** WHAT IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE **

** What is your thoughts .... which one would you do ??? ........ Help needed ? Call Cj at 909/ 910-2481 **

~~ EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR PLUMBING ~

$$$$$$$ HI FOLKS $$$$$$$ Some of the suggestion in this article may save you Time, Money & Keep you away from Headache Medicine .... Also Call me with any of your Real Estate Needs At 909/ 910-2481 ... Cj $$$$$ ......... By PILLAR TO POST ~Home Inspectors ............ A healthy plumbing system can help lessen the chance of leaks, ruptures, clogs and other not-so-nice events. Homeowners who take some basic precautions and implement a few simple steps can be more confident in the state of their home's plumbing, and can save on costly repairs as well. • Know where the main water shutoff valve is. This is normally very accessible so that the water to the whole house can be turned off in an emergency. • Check the household water pressure with an inexpensive gauge from the hardware store. Excessive water pressure can damage pipes, faucets and washing machine valves, which can lead to leaks and dramatically shortened life-spans for these items. In general, water pressure should be between 40-80 psi. A plumber can install a pressure reducing valve near the main shutoff to correct this condition. • Protect pipes from freezing by using pipe insulation where pipes are exposed to the cold. This includes outdoor faucets, garages, crawlspaces, and unfinished/unheated basements. Frozen pipes can burst and result in serious water damage to the home and belongings. • Avoid using chemical drain cleaners. Though often effective, they can damage cast iron drainpipes and cause bigger problems. Snaking the drain is a better solution - keep a plumbing snake on hand or have a plumber do this. • Do not put any kind of grease or cooking oils down the drain. These will just solidify as they travel through the pipes and can cause serious clogs further down the line. Instead, pour the grease into a paper cup or other disposable container and throw it away. When it comes to plumbing, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure! $$

<$> SHOULD YOU SELL SHARES OF YOUR HOME EQUITY? <$>

<$><$><$> Hi Folks .... I thought folks needed to know about this new way that Folks are able to get equity money out of their Home <$><$> This is an article that I felt is VERY IMPORTANT to Homeowners .... Please read and do your "Due Diligence" if you consider this avenue. Call me if I can help you with your Real Estate needs @ 909/ 910-2481 = "C.J." <$><$><$> .................................A Silicon Valley startup is hoping that homeowners seeking fast cash will forgo begging for loans from banks (and dear old Mom and Dad), skip refinancing their abodes, avoid traditional home equity loans and credit loans—and sell off some of the equity in their residences instead. Point, the Palo Alto–based company, has a simple but novel proposition: Homeowners can sell small fractions of their equity to investors for a lump sum, with no interest rates or monthly payments. This gives folks who can’t afford the monthly bills on a second mortgage, home equity loan, or credit line the chance to get cash on their residences while providing wealthy individuals, companies, and hedge funds (accredited investors only) something new to sink their money into. “It’s a really good option for homeowners who are looking for alternatives,” says Point co-founder and Chief Business Officer Eoin Matthews. “The homeowner gets to tap into their home equity, and they don’t have a monthly payment. There’s no interest rates associated with the product.” But new investments are inherently risky as they have no track record. And folks could be losing money over the long run by signing away much of their future home appreciation. So should homeowners sign up? How selling home equity works Here’s how it works: The homeowner applies online for a pre-approval. If all goes well, an appraiser comes to assess the property. If it’s approved, official documents detailing the partial ownership arrangement are signed and filed in the homeowner’s county recorder’s office. Once everything is finalized, a check is deposited into the homeowner’s bank account. <$> Typically, the maximum amount an owner can receive from Point for any one property is the lesser of: a) $100,000 b) 15% of the property’s value c) 30% of the equity Homeowners’ remaining equity can’t dip below 20%. <$> The deals are typically good for about 10 years, with the expectation that Point will turn a profit when the property is sold. Alternatively, homeowners can buy back their equity at any time during the term. If the home value increases, everyone wins. Point gets back what it invested, plus a percentage of the appreciation—12.5% to 45%, depending on the investment. If the home value falls, Point also loses money, getting back only the value of its fraction of equity. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining their properties, keeping insurance, and staying current on all property taxes. But they can make whatever changes, renovations, or modifications they’d like to their residences without any interference from Point or its investors. Most folks use the money to pay off credit card debt and other loans, make home renovations, and invest in their small businesses, Matthews says. “There are lots of homeowners in the U.S. right now who are not able to access the equity in their home,” Matthews says. “There’s a whole segment of homeowners who don’t want to take on significant debt … or don’t qualify.” (Point, which formally launched last year, announced this month that it had raised $15.4 million in funding.) The fine print on selling shares in your home Currently, the service is available only in California and Washington. The company plans to expand into Massachusetts, Virginia, and Oregon by the end of the year, and its founders hope to eventually go nationwide. And although homeowners do not have monthly payments, there are still fees involved. Applicants are charged for the appraiser’s visit, which Point estimates is usually about $400 to $800. That’s on top of a 3% processing fee on the investment amount and the escrow costs, typically an additional $450. Most folks won’t make it that far. Only 1% of the roughly 4,000 to 5,000 applications the company has received has been approved, resulting in only about 60 investments so far. But Matthews was quick to point out that many of those homeowners choose to opt out of the process. “For some homeowners, this might be more expensive than debt,” Matthews says. It’s also not for everyone, says certified financial planner Jenna Rogers of Mission Wealth in Santa Barbara, CA. “It could end up being a lot more expensive than you think,” she says, particularly for those in very pricey areas like San Francisco, “where real estate appreciates very quickly.” She recommends those considering selling their home equity use a calculator and run the numbers first. With interest rates low, it may make more financial sense for folks to secure a home equity loan or line of credit instead—instead of forking over a percentage of the hoped-for future appreciation of their abodes. But it could be a lifesaver for some, particularly those trying to pay off high-interest credit cards. “It sort of is a last-resort option when all your money is tied up in your home and you can’t afford a monthly payment on a second mortgage or a home equity line,” Rogers says. “It could make sense for someone who needs the cash and will use the money in a smart way.”

