California Tax Laws

The state of California has the biggest economy of any of the other American states. The state’s Franchise Tax Board administrates California’s taxation, passing out as well as enforcing the laws with regards to income tax, property tax and sales tax, among others. California’s tax laws have numerous forms and they cover a wide array of economic activities. 

One of the state’s primary tax revenue sources is sales tax and the states standard sales tax rate is at 8.25%, with items like prescription medicine and groceries being exempted from taxation. The state’s tax laws also place special taxes on both cigarettes (with a surcharge of 87 cents) as well as gasoline (46.6 cents for every gallon). As a California resident, you need to declare the purchases you’ve made over the Web and then submit the right local tax for them.

As for property tax, as a resident of the state, all of your real estate properties need to be assessed for them to be taxed at 100% of their respective tax values. Tax rate differs depending on the property’s value. However, it can’t go beyond 1% of that value within a tax year.

Historically, the state of California has exempted specific residents, like the disabled and the elderly, from paying some or even all their property taxes. However, numerous exemptions have been stopped because of California’s financial crises of 2009.

Finally, each resident or worker of the state needs to pay income tax. If you’ve lived in the state for just a part of the year, you could indicate your residence status on your tax form and then pay a pro-rated part of the right amount of income tax.

The state’s lowest income tax bracket is at $7,168, where you pay your tax at a 1.25% rate. However, if you’re earning above a million dollars per year then you’ll pay 10.55% income tax. Between these two, there are six income space brackets.

If you have dependents, you may claim a $98 tax credit for every one of them. The state of California provides supplementary credits if you’re single, married or a senior above the age of 65.

What to Ask Your California Tax Attorney

There are times when you’ll need legal help when you want to know more details about the state of California’s taxes and who better to help you than a well experienced California tax attorney. However, before you go and obtain the services of one, you ought to know what to ask your California tax attorney. 

 First off, ask your California tax attorney how skilled s/he is when it comes to negotiating. It doesn’t matter what sort of tax issue you have since you’ll need a tax attorney who’s not afraid to have talk with the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS. However, look for an attorney who doesn’t just talk but presents vital arguments as well as real concessions since these are what will allow you to avoid any more tax issues. 

Next, ask your tax attorney what s/he knows about both state as well as local taxes. In hiring a California tax attorney, you must make sure that s/he has the expertise necessary when it comes to the state’s and your locality’s taxes. If s/he isn’t, then it’ll better for you to look for some other tax attorney. 

Ask your California tax attorney how skilled s/he is regarding problem prevention. A successful tax attorney doesn’t wait for any problems to spring up because s/he makes a plan that prevents any of them to begin with. You ought to be more than able to rely on your tax attorney to relate to you tax details sans the risk of violating even the smallest of tax laws. 

Finally, ask your California tax attorney how good s/he is at organizing. Your tax attorney is probably going to have offices at various locations. However, s/he is going to be organized enough when it comes to balancing all of them without upsetting anybody else. If the California tax attorney you’re planning to hire is flooded with other problems from the other offices, hire someone else.

You and Your California Tax Lien Certificates

You and your California tax lien certificates may prove to be quite the safe as well as profitable investment. Investing in them is a truly safe investment since they get issued by the state to investors in order to cover funds that delinquent taxpayers owe but hasn’t paid. 

However, this doesn’t mean that you’ve bought the rights to a delinquent taxpayer’s property. This means that you’ve only gotten documented proof that you’ve paid the delinquent taxpayer’s taxes. Thus, when the owner finally chooses to pay taxes, you, as the tax certificate holder, are going to get repaid for the initial investment you’ve originally paid. 

You’ll get the initial investment you’ve given plus an investment return, which comes in the form of late fees, or liens, the state charges to the owner of the property who wasn’t able to pay their tax on time. This fee that gets charged will be collected and then forwarded to you. This is where you’ll benefit from your California tax lien certificates. 

Tax lien certificates are guaranteed by properties that govern them. Interest rates are predetermined and they have no relation whatsoever with the stock market, so you’ll know what your return rate will be. A delinquent property holder pays late taxes more than 98% of the time and this is what makes investing in California tax lien certificates a great investment once you absolutely know what to do. 

 If that didn’t send your mind to flights of financial fancy, you should consider investing somewhere else. Many a wealthy investor has made use of California tax lien certificates for quite some time now. With guaranteed interest rates, more than a 98% success rate of delinquent taxpayers paying you back as well as the California tax lien certificate getting back up by the properties themselves, you can be sure that this investment is definitely worth the effort.

California’s Budget Deficit Vanishes Although Debt Stays

Jerry Brown, the governor of the state of California, said that the state is going to have $851 million in surplus budget once the 2013-14 fiscal year ends if the state’s legislators agree on the budget that he has proposed.During a press conference, Governor Brown stated that it’s new and is a breakthrough following California possibly returning to the black after being in the red for years.

