California
Household Movers Act California
To protect consumers, the Household Movers Act requires that those who transport household goods over California’s public roads for compensation be licensed by the Bureau of Household Goods and Services (Bureau).
Doing business with an unlicensed mover can lead to substantial financial consumer harm. This can range from delayed delivery, missing or damaged items, and in the most serious cases, belongings that are held until the consumer agrees to pay more money. In some instances, consumers pay double or triple the initial agreed upon price only to never again see their belongings. Many of these movers deliver the household goods after the Bureau intervenes, however, the consumer must pursue civil remedies to recover any extra money paid to the mover.
It’s also important to be aware that any person or business that provides moving services for compensation , even if they present themselves as operating a different type of business, must be licensed. This includes restoration companies and storage delivery companies.
For more information about who must be licensed, please see the Bureau’s publication “Moving Household Goods Who Is Required to Hold A Permit?” risk. To ensure that any mover is properly licensed, use the Bureau’s license lookup. If you have any questions about the permitting requirements related to movers or how to protect yourself from unscrupulous household movers, visit the Bureau of Household Goods and Services website or call (916) 999-2041.
Gary and April Greer (951) 522-0518
Accessory Dwelling Units CA
The sweeping changes that California is hoping to bring to housing with the new Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) legislation is big news and could alter the way we live in our homes and the aesthetics of our communities in a massive way.
Turning single family homes on tract lots into Triplexes? No more garage parking? Where will all the stuff go? I guess renting out the garage would surely cover storage and more.
Good or bad? I’m sure as with everything in California…it will depend on who you ask.
Turning Your Property into a Triplex
Making Sense of New ADU Legislation
So Cal Rent Hikes 2019 Forecast
Helping Seniors Transfer Property Taxes
Portability Initiative is Designed to Help 55 and Over to Sell Their Homes and Buy Another
The California Association of Realtors (CAR) is attempting to qualify a ballot initiative, The Property Tax Fairness Initiative, that will restructure the way property taxes are calculated for buyers over the age of 55 (also the disabled and/or natural disaster victims).
CAR says, “A large part of the reason why (55 and overs are not moving) is that, even if they want to downsize or move closer to family, the prospect of a property tax increase of 100, 200, or even 300 percent, effectively locks our parents and our grandparents in their homes.” Thus, CAR maintains, “The Property Tax Initiative will help these homeowners to sell their current homes and move without being subjected to what is effectively a massive moving penalty”.
How will it help? Currently there are only limited conditions under which someone over 55 may transfer his or her old tax base to a newly purchased home. The Initiative would expand this.
“C.A.R.’s Property Tax Fairness Initiative would allow homeowners 55 years of age or older to transfer their Prop. 13 tax-base to a home of any price, located anywhere in the state, any number of times.” –taken from realtytimes.com 2-13-18
Housing Affordability California
3rd Quarter Housing Affordability
• 28% of California households could afford to purchase the $555,680
median-priced home in the third quarter of 2017, down from 29% in
second-quarter 2017 and down from 31% in the third-quarter 2016.
• A minimum annual income of $112,100 was needed to make the
monthly payments of $2,800, including principal interest, and taxes on a
30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 4.16% interest rate.
• 38% of Riverside County households could afford to purchase the
$387,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$78,070 was needed to make the monthly payments of $1,950.
• 51% of San Bernardino County households could afford to purchase the
$270,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$54,470 was needed to make the monthly payments of $1,360.
• 26% of San Diego County households could afford to purchase the
$607,000 median-priced home in the third quarter. An annual income of
$122,460 was needed to make the monthly payments of $3,060.
• During the third quarter of 2017, the most affordable counties in
California were Tehama (56%), Kern (53%), and Kings, (52%).
• During the third quarter of 2017, the least affordable counties in
California were San Francisco (13%), San Mateo (15%), Santa Clara and
Santa Cruz, (both at 17%), and Marin (18%).
from CAR.ORG December 2017