patrick.net

DinOR,

I've never enrolled in a HDHP program, but I've had a HSA before (to cover expenses not covered by HMO/insurance). The problem with these things is, you better have a very good idea: (a) what's covered and what's not, and (b) what you're liable to spend in a year. Because, if you overcontribute to the HSA, you don't get your money back.

I like the idea of HDHP, but Sean will probably say that that is regressive against poor people. What is the best way to provide reasonable health care to as many people as possible?

It is fine, skibum, if we keep on topic all the time we will only be getting 35 comments in two days.

Well, we can always talk about food, or more specifically, sushi.

Well, we can always talk about food, or more specifically, sushi.

I agree.

Peter P (or anyone),

Have you been to Town Hall (in SF)? Any opinions?

No. :( Is it good?

We go to SF less than once every two weeks.

I like the idea of HDHP, but Sean will probably say that that is regressive against poor people. What is the best way to provide reasonable health care to as many people as possible?

He will then go on some diatribe about how evil and money-grubbing US doctors are.

I haven't been there, but will probably be going next week.

To be fair, I like DS. At least he is respectful and respectable. It is fine to have different opinions.

House around the corner (in Willow Glen) went up for sale 30 days ago: $1.3 mil. They just added the "price reduced" sign. ANother house around the corner was up for sale three months ago. Had a sale pending sign a month ago. It had a "SOLD" a couple of weerks ago and now the "SOLD" sign gone. The house is still up for sale. hmmm cold feet buyers....didn't qualify?....wonder what the story was. It's definitely slowing down.

I agree - I like him fine. He does keep things interesting. It is true that I agree with his opinion almost none of the time, though!

El HARM-O

Nope, sent directly to me, I think Sen Boxer typed it herself. aahahahahahahaha

HARM,

The Aetna calculator link was really quite helpful. I wonder why my State Farm guy never mentioned having a calc. Even w/modest contributions and an inv. return capped at 5% I would have about 50K in the account and over 12k in tax savings. (I only ran contributions to age 62). Very interesting. Something I'll work with and get right this year.

The tough part is that I'm still covered under the wife's plan so I would have to get a physical (on their tab) and once given a clean bill of health, take the plunge!

skibum Says:

> Peter P (or anyone),
> Have you been to Town Hall (in SF)? Any opinions?

It has been consistently better than average for years and is a fun place to go with a group if you get the big high “party table” by the front door ...

I was just there a couple weeks ago (two of us at a 4 top) on a Sunday night and the place was not as loud as usual since we got there late and the crowd thinned out...

"That said, stuff between ElCam and 101 were always in the 800’s in Mountain View. Not much of a drop from what I’ve seen"

If so funny what some new upstarts are saying.
ALWAYS !!! Always seems to be very short term when you been here
since the 70s. Its amazing what some people from out of state
have stuffed into their little mind. As I recall it was more or less around
$150-160K 10 years ago. You see i had a habit of looking up RE prices
back in the 80s and 90s from the grocery rag bin and do recall prices
in many areas.

Maybe the question some should be asking ... Is 800K really gonna stick?
And we all know what the answer is to that. Its real value will go down reall deep and hard.

eburbed Says:

> The British pound is over $2USD today.
> I weep.

Looks like the price of Land Rover parts will be going up...

Wifey and I have actually put a bid in on a house in Ventura. Very very funny, Realtors, man they just can't put the kool-aid cup down. "There's lots of interest in this house, but no other offers". Ok, so it there are no other offers, is there really any interest in the house?

They tried the whole "counter offer" bs, to which I curtly replied "we are not interested in making any counter offers". From Realtor, "ok, just counter offer with the same offer'. Funny thing is that when I got the counter counter offer form, which should have had the same information on it, it didn't. I called and said, "the counter counter offer doesn't have the closing costs included". Realtor replied "oh it's just a paper trail". I interrupted and said I would not sign without that on it. "ok, well just write it in". Don't know if they were trying to pull a fast one, but man, come on now.

My thoughts are that housing will continue to go down, this house has is down about 125K from last year. It will continue to go down, my guess is to about $425K or so. My "concern" is that while is prices are going to go down if the funding dries up, ie, no down payment via calhfa I couldn't buy anyways. Our goal is find a place we like, our requirements are low, small bungalow, good location walking distance to pubs and/or places to eat, yard with gate and a garage. Calhfa is pretty smoking funding, 100% at 5.625 with 12.5 basically free money, and they make your payment for 6 months when you get laid off*

As a knee pad wearing member of the laid off Gen-X set, I am certain of one thing, I will be laid off again sometime.

"House around the corner (in Willow Glen) went up for sale 30 days ago: $1.3 mil"

10 years ago tyical home goes for under 200K... you may swing 300K
which is on the upper range of 3x salary. $1 maybe if its in the Mountains of Los Gatos or LA Hills. There is no such thing as $1.3M Willow Glen home. Poor uneducated soul-less buyer out of state is paying for someone elses early retirement.

MtViewRenter,

I currently have a SEP and it allows up to 25% of comp. (or 44k) whichever is the lesser. Unless I add employees down the road it should suffice.

I just wondered if there were others out there that "intended" to set up a Charitable Remainder Trust (or whatever) and didn't follow up and what their strategies might be for '07. It's never too soon to start.

surfer-x I like the way you think and do.

surfer-x,

Cool - congrats (if it comes through)!