 Brown credited the move to the new taxes approved by the voters back during the elections, aside from the steep budget cuts. He added that the cuts were three times the amount of the increase in taxes. The Governor further stated that the ill-advised tax cuts that previous Governors approved, overspending as well as the recession were the reasons the state has had financial issues.

 In spite of the welcome news for the deficit, the Governor was concerned that there was a debt that still needs to be dealt with. The state of California still has over $34 billion in debts, which ought to drop to a mere $4 billion come the year 2017. 

 Likewise, Brown advised that federal economic insecurity with the deficit of the nation as well as the rising costs of health care are other issues that the state needs to watch out for. 

 Under the Governor’s proposal, schools are going to get $56.2 billion in funds for the following fiscal year even though educators asked for additional funds in order to prevent additional tuition fee increases, especially at public universities. Brown advised being more efficient with the allocated funds in order for the increases to be avoided. 

 Additionally, Governor Brown allocated $350 million for California’s Medi-Cal program in order to employ the federal overhaul of the Affordable Care Act. However, that could change as the provisions of the law are enacted. 

 In November, California’s Legislative Analysts’ Office projected a state deficit amounting to $1.9 billion, which is down from $15.7 billion for the present fiscal year.

10 Job Skills Every Employer Wants

by Chad Brooks

With competition for new jobs at an all-time high, employees must have the skills employers are targeting. 

From the ability to communicate effectively to the willingness to wear multiple hats around the office, employers today seek workers with a variety of the skills. Here are 10 skills employers look for most in today’s fast-paced, technologically advanced workplace:

Commitment

Commitment to both their job and their employer is something Dennis Boone, former president and CEO of Verizon New Jersey and the current director of Montclair State University’s Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of Business, has always looked for in workers.

“An employee committed to achieving their goals and objectives is a marvel to witness,” Bone told BusinessNewsDaily. “I especially value the employee that, when times are tough, continues to strive for solutions and refrains from the ‘blaming others’ behavior that, unfortunately, we see too often.”

The Extra Mile

In order to gain a boss’ confidence, employees must be willing to go above and beyond what is typically required of them on the job, said Brett Good, a senior district president for Robert Half International.
“Employees who take on projects that fall outside their normal responsibilities can expand their skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth,” Good said. “While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the department.”

Wear Multiple Hats

Kevin Watson, CEO and co-founder of jobdreaming, said small businesses don’t have room for people who just want to do their job, and their job only.
“Employees that will get hired more easily and ultimately succeed are those that show an eager willingness to do whatever needs to get done, not just what’s in their job description,” Watson said.

Positive Attitude

Having anything but a positive attitude is non-negotiable for Brian Goodman, managing director of Experis.

“Attitude drives success, and people want to be around positive people. It is contagious, and others will notice,” Goodman said. “Naysayers are a drag on business.”

Decision Makers

Executive coach and leadership consultant Dave Gambrill believes the one skill that every employee must have is the ability to think critically and make appropriate decisions.

“Leaders don’t want to micromanage their employees, but often they are forced to because the employees lack critical thinking skills,” Gambrill said. “Ideally, you’d like to say, ‘I trust you to make decisions that are good for the business,’ and let people come up with their own solutions.”

Passion

Elle Kaplan, CEO and founding partner of Lexion Capital Management LLC, said it is important for entrepreneurs to find employees who are just as passionate about their job as the boss is.

“When an employee believes strongly in the company’s mission, their job is no longer a job. It’s a calling,” Kaplan said. “I’ve learned firsthand that people work harder when they feel connected to and believe in your mission as a leader and the mission of the company.”

Organized

In today’s fast-moving business world, the worst thing an employee can be is a drain on their boss’ time, said Nick Gidwani, founder of Skilledup.com.

“Employees should be always adding value, and the easiest way to destroy value, so to speak, is to not have your own work organized,” Gidwani said. “That could mean simple ideas like naming files or folders properly, or more substantial tasks like writing high-quality meeting recaps.”

Dependable

Wendy Pike, president of Twist office products, said she searches for employees who can be depended on consistently to get the job done.

“As an employer, we need to be able to count on our employees to show up on time and do the work we are paying them to do,” Pike said.

Communication

In today’s workplace, communication is the skill of utmost importance, said Charley Polachi, co-founder and partner at Polachi Access Executive Search.

“You must have communication skills that allow you to succinctly and effectively contribute your thoughts,” Polachi said. “An effective communicator leaves no room for error and can exhibit thoughts in a direct manner.”

