Carol and Jim's Blog by Carol or Jim Chamberlain

What To Do With Hazardous Waste

Don’t know what to do with old paint, computers, monitors, compact fluorescent light bulbs and yard chemicals, etc. There are four locations in Orange County; Anaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach and San Juan Capistrano. Click Here for a Flyer that will give you information on hazardous waste accepted, requirement to use the collection centers, hazardous waste not accepted and hours of operation. There are several locations in Southern California to dispose of business hazardous waste; Vista, Ontario, Paramount, Carson, Fountain Valley, Anaheim, and Pasadena CA. Click Here for a flyer with phone numbers and websites. For more information call the hotline at 714.834.6752 or visit their web site at www.oclandfills.com.

New Credit Card Scam

The crooks are really getting good. Snopes.com http://www.snopes.com/ says this is true. Link to this scam: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/creditcard.asp This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card ..(read more)

Energy Saving Tips

Energy Auditing Tips:
1 Check the insulation levels through your home.
2 Check for holes or cracks around your walls, ceilings, windows, and electrical outlets.
3 Check for open fireplace dampers
4 Maintain appliances and heating and cooling systems.
5 Look for ways to reduce lighting energy use. Heating & Cooling Tips:
1 Set your thermostat low in the winter and high in the summer.
2 Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed.
3 Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing.
4 when replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high [efficiency, low – noise models.
5 For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE. Look for Energy Star models, some exceed 78% AFUE. Lighting
1 Compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energy efficient than ..(read more)

Avoiding Identity Theft- Tips and Practices

Deter – Detect – Defend DETER
1. Cross shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
2. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only when absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
3. Do not put your wallet on a counter.
4. Don’t give out personal information on the phone, the mail, or the internet unless you are familiar with the person.
5. Never click on the links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, use the web addressed you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software on your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
6. Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security Number. Use a different password and PIN for each ..(read more)

Who to call in the City of Brea CA

Title Name Phone Email General Info Receptionist 714-990-7600 Assistant City Manager Terry Matz 714-990-7770 Email City Council Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesday 7 PM City Attonrey James L Markman 714-990-0901 City Manager Tim O'Donnell 714-990-7710 Email Community Service Director Scott Malkemus 714-990-7738 Email Development Services Director Charles View 714-990-7689 Email ..(read more)

Sellers, their agents suggest one-two punch

Invest in face-lift, they say, and keep your asking price moderate Before putting their Outer Richmond condo on the market, Megan Christoph and her husband, Scott Davis, repainted the entire apartment. They replaced the faucets and showerhead, replanted the yard and had the hardwood floors refinished. The couple borrowed plants and artwork from friends and bought a new dining room table and chairs on Craigslist. Then Christoph and the couple's two children moved out for several weeks to keep their home pristine for the open houses and tours. "We were very nervous to be selling in this market," said Christoph, who worked in real estate from 2002 to 2004 before returning to social work. "Out by Ocean Beach is a great place to live, but it's not necessarily where the 20-somethings and 30-somethings want to go. We felt like we had to make it look really good." While real estate agents say that in any market sellers should put their best face forward by repainting, ..(read more)

Lose homes, pay more tax

Investors in second or multiple homes stand to be among the biggest losers from the housing downturn. That’s because proposed mortgage bailout programs don’t address second homes and investment properties. Many owners of multiple properties don’t realize that investments they thought would help them build long-term wealth may in fact leave them in bankruptcy and facing a sizeable tax debt. MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY FOR CONSUMERS Homeowners who borrowed against the value of their second home, or who financed the purchase of their second home and subsequent homes by pledging their primary home or other properties as security, may be liable for taxes on the difference in value should they sell any of their properties for a price less than the value owed on the mortgage. Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, a homeowner doesn’t have to pay taxes on forgiven debt if the collateral behind the mortgage is owner-occupied. That ..(read more)

The Latest Pending Home Sales Index and Forecast Release

A modest gain in the level of home sales is possible over the next couple of months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast.The Pending Home Sales Index rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 from a reading of 83.0 in March. It's the highest index figure since last October. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said pending sales contracts have picked up notably in areas undergoing significant price drops. "Bargain hunters have entered the market en masse, especially in areas that have experienced double-digit price declines, but it's unclear if they are investors or owner-occupants," he said. "Sharp price reductions are leading to a quicker discovery of price equilibrium points. The West is already seeing year-over-year gains in pending contracts." To read the complete forcast and pending home sales index at NAR "click here"

