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SEPTEMBER 2020 Vol. 07 | Issue 9

WHAT THE END OF AFFH REGULATION MEANS FOR AMERICAN SUBURBS Page 124

HOUSINGSTACK MAY BE A GAME CHANGER! Page 24

AFTER THIS PANDEMIC WHERE IS THE COUNTRY HEADED? Page 14

SHARON BARTLETT USREOP

HAVE YOU READ OUR PAST ISSUES YET? the power is now

magazine THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. Vol. 07 | Issue 9

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA Publisher Office: (800) 401-8994 Ext. 703 Direct: (714) 361-2105 eric.frazier@thepowerisnow.com www.thepowerisnow.com EDITORIAL TEAM Sheila Gilmore Editor in Chief (800) 401-8994 ext. 711 sheila.gilmore@thepowerisnow.com Daniels George Managing Editor (800) 401-8994 ext. 712 daniels.george@thepowerisnow.com Goldy Ponce Arratia Graphic Artist and Design Manager goldy.ponce@thepowerisnow.com

CONTRIBUTORS The Power Is Now Research Team

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CONTENTS POWER LENDING Pg. 20. Zillow: African Americans are twice as likely to be denied a mortgage. POWER TECHNOLOGY Pg. 24. HousingStack may be a game changer! Here’s what you need to know about it. Pg. 26. Buying Real Estate Leads? Are they worth anything in today’s Market ?

POWER GREEN Pg. 8. Looking beyond environmentalism. Corporate sustainability and political responsibility. Pg. 12. The air you are breathing is not safe. A new report shows. POWER ECONOMICS Pg. 14. After this pandemic where is the country headed? Pg. 16. Joblessness count on the rise! What this data means for the country’s economy. POWER REAL ESTATE Pg. 18. Prepare yourself for the next Housing Crisis! COVID 19 Pushing Renters against the wall. Pg. 20. MBA Predicts New Home Sales Surge in July 4

VIP AGENTS Pg. 30. Moving to Arizona? Here’s what you need to know. Pg. 34. 5 Simple things to do to improve your homes value. Pg. 38. How the Corona, CA, housing market did in Q2 2020. Pg. 40. What to expect from the Corona, CA, housing market in Q3, 2020 and beyond. Pg. 44. The American Dream of Homeownership is at your Fingertips. Pg. 46. Looking for a place to stay? Riverside County is the go-to place!

Pg. 50. About Sharon Bartlett Pg. 56. Simple tips and trick to help you repair your credit in no time. Pg. 60. 5 ways to make your home office work. Pg. 62. How to actually afford a home in San Bernardino. Pg. 66. Cities need to become more affordable for the middle class. This is why. Pg. 68. Planning to sell? Let’s first work on how to make the house more appealing Pg. 72. How much does home inspection Cost and how to plan for it. THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

Pg. 74. How to choose your ideal real estate agent. Pg. 78. Loopholes to avoid when investing in Commercial real estate properties. Pg. 80. A tour through NAPA: One of my areas of expertise. Pg. 84. Asking for a fair price for your home. Pg. 90. A glimpse into SF Real Estate Market in Q3 and beyond. Pg. 94. Best Neighborhoods in LA Pg. 96. Ready to close? Let’s walkthrough this checklist… Its important! Pg. 100. Here’s what you need to know about Pasadena Real Estate Market. Pg. 104. A Closer look at housing insecurity: How agents can step in and help. Pg. 106. Loopholes to avoid when buying a home in Richmond. Pg. 110. The Burden too heavy to bear! Rising housing costs, stagnant wages and rents. Pg. 116. New Jersey housing market

statistics in Q3 2020 and predictions for the 2021. Pg. 118. Buying your first investment property in Texas . Pg. 122. Best neighbourhoods in Maryland. POWER LEGAL Pg. 126. What the end of AFFH Regulation means for American Suburbs. POWER MORTGAGE Pg. 128. FHFA Does the Unexpected! Your REFI Just Got More Expensive. POWER HEALTH Pg. 130. Now You Can See! COVID-19 reveals the disparities in Health care among African Americans. POWER COMMUNITY Pg. 134. How Black Community can come together to create a diverse whole.

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FROM THE EDITOR On a state level, California leads the tally with about 698,000 people already infected. This makes me wonder, how did we get here? But the inability of the United States government to acknowledge the threat this was from the very beginning is something that still bothers me. But as much as I would like to shift the blame to the government, I think we all have a responsibility when it comes to this virus. Remember, the virus doesn’t spread on its own, it is spread by people. So, it is upon us to make sure that we stay safe, and protect our families.

eptember is finally here! I don’t know about you but I am ready for the fall season. It’s actually my favorite time of the year, not only because of the temperate weather, but because it is a great time to reconnect with family and friends. This year’s fall might be a little interesting, as we are expecting more real estate sales and activity. Remember, the real estate activities are usually heightened in spring but because of the Coronavirus, the spring season was a bit low in terms of real estate. Since there were more activities in sales and listing through summer, I imagine the fall season might be a bit busy for real estate professionals. Speaking of the Coronavirus, the United States continues to lead the world in the number of infected people.

I could go on and on about the Coronavirus, but I should stop now. On to some good news, the Power Is Now Media, Inc continues to grow, and with this growth comes new opportunities, new collaborations, new friendships forged! Help me welcome Denise Matthis, Leon Townsend, and Steve Peterson who recently joined our VIP Agents program. If you are reading this and wondering what VIP Agent program is, well, the VIP agent program is a program where as a listing agent we help you create a unique value proposition in the market place when it comes to marketing, advertising, and selling real estate. Head over to our website to learn more about this program. In just about 9 weeks, we will be on the polls again to vote for the next president, but the former Vice-president Joe Biden looks like he is way ahead of the incumbent president Donald Trump. Every poll indicates that the president is losing in many of the states. But this is something we need to wait and see how it plays out. My only hope is that you take a moment and think really carefully about the person you are willing to put on the driver’s seat of this country. On our cover this month, we have featured Sharon Bartlett. Sharon is a wonder woman, she is amazing and she shares with us her story from the time she was with Freddie Mac up to now, as Executive Director of Operations, Sharon has been mandated with the continued development of relationships between clients and members of USREOP. Her journey is interesting, and did you know that she started as a receptionist? When I look at Sharon, I get the full meaning of ‘staying focused and getting what you

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

want!’ this is a story you do not want to miss!

social media pages, and let’s keep the spirit going.

Additionally, we have spotlighted several markets worth looking at for all the investors, and buyers of real estate. Of course, we have tons of advice real estate agents and sellers, in fact, when I think about it, this is one of the issues where we have focused so much on the seller. Therefore, as you flip through the pages of our September issue, expect to learn so much.

I am also excited to say that everything seems to be flowing in the right rhythm, as we look forward to a busy fall.

There are so many stories to keep you engaged throughout the month, but one thing I can never forget to mention is that Grandparents Day is this month. Wow, I feel special and lucky to have such bubbling and energetic kids around me, they remind me of the days when I was young, very many years ago, and I can’t help but be happy around them. Do you have any grandchild? I would love to hear from you, connect with me through our

Please take a moment to read and share this issue. If there is a story you feel has touched you in one way, do let us know, I would love to hear it from you. It is with this note that I send you sunshine, warmth, and autumn fun for your entire family. Remember, “we are at our best, and we maximize our success when we act now.” The Power Is Now!

ERIC L. FRAZIER MBA President and CEO The Power Is Now Media, Inc.

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LOOKING BEYOND ENVIRONMENTALISM:

CORPORATE SUSTAIN AND POLITICAL RESP

or sustainable business models to exist, organizations must embrace both their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Political Responsibility (CPR), both in words, spirit and actions. Unfortunately, in the modern corporate world, there exists a very wide gap between an organization’s purported values and their actions in the real world. Here is one such scenario; the former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra K. Nooyi, was once quoted publicly saying, “The blind pursuit of profit at all costs is untenable. It is essential that we make money the right way. After all, if communities suffer as a result of a company’s actions, those returns are not sustainable.” On the other hand, PepsiCo has a shocking CSR/CPR track record of lying about the organic ingredients included their products, spending a lot of money to fight sugar tax/labelling initiatives, and clearing forest for palm oil.

marketing practices, gender equality, human rights violation, or racism.

The Pepsi example is only an example to demonstrate how CSR metrics are heavily environmentally focused, leaving other issues behind. Most organizations don’t shine a spot on other issues such as misleading/offensive

For corporate sustainability to occur, corporates need to establish sustainable business models that acknowledge the social responsibilities of organizations, and come up with governance structures that will be accountable for executing these responsibilities. A section of the responsibilities should address on how companies interact with the political environment they operate in. Today, in the modern environment, political influence fused

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

NABILITY PONSIBILITY

some facts as part of their CPR-rating metrics. These facts include, the parties the company is backing, amount of money spent lobbying and where, the political issues the Board is passionate about, and if the organization will treat immigrant workers in accordance to any specific political ideology. However, the understanding of CSR and CPR among organizations is expanding beyond just gun control and immigration hot buttons, but still there is so much to be done. Other metrics are needed to assess organizations on other issues such as environmentally friendly policies, responsible investing actions, slave labor policies, gender equality, lobbying practices, foreign raw material outsourcing practices, among many others. Unfortunately, monitoring and measuring these metrics is not an easy job. Sometimes CSR components may undermine a corporationâ€™s personal-made political agenda, such as lobbying to for lowering corporate taxes and expenditure. Also, monitoring operations in far regions such as Africa and Asia is extremely challenging.

tightly together with social issues, CPR has become an inevitable aspect of corporate sustainability. Corporate policy making is the perfect tool to balance the two responsibilities. When corporates participate in making political decisions such as voting against or for gun control, lobbying for or against building an oil pipeline, or funding pro/anti-immigration political nominees, they tightly tie CSR together with CPR. For stakeholders to assess a corporationâ€™s political stand, corporations must disclose

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Nevertheless, there is growing public demand for CSR/CPR initiatives that very soon is going to compel corporations to pick between profit and people. Any new rating system that will come up should be enhanced enough to rate organizations based on how they take both political and social responsibilities. Without such metrics, it will be very challenging for all concerned parties to judge the position of an organization on certain important issues, and whether these organization is sustainable for the people and the planet. Work cited https://cmr.berkeley.edu/2018/06/beyondenvironmentalism/

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very American has the right to a clean and safe environment with clean and safe air. But reports continue to indicate that we are very far from achieving this dream. Americans across the country are still regularly breathing dirty air which increases their risk of premature deaths and stimulate asthma and other adverse health effects.

THE AIR YOU ARE BREATHING IS NOT SAFE: A NEW REPORT SHOWS. (ENVIRONMENT AMERICA RESEARCH & POLICY CENTER)

A recent report by Environment America Research & Policy Center has indicated that the air in our communities is not as clean as we think. According to the report, 108 million people in America lived in areas that had more than 100 days of degraded air quality in 2018. That represents more than three months of consuming degraded air. The same report in 2018 indicated that 73 million Americans experienced the same risks in 2016. Clearly, the number is rising, and rising fast. These Americans reside in 89 large and small urban areas, and in 12 rural counties. However, there are millions more exposed to damaging levels of air pollution, but less frequently. The 108 million Americans who experienced the degraded air in 2018 live in metropolitan areas. The top ten most populated metropolitan areas that experienced more than 100 days of degraded air in 2018 include; • • • • • • • • • •

L.A, Long Beach, and Anaheim- California. Chicago, Naperville, Elgin, Illinois, Indiana Wisconsin. Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington- Texas. Houston, the Woodlands, Sugar Land- Texas. Atlanta, Sandy Springs, Roswell- Georgia. Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale- Arizona. Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario- California. Detroit, Warren, Dearborn- Michigan. San Diego, Carlsbad- California. Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Colorado.

Every year, millions of Americans experience various health complications linked to air pollution, while tens of thousands have their lives unfortunately cut short. In 2011, fine particulate matter emitted from vehicles and power plants was the cause for about 107,000 premature deaths in America. Air pollution causes health problems such as respiratory illness, stroke, heart attack, cancer and mental health conditions. However, research continues to expose new health impacts such as increased risk of low birth weight, premature births and stillbirth due to maternal exposure to air pollution. In older people, longterm exposure to particulate pollution has been linked to increasing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The United States Global Change Research Program’s Fourth National Climate Assessment has warned that unless the country acts now to improve air quality, “climate change will worsen existing air pollution levels. This worsened air pollution would increase the incidence of adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects, including premature death.”

HOW THE SITUATION BE IMPROVED?

As the efforts to combat the deadly Covid-19 continues, we should face the fact that studies have already shown that people who have had long-term exposure to air pollution are the most vulnerable when it comes to contracting and succumbing to the virus. Having that in mind, our efforts to eliminate air pollution should be at the fore front as we fight the pandemic. To improve the situation, policy makers at all levels should formulate and implement policies that reduce emissions from transportation and the continued massive use of fossil fuels. These policies should focus on supporting and expanding the use of zero-emissions vehicles, and support other forms of commuting such as walking and biking. The policy makers should also make policies that move the country away from the massive dependence on fossil fuels. The policies should push the country towards the use of clean and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Policy makers should also strengthen and strongly enforce emission and air quality standards to fully protect the health of Americans. Works cited https://environmentamerica.org/feature/ame/trouble-air. https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/04/27/american-lung-associationreport-half-us-unhealthy-air.

Elsewhere, a recent State of Air Report released in April, 2020 by the American Lung Association shows that 150 million Americans (this figure is almost half the American population) are living in areas with unhealthy air. These findings have greatly challenged the claims by the Trump administration that America has among the cleanest air.

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When Covid-19 was reported in the country at the beginning of the year and the country began taking precautionary measures by temporarily closing down most economic activities in March, most people, including economists assumed that it would be only a temporary business interruption. But from the look of things now, it has lasted more than temporary. The pandemic shock is slowly becoming our new norm, despite it being a nightmare in nature.

ccording to data from experts and researchers, the countryâ€™s economy shrank at a 32.9% annual rate between April and June as the nation faced the humiliation by lockdowns and disruptions on all operations during the pandemic. The rate has been termed as the deepest decline since the U.S government began keeping records in 1947, and three times more severe than the previous record of 10% set in 1958. The fall was ma jorly contributed by the decline in spending on services like healthcare. Economists had projected that the sharpest drop would be experienced in Q2, with a recovery thereafter. But as the virus cases in the country soared higher, with some areas re-imposing restrictions on operations, the hope of rebounding is slowly diminishing. With the ongoing economic shock from the pandemic, the U.S central bank 14

AFTER THIS PANDEMIC WHERE IS THE COUNTRY HEADED? has come out again to vow to continue protecting the U.S economy amid the rising Covid-19 cases and worries about economic growth. The Federal Reserve maintained the interest rates on hold at near zero on July 29, declaring the rates would remain that way for as long as necessary. According to a Fed statement, there are signs of an economic rebound. However, it warned that the long term path of the economy was bound up with the path of the virus. â€œFollowing sharp declines, economic activity and employment have picked up somewhat in recent months but remain well below their levels at the THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

beginning of the year,” Fed’s policymakers said in a recent meeting. All members of the Fed’s policy-setting committee voted to maintain the target range for short-term interest rates at between 0%-0.25%, where it has been since March 15 when the pandemic was enrooting in the country. Elsewhere, despite the rising worries concerning the economy, the president holds his position that his plans are on track. “I created the greatest economy we’ve ever had. And now we’re creating it again,” he said on July 11, before leaving for Florida. A day earlier, he told a group of Hispanic leaders that he had launched “the fastest economic comeback in history.” Indeed the economy recorded a regain of 7.5 million jobs in May and June, which was faster than what experts had anticipated. However, that number represents just one-third of the number of jobs lost to the pandemic. THE AMERICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM Since the onset of the pandemic, even the most vocal critic of the American health care system has all the reasons to appreciate the fighting spirit and heroism of every frontline worker and patient fighting the system’s most severe consequences. The reversing effects brought by the pandemic brings us to the lessurgent but still a critical question of what the American health care system might look like after the pandemic. The pandemic exposed the underlying issues in the American healthcare system. One of the things we must highly consider is to expand the concept of the meaning of a “health care provider.” The pandemic created a sudden increase in demand for health care due to the surge in hospitalization and diagnostic testing. Also, since the families of hospitalized patients are not allowed to visit their loved ones, the role of each health care provider is expanding. The mismatch between patient needs and the capacity of the provider represents one of the most pervasive inadequacies the U.S health care system is facing. To compensate for these inadequacies, several things had to change. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Physicians and nurses who were previously dedicated to elective treatments are now caring for Covid-19 patients, non-clinical staff members are now helping with patient triage, fourth-year medical students were allowed to graduate early and join the front lines, as the restrictions on healthcare workforce were eased in late March. The crisis should be an eye-opener to the regulators of the system that important aspects of health care can be provided by those without advanced medical degrees. Also, there is a need for an entirely new model of health insurance. The current health crisis has unearthed yet another inadequacy of our current system of health insurance. The system is built on the mere assumption that, at any given time, a limited and predictable portion of the population will require a relatively known mix of health care services. It is not established to cover health care needs during a novel, mass pandemic, where the population will have urgent needs that will be treated at unprecedented rates. The system should have policies that support Americans during normal times and unprecedented times or emergency times such as during times of a pandemic. Economy wise, it is not clear of when the economy will get back to normal, or at least begin the full recovery process. The future is very uncertain but bright. “I don’t think any of us think we’ll get the economy back to 100 percent before there’s a medical answer,” James Glassman, JPMorgan Chase’s head economist for commercial banking stated. “The longer it goes on, the more damage it does.” Works Cited https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53574953. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53581937. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/11/ after-fastest-recession-us-history-economic-recoverymay-be-fizzling/. https://hbr.org/2020/04/what-will-u-s-health-care-looklike-after-the-pandemic.