Conscientiousness

Time and time again, conscientiousness proves itself to be among the top indicators of job performance, said Lynda Zugec, managing director of The Workforce Consultants. “Make sure you pay attention to the details,” Zugec said. “Spelling and grammatical errors, lost and misplaced files, or general disorganization have the potential to make or break you.”

The Burning Man in Nevada

On September 15, 2012, Jason Buzi went on a trip with his girlfriend to participate in a week-long annual event that is held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, United States. The event is named the “Burning Man”, which is taken from the ritual burning of a large wooden effigy. Taking place between August 27 and September 3 every year, it is a kaleidoscope of art, radical self-expression and self-reliance.

Unlike other thrill seekers, who would go to the event 6 months to a year in advance, Jason Buzi and his girlfriend decided to attend it about 2 weeks prior. Along with his best description of such event is likened to a “giant outdoor art and music festival”, he further describes it in some ways, from a “giant rave” to a “huge drug induced party”.

Jason Buzi considered himself as a frequenter to the event (It was his 4^th time since 1999),on the other hand, it was his girlfriend’s debut. They both arrived in a Saturday morning. Jason Buzi reminisce the part when they walked along the “playa”, which is from the Spanish word meaning beach and witnessed the wonderful art installations as the highlights of the whole event. As for him, it is the art installations that made a good impression of him about the “Burning Man”.

Other than the art installations, they were able to take a ride in a replica of a Mississippi riverboat, and festival floats that resemble a sardine can, a train and a fish. Furthermore, they were able to visit a temple, which showcased moving inscriptions.  Also, they were able to meet many interesting people from all walks of life. Moreover, they enjoyed the program proper where in “the man” is burned and a fire dance and fireworks followed after. Everything was a very fun experience for them and they absolutely look forward in attending the event again.

Coalition Battles Sudden Tax for Small California Business Investors

During the previous month, around 2,500 investors in small business in California, including certain funded Silicon Valley technology start ups, have gotten an unpleasant surprise with the advent of new investment gains tax bills that go back to the year 2008.

Back in January, you’ve heard about the background story on retroactive taxes, namely the Qualified Small Business Stock Incentive or how the state went back on a certain business tax break as well as their investors, and would now want that cash. However, investors are not doling out the $128 million estimate the state’s seeking to get back without fighting. 

One of the partners in Reed Smith LLP, a state tax cluster, Marty Dakessian, stated their firm is currently shaping a coalition in order to repulse the California Franchise Tax Board verdict to put an end to the incentives. It was stated on the coalitions website that the group is dedicated to pursuing both legislative as well as legal methods in preventing the aggression of the FTB.

The California Business Defense, one more advocacy group formed by a few entrepreneurs, is also doing some lobbying on the issue. One of the group’s organizers as well as CEO of AdverseEvents, which is a medical information firm, Brian Overstreet, has said that numerous entrepreneurs have joined in the cause because of tax bills that have reached over $100,000 for each.

Derived from past rulings in similar conditions, Dakessian stated that the FTB can still grant refunds to out-of-state businesses which are categorized against by the incentives, rather than taxing investors in California business.

He further said that it’s vital that people not just be spectators and that there’s a solution.

Apart from a potentially lengthy as well as costly lawsuits brought by the taxpayers against the FTB, the coalition has helped in gathering 38 bipartisan signatures on a letter coming from state lawmakers asking the FTB it make use of its authority in order to reverse the course. It was sent to the FTB on the 19^th of February.

Dakessian stated that the action got partially prompted by small business investors calling about getting notices of proposed assessments, i.e. new tax bills, for about $7,000, with additional interest up to $15,000 to $20,000.

Dakessian, who’s based in Southern California, further stated that it’s already happening and that oftentimes it happens to the high-tech industry people as well as entrepreneurs. Likewise, he also said that most of the calls they’re getting come from them.

The Fiscal Cliff: What’s Good, What’s Bad and What’s Ugly for Anyone Owning a Business

After everything, we still have something that’s not that very comforting.

Congress’ negotiations on the New Year’s tax hike as well as spending cuts, which are collectively recognized as the fiscal cliff, got into 2013’s first day and with congress giving the go signal on a concession late last Tuesday.

Here are the details about the measure introduced on the eleventh hour.

What’s good:

-          Making lower than $400,000($450,000 for those who are married) yearly means that the income tax rate’s been permanently frozen at its current level.

-          People having large estates can count themselves lucky. Estate tax exemption got scheduled to drop to $1,000,000 tax free. However, the deal retains exemption at $5,000,000 for every individual.

-          What’s known as the carried-interest tax break survives. What this means is that performance fees being charged to the investors, normally at about 20% of an investment profit, are going to keep a complimentary tax treatment.

What’s bad:

-          If you’re making more than $400,000 ($450,000 for married people), the federal income tax you have just made a leap from 35% to 39.6%.

