Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_05.16.08 - Index

MAY 16, 2008 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 7A
Launch safely into summer
The Delta Marine Sheriff’s Patrol
will be holding a boating safety seminar
on consecutive Wednesdays, May 28 and
June 4, at the Discovery Bay Elementary
School gymnasium from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
“The reason for these seminars is
very clear,” said Discovery Bay resident
Jim Mattison. “We are out on the Delta
three to fi ve times a week in the summertime,
and I am amazed at how naive
many boaters are about the waterway
rules and regulations, which we are all
required to abide by.
“Although many of the careless
boaters that use the Delta on weekends
may not live in Discovery Bay, it is important
that all of us are aware of the
laws that govern this activity, especially
those designed for our safety.”
Suspicious persons sighted
The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s
Offi ce has reported a series of sightings
regarding a suspicious person seen in
the Discovery Bay area.
Over the past few months, fi ve
separate reports have been fi led with the
sheriff’s offi ce involving a man who stops
his vehicle to talk to children or tries to
get them into his vehicle. The incidents
took place between November, 2007
and April, 2008. Most of the children
approached were walking either to or
from school.
Efforts are underway to pass California
State Assembly Bill 2110, which
would make it mandatory for all watercraft
operators in California to take a
water safety class to ensure they understand
the boating safety laws and receive
certifi cation to operate a vessel. Passage
of that legislation might be a few years
away.
Boaters, wave runners, fl ag holders,
skiers, wake boarders – those participating
in any boating activity – are invited
to attend one of these two important
classes.
The Sheriff’s Patrol will also discuss
how boaters may receive a reduction on
their insurance rates by taking an easy
online course. For more information,
call the patrol offi ce at 925-427-8507.
The suspect is described as a white
or Hispanic male, possibly in his 30s.
His vehicle is described as a dark red or
dark purple Ford or Chevrolet pickup
truck. In two cases, the vehicle was
described as white. Parents have been
advised to warn their children not to talk
to strangers and to immediately notify
their parents or authorities if they are
contacted or accosted by a stranger.
Those with information on the cases
are urged to call the Sheriff’s Offi ce
Investigation Division at 925-313-2611.
ACCELERATED PROPERTY TAX FORECLOSURE
Lately I’ve had many people ask me if
they should keep paying their mortgage(s)
and/or property tax bill. These are people
that are upside-down in their home, or
behind in their payments, or about to lose
their home to foreclosure, or a combination
of all of the above. First, I have to point out
to them that I can’t advise them to not pay
on any financial obligation and that I have
to refer them to an attorney.
But I do like to point something out
to them to clear up a misunderstanding in
regards to property taxes. There is the idea
out there that it will take up to 5 years for
the tax collector to foreclose on your home
for failure to pay your property taxes. This
is only partially true.
Keep in mind your tax bill is comprised
of several different types of taxes,
the largest being the “ad valorem” taxes (1%
countywide tax plus some local assessments
like school bonds), but there are often many
other “special” assessments and/or bonds
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tacked onto your bill (like Mello-Roos).
I called the Contra Costa County Tax
Collector and they told me that it can take
up to 5 years to foreclose for non-payment
of your “ad valorem” taxes, but some of the
special assessments and bonds can foreclose
as quickly as a few months after non-payment.
So if you don’t pay your tax bill, you
might get a foreclosure notice fairly quickly
from one of the companies managing one
of these assessments or bonds. But what is
interesting is that in most cases, you can pay
that assessment separately from your tax bill
in order to stave off their foreclosure action.
This can buy you some more time to get
back on your feet, or attempt a short sale.
If you have questions on this or any
other real estate topic, call me at (925) 240-
MOVE (6683). To search the MLS for free
and view virtual tours of homes for sale, go
to: www.SharpHomesOnline.com. Sharp
Realty
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