0.7 percent for the week that ended on October 16. On a year-over-year basis, retailers saw sales rise 1.7 percent on a year over year basis; this reading was the lowest seen since the month of May.
Construction of new apartments and single-family homes together increased in the month of September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000 units. Single-family starts increased 4.4 percent while multi-family starts decreased 9.7 percent. Applications for new building permits, which measures activities for the future, decreased 5.6 percent to an annual rate of 539,000 units.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week that ended on October 15 deceased 10.5 percent while refinancing applications fell 11.2 percent and purchase volume decreased 6.7 percent.
The index of leading economic indicators increased 0.3 percent for the month of September and seeing a 0.1 percent increase for the month of August. This indicator forecast economic activity for the next 3 to 6 months.
First claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 23,000 to 452,000 for the week that ended on October 16 while continuing claims for the week that ended on October 9 decreased by 9,000 to 4.39 million, which is the lowest seen since the beginning of the recovery.
FHA Mortgage Insurance Changes
October 16, 2010
As of October 4, 2010 the upfront and monthly mortgage insurance will be different. If buyers have a tight debt ratio they may be in trouble. At this time the monthly mortgage insurance is .55 percent but after October 4, this percentage will increase to .9 percent. If the case number is pulled prior to the effective date the current monthly mortgage insurance amount can be used, if not the higher insurance rate will apply.
With FHA raising their monthly mortgage insurance RD loans are the best loans in the industry as they have no monthly mortgage insurance and can provide 100 percent financing and purchase their dream home with under $500 out of pocket in Owasso, Glenpool, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Catoosa, and Claremore.
A Glimpse Into The Housing Market
October 9, 2010
The National Association of Realtors reported that pending homes sales are back after declining for two months straight. The forward-looking indicator is based on contracts signed, which increased in July by 5.2 percent after a decline in June of 2.8 percent and in May a whopping 30 percent decrease.
A seasonally adjusted annual rate for new homes sales are on average around 300,000 units per month. This figure is down around 70 percent from the high levels we saw in the middle of 2005. Existing homes sales are making up over 90 percent of the real estate market and at this time is down around 30 percent from high levels seen in the middle of 2005.
It is believed that annual sales will reach five million during 2010 due to the strong activity seen during the first half of 2010.
Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller housing price index reported home prices are now six percent above the bottom seen in April of 2009m but they are still lower than the peak seen in July of 2006.
The Housing Affordability Index showed 72.3 percent of homes sold during the second quarter of 2010 were for affordable for families with an average income of $64,000.
Since April 2010, interest rates have been dropping due to investors seeking the safety net of Treasury bonds. This alone has lowered the yields and makes mortgages rates tend to track. The low rates have caused an influx of refinancing loans. In the latter part of August, 82.9 percent of total loan applications were refinancing loans which is the highest seen since January of 2009.
The low interest rates have not done anything to boost home sales. Home sales are still low more than likely due to unemployment. In 2008 and 2009, 8.4 million jobs were lost, which is around 7 percent of all jobs at the beginning of the recession. This figure compares to a loss of 3.1 percent of jobs lost during the 2001 recession and 1.9 percent of jobs lost during the 1990-1991 recession.
Roth IRA Conversions 2010
September 30, 2010
In 2010, some very vital changes took effect concerning Roth IRAs. These include income restrictions on those that want to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA have been removed as well as the income tax due on conversions in 2010 can now be paid over a two year period paying half in 2011 and the other half in 2012.
Roth IRA’s were established in 1998 and are pretty new retirement investment products. Traditional IRA’s have been around since 1974 and are funded with pre-tax money, which are taxed upon withdrawal. Roth IRA’s work just the opposite. All contributions you make are after paying taxes; this means that upon withdrawal the earnings are totally tax-free.
One way to understand a Roth IRA is that you pay the tax at the time of planting the seeds instead of waiting until you pick the vegetables. Paying taxes before the money in the account has grown is a large benefit for those with long-term investment in mind.
Roth IRA’s offer less restrictions. Contribution money can be withdrawal at any time you decide, but all money made after tax income is subject to restrictions. In addition, withdrawals on the traditional IRA’s must be made after you turn 70 ½ years of age. With a Roth IRA, there are no restrictions on the owner.
Roth IRA can start withdrawal money tax-free after turning age 59 ½ if they have owned the Roth IRA for at least 5 years. The tax-free money withdrawals are even allowed for constructing or buying a new home but with a maximum allowed which is $10,000 for lifetime. In addition, you will pay tax on any withdrawals that are made before the age mentioned above from your Roth IRA for qualified higher education costs.
Participation rules for Roth IRA is restricted to those earning an income over $120,000 for singles or $177,000 for married couples. If you are considering a Roth IRA, you should speak with your tax adviser or accountant.
DoFollow Bloggers Welcomed Here
August 18, 2010
Attn: All DoFollow Bloggers
We just completed converting our old San Diego html blog/website to a WordPress DoFollow Blog here at San Diego Real Estate Blog.
Please note: there are well over 1500 hundred posts with numerous topics both national & Local news, and the site is moving to the top of Google rapidly.
We welcome all comments so long as they are on target and contribute to the conversation. You do not need to agree with the authors. Spirited debate is welcome as long as it is clean and friendly.
Spammers please save your time as this San Diego Real Estate Blog is well Moderated.
Thanks for your contributions…
Happy Blogging!
Short Sale Home Buying 101
May 12, 2010
A short sale is nothing to be afraid of, as it is nothing more than when a home is sold for less than the amount left on the mortgage loan. This may sound very easy, however, in order for this to work; the lending company must agree to take less than the remainder of the mortgage loan.
For some homeowners a short sale is a blessing, as they do not have to be behind on their mortgage in order to seek a short sale. If a seller wants to use a short sale, they must owe more on their loan than the home is actually worth. This means that if they put the home on the market, they would not be able to receive the amount they owe on the mortgage loan and they suffer from a financial hardship that makes it impossible to repay the mortgage.
If you want to pursue a short, you will need to get together your short sale packet. The packet should posses such things as tax returns, monthly expenses, a listing agreement, financial statement showing income, bank statements, a purchase agreement, a financial hardship letter, and an estimated HUD statement.
If you do sell your home through a short sale, there will be of course a difference in the money you owed on the mortgage loan and the money the lending company received with the short sale. This difference is known as the shortage or deficiency. The shortage can be negotiated. In some instance, the lending company may ask for a promissory note for this amount of money, which means that you will be responsible for the amount. Another lending company may decide to file a collection on the difference or seek a judgment in court for this amount.
If you plan to sell your home in a short sale, you should be sure that any amount of loan is still on your shoulder or if you are going to be released from the difference should all be in writing. Never take the word of a person at the lending company, ask for this information be given in writing. If the lending company releases you from the difference, the lending company can use this difference and write it off with the Internal Revenue Service. This means that you will be responsible for paying taxes on the difference. The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 in most cases allows taxpayers the possibility for relief from tax on mortgage debt forgiveness.
Another thing you need to take in consideration before opting for a short sale is that it will affect your credit score. However, if you ensure you make your payments on time and are not making late mortgage payments it will help your credit rating. The lending company will in most cases work with you if you have kept up to date on your payments.