California Family Vacations can include beach locations, mountains or deserts

California family vacations are the best opportunity for bonding, getting to know your loved ones in a relaxed atmosphere, and in some instances, a chance to work out differences that can occur. We don’t seek to idealize these types of getaways and are well aware of the conflicts that can occur as people are suddenly stuck together in hotel rooms, cars, planes, and in group consensus situations where compromises abound.

“Where are we going to eat?”, “what time will we turn out the lights for the night”,  “where are we going to spend our time?” and other such practical matters can become larger as the urgency to get moving on limited amounts of time exacerbate normal conflicts. Even with the tug and pull of different interests, the resolutions become part of the journey that families remember and discuss.

By the numbers, California theme parks and beach vacations are the type of vacations in which parents are most inclined to take their children. Family vacations aren’t limited to kids vacations, however.  Families can be a couple or even a wedding and reunion in which the extended family visits one locale comes together for an event. 

Though California Beaches family beach vacations are quite popular, Disneyland Resort vacations still rank number one for family fun as kids desire quality time with the big duck, Donald and his friend, Mickey.  

Families can choose from over a dozen theme parks for their California family vacation with Disneyland, Magic Mountain, SeaWorld, Knotts Berry Farm, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Safari West, WaterWorld, Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Marine World a few of the options.

For the educational California family vacation trip, aquariums such as Monterey Bay Aquarium and Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific include touch pools and educational tours. Smaller aquariums, world class zoos, botanical gardens and train rides through redwood forests are but a few of the great family vacations.

California is kid-friendly with only a few vacations not recommended for youth, such as wine tasting and wine tours. There are some great food-tasting factory tours for children, however, that included Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield where kids can sample over 30 flavors of Jelly Beans. From watching the sea lions on the rocks in Sea Ranch to playing a game of miniature golf or driving a little car on a track in Fountain Valley, kids can play to their hearts’ content when you take them on California family vacations.

California Winter Vacations provide exceptional opportunities to enjoy the reduced hotel and resort rates, more availability in rooms and suites and less crowds throughout the state.

California beach vacations can consist of a single afternoon at the beach, soaking up some sunshine and breathing the fresh Pacific Ocean salt mist air. Or in places such as Yosemite National Park, a family can take a hike through the forests next to waterfalls, watching deer and bears roam freely.

With the Sacramento region’s already low-low median-home price; which is slightly more than the national figure, many people who never thought they would own a  home are now in the position to buy. However, there are still many people who can afford the monthly payment but are having a challenge putting together enough cash for closing costs and down payment. In an effort to Jump-start first time home buyers, last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development unveiled a policy change which will provide the tax credit up-front. Recently, first time buyers accounted for half of all purchases during the first quarter nationwide.

Even with the low 3.5% down payment offered by FHA added to traditional closing costs, it could easily take $12,000 to $15,000 to get into a $200,000 home.  And now there will be a way for first time home buyers to come up with $8000 of that, to be used for everything but the down payment.

President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, which was introduced in February, included a tax credit to the extent of $8,000 for first-time home buyers. However, home buyers would receive the credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically you get a tax credit “back” when you file your tax return. So the credit either reduces the amount of tax you owe, or if you owe no additional tax then you are sent a refund check for the amount of the credit, after you file your 2009 tax return in early 2010.

The HUD policy change will enable borrowers to receive a loan they can repay with their tax credit. The advance from the lender cannot be used for the 3.5% down payment that borrowers have to make for FHA loans. Most typical loans have $3,000 to $5,000 in closing costs, title insurance, and other fees. The advance can be used by borrowers for meeting such costs. Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com, a publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information, says the program “could just grease the wheels for a couple more people to get into FHA.”

The federal government defines anyone who hasn’t owned a principal residence for three years as a first timer.

With the Sacramento region’s already low-low median-home price; which is slightly more than the national figure, many people who never thought they would own a  home are now in the position to buy. However, there are still many people who can afford the monthly payment but are having a challenge putting together enough cash for closing costs and down payment. In an effort to Jump-start first time home buyers, last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development unveiled a policy change which will provide the tax credit up-front. Recently, first time buyers accounted for half of all purchases during the first quarter nationwide.

Even with the low 3.5% down payment offered by FHA added to traditional closing costs, it could easily take $12,000 to $15,000 to get into a $200,000 home.  And now there will be a way for first time home buyers to come up with $8000 of that, to be used for everything but the down payment.

