By Patrick McCarran

The primary reason to buy a home, now is mortgage rates are still at historic lows. This is driven largely by the continuing market corrections after the Fed pulled back on their bond purchases and the stock market continues to stabilize. However, unbelievable low rates will not last forever and can increase literally overnight. The Fed has made it clear that they plan to raise the Prime Rate and while this does not directly effect mortgage rates it will effect the banks’ bottom line and almost definitely trigger an increase in interest rates.

We tend to make financial plans looking backward, learning the lessons of our past experiences but ignoring the future. That’s why we don’t buy stocks at the “bottom” but instead when they are “hot”. In a similar scenario, that’s probably why people aren’t buying homes right now, despite still relatively low home prices and historically low finance rates.

Rents will continue to rise and are unpredictable, when you own you know what the payments will be and it your home not the landlord to dictate rules. Plus, mortgage interest is still the largest deduction for the middle class. Interest rates remain historically low and there is a fair amount of inventory from which to choose. Long-term home ownership continues to be one of the best ways for the typical American to build wealth.

So what’s holding you back? Down Payment? Many people are intimidated by the widely publicized 20% down payment requirement. They don’t realize that there are many federal programs designed to help homebuyers, and even those who have lost their homes to foreclosure.

For example, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae have loans available to first-time buyers with as little as 3% down payment and the FHA has similar programs that require 3.5% down payment. If you qualify there are a number of programs and grants that can help with the down payment. With a seller credit for closing costs I’ve helped buyers into a home for as little as $1,500 out of pocket. For veterans, the VA program has no-down-payment loans available for qualifying military members and veterans that can close with almost no out of pocket money.

Why wait? What’s the worst that could happen if you buy a home, now? You’ve already seen it, the 2007 mortgage crisis. It will take generations, if ever, before the government lets the banking systems get that far out of hand again. It is far more likely that home prices will steadily climb as they have been. Americans are getting back to work and leading the global economy out of stagnation. So don’t be blinded to the future by your past experiences. The American population will continue to grow and build families of all types, creating more demand for housing. Don’t view your home as a trading vehicle or a one-way-up investment. Instead, look at the home-ownership benefits that are mostly forgotten by today’s potential homebuyers — the chance to build equity (instead of throwing rent down the drain) and the opportunity to customize your own environment.

That’s what has always motivated Americans to own their own home. It’s not going to change in the long run.

If you want to get started or have questions call me or Debra Westlund at (925) 783-2052 and we’ll help you get started with an action plan.

Patrick McCarran is a local Realtor and can be reached at (925) 899-5536, pmccarran@yahoo.com or at www.CallPatrick.com.

© 2015 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Drysdale Properties, an independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity

By Matthew Hart, Esq.

Last month, I painted a simple picture of how incapacity can strike any family, often at the worst time. Regarding financial matters, the main tool to combat the problem of incapacity is called a General Durable Power of Attorney or DPA for short.

The DPA is a critical document every adult, young or old, should have in place. It says in a nutshell who can sign financial documents for you.

However, the first warning I give to all my clients is that this is probably the most powerful document you will ever sign. Therefore, it is critical that it is drafted properly and understood properly by the client who signs it.

Most DPA’s give your agent, the person you choose to put in charge, any financial power you have. Some powers are scary like fact that the agent can take out loans in your name, credit cards in your name, sell your stuff and buy stuff. In addition, they can direct distributions from your IRA or 401k.

You might ask, with all those powers do I really want this document in place? The answer should be yes, as long as you have someone you trust to be your agent. As I stated last month, if your wife needed to sell or refinance your house, she would need your DPA to do it.

However, concern is warranted and things can go really wrong with a DPA. I will discuss some of the pitfalls of a DPA next month.

Matthew Hart is a California Licensed Attorney who is an Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California. He can be reached at www.MatthewHartLaw.com or 925-754-2000. He has offices in Antioch and Walnut Creek.