-          For everybody, their social security payroll taxes just went up. However, a tax holiday temporarily lowered the rate. It used to be 4.2%, now it’s 6.2%.

-          In spite of the high estate tax exemption, what’s known as the estate tax rate went up from 35% to 40%.

-          Capital gains taxes were allowed to go up as scheduled, raising the top rate from 15% to 20%.

What’s ugly:

The mess that’s been left which, by the way, needs some sorting out. Congress negotiated so close to nail biting proportions that a handful of serious financial problems didn’t get addressed. Additionally,

-          The federal debt ceiling, which is at $16.4 trillion, ought to have been achieved come Monday. However, the Treasury is making use of accounting methods in order to push a potential US default off until the month of February, so expect one more hostile showdown come that time.

What’s more is that there was no deal that was reached in preventing scheduled spending cuts that are across-the-board, otherwise called sequester, that would chop of billions in federal funds for many things, such as national defense and non-profit funding, among others. Now, congress has 60 days in order to come up with a deal.

The financial markets have, so far, stayed fairly stable during the fiscal cliff debacle, although analysts have warned that congress will be wise as to not push their luck by getting involved into drawn out matches over economic policy.

5 Proposals in the State of the Union likely to Affect Economy of Silicon Valley

The State of the Union address of President Obama last Tuesday night covered several policy issues which included gun control as well as tax reform

Here is a list of the five main issues the presidential address raised which can largely impact the economy of Silicon Valley

Immigration

Tech companies in Silicon Valley are in a talent war which merge with the countrywide lack of qualified graduates in the fields of math, engineering, technology and science. Obama asked for shortened visa waiting times in his speech Tuesday and actually prodded foreign engineers and entrepreneurs to go the United States.

Manufacturing

Obama highlighted Apple’s 100 million dollar plan to make a manufacturing plant in the US. The company hasn’t announced where manufacturing will be done, but the president asked for more domestic innovation centers that are federally-funded. He also discussed incentives that would encourage companies to come back to the United States.

Minimum wage

Due to voter demand, minimum wage in San Jose will bump up to 10 dollars per hour from 8 dollars this March. Other parts of the region can likewise see a raise of wages if the president holds through on a promise he made to increase minimum wage to 9 dollars per hour.

Tax reform

The president asked for new revenue measures to lessen federal deficit. He said that the country should do away with tax deductions and loopholes for the well-connected and well-off. This would add to capital gains and high-income tax increases following the fiscal cliff deal in the New Year and last year’s Proposition state income tax increase of California.

Renewable energy

Tuesday’s speech tackled climate change as well as the need for more renewable energy sources. The cleantech sector of Silicon Valley can benefit from a bump in federal subsidies with regard to this endeavor. This also matches the freshly announced plan of Joint Venture Silicon Valley to help Yahoo, Google as well as other companies proximate to Moffeet Field in the construction of a smart grid.

Back in Bangkok

The most populous city in Thailand, Bangkok is one of the sin cities in Asia with its booming naughty night life that lures tourists with the promise of sun, sea, food and well, lots of sex. Its land traces its roots to a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15^th century. Having magnificent temples and palaces, hectic markets and of course the vibrant night life, it is regarded as one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities.

Spending a week in the city of Bangkok, Jason Buzi was busy arranging his flights to Myanmar and the Philippines. It was his third time to visit the country, and even just a short period, it was already enough to remind him that Thailand was still his favorite country in Asia. If he hadn’t spent a month in the country last year, he would have definitely stayed longer. It was one of the few countries in the world that he planned to return to, again and again.

What are the reason whys Jason Buzi kept coming back to Thailand?

• Not only being the most affordable country, it also has better infrastructure than most countries in the region. For example, in Bangkok, you can have your own room for only $6 a night, get an hour long massage for only $5 and eat a filling street meal of pad thai or fried rice for about $1.

• Easy access. Easy to travel but still feels very exotic.

• It is known as the “Land of Smiles” because most people are friendly and generally happy (less aggressive than elsewhere).

• It has the best food anywhere in Asia. If you had enough of Thai food, in the major cities likes Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, there will be no problem in finding other cuisines. Jason Buzi had been eating a lot of Middle Eastern food during his stay.

• Plenty beautiful temples, floating markets and night markets.

• All kinds of beautifully made handicrafts and souvenirs from Thai silk to woodworks.

• In the southern part of Thailand, some of the best islands and beaches on the face of the Earth are be found.

• In the northern part of Thailand, there are many places to visit like jungles and hill tribes, and activities to do like white water rafting, trekking, and watching elephants.

• A unique culture that is very well preserved despite the rampant globalization, modernization and mass tourism happening in the world.

