FRIDAY - between two pine trees
“The world is big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.”
~John Muir
- Hurricane Harvey flood claims will hit insurance program as Congress struggles to fix it
- Home Values Higher than Ever in Almost Half of Nation's Largest Markets
- Bay Area real estate: Home sales drop markedly, and prices keep climbing
- Only in the Bay Area: Real estate for progressives at UC Berkeley
- Vallejo is again the nation’s hottest real estate market, followed by San Jose and San Francisco
- Why I Chose 2 Styles of Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
Enjoy!
For all its faults, the National Flood Insurance Program, run by FEMA, offers coverage of up to $250,000 for structural damage and $100,000 for contents. While settling claims takes time, FEMA has authorized the release of advance payments of up to $10,000 for Harvey claims. About 5 million properties nationwide, including nearly 600,000 in Texas and 500,000 in Louisiana, have FEMA-backed coverage, most of it sold by commercial insurance companies that get commissions of up to 30% to service policies.
Home Values Higher than Ever in Almost Half of Nation's Largest Markets - An abundance of well-paying jobs in Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle has quickly driven up home values as job seekers flood these markets looking for new opportunities. In Portland, the median home value is about 26 percent higher now than during peak bubble years, and about 20 percent higher in San Francisco and Seattle.
Bay Area real estate: Home sales drop markedly, and prices keep climbing - The affordability crunch is pushing many potential buyers out of the competition. Not only have prices climbed 10.1 percent year-over-year across the region, he said, but rising mortgage rates – up about half a point since last year – have boosted the typical monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced Bay Area home by more than 17 percent.
Only in the Bay Area: Real estate for progressives at UC Berkeley - UC Berkeley is launching a new graduate program that puts a politically progressive stamp on real estate development.The Masters in Real Estate Development + Design (MRED+D) will teach emerging real estate developers to merge finance with cutting-edge design principles in order “to build sustainable, equitable and prosperous cities,” according to an announcement from the College of Environmental Design, where the program will be based.
Vallejo is again the nation’s hottest real estate market, followed by San Jose and San Francisco - The index measures where houses are selling the fastest and which markets are generating the most listing views on realtor.com. And while the second criterion might seem random — after all, realtor.com may simply get heavier use in some places than others — the latest rankings broadly reflect what’s been happening in the Bay Area real estate market.
Why I Chose 2 Styles of Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel - A designer and her builder husband opt for open shelves and closed cabinets. She offers advice, how-tos and cost info. Some of my faves:
