A Note from Senator Barbara Boxer/ Mortgage Holder Transparency…

Here’s a note from California Senator Barbara Boxer, posted on Business Week’s “Hot Property Blog” by Chris Palmeri. It is rare, actually, this is the first time we have given praise to a political figure for authoring and passing a really good, common sense, and genuinely helpful piece of legislation. This pertains to an amendment to a bill that Senator Chris originally sponsored, and although we haven’t thoroughly scoured the bill or the amendment in it’s entirety, Senator’s Boxer’s description of her authored amendment (outlined below) seems reasonably solid and in the best interest of all homeowners.

For original post, click here… 

From Senator Barbara Boxer…

The Senate recently passed an amendment I authored, SA 1035,  requiring that homeowners be alerted within 30 days if their lender sells or transfers their home mortgage loan. The amendment is good news for America’s homeowners.

My amendment provides transparency and gives homeowners another tool to fight illegitimate foreclosures and negotiate loan modifications to help keep families in their homes. Under the measure, if a loan is sold or transferred, the new note holder would have 30 days to notify the homeowner with the following information:

-the identity, address, and telephone number of the new creditor;
-the date of the transfer;
-how to reach an agent or party with the authority to act on behalf of the new creditor;
-the place where the transfer is recorded, and
any other relevant information regarding the new creditor.

This is just common sense: If you have a mortgage on your home, you should know who actually holds that mortgage. But too often, homeowners are not able to modify their mortgages to avoid foreclosure simply because they cannot find out who holds their mortgage.

My measure has been endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, Consumer Action, the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, the National Association of Neighborhoods, the National Council of La Raza, and the National Fair Housing Alliance.

City of San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board/ Application Deadline Extended to May 28th…

The City of San Juan Capistrano has reset the deadline to make application for a seat on the City’s Youth Advisory Board. The extension was made in an effort to give local youth more time to apply.

New Deadline…
 5:30 PM on Thursday, May 28th

Apply at…

Office of the City Clerk
32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

To visit the official Youth Advisory Board webpage, click here… 
For a youth member application, click here…
For a adult supervisor application, click here…
For directions to the Office of the City Clerk, click here…
For information regarding the application process, please call (949) 493-1171
 
San Juan Capistrano’s Youth Advisory Board acts as a liaison between youth and city government. Board members serve a one-year term, which coincides with the school year. Adults interested in working with the board on an array of projects and activities are also sought to apply. The City Council is expected to make board appointments early this summer.

For more information, contact…
Maricella Moreno
(949) 443-6392

Southern CA Inflation Down 1.3%/ Lowest Since 1955…

Here’s an interesting piece of news from the OC Register, inflation in our local area is down, negative 1.3%, largely from the the deflated prices of gasoline and natural gas currently being enjoyed.

For the full article in the OC Register, click here…
To view the Consumer Price Index Report just released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, click here…

HUD to Monetize Tax Credit for Down Payment…

Shaun Donovan, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on Tuesday said that the Federal Housing Administration is going to permit its lenders to allow first time home buyers to use the $8,000 tax credit as a down payment.

For IRS definitions of the tax credit, and access to Form 5405,  click here…

Said Donovan… “We all want to enable FHA consumers to access the home buyer tax credit funds when they close on their home loans so that the cash can be used as a down payment”

The proposal, hailed by home builders and Realtors, is drawing some comparisons to the Down Payment Assistance Program that the FHA had worked to shut down. Congress ended the program last year that allowed home sellers to fund down payments to home buyers through nonprofit groups, and the FHA has blamed that program for an outsized share of loan defaults. Under the old program, nonprofit groups would “gift” the 3% minimum down payment to a home buyer, often funded by the seller of the home. Buyers would move into the home without paying any of their own money for the down payment.

The FHA is in the process of finalizing the new program, which will allow approved lenders, non-profits, and state and local governments to fund short-term loans that could be used as down payments to be repaid once the borrower received the tax credit. Once they received their tax credit, they would pay off the short-term loan and put equity into their home. This will allow eligible home buyers to access the funds immediately at the closing table. Right now, home buyers must wait until they file their taxes to receive the credit.

Currently, the FHA requires a minimum 3.5% down payment on loans backed by the agency, which means that buyers could put little or nothing down on homes up to $230,000.

For full Wall Street Journal Article, click here…
For full Realtor Magazine Article, click here…

City of San Juan Capistrano Youth Advisory Board/ Application Deadline…

Here’s something that would probably look great as an accessorie to a student’s college application when the time comes. The City of San Juan Capistrano has 15 slots it fills every year for the Youth’s Advisory Board, appointing  two adult supervisors as well. The Youth Advisory Board is a panel that acts as a liaison between youth and city government, and submits recommendations to the City Council for special events, programs, and fund raising events for the City’s youth. Obviously, this  a  great opportunity for those seeking experience with leadership in local government affairs. 

