Investing in Real Estate Through a Self-Directed IRA

Posted by Doug on April 20, 2012
Financial, Real Estate / No Comments

The past couple years have really been a struggle for those in real estate; prices have been down, many homes are for sale and not many are being bought, and the number of foreclosures are at an all-time high. When you consider all of this it may seem like investing in real estate, in any way, is a bad idea. The New York Times , however, is reporting a new real estate investment trend that is gaining popularity.

Many business professionals, especially those reaching retirement age or those who are self-employed, have IRAs. It is less risky than investing in stocks and gives the holder more control over what it put into the IRA account. A self-directed IRA gives the holder even more control and allows them to use the funds to invest in things like real-estate. While the IRS doesn’t have specific regulations about using IRA funds to invest in real estate there are stiff penalties if you are benefiting from the IRA funds before it is mature. It is a viable option for many people but one that should be considered carefully under the guidance of a trained financial advisor .

Positive Trends for Florida Real Estate

Posted by Doug on April 04, 2012
Real Estate / 4 Comments

The past several years have been tough for most industries but especially real estate. It has been hit harder and longer than most so any signs of improvement are much appreciated. One state in particular that has taken significant losses is Florida; however real estate experts and land developers have seen growth and signs that things may be turning around.

One project that has people excited is a private rail project ” All Aboard Florida “. Set to be complete in 2014, it will have lines running from Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, and Miami; which will also be a great benefit for those visiting the state. While staying in one of the hotels in Orlando they can hop on the train and visit one of the other great cities. The whole press release is available to read here .

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Early Education in a Post Modern World

Posted by Doug on March 01, 2012
Education / 1 Comment

Accessing a quality education is an extremely important achievement for families today as it has been since formal education began. However, and interestingly, the competition faced by students and the demands to stand out and excel continue to increase and become active at younger ages every year. This directly conflicts with postmodern focus on supporting and encouraging our youngsters regardless of their level of success or achievements. Trophies are being given out at previously unheard of rates and many youngsters receive them simply for participating in the sport. In addition, many sports are not even scored, a winner is not celebrated and no one is deemed to be a looser. Graduation ceremonies and celebrations are happening for children who complete kindergarten, teachers are encourage to hear the thoughts and perspectives of students, possibly even learning from them, instead of being authoritative figures who impart unquestionable learning and information.

Meanwhile, there is a strong focus on demonstrating early signs of excellence in many industries and fields. This is particularly true for the arts. And when we have examples like Yo Yo Ma, who demonstrated a gift for music and the cello at an extremely early age, performing for presidents and other famous people by the time he was seven. Of course virtuosos like Ma and others are impossible to replicate no matter how much pressure is applied to a child at any age. And forcing a toddler or young child to try and do so is destined to create disappointment, frustration and possibly even worse feelings like self doubt, insecurity and the like in the child. Is there any light at the end of this complicated and challenging tunnel?

So, how do parents these days navigate through the extremes of childhood experience opportunities and educational needs? Of course we all want to provide our children with the best options possible and ensure that they receive the top quality education, or at least the best we’re able to afford and they’re able to get into. But at what point should a child’s educational options be dependent on their own merit? Early achievements are having a stronger impact on college acceptance potential, and the competition for admissions seems to be beginning at younger ages. Blending this with the tenancy for all children to be treated equally regardless of particular talents and achievements is a tricky balancing act for parents as well as the child. One thing remains the same, parents can and should take an active involvement in their child’s education regardless of age. Playing educational games or finding crossword answers helps to stimulate young minds and instill a sense of wonder and interest in learning. It’s your child and their future, you need to be invested but keep in mind the potential costs if you push your child too far too young.

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The Grammy’s Most Memorable Performances

Posted by Doug on February 29, 2012
Entertainment / 1 Comment

Musicians scheduled to appear on-stage at the 54th annual Grammy awards are expecting unforgettable performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations. Hopeful audiences are expecting inspired utterances of “did that just happen?”

This year has much to live up to.  Especially when we remember the stunning performances seen in the last decades. Before this year’s top choices take the stage, there will be a count-down of the 10 best Grammy performances from 2000-2011 and the networks will be broadcasting it widely across the world.


The 48th Grammy’s started off as no other Grammy’s had before — with an opening band that wasn’t even three-dimensional. The animated act Gorillaz took to the stage to perform the Record of the Year. This nomination-was “Feel Good Inc.,”  and was joined briefly by the real De La Soul and a hologram of Madonna. When the real-life Madonna appeared onstage moments later to perform her 2005 hit “Hung Up,” the Grammy-crowd exploded.

Crashing the stage to ramble about children and do interpretive dances, the laws of decency were challenged. Then, performers kissed and made up in front of millions. Another group got busted for faking funk. The Grammy’s have been known to swing from famous fights to bold boycotts. Comcast will be broadcasting the 10 weirdest, wildest, wackiest and most jaw-dropping moments in Grammy history this year.