Dear Editor:

Earlier this week it was revealed to the public that one of the side deals made in the Iranian nuclear agreement included Iran being in charge of inspecting itself at one of its largest and most infamous nuclear development sites. The absurdity of that thankfully seems to resonate with more and more congressmen and senators and the revelation seems to be slowly tipping Democrats who had tenuously said they were going to support the agreement.

Thanks to legal roundabouts and parliamentary magic, the administration was only required to get one-third of one house to vote for it. The most efficient of routes, it would seem, would be to get thirty-four senators to vote for it, but that is proving to be harder than expected.

Last week, the soon-to-be Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a long-time supporter of the Israeli cause and major benefactor from Israeli-American political action committees, came out publicly against the deal, along with New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez. No doubt that these defections have boosted Republican hopes, especially for recruiting the entire Democratic Jewish Caucus, a whopping 7 senators including Schumer. The bar is set so low, however that there is a good chance that even this would prove not enough unless more Democrats defect from the Administration’s party line.

It’s important to know how the vote will go down, considering that the stakes are so high, if not for us, then for the allies that will suck us into a conflict if the Iranian hardliners are able to create even one warhead. The larger issue has been developing for decades, and the failed foreign policy of the last 6 years has directly led to the desperation for a deal that the administration now feels.

You may recall back in 2009, during the Arab Spring, that there were major demonstrations in the streets of Tehran. These weren’t TEA Parties with a couple hundred people, but actual streets filled with Iranians, both young and old, ready for modernization and liberalization.

The demonstrations occurred when Mahmoud Achmedinejad fraudulently stole the “election” by stuffing the ballot boxes so much that many NGO observers pointed out that there were more ballots cast than there were legal voters. This was because Achmedinejad was of course the choice psycho-in-arms of the Supreme Ayatollah Khomeini. The (believed to be) legitimate winner was Mir Hossein Mousavi, a reformer who decried the corruption and extremism of the Supreme Ayatollah and his lackey President Achmedinejad.

Rather than back the so-called Green Revolution and its de facto leader Mousavi using our extensive network of operatives, the administration decided that it would be better for the U.S. to not get involved instead of taking advantage of the best opportunity for a regime change in 30 years.

Despite the administration’s claim at the time to not want to get too involved in Middle Eastern affairs, we have dropped bombs on five different Middle Eastern countries during this administration, compared to the previous administration’s two. Not to mention that we’ve waded into the politics of everyone from Egypt to South Sudan in less than seven years’ worth of leadership.

Iran, as happens with any dictatorship, will eventually have a revolution that will replace the current system with a democratic one, but we cannot have any more unforced errors like we had in 2009, and like what the Senate is currently considering.

Foreign policy is not a game to be played lightly, it is after all the real-world game of thrones. The idea of a deal is good, but it must have an ironclad inspection clause with inspections only to be carried out by either the U.S. or the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). We have been at a stalemate with Iran since the ’80s and we cannot simply walk away at this point, as much as I believe we should never have been involved with that tract of sand. A non-interventionist foreign policy requires a clean slate (cleaner than a server can ever be), something we will never get so long as the current system of governance in Iran exists. For now, this is the consequence of our insufferable meddling.

We need a deal, yes, but one that does not jeopardize our allies and our men and women in uniform. We can only hope that when that regime change comes, and we’ve had ours, we are prepared to not make the same mistake. That mistake of course, being our involvement at all.

Devon Minnema

The author is a 20-year-old Woodland College student, Syndicated columnist based out of Dixon CA. Columns “Real Men Read The News” and “One in a Millenial,” and fourth generation Solano County farmer.

By Allen Payton

Ever had Mexican ice cream before? My mom and I just did, at the new Mayas Ice Cream Paleteria & Neveria that opened in Antioch on Memorial Day weekend in May. Boy, is it creamy, thick and delicious.

Owned and operated by Julieta and Fernando Lopez, Mayas offers a variety of flavors, including a few of the standards, like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, chocolate chip and rocky road.

But, they also offer a whole list of flavors, some of which I’ve never heard of before, like Mamey and Nanche, which are fruits, Pitaya – Dragon Fruit, Guanabana – Sour Sop, Gansito, which Julieta said is like Mexican Twinkies, plus Mango, Guava and Tequila, and even two with vegetables, like elote – corn, and avocado.

