Is Your Home Healthy and Safe For Children?
Taking preventive measures to protect your children against unintentional injuries at home is essential. Each year more children die from preventable injuries than from all childhood diseases combined. With foresight and action, you can help prevent burns, cuts, falls, poisonings, drowning, choking, and other serious injuries.
Use these four checklists to ensure that your home is healthy and safe for the children living in it:
In the Bedroom
Install smoke alarms outside bedrooms and on every level of the home.
Test smoke alarms at least once a month and change batteries at least once a year.
Practice fire escape routes and identify an outside meeting place.
Place a baby to sleep on his or her back in a crib with no pillows or soft bedding underneath.
Use a crib that meets national safety standards and has a snug-fitting mattress.
Never use an electric blanket in the bed or crib of a small child or infant.
Keep small toys, balloons, and small balls away from young children.
Check age labels for appropriate toys. Make sure toy storage chests have safety lid supports.
To prevent strangulation, use safety tassels for mini blinds and avoid strings on children’s toys and pacifiers.
Install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms outside bedrooms to prevent CO poisoning.
In the Bathroom
To prevent poisonings, lock away all medicines and vitamins, even those with child-resistant packaging.
Have syrup of ipecac on hand, but use only at the recommendation of a poison control center or physician.
Never leave a young child alone in the bathroom, especially in a bath.
Before bathing a child, always test bath water with your wrist or elbow to make sure it's not too hot.
To prevent scalds, set the water heater thermostat to 120º F and install anti-scald devices.
Make sure bathtubs and showers have non-slip surfaces and grab bars.
Keep electrical appliances, like hair dryers and curling irons, out of the reach of children and away from water.
In the Kitchen
Keep knives, plastic bags, lighters, and matches locked away from children.
Avoid fires and burns by never leaving cooking food unattended, turning pot handles to the back of the stove, and keeping hot liquids and foods away from the edges of tables and counters.
Make sure you and your children know the STOP, DROP, and ROLL procedure in case their clothes catch on fire.
Keep appliance cords unplugged and tied up. Replace any frayed cords and wires.
Securely strap young children in high chairs, swings, and other juvenile products.
Do not give young children hard, round foods that can get stuck in their throats — like hard candies, nuts, grapes, popcorn, carrots, and raisins.
Avoid scald burns by keeping children away from the hot water taps on drinking water coolers.
In all Living Areas
To prevent asthma attacks, eliminate sources of mold, dust, and insects, such as cockroaches. If you have a pet, keep it and its bedding clean and keep the pet off the furniture.
If you must smoke, avoid smoking in the house, and especially around children.
Make sure furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and gas appliances are vented properly and inspected annually.
Use safety gates to block stairways (and other danger areas), safety plugs to cover electrical outlets, and safety latches for drawers and cabinets.
Keep children — and the furniture they can climb on — away from windows.
Install window guards (on windows that are not fire emergency exits).
To prevent falls, keep hallways and stairways well-lit and use non-slip backing for area rugs.
Keep cleaning solutions, pesticides, and other potentially dangerous substances in their original, labeled containers, and out of the reach of children.
If you have guns or rifles in your home, store the firearms and ammunition in separate containers and lock them out of the reach of children.
Learn First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Keep an updated list of emergency telephone numbers, including your local poison control center, physician and hospital emergency room, next to every phone in your home.
Make sure your family knows what to do during a natural disaster. In an earthquake, drop to the floor and get under something sturdy for cover; during a tornado, take shelter in a basement or an interior room without windows; and during a hurricane stay away from windows. Have handy supplies of food, flashlights, and water.

We have been researching and trying to provide our readers with creative ways to purchase real estate.
Here is an article that we found from the real estate tax advice website that talks about a little known way of purchasing real estate -thru a real estate IRA.


Discover the BEST KEPT SECRET in Real Estate;Investing with an IRA!You can purchase real estate with funds from a self-directedIRA. Income generated from the real estate can be TAXDEFERRED and in some cases TAX FREE!
Real estate has historically proven itself to be a great vehicle forboth income and appreciation. One real estate tool that is available to real estate investors are government sponsoredretirement plans. You may not be aware that you have the option todirect your IRA into real estate.
Types of property you can own via your IRA:
Single family homes
Apartment buildings
Condominiums
Mobile homes
Raw land
Commercial property
IRA Types There are two different types of IRA's:
Tax deferred - These are the "tax deductible" kind of IRA'sthat allow yearly contributions to a tax-deferred accountwith pretax dollars. This means that the money you depositin your IRA is not taxed and you will not be taxed until youwithdraw the money when you retire.
Tax free - These are tax-free retirement accounts. Alsoknown as the Roth IRA, yearly contributions are made withafter-tax dollars. These offer no tax advantage in the yearthe contribution is made because the Roth IRA contributionis not deductible. The advantage of the Roth IRA is that thegrowth of the retirement account is tax-free as well as theincome disbursements made from it when you retire.
Both IRA types can be used to invest in real estate. For obviousreasons, most people would prefer to have the Roth IRA as thevehicle for real estate investment because all income and gainsresulting from real estate transactions would be tax free. The factof the matter is that most people have the traditional IRA. Althoughthe income from the traditional IRA isn't "tax-free", it is "tax-deferred".First-Time Homeowner's IRA BreakIf you are a first time homebuyer and you have a regular IRA, youcan withdraw up to $10,000 from your IRA to help pay for qualifying"first-time" home buyer expenses. The $10,000 limit is a lifetimecap per IRA owner, not an annual limitation. The expenses qualify if they are used within 120 days of thedistribution to pay the acquisition costs for your new principalresidence. The rule says that the tax break is only available for "first-time"home buyer expenses, but it doesn't mean that it must be yourfirst residence. A qualifying first time home buyer is someone whodid not have a ownership interest in a principal residence in thetwo year period before the acquisition of the new home. If youare married, you and your spouse must satisfy the two year test.Note that the IRA imposes a 10% penalty if you receive a distribution from a traditional IRA before age 59 1/2. You areexempt, as explained above, if you use the distribution forqualified first-time home buying expenses. If the money is froma ROTH IRA however, the money must have been in the IRA forat least 5 years. Self-Directed IRAThe IRA's above generally don't offer a way to use the funds in theIRA to invest in real estate. The self-directed IRA does. With theself-directed IRA the investor has greater control over how his or her IRA funds are invested. They present the investor with the means to invest in real estate. There are hundreds of companies,or "administrators", that offer self-directed IRAs. You need to makesure that the company you look at allows the IRA to invest in real estate before you give your money to them. Once you find an appropriate self-directed IRA, you will have to roll over your existing IRA retirement accounts to one of the theadministrators offering the real estate investment option. Mosttraditional IRA, Roth IRA, Simple, or Keogh type of retirement account can be converted to a self-directed IRA. Your IRAadministrator will help you determine the steps needed to do so. Example 1: Heather is a simple homeowner who owns a coupleof rental properties. She has an IRA with sufficient funds to purchase another rental property. Heather converts her Roth IRAto a self-directed IRA and instructs the administrator to purchasethe rental property she wants. She eventually purchases the houseand rents it to a couple. The income she receives in the form of rent is tax free. Also, if Heather were to sell the house 3 years orso down the line, the profit from the sale wouldn't incur ordinary income taxes either. All profits would go into her IRA account andcontinue to grow until she retired.
Example 2: Jess purchases a parcel of land in Ventura, California because in the last several years the real estate markethas exploded in the area. He purchases this land with the hopethat it will grow in value as well. To make it more attractive he subdivides the land with the goal of selling it in smaller parcels. Jess purchases the land from his self-directed IRA and instructs theadministrator to buy the land with his IRA funds. Over time thesmaller parcels are sold and all the profits from the sales would gointo his regular IRA account and continue to grow, shielded fromtaxes, until his retires.Note that if you purchase a "fixer" in an IRA, the funds that are needed to make repairs must come from the plan itself. Anypayment from outside the plan would disqualify the transaction.ConclusionThe fact is that real estate investing within IRA's is one of the bestkept financial secrets around. To learn more about this lesser know real estate investment tool, we recommend the book, The Real Estate IRA.

