The Power Is Now Magazine | October, 2021

OCTOBER 2021 Vol. 08 | Issue 10

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NONVIOLENCE Page 130

THE UNITED STATES ECONOMIC FORECAST: 4TH QUARTER 2021 Page 14

DERRICK JOHNSON President and CEO of The NAACP

HAVE YOU READ OUR PAST ISSUES YET? the power is now

magazine CENTRAL EDITION Vol. 08 | Issue 9

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA Publisher Office: (800) 401-8994 Ext. 703 Direct: (714) 361-2105 eric.frazier@thepowerisnow.com www.thepowerisnow.com EDITORIAL TEAM Sheila Gilmore Editor in Chief (800) 401-8994 ext. 711 sheila.gilmore@thepowerisnow.com Daniels George Managing Editor (800) 401-8994 ext. 712 daniels.george@thepowerisnow.com Goldy Ponce Arratia Graphic Artist and Design Manager goldy.ponce@thepowerisnow.com

CONTRIBUTORS The Power Is Now Research Team

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CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2021 POWER LENDING Pg. 22. HUD And FHFA combine efforts to focus on fair lending

POWER TECHNOLOGY Pg. 24. How to Improve Mortgage Processing with Document Automation

CENTRAL EDITION: POWER GREEN Pg. 8. Energy Commission Adopts Updated Building Standards to Improve Efficiency, Reduce Emissions From Homes and Businesses.

Pg. 10. Report Shows California Needs 1.2 Million Electric Vehicle Chargers by 2030

POWER ECONOMICS Pg. 14. The United States Economic Forecast: 4th Quarter 2021

POWER REAL ESTATE Pg. 16. Builder confidence has been declining since January Pg. 18. Supreme Court Strikes Down CDC Eviction Moratorium Pg. 20. New Home Size Increases as Demand for More Space Continues

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Pg. 29. 8 Fundamentals of Commercial Property Investing for Beginners , by Steve Peterson.

Pg. 33. The Hidden costs of downsizing, by Norman Green.

Pg. 37. How to avoid bad deals on income properties, by Johnnie Morine.

Pg. 41. Which mortgage is right for you?, by Sharon Bartlett.

EAST COAST EDITION: Pg. 47. Avoid these mistakes between loan approval and closing, by Emerick Peace.

Pg. 51. What to know about property taxes, by Adriana Montes.

WEST COAST EDITION: Pg. 57. Why Keep Renting? It seems Cheaper to buy!, by Yvonne McFadden.

Pg. 61. Are real estate prices in Phoenix Arizona Starting to stabilize?, by Peggie Simons.

Pg. 65. August 2021 real estate market statistics for Corona, CA, by Kamesha Keesee.

Pg. 69. This is how best to price your home in a seller’s market, by Ameer Elahee.

Pg. 73. The common renovations mistakes sellers make and how to avoid them, by Ruby Frazier.

Pg. 70. Meet Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of The NAACP. Pg. 83. Selling a Home With a Lien, by Cornelius Jackson.

Pg. 87. How to compete as a buyer in Corona’s Sellers Market, by Jenny Gonzalez.

Pg. 91. Here’s how to avoid homebuyer’s remorse in 2021, by Danon Burnside.

Pg. 95. San Diego Market Update: San Diego rents are among the highest in the country,

by Denise Matthis.

Pg. 99. Is your home a turn-off for buyers?, by Kenneth Session.

Pg. 103. Getting a top dollar for your Sacramento Home this fall, by Robert Langston.

Pg. 107. Here’s what I think about online mortgage lenders, by Briana Frazier.

Pg. 111. Los Angeles Market Update: the Chaos in LA- No homes for sale and Rents are skyrocketing, by Adrian Bates.

Pg. 115. Why a Curb appeal matters, by Success Money.

Pg. 119. Buying with cash: pros and cons, by Joe Fisher.

POWER LEGAL Pg. 122. The housing industry’s disparate impact hopes

POWER MORTGAGE Pg. 126. Could it be possible that Racial bias is baked in GSE underwriting policies?

POWER HEALTH Pg. 128. It’s Time to End the Racially Unjust Medical Debt Crisis

POWER HISTORY Pg. 130. International Day of Non-Violence Pg. 132. World Teacher Day Pg. 134. What It Means to be a Hispanic Pg. 136. National Disability Employment Awareness Month

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FROM THE EDITOR

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he blazing summertime heat is over. And this year, as expected the real estate market was blazing hot, but something interesting is unfolding. But we’ll get to that in a minute.

As we approach the final months of the year, I get excited because it’s the conference season, where we get to network, engage, learn and connect with our long-lost friends from places we almost forgot! I just love this season! Speaking of conferences, we actually have some coming up starting with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) which is having their conference in San Francisco starting October 7, through Oct 9, 2021. It will be a homecoming event, where AREAA is celebrating the home to where so much of the Asian American story begins. Come and join us and be a part of three days of togetherness. Be part of learning and sharing in your industry. Be part of the experience that helps to drive AREAA’s mission to increase AAPI homeownership.

The L’ATTITUDE Conference started on September 29, through Oct 2, 2021. Folks, what you need to understand is that L’ATTITUDE is more than just an event. It’s an experience and the largest single gathering of New Mainstream Americans in our country. I had an incredible experience at the Five Star Conference and Expo that happened from September 19th to September 21 in Dallas Texas. This was the 18th year the Five Star Conference continued the tradition of providing superior events, education programs, and networking opportunities that attendees have come to rely upon, as well as new additions designed to help businesses grow and I couldn’t be more proud to be part of this incredible event.

The Federal Reserve met this September for where the Board of Governors voted unanimously to maintain the interest rate paid on reserve balances at 0.15 percent. And as part of its policy decision, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to authorize and direct the Open Market Desk at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, until instructed otherwise, to execute transactions in the System Open Market Account.

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THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

Moving over to the world of Real estate, I have only one word - hectic. Nonetheless, this was expected because, for the last two years, the real estate market has been hectic. The real estate prices have been rising steadily, but for the last two months, prices have been cooling down which might be a good signal that the market is ready to cool down but we’ll have to wait and see.

This month we are doing a profile of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) President Derrick Johnson who has been a very vocal activist fighting for the rights of the African Americans in the country.

Find out how he began his works in Mississippi and actually founded an organization in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This is a story you do not want to miss.

YOUR VOICE IS YOUR BRAND! INCREASE LEAD GENERATION, AND GIVE YOU THE POWER TO CLOSE MORE DEALS! Join Every Other Friday

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Promote Your Listings Online

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This issue of The Power Is Now also features various articles about planning for homeownership and how to get yourself there financially. Applying for a home loan can be frightening, but we will get you through this to purchase your dream home.

The Power Is Now would like to thank our readers, listeners, and contributors for their continued support. We invite you to join us online for invaluable blog posts, engaging radio shows, and the latest issues of our magazines to enhance your learning in the field of real estate, finance, and success. You have the power to change your life, because The Power Is Now. ERIC L. FRAZIER MBA President and CEO The Power Is Now Media, Inc.

CALL YOUR HOST FOR MORE INFORMATION

SHARON BARTLETT

(800) 401-8994 ext. 712 Sharon.Bartlett@thepowerisnow.com www.thepowerisnow.com

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Energy Commission Ado Standards to Improve Effi Emissions From Homes

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ecently, the California Energy Commission adopted the 2022 Building Energy Efficiency Standards to improve efficiency and reduce emissions from homes. The “Energy Code,” as the Building Standards is called, will be beneficial to public health in the state, result in cleaner energy, and drive the state’s goal towards climate change.

According to the energy commission, building standards are changed every three years to boost energy efficiency and minimize carbon footprint cost-efficiently. In addition, the state’s energy and planning body revealed that homes and businesses in California utilize 70% of electricity and solely account for a portion of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. This explains the reason for the Energy Code Adoption.

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THE UPDATED ENERGY CODE WILL DRIVE CALIFORNIA HOMES TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY Energy Efficiency Commissioner Andrew McAllister said that buildings impact health and the economy.

The commissioner said that the commission is looking into the future that utilizes less energy with less pollution. With the adopted Energy Code, California would drive towards low utilization of carbon technologies so that everyone can stay healthy and comfortable. As a result, the state would meet its long-term low-carbon emission goals.

However, spokeswoman for the commission Lindsay Buckley said that although there is no assurance that the Building Standards Commission will adopt the plan, she is convinced that such plan won’t be rejected, especially if approved by the energy board.

According to experts, the Energy Code will reduce ten million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions

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THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

opts Updated Building fficiency, Reduce s and Businesses and offer close to a billion and a half dollars in consumer benefits over the next three decades if approved. The adopted standards will also reduce the cost of technology, including the production of explosive vehicles.

The Energy Code implies that constructors would add solar power to all the new structures, including commercial and residential projects.

These buildings would be cabled to encourage less utilization of gas-powered units and convert the models to electrical sources. Commercial buildings affected by the Energy Code include hotels, schools, offices, restaurants, theaters, etc.

The Energy Code Emphasizes Primary Areas The recently adopted Building Energy Standards focuses on primary areas; •

Encouraging electric heat pump technology for less energy utilization and fewer emissions.

•

Push for producing more electric technologies for homes and buildings for owners to use electric-powered units, such as electric vehicles and electric heating appliances.

•

Increase solar photovoltaic system and battery storage quality to make green energy readily sufficient and obtainable. In addition, it will drive the state’s goals towards a fully clean electricity grid.

•

Solidify ventilation requirements to enhance indoor air quality.

The update will be put forward to the California Building Standards Commission for further consideration later in December. If the standards

WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

are approved, they will be implemented on the first day of January 2023. It would give contractors and building constructors a year ahead to prepare for the changes.

The world is driving towards clean energy, which is vital to protect the environment for future generations. With the drive for climate change starting from buildings and constructions, emissions will reduce drastically, resulting in more comfortable living. In addition, the updated building standards would make buildings withstand extreme conditions better, reduce energy costs, and lower air toxicity.

Soon, states in the U.S will adopt similar energy standards, resulting in a hike in home prices.

So start now by planning for the future. If you are looking to buy a home, now is never too late. Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with purchasing a home or investment property. Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-261-1634 ext.

703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media References https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2021-08/energy-commission-adopts-updatedbuilding-standards-improve-efficiency-reduce-0 https://www.forconstructionpros.com/business/news/21614832/californiaenergy-commission-approves-solar-mandate-for-new-buildings

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Report: California Needs 1.2 Million Electric Vehicle Chargers by 2030

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he California Energy Commission revealed in its report that California needs about 1.2 million electric vehicle chargers by 2030 to match the 7.5 million passenger vehicle demand expected by that time. This is in line with the charging needs stipulated in Bill 2127 and Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive order, which requires all new passenger vehicles to produce zero carbon emissions by 2035.

In addition, the commission also stated that; •

157,000 more chargers would be required by 2030 for medium and heavy-duty trucks and buses, estimated to be 180,000.

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•

About 73,000 chargers are available for passengers and other EV types, with an additional 123,000 expected in 2025.

•

This is short of the 250,000 chargers the state had envisioned by the same year.

THE GAP IN ELECTRIC CHARGERS ACROSS THE STATE ENORMOUS The electric vehicle Charging assessment report from CEC shows that the state is behind in electric vehicles chargers. Installation efforts need to be increased to construct more charging stations for electric vehicle usage.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

The report also noted that the state’s incentive project for producing electric chargers CALeVIP is oversubscribed by hundreds of millions of dollars, stressing the need for more EV chargers to be made and funded.

According to the same report, electric consumption from passenger electric vehicles charging could reach up to 5.5 MW by 2030 at peak, driving electricity demand up by 25%. To resolve the situation, the energy commission suggested utilizing vehicle-to-grid integration VGI. VGI will allow drivers to program charging times when demand is high and low.

Commissioner said that the health of the planet and the various communities were at stake due to carbon and appraised California’s governor for prioritizing green energy by including it in the 2022 budget. The budget will help meet consumer needs through planned public investments.

On the flip side, purchasing a home in California has never been easier. With a reputable realtor by your side, you are confident of getting the best deals even in the frenzy housing market. Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with purchasing a home or investment property. Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

The CEC also recommended deploying equitable chargers throughout the state through public funding; supporting local efforts to welcome electric transportation; emphasizing establishing communication standards, and supporting various financing processes to boost the growth of the EV market. CEC said it’s imminent to bridge the gap in electric chargers to meet the state’s goal of zeroing carbon emissions. While the commission acknowledged the ambitiousness of the 2030 goal, it would create more jobs.

COMBUSTIBLE TRANSPORTATION POSES HEALTH RISKS Pollution caused by combustible vehicles has become a severe threat to humans and livelihood. Air pollution is aggravating wildfires, the atmosphere, the ozone layer, and rising sea levels. In addition, carbon monoxide makes the air unbreathable, resulting in several respiratory problems, heart conditions, shortage of human lifespan, and environmental degradation.

Furthermore, this air pollution impacts cognitive abilities and contributes to some behavioral problems in children. Therefore, eliminating gaspowered vehicles and adopting green energy vehicles is essential to reducing carbon emission and respiratory issues.

Patty Monahan noted that California wouldn’t back down from the challenge of ensuring that the state achieves zero carbon emission by 2030. The CEC WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media References https://chargedevs.com/newswire/report-california-needs-1-2-million-evchargers-by-2030/ https://www.energy.ca.gov/news/2021-06/report-shows-california-needs-12million-electric-vehicle-chargers-2030

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LEADING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REAL ESTATE

JOIN THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA VIP AGENT PROGRAM TODAY!

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3 Brand your company 3 Promote your listings and business nationally on online Radio and TV 3 Promote your listings and business nationally in our monthly The Power Is Now National Magazine, and in our weekly Real Estate Magazine and Program Guide 3 Network with industry leaders and top agents 3 Lead generation opportunities and support 3 Business support, technology and marketing services

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*Advertisement contains general program information, is not an offer for extension of credit nor a commitment to lend and is subject to change without notice. Example based on 97% Conventional First Mortgage Loan combined with 7% in down payment and clossing cost assistance. For complete program guidelines, loan applications, interest rates and annual percentage rates (APRs) contact a GSFA Participating Lender. Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) is a duly constituted public entity and agency. Copyright © 2021.

THE UNITED STATES ECONOMIC FORECAST: 4TH QUARTER 2021

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espite the pandemic, the economy has continually improved since 2020, heading into Q3 2021. However, experts are worried that the current Delta variant will retrogress the country’s economy in Q4. TPIN experts take a critical look at the primary economic indicators, GDP, Unemployment, and Inflation, to determine if the country’s outlook in Q4 will worsen or improve. But first, let’s look at Q3 economic indices.

In Q3, retail sales rose 0.6%, though lower than the 18.3% increase in May in the 2020 hit-recession year. In Q3, particularly in June, the unemployment rate maintained a steady rate of 5.9%, averaging 394,000 jobs. Compared to Q3 last year in June, the unemployment rate was double digits, 14 l

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Q3 AND Q2 U.S. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK The United States Economy recovered tremendously in Q3 of 2021, spreading by a record 33.8%. Despite the huge milestone, the expansion wasn’t enough to mitigate earlier economic losses, which is the 5% drop in Gross Domestic Product in Q1. In Q2, the economy contracted by 31%.

Never in the history of the United States has the economy contracted by more than 10%. At least, since record-keeping started in 1947.

respectively. The committee anticipates that more workers will recover their jobs by that time as the pandemic declines. In terms of job creation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that six million jobs would be created from 2019-2029. However, the body didn’t factor in the pandemic during the time of the publishing.

The BLS also predicts more jobs in e-commerce, transportation, computer-based occupations, and health care. However, sectors like agriculture, postal service, manufacturing and retail services, and information-based industries will decline in jobs.

Overall, the job market will look stronger in Q4 upwards.

starting from April, although it declined steadily going forward.

This proves that Q3 recorded significant growth in the job sector and the GDP.

The oil and gas prices will remain stable throughout Q4 of 2021, considering that a barrel for Brent crude oil averaged $73 in June. However, the United States EIA anticipates a decline in 2022.

The forecast, however, doesn’t include renewable energy, as this could change the outcome of things.

Q4 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK PREDICTION In a recent report released by Federal Open Market Committee FOMC in June, the committee predicts that the U.S. GDP will grow by 7% in Q4 and drop to about 3.5% in 2022. The GDP will contrast further to 2.4% in 2023, but this is all speculation. It could worsen, and on the other hand, it could improve.

Mortgage rates will likely hover around 3% in Q4 of 2021.

However, the Fed is making sure that the rates remain flexible to encourage borrowing and consumer spending. In a bid to make this happen, the Fed would purchase mortgage-backed securities and treasury. This will slow down supply in the Treasury market, which will keep the benchmark for fixed rates low.

The FOMC also predicts that the last quarter will have a 4.5% unemployment rate, which will decline in subsequent years to 3.8% and 3.5% in 2022 and 2023,

While the reports for Q4 are healthy, the labor market is still far from recovering the 22 million jobs it has lost due to the Coronavirus. However, there’s

WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

no denying the fact that the U.S. economy is on a recovery path.

Moreover, with more healthy economic policies implemented, especially in real estate and businesses, the U.S. economy will recover even further.

The economic outlook for Q4 is healthy, and this means well for the real estate market. So take advantage of the opportunity to get home, especially with the low interest rate. Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with purchasing a home or investment property. Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC. The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow. com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media References https://www.thebalance.com/us-economicoutlook-3305669 https://www.bls.gov/emp/ https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/ articles/210624-economic-outlook-u-s-q3-2021sun-sun-sun-here-it-comes-12014595 https://www.thebalance.com/fomc-meetingsschedule-and-statement-summaries-3305975 https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/prices.php

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Builder Confidence Has Been Declining

since January

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omebuilder confidence in the market has been declining since January, driven by the high costs of building materials and low supply. In August, the builder’s confidence level fell to an all-time low in thirteen months, dropping by five points to 75. Experts had expected the reading to remain the same, but in August, it showed that the builder’s confidence had worsened.

The United States NAHB, a body in charge of the marketing index, revealed that the 75 reading recorded in August was the lowest since July the year prior when it read 80. According to NAHB, a reading above 50 signifies that homebuilders see the market as favorable instead of poor. However, the five points decline only means that more builders have a different view of the current market conditions.

were dashed when the prices of construction materials became expensive. In November, builder confidence hit a record high of 90. However, two months later, it had fallen to 83 from 86 in December. That has been the range until 75 in August.

NAHB Chairman said that while the low mortgage rates and demographics are enticing, higher building materials and supply costs have resulted in an unsurprisingly low level of home construction and even homebuying. However, NAHB’s survey for single-family homes for the next six months predicts that the market index will hold steady at 81, higher than the current 75, and could be the highest over a year.

Meanwhile, the prospective buyer’s index has fallen to 60.

In January, the sales conditions dropped to 90 from 92. In addition, NAHB predicted sales activities could drop to 83 within the next six months, while the buyer index would fall

Spike In Building Materials Prices Responsible for the Surging Home Prices The surging home prices across California and other states in the U.S. result from the high cost of lumber and other building materials. Consequently, this led to a low housing supply. Due to the high construction costs and limited supply, only a few prospective buyers believe this is the perfect time to acquire a home.

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Two months before January 2021, builders were optimistic that buyer demand would skyrocket, driven by the desire to get larger homes in the suburbs due to Covid-19. However, their hopes THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

to 68. Unfortunately, those figures are way above the current indexes, indicating the worsening market situation.

COVID-19 A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE WORSENING MARKET INDEXES Although the huge importation tax placed on lumber importation may have played a part in the cost of lumber prices and other building materials, the Coronavirus aggravated the situation. The emergence of the virus in the United States caused the housing market and hospitality industry huge losses. According to United States Economist Oren Klachkin, the Covid situation will likely continue until autumn.

Although lumber prices have slightly declined, the costs of other building materials are still expensive.

Plus, there’s limited space for home construction due to the zoning laws and lack of labor that elongate the delivery time of the building materials.

When these are added together, it’s expected that home prices will continue to surge. Now, the Delta variant is in full force, consequently reducing buyer traffic, especially in the South and Midwest.

The housing market is a significant driver of its economy, but limited inventory will constrain its

solid growth. In addition, the lack of buildable lands will make it challenging to meet the rising demand, consequently hampering affordable housing.

While Covid is still prevalent, some options can mitigate the high costs of houses. For instance, the zoning laws across all states will be adjusted to suit the current economic reality. This will give homebuilders more land to build, consequently arresting housing shortage and costs of housing.

Recently, California legislators advanced the second zoning bill in Congress to aid in the building of additional housing units on lots allocated to single-family properties. Other states can make similar moves to push for affordable housing across the country.

Housing affordability is becoming almost nonexistent in the U.S real estate market. This has driven many people into becoming renters.

However, you can still get an affordable home in a perfect location with the help of our realtors.

Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with purchasing a home or investment property. Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 with First Bank and can be reached at 800261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC. The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009

by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderateincome and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www. thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

References https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-homebuilder-confidence-falls-13-month-lowaugust-2021-08-17/ https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2021/01/20/spike-in-lumber-and-land-prices-causeshomebuilder-confidence-to-fall.html

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SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN CDC EVICTION MORATORIUM

The end of the eviction moratorium came after some landlords in Georgia and Alabama opposed the recent extension of the moratorium enforced by the CDC, intended to run for two months, starting from August 3 to October 3. The Supreme Court concurred with the respective groups, stating that the agency had no power to enforce such a decision. In an eight-page opinion, the Supreme Court stated that bodies like the CDC have no power to act unlawfully, even if such decisions were 18 l

intended to benefit the public.

The High Court had made a similar judgment concerning the issue once. A judge in Washington D.C. revealed that powers granted to the CDC didn’t include restricting evictions or extending the moratorium for rental defaulters. However, Judge Friedrich stated that the Biden administration could appeal for the extension to hold.

CDC’S END OF EVICTION MORATORIUM DIVIDES THE SUPREME COURT Not all justices concurred with realtors and housing groups’ opinions to end the moratorium. Justice Stephen G. Breyer and two other liberal justices of the Supreme Court said that the decision to and the eviction moratorium was untimely and rash. According to these judges, most countries THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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he Supreme Court suspended the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction moratorium in some states in the country despite the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The suspension means that millions of Americans who were once protected from paying rent will no longer have the privilege.

are dealing with high rates of the pandemic, and it was only natural for the public to support CDC’s decision regarding the moratorium. A White House Spokesperson stated that the eviction would put many American families at risk of contracting the virus.

Several realtors were pleased with the court’s decision to end the moratorium, describing it as ”necessary” from a legal perspective and equality point of view. The decision will bring an end to illegal policies that subject housing providers to financial WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

hardships due to non-payment of rents. According to the providers, the decision by the Supreme Court will re-establish property rights in the country.

home or investment property.

Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-2611634 ext. 703.

The Biden administration has had a strong opinion on the eviction moratorium, but the American President stated that their hands were full amid the pressure from groups to end the moratorium. Although the administration sent a brief to the court in June to persuade Congress for an extension, it was challenged by the legislators.

They noted that the reason for the extension was from a political point of view. A year of the moratorium was enough for the citizens.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow. com.

Despite the end of the moratorium, the CDC could temporarily suspend evictions in areas with high transmission cases. The health agency said that a majority of United States Counties were experiencing high levels of transmission. Tenants may still be protected by the CDC and state restrictions. It’s estimated that about six million renters will face eviction after the August ruling by the Supreme Court.

Don’t allow the end of the eviction moratorium to render you homeless. You can still get the best affordable deals with the right realtor behind you. Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with purchasing a

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

References https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ courts_law/supreme-court-eviction-ban-struckdown/2021/08/26/46bce3e2-0511-11ec-a654900a78538242_story.html https://nahbnow.com/2021/08/supreme-courtstrikes-down-cdc-eviction-moratorium/

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New Home Size Increases As Demand for More Space Continues

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midst the Coronavirus’s resurgence, demand for new single-family homes rose in Q2. This comes as the need for more spaces continues. The median size of a single-family home rose to 2,297 sq. ft, while the average sq. ft. rose to 2,540.

According to NAHB analysis, the median home size consistently increased between 2009 and 2015 due to new building constraints. Although it declined from 2016 to 2020, demand started to rise again as more homes were built. The change in preference for additional space is attributed to the recent Covid-19 resurgence.

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HOME SIZE DECREASED PRE-PANDEMIC Before the advent of the pandemic in the United States, which led to the country’s recession in 2020, demand for larger spaces declined as builders constructed more new single-family homes. This eventually leveled up the market.

As a result, the mean square footage decreased to 2,464. For a few months, it remained like this, especially as more millennials entered the market to acquire affordable homes.

But now, the pandemic has sparked the desire for more spaces. People want larger homes to craft office spaces where they can work remotely.

According to real estate expert Rose Quint, builders are requesting to construct additional larger homes to meet more rooms. Quint, a researcher for the National Association of Home Builders, says she estimates the number of larger single-family houses to increase in Q4 of 2021 until 2022, especially with the recent development on the zoning bills.

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LARGER HOMES COME AT A PRICE AND POSE HEALTH RISKS Larger homes may give you more spaces for your activities, but they are not without their downsides, such as additional expenses and more carbon emissions. Larger spaces use more energy than smaller homes, so running expenses will be high.

In addition, according to Maurie Cohen, who works at the Institute of Technology in New Jersey, building larger homes will increase greenhouse gas emissions and worsen climate change. Cohen said, ”There has been very little attention devoted to the fact that if we’re really serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making a meaningful contribution on climate change, that one of the more surefire ways of doing so is by focusing on a reduction in home size.”

Despite the widespread call for larger homes, only a few people can afford them. Home prices are surging, with single-family houses leading

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

the charge. While buyers are taking advantage of the low mortgage interest to finance their homes, the limited home supply will increase buying competition, making it hard for home buyers to purchase homes.

The rising costs of building materials will make building larger homes more complicated. So, if larger homes are finally built, the exorbitant price tag will keep many buyers from purchasing the home. However, we can help you secure the best affordable home in your favorite location. Contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with buying a home or investment property. Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

References https://nahbnow.com/2021/08/new-home-size-increases-as-demand-formore-space-continues/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.marketplace.org/2020/10/26/homebuilders-see-demand-bigger-houses/amp

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HUD

Although the two agencies will be doing the job together, the HUD will primarily enforce the Fair Housing Act, while the FHFA will regulate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the mortgage market. The collaborative investigation is one thing that raised an eyebrow in the industry, considering that the HUD and the FHFA haven’t undertaken such a significant move before, especially regarding fair lending policy.

THE FAIR HOUSING ACT AND WHAT IT MEANS The Fair Housing Act of 1968 shields housing buyers and renters from discriminatory acts initiated by sellers, landlords, and lending institutions. In essence, the Act describes discrimination based on THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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HUD and FHFA Combine Efforts to Focus on Fair Lending

and FHFA publicly agreed to combine efforts to enforce the Fair Housing Act for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The two bodies signed an MoU to ensure that government-backed agencies alongside Federal Home Loan Banks work by the Act to ensure fair lending. According to the signed MoU, the two bodies will work together to share information, carry out investigatory tasks, review compliance, and undertake other tasks that will ensure the enforcement of the Act.

WHAT THE COLLABORATION WILL BRING TO THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY The mortgage market has a history of discrimination, especially towards the Black low-income earners and the minority groups. Although some financial institutions have helped lend to minorities, thanks to the Community Reinvestment Act, the rise of non-bank lenders is negatively impacting the lending industry. With people in communities unable to access credit, homeownership opportunities become limited.

race, sex, religion, disability, etc., as illegal. Thus, any individual or financial body involved in discriminatory acts against renters and buyers, such as refusing to sell a house or charging a higher interest rate for mortgage loans, faces the law.

The housing act was amended in 1974 to add gender discrimination and in 1988 to include disabled individuals.

In addition, states may make a few alterations to the Act by adding to it in their respective jurisdictions. The HUD is the principal enforcer of the Fair Housing Act. WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

The widespread call by some of these marginalized individuals led to the recent collaboration between the FHFA and HUD. THANKS TO THE AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING RULE; the HUD has a more definitive approach on the matter. The AFFHR will emphasize abolishing discriminatory lending and rewrite history patterns of segregation towards the lowincome earners who can’t access the various lending opportunities.

The housing rule will accomplish affordable housing policies, address inequality, and turn ethnic communities into an area of endless opportunities. The Memorandum of Understanding between the two bodies will give each entity an avenue to extend support to each other’s fair lending policies. In addition, the regulators will share lending responsibilities and advise the other when there’s a pending investigation or review.

The collaboration is applaudable.

If more mortgage lenders make collaborative efforts like this in the industry, as the MBA has

been clamoring, affordable lending for housing will no longer be limited or segregated. In addition, should any complaint of discrimination be reported, the concerned bodies will swiftly move into action.

Buying a home has never been easier, but you need a solid realtor for expert advice on the best property to purchase. All you need is to contact Eric L. Frazier for assistance with buying a home or investment property.

Eric L. Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 and can be reached at 800-2611634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow. com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media .

References https://www.americanbanker.com/news/hud-fhfapact-redoubles-fair-housing-enforcement-forfannie-freddie https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.housingwire. com/articles/hud-and-fhfa-raise-the-focus-on-fairlending/%3famp=1

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Processing with Document Automation

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Improving mortgage processing is something that every mortgage lender would like to do.

With more businesses emerging, lenders must understand how to manage applications and ensure that these businesses abide by regulations.

Unfortunately, mortgage lenders operate in archaic structures that do not match modern times.

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ortgage lenders rely on manual processes, and it’s no surprise why small-scale lenders shut down after a period of operation. Lending is paper-intensive, as hundreds of documents are processed per application.

Processing these takes time and is labor-intensive. As a result, most lenders focus on the same old processes instead of employing new methods to improve the process. In our evolving world, being stuck is not an option. You must move with the times, and that means testing and applying new methods.

WHY YOU SHOULD OPT FOR MORTGAGE PROCESSING WITH DOCUMENT AUTOMATION Mortgage bodies can leverage process automation to improve loan processing. Below are some reasons why you should move to document automation.

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IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY Time is priceless, essence, and never recovered what all mortgage lenders value is time. They would want to make sure that all loans are processed as quickly as they can. With automation, you get to reduce the amount of time needed to process a loan. Additionally, it abolishes repetitive tasks, allowing you to save more time for other valuable tasks. So, you are productive, and at the same time, you are saving time.

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PROMOTES ERROR-FREE WORK Human errors are inevitable, but they could become fatal in loan processing. When these errors happen, they take a long time before you fix them. With automation, you worry less about making any errors. The automated process produces accurate jobs and does that timely.

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DETECTS AND ANALYZE FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES BETTER Fraud is becoming rampant in mortgage loan processing.

Therefore, these lenders need to find a way to solve these issues to become less of a thing. This is what THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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automation would do. Mortgage lenders can leverage it to analyze the risks of lending to a prospective buyer. As a result, it will make it easier for lenders to avoid lending fraudsters.

straightforward. In addition, these robots ensure consistency and promote workflow. Mortgage lenders need to adopt these bots to improve their processing.

ENHANCED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Processing a loan document can take months if done manually. It could take less depending on the employee’s speed and nature of the loan. However, you still need to consider the approval process, weather conditions, or the amount of work at hand. Automation systems do not need a break. They can be backed up and finished at a later time. This results in a better customer experience.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

HOW TO IMPROVE MORTGAGE LOAN PROCESSING The role of AI is becoming more vital in our world today. Manual processing is fading, and a step up is imminent to minimize operational risks, labor, and resources. Therefore, you need intelligent software bots. These robots combine Robotic Process Automation and AI. The software bots can process data and read multiple files from different sources at once. The auditing and transaction process becomes more WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media.

References https://www.flatworldsolutions.com/mortgage/articles/10-benefits-of-automatingmortgage-loan-processes.php https://www.automationanywhere.com/company/blog/rpa-thought-leadership/ increasing-the-efficiency-and-speed-of-mortgage-processing l

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SELECT A VIP AGEN Adrian Bates Los Angeles

Adriana Montes Florida

Ameer Elahee Fontana

Cornelius Jackson Irvine

Danon Burnside San Bernardino

Denise Matthis San Diego

Jenny Gonzalez Corona

Joe L. Fisher Richmond

Johnnie Morine Texas

Julius Cartwright Ohio

Kamesha Keesee Corona

Kate Nash Long Beach

Kenneth Session Bay Area

Marisa Fletcher Murrieta

Briana Frazier Los Angeles

Emerick A. Peace Maryland

NT IN YOUR AREA Monica Hill Menifee

Norman Green San Francisco

Ruby Frazier Riverside

Sharon Bartlett Texas

Yvonne McFadden Arizona

Peggie Simmons Arizona

Robert Langston Fairfield

Steve Peterson Oakland

Success Money LA Area

By Steve Peterson

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he real estate market is growing in all dimensions. Much like residential property investment, so is commercial investment value appreciation. Oakland has become an industrial market with numerous investors wishing to start up commercial investments. Any investor in Oakland looking forward to starting this type of real estate has the advantage of receiving steady cash flows, experiencing lower vacancy risks, always having readily available tenants, and increased income potentials. Although a highly lucrative type of investment, commercial real estate comes with risks, especially for first-time investors who are beginning to diversify their portfolios. However, WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

WHAT ARE THE BEST FUNDAMENTALS? Firstly, understand the various transactions –the investor should determine if the potential commercial property meets their financial goals and criteria. For example, a commercial property may have low monthly cash flow; this should not make an investor go for the property with higher cash flow but more risks. Also, the value-added properties differ, and investors should first consider the costs of renovations, improvements, and deferred maintenance needed.

Similarly, investors should consider the likelihood of appreciation for that particular property.

The possibility of that commercial property to appreciate in future, the better.

Multi-family investment strategy – typically, this commercial property has cash flows with high occupancy rates and low expenses since most expenses are covered in the rental rates earned and units are leased at or above the market rates.

However, investors should determine how much operational costs they will need on maintenance and renovation to know if they will rent the property with low or higher rental rates. l

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8 Fundamentals of Commercial Property Investing For Beginners

with the appropriate strategies, it becomes easier to earn more returns on the investment.

Triple – Net lease investment strategy – This commercial investment involves an agreement where the tenant agrees to pay for all maintenance costs, real estate taxes, and the building insurance.

Also, tenants pay for all the utilities except rent.

Hence, these tenants save time and resources for investors. This investment tends to have lower risks, and it’s easy to manage.

Understanding commercial property financing – for any first-time investor, understanding the interest rates, loan length, and amortization is the key entry to comprehending commercial property investment. Interest rates are dependent on current prime rates and how banks borrow the cash needed for loans. Longer amortization means lower deductible debt payment and higher interest rate, while the shorter the amortization, the higher the debt payment and lower interest rates. Loan duration corresponds with the length of the lease.

Comprehend the Role of Property Management for commercial buildings – any prospective commercial investor should understand that every commercial manager has different obligations depending on their property type in Oakland. Also, they should be aware that the payment rate of property managers is influenced by how much they put into their work.

Determine if Investor Assistance is necessary in Oakland, investor assistance is usually provided by the industry expert or property team. They are supposed to seek other real estate market opportunities available. The asset manager is often ABOUT STEVE PETERSON Steve Peterson CCIM is the Broker/Owner of Infinity Investments, a commercial real estate brokerage and investment firm based in Oakland, California.

His focus and expertise are in apartment buildings, but he has experience in office and retail property, working as both a broker and principal. Steve has been in the commercial real estate business for 15 years as an investor and a broker/agent.

To read more about Steve, go to; https://www. thepowerisnow.com/steve-peterson/ ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We 30 l

used when purchasing a multi-tenant property.

Asset managers are primarily helpful when an investor wants to buy a multi-tenant property. Any beginner in Oakland should opt to have an asset manager since they are experienced and offer guidance throughout commercial investing.

Have proforma knowledge – proforma elaborates the financial analysis of commercial property investment. For example, it reviews the vacancy rates, debt services, gross revenue, and operating expenses. All this gives the investor a better understanding of the commercial market situations.

Finally, understand the triple net lease- this type of lease is unique, and it has different criteria that every anticipating commercial investor should know before investing in commercial property. These criteria include; the absolute triple net, double net, grade of tenants, and lease terms.

Commercial property investing, like residential property investment, has its benefits and risks.

Any person willing to start commercial investment should be well informed of the market and be experienced enough to understand how this investment works. The use of proper strategies, especially for beginners, is a core factor to avoid uncertainties. Are you planning to begin commercial property investment in Oakland? You don’t have to start the journey all alone! Reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 and get the best investor assistance you need, or contact Steve Peterson, an agent familiar with the commercial market in Oakland, to give you the best advice on how to start your dream investment. advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

References https://bfpminc.com/commercial-property-investment-for-beginners/ https://www-realwealthnetwork-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www. realwealthnetwork.com/learn/commercial-property-investing-for beginners/amp/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Norman Green

The hidden costs of downsizing LET’S GET STARTED. THE TRUE COST OF DOWNSIZING Let’s take the case of John and Mary (not real people though).

This is a retired couple owning a home mortgage-free.

Let’s talk numbers.

They can sell their home for $250,000 sounds good right?

Such a move could increase your yearly income by $3,000. In addition, it could reduce your annual expenses by $3,3250. This saves you about $6,250 a year. It is worth it!

The couple wants a smaller home, that is a little closer to care facilities. Luckily, fate is on their side.

There could be more, but apart from saving you money, downsizing could actually cost you money too.

Downsizing expenses can creep into your savings draining all the efforts to save and in this guide, i will give all the tips to avoid such a scenario from ever happening.

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They have managed to find a home worth $200,000. They can manage that and the balance, $50,000, they hope to add it to their retirement account.

It is time to sell their old home for the new home.

During the sale, the real estate commission takes about $15,000.

The new buyer of their old home really negotiates the closing costs of $5,000.

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id you know that moving from a $250,000 house to a $150,000 house could save you BIG money?

What I did not tell you is that John and Mary plan on paying for the new home in cash, they want nothing to do with the mortgage. After all, they are not getting any younger right?

Because of this, they incur an upfront tax and insurance costs of $3,000. The moving costs add up to $2,000.

Obviously, the new home requires some improvements which absorb $12,000.

By the time John and Mary are settling in, they only have saved $13,000.

That’s not all, depending on where John and Mary buy their new home, they could be paying more in taxes because the new home will be placed on an updated tax schedule.

TAXES Taxes are one of the hidden costs of downsizing that you need to be really careful about. When John and Mary sold their old home, which they had for so long, a large portion of their equity will or may go to the federal and state capital gains taxes.

Not unless you want less for your home, home improvements and repairs play an extremely important role.

The mistake I see many people doing is downplaying this cost.

In the case of John and Mary, since they are a married couple, they can exclude up to $500,000.

For a single person, they can exclude up to $250,000.

“A lot of homeowners just let landscaping slip,” says Nancy Newquist-Nolan, a Realtor with Pacific Coast Realty in Santa Barbara, CA, who specializes in downsizing. “Older homeowners in particular just don’t have the energy.”

Like previously mentioned, the new home can attract more property taxes. Remember, depending on when they bought their old home, they could be placed on the old tax schedule.

But the new home could be on a new tax schedule, which means more in taxes. However, it is important to note that this will depend on the location where you are moving into. Some cities offer tax relief options for seniors.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIR COSTS This is the other thing we touched on in our example. However, we touched on the home improvement and repair for the new home, not the old one, which in actuality may be needing some repairs.

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Your old home may be needing some cosmetic repairs that are necessary.

still, the new home may need some customization and repairs to suit their own needs. Maybe some new furniture or some decorations and this costs money too!

THE MOVE It May sound easy, less complicated but it is all that! Not easy and is very complicated.

However, if your family members are willing to help you move, then it becomes easy. But if not, then you will be forced to hire a moving company.

On average, professional movers will charge you about $10,000-$15,000.

But, to avoid this hefty cost, you can choose not to move during the summer season, but move during winter. You see, most families want to move when their children are out of school, and that is during THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

the summer season. In addition, choose to move in the midmonth.

This will help you cut costs because most movers are busiest during the beginning and end months.

LIVING EXPENSES IN YOUR NEW HOME You have to budget for the living expenses for your new location.

Additionally, you have to factor in some costs such as homeowners association fees and or the condo dues. In some cases, these costs may go up. Higher than you expected.

It is important that you check out the supermarkets in the new area, or even the restaurants and shopping centers. Find out more about the place, talk to people, as many as you can get, just to get a feel of the place.

Still interested to downsize? Or does this all sound complicated than you thought? If so, it may be a good time to talk to Norman Greene one of our VIP agents in San Francisco, or you can talk directly to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, a mortgage professional with over 30 years of experience. You can reach Eric at 800-2611634 ext. 703.

ABOUT NORMAN GREEN DRE#01337466 | SAN FRANCISCO Norman Green worked as an entertainment promotor for twenty years, where he learned and honed the art of promotion. During this time, he promoted local events as well as a regional concert.

He is one of the few African American brokerage owners in San Francisco and has been a proud owner of Re/Max Prestigious Properties located in the beautiful west Portal area. Over the years Norman has gained extensive knowledge in the real estate business. Norman has assisted in all aspects of real estate including building from spect, purchasing, remodeling, flipping, and other investment-type activities. To read more and to connect with Adrian, go to; https://www.thepowerisnow.com/normangreen/ ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Sources https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/retirement-income/the-hidden-costs-of-downsizing https://theprovince.com/opinion/columnists/can-you-afford-to-downsize-five-hidden-costs-and-surpriseexpenses https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-hidden-cost-of-downsizing-your-home

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By Johnnie Morine

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n investment in real estate is a great way to make money in 2021.

