Family tree get to it and dig in!

Researching Your Family Tree

Researching Your Family Tree

When guests see the photographs you’ve displayed on your wall, they really want to hear about the stories behind the pictures. Researching your family tree can be fun and inexpensive. An older relative may enjoy helping you find more of the stories from their childhood as well.
Let’s look at how to get started, addressing common stumbling blocks, mapping the migration of relatives, and how to search all that online information to get what you need quickly and for free.

How to Begin

In the case of genealogy, you can’t really begin at the beginning since you won’t know where the branches go. So start at the end with you. Then start drawing backwards what you know, and talk with relatives about who they remember as well as birth dates, death dates, additional children, etc.
Sometimes, families won’t talk about some things. There may have been the sister who ran off and was never talked about again. It’s important to assure the older relatives that you’re not going to do anything to embarrass them; you are only interested in recording the facts.
About.com has a step-by-step list for getting started. They recommend staying on one surname and following it as far as you can before changing gears. It depends upon how you like to do research, and remember that this should be fun.

Common Names

Let’s face it…there are a lot of John Smith’s and Bob Brown’s out there, not to mention Jane Cooper’s. How can you figure out which is your relative? Ancestry.com has a reference guide for sifting through the data to find your relative. The important thing to remember is that they were an individual, and there are clues in records like the Census and church records that will help you identify which Elizabeth Bordon was your great-great aunt who went by the nickname Bitsy rather then one who went by Lizzy.

Mapping Your Ancestors

It’s fascinating to watch the progression of people moving West if they came to this country through Ellis Island. Few people know that there was an “Ellis Island” in San Francisco called Angel Island.
In Ancestry.com‘s resource section, they have a tutorial on how you can more easily track the migration of relatives.

Search Like a Pro

About.com also has a page full of resources on searching, databases to use, searching by region, and searching by record type. If your great-father-in-law rode with Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, you will learn how to search the military records to verify his dates of service.
Want to find out who your Great-great-uncle was married to before he, gasp, tarnished the family name by getting a divorce?
They also have how to search old newspapers for stories on your ancestors as well as pointers to old newspaper databases.

Free Searching Online Made Easy

There are some databases that will cost you. So if you have time, you should look into all the free resources first. A great resource is at Squidoo on free searching online made easy. Not all of their resources are free, but they do have some good information on how to get started, and where and how to look.
Set aside some time to get started, and leave yourself notes as you go, so when you get a spare few minutes, you can do some quick research starting right where you left off.

1
inShare

This weeks commentary

This Week’s Market Commentary

 

This week brings us the release of six economic reports for the markets to digest. Unlike last week, the most important events are scheduled for the first part of the week while the latter part is much lighter. However, due to stock earnings along with the week’s economic news, we could see mortgage rates move several days with a decent possibility of seeing an intra-day revision or two.

The week kicks off with the release of an extremely important piece of economic data early Monday morning. September’s Retail Sales report that measures consumer spending will be posted at 8:30 AM ET Monday. This data is very important to the markets because consumer spending makes up over two-thirds of the U.S. economy. Therefore, any related data is considered to be highly important. If we see weaker than expected readings in this report, the bond market should respond favorably and mortgage rates should drop Monday. However, stronger than expected sales would fuel optimism about the economy and would likely lead to a stock rally that hurts bonds prices and pushes mortgage rates higher. Current forecasts are calling for a 0.7% increase in sales. Good news for the bond market and mortgage pricing would be a much smaller increase.

Tuesday has two reports scheduled that may influence mortgage rates. The first is September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 8:30 AM ET. It measures inflationary pressures at the very important consumer level of the economy and is one of the most important reports that the bond market gets each month. Analysts are expecting to see a rise of 0.5% in the overall index and an increase of 0.2% in the core data reading. A larger than expected increase in the core reading could raise inflation concerns, pushing bond prices lower and mortgage rates higher. Inflation is the number one nemesis of the bond market because it erodes the value of a bond’s future fixed interest payments. When inflation is a threat, even down the road, bonds sell for discounted prices that push their yields higher. And since mortgage rates tend to follow bond yields, this leads to higher rates for mortgage borrowers.