• Easy access to many neighboring and nearby countries. With cheap and plenty available flights and buses, Thailand is a great base from which to explore the rest of Southeast Asia. 

If you have never been to Asia or never been to Southeast Asia, Jason Buzi highly recommends visiting Thailand first. It is simply the best. The only problem is afterwards, most places that you will visit will gradually become pale in comparison.

Palo Alto: Dine Out Charity Events Held by Nonprofits

Across the US, nonprofit organizations are bucking the trend of having people dine out and have an opportunity to give to charity. Last May was the initial National Dine for Charity benefit.

However, Dine Out events have been staged by local organizations for years now. March 7 marks the fifth year of the yearly Dine Out for Packard which benefits the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

According to Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health community relations officer Mallory Oliphant, part of the bill will go to support for expectant mothers as well as children at the hospital. She said that nearly 60 thousand dollars have been contributed by diners in the last four years the event was staged.

Funds are likewise allocated to outreach programs as well as the research of the School of Medicine of Stanford University. The teen health van of the Lucile Packard Hospital that offers treatment for people without or with little insurance is one of the outreach programs.

Mario Navat, owner of downtown Palo Alto-based Gravity Bistro and Wine Bar, said that his establishment has joined in for a few years. He stated that it is import to him because it is for the children.

His business is promoted in the program and thus revenue results, but he stated that the cause is his focus. He said that they also care for the community.

Mango Carribean, another downtown resto also joined in the first year of the program. Winston Wint, the owner, had his nephew with sickle cell anemia treated at the hospital and so jumped in on the event.

Meanwhile, PACCC or Palo Alto Community Child Care, another nonprofit has also held dine-out benefits. 10 years ago, they started program for children. They have 19 sites across Palo Alto and the event is scheduled every fall.

Palo Alto Community Child Care executive director Janice Shaul said that individuals of all walks of life have been able to help charity with the participation of casual restaurants. She stated that not all would like to dress, but everybody eats. 

The program of PACCC began with 12 to 15 restaurants on its initial year and now has 37.

The charity event was previously just dinners, but now features breakfast, lunch and family-oriented diners and high-end restaurants.

Palo Alto Thinks Over Additional Changes to California Avenue

The City Council will weigh and potentially approve tonight (Monday) the latest California Avenue renovation plan by Palo Alto, which includes a proposal for the addition of pedestrian streetlights to the business street.

The project was planned for over two years and includes a variety of changes with the shifting from a four to a two lane street being the most controversial. The council will however deliberate on other streetscape project elements which includes the proposition for the addition of lights. The Planning and Transportation Commission of the city signed on the proposal last month, that could add over a million dollars to the budget.

Apart from the lane reduction, sidewalk replacement, two plazas and wider crosswalks are also part of the streetscape project. A plaza will be built between Ash and Birch streets which can be converted to a special events plaza and another at Park Boulevard proximate to Caltrain station. The project likewise incorporates new game tables, trash bins, newspaper racks and benches.

The project cost will be bumped up to over 4 million dollars with the streetlights addition. Around 1.8 million dollars in grants was received by the city—Santa Clara Valley Transportation gave 1.1 million which the fees from VTA’s car-registration accounted for 700,000. The balance would be paid by the city which reportedly has a 3.4 million dollar budget, excluding expenditure for the lights. Construction will hopefully start this fall according to the city.

 The council will deliberate at tonight’s meeting whether they will hold the status quo, retrofit 1960’s installed lights or install new ones. Staff recommends the removal and replacement for present street lights with shorter lights as well as roadway-height poles which is valued at 1.2 million dollars.

A Planning and Community Environment report states the replacement of the existing light ensures California Avenue’s best roadway illumination and sees to it that the new streetscape is not damaged by costly repairs.

The California Avenue streetscape project aims to make a second city downtown out of the commercial strip. Mayor Greg Scharff, in his February 27 “State of the City” address pushed the project to be among the major initiatives of the city for 2013. He said that California Avenue will stand toe to toe with Castro Street once finished, referring to the busy downtown strip of Mountain View.

Tonight’s council meeting starts at 6PM. The council will have a meeting at City Hall Council Chambers following a closed session.

3 Kinds of Mortgage Loans

Mortgage loans come in many varieties. This can sometimes spell difficulty in choosing which one is the best for you. So here are 3 main mortgage types available in the market. Majority of lenders offer loans which can be categorized according to these 3.

1. Fixed

These are most popular among the tree. The lender gives you a particular amount which you pay within a fixed period. Most individuals opt for a 30 year fixed mortgage because of low repayment amounts and the evening out of interest rates within the span of 30 years.