JOBLESSNESS COUNT ON THE RISE! WHAT THIS DATA MEAN FOR THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY The number of people filing for unemployment benefits in the country unexpectedly rose in mid-July for the first time in about four months. This is a hint that the labor market is slowing down amid a resurgence in new Covid-19 cases and depressed job demand. The timeliest data on the health of the economy, the weekly reports from the Labour Department on July 23 showed that nearly 32 million Americans were collecting unemployment checks in early July.

fter the claims surging early in the spring as businesses were shutting down due to the pandemic, weekly unemployment filings dropped sharply and then flattened in June. The situation changed when on July 23, the Labour Department reported more than 1.4 million new filings, up from 1.3 million in the past two weeks. The claims are surging just as the weekly $600 federal supplement to jobless benefits was set to expire at the end of July. At the time, Congress was still negotiating a new spending bill that would cut the extra unemployment assistance. 16

”The looming expiration of federal unemployment benefits without a clearcut replacement threatens a chunk of consumer spending power that has sustained households and made its way back into the economy,” Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, Greg McBride said in a statement. The discouraging reports from the Labor Department came after a Census Bureau survey that showed that four million less people were employed in the week of July 13-19, than the week before. This marked THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

the fourth straight decline, suggesting that almost all the jobs gained since mid-May had disappeared again. “At this stage, you’re seeing all the wrong elements for recovery,” the chief U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, Gregory Daco, said. ”A deteriorating health situation, a weakening labor market, and a softening path for demand.” Towards the end of July, about 30 million Americans, that’s about one in every five American workers, were receiving unemployment benefits. If Congress doesn’t extend the weekly federal supplement, the jobless will be left with less money to cater for basic needs including food, medical care, and rent. Also, approaching the end is the federal Paycheck Protection Program. The PPP significantly helped the small businesses to remain afloat and spared many workers from joblessness. The increasingly high rates of new joblessness cases “suggests that the nature of the downturn has changed from early on,” Ernie Tedeschi, a policy economist at the equity research firm Evercore ISI stated. He adds that besides reflecting renewed shutdowns, the setbacks on the job front may be an indicator of something more fundamental. “It might be that businesses are running through their first line of credit,” he stated, “and now they’re facing the music of an economy that has recovered a little bit but not nearly enough.” On that note, temporary business shutdowns and layoffs would increasingly change to permanent ones. ”The risk from repeated business closures is that temporary job losses will become permanent,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High-Frequency Economics in White Plains, New York. ”This could result in an even slower pace of recovery.”

BANKRUPTCIES

Cases of bankruptcies are on the rise in the retail sector. On July 30, the owner of Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant became the latest of a string of large retailers to file for bankruptcy. The retail giant announced that it would shut down 1,600 of its 2800 stores countrywide. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Elsewhere, Wieden+Kennedy, an ad agency that has worked with clients such as McDonald’s, Ford, and Procter & Gamble, in the last week of July announced that it had laid off 11% of its workforce after reducing expenses and cutting of executives’ pay.

“We negotiated this as long as we could, but W+K and Covid-19 have reached an impasse. How long this will last seems to be anybody’s guess, so we have had to make some hard choices,” the company said in a statement. JOBLESSNESS AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS “The pain of job losses can be found in every corner of the country, but Black men have had particular difficulties,” said Peter Q. Blair, a codirector of the Project on Workforce at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. According to the government’s June jobs report, the unemployment rate for African-American males above 20 years inclined to 15.3%, while the rate for every other group declined from May.

”It’s important that we look at how this crisis is having a disparate effect on the African-American community, particularly Black men,” Peter Q. Blair said. The overall jobless rate dipped in June to 11.1% from a peak of 14.7% in April. This shows that troubling weaknesses are growing more prominent. “The increased joblessness will certainly hinder the economic recovery, especially if the Congress fails to extend the supplemental benefits that were part of the CARES Act,” the chief economist at Northern Trust, Carl Tannenbaum said. Works cited https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/business/ economy/unemployment-economy-coronavirus. html. https://www.usnews.com/news/economy/ articles/2020-07-30/unemployment-claimsrise-for-second-consecutive-week l

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE NEXT HOUSING CRISIS!

COVID-19 Pushing Renters Against the Wall

ven on normal times, threats to housing security are a persistent fact in the lives of millions of renting families in the U.S. Any large unplanned expense or any temporary disruption of oneâ€™s employment draws the line between paying rent and missed rent payments. The current historic surge in the number of joblessness among Americans due to the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the economy to the brink of a new rental housing crisis. Earlier on, the situation in the rental market had been temporarily held together by the PPP program, government unemployment benefits, rent subsidies, and a nationwide patchwork of a moratorium on eviction. Most of these government efforts such as the $600 weekly unemployment benefits have now expired. Without these reinforcements, communities of color are particularly at risk due to the loss of sources of income and having more limited income. As the reinforcements from the government fade, the nation is up for the possibility of a huge housing dislocation that will put most of its weight on income-constrained renters and the small-investors who support the workforce and affordable housing markets. By mid-July, the Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey indicated slightly over 20percent of renters had either missed or deferred Juneâ€™s rent. For African-American households, the figure was above 30%. Every payment delinquency does not necessarily lead to eviction. Eviction is a losing strategy for both tenants and renters especially in the current environment with little demand for apartments.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

In the coming months, the country is set to see increased lease renegotiations, slow-moving eviction proceedings, bigger cuts in household expenditure on food, education, and health, and relocations to lower quality housing. The overwhelming rise in joblessness due to the pandemic has dealt a huge blow, especially to the cost-burdened renters. Early July, the report showed that at least one person (58%) for households with income below $35,000, had experienced a loss of job since the onset of Covid-19. According to the same report, 60% of renter households experienced income loss. Recently, most of the low and moderate-income households have relied heavily on the Economic Impact Payments (EIP) provided by the CARES Act, to meet rent obligations. Most American households during crisis prioritize rent over other obligations, despite their saving cushion being significantly low. Without substantial savings, nearly twothirds of renter households with incomes below $25,000 have used at least a portion of their EIP to pay rent. The expiring CARES Act provisions have played a huge role in stabilizing the households in the time being. According to Laurie Goodman and her colleagues at the Urban Institute, the unemployment supplement is estimated to have restored 78% of the income support needed to get households back to the rent-to-income ratios that were there before the pandemic. With the timing and uncertainties surrounding the motion to extend the federal support, households’

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expectations for the following months’ rent obligations indicated clear anxieties about the unforeseeable future. Early in July, only 26% of households earning below $25,000 had a high degree of confidence they would cover August rent. About 21% had no confidence or had already deferred they rent payments. Confidence was significantly lower amongst renter households with children, portraying a vital socio-economic dynamic in the U.S housing tenure. Elsewhere, renters in institutionalquality properties have come up with ways to stay current. The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)’s rent payment survey, which covers more than 11 million units, has indicated remarkable resilience in tenants’ meeting their rent obligations thus far in the downturn. As of July 20, 91.3% of apartment households had made a full or partial rent payment. This figure was slightly down from 93.4% compared to the same time last year. NMHC’s findings are not based on a full census of the rental housing in America. Rather, their findings reflect the performance of professionally-managed apartment buildings using property management software. The survey excludes renter-occupied single-family and subsidized units, while the smaller properties are underrepresented in the pool Work cited https://www.forbes.com/sites/ samchandan/2020/07/25/americas-nexthousing-crisis-how-the-pandemic-ispushing-renters-to-the-brink/#4f251591527a

MBA PREDICTS NEW HOME SALES SURGE IN JULY

consecutive month of annual increase in mortgage applications for new home purchases. However, this change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. The MBA is also predicting another strong month for new home sales.

”New home sales activity continued to rebound in July after a pandemic induced low point in April 2020,” MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting, Joel Kan stated. ”Typically, new home purchases peak in April and then decline through the remainder of the year. With the disruption this spring, seasonal patterns are not holding, and hence the seasonal adjustment is likely overstating the increase for this month. While this is a signal of still strong demand for housing, we remain concerned about supply. Housing starts have not kept up with demand and this could hold back the pace of sales in the coming months.”

Considering product type, conventional loans accounted for 62.7% of loan applications, FHA loan represented 20.6%, 11% of Based on these results and applications were for VA backed all assumptions concerning loans while RHS/USDA loans market co verage as represented 1.2% of the total. The well as considering other average loan size of new homes onths after the U.S factors, MBA estimates increased to $345,929 in July from economy was reopened sales for new single-family $338,589 the previous month. and some regions homes were moving at a reported resurgence in Covid-19 seasonally adjusted annual The Builder’s Application Survey cases, the housing market sector rate of 890,000 units in by MBA tracks application volume saw some rays of hope amid July. This figure is 15% from mortgage subsidiaries of the pandemic. July data from higher than the 774,000 home builders across the U.S. the the Builder Application Survey units pace recorded in Census Bureau conducts official (BAS) by the Mortgage Bankers June. On adjusted basis, new home sales estimates every Association (MBA) shows that MBA estimates that there month. mortgage applications for new were 72,000 new home home purchases increased 39% sales in July 2020. This Work cited represents a 1.4% incline compared to the same time http://www.mortgagenewsdaily. from 71,000 new unit sales com/08132020_mba_new_home_sales. last year and 1% compared to asp. in June. June. This marks the second

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

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ZILLOW: AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BE DENIED A MORTGAGE

hen we talk about systematic discrimination based on ones race in the U.S, we mean that the racial discrimination is literally everywhere, in every single system. Even where you cannot think of. From school systems, to job market systems and extends further even into the banking/ mortgage system. A recent analysis of data from Home Mortgage Disclosure Act by Zillow has shown that the ability to access credit and obtain a mortgage is significantly more challenging for would-be borrowers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Lenders or loan officers heavily rely on credit reporting for verification, a metric that is typically disadvantageous for BIPOC. According to the Zillow report, even according to history, African-Americans have had a higher likelihood of falling victim to predatory lending or not having any credit history at all to show. The analysis determined that African-American applicants were denied mortgages at a rate 80% higher that white applicants.

”At a time when racism is at the front of many Americans’ minds, the disparity in mortgage rate denials is yet another reminder that the housing market — and country — have not done enough to address inequities and heal the scars from an unjust past,” an economist at Zillow, Joshua Clark, stated in a press release.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

”The mortgage approval process is rooted in a racially unjust history that persists to make homeownership a far more difficult dream to achieve for many Black Americans,” Clark added. “Owning a home is a major way to generate, keep and pass down wealth, and unequal access to mortgages only serves to further entrench inequality.” Reports also show that Black homeownership just rose to its highest level in 16 years. However, it is still the lowest compared to any racial demographic in the U.S. Black homeownership level, which is considered the highest, is sitting at 29.9% below the overall rate and 29% points behind whites homeownership. The Black community also racial demographic with the lowest property value. According to the Zillow Home Value Index, the average Black-owned house is worth $180,000. This figure is far behind compared to the $218,000 countrywide overall average, $292,000 for Asians & Pacific Islanders, $233,000 for whites and $187,000 for Latinos. The low Black property values is as a result of the decades of redlining that pushed most African-Americans into less desirable regions, compounded by racist zoning regulations that translated to less money for their communities. On a closer look at why lenders deny AfricanAmerican applicants, you realize that Black applicants, and all other applicants, are more likely to be denied a loan or mortgage if they reside in predominantly Black areas. The number of denials trend upward in ZIP codes dominated by African-American residents. This is a clear indication of the scars of redlining that are still visible in the housing market currently. When the African-Americans are denied mortgages, their mobility and opportunities become more limited, which requires more WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

sacrifices to be made on one’s journey to homeownership. This results in their inability to move to their preferred neighbourhoods, inaccessibility to amenities and services, and less opportunities to build wealth from homeownership. One way that can improve this situation is reforming the credit score systems. The systems should be enabled to include rent payments to be positively reflected in credit scores. This would expand the access to capital for the minority communities of color. Law makers should also come up with legislations that are geared towards closing the mortgage denial gap. Everyone in America should be given equal chances and opportunities to live the American dream though homeownership. Works cited https://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/blackmortgage-applicants-nearly-twice-as-likely-to-be-deniedzillow. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackapplicants-are-far-more-likely-to-be-denied-amortgage-limiting-opportunity-to-live-the-americandream-301105432.html.

HOUSINGSTACK MAYBE A GAME CHANGER! HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT

n the previous decades, companies have been striving to survey the real estate technology landscape to give out some level of understanding of what’s available for real estate professionals. Some companies have done a great job of categorizing real estate companies and products into impressive figures and visuals. Others come up with helpful interactive lists with links that show the direction. While still others went further to point the way by recommending who the best player is in every category. All these companies were not wrong, but one challenge stood out all along; keeping up. The data or snapshots or insights they provided were correct, but not real-time. The real estate market is more like a movie. The scenes keep changing over time. Some players aren’t who they were yesterday or who we thought they were. The sometimes moves to be the hero, and the hero sometimes dies. You may be wondering what the solution to this is. Well, the good news is, we have HousingStack. HousingStack is a real estate technology landscape that provides dynamic visuals that reflect the rapid changes in the real estate market sector. The technology presents the facts and information on what is happening as close to real-time as possible. The technology is meant to provide you with the most robust, accurate, and

thoughtful assessment of the products, companies, and categories sector. However, HousingStack is exclusively for HousingWire members. You can join the community at housingwire.com. The real estate technology landscape also provides timely updates on investment data that features what review sites say about the companies. This is then backed by actual client feedback about the various products in the real estate landscape. All these data is to help you make informed decisions on where and which is the perfect time to invest in the real estate sector. Another reliable data that you can get from Housing Stack is data on the best companies in the lead generation segment. The technology collects real-time data from usersâ€™ feedback on how the lead generation sector is fairing. HousingStack rates the lead generating companies based on specialty services, marketing automation, and CRM. This data is useful to brokerages and agents to enable them to rapidly respond, nurture, and convert the leads into opportunities and commissions. Elsewhere, it is normal that any real estate transaction involves a lot of paperwork. The process involves lots of forms to fill in, agreements, and contracts to sign, disclosures, and inspection reports among others. For any sale, there are between 25 to 40 documents to handle. The paperwork makes the process tedious and consumes a lot of time, without forgetting the security risks surrounding it. The best way to do this is by doing it electronically. HousingStack also provides you with data on companies that are focused on moving the transactions electronically through Digital Forms, Digital Disclosures, eSignatures, and Digital Transactions. Undertaking the process electronically guarantees the confidentiality of the process and security of the transactions, as well as compliance with local and state rules and regulations. HousingStack is always actively updated to provide users with reliable and real-time data on different aspects of the real estate market. Consider using HousingStack for the next real estate decisions youâ€™ll want to make.

BUYING REAL ESTATE LEADS? ARE THEY WORTH ANYTHING IN TODAY’S MARKET?

n some cases, it is the best decision one has ever made. Robert Slack, the BrokerOwner of Robert Slack Fine Homes, has built a successful brokerage on the back of Zillow leads. When asked about the biggest advantage of paid real estate leads, he states that they are “Absolutely the best way to get in front of interested clients on a regular basis and keep a steady stream of clients for agents.” However, when asked about their cons, he states, “Cost! And 95% don’t work out.” Elsewhere, Lee Davenport is a real estate coach and consultant based in Atlanta. In her line of duty, Lee has come across several agents losing sleep over real estate leads they bought. According to Lee, “The pro of purchasing real estate leads is to give you some immediate action in your pipeline if you are a new or returning agent, particularly if you are someone without a local sphere of influence, an established marketing plan or an existing database of clients. Is this activity the

Buying real estate leads for agents can be a breakthrough move in the housing market. At the same time it can cost you a portion of your business if not careful. Some experts refer to buying real estate leads as a gamble as it involves almost equal chances of winning and losing. From that, it is clear that it is a huge risk that you need to carefully analyse before making the decision. With the current unprecedented economic times caused by the pandemic, the risk is higher than before.

best use of time? Not always, depending on the quality of the lead source, which can make this a con if the lead source is not reputable.” According to Lee, the quality of the leads is a ma jor issue that determines whether the leads will be successful or not. Ryan Graham, the owner of Community & Council Realty, agrees that the quality of the leads is a significant part of the formula when thinking about how to make the most of your purchased leads. According to Graham, “Purchasing real estate leads seems simple enough, but it really is a big nut to crack. You’re either paying small amounts per lead, but it requires large amounts of those leads to convert to sales. So the cost per sale can get high if your conversion rate is weak. Or you’re paying large referral fees on vetted leads, and now your revenue stream is compromised.” When asked about the pros and cons, Graham states, “Pros – it’s low hanging fruit. Con – most of the fruit has either gone bad, or never ripens in the first place.”

Alternatives to buying leads. Before buying real estate leads, consider trying the following leads generation tips first. 1. CONSIDER TRYING MARKETING AUTOMATION 80% of marketers using automation software generate more leads according to HubSpot. Marketing automation software make this possible through content marketing, capturing prospect data and building good relationships with your clients. 2. EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING Social media is a significant tool that can help you generate real estate leads. However, posting to your alone is not enough if you want to get more leads. You should consider expanding your current followers and increasing your brand recognition through paid ads and other social media marketing tips. If you still find the need to buy real estate needs, consider the following; • Lead quality is hard to gauge. It is almost impossible to know whether the leads will be high quality when buying them. Also, even a high-quality lead may not be interested in an email from someone they’ve never heard or met before. Your email could end up marked as a spam. • The competition in the sector is super-tight. When buying leads, you should remember that most of the times you’re not the first or only person to whom the leads have been sold to. Usually, same leads are sold to agents over and over again. This means that you’ll have stand out from the pool of emails, phone calls, and texts.

Works cited https://www.outboundengine.com/blog/before-buying-realestate-leads/. https://www.followupboss.com/blog/buy-real-estate-leads.

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Yvonne McFadden Arizona

MOVING TO ARIZONA? HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Yvonne Mcfadden

s soon as I visited the place, I knew this would be my home, soon rather than later and so, I began making plans to move in here. Arizona offered the perfect place to both work and raise a family and given these two options, I was all in. first, I would like to say that Arizona is a very interesting state, interesting in the sense that it is endowed with copious natural beauty and a budding economy. The state has been named as one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. and there is a good reason for that, from the scenic expanses of the Grand Canyon to the grand city of Phoenix, it is easy to make out why more people are falling in love with the city.

may be a positive thing for most people, others may not like it. But for those who love basking out in the sun, Arizona is the perfect place to be. And because of this climate, Arizona has become a huge attraction to the people who enjoy outdoor sports like golfing, tennis and pickleball. Other activities to indulge in include, hiking, biking, horse-riding, and many others. Arizona receives about 300days of sunshine which means that you can get out to enjoy your sport almost any day. Additionally, there are about 300 golf courses around the state, making Arizona a best place for the golfers.

TAXES IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA Three years ago, Maricopa County was among the counties that saw the largest gains in population in the country, adding an estimated 73, 650 new people between years 2016 and 2017, which was by far and large ahead of Clark County, Nevada which was the largest gainer in 2017 with over 40,000 new residents. If you are thinking about moving into the county, there are certain things that you need to know before making that ‘big’ decision because like many other states, moving to Arizona has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. Moving to a new place will always have its risks and opportunities, and knowing them before hand will help you plan accordingly. so, what is it you need to know about Arizona? First, the state of Arizona is a hot state! While this WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

The state generally has average to low rate of taxes compared to other states in the country. if you consider the property taxes in the state, they are assessed on a county level by considering the recent sales of similar properties in the neighborhood. On average however, the property tax in the state is 0.87% of a home’s assessed value. This figure relative to the rest of the country is 1/3 less since the country has 1.211% property tax rate. The state also caters for the vulnerable groups, these are; widows, widowers, and disabled people. Additionally, there are exemptions for the low-income seniors on fixed incomes. When it comes to retirement, the state has one of the best offers. The Social Security Retirement benefits are never taxed. However, you have to note that other forms of retirement income are taxed,

but the tax rate are much lower compared to other states. it is also important to highlight that there’s no inheritance tax in the state of Arizona, one of the many perks of investing for your future generation in Arizona. This is also very important in respect to the seniors. Also, there are property tax exemptions and tax freezes available for the widows, widowers, and disabled people.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN ARIZONA When it comes to healthcare, Arizona offers nothing short of best. The health care system in Arizona is top-notch given the fact that several retirees live there. As such, the support system has been built to cater for the needs of an older than average population. Additionally, given the state’s climate, the dry heat of the desert brings with it so many benefits. A case to mention for instance is that people who suffer from arthritis are very much favored by the warm climate which eases the pain considerably. The same goes for people with breathing problems. The air in Arizona is very clean, dry, and beneficial.