The second report of the day will be September’s Industrial Production data at 9:15 AM ET, giving us an indication of manufacturing strength by tracking output at U.S. factories, mines and utilities. It is expected to show a 0.2% increase in output from August’s level, meaning that manufacturing activity rose slightly. A larger than expected increase in production would be negative for bonds and mortgage rates as it would indicate economic strength. A decline in output would be favorable for the bond market and mortgage rates, but the CPI is much more influential to the markets than this report is and will be the focus of trading Tuesday morning.

September’s Housing Starts is Wednesday’s only release, coming at 8:30 AM ET. This report will probably not have much of an impact on the bond market or mortgage rates. It gives us a measurement of housing sector strength and mortgage credit demand by tracking construction starts of new homes, but is usually considered to be of low importance to the financial and mortgage markets. It is expected to show an increase in new home starts between August and September. I believe we need to see a significant surprise in this data for it to have an impact on mortgage rates Wednesday.

Thursday also has only a single monthly report scheduled for release with September’s Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) at 10:00 AM ET. This index attempts to measure future economic activity, particularly during the next three to six months. Current forecasts are calling for an increase of 0.2% from August’s reading. This would indicate that economic activity is likely to increase slightly over the next couple of months. That would be relatively bad news for the bond market and mortgage rates, but this report is considered to be only moderately important. Therefore, a small increase would not be of much concern to the bond and mortgage markets. Ideally, we would like to see a decline in the index.

The National Association of Realtors will release September’s Existing Home Sales data late Friday morning. This report gives us an indication of housing sector strength and mortgage credit demand by tracking home resales. I don’t see it having much of an influence on the bond market or mortgage rates, but a reading that varies greatly from analysts’ forecasts could lead to a slight change in mortgage pricing. It is expected to show a decline in sales from August to September, meaning the housing sector remained soft. That would be favorable news for the bond market since a weak housing sector makes a broader economic recovery less likely.

Overall, it appears that Monday or Tuesday are the likely candidates for the most important day of the week. In addition to the economic data, there are many companies posting earning reports during the week, including some big names such as Citigroup, IBM and Intel. If the corporate earnings releases are generally weaker than forecasts, stocks may suffer, making bonds more appealing to investors. The end result would likely be an improvement in rates. The flip side though is stronger than expected earnings that drive stocks higher, pushing bond prices lower and mortgage rates upward. Accordingly, please maintain contact with your mortgage professional if still floating an interest rate.

Post about why you should be a rental

Rental Property As Retirement Income

 

Rental Property As Retirement Income

Is now a good time to invest in property for passive income when you retire? And is it even a good idea for you?

Look before you leap

The Chicago Tribune had an interesting analysis back in May that counseled that loan requirements have changed dramatically over the last 5 years, and that the investor must have realistic expectations with the focus on long-term rather then flipping. Purchasing an investment property as a rental can provide you with a steady stream of income. There are still tax benefits with real estate investments, and you should talk to a professional to find out how it would impact your situation.
Real estate investments also mean that you will be a landlord, and either you need to handle finding tenants and repairs, or you need to hire a management company which will reduce your profits. But you get to sleep through the night if a pipe bursts or the tenant gets locked out.

How much income?

Rents are set by where you live. Usually, rents will go up, but the costs involved with owning the rental property will stay fairly flat especially if you choose a fixed rate mortgage. Some investors clear $200-1000/month for one rental home.
Some landlords will increase rents every year or two, while others increase only when changing tenants. If your mortgage stays the same, your income will increase over the years.
There will always be people looking for rentals. If you have a clean home in a safe neighborhood, people will pay to rent it providing you with a passive income stream.

What should I be aware of?

Renters can leave with two weeks notice, and in some cycles, it’s difficult to replace them. Always keep six months of expenses on hand per property so you’re not caught needing to sell the investment in a down market.
Always hire an inspector to rule out any large repairs such as foundation, roof or structure of the home.
Research monthly costs.
Talk to your Realtor® about comparable home sale prices in that area to have a good understanding of your investment.
Investopedia has a great article on Tips for the Prospective Landlord. One of the best tips is to ensure your leases are legal as this could have a long term impact if you end up with a bad tenant. Also, the tip to join the Landlord’s Association in your area is helpful as you will learn a lot from seasoned investors.