There are a lot of creative ways that homeowners and potential home owners come up with ways to help pay for expensive bay area mortgages.
Renting a room in your home may not only save some money on a large mortgage payment but can also have some added tax savings as well.
Here is an article that we found from Home-Real-Estate.com that discusses tax advantages of renting a room.

Tax Advantages to Renting a RoomIf you are a homeowner that rents out part of your home, you getthe tax benefit of deducting a portion of your home ownership expenses. People that do not rent out a room do not receive thistax break! By renting a room in your house you are reducing your income taxes which means you are increasing your after-tax income!If you rent part of your property (a room or a floor), you must dividecertain expenses between the part of the property used for rentalpurposes and the part of the property used for personal purposes,as though you actually had two pieces of property.Tax Deductions for Renting a RoomWhen you rent a room in your personal residence you can deductexpenses related to part of the property used for rental purposes. These deductions include the following:
Real Estate Taxes and Home Mortgage Interest
General Maintenance Expenses such as electricity, gas,HOA fees, general repairs to appliances that are availableto the whole house (ie over, refrigerator, water heater, etc..)
Expenses tied directly to the room itself. Examples wouldbe installing a phone line or cable line directly into the room.
Depreciation on the part of your residence used for rentalpurposes
Dividing ExpensesIf an expense is for both rental use and personal use, such ashome mortgage interest or electricity for the entire house, you mustdivide the expenses between rental and personal use. You can use any method for dividing expenses. The two most common methods for dividing an expense are one based on the number ofrooms in your home and one based on the square footage of yourhome. Example: Eric rents out a room in his 3 bedroom house to Johnson. The room is 20 x 10 feet, or 200 square feet. Eric's entirehouse is 2000 square feet. Eric can deduct as a rental expense 10% of any expense that must be divided between rental use andpersonal use. If Eric's electrical bill was $800 for the entire house in2005, he can deduct $80 ($800 x 10%) as a rental expense. Thebalance, $720, is a personal expense that he cannot deduct.If Eric has a home office, he can claim a greater deduction. Let'sassume Eric 's 3rd room is an office. The office is 15 x 10 feet, or150 square feet. This is 7.5% of his house (150 square feet / 2000square feet). Eric can deduct $140 of the electrical bill for the year($800 x 7.5% as a business expense and $800 x 10% as a rentalexpense). Note that you do not have to divide expenses that belong only tothe rental part of your property. For example, if you paint a room that you rent, of if you pay premiums for liability insurance in connection with renting a room in your home, your entire cost is arental expense. Expenses That Can be Fully DeductedThere are expenses that can be fully deducted and do not have tobe divided between personal and rental use. This would includethe installation of a separate phone line running into the rental room the installation of a cable line. In these cases, you can deduct100% of the cost as a rental expense

Condos are a lot of times starter homes in the Bay Area. Here is an article on HOA Dues and what every potential Condo owner should know.