SO WHERE SHOULD I STAY? If this sounds like a place you’d consider to move to, one of the questions you must be asking is, where should I stay in Arizona? Well, one thing you have to note is that the Arizona is divided into three; Northern, Central and Southern Arizona and Northern part of the state differs very much from the rest in terms of climate in that it is much cooler than the rest. Another factor that might influence your decision is whether you would want a community of active adults who are well integrated in an urban setting, or a community that is more rural enjoying the upcountry outdoor activities. If you do not like hot climate, then the Northern Part is the best place for you to stay, in fact people from south and central Arizona have cabins in the north to escape the heat of the summer. Also, the northern part is hidden from the urban noise and distractions as there are no big cities. If you however prefer city life, phoenix is the best choice. It is the 5th largest city in the United States by population. Its metro includes other independent cities like Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Peoria, and Surprise. If you consider all these cities altogether, central Arizona provides the widest range of homes to choose from when moving to Arizona. Of importance to note is that there are homes to fit budgets of all types.

Moving to the south, we go to Tucson which is Arizona’s second largest city. While much smaller than Phoenix, Tucson has a rich history with a number of museums and campuses. The city is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and desert which makes the best option for people looking for an outdoor living experience. Another place you may want to consider is Green Valley. It is an incorporated city 30 minutes away from the Tucson. It is mainly a community of seniors catering to retirees and snowbirds. The cost of living in the southern region compared to the cost of living in the Northern region of Arizona. And the two areas compared to central Arizona, they are much cheaper. Arizona is a beautiful state and it is much more beautiful for the people who love outdoor sports and activities. When it comes to traffic and commuting, it would be appropriate to get your own car, it is easier that way. While cities like Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson, and others have their public transportation networks, still getting a car is important as it will be much quicker to get around. If Arizona sounds like your option to move to, get in touch with me today. I have lived and worked in the state and if you are looking for a nice neighborhood, let me take you through some of the best neighborhoods in the state. To get in touch with me, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/yvonnemcfadden/. Phone Number: (480) 628-2619 Email: jypllcaz@gmail.com Sources https://www.getacoolbox.com/moving-to-arizona/ https://www.55places.com/blog/moving-to-arizonaheres-everything-you-need-to-know https://slapdashmom.com/things-wish-knew-movingarizona/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

5 SIMPLE

THINGS TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S VALUE

Peggie Simmons Most people tend to go overboard with what they can do to improve their home’s appeal. It is actually easier than you think. Smart people do not see their homes as just a place to go about their everyday living, they see it as a way to build wealth hence constantly do things to improve the value and appeal of their homes. In fact, homeowners who constantly work on their homes sell it 30% higher than they actually purchased it. Therefore, in this article, I have prepared a list of five most simple things you need to do to improve the value of your home in Arizona?

MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE! This is the first thing you need to do to improve the value of your home. Make it more beautiful, more appealing, and attractive to potential buyers and onlookers. If you are considering selling the home, you have to work on the interior décor which will help you when it comes to home staging. Some sellers or homeowners do not pay much attention to staging their homes the right way. In a survey, about 22% of agents stated that properly staging a home increased the home value by 5% compared to similar homes. This highlights the importance of staging and making your home more attractive. That said, however, make sure that you do not go overboard with this to increase the dollar value of your home. Make changes that you are comfortable with, the changes that you know that you will be comfortable with in the long run, such that, even when you do not raise the home’s value, it would be still a win for you. When it comes to remodeling, what space should you remodel to improve the home’s value?

• • • •

Living room Kitchen Bedrooms (master bedroom) Dining room

Let’s take a case to illustrate this, if you decide to remodel the kitchen, in Arizona, simple modifications will cost you about $23,000 and that will cater for things like modernizing appliance, cabinets and counters, sink among others. This simple modification will add you about 80% of what you spent modifying the space. SPEND LESS ON ENERGY Cutting the energy costs for your home will really pay off. The amount of money that you spend on a monthly basis on energy alone to many homeowners in Arizona might seem like a fixed expense but it isn’t. in Phoenix Arizona Alternative Energy, LLC is the only energy company to offer a free home energy audit. The contractor will do an in-depth analysis of energy and use the data to develop a customized energy package for you. With this package, you will know how to maximize the energy efficiency for your l

home. In today’s world, we all are looking for ways to save money on energy and if your home has thee facilities, you can be sure to scoop good money for it in the market. ADD MORE ROOM FOR MORE ‘STUFF’ Basically, the bigger the home, the higher the value. With your home, look around to see if there are places you can add more rooms to it. Adding an extra bathroom to your home will make things a lot easier for the buyer thus, they will pay more for it. However, even as you are doing the home renovations, keep in mind that home renovations will cost you more than the what you probably sell the home for. The amount of money you will spend doing a renovation might not be recouped in the resale value. While that is a bad thing, still with a simple renovation, you could get more than 60% return on your investment. A 60% return for a simple renovation is not that bad, assuming that you are planning to stay in the home for a while before making the selling decision. Regularly keep your home well maintained This might sound like an obvious point but stay with me. Occasionally, take a walk round your house and make a list of the things you need to repair. The things that are broken and need a quick fix. Singly, small repair might seem unimportant, but collectively, they can give potential buyers the feel that the home has been neglected. If you are not comfortable making the changes to the rooms yourself, you can hire a pro to fix things for you. If you can stay on top of all the repairs and regularly maintain the home, you will end up improving the homes value in the long run. TECH WINS EVERY TIME Smart technology in homes is a trending thing 36

and you have to get your hands in it if you want to improve your homes value. More people today are interested in purchasing homes that are smart, or have smart gadgets. According to a recent survey, homebuyers tend to be more inclined to homes that are preinstalled with;

• • • • • •

Smart thermostats. Smart fire detectors. Smart carbon monoxide detectors. Smart cameras. Smart locks. Smart lighting systems.

If you can make a switch from the traditional way of doing things in your home to smart technology, that would be a big win for your home. If you are looking for a real estate agent in Arizona to make your homeownership journey a reality, speak to Peggie Simmons. Peggie has 34 years’ experience as a real estate agent and broker in Tempe, Arizona, and currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Realty Marketing Group specializing in relocation, new homes sales, traditional homes, marketing & sales, short sale negotiations, foreclosures, luxury rentals, investments among many others. To get in touch with Peggie, follow this link as well discover more real estate agents in the Arizona state and other states in the country https://thepowerisnow.com/peggie-simmons/. Sources https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/maintenance-andrepair/repairing/30-tips-for-increasing-your-homes-value https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-increase-homevalue https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/10tips-to-increase-your-homes-value

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

HOW THE CORONA HOUSING MARKET DID IN Q2 2020 Kamesha Keesee This yearâ€™s spring was supposed to be the best season ever for the real estate market. However, due to the Coronavirus, things took an unexpected turn forcing hundreds of thousands of people to stay barricaded in their homes. In April, the housing market took a big blow as the shelter in place orders took force and the cases of the infected people blew out of proportions. However, in the second quarter of the year, the real estate market began reporting positive comeback with the strongest gains recorded in the month of July. But, that was the general market conditions, how individual markets performed varied significantly and today, we will examine how the Corona, CA market performed in Q2 2020.

f you are deciding to buy or to sell anytime soon the numbers should matter to you and below, I have highlighted data for the city of Corona that will help you make a decision that will help you decide on the best course of action to take. Deciding on whether or not to buy or to sell your home is a big decision that requires accurate data. And therefore, I hope that the information I share in this article will be helpful and also keep you abreast of the changes happening in the Corona, CA real estate market.

area where you could find half the homes listed for sale in the area have sold for less than the median price and the other half have sold for a price higher than that.

MEDIAN PRICES OF HOMES IN CORONA

According to Redfin, the Corona housing market is a very competitive market with homes listed getting multiple offers and some with waived contingencies. It is also important to note that most homes listed for sale in Corona, CA sell for around the list price and go pending in around 40 days. On the other hand, the hot category of homes will sell for at least 1 percent above the list price and can go pending in around 15 days. What the median price of a home does is that it tracks the mid-range of all the homes in an 38

THE TOTAL INVENTORY IN CORONA CA

Corona city has about 11 neighborhoods and approximately 756 homes listed for sale. These THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

homes range from $8,000 to $10M and is a mix of all units and types of homes including affordable condo/townhomes. In Q2 2020, the housing market in Corona was characterized as a seller’s market, meaning that there were so many buyers than there were the sellers.

accepted a bid. In Corona, CA, the average days on market for a property in Q2 2020 was about 74 days. Take a look at the following charts.

When it comes to inventory tracking, total inventory tracks the homes that are listed for sale at a particular period. It seeks to address the supply and demand forces at play in a market. Where a market has a low inventory count, combined with a low average day on the market, it means that demand is relatively higher than the supply. Increased inventory, coupled with an increased number of inventory days on market indicates that the demand is low for the homes currently listed for sale. If you would like to get more specific with your statistics of this market, or get statistics based on your ZIP Code, get in touch with Kamesha Keese. Kamesha Keesee epitomizes hard work, resilience, compassion, and creative service delivery in every detail of your real estate transaction, from the start to the closing.

PROPERTY’S AVERAGE DAYS ON THE MARKET

The property;’s average market days is perhaps one of the underappreciated statistics but it is a crucial indicator in real estate investing. It shows the investors how many days the property has been on the market. Along with the median prices of a home, the Days on Market for a property is useful in evaluating the real estate performance. What average days on market for a property means is how many days a property has been active in multiple listing service until it has been sold. If a property is listed as active at a particular moment, it means that the seller is accepting offers. Every day the days on market for a property will go up until it changes to pending, this is when the seller has WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Kamesha’s journey in real estate business began when she was 15 years old, where she was employed as a teller at Security Pacific Bank. Being energetic and as curious as she was, she quickly adapted to the changing employment environment and became a personal loan officer. To learn more about Kamesha, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow. com/kamesha-keesee/ Sources https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/average-days-onmarket/#:~:text=An%20important%20indicator%20 in%20real,and%20thus%2C%20make%20investment%20 decisions. http://grahamandthehometeam.com/corona-real-estatemarket/ https://www.redfin.com/city/4249/CA/Corona/housingmarket https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/ Corona_CA/overview l

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE CORONA, CA, HOUSING MARKET IN Q3, 2020 AND BEYOND David C. Trubey

orona is a city in Riverside County, California, located along the edge of Southern Californiaâ€™s Inland Empire region. The stats discussed in this article cover the whole of California, Corona included. 2020 so far has certainly been an interesting year for the California real estate market. As 2020 kicked off, local markets across CA were buzzling with activities and there was competition all over. Home prices were steadily rising across the state with nothing but the hope for a wonderful year for both buyers and sellers. Covid-19 happened and seemed to terminate all the hope. After a while, the scene gradually resumed live again. In other words, the real estate market rebounded. WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

Fast forward to July, the California Association of Realtors (CAR) reported that home sales across the state inclined by a whole 42% between May and June this year. A drop in home sales will probably be recorded as we move forward, as a result of the economic rollback that started in midJuly. However, the rapid increase recorded between May and June indicated the level of demand in the housing market amid the pandemic. Some predictions for the California Housing Market: 1. Home prices to rebound gradually. At the beginning of August, 2020, home prices in most parts of California were still inclining year-over-year. According to Zillow reports, August recorded a statewide median increase in home value of 4.4% year over year. As we move forward in 2020, housing values could slow down or even level off in some markets such as parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. But getting into 2021, the housing prices are expected to pick up again.

Buyers and sellers are beginning to understand that real estate deals can still be closed even with the presence of Covid-19. To top that up, the state declared the real estate activities as essential business. This means that people can still go around and buy houses. The discovery of a coronavirus vaccine will significantly contribute to this prediction for the real estate market in CA. if a vaccine is discovered and rolled out through widespread production towards the end of 2020 or in early 2021, it would significantly boost Californians confidence. More people would come into the housing market, therefore increasing demand and home prices. 2. Demand shifting from urban to suburban markets. Several analysts and economists have predicted that as we move into 2021, the demand in the housing market in CA will most likely concentrate in the suburban and rural areas. This is not much of a prediction since it is already occurring. In April this year, Redfin reported that more and more homebuyers were looking at suburban and rural areas, as opposed to the usual crowded urban areas. Redfin stated in an April 02, 2020 report, “Small towns and rural areas may be set to boom in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak 42

(COVID-19). Homebuyer interest in these lesspopulous areas surged in March as the coronavirus became a national emergency.” In June, Lawrence Yun, the chief economist of the National Association of Realtors predicted that people will be much more cautious about living in high-density areas with so many people nearby. Fast forward to July, Robert Frick, the economist to Navy Federal Credit Union stated; “The numbers also verify that many people are leaving, or planning to leave, big cities as telecommuting becomes the norm for many businesses. As a result of this movement, housing markets in the suburban and small towns across CA will see an increased demand and competition in 2021. 3. Inventory levels to rise gradually. Many cities across CA are experiencing shortages of homes for sale. There are no enough homes available for sale to meet the demand from buyers. The C.A.R reported in July that; “Housing supply continued to decline significantly across the state, with all areas falling more than 30 percent in active listings

from last year.” Southern California, in particular, has experienced a ma jor drop in supply. In the early days when Covid-19 pandemic was slowly enrooting itself in the U.S, home sellers started taking their homes off the market in large numbers. But as we moved forward, that thread had been easing bit by bit. A poll conducted by C.A.R in July found out that 44% of consumers thought that it was a good time to sell. This percentage has increased from 40% earlier on. This indicated that there’s a continuing change in mind-set. Sellers are beginning to realize that it’s reasonably safe to go ahead and sell their properties, but with some common-sense precautions. This means that there could be a gradual increase in housing inventory towards the end of 2020 and into 2021. Work cited. http://www. homebuyinginstitute. com/news/californiahousing-predictionsfor-2021/.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP IS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Ameer Elahee

n most regions of the U.S, whether in the office, company dinner, jogging with friends, or chatting with acquaintances while waiting to catch the next train at the station, the topic of real estate is a constant source of conversation. The American dream is solemnly achieved when one becomes a home owner. When you hear people talk about the American dream, they are referring to nothing other than owning a home in America. So, why is owning a home so significant in America? The response is simple, homeownership in the U.S is a huge milestone in oneâ€™s life. It is considered as among the largest investments that can lead to improved financial wellness and continued sustainability down the line. Owning a home in America comes with increased inter-generational wealth, and guaranteeing your future financial security. Owning a home in America features a lot of economic benefits such as the ability 44

to accumulate wealth, guaranteeing access to credit through building home equity, and gaining long-term savings over the cost of renting. Picture a family that has saved enough for down payment to get a mortgage, to finally owning a home. As years go by, they build up equity in their home, which translates to wealth. This allows them to borrow against that wealth to make further investments or solve any financial emergencies. Regarding that, a child born into a family with such wealth is six times more likely to become wealthy in their adulthood as compared to those from poor backgrounds. Urban Institute revealed in 2016 that the average net worth of a homeowner was $231,420, while renters were at $5,200. However, the situation has not been the same THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

for all Americans. For the minorities in the U.S, such as African-Americans, achieving the American dream comes with a lot of hurdles such as lack of good jobs to save for down payment and other times charged higher lending fees which makes the mortgages unaffordable for them. Therefore, very few African-Americans are able to live this dream. With the American population growing at a very fast rate, it is slowly turning out that without a home, there is no wealth. WHY IS HOMEOWNERSHIP SUCH A SIGNIFICANT METHOD OF BUILDING WEALTH IN THE U.S? 1. IT CONTINUOUSLY APPRECIATES. Owning a home is a long-term investment whose value is ever on the rise. For decades now, home values have been appreciating annually at average rates of between 3% and 5%. This leads to increase in value of home equity, which consequently increases a family’s net worth. 2. FIXED PAYMENTS. Home owners have an easy time paying fixed rates for mortgages compared to rentees make monthly rental payments that could be affected by various factors such as inflation and popularity of the neighbourhood. 3. HOMEOWNERSHIP IS FORCED SAVING. For a home owner, making the monthly mortgage payments is a form of forced mechanism that builds the home’s equity at the same time. And when you’re done paying off the mortgage, you will have something magnificent to show for it. You now become the owner of a property, which you can also sell at a later date. The American dream is at your fingertips. The glory of becoming a home owner in America does not come without a price. Just like so many other good things in life, homeownership doesn’t come easily. This may sound scary. Indeed, the scariness is what has kept many from realizing it. As scary as it may sound, interestingly, the American dream of homeownership is at your fingertips. You just have to go for it. Start with what you have, do the right research and we’re here to help you. The time is now, the power is now. Work cited. https://nphsinc.org/2020/07/31/the-american-dream-ofhomeownership/

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LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY?

Riverside County is the go-to place!

Ruby Frazier

hroughout the 2010s, there was a mass exodus of young people from other areas into Riverside, CA, county. Between 2010 and 2017, approximately 21,000 people came to Riverside, CA, and now call the county home. That represented an increase of around 7 percent. The county is the most populous in the Inland Empire. Apart from is bubbling beauty, Riverside County attracts people due to its incredible affordability compared to the other parts of Southern California. Additionally, its evergreen economy, temperate weather conditions, sceneries, and its enviable location between the beach and mountains makes it a place to be adorned. Who wouldn’t want to live in such a place? What you have to realize is that life in southern California is not only great, its cheap. With plenty of things to do, some to see and some to try out, you are spoilt for choice. The county is just 90 miles east of LA and because of its unique geographical positioning, Riverside has become so popular, which explains the mass inflow of people from other places. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider moving to Riverside;

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• Affordable housing costs: Riverside is known for many things but among the few things that make the county unique is the incredibly low rates of housing. With affordable housing options, the county offers so much to the residents and is also very appealing to the homebuyers. The median home value for homes in Riverside is $426,801. The prices while they have gone up 2.5% over the past year, are by far much more affordable as compared to other places like LA or San Francisco. Therefore, the fact that Riverside is still under the category of “affordable” places in America, makes it one of the best places to stay and work. • All demographics are catered for: Another reason why you have to choose Riverside is that it is so diverse. The county boasts of several distinctive neighborhoods that cater for both single and professional families. To find out about some of the neighborhoods in Riverside, follow this link; https://ucpathjobs. org/about-riverside/explore-top-riversideneighborhoods/. • All Round Education: Schools are important and this has been reflected in Riverside in that parents have so many choices.

