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UCGal
ParticipantBG – why do you think I started with suggesting to ask the agent(s). Then restated that later in my post.
I wasn’t suggesting using the prop tax records to find the variance… only to find the owners name.
I would assume that if a variance is mentioned in the listing, the listing agent has some idea of the details. (But you know what happens when you assume.)
UCGal
ParticipantCR posted a link to a North County times article about how the banks acted differently based on the size of the loan.
http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/realside/article_839479c6-9c90-50cf-8961-5c3a8aad985c.html
It may be that the leniency towards the higher dollar mortgages may finally be catching up.
UCGal
ParticipantWell – the obvious way would be to ask your realtor, or ask the listing agent.
I’m not sure if you variances are recorded with county recorder. If they are you could take the parcel number, APN, (on the listing or on redfin), plug it into the property tax database. If the land is held by an entity with a unique enough name, you might be able to plug that into the county recorders database.
If (and only if) variances are recorded with the county recorder – you’d be able to see if there’s a doc. You can order the doc for a few bucks or go down to the county building to look it up for free.
Like I said- asking the listing agent is the easiest way.
property tax database:
https://www.sdctreastax.com/ebpp3/county recorders database:
http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/services/grantorgrantee/search.aspxUCGal
Participant[quote=arv]I did talk to absolute mortgage guy he didn’t say that refinance is not worth in my case (may be because I didn’t ask) I am also on 4.375%. I think it all depends upon how much is your current balance so that rebate can cover the closing cost can leave some thing for you to keep. I did last refinance through Amerisave. They are fine but one needs to be familiar with refinancing and keep communicating with them. I think Sheldon is being recommended here earlier. How to reach him? I am thinking of getting quote from him in future.[/quote]
http://www.homeloansheldon.com/September 15, 2011 at 2:15 PM in reply to: P&G’s Hour Glass Strategy: Shrinking Middle Class #729160UCGal
Participant[quote=flu]
What do they do with it? Do they all drive around in BMW’s or do they have big medical bills/dependant care bills?
[/quote]Lots of bmw’s and audi’s in the lot. A smattering of volvo’s mixed in there. I’d say over 1/2 the cars in the lot fit that bill.
Don’t know about medical bills – but yeah, child care is probably an issue.
A couple of divorced folks where the 2 households, support payments, etc impacts their cashflow. Or having had to wipe out savings to buy out the ex.
And some of these coworkers have houses that they stretched far to get into… Carmel Valley, La Jolla, even 4S bought at peak is a stretch for a lot of engineering salaries. Perhaps I should say it’s beyond my personal comfort zone. But then again, I’m trying to save for retirement and pay off my house. Feeding that mortgage is making them cash poor and so there isn’t a lot of saving going on.
My observations are that it’s a small percentage that has $1M in investable assets.
September 15, 2011 at 9:59 AM in reply to: P&G’s Hour Glass Strategy: Shrinking Middle Class #729105UCGal
Participant[quote=flyer]Another stat to support this strategy reveals that less than 5% of US households have “investable assets” (obviously excluding real estate) of $1M+. It really amazes me that this percentage is so low.[/quote]
It doesn’t amaze me.
I’m an engineer. So my coworkers are reasonably well paid. I’m always surprised by the number of them that are NOT maxing out their 401ks. I hear about how they can’t afford it so they only put enough in to get the match. And they’re not saving or investing much outside their 401ks. It’s hard to build up $1M in investable assets if you don’t SAVE some of your income.September 15, 2011 at 9:51 AM in reply to: CA demographic shifts in the coming years will favor cities over suburbia #729101UCGal
Participant[quote=sdrealtor]I’m going to have to disagree with TG. I sold a place to a retired 75 yr old law professor in downtown a couple years ago. There are lots of older folks from back east that like a city but want good weather. They want to be able to jump in a cab to the airport to travel, walk out the door to read the paper at a coffe shop, walk to the baseball stadium and walk to dinner without depending upon a car. For him, he also liked the idea of walking to the court house to watch the law in action. I’m not saying he’s the majority but there are plenty of folks like him. When we were looking in the nicer buildings, there were full of folks like him.[/quote]
Part of center city Philly’s resurgence was based on empty nesters and retirees moving BACK to the city after they’d fled to the burbs to raise their kids. The city offered the restaurants and culture they wanted – and they no longer worried about school quality. And for retirees – no wage tax concerns.