About Homeowner Associations - HOAs - Condo / Townhome Homeowner Associations
From Elizabeth Weintraub,Your Guide to Home Buying / Selling.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Questions to Ask About HOAs Before Buying
Buying a condo or townhome is about more than four walls and interior air space; it also means buying the homeowner association. Smart buyers examine all the homeowner association documents, including its latest financial statements, to determine if one is buying into a money pit or a gold mine. Here are the top questions a buyer should ask:
How Financially Sound is the Homeowner Association?
To determine this, ask for and read (yes, they are long, at least 50 pages or more) copies of the following documents:
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs)
By-Laws and Regulations
Meeting Minutes for the last year
HOA Financial StatementThese documents will tell you about:
Special assessments being planned to address deferred maintenance
Capital improvements planned
Amount of cash reserves
Whether the association is being or has been sued
History and likelihood of dues increases
Monthly Dues
What do your monthly dues buy you? Does it include payment for:
Water
Cable TV
Ground maintenance / gardeners
Trash pick-up
Sewer services
Insurance
Professional management fees
Pool, spa or fitness centers
Roads and sidewalks
Assigned / underground parking (and if so, how many spaces?)
Gate access
How do the fees compare to fees charged by other condos in the area? I sold a condo in an older complex where the dues were $120.
zSB(3,3)
Sponsored Links
Association Web SiteInteractive web sites for Homeowner Associations and Mgmt. Companieswww.AtHomeNet.com
HOA Management That WorksEffective & Responsive Community Assoc Management at a great price.CFloodManagement.com
Condominiums in Your AreaInterested in Buying a Condo? Our Service is Free. No Obligationswww.reply.comRemodeled condos around the corner were selling with dues of $190. The main difference between the two complexes was the remodeled units had stainless steel appliances and granite kitchen counters. So I ask buyers, "Is it worth $70 a month to you to own stainless steel appliances?" For some buyers, that answer is "yes."
Who Manages the Complex?
Larger complexes require professional management. It might cost more to hire a professional company, but in the long run it tends to save money. Professional managers wield more bargaining power when negotiating for services such as bids for gardeners or general maintenance because they represent such a larger number of complexes.
How Many Units are Rented?
Nobody likes tenants. It's not that tenants are bad people but there is some truth that renters don't take care of property the same way an owner occupant would care for it. In addition, some lenders will not loan money to a buyer if more than 25% of the units in the complex are rented out. Some homeowner associations refuse to let owners rent their unit for more than 30 to 60 days, if at all.
How Quiet are the Units?
Asking the neighbors will give prospective buyers an idea of the noise factor, but so will driving the area late on a Saturday night. It's best to buy a corner unit because fewer common (adjoining) walls means less noise. However, soundproofing doesn't help much if your next-door neighbor enjoys blasting Pink Floyd every Sunday at 2 AM.
A client who bought a downstairs condo near stairs leading to the second floor was concerned about hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs, so I suggested she talk with the upstairs occupant. Turns out the resident was the president of the HOA and a stickler for keeping things quiet.
What are the Amenities, Parking and Pet Restrictions?
Find out the hours of use for pools, spas and recreation areas such as tennis courts or game rooms and check to see that those times work with your schedule.
How is guest parking handled, and how many parking spots are deeded with each unit? Is it possible to rent an extra parking space if you need it?
How much will you be charged to replace a lost key for the security gate or clubhouse?
How many pets can you have? Are there size restrictions? Are you allowed to bring pets through the lobby on a leash?
Finally, talk to the people who live there. Pull into the parking lot or garage in the late afternoon when homeowners are coming home from work. If they hate the homeowner association, they will tell you in no uncertain terms what is wrong with it. Better to find out the sentiment and reasons behind it before you buy than afterward. HOAs have the power to regulate and monetarily penalize owners for violations like never before, so make sure you completely understand what you are buying into before you sign on the bottom line

OAKLAND, CA 94618 COMING SOON
Coming Soon! Magical Upper Rockridge Mediterranean! Retreat to this wonderful, open light-filled home featuring; gourmet kitchen with black granite counters and Viking oven/range, breakfast area and counter bar, formal living room with wood burning fireplace, cozy den, bonus room (could be used as a fourth bedroom), Oak hardwood floors through the upper two levels of the home, fabulous deck for entertaining and lower fenced in yard area. 3 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bath(s) 2,198 Est. Sq. Ft. $1,180,000
Printable Version

626 33RD STOAKLAND, CA 94609
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Huge Duplex perfect for large groups or owner occupancy. Massive upgrades incuding fabulous designer kitchens, new bathrooms and lighting. Period details have been painstakingly maintined with glowing hardwood floors abound and Victorian ceilings. Additional attic space and back additions to both units not included in sq. footage. Sitting at the end of cul-de-sac! This property is completely vacant and waiting for you!2 Units Listing # 40258422
$685,000

630 SHEPHERD AVEHAYWARD, CA 94544
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Rare Opportunity! Four, Three Bed / One Bath Homes On One Lot! Nice private yards, attached garages, Washer/Dryer Hook-Ups, High Rents, Clear Pest Report! Great Location, Offers As Written (Subject to Inspection OK)4 Units Listing # 40258446
$875,000

From Council Woman Pat Kerrigan

Reminder: Earth Day events this Saturday, April 21:
Please join in at an Neighborhood Clean-up near you!
Following is a complete list of District 2 and near-by Earth Day sites and staging areas. If you would like to see a listing of all sites in Oakland, click here.
Neighborhood Clean-ups
Chinatown Clean-up - Meet at 250 10th St, Lincoln Recreation Center
E.18th St Clean-up- Meet at FM Smith Recreation Center, 1969 Park Blvd. At 10:00am Mayor Dellums will kick-off our clean-up event .
Clean-up around New Mount Hermon MBC - 1649 12th Ave; litter abatement - 10th Ave to 14th Ave, 18th St to 14th St
Schools
Franklin Elementary School - 915 Foothill Blvd; campus clean-up and planting
Lakeview Elementary School - 746 Grand Ave; campus clean-up
Edna Brewer Middle School - 3748 - 13th Ave. Click here for flyer with details
Oakland High School - 1023 MacArthur Blvd; campus clean-up
Parks & Medians
Morcom Rose Garden - Jean St off Grand Ave; pruning, mulching, weeding
Lincoln Square Park in Chinatown - 250 10th St; neighborhood clean-up
Clinton Park - 425 International Blvd; clean-up of streets and Clinton Park
Cleveland Cascade - 2250-2300 Lakeshore Ave; weeding
Lake Merritt - Sailboat House, 568 Bellevue Ave; clearing trash from shoreline
E. 19th St Median - 1044 E. 19th St; weeding and litter pick-up
Beaumont Underpass - Beaumont under I-580; weeding and litter pick-up
Lake Merritt BART - 8th St @ Oak; litter pick-up
Most projects begin at 9 am. Each volunteer will receive a free 2007 Earth Day tee shirt, as long as supplies last. Tools, latex gloves and bottled water will be provided. For your protection, wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and closed-toe shoes. If you have a favorite hand tool, put your name on it and bring it. If you have heavy work gloves, wear them.

