UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2017 • 19


THE MORTGAGE COACH


TM


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ Rain, rain go away please come back another day.


rain! Our rivers and lakes are full, and our dams are burst- ing at the seams. Aſt er so many years of drought, I never thought I would say those words.


it time to cash-in our rainy-day fund? As March arrives


So, is


and spring is on the horizon, marking the start of the home buying season. Sonoma Coun- ty home values are still holding strong. With limited supply and strong demand, the pillars of our economy are supporting their values. Under the laws of supply and demand, a hous- ing shortage exists, creating a housing crisis. T e eff ects of the prolonged


recession caused a stagna- tion in new construction. Too


Enough of the Affordable Housing!


many projects were stalled or delayed due to the fi nancial crisis and lack of fi nancing op- tions. Now that the economy has recov- ered and projects are back on track, it still takes time to build. Aff ordable housing is what is at stake here. T e solution is to cre- ate more aff ordable housing units. Plan- ning departments


across the state are relaxing their guidelines for Granny Units, now referred to as Ac- cessory Units. T is is a big win for all of us!


our barista in the morning, and bartender in the evening? We take for granted such ser- vices, but behind every apron is a person that needs a place to call home. Rent control is not the answer. T e answer is in supplying more housing units that can be approved to build. T e City of Santa Rosa is streamlining the approval pro- cess for Accessory Units to help encourage more units and minimize the city’s housing crisis. T e City has expanded the


Aff ordable housing is needed to meet the needs of our grow- ing communities. Every com- munity has service needs, with workers that provide services. T ese service workers are the people that check your grocer- ies and stock grocery shelves. Where would we be without


Poets Corner


Had a Cup ‘O’ Joe Going with the fl ow It’s Kept Me UP I’m Feeling Good AS I should


Each moment great I just ate To create Is my state


As steady as she goes! Paul Andrew Doyle


10 lines- 5 word max per line. Are you in? upbeat@upbeattimes.com


Have You ever Wanted to Self Publish a Book?


I can help, edit, design & produce! It’s fun,


aff ordable & easier than you think!


email: gafraire@comcast.net cell: 336-681-7227


Web site: gabrielfraire.com


Gabriel A. Fraire Writer - Editor - Graphic Designer


“I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched.” ~ Edgar Allan Poe UPBEAT TIMES, INC. • March 2017 • 19


maximum square footage. T e fl oor area of a detached acces- sory dwelling may not exceed 1,200 square feet. T e old re- striction was 700 square feet. No parking space for the unit will be required if you are within one-half mile of pub- lic transit, or within a historic preservation district, or within one block of a car share vehi- cle. T e old rule would have


by Barry O'Meara barryo@stearns.com


required an off -street parking space be provided for the unit. T e old restriction was for one of the units to be owner- occupied. By eliminating that restriction, it opens up more opportunity for an owner of an investment property to expand their rental potential. T is is intended to reduce


the barriers for second dwell- ing unit construction and help relieve the pressure for aff ord- able housing. In our thriving community, we are experienc- ing growing pains. Now able to take advantage of these chang- ing guidelines, this allows peo- ple to make additional income, and bring us aff ordable hous- ing within our community.


For more information and tionplan


update on this progression, you can visit Santa Rosa’s web site at www.srcity.org/housingac-


JOKES & Humor # 6


dinner. He asks his son, “Son, where were you today during school hours?” “At school.” The robot slaps the son. “Okay, I went to the movies!” “What? When I was your age I never cut school!!!” The robot slaps the father. The mom chimes in, “Haha! After all, he is your son!” The robot slaps the mother.


“When walking alone in a jungle of true


darkness, there are three things that can show you


the way: instinct to survive, the knowledge of naviga-


tion, creative imagination. Without them, you are lost.” Toba Beta


A man buys a lie detector robot that slaps people who dont tell the truth. He de- cides to test it at


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