Category — Helpful Tips

API SCORES were released for all CA schools this week.  Via Silicon Valley Real Estate Blog.  Check the links.

Homebuyers, moms and dads, read these test scores and often buy homes in the school districts with the highest API scores.  As Realtors know, API scores affect neighborhood home price.

API scores for Campbell  Union School District (K-8) reached the 800 statewide benchmark.  API scores for the Campbell Union High School District declined 2 points to 747– no where near the 800 benchmark.  The CUHSD is working on it… again.

It is interesting to note too that CA is second nationally in school expenditures per student, while at the same time CA is 51st, next to last in student academic performance.   But CA is number one in cost of teacher retirement benefits.  Hmmm.  Maybe… teachers have something to do with educational performance.  Oh, but I forgot, the California Teachers union is the most powerful union in the state.

WELLCOMEMAT.COM real estate videos app is up and running.  It is a good idea .  It is also possible to create a channel on wellcomemat.   I’ll check back in a couple of months when there may be more videos posted and a more user friendly sign up.

TOTAL COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE HOLDINGS OUTSTANDING declined in the last quarter.   This is good.  Borrowers paid off more than new loans originated.

Cash is King.  Savings rates are soaring.

TARP INVESTIGATOR SAYS U.S. banks and financial system are still at risk.  Via Instapundit.

Paul Volcker points out that now banks “to big to fail” have an expectation that the government will bail them out in the event of a crisis.

My opinion is its obvious banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies along with the financial system is still at risk.  Nothing has been done to correct the problems that brought about the financial crisis a year ago.

There has been no new regulation, no restructuring of the mortgage markets, no regulation of financial instruments systemically the cause of the crisis such as credit default swaps, nor has Congress done anything to correct the problems at Freddie & Fanny to make them viable business entities, again.  And, finally, millions of homeowners are being foreclosed THIS YEAR (135,000 in CA) while unemployment skyrockets upward, now at 12.2% in CA.

Don’t be surprised if there is a second world wide financial crisis, and/or stagnant growth, high unemployment, and no wealth creation for years and years to come.  This is exactly the prognosis by UC economists: the CA economy will not recover until 2021.

Congress is tempting fate.  A second financial crisis could occur.

SCRAPPLEFACE reports ACORN’s CEO is reviewing the decisions of its  Brothel Consulting division.

I’m agin’ it.  Brothels are an important commercial real estate use generating billions of dollar in rents.  After all, how could that huge metropolis located in one of the hottest and worst deserts in the world, Las Vegas, have grown to its present millions of inhabitants without brothels?  Hmm?  Brothel entrepreneurs should be advised by qualified brothel consultants at taxpayer expense.