However, a setback with regard to a 30 year fixed mortgage is that the total repayment is higher compared to getting a 5 year or 15 year loan. Shorter period loans permits individuals who want to get rid of a loan in a shorter period. However, if you opt for this, you should be sure of your capacity to handle higher monthly dues.

There is likewise a sub-category to this loan which is called ARM or adjustable rate mortgage. Compared to a 30 year plan, this usually starts off on a lower interest. In sum, your mortgage repayment is less each month. Nonetheless you should bear in mind that ARM depends on interest rates and is highly fluctuating. When interests are low, you pay less and when interests are high, you pay more.

2. Convertible Loans

This allows for more flexibility. If interest rates are low, you can opt for ARM; if interest rates are high you can go for fixed rate mortgage.

One example of this is the balloon loan where you repay small amounts monthly for around 5 to 7 years and then you repay one lump sum at the period’s end. This is typically used by those who want to flip houses. They won’t need to lock their cash on a house and still benefit from low rates of interest. Paying the lump sum won’t be a problem since they will get a big amount of money by selling the property.

3. Special

These are offered to a particular group of individuals. For instance, FHA is only offered to those with bad credit or are buying homes for the first time. The veteran affairs mortgage is another example, one which is for armed forces widows.

To know which one is best for you, it would be best to speak to a mortgage consultant or real estate expert like Jason Buzi, who can help you decide the best plan you can go with.

To Rent or To Own?

There still weak returns when it comes to real estate market sales. However, there are still many home buyers who take the risk and reap the benefits of owning a home. Owning can take a toll on you physically, emotionally and financially but the advantages you gain after a few years will outweigh all of these. Here are five facts you can delight in when owning a home in comparison to renting one:

1.   A variety of home you can choose from — Because of the real estate market crash as well as the financial crisis the US experienced in recent years, you can see that there are many homes that are for sale. A quick search on the Web will net you a smorgasbord of properties to choose. Similarly, if you go through MLS or multiple listing services, you will get a bird’s eye view of the number of properties you can buy at a particular location.

2.   You can renegotiate the price — Again, due to the fact that there are many homes available on the market, sellers are compelled to lower prices in order to stay up with the competition. Some even “give away” appliances, furniture, fixtures as well as other items as part of the package. You can read this info in the written purchasing agreement.

3.   Satisfaction of having a property you can call yours — Renting a house can limit the activities you can do and you have to stick with the guidelines set by the homeowners association. Meanwhile, being a homeowner can allow you  the freedom of having more visitors more frequently and having to forever benefit from renovation works as well as other repairs you would do.

While it may be true that renting can result in more convenience for some, owning a home can have you enjoy the benefits thereof for a lifetime (such as renovation and home improvement).

4.    Involvement in community — Long-term relationships with neighbors is easier to establish in a community compared to an apartment or condo. When renting, tenants can easily migrate elsewhere than own a home. By having your own property, it is easier to get involved in community activities.

5.   You can avail of no down payment scheme or get packages with the lowest interest rates — A good credit score is a pre-requisite to enjoy this privilege. You can ask the advice of real estate agents as well as funding agencies to know which kind of mortgage is best for you and your needs. 

Exploring Oregon

A state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Oregon resides on the Pacific Coast. Jason Buzi hadn’t been in Oregon in about 15 years except that a few months ago, he visited Seattle with some friends during his birthday weekend. They spent a day in Seattle and a day in Portland. They surely loved Seattle because it was vibrant, interesting, artistic, energetic and alive. Other than that, there were great neighborhoods with outdoor art, hip cafes, beautiful architectures, unusual bars, famous music scenes, and of course, great restaurants.

They never wanted to leave ‘til they decided to extend their vacation to Portland. In contrast to Seattle, they found Portland to be dull, lifeless, and people seemed to be lethargic. It wasn’t as beautiful as Seattle. They visited the recommended spots found in the guidebooks as well as in online travel sites. Most of the places they visited were deserted and sluggish. The only place people were flocking in was called “Voodoo Donuts”, where in many waited in line for long hours. They all agreed that Portland sucks. 

As for Oregon, Jason Buzi remembered little about it except that it was a beautiful state. He decided to spend the two days in the coast as possible as well as in the “Crater Laker”. He started his trip in Astoria, a northernmost town on the Oregon Coast, where the Columbia River, a border between Oregon and Washington. The movies such as “The Goonies”, “Kindergarten Cop”, “Free Willy”, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” were among the films that took place in Astoria. Being the largest town in the area, it felt much bigger than its official population of only 10,000. 

After Astoria, he continued down the coast to places he couldn’t remember the name but all of them were very gorgeous. As he reaches the Rockaway Beach, a 4^th of July parade was taking place. It was a cute little town. The views from the hilltop of the beach below were breathtaking. There were also the “Three Coves”, which required a detour from 101, which goes along the coast for the most part. 