The Riverside Unified School District offers residents of the county with diversity and options when it comes to the children’s education. There are several schools in Riverside ranging from elementary schools to high schools and they are well ranked, which means they will provide your children with an excellent education. Here are some of the top-rated schools in Riverside; https:// ucpathjobs.org/about-riverside/get-know-toprated-riverside-schools/ • Temperate Weather: well, the summers here can be hot and relatively dry and also clear, and while the winters may be longer, cooler and partly cloudy, the weather conditions in Riverside are perfect. Over the year, the temperatures in Riverside will typically vary from 43 degrees Fahrenheit to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. These are just some of the things that make Riverside, CA a unique place to live, work, and study. If you are ready to join this thriving community, get in touch with Ruby Frazier, a seasoned realtor operating in the region. She is President and CEO of Frazier Group Realty Inc., a full-service real estate company with a dynamic team. Our approach is tailored for each of our clients; our solutions are never one-size-fits-all!

Frazier Group Realty is in the heart of Downtown Riverside, California, servicing the Inland Empire, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Focusing on residential and commercial real estate as well as property management. Ruby’s objective is to assist buyers and sellers reach their real estate goals. To contact her, follow this link; https:// thepowerisnow.com/ruby-frazier-2/. Sources https://ucpathjobs.org/about-riverside/know-yourerelocating-riverside/#:~:text=Riverside%20draws%20 people%20in%20with,the%20beach%20and%20the%20 mountains.&text=With%20its%20affordable%20housing%20 options,an%20appealing%20spot%20for%20homebuyers. https://www.movoto.com/guide/riverside-ca/life-in-riversideca-17-reasons-every-day-in-riverside-is-the-best-day-ever/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

Do you know

Peppermint Ridge? We provide a community of loving homes and empowering support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

support and encourage our residents to live their

lives and fulfill their dreams by fully embracing their indvidual abilities and interests. With 24-hour specialized care and staffing, we provide comfortable, secure homes and recognize that everyone feels a sense of belonging when they have familiar places in which to spend time with family and friends.

There

is a true sense of family at Peppermint Ridge. Of the 94 adults who

live at The Ridge, 38 have lived here for more than 20 years, with 10 of those calling The Ridge home for 40 years or more. Residents have the opportunity to flex their muscles of independence while developing rich lives of their own away from their loved ones. About 30% of our residents have no family, so other Ridgers and our staff have become their family.

Many

caring companies, organizations and individuals in

the community enjoy getting to know The Ridge by helping on small projects, hosting fundraisers, lending a hand at events, volunteering in our office, and assisting residents in activities such as arts and crafts, pool days, horseback riding, music and piano lessons, and exercise classes.

825 Magnolia Ave â€˘ Corona CA 92879 â€˘ 951.273.7320 www.PeppermintRidge.org â€˘ Tax ID: 95-2409851

About:

Sharon Bartlett

lot can be said about Sharon Bartlett, but what best describes this great woman is her aptitude and prowess in the mortgage business industry. Sharon is no ordinary entrepreneur, she is a problem solver, something she has been doing for over 30 years, solving all manner of problems. But whatâ€™s interesting is the unique position she held in the quasigovernment mortgage sector and the many developments she oversaw during her time there. As a former mortgage banking executive, Sharon gained valuable experience in all aspects of real estate and mortgage lending. Her Time at Freddie Mac During the 35 years she spends at Freddie Mac, Sharon climbed up the management ladder and held many management roles. The opportunity to work with Freddie Mac was a gamechanger for her, as it allowed her to do what she does best. Sharon is a creative strategic thinker who comes up with innovative solutions to problems. And one of the things she enjoys the most is the ability to engage and

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understand the clientâ€™s needs. Therefore, her position at Freddie Mac offered the perfect platform for Sharon to do exactly that; understanding what her clients wanted, helping them solve the problem, and exceeding their expectations. Her position at Freddie Mac allowed her to grow as a strategic thinker. She was largely responsible for managing all external relations regarding Freddie Mac REO properties. She was also proactively involved in guiding subordinates within the latitude of established company policies. Additionally, Sharon recommended changes to policies and helped in the establishment of the procedures that had a

SharonBartlett

positive and immediate impact on the organization’s operations. Her time at Freddie Mac and in her successful career in the mortgage industry, Sharon had taken the term ‘moving up’ to another level. She started at the very bottom as a front desk receptionist and advanced over the years to REO Director. This is a rare story and accomplishment that few have achieved. Sharon’s ability to lead, direct, innovate, and create are the attributes that set her apart as a leader. Some of Sharon’s most rewarding years at Freddie Mac were during her tenure as Director of REO Operations and Vendor Services. Sharon returned to REO in 2009, during the height of the last REO crisis to build a network of REO brokers and vendors to support the growing REO portfolio. During that time, Sharon and her team managed Freddie Mac’s third-party REO network of over 3,000 brokers and vendors. Something that many people do not know is that Sharon created and implemented the first REO broker live interviews to be conducted during an REO conference. This idea came out of a need to add qualified REO brokers in many markets in a short amount of time.

Ms. Bartlett’s Entrepreneurship Journey After leaving Freddie Mac in 2016, Sharon decided to focus on creating her dream job. Sharon started with her consulting firm, Sharon Bartlett Consulting, LLC. Sharon Bartlett Consulting is a boutique consulting and business development firm located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The firm provides highly specialized THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

advisory services to companies and individuals within the financial services and real estate industry. Our goal is to provide superior service while improving the efficiency and profit of each client. Her goal was to provide superior coaching, consulting, and business development services to companies and individuals within the financial services and real estate industry. Her clients include national trade associations, asset management companies, title companies, non-profits, and small businesses that support the industry. Sharon also began developing and delivering real estate continuing education courses for licensed Texas brokers and agents. In 2017, Sharon decided to continue her real estate education and became a licensed real estate sales agent. While there were already plenty of real estate agents in the family, Sharon’s brother, sister-in-law, and son-in-law are all licensed agents in Texas, Sharon felt it would help her to relate to those she works with and for even better. Working with other agents for some time, Sharon realized one thing, that most agents soon after they got their real estate license, they got to business almost immediately and skipped a vital process- setting their business properly. Sharon partnered with her long-time friend and former Freddie Mac colleague, Charlette Williams, to create and develop a catalog of courses aimed at assisting real estate professionals with “the business behind the business”. This partnership led to the creation of the Real Estate Academy of Learning (REAL). Earlier this year, Sharon and Charlette created a 6-hour financial literacy and credit workshop to assist first-time homeowners in their preparation for the home buying process. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, the kickoff workshop has been delayed.

Moving on to USREO After working with Freddie Mac for many years, Sharon left to pursue her goals and dreams elsewhere and US REO is where she landed. In her new role as Executive Director of Operations, Sharon was mandated with the continued development of relationships between clients and members of USREOP. With her knowledge and experience, Sharon brings a unique link between all industry professionals, and this combined experience, reputation, and commitment to this alliance will ensure mutual focus on resolving issues in the housing industry and maintaining USREOP as an important resource for the continued changes in the industry. Ms. Bartlett stated, “USREOP is an exceptional organization with a strong commitment to bringing value to its members and clients. I am honored to work with an organization of such talented professionals… these are the best-of-the-best in our industry! look forward to being able to continue to tap the talent of its members in helping US REO Partners continue to be the go-to source for default solutions and housing needs”. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Sharon Bartlett Innovative Accomplishment Annual Account Reviews – Sharon helped create the process to conduct account reviews with top vendors to review performance and terms of contract on an annual basis. She also provided an opportunity to discuss strengths and opportunities and allowed the opportunity to build on the partnership by discussing current concerns and future needs. Vendor Services Disciplinary Committee (VSDC) – Sharon helped develop VSDC to facilitate the disciplinary action of vendors consistently and transparently. The process removed the decision from a single staff member to a team of managers and brought consistency to the process. Committee participants also include Legal and Fraud to assist in reviewing cases. Director Contract Attestation – Sharon also created the process to validate that business area directors were aware of the performance and spend of vendor contracts for their lines of business. The attestation was completed quarterly and brought to light performance issues that had not been escalated previously. Listing Broker Segmentation – Ms. Bartlett led her team through the process of revising the oversight functions for Listing Brokers based on an appropriate level of risk, versus assignment capacity or past performance. The process allowed the team to focus on where the greatest risk is and loosens up unnecessary controls over vendors that pose little if any risk to the organization. Publishing Sourcing Opportunities – Sharon helped develop the process to provide transparency around vendor requirements and sourcing opportunities by enhancing the HomeSteps.com website to include a real estate professionals page where candidates can obtain information and register as a prospective vendor. In addition to providing transparency to vendors, this information cut down on the number of phone calls and emails received requesting this information. 54

Awards During her career, she has won numerous awards for her job performance. Sharon was a recipient of two Freddie Mac Premier Achievement Awards. She received these awards for distinguished achievement in the development of the quality assurance process for operational risk reviews and relationship management of Freddie Mac key accounts. She has also won several Freddie Mac NOW Awards for getting exceptional results and going above and beyond day-to-day responsibilities. One of Sharon’s other accomplishments includes the Freddie Mac Certificate of Excellence, awarded by Community Lending for operational excellence. She has also been the receiver of many Freddie Mac SPOT Awards, an employee-based recognition program, for various performance and cultural behaviors including employee events, personal accountability, positive attitude, and customer-focused innovative accomplishments. Sharon was also recognized by Women in Diversified Services (WinDS) in 2011 with a Women’s Leadership Award.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

SIMPLE TIPS AND TRICK TO HELP YOU REPAIR YOUR CREDIT IN NO TIME Cornelius Jackson

We have all heard about these websites and people claiming to help people to improve their credit scores overnight. Do not fall for such scams because if you want to improve your credit, you have to do it yourself.

hat destroys your credit score is an overdue student loan, years of high credit card balances or even collection accounts and with a poor credit rating, you are going to miss out on very important credit products, like a home loan, or a credit card and while it is still possible to have a bad credit score and still get an auto loan or a mortgage, you will be forced to pay high sums of money in interest compared to a person with a presumably good credit score. Just to highlight the dangers of a bad credit score, over the lifetime of the loan, say a mortgage, you could end up paying over $200,000 more in unnecessary interest. The good news is that, you can do something about your credit score today to avoid unnecessary interest payments and being locked out of incredible opportunities. All you have to do is be patient with the process and at the end, it will all work out. Follow these simple steps.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

WHERE DO YOU STAND WITH YOUR CREDIT? This is the first step towards credit repair. Get copies of your credit reports from the three credit bureaus, that is, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax and getting these reports is absolutely free of charge. And while there are other websites that claim to give you free credit reports, FTC warns about them so be cautious. Additionally, utilizing services provided by Credit Karma or Credit Sesame will help you figure out your current credit situation. WHERE NECESSARY, DISPUTE THE ERRORS After you have figured out where you stand with your credit score, the next step in this process is to dispute any inconsistent and incorrect information on your report. While errors are not that common, they do happen and usually when they do, they often lead to a bad credit report. Sometimes, having a bad credit is just a result of your action, as such you shouldnâ€™t try to argue accurate information. However, where there are errors in your credit, no matter how small it is, clean them ASAP. This is one of the main reasons why you are asking for your credit report from the three credit bureaus. Check the identity information and the credit history. Secondly, review the list of the credit cards, any outstanding debts, and any ma jor purchases you may have made. If there are questionable items on the report, dispute it. CHANGE YOUR HABITS Once you identify and fix the errors on your report, it is time to get more disciplined. Ensure that you are not spending more than you can afford on a monthly basis. This is crucial to raising your credit score to where you want it to be. In fact, there are only three most simple things to repair a bad credit; first you have to ensure that all bills are paid on time; secondly, you have to ensure that you have paid down debt and lastly, avoid as much as you can to apply for new credit. How do you ensure that you are not spending any more than you earn? Review your tax return information for about two years. This gives you a sense of how much money you are actually taking home in a year. Next, take out WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

all the expenses you have during the month, the regular expenses from your income after tax. With that, you can now estimate the amount you need to spend on other things, create a limit on your spending, based on your income of what you want to spend each month. BE ON TOP OF YOUR BILLS Late payments will have a negative reflection on your credit score. You need to make sure that each month you pay them on time. If there are some bills that are behind with the payments, make sure to cover them first. An account reflecting on time payments every time is a single most important factor to your credit score. Your credit situation will not change unless you pay your bills on time, and be consistent with them. However, it is good to highlight that the basic bills like utility payments or phone bills will not improve your credit score, but with a service like Experian Boost, you will be able to also track those payments. AVOID NEW CREDIT If you are serious about raising your credit score, do not apply for new credit. Each time you take a new credit, it is reported as a hard inquiry. If you have too many of these within two years, your credit score will definitely suffer. Basically, a consumer who has good credit can apply for new credit a few times each year with it affecting their credit score. However, if you have a bad credit, these will have a severe impact on your credit score and ultimately delay your chances of boosting your credit score. Credit repair is just a matter of discipline and it might take some time to finally get to a level where you want it to be. I have seen some credit scores even taking years to improve, but if you are planning on making a ma jor financial decision, it will be worth it. If you would want to learn how to fix your credit, get in touch with me through the following link; https:// thepowerisnow.com/ameer-alahee/. Sources https://www.cljfinancial.com/ https://www.moneyunder30.com/credit-repair

THIS VETERAN HAS EXPERIENCED ENOUGH.

HE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIGHT HOUSING DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF HIS DISABILITY. Sergio lost his leg and his hearing while serving our country overseas. Now back home, he was ready to start a new chapter in his life. But when he found the perfect apartment, the landlord refused to make a reasonable accommodation to allow his service dog in a “no pets” building. Then Sergio learned that the Fair Housing Act protects people with disabilities. He contacted HUD and filed a complaint. Today, Sergio is feeling right at home. If you believe you’ve experienced housing discrimination, please contact

hud.gov/fairhousing 1-800-669-9777 50 YEARS OF OPENING DOORS. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR

HOME OFFICE WORK Jenny Gonzalez

Working from home today is now more popular than ever. Before the pandemic hit, to most people, home office was just an afterthought, a place that could be fitted in around any other room as long as it serves the purpose. But with more companies hiring remote workers and allowing their employees to switch from the nine to five schedules to more flexible working hours, home offices are increasingly becoming common and important. While working from is amazing in every way, it is not easy. There are distractions everywhere and today, I will show you how to make your home office work for you. 60

CREATE SPACE BUT MAKE SURE IT’S THE RIGHT ONE You will be tempted t think that you can work from anywhere, on the bed or on the couch. This is a potential danger to your productivity. It encourages procrastination. When choosing the right spot for your office, make sure to choose a room or a space that is well ‘insulated’ or cut off from the rest of your home. Choosing a room that is separate from the rest of your house will help you avoid distractions that could otherwise jeopardize your efforts. Ideally, you want the space to be cut off from the rest of the living area, but what happens when you do not have such a room? well, you should get creative, try to make space and section it off with some room dividers or whatever else you can find to work with. THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE AND STICK WITH IT

Now that you have a space for your work, it is time to find your daily routine. How you start your mornings will set the tone for the rest of the day and will influence your moods, your energy and performance. To be productive, you need to establish a morning routine that will allow you to begin each day with more focus on the tasks at hand and drive more productivity. There are no hard rules when it comes to creating a morning routine, but whatever you choose, make sure to stick with it. The goal here is to make sure that you start your day right, and that mindset will mirror down to even the smallest task you will be having that day. Regardless of how your morning, it is crucial that you create a habit and stick with it.

DEFINE YOUR WORK HOURS

Working from home, there about a dozen things that could go wrong and one of the hurdles you have to avoid is procrastination. Sometimes, it is hard to concentrate on task, so rather than dealing with it, you procrastinate to work on it later. That is a pitfall which leads to mismanagement and heavy workload especially when you have a tight schedule to meet. To counter this, you need to have defined working hours. Something that you would be comfortable with. Once you have created your daily schedule, communicate these hours to your family and friends and co-workers.

DO NOT WORK IN ISOLATION

Every once in a while, make sure to check in with your co-workers. This is the basis for effective communication. Dedicate some time WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

to meet or chat with your friends at work regularly. In addition to the team meetings it is important that you collaborate one on one with the team members that you work closely with. To build up a working home office, effective communication has to be at the core. It is an integral part to the teamâ€™s culture, productivity, and overall success.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK You are not a robot, take breaks in between the work hours. Where the lines in between work and home life are blurred, its easy to get lost in the work. Taking a break every once in a while will ensure that your mind is relaxed and at ease and you will be able to refocus as an effective way to avoid burnouts. In fact, going by a research from the university of Illinois it shows that taking breaks in between the work daily can drastically improve your focus and increase your productivity and also enhance creativity. With these 5 simple tips, you will turn your office space into something meaningful and workable. Remember to implement these strategies and to also stay focused. Avoid distractions as much as you can, this will ensure that you become more productive, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Sources https://www.palocreative.com/living-the-quarantine-life-6ways-to-make-working-from-home-actually-work/ https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/10-tricks-for-makingthe-most-of-a-compact-home-office-stsetivw-vs~26313652 https://blog.shoeboxed.com/6-ways-define-workspacehome/9960/

How to actually afford a home in

San Bernardino Danon Burnside

he county of San Bernardino is in the southern part of California. It is a part of the Inland Empire. As of the U.S 2010 census, the county has about 2,035,210 people which makes it among the top five most populous county in California and 14-th most populous county in the United States. While the county of San Bernardino is placed within the Greater Los Angeles area, it is also included in the Riverside-San BernardinoOntario metro and also the Los Angeles-Long Beach combined statistical area. The thriving economy of the county explain why people are attracted to it. When it comes to real estate, San Bernardino county is of the most affordable places in California. But lately, the dynamics of real estate market have been changing, mostly due to the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this article, I will be detailing exactly what you in order to afford a a home in San Bernardino.

Housing Assistance Programs in San Bernardino One thing you have to understand is that enrolling for Housing Assistance is free. The Housing Authority County of San Bernardino is the department that coordinates affordable housing programs in the county. You can also find affordable housing units through the HOME affordable housing programs. The HOME Affordable housing program is a program meant for the low-tomoderate income households. The program ensures that these vulnerable groups are exposed to reasonable housing choices either as an individual or as families. The following is data from the HACSB official website and includes the HOME program max income limits and rents. A family income cannot exceed the amounts reflected below, based on the income requirements for that development.

To find out whether there are affordable properties in your range, contact Danon Burnside, one of the agents stationed in the county to help you navigate the San Bernardino county real estate market. To get in touch with Danon, follow this link; www.thepowerisnow/vip-agents Sources: http://ww2.hacsb.com/residents/future-residents-participants http://www.hacsb.com/residents/other-housing-opportunities/affordable-housing-units

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

CITIES NEED TO BECOME MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THIS IS WHY

Denise Matthis

he middle class are at risk. They have been for a while since last year at least, and the pandemic has made this nightmare a reality. As the housing costs rise, a study last year found that Americans that are higher and higher up the income spectrum feel the pinch of these rising costs.

