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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Do you remember this one?
Mountain Luxury
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Social Security Benefits Online
Access Your Social Security Benefits Information Online
The U.S. Social Security Administration has a new online feature, 'My
Social Security Account,' which allows users secure access personal
benefits information
February 18, 2013
Access to information about your Social Security benefits just got
easier with the addition of an online portal, agency officials announced
last week.The Social Security agency has created an online space for account for people receiving benefits, or requesting benefits. The My Social Security Account website allows users to access their benefit verification letter, payment history and earnings record without having to make a trip to the nearest Social Security office, according to a release.
“We are making it even easier for people to do their business with us from the comfort of their home, office, or library,” Commissioner Michael J. Astrue said in the release. “I encourage people of all ages to take advantage of our award-winning online services and check out the new features available through an online 'My Social Security' account.”
You do not have to be a Social Security beneficiary to use the service, according to the release. Those 18 or older can sign up for the ‘My Social Security’ account and access their benefits statement, using that information to help plan for retirement, the release says.
The portal also includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability and Medicare, the release says.
“Given our significantly reduced funding, we have to find innovative ways to continue to meet the needs of the American people without compromising service,” said Astrue said in the release. “These new enhancements will allow us to provide faster service to more people in more places.”
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
High Voltage
Charge Your Electric Car in Santa Cruz
Need to charge your electric car? There are several stations nearby to keep you topped off for your eco-friendly commute.
There's no doubt Californians love their cars. The Golden State accounts for almost 10 percent of all car sales in the country, The Wall Street Journal reported recently.
If you're in the market for an electric vehicle, you'll certainly have
your pick. With its laws incentivizing car manufacturers to go green,
California has driven the push for eco-friendly transportation.
Electric vehicles can provide up to three times the power conversion
compared to their gas-powered counterparts and boast an engine that
operates more quietly and requires less maintenance, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To top it off, buying an eco-friendly car can net you a federal tax credit of up to $7,50.
Though electric cars are more energy-efficient, you can still travel
up to three times as far in some internal-combustion vehicles. Another
thing to consider is electric car batteries are expensive to replace and
can take up to eight hours to charge.
Several car manufacturers offer eco-friendly vehicles, including
Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Ford, Nissan, Tesla and Toyota.
Some manufacturers are establishing their own charging stations hoping to lure potential customers. Tesla has built a network of six solar-powered charging stations from L.A. to San Francisco, according to Car and Driver.Whether you're looking to buy an electric car or you already own one,
Santa Cruz County is full of service stations—including seven in Santa
Cruz—that will keep you charged for your emissions-free commute.
Sure, you can charge your car at home, but why do so at your own expense?
Here is a list of local charging stations, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Stations offer Level 1 (120 volts) and Level 2 (240 volts) charging.
- Ecology Action
877 Cedar St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 888-758-4389
Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2 - Soquel & Front Garage
601 Front St
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Phone: 831-420-5184
Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2 - Santa Cruz County
691 Ocean St
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Phone: 888-758-4389
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- Staff of Life Natural Foods
1266 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 - Phone: 831-423-8632, 888-758-4389
- Staff of Life Natural Foods
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- Santa Cruz Nissan
1616 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 - Phone: 831-426-5100
- Santa Cruz Nissan
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- Walgreens
- 1718 Soquel Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95062 - Phone: 800-663-5633
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- UC Santa Cruz - West Parking
1156 High St
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 - Phone: 831-502-7341
Electric charging types: Levels 1, 2
- UC Santa Cruz - West Parking
Thursday, February 07, 2013
More on the big changes in FHA Mortgage Insurance
A letter from Mortgage Adviser Ed Gerety on FHA Mortgage Insurance:
I have attached below the FHA Mortgagee Letter (ML) that details the recent changes. I have highlighted the parts that summarize the impact to our borrowers. The bottom line is that the increase in the monthly MI of 5-10 basis points (bps) is the third such increase we have seen in the last two years, and by itself is not going to be catastrophic. On a $400,000 loan amount, it results in a monthly increase of $31 to $395.
The more significant aspect of the change lies in the new duration of time that MI will stay in place. By moving the duration from 5 years to 11 years, the borrower on that $400,000 loan will pay the $395 MI for a minimum of 72 additional months. That is an increase of $28,440 to the cost of owning the home. And that is only if the borrower has put at least 10% down. With less than 10% down, the MI stays in place for the life of the loan. On a 30 year loan kept to maturity, that equates to an additional cost of $118,500!
Of course, as long as they qualify under future criteria the borrower can always refinance once they have reached a home value and loan balance that would allow it, so they will probably not have to stay in the loan for 30 years, hopefully not even 11. But I would certainly hope if the government is going to make these changes in FHA mortgage insurance, that they would also extend the tax deductibility of mortgage insurance.
Is the Federal Housing Administration evil and greedy for doing this? No. They are smart. They are trying run a business. A business which currently is in pretty bad financial shape because they became the "go-to" mortgage product when Subprime went away. That's called "adverse selection". So we can't really blame them for trying to shore up their finances and become less frequently adversely selected for higher-risk loans.
Ed Gerety
Mortgage Advisor, MBA
Opes Advisors, Inc.
Santa Cruz's Premier Purchase Lender
133 Mission Street 831.600.1588 Direct
Suite 210 831.251.7880 Cell
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 866.662.9370 eFax
DRE # 01054371 | NMLS # 338608
OPES • n. (ōˈpes) /latin for wealth
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Broker Open House
OPEN HOUSE
02/07/2013
9:30 AM- 12:00 PM
02/07/2013
9:30 AM- 12:00 PM
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