Each year thousands of volunteers turn out on Earth Day to plant, prune and spread mulch in parks and school gardens, pick up trash around Lake Merritt and along shorelines, and otherwise spruce public spaces. Tons of trash get collected by volunteers, making beloved parks and schools look so much better. This year we're hoping that 4000 volunteers will devote time and energy on Earth Day! Come start the Cleaning Up at 9 am at the site of your choice. I'll start the day in Chinatown, then join Mayor Dellums at 10 am at FM Smith Rec Center to kick off the E.18th St Clean-up. Read on to see where you can volunteer. Hope to see you Keeping Oakland Beautiful!
Hope to see all of you out there this Saturday!
Sincerely,

Find out more about joint tenancy here.
The instant neighborhood Cohousing has its origins in Europe and is practically like buying a neighborhood along with your house. Residents own one of a group of small homes clustered together and share ownership of the land.
In 1992, Tom Moench and his family bought a small (1,150-sq.-foot) 3-bedroom house for $157,000 in a cohousing development on Bainbridge Island, Wash. A similar private home would have cost about $185,000 then, or 17% more, Moench estimates.
Pros: In many cases, property prices are lower than market. And though houses tend to be smaller, residents share ownership of the common facilities. "We had a 5,000-square-foot common house, with guest rooms and dining rooms where you could entertain large groups," Moench says. Residents may cook meals together or swap babysitting time.
Cons: Cohousing is largely a blue-state phenomenon with vaguely utopian overtones, but it's slowly spreading throughout the country. You need a high tolerance for meetings, because many decisions have to be made jointly by the owners. When selling your property, there may be some restrictions, and the buyer has to want to join a communal setting.
Find out more about cohousing here.
The parental plan Saving enough for a down payment usually requires some kind of a sacrifice, so don't rule out living with family.
Case in point: Saddled with hefty school loans and about $25,000 in credit card debt at the end of their medical residencies, Sonya Cottone, 37, and her husband decided to move in with his parents for a year to pay off their plastic and save for a down payment. "People thought we were crazy," she says. "But it worked out really well."
Pros: Can you say super savings? Within 15 months, the Cottones had paid off their credit cards and saved enough to put $50,000 down on a four-bedroom colonial in Long Island. "And we're all still speaking to each other," she jokes.
Cons: Mixing family and finances can be a stress cocktail. To diffuse tension, Cottone says, discuss money and expectations up front (everything from paying rent to doing chores). And though your savings will make you feel flush, "don't see it as extra," Cottone says. Stick to your savings strategy or you'll be living with Mom and Dad for years.
The no-money-down Hail Mary It can be tough to save enough cash for a down payment, but in certain circumstances you can finance your way around it.
Case in point: Kerrie, 36, bought a small two-family home in Brooklyn for $560,000 last February. "I didn't put any cash down," she says. "I did an 80% mortgage and a 20% second loan. I used my $30,000 in savings for renovation."
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Preferred format:HTMLPlain TextLearn more about newslettersIt's a risky strategy, but it worked for Kerrie because a) the property was undervalued and b) she knew that a basic overhaul would bring it up to market value, which it has. In a year, Kerrie plans to refinance her adjustable-rate mortgages and get a 30-year fixed mortgage. Meanwhile, her upstairs renter offsets part of her costs.
Pros: You can buy a house without any upfront cash.
Cons: You need to have nerves of steel (in case property values drop) and be willing to live in contractor hell for a few months. And if your credit is less than stellar, this may not be an option at all.
The susu-super saver This simple saving strategy goes by different names in different communities, but the method is the same. Members of a "susu" contribute a fixed amount each week or month for a certain period (e.g. $200 a month for 10 months). At regular intervals, one member gets a specified payout in cash. .
Case in point: Laverne, a single mother in her 50s, has participated in over a dozen susus over the last 20 years. Right now she's in a 26-week susu in which each member will get $7,000.
Pros: Although the amounts are small, usually under $10,000, a disciplined saver could participate in several susus to fund a down payment.
Cons: Only communal pressure and the honor system ensure that everyone gets their turn (and that folks don't default). And your money doesn't earn interest.
But wait, there's more In the course of excavating all these options, I came across a wide array of federal, state and local programs designed to help first-time buyers and low-income buyers purchase a home. For example, you may be able to borrow from your 401(k) or take money from an IRA (you escape the 10% early withdrawal penalty, but not income taxes). The Federal Home Loan Bank sponsors programs that match savings, $3 for every $1 put aside. There are loan subsidies for buyers in rural areas and in inner cities, too.
The best place to start is with your state's housing finance agency. Find out more about what these agencies offer here. To find your own state's housing finance agency, click here.

We have been suggesting to first time buyers to find creative ways to enter the real estate market and her is an article with some interesting tips.

7 creative ways to buy your first house
A pricey market poses big challenges for first-time buyers. Though some are daring, one of these options might be for you.