What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through

Be sure that: Repairs you’ve requested have been made. Obtain copies of paid bills and any related warranties. All items that were included in the sale price—draperies, lighting fixtures—are still there. Screens and storm windows are in place or stored. All appliances are operating. Intercom, doorbell, and alarm are operational. Hot water heater is working. HVAC is working. No plants or shrubs have been removed from the yard. Garage door opener and other remotes are available. Instruction books and warranties on appliances and fixtures are there. All personal items of the sellers and all debris have been removed.

What to Keep From Your Closing

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) statement. This form, sometimes called a HUD 1 statement, itemizes all the costs associated with the closing. You’ll need this for income tax purposes and when you sell the home. The Truth in Lending Statement summarizes the terms of your mortgage loan. The mortgage and the note (two pieces of paper) spell out the legal terms of your mortgage obligation and the agreed-upon repayment terms. The deed transfers ownership of the property to you. Riders are amendments to the sales contract that affect your rights. For example, if you buy a condominium, you may have a rider outline the condo association’s rules and restrictions. Insurance policies provide a record and proof of your coverage. Affidavits swearing to various statements by either party. For example, the sellers will often sign an affidavit stating that they have not incurred any liens on the property.

Understanding Capital Gains in Real Estate

When you sell a stock, you owe taxes on your gain—the difference between what you paid for the stock and what you sold it for. The same is true with selling a home (or a second home), but there are some special considerations. How to Calculate Gain In real estate, capital gains are based not on what you paid for the home, but on its adjusted cost basis. To calculate this: 1. Take the purchase price of the home: This is the sale price, not the amount of money you actually contributed at closing. 2. Add adjustments: Cost of the purchase—including transfer fees, attorney fees, inspections, but not points you paid on your mortgage. Cost of sale—including inspections, attorney’s fee, real estate commission, and money you spent to fix up your home just prior to sale. Cost of improvements—including room additions, deck, etc. Note here that improvements do not include repairing or replacing something already ..(read more)

Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense.

Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense. 1.How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don’t build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you’ve owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains. 2.Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving? 3.Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you’ve had children, the quality of the schools may be more of a concern now than when you first purchased. 4.Can you add on or remodel? If you have a large yard, there might be room to expand your home. If not, your options may be limited. Also, do you want to undertake the headaches of remodeling? 5.How is the home market? If it’s good, you may get top dollar for your home. ..(read more)

California Wants Hurt More HomeBuyers & HomeSellers!

I received this in an email from the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) C.A.R. is OPPOSING AB 2678 (Núñez) which among other things, requires that ALL homes and commercial property in California have an energy audit at point-of-sale and that mandatory energy efficiency investments be made. While C.A.R. appreciates the goal of AB 2678 C.A.R. strongly opposes the point-of-sale requirements in AB 2678 because they fail to achieve the bill?s objectives and, such mandates will further weaken the housing market. If enacted, AB 2678 could add thousands of dollars to the cost of purchasing a home, including up to $400 just to have a home audited. AB 2678 was passed by the Assembly Utilities committee. It will have a vote in the Assembly Appropriations committee before heading to a vote by the entire Assembly. Don't kid yourself this will effect all home owners and home buyers. Call Your Lawmaker Today to Ask that the Point-of-Sale Provision be Removed from AB ..(read more)

Useful City Phone Numbers & Emails (Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, La Habra, Placentia, Yorba Linda

Service Phone Website Anaheim City Hall 714-765-4311 Anaheim.net Convention Center 714-765-8950 Anaheimconventioncenter.com Fire 714-765-4000 Anaheim.net Libraries Anaheim.net/library Police 714-765-1900 Anaheim.net Public Schools Anaheim.net ..(read more)

One of The Best Places To Get Moving Supplies?

One of the biggest deals about buying or selling a home is the Packing. If there is anything that would keep most people from moving its the pain packing up all our stuff and then unpacking at the new home or apartment. The Box connection makes the job so much easier for the job of packing. Best of all you can order online and they will deliver all your supplies the next day. Sometimes even the same day. We have recommended this company for years and they have never let us down or clients. Click Here to get to the website. They will deliver anywhere in Orange and San Diego counties.