Part of the rising costs has been a low housing supply all over the country, for instance, when you go to the Southeast, in Charlotte, the city has a short of 34,000 affordable housing units. What we must understand is that for the middle class, a group earning between two-thirds and double the incomes in their area, the ability to afford property depend largely on the place they live, however, another factor that will dictate this is the end of the middle class spectrum a person will fall in. going to Salt Lake City in Utah, the situation is even worse. There are more families than there are available units or places to live, which is a shortage of about 54,000 units. What this shows Is that there is a serious problem, especially considering that housing costs here run higher than both Las Vegas and Phoenix. In Ohio, the housing market leveled after years of higher housing costs that exhausted most buyers who felt they couldnâ€™t keep up with the rising costs. This is the picture that was before the aftermath of the pandemic. Right now, the situation is far much worse, especially for the middle-class citizens. In the past year also, giant tech companies have come up to support the housing industry and pledged to pour out millions of dollars to help build more middle-income housing for their backyards. To determine the most affordable cities in the country for this group of people, we go by the data from financial website LendingTree which compared the typical monthly payments for the median priced homes in the countryâ€™s 50 largest metros to how much the middle income class could actually afford to pay without spending more than 28% of their incomes on housing.

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PLANNING TO SELL? Let’s first work on how to make the house more appealing Lewis Sanders III

One of the most intimidating fears that most sellers have is that they want to sell but the house condition makes it impossible to fetch a competitive offer on the market. Therefore, this calls for upgrades in the home without making a bunch of fancy upgrades, and it is quite understandable that when you are planning to sell, you get this feeling that your home doesn’t look good, just an old house with old floors and an unkempt yard. That is the time you start noticing a bunch of broken things here and there. That feeling can be overwhelming. However, there are some minor details that you can add to your home, to make it more appealing to the potential buyers. The good news is that some of these renovations do not require you to spend a fortune. It is not smart to make an overhaul work on your property. therefore, stick around to find out more.

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TIP NO #1: FIX WHAT CAN BE FIXED

You have to understand that the longer you live in a place, the easier it will be for you to overlook certain ‘little’ things. Fixing these little things is one of the ma jor things that you can do to improve your house appeal to potential buyers. The unkempt lawn, the broken tile in the kitchen, a creaking floor, and such, these are the things that you may be meaning to fix, but you have had the time yet. Now it is the right time to make these fixes. Doing this you will notice that your home will become much more appealing. The trick is, walk around the house and make a note of all the repairs that you need, begin working on them one at a time.

TIP NO #2: YOUR HOME NEEDS TO BE KEPT CLEAN… ALWAYS

This may sound obvious but it’s not. Some people are a bit obstinate about maintaining a clean home and if you fall on this spectrum, it is time you get serious about cleaning. Buyers do not want a dirty home and I bet other sellers are taking the cleaning work seriously. Sometimes, you may consider getting professional cleaners to help you do the job, but that will certainly depend on how bad things are. That’s hard but once you get it over with, it will be easier for you. Also, make sure to tidy up the room before showing it to anyone. l

TIP NO #3: DE-CLUTTER Over time, what you will notice is that your home will tend to fill up, no matter how much space you clear. But this cannot be an excuse when showing potential buyers, the home. Excessive clutter makes the house appear disorganized and may give the buyer the impression that the house isn’t spacious enough. You want to avoid that. If you have so many items that you have no space for, consider getting a storage unit until the selling process is complete. Otherwise showing a cluttered home to customers isn’t a good selling point. By simply making your home feel spacious, that could do wonders.

TIP NO #4: THE LIGHTING HAS TO BE PERFECT One thing that will do magic to your home in the eyes of buyers is your lighting and fixtures. Understand that lighting and fixtures will change the feel of a home. Today, buyers are looking for more natural light, and where it is not possible, more synthetic lighting. They also are looking for a home they would like to own, and as such, consider buying updated light fixtures that will make your room more vibrant and more contemporary.

TIP NO #5: LISTEN TO YOUR REALTOR… THEY KNOW THE INDUSTRY Invest your time in finding the right realtor to work with. A person with a proven track record in your area, or any person with targeted advice on how to prepare your home for a sale. While all the tips I have outlined above are helpful, it all comes down to the person whom you trust to handle your work. If you are in the Bay Area, you are lucky because we have our very own Lewis Sanders III. He is an industry professional with over 10 years’ experience in the field. To get in touch with Lewis, follow this link; https:// thepowerisnow.com/lewis-sanders-iii/. Sources https://www.maxrealestateexposure.com/make-yourhome-more-appealing-to-buyers/. https://www.homelight.com/blog/how-to-sell-a-housethat-needs-work/. https://www.moving.com/tips/16-easy-ways-to-boosthomes-curb-appeal/

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Kenneth Session HOW MUCH DOES A HOME INSPECTION

COST AND HOW TO PLAN FOR IT

he figure varies from one place to another. Additionally, the figure will also vary given the size of the house, the service rendered during the process but, if we can put a range to the figure, it will range between $275 and $400. People tend to overlook this stage when closing a home but make no mistake, home inspection is one of the stages that will save you a lot of money in the future when done right. It is a vital component in the home transaction process. Consequently, it is good that both the seller and the buyer understand the ins and the outs of this process. The more you know, the better your chances of avoiding future chaos. If you are reading this, you understand why a home inspection is important, thus, I will help you figure out the cost of doing a full home inspection. But before that, there are things you have to consider. Read on to find out more.

DO YOU NEED A HOME INSPECTION?

Like mentioned earlier, a home inspection earlier on acts as a cushion against future surprises, for instance, structural flaws and 72

hidden damages that the eye might not be able to spot right away. But you have to understand that home inspection is not a requirement of the law, but it is important buyers consider it, especially the first-time home buyers. â€œAs home purchase is a very large investment, perhaps the largest one will ever make, a small amount of money pledged toward research now may save the homeowner substantial money in the future,â€? says John Harris, broker/owner of ReMax Honolulu and president of Hawaii Realtors.

HOW LONG DOES HOME INSPECTION TAKE?

Typically for an average home, a complete home inspection will take roughly about 5 hours. As such, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with an inspector beforehand or before signing the purchase contract, thus, you will have the report of the inspection before the termination option period lapses. It is also good that you are present during the inspection process. This way, you will be able to ask questions that matter as you observe. In a day or two at most, the inspector will provide THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

you with a written report on the condition of the home’s structure, often backed up with photos of any problems the inspector may have noticed.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A HOME INSPECTION? Several things are included in a home inspection. The inspector will do a quick visual examination of the important structures and systems in the house. “[They] typically include an overview of the four ma jor systems in a home — structural and foundation, roofing, plumbing and electrical — along with included appliances and potential safety hazards,” says Harris.

Water intrusions; this is one of the biggest concerns for most people and one of the things that home inspectors highlight. Are the water installation systems in the right place? Water in the wrong place may cause the home to be unlivable. A simple leak in the water system can cause mold to grow in the house. Roof conditions; the inspectors will check to see if there are any leaks on the roof. A roof may appear faultless but has a lot of hidden faults. Electrical systems; many of the electrical problems in the house are easy to spot and fix quite inexpensively if they are caught early on. However, expensive repair may be catastrophic if not taken care of soon. Thus, in general, the American Society of Home Inspectors has laid out a home inspection report and what should be covered. Here are some of the things they inspect; • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Heating system Air conditioning system Plumbing Electrical system Roof Attic Visible insulation Walls Ceilings Floors Windows Doors Foundation Basement and Structural components.

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT INSPECTOR Do not be tempted to go for the first option you get. In the same way, do not be tempted to go with the cheapest inspector that you find. The best way to know if an inspector is charging you fairly is by checking what other inspectors in the area are charging. Additionally, you may be able to shop online for a good inspector. It doesn’t matter where you get your inspector from but makes sure that before giving them the go-ahead to inspect your home, they provide you with proof of state certification or membership in industry groups such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) and or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). In the end, what you have to notice is that the little money you spend on home inspection will save you thousands of dollars in the future. To find the right inspectors in Oakland, talk to Kenneth Session. To get in touch with Kenneth follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/ kenneth-session/. Sources https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/how-much-doeshome-inspection-cost/ https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/inspectors-andappraisers/hire-a-home-inspector/ https://www.moneycrashers.com/homeinspection-checklist-process-costs-tips/ https://www.thestreet.com/ personal-finance/real-estate/ how-much-does-ahome-inspectioncost-15121362

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR IDEAL REAL ESTATE AGENT

Don Dunbar

f you are already in the market shopping for a real estate agent, congratulations. The journey has not been easy but you are almost there. Or perhaps you want to sell, well, still it is a big leap of faith you are taking. Choosing the right people to work with, not just in real estate, but in almost everything can be quite challenging, and sometimes daunting as such, if you are looking to buy a home in the Oakland Area or the Bay Area in general, you want an agent with the right understanding of the market, and if you want to sell, you need an agent who will help you negotiate the right dollar value for your home. It doesn’t matter where you if you want a successful real estate transaction, you need to work with a professional, someone who will advocate on your behalf during the transaction. Someone you can trust to have the best interest in you. As such, do your due diligence and do not be tempted to randomly choose any agent that crosses your mind. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

WHAT SHOULD YOU BE LOOKING FOR IN AN AGENT?

There is a set of skills behind every agent that you should be focusing on. Every agent in someone’s eyes is a good agent, but what’s good for your friend, or family might not be good for you. Do not be fooled by the ratings you find online, rather, take your time to know the person, build a relationship with them for a successful process. So, what should you be looking for? What are the skills that set agents from extraordinaire agents? I have outlined several skills below; •

GOOD COMMUNICATION; In everything you do, you will notice that communication is paramount. It is even more paramount in real estate transactions. A successful buying and selling a home very much depends on the communication between the buyer and the agent. Be sure to hire an agent who communicates well with you and a person who is both willing and able to answer any questions you may have about the whole process.

•

EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE; What you will find out is that every market is different. Whether buying in the big cities, the suburbs, or the open country, you need an agent who knows his market very well. An agent who is aware of the local trends and key patterns to focus on. These are the agents who will help you successfully navigate the market and be able to fetch a good price for your home.

•

PEOPLE’S VIEWS AND REVIEWS; Online reviews offer a good benchmark and a good starting point when it comes to choosing your ideal realtor. Read reviews and what other people are saying about the agent. Look

for agents who have a fairly good review, an agent whom people are saying good things about. Do not go for an average agent, choose an agent who you know will not cause problems for you. •

FRIENDLINESS; you want to choose an agent who you will get along with. Real estate transactions are not a one-time thing, and even it is, just one transaction may take some time to complete. Therefore, work with a person who you will enjoy their company and a person who genuinely feels and understands your needs.

LET’S FIND YOU AN AGENT Start by asking your family and friends for any referrals. Their opinion matters, because previous buyers are among the vest assets for finding agents. They speak honestly about their own experiences with a person and hence a reliable source of information. Additionally, if someone is giving you recommendations about a person, chances are, they enjoyed working with the agent and would like to work with them again. Suppose you do not have any person to ask for referrals, the internet here comes in handy. Use an online realtor search to browse for agents near your area. Pull out a few names of the agents you find interesting and do a bit of background research. Look into their reviews and their portfolios for any information that can guide your decision. If you are looking for agents in California, or anywhere in the United States, one of the great places to find the best pool is The Power Is Now Media, Inc, through the company’s VIP Agent program. Head over there to find amazing and talented realtors to work with. If you are looking for an agent in the Oakland Area, speak to Don Dunbar. To find out more about Don, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/don-dunbar/. Sources https://www.moving.com/tips/how-to-choose-a-real-estateagent-when-youre-ready-to-buy/ https://www.redfin.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-real-estateagent/ https://www.thebalancesmb.com/defining-your-ideal-realestate-customer-or-client-2866890

LOOPHOLES TO AVOID WHEN INVESTING IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES Steve Peterson If you are just starting to invest in real estate, whether commercial real estate or residential real estate, do not be tempted to think that you will become an expert overnight. Real estate is a lucrative industry, and you will make money through buying and selling properties, however, there is much more to real estate than what catches the eyes. It will take you the knowledge, determination, lots of sleepless nights, and skills. Therefore, it will help to know some of the mistakes and loopholes other prominent people have made when they started investing in the industry.

ommercial real estate typically offers investors a more financial edge than the residential properties, which means there usually are many risks involved. As such, getting to familiarize yourself with the pros and the cons of investing in this industry will save you a lot; time and money. Here are some loopholes to avoid.

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN One of the greatest tragedies you can have is buying a property and then deciding what to do with it afterward. You should avoid that. Whether the market is hot, sometimes it is hard resisting the buying frenzy, however, it is important that you do not fall for that loophole. Before investing thousands of dollars in a property, you need to come up with a solid investment strategy. What type of property

are you looking for, what is the ROI you are expecting, and so on? Knowing this beforehand will save you a lot of trouble.

HAVE A TEAM (PROFESSIONAL TEAM) For a successful commercial transaction, work with a professional real estate team. You need to work with an agent who has a proven track record when it comes to commercial real estate transactions. Also, you should go for the specific details, look for that agent with a specific skill set in whatever you want to invest in. their expertise and local professional network will be a valuable resource as you navigate this complex market.

FOLLOW THE TRENDS Whether commercial or residential, never forget that real estate is local. Before putting all your

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

money into one basket, familiarize yourself with the local market trends and insights. That means you have to dig deeper, to find out about the land values, the home values, the levels of investment in the area, the economic progress of the people in the area, and more importantly, the supply and demand forces at play in the area. When you have established all these parameters beforehand, you can be sure of a profitable investment.

YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS NOT THE ONLY THING TO FOCUS ON

Commercial real estate valuation is usually based on the return on investment or ROI and often is a useful indicator of how viable a commercial real estate investment is. However, do not limit your decision on this factor alone. There are so many other parameters you need to focus on. For instance, be guided by the Cashflows, the property appreciation rates, and the amount of equity you are gaining as you pay off your mortgage. Also, inquire about the tax benefits you may qualify for when you purchase a commercial property. These are some of the most important considerations and loopholes to avoid if you want a successful transaction. If you would need more advice on commercial real estate investment, get in touch with our expert, Steve Peterson. Steve Peterson CCIM, is the Broker/Owner of Infinity Investments which is a commercial real estate brokerage and investment firm based in Oakland, California. His focus and expertise are in apartment buildings, but he has experience in office and retail property as well, working as both a broker and principal. Steve has been in the commercial real estate business for 15 years both as an investor and a broker/agent. To learn more about Peterson, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/ steve-peterson/ Sources https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgagesreal-estate/08/real-estate-mistakes.asp https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/pros-consinvesting-commercial-real-estate.html https://metropolistgroup.com/5-mistakes-to-avoidwhen-investing-in-commercial-real-estate/

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A TOUR THROUGH NAPA: One of MY Areas of Expertise

Robert Langston

ust as the name might suggest, NAPA county is one of the most beautiful counties in the United States. you may know NAPA county for the many wineries located there. It is a viticulture region and home to some of the most vibrant urban centers and beautiful up countries. Additionally, NAPA county is the home of the renown Napa Valley, which is best known for wineries. Napa county is located about 70 miles north of San Francisco and about 60 miles west of Sacramento, California’s capital. The county is bordered by Sonoma County to the west and Solano County to the south.

county include the beautiful vineyards and the fine taste of good wines and a host of other charming restaurants. Besides food and entertainment joints in the county, another great attraction is the fact that the county offers incredible real estate locations in the Bay Area. The county boasts to be the home to some of the most exclusive communities in the North Bay area. The cities here are well known for their incredible amenities, shops, and restaurants. A must see feature the county offers is the breathtaking winy country views and its unique landscapes. Back in 2010, the county was named as the “World’s Best Wine and Food Destination” by TripAdvisor.

Some of the significant attractions to the

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REAL ESTATE

The county of Napa is home to about 11 cities and census designated places. The median listing prices in Napa Count ranges between $700K - $750K which is not as high compared to the neighboring counties of Marin or even San Francisco. Some of the notable neighborhoods in Napa County include; Calistoga, Napa, St. Helena among others.

BUYING A NAPA COUNTY HOME

If you are a Napa County, CA home buyer, when you come to Bobby Real Estate, our foremost goal is to provide you with exceptional customer service. Our goals are to help you purchase the right home, make sure you don’t miss out on any homes that meet your needs, and make sure you don’t pay too much for your next home. Please utilize our Napa County, California real estate expertise to make your home search and buying experience as stress free and rewarding for you and your family as possible.

SELLING YOUR NAPA COUNTY HOME If you’re considering selling your Napa County, California home, Bobby Real Estate utilizes the latest, cutting-edge, real estate marketing tools to expose your property to the widest range of potential buyers. We are here to get your house aggressively marketed to sell as quickly as possible and for the best price! Our goals are to help you get your Napa County, CA home sold, put you in the strongest negotiating position as possible, and to make it easier for you and reduce surprises. If you are thinking about property investment in Napa County, get in touch with Robert Langston, a VIP Agent servicing the areas of Napa, Solano, Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, Marin, and Sonoma Counties. Bobby is an industry veteran with many years of experience. To get in touch with Bobby, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow. com/robert-langston/. Sources https://www.bobbyreinc.com/counties/napa/ https://www.discoversfhomes.com/napa-county/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

ASKING FOR A FAIR PRICE

FOR YOUR HOME Charles Reynolds

sk any home buyer or seller what they want and you will hear of one thing. No one likes been ripped off, and it doesnâ€™t matter the condition of the home, they want to get a fair price. Yet, most do not know what to ask for, or the degree of fairness they want for their home, even when the market is tight, most sellers get ripped off and the sad thing is that they have no clue about it. At the same time, home purchasing a home will require you to put down a reasonable amount, but if you do not know what to offer, you will get ripped off. In most cases, you will find that the buyers will ask for the least amount below the asking price the sellers are willing to go for or if the seller is willing to negotiate with them, with the details, they then will know what to offer. With that said for the seller and also the buyer, it is good that you be cautious, as a buyer, do not submit an unreasonably low offer because you are too afraid to offend the seller. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

SO HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT A PROPERTY HAS BEEN FAIRLY PRICED? A good starting point usually is to check the recently sold properties in the area. A comparable property will be the one that is like yours in terms of size, condition, neighborhood, and amenities. Additionally, you can gain valuable information by simply looking at how the property you are interested in compares to the price of different houses in the area. To make sure that you get as accurate as possible, it is good to use a realtor, who will get you up-to-date information about the various properties and the neighborhood. What you will soon realize is that real estate is local and to navigate it smoothly, a real estate agent is a great resource. Secondly, you should look at the comparable properties on the market, and in this case, you should visit other open houses. This way, you will

get a truer sense of how their size, condition, and amenities compare with the property that you are interested in. with that information, you can now compare the prices and see what seems fairly priced. A reasonable seller knows that for many real estate offers, he must price his properties similar to the market comparable if he wants to be competitive. The third thing you should consider looking at is the unsold comparable in the market area. You should check whether the property you are interested in compares with some properties taken off the market because they never sold. Chances are, these homes are overpriced. In addition, if there are many vacant properties in the market, they should have lower price tags. A good resource for this is the unsold inventory index. This is also a good resource to track the supply and demand forces in the market. The fourth thing you should go for is the For-Sale-by-

Owner properties. These usually sell at a discounted rate to reflect that there is no 6% (on average) seller’s agent’s commission which is something that most sellers do not take into consideration when setting their prices of the homes. Another red flag with these properties is that the sellers usually do not have the guidance of a real estate agent to set reasonable prices for their home. By looking at some of these things, you will get a feel of whether the property has been fairly priced. If you are not happy with the property, the price of the home will never be fair, even if the seller is reasonable enough to give you a bargain.