Many of the beaches in Northern Oregon had rocks near the shore. Sometimes it had only a big rock then sometimes several rocks or sometimes arches. There were also many rivers along the way. Also, it displayed some forest, meadows and even waterfalls. Occasionally, a dear could be spotted grazing near the road or in the hills. They passed by Tillamook, a place famous for its cheese factory and an oyster shucking plant. Unfortunately, since it was the 4^th of July, both places were closed. After many stops in order to take in so many amazing views of all sorts of beaches, one might think it could get redundant yet it didn’t because every beach was different and unique in its own way. After the long ride, they arrived in the town of Newport at around 7 in the evening. 

Jason Buzi got up early and spent all day on the road and never stopped except during lunch. He was able to cover a third of the Oregon Coast. Decided to go home the following night and wanted to see the Crater Lake before leaving the state, he somewhat reluctantly left the coast and headed inland.

The next morning, he drove his way to Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States by average depth the third deepest in the world and Oregon’s only national lake. Upon arrival, he was surprised at all the now. On the way in, the park ranger told him that half the ring road going around the lake was closed due to snow. It was unfortunate of him not being able to drive all around the lake. Furthermore, the greenish blue waters, an island in the middle, snow and forest around it was one of the most spectacular lakes Jason Buzi had ever seen.

 Bottomline is Oregon is a beautiful state. If you are into coastal scenery, lakes, forests, and charming little towns, you will definitely love Oregon.

Flipping House — Basics You Need to Know

There are many ways to earn money through real estate. One of the primary methods of doing this is through flipping houses. There are three basic things you have to do when flipping houses and these include buying a property, fixing the house and of course, selling the property for a profit. This cycle continues as you use the money you get from flipping a house to fund your next real estate venture.

First off, buying a property is initially all about funding. How will you finance your purchase? Do you have cash or will you have to apply for a loan? Are there partners available with whom you can divide the purchase cost with? Financing is fundamental when you want to flip a house.

Similarly, you likewise need to see the property’s location as well as structural integrity. A good neighborhood is a pre-requisite to an easy sell. Check the whole house as well as the periphery of the property. See to it that all is in order and if renovations or repairs are need, be sure that they will not burn a hole in your pocket.

It would likewise be advisable to buy below market value properties. Find motivated sellers who want fast cash and need to put their homes for sale at low prices. You can also look into foreclosed properties. Nonetheless be wary of some institutions that don’t let you preview the house. You won’t know the marketability of the property in this case.

Second, fixing the house or property is another aspect you need to address. You have to budget your resources for materials, labor as well as other miscellaneous expenses. You can engage your adult children in some tasks and give them some recompense so you can save on labor costs.

Some Tips on Buying A House

There are several tips you need to consider when buying a house. It’s not just about the dimension but something more. Here are some tips you need to keep when planning to buy a house:

 1. The first thing you need to think about is location. This is the primary factor which dictates the amount of money you need to spend to buy land and build your house. Prime locations are definitely pricier but these are situated near vital locations such as schools as well as business centers.

 2. You also need to think about your budget. This can be commensurate with the location you have chosen. You can also do it the other way around by having your budget dictate the location of your house. It’s all about balancing both to get the best scenario.

 3. You also have to know the condition of the house. Schedule a visit so you can check the condition of unit you wish to buy. It would be best to take note not only of the design but the overall feel as well as some areas for improvement. If you are buying a house firsthand, then it would be easier for you to look for something that is suited to your taste. Otherwise you have to look for a house that is accessible and gives you some leeway when it comes to renovation or refurbishment.

 4. Some home buyers visit banks and other like institutions and look for foreclosed houses. These properties are easier to buy since they are cheaper. You can even do house flipping and invest your profits into a new house.

 5. Be sure to consult real estate experts to get the best advice on what you can do. You can also get the help of friends who are in the real estate industry or those who know someone who has the know-how when it comes to buying houses.

 There are many factors to consider when buying a house—regardless of whether it’s a firsthand one or a previously owned unit. What is important is you take your needs and budget into consideration and get the help of experts who can give you valuable advice on what you need to do to get the best deal for your money.

Only in Bhutan

A small country in the Himalayas, Bhutan sets itself from its larger neighbors with its strong sense of culture and tradition and stunning scenery. Furthermore, 

the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan has been called “The Last Shangrila” because of its pristine environment and harmonious society.

 During Jason Buzi’s five stay in Bhutan, he kept saying to himself that the country is quite unique like no other because of its unique style of architecture, culture, food and most especially it’s near odd national animal. It was really a special and wonderful place, having been completely isolated until recently.

He took a fifty minutes flight from Kathmandu passing over most of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Good thing he followed the tour guide’s advice of requesting a seat near the window because the views were really breathtaking. Also, there was only one national airline, which was Druk Air that flies into and out of Bhutan. The Druk Air only consisted of a two airplanes fleet. It was only in Bhutan that an international airport was served by one Airline Company, which only had two airplanes.

As soon as he arrived, he was amazed on how the roads were paved and how good the road condition was, unlike Nepal. Moreover, the cars were in better condition. Everything seemed cleaner. Not only that, the style of architecture of the country was simply amazing. Houses were built without nails or any adhesives and instead, pieces of wood were used and fitted together for building. Furthermore, in more good news, hotel rooms had heaters and power interruptions were rarely occurring.

Jason Buzi expected that Bhutan was somewhat similar to Nepal but it wasn’t, it was much more refreshing. It reminded him more about the place he had visited which is Iceland. Geographically remote and sparsely populated, both countries have a population of an estimate of six figures (Bhutan about 650,000 and Iceland about 300,000).

Surprisingly, the level of English in the country was quite high, knowing that the country was never colonized before and had a limited influence from the outside world. Primarily the reason for such high literacy could be attributed to its Oxford educated King because almost forty years ago, learning was deemed to be very important so it was integrated in the school’s curriculum beginning kindergarten. Furthermore, he noticed that all the menus in the restaurant he was dining in with some friends were written in English. He asked for any Bhutanese menu however the waiter replied that most Bhutanese prefer to have the English menu since they could read the language quite well. Also, many of the signs were written in English. The bottom line was that English language was widely used among the locals.

Jason Buzi noticed that the royal family in the country seemed to be truly revered like the royal family in Thailand because their pictures were found everywhere. In an unusual move, without any public pressure, the King decided to give up absolute power in order to establish democracy and to open up the country to the world a few years ago. In fact, most Bhutanese didn’t want him to do this. In 1999, the internet was permitted yet it didn’t have much positive effect among the people because for example, English swear words or scandalous graphics had begun appearing on walls.

It wasn’t the peak season when Jason Buzi visited the country. He was like one of the two hundred tourists in the entire Bhutan. In fact, he kept running into the same people he flew with in different towns. It was definitely a very small country. The country tried to limit the impact of tourism by requiring tourists to pay about $200 each per day to travel in the country. The rate was all inclusive which means that it included a tour guide, a driver, an accommodation, and food. 

The locals were friendly and helpful. The country had lesser commercials compared to other developing countries he had visited. Also it has a good diplomatic relations with its southern neighbor, India, where in it exchanges trade and assistance with. However, it doesn’t have any diplomatic relations with China and the border is closed. Furthermore, it doesn’t have any relations with U.S., and Russia and other major countries.

 Unlike many of its neighbors, Bhutan didn’t have a widespread poverty because everyone seemed to have the basic needs such as food, shelter, and others. Also, polygamy wasn’t’ very common however it was practiced. In fact, the King is married to four sisters. Among the nomads, several men will sometimes share with one wife.

 Furthermore, archery was the national sport. It was quite popular to the point of being held as a competition every week. Not only that, there were also plenty of archery shops. Even kids played with toy bows and arrows rather than toy guns.

 The national dress was called a “gho”, a kind of a bathrobe like. Men wore it over a shirt and boxers, down to their knees, with their socks being pulled up. On the other hand, women wore it similarly but over a full length skirt.

 Jason Buzi found the food in Bhutan to be tasty but too spicy. Bhutanese people liked to put plenty of chili in their food. In fact, there was a large section of the weekend market in Thimphu dedicated to selling chili.

The capital which is Thimpu was quite attractive. It felt like a small European town in some ways, thought it had the unique Bhutanese architecture everywhere. It certainly felt nothing like the crowded big cities of neighboring countries like Nepal or India. Furthermore, there were no traffic lights however a policeman was manning the traffic at one busy intersection. The “busy” intersection probably was less traffic than a typical suburban street in the U.S..

 Upon arriving at the guesthouse in Thimphu, Jason Buzi was greeted by two giant penises painted on both sides of the front entrance. It was believed that it guarded against evil spirits and many believed it, that such graphics were painted on entrance gates of many houses.

It was completely “green” because all of its power came from hydroelectric. Well, it was 99% of it Jason Buzi speculated and the rest was solar. The government had given solar panels to different villages. Also, it engaged in exporting electricity to India which was one of its major sources of revenue.

Jason Buzi highly recommends Bhutan for a truly unique cultural experience. James Hilton wrote the classic novel Lost Horizon, describing “Shangri La”, a utopian Himalayan society, isolated from the outside world, filled with happy residents living in a valley. Though no place is perfect, today Bhutan is probably the closest place to fit such description. In a fast changing world, hopefully it would remain the same.