Akeena Solar, whose solar panels were invented in Saratoga and commercialized in Los Gatos, has put together a Solar Power Challenge that will encourage the adoption of clean, renewable power in Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Los Gatos.
Here are the general outlines of the Challenge: The first city to install 150kw of residential solar power systems [...]

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Thinking about selling that second home that you have converted to your personal residence?  Beware!   Deep in the new housing bill is a tax code change that limits the typical $250,000 or $500,000 exclusion on an investment property that has been converted to a personal residence (living in it two out of the past 5 years).  [...]

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John Shapiro of Private Mortgage Advisors (Wells Fargo) shares the following “tips” for working effectively in the lending environment that we are in today. Inasmuch as Wells Fargo experienced more than 10 Guideline Changes in the past couple weeks (and this environment will be similar with other lenders), pre-approval letters that are more than 2 weeks old [...]

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