TEST THE WATERS It may seem daunting to offer below the list price especially if it is a sellers’ market. However, even in these conditions, you can still make an offer below the list price, at least this way, you will see how the seller reacts. It is also good to know that some sellers

will list their properties for the lowest price they are willing to accept simply because they do not want to negotiate, while some will list their properties at a higher value than they expect to earn simply because they expect to negotiate downwards, and some want to try out their luck by offering a higher list price. Test the waters, and if the sellers accept your price or counters, this indicates that the property wasn’t worth what it was listed for, which means that you will have a good chance at getting a fair deal. If you are looking to buy or sell and you do not know to set a reasonable price for your property, get in touch with Charles Reynolds. Charles Chaz Reynolds, Century 21 M&M Agent knows first-hand the overwhelming and stress of selling and buying a home. For the past 19 years, he has help clients understand the process of buying and selling a home, also has help clients understand the process of obtaining a mortgage for purchase or refinancing Charles has worked in the industry for 19 years. Fifteen years as a Realtor and Mortgage Consultant, four years as a Realtor exclusively. Additionally for the past ten years as a Manager of multiple tax offices and prepared taxes. To contact Charles, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow. com/charles-reynolds/. Sources https://www.investopedia.com/articles/ mortgages-real-estate/08/fair-price-onhome.asp https://www.forbes.com/sites/ juliadellitt/2018/06/20/5-things-tonegotiate-when-you-buy-your-firsthouse/#1fc216232d0e https://www.thebalance.com/pricinghouses-to-sell-1798968

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

A GLIMPSE INTO SAN FRANCISCO REAL ESTATE MARKET IN Q3 AND BEYOND

Eric Hooks

t is no secret that san Francisco is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. it consistently ranks among the nation’s most expensive real estate markets, and not just in the country, but in the world. It is also one of the most densely populated cities in the country. In terms of new listings or even the housing supplies, the SF market is one of the most recovered markets in the country. In eight of SF nine counties, as of June this year, there was a year-over-year drop in active listings. The SF housing market reflects both positive and negative indicators, and of all the Bay Area’s housing market, the SF market is experiencing somewhat a softer recovery from the initial shelter-in-place orders taking effect in the early months of this year. In the county, the supply and demand conditions have diverged dramatically between house and condo markets with the latter being weaker and trending into the ‘buyer’s market.’

THE MEDIAN HOME SALES PRICES

Basing our statistics on a 3-month rolling basis, the median house sales prices in SF are as high as they’ve ever been. The median condo sales price, while not particularly low, has been trending lower than the highs of last year.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

SUPPLY AND DEMAND FORCES IN THE MARKET

When you look at the numbers of the listings going into contract, you will realize that the number has been rising, but at a much lower rate than the inventory is growing. While the sales volume has also been growing, it is far much below the high points of recent years. Additionally, price reductions have been soaring in recent months.

CONDO MARKET CONDITIONS

Earlier, we mentioned that the condo market in SF has been diverging into a buyerâ€™s market. There has been an increasingly stark difference and divide into the levels of inventory and buyer demand between the house and the condo market. However, it is also good to point out that the divide is not uniform in all of the SF markets, some areas are performing much better than others. Some of the markets prominent Condo markets such as South Beach, SoMa, Mission Bay, and others are seeing the biggest divides and experiencing weakest market conditions.

What youâ€™ll notice is that the supply of listings on the market is at its highest point in 8 years, with the inventory of the condos shooting way higher. As the market experiences softer conditions, correct pricing becomes increasingly critical for the sellers. Where the market is hot, the buyers will compete for listings whereas in a cooler market sellers will be competing for the buyers.

When we look at the bidding games in the market, the amount of buyers overbidding asking prices has gone down quite significantly from the levels experienced about 6 years ago. Perhaps to explain this, there has been a change in showing the conditions brought about by the strict shelter in place orders. However, in an environment of increased inventory, buyers see a reduced necessity to compete with each other.

If you would like to gain more insights about the SF real estate market, get in touch with Eric Hooks today. Additionally, if you are looking to buy or sell in the SF area, Eric Hooks is the right person for this job. With more than 10 years in the field, you can be sure that what you are getting is the best, and nothing short of best. To get in touch with Eric Hooks, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/eric-hooks/.

Sources; https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/san-francisco-real-estate-market/ https://www.bayareamarketreports.com/trend/san-francisco-home-prices-market-trends-news

www.StopHigherPropertyTaxes.org

Split-Roll Property Tax Measure Hurts Immigrant and Minority Communities

Background: Prop 13 Has Helped All Californians for More Than 40 Years •

For more than 40 years, Prop 13 has provided certainty to homeowners, farmers and businesses that they will be able to afford their property tax bills in the future. Under Prop 13, both residential and business property taxes are calculated based on 1% of their purchase price, and annual increases in property taxes are capped at 2%, which limits increases in property taxes, especially when property values rise quickly.

Split-Roll Property Tax Measure Destroys Prop 13 and Makes Our Economic Crisis Worse •

•

Amid an unprecedented economic crisis, special interests submitted petitions to qualify a measure for the November 2020 statewide ballot that will destroy Prop 13’s property tax protections and will be the largest property tax increase in California history. The measure will raise taxes on commercial and industrial property by requiring reassessment at current market value at least every three years. This type of property tax is known as a “split-roll tax” because it splits the property tax roll, assessing business property differently than residential property. We should reject this measure and maintain Prop 13 protections that have kept property taxes affordable and provided every taxpayer who buys a home or business property with certainty that they can afford their property tax bills in the future. Now is not the time to raise taxes and bring more uncertainty to businesses and all Californians.

Gentrifies Our Longtime Communities •

A split-roll property tax will provide a huge financial incentive for local governments to approve business projects to replace existing housing so they can receive higher property tax revenue. It will also push small minority- and immigrant-owned businesses out of our communities when they can’t afford the higher property taxes. This unintended consequence will intensify the gentrification already occurring in much of the Bay Area and Southern California coastal counties.

Hurts Small Businesses and Consumers •

Most small businesses rent the property on which they operate. The measure’s higher property taxes will mean soaring rents at a time when the federal and state government is trying to provide small businesses with rent relief to keep their doors open. Ultimately, the measure’s tax hike on businesses will get passed on to consumers in the form of increased costs on just about everything people buy and use, including groceries, fuel, utilities, day care and health care.

Hits Minority-, Immigrant- and Female-Owned Businesses the Hardest •

•

Small businesses are already struggling. This measure will make it even more difficult for them to reopen their doors or stay in business as a result of this economic crisis. Increasing property taxes on businesses by up to $12.5 billion a year will hurt female- and minority-owned businesses the most and 120,000 jobs will be lost, according to a Berkeley Research Group study. Voters are being asked to consider a measure that will only increase job losses at a time when millions of Californians are applying for unemployment benefits. According to the latest data from the Harvard Business School, about 42% of new companies are founded by immigrants in California and the most recent 2012 Survey of Business Owners by the Census bureau found that 5% of businesses in the state are owned by African Americans. Additionally, the California Latino Economic Institute found that nearly one-quarter of all businesses in California are owned by Latinos, and they are the fastest-growing component of the state’s economy. Most of these businesses start small and stay small, meaning they often rent their property and are subject to higher rents when property taxes increase. In the most recent 2012 Survey of Business Owners by the Census Bureau, 38% of all non-publicly traded businesses were owned by females and another 9% were owned equally by females and males.

Increases the Cost of Living for Everyone and Makes the Homelessness Crisis Even Worse • •

In 2019, US Housing & Urban Development data showed California led the nation with more than one-quarter of the country’s homeless population. California’s cost of living is already among the nation’s highest. We shouldn't do anything to make it even more expensive to live here. The split-roll measure will only increase homelessness and make life more difficult for Californians already living paycheck-to-paycheck.

Homeowners Are Under Attack • If businesses lose their Prop 13 protections, homeowners will be next. Supporters of the measure even admitted

that this initiative was the first step in a plan to end Prop 13, which could mean skyrocketing property tax increases for all California homeowners.

Ad paid for by Californians to Save Prop 13 and Stop Higher Property Taxes, sponsored by California homeowners, taxpayers, and businesses Committee major funding from Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association California Business Roundtable California Taxpayers Association Funding details at www.fppc.ca.gov

BEST NEIGHBORHOODS

IN LOS ANGELES Briana Frazier Los Angeles can be charming. If you are considering relocating here, it means you have been pulled in by the beauty and the ecstasy of this beautiful county. But the problem is, you donâ€™t know where to stay, given the many neighborhoods in the county. If you are worried about the neighborhoods, worry no more. after having lived in the county for so long, I believe I am your best resource for the best neighborhoods in the county. I will outline five neighborhoods that I think are the best. Read on to find out more.

ATWATER VILLAGE Coming in first is this beautiful neighborhood in LA. The average rent for a one-bed apartment is $1,800/mo. Also, Atwater village is located at 5, which connects to the 134, 101, 170, and 110. Therefore, in terms of transportation, you will be well sorted. The neighborhood is well removed from the noise of the urban cities of Silver Lake and Los Feliz, but that doesnâ€™t mean that Atwater cannot be fun. A characteristic of Atwater, every house is notably different from the next one. Most residents of Atwater are somewhat older and have managed to maintain their youth, and you can feel it in the air. Additionally, it is quite easy to note that Atwater village is quite diverse and makes for a fun multicultural playground.

MID CITY The city is amazing, and that is a big understatement. As traffic gets crazier, you will want to be able to move up and about LA with ease, and by LA standards, it is easy to get around by car, however, there are several driving alternatives. From this city, it gets relatively easy to get across much of the LA including the west sides of LA. Homes here showcase a range of styles; well maintained century-old apartment 94

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building, blocks of cute Spanish-style duplexes and bungalows that go for less than $1 million or even much lower than you will find elsewhere.

WEST HOLLYWOOD at the heart of LA in West Hollywood. The neighborhood is walkable and surrounded by beautiful green spaces, parks, and hiking sites. The Runyon Canyon is just a few miles away and there aren’t very many places to hike in the county that beats it. Additionally, you will find that there are a number of yoga studios, and other social amenities in the area, but if there’s one thing that has put West Hollywood on the maps is the world-class bar that can be found here. Come here and I guarantee you the best nightlife you will ever experience.

DOWNTOWN This is one that is experiencing a ma jor come back after decades of stagnation and a decreasing population following WWII, and the ‘not-so-good looking’ skid row. This neighborhood has improved so much to level with other significant places in LA. Today, the DTLA neighborhood is a thriving destination for dining, nightlife, and entertainment. If you work Downtown, it might be the perfect place for you to live too considering the fact that transportation here can be painful. Other than that, DTLA is one of the best places to live in LA.

SHERMAN OAKS This is a family-friendly neighborhood located in the San Fernand Valley. One thing you will love about this neighborhood is that is surrounded by freeways, which means easy access to most other parts of LA. The Sherman Oaks Galleria is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination for the people who live in these neighborhoods. Also, rents here are significantly lower than in other places in LA. If any of these areas caught your attention, talk with Briana Frazier of the Frazier Group Realty. To contact Briana, follow this link; https:// thepowerisnow.com/briana-frazier/. Sources https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/los-angeles/bestneighborhoods-in-los-angeles-where-should-i-move-in-losangeles

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READY TO CLOSE?

LET’S WALK THROUGH THIS CHECKLIST…

IT’S IMPORTANT!

Adrian Bates

f you are already at this stage of the home buying process, congratulations. You made it. Welcome to the homeowner’s club. The closing stage is the final and perhaps the most significant stage of this process, that is why you have to get it right. With this checklist, you will find some useful action points in the few days during the closing process which leads up to settle the deal. At times, the real estate closing process can get complicated for all the parties involved. As such, it is crucial to check off every requirement to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. This guide will offer you a rundown of everything that needs to be in check before closing. Read on to find out more.

FINALIZE YOUR CONTINGENCIES What you will find out is that most of the purchase agreements have contingencies which are things that a buyer must do before the real estate official is formally settled. The most common contingencies you will find in many home buying transactions include; WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

• Home Inspection Contingency which gives the buyer the right to have the home professionally inspected. Should there be something wrong with the house, the buyer has the right to ask for a modification else they can back out of the sale. • Appraisal contingency where your mortgage lender hires a third party to evaluate the fair market value of the home. If the appraised value is less than the sales price of the home, the buyer has the right to back out of the deal, and this will not affect the earnest money deposit. • Financing contingency which gives the buyer the right to back out of a deal if the mortgage approval falls through. However, this contingency comes with a specified period in the sales contract, during which the buyer has to obtain a loan that will cover the mortgage. GET YOUR TITLE Purchasing a home means you are also getting the title for that home. A title verifies that you are the legal owner of the home through the public land records. During the process, you have to obtain the title of the home and also ensure to clear it such that no distant relatives or ex-spouses of the previous owner will have claim ownership of the home. One of the first things to do once you are under l

contract is doing a title search and obtaining a clean title. However, this should not be a bother to you, because it is not something you have to do, the title company that you choose when making an offer will handle everything for you.

GET A FINAL MORTGAGE APPROVAL In most cases, the home search process probably started after getting a pre-approval letter from your lender, and now that you already have a home that you would like to buy, it is time to finalize the whole process of mortgage approval. The underwriting process kicks off right before closing on your home and as such, do not do anything that could hurt your credit thus affecting your loan. To be on the safer side, make sure you do not make any purchases that need to be financed until after you close on your home.

REVIEW YOUR CLOSING DISCLOSURE Also known as HUD-1, the closing disclosure is a document you should take seriously. It contains all pertinent information about your mortgage. This document will outline the exact mortgage payments you are expected to pay, the loan’s terms, and any additional fee you are required to pay. With this document, you should review and compare it to the loan estimate your lender gave you at the outset. If you notice any discrepancies, ask the lender to explain them.

BRING ALL THE RELEVANT PAPERWORK TO CLOSING The final closing process will probably involve the most signing and reviewing during this whole process. During the closing dates, you will need to provide proof of your homeowners’ insurance, a copy of the signed contract between you and the seller, the inspection reports, paperwork from the bank that approved your loan, a government-issued photo ID. You shouldn’t be worried since you will have an attorney or a settlement agent to guide you through this process. When you are done, collect the keys to your new home. If you would like to own a home with zero money down, speak to one of our VIP agents, Adrian Bates located in LA. To reach Adrian, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/ adrian-bates/. Sources https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/closing-on-a-house-checklist/ https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_buying-a-house_ mortgage-closing_checklist.pdf https://newventureescrow.com/closing-checklist-for-buyers/

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HEREâ€™S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PASADENA REAL ESTATE MARKET

Leon Townsend Over the past few years, the Pasadena real estate market has seen a transformation like no other. The market has experienced growth in both residential and commercial real estate. And while the latter has been performing better in comparison with the residential market, for now, we shall be looking at how the residential market is doing. Pasadena is mostly known for the Rose Bowl and the associated parade. It is a suburb of the LA city, and also a fully-fledged city. Arguably, the real estate market here

PASADENA REAL ESTATE MARKET: TRENDS AND INSIGHTS According to Zillow, the median home value in Pasadena is $877,247. The home values in Pasadena have experienced tremendous growth, recording a 4.1% gain year-over-year. Zillow however predicts a fall of 0.7% within the next year. Also, the median list price per square foot in the region is $584, which is higher than the Los Angeles-Long BeachAnaheim Metro which has an average of $447. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

performs better than the LA one, which means a perfect opportunity for investors. The city sits approximately 11 miles northeast of the LA city and is home to nearly 150,000 people. This makes Pasadena the 9th largest city in terms of population in the LA region and the 40th largest city in California. Of importance to note however is that Pasadena is a part of one of the fastest-growing metros in the United States.

The median price of homes currently listed in Pasadena is $899,450 while the median prices of homes sold in the region are $843,200. Additionally, the median rent price in Pasadena is $2,850 which is relatively lower than the regionâ€™s metro of $3,200.

HOME SALES IN PASADENA Despite the Coronavirus impact on most markets in the united states, home sales in Pasadena are showing strong signs of recovery although there has been a stark shortage of

inventory. In the month of June alone, the local home sales rose 66% over what was sold in May for the residential real estate markets. According to data from Trendgraphix, about 108 transactions were made in June alone, compared to the 65 transactions recorded in May. However, in terms of year over year insights, the figure in June represents a decline of 21% from the 137 homes sold during the same period last year. May sales in the same period l

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saw a 48% decline over the previous year’s transactions. It is also important to highlight that sales reporting figures will at times lag by at least a month as homes generally spend 30 days or more in escrow before sales become final. Looking forward to the fourth quarter, the sales are projected to be stronger and more robust. At the state level, the California Association of Realtors stated in a report released on July 22 that “Things continue to slowly improve, but it is clear that a full recovery is still a long way off.” “After a record, 41.4% decline in closed transactions in May 2020 due to coronavirusrelated shelter in place orders, California saw the number of home sales rebound sharply in June,” the CAR said in a written statement. “Home sales increased by more than 40% on a month to month basis. And although California is still below 2019 levels by 12.8%, it is a marked improvement from the sub-300,000 levels of April and May.”

SUPPLY OF NEW HOMES WILL CONTINUE TO LAG There are plenty of buyers in the market and the available homes for sale are receiving multiple offers. However, it is the availability of new homes for sale that’s the bottleneck, because compared to June last year, the month closed with about 235 units for sale, compared with the 335 in June of last year. “The impact on the market, especially in Pasadena, is that we saw a decline in the number of available homes for sale. And that was across all price bands,” he said. “But the demand to purchase those homes remained relatively stable. As the months have continued, lower interest rates, which we’re now seeing as generationally and historically low below 3% [are] creating even more demand.”

EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC The economic fallout due to the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty it caused has brought a heavy toll on many would-be buyers and undoubtedly placed some in positions where they were unwilling to make a purchase. However, for many who are still hoping to get home, they enjoy low rates of interest, which has resulted in a strong seller’s market. 102

Additionally, financing for most people maybe posing a challenge to some buyers, especially those that are self-employed. These people are finding it hard to qualify for a home loan. Banks and other lenders have expressed their doubts with the self-employed people delaying their process for a person’s loan qualification. With the rates trending below the 3% marks, it is crucial would-be buyers be locked in because it is likely that the rates will not remain this low for long.

