Home Ownership Survey - a good read

Interesting article on home ownership confidence from a recent Pew Research Center article.  This is from the LA Times and a good read for all of you on the fence or pounding the pavement looking for that first home.  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pew-homeownership-20110412,0,2943484.story

Good fences make for...

good neighbors - as the saying goes.  The LA Times has a good article all about fences that make everyone who lives with them or sees them happy.  And there's a chance to post your own photos of fences that tickle your fancy.

I'm officially obsessed.  Now to convince the husband that we need to fence the yard...

Now may be the time to buy...says Michael Corbett

Must read LA Times article from this Sunday for those waffling about buying a home.  According to Michael Corbett and his book, "Before You Buy: The Homebuyer's Handbook for Today's Market". If you've got the down payment and can afford the monthly payment - it's a great time to buy!  And by monthly payment, don't forget to add principal, interest, property taxes, and insurance (PITI).  That's the true cost of home ownership.  Oh, and electricity, gas, water, trash and cable don't forget!

Home buying, real estate: Now may be the time to buy a home - latimes.com

Skee ball

This article in the LA Times about a bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn brought back memories of skee ball at the Jersey shore.  And, no, I don't mean The Jersey Shore.  Snookie was way before my time.

We'd play skee ball for tickets and trade our tickets for prizes.  Heaven.

Why don't we have a skee ball bar in LA? Any takers?  I'd go.  Even the description, "long, dark and divey" wouldn't keep me away.

Skee ball anyone?

Trash report: Southern California's effort to clean up the confusion

Great LA Times article by Mary McVean about trash and recycling in LA.   Trying to help clear up the confusion about what you can and can't recycle, compost, trash etc.  For the greenies, the wanna-be greenies, and all the rest.

The article by Susan Carpenter about her attempt to cut down on her trash production and efforts to learn what can be recycled is excellent too.  We cut our trash production by half or more just be installing a compost bin.  Although I must admit I didn't know that those disposable plates, forks, spoons etc that say they are compostable don't break down in a home compost bin. 

Thanks LA Times for helping get the information out to us!

FHA extends suspension of "anti-flipping" rule for another year

Good news for FHA approved buyers!  See the LA Times article here.