So you want to buy a place of your own but can't figure out how to pull together the necessary cash and financing? If you're willing to think creatively, there are several offbeat ways to buy your first home.
The fixer upgrade When you can't afford what you want, look for what you can afford and use it as a stepping stone.
Case in point: Jamie Carroll, 46, and her husband bought an $80,000 two-family house about six years ago. They renovated, sold it and invested in a $200,000 two-family place in a nicer town. In a few years, they'll repeat that process and buy their dream house in the woods of Massachusetts.
Their first house was far from ideal, but the down payment was only $5,000, and the rental income allowed them to pay for repairs without incurring more debt. After the sale, they walked away with more than $30,000. Ditto in their new home, but the rental income is higher, so they'll save more toward their next purchase -- enough so that they can buy the new house and keep the rental property as an investment.
Pros: There are plenty of lower-priced houses out there in need of repair, and the income from a tenant can help both with repair costs and mortgage payments. Even in overheated markets, there's little likelihood that the value of homes at the low end will suffer in a slump.
Cons: This method isn't for the impatient or the status conscious. To save money, the couple did many repairs themselves, and it will be almost 10 years before they can settle into their dream house. Just be careful not to buy a place where the cost of repairs will eat up any profits you might make when you sell.
The shared load If buying your own property is prohibitive, consider buying into a dwelling with shared ownership. There are several options here, with varying levels of complexity and commitment. One of the most common uses a legal form of ownership called "tenants in common."
Case in point: In 1991, when the average San Francisco one-bedroom apartment was selling for about $250,000, freelance writer Sharon Fisher paid $170,000 for a one-bedroom in a tenants-in-common building with five other units. "I couldn't have bought real estate without this," she says.
Fisher eventually sold her TIC share for a tidy $420,000 when her building went condo. However, she says it would have sold for less if it had remained a TIC, and she would most likely have had to pay the buyer's legal fees.
Pros: Buying into a TIC is less expensive, and this form of joint ownership does a better job of protecting the rights of individual owners (as in the case of unmarried partners who want to buy property together).
Cons: Joining a TIC can be legally and financially complicated, and the details vary from state to state. Some TICs may restrict when you can sell and impose other conditions. And though you own your own place, you need people skills: Tenants negotiate noise, repairs, who puts out the garbage, etc.
Find out more about tenancy in common here.
The friendly option If you don't want the legal hassle of setting up a TIC, it's possible to buy a property with a friend you trust, sharing the mortgage and the title. This form of ownership is called joint tenancy, and it's the way most married couples hold property.
Case in point: In 2003, Bryan, 34, bought a three-bedroom house with a buddy for $299,000. They each put down $10,000, and they rent out the third bedroom to a friend, which helps cover costs.
Pros: The two are only paying slightly more than they would in rent, while they're building equity and the house is appreciating.
Cons: The legal particulars of joint tenancy vary from state to state, so you'll need to check with a lawyer. Under joint tenancy in many states, any owner can force the sale of a house or transfer ownership rights without the permission (or even knowledge) of the other owners. The costs and all decisions about maintenance and financing are shared equally, which is fine so long as everyone agrees.

Single-Women Home Buyers: A Market Worth Watchingby Paul Bishop and Harika "Anna" BarlettIn 2006, NAR Research surveyed recent home buyers about their experience in the home search process, the use of real estate professionals in purchasing a home, and the use of the Internet as a source of information about homes available for purchase. The results of the survey were published in NAR’s 2006 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.A significant share of home buyers are single women. Indeed, the percentage of single-women buyers has increased from 14 percent in 1995 to 22 percent in 2006.These home purchasers account for the second largest share of adult households who purchase homes.Below we look results from the most recent home buyer survey that focus on single-women purchasers.The Single-Female PopulationAccording to the latest U.S. Census Bureau statistics, just over half – 51 percent – of the U.S. population are females over the age of 15. The Census Bureau also reports that:
9.4 percent are widows
11.5 percent are divorced
2.6 percent are separated (and describe themselves as single)
25.5 percent have never marriedThe largest share of women in the population is those that are married. But more than 25 percent are or have never been married. Not surprisingly, most of those who have never married are between the ages of 15 to 19 years. But women aged 20-34 years old account for the largest percentage of single females. ( More detailed information available at the Single Female Home BuyersAs mentioned above, 22 percent of home buyers in 2006 were single women. The median age of all home buyers was 41 compared to 43 for single-female buyers. Among single-female home buyers, 46 percent were first-time buyers, compared to 36 percent of all buyers.The median household income for single-women home buyers was less than that for home buyers as a whole. Single-female home purchasers reported a median household income of $48,100 in 2005,compared to $71,800 for home buyers in general. This is not surprising since 68 percent of all home buyers are couples, many of whom probably have two incomes. On the other hand, single-female home buyers earned more than themedian income for all households – $46,326 in 2005. They were also less likely to have children. Survey results show that 76 percent did not have children living at home, compared with 62 percent of all home buyers.What They BuySingle female buyers are more likely to purchase an apartment/condominium or a townhouse/rowhouse than are home buyers in general. Still, the majority of single women purchase a detached single-family home. And while the majority of single women purchase a home in a suburb or subdivision, they are also more likely to purchase a home located in an urban or central city location than are home buyers as a whole. Single women tend to buy smaller homes.Because their household income is less than home buyers in general, it is perhaps not surprising that single female home buyers purchase homes that cost less than those purchased by the general home buyer population. The median price paid by single women buyers in 2006 was $169,370 compared to $214,000 for all buyers.Why They BuyA majority of home buyers purchase a home because of their desire to own a home of their own or establish a household. The same is true for single-female buyers, but to an even larger degree. While nearly a third of all home buyers purchase a home for this reason, 44 percent of single women buy a home because they want to own a home of their own. Compared to all home buyers, less than half of single-female buyers purchase a home due to a job-related location or move. But they are more likely to buy due to a change in family situation compared to home buyers in general. Single females were also more likely to have rented an apartment or house prior to their home purchase than were home buyers as a whole. Use of the InternetOne fifth of home buyers who used the Internet in 2006 to search for a home to purchase were single females. And single-women were more likely to be Internet home-searchers than were single-male buyers or unmarried household buyers. In fact, among single-female home buyers, the majority of them used the Internet to search for homes.Using the Services of a Real Estate ProfessionalThe majority of all home buyers take advantage of the knowledge and expertise of a real estate professional in their home purchase transaction. The same is true for single-female buyers. In 2006, 67 percent of single-women home purchasers used a real estate agent when they bought a home. What It Means for Real Estate ProfessionalsReal estate professionals know their own housing markets better than anyone. And the more they know about who is buying homes, what potential buyers want to purchase, and why those buyers want to be a homeowner, the better they can develop marketing plans and provide services to their clients. Single women are likely to continue to be a significant segment of home buyers. By using the information cited above – as well as other information contained in the 2006 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers– real estate professionals will be even better able to meet the needs of single-women home buyers.Find out how to order the 2006 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers and other NAR Research Products at the