What should I look for?

Look for a larger property in case you want to renovate or add on.
Single-family homes in a good school district rent more easily.
Look for properties that can generate positive cash flow of at least 6% above costs.
If you’re new to investing, consider purchasing properties close to where you live to keep tabs on the investment even if you use a property management company. When you’re comfortable, consider looking into purchasing properties where you wish to retire.

So, to sum up…

Talk to a tax advisor to understand any tax implications rental property will have. Find a reputable Realtor® and call your mortgage broker to find the best options for you.
To read more about things to look for and how to plan, read The income property: Your late-in-life retirement plan on Yahoo. The more knowledge you have, the easier the process will be.
Have you purchased an income generating property or are you looking into one?

Homebuyer class

I did a homebuyer class with Gene Blinick today at De Anza. Do you enjoy like me the glory of questions and people who are inquisitve? I love the discovery and wonder I see in a students eyes who is alert and enjoying this moment. The test of a tough questions to debate with another it is overall a real gift.
Today's topic is the importance of yopur credit report and score. Mortgage loans are priced on loan amount, equity, credit score and other factors. I ran out a 30-year fixed at a $417,000 loan and dig these results.
$417,000 30-year fixed rate loan 0 points plus closing costs
10% down Townhome purchase loan
760 credit score 3.25% (apr 3.389%)
740 credit score 3.375% (apr 3.409%)
700 credit score 3.50% (apr 3.578%)
660 credit score 3.625% (apr 3.79%)

Credit scores are critcal in pricing loans. Take your score seriously. Pull your credit for free once a year through www.annualcreditreport.com and you pay for your score. Use your credit, pay it full, do not be late and establish 3-4 trade lines with 2 plus years history.

More on this later
Alan

Daniel Pink great pieces

September 27th, 2012

How are free agents doing these days?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I wrote a book about the rise of people working for themselves.
A lot has happened since then — a historic recession, the emergence of widespread broadband, the explosive growth of smart phones, the further erosion of job security, lower barriers to entry for small entrepreneurs, and so on — that has reinforced the underlying trends.
But for a clear and illuminating look at the current state of one group of independent workers, check out Ed Gandia’s 2012 Freelance Industry Report. Or if you’re too swamped to read the whole thing, look at this cool graphic summary of its main points:

Share on Facebook

10 Comments »

September 12th, 2012

Friday on Office Hours: Why do some kids succeed and others fail?

That’s the question at the center of a fascinating new book by New York Times Magazine and This American Life contributor Paul Tough. It’s called How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character (Buy it at Amazon, BN.com, or IndieBound). And Tough will be talking about it, and taking your questions, on the Friday edition of Office Hours, our monthly radio-ish program that we call “Car Talk . . . for the human engine.”
The book takes on what Tough calls the “cognitive hypothesis,” the idea that success hinges on mental processing speed and traditional brainpower. Instead, citing lots of interesting research, Tough shows that “non-cognitive skills” – perseverance, optimism, self-control, and so on – are actually what matter most.
To listen to an interview with Tough – and to ask him any question at all about kids, education, or your own career – tune in this Friday September 14 at 1pm, EDT.
Just dial (703) 344-2171 x203373 at the appointed hour to listen live and participate in a lively back-to-school conversation about preparing our kids and ourselves for the future.
Share on Facebook

8 Comments »

are you ready for some weather?

Preparing Your Yard for Winter

 

Preparing Your Yard for Winter

Welcome to part 3 of our 4 part series on preparing your home for winter. Here in Northern California, we’re fortunate in that we don’t get snow. But we do need to prepare for frost and heavy rains. Some meteorologists are predicting that we’ll be getting an El Nino year. So the good news is it will be a warmer winter (unless you enjoy snow sports), but the bad news is that we will get more rain which could also be considered good news since we would be filling up our reservoirs and aquifers.
So here’s what you can do to get your yard ready for frost and heavy rains:

Remove Debris

First things first, you need to remove the debris before winter arrives including leaves, rocks, sticks, trash, and dead flowers. This will keep your yard and flowerbeds looking nice throughout the fall and winter months, as well as reducing the amount of yard work you will need to do in the spring.