Appointments to the Youth Advisory Board normally take place in June, with appointees taking office in August and actively serving through May of the following year. Meetings are held every 2nd & 4th Mondays at 5:00 p.m., in the City Council Chamber (this is the real deal!)

All applicants must be residents of San Juan Capistrano. Members are selected on the basis of their knowledge, leadership skills and involvement in youth activities.  The geographic areas of the City where the applicant resides and the school that the applicant attends shall also be considered. 

For a full description of the board and it’s duties, click here…
For a Youth Advisory Board application, click here…
For a Adult Advisor application, click here…

Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted at the Office of the City Clerk, until 5:30 p.m,  Thursday, May 14.

For more information call…
Maricella Moreno
949-443-6392

For assistance with the application and appointment process, please contact…
The City Clerk’s Office
(949) 493-1171.

City of Laguna Niguel/ Avery Parkway at I-5 Improvement…

The City of Laguna Niguel, in partnership with the City of Mission Viejo and Caltrans, will begin a project to widen Avery Parkway under the bridge between the on and off ramps at 1-5 freeway. The project will provide one additional lane between the I-5 on and off ramps. Construction will being on May 18, 2009 and is anticipated to be complete by the end of December 2009.

For a map of the proposed area for improvement, click here…
To get a look at the bids that came in from 8 contractors on this project, click here…

Construction hours will be typically 9:00am to 3:00pm with occasional night work. Motorists should expect delays in both directions (east and west) on Avery Parkway for the duration of the project and may wish to consider using alternate routes as follows:

From City of Laguna Niguel:

From Paseo de Colinas at Cabot Road: Take Cabot Road north (left) to Crown Valley Parkway, go north/east (right) on Crown Valley Parkway, cross the I-5 Freeway, go south (right) on Medical Center Road, go south (right) on Marguerite Parkway to Avery Parkway.

From Paseo de Colinas at Camino Capistrano: Take Camino Capistrano south (left) to Junipero Serra Road, go east (left) on Junipero Serra Road to the I-5 Freeway.

From City of Mission Viejo:

Headed north bound: Take Marguerite Parkway north to Medical Center Road, go north (left) on Medical Center Road to Crown Valley Parkway, go south/west (left) on Crown Valley Parkway to the I-5 Freeway.

Headed south bound: Take Marguerite Parkway south to Junipero Serra Road, go west (right) on Junipero Serra Road to the I-5 Freeway.

For more information,please contact…

City of Laguna Niguel
(949) 362-4325

Dana Point 2009 Doheny Blues Festival…

Fun in the sun! This is THE Dana Point Event of the year. Headliners this year include B.B. King, Brian Setzer & The Nashvillains, Keb Mo, John Hammond, and Coco Montoya! If your truly into blues, don’t miss John Hammond!

From our own experience, here’s a couple of tips for maximum enjoyment…

- Bring Sunscreen, a Hat, and a Beach Towel.
- Be in possession of your own water, backpacks allowed, keep back-ups on ice in the car, park inside the park…
- If your parking inside the park, come no later than 10:30, otherwise you’ll be parking somewhere else (not preferred)…

The Doheny Blues Festival
Saturday May 16th & Sunday May 17th , 2009
http://www.omegaevents.com/dohenyblues/

Doheny State Beach (Parking $10)
25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA 92629
For directions using a map, click here…

Doors open at 11 a.m. daily (10:45 a.m. for VIP and 10:30 a.m. for Gold)
Music ends at 9:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. on Sunday).

Tickets…
General Admission: $50 for adults per day, $15 for children (ages 6-12)
Weekend Pass: $80 for adults (save $20)
VIP: $90 for adults per day, $40 for children (ages 6-12)
BACKSTAGE GOLD: $180 for adults per day

To purchase tickets online, click here…

Tickets are also available for purchase in person at…

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos locations..
Renaissance Restaurant in Dana Point
Doheny State Beach Visitor’s Center
All TicketMaster Outlets (additional fees apply)

2009 Festival Overview…
For a complete schedule of entertainment, click here…

- 26 acts on 3 stages – Blues, Rock & Soul music
- A waterfront grass park with two main stages at opposite ends of the venue
- The Backporch Stage, where fans can enjoy acoustic performances in an intimate lawn area
- A large Vendor Village with tons of cool stuff
- International Food Court with authentic restaurants and tasty beverages
- On-site music store where fans can meet the performers and buy new music
The Breakfast Set
For those arriving early to the festival, we will have music in the morning outside the front gate, as well as a coffee cart.

Front Gate Procedures
Upon arriving at the event, exchange your tickets for a wristband. This will allow for in-and-out privileges during the event. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for Gold Pass members, 10:45 a.m. for VIP ticketholders and 11:00 a.m. for general admission.

