Public Policy "NEWS"

  The plans unveiled a week ago call for 146 individual projects in and around the river, including new trails, parks, crossings, and more. Among those proposals are seven “signature projects” that have been analyzed in greater detail. They include: Development of new green space, public art displays, and affordable housing around Cudahy Park Addition of park space, trails, and a dirt bike facility around the Atlantic Boulevard crossing in Vernon A trio of park-topped bridges, new landscaping, and a band shell at the Rio Hondo confluence in the city of South Gate Floating boardwalks above the soft-bottomed portion of the river that flows through Long Beach and new access to the levee at Willow Street Pathways, recreation areas, and links to existing bike trails at the stretch of river between Greenleaf and Del Amo boulevards New crossings, rest areas, public art space, and a nature overlook at Compton Creek A new park, expanded wetlands, new stormwater capture fac

Are You Ready To Buy Your First Home? Are you ready to purchase your first property? Do you want to start building equity? Whether you’re a beginner investor or first time home-buyer, follow along to determine if you are ready to make an offer today: Why should intention matter in real estate? It's a material transaction, right? Bucks for bricks. And yet, what you're looking for in those bricks, what they mean to you, makes all the difference. Ask yourself these 10 questions to discover whether or not you are ready to invest in you first home: What is your current credit score? What is the extent of your current debt? Why do you want to become a homeowner? How long do you plan to live in your new home? How secure is your current income? How do you plan to pay for home repairs and upkeep? Have you visited your local mortgage banker?  Do you have enough money to make a down payment? What do you understand least about home ownership? How do

  The bank reported earnings of $1.oo per share, higher than the $0.97 that analysts were expecting. Additionally, the bank said it generated revenue of $22.0 billion, just below analysts' projections of $22.3 billion. CFO John Shewsberry said in a press release accompanying earnings that the results were driven primarily by improved loan quality and a lower tax bill. "Expenses were elevated compared with last quarter, driven by typically-higher first quarter personnel-related expenses," Shewsberry said. "Credit results improved, with lower net charge-offs and nonaccrual loans, and we benefited from lower income tax expense." The bank said that consumer loans declined by $5.7 billion compared to the same quarter last year and commercial and industrial loans - essentially loans made to businesses - were down by $1.6 billion compared to the previous quarter, but were up $16.8 billion against the same quarter last year. The bank also said ther

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  'Tis the season to cozy up to a gloriously-scented candle— Whether you prefer the smell of fresh pine, wafting mulling spices, or the essence of a roaring fire, there's a gorgeously fragranced flame here for every winter mood. Make the holidays extra scent-sational with any Holiday collection. Notes of pomegranate, mandarin, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber evocative of holidays spent fondly with family and friends.

Are you new to real estate investing? Learning how to invest in real estate doesn't need to be complicated, difficult, or expensive. Learn how to get started investing in real estate from beginning to end - with no hype, false promises, or pitches. There are many different places you can stick your money other than under your pillow, including stocks, bonds, savings, mutual funds, CD, currencies, commodities, and of course, real estate. There are positive and negative aspects of each investment option, but since we're here to learn about real estate, we'll focus on that and that alone. One of the most commonly stated reasons that people give for investing in real estate is that they are seeking out financial freedom, but there are others as well -- of course, each person will have their own personal reasons why. They are typically seeking one or several of the following: Learn more!

The right answer will depend on your circumstances, but some factors play a role in deciding which way to go. Today's record-low mortgage rates are giving consumers the choice of two great options -- 30-year mortgages that charge just over 4% interest or 15-year loans with rates nearly down to 3%. The first thing to look at is the difference in monthly payments between a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year loan of the same size. You want to look at what that 15-year payment will be and decide if you can handle it. If you can't, that will decide it. Fifteen-year mortgages do charge lower interest rates than 30-year loans -- but carry higher monthly payments because you have to pay all principal back in half the time.  For example, borrowing $300,000 for 15 years at 3.25% average rate means you'll have a $2,108 monthly mortgage payment (excluding the effect of any origination fees). That's nearly 50% higher than the $1,441 you'd pay if you take out the s