I just received my first telemarketer call on my cell phone.  Uh uh, no thank you.  I immediately registered my number.

REMINDER……  all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

…. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:    888-382-1222.

It is the National DO NOT CALL list.. It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked.

This only takes about 20 seconds and you cannot call from a different phone number.

• Remote energy usage reading by PG&E
• Allows you to view hourly and daily energy usage
• Faster problem resolution
• Faster power restoration
• Energy alerts via text, email or phone
• A positive impact on the environment by helping customer make better energy choices

Since getting the Smart Meter my husband and I have been able to discern exactly when we are using the bulk of our energy throughout the day.  We know that the heater takes up X-amount of energy when it comes on, we can now determine just how much the washer and dryer suck up, and our computers as well.  Very cool!

Watch your bills though, seems a few of the meters are faulty.  May take a couple of billing cycles to see the new meter results.

For more information about the PG&E SmartMeter program, visit www.pge.com/smartmeter or call 1-866-PGE-0263.

Both Alameda County and Contra Costa County have a county transfer tax of $1.10/$1,000.

Example: If the sales price of a house in Berkeley is $500,000 then the seller can expect to pay $500 for the county transfer tax and both the buyer and seller can expect to split the city transfer tax of $7,500.

• Existing, single-family home sales decreased 8.1 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted rate of 483,830 units on an annualized basis compared with April 2009.

• The statewide median price of an existing single-family home increased 21 percent in April to $306,230, compared with April 2009.

Click here for a link to the April report for median prices in California cities, comparing April 2009 vs. April 2009.  How is your city doing?

http://www.car.org/marketdata/historicalprices/2010medianprices/apr2010medianprices/

If you don’t see your city in the above chart, try here:

http://www.dqnews.com/Charts/Monthly-Charts/SF-Chronicle-Charts/ZIPSFC.aspx

Federal law requires contractors that disturb painted surfaces in homes, child care facilities and schools, built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Always ask to see your contractor’s certification.

Federal law requires that individuals receive certain information before renovating six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects or window replacement or demolition in housing, child care facilities and schools built before 1978.

• Homeowners and tenants: renovators must give you this pamphlet before starting work.

• Child care facilities, including preschools and kindergarten classrooms, and the families of children under six years of age that attend those facilities: renovators must provide a copy of this pamphlet to child care facilities and general renovation information to families whose children attend those facilities.

Click here for more information: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

I have dear memories of going into Mr. Mopps.  The staff there was always so friendly.  I specifically remember this one time when I went in with a 2 year old little boy, looking for a lunchbox for school.  He had something very specific in mind, Thomas the Train.  They didn’t have a Thomas the Train lunchbox, and it really upset him.  The nice woman behind the sales counter came over and said “come back in two weeks, I will have one then.”  We did, and she did.  We picked up the lunchbox and this little 2 year old boy was as happy as could be.

I find it sad that the era of locally-owned and operated stores are evaporating.  The owners want to retire, but can’t seem to find a taker.  I am the first to admit that I do shop for some toys online, but there is also something so gratifying about walking into a local store and experiencing the smell and energy.  You just can’t get that online.    

Mr. Mopps is located in Berkeley on Martin Luther King @ Rose.  Please support them while you can.

BUYING YOUR FIRST PLACE?
Then HGTV is looking for you!

MY FIRST PLACE, HGTV’s hit series, is coming back for an eighth season and we’re looking for first-time homebuyers (and their agents!) in the Greater San Francisco area RIGHT NOW!

We are looking for fun, high-energy people who are just starting the home-buying process for their first place and would like to share their story with HGTV! Our goal is to capture all the trials and tribulations of looking for, bidding on and buying your first place.

Taping takes place this spring and summer. Ideal candidates will be enthusiastic buyers with a great story to tell and a desire to share their experiences. Singles, couples and families are all invited to apply!

Candidates who complete taping will receive a surprise housewarming gift as part of the show and also a DVD copy of their episode to document their first home buying experience for all time!

So that is the scoop.  If you are a first time home buyer and interested in participating, let me know!  This sounds like a great way to bring some fun and excitement into your homebuying experience!

The house has 4 bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths with stunning views of both the backyard garden and the Golden Gate.  My favorite part is the open, epicurean kitchen and the retreat-like master suite.  The living room is bright and sunny with French doors that open up onto a deck.

With a Walk Score of 92/100, you could easily wake up on a lazy Sunday morning, throw on a light sweater, and walk on down to Peets for a cuppa’ java or La Farine for a flaky morning bun.

This is one house that is worth seeing.

This is all well and good, and a huge relief for many.  But sometimes I have to wonder if this is just a lot of PR hoopla.  Bank of America estimates that about 45,000 customers will qualify for its plan.  So based on BofA’s past performance, maybe half will actually succeed.  Banks keep throwing out these great plans but don’t have the infrastructure in place (can I say short sales?)  to support these plans.  A client of mine has tried to get through to BofA in the past to discuss loan modification and after being on the phone for 90 minutes and transferred numerous times, were told they don’t actually qualify.  Shouldn’t it be easier than that?

So, Bank of America, if you are listening,  I hope you hold true to your plan.  You have the ability to help so many troubled borrowers, don’t let them down!

Click here to read the original article from AP: “BofA to Start Reducing Mortgage Principle.”

Many agents send out this reminder in a post card and say “Spring is here, it is a good time to buy or sell.  Call me and I will help you!”  Aye aye aye.  Seriously?  I find that annoying because for some it isn’t a good time to buy or sell.  For some it is a terrible time to buy or sell! 

For me, my whole reasoning is that I don’t want you to be late for brunch because it closed an hour ago. 

So, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on March 14th.  And enjoy your brunch with an extra shot of espresso since I know you will be tired.