President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, which was introduced in February, included a tax credit to the extent of $8,000 for first-time home buyers. However, home buyers would receive the credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Typically you get a tax credit “back” when you file your tax return. So the credit either reduces the amount of tax you owe, or if you owe no additional tax then you are sent a refund check for the amount of the credit, after you file your 2009 tax return in early 2010.

The HUD policy change will enable borrowers to receive a loan they can repay with their tax credit. The advance from the lender cannot be used for the 3.5% down payment that borrowers have to make for FHA loans. Most typical loans have $3,000 to $5,000 in closing costs, title insurance, and other fees. The advance can be used by borrowers for meeting such costs. Keith Gumbinger of HSH.com, a publisher of mortgage and consumer loan information, says the program “could just grease the wheels for a couple more people to get into FHA.”

The federal government defines anyone who hasn’t owned a principal residence for three years as a first timer.

Sacramento Home Inspector Shows How to Cut Water Costs and save… 

(ARA) - Most of us give little thought to how much water we use. Compared to other utilities, like heating, water bills are relatively inexpensive for homeowners. Renters typically don’t pay for water at all. These factors and the seeming abundance of water in many areas tend to put water conservation under the radar for most of us.

(PRWEB) March 16, 2009 — Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are dramatically expanding their investigation of imported toxic Chinese drywall into California & Arizona.. The group has already identified numerous victims in Florida, California, Virginia, Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, Nevada, the Carolinas, Texas, and in Canada. According to the group, “the imported Chinese drywall is coast to coast, and it is so toxic, that it will corrode air conditioning coils, and electrical wiring. This mentions nothing of the health affects related to exposure.” The Homeowners Consumer Center is saying, “there is about to be a seismic shift from Florida, to the West Coast & Texas. Most people we talk to never realized the problem with their home was the drywall. This is the absolute worst environmental disaster ever faced by US homeowners.” If you are a homeowner in a new home built since 2001 in California or Arizona, that has a rotten egg, or sulphur smell, and you have charred, black electrical wires, or corroded air conditioning coils, along with health issues, you should contact the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately at 866-714-6466, or contact the via their web site at Http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.Com.

The Homeowners Consumer Center is begging for the California, and Arizona print news media to call the group for more information, because of the serious exposure issues for homeowners living in the California or Arizona homes. ” We did one newspaper interview for a Vancouver, BC newspaper last week. Because of this newspaper article we received over 400 calls from homeowners in the Vancouver metro; 100 of which we are sure have the toxic Chinese drywall in their homes. We need to also talk to the print media & newspapers in Texas, New Orleans, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Oregon, the Carolina’s & Mississippi.”

According to the Homeowners Consumer Center, “we always expected to find very heavy concentrations of the Chinese drywall in California, Arizona, Las Vegas, the Pacific Northwest and the Mountain West, because most of the product was shipped through the ports of Long Beach, Oakland, and/or Seattle/Tacoma. ”

What California or Arizona communities will have large concentrations of the toxic Chinese drywall? In California: the Sacramento metro, Riverside County, Modesto, Fresno, San Jose metro, LA County, In Arizona the Phoenix metro & Tucson metro areas.

In other states, what big metro areas will have large concentrations of the toxic Chinese drywall? Texas: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio & Austin. Colorado: Denver, Boulder & Colorado Springs. New Mexico: Albuquerque, Santa Fe. Nevada: Las Vegas, & Reno.

What should homeowners in these cities who have a new home built between 2001 and 2008 be looking for with respect to the Chinese Drywall?

* The house has to have been built or remodeled after 2000.Most homes that will have the toxic Chinese drywall were built between 2004 & 2007

* There may be a rotten egg, sulfur-type, or acid type smell in the home or condominium.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners, or occupants in most cases will have seen continuous failures of their air conditioning coils, or HVAC units beyond anything normal.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners, or occupants may have noticed corroded, or black electrical wiring in their walls, in properties built, or remodeled since 2001. Homeowners who suspect their home may have the Chinese drywall can remove electrical receptacle plates to see if the cooper ground wire has turned black. If the wiring inside the receptacle boxes have turned black it is a strong indicator of the toxic Chinese drywall. If a homeowner in any state see’s this, they should call the Homeowners Consumer Center immediately at 866-714-6466.

* Sacramento homeowners, building owners or occupants may have experienced mild to severe upper respiratory problems, nose bleeds, headaches or other potentially serious medical conditions.

* Oven, or stove elements, or refrigerator coils may have failed in the homes, or condominiums a number of times.