Way before Kanye West hit the awards show stage by crashing jump-the- shark, 50 Cent experimented with the form. Who really knows why the “In Da Club” rapper — was so sure he’d won — that he sauntered right up to the microphone podium during the Evanesence ’04 Best new Artist acceptance speech. Composed and focused lead singer Amy Lee shrugged at the interruption while going on to thank supporters “in addition to 50 Cent.”

Former child star turned international icon, Michael Jackson stepped up to accept a Grammy Legend award in ’93. He was just becoming known as an eccentric hermit known far more for his weird-factor than his music. Jackson helped the re-calibrate the event with his “Grammy Legend” acceptance speech broadcast widely across Comcast channels. Poised next to his sister Janet, Michael told the revealing story of the Jackson family’s abnormal youth.

Jackson told the world that normal childhood pleasures “we exchanged for hard work, struggle and pain.” Yet the very personal revelations that felt scripted and calculated to some were seen by others as an indication when he said “It feels good to be thought of as a person, not as a personality.”  Fans suggest he may have already known that’s what he would eventually become.

“We need to shock the people. So let’s shock the people!” came the ’96 Grammy emcee Tupac Shakur declaration. Seconds later, the rapper was joined onstage by Kiss. This unexpected reunion was formally announced just at that shock-factor moment. Appearing  as Star-child, Space Ace, Demon and Cat Man, the four founding members of the rock band took the stage in front of the Comcast broadcasting network audiences.

Fully made-up and costumed for the first time in 15 years — the roaring audience members were genuinely surprised. Fans were more than a little bit amused at the spectacle of Tupac surrounded by tongue-dangling old dudes in spandex and platform boots!

Finally, the ever-controversial Sinead O’Connor ripped up a photo of the Pope during a live SNL performance. She also made a remarkable point at the 1990 Grammys — by refusing to show up.  O’Connor claimed her absence and refusal to accept her Best Alternative Music Performance Trophy for “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” was her way of boycotting the over-commercialization of the ceremony awards

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5 Coffee Houses in San Diego That Are Worth Checking Out

Posted by Doug on February 19, 2012
Food / 1 Comment

When it comes to coffee houses, San Diego has its fair share. From Lestat’s Coffee House to the Old Gallery Coffee House, there are many great coffee houses in San Diego to visit! Enjoy a hot cup of coffee while you take a morning walk on the beach. If you are visiting the area and don’t know your way around, here are 5 coffee houses in the San Diego area worth checking out.

1. Lestat’s Coffee House
Few coffee houses in San Diego can compare to Lestat’s Coffee House. Besides featuring live music, Lestat’s Coffee House also boasts some of the best coffee around. Popular beverages include the White Espresso Mocha and the traditional House Coffee. In addition to featuring high-quality coffee, this coffee house also boasts some of the best food around. Lestat’s Coffee House is located at 3343 Adams Avenue.

2. Upstart Crow Bookstore and Coffeehouse
If you like books as much as you like coffee, a visit to the Upstart Crow Bookstore and Coffeehouse is a must! This particular coffee house has been around for 20 years or so and is very popular among San Diego’s locals. In addition to coffee and books, Upstart Crow also sells pies, cakes and assorted pastries. If you’re only able to visit one coffee house in San Diego, make it this one! The Upstart Crow Bookstore and Coffeehouse is located at 835C West Harbor Drive, in Seaport Village.

3. Rebecca’s Coffeehouse
If you’re looking to visit a cozy, laid-back coffee house, you’re not going to want to miss Rebecca’s Coffeehouse. Located at 3015 Juniper Street, Rebecca’s Coffeehouse is a great place to meet friends, make new friends, and drink coffee! In addition to serving coffee, Rebecca’s Coffeehouse also offers specialty sandwiches and vegetarian fare.

4. Javanican Coffee House
The hip Javanican Coffee House is another popular coffee house in San Diego worth checking out. Unbeknownst to many people, the Javanican Coffee House was one of San Diego’s first established coffee houses. Besides being well-known for its frequent live music performances, the Javanican Coffee House is also well-known for its organic coffee. The Javanican Coffee House is located at 4338 Cass Street.

5. Old Gallery Coffee House
Besides featuring a great location, the Old Gallery Coffee House also boasts a great selection of coffee to choose from. Like the Upstart Crow Bookstore and Coffeehouse, the Old Gallery Coffee House is very popular with the locals. If you want to beat the crowds, try planning your visit after breakfast. The Old Gallery Coffee House is located at 641 B Street.

If you enjoy visiting these coffee houses and want to take this gourmet coffee taste home, you may want to look into purchasing a Keuirg machine which will allow you to brew your favorite coffees one cup at a time so you don’t waste a single drop!

