.

Back in February the governor of the State of California signed a 90 Day Foreclosure Extension to the foreclosure process that began about May 22nd.  Although it may not actually affect that many foreclosure in the pipeline, clients are asking what it is all about.  The Q&A link above should answer most of the basics. 

For all of your High Desert Real Estate needs visit our web site.  

First-time home buyers wanting to take advantage of the state’s $10,000 tax credit may have less time than originally expected. California set aside $100 million to help home buyers purchase newly built homes, hoping to jump start the residential-construction market. According to state officials, the tactic has worked well and is helping to entice home buyers into the market. However, there only is approximately 20 percent of the program’s funding remaining.  The program launched in March and as of June 3 nearly $24 million in tax credit certificates already had been issued, according to the state’s Franchise Tax Board, leaving nearly $76 million in credit available.  Many applications still are in the pipeline awaiting approval. If all of the submitted applications are approved, only $17.5 million would remain in the fund.

The California state legislature is considering adding another $200 million to the program. However, securing approval may be difficult due to the state’s estimated $24 billion budget deficit. A bill to extend the program already has won Assembly approval and now is awaiting activity in the state Senate.

For all of your High Desert Real Estate needs visit our web site.

With the vast amount of homeowners that are experiencing a foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy in today’s economy one of the concerns our clients express quite often is about the ability to obtain credit to purchase another home. 

An article with nineteen Q&A’s summarizes the newest guidelines provided by Fannie Mae with regards to obtaining Credit after Foreclosure, short sale or bankruptcy has been posted on our web site. 

For all of your High Desert Real Estate needs: visit our web site.  

Surveys are showing that many people are not exactly sure what their homeowner insurance policy covers…and does not cover. Here are a few things to be aware of that it does NOT cover:

1. Flood Insurance. You must purchase separate coverage.

2. Cars, motorcycles and boats are not covered.

3. Damages due to a break in the water line on your property.

4. Damages due to a break in the sewer line on your property.

5. Earthquake damage.

6. Mold damage.

7. Termites or other infestation damage.

8. Injured or stolen pets.

Many people surveyed believed these things were covered, and they are not. Experts also recommend that you add coverage if you acquire valuable possessions, or make any major home improvements. If you own a trampoline or pool, you may need to increase your liability coverage. If you have valuable jewelry you may also want to add an additional floater to cover any special items that will not be covered by your basic homeowner’s policy.

For more information about homeowners insurance, see the consumer education website InsureUonline.

See http://www.HighDesertRealestate.org for all of your High Desert Real Estate needs.

Experienced gardeners know the value of an easy to care for perennial as it gives the garden color and interest every year with very little care, provided that their location is carefully chosen and roots are properly established with good watering. These particular perennials are hardy and highly resistant to disease, making them a foolproof garden addition for many years to come.

• Iris: Bearded or not, this flower never disappoints if you plant it properly. Make sure the bulb is set slightly above the soil surface.
• Delphinium: In full sun these bloom tall spikes in either blue, purple, red, pink yellow or white.
• Peony: Needs full sun and time. Peonies usually take a couple of years to become established and show their gorgeous petals. Never bury the buds more than two inches below the soil’s surface.
• Purple Coneflower: These re-seed themselves and do well in hot and dry spots. Remember, “The first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third year they leap with color.”
• Yarrow: In white, yellow and pink this plant actually needs a hot, dry spot with poor soil.  

See our web site High Desert Real Estate for more information.

Experienced gardeners know the value of an easy to care for perennial as it gives the garden color and interest every year with very little care, provided that their location is carefully chosen and roots are properly established with good watering. These particular perennials are hardy and highly resistant to disease, making them a foolproof garden addition for many years to come.

• Astilbe: If you have a shady spot with moist soil, this plant will fill it in with nice foliage and it’s soft, feathery plumes of white, pink or red.
• Bee Balm: Deer resistant, this pompom flowered plant attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds due to its succulent nectar. It thrives in full sun or light shade.
• Bleeding Heart: Shady gardens are the perfect spot for this spring bloomer. The unusual dangling, heart-shaped flowers are lined up side-by-side on each stem and come in pink, white and red.
• Daylily: These do amazingly well in hot, dry spots. They bloom all the way from early summer to fall.

 See our web site High Desert Real Estate for more information. 

I watched a very well done documentary last year on the planet earth.  The program went through much of the time period our planet has been around what has happened in the past and what is taking place today.  The awakening, for me, was the last few minutes of the show when the commentator remarked “You don’t have to worry about the planet, it’s been here for millions of years, will continue to be and is capable of eventually repairing anything we have done to it.  What you do have to worry about is mankind and will any of us be left when we are done?  In the movie “The Matrix” the human species was referred to as a virus that simply moves in, depletes all available resources and then moves on.  In the recent version of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” mankind was told that “earth it is not our planet”.  Any way you look at it we all live here and we eventually will thrive or cease to exist in the environment that ensues.  We can choose to damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead or work towards a more harmonious existence within the framework of our environment.  After all where you going to go if you cannot live here?

See High Desert Real Estate for all your real estate needs.