Real Estate & Investing

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!

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.

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.

This year’s west coast fall collection is filled with a variety of lightweight knitted fabrics worn comfortably in layers, which is perfect for the mild temps of the west. This kind of functional layering is present in the fall trendy fashions for 2011, even with the knitted fabrics for slightly cooler weather. As part of this collection you will also see silk flowing dresses, bringing a breath of freshness to the autumn season.

Yet another hot highlight for the west coast fall fashion is the trendy boiled-wool coats and cotton button-down shirts and sweaters, for those cool autumn days or nights. Additionally,  the knitted cardigan has made a comeback and is perfect for the west coast fall temperature. For those of us who are simply “California Dreaming,” these same fashion staples can be modified for cooler weather by adding a nice warm scarf or dressing in even more layers.