Paul Caloca's Blog

There are some very interesting loan subsidy programs for first time home buyers offered by the California Housing Finance Agency or CalHFA.  Many of the programs have interest rates that are about 1% below current market rates for 30 year fixed loans. There is also a Downpayment Assistance Progr...

"Real Estate Professionals: It's Time To Go Green". The event is sponsored by the Colorado Association of Realtors and EcoBroker International.  The symposium will discuss what does green mean today in real estate, what's getting consumers and investors excited, the latest technology in green bui...

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy - DSIRE - is  an excellent resource to finding rebates and tax credits that encourage energy efficiency in various home subsystems.Some of the areas covered are Green building initiatives in various counties in your stateLocal grant programsIn...

I just completed an ethics traning session at the local Silicon Valley Association of Realtors (SILVAR) today and some interesting statistics were tossed aboutThere are about 550,000 real estate licenees in Californiaof those, only about 190,000 have joined their local association of RealtorsOnly...

The City of San Jose Environmental Services Division has a list of upcoming workshops taught by Build It Green.House as a System 10/14/06, 1:30pm - 5:00pm Cost: $40.00 Location: West Valley Branch Library, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Rd., San Jose Your home is a system and all parts of it interact with...

I'm considering taking the plunge and getting either a Blackberry or SmartPhone/PDA. At minimum, I want access to my several email Internet accounts and be able to browse the web. Both will do that. The Blackberry is less expensive to purchase. SmatrPhones have a few extra toys that might be fun....

Now buyers agents can bid on how much of their commission they are willing to give away in order to get business. The web site is HungryAgents.com. There is more info in the Inman News article too.I don't know about you, but I have no intention of signing up with this web site. I don't see how gi...

On Sunday 10/1/2006, the Build It Green Home Tour of Santa Clara County was held. There were 11 home open to the public. Some were new construction, others were remodels or complete rebuilds. The homes were located 2 in Palo Alto -- 2 in Los Altos Hills1 in Cupertino -- 1 in Santa Clara1 in Campb...