What To Bring
A low-back chair, blanket, one personal bottle of water is OK, still camera (no video), sunscreen, and cash/ATM/Debit/Credit Cards. Re-entry will be allowed with a wristband.

What Not To Bring
Please do not bring the following items: food, beverages, coolers, pets, audio or video recording equipment, and umbrellas or canopies. All seating is lawn seating… bring a blanket or low-back beach chair. Umbrellas and high-back chairs must be placed on the perimeter of the seating area (courtesy rule – if you are blocking someone’s view, you may be asked to move). The festival is “Rain or Shine”, artists and times are subject to change without notice, no refunds.

Food & Drink
The international food court will include a variety of authentic vendors; everything from BBQ ribs to cajun sausage to vegetarian pitas. Beverages of all type will be available, including beer, wine, cocktails, water and non-alcoholic beverages.

After-Party at the Renaissance Dana Point
Join us on Saturday, May 16 at the Official After-Party; the performers will be Sven Zetterberg Direct from Sweden.

Forms of Payment Accepted
We accept the following payment methods at the festival – cash, ATM/Debit cards and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.)

The Event Card
No more hassling with food tickets… go cashless! It’s the Doheny Blues Festival “Event Card!”

Similar to an ATM/Debit card, blues fans can buy dollar amounts on the card for the purchase of food, beverage, and Official Blues Merchandise at the event. All unused money left on the card will be refunded when you leave… it’s that easy.

To improve efficiency, Event Cards will be available each morning prior to the gates opening, as well as at four locations throughout the venue. Save yourself some time inside and get an Event Card while you are waiting for the gates to open. The main refund booth will be directly inside the front gate. If you have any questions on The Event Card system, feel free contact us at eventcards@yahoo.com.

Disability Assistance
To request a sign language interpreter or other auxiliary aids or services for people with disabilities, please contact Omega Events at (949) 362-3366.

Contact Omega Events…
(949) 360-7800… Box Office
info@omegaevents.com

City of Dana Point Bulky Item Drop-off Event (w/ Two Locations)…

The City of Dana Point is collaborating with CR&R to host a Bulky Item Drop-off Event on…

Saturday, May 9, 2009/ 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Drop-Off Points…

Dana Hills High School
To map directions to DHHS, click here…

Palisades Elementary School.
To map directions to PES, click here…

Bulky items such as large appliances, furniture, televisions, computers, printers, fax machines, copiers, green waste, and other large items will be accepted for FREE by the City’s waste hauler, CR&R. CR&R will also collect florescent light tubes and household batteries at the event. Locked containers for paper shredding will also be onsite.  Goodwill Industries will also be available to accept donated items.

Household hazardous waste such as paint, motor oil, and fertilizers will not be accepted.

For more information, please contact…

Shanna Collins
City of Dana Point
(949) 248-3571.

San Juan Capistrano Open Land Preservation Meeting/ Public Invited…

On Nov. 4, 2008…
San Juan Capistrano voters overwhelmingly passed local ballot Measures X and Y. Measure X ensures that any changes to land designated open space in the City’s General Plan requires approval by voters. Measure Y enables the City to sell up to $30 million in bonds to obtain additional land for open space preservation and improvements.

On May 11th, 2009…
Members of the City’s Open Space Committee will meet to discuss progress with Open Space master planning, and eligible costs for funding Open Space Bond Measure Y. The City’s Open Space Committee is responsible for identifying obtainable open space area, funding tactics and developing strategies for future planning and environmental work.  Additionally, there will be an update on open space activities and recent accomplishments, and attendee’s will learn about the causes of channel instability in San Juan Capistrano streams, along with possible ways to stabilize channels.

San Juan Capistrano residents are welcome and encouraged to attend! 

For answeres to frequently asked questions, click here…
For pictures of open-space acreage in SJC, click here…
For maps of open-space acreage in SJC, click here…
For statistical information, click here…
To view a list of Committee Members, with their email addresses, click here…

Open Space Committee Meeting
Monday, May 11th, at 6:30 PM

Council Chambers at City Hall
32400 Paseo Adelanto
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Need a map for directions? Click here…

Consumer Confidence Up/ Reuters Survey…

Here’s a piece of news derived from a recent Reuters/ University of Michigan survey, pertaining to consumer confidence with expectations for the future, and the longer-term outlook for the economy. Apparently, of those consumer’s surveyed, people are feeling good about the stimulus spending that has transpired with the current White House Administration, feeling that the stimulus will improve the national economy. On the flip side, many of those surveyed are people with expectations that inflation will rise, and anxiety about jobs remains a constant.

Article written by Steven C. Johnson for Yahoo Finance.

For the full Yahoo article, click here… 
For the April 2009 Press Release from Reuters/ University of Michigan, click here…

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