About Santa Clarita's Santa Clarita Valley

New California Law To Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors

On May 7, 2010, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 183 (Lowenthal), a bill that will require the placement of carbon monoxide detectors in all California dwelling units. The bill also requires that the presence or absence of these devices must be disclosed when residential real estate is transfered.

What does this mean for you?

You will be required to have installed "carbon monoxide devices" that are designed to detect carbon monoxide and produce a "distinct, audible alarm" when wanting to sell any dwelling unit made for humans (their words). The device may be battery-powered, a plug in, or hard-wired with a battery backup. It may be combined with a smoke dectector, but, if it is, it must emit "an alarm or voice warning in a manner that clearly differentiates between a carbon monoxide alarm warning and a smoke detector warning."

The devices must be one that has been certified by the State Fire Marshall. The bill imposes a requirement on the State Fire Marshall to certify and approve both the devices and their instructions. It will then be illegal to sell detectors that have not met the Fire Marshall's certification requirements.

The devices must be installed, consistent with new construction standards or according to the approved instructions, in all existing single-family dwelling units no later than July 1, 2011. All other dwelling units (such as apartments) must have proper carbon monoxide detectors no later than January 1, 2013.

Like I have all the answers.  If I don't know then I will find out who does and get that to you ASAP.

Closing costs are a necessary part of every real estate transaction - but what are they and who pays for what? 

I have put together a Title Sheet that will show you who pay's what "typically".  Real Estate transactions are all different and a lot of this is up to your agent's skillful negotiation.

Here is where I linked the Actual Sheet I am referencing.

Happy 4TH of July 2010

The 4th of July is our National holiday of independence from Great Britain, as you know.

The lyrics to America the Beautiful were written by Katharine Lee Bates,
as a poem called "Pikes Peak," in 1895, is something you may not know. Prior to that, in 1882, Samuel Ward composed music for a church hymn. Wards music and Bates poem were combined and published for the first time in 1910 and titled "America the Beautiful". It has become America's most beloved and popular patriotic song.

Lets also not forget those in the armed forces, past and present, who have helped us remain free.
Have a wonderful day with your friends and family and be safe!

Fireworks in Santa Clarita around Los Angeles, CA.

Strictly Santa Clarita 4TH of July Fun!

9:00 am
4th of July Parade "Movietown USA "
...begins on San Fernando Road in Old Town Newhall. The route travels down Lyons Avenue to Orchard Village and finishes at 16th Street. The Parade has been a long-standing tradition in the Santa Clarita Valley since it began in 1932. Free.

9:00 pm
Castaic Fireworks extravaganza
For more information, call 661-257-4050.
MAP IT!

9:05PM
The Stevenson Ranch Fireworks Show is back! It will be held at
Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park.
MAP IT

9:15 pm
Fireworks display will be shown over the Westfield Valencia Town Center.
The show will last approximately 30 minutes. There is no other entertainment planned during the fireworks. Free. MAP IT!

Tribute to the Armed Forces
July 4 & 5
Free with valid Military I.D.
California's Great America to offer free admission to Active and Retired military personnel
Sunday and Monday of July 4th Weekend.

HAVE FUN & BE SAFE!

Home Buyer Tax Credit Has NOT been extended. 6/18/2010

Despite what you're hearing, the federal home buyer tax credit has not been extended beyond its June 30, 2010 deadline to September 2010. Congress is trying BUT it hasn't happended yet.

When the tax credit was last modified in November 2009, Congress modified its language to read that, in order to be eligible, a homeowner must be under mutual contract for a home on or before April 30, 2010, and must be closed on said home on or before June 30, 2010.

A surge in April purchase activity created back-office back logs at the nation's biggest banks and an estimated 180,000 home buyers are finding out the hard way that lenders don't always clear conditions as quickly as you'd like. 60 days between contract and close, industry lobbyists reasoned, would be ample time to execute. Turns out, they were wrong.

There's a lot of tax credit money at stake and Congress is trying to do something about it.

How A Tax Credit Extension Bill Becomes The Law
The tax credit date change is not its own bill. The extension proposal is tagged onto a broader bill of tax policy extensions and federal program renewals. This means that the fate of the home buyer credit won't be on the merit of the credit alone.

Under the amendment, they would get an extra three months to close -- useful for those who are experiencing delays in getting their mortgages approved or are somehow being affected by the many other issues that can arise and prevent a closing from occurring on time. The amendment would apply solely to buyers who entered a purchase contract by April 30.

It takes more than a Senate passage to extend the home buyer tax credit. It takes a vote in the House of Representatives plus a signature from the White House, too. So far, we're not there.

It's possible that the bill may not become law in time for June 30, 2010. The extension has passed the Senate but there's still two steps to go (and loads of debate). Stay tuned and I will let you know when it's a done deal!