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Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
January 22, 2010
Sell this spring to take advantage of buyers’ credits You are smart to want to time your sale so the buyers can take advantage of these credits. This is a huge incentive for people to buy sooner rather than later. For the first-time buyer’s credit for $8,000 (one is considered a first-time buyer if they haven’t owned a property for three years), your maximum purchase price would be $800,000. The new, up to $6,500 credit is for people who have owned and occupied their property for five consecutive years out of the last eight.
A
LYNNE FRENCH
REAL ANSWERS I am planning to put my Q home on the market in late February. It won’t be ready before that. I am worried that two months won’t be enough to get an offer and close by April 30 so the buyer can take advan-
Mayor, from page 1 stopped at the intersection of Cowell Road and Treat Boulevard, a school bus slowly passed me as it made a left turn onto Treat. As the bus passed, I heard something hit my back window – followed by the
sound of shattering glass. Knowing that the projectile came from the bus, I began following it down Treat. As I was driving behind the bus, I could see different heads pop up and look back. I knew
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I have no idea if these will be extended or if other incentives will be offered. You do, however, have more flexibility than you thought. The rule is that you must be under contract by April 30 and close no later than June 30. I am happy that you are taking the time to get it ready so it shows its best. Now if you price it correctly, you should meet the deadlines. I am thinking of buying a Q condo because I am a little bit priced out of the singlefamily home market. This is my first home purchase. What are the pros and cons of condominiums in the current market?
the kids in the bus were aware of what had happened. When we reached the elementary school, I got out and explained to the unknowing bus driver what had happened. One of the school administrators entered the bus and asked if the kid responsible would raise his or her hand and come forward. I was doubtful that we would get a ready confession, but to my surprise a small, trembling hand rose above the crowd. A young, visibly shaken boy came forward to take responsibility for his actions. I was so impressed by this boy’s courage that this incident has stayed with me as an example of character in action. We are fortunate to live in a community full of good people with good character. However, I believe we all can benefit, regardless of our age, by fostering good character traits. The city of Pleasanton began working on its Community of Character program about 10 years ago. The program is in the schools, business community and local government. I don’t believe that all of their kids have behaved appropriately and received good grades since the program started. Nor do I believe that there has been no divorce or contention at home and that all the neighbors get along. However, based on conversations with school administrators, a City Council member and residents, I see that Pleasanton has greatly benefited from having a character development program that stretches throughout its community. The program is based on six character traits that organizers believed were essential for the development of a good,
Fortunately, it is a great A time to purchase either a condominium or a single-family home. There are some unbelievable prices on most of the condos available. There is more inventory available in condos than in single-family homes right now, so that means more choices. It’s a great starting point for you for home ownership. There are some important things to consider before you make your selection. The first thing to do after you choose a Realtor is to connect with a good loan agent. For first-time buyers, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan product is the easiest to manage. You only need 3.5 percent for a
upstanding citizen – responsibility, compassion, self-discipline, honesty, respect and integrity. Each trait is emphasized throughout the community for a period of time each year. The character traits are woven into the culture of the schools and are emphasized at each City Council meeting. One of the key factors in the program’s success has been the involvement of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce. For more information on Pleasanton’s program, visit ci.pleasanton.ca.us/community/character or communityofcharacter.org. Diablo View Middle School started a Character in Action program that allows students to put good character traits into action. Robbie Parker has written about the program for The Pioneer. The principal, vice principal and a teacher expressed a clear desire to extend the program throughout the community. Clayton could put together an organizing committee of representatives from our schools, parent groups, the Clayton Business and Community Association, the police department, City Council and others as deemed appropriate and necessary. This committee could select which traits we wanted to develop and how they could be emphasized. A program would not need much money or other resources, but it would require a deliberate shift in focus.
I am interested in hearing your thoughts on a communitywide character program for Clayton. Email me at hank_stratford@yahoo.com.
down payment. You can ask the seller to give you a closing cost credit for up to 6 percent of the sales price. It also accepts lower credit scores than you would need on a conventional loan. Your down payment can be a gift from a family member and they will accept a cosigner with whom you have a family-like relationship. Of course, you can get the up to $8,000 tax credit discussed above. One thing you should know is that the condo complex must also qualify for the loan. Certain developments are FHA approved and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved. Have your loan agent
Make sure your kids can tell ‘good’ strangers from ‘bad’ likely to encounter different types of situations. BE AWARE OF STRANGER DANGER
HARUN SIMBIRDI
SAFETY ZONE It seems no matter where we turn, there are reports of crime, immoral behavior and just bad news in general. A couple of weeks ago, I watched a report on TV regarding an assault on an 11-year-old at a school in our area. Unfortunately, we live in a world that has predators. Without a doubt, this is an important issue that all parents must address and one that requires constant communication with their children. When teaching your children about strangers and potential dangers, it’s best to instill confidence rather than fear. You should always arm your child with knowledge and strategies they will need to protect themselves in dangerous situations. When talking to your child, be sensitive to his/her age and maturity. These discussions about strangers should be ongoing; adjust the conversations as your child grows as he/she is
See Safety, page 9
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Children need to understand what you mean by a stranger and how to identify one. Not all people unknown to them are necessarily dangerous, and they need to understand the difference between “good” and “bad” strangers. Children need to know whom to approach if they are ever lost, feel scared, threatened or if they think someone may be following them. “Good” strangers include police officers, teachers, security guards and store clerks. “Bad” strangers include those who approach children in the park, on a residential street, at school, etc. In reality, there are mostly “good” people vs. the “bad” people and your child should be taught this. “Bad” strangers include someone who approaches your child and tries to lure him/her or physically pull them away. If this happens, the best thing the child can do is to get the attention of other adults by making loud noises that will be heard by others or running to the nearest home or classroom. Above all, make sure your child is aware of his/her surroundings and pays attention.
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search the areas you are interested in and check which ones are FHA approved. If a good development isn’t FHA approved, sometimes the lender can get a spot approval for this one sale. The units must be in good repair. The development must have a high rate of owner occupancy and a sound budget for the homeowners association. Send your question and look for your answer in a future column. Email Lynne@LynneFrench.com. French is the broker/owner of Windermere Lynne French & Associates and a Clayton resident. For any real estate needs or questions, contact her at 672-878 7or stop in at 6200 Center St., Clayton.
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tage of the tax credits. Do you think the credits will be extended again?
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