News Blip – Stuff you should Know

Featuring a prime local news source

We have some excellent news sources in San Diego. The Union-Tribune is best known and the local TV stations cover the crime and national politics scene to an extreme. But sometimes we want to know what our local elected officials are up to and what’s happening behind closed doors. For that we have KPBS radio, the Reader, the North County Times and voiceofsandiego.org. For business and commercial real estate news, we have the Daily Transcript.

The Voice tells us that “voiceofsandiego.org is a nonprofit, independent and insightful online newspaper focused on issues impacting the San Diego region.” Let’s look at some recent Voice of San Diego items.

‘Is Foreclosure Right for You?’ By Kelly Bennett tells of a local Carlsbad company that is telling troubled homeowners that they “may be able to stay in their house, payment-free, for eight months after going into foreclosure.” You Walk Away LLC is offering a $1000 service to make this happen and about 100 clients have signed up.

In ‘Mortgage Distress Spreads Beyond Subprime‘, Bennett highlights that prime loan defaults are increasing too. Lots of local facts support the story. Bennett strikes again with “SD Prices Sustained Nation’s Second-Worst Drop” – more facts and expert comments.

Rich Toscano of the Voice often has great insight into the local market. ‘January’s Foreclosure Explosion’ shows this amazing chart that speaks for itself. Much more available on his page.

East County readers will be happy to know that homicides are rare here (none on this map). Once again the Voice gives us us news we can use. In fact, it’s difficult to find any stories of auto accidents, lost puppies, grief stricken victims… If it’s not news that you can act upon, it’s probably not there. voiceofsandiego.org deserves your support.

Additionally the North County Times reports that “For the first time since 1996, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department went a year without any deputy-involved shootings, it was reported Monday.” Good news for East County residents and buyers. Too bad they don’t report on the local housing market.

Finally on the local news front, we have lost our only significant commercial radio news source. KOGO radio (AM 600) has cut its news staff from 5 to 2, saying that talk shows are cheaper. KPBS (public radio) continues news broadcasts.

Enough local news for now. Today ‘Project Lifeline‘ was announced: “Six of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders on Tuesday will announce a program to identify seriously delinquent borrowers and halt any foreclosure process while they try to work out a new payment scheme”. According to various media, this is a big help to lots of homeowners (and perhaps lenders). Expect to hear more.

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