BIDDING WARS For as long as the inventory on the market is low, Pasadena’s real estate will continue experiencing tougher bidding wars. multiple houses had 20 to 30 offers, which means, the same house could be sold about 25 times! However, the market doesn’t have that kind of capacity, and that means, people have to wait for another property to get into the market. What this means is that sellers have to list their homes, now is the best time to do that. And while it may be difficult for you to get a new home in this metro, selling one will not be a problem to you and the best thing is that, if the home is priced right, you are going to get multiple offers, which puts sellers at an advantage, which is exactly where you want to be as a seller. If you are interested in investing in this lucrative market, get in touch with Leon Townsend today. After concluding studying for his masters in financial planning, Leon Townsend reached out into the world of financial services during a very rough time in the industry. After a tough go as a financial advisor and planner, he ventured into education for almost 2.5 years before being laid off for unforeseen budget issues. Leon then stumbled upon Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which is where he got the influence for his start in real estate. To get in touch with Leon, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow.com/leon-townsend/. Sources https://www.pasadenanow.com/main/pasadenasresidential-real-estate-market-showing-signs-ofrebounding-despite-pandemic-experts-say/ http://www.pasadenaviews.com/expert-insights-on-the2020-housing-market/ https://www.firstteam.com/los-angeles-county-real-estatemarket-update/

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A CLOSER LOOK AT HOUSING INSECURITY:

How agents can step in and Help Success Money

eal estate agents are uniquely positioned to change the housing situation in the country. they are the people who are in close contact with both parties across the aisle, that is the buyers and sellers alike. Today, more than half a million Americans are homeless and that number continues to rise, especially now with the COVID-19 crisis. Experts also agree that the numbers are not inclusive of the people who are sleeping outside which means, the number of homeless, could actually be higher. This paints out the ugly picture that the government has refused to take up responsibility for. In fact, in some cities, homelessness has reached a crisis level as more people continue to flock into the city hoping for better economic opportunities, this has ultimately led to rent escalation and a frenzy bidding war. In many places, most people are an emergency away from a missed rent payment. As such, it is the responsibility of everyone to work together towards saving the countryâ€™s misery housing situation. The central and the local governments can only do so much, which leaves the ball in our court. Today, we look at the various ways through which agents can help tackle the affordable housing crisis. 104

1. PROMOTE AND SHARE

You have to understand that not every real estate agent has the financial muscles to provide affordable housing. Additionally, some may not even be working in markets that have room for affordable housing. And yes, it is understandable that most agents do not have the time or the resources, but most have the influence, and with that power of influence, comes responsibility. If all you can do is promote the importance of affordable housing on your blog, website, social media, and such, or even to share content like this, then actively do it. At times, the simple gestures that we do matter a lot, and they are the best thing we can do to help.

2. SUPPORT REMOTE WORKING

Today, especially due to the Coronavirus pandemic, remote working has been trending. It is estimated that at least more than half the population is already working remotely. The real estate companies, brokerage firms, and teams can avoid getting cash strapped and priced out of business by facilitating more remote working for their workers. Additionally, they could hire a professional team of freelancers to work from further. This ultimately drives down the costs and leads to more profits. Also, it means better working conditions for the workers who would otherwise spend more time commuting daily to work. What is good for a worker will turn out to be good for the company resulting in increased performance.

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3. OFFER AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS

In many markets, there are affordable housing plans or if there aren’t, chances are, they desperately need one. Many real estate agents work in the markets, and even if it is not your main niche, it is worth participating in. and the options available are unlimited. Agents can participate in selling affordable housing and keep it viable. Also, investors in the real estate market can help provide affordable housing via rentals and resales.

4. PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE, GREEN, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Real estate agents, investors, and homeowners should be striving for a greener and more sustainable housing options. The real estate industry has made ma jor moves in terms of providing these facilities. But we are not there yet. Much needs to be done to make our houses greener and more sustainable in the long run. nonetheless, the word sustainable has been associated with costly homes and it is true because if you look at some of the homes with the highest LEED certifications today, while they may be innovative, they are far from being reliable. The true sense of sustainable buildings means a building that is affordable and also, a truly green building means fewer expenses on energy. In most cases, recycling existing housing stock may be the greenest and most sustainable solution. Also, it may keep housing far much more affordable as compared with the new luxurious ‘green’ homes.

5. BUILD-IN SAVINGS

When we talk about affordability, what comes to mind almost immediately is the mortgage payments or the rents, but it is far much more than that. Rents and the monthly mortgage payments are just a part of the overall expense. There are property taxes, insurance, and utilities that all part of the package. Agents, investors, and builders can do much to help ease the situation by

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building and rehabbing homes. Homes can be more energy-efficient, safer and the design can be made to incur fewer taxes. These are the various ways through which agents can help solve the critical issue of affordability in the country. if you would like to speak to a real estate agent, whether to sell your home or buy, speak with Success Money today. Success Godis Money, #IamSuccessMoney is a creative and passionate entrepreneur. Success started her career in the mortgage and real estate industry in 2005 while studying Business Administration and Communication in college. Success has assisted with establishing and serving on numerous boards throughout her career including; The Black Chamber of Commerce, NAREB National Association of Real Estate Brokers at the city, state, and national level. Sources https://www.zillow.com/blog/housing-insecurity-229833/ https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-frm-asstsec-111918.html https://www.thanmerrill.com/7-ways-real-estate-pros-can-helpsolve-affordable-housing-crisis/

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Loopholes To Avoid

When Buying A Home In Richmond

Andre Jackson If you are looking to buy your first property, chances are, you are already feeling nervous about it. It is at this point that you are already making your list of wants and needs, and actually figuring out how much money they can afford to spend, and also deciding which neighborhoods they want to search in. we understand the pressure and thus, we have prepared a guide that will help you navigate the Richmond housing market successfully.

FIRST, YOU SHOULD EXPLORE THE VARIOUS FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU Today, more than ever, there are many different types of mortgages and down payments available to a home buyer as there are homes. Also, these days, buying a home doesnâ€™t automatically mean that you have to put a 20 percent down payment of the homeâ€™s value and then afterward be committed to paying a fixed-rate mortgage for the next 30 years. Most buyers find it more comfortable working with conventional mortgages as they offer predictable terms and are also available from a lot of lenders. Additionally, in Richmond, you have the choice of a fixed rate or an adjustable-rate mortgage as well as getting 30 years or even a 15-year term. Whatever you choose to finance your mortgage, just know that there are pros and cons, as such, do your research thoroughly into what will best work for you. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

For the people in Richmond, it is possible to buy your first home with 10 percent, 3 percent, or even a zero-down payment, but the terms will be dictated by the type you sign up for. MAKE SURE YOU HIRE THE RIGHT AGENT There are many experienced realtors in Richmond. Also, many conmen will do anything to take advantage of you. Be sure that you are working with the right person. An experienced real estate agent knows their market very well and also, they know what to expect in houses that are being sold around Richmond. This means that the real estate agents can be an invaluable asset when it comes to home buying in Richmond. Use your agents wisely and make sure they work for you! A real estate agent can take a list of the likes and the dislikes and also help you virtually scour through the available listings l

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for sale to find potential properties to show to prospective buyers. They will help you keep tabs of the housing market and are very ready to leap the moment if something good comes up. also, when a home is priced too high, an agent will come in handy to help you re-negotiate the terms. MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BUDGET IS SET APPROPRIATELY Set a budget, stick with it to the end. This is one thing that most people investing in their first home in Richmond skip over. Do not make a mistake of thinking that you know how much you can afford. In most cases, there are a bunch of many different things you are likely to miss. With a budget, you will ensure that everything remains intact. What you need to understand is that the list price of a home is not the cost of ownership, there are several other factors you have to take into consideration, for instance, the taxes, utility costs, closing costs, and the potential upkeep. When you consider all these factors, you will get a realistic picture of what you are expected to spend. ALWAYS BUY FOR TOMORROW One thing as a first time home buyer you have to keep in mind is that you are buying for tomorrow. Many buyers fail to think about what they need for tomorrow and purely base their needs for today. A few years down the line and a couple of kids, then they are suddenly house shopping again. If you are buying your first property in Richmond, invest knowing that there

are needs your home will be required to meet in the future. You need to consider all those needs when shopping, and that includes marriage, kids, pets, and even job changes all of which are changes that will affect whether they choose one home over another. If you are looking to invest in the rich and lucrative Richmond housing market, get in touch with Andre Jackson. Bishop Andre W. Jackson is a native of Richmond, California where he still resides and for over 21 years has owned Jackson Medical Supplies and Equipment. He owns a record label, Ground Up Record & Production Co., and is the Vice-President of BASA Publishing and The American Clergy Leadership Conference of Northern California and National Co-Chair. Bishop graduated from Sacramento Theological Seminary with a masterâ€™s degree in Christian Counseling and Theology and a doctorate in Christian Education and Theology. To get in touch with Andre, follow this link; https://thepowerisnow. com/andre-jackson/. Sources https://www.edenrvaproperties.com/blog/5-tips-forpeople-buying-their-first-richmond-home-in-2020/ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/19/success/real-estatecoronavirus/index.html https://www.edenrvaproperties.com/blog/what-you-needto-know-about-buying-a-richmond-house-in-2019/ https://richmond.com/entertainment/its-too-early-totell-if-the-coronavirus-has-impacted-richmonds-realestate-market-but/article_42b48315-b539-5df6-a1aca3a0933eac60.html

THE BURDEN TOO HEAVY TO BEAR! RISING HOUSING COSTS, STAGNANT WAGES AND RENTS

Joe L. Fisher How much money should you set aside to cover your monthly mortgage payments or rents? In most cases, the middle class and the low wage workers spend half their income on housing alone. This depicts the reality that the cost of housing is on the rise, it has been on the rise for more than a decade now, but today, it is something that most people cannot bear. Today, researchers are reexamining the 30 percent rule of thumb for measuring the rental burden.

ix years ago, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released a report that found out that nearly half of all renters in the united states were cost-burdened in 2012. The people living in the east and the west coasts and the urban centers suffer the most. Costburdened households may be taken to mean the families that pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing and may have difficulty affording other necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, medical care among others. Supposing a family is spending more than 50 percent on housing alone, then the family would be classified as severely burdened.

shortage of affordable housing units or rental housing across the nation, especially in the large metropolitan areas has led to the creation of a significant financial burden for a number of families. Since the onset of the COVID-19 virus, the problem has been exacerbated. The low wage workers in some areas are the most likely to have incurred losses due to the pandemic. Some of the low wage workers renting their homes face a risk of evictions as they lack financial resources to compensate for the missed paychecks and as the moratoria on evictions expire, in some states, the moratorium on evictions has already expired leaving a huge number of workers at risk.

The rising housing costs, coupled with stagnant wages and rents, and a severe

What needs to be understood is that most of these families, before the onset of the

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virus, were already suffering as a result of a severe shortage of affordable housing throughout the country. In the face of the high unemployment rate, that will probably last through 2021, creating jobs through the expansion of affordable housing is a reliable long-term investment. Lack of affordable housing is a national policy and a matter that should not be taken lightly. Overspending on housing reduced the financial resources and the capability for families to purchase health care, investing in their childrenâ€™s futures, saving for retirement, and addressing the severe hardships brought about by the virus. Today, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, income inequality is at its highest level in more than five decades, even though the country was experiencing its longest economic expansion before the pandemic. While the income gains for the low wage workers had been growing, it rose more slowly for the workers at the bottom spectrum than those that were employed in the high-skill, high-wage positions. Back in 2017, 46 percent of the renters spent more than 30 percent of their incomes catering for household costs. Housing affordability problem has been exacerbated by a shortage of affordable housing units, as the supply dynamics of the low-cost housing have

dropped and new construction has been intended primarily for the higher end of the market. The report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University indicates that between the years 2011 and 2017 the number f housing units available for rent for less than $600 a month fell by 3.1million. this report indicates the affordable rental units are in a short supply, especially in those areas that are experiencing steady job growth before the pandemic. Now more than ever, we need to ensure that renters, especially those in the lowerincome spectrum remain protected, not just because of the pandemic, but also to ensure that the country is well prepared for an eventual economic recovery. The shortage of affordable housing supply in the country would undermine a swift and a smooth transition of the economy, and also undermine the competitiveness and productivity of the metropolitan areas as high costs of housing would affect the regional economiesâ€™ ability to attract new firms and business and to expand the existing ones. Additionally, supposing the metros recover, the addition of new jobs into these regions would not ensure equal economic opportunities for all people unless there is a

sufficient supply of affordable units to cater for the local workforce. If you look at the statistics, in most cities, workers often live far off from their place of work, and this harms both the employees and the employers. As employees mover farther away from their place of work, the long commute time affects the quality of life of the families, reduce productivity, and also contribute to high employee turnover. The rising rents and housing costs portend the ability of the local businesses to draw and retain a labor force, also, employers are unable to fill the open positions. According to a recent report from the National Bureau of Economic research, low wage workers have been moving away from the places where the potential to earn more is high. Aggregated across the nation, the lack of workers moving to areas where their high wage jobs due to a lack of affordable housing lower the total economic output. To ensure that everybody benefits from the eventual economic recovery, it is important to understand and address the jobs and the housing-related challenges that the low wage workers face and also advance policies that would promote better access to affordable housing. Ensuring that the local housing supply fits the need of all people in both the ends of the income spectrum addresses social equity, as it would lead to shorter commute time, a better quality of life, and a boost in the disposable incomes and saving opportunities. Additionally, solving this problem would address the regional inequity by responding to the fiscal imbalances across the jurisdictional boundaries. Finally, if the local governments and the central government work together to address this jobs-housing fit by increasing the supply of affordable housing would create much-needed jobs, especially during the postpandemic economic recovery. Sources https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr_edge_ featd_article_092214.html https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/ reports/2020/08/10/488313/expanding-supplyaffordable-housing-low-wage-workers/

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YOU DESERVE TO LIVE SAFE FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

Sexual harassment by a landlord or anyone related to your housing violates the Fair Housing Act. If you receive unwelcome sexual advances or are threatened with eviction because you refuse to provide sexual favors, you may file a fair housing complaint. To file a complaint, go to

hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 If you fear for your safety, call 911.

FAIR HOUSING IS YOUR RIGHT. USE IT. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.

NEW JERSEY HOUSING

MARKET STATISTICS IN Q3 2020 AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2021 Jerel Washington On the Garden State, summer may replace spring as the most active season for the housing market in 2020. Although year-over-year numbers are down due to the impacts of Covid-19, the figures for June and July hint a coming recovery for New Jersey’s housing market. Sellers and buyers who postponed their plans due to the total lockdown are now beginning to feel comfortable,” said 2020 New Jersey Realtors President Angela Sicoli. “There’s a morale boost out there.”

onth-to-month changes in NJ indicate growth in terms of home sales and listings. In April, there were 6,162 pending sales, while in May, the number jumped to 10,237. In the same period, the number of new listings jumped from 7,272 to 12,822 between April and May.

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profitable property investment option. According to Walletinvestor.com, the median price of an average house in NJ was $506,980 as of August 28, 2020. The median home values are up by 1.71% in July 31, 2019.

However, inventory remains a concern. The number of NJ properties for sale in May this year was down 38.4% compared to the same month last year. This may be good news for potential sellers. “Sellers are getting thousands and thousands of dollars above the asking price because of the lack of inventory,” Sicoli said.

Based on their forecasts, home values will keep inclining for the next 12 months. Also, a long-term increase is expected. The predicted price of an average home in NJ area is $571,190 by August 31, 2025. For a five year investment, the profit is expected to be around +12.67%. This means that investing $100,000 today may yield a profit of $112,670 by 2025, according to Walletinvestor.com.

Data from Walletinvestor.com indicates that if you’re looking for homes for sale with good flipping profit, NJ can be a

In Jersey City, the short-term median home listing prices are expected to keep increasing as we move forward in the next

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few months and into 2021. The short-term real estate market forecast shown above is based on the median home listing prices from the last five years according to Walletinvestor.com; Open house events received the hint to resume on June 15. However, this is only to happen under the condition that all parties put on masks and follow the 25% indoor capacity limit. Agents can now show houses to potential

buyers on a 1-on-1 basis. However, New Jersey Realtors encourage virtual house tours through tools such as FaceTime.

Works cited https://walletinvestor.com/real-estate-forecast/nj/hudson/ jersey-housing-market. https://nj1015.com/nj-housing-market-may-be-bouncingback-from-covid-19-downturn/.

BUYING YOUR FIRST INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN TEXAS

Johnnie Morine

he Texas housing market has always been a favourable investment opportunity, especially when it comes to buying rental properties in the state. For a long time now, investors all over the country have had interest in Texas income properties, and of course it’s for a good reason. Texas State has a large population, with laws that are welcoming and friendly to investors, without forgetting the many great areas that you can choose from for investing in real estate. To top all that up, the lone Star State is huge. It’s the second largest state in the U.S in population and geographical terms. Why you should invest in Texas;

1. TEXAS HOUSE PRICES ARE AFFORDABLE

As the housing market recovered in most large U.S cities, house prices in those cities rose above affordability for most buyers. For Texas, the case was different. Although the house prices have inclined in Texas over the past years, they still remain affordable in many areas. The Texas housing market appreciation rate also holds a good upward trend. According to Zillow, Texas home values have gone up 3.3% over the past year and the predictions hold that the values will rise 3.8% within 2020. In general, Texas features a cool housing market which makes it an excellent buyer’s market.

2. TEXAS STRONG ECONOMY BENEFITS

Texas has had a remarkable economic growth throughout the years. In 2020, its economy is estimated to be worth $1.6 trillion and still growing. Texas economy is supported by a wide range of successful industries and leading institutions of higher learning. The state’s economic growth is also attributed to its diverse economic base that features agriculture, mining, and energy industries, without forgetting its further economic diversification through bringing in new jobs from technology, financial and healthcare services companies. Texas also has a business friendly environment and favourable tax laws which play significant roles in attracting large companies in the area such as the 50 Fortune 500 companies. For any investor, this are critical

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factors that come with positive influence to the real estate investments.

3. STRONG POPULATION GROWTH IN TEXAS

Population growth in most parts of the U.S is mainly due to economic factors. Therefore, with steadily growing economy and diverse job opportunities in Texas, people are largely moving to Texas. On top of it, Texas features affordable housing, falling mortgage rates, and no state income tax. Most people who move there are job seekers, who will also need housing. This means that Texas rental properties will ever be in high demand.

Another reason to buy investment property in Texas is that the state is already known as the most landlord-friendly state in the U.S. Also, most first time buyers end up buying investment properties in the wrong market or neighbourhood. To get the most out of your real estate investment, you must make the investment in a good market or neighbourhood. Here is a list of the best places to invest in the Texas housing market according to Mashvisor; • • • • • • • • • •

Bishop, Nueces County. Olney, Young County. Mart, McLennan County. Valley View, Cooke County. Breckenridge, Stephens County. Shenandoah, Montgomery County. Perryton, Ochiltree County. Diana, Upshur County. Brady, McCulloh County. Vernon, Wilbarger County.