You have to understand that some deals will work in your favor, and some won’t, it’s just the way the market works, but I am here to help you avoid investing in bad deals.

KNOW YOUR STRUCTURES Let’s talk about structures for a moment. Structures are boring, no one ever wants to talk about proper structures, and yes, you don’t want to invest your time figuring out what structures would work best for your investment.

There are numerous ways that you could structure It is not the kind of investment that you expect money right away, but over time, it will be worth it. your deal. The only limitation would be your creativity. There’s an old adage I love which says, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’

It is the backbone of the American Dream, and the cornerstone of wealth building in America, but certainly, not every structure will work for you, without proper structures in place, this investment and there are so many ways to structure your investment deals, but it is important to structure it in could drag you down. I have seen people buying a way that would work for you. and holding real estate only for them to be disappointed in the end. It doesn’t mean that their While all other aspects of the deal-making process investment was wrong, it means that they never are equally important, I think paying more attention took their time to first understand the market, to structures will determine the overall success of understand the metrics before investing. your real estate business.

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How to avoid bad deals on income properties

Buying the right way will amount to positive cash flows and eventually equity growth. The keyword here is buying the right way.

BEFORE GOING INTO THE TRADE, DO MARKET ANALYSIS Market analysis is key to the success of your business. By now I am quite sure you know that the real estate market is a dynamic universe and doing a thorough analysis will give you a good idea o what you can expect from your investment.

By doing prior market analysis, will give you a good idea of your target income based on the characteristics and the performance of the other properties around. This is important as you never want to go into any market blindly.

WHAT ABOUT THE PROPERTY? Sometimes I think investors are so obsessed with making a return on their investment that they forget about the property itself.

They focus on what’s happening around in the neighborhood that they forget to pay close attention to the property itself.

For any income property investment, it is important that you perform an investment property analysis where you will be able to determine the expected cash flows, your net operating income, the return on investment, the capitalization rate, and the cash on cash return.

If you are hearing this thing for the first time, it ABOUT JOHNNIE MORINE DRE#0627302 | TEXAS Over the course of almost 30 years of running successful business and strategic partnerships, Johnnie’s simple philosophy and approach to life have taught him the value of commitment, motivation, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Starting small as a sales agent, and an entrepreneur back in 1984, the idea to venture into the real estate industry had always been with him, but had not yet materialized. Today, Johnnie runs a prolific real brokerage firm where Seasoned REALTORS realize the bottom-line and how it affects their lives. To read more about Johnnie, go to; https://www.thepowerisnow.com/johnniemorine/ 38 l

means that you are probably not serious about investing.

All these are the numbers that reveal the critical information about the profitability of your income property. For example, assuming that you do all your calculations right and your find that the income property is giving you negative cashflows, that wouldn’t be a worthy investment.

LET’S TALK ABOUT LOCATION Real estate is location. The location of your property determines how much you will fetch for the property in the end. It also determines the amount you are investing in your property, it will determine how much you will ask for the property, the long-term appreciation, and many other things.

As such before investing, it is important to carefully do proper research on the potential locations and how the income properties in the area/ neighborhood have been performing.

TO SUM IT UP… Doing it right is the key, when you buy an income property after doing proper market research, invested well in your investment, and set up the right structures, you can be sure to bag a good amount of money each month. Maybe you would like to chat more about the structures and market analysis, talk to Johnnie Morine TMGRone of the VIP agents with the Power Is Now Media, today, or talk to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, the Founder, and CEO of The Power Is Now Media at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com

Sources https://www.accesspmgroup.com/how-to-avoid-bad-real-estate-investmentdeals/ https://www.adpen.com.au/blog/beware-bad-investment-property-guide/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Sharon Bartlett

Which mortgage is right for you?

Let’s get started.

Choosing the right mortgage will certainly be a bid decision with huge impacts on your journey to homeownership. As such, I understand that this is an emotional question to you. After all, your mortgage provider will be with you for the next 1030 years. Therefore, you cannot afford to get things wrong right from the start.

I have found that most first-time homebuyers often struggle with the question, ‘which mortgage is right for me?’

If you are at this stage, first of all, congratulations, WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

you have come from so far. What you are feeling right now is completely understandable. Choosing the right mortgage can make a huge difference to your financial future.

There are so many options available, which can be quite confusing to the first-time homebuyer.

Oftentimes, it will feel like picking a need in a haystack. So what do you look for when choosing the right and best mortgage?

To help you figure out what mortgage to work with, I will be sharing with you 6 types of mortgages to choose from each month only on this issue of The Power Is Now Magazine, therefore, lookout for the next edition to learn more about the right mortgage for you.

Before choosing a mortgage, you have to decide whether you want a fixed or adjustable interest rate which is what I want us to talk about this month. l

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MORTGAGES… It’s a sensitive topic and I will try to be as impartial as possible.

But right off the bat, this is a subjective decision that you have to make yourself, all I can do is offer guidance.

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FIXED VS. ADJUSTABLE INTEREST RATES When choosing the mortgage, one of the first things you will have to determine is how the mortgage lender will be treating your interest rate.

Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Some lenders will offer you a fixed rate while some will offer you an adjustable rate. Some will even offer a combination of both.

For instance, it’s not a surprise to find a 30-year mortgage with a 5/1 adjustable rate.

This means that your mortgage interest rates will be locked for five years, then adjust annually for the remaining 25 years.

FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE What this means is that the mortgage rate will remain the same for the life of the loan. This means that your monthly mortgage payments will relatively remain the same, which is good if you are a person who likes to plan and keep a budget.

The only disadvantage I find with the fixed-rate mortgage is at times, it will be higher especially when compared with the adjustable-rate mortgage.

ADJUSTABLE-RATE MORTGAGES Unlike the fixed-rate mortgage, the adjustable rate means that your rate will go up and down, following the economic swings. This means that there are some months where you will pay more.

One of the advantages I find with the ARM is that you can benefit from the low interest rate hence low mortgage payments at times depending on the economic performance.

But, on the other hand, ARMs have a huge risk of higher interest rates down the road. And while they are so appealing in that you can afford a more expensive home, what happens to in case of an economic downturn? Or when you lose your job and are unable to afford the monthly payments at a higher rate?

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MY PERSONAL OPINION Before deciding what mortgage is best for you, try and find out the rates each lender is willing to give you. In addition, I would steer away from the ARMs they are probably the worst mortgages out there, it is best to go for a fixed rate, something that you are sure will never change no matter the economic condition.

This sums up this month’s discussion on the best and right mortgage for you. If you would like to know more about these ARMs and fixed-rate mortgages, reach out to Sharon Bartlett, one of the VIP Agents with the Power Is Now, or talk to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, the Founder and CEO of the Power Is Now Media at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT SHARON BARTLETT LIC#0684103 | TEXAS Sharon Bartlett is a real estate and mortgage industry expert with almost 40 years of experience. After spending 35 years at Freddie Mac, Sharon set out on a path to create her dream job. She started with her consulting firm, Sharon Bartlett Consulting, LLC, which lead to obtaining her real estate sales license, and then the creation of a real estate training company, the Real Estate Academy for Learning (REAL). Most recently, Sharon became the National Director of Operations for US REO Partners, a nationwide real estate trade organization that connects and trains REO professionals. To read more about Sharon, go to; https://www.thepowerisnow.com/sharonbartlett/ ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California.

We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderateincome and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

WILDFIRES DON’T CARE ABOUT YOUR RACE. BUT WHEN WE TRIED TO RENT A NEW PLACE TO LIVE, WE LEARNED THAT SOME LANDLORDS DO. When the fire came, we had to run from our home. Fortunately, we found temporary shelter. But as we started looking for a place to live, we ran into housing discrimination, which isn’t just unfair – it’s illegal. If you feel that a landlord or broker has denied you the sale, rental or financing of a home based on your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or because you have children, report it to HUD or your local fair housing center.

Go to hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339

FAIR HOUSING: THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability.

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THE POWER IS NOW

MAGAZINE

EAST COAST EDITION

By Emerick Peace

uying a home is a great life achievement.

Everyone desires a place they can call their own. So you have done everything possible to become a homeowner and so far, it’s been going on so well for you. You even have a pre-approval for the home loan.

IS IT TIME TO CELEBRATE? NOT YET. Before closing, lenders typically will have to check and recheck your credit which means, you should be very careful not to give him a reason to question your creditworthiness. Therefore, today we are going to look at some of the mistakes most people make after loan approval and before closing.

NEVER MAKE ANY MAJOR PURCHASES After the preapproval avoids getting too excited that you cannot wait to move into your new home. More often than not, in the midst of that excitement and anticipation, people often start imagining new furniture and or appliances that will personalize their new home.

WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

THAT TRIGGERS THE ‘BUYING MODE.’ So what would stop you from buying that 5-piece rattan patio set for the backyard?

Making a major purchase at this point takes money or credit. Remember, your mortgage approval is usually based on certain criteria for instance debt to income ratio, cash reserves, and so many others.

When you make any major purchases at the moment, you change the parameters of this equation which jeopardize your closing and funding for the new home.

WAIT BEFORE CHANGING YOUR JOB Changing your employer means that the lender will have problems verifying your salary thus causing delays in this process.

That doesn’t mean that you are ignoring your passion and a great career opportunity.

It just means that you should wait a little longer.

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Avoid these mistakes between loan approval and closing

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OPENING A CREDIT ACCOUNT It’s often easy to fall into this trap. With credit, it’s easy to buy this and that without ever having to think about the consequences. Similar to taking on new debt, applying for a new credit account will negatively impact your mortgage approval.

A credit inquiry is very necessary for a new account and will reduce your credit score by a few points. To add to that, the lender will be left wondering, just how much are you willing to spend with the new account.

The loan approval process is heavily dependent on whether you can be able to pay off the loan without it having to be a struggle. As such, you should never give the lender any reason to doubt your creditworthiness.

There are so many other ways through which the mortgage approval process can fall apart even before you get to the closing stage. As such, it is important that you consult with your REALTOR first and if you are in Texas you are in luck because we have a phenomenal VIP Agent stationed there. Or, you can reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBAat 800-261-1634 ext. 703 MEET JOHNNIE MORINE TMGR DRE#0627302 | TEXAS Over the course of almost 30 years of running successful business and strategic partnerships, Johnnie’s simple philosophy and approach to life have taught him the value of commitment, motivation, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Starting small as a sales agent, and an entrepreneur back in 1984, the idea to venture into the real estate industry had always been with him, but had not yet materialized.

Today, Johnnie runs a prolific real brokerage firm where Seasoned REALTORS realize the bottom-line and how it affects their lives. To read More about Johnnie, go to; https://www. thepowerisnow.com/johnnie-morine/.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderateincome and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Sources https://www.texasrealestate.com/members/posts/avoid-these-mistakes-between-loan-approvaland-closing/ https://www.amerifirst.com/amerifirst-blog/5-activities-to-avoid-between-mortgage-pre-approvaland-closing-on-your-new-home

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THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Adriana Montes

What to know about property taxes

You see, the counties, municipalities, and school districts all depend on this tax.

Therefore, it doesn’t matter where you are buying your home; when gearing up to be a homeowner, you must consider how much you will be paying in property taxes.

SO, WHAT IS THERE TO KNOW ABOUT PROPERTY TAXES? This is just a tax like all others, and failing to meet your obligations… there’s a penalty for that.

You probably know this already; what you may not know is that the property tax varies from state to state. They go by city by county and overall by state. Therefore, failure to pay the property taxes could cost you your home through foreclosure.

In Florida, for instance, the average property tax rate is 0.98% which is slightly lower than the national average of 1.08%. In a nutshell, this means that the average homeowner in Florida pays $1752 in property taxes annually.

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Another important factor to note about the property taxes in Florida is that they are implemented in millage rates which are 1/10 of a percent. This simply means that for every $1000 in home’s value, you will pay $1 in taxes.

ARE PROPERTY TAXES PAYABLE WITH A CREDIT CARD? Yes, actually, they are.

Some cities allow homeowners to pay their property taxes using a credit card, but it is done using a third party who facilitates the process in most cases.

In Florida, for instance, Payments Inc facilitates this process allowing you to pay your property taxes using your debit or credit card.

To many homeowners who are hearing this for the first time, this may sound like good news. But remember, just because you can use credit cards, it doesn’t mean that you should.

Typically, the payments facilitator, this third party, usually charges anywhere between 2-3% fee on your credit card. That’s something you should consider. l

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hen it comes to taxes, especially homeownership taxes, I believe property taxes are among the most discussed type of taxes today. And for a good reason.

YOU CAN GET A TAX BREAK This is the good stuff.

Buying a home is not for the faint-hearted. It is an expensive process, not just financially but emotionally too.

But one of the many benefits of homeownership is that you get to enjoy some tax breaks, deductions, and rebates from time to time.

When filing your federal income tax return, you can deduct what you paid in property taxes throughout the year. This is helpful as it reduces the amount of tax you owe.

In fact, you can even qualify for a refund, but you have to earn it. Just don’t be late paying your taxes or even forget to pay.

TAX EXEMPTIONS In some circumstances, it may be possible to get tax exempted. However, keep in mind that tax exemptions vary from state to state and also by local jurisdictions. Thus, be sure to check with your local tax assessor for property tax information.

To be specific, military veterans qualify for tax exemptions.

Smithtown, New York, residents qualify for the exemption for buildings or renovations for a grandparent or elderly parent.

WHAT ABOUT IN FLORIDA? It depends on whether you meet specific criteria articulated within the Florida tax laws. So the simple answer is yes- it is possible to get property tax exemptions in Florida.

ABOUT ADRIANA MONTES JD MBA Adriana Montes is a real estate broker/owner and director of divisions of REO Listings, Acquisitions, Rentals, Flips at Florida Dreams Realty Group. A dedicated professional with a long tenure in the default sector includes over 20 years of experience servicing and selling over 1500 homes and over $300 million in volume within the last ten years. To find out more about Adriana, go to; https://www. thepowerisnow.com/adriana-montes/.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, 52 l

One of the ways you can qualify is by appealing the taxable value of the property. For example, you can appeal if you think your property has been appraised at a higher value. If the appeals board agrees and reduces the amount/value of your property, the property tax you owe will undoubtedly be reduced.

To read more about property appeals, visit the Florida Department of Revenue guidance homeowners seeking to file such an appeal.

HOW DO PROPERTY TAXES WORK? Your lender will roll the property tax payments in with a mortgage. So when you are making the mortgage payment at the end of the month, you will also be paying the property tax.

Property taxes are due annually; however, in some states and counties, the taxpayer can make payments in installments rather than making one lumpsum payment.

If none of these methods appeal to you, you can deposit you deposit the monthly amounts due to a high-yielding savings account which will earn you interest until you pay the bill at the end of the year.

Homeownership is the best decision you’ll ever make, which is why I encourage you to educate yourself as much as you can about these different types of taxes.

It will be better and easier for you to rather than being caught off guard. If you want to know more about homeownership taxes, talk to Adriana Montes JD MBA, DRE#3096165, our VIP Agent in Florida.

Alternatively, reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, a mortgage professional with over 30 years of experience. You can reach Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA today at 800-261-1634 ext. 703. headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501.

Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Sources https://www.investopedia.com/articles/tax/09/calculate-property-tax. asp#:~:text=Property%20taxes%20are%20calculated%20by%20taking%20the%20 mill%20levy%20and,local%20real%20estate%20market%20conditions. https://www.gobankingrates.com/taxes/deductions/what-to-know-about-propertytaxes/ https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/are-you-getting-all-your-florida-propertytax-breaks.html

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

ERIC LAWRENCE FRAZIER MBA Vice President and Mortgage Advisor Office: (800) 261-1634 ext. 703 Fax: (314) 264-0211 NMLS#461807 eric.frazier@fbol.com

11010 Limonite Ave. Miraloma CA 91752

THE POWER IS NOW

MAGAZINE

WEST COAST EDITION

By Yvonne McFadden

Why keep Renting?

It seems cheaper to buy!

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o, renting has its perks, more so if you have a flexible lifestyle. You can move around, experience different places at any given time.

In the long-term, however, you have to consider whether renting is financially feasible. It might not seem much at the time, but rent adds up over a long period and can be very financially draining.

Besides, rent is money that you cannot get back. Money that is most probably paying off someone else’s mortgage and building them equity instead of you. Undeniably, buying a home is a considerable investment that requires a lot of capital. Still, when you consider the initial expense with the cost of renting, the two are pretty comparable.

is subject to change - subject to inflation. The uncertainty comes with the possibility of a rent increase that is most off-putting when it comes to renting.

And let’s face it, rent is never the same at any given period. Rent, unlike monthly mortgage payments,

The housing cost, pre-pandemic, was rising, something that the pandemic has made worse.

WWW.THEPINMAGAZINE.COM

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Rent has risen by 37 percent since 2000, which experts expect to go even higher post-pandemic.

It is forecasted that rent this year could be higher than it would have been if the pandemic never happened. In 2020, renting Americans enjoyed rent reductions and, in some cases, lived rent-free as their landlords struggled to fill empty units.

However, with the economy recovering and as more people get vaccinated, landlords will hike their rents.

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According to a report from Apartment List, in 2021 alone, rent has increased by 11.4 percent compared to the 3.3 percent increase experienced in the first six months of 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Depending on what type of mortgage you go for, the monthly mortgage payments are the same every month until you finish paying off the house.

That can give you some sense of stability, and it makes it easier to successfully budget every month. When considering buying or renting, you should consider whether your rent outweighs the probable mortgage you will pay once you buy your home.

In 2019, homeowners paid $7,229 in terms of mortgage and interest. On the other hand,

renters paid $11,979 in rent.

Therefore, homeowners spent $4,750 less than renters. Keeping that in mind, rent will be out of reach for many American households. However, it might also be the last push that you may need to finally buy yourself a home.

In addition to this, rent takes up more from the household income than any other expense.

Pre-pandemic, 18 million Americans spent over half of their income on rent; that is, 1 in 7 Americans. Renting, therefore, can be a cost burden to many.

On average, a household that makes a monthly income of $6,904 spends $4,341 on expenses, and of these $1, 723 goes to paying rent.

If you are considering buying a

ABOUT THE YVONNE MCFADDEN Yvonne McFadden is a veteran in the real estate industry. Her business has spanned for over 30 plus years. Her clients range from all walks of life. She even recently added a foreign presence by becoming licensed in Dubai. She has fun with her clients while making one of the most important decisions of their lives. She takes time to explain the process to guide them through tough decisions. If you are looking to invest in real estate in the Arizona area reach her at https://www. thepowerisnow.com/.

Additionally, of you happen to be in the Riverside area, reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703. He has had a rich career in the real estate industry, with years of experience as a mortgage advisor.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia

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home, know this, interest rate cuts are favoring homeowners.

Low mortgage rates have created an environment where affordability is critical.

By purchasing the home, you give yourself stability, and you certainly take a step closer to financial freedom. Owning a home allows you to earn equity on your property. You can cash in on this equity later in terms of more credit. Buying a home is a sound and significant investment. Undoubtedly, it is a huge step, and it can be intimidating. But The Power Is Now Media Inc. has a faculty of qualified real estate agents that will find you a good home for a reasonable price. There are also mortgage brokers with years of experience that will find you the best deal—Head to https:// www.thepowerisnow.com/.

company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph.: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Word cited https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2021/09/01/buy-rent-starter-homecheaper-real-estate-housing-markets/5610088001/ https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/research/real-cost-renting-owning/ https://nypost.com/2020/02/04/more-americans-are-spending-over-half-theirincome-on-housing/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Peggie Simmons

Are real estate prices in Phoenix, Arizona, starting to stabilize?

In July this year, Realtor.com released a report that showed what real estate markets Nationally attracted more investors. Phoenix ranked among the top areas where investors swamped the market. The report further showed what markets had seen a decline in inventory and where homebuyers faced stiff competition when it came to buying. Phoenix had shrinking inventory in both cases, and homebuyers faced stiff competition WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

from investors who snatched the little available inventory.

While the report released in July indicated a seller’s market, the one published in August showed that the tide was changing. New active listings in the metro Phoenix area went up by 26.3 percent, compared to July’s 25 percent increase.

The increase in new active listings prompted Realtors.com’s Chief Economist Danielle Hale to say that this trend is “shifting the housing market balance in a more buyer-friendly direction.”

Despite active listings going up in August, the supply of homes is still too small to service the demand.

In September, the ground has shifted yet again.

The sales were up 0.8 percent from August 15.