* Silver jewelry or silver plated utensils may be tarnished

Note: Americas Watchdog’s National Mortgage Complaint Center has been taking regional & national homebuilders for years, with issues ranging from appraisal fraud, predatory mortgage lending to title insurance scams. Http://NationalMortgageComplaintCen ter.Com

A repeat special call out to our friends in New Orleans, Texas and all Gulf Coast States. “We were in New Orleans before, during and after Hurricane Katrina. If you know, or suspect the toxic Chinese Drywall is in your house, please call the Homeowners Consumer Center at 866-714-6466, or contact the group via their web site at http://HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.

Americas Watchdog and its Homeowners Consumer Center are trying to get the word out about the Chinese drywall and the group is intensifying its state by state and national investigations to increase public awareness. According to the group, “if you have friends, family, co-workers or loved ones, who live in a new home built after 200, that has a sulphur, or rotten egg type smell, and or if the homeowners

Step1

At the beginning of the Sacramento summer months, it is a good idea to pick up some replacement fuses to have on hand just in case you need them. They are relatively inexpensive and when the temperature is in the 90s, you do not want to wait too long before you get the central air conditioning back up and cooling. The fuses can be purchased at your local Sacramento hardware store.

Step2

Before you pick up your new fuses you have to have an idea of what kind you will need. In most central air conditioning installations there should be a disconnect switch located near the compressor outside. This is where the fuses are located. Before you open up the door on the disconnect switch, turn OFF the circuit breaker delivering power to it. It will usually be a two-pole, 30-amp breaker in your electrical panel, but not always, so be sure to check. In addition, turn OFF your thermostat before you begin troubleshooting your air conditioning unit.

Step3

With the circuit breaker and the thermostat OFF, head over to the disconnect switch, turn the switch OFF and open the door. Inside you will see two cartridge fuses with wires connected to terminals above and below them. Take your voltage tester and probe the two wires coming into the disconnect switch which are connected above the fuses (touch one probe to one terminal and the other probe to the other terminal). If you get no reading, probe the bottom wires as well. If you get no voltage readings on any of the wires, then it is safe to proceed.

Step4

Use the fuse pullers to pull out the cartridge fuses. There should be an amperage listed on the fuse (typically 30 or 40amp). You will also want to know whether your unit requires standard, fast or delay-rated fuses. For easiest replacing, take one of your fuses to the hardware store and choose one with the exact specifications. Do not temporarily replace fuses with a foreign object like tin foil or nails like the photo above.

Step5

Now that you have your new fuses in tow, test the existing fuses for continuity (see link in Resources below for how to test a fuse). It is possible that only one fuse may be bad, but even if that is the case, I would replace both fuses so you are not in the same position next week.

Step6

If the fuses are in fact the problem, then install the replacement fuses. You should use the fuse pullers to insert the new fuses into their clamps. Make sure that the fuses are fully seated into their clamps. Close the door on the disconnect switch and turn the switch back on.

Step7

Turn the circuit breaker back on, and lastly, turn the thermostat back on. Dial down your thermostat and you should hear the wonderful click and hum of the central air conditioning kicking on. Ah, the sound of heaven.

 solar window screen will aid in keeping the rays of the sun out of the house. This helps in lowering energy bills, a concern for many people today. Of course, these screens can do much more than simply lower energy bills.

 For example, a solar window screen is capable of reducing sun damage to furniture, walls, rugs, and other sun-sensitive items. It is not uncommon to pull a couch out from its place beneath the window and find that the entire couch has faded except for the parts that were never in the sun. At other times, a painting may be removed from the wall to reveal that the paint beneath it has not faded as the rest of the wall has. The purchase of a solar screen can aid in preventing these situations from occurring.These screens can block out 80-100% of harmful UV rays.Another benefit that a solar window screen can offer is privacy. These screens block the view into a home, while still allowing those indoors to have a good view out.Of course, it is good to keep in mind that people will be able to see into a home at night when it is lit from within. It is also good to know that plants may need to be moved closer to screened windows to ensure that they receive the right amount of light they need.Depending on where a solar window screen is purchased and on which type is bought, it may make a window look dark from the outside. If this is undesirable, a different color of screen besides black is a smart move. Researching photos of other homes which have added the screens is a good way to gain a clearer idea of how they may appear on a different building. Before and after photos are very useful in this situation.

 

Solar power for Sacramento  residential homes can provide hot water, warm pools, heating and even energy for cooking. This resource can be tapped with an initial investment that will pay for itself over a reasonably short period of time. Instead of paying power companies for use of non-renewable resources, families can not only save money, but help save the environment as well.