Here is an interesting article that we found on Baby Boomers

Daily Real Estate News October 16, 2006

Boomers Pave Their Own Road to RetirementThe nation’s 78 million baby boomers have diverse plans and timelines for their retirement years, resulting in different housing requirements and significant shifts from patterns established by earlier generations, according to a study by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. “The differences from past generations — and between baby boomers themselves — will have a significant impact on housing needs over the next 10 to 20 years that is very different from the World War II generation,” says David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist. “Many boomers simply don’t know how they’ll retire.” The comprehensive study is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 American baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 — the largest generation in U.S. history. The survey was conducted for NAR by Harris Interactive.Many Don’t Plan to Leave WorkforceThe study found that a significant portion of baby boomers married later in life and had children at a later age, which means many will continue to work beyond the traditional retirement age, Lereah says. The median age at which baby boomers expect to stop working is 70, but 27 percent say they never intend to stop working.Older boomers are thinking about retirement, but one-third expect to go back and forth between periods of work and periods of leisure, and another 35 percent want to work at least part-time or start a business. “All of this will have an impact on the kind of homes they buy as well as where they buy them,” Lereah says. “Because they will be in the workforce longer, boomers will postpone purchase of retirement property and won’t be making those moves as early as assumed.” Given a longer tenure in the work force baby boomers may choose a larger home than earlier generations, speculates Peter Francese, an independent demographic trends analyst and founder of American Demographics magazine. “Boomers may want or need a somewhat larger dwelling that includes one or two home offices, and a low-maintenance home on a single level would have broad appeal to this group,” he says.More Key FindingsThe survey also revealed a lot about where retiring baby boomers will move and how much money they’ll have available to spend on housing.
Sunbelt is popular choice. Forty-two percent of survey respondents would like to retire in the South, 32 percent in the West, 15 percent in the Midwest and 12 percent in the Northeast. “This tells us that the Sunbelt will remain a traditional draw for retirees,” Lereah says.
High median income. Most boomers live in two-income households, with a median income in 2005 of $64,700, which is 31 percent higher than the median for all households. This generation makes up 37.5 percent of U.S. households, but receives nearly half of all aggregate household income. “This translates into a lot of purchasing power, and helps to explain why 8 out of 10 boomers are home owners,” Lereah says.
But not everyone is rich. For baby boomers earning $100,000 or more, the study shows that more than 9 in 10 are home owners. Even so, 19 percent of respondents are renters, 37 percent say they have just enough to make ends meet and 17 percent say they are having financial difficulty. Furthermore, most survey respondents were unsure of their financial future, with three-quarters saying they’re not financially prepared for retirement and many expressing anxiety about their ability to retire. Some boomers said they might withdraw retirement funds for housing or real estate expenses.
Diverse real estate holdings. A quarter of baby boomers own one or more other kinds of real estate in addition to a primary residence: 13 percent own land, 8 percent own rental property, 7 percent a vacation home or seasonally occupied property, 2 percent commercial real estate and 3 percent some other kind of real estate.
Plans involve vacation homes. Four out of 10 respondents intend to convert their vacation home into a primary residence in retirement. Analysis by NAR shows baby boomers are proportionately more active in the second home market, owning 57 percent of all vacation/seasonal homes and 58 percent of rental property.
Boomers see the value of using a practitioner. The survey shows most boomers want professional services when they buy real estate, says NAR President Thomas M. Stevens from Vienna, Va. “Baby boomers expect professional service and guidance from real estate agents, and they value those services,” he says. “When buying a home, they want agents to represent their interests in the complex transaction process, and when selling they want help to establish the right asking price. Regardless of whether they’re buying or selling, boomers want agents to explain all of the complicated contracts, forms and agreements, to manage the closing process from start to finish, and to negotiate on their behalf.”
Rural destinations lead the pack. Half of boomers who live in an urban area would like to retire in a small town or rural area. Their ideal retirement location characteristics include a lower cost of living, being near family, quality health care, better climate and being near a body of water. More than a third of all baby boomers want to retire in an urban or suburban setting, motivated by quality health care and cultural activities. Half of boomers said they would consider living in an age-restricted community.
Will help kids buy a home. Almost one in four boomer households have a high net worth of $500,000 or more, and this ratio is expected to increase in the future as the generation ages. Virtually all high-net-worth households are home owners (97 percent), and 47 percent are likely to also own other real estate in addition to their primary residence. More than a third expects to help children or grandchildren with a down payment on a home. Wealthier boomers want amenities where they retire, including cultural activities such as museums and art galleries. As a result, they are more likely to retire in an urban area or city. A Little Wishful Thinking? As you digest all of the survey’s findings, Francese warns that some of the responses about retirement preferences are based on dreams. “Surveys of future intentions often include a dose of wishful thinking, and attitudes can be influenced by the media and other outside pressures,” he says. “For example, many are probably not going to be able to, or even want to, retire in a small rural town far from their current home, even if they may dream about it currently.”Preliminary results of the study were released in May at NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, with a focus on the real estate and second-home appetite of boomers. This more extensive analysis is supplemented with context and data from the Census Bureau’s mid-2006 estimates of population characteristics; it offers an abundance of information helpful for planning to real estate practitioners, builders, mortgage lenders, and others connected to the housing industry.Read More For more findings, read the full press release at REALTOR.org. The survey, titled Baby Boomers and Real Estate: Today and Tomorrow, was conducted online between March 31 and April 6 among a cross section of 1,969 U.S. adults born between 1946 and 1964. — REALTOR® Magazine Online

PLEASE HELP OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Edna Brewer Middle School is looking for donations for their 4th annual Earth Day Clean Up!
The Task include: Planting,Weeding,Mulching and Trash Pick Up

They are looking for contributions in the following ways: Gardening tools and supplies,plants, Cash Donations (Which can be used to purchase needed supplies and materials)

Also looking for handy people who are good with electrical and plumbing.