However, the number of active listings (excluding UCB & CCBS) has gone down 3.3 percent. With new active listings on September 1 being 6,873, l

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arlier this year, experts predicted that the Phoenix, Arizona housing market would see price appreciation throughout 2021. And true to this prediction, the housing market in Phoenix has been very hot. All thanks to slim inventory; too little to meet the growing demand. It is this supply and demand dynamic that resulted in home prices increasing in double digits. A dynamic that heavily favored the sellers in the market, while homebuyers had an uphill task of finding a place to call home.

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a 14.4 percent drop from last year’s 8,028. The monthly sales in Phoenix have also gone down 1.8 percent from last year but only down 1.0 percent from last month.

According to metrorealtyaz.com, the drop in inventory can be attributed to two main factors. For starters, the demand from iBuyers and investors has intensified in September, with listings being taken under contract faster than usual. Secondly, as Dennis Kolodin, CCIMMetro Realty designated Broker, puts it that “Ordinary homebuyers are losing some of their motivation, thanks to prices that are vastly higher than last year.”

Therefore, inventory might have gone up, but home affordability has declined below the normal range for the greater Phoenix Area. And proving this is the fact that sale counts are this month lower than last month and last year.

Going by the current housing trends, the Phoenix housing market is set to remain a seller’s market into 2022. Home prices are still relatively modest compared to other metro cities. The housing market in Phoenix has not cooled; the demand for homes is driven up by out-of-state investors (mainly from LA and Seattle). These out-of-state buyers are and will make the housing market difficult for first-time homebuyers. The current demand is unprecedented, and it may lead to some hesitation from homebuyer’s who may feel that the housing market may crash as it did in 2007-2008. But the current market is different from that of the housing crisis; demand is likely to remain very strong while inventory will still be sparse in the coming months. It is, therefore, safe to invest in Phoenix. And if you decide to buy a home in Phoenix or anywhere in California, you need the right real estate agent by your side. At Power Is Now Media Inc., you can find a qualified and experienced real estate agent to walk the journey with you. head on to www.thepowerisnow.com 62 l

ABOUT PEGGIE SIMMONS: Peggie Simmons has 34 years of experience as a real estate agent and Broker in Tampa, Arizona, and currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Realty Marketing Group, specializing in relocation, new homes sales, traditional homes, marketing & sales, short sale negotiations, foreclosures, luxury rentals, investments among many others. Mrs. Simmons’s hard work, charisma, and genuine passion for her business have helped boost her reputation as a qualified realtor. Mrs. Simmon’s area of interest is real estate, whether it be navigating the way for your first home, or even trying to score a perfect distressed property, or providing help in the luxury market, Peggie knows and has had a taste in it all.

Therefore, if you are looking to buy or sell in the Tampa and Arizona region, Peggie Simmons’s expertise and charisma in the field will be your perfect match.

However, if you are looking for a real estate agent in the Riverside area, talk to Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703. He is not only an excellent real estate agent but a fantastic mortgage broker that can get you preapproved quickly.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for home ownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities.

The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Work cited https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/phoenix-real-estate-market/ https://metrorealtyaz.com/arizona-real-estate-market-this-month/ http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com/news/phoenix-market-buyer-friendly-in-2022/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

“ WE DIDN’T EXPECT

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WOULD KEEP US FROM OUR NEW HOME.” “ As our family continued to grow, we started looking for a new home. The landlord told us he wasn’t comfortable renting to people with children because they might go to school or daycare and bring home COVID-19.”

COVID-19 inequity is real, and it shouldn’t be made worse because of housing discrimination. If you suspect housing discrimination because of your familial status, file a complaint with HUD or your local fair housing center so we can investigate it.

Go to hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339 FAIR HOUSING: THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability.

By Kamesha Keesee

August 2021 Real Estate Market Statistics for Corona’s Seller’s Market HERE’S A CLOSE-UP OF THE CORONA HOUSING MARKET IN AUGUST 2021.

Additionally, Corona, a seller’s market, has drawn in people who want to bank big when they sell their homes.

“There’s a mentality among some sellers that if they don’t sell now, they’ll miss their opportunity to get top dollar,” Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda, a housing market research firm, tells Fortune.

DEMAND The Corona housing market was still hot, with demand for homes still high. Houses in Corona spent an average of 12 days on the market. A drop from July’s 13 days on the market. The drop could be an indication of a further increase in demand for homes. Additionally, on average, homes in Corona sold for 105 percent over their listing price. A rise from July’s 104.8 percent over the listing price.

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SALE PRICE The average sales price in Corona for the better part of the year has been trending up and August this year is no different. According to new data released by themurogroupre.com, the average sales price for homes in Corona was $697,531. Up from July’s average sale price of $676,211. A 3.05 percent increase from July and a 23.5 percent in average sale price from 2020.

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he housing market in Corona is shifting, a shift that could be a prelude to good news to homebuyers in the market. The change could be attributed to several factors.

For starters, homebuyers in the market have pushed back on the listing price, something that has resulted in the somewhat cooling of the market.

Secondly, vaccination has given many people the confidence to sell their homes, hence the increased inventory.

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INVENTORY Inventory has been rising nationally, and it has also been the case for Corona. In August 2021, there were 310 active listings, an increase of 58 from July’s 252 active listings. The increase may not seem much, but it is a significant improvement considering that active listings in Corona were at one point at 60.

New homes coming into the market in August were 288, with 299 of them being sold. There were many new listings compared to July’s new listings of 242, with 237 of them selling. Additionally, the month’s supply has also gone up from 1.2 months in July to 1.5 months in August.

REAL ESTATE STATISTICS ACCORDING TO ZIP CODES •

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The average sales price for homes in 92879 was $591,880, and homes sold for 104.1 percent over the list price.

In 92880, the average sale price was $809,562, with homes selling 106.809,562, 106.3 percent over the list price.

In 92881, the average list price was $865,594, and homes sold 106.1 percent over their list price.

On the other hand, Homes in 92882 sold at an ABOUT THE KAMESHA KEESEE Kamesha’s journey in the real estate business began when she was 15 years old, where she was employed as a teller at Security Pacific Bank. Being energetic and curious, she quickly adapted to the changing employment environment and became a personal loan officer. That would be a remarkable point in her life as it was her first contact with the real estate industry. Even though her early career in real estate was not by choice, but by somewhat an accident, it would turn out to be the best turn of even for her. to read more about Kamesha, go to; If you are looking to buy or sell a home or would like to know more information about the process, your home, the market, all things Real Estate, Kamesha is your go-to agent. Additionally, if you are in the Riverside area, you can talk to Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

There are also many valuable tools provided here on your site for Real Estate knowledge. Talk to Kamesha today to find out more about home valuation, your

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average sale price of $713,060 at 104.9 percent over the list price. For homes in the 92883 zip code, the average sale price was $696,452 and sold for 104.6 percent of their list price.

The 92881 and the 92879 had the least active listings, 55 and 61, respectively. On the other hand, zip code 92880 was the most competitive, with homes spending an average of 8 days on the market compared to the rest, which spent 10 to 13 days on the market.

There has been an increase in inventory in Corona, and buyers can catch their breath. Incentivized by the market conditions, many buyers flooded the market, and the supply for homes quickly dried up. However, the demand is still there, and the Corona market was still very competitive even though the store has increased. By all indications, the Corona housing market is healthy, and a crash is not expected. The active listings and new listings are still not enough to service the demand. It is, therefore, still an excellent time to sell and an excellent time to buy. The prospect of buying a new home is daunting, and as such, a perfect real estate agent should be there to hold your hands. At The Power is Now Media Inc., agents and mortgage brokers are dedicated to ensuring that you quickly get the home of your dreams. home mortgage calculator, and Property Finder pages, to name a few. Get in touch today for premier real estate services.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www. thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media Works cited https://fortune.com/2021/09/07/home-buyers-housing-market-inventory/ https://www.realtor.com/research/august-2021-data/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

“ WE DIDN’T EXPECT

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION

WOULD KEEP US FROM OUR NEW HOME.” “ As our family continued to grow, we started looking for a new home. The landlord told us he wasn’t comfortable renting to people with children because they might go to school or daycare and bring home COVID-19.”

COVID-19 inequity is real, and it shouldn’t be made worse because of housing discrimination. If you suspect housing discrimination because of your familial status, file a complaint with HUD or your local fair housing center so we can investigate it.

Go to hud.gov/fairhousing or call 1-800-669-9777 Federal Relay Service 1-800-877-8339 FAIR HOUSING: THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE. A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in cooperation with the National Fair Housing Alliance.

The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability.

By Ameer Elahee

This is how best to price your home in a sellers’ market

With the bidding wars in progress, it is more than likely in this market that a seller would make a quick sale on their property and sell it at a price they would be happy with.

However, you might get carried away and set the bar too high or, even worse, be misguided and set it too low.

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SO, HOW DO YOU PRICE YOUR HOME IN A SELLERS’ MARKET? 1. CARRY OUT MARKET RESEARCH Get a lay of the land before listing your home. You will need to survey to be sure that you are, in fact, in a seller’s market. That may sound overwhelming, but realtor.com and Zillow have developed tools that analyze given factors in your market and will be able to tell you whether you are in a seller’s market or not.

If you wish to go at it on your own, there are factors that you should consider. For one, you will need to analyze the average days on the market (DOM) of homes in your area. This variable tends to show the median age of houses in your marketHomes that spend less than ten days on the market point towards a seller’s market.

The following variable to consider is the Asking v. final home price. In a seller’s market, homes tend to be sold well over the asking price, 4 percent in the case of the Fontana market. That is because a seller’s market attracts stiff competition among buyers. Compare the listing prices in your area and those of other parts of the country, that way, you have an idea where to set the bar.

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ationally, most housing markets for the better part of this year have been a seller’s market. As so the supply for homes has been far less than the demand for them. While it might be hard for a buyer in this market, it should be a sigh of relief for those looking to sell.

Finally, look at home prices over time. Price appreciation is often indicative of a seller’s market. To do so, you can look at the price curvature of your area using your zip code on BuilderOnline.com.

2. LIST YOUR HOME AT MARKET VALUE There is the value that you think that your house is worth and what it is worth. The latter is where your focus should be and finding that information should be accessible by using your address on realtor.com/sell. You will get a figure that will help you determine the price at which to price your home.

You can get an even clearer picture by conducting a comparative analysis of homes that match square footage and location in your area. It is advisable to list your home at market value; that way, you get an opportunity to have full-price offers quickly.

3. PRICING HIGH If you are not pressed for time, you can list your home 5 percent to 20 percent over the market value to see if you will get a big offer. However, this strategy is a risky move as you might be setting yourself up - your house might be sitting in the market for weeks. Additionally, your home may be even harder to make the sell if your lender’s appraisal of the home doesn’t ring the same number you priced your home at. That is not to mean that it is impossible to sell over the market value of your home, it has been done before, but these sellers tend to focus on investors that will make cash offers.

4. PRICING LOW This strategy guarantees that your home will get a lot more exposure and multiple offers. Should you decide to price your home below market value, let it be 5 percent to 10 percent lower than the market value. With this strategy opening the door to more sellers, your options become more expansive, and a bidding war might ensue. If that happens, you will be able to choose the buyer that gives you the best offer. However tempting this strategy might be, it can backfire on you if one request is made on your home.

Before you think of enlisting your home, it is good to know whether your house is in a seller’s market or not. That bit is significant as there are different tactics applicable to other locations. Remember, these different tactics have their pros and cons, so consider wisely. A good and experienced real estate 70 l

agent will help you conduct a comp analysis that will help you price your home better. Additionally, they will be there for you every step of the way. At Power Is Now Media Inc., there are qualified and highly experienced real estate agents that would love to walk with you through this process. Connect with one now at www.thepowerisnow.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mr. Ameer Elahee is a very successful realtor, consultant, international speaker, and motivational life coach. One of Ameer’s true passions is real estate sales, first-time homebuyers, and homeownership education. Currently, Ameer is fulfilling his lifelong passion in real estate at Keller Williams, where he has achieved every milestone he could as a market leader in the organization where he is very involved.

Twenty-five years also in the mortgage banking business, retail lending; he knows that and much more. Therefore, if you are in the market for a real estate professional that is passionate, provides great communication, and technical skills to his clients Mr. Ameer Elahee is your go-to agent in Fontana. He has extra perks too, He is certified as a homebuyers; educational trainer; he’s trained over 10 thousand individuals and families in financial literacy, homebuyer education, and more. If you are in the Riverside area, consider contacting Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703 and begin your homeownership journey today.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of the minority communities all over the United States. We engage with various thought leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future. We are also advocating for first-time home buyers. The Power Is Now Media can help your homeownership dream become a reality. Go to www. neverrentagain.com and get started today.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807 President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media Inc. www.thepowerisnow.com.

Work cited https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/how-to-price-a-home-in-sellers-market/. https://www.southernliving.com/home/house-worth-sellers-market.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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By Ruby Frazier

The Common Renovation Mistakes Sellers Make and How to Avoid Them

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o, you want to sell your home, and you have heard that doing some renovation here and there will significantly improve the value of your home. But are you also aware of renovation mistakes that have the potential of sinking you into irreparable problems, massive costs, and worse, a low return on investment?

Remodeling your home, if done properly, can be both financially and mentally rewarding, and as a homeowner, you hope to spend less while increasing the value of your home. It, however, is easy to fall in head fast and make common renovation mistakes. But to avoid these common mistakes, you must be aware of them.

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1. ADDING CUSTOM FEATURES You might want to add custom features that might make the home more attractive in your creative mind. The problem with doing this is that the very pretty feature might only be attractive to yours only. In fact, the buyer might find them appalling and might be put off making an offer on the house. If you are thinking of selling your home, remove any custom feature and leave a blank slate which the next owner may customize to their own taste.

2. MAKING COSMETIC REPAIRS You might get carried away with giving your home a facelift. Primarily focusing on making it more visually appealing but unfortunately neglect to address real structural features.

The cosmetic repairs may make the home appealing, but they are a money suck. On top of that, you will more than likely end up spending more money addressing real structural damage in the long run. Therefore, save yourself money l

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and address major repairs and damages.

3. REMODELING WITHOUT A PLAN Remodeling is a project and, like any other project, requires a well-laid plan. Without a plan, you plan to fail- A failure that will cost you more money and long delays. So, before thrusting yourself into a renovation project, carefully outline what has to be done, when it will be done, and how much it will cost. If things get a little shaky during the renovation, the plan will ground you and save you the unnecessary cost.

4. SKETCHY DIY If you are big on cutting costs, the prospect of “do it yourself” may be very appealing. But it is prudent, to be honest with your skillset, and should they be adequate, you should consider whether you can achieve quality and safety in your projects. Poor DIYs result in a waste of time, and even worse, you might create more problems than you initially had. It is perfectly okay to want to do it yourself, but realistic, can you achieve what you have in mind?

5. EXPECTING A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR RETURN ON REMODELING REPAIRS A common mistake that renovators face is expecting a dollar-for-dollar return on their upgrades, which is rarely the case. Many think that if they spent 15,000 dollars on a bathroom upgrade, that automatically raises their home by $15,000. In reality, the improvement increases the value of your home but not the exact value you put in. Remember, you want to save as much as you can; therefore, focus instead on minor repairs that will give you a higher return on investment (ROI).

It is easy to get carried away with renovating your home, overlooking pitfalls that will be a money drain. Homebuyers might not share your taste, and that’s fine; make renovations that will give them a chance to make it their own. It is also crucial to note that less is more, don’t break the bank buying big-ticket items and repairs that will result in you getting a low ROI. A plan is very important if you are to finish your project on time and save money.

When you are done with your renovations, get yourself a real estate agent that will get you value for your home. The Power Is Now Media Inc. has 74 l

a wide range of real estate agents and experts spread across the nation who will be happy to work with you. Head on to www.thepowerisnow.com and meet your real estate agent.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ruby Frazier is the President and CEO of Frazier Group Realty Inc., a full-service real estate company with a dynamic team. Frazier Group Realty is located in the heart of Downtown Riverside, California, servicing the Inland Empire, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Focusing on residential and commercial real estate as well as property management. Ruby has been in the real estate industry for over 13 years. As a highly versatile, results-oriented real estate sales professional with extensive experience in residential and corporate real estate, including industrial, multi-family, and property management, Ruby believes in delivering high-quality customer service. You can reach Ruby directly on her Phone Number:(951) 202-9075, Email: rubyfrazier@fraziergrouprealty.com.

As you look for your next home, get yourself a preapproval from our very own Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Works cited https://themurogroupre.com/8-common-home-renovation-mistakes-to-avoid-forsellers/ https://therealestatesolutionsguy.com/5-mistakes-sellers-make/ https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/remodeling-mistakes-thatcan-cost-you-money-when-you-sell-pictures

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

A PROFILE OF

DERRICK JOHNSON WHO IS DERRICK JOHNSON? Derrick Johnson by profession is a lawyer and humanitarian. Currently, he serves as the 19th President and CEO of the NAACP taking over the position from Cornell William Brooks.

Before becoming the national leader of the NAACP, Derrick served as the president of The Mississippi state NAACP Chapter and the vicechairman of the Board of Directors.

Apart from taking an active role in leading the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, Johnson also founded the Mississippi nonprofit group One Voice Inc., 76 l

which aims to improve the quality of life for African Americans through public engagement.

EARLY LIFE Mr. Derrick Johnson was born in Detroit in 1968 and, attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. He then continued onto Houston, TX to receive his JD from the South Texas College of Law. In later years, Mr. Johnson furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has served as an annual THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Lani Guinier’s course on social movements, and currently works as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.

His Time As The President of Mississippi NAACP Chapter The spirit of activism was always in Johnson, but it would become apparent when he joined the NAACP Chapter of Mississippi. Mr. Johnson dedicated all of his life and career goals to defending the rights and improving the quality of life of Mississippians.

During his time serving as the president of the state chapter, Derrick led several critical campaigns for voting rights and equitable education. One of the most remarkable achievements during his years as the president of the Mississippi NAACP Chapter was the successful management of two bond referendum campaigns in Jackson, MS that brought $150 million in school building improvements and $65 million towards the construction of a new convention center, respectively.

As the regional organizer at “In this role, I the Jackson-based nonprofit have an opportunity to organization, Southern Echo, work with over 2,200 units Inc., Mr. Johnson provided legal, across the country to ensure technical, and training support that they are effective advocates, for communities across the to ensure that they have a strong South. voice, to ensure that the association can really have an impact on public Because of his bold activism policy and increase the quality of in the state, the Chief Justice life for all citizens,” Johnson of Mississippi Supreme Court during a phone interview with appointed Johnson to the reporters.

Mississippi Access to Justice Commission and the Governor of

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Mississippi appointed him to Chair the Governor’s Commission for Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

THE FOUNDING ONE VOICE, INC. After Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Johnson founded One Voice, Inc. whose mission is to ensure an equal voice to traditionally silenced communities across the South and to also improve the quality of life for the African American community through civic engagement training and initiatives. Through collaborative efforts with traditional and nontraditional allies, One Voice has played a pivotal role in building alliances that transcend organizational and racial boundaries.

The organization over the years has been able to uncover significant needs within the nonprofit sector including access to current and relevant data required to do effective policy analysis. In addition, One Voice has been able to improve the connectivity at the community level between the trained and networked community leadership and non-partisan, communitybased structures through which broad public involvement could be organized and sustained.

One Voice has spawned an annual Black Leadership Summit and the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute, a nine-month training program for community leaders.

One Voice works toward achieving a progressive civic infrastructure in the American South by supporting

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BECOMING NAACP PRESIDENT The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest civil rights organization in the country. Derrick Johnson took over the leadership of the NAACP, becoming the Chief Executive, which was actually a position he was holding in an interim capacity for several months.

The move to place Mr. Johnson on the leadership role came in after the Association promised a systemwide refresh, and at a time there were concerns that the Association was losing ground to younger, more dynamic social justice groups.

“In this role, I have an opportunity to work with over 2,200 units across the country to ensure that they are effective advocates, to ensure that they have a strong voice, to ensure that the association can really have an impact on public policy and increase the quality of life for all citizens,” Johnson during a phone interview with reporters. “We must ensure that we have a strong national voice,” he added. “For too long, we have operated with restrictions in terms of our voice.”

Over the past, the association has been criticized for opting for risk aversive and bureaucratic tactics compared to the younger groups like the Black Live Matters, a racial justice organization formed in 2012 after the murder of Trayvon Martin in Sanford Fla., Michael Brown on Ferguson, Mo., and many others.

But, to put off the noise and the criticism, Mr. Johnson said the Association was working in tandem and actually supported the young civil rights movements and young activists and that the association was in close communication with the groups. “Activists today are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “Our goal is to provide whatever support we can to any configuration of young people who are willing to add their voices to policy discourse.”

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Mr. Johnson is the 19th president of the Association which was founded in 1909. The Association has been extremely vocal especially in the mid 20th century when Jim Crow Laws were legalized and practiced in the country. Additionally, the Association has been here waging battles against segregation, voter suppression, systemic and institutional racism.