2012 Tournament of Roses Parade

Posted by Doug on December 31, 2011
Entertainment / 2 Comments

The 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade will be held in Pasedena, CA on Monday, January 2, 1012.

This year marks the 123rd year for the parade, and one of the few instances when the “never on Sunday” rule will be in effect.  Traditionally, the Rose Parade, and the accompanying Rose Bowl Game, are held on January 1st. However, in 1893 it was decided that the parade would be held on a Monday whenever January 1st falls on a Sunday, in order to prevent conflicts with Sunday church services.  The last time the “never on Sunday” rule was applied was in 2006.

This year, the parade, which will be seen in the US, Canada, and in 200 countries across the globe, celebrates the theme of “Just Imagine…”  It will feature marching bands from all across America, celebrated equestrian units and, of course, dozens of magnificent floats covered in flowers.

photo courtesy Joe Mac1 via Creative Commons License

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Daniel Drimmer New Rental Site Takes Off in Western Canada

Posted by Doug on December 18, 2011
Real Estate / 1 Comment

On September 1, 2011, Daniel Drimmer launched Starlight Apartments. Specializing in residential rental apartments and condos in Canada, the company offers over 5,500 units to renters from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and all major cities across the Great White North.

While a majority of the properties available are on the East Coast, Starlight President Daniel Drimmer is a resident of Toronto and the company is based there, they offer a number of units on the West Coast. Some of the cities covered include Victoria, Port Moody, Mission, and Abbotsford. There are also rentals available in New Westminster, and Coquitlam.

Many of these communities are suburbs of Vancouver, the jewel in the crown of Canada’s West Coast. Vancouver is the 3rd largest city in Canada, with over 2.3 million people living and working in the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area. Founded in 1867 as a logging town, the city now counts tourism and film production as major industries, along with forestry. It is a major sea port for the West Coast and boasts an ethnically and linguistically diverse population.

Moving a bit further inland, but still in the Western section of Canada, Drimmer’s company offers many units in the city of Calgary, the 5th largest metropolis in the country. With easy access to the gorgeous Canadian Rockies, Calagary is a great spot for vacation rentals as well as for those who are considering emigrating northward.

The company’s website is a good example of the modern real estate site. It offers interactive maps and virtual tours as well as the ability to filter searches by property type and amenities as well as cost. Drimmer was one of the first to utilize these online tools when he was heading Transglobe Property Management through the 1990s and 2000s. Starlight Apartments, and other apartment sites in Western Canada, make good use of these tools and other features that the modern apartment hunter demands. That’s what makes them popular with prospective tenants.

 

photo courtesy Creative Commons license

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How to Create Energy From the California Sun

Posted by Doug on November 30, 2011
Enviroment / 1 Comment

Living in California, you know that the sun shines a lot. It’s probably one of the reasons you love your west coast home the most (and why you are the envy of most of the U.S.). Even during “June gloom,” that morning fog burns away to give way to glorious California sunshine. That sunshine can do more for you than give you excellent tennis weather and a bronze goddess tan. That glorious sunshine can power your home. Did you know that solar power’s been growing rapidly in California because of a Renewable Portfolio Standard? That’s a Federal regulation requiring 20 percent of California’s electricity to come from renewable sources, such as solar energy by 2010, increasing to 33 percent by 2020. At least five solar plants are under construction in the desert right now.

Consider modifying your house to produce solar power. The most common way is with solar panels, more properly called photovoltaic cells. Sunlight passing through the panels is converted into alternating current by an inverter. Alternating current is the type of electricity we use in the United States, so the current generated by solar panels is available for use by the house’s electrical system. Your local utility system buys back the extra electricity you generate. Think about it: the sun that falls on your house pays for your gas range and clothes dryer to operate. That’s why solar panels for homeowners make sense from an economic and social standpoint.

Here’s how electricity comes from solar panels. It starts when sunlight hits the panels. As you might expect, the brighter and more direct the sunlight, the more power it produces. This means placing the panels in good locations, say on parts of the roof facing west or south. Make sure there’s nothing shading the panels, no overhang of an upper story’s roof, no shade trees and no deep shadows from neighboring buildings. Now the panel converts sunlight into direct current. Solar panels are made of two layers of silicon, the same silicon that revolutionized computers. Units of solar energy called photons hit the upper layer of silicon; this moves electrons from the silicon. The freed electrons carried away by wires form direct current. Direct current can’t be used in the United States though; the United States uses alternating current. To convert direct current into alternating current, the parade of electron along the wire goes into the inverter. The inverter is usually attached to the electrical meter. What goes into the electrical system is now alternating current. What’s needed is used and what’s extra goes to the utility company. This is called net metering. If you are particularly interested in learning how to become a solar panel installer, you live in the right state to make a living and help the environment at the same time!