Mayas also serves common flavors like strawberries and cream, strawberry milk shake, coffee, pistachio, which I tried and enjoyed, Beso de Angel (Angel’s Kiss) – marshmallow, coconut, Arroz con Leche – rice pudding, Nuez – nuts, dried fruit and Chicle – gum.

Julieta let Mom and me sample a variety of their ice creams and I gotta say the cream cheese flavor was my favorite. But, it must be everyone’s because they’d run out, the day we were there. So, hopefully I’ll have some next time.

All of their ice cream is made in Mexico and you can have your scoops in a cup, or on a cake or waffle cone.

Mayas also serves other sweet and even spicy treats, including Mangonadas, Escamocha, which is fruit with a spicy sauce, Bionicos, a fresh fruit salad with sour cream, Pepino Locos, which are cucumbers with pickled pig skin, nuts and chamoy chili, Tostilos, which are chips with fruit and vegetables on top, Duero, which is frozen strawberries and cream, and also banana splits.

Owners Julieta & Fernando Lopez

It’s a family run business, which includes the Lopez’ daughters, Evelyn and Amzi.

The shop, located at 4609 Golf Course Road near the corner of Lone Tree Way, behind Tailgater’s, is open every day, Monday through Friday, Noon to 9:30 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 9:30 PM.

Stop by today, and tantalize your tastebuds with a cold, creamy, delicious treat this summer. See their ad on the next page to enjoy a discount on your next scoop.

Antioch High QB junior #4 Abram Karnthong, in scrimmage vs. Northgate, Friday, August 21, 2015. photo by Luns Louie, DeltaSportsMag.com.

By Luke Johnson

The high school football season is about to kickoff, and Antioch and Deer Valley are ready to make some noise.

Coaches and players across the Bay Valley Athletic League (BVAL) feel that Antioch is a strong contender to finish in first place. The team is led by returning BVAL MVP Najee Harris, a junior, who is ranked the number one running back in the country by various scouting websites. He broke two school records last season: rushing yards in a game (371) and in a season (2,263). The 6-foot-2, 222 pound junior has offers from some of the top schools in the country such as USC, Oregon and reigning NCAA Champs Ohio State, but verbally committed to Alabama in April during an unofficial visit.

The Panthers finished with a 7-5 record, and a victory in the first round of the North Coast Section Playoffs for the first time since 1984, which is also the last time they won a league title. The team will be returning many star players such as wide receiver/defensive back Ryan Payne, running back Nick Perry and linebacker Kobie Beltram, who is well on pace for breaking the school’s career tackle record and has a scholarship offer from Oregon State.

The Yoc Boyz, which became for a nickname for the team last year, will welcome three talented incoming transfers: defensive backs Issac Freytes (Freedom), Dawon Boyd (Deer Valley) and wide receiver Keonte Taylor (James Logan-Union City), who had 11 touchdown receptions last season. The squad also expects big things from wide receiver/defensive back Antione Tanner and lineman Sir Forbes whom are coming up from JV last year.

“I know Najee gets all the attention, but it’s not just Najee,” said offensive coordinator Brett Dudley. “We have weapons all over the place now.”

Deer Valley is not coming off its best performance, last season with a record of just 4-6. The Wolverines went 0-5 in interleague competition and were outscored 182-28 throughout those games. But things are looking up with new head coach Robert Hubbard at the helm, who is unanimously liked by players and fellow coaches, including opposing coaches.

“He’s a good dude. I know he loves the kids and is very organized,” said Dudley. “I have a lot of confidence that he is going to get them going in the right direction.”

As a player, Hubbard holds the single-season rushing record at Diablo Valley College (1,518), and had 2,403 all-purpose yards in two seasons at the University of Nevada. Prior to being named head coach at Deer Valley, he was an assistant coach at Northgate-Walnut Creek.

