Our goal for 2010 is to align the members of MLS with “GREEN” practices and education, and to also represent our members in the public world as something other than “commission collectors”. Our first step is to present a “Green Mile” moment, much like the “Mortgage Minute” each week at MLS. Our first presentation was 3/10/2010 in front of MLS. We have asked to be a standard on the agenda each week for MLS. By year’s end, those who attend the General MLS Membership Meetings will at least know how to spell GREEN.
We hope to man a table at the June 21st Energy Fair forming an alliance with the public and MLS by being the informational “go-to” booth, and generally promoting good will.
We have developed 9 separate presentational ideas to be presented at 6 separate MLS meetings, as educational comments on the GREEN movement. Hopefully, our first presentation of this type will be presented April 27th, and continue through November, 2010.
We have already developed ideas/categories for the listing “input” form which are for GREEN homes categories. We are using sold or current listing that were green homes, not green-washed, as examples. The need for this will soon be upon us as builders install solar, tankless hot water heaters, no VOC paints, xeric landscaping, and build with sustainable house framing techniques, like using concrete for walls insulation and thermal mass.
We are trying to think ahead: the GREEN movement equates to i-pod, i-phone or texting, or even back to the computer in 1970—you old timers certainly remember Helen Ferrier, don’t you? She and Mike Braden over at Red Carpet on Bechelli Lane were instrumental in bringing the computer and MLS to their wedding night. The pessimists said it would never take over. And now, we assure you that teachers are not teaching wasteful practices; rather they are teaching about GHG, recycling, saving water, our carbon footprint, renewable resources, saving for future generations.
And, we voted in one new member 3/10/2010: Steve Crosetti. Welcome. That’s some of what we’ve done so far, but you’d better watch us as we could be out of control quickly! Nedra Soos
On Wednesday March 4, the General Membership Meeting of the Shasta Association of REALTORS featured Jonathan Bell of USLending (530) 366 8658.
He offered information about Energy Efficiency Home Loans (EEM). These loans allow a homebuyer to add funds on their home mortgage specifically to upgrade the home’s thermal efficiency and energy usage. Jonathan has worked hard to become a local expert on the subject, and has lined up a group of specialists to do the work before and after COE.
In a typical scenario, your buyer wants to buy a home built with older, lower energy standards. Using an EEM, the buyer can add up to about $13K in improvements to insulation, HAVAC, etc. to bring the home up to modern energy standards. The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) audit reveals that improvements can save substantial money on their monthly utility bill, which offsets any increase in the monthly mortgage payment created by the EEM. In addition, rebates and tax advantages can apply. Unlike a 203(k) loan, the improvement work is done after COE and the entire upgrade process is transparent to the seller, and painless to the buyer.
So, in addition to providing substantial long term financial benefit to the buyer, the EEM enables more local homes to be upgraded to a more environmentally friendly state and reduces their carbon footprint. Jonathan showed examples of how the program has worked on his own home, reducing his power consumption and monthly outlays. A WIN-WIN program, all around. You can help spread the word about EEM. We’ve arranged to have some of his presentation available here to you as 2 pdf files at the links below:
Another great REALTOR educational opportunity, and one that’s good for our clients and our environment. The meeting was moderated by Esther Auerbach, and refreshments were provided by Lisa Justason (800) 443 5599 of Buyers Protection Group Home Warranties. Thanks Lisa!
On Wednesday February 24, the membership received a presentation from an attorney for our association, Tim Ferris. He outlined some recent case law decisions that had bearing on real estate transactions. In addition, he outlines some of the wholesale changes made to the new RPA form. “In summary, the large print giveth, the small print taketh away.” You’ll want to make sure you are using the new forms. There is some good information on prescriptive easements, appraisals, mortgage modification fraud and more. All well worth your listening time. We’ve made arrangements for the remarks to be available to you if you were not able to attend the original presentation, and so the webcast is at the bottom of this post. Another informative presentation from your MLS. Skip Murphy.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On February 17 we were addressed by Attorney Darryll Alvey. Darryll is a longtime REALTOR, since 1975. He became a Broker, and served for a time as President of the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce. He went on to obtain a degree in law, and began practice as an attorney. Now, he is managing attorney for the Shasta office of Legal Services of Northern California, serving Shasta, Siskiyou, Trinity, Lassen, and Modoc Counties.
Legal Services provides no-cost legal aid to persons who meet the income eligibility requirements. Services include General Legal Assistance, Bankruptcy Consultation, and Unlawful Detainer assistance, among others. In addition, they provide free programs of legal services to seniors. These services include Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, Health Insurance Counseling, and serves as a Long Term Care Ombudsman. There are other services available. The mission of Legal Services of Northern California is to provide quality legal services to empower the poor to identify and defeat the causes and effects of poverty within their community.
