Many people think that their homeowner’s policy protects them against earthquake damage, but most standard homeowners, mobile home owners, condominium, and renters insurance policies do not; instead, it must be purchased separately. By law, insurers must offer earthquake coverage to their policyholders, through the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). The cost runs approximately $4 per thousand of coverage, and typically has a 15% deductible. There are government disaster-relief programs available, but they are intended more so to help you start getting back on your feet, not necessarily to rebuild your home and replace personal items lost in an earthquake. It is important… read more.

Goals: Boost lending, prevent foreclosures Matt Carter Inman News Barack Obama will be sworn in today as the nation’s 44th president with a green light from Congress to unleash the second half of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, and with legislation providing an additional $825 billion jolt to the economy on tap. Before Obama took the oath of office, lawmakers had introduced a slew of measures in the new year aimed at spurring home purchases and preventing foreclosures. Some of those measures — including tax breaks for first-time homebuyers, and a return to the higher loan… read more.

Supervisors Peskin and McGoldrick propose rise SF Realtors Advantage Online Two supervisors, Aaron Peskin and Jake McGoldrick, have proposed increases in the rate of the city’s real property transfer tax. Both proposals are intended to leave the rate for less expensive properties unchanged while focusing on properties in the mid- to … read more.

Six money-savings strategies to employ before December 31st By Steve Kopff, CPA Would you like to reduce your tax payment this April?  If so, December is the month to take steps toward that goal. Most of the tax-savings tips you’ll want to employ in December center around “accelerating” payments and expenses, and “deferring” certain types of income. In other words, when you can, pay bills and incur expenses before December 31st, and claim income after that date. Of course, this strategy doesn’t actually eliminate your tax liability, it simply defers it.  But as you may recall from college math, the time value of… read more.

by J.K. Dineen San Francisco Business Times It took seven years, 51 public hearings, and a last-minute plea from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, but developers in the Market-Octavia neighborhood finally have a set of rules they can follow. At least for now. On April 5, the Planning Commission passed the Market-Octavia Better Neighborhood plan, a piece of legislation covering 379 acres including Hayes Valley and portions of Mid-Market, Mission Dolores and Duboce Triangle. The plan could result in 4,000 more housing units over the next 20 years. It allows taller buildings and increased density near Van Ness Avenue and along Market Street,… read more.