Jane Pacheco

The drive from Fremont to Sacramento required for us to take several freeways, the main ones being I-880, I-680 and I-80. In certain sections of the freeways are carpool lanes, intended to ease traffic especially during peak hours.

Interestingly, carpool rules differ from one freeway to another, that’s why I had to constantly look for the carpool signs to make sure I followed the rules and avoid being penalized a huge $381.

Entering I-880’s carpool lane was almost automatic for me and my husband; I knew carpool meant a minimum of 2 persons per vehicle. But when we approached I-680’s Benicia Bridge (also known as George Miller Jr. Bridge), the rules of the game changed. We were no longer privileged to get into the carpool lane, since the definition changed to 3 persons per car.

Actually, even nearby San Francisco enforces the 3-person carpool rule. Check out the Bay Bridge, I-101 and even the Golden Gate Bridge.

So, before you venture into unfamiliar territory, be on the lookout for the carpool signs. You’ll be surprised; the rules differ even within a five-mile span.

The library provides a comforting respite amid the stress and pressures of work or just the boredom of one’s daily routine. And so it was with much anticipation that drove a few blocks down to the local Centerville Library, not so much as to seek quiet – since most of the library patrons were kids whose energetic voices filled the small library with a delightful buzz.

But instead, my purpose in going to the library was to sit, relax and watch a DVD movie which I have borrowed from this same library last week. The movie, “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros,” a Filipino Indie film nominated for Best Foreign Film during the 2007 Annual Academy Awards), was now going to be due in two days, and what better way to avoid late fees than to watch it and return it at the same time, while you’re at it!

Of course you have to bring your earphones, and keep to yourself while watching the movie on your laptop. It was a thought provoking film, and I felt proud watching it. And I did feel a sense of achievement after finishing the 100-minute movie, without interruption!

The Centerville Library is located at 3801 Nicolet Avenue in Fremont, right in the back of Lucky’s supermart. It is open only twice a week, Tuesdays (1pm – 8pm) and Thursdays (11am – 6pm).

Everyone seems to want to take advantage of a “free rent.” That’s actually what happens when you decide you will stop paying your mortgage (for hardship or other reasons), and will wait for the bank to foreclose your home. Realistically, it could take a good six months or more before a foreclosure is completed.

And still you want to find ways to prolong your stay. Somebody tells you a short sale will delay a trustee sale, and so you contract a real estate agent to list your home, and you advise your agent about your “hidden agenda.”

As an agent, I can tell you that when you ask me to list your property, I will do so with the purpose of finding a buyer. When we do find a buyer for the property’s fair market price (or somewhere there), I will work to get the offer submitted, together with the rest of the short sale package. If this is not how you wish to proceed, I need to know now, as I cannot allow myself to be used as a delaying tactic.

You want to take advantage of the cash for keys program on foreclosed properties. Is that really motivation enough to go through a foreclosure, instead of a short sale? I still want to be able to convince you that short sale is your best option for now.

Oh, and your friend told you that another course of action is to file for bankruptcy, get your assets frozen, and put a hold on a trustee sale. Ay, what’s the point! If you can’t afford to pay mortgage, and you can’t qualify for a loan modification, the only way is out.

Prolonging your stay in your home, prolonging the foreclosure process – it is merely prolonging the pain. The sooner you accept that you need to let go and move on, the better for you and your family. And it’s much easier and faster to start over, without having to stress about what tactic to do next to stay another month or so.