Darryll is an experienced and engaging speaker, and you are sure to enjoy listening to the webcast of his talk provided for you. It’s very inspirational to listen to this longtime REALTOR, and doing so, you will feel his outstanding commitment to community service. It’s a natural fit. Another excellent program from your Shasta Association of Realtors. Skip Murphy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On February 10 we were treated to a presentation by Attorney Jody Burgess of the Maire and Beasley Law Firm. Jody always bring great insight to the legal workings that surround real estate transactions. Today, he brought 4 examples of contracts that were written in such a way as to leave open different interpretations. Jody emphasized the need for REALTORS to draft wholly integrated contracts with clear language and intent. He also brought to light the fact that in this electronic age, other communications, exchanged during a transaction, like e-mails to Escrow, can be called up and used to legal advantage in disputes. It’s always interesting and thought provoking to hear how a good legal mind approaches contracts, and how careless work can lead to costly results. It was a fascinating and enlightening session. We have recorded it here for you, and Jody was kind enough to provide us with his excellent visual presentation. You may need to open the presentation (Link below at Drafting Contracts) in a different window, or save the presentation to view while you listen to the audio webcast, but it will be well worth your time. Another excellent educational program from our MLS. Highly recommended material. Skip Murphy
Drafting Contracts – Jody Burgess
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
At our February 3 General MLS meeting, we hosted apresentation by local Housing assistance officals to discuss the C4-HAP propgram to help buyers purchase foreclosures in specific targeted neighborhoods.
HAP stands for Housing Assistance Program. The big news in this era of economic austerity is that this government program has $1.2M to give away locally to homebuyers who qualify to purchase foreclosed homes in certain neighborhoods. Of course there are a few strings attached, and perhaps the biggest one you need to know is that they have to give it all away by June 30, 2010, or the money reverts to the State. (plus – see the kicker below)
With the C4-HAP program, the money is available as loans up to $65,000 that are 100% forgivable after 5 years. Stay in the house for 5 years, paying no interest on that loan, and then that Housing Assistance portion of the loan is completely forgiven. You can add gap financing of up to $65,000 to your regular home loan, in order to buy a house up to $190,000.
Eligibility
Here are some neighborhoods approved for this program:
In Anderson, Anderson Heights and allcensus tract 120
City of Redding – 101, 103, 107.01, 113, 114, 106, 108.01, 108.02, 110 and 118.
City of Shasta Lake – Census tracts 117, & 116 Block Group 1.
You can determine the census tract number by typing individual addresses of properties at this www.factfinder.census.gov address search link.
And here’s the kicker:
$750,000 of this $1.2M grant has to be in contract by March 31, or it returns to the state!
So let’s hurry up and take advantage of this unique opportunity. If you are not able to take advantage of this, perhaps you know somebody who should, and can pass this information along!
If you are interested in this program, you can go to the Shasta County Department of Housing and Community Action Programs Office located at 1450 Court Street, Suite 108, in Redding between 8 a.m. and 1 pm, Monday through Friday to complete a waiting list application.
From left, Jessaca Lugo, Jody White, and Torri Glasgow at the Shasta Association of Realtors
Here is the contact information for
City of Redding – Jodi White (530) 225-4173 jwhite@ci.redding.ca.us
City of Shasta Lake – Jessaca Lugo (530) 275-7464 jessaca.lugo@ci.shasta-lake.ca.us or
Loree Byzick (530) 275-7463 loree.byzick@ci.shasta-lake.ca.us
City of Anderson – Torri Glasgow (530) 245-6431 tglasgow@co.shasta.ca.us
Spread the word! Skip Murphy
Press play to listen to the recording of the meeting.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The General Membership Meeting on January 20 2010 featured Assessor/Recorder Leslie Morgan and members of her staff. 
David Baker, Bruce Copeland, Wayne Stephens, and Cathy Scott take questions regarding valuation at the County Assessors Office. Leslie’s office has faced big challenges keeping up with valuation in the declining local market. Prop 8 mandates require them to re-evaluate properties that have declined in value, and then re-evaluate them every year until they reach a new base value. There are 95,000 or so properties in Shasta County. 32,000 properties have been reviewed, resulting in reductions for 16,400 properties. The new valuations mean a reduction in property taxes, and thus also, reduced revenues to fund Shasta County government. The adjustments so far have reduced property valuations in the county by more than a billion dollars. The adjustments resulted in reductions of revenue of $12.5M to the county. Or, depending on how you look at it, over $12M in direct savings to taxpayers. This year they are looking at 47,000 properties. They are accomplishing all this additional work while reducing staff costs by 10%. Quite a balancing act for her office. The people in her office doing valuations face many of the same issues as we REALTORS do in trying to determine actual market value of real estate, so it was important and relevant to hear. We’ve arranged to have a recording of the talk available to you here at this post. It’s an informative talk. Skip Murphy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
California State Assemblyman Jim Nielson stopped by at the General MLS Mebership meeting on Jan 20 to accept a campaign donation from CREPAC . Jim spoke briefly of his continued work in support of issues of importance to all REALTORS, including protection of Prop 13 tax rules, and issues surrounding water use and unworkable point of sale septic tank regulations. Skip Murphy
Assemblyman Jim Nielson thanks the membership for their support
Assemblyman Jim Nielson with Legislative Committee member Jean Hall
Don D. Davis introduces Reverse Mortgage Specialist Sandra Castrogiovanni from Security 1 Lending. California Finance Lender Lic. #603F186
Sandra is well known to the Realtor membership. It is always impressive to hear her repeated emphasis on ethical treatment of seniors. She is especially cognizant of the need to be extremely clear about the terms of a Reverse Mortgage. She is also subject to the new GFE rules recently enacted. Of interest to Realtors was the Reverse HECM program. This allows seniors to purchase a home, condo, townhome, or even a 1-4 unit multifamily residence, using a reverse mortgage.
The minimum age for a buyer is 62, and includes both if married. The good thing is that there is no income required, and no credit score requirements to purchase a home. This option can protect a senior with a chunk of cash from losing their home due to a scam or other inadvertant circumstance.
The Shasta Association of Realtors ended a challenging year on several high notes. We were able to deliver phone cards to our men and women serving our nation.