The NAACP Board Chairman Leon Russell said that Johnson has proven himself as ”the strong, decisive leader we need to guide us through both our internal transition, as well as a crucial moment in our nation’s history.”

”With new threats to communities of color emerging daily and attacks on our democracy, the NAACP must be more steadfast than ever before, and Derrick has the vision, mobility, and courage to help us meet that demand,” Russell said in a statement.

Coming in as the president of NAACP, Derrick set out his record straight stating that his top priorities would be fighting voter suppression and ensuring that all children receive a quality education.

NAACP CAMPAIGNS UNDER PRESIDENT JOHNSON THE 2018 LOG OUT CAMPAIGN Under President Johnson’s leadership, the NAACP has undertaken such efforts as the 2018 ”Log Out” Facebook Campaign, pressuring Facebook after reports of Russian hackers targeting African Americans, the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership, marking the 400th year enslaved Africans first touched the shores of America. A Report for the US Senate Intelligence Committee into Russia’s social media activity in so far as the elections were concerned revealed that black voters were specifically targeted by the Russian Operatives on social media. Research showed that Russians sought to confuse, distract, and ultimately discourage African Americans from voting. ”Facebook’s engagement with partisan firms, it’s targeting of political opponents, the spread of misinformation, and the utilization of Facebook for

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local and state policy development through training and collaboration across issue areas and geography.

propaganda promoting disingenuous portrayals of the African American community is reprehensible,” said Derrick Johnson.

2020 WE ARE DONE DYING CAMPAIGN In a statement, NAACP Wrote, “Now is the time to protect our communities more fiercely than before. As our communities suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become painfully obvious that we are still not immune to the racism and prejudice that has afflicted this country for generations. We must demand that state, local, and national leaders take every measure possible to curtail the Black death rate and provide an equitable recovery from this COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Association also called for deliberate and intentional Criminal Justice Reform to ensure the protection of all black lives and also the expansion of the Home Confinement Pilot Program which is under the First Step Act and a reduction in sentence for non-violent offenders. Additionally, according to the NAACP Website, the Association has “Expansive student loan relief to include a suspension of student loan payment until the economy gains strength, discharge of student loans for essential workers, and automatic cancellation of at least $20,000 in federal student loan debt for all.”

As the Biden Administration took office in 2021, President Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position focused squarely on advancing our nation’s longstanding issue of racial justice. President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing an interagency effort to eliminate systemic racial barriers and ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity, optimizing the wellbeing of all in public policies.

President Johnson also continues to be on the frontlines on some of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time, calling out Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for his use of Blackface, condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr’s nomination, and overseeing the NAACP’s vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in Detroit.

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President Johnson elevated the Association’s visibility and voice as we called for a national response to the coronavirus pandemic that was informed by existing racial disparities in health care outcomes, access, coverage, and services, as well as the disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and other people of color.

ADVOCACY FOR HEALTH CARE Health care is a basic right to every American, but this promise and right to Americans have fallen short. The overall health of a person is attached to his community conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. For African Americans however, geographical, income, and race have been a longstanding predictor of their health outcomes. And in recognizing the critical importance of quality health care, President Derrick Johnson has long advocated for expanded Medicaid eligibility, affordable health insurance options, and investment in community-based health care infrastructure through a strong network of equitably located, well-resourced community health centers.

The NAACP President has called for the “expansion of Medicaid as a short-term measure to cover healthcare for those who are impacted by the pandemic.”

NAACP ADVOCACY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP Early last year, NAACP joined hands with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, in a partnership that will help ensure that black individuals and families have access to quality financial education, appropriate financial products, and assistance to help them have better chances at increasing African American wealth through homeownership.

In a statement to the Atlanta Daily World, NAREB President, Donnell Williams said that his organization stands together with NAACP in a renewed commitment and effort to the African American community.

“The “R” in NAREB stands for “Relationships” and this agreement demonstrates the power of relationships through partnership. We are grateful for this opportunity to fortify and expand our current relationship with the NAACP, which has proven to be a pillar organization for our people for 110 plus years. Our members are the commanders

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and guardians of our communities and this MOU will provide the template, framework, and formula for successful collaboration which will create positive change nationally and globally. We must work together to organize and strategize our efforts.”

Top of the list of the partnership MOU between NAREB and NAACP include; •

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Collaboration on NAREB’s 2MN5 (2 million new black homeowners in 5 years) program related target market research to enable generation of prospective buyers in various markets nationwide.

Collaboration on NAREB’s House Then The Car initiative, which is an expansion of 2MN5. This initiative focuses on increasing homeownership amongst creditworthy, mortgage-ready black millennials.

Encouraging NAACP members to post properties for sale within NAREB’s REALTIST Referral Network (RRN). For every property referred and sold within the RRN, an agreedupon contribution will be made to the NAACP by the identified REALTIST (NAREB) member/ practitioner involved in the transaction.

Hosting and participating in various joint events focused on homeownership and other wealth-

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building strategies at regional and national conventions/conferences or in agreed local markets.

Development and publishing of a series of recurring, multimedia, public information, and marketing campaigns designed to promote awareness of homeownership opportunities/ benefits and to promote increased levels of black homeownership/wealth.

President Johnson is frequently featured on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and many others, advocating on behalf of the Black community and all those who are affected by systemic oppression and prejudice.

Sources https://support.naacp.org/onlineactions/HTLjqYG940WATTV_Y_SUUQ2 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/racism-naacp-national-protests-george-floydderrick-johnson/ https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/journeytojustice/2017/10/21/ naacp-names-derrick-johnson-new-ceo/787312001/ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/us/derrick-johnson-naacp-president.html https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2020/02/17/naacp-and-narebannounce-partnership-to-increase-black-homeownership/ https://www.blackenterprise.com/naacp-and-national-association-of-realestate-brokers-sign-agreement-to-increase-black-homeownership/?test=prebid https://www.tougaloo.edu/tougaloo-alum-named-naacp-president https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/naacp-names-derrick-johnson-presidentamid-time-tremendous-challenge-n812971 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Johnson_(activist) http://www.democracyinitiative.org/derrick-johnson-0

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Cornelius Jackson

Selling a Home with a Lien

The good news is that you can sell your home even though there is a lien against it. In fact, by selling your home, you will have enough resources to cover your tax debts. And if your property sells for just the right price, you might be able to clear both your mortgage and tax lien. However, the process of selling a home with a lien is a lot more complicated than selling a regular house with title issues accounting for 11 percent of all delays.

What are your options?

1. OPT TO PAY THE LIEN BEFORE LISTING YOUR HOME The easiest way to resolve and move on with your home sale is by paying the amount you owe to your local government or federal government. Depending on the lien you are working with, selling your home could be easy or difficult. Some types of liens are unusual and pose the risk of turning off potential buyers.

The Department of Revenue Lien or that of the IRS is one of the more complicated liens.

This kind of lien will require you to involve a CPA or attorney to clear it. If you can’t pay this lien, your CPA or Attorney will negotiate that you pay a portion of the debt. In the worst scenario, the revenue department may ask you to substitute collateral; that is, the lien is moved to a secondary property you might also own.

In the case of materialman’s lien, consider

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t one point, you might have forgotten or purposefully failed to pay your property taxes, and as a result, your city or county government placed a tax lien or legal claim on your home. And like a shadow, that lien against your property will show up every time there is a title search. For that reason, you may feel that selling your home is an impossibility.

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paying off your lien to maximize the chance of having a successful closing; that way, your creditor releases it.

2. USE YOUR HOME PROCEEDS TO COVER WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD If the amount is far too large for you to cover, there is an alternative. You can ask your realtor to include a clause in the closing agreement that stipulates that you will use part of the closing costs to clear the debt. Alternatively, the debt can be deducted from the profits you make on the sale of your home. An understanding buyer would be open to buying your home with this clause as it reduces the risk posed to them.

3. DISPUTE THE LIEN WITH THE HELP OF AN ATTORNEY You must do your due diligence first and search any lien attached to your property; otherwise, you will be in for a surprise when you are trying to close the sale of your property. Next, you will need to figure out whether the liens attached to your house are legitimate. Some liens may not be up to date, and it is upon you to confirm that they are. If you feel that fraud may be at play, you need to hire a lawyer to help you dispute liens that might be erroneous or fraudulent. The cost of an attorney might be high, but they will save you a ton of money, and you will be able to sell your home.

4. TAKE OUT A BOND If the figure on your lien is too high and you can’t clear it, you can take out a bond to cover the cost. This option is one of the more expensive ones, but the bond acts as security for the lien, and you can, therefore, move ahead with the sale of your home.

All in all, it is possible to sell your home even though it has a lien on it. If you have done your due diligence and you have discovered discrepancies with your lien, it is wise to hire the services of a CPA or attorney. The two will help you prove that the liens that you have are erroneous, if indeed they are. If the liens are not serious, you can pay them off.

But if the amount is too high for you, you can ask your realtor to include a clause into your closing agreement, where the closing costs or the profits you make from the home’s sale 84 l

go towards clearing your debt. The Power is Now Media Inc. has realty experts that you can consult with on how to sell a home with a lien on it. It doesn’t have to be hard; go to www. thepowerisnow.com today and get started with our realty experts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR As a highly successful realtor, broker, credit repair expert, and former law enforcement officer, Cornelius Jackson uses his wealth of skills and experience to run his company, CLJ Enterprise Inc. Cornelius has worked in real estate for fifteen years and started his company, CLJ Realty Group, in Orange County, California, just five years ago.

He created his business with the original intent to assist asset managers with selling REO properties (property that the lender has repossessed for nonpayment of the mortgage loan) – but he shifted his focus. So, in addition to selling these properties, he helps people that may be losing their homes.

Cornelius also expanded his focus to assist people with bad credit and help them rebuild to become homeowners.

If you are homebuyer, looking to buy property and you need preapproval for your mortgage or if you are looking to refinance your home, contact Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

He has decades of experience in the real estate industry and also as a mortgage advisor.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California.

We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderateincome and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media’s corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Works cited https://www.homelight.com/blog/selling-a-house-with-a-lien/. https://kerishull.com/can-i-sell-my-house-with-a-lien/. https://ppshousebuyers.com/blog/can-you-sell-a-house-with-a-lien-on-it/.

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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By Jenny Gonzalez

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How to compete as a buyer in Corona’s Seller’s market

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seller’s market occurs when the demand for homes is unmatched by the supply. In simpler terms, it is a market where there are more buyers than there are properties. These conditions tend to favor the seller more than the buyer in terms of payout, hence the term “seller’s market.”

For most of 2021, Corona has been a seller’s market, with inventory dropping to as low as 60 at one point. As more buyers enter the market, it is hard to ignore the appeal that Corona has. Corona has ten neighborhoods that you can home and get to enjoy a dense suburban feel.

With the average sale price of homes being $697 351 and homes spending a record low of just 12 days in the market in August, you are going to need to be prepared. Homes are receiving multiple offers, and buyers have to pay 5 percent over the asking price. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make your offer stand out.

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1. GET A MORTGAGE PREAPPROVAL It is safe to assume that a single home will receive multiple offers when you enter the Corona market. It is, therefore, in your best interest to be “offer ready.” That means you need to get your preapproval letter with you.

And no, a prequalification letter will not give you the edge you need.

A preapproval letter, unlike a prequalification letter, is a “proof of funds.” It is necessary to provide this to the seller as it acts as a safety net. The seller can take their house off the market; rest assured that you will afford and buy the home. Additionally, the letter means that you can submit your offers before the deadline.

2. MAKE YOUR BEST OFFER FIRST If you want to stand out, go bigger or go home.

Houses are receiving multiple offers, and to stand out, you must put your best foot forward.

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to live in, conduct a comparative analysis of what homes in that neighborhood cost. You do not have to do it alone; a real estate agent can be beneficial. Once you have a rough figure in your head, ask yourself if there is room in your budget to pay the list price and something over the list price. If not, you can expand your search to other “less hot” neighborhoods.

3. LOOK FOR HOMES UNDER YOUR BUDGET The demand and supply dynamic has created a perfect storm for price appreciation. It is not unusual to see a home get multiple offers in this hot market and witness prices going up in bidding wars. If it is not within your budget to match those offers, that is perfectly okay. Instead, focus your attention on homes that are well below your budget. That way, you have room to bid up without dipping into your savings.

4. CONSIDER WAIVING YOUR CONTINGENCIES Any home offer has some contingencies- things like completing a home inspection and receiving a mortgage commitment that must be fulfilled if the transaction moves forward. By waiving these contingencies, the buying process takes a shorter time. It is not without its risks though, should you opt to waive the contingencies, you are willing to buy the homes despite it having problems. This strategy is risky; therefore, consider whether you have room in your budget to foot any arising issues with the house.

5. DO NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH JUST ONE HOUSE Sure, the house is pretty, but fixating on it alone is setting yourself up for major disappointments, and worse, bad financial decisions. Do not be carried away by the attractiveness of a home; you might end up buying an overpriced home that leaves you in more debt. Be realistic with yourself and remain true to your budget. Buy a perfect affordable house; you can always make changes.

Buying a home, all factors constant is complicated, factor in a seller’s market and becomes ten times more difficult. But by making yourself stand out, your odds at getting your dream home get better.

Before jumping into the housing market, do your part and get preapproved –trust me, that will get your offer accepted. And if by chance you can make a cash offer, by all means, do so, sellers find it hard to resist a cash offer- less risk is attached to it. And, do not forget to have a budget that will ground you; it will remind you that that overpriced home is not worthwhile after all. Finally, get a certified real estate agent, one that has worked in the neighborhood you are eyeing. An excellent real estate agent is 88 l

the secret weapon you never thought you needed, they will help you with the negotiations, and if they have a network, that could work in your favor. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be at the Power Is Now Media Inc.; there are experienced agents and mortgage brokers that will be more than happy to walk with you from the onset of your homeownership journey till you have the keys.

ABOUT JENNY GONZALEZ Jenny Gonzales has been in the real estate industry since 1998. Her career started at a company that did Real Estate and Loans. After six months of mastering that craft-loans (She’s a numbers person), she drove straight into Real Estate. Her first listing was of a couple in their 30's that responded to a handwritten letter like all the other letters. The couple had spent on breast cancer treatments and had another baby coming. Their home cost them more than it was worth and just like that her first listing was a short sale in the 1990’s.

Her first buyer was a family with children the same as hers and the father was a police officer, she found them a home under the Officer Next Door Program.

Jenny has been fulfilling dreams ever since!

If you are looking for an agent to guide you or somebody else in the either selling or buying their homes in the Corona, reach out to Jenny Gonzales on our Website: www.thepowerisnow.com On top of that, if you are looking to get preapproved for your mortgage, or need mortgage advice, reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext.

703. You do not need to go at it alone!

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501.

Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media Works cited https://www.rockethomes.com/blog/home-buying/how-to-get-offer-accepted-insellers-market https://www.opendoor.com/w/blog/buying-in-a-sellers-market-tips https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/mortgages/6-tips-for-buyers-in-competitivereal-estate-markets/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Danon Burnside

Here’s how to avoid homebuyers remorse in 2021

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t should always be a moment of excitement and joy to finally close on the buying documents and live in your dream home, but sometimes this is not always the case. Most homebuyers end up regretting a house purchase for various reasons. As published by a US homebuyer survey from Bank rate, in May 2021, 64 percent of home buyers experienced buyer’s remorse. San Bernardino, like most cities in the United States, has for a while experienced a house-buying frenzy fueled by the low mortgage rates. The median listing home price trended to 18 percent year over year to $450K and the median home sold price was $465K as per the Realtor.

Com July 2021.

In the name of seizing the current market situation, most people are impulsive buying homes to rush their dreams of becoming homeowners in San Bernardino. This is therefore leading to them regretting their decisions later as they are not prepared and flexible enough to go through the home buying process. It is with no doubt that most of the haste decisions made with no adequate preparations always end up in the regret box. This is not different when it comes to real estate. Homebuyer remorse is a result of numerous causes that are avoidable.

HOW TO AVOID HOME BUYERS REMORSE For any prospective home buyer in San Bernardino, flexibility and Preparation are the key drivers to avoiding regrets after a home purchase.

Do you want to smile as you sign the closing home buying documents?

Enjoy every minute in your dream home? Here are the ways to make that happen; Work with a realistic budget – “It is advisable to shop for a house that is

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below your budget. “ Says Raven Reed, a realtor with Realty Executives Select Group. Homebuyers should set a certain maximum budget and stick to it no matter how tempting the housing market is. This is important to avoid overspending on home buying.

Whenever a buyer blows their budget, it means changing their lifestyle in order to fit within the financial constraint they are in. This brings remorse to the buyer.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT MORTGAGE RATE There are different types of mortgage rates available for buyers depending on their qualifications, credit scores, and financial capabilities. Buyers should therefore understand these types to enable them to choose the best for them. A buyer might choose a mortgage higher than their finances, and end up struggling to pay every month for it and this clearly leads to remorse.

PRIORITIZE NEEDS OVER WANTS Everyone wants luxury in their homes but, are your finances enough for that? Can your budget cover your luxurious desires? Every buyer should ask themselves such questions before purchasing a house. It’s good to have a list of needs as it helps the buyer looking for a house that has only necessities and stays focused on only what they need in their homes, to avoid incurring extra costs of home luxuries.

INCLUDE CONTINGENCIES IN THE HOME BUYING CONTRACT It is not a wonder for buyers to not include or remove contingencies in this hot sellers’ market. The inventory is low, and buyers are willing to make the best offers possible to sellers in order to get houses in San Bernardino. As much as the buyer wants to make the offer appealing, they should have a list of the mandatory contingencies so as to be protected if the conditions are not met by the seller. Excluding contingencies is a risky move that later brings remorse to the buyer.

WORK WITH A REALTOR It’s likely for buyers to prefer buying a home without a real estate agent in the name of saving on the realtor fee but contrary, this might even cost them more later. It is always advantageous to work with a realtor as they act as buyer’s advocates and help them look for the ideal homes in conducive neighborhoods, negotiate with the seller and even work on the paperwork. It’s easy to get the best home deals with a realtor on board, which is a great way helps avoid buyer’s remorse.

It’s quite a hard task to find an exact perfect house 92 l

as you have always desired, hence most buyers tend to forego some of their wish list house features.

Additionally, buyers tend to renovate the houses to meet their desired types which is costly. It is, therefore, a better idea for buyers to consider and appreciate the positive features of the houses to avoid feeling remorseful. It definitely is an awful feeling when you’re delighted about eventually living in your dream home in San Bernardino, but instead regret the choice especially because the circumstance was evitable. This unfortunately has been the recent trend in real estate since the shift to a seller’s market. Buyers making hasty decisions based on the market trends and later regretting it all.

You don’t have to be a statistic in the list of remorse buyers! Contact Danon Burnside, a VIP Agent of The Power Is Now Media in San Bernardino, to help you through finding and buying your ideal home with no future regrets. Alternatively, reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 NMLS 461807 for more.

ABOUT THE DANON BURNSIDE Danon Burnside is a San Bernardino native who has been licensed since 2008. He has 12 years of retail sales experience and four years of residential property management. He got his Associate of Science degree in business administration from Argosy University in 2016. He is a city manager for San Bernardino and a member of CAR, NAR, and CVAR. Danon joined The Power Is Now Media in 2017.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of the minority communities all around the United States. We engage in various thoughts of leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future. We are also advocating for firsttime home buyers. The Power Is Now Media Inc. can help make your home ownership dream a reality. Go to www.neverrentagain.com and get started today.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807.

President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media Inc. www.thepowerisnow.com References https://www.homelight.com/blog/buyer-is-homebuyers-remorse-common/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/reginacole/2021/08/31/how-to-avoid-homebuyersremorse/amp/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Denise Matthis

San Diego Rents Are Amongst the Highest in the Country

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ecorded by Zumper National Rent Report, San Diego is amongst the top ten cities with the highest rent price in the US.San Diego rents are at $2075 per month depicting a 9 percent increment year over year according to CoStar Real estate tracker August 2021. There was an annual rate of increase of 11.8percent Year over year in 3Q of 2021 and as per predictions this will raise to 12.1 percent in 4Q and 12.7 in 2022. The average rent price of a one-bedroom is $1823, a two-bedroom apartment at $2222, a 3 bedroom rent at $2794, and a studio at $1627 monthly. These rents are unaffordable for most people despite the high wage rates offered.

REASONS FOR HIGH RENTS IN SAN DIEGO The increment in rents has been associated with the high median house prices, which have forced many potential homebuyers to prefer renting.

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San Diego is amongst the third most expensive real estate market with a median home price of $865,000, which raises the demand for rentals as most people cannot afford to buy a house. This is mainly due to the low inventory Supply which is at 1.5 months.