To get further guidance on buying your investment property in Texas, whether a first time buyer or not, you can reach out to Johnnie Morine, our VIP Agent from Texas. Morine is the founder of Morine Group Realtors, a top brokerage firm from Texas. Morine Group Realtors offers all brokerage services including training, mentoring and coaching. Johhnie Morine is the best partner for everything you need to know about the Texas housing market. You can get in touch with him at https:// thepowerisnow.com/johnnie-morine/. Work cited https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/texas-housing-marketwhere-invest/

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EMERICK A. PEACE

#320004 240-882-0198 EmerickPeace@KW.com Your #1 Referral Source for Phenomenal Service in Washington, DC & Maryland

BEST NEIGHBORHOODS

IN MARYLAND Emerick A. Peace Named after the wife of King Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria (Queen Mary), Maryland is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern U.S. the state is also known as the Free State, the Chesapeake Bay State or the Old Line State. Its capital city is Annapolis while its most prominent county is Baltimore, which is independent and the largest city in Maryland. Maryland covers a total area of 32,133 square kilometres and a total population of 6,045,680 as of 2019. Besides Baltimore and Annapolis, the other best places to live in Maryland include; Note: the list is not in any order. 1. FREDERICK. Also known as the City of Clustered Spires, Frederick is the second largest city in Maryland State. Frederick has emerged as the most sought after and among the best places to live in Maryland since it has a lot to offer. To mention a few, Frederick features a great liveable infrastructure, tons of job opportunities, great restaurants, and excellent real estate investment locations, among others. Being home to more than 3500 companies, Frederick features a growing economy and a booming job market. Therefore, it is among the best places to live in Maryland for young professionals, real estate investors, and families. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

2. COLUMBIA. Located in the Howard County, Columbia is one of the ma jor cities of the BaltimoreWashington area. Columbia is highly rated for its good schools, great liveable infrastructure, housing, diversity and nightlife. The neighborhood offers a clean, green and peaceful environment, a great range of amenities and services with a great quality of life. All these excellent aspects have made Columbia an excellent spot for real estate and rental property investment. CNN Money has consistently voted Columbia as one of the best 10 places to live in the entire U.S.

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3. TOWSON. The census-designated place, Towson is a county seat of Baltimore County in Maryland. Towson is an excellent place to live and manages a population of more than 58,700 residents. One interesting aspect about Towson is its almost zero crime rate. Being one of the best places you can be in Maryland, Towson has been a favourite for a many families and investors. Besides that, Towson also features excellent infrastructure facilities, great public services and a range of public amenities. 4. CHEVY CHASE. Straddled on the border of Washington DC and Montgomery County, Chevy Chase is an excellent place to live in Maryland. The city features quality life from its excellent infrastructure, extremely low crime rate and some of the best schools in Maryland. Chevy Chase is an excellent place for both families and real estate and rental property investment.

Bowie is the 5th most populous city and the third largest city by area in Maryland. Besides that, Bowie is the fourth richest city in Maryland. It features abundant public services and amenities that includes excellent schools, healthcare centers, recreational facilities and multiple shopping centers. In 2014, Bowie was selected by among one of the best places to live in the U.S by CNN Money and ranked 28th on the list. For further guidance on the best places to live in Maryland, get in touch with Emerick A. peace, the VIP Agent based in Maryland. Emerick is the operating Partner and owner of Keller Williams Preferred Properties (KWPP), a multi-billion dollar residential, luxury and commercial real estate sales brokerage. You can reach Emerick Peace through https://thepowerisnow.com/ emerick-a-peace/.

5. ROCKVILLE. Rockville is located in a prime position on the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor. This makes it perfect place to live in Maryland especially for young and hightech professionals. Rockville features tons of highly paid job opportunities in the tech niche such as software, I.T, biotechnology, and government sectors. Besides that, Rockville also features excellent public service and public amenities, excellent top schools, upscale shopping centers, restaurants, diversity and beautiful nightlife. Also, the proximity to Washington DC makes Rockville one of the best places in Maryland for families and real estate investors. 6. POOLESVILLE. Poolesville is a town and one of the excellent places to live in Maryland as it has a lot to offer. Poolesville is considered as the richest city in Maryland State. It features a small unemployment rate of 4.9%, a negligible poverty rate or 1.6% and a thriving job market. 7. BOWIE. Located in Price George County in Maryland,

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Work cited https://www.landlordssolutions.com/best-places-to-live-inmaryland/.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

On July 23, 2020, the Trump administration stated that it is revoking an Obama-era Affirmative Furthering fair Housing (AFFH) regulation that was designed to eliminate racial disparities in the suburbs. Fair housing advocates have decried the move as an election year stunt designed to manipulate the fears of white voters.

n a tweet addressed to ‘The Suburban Housewives of America’, President Trump stated, “Biden will destroy your neighborhood and your American Dream. I will preserve it, and make it even better!”

W H AT TH E E ND O F AF F H R E GU L ATI ON M E ANS FO R AM E R I C AN SUBURBS

President Trump has repeatedly categorized the 2015 Obama-era housing regulation as an existential threat to the suburban way of life that will increase crime rate and lower home prices. Ben Carson, the Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary in a statement said that the regulation was “unworkable and ultimately a waste of time for localities to comply with.” The regulation will be replaced by a new rule that reduces the burden on local jurisdictions to prove that they are actively taking steps to address historical patterns of racial segregation in order to qualify for HUD financing. “Washington has no business dictating what is best to meet your local community’s unique needs,” Mr. Carson stated. According to Fair housing advocates, the new regulations water down the previous requirements to the point of meaninglessness. “What’s surprising is they’re going this far and essentially rendering the rule null and void. This is as far as this administration could have possibly gone,” Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law said. “It feels like a real gutting of the rule.” The National Fair Housing Alliance vice president on policy and special projects, Debby Goldberg said that HUD had removed almost any oversight or burden of proof for jurisdictions to show they are

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addressing racial disparities. “They’re not even going to check. It’s completely hands off. It’s completely the honor system,” she said. “And for jurisdictions that really want to figure this out, it’s almost totally useless.” Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House termed the move as “a betrayal of our nation’s founding values of equality and opportunity for all.” Ms. Pelosi said in a statement: “It is a shameful abdication of our government’s responsibility to end discriminatory housing practices and to lift up our nation’s most vulnerable communities. The Administration must reverse this outrageous decision and uphold the law.”

Mr. Trump, using language that housing advocates termed as openly racist, has repeatedly opposed the regulation citing it would force the construction of low-income housing in the suburbs. “Your home will go down in value and crime rates will rapidly rise,” Mr. Trump said the previous week before revoking the regulation. “People have worked all their lives to get into a community, and now they’re going to watch it go to hell. Not going to happen, not while I’m here.” The issue has been a long standing issue for Mr. Carson as fair housing advocates say that the program never truly got off the ground because Mr. Carson suspended its implementation when he took the office. President Trump has used the AFFH regulation as a way of contrasting himself with his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden. Mr. Biden has declared that he would implement the Obamaera housing rule. “Donald Trump is yet again attempting to distract from his catastrophic, failed response to the pandemic by trying to divide our nation. Turning Americans against each other with total lies is unacceptable for a commander-in-chief at any time, but it’s especially heinous to do so in a moment of worsening crisis.” Joe Biden campaign spokesperson, Andrew Bates said. Work cited https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0724/Whatthe-end-of-Obama-housing-rule-means-for-Americansuburbs.

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FHFA DOES THE UNEXPECTED! YOUR REFI JUST GOT MORE EXPENSIVE

tarting from September, consumers will have to pay more to refinance their mortgages. This follows after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced that they are raising fees for lenders on the loans. This turn of events is aimed at shielding the two entities from the additional risk due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The changes will basically apply to all refinances that aren’t already in process. In a letter addressed to lenders, Fannie Mae cited, “market and economic uncertainty resulting in higher risk and costs.” The price adjustments adds 0.5% of the loan amount to the consumer’s cost. That amounts to $1,400 on the average mortgage. The changes were met with strong criticism from the general mortgage industry and seen as a slap in the face of the only sector of the economy that has been thriving amidst the pandemic.

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“This announcement is bad for our nation’s homeowners and the nascent economic recovery,” the CEO of the MBA, Bob Broeksmit, wrote in a statement. “Requiring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to charge a 0.5% fee on refinance mortgages they purchase will raise interest rates on families trying to make ends meet in these challenging times.” Earlier on, mortgage refinances have been inclining for months, as interest rates continue to set low records almost on a weekly basis. Currently, borrowers have a record amount of equity in their homes due to high home values and a conservative mind-set among consumers since the last housing crash, more than a decade ago. Consumers have been able to save on their monthly payments through refinances and also pull out muchneeded cash amid these harsh economic times. Banks also have made huge profits from

all that activity. Of late, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been making huge profits also, with a combined Q2 gain of $4.3 billion, according to earnings statements. Their recent move appears to fly in the face of other actions designed to help support the housing and mortgage markets. “At a time when the Federal Reserve is purchasing $40 billion in agency MBS per month to help reduce financing costs for mortgage borrowers to support the broader economy, this action raises

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those costs and undermines the Federal Reserve’s policy,” said Broeksmit of the MBA. The added costs could also have political repercussions. “This is negative for the economic recovery, negative for the housing market,” a housing policy analyst at Cowen Washington Research Group, Jaret Seiberg wrote. “It also exposes President Trump to charges that he is trying to tax housing at the height of the economic crisis. That is a political liability for the president. We expect Democrats will exploit this.” The FHFA which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is in the process of moving them out of their 11-year tenure under government conservatorship. This would require them to raise a considerable amounts of funds before the government lets them off.

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This brings us to the bigger concern of whether the move was executed because FHFA is increasingly worried that the two entities could face huge losses when the mortgage bailout program ends and borrowers will have to start making their payments again. However, it is important to note that the additional costs will only apply on mortgage refinances and not on loans used to purchase homes. “Rates are higher for refinances,” Matthew Graham, COO of Mortgage News Daily noted. “FHFA sees that and concludes lenders have money to give on REFIs. It’s a tax based on jealousy, greed, and probably more than a little bit of disdain.” Work cited. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/13/mortgage-refinancingmore-expensive-as-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-raise-fees. html.

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NOW YOU CAN SEE! COVID-19 REVEALS THE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS THE SHATTERING IMPACT OF COVID-19 IS VIVID WITH MILLIONS OF CONFIRMED CASES AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DEAD IN THE U.S. AMONG THE AFFECTED, THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAVE BORNE THE STRAIN OF THE PANDEMIC. RACIAL HEALTH DISPARITIES ALREADY EXISTED IN THE U.S, BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS REVEALED IT IN ITS NATURAL COLORS SO EVERYONE CAN SEE.

n April 7, 2020, the U.S leading expert on infectious diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci highlighted the impacts of the pandemic on communities of color, particularly AfricanAmericans in a press conference. “When all this is over — and as we’ve said, it will end — we will get over coronavirus, but there will still be health disparities, which we really do need to address in the African American community,” Dr. fauci stated. The disparities Dr. Fauci mentioned are linked to early numbers that indicated that AfricanAmericans are disproportionately dying from Covid-19. According to new federal data in July, African-Americans and Latinos in the U.S have been three times more likely to contract Covid-19 compared to whites, and twice as likely to die from it. Some counties that have ma jority AfricanAmerican residents have experienced almost

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six times the death rate compared to counties that are predominantly white. In other states such as Illinois, Latinos have nearly seven times the rate of Covid-19 cases compared to the whites, while African-Americans have the highest death rate. In California, Pacific Islanders experience a death rate that is 2.6 times higher than the rest of the state, while in South Dakota, the rate of Covid-19 cases among Asian-Americans is six times what would be the prediction based on their share of the population.

PATTERNS OF INEQUITY

The existing health disparities amid the Covid-19 pandemic reflect two ma jor patterns on inequity. The first one is that the minority communities have a high likelihood of contracting the coronavirus by living in urban areas and disproportionately working in higher-risk environments. THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2020

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a higher number of AfricanAmerican workers are unable to work from home compared to white workers. A study by the Mission District community in California revealed that Latinos accounted for more than 95% of Covid-19 cases and 90% of affected persons were unable to work from home. Secondly, the minority communities also feature higher rates of chronic medical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, among others. These chronic conditions are the ma jor risk factors for severe illness from Covid-19. Persons from underserved communities are also more likely to have undiagnosed chronic diseases, which has led to the acute impact of Covid-19. These inequalities are attached to long-standing barriers to accessing essential resources such as food, transportation, and housing, long history of unequal treatment, discriminatory policies and systemic racism. “There are definitely multiple reasons why we’re seeing black communities be disproportionately impacted by Covid-19,” New York-based physician Dr. Uche Blackstock tells CNBC Make It. She explains that when you look at the “social determinants of health,” such as where a person lives, works and the quality of health care they have access to, you will see that structural racism has left African Americans “vulnerable and marginalized.”

significant health inequities,” she adds, while emphasizing the increased levels of diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, asthma and obesity in the black community. “And what we’re finding out is that these are the underlying medical conditions that result in very serious complications from Covid-19.” The disparities in the healthcare system are there and have always been there. Even after the current health crisis, it is likely to continue its trend, unless something is done, and done fast. Everyone needs to step up and fight the healthcare disparities, the government, law makers, and American citizens. The disparities are larger and more deadly than the Covid-19 if they continue. Works cited https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/ hblog20200716.620294/full/. https://www.cnbc. com/2020/05/14/howcovid-19-exacerbatedamericas-racial-healthdisparities.html

“Even before this [pandemic], we had WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

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HOW BLACK COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A DIVERSE WHOLE One fine evening, you’re at a restaurant with a group of co-workers or friends having coffee. You break it to them about your plan to buy a house in Western Heights and how excited you are about it. One of the responds, “Are you sure want to move there? I hear that there is a lot of crime in that area, you know, robberies, drugs, and even murder. It’s a Black neighborhood, you know, that’s probably why. Did you consider Eastern Heights? You may fit in there better! It’s a nice middle-class, white suburban neighborhood. Definitely no crime there, if you know what I mean.” You get dumbfounded and you can’t believe someone actually said that.

ou think more about it on your war home and realize that your colleague or friend is just but one person, imagine of how many other people out there think like our friend. The black community has been wrongfully and critically stereotyped into one bunch. You suddenly feel angry and wonder what if redlining still exists because real estate companies are full of individuals who think like your colleague? The Black community has always been subject to racism and discrimination for the longest time. How can the Black Community come together to address such issues and create a diverse whole. As more and more people get enlightened, the Black Community is gradually coming together to create a diverse whole. One perfect example is the formation of The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) whose goal is to increase the number of blacks on the top 500 corporate boards and their CEO offices, and to keep the pipeline behind them full of the next generation of leaders. ELC is made up of individuals who are all either CEOs or within one or two reports of their CEOs, so they are within reach of these CEOs and director roles. “The ELC is guided by a newly formed purpose statement: to open channels of opportunity for the development of black executives to positively impact business and our

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communities,” says Libi Rice, ELC vice president and chief communications officer. “We will continue to advance the professional needs of our members so they in turn will be in the best position to help build the next generation of black corporate leaders—but also the increasing number of future black entrepreneurs and our communities overall.” “Since 2012, the number of [leading 500 companies] with greater than 40% diversity [on their boards] has doubled…. At the current rate of progress, we predict that we would see the number of women and minorities increase to 40% [across all the leading 500 companies] by 2024.” This is the promising declaration of Missing Pieces: The 2018 Board Diversity Census of Women and Minorities on Fortune 500 Boards (January 2019), prepared by Deloitte and the Alliance for Board Diversity (ABD), a collaboration between The ELC and three other organizations: Catalyst, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and Leadership Education for Asian Pacific (LEAP). There is no better time to come together as Black community and create a diverse whole than now. Through movements and organizations or groups like ELC, there can be light and bright future for the Black Community. We need more of such. The only one with the ability to change the narrative is the Black Community coming together. The strength in unity for the Black Community was clearly brought out when people come together after the brutal killing of George Floyd. Their strength and power was felt throughout the nation as they took to the streets to protest for justice to be served for the murder of George Floyd and many other innocent members of the Black Community. Shortly after, the rest of the world joined in support of the Black Community. This is an indication that it only requires our togetherness to liberate ourselves and change the narrative.

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For the Black Community to come together, they need their leaders and other influential members of the community and all other communities to be at the frontline. The leaders are the best chance to bring the community together and set it in a way that no one is underserved. The leaders should take the responsibility of uniting the Black Community and representing them appropriately. Finally, in part three of Kavits’s series, Beyond the divides of Black and White— Coming Together in the Heart of our Wholeness, it states; “We must forge our power, and join our voices, as equals – even as whites listen deeply to blacks now, absorb their perspectives and ally with their directives – if we are to come together to forge a new world, of freedom, justice and wellbeing for all, where our strength is both our unity and diversity. As long as we are creating an “other” outside us, that “other” will come back to haunt us, will eventually rebel. This is true when we “other” the other out of greed or aversion, or when we take revenge against those who have done that to us – either way, we keep the cycle of greed, fear and reprisal spinning. The only way we can break this cycle is by coming back to our heart. We must fall between the opposites of “black and white thinking”, of opposition itself, and fall into the heart of our true Wholeness. It is from there we can make true reparations, repair the systems that have divided and harmed, distorted and fractured, us all.” Works cited https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/ cultural-competence/reduce-prejudice-racism/main. https://www.resilience.org/stories/2020-07-29/ beyond-the-divides-of-black-and-white-thinkingcoming-together-in-the-heart-of-our-wholenesspart-3/. https://www.forbes.com/custom/2019/10/10/ diversity-at-the-top-leading-with-purpose/.

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HOME OWNERSHIP by Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA

Home ownership brings stability to individuals and families who have never had a dwelling place that they could call their own. There is something special about owning real estate that is unlike anything else on earth you can own. Real Estate you own is not like cars that decay over time and you have to replace them. Real Estate you own is not like clothes that go out of style and you have to buy new ones. Real Estate you own is not like expensive vacations or experiences that only last a moment in time. Real Estate you own is not like an apartment where the landlord may increase the rent until it’s no longer affordable. Real Estate you own is not like staying at your parents house where you know can’t stay forever. Home ownership is the beginning of wealth that increases over time and becomes your estate & legacy Home ownership is the pride of a mother nurturer and the kitchen her domain Home ownership is the pride of a father provider and protector of his territory and family. Home ownership is the foundation of permanence and the place where life happens, birthdays celebrated, deaths mourned. Home ownership is the place you build memories that can never be taken from you. Memories etched in walls and concrete, experienced in rooms and floors, Memories living in trees and shrubs planted by your hand. Howe ownership is the manifestation of you - your style, your colors, your smell, your stuff, your junk, your memories, your yard and your spaces, your life. It’s the height markers on your first child’s bedroom wall. It’s the hearts drawn in the concrete slabs when you pour your patio floor It’s the birthday parties, and anniversaries in the living room and kitchen. It’s the back yard barbecue with friends, neighbors and family contentions it’s the high school and college graduation, and wedding receptions Its’ the family nights and block parties and the fellowship of family connections Home ownership It’s more than real estate. Land, brick and mortar, wood frame construction and chicken wire. It’s more than money saved, gifts recieved and grants obtained It’s more than the debt you incur to buy it. It’s more than the payments you make to own it. It’s more than the appreciation that comes with keeping it over time. It’s memories, it’s family, and it’s life that can happen in one place Until you say it’s time to move.