5 Must-See California Destinations

Posted by Doug on November 20, 2011
Travel / No Comments

Ever since most of us were children, we have come to revere California as a land  of hopes and dreams. From the days of Saved by the Bell and the magical trips to Sea World and Disney, California and it’s temperate and sunny weather have become something that many of us dream about. If you have been waiting to hit the coast, it’s time to turn your ‘California dreaming’ to reality, and here are five great places to start.

Napa, California, or what is commonly referred to as wine country, is located in the northern district of California. Napa boasts some of the finest vineyards in the world. The numerous wineries located in this gorgeous town are abundant and give the area it’s charm and history. The wine tasting tours can be a real joy to sample and provide plenty of culture and history to boot. Some of these vineyards are home to families who have been in the wine making business generations and you can feel the pride and the history in each visit.

San Francisco has got to be one of the hottest California destinations to travel to. The wide variety of cultures and industry makes for a fantastic show of diversity. China town located in downtown San Francisco boasts some of the best Asian cuisine around. The numerous shops are a treasure trove for any visitor to see. Getting around in San Francisco can be half the fun as everywhere you turn there is a cable car to ride. Fantastic fun at its best!

Sacramento is another destination also located in the northern valley of California and full of history. Old town Sacramento located next to the Sacramento River is chucked full of specialty shops and built around buildings that date back to the early 1800s. A short walk from old town and you arrive at the K Street Mall boasting every department store one could want. This is truly shopper’s paradise. A short jump across the street and you are at the capital. Now this is a site to behold. The white Gothic looking capital building fills a large space surrounded by trees that date hundreds of years in age. History is conveyed well and brought to the visitor’s eyes by taking a fantastic tour of this building.

Big Sur is best known as the home of the California Redwoods. Some of these trees are two thousand years old. Located along the coast one can experience nature at its best. The smell of the ocean nestled with the giant Redwoods can be breath taking. There are numerous trails for the hiker and the nature lover to find breath taking.

Truckee is a place that is a must-see destination. The town of Truckee finds its roots in the California gold rush era. Truckee seen an onslaught of mining and the lumber industry thrived during the early eighteen hundreds and late nineteen hundreds. The town boasting small western like themed shops and board walk type causeways is awesome. The history is labeled all over the town the main theme being Gold. Gold was the chief source of income for most that came to this booming town in the early eighteen hundreds. There are many interesting shops along Truckee’s downtown main street.

 

5 Ways to Save Money at Your California Beach Home

Posted by Doug on November 01, 2011
Home and Garden / 2 Comments

It is no secret that living in a beach house is costly and is often seen as only an option  for the affluent. Whats more, if you are intending to live in a beach house in California, which is considered as one of the most expensive places to live, it can be a wonderfully privileged lifestyle, even though it is admittedly pricey. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways you can save up on your dream home near the beach and enjoy the breathtaking California sunset.

Read on as we discuss the 5 best ways to save money for your California beach house.

1. The first step in saving money for your dream beach home in California starts by reducing your monthly expenses.
Cut back on unnecessary miscellaneous expenses. Although it isn’t noticeable, little miscellaneous fees can greatly reduce your savings per month if it accumulates. A simple money saving trick you can use is to order water when you are eating at fancy restaurants. Free ice water can be requested when eating outdoors instead of those expensive yet regular sodas and other beverages that you usually accompany your meals with when eating out with your family or friends at a restaurant. Another way to save money wisely is to reduce your trips or night-outs with your family. Although it is important to spend quality time with them, you should minimize it to once or twice per month in order to save more money for your future home. Additionally, though admittedly this is a difficult one for many of us, cut back on unnecessary shopping. Also, be sure you are getting the best rates on insurance by checking in with sites like Policy Expert.

 

2. You should canvass houses in advance in order to plan the budget for the home you wish to buy.
It isn’t ideal to shop for viable options of a house to invest in in only a short period of time. This may result in the purchased property to be of less value to you as well as does not appeal that well to your individual preference.

3.  When canvassing for a house, assess the condition of the property from top to bottom.
Look for significant damages or imperfections of the house that may be passed on to you as a liability you will have to compensate for. If the house is severely damaged from its interior walls to its exterior layout, then look for another one that is in mint condition in order to save up on repair and replacement expenses.

4. When you’ve already bought the place but is still financially held up by loans and credit card debts you’ve accumulated over the past few months of your struggle to save for the house, you can save up a significant amount of cash by modifying your lifestyle.
For example, instead of buying paper napkins and towels for home use, buy heavy-duty rags that can last for longer periods of time. This will save you a hefty amount of money.

5. You should make it a point to regularly assess your home’s condition.
It is imperative that you do regular cleanings in order to restore your home and to fix parts before it goes beyond fixing.

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