Archive for July, 2010
Do You Know Your Redding Home’s Walkability Score?
INDUSTRY NEWS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SHASTA COUNTY, TIPS FOR BUYERS
Location, location, location is taking on a new meaning in the 21st century as home buyers switch from focusing on schools and neighborhoods to proximity to stores and public transportation. Urban planners cite concerns over future oil prices as the main reason for the shift. They say baby boomers with empty nests and their children buying their first home both are shying away from large lots in remote areas prefering neighborhoods near big box stores, public transportation and entertainment venues.
According to an article published recently in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL,many websites have sprung up to assist home buyers rate a property’s walkability. One such site, www.WalkScore.com allows users to enter a property address and receive a score from 0-100 pegging the walkability of the neighborhood. The scale goes from “car dependant” to “walkers paradise”.
Redding is slowly catching up to this trend with recent zoning changes that allow mixed uses for downtown area parcels. The new Kobe’s Steakhouse location is one example of allowing restaurant,offices and residential units under one roof. Unfortunately, Redding planners for decades preferred island subdivisions away from retail and commercial areas. Most Redding residents must hop in their car to go grocery shopping, take in a movie or eat out. Urban sprawl has been the norm as Redding sought to expand the city limits to gain additional land for development. In recent times, our city officials have experienced the financial pain of extending utilities, maintaining streets and providing police and fire protection to those furthest from the city’s core.
There is mounting evidence that housing prices are higher for properties within walking distance of amenities.One such study was published by the non-profit group CEOs for Cities. For each one point increase in a Walk Score values increased by as much as $3,000!
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALES EXPERIENCE
Majority Of Californians Willing To Pay More Taxes?
INDUSTRY NEWS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Apparently so according to the California Taxpayers Association(Cal Tax) reporting on recent election victories for bonds, hotel, parcel, sales and utility taxes. 44 of 64 local tax measures passed on the June 8 ballot with three more remaining too close to call. Based on these results, expect more cities up and down the state to place tax initiatives on the November ballot.
Cal Tax cited the following new tax proposals as proof local officials are cooking up new revenue schemes:
- San Fransisco Supervisors are considering a tax on commercial rents, a parking tax and an increase in the property transfer tax
- Santa Rosa is pondering an extension of the utility user’s tax to cell phones and asking area hoteliers to add 3% to the bed tax
- Los Angeles is considering a parcel tax to help fund the libraries, despite the failure just days ago of a tax measure to help schools
Redding has kicked around the idea of placing a sales tax hike on the ballot in recent times. I suspect Northstate residents would vote down any new tax regardless of the intended usage of those revenues.
530-224-6767 or 530-941-7492
BRAD GARBUTT
REALTOR/BROKER ASSOCIATE
REAL LIVING REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS
CORNER OF COURT AND PLACER IN REDDING
MORE THAN 25 YEARS LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALES EXPERIENCE
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