A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY are shaking their heads over the historically low percentage of households that own their homes. The U.S. Census Bureau says in the first quarter of 2015 the percentage of households that own homes dropped to just 63.8 percent, the lowest homeownership rate since 1988. Rates have been […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Raley’s food drive to help local hungry
IN A FUNDRAISING EFFORT to pay for fresh fruits and vegetables for area food banks, Raley’s Supermarket in Southampton Shopping Center and others in the company are having a summer donation drive. Through July 31, all Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill Markets in California and Nevada will collect donations to Food for Families. In […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: The appraisal
IF THERE IS ONE THING in a real estate transaction that almost always causes some anxiety, it is the appraisal. This has been a topic of many conversations between me and borrowers and their Realtors. In my opinion, the cause of much of the anxiety is fear of the unknown — not to mention a […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Vintage Owl boutique also fights canine cancer
The Vintage Owl, a new boutique store of refurbished vintage and antique items celebrating its grand opening Tuesday, has a mission greater than the standard retailer’s hope of earning a profit. Owner Laurie Anderson-Garcia lost her 10-year-old Rottweiler, Mika, to canine cancer in 2006, and last year another of her dogs, Baron, was treated for […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Market gaining steam
THE CALIFORNIA REAL ESTATE MARKET continues to gather steam: pending home sales rose again in April for the fifth straight month. According to a recently published report from the California Association of Realtors, pending home sales in April were up 13.6 percent when compared to April 2014. April sales were off slightly when compared to […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: With CFPB, change is coming
THE CONSUMER FINANCE PROTECTION BUREAU is a federal agency formed to create and enforce regulations pertaining to the financial services industry. According to its website, consumerfinance.gov, the CFPB is a “21st-century agency that helps consumer finance work by making rules more effective, by consistently and fairly enforcing those rules, and by empowering consumers to take […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Forever Sala Thai opens on First Street
LONG-TIME BENICIA RESTAURATEUR KAY LOYOLA, who became known in the community for her popular Petals Bar and Restaurant and Sala Thai dining establishments on First Street, is being welcomed back by former patrons and new customers to Forever Sala Thai, 718 First St. Loyola has kept some of the favorite dishes on the menu, and […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: When should you refinance?
IT SEEMS A DAY NEVER GOES BY that I don’t receive some kind of refinance solicitation, either in the form of those pesky popup ads that seem to track my every move on the Internet, or in the mail from folks who claim they can save me thousands of dollars. And based on conversations I […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Taking an interest in rates
WILL INTEREST RATES GO UP, or will they go down? Will home values continue to improve, or will they stall at current levels or even decline? Almost everyone I talk to in the housing industry has a close eye on the Federal Reserve, trying to anticipate the Fed’s next move — for the simple reason […]
EDB to get report on COQ biz café
■ Arts’ economic impact also to be discussed Carter Rankin, owner of Carter’s Biz Café, will provide an update to the Economic Development Board Wednesday on the opening of his business in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters of the Arsenal. Rankin was scheduled to give a presentation in April but the EDB meeting was cancelled because of […]