Most systems that provide solar power for residential homes compliment the traditional power systems in the house. During peak times of extreme cold, additional hot water can be heated using traditional sources. During extreme heat or cold in, solar powered Sacramento  home heating and cooling systems can be supplemented with additional use of traditional systems. Even those residential homes that obtain only forty to seventy percent of their power from solar power systems enjoy a huge savings over a period of time.

Depending on what solar power for your Sacramento residential homes are chosen, the initial investment can range from about $2,000 for a do it yourself home water heating system to much higher for systems that store power in batteries for use for heating, cooling, cooking and lighting as well as hot water. A small home created solar powered pool heating system can be built for as little as $1,000 or perhaps even less. Use of recycled material in these solar power residential systems can reduce the cost significantly. This is one area where it pays to be creative.

Of course, if you are not a do it yourself handyperson, you can have a qualified, licensed and insured contractor provide and install a complete solar power system for your Sacramento  residential home. Of course, this is more costly than a do it yourself system but it can pay off in the long run. Your solar power system will have a warranty and you will be assured of certain performance standards. If you choose to build your own panels from recycled materials, finding design plans online or in a book, there is no such guarantee or warranty. You can choose to purchase commercially available solar panels and install them yourself; this provides a warranty on the solar panels while saving money. Be sure to read the warranties and be certain that they will be valid in a self-installed system.

Some residential homes display large roof top arrays of solar panels called solar photovoltaic panels. This type of solar panel is often used to heat pool water and provide some or all of the household’s hot water needs. Often several solar arrays are necessary to meet the needs of an average family’s solar power requirements.

Probably the most common use of solar power for residential homes is to heat water for the swimming pool. The solar power system required for this application is very simple and low cost. There are even designs that can be found that use empty aluminum cans, such as beer and soft drink cans, and old sliding glass doors to create a perfectly functional system at very low cost. A little carpentry, some bending of copper pipes and the ability to follow simple instructions is all that is needed for a person with a good collection of hand and power tools to be able to build a solar power system of this type.

How complex or simple a system for solar power for residential homes you choose, you will enjoy the knowledge that you are doing your part to save the dwindling resources of our planet. You will also enjoy the fact that you will save on energy bills and, over time, the solar power for residential homes always pays for itself.

About the Author: Anita van Wyk

At Golden State Home Inspections, we will provide you professional assistance and guidance and let you know what needs to be maintained or repaired and why. We will explain everything in terms you will understand and educate you about your new home.

Our quaifications include a California general contractors license, member of the National Association of  Certified Home Inspectors, certifications in mold testing, infrared technology, energy audits and other related fields, We have several years of commercial and residential construction experience along with thousands of home inspections performed.

Let Golden State Home Inspections give you the safety, security and peace of mind you deserve.

Call us today 800.441.0804  for your Sacramento home inspection!

Whether you are concerned about your energy usage or you are in a place where you would like to make your entire home more conservative in terms of resources used, you will discover that an energy audit is something that you need to take a look at. Not only can an energy audit help you identify places where energy and thus money are being wasted, you will find that having done an energy audit recently can actually make your home attractive to potential buyers. Take some time to consider what an energy audit is, what it does, and why you need one as soon as possible!

First, many experts consider an energy audit to be the first step in making your home more efficient. Some people will find a checklist that they can go through online, while many others decide that they would rather leave something this important in the hands of professionals. Essentially, your home is examined in a step-by-step process that takes into account all the ways that you use energy and how you are going to be able to prevent the wasting of energy. In any household, there are going to be places where energy seeps away unnoticed, and the goal of an energy audit is to stop this from happening.

One important reason why you might want to have a professional energy consultation done is that it will give you a quantitative and qualitative measure of the energy that is entering and leaving your house. You will not only know what areas are not secure, but you will also have an idea of how much energy is being leaked through those areas. More importantly, it will tell you where to focus your efforts when you are looking to make sure that your energy is being preserved. There is a lot of great information out there that can help you stop energy leakage, but to make use of them, you are going to need to know when the leaks are occurring and to what extent you need to be worried about them.

Also remember that when you preserve the energy of your home, it is going to make a huge difference to your energy bill. Especially if you live in an older house and have not made the improvements that you need to make yet, you’ll discover that an energy audit can save you hundreds of dollars from your energy bill, particularly if you are facing a long winter where heating is going to be important. Similarly, if your home uses air conditioning, you’ll discover that you are going to need to think about how you can avoid air conditioning the entire neighborhood.

Take some time and really consider how an energy audit can help your household. This is something that can make a huge difference to the way that you pay your bills and even your general comfort. There are so many different ways to lose energy through that you need to notice them now and fix it.

Contact Sacramento-Home-Inspector today to schedule your energy audit.