(``) HE WAS LOOKING FOR A FIXER-UPPER (``)

{}{}{} ~ I WAS CONTACTED BY A "SPIRIT" WHO WANTED A HOME BY OCT.31st ~ GOT 'ER DONE ~ SOLD ~ TEE HEE ~ {}{}{} ~~ 909/910~2481 ~~ {}{}{}

5 SECRETS YOUR CONTRACTOR DOESN’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

<><><><> Hi Folks ... I hope this will be good insight for you and call Cj at 909/ 910-2481 for your Real Estate Needs <><><><> .......................... You’ve asked friends to recommend great contractors, picked your favorite, checked references — and maybe even conducted an online background check on his business. So you know you’ve found a top-notch guy for your home improvement project. But remember that his bottom line is getting you to sign a contract, and he’s not going to mention anything that might get in the way. Before you make a commitment, here’s what you need to know in order to protect your own bottom line. <><> 1. He’s Not the Only Game in Town <><> Even if you believe you found the best contractor in the area, don’t hire him unless you’re sure he’s right for your project. You should solicit at least three bids from three different contractors before awarding a home improvement project. This way you can make an educated hiring decision by comparing costs, methods, and materials. What you should do: Make sure you have a basis for comparison when asking for bids. Provide each contractor with the same project details. This may include materials you wish to use and floor plans. Although cost should be one of your deciding factors, other points to consider include scheduling and communication style. TIP: Once you picked the best contractor for the job, keep your project on track with an ironclad contract. <><> 2. He's Going to Farm Out the Work <><> General contractors often don’t do the physical work themselves. They might have been carpenters or plumbers, but now that they run their own businesses, they’ve retired their tool belts. Instead, their role is to sign clients, manage budgets, and schedule a cast of subcontractors. When he’s trying to win your business, a contractor can be pretty vague about how involved he’s going to be — and who will be running the job day-to-day. What you should do: Inquire who will be in charge of the job site. Ask to meet the job foreman, preferably while he’s at work on a current job site, says Stockbridge, Mass., contractor Jay Rhind. “You want to make sure you feel comfortable with him.” TIP: Don’t underestimate the power of being nice. It can help keep your contractor and crew on track while improving the quality of their work. <><> 3. A Big Deposit is Unnecessary <><> — and Possibly Illegal When you sign a contract, you’re usually expected to pay a deposit. But that’s not for covering the contractor’s initial materials or set-up costs. If his business is financially sound and he’s in good standing with his suppliers, he shouldn’t need to pay for anything up front. In fact, many states limit a contractor’s advance. California maxes out deposits at 10% of the job cost, or $1,000 — whichever is smaller. To find out what the law is in your area, check with your local or state consumer agency. What you should do: A small deposit is reasonable to kick off a project. But your payment plan should be based on a defined amount of work being completed. This way, if the work isn’t proceeding according to schedule, the payments will be delayed. TIP: When possible, charge it. The Federal Trade Commission suggests when paying for home improvement work, use a credit card. Doing so may protect homeowners if a project goes south. After making a good faith effort to workout any problems with your contractor, consumers have the right to withhold payment up to the amount of credit outstanding for the purchase. This includes any finance or related charges. <><> 4. He's Not Only Marking Up Labor But Materials, Too <><> No contractor wants to talk about it, but he’s going to mark up everything he pays out to make your job happen. That’s fair; it’s how he pays his own overhead and salary. Keep it in mind that the 50% or more markup may apply not just to materials but labor costs, too. What you should do: If you can handle buying items such as plumbing fixtures, cabinets, countertops, and flooring, ask your contractor to take them out of his bid price. Be sure to agree on specific numbers and amounts of what you’ll be buying, and that you’ll have the items to the job site when they’re needed. You could save 10% to 20% or more on the overall cost of the project. TIP: Salvage materials are one way to save on building costs. Just make sure you use upcycled stuff wisely so you don’t harm your home’s value. <><> 5. He’s Not the Design Whiz He Claims to Be<><> Sure, there are contractors who have strong design abilities. Chances are, however, they’re spending a lot more time running their businesses than honing their design chops.