If you would like to help please contact Lisa Young, Beautification Commitee Chair at lyoung@advent.com or 510-835-4248

Stocks Surge on Positive Housing Report
Tuesday April 3, 6:39 PM EDT
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks surged Tuesday on signs of resilience in the housing market and the U.S. consumer, with falling oil prices giving investors an extra reason to rally. The Dow Jones industrials gained more than 120 points to reach a five-week high.
The National Association of Realtors' index for pending sales of existing homes rose in February at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 0.7 percent. The index is well below where it was a year ago but stronger than investors expected, reassuring them that the housing sector, while weak, is not being pummeled by the struggling subprime mortgage sector.
Fears that lending problems will spill over into the rest of the economy have been a major factor behind the market's volatility of the past several weeks. The uptick in home sales was slight but came as a pleasant surprise to investors who had been bracing for the worst.
"That says people are getting mortgages, people are buying houses, people have incomes, jobs, all that good stuff," said Kim Caughey, equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group. "You'd never go out and buy a house if you think you're going to get laid off. Consumers are optimistic about the future, and as we all know, the consumer drives this economy."
Other data Tuesday also suggested the American consumer is strong: A report from Redbook Research showed consumers spent more at chain stores in March than they did in February, while Toyota Motor Corp. reported a steep increase in U.S. sales in March. Other vehicle sales reports issued Tuesday, though, showed that Toyota continues to outperform U.S. automakers.
A decline in crude oil prices, waning as tensions eased between Britain and Iran, also encouraged investors. High energy prices contribute to inflation, which can crimp spending and hurt the chance of lower interest rates.
The Dow rose 128.00, or 1.03 percent, to 12,510.30 — its highest close since Feb. 26, the day before it made its 416-point plunge. The blue chip index is back in positive territory for the year, and 276 points below its record close of 12,786.64, reached Feb. 20.
Broader stock indicators also soared. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 13.22, or 0.93 percent, to 1,437.77, and the Nasdaq composite index added 28.07, or 1.16 percent, to 2,450.33.
Bonds were lower after the home sales data, with the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note at 4.67 percent, up from 4.65 percent late Monday. The dollar rose against other major currencies and gold prices slipped.
Light sweet crude dropped more than a dollar to $64.64 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices had surged when 15 British sailors and marines were detained March 23 by Iran, but the two nations are in negotiations that appeared to be bringing the captives closer to release.
Airline stocks climbed on the prospect of declining fuel costs, as well as a rise in Continental Airlines Inc.'s passenger revenue. Continental Airlines rose $3.03, or 8.4 percent, to $39.08.
Meanwhile, March auto sales showed weakness among U.S. automakers. GM, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler all reported that U.S. sales fell, while Japan-based automakers Toyota, Honda Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co. saw theirs rise.
GM rose 64 cents, or 2 percent, to $31.47, after reporting an increase in China sales. Ford fell a penny to $8.08, and Daimler Chrysler fell $1.07 to $82.95.
U.S. shares of Toyota, which is closing in on Ford to become the United States' No. 2 automaker, rose 11 cents to $127.03. Nissan's U.S. shares rose 3 cents to $21.57, and Honda's rose 80 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $35.49.
Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by about 3 to 1 on the New York Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 2.90 billion shares, up from 2.80 billion shares Monday.
The home sales report, the primary catalyst driving up stocks Tuesday, was not especially robust, but the market has been hungry for some decent news on the housing front to suggest that the broader economy is impervious to the financial problems of subprime lenders, companies that make loans to people with poor credit.
While Tuesday's stock gains were strong, the market remains vulnerable; the subprime lending market is still shaky, and earnings season is less than two weeks away.
"I don't think we're out of the woods yet," said John O'Donoghue, co-head of equities at Cowen & Co., noting that some of the market's gains were probably due to frustrated traders short-covering, or buying back bets that prices would fall. "The market has exhibited a certain amount of complacency. We'll see how earnings come in."
Investors are treading fairly optimistically toward the first quarter earnings season. So far, there have been a few profit warnings — notably from a few homebuilders — but some investors had braced for more dire earnings preannouncements.
"When economies are softer than anticipated, companies get a lot of negative suprises. It's way too early to say this definitely, but perhaps the economy isn't slowing as rapidly as envisioned," Caughey said.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 8.55, or 1.06 percent, to 811.77.
Overseas markets were also strong. Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.27 percent, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.80 percent, Germany's DAX index rose 1.56 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.18 percent.

Ok, so being parents and owners of our business Dave and I really need to stay focus or we can easily fall off track. Here is an article on staying focused on what is really important!

All Limitations Are Perceived HorizonsBy David Cameron Gikandi

Not so long ago, people thought the world was flat. They looked out into the horizon, and it appeared to them that the earth ended somewhere far out there, and at the end of the earth, one could possibly fall off the edge and die. Therefore, people did not dare to reach the horizon, for fear of falling off the end of the earth. So they stayed where they were.Their perception that the world was flat, that it had an edge (the horizon), kept them from exploring far away from where they were born. It was a limitation that appeared real to them. However, this limitation was not real at all - it was an error in perception.The horizon is not an edge, it is not an end.In fact, you can never reach the horizon because it keeps moving farther away from you the closer you get to it. The horizon is an apparent end, yet it is grounded in infinity (you can never reach it).All of your limitations are horizons. All of them bar none. No exception.Even the Self has no limits, although it "appears" to be encompassed by a limited body. In fact, is the Self a reality, or simply an awareness of feeling? The Buddha argued that the Self is a feeling that gets mistaken for an identity (that which is 'having' the feeling). Anyways, that is another topic altogether. Let us get back to limitations...Any limit that you think you have, whether it is financial, biological, emotional, or whatever, is a horizon. For example, you may have the belief that you cannot afford something, and so you forever deny yourself that thing; you never buy it. That is believing in the horizon. You believe you have limited funds and if you spent them on that thing, you would suffer and die or whatever. However, if you went ahead and purchased it, you would find that you can indeed afford it, and because you have now created a new gap in your money, you would quickly fill that gap with even more money (so long as you don't believe you are limited). This is the difference between those who have scarcity (poverty) consciousness or beliefs, and those who believe in abundance.So what is the solution to limitations?It comes in two steps:Step 1: Replace your perspective. As long as you think the world is flat and the horizon marks the edge of the world beyond which you will fall off, all other thoughts and actions will be in error. So you must train yourself to see the world a new way, to know that the horizon is an illusion. If you skip this step and jump straight into step two, you may burn your fingers because you cannot act as if you have abundance as long as you believe in scarcity. Your beliefs always become manifest. Thought is more powerful than action in creation.Step 2: Act in line with abundance. In the above example, we saw that one who believes in abundance knows that the "limited" amount of money in their pocket is transitional, it is a river that flows and is hence not truly limited. But the one who believes in scarcity is convinced that they have a true limit and hence they don't dare cross is. So what does it mean to act in line with abundance? It means that you will be going beyond the horizon. You will march to it and keep moving, knowing that the horizon will never be reached. Know that all resources are cyclic in nature, so that the more you spend the more you earn, and the more you earn the more you spend. Keep that river flowing. Don't erect a dam or try to hold it. Keep it flowing. Open both hands wide, the hand that receives and the hand that gives. The faster your rate of exchange (giving and receiving) the better.Horizons are a mindset. Poverty is a mindset. Wealth is a mindset. Happiness is a mindset. Depression is a mindset. Health is a mindset. Dis-ease is a mindset. It is all a mindset, with its accompanying emotions. The secret is that the mind is limitless, so you truly have no limits except those that you have accepted as real. It is all just a horizon, and no matter how much you chase the horizon, you will never fall off the end of the earth. So chase it!