A low vacancy rate resulting from the decreased supply of houses due to less construction of new houses. There has been a 20-year low vacancy rate of 3 percent. San Diego had implemented a 4.1 percent rent cap in May, purposed to keep current renters’ cost down due to the pandemic, this however has recently been passed to anyone signing for a new house lease especially after the law was loosened in August. This has therefore made it easy for most people to rent, leading to high rent demand. Landlords are hence seizing this opportunity and asking for more new leases. l

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Landlords, therefore, are perfectly taking advantage of this situation, and pricing their houses at the highest price possible. As said by Joshua Ohl, a managing analyst at CoStar, “Given the state of the market, and the strength of demand, landlords have so much pricing power for available units” In addition, most tenants were not paying rent during the pandemic due to the eviction ban by the government, which resulted in a 10 percent revenue loss for landlords. To compensate for these losses, Landlords have taken the rent increment decision as the best way. According to Lucinda Lilley, the Vice President at FBS Property Management, lumber and repairing appliances have become costly. They consequently have to increase rents by about 5 percent in all the 737 units in San Diego, so as to recover the costs incurred. It’s henceforth the right conclusion that the low vacancy rate and increased renting demand (which is directly proportional to increased wage rates that have given renters power to pay more), are the prime causes of high rents in San Diego.

It’s a city with enticing tourists attractions not forgetting the yearly warm weather. Most popular for all the beach and aquatic recreations. San Diego will continue recording high rent prices due to the need for shortterm rentals for tourists. The high-income growth rate and low supply of housing will continue pushing prices even higher.

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However, for anyone willing to live in San Diego, you don’t have to go through the uncertainties of rent fluctuations every month.

Buying a home is the right thing to do! Buying comes with way more advantages than renting.

Don’t let the high prices deny you the pride of becoming a homeowner. You can buy a home with as little as you have with especially in this market of low mortgage rates. Don’t hesitate to contact The Power Is Now Media Inc. a real estate incorporation with the best of professionals ready to guide you through homeownership acquisitions.

Get in touch with the CEO and President of The Power Is Now Media Inc. Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 NMLS 461807, who is also a licensed mortgage advisor with First Bank. Alternatively reach out to Denise Matthias a VIP agent in San Diego, for guidance on how to become a homeowner in one of the most expensive real estate cities in the US. ABOUT DENISE MATTHIS Although not a true “San Diego Native”, Denise E Matthis has been a resident of San Diego since the age of 2. Denise is the Owner/Broker of DEM Financial Services & Real Estate, a boutique brokerage dedicated to promoting community pride through homeownership and building & preserving generational wealth with real estate. As a buyer’s representative, she is passionate and works with first-time home buyers and veterans educating them on

the home buying process and works with investors. As a seller’s representative, she specializes in seniors, probate, and distressed property sales. To learn more about Denise, go to; https:// thepowerisnow.com/denisematthis/ ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of the minority communities all around the United States. We engage in various thoughts of leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future. We are also advocating for first-time home buyers. The Power Is Now Media Inc. can help make your home ownership dream a reality. Go to www.neverrentagain.com and get started today.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807.

President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media Inc. www.thepowerisnow.com

References https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/ real-estate/story/2021-08-13/san-diego-rentkeeps-rising https://www.costar.com/article/681746192/ apartment-rents-in-san-diego-urbanneighborhoods-outperformed-the-region https://weleaseusa.com/san-diego-rental-markettrends-2021/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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By Kenneth Session

Is Your Home a Turn-off for Homebuyers?

Frustration describes it better! It probably is the worst disappointment for any seller when their homes stay longer than usual in the listing market with no prospective buyer. Every seller hopes to have their home sell at the fastest rate after listing, but sadly this is not always the normality. It’s a seller’s market country-wide, and Oakland is not an exception. A home is listed today, and it’s sold by tomorrow, such a crazy fast sale mode, right? It, therefore, would raise some red flags to any seller whose house lags unusually in the market. All left for the seller is pondering and unending questions, but could the home be a turn-off? Yes, it could, for these reasons;

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verpricing your home - It’s always a bustle and hustle for buyers before and when preparing to purchase a home. They have to strain their finances and do a lot to make sure they qualify for loans to meet the down payment and closing costs for houses. With all these on their side, they find it a tedious task to try and negotiate for a home price but prefer to go for the less expensive home because the crazily high price is a turn-off for them. “Data shows that if you list WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

a home 10% under market value, you will attract 75% of the buyer pool, versus only 30% if you were to list 10% over market value,” said Melissa Colabella, at Sotheby’s International. Any seller should, therefore, reasonably set home prices by consulting a quality realtor.

UNATTRACTIVE CURB APPEAL It is more of the first impression than the interior of a home for buyers. Curb appeal raises the value l

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and attraction of a home by 7 percent. Unattractive curb appeal is always the first turn-off for buyers.

It’s the responsibility of the seller to have their landscape stunning, plant fresh flowers and grasses, lawn the yards, repaint the house with appealing colors, and do all that it takes to improve the curb appeal. This will have buyers running to have an interior view of the house and be more than willing to make it their dream home.

UNAPPEALING INTERIOR DÉCOR AND CONDITIONS Your favorite color designs may seem dull or outrageous for buyers, which is a turn-off. It’s advisable to repaint your walls with neutral colors.

Also, dirty rooms, floors, and broken appliances give buyers second thoughts about not buying your home. No buyer wants to come back to such a house. Always make your home presentable before viewings; you can even go the extra mile and hire cleaners and professional interior designs to refurnish.

With the lively cultural scenes, shady oak trees, diverse population, tourists attraction, not forgetting its proximity to the famous San Francisco County, Oakland has become a fastgrowing renaissance city. Additionally, it’s a seller’s market, and all these have attracted plenteous development and real estate investment opportunities. Hence, no seller has an excuse to have their homes staying abnormally longer in the market for lack of buyers. The only reason for this situation is that your home is a turn-off, which can be rectified. Wondering how? The Power Is Now Media got you! Contact the CEO, Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484, for the best home 100 l

value maximization guidance or directly connect with one of the real estate experts and VIP Agent, Kenny Session-based in Oakland. He will help you apply the right strategies to make your home a turn-on.

ABOUT KENNY SESSION Kenny Session is a veteran Real Estate agent with over 28 years of continuous Real Estate Service in the Bay Area. Kenny has served as the President of Oakland’s Associated Real Property Brokers (ARPB), and President of The California Association of Real Estate Brokers (CAREB). To learn more about Kenny, go to; https://www.thepowerisnow.com/ kenneth-session-2/ ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

References https://www-lakehomes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.lakehomes.com/info/ articles-and-news/top-10-turn-offs-potential-home-buyers/ https://www.loveproperty.com/galleries/63292/30-problems-that-will-stopsomeone-buying-your-home

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

Frazier Group Realty Inc. 3739 Sixth Street Riverside, CA 92501

“Your Real Estate Navigator” www.fraziergrouprealty.com rubyfrazier@fraziergrouprealty.com F: (714) 908-7298 Lic# 01751773

nytimes.com

O: (951) 686-5261

By Robert Langston

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t’s been a hot seller’s market for a while now in most cities in the US. This is no different in Sacramento.

As per California Association Realtor, home median listing prices stand at $430K and median sale price at $450K. Published by NeighborhoodScout.com, Sacramento home appreciation is at 9.33 percent annually, placing Sacramento amongst the top 10 percent nationally for real estate appreciation. As a result, sellers who quickly sell have the ideal time to make the best sales before the market shifts. As a result, sellers can earn top dollar sales now more than ever, but only with the right strategies and choices.

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HOW TO GET THAT TOP DOLLAR FOR YOUR HOME? CHOOSE THE RIGHT HOME IMPROVEMENTS It’s the goal of every seller to have their homes marketable and appealing. Therefore, sellers should strategically improve on what makes their homes outstanding. Simple and relatively less costly improvements like repainting, repairs, and replacing old or damaged items can make a difference that maximizes home value. Sellers should, however, not take inexpensive renovation projects before the sale as they may not recover the amount.

Research and strategically set a reasonable price.

Any seller should be aware of the market before pricing the home at this point; buyers should get advice from realtors who are well informed on the pricing strategies. Sellers should not set the price too high above the market’s cost, which may turn off possible buyers. Also, they should not put it too low l

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Getting a Top Dollar for Your Sacramento Home this Fall

below the market’s price as this means they will just sell at an average price. The current Sacramento listing price is $430K, hence any seller wishing to make a top-dollar sale should set there’s a little higher. The price should be a slightly higher than the surrounding market price to allow room for competition and bargain.

IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL It’s always about the first impression in real estate. The representation of your house from the exterior maximizes its value in the market.

Sellers should therefore make their curb appeal aesthetic for a guarantee of a top-dollar sale. A pristine lawn, blooming flowers, tidy walk, and driveways will always make buyers want to see more and willing to pay for the price set with no bargain. Averagely, homes with an attractive curb appeal tend to sell for 7 percent more than those with unattractive curb appeal. Sacramento sellers can use different ways to increase curb appeal to maximize home values and prices.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT AGENT It’s probably the best way for sellers to sell homes for top dollar and faster. Look for a qualified agent that they can trust. Agents help sellers set the right price and comprehend the market trends.

More importantly, agents show potential buyers the value of sellers’ homes. Therefore, sellers should find an agent well equipped with proper knowledge of the local neighborhood. Agents already know what buyers want and how much they are willing to pay; hence considerably take part in top dollar sales.

MARKETING STRATEGY Sellers make their homes known to the market, and using the right and professional marketing strategy determines the buyers’ perception. Hiring professional photographers and videographers to capture every detail of their homes helps in the attention of buyers. Therefore, sellers should get professional listing agents and advertisers to appraise their homes on social media platforms to ensure potential buyers are left with no choice but to see the property in person. In this way, sellers are assured of getting top dollar for their homes.

Being a seller’s market doesn’t necessarily mean always getting the highest sale. It means that the market favors and allows any seller to make top dollar. However, this is only possible if the 104 l

seller decides on the best choices and techniques to make their homes outstanding for price maximization. As a seller, you don’t have to spend a lot on making your home eminent, especially in this phase of the seller’s market. Sacramento real estate is amongst investor’s choices of market.

Sellers should seize this opportunity and earn more on home sales in less inexpensive ways.

Get in touch with Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 today and quicklysell your home at your best highest price. Alternatively, reach out to Sacramento agent Robert Langston at bobbyreinc.@gmail.com and get help with the selling process at the highest best price possible.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media References https://www-realtor-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.realtor.com/advice/sell/ secrets-no-one-tells-you-to-fetch-top-dollar-selling-your-home/amp https://showmehome.com/sell-home-top-dollar/ https://www-effectiveagents-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.effectiveagents. com/5-ways-to-sell-your-home-for-top-dollar/

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Briana Frazier

Here’s what I think about Online Mortgage Lenders

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t’s a digital world, and everything is running digital. Gone are the traditional days of indefinite bank trips to fill a bundle of paperwork.

Getting a mortgage loan nowadays is at the comfort of your location at any time. Borrowers can easily browse rates, fill applications forms, and be pre-approved by just uploading their details and documents. This is enabled by online mortgage lenders who have totally changed the buying or refinancing home processes.

Although located in different counties in California, Whittier and La Habra’s real estate trends indicate a rise in home prices year over year. La Habra home median listing prices trended up 9.5 percent while Whittier increased by 6.6 percent. The median home sale prices increased by 2.74 percent and 3.54 percent respectively.

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WHY PREFER ONLINE OVER TRADITIONAL MORTGAGE LENDERS CONVENIENCE Online lenders can offer you loans from anywhere and at any time as long as it is convenient for you. All you need to upload your information in a portal. No need for tiresome office appointments, collection, and printing of stuck documents.

Also, online lenders provide borrowers with informative resources to help them understand the market and economy in just a call or text away.

QUICK AND SIMPLE With online mortgage lenders, there’s no long wait to hear back on the status of your loan. Borrowers can access their loan information from their portals. Check the loan status, modify the loan pre-approval letter, or even adjust the loan terms that are suitable for them. All this happens in less time making the home buying process quick, easier, and efficient.

TRANSPARENCY Online mortgage lenders show and elaborate to buyers the mortgage rates they are qualified for. They explain to them

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the benefits and shortcomings of each and help the buyer decide on the loan type fit for them depending on their qualifications. Buyers receive frank and instant information about their financial options for better decision-making.

LESS COSTLY There is a possibility of getting mortgage loans at lower rates and fees with online lenders. This is because they operate without covering lots of overheads, unlike banks or brokers. Also, unlike most traditional mortgage lenders, online lenders don’t supplement loan officers with commissions depending on the loan amount. Online lenders are hence cheaper and save for the borrowers.

Nothing comes one-sided, with advantages comes

ABOUT BRIANA FRAZIER Briana Frazier Cannon, Broker of Frazier Group Realty, has over 15 years of real estate sales and property management experience. She is well known in the industry and with her clients as Broker Bree. Briana specializes in home buyers and home listings. She has sold millions of dollars in real estate and takes pride in helping first-time buyers enter homeownership. Briana has a Bachelors’s degree from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master’s of Business Administration from Chapman University. Her corporate office is located in downtown Riverside, but she covers all of Orange County and Riverside County. Briana is a member of the California Associations of Realtors and her local Realtor associations.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of the minority communities all around the United States. We engage in various 108 l

disadvantages. Online mortgage lenders have their shortcomings which confirms that digital is good but not always better. However, it’s a fastmoving world of daily new technology inventions and real estate investors have to conform. With the increasing demand for houses in both Whittier and La Habra, A buyer is obviously fighting off with other homebuyers for the same home. The easiest way for a seller to take you seriously as a buyer is if you have a mortgage approval letter. You don’t have to go the traditional way and wait forever!

Online lenders are here to make that happen in real quick time . Wondering where to get the best online mortgage lender? Worry no more, we got you!

Contact Briana Frazier, A VIP agent of The Power Is Now Media Inc. for guidance on the ideal online mortgage lenders in La Habra and Whittier.

thoughts of leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future. We are also advocating for first-time home buyers. The Power Is Now Media Inc. can help make your home ownership dream a reality. Go to www.neverrentagain.com and get started.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807.

President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media. www.thepowerisnow.com References https://themortgagereports.com/58202/should-you-apply-for-a-mortgageonline-pros-and-cons-of-digital-mortgages https://alcova.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-online-mortgages/ https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/La-Habra_CA/overview

THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

By Adrian Bates

The Chaos in Los Angeles No homes for sale and Rents are skyrocketing

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id you know that over half of California’s renters spend more than 50% of their monthly incomes on rents alone!

Does this sound familiar to you?

Well if it does, you are not alone, in fact, this is the reason why I am writing this guide to set you free and on a path to financial freedom.

The best part is … I will show you how to qualify for a home loan with 0 percent down. It seems impossible, right?

Let’s get started.

Financial experts recommend keeping the total amount of your income for housing at 30 percent.

That means, the portion of your monthly going to rent or mortgage payments should be no more than 30 percent.

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Earlier, I mentioned a term that I know most of you are familiar with, ‘cost-burdened.’ , What does it mean?, How can you tell that you are costburdened? , How does it affect your future?

Well, if you are spending more than 30 percent of your income on rent or housing, you are costburdened. According to a report by Apartment List, the national average rate for renters experiencing this problem was 49.5% as of 2017.

Right now, the house prices are surging like never before. Rent too is joining in the frenzy breaking and setting new highs. the share of people spending more than 30 percent of their incomes on rent has risen dramatically.

In fact, nationally about 38 cities are experiencing a rise in the number of people who are costburdened. That means about 12 percent of l

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households are now severely cost-burdened.

The sad part is, almost half of these cities are in California.

Data from SmartAsset, a FinTech company released its May 2019 Report that found that US cities have the most severely cost-burdened households.

To determine this, the company analyzed the 2017 Census Bureau’s data. With the data, the company took the households that were severely costburdened in 126 cities. The company then ranked each city by the percentage of households that used at least half of their income on housing.

It found that 17 cities with households severely cost-burdened are in California. Our beautiful city of Los Angeles was 3rd on the list at 18.50 percent after New Jersey and Florida respectively.

Can you imagine that? 18.50 percent! Oh, and by the way, this percentage is for the homeowners!

When it comes to the share of renters severely affected by rising rents in LA county, we have almost 60%.

However, there was a period where the share of renters being affected by huge costs declined. That was in 2017 where it declined from 58.3 percent in 2016 to 57.8%. This was large because incomes were catching up to the rents.

Today, because of the pandemic, the situation has only gotten worse!

Now that you understand what being a cost burden means, and the situation on the ground, you must be wondering, will it ever get better?

The simple answer is, not any time soon…

Before the market corrects itself, it’s going to take some time; the inventory is insufficient to level the demand which is putting upward pressure on prices and until that happens, rents will keep rising.

So what can you do?

Buy! Buy! Buy! Your landlord doesn’t want you to know every time you are cashing in that check to him for the rents, you are increasing his equity, his value, his wealth.

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Your landlord doesn’t want you to know that when you buy a home, every mortgage payment you will be paying will be helping you build equity for that home.

Most renters are stuck in this vicious cycle because they’ve been made to believe that there are not enough homes to buy in the market. Yes, supply is tight but have you talked to a real estate agent to get a clear picture of what is going on?

There are enough homes for everybody and the best part is, you don’t even have to worry yourself with a down payment or closing costs.

That’s the main fear most renters have.

Let me worry about that for you. You see, many renters don’t know that there are numerous programs that offer assistance in closing costs and down payments.

Before we get into how you get the zero percent downpayment, let me introduce you to CalHFA and GSFA which are state-run housing assistance programs.

California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has a program MyHome which offers a deferredpayment junior loan of an amount up to the lesser of 3.5% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/or closing costs, with a cap of $11,000, and that’s for FHA Loans.

For USDA and Conventional loans, MyHome offers a deferred-payment junior loan of an amount up to the lesser of 3% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/ or closing costs, with a cap of $11,000.

Lastly, for the VA loans, MyHome offers a deferredpayment junior loan of an amount up to the lesser of 3% of the purchase price or appraised value to assist with down payment and/or closing costs.

On the other hand, Golden State Finance Authority has created a program called the Platinum Program, which provides low-to-moderate income California homebuyers with down payment and/or closing cost assistance to help them achieve their goals of purchasing a home.

GSFA’s Platinum Program provides applicants with THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

down payment and/or closing cost assistance in the form of a non-repayable grant up to 5 percent of the total loan amount. This is a gift in the true sense, which means it is not a second mortgage, does not create a lien against the property, and there are no terms for repayment.

determined Adrian Bates opened A-1 Realty in Los Angeles, CA. With her fortitude and divine help from God above, her team two grew into a team of eleven agents by November 1996.

To read more and to connect with Adrian, go to; https://www.thepowerisnow.com/adrian-bates-2/

Sounds interesting right?

Well, it is. Adriane Bates has helped so many people get into their first home, my question to you is, what are you still waiting for? If you want to find out more about how you can qualify for a mortgage with absolutely zero percent down, why don’t you talk to the man behind this magic? Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, a mortgage professional with over 30 years of experience. You can reach Eric at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

ABOUT ADRIAN BATES Adrian Bates graduated from Cal State University with her B.A. in Psychology (Business Management minor) in 1980. The former aerospace contract negotiator became a real estate sales agent in 1985 and then a broker in 1990.

In April of 1995, property sales across America were on a serious downturn, yet a young and WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Sources; https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/californians-parts-state-pay-can-affordhousing/ https://journal.firsttuesday.us/over-half-of-california-renters-are-costburdened/66115/ https://www.businessinsider.com/california-leads-us-cities-most-cost-burdenedhouseholds-2018-8?r=US&IR=T#2-jersey-city-new-jersey-37 l

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By Success Money

WHY CURB APPEAL MATTERS

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IMPORTANCE OF CURB APPEAL PROVISION OF LASTING IMPRESSION First impressions last longer, which is definitely evident in the real estate world. “The first impression is critically important” echoed

by Faye O’Bryant, a CRS with RE/MAX Equity Group. It is the pride of every homeowner to receive comments from neighbors, family, or most importantly prospective buyers as they emphasize their perspective on the first impression. The level of attractiveness any person feels for a property when they view it creates the connection that makes them want it even more. In recent years, the first impression is not only physical but starts from the internet. Online real estate has become a trend for all US cities. It is therefore advisable to homeowners to take eye-catching photos of their houses, to highlight every aspect of their curb appeal. First impressions will always give the home buyers the urge to enquire more since they already have the expectations of a better interior décor.

ADDS VALUE TO THE PROPERTY Curb appeal is a marketing tool that can determine how long a home will be in the market. Houses with adorable curbs sell first but those without can stay for months. The appealing the curb is, the faster it sells. The value of a home is always the top priority for any seller. Different homes have been listed with different prices in the MLS, holding all other factors constant, curb appeal plays a greater role in determining how high or low the price of a house will be. On average, homes with beautiful curb appeal sell for 7 percent more compared to exact homes with an unattractive curb l

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H

ave you ever been walking or driving down a street but had to stop and stare in admiration at the aesthetic exterior of a house? Well, that’s the power of curb appeal. It is what gives the home buyers the first impression of a house when they see it from the streets or online. Curb appeal also can refer to how stunning a house looks compared to other houses on the same street or block. Southern California is the third strongest growing region in California with 22.

1percent price increment at $760.

As per the California Association of Realtors. For this reason, most buyers want to see the value of the prices reflected in both the interior and exterior of the house.

Furthermore, sellers will do what it takes to increase the level of attractiveness and make their houses outstanding. Most sellers put so much thought and effort into selling their houses that they forget the little things that make the most difference like the curb appearance.

appeal Apparently landscaping has been found to increase home value by 5 to 15 percent or more.

Southern California is a fast-growing market, with homes selling at crazy prices. Despite the prices, buyers are more than ever on the outlook for the best homes in the listings, resulting from the inadequate inventory supply leading to fast-moving of houses in the market. Sellers with the best homes are receiving irresistible offers from numerous prospective home buyers. This is the ideal time for homeowners, to look for the best exterior home designers, to have their homes renovated in the best and appropriate curb appeal improvements that make them outstanding to meet the demands of the buyers. Gone are the days when homes stayed for months in the market for lack of or low market value. Make your curb appeal to every buyer ‘stop to gaze’ by reaching out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 NMLS 461807 today for more ways to exclusively maximize your home market value through curb appeal.

Or contact Money Success, a renowned VIP agent in Southern California, to find out the best exterior makeovers perfect for your home.

ABOUT THE SUCCESS MONEY Success Money is a creative and passionate entrepreneur. She started her career in the mortgage and real estate industry in 2005 while studying Business Administration and communication in college. She has assisted in establishing and serving on numerous boards throughout her career including; The Black Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) at the city, state, and national level. She is the founder of House of Success, a non-profit organization established to assist entrepreneurs, artists, and creative with building and expanding their business, brand, product, and services. CEO of Success Money Management Inc. and Super Agents Worldwide, Success and her associates provide professional consulting and coaching in business, credit, funding real estate taxes, and advertising.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW INC. Power Is Now Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of minority communities all around the United States. We engage in various thought leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future.

We are also advocating for first-time home buyers. The Power Is Now Media Inc. can help you make your home ownership dream a reality. Go to www.neverrentagain.com and get started today.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807.

President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media Inc. www.thepowerisnow.com References https://systempavers.com/blog/post/1563/what-is-curb-appeal-and-why-does-it-matter#:~:text=Curb%20 appeal%20is%20the%20first,other%20houses%20on%20the%20block. https://www.fortunebuilders.com/importance-curb-appeal/#:~:text=What%20is%20curb%20appeal%2C%20 and,side%20of%20the%20front%20door.

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By Joe L. Fisher

Buying with cash pros and cons

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omebuying is not for the faint heart. If you are reading this, you probably know this already.

Also, if you are reading this, it means you are already at a crucial point in this process.

THE FINANCING PHASE Many new buyers often struggle to answer this question, and let’s face it, the mortgage is payment is not that idealistic.

If you can pay cash, why not?

You’d avoid the hustle of filling in countless mortgage application papers. You’d avoid the headache that comes with chasing after banks and lenders. Heck! You’d even not have to worry about your credit score or your debt to income ratio, and many other things.

BUYING CASH IS A NO-BRAINER! Well, not necessarily, and this is what we’ll be discussing in this article.

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IS BUYING CASH THE RIGHT FINANCIAL MOVE? Let’s find out.

Buying a home with cash isn’t always the right financial decision, even if you have a few hundred thousand dollars just sitting around. It may seem like a good move, but it is not.

But, it has some of its own merits that we cannot ignore. As such, if you are considering buying a home with cash, it is important that you first understand what it means for your bottom line and long-term financial goals.

The first step is determining whether buying cash is more advantageous than buying with a mortgage.

In essence, run the numbers before making a decision.

LET’S DO THE MATHS...

The Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States is $374,900, according to Q2 data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

The current interest rates are around 2.80-2.90% for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate and 2.15%-2.20% for the 15-year mortgage.

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So how much would you pay in cash and using a mortgage for a $374,900 home?

Well, with cash, it’s simple, you pay $374,900.

Using the 15-year fixed mortgage rate and saying you put a 5% down payment leaves you with $356,155 to pay with a 2.2% rate. So the cost of the mortgage after 15 years would be $418,320.

Using the 30-year fixed mortgage rate and saying you put a 5% down payment leaves you $356,155 to pay. With a 2.9% rate, the cost of the mortgage will be $533,520 after 30 years.

No doubt that if you can pay for the home without the mortgage, you can save a lot of money. But it doesn’t end there.

SO WHAT ARE THE PROS OF BUYING CASH? The example above sets the record straight that buying with cash is a lot more advantageous.

But even beyond the hundreds of thousands in potential savings, homebuyers can capitalize on a range of other advantages when paying cash.

Some of the pros of buying cash include; YOU WILL HAVE A HIGH NEGOTIATING POWER You ever heard of a saying that real estate that is cash is king? Well, it’s old, but it remains true.

Sellers are looking for the highest buyer in the market; they are also looking for a person who can guarantee them certainty. The idea of accepting offers is just so ‘boring’ to them because it means they’ll have to reject some bids too. It also means that they have to wait for probably a month for the contract to fall through.

WHO WANTS TO WAIT AROUND FOR THAT WHEN THERE’S A CASH BUYER? Buyers buying in cash reassure the sellers that they will close. So there’s some degree of seriousness attached to the cash buyers, and this is what the sellers want.

HOW NICE CAN THIS BE? For many people in the US, house payments make up the largest percentage of monthly expenses. So eliminating this payment will dramatically reduce your living expenses.

Assuming the worst-case scenario happens and you lose your job or hit financial hard times, unlike the buyer paying mortgage payments, you will not be foreclosed on.

Therefore, no matter how bad things might turn out to be, you will be at peace.

LOWER CLOSING COSTS With a mortgage, the lenders will charge you for certain services, which add to the amount you will owe at closing. Of course, I am talking about lender fees, application fees, loan origination fees, and so many others.

When you are paying in cash, you won’t have to deal with the lender-related closing costs.

These are the main advantages of buying cash.

There are so many others you can look up on the internet. But what about the cons?

DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE BUYING, YOUR MONEY WILL BE TIED UP IN THE HOUSE? To put it simply, and by the way, there is nothing wrong with this, but by buying cash, you will be putting a large amount of money on a fairly illiquid asset. This means you cannot tap into that money in case you need it quickly.

What do I mean by that? Assuming you hit financial rock bottom, it would be easier for you to pull some savings from your savings account, but that is far from the truth when it comes to the house, even if you put the house up for sale, at least not as fast.

Also, getting rid of the lender from the equation means settling the deal faster, and therefore because you’re bringing all this convenience to the buyer, they would be willing to renegotiate the price for you.

Before committing your money to buy a house with cash, it might be a good idea to weigh the options available to you where you could put your money to better use. For instance, you may see better value for your cash if you put that money into an investment or maybe boost your retirement savings.

NO RENT! NO MORTGAGE

Yes, buying a home almost instantly by purchasing

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cash can provide great peace of mind, and we know that peace has an intrinsic value, but overall, it could be financial suicide.

Imagine buying cash with all your savings, and then an emergency happens. Where do you go from there?

YOU ARE STILL SUBJECT TO OTHER EXPENSES Just because you don’t have a mortgage doesn’t mean that you are exempted from paying the regular housing-related expenses.

You are still subject to property taxes, the homeowner’s insurance, homeowners association fees, and many others.

SHOULD YOU BUY CASH? If you consider buying cash, I suggest that you first consult with your financial advisor or a professional in the mortgage industry like Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA. he will look at your situation and help you figure out how to buy your home with cash could affect your financial situation.

Still, real estate agents are a valuable resource at your disposal. They understand the housing market better. They know when the houses are overpriced or the worth of a home, you should never ignore them. If you are in Richmond, CA, it may be advisable to reach out to Jole L. Fisher, A VIP Agent stationed in Richmond.

ABOUT JOE L. FISHER DRE#01070856| Richmond • First time Home Buyer Specialist • Realtor since 1988 • Past Board of Directors CCAR • Past President West Contra Costa Association of Realtors • President Coronado Neighborhood Council • Board of Directors Richmond Chamber of Commerce • Board of Directors Richmond Convention Visiting Bureau • Board Chair for Richmond

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com Sources https://www.rockethq.com/learn/home-buying/the-pros-and-cons-of-buying-ahome-with-cash https://www.moneycrashers.com/buying-house-with-cash-pros-cons/ https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/buying-a-house-with-cash https://www.martyngerrard.co.uk/articles/buying-a-house-with-cash-pros-andcons

Every Tuesday Night

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM CALL ME FOR MORE INFORMATION ERIC LAWRENCE FRAZIER MBA (714) 361-2105 eric.frazier@fbol.com www.thepowerisnow.com

IT’S YOUR TIME TO BUY YOUR FIRST HOME. LET US HELP YOU BECOME A HOME OWNER!

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The housing industry’s disparate impact hopes

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hen Trump’s administration was inaugurated in January 2017, many people knew automatically that he was so determined to “punish” his “enemies” and I chose to put these two words in quotes because they are strong words, especially given the context. Plus I feel they fit in because we all know the history between the two former presidents.

Anyway, One of the areas that saw radical changes was the housing industry. Just a few months into office, Trump was already rescinding the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule which is a rule meant to prevent discriminatory housing practices and segregation. In short, he reversed a rule meant to combat discrimination in a sector that is heavily reliant on fairness and equality.

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The Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule was established by President Obama in 2015. Basically, the AFFH requires communities that recieve grants and housing aid to assess racial segregation in the housing industry and offer plans to correct such actions.

When reversing this rule, HUD termed it as “unworkable and ultimately a waste of time for localities to comply with.”

A move which didn’t quite sit well with many people, in fact, senator Chuck Schumer tweeted; “President Trump is actively working to gut fair housing laws and legalize housing discrimination,” adding, “We will fight this.”

But… Even though the administration was on record to rescind the move, some states and local jurisdiction continued to require the local agencies to ensure that they complied with the requirements of the AFFH and a good example was California.

“Let’s be clear: the President is using racist fear-mongering to say he’s happy to dismantle civil rights in search of a political advantage,” Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote on Twitter.

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That’s about it and just to recap; the AFFH was an Obama-Era fair housing rule. Trump enters the office and rescinds the rule, Democrats are not happy about it, but what can they do? and just to be clear, AFFH is not a segregated case, there were so many others, but I have chosen to focus on this particular case because it forms the basis of this article’s discussion.

SO WHAT’S THIS ‘DISPARATE IMPACT?’ To understand what disparate impact really is, we have to go way back.

The 2015 rule- the AFFH-was introduced as a way to beef up the enforcement of the landmark Fair Housing Act of 1968.

The AFFH required that local jurisdictions keep a track of patterns of poverty and segregation with a checklist of about 92 questions. This would help determine the distribution of the federal housing funds, effectively combating segregation.

When Trump’s administration decided to remove the AFFH, they said that the regulation was “too prescriptive in outcomes for jurisdictions.”

“Since the issuance of the 2015 final rule, HUD has determined that the current regulations are overly burdensome to both HUD and grantees and are ineffective in helping program participants meet their reporting obligations,” according to the rescinding proposal by HUD. BUT NOTE, THE MOVE BY HUD WAS MALICIOUS AND ILL-INTENTIONED. It wasn’t the first time that HUD had tried to tamper with the rules of Fair Housing. In fact, the then HUD secretary, Ben Carson had at one time derided that these laws were a “social engineering.”

FAST FORWARD TO 2018.

Some fair housing groups take Ben Carson and his agency to court, but they are unsuccessful.

This came after Carson failed to implement the AFFH resulting in a five-year delay. In August, HUD comes up with a clever proposal to ‘revamp’ the groundbreaking 2013 ‘disparate impact,’ rule making it harder to prove unintentional discrimination.

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PAY ATTENTION TO ‘UNINTENTIONAL DISCRIMINATION.’ Earlier on I said that the housing industry relies heavily on fairness and equality. These two are the main drivers of this industry without which the industry would collapse.

But, we don’t live in a utopian world. Discrimination still exists and while to some extent we’ve fought it, we haven’t been able to eliminate it completely.

Not by a long shot.

Today, discrimination still occurs and is practiced, more subtly. A form that is less dangerous and a configuration in the form of disparate impact.

In short, disparate impact is a policy that seems so neutral superficially but in practice does a lot of damage, disproportionately having a negative effect on a certain group of people. In essence, they are the policies that hinder equal access.

It is usually unintentional in nature and while it might be accidental it is nonetheless considered a violation of the Civil Rights Act, thus warranting legal intervention.

Well, I hope that lengthy explanation clears up what disparate impact is.

So, in our country, when the disparate impact is in question, definitely know that these are practices that adversely affect one group of people more than the others.

Proving disparate impact often requires statistical data and analysis, but this is not always the case.

To some degree, the Disparate impact in the housing industry has been dealt with, but much work still needs to be done. Which is how we ended up in this place, trying to revive this critical piece of legislation.

Is There Any Hope Left For Disparate Impact?

Even before I answer the question for you, I don’t understand why HUD would repeal such an amazing act.

In 2011, the same agency found and acknowledged disparate impacts in domestic violence. The l

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department sought to rectify disparate impacts being experienced by victims of domestic violence.

In a Memorandum, it stated that survivors of domestic violence were often being denied access to housing on the basis of zero-tolerance violence policies.

About 25% of women experience domestic violence of some sought.

And it even gets worse if we were to look at the statistics on the basis of race. Thus, zero-tolerance had a disparate impact on these groups.

When I think about that, I cannot find any valid reason why HUD would rescind the rule claiming that it is ‘burdensome.’ it makes no sense!

SO, IS THERE ANY HOPE LEFT? Yes! There is still hope. After all, wasn’t Biden part of the Obama administration?

I think most of what Biden will be doing in his first term is taking corrective measures, which he is doing.

So, it’s affirmative that there is still hope for the disparate impact regulation. But even before Biden stepped into the office, there was some progress made to revive this rule.

In 2015, the Supreme Court set a new legal precedent which was in favor of disparate Impact effectively stating that the intent of the Fair Housing Act included disparate impact.

ONE WIN FOR DISPARATE IMPACT RIGHT? Right….but the problem was, during the trial, the supreme court deviated from the HUD’s 2013 rule to diminish the likelihood of “abusive disparate impact claims,” and by the way, the supreme court ruling in question was the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. Inclusive Communities Project.

Fast forward to 2019. HUD issued a proposed guideline clarifying how disparate impact cases were brought to the court. The proposal changed the burden of proof bringing it in alignment with the Supreme Court ruling of 2015.

Basically, the proposal forced the plaintiff to anticipate the defendant’s case and preemptively 124 l

fight against it. In addition, the proposal brought another requirement in that the plaintiff was needed to show that a different, non-discriminating policy would be just as profitable for the defendant.

Furthermore, the 2019 guideline provided business protection to all businesses based their decision on algorithms resulting in discriminatory impacts and lastly, it disincentivized businesses from collecting data that would prove discriminatory practices.

Thus, considering what the disparate impact is, the 2019 changes by HUD were a huge blow to the equal rights movement.

Enter 2020, disparate impact is losing the war! In October, the Finalized HUD rule went into effect.

With just a little deviation from 2019 proposals, the finalized rule added a layer of complexity in that it was now extremely difficult for a person to prove disparate impact.

The finalized rule required plaintiffs to show quite significant evidence for his/her claims to be sustained. This time, part of the evidence was to prove that the policies in question were both arbitrary and unnecessary. In addition, the Finalized Rule required that the plaintiff prove that there is a direct connection between the policy in question and its causation, which in some cases can be extremely difficult!

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its impacts “on HUD’s statutory duty to ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act.”

due to preliminary nationwide injunction and that was before the current administration.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT HUD RESTORED ITS EARLIER DEFINITION OF AFFH The new AFFH rule is already in effect and rescinds Trump’s 2020 rule, “Preserving Neighborhood and Community Choice.”

But, the rule will have to go through the federal rulemaking process in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act (APA). as such, HUD will be required to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which is followed by a congressional review by the House House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, a public comment period that typically lasts 60 days, and a review and response of all comments by HUD before the final rule can be posted.

Trump’s era HUD defined fair housing as “housing that, among other attributes is affordable, safe, decent, free of unlawful discrimination, and accessible under civil rights laws,” and this is something the new law seeks to rectify.

Looking at the changes brought forth by the Finalized Rule, it is clear that it is in large part favoring the defendant, requiring unnecessary guesswork on the part of the plaintiff. Moreover, the language surrounding the alternative policies proposed by the Finalized Rule seems to be against eliminating discrimination. For a plaintiff to show such evidence, it would mean that they understand the internal workings of what they claim to be causing the discrimination, which in this case would be algorithms. Do not forget, this information is proprietary! So, how can they beat that?

Reviving Disparate Impact It’s 2021 and we have a new administration.

SO WHERE ARE WE WITH DISPARATE IMPACT? In late January, Pres. Joe Biden issued an executive order which directed HUD to examine the effects of the rule which included WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

Much of what is being done now is retraining back to where we left off in 2013. The memo by the current president ordered the HUD Secretary to examine the effects of the previous administration’s actions against the AFFH Rule and the Disparate Impact Rule and the effect it has on HUD Statutory duty in ensuring compliance with the Fair Housing Act and to affirmatively further fair housing.

Additionally, the memo by the president ordered the HUD Secretary to take the necessary measures to implement Fair Housing Act’s AFFH requirements and also prevent practices that have a disparate impact.

What I can affirmatively confirm is that the Disparate Impact rule will certainly be restored.

And I share that confidence really because many industry stakeholders want it back.

The rollbacks by the Trump administration of this rule did not hold as they were halted

So, we’ll have to just wait, but there is hope for the Disparate Impact Rule of 2013.

Sources; https://www.housingwire.com/articles/the-housingindustrys-disparate-impact-hopes/ https://www.housingwire.com/articles/hud-takes-firststep-to-restore-fair-housing-rule/ https://www.arnoldporter.com/en/perspectives/ publications/2021/07/hud-rulemaking-mayincrease-disparate-impact-test#:~:text=The%20 2013%20rule%20sets%20out,of%20race%2C%20 color%2C%20religion%2C https://www.homelight.com/blog/buyer-what-isdisparate-impact/ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-suburbsidUSKCN24U35O https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/trumproll-back-obama-housing-desegregation-094874 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/ techtank/2021/03/05/algorithms-and-housingdiscrimination-rethinking-huds-new-disparateimpact-rule/ https://journals.library.columbia.edu/index.php/stlr/ article/view/7963 https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/ publication/101015/huds_proposal_to_revise_the_ disparate_impact_standard_0.pdf https://nlihc.org/resource/hud-publish-new-affh-anddisparate-impact-rules https://nlihc.org/resource/nlihc-signs-four-letterssupporting-proposal-reinstate-2013-disparateimpact-rule

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Could it be Possible that Racial Bias is Baked in the GSE Underwriting Policies?

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ecently, the Government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) has been constantly accused of racial discrimination in its underwriting policies. Despite being intended to enhance the flow of financial credit to different targeted areas of the economy, the GSE’s underwriting policies have a significantly secluded majority of people who would have fully benefitted from its provisions.

However, different people have had varying opinions towards this issue. The pushback from the MBA and ABA on the racial allegations indicate contrasting opinions on the issue. To unpack the heated debate, I believe that the GSE guidelines are discriminatory and that the allegations are true.

The pricing strategies used by the organization favors those individuals in the society who are rich, in most cases the white community. The people of color who are mostly associated with the middle and working classes are disadvantaged. Low down payment borrowers have constantly complained about the GSE’s pricing methods which combine the loan-level pricing adjustments with the g-fees, making these people pay an excessive premium.

The exorbitant premiums charged on top of the coverage directed to most low earners who are majorly the black community highlight a fraction of the discriminatory allegations raised.

Fannie Mae’s inability to be effective with its credit scores underwriting is another reason I strongly believe that the GSE system is discriminatory. The GSE’s refusal to pilot alternative types of models like the vantage score, a framework claiming to score thousands of borrowers, raises eyebrows.

The non-updated models used in the underwriting process indicates the organization’s willingness to offer its services to all citizens of the USA indiscriminately. Despite the GSE’s 2/3 rule and some of the impacts it has created, the ownership provisions mandated for people of color is absurd.

Besides, several types of research have concluded that black borrowers are charged higher rates 126 l

across all income levels. The different system used to calculate interest rates for these people is completely discriminatory, as people of color are forced to pay more. With the gap between black homeowners and other white people increasing, it is evident that the GSE’s underwriting policies and guidelines favors a specific group. High interest rates charged on the people of color by the GSE are very high compared to those levied for white homeowners. Such discriminatory acts highlight the levels of racism in the GSE’s underwriting procedures.

In conclusion, such events embolden my belief in a racial and discriminatory GSE underwriting system.

With all the uncertain debates concerning GSE, you maybe unsure of whether to apply for that mortgage loan or not. You don’t have to ponder around because The Power Is Now Media Inc. is here to for you. This is where discrimination is just a vocabulary that doesn’t exist and equality rules.

Get a mortgage loan and purchase your dream home by contacting Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA, a licensed Mortgage Advisor, NMLS 461807, with First Bank.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA INC. The Power Is Now Media Inc. is an advocate for the empowerment of the minority communities all around the United States. We engage in various thoughts of leaders to make sure that you are equipped with knowledge about our economy. We have partnered with First Bank to provide you with products and services that will help you prepare better for the future. We are also advocating for first-time home buyers. The Power Is Now Media Inc can help make your home ownership dream a reality. Go to www.neverrentagain.com and get started today!

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE, Vice President and Mortgage Advisor of First Bank, NMLS 461807.

President and CEO of The Power Is Now Media Inc. www.thepowerisnow.com References https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/secret-bias-hiddenmortgage-approval-algorithms-79633917 https://app.hedgeye.com/insights/104238-is-there-racial-bias-ingse-lending-ask-president-barack-obama https://www-housingwire-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www. housingwire.com/articles/is-there-racial-bias-baked-into-gseunderwriting/ THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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id you know that medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in the United States? That is 2016, one in six of us had past-due medical bills- something that resulted in a debt of $81 million. And just last year, medical expenses were the most significant contributing factor that pushed people into poverty.

Unfortunately, the national medical debt crisis is not distributed equally. In America, a third of black adults have past-due medical debt. White adults, on the other hand, have only a quarter of them with past-due medical debt. Thirty-one percent of people of color in California have some type of past-due debt in collection, compared to 19 percent among white residents.

According to a report by Brianna Wells on racial inequality and medical debt, medical debt is both a symptom and a cause of the racial wealth gap. For years, systemic racism has been at the forefront of causing racial inequalities in income and wealth, denying people of color channels of attaining wealth such as homeownership. In her report, Brianna Wells says that nearly 40 percent of adults with medical debt have been denied the opportunity to secure a mortgage loan.

Wealth and income, however small, helps to cushion families against costly medical expenses, but for people of color, these medical expenses only exacerbate these racial wealth disparities. And on top of that, these medical debts create conditions of economic insecurity that result in poor health outcomes and premature death for people of color.

As Brianna puts it, medical debts are a social determinant of health. Depressive

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symptoms are, therefore, more common in Black Americans than White Americans. The cost burden brought about by these tax debts, results in higher stress levels among Black Americans. Stress that comes with both physical and psychological effects on them. And perhaps it is because of this that Black people die averagely four years earlier than their White counterparts.

Additionally, medical debt can deter people from accessing medical care. According to Brianna’s report, people with medical debt delay when it comes to seeking healthcare. A consequence is worsened conditions that will cost an arm and a leg to treat when they eventually seek treatment. In 2020, 25 percent of American Households said that they delayed medical care due to high costs last year. A number that went significantly higher for low-income people, 36 percent saying they avoided seeking medical treatment on account of medical expenses.

Surprise medical billing, medical credit cards, uninsurance, and underinsurance and credit inequalities are the leading factors that cause medical debt. And even though California law prohibits surprise medical billing for emergency and non-emergency care at in-network facilities, people that end in crisis in out-of-network facilities end up being billed. Medical credit cards, on the other hand, have untenable deferred interest rates that are a debt trap for too many lowincome earners. Insurance to some degree may reduce the risk of accumulating debt, but Black, Hispanic, Native Americans experience the highest uninsurance rates nationally. They, therefore, have to pay large sums of money out-of-pocket.

The current COVID-19 pandemic threatens to worsen the existing health disparities and further burden communities of color with more medical debt. Communities of color have been the most devastated by the pandemic, with community members experiencing record high layoffs and unemployment- something that has pushed them to be uninsured.

If racial injustice is to end, there needs to be an expansion of comprehensive financial assistance policies for all large, for-profit health care facilities, including ambulatory surgical centers WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

and outpatient clinics. Secondly, hospitals should refrain from turning over medical debt to thirdparty collection agencies. Thirdly, mandate public reporting of debt collection practices by healthcare providers. Fourth, the government needs to incorporate debt cancellation into California’s larger strategy toward reparations for racial injustice. Finally, the local government should eliminate medical debt as part of the state’s COVID-19 recovery package via measures such as the proposed COVID-19 medical debt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eric Lawrence Frazier is President and CEO of the Power Is Now Inc. The Power Is Now is a multimedia company specializing in real estate and mortgage education for consumers and real estate professionals on various topics in real estate, lending, economics, and government policy since Sept. 1, 2009. The financial and real estate information is distributed through BlogTalkRadio, iTunes, TuneIn, and other online radio platforms nationwide, as well as online TV and eMagazines.

Connect with Eric Frazier DRE 01143484 | NMLS 461807 | Office: 800-401-8994 x 703 | Direct: 714361-2105 and start your real estate investment journey or homeownership in safe hands.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Works cited https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/past-due-medical-debt-problem-especiallyblack-americans https://greenlining.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Greenlining-MedicalDebt-Crisis-Report-2021.pdf https://www.calhealthreport.org/2021/08/10/its-time-to-end-the-racially-unjustmedical-debt-crisis/

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“Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man” Stated Mahatma.

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nternational Day of Non-violence is an annual celebration observed by all the United Nations member states on the 2nd of October. The event is held to commemorate and highlight the remarkable power of non-violence and peaceful protest, also an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence through education and public awareness. On this particular date, the UN also celebrates the birth anniversary of the Indian activist Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

More about Mohandas Karamchad Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi, popularly known, is one of the few leaders who left a lasting legacy as an 130 l

ORIGIN OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NONVIOLENCE Iranian Nobel laureate proposed for an International Day of Non-Violence in January 2004.

The proposal gradually attracted the interest of some of India’s Congress Party leaders. Finally, in January 2007, a Conference resolution in New Delhi was held and initiated by the Indian National Congress President, Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They agreed on the adoption of the idea. Therefore, on 15th June 2007, in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, United Nations Assembly voted and established 2 October as the International Day THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

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International Day of Non-violence.

imprint on the nation. He was born on October, 2nd 1969, and studied law. He led an independent movement against the British, the Dandi Salt March, in 1930 and launched the Quit India Movement. Besides contributing to the Indian freedom struggle, he also fought to enhance societal changes that influenced the entire world.

Most of all, he brought to the world the notion of Non-violence. Unfortunately, Mahatma was killed on January 30th, 1948, by a Hindu nationalist.

of Non-Violence. This particular date was chosen since it coincides with Mahatma’s birth date, and it’s supposed to act as a reminder to strive to uphold values he lived by; Equal protection for all, the dignity of promotion, and communities living together in peace.

HOW THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE IS OBSERVED Through random acts of kindness – In a world full of choices, always choose to be kind. Brighten up someone’s day; it could be a stranger even. It’s the little things that matter the most.

Organizing events-Official events are held worldwide by the UN to enable people to come together as a sign of their togetherness against violence.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS DAY Raises awareness Through the International Day of Non-violence, people all over the world acknowledge and appreciate the need for a violence-free world and the peace it brings to their lives.

Brings social change Enables people to use non -violent actions to make their voices heard. Instead of war and violence, people prefer peaceful protests and interventions, and marches to spread ideas.

It dramatically helps solve conflicts Due to globalization, there are more issues to solve. Non- violence is crucial to find the solutions.

International Day of Non-violence gives people the realization of the keys to global problems. Finally, International Day of Non-violence honors the WWW.THEPOWERISNOW.COM

global impacts of Gandhi’s work and legacy.

This year’s celebrations should be special; we are all facing a common problem, the COVID-19. Let’s focus on fighting the pandemic rather than fighting and being unjust to each other.

It’s high time to be each other’s keeper. It’s not about how much you can give or offer; it’s about making someone else believe in the goodness of people. As you carry on with the preparations for the day, remember that The Power Is Now Media Inc. is here for your homeownership journey. Reach out to Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA DRE 01143484 for more information.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA, INC The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

References https://nationaltoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/nationaltoday.com/ international-day-non-violence/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Non-Violence https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/general-knowledge/story/ international-day-of-non-violence-say-no-to-violence-reason-why-un-marksgandhi-jayanti

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World Teachers Day W orld Teachers Day is an annual event held to commemorate teachers globally and their dedication towards actualizing education for all. The World Teachers Day, which is held every 5th October, was launched by UNESCO in 1994. Considering the importance of teachers in shaping future generations, this day was dedicated to celebrate their efforts and thank them for their tireless hard work. It is the least the whole world can do for them.

HOW THE TEACHERS DAY BECAME A GLOBALLY CELEBRATED EVENT World Teachers Day became a celebrated event 132 l

in 1994. The holiday is symbolic and marks the adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation 1966 regarding the conditions of the teachers.

The Recommendation established standards concerning the rights of teachers for their early preparation, recruitment, learning environment, and further education.

It’s to be noted that World Teachers Day is different from National Teacher Day, although both celebrate teachers. National Teacher Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first week in May. World Teacher Day, on the other hand, is celebrated on the 5th of October.

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This isn’t limited to academic liberty, academic furtherance, maintaining teaching standards, etc. Therefore, a day like this is chosen to discuss the various issues surrounding the teaching profession and solve them.

HOW WORLD TEACHERS DAY IS OBSERVED Lots of people observe World Teachers Day in their respective ways. However, the simplest way people celebrate this special day is by buying the teacher a gift. The gift can come as an appreciation card, craft, etc.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WORLD TEACHERS DAY The special day is chosen to honor the teaching profession, which many describe as hard.

But, being a teacher, maintaining calmness and positivity even when you have a personal crisis is legendary. So, a day like this shows that everyone acknowledges their plights and efforts regardless.

While the day is to celebrate teachers and thank them for their impact on society, it also x-rays the current problems affecting teachers. There are still many issues some teachers go through in the world.

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Some parents also choose to celebrate World Teachers Day by making such teachers feel welcomed at home. These parents set up breakfasts or lunches for them and could even reward them with monetary gifts. The idea of the special day is to give teachers the best treat.

Because of teachers’ relatively low salary, getting a home of their choose is near impossible.

Houses in the metros are expensive, and even if such a teacher plans to save, it could take them years before they can have a reasonable amount. Because of their net salary, mortgage lenders also marginalize them. The good news is you can actualize your dream of homeownership by applying for housing programs for teachers, such as Good Neighbors Next Door, Teachers Next Door, etc. These programs require zero down-payments.

If you fancy living in the metros, the Landed program can help you with that. If you need advice on the best location to get a house or what house program to go for, don’t hesitate to contact Eric Lawrence Frazier.

Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA is a licensed Mortgage Advisor NMLS 461807 with First Bank and can be reached at 800-261-1634 ext.

703.

Eric Lawrence Frazier was once a teacher who understands the pains of teachers perfectly. As a real state expert and mortgage advisor, he can use his position to help you find a suitable home that suits your needs perfectly.

About the Power Is Now Media, Inc The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, headquartered in Riverside, California. We advocate for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderateincome and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow. com.

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media References https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/ worldteachersday https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationaltoday.com/ world-teachers-day/amp/

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What It Means to be a Hispanic Celebrating The National Hispanic Heritage Month

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he world is becoming more and more diversified. This means, now more than ever, people have the opportunity to learn about each other’s culture and value system.

This month, we have a great opportunity to learn about the Hispanic culture during the National Hispanic Heritage Month which is actually observed in the United States from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This is a time to take a back seat and celebrate the histories, cultures, victories, progress, and contributions of the American people of Hispanic descent (People from Spain, Mexico, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, according to the Library of Congress.)

He goes on to add, “This heritage is ours.”

What I love about these statements is the fact that the president is acknowledging that America belongs to every one of us, it doesn’t matter how you landed in this beautiful country. As long as you identify as American you have as much right as everyone else.

Ever since the proclamation of this celebration, much of the debate has been centered around what being “Hispanic” actually means. I have seen questions like “who the term hispanic identifies” been deliberated from time to time.

Lately, the debate has been whether terms such as “latino,” Latina” or Latinx” are more appropriate than Hispanic.

To clear off this dust, legislation from the 70s tried to clusterize what belongs as Hispanic and with some accuracy.

As important as it is to acknowledge the Juneteenth Celebrations or the 4th of July celebrations the National Hispanic Heritage Month carries the same weight.

Every year going into the National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, I am reminded of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s words when proclaiming the first National Hispanic Heritage week in 1968.

This is what he had to say;

“The people of Hispanic descent are the heirs of missionaries, captains, soldiers and farmers who were motivated by a young spirit of adventure, and a desire to settle freely in a free land.”

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The legislations defined Hispanics as people from Spanish speaking countries and backgrounds.

different countries that mostly share a common language.

But, the U.S. Census Bureau has a different definition and approach as to who qualifies as a Hispanic. The Bureau defines a Hispanic as any person who identifies themselves as Hispanic and using this definition or model, it estimates that there are about 62.1 million Hispanics in the United States as of 2020 and percentage wise, thats about 19% of the total population.

I think rather than having our own definitions of who we think qualifies as Hispanic, its best getting the definition from the people themselves.

Therefore, why dont you take your time and get to experience what it truly means to be hispanic this month and get what people who already identify as Hispanic think Hispanics should be? This should be the best time of the year to get to know your Hispanic neighbor, ask them about their identity, their culture, it is the best time to learn from them for a better understanding of who Hispanics are.

Basically, it is important to look at the term “Hispanic” as one ethnicity and not merely one’s race. Going by this definition, then it is clear that the term would apply to all people from all walks of life and from various backgrounds and not from a certain part of the world.

Going into the National Hispanic Heritage Month, it is important to understand there isnt any one right way to be a Hispanic person. Rather, it a collection of people from various walks of life and from

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Sources https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/ https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2021/09/25/pbss-haas-visits-purduenational-hispanic-heritage-month/5865416001/ https://www.joplinglobe.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-celebratenational-hispanic-heritage-month/article_11dc0894-1d51-11ec-a43bbb4dc55b8ae1.html

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month

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id you know that the month of October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? Well, if you didn’t know, now you know.

From the Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, “The theme for NDEAM 2021, ‘America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.”

This year’s theme is quite resounding and I believe there is a strong reason behind it. We are just coming out of the temporary recession, and right now it is so easy for people with disabilities to be forgotten in the mix.

Additionally, the theme reflects the importance of ensuring that PWDs have full and equal access to employment opportunities and that they are equally engaged in community efforts to recover from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

“NDEAM is held each October to commemorate the many and varied contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy. Browse our website for ideas and resources for employers, community organizations, state and local governments, advocacy groups and schools to participate in celebrating NDEAM through events and activities centered around the theme of ‘America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion.’ ” So let’s talk about the Pandemic and how it has changed lives for the marginalized communities.

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grievances. The activists took over the building for 28 days forcing the signing of the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This is a critical piece of legislation as it seeks to establish the rights of the people iith disabilities who for a long time have been discriminated against especially in programs where they are to receive federal funding.

By the 90s, disability activists were still in some sort of tag of war with the US Capital demanding civil rights legislation for disabled people. And soon enough, this paid off as the Americans with Disabilities Act passed.

It celebrated its 31st anniversary on July 2021.

The journey to equality and the fight for freedom for the people living with disabilities hasnt been an easy one, yet even with these laws and the many drafted protection legislations, the lack of access and equity for the people with disabilities, especially those who are multiply marginalized was brought forth by their treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We all know that the pandemic has been indiscriminate, but despite this fact, the impacts have been disproportionate. The pandemic killed thousands of people mostly because ofthe vulnerabilities created in the system as a result of continued inequities in the distribution of resources and services especially for the marginalized groups.

That being the case, you would expect that by now there have been changes in the system to address these disparities, well, little has been done to make permanent changes to decrease these fatalities and better and more equitably protect the people with THE POWER IS NOW MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2021

disabilities against future pandemics and other crises for the marginalized communities in the country.

Despite there being several passages passed to better support people in the united states which includes but not limited to economic support, acces to better health care, eviction and foreclosure protections, basic necessities have yet to be determined as basic flights to maintain public health and safety. Still, people are still working minimum and subminimum wage jobs.

As the country continues to face challenges especially in health care, housing and the economy, just a few things have changed in any permanent way in the governing of lives, yet everything seems to have permanently changed for the people who have been directly impacted by the pandemic.

One of the critical legislation that needs further revision and attention is the Fair Housing Act which prohibits discrimination against people on the basis of their race, color, religion, sexual orientation, family status and national origin. Yet, people with disabilities often make up the majority of discriminamtion complaints received by HUD’s Fair Housing Enforcement Office and many other fair housing agencies.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO? People with I/DD have as much right to accessible, affordable housing everywhere. I would ask you to support the following key legislations meant to increase the affordable housing options for the people living with disabilities.

HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES People with disabilities face somany barriers to housing. Without affordable, accessible housing in their communities, many face the risk of being institutionalized or even homeless. It is no surprise that in many states, people with disabilities are facing the affordability crisis, and not just in housing, but in everything (health care, and economic stability).

Approximately 4.8 million non-institutionalized people with disabilities rely on the federal government for monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and have an average income of about $9,156 per year which is extremely low that they are priced out of every rental housing market in the nation.

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. Section 811 is the only HUD program dedicated to producing affordable, accessible housing in the community for non-elderly, very lowincome people with significant disabilities.

Research also shows that many people with I/DD live under the care of aging caregivers and as this population of caregivers continue to age, many of these people with I/DD are at a severe risk of being institutionalized or become homeless.

National Housing Trust Fund. The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is a new, dedicated fund that provides grants to states to build, preserve, and rehabilitate housing for people with the lowest incomes.

And even though to some extent these marginalized group of people are able to find a home, it is not as friendly. Many of the accessible homes do not offer specific features or even technologies that would make living for the people with disabilities easy. Features such as kitchen counters, sink, widened doorways, and wheel in showers are just non-existent, and the few that do exists, they are unaffordable.

It is not impossible making more homes accessible but right now, it seems that there arent enough incentives to make this a priority. Many landlords arent interested in investing in this kind of housing unless they are receiving the federal funds. During this month, lets support the people with I/DD.

Availability of affordable, accessible housing remains top concern and far less than the need, leaving too many people with I/DD institutionalized, homeless or in the worst housing situation where they are forced to pay higher rents than they can afford.

Have they tried to lobby for their needs? In deed they have.

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Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford rental housing in the private market.

About 1 in 3 households using Section 8 vouchers are headed by a non-elderly (under age 62) person with a disability.

Sources: https://ncd.gov/publications/2010/jan192010 https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/disability/reports/2021/08/05/502242/ ada-31-access-housing-health-care-must-meet-rise-disability-u-s/ https://thearc.org/policy-advocacy/housing/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/12/renting-with-adisability/420555/ https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/disability-employment-awareness-month.html

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HOME OWNERSHIP

by Eric Lawrence Frazier MBA Home ownership brings stability to individuals and families who have never had a dwelling place that they could call their own. There is something special about owning real estate that is unlike anything else on earth you can own.

Real Estate you own is not like cars that decay over time and you have to replace them.

Real Estate you own is not like clothes that go out of style and you have to buy new ones.

Real Estate you own is not like expensive vacations or experiences that only last a moment in time.

Real Estate you own is not like an apartment where the landlord may increase the rent until it’s no longer affordable.

Real Estate you own is not like staying at your parents house where you know can’t stay forever.

Home ownership is the beginning of wealth that increases over time and becomes your estate & legacy Home ownership is the pride of a mother nurturer and the kitchen her domain Home ownership is the pride of a father provider and protector of his territory and family.

Home ownership is the foundation of permanence and the place where life happens, birthdays celebrated, deaths mourned.

Home ownership is the place you build memories that can never be taken from you.

Memories etched in walls and concrete, experienced in rooms and floors, Memories living in trees and shrubs planted by your hand.

Howe ownership is the manifestation of you - your style, your colors, your smell, your stuff, your junk, your memories, your yard and your spaces, your life.

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It’s the height markers on your first child’s bedroom wall.

It’s the hearts drawn in the concrete slabs when you pour your patio floor It’s the birthday parties, and anniversaries in the living room and kitchen.

It’s the back yard barbecue with friends, neighbors and family contentions it’s the high school and college graduation, and wedding receptions Its’ the family nights and block parties and the fellowship of family connections

Home ownership It’s more than real estate. Land, brick and mortar, wood frame construction and chicken wire.

It’s more than money saved, gifts recieved and grants obtained It’s more than the debt you incur to buy it.

It’s more than the payments you make to own it.

It’s more than the appreciation that comes with keeping it over time.

It’s memories, it’s family, and it’s life that can happen in one place Until you say it’s time to move.