All Forum Posts by: John Clark

Just spoke to a developer in Northern Nevada, and he made a comment that was pretty shocking to hear first hand. 

Apparently, local jurisdictions here are saying they want more affordable housing, but in the same sentence will also say that there will be more regulations, more environmental protections, and more hoops to jump through to develop starter homes. 

This will simply causes prices to be even higher, and continue to constrict demand... 

The Reno MSA already has natural topographical land constraints, and there have been studies about land "running out" here in less than 10 years. 

With people continually migrating from CA, more jobs moving here (Tesla Semitruck factory being built as I type this), I don't know how this gets solved. 

Explore detailed population growth statistics at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Releasing Federal Land for private sale? 

I know this is also a National issue, especially in land constricted markets. What do you see out there? 

Curious to get everyone’s take. 

I have a property that is ready to be rented. I'm looking for a lender who is willing to refinance my property off of its new appraised value rather than a percentage of the purchase price so that I can pay off my HELOC. I'm located in Toledo Ohio.

@Jay Hinrichs I'd love to think this is government working FOR the people, protecting there ability to process. My gut say's it's other motives. 

The timing of people most apt to say "F-it, I'm done with this stuff, I'm gonna take the $ and run" is in that 90 day period. 

Because that is when the impacts are most felt of everything one has to do with the now pile of ashes. 90 days to do nothing forces people to engage with staying. 

I have a feeling this is designed to maximize retention of now dislocated persons. 

Why do I say that? Because I don't see any exceptions in it for those people who want to get out, who want to just sell and run. If it were really for the motive of protecting the people, the people would still have there option and freedom to initiate the action themselves. 

I like the notion of protecting peoples privacy to process. What I don't like is seeing the removal of peoples options and freedoms to self select and engage in what they want to do. 

Quote from @Account Closed:

Quote from @Steve K.:

Quote from @Eric Bilderback:

What started the fires?  Negligent forest management, drug addicts, or illegals?  DEI policies along with environmental, immigration policies is not sustainable for a non 3rd world country (my guess that is the point).  I read an article I thought articulated this very well, we are seeing the collapse of a very complex system and this the fruit. 

 Or it could be an arsonist/ arsonists. 

c

OMG it is not arsonists, maybe some of the fires were but I'm right here in the burn scar with my AK. it was wildfires!

 Feel for you and your neighbors. Best wishes.

If you do have an AK, hopefully your using hollow points.  So, they don't travel as far beyond point of impact.

If you can switch to a 12 gauge with bird shot or OOB.  Rifle bullets fly well beyond what you could be legally supported. Also, they can penetrate neighbors' walls easier.  12 Gauges are just a lot scarier, more accurate within 10 to 20 yards- especially during times of stress, do more damage, plus less impact to neighbors.

Will re-post some insurance and fire posts I already did for LA fires.

Hey Lenders. I am reaching out for your expertise regarding a situation involving a seller from who I purchased a property subto an FHA loan in March of last year.

The seller is currently attempting to purchase another property but is facing challenges due to the inability to hold two FHA loans simultaneously. Additionally, his credit is not the best, and he has limited funds for a down payment.

Any potential options or solutions that may be available? Your insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:

Quote from @Matthew Paul:

@John Clark  There isnt much left thats toxic , it all went into the atmosphere .  

Not an expert here but my Brother is a heavy equipment operator in Northern CA and did a lot of the fire clean up when those fires happened and he mentioned contractor might need hazard waste removal license.. FWIW

 Its California , you probably need a permit  to do just about anything as long as you pay the fee 

Quote from @John Clark:

Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:

to me if I was insurance  now that all the fuel is burned seems to me the fire danger has passed at least for the next 5 too 10 years ( time frame for the brush to grow back.. news keep talking about forest management.. there are no forests in those areas is Brush and scraggly oaks..

I am sure your aware of the antiquated lot of record rules already on the books in LA county that could stop a lot of rebuilding unless they change those laws or codes.. And I am sure your aware of the CA SEQUA laws that stops building on antiquated lots ..

Not being from/in California, I'm not familiar with the specific laws of La La Land. As for the lack of burnable material in the Palisades and other areas now, insurers will want to rebuild reserves and augment reserves for the next time, not to mention not exposing themselves to risk on this scale again.

what I see happening is that the government will simply cut the Gordian Knot by using eminent domain to seize properties and redesign/rezone the whole area so that it's more defensible against natural- and human-caused catastrophe. The plans will probably be developed while the government plans, carries out, or coerces, clean up, and puts liens on the properties being cleaned up.

