DENISE AND DENNIS CULLEN, who own Cullen’s Tannery Pub, 131 First St., will celebrate the Valentine’s Day opening of Cullen’s Saloon 7-9 p.m. Saturday with a whiskey and chocolate tasting. The saloon will specialize in handcrafted spirits tastings and private parties, and the Cullens are planning similar tastings and monthly educational sessions there as a […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Kissing frogs
I SAW AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW RECENTLY WITH Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow. The premise was that shopping for a home online is a lot like looking for a date using online dating services. This is particularly amusing to me. Zillow is a company that so many hate, but is also the most commonly used site […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: (Legitimate) credit help
THERE IS AN OLD SAYING that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is never more true than in the world of credit repair. I hear from borrowers frequently that have been ensnared by companies that claim they can “clean up” a borrower’s credit profile, claiming, in some cases, that […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Griffin Fitness welcomes new trainer
TRAINER DENNIS RODGERS, who specializes in deep tissue treatment that improves movement and alleviates pain, has joined the staff of Griffin Fitness, 1100 Rose Drive, Suite 160, said business partners Joel Griffin and Lisa McVeigh. “Treatment of the feet, other lower extremities and hips can alleviate knee and lower back and even shoulder pain,” the […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Credit tips
I TRY TO KEEP THIS COLUMN RELEVANT by giving readers useful, topical information. Typically, I write about topics that cross my desk frequently, or give updates on how the real estate market is doing in general. Since credit reports are an important part of qualifying for a home loan, consumers’ understanding and use of credit […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: Refinance 101: What you need to know
AS OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP and concerns about the global economy weigh on investor confidence, the value of treasuries continues to climb, moving interest rates down to levels not seen since the summer of 2013. Which seems to indicate that there could be another opportunity to refinance for the folks who were not able […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Twin Oaks Real Estate slates ‘2nd Wednesday Get-togethers’
TWIN OAKS REAL ESTATE will have “Second Wednesday Get-togethers” this year, during which it will welcome real estate professionals. The meetings will give the real estate professionals the opportunity to talk about a variety of topics, such as loans, how to improve credit scores, backyard gardening and composting, wills and trusts, and proper tax preparation. […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: There is hope if you want to buy
I OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE SAY, “We will probably never buy a home” or some variation on this theme. It is really frustrating to me when I hear these words, because the implied statement is, “We would really love to buy a home but it is just hopeless.” The hopelessness usually comes from one of three […]
Making $ense of Real Estate: What will boomers do?
THE LAST OF THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION turned 50 this year. As this generation nears retirement, everyone in the housing business want to know how boomers will affect housing. Will they be a drag on the market by selling off properties in droves? Will they leave California in a mass exodus to live in cheaper […]
Benicia Biz Beat: Adobe shop to help St. Paul’s meal program
ADOBE SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOP, 929 First St., is donating 1 percent of its January sales to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Wednesday-night free meal program. Adobe Director Pat Purvis said many visitors to the city’s downtown shopping district know the Adobe Second Chance Thrift Shop shares the 900 block of First Street with many fine […]