I know several older couples who fit this bill – moved to Montgomery county and Bucks county when their kids were young… One is living in a high rise overlooking boat house row and the art museum, another lives in Old City.
(Oh – and when we go visit – we stay with a family with kids… they live in a GORGEOUS row house a block from Rittenhouse Square. And yes – they have a community garden plot, and their “yard” is a roof deck. They love living in the city with their kids… so some people enjoy the lifestyle.)
UCGal
Participant[quote=briansd1]
But yeah, the government can’t take any risk supporting our innovators… so don’t be surprised when HP’s computer division so sold off to Acer and Motorola gets bought by Huawei.[/quote]
Too late on that last one – but it’s an American buyer… Google.September 14, 2011 at 1:56 PM in reply to: CA demographic shifts in the coming years will favor cities over suburbia #729033UCGal
ParticipantI don’t know if it’s a generational thing. I think there is a cultural thing.
Specifically, Americans, post WWII, wanted the house, car, suburban lifestyle. Other countries didn’t make that same change. My husbands relatives in Italy are all professional, upper middle class types… and all have large apartments or what we might call town houses (party walls with the adjacent neighbors.) The single family home is just not common in that culture.
These folks have kids, grandkids, etc… They never felt the need to get a single family home in the suburbs. It wasn’t part of their culture. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it – like I said, they’re all highly educated, upper middle class folks.
In most other countries (except perhaps Canada) – apartment/condo living is perfectly acceptable. Even for people with kids.
UCGal
Participant[quote=HiggyBaby]
My Dad is retired govt/military. We believe he’ll be able to leverage VA for nursing home needs, but still looking into it.
[/quote]This is a good plan. Especially if he has any percentage of disability due to his service. (My father in law’s issues are partially (a small part) due to injuries that got him a purple heart in WWII.) The VA system has improved dramatically in the past few years.
UCGal
ParticipantDarn. There is no free or negative cost mortgage for me. My unAmerican plan of paying off my mortgage aggressively puts my balance too low to get the benefits…
Seems like a good time to refi for a lot of folks, though.
September 14, 2011 at 8:23 AM in reply to: OT: Some Government Contractors are Getting the Boot #728996UCGal
ParticipantI work for a company that is NOT a government contractor. I fully expect layoffs en masse within the next 6 months. We’ve already been hit hard. Vacancies are NOT being filled in our group. So of someone leaves due to job change or retirement… our group is short handed.
I’ve got almost 17 years with this employer (although the name has changed due to aquisitions and splits) – but that doesn’t matter. I might be on the chopping block. Such is life.
Dual citizenship has always been an issue for security clearances above the very basic ones. It’s a factor I considered when I put together the application for my husband and sons dual citizenship. It might effect my sons’ future job prospects.
I guess I don’t understand why defense contractors should be any different than any other employer. We’re ALL screwed in this economy.
UCGal
Participant[quote=briansd1]Yesterday was Mid-Autumn festival. My Taiwanese guest went out and bought a moon cake for us to enjoy with special tea she brought from Taiwan.
That was also harvest moon celebrated in many cultures. The night sky is very bright and farmers can go out and work the fields at night.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/harvest-moon-2011-brightening-sky-tonight/story?id=14503535http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/harvest-moon-peaked-sunday-night-photos-video/2011/09/12/gIQAy3y6MK_blog.html%5B/quote%5D
A Vietnamese friend brought in moon cakes to work yesterday. Sweet (literaly and figuratively)UCGal
ParticipantBut that was at 5:27am – so not the one he felt.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/nc71645681.php -
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