So, to no surprise, CA is doing exactly none of your private property taking schemes John. 

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/13/governor-newsom-proposes-b...

CA is doing the only viable option they have, fast tracking reconstruction of what was. There waiving regulations that would have impeded it, and are trying to get additional funding to cover anyone who had any lack of coverage. 

So there it is, no exercising eminent domain for a quarter trillion dollars. There doing the simplest thing. Rebuilding as was. 

I am not shocked at all. 

Quote from @John Clark:

Quote from @James Hamling:

Quote from @John Clark:

Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:

Quote from @Matthew Paul:

@John Clark  There isnt much left thats toxic , it all went into the atmosphere .  

Not an expert here but my Brother is a heavy equipment operator in Northern CA and did a lot of the fire clean up when those fires happened and he mentioned contractor might need hazard waste removal license.. FWIW

Jay, please tell that to Jim, whose unicorns and fairy dust response (earlier in the thread) to the problem is as follows:

"Also a non-starter is your hyperbolae; "toxic waste lot's"...... Really John, really."

I do wonder just how many people are going to leave California permanently from all this. It might even wind up losing another seat in the House of Representatives.

How many fire claims you dealt with John? 
Me, MULTIPLE. 
I actually had a fire MYSELF, yes personally. 
I've navigated multiple rental property fires, nearly a dozen over the decades. 
And yes, I've done fire restoration projects. 

I laid out in detail the details and steps of the clean up. You just keep twisting things John so clearly your here to promote an agenda and not for intelligent discourse. 

Your entire "detail and steps of the clean up" are, and I quote:

" And some level of clean-up will most likely be done for all private property via local government, as is SOP for disaster cleanup.

Also SOP for such is individual property owners will, individually, address total site cleanup in concert with there insurance providers.

So the whole leaving toxic waste sites BS is just that, BS hyperbole"

***

No detail there, Jim, just a lot of wishful thinking on your part and two contradictory statements to boot -- that government will handle all the clean up (that's "big government" by the way) and that individual property owners "will" address "total site cleanup" with "[their] insurance providers."

So you agree to big government and are utterly silent as to unwilling/unable/irresponsible land owners and clean ups, and that's just for starters. Stop ignoring your own contradictions.

And of the fires and fire restorations you've dealt with, Jim, how many involved total and absolute destruction of the premises?

"Claims" are an insurance matter. I've dealt with claims. Eminent domain proceedings, too. Comes with the territory of being a litigation/trial attorney for almost 40 years. Property owner, too.

What's your experience with government powers for rezoning property use after a disaster? I'll give you a hint; the powers are very extensive, and for good reason.

Again, read what I actually wrote, the whole thing, it's got every detail. 
If you don't understand some facet, ask questions, don't pretend that your feelings will be right because you lack knowledge and fact's on something. 

I detailed LOCAL government will be on point. And they will. Supported by assorted support services related to disaster relief for those applicable parts. FEMA does not come in and take over literally everything, FEMA has certain scopes they cover, state covers some etc etc.. 

So again, as I detailed, there will FIRST be a general cleanup of the general area lead by this mish-mash of disaster relief agencies AND local government. 
Local government is NOT "Big Government", there is a distinction between these 2. 

Utilities will be among the first in for cleanup actions. 

Than AFTER that base-line cleanup action is done which part of it is to establish access for all others, than things get into the next lower level of details. 

Odd's are given the scale of it all there will be some level of general cleanup resources made available for private properties. This could be simple as a coordination of who the debris disposal transportation will be that everyone uses, so it's 1 entity vs 40 trying to get in and out cluttering up area. 

But NO, TOTAL site cleanup for individual property owners is all but certain NOT to be done via government, be it BIG or local. 

So again, there is steps to it all. They don't just roll in with D11's and clear the place. 

Private Properties will NOT be made TOTAL cleared as in build ready for people. If you think that's how it works I challenge you to show me an example of when and where that happened. 

For example, FL coordinated debris pickups as private property residents stacked things curb side. FL didn't come into homes and clear them out. People had to get that done, either themself, via vendors etc., and it was on private property owners to sort there insurance themself. 

Is that enough detail? 

to me if I was insurance  now that all the fuel is burned seems to me the fire danger has passed at least for the next 5 too 10 years ( time frame for the brush to grow back.. news keep talking about forest management.. there are no forests in those areas is Brush and scraggly oaks..

I am sure your aware of the antiquated lot of record rules already on the books in LA county that could stop a lot of rebuilding unless they change those laws or codes.. And I am sure your aware of the CA SEQUA laws that stops building on antiquated lots ..