By Ann Archer
17 Ways to Landscape on the Cheap
It's easy to spend thousands cultivating an idyllic lawn and garden. But a little ingenuity and patience will go a long way to keeping some green in your wallet, as well.By Ann ArcherTraditional thinking says you should expect to pay anywhere from 5% to 15% of your home's value on landscaping. Even at the low end of that range, you're looking at spending $10,500 if you live in the median-value American home worth $213,000.That's tough to stomach no matter how much you love the outdoors. Thankfully, you can do it right and still spend a fraction of that amount.Here's how.Get the most visual bang for your buck: First of all, realize that budget gardening can still be beautiful. Let's say you've got less than $1,000 to spend. The first things you should focus on are improving your soil and adding trees, recommends Joanie Clarke, a design consultant for Classic Nursery and Landscape Co. in Redmond, Wash. "You can spend $500 on plants, but they're not going to grow in clay or sand," she says. Clarke advises amending your soil with compost and other ingredients to improve its quality. Buying soil, in comparison, can cost as much as $27 a yard plus delivery. Take advantage of freebiesYour city, your friend: Cities often give away free trees, mulch and compost. In Seattle, for example, groups of neighbors can request 10-40 trees from the city in exchange for planting and maintaining them.Demolition sites: These are great sources for bricks and stones, but make sure you have permission to remove them.Fellow gardeners: See something you like in a neighbor's yard? Offer to trade cuttings. Also, set up seed exchanges with other gardeners or check out existing exchanges online such as those on iVillage's GardenWeb and GardenHere.com.Avoid costly mistakes: Really think about how you're going to use your outdoor space. If you plan a water feature but are annoyed by the noise of babbling brooks, you’re going to spend more money ripping it out and replacing it with something else later. Take the time to educate yourself and you'll avoid common pitfalls such as planting a tree too close to your house.Work with what you have: Preserving existing plants and trees can help you save the cost, materials and resources needed to establish a new planting. Educate yourself about plant care and pruning; that 12-foot magnolia in the back yard would likely cost you $65 and five years of growing to replace. (For tips on pruning, check out this page on the U.S. Forest Service site.) Similarly, knowing which areas in your yard are flood-prone and which are always in the sun can help you buy the right plants for the right conditions. Some areas might be better for swing sets or patios.Hire yourself: The best way to save money in landscaping is to do as much work as possible yourself. A 3-gallon bush may cost $20, but the price skyrockets to $30 or $40 when it's planted by a landscaping professional. A $3-to-$4 perennial will cost about $12 installed.Know when to hire the pros: There are times when it makes sense to hire a pro. Beverly Katz of Exterior Designs in New Orleans suggests hiring help for jobs that take more muscle or design skill than you have, such as creating hardscapes, while you take on more manageable tasks such as planting small shrubs and perennials. (You can find landscape architects at the American Society of Landscape Architects Web site and certified landscape designers at the Association of Professional Landscape Designers Web site.)When using pros, try to get a packaged deal: Check out nurseries that offer landscaping services. Many will offer discounts on plant material to their landscaping customers. Classic Nursery and Landscape Company in Redmond, Wash., for example, offers a 20% discount on all plant material for one year to their clients.Hire a consultant: A full landscape design that includes drawings and a planting plan can cost anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the complexity of the design and the overall budget of the project, according to Katz. A less-expensive route is to draw your own plan and hire a landscape designer to review it. "I charge $100 to $150 an hour to consult. I’ll make notes and add to the plan," said Katz.Take a phased approach: Divide your plan into phases and pay as you go with funds on hand. You'll save on loan or credit costs and be able to evaluate your progress and adjust plans before moving to the next phase.Time your purchases: Buy trees, shrubs, perennials, soil and mulch late in the season when retailers want to be rid of them. Depending on your region that could be early fall, a great time for planting because it gives the plant time to develop roots before the summer heat arrives.Check alternate resources: Look beyond stores for bargains. Arboretums, botanical centers, plant societies and gardening clubs often hold plant sales. You can join The National Arbor Day Foundation for $10 and receive 10 free trees shipped to you at no cost. At Free Trees and Plants, a retail Web site that helps train and employ the disabled, you only pay shipping and processing fees on all your orders.Buy small: Purchase small-sized plants; five 1-gallon Shasta daisies at $3 apiece cost the same as one 3-gallon plant at $15 at Armstrong Nursery in Carlsbad, Calif. Depending on the species, the smaller plants could double in size in two years, giving you more plant for your money.Protect foundations: Roots can damage concrete blocks, driveways and sidewalks, so plant large trees at least 30 feet from those areas.Divide: Look around your yard for any perennials that can be divided and used elsewhere in the landscape. A one-gallon perennial can cost about $9 at a nursery, but you can easily divide the one you planted last year into four plants, saving $27.Compost: Save money on fertilizers and mulch by composting your own, using yard waste and food scraps. Compost piles can be made of recycled 2 x 4s and chicken wire. All you need is access to the pile and enough space to turn it every now and again. You'll pay as much as $5 per small bag of compost at your local home improvement store.Think about maintenance: A large lawn is great if you don't mind mowing. But if paying a yard guy $50 a week is part of your plan, make sure that goes into your budget.Be water smart: According the Environmental Protection Agency, outdoor water use constitutes almost 20% of total home water use. Look for plants that are drought-tolerant to save on your water bill.Finally, be patient. Plants will not fully mature for a good two to three years, longer for trees and many shrubs. Enjoy the process -- and the money you saved.
Labels: landscaping, real estate