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I'm curious whether or not those who in the IHB crowd have decided to make large purchases this year (ie. a new vehicle) are going to put their plans on hold with the new tax increases that went into effect today. As of April 1st, the base sales tax has increased 1% and the registration fee has...

I thought it would be interesting to share the close calls we've experienced in the last few years--be it financial or personal--and perhaps look back on them and laugh...or count your blessings. Considering the nature of the Irvine Housing Blog, I'll start off with a housing close call...

<a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0901/gallery.layoffs_and_salary_cuts/7.html">http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0901/gallery.layoffs_and_salary_cuts/7.html</a> <blockquote>Take this job - or shove it Jarrod Posner - 70% pay cut Old Job: Mortgage lender -...

<a href="http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0901/gallery.layoffs_and_salary_cuts/7.html">http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0901/gallery.layoffs_and_salary_cuts/7.html</a> <blockquote>Take this job - or shove it Jarrod Posner - 70% pay cut Old Job: Mortgage lender - $110,000...

Do we have any folks into metal (music) here? What genres? Thrash, speed, death, folk, power, gray, forest, doom, black, etc I just stumbled across a new band, Korpiklaani, and they're so awesome I can't contain myself so I thought I would pass it along. If you were a metal head you'd...

Are repossessions by banks tallied as a sale by RE market tracking companies such as Data Quick? I.e. after a home goes through foreclosure, isn't purchased at the auction, and goes back to the lender. I was just wondering if the 50% of home sales that consist of foreclosed properties are...

This isn't looking good. Our economy has lost 1.2 million jobs this year: 240,000 in October and a revised 284,000 in September. <blockquote>NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The government reported more grim news about the economy Friday, saying employers cut 240,000 jobs in October - bringing...

<a href="http://www.bigfootnessie08.com/">http://www.bigfootnessie08.com/</a> <img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_r3yg2x59PZc/SMiAAqfy-VI/AAAAAAAAACo/dWEnsvQbD54/s400/podium.png" alt="" /> <blockquote>An excerpt from Bigfoot's historic speech: My fellow hominids, I stand before...

It turns out that ING has a 10-day window to move the money from your CD at maturity, otherwise they roll your CD into a new CD and if you want your money you are forced to pay a penalty of 3 months interest at which ever rate they opt to give you. Unfortunately I was a little over two...

So I am shopping for a new bank. Is there a reputable bank out there with one or more Irvine branches that has free checking without minimum balances? I'm not going to sign up at a bank that has say a $2000 minimum balance, since you don't receive interest any on your checking account. You're...

Is much activity going on in Quail Hill? Redfin shows 47 properties on the MLS in QH but no sales in the last 3 months--which must be in error. However, looking at the still unaffordable prices, I wouldn't be too surprised if nothing is moving. Here's a 2bed/3bath that has been reduced 25%...

Will any other IHB'ers be in the Pacific Coast Triathlon this Sunday? It is in Crystal Cove State Beach just North of Laguna. The PCT is the biggest triathlon in Orange County from what I understand. Registration is still available too! The course is a 1/2 mile ocean swim, 12mi bike ride...

Where I grew up we always had two bins: a black barrel for trash and a blue one for recyclables. I can remember how my grandmother, who lived through the depression, used to scold me for throwing newspaper and glass into the trash bin instead of the recycle bin. As a kid I always thought it...

I'm interested to know what you guys think about the crazy salaries executives of failed bank and lenders receive. For example, if the tax payers bail out Fannie and Freddie, do we keep giving the CEO an 18 million dollar per year salary? What about the CEO of Indy Mac? Is there not a...

After seeing this property I became compelled to give them an award: <a href="http://www.redfin.com/stingray/do/printable-listing?listing-id=1065199" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://ramidogstyle.com/images/market_chaser.jpg" /></a> Days on market: 211 I'm sure everyone...

So I just paid $6 to Equifax to tell me my credit score sucks. Keep in mind I have ZERO debt and only two credit cards (one of which I never use, the other I pay off every month). I have paid off my school loans, vehicle loan, etc. <strong>Your VantageScore is:</strong>...

To qualify for a rebate check from the Fed Gov. in the recent economic stimulus package your adjusted gross income needs to be less than $75,000 for single individuals filing a 2007 tax return. The phase out is 5%, which means that anyone with an AGI of $87,000 or more doesn't get a check. This...

<p>How long have you been saving for your down payment? How much longer do you estimate you'll need to save? What is your savings strategy and vehicle of choice (CDs, gold, investments)? What do you do to save extra money each month?</p> <p>I'm very interested in what post-bubble home buyers...

After the big rate cut by the Fed on Tuesday my ING Direct APR dropped to 3.65%. Putting my savings into a "high yield" savings account doesn't make sense anymore when inflation is higher (CPI was 4.1% in December) than the return I can earn on lending someone else my money. This means...

I swear the Santa Ana winds must be gusting at gale speeds of 50-60 MPH in Irvine right now. Perhaps Irvine will blow away? FYI, Beaufort scale for winds found on wikipedia athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale