Handyman versus Contractor

A recent sting operation in Butte County that nabbed unlicensed tradesmen is a good reminder of what to remember when considering who to hire for your projects.  Under California law, a contractor's license is required for work totalling more than $500 for labor and materials.  State law requires that contractors note their license numbers in any advertising and those without a license must state that they do not have a license.

When hiring a contractor, remember that they are prohibited from soliciting a down payment larger than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less.  You can also check out the license status of a contractor when making your decision.

Worst of Foreclosures May Be Over

Bank filings of Notices of Default, the first step in the foreclosure process, were down 15.8% in the first quarter of 2011 from a year ago in California.  Analysts say that the feared "second wave" of foreclosures probably won't happen, instead they expect that we'll see a constant stream of foreclosures coming on the market in the next several years as banks continue to try and clean up their balance sheets.  In other words, foreclosures are going to be part of the real estate market for the foreseeable future.

Supervisors Repeal Sprinkler Requirement

New California building codes require that newly constructed residences in areas where the state shares fire safety responsibility ("State Responsibility Areas") have sprinkler systems. But, mobile homes and manufactured housing are not covered by the state building code and are specifically exempt from the sprinkler requirement.

Butte County was considering extending the sprinkler requirement to manufactured homes, but on April 12, 2011, the Board voted unanimously to let manufactured dwellings and mobile homes remain exempt from the sprinkling regulation.

This will significantly reduce the cost of moving and installing used manufactured homes onto new sites in the county.