*~* WHAT AGE 55+ ARE LOOKING FOR *~*

*~* FOLKS *~* ARE YOU CURRENTLY LOOKING ? OR DECIDING ? ... CALL "C.J." @ 909/910-2481 *~*

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO CLEAN YOUR AIR DUCTS?

************************************************* Do you really need to pay good money to have your air ducts cleaned? The short answer is “probably not.” But before you call up dad to chant “I told you so,” it’s important to understand why you probably don’t need to do it — and why we just italicized “probably.” (Because some people actually should. Sorry! Hope it’s not you!) <><>Clean Air Claims<><> In order for your forced-air furnace or HVAC to deliver warm and cool air into your rooms, that air has to go through a system of ducts. So technically, you’re breathing in any dust, cobwebs, pet hair, and dander that line those ducts. Sounds harmful, right? Not according to the experts. Dan Stradford, National Air Duct Cleaners Association treasurer and CEO for Action Duct Cleaning in Los Angeles, says there are no conclusive studies saying that duct cleaning will improve your home’s indoor air quality. Asa Foss, LEED residential technical director for the U.S. Green Building Council, concurs. “I’ve never seen any data that suggests duct cleaning has a positive impact on indoor air quality and human health,” he says. But Foss also says that’s only true when your ducts are airtight. Leaky ducts can pull in dirty air and allergens from basements, crawlspaces, garages, and attics — and blow it all around your house, Foss says. So unless your ducts are leaky (easily fixed with foil-backed duct tape and insulation), or you have a special need, like a compromised immune system, nasty allergies, or you just did major construction, you probably don’t need to worry about air quality when it comes to the state of your air ducts. Woo! <><>Special (Super Gross) Circumstances<><> Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Both the EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommend professional duct cleaning if you have mold growth, vermin (vermin!), or excessive amounts of dirt and debris in your ducts. Ahh! How do you know if you have vermin in your ducts? You can actually look yourself. Do a visual inspection by pulling off the register grill and looking around with a flashlight, or stick your arm in and take a photo with your phone. (Finally, an excuse to use that selfie stick you got stuck with at your work’s white elephant gift exchange.) If you see mold, or a dead mouse, or any run-of-the-mill nasty stuff like droppings (ew, we’re so sorry), go ahead and call in a pro. Get those ducts cleaned. Another situation that calls for cleaning, says EPA spokesman Mark MacIntyre, is right after lead paint remediation. “You wouldn’t want to have that being dispersed into the house when you turned on the heat.” And finally, if you’re just finicky, you just be you. Be your own special circumstance. “We have customers [for whom] just the thought of dirty ducts is upsetting to them,” says Stradford. “It’s individual preference.” <><>Scam Alert!<><> OK, so you’re gonna clean your ducts. Your dad will be proud. But be wary of scams. Stay away from companies willing to clean your ducts for $49 or another lowball figure, Stradford says. Often they’ll do a quick inspection and some vacuuming, tell you there’s mold growth and charge you thousands for clearing it out. It’s common enough that the National Air Duct Cleaners Association has an anti-fraud task force. Look out for duct cleaners claiming they will sanitize your system. “We can’t legally use the words ‘sanitize’ or ’disinfect,’” Stradford says. “By definition sanitizing or disinfecting requires extremely high kill rates and there’s no way we can guarantee 100 percent saturation.” Also, cleaning your ductwork alone is not going to make a difference. A real professional knows that, and should do annual maintenance on your entire system, including the air handler (that’s what they call that big metal box outside that cranks out the noise). Otherwise it’s the same as dusting your ceiling fan after you’ve vacuumed. So how much will it cost, and how long is it going to take? Typically, duct cleaning takes two to five hours, but it can go on for two days if you have a large house with lots of ducts, Stradford says. On average you should spend $300 to $700.

(?) ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10 (?)

*** Hi Folks *** How important is this to you ??? Need a Home with easy access ??? ... Call me at 909/ 910-2481 *** BUY <> SELL <> LEASE <> ***

<><> NOW BACK TO WORK ~~ FUN TIME IS DONE <><>

**** Hi Folks .... Well, been on Vacation and it was Wonderful *** Enjoyed the Food, Drinks, Sun, Pool and our Friends *** We were away from services so came home to a hole lot of computer work BUT had a great time !! Joe even met a new character .... Back to it and if you need help with any Real Estate needs ... call Cj @ 909/910-2481 *****