The DQ numbers show that Ventura (and SD) RE prices are leading the way down in our glorious state. Sounds like it's the right time for you guys.

surfer x putting in a bid on a home when there's only been a slight decline (to date). Not the surfer x "I" know!

DinOR, yeah, it has given me much headache, I've charted Ventura five ways to sunday, took all the sales in the past 2 years from Zillow, and got a R^2 value of .95 on a linear fit for median and mean sale prices. I know that the prices will under-cool and the stay flat for about 10 years. Our only concern is that funding will dry up. We have no outstanding debts a 780 FICO, good salary, about 0.625Haha, but no down, and with the mano-y-mano expenses of coastal ca the ability to save 100K for a down isn't there. So screw it. The tax advantages really aren't what people think they are but filing short form isn't the way to go either. So what's a brother to do? Plus Ventura has that smooth mellow vibe that I'm looking for. We'll need to get a place with an Avocado tree and some blue agave plants as we won't be able to afford guacamole or tequila.

"Then I said “I wonder how long until cupertino (she mainly works saratoga/cup) starts falling consistantly” and she immediately jumped in saying that properties were still selling with multiple offers there, and the prices wouldn’t drop. The schools are just too good!"

Children of rich parents rarely have the motivation of their poor parents.
Children of Saratoga and Los Gatsos grew up with lots of problems. Plenty I knew from my days in Saratoga had a Coke problem. Even today LGPD
busts on Meth are common. Rich kids with lots of money, not a good mix.
Cupertino was full of pot heads as well.

Saratoga is overrated if your thinking about your family. Its great if your single or newly married without kids. For my taste too boring.

Space Ace :)

surfer x putting in a bid on a home when there’s only been a slight decline (to date). Not the surfer x “I” know!

It is fine to put in bids...

@X,

Seriously? I've rented for about 3 years now and I haven't "gone short form" since high school. Hate to say it.... but I still got my doubts. That really you?

It's all about utility value. In the end, money is just a means to an end. I'm sure X and Ms X have weighed the balance.

People who've waited the past two years are better off than those who didn't, especially in X's area. They only person here who continually insists he's clairvoyant enough to recognize the *exact* bottom also screamed and yelled (2 years ago) that prices wouldn't and couldn't be sticky, and that only an idiot fool realtor shill could believe otherwise.

My point is, everyone should buy if and when it fits their life. Just try to make sure you can afford it and it's worth the risk. But remember, in the long run, we're all dead.

Congrats X. I'm sure you don't need to be warned that it ain't over until the overweight Austrian sings. Back in 2002 we had a solid purchase offer for a home in Emerald Hills, contingencies removed, done deal fall apart 4 days before closing because the builder/owner/rehaber decided he would rather take an under the table all cash offer. His response to all involved "sue me". No one did (though we got our earnest deposit back with 5x interest).

Saratoga has nice trees though.

Tree is the universal indicator. Companies with good trees will do well. Neighborhoods with good trees will thrive.

"Saratoga has nice trees though"

They were nice 10 years ago as well.
Are they nicer 2-3x more since many are
paying 2-3x more 10 years ago.

"Neighborhoods with good trees will thrive"

LOL! I guess they should have never cut down the
orchards in Sunnyvale and Mountain View.

I do get a kick out of many out of state transplants.
Truly blinded by their own hype.

FAB was looking at the LX570, right?

Space Ace,

I think Peter has a point. Trees in a neighborhood = good.

Not 2x3 times good, but EVERYTHING in the bay area did 2x3 times over the last 10 years. If you can buy the exact same house in two different neighborhoods with the exact same school system, same town, etc... but one had a lot of trees and the other didn't... you could expect a slight premium (say 5%) for the tree lined neighborhood. And you'd see a slight premium in rent there, too. And the poorest people in that city won't pay 5% premium for trees for the most part, so you will end up with a slightly 'nicer' neighborhood as far as being well kept, etc.

It's not a huge influence, but it's definately an influence.

I do get a kick out of many out of state transplants.
Truly blinded by their own hype.

Huh?

Some of the trees in Stanford and along Sand Hill are really beautiful. My theory is that trees reflect the essence of their surroundings.

Peter P - "It is fine to put in bids…

...in fact, this correction requires them.

Imagine what would happen if more lowball, (say, 30% or more below asking) offers were being made?

We're already seeing examples of Buyers being less worried about offending sellers with an offer, 10-20% below asking. If it is truly a buyer's market, and you are dead set on buying now, then its time to cowboy up!

My wife and I are considering a 40% below lowball offer on a place that we see keep popping up on craigslist.

I will pay a 10% premium for trees. But I will not pay any premium for the schools.

Imagine what would happen if more lowball, (say, 30% or more below asking) offers were being made?

Very true.

My wife and I are considering a 40% below lowball offer on a place that we see keep popping up on craigslist.

Ideally, you want something that is just below your range and have them chase the price down. Give them false hope. Then take it down one notch. Repeated until their minds play games with them.

Children of rich parents rarely have the motivation of their poor parents.
Children of Saratoga and Los Gatsos grew up with lots of problems. Plenty I knew from my days in Saratoga had a Coke problem. Even today LGPD
busts on Meth are common. Rich kids with lots of money, not a good mix.
Cupertino was full of pot heads as well.

Is this a California of the 70's specific story?

I knew a lot of rich kids from NY/NJ metro area - they all turned out quite well. Most of them were lawyers, doctors, IB, etc. The high school I went to was in a tony part of the east coast - it had a 80% 4-year college rate.