Bushes

Roses, azaleas, and hibiscus will need to be protected against the cold weather. You can get creative with cardboard or garbage bags if you know there is a frost warning. Make certain you hold the cover down in place with stakes, bricks or heavy rocks.
Add mulch around the roots, but make sure it doesn’t touch the base of the plant. Give the plants a good watering before you turn off your sprinklers.

Trees

While the weather is still pleasant, put mulch around the base of the trees to help the tree retain water in the roots, and keep the soil at a steady temperature. This also cuts down on the weeds you will have to pull in the spring.
Mulch can be bark chippings, straw, pine needles, or a mixture of things. You can get free chippings by contacting your local tree removers and asking if they’ll drop off some mulch. But be aware that they may have a minimum amount that they drop off.
In a few weeks, you will want to trim your trees, bushes and roses. But, don’t prune now because the buds that will open in the spring have already formed, and you might clip them off accidentally. So what should you trim? Snip off unhealthy or dead sections, and trim off dead flowers.
Also, check to see if branches are close to your house. If they are, trim them back as you don’t want them banging against the house during strong winds.

Garden

If you have strawberry plants, they should be covered with layers of straw to keep them protected from getting frostbitten. Plant those bulbs now before the ground gets too hard to dig. You will be well rewarded in the Spring.
You can pull out your summer vegetable garden, or you can leave it to overwinter and see what pops up in the spring.
Consider planting a few cold weather flowers to brighten up your garden.

Sprinklers

If you know you’re not going to turn on your sprinklers at all during the winter, then drain them of any water. You would turn off the water supply going to the sprinklers, and then open the drains including the backflow to get all of the water out. Leave the drains open for several hours to ensure it’s completely drained. You can remove the sprinkler heads to allow the water to drain more easily, and you can hook up an air compressor to blow air through the system. Make certain that you’ve set the controller to Off or Rain.
If you’d like more detailed information, check out Irrigation Tutorials’s winterizing directions. There are detailed instructions for both temperate and cold weather.

Hoses

Make sure your hoses are drained completely, roll them up, and store them away in a shed or garage. Keeping them out of the elements will also prolong the life of the hose.
When do you expect the frost to hit in your area?
If you missed the other two blogs in our series, you can find them here:
Part 1: Fall Maintenance, Top to Bottom
Part 2: Storing Your Outdoor Items for Winter

Two articles I enjoyed

The Millionaire Watch Has Begun

by admin on October 24, 2011

Real estate in Silicon Valley tends to follow the NASDAQ, but soon there is likely to be a bit of a burst as the employees of IPO companies come off their lock-out periods and begin to be able to sell their stock. Check out this article in today’s Wall Street Journal.
http://on.wsj.com/rbpMgj

{ 0 comments }

Silicon Valley Top of Most Expensive Zip Codes

by admin on October 17, 2011

Forbes Magazine has just published the top 500 most expensive zip codes in America. While not a big surprise, it is pretty impressive that Silicon Valley had 12 out of the top 51! Way, way more than any other area of the same size. The entire state of New York does have a similar amount of top ZIP codes, but we have about 1,500 square miles that we call Silicon Valley, and New York State has some 54,000 square miles! 36 times larger. How come?? Our situation is so different due to the fact that our economy continues to produce new jobs and new wealth, where most of the country does not.. Not to mention the really good weather, great little towns, top universities, access to capital, etc.
Here is where we all came out:

Rank	ZIP, City	Median Price	Price Change
2	94027, Atherton, CA	4,295,000.00	7%
4	94010, Hillsborough, CA	3,499,000.00	19%
18	94022, Los Altos Hills, CA	2,797,000.00	-8.30%
23	95030, Monte Sereno, CA	2,522,500.00	53.10%
24	94022, Los Altos, CA	2,522,000.00	-17.30%
31	94062, Woodside, CA	2,300,000.00	3.20%
36	94301, Palo Alto, CA	2,199,950.00	27.10%
39	94028, Portola Valley, CA	2,176,500.00	-13.30%
40	95030, Los Gatos, CA	2,169,950.00	-5.40%
47	95070, Saratoga, CA	1,925,000.00	16.50%
51	94024, Los Altos, CA	1,895,000.00	-36.30%