Fortunately for Hubbard, Deer Valley returns approximately 24 varsity football players, including three All-BVAL selections: running back Rai Shyan Alexander, offensive lineman Latu Toetuu and kicker Christian Rodriguez. The Wolverines also bring back key starters such as quarterback Devin Gould, lineman Troy Decuir, linebacker Brandon Faatalale and wide receiver Elijah Womack.

Hubbard said there is a lot of potential at Deer Valley, but added, “Potential means you haven’t done anything yet.” He feels the team is currently in a better mental state after dealing with off the field issues last year.

For Deer Valley and Antioch the season begins Friday, August 28. The Panthers will host Acalanes in their new $7-million stadium, while Deer Valley travels to Granada. The two will face each other on Oct. 30 in the annual Mayor’s Cup at Antioch High School.

SALT LAKE CITY (Grassroots Newswire) August 26, 2015 – The following local students have earned degrees from Western Governors University (WGU). The university held its 29th semi-annual commencement ceremony in Salt Lake City on August 15 and celebrated the graduation of more than 8,500 graduates. In addition to recognizing students who graduated in the past six months, the nation’s first competency-based university marked another major milestone— 50,000 graduates in just 15 years.

*Carla Boyer-Satterfield of Antioch has received her Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership and Management

*Yiffta Pahoma Elsea of Antioch has received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing

*Michael Fronda of Pittsburg has received his Master of Science in Nursing – Leadership and Management

WGU was founded in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality higher education, and in 2000, the university awarded its first degree. The nonprofit university focuses on providing flexible, affordable degree programs that meet the needs of busy working adults, particularly those who have started, but not completed, a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Of WGU’s 50,000 graduates, nearly 20,000 are first-generation college students.

At its August 15 commencement, the university awarded 5,292 undergraduate and 3,220 graduate degrees in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and healthcare professions, including nursing.

Graduates reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, as well as Armed Forces personnel stationed overseas. President and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare, Dr. Charles W. Sorenson, delivered the commencement address. Students who were not able to attend the ceremony in person were able to watch the event via live video stream on the WGU website.

About WGU

Established in 1997 by a bipartisan group of U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU is the pioneer and leader in competency-based education.

The nonprofit, online university has been recognized by the White House as what works in post-secondary education, was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times.

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. In 2014, the National Council on Teacher Quality ranked WGU’s secondary teacher education program as number one among a nationwide list of 2,400 programs. WGU has earned the support of a number of leading corporations and foundations, including AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank.

More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

By Lieutenant Diane Aguinaga, Antioch Police Field Services

This morning at 09:53 am the Antioch High School Principal called APD to report a suspicious device found in one of the classrooms. Because of the appearance of the device, all efforts were made to ensure the student’s safety and the students were evacuated to a nearby location. With the assistance of the Walnut Creek PD Bomb Squad and BART PD bomb dogs, the device was determined to be nothing of concern or danger.

The students were returned to their classrooms less than an hour after the device was found.

There is no further information at this time.

Art by (from left) Alexa Espinoza, Laurence Harding, Kenny Lane and other artists will be on display at the Lynn House Gallery.

Meet the Artists at a Reception on Thursday, August 27

A group of talented adults with developmental disabilities will showcase their art at the Lynn House Gallery, located in downtown Antioch. P.A.I.N.T. (Promoting Arts, Individuals, & Natural Talents) is a multi-faceted fine arts program designed to serve individuals showing talent, interest or motivation in the art. The program is a division of Community Integrated Support Services, a Non-Profit Agency Serving Contra Costa County Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Since 2002. You may meet the artists at a reception August 27th, 4:30 – 6:30 PM and view the exhibit on August 29^th and September 1^st.

The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 West 1st Street in downtown Antioch (across the street from AMTRAK) and is open from 1-4 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays during exhibits. For more information email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Participating Artists: Omar Arciniega, Gage Burns, George Browning, Alexa Espinoza, Brandon Espinoza, Samantha Giannini, Laurence Harding,Casey Hyland, Kenny Lane, Jessicah Leavenworth, Ghesal Maiwand, Dillon Pettit, Kevin Randolph and Daniel Yoshino.