Rob Baldwin, Santa Clarita REALTOR®

Buyers, what are you thinking right now? I use the term "buyers" loosely. Let me qualify what I term are buyers.

A buyer is a person that has a strong desire and the need to buy something, anything. You can not classify a person a buyer by virtue of putting them in your car and driving them around for months. That's a person using you to site see your town and just might not be that interested in jumping in the pool yet.

OK, now that I have that out of the way, let me ask the question again. Buyers what are you thinking right now? Are you still waiting for the market to bottom? If so let me tell you a little secret. The only way to know you have hit the bottom of the market is when you look back on the past and realize that the graph is now pointing up. Ooops, too late, you missed it.

Now what? Consider this as an option. If you think the Santa Clarita market is still tanking. Then I want you to choose the home you really would like to have, tell me what you think the price should or could be, and I will then present your offer.

That's it, simple. Now what are you waiting for?

If you qualify, I can assist you in fulfilling your need!

Rob Baldwin Santa Clarita REALTOR®

New laws for the CHP to enforce starting July 1, 2008

Drivers 18 and over

• Drivers 18 and over will be allowed to use hands-free device to talk on their wireless telephones while driving.
• The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.
• It is legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece as long as only one ear is uncovered.
• Speaker phone is acceptable to use while driving. The law does not specifically prohibit it's use, but an officer can pull over the vehicle and issue a citation to driver of any age if, in the officer's opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.

Drivers Under 18

• No drivers under the age of 18 may use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free.
• The exception is in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities.
• Statistics show that teen drivers are more likely than older drivers to be involved in crashes because they lack driving experience and tend to take greater risks. Teen drivers are vulnerable to driving distractions such as talking with passengers, eating, drinking or texting on the wireless phones, which increase the chance of getting involved in severe crashes.
• Parents cannot grant permission to allow the use of wireless telephones while driving.
• For drivers under the age of 18, this is considered a SECONDARY violation meaning that a law enforcement officer may cite you for using a hands-free wireless phone if you were pulled over for another violation. However, the prohibition against using a handheld wireless telephone while driving is a PRIMARY violation for which a law enforcement officer can pull you over for.

Fines

• First offense: $20.00
• Second offense: $50.00

I recently received this in an email and I would like to pass it along to all Californians.

It is unusual for REATORS® to talk about Ballot Porpositions with clients, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. The upcoming June 3rd Primary Election Ballot includes a voter-sponsored initiative that will protect homeowners and businessess private property rights. You've worked hard to invest in real estate, and government should not be able to use eminent domain to take it without appropriate cause.

In these challenging economic times, some local governments are abusing eminent domain to take private property and give it to big box retail stores and other sales tax opportunities.

Propositon 98 would impose an outright prohibition on the use of eminent domain to take any private property, including homes, businesses and farms, for private use. In cases where eminent domain is allowed, such as freeways, parks and schools. Prop. 98 says that it can only occur IF just compensation has ben paid.

• In Vista, CA, city officials are attempting to classify 37% of the city as "blighted" making it easier to seize properties within that area. (San Diego Union Tribune, April 13, 2008)
• In Baldwin Park, CA, the city is threatening to use eminent domain to take 400 homes and businesses so developers can build new, higher cost retail and housing. (Los Angeles Business Journal, April 7, 2008)

Proposition 98 is supported by C.A.R.® and a statewide coalition of diverse organizations and individuals. Learn more at www.Yes Prop98.com and vote YES!

This same coalition is OPPOSING Propositon99. Prop. 99 is a TRICK designed to maintain the status quo and confuse voters. Prop. 99 is particularly dangerous because if both propositons pass and Prop. 99 gets more votes it CANCELS OUT Prop 98. A YES VOTE FOR BOTH MEASURES IS A VOTE AGAINST PROP. 98

YES ON 98. NO ON 99.

It is a sad day in Santa Clarita, an old friend is on the verge of disappearing for good. Newhall Hardware is closing its doors after there liquidation sale is over. Why are they closing? It seems that competition from the big guys, the economy, and a new traffic patteren have all contributed to the final days..

If you asked anyone in the SCV where you could get an obscure object, most people would ask "have you checked Newhall Hardware" Man they had every thing.

Opened in 1947 by Don Guglielmino, whom owned and operated it until long time employee Victor Feany bought it in 1998. You could go there and ask just about any one a question on a "how to project". Most of the guys that used to work there were retired from the construction trade of some sort. And they would give you a good idea of what you needed, and how to use it effectively.

When you walked into the store one of the first things you did was go into the back and grab a handful of peanuts. As you walked the ailes folks would drop there shells. After your search, the check out was an experience. They did'nt have the new check out registers, they still had the old ones. You know the kind when you pushed the keys to ring up the sale, it would go "cha-ching" and the drawer would pop open.

With each passing day the winds of change take some things away, but always replace them with something new. We may not like it at first but like most things we learn to adapt and move on.

Good bye Newhall Hardware, thanks for serving the great people of the Santa Clarita Valley for all those years!