Have you thought about your personal definitions for “success” and “failure”? Maybe you see success as a destination, like winning a race. You look forward to crossing the finish line, being declared the winner, having the prize of recognition in the present moment, as well as future acclaim and rewards -- all because you made the right moves! Under the same model, failure could be seen as getting off on a dead-end side street, having to retrace your steps and suffer lost time. Even if others remain politely silent, you and your self-criticism agree that the path taken has turned out to be a “not-so-smart move.” Mistakes appear as “hard lessons” that bring the pain of guilt and regret. M

Q: Where does one get information about the economy and economic forecasts that’s clearly stated in everyday language? I just read our local economic report (Emerging Trends in Sacramento’s Economy) and it uses terminology that reads like a foreign language . . . and comes to conclusions that are discouraging to me as a homeowner with family members still dealing with the negative job situation. I would like your take on this. A: First of all, understanding the terminology was a challenge for me as well! Specifically, the chart about the positive and negative drivers in our economy didn’t give me what I wanted – information or news that I can use -- as I plan my own next steps in personal

Learn more about California’s new Homeowner Bill of Rights To update the June 1 article about foreclosure options, homeowners will want to find out about important rule changes that will take effect Jan. 1, 2013. The new legislation signed into law on July 11 is referred to as a “Homeowner Bill of Rights,” and makes California the first state in the nation to expand upon provisions of the National Mortgage Settlement. Rather than try to explain the details and specific benefits, which essentially address areas of conflict and unfairness, this article will provide four major resources for homeowners to get the information that focuses on their particular circumstances. 1. See Governor Br

By Kaushik Ranchod Question: Could you give Sacramento homeowners some tips on how to lower their property taxes?  Good question – actually this was a recent question I was asking myself when I got a tax bill that looked like it needed some verification as to its accuracy. So I went looking for some resources for a deeper understanding of my property tax and what was involved in the dispute process. After calling the assessor’s office, I found out about requesting an assessment pursuant to Proposition 8. This would allow the assessor to take into consideration factors that may have caused a decline in the current market value. Indeed, after requesting a reassessment, there came by mail

Surveys indicate that, as a general continuation of cost-cutting in everyday life expenses, vacationers will be spending less in terms of travel and lodging. So how do you get in on the best deals in keeping with this frugal trend? Here are a few suggestions for anyone looking for ways to get maximum value for your vacation dollars by using right “keywords” in internet searches. Three examples of queries with keywords that give suggestions for vacation savings and extra fun 1) Be specific about the name of the location where you’ll be spending your vacation. For instance, for anyone coming to the Sacramento, Central Valley area, you can search online by using a search term like: a. “tip