Basements in Vancouver: common features and benefits

Basement renovations in Vancouver are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners look for ways to maximize the livable space in their homes. Basements offer a blank canvas that can be transformed into anything from a home office or gym to a media room or extra bedroom. In addition, basements can provide valuable storage space and many come equipped with laundry facilities. Basements also offer the added benefit of being relatively easy and inexpensive to renovate, making them an attractive option for those on a tight budget. With so many potential benefits, it’s no wonder that basement renovations are one of the most popular home improvement projects in Vancouver.
Basements are often thought of as dark and dreary places, but in Vancouver, they can be so much more. With a little bit of imagination and some strategic renovations, basements can become bright and welcoming spaces that are perfect for entertaining or simply relaxing at the end of a long day. Basements in Vancouver typically have common features that can be used to create a variety of benefits. For example, many basements have high ceilings, which can be used to create a sense of spaciousness. Additionally, basements usually have large windows that let in plenty of natural light. This combination of features makes basements the perfect place to add an extra bedroom or home office. Basements can also be renovated to include a family room, wet bar, or even a home theatre. No matter what your vision for your basement is, with the help of a professional renovation team, it can easily become a reality.
ALSO READ: Buy a luxury building, then lower the rent

How turning your basement into a livable space

Turning your basement into a livable space can be a great way to increase the value of your home. Not only will you be able to use the extra space for entertaining or as a guest room, but you’ll also be able to add value to your home if you ever decide to sell. There are a few things to keep in mind when basement living, however. First, make sure that the space is well-insulated and that there’s adequate ventilation. You’ll also want to make sure that there’s plenty of natural light coming in, as basements can sometimes feel a bit dark and dreary. With a little bit of planning and forethought, however, you can easily turn your basement into a livable space that you and your family will enjoy for years to come.

Ideas for finishing your basement on a budget

Most homeowners would love to have an extra room in their house, but the cost of adding a new bedroom or family room can be prohibitive. However, there is often a hidden gem right under our noses: the basement. With a little effort and creativity, a basement can be transformed into a comfortable and inviting space. And best of all, it can be done on a budget.
One of the most important considerations when finishing a basement is insulation. Without proper insulation, your basement will be cold and drafty, making it unusable for most purposes. You may be able to install insulation yourself, but it’s worth consulting with a professional to ensure that it’s done properly. Once your basement is properly insulated, you can start thinking about how to use the space. If you’re looking for extra living space, consider adding a Murphy bed or daybed. For storage, try using baskets or bins to keep things organized and out of sight. And if you’re looking for a place to relax and unwind, consider adding a small couch and TV. With a little effort, you can transform your basement into a functional and stylish space that won’t break the bank.

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Government stimulus programs and bailouts of the biggest and sickest corporations alone will not solve the problem. Companies must re-engage their people. Both management and leadership practices need to be rethought.

The problem of subprime lending is a prime example of this. How could it have happened in the first place and how could it have spread to so many large financial institutions? The answers seem obvious. Those who promoted these mortgages sought to increase sales as quickly as possible to maximize their own bonuses, and to hell with the ultimate consequences. And the financial institutions that bought these mortgages were out of control. Many of their executives adopted what has become a widespread style of “leadership” in America: they sat in their offices and announced goals that they wanted others to achieve, instead of taking up the cause and helping to improve performance. Managers didn’t know what was going on, and employees didn’t care what was going on. What a monumental failure of management.

To one degree or another, the same failure occurred in the private and public sectors. A belief has emerged that leadership is somehow separate from and superior to management. This view only isolates people in leadership positions, thereby undermining the sense of community in organizations.

Communities at Work.
Individualism is a good idea. It provides incentive, promotes leadership, and encourages development, but not by itself. We are social animals who cannot function effectively without a social system that is bigger than ourselves. This is what is meant by “community,” the social glue that binds us together for the common good. Think no further than the energy unleashed by the strong sense of community in Barack Obama’s campaign .

Community means caring about our work, our colleagues, and our place in the world, geographically and otherwise, and, in turn, inspiring that caring. Characteristically, some of the companies we admire most – Toyota, Semco (Brazil), Mondragon (Basque Federation of Cooperatives), Pixar, etc. – usually have a strong sense of community. This was made clear in a September 2008 article in HBR by Ed Catmull, president of Pixar, in which he attributed the studio’s success in producing a number of very popular animated films to its “vibrant community where talented people are loyal to each other and to their collective work, everyone feels they are part of something extraordinary, and their passion and achievements make the community a magnet for talented people coming out of school or working in other places.

Young, successful companies usually have this sense of community. They are growing, full of energy, committed to their people, almost family. But maintaining it as they mature can be a different matter: events slow down, politics escalate, the world is no longer their oyster. Community is sometimes easier to maintain in the social sector-with NGOs, nonprofits, and cooperatives. The mission can be more appealing, and the people more engaged.

But somehow in our feverish, individualistic world, a sense of community is lost in many companies and other organizations. In the United States in particular, many great enterprises, along with the country’s legendary sense of enterprise, are collapsing as a result.

Enough leadership.
“Community” is not a word in the English language. But it is supposed to stand between personal leadership on the one hand and collective citizenship on the other. In fact, I believe we should never use the word “leadership” without discussing community.

Of course, leaders can engage and involve others. But the concept is still person-centered – personal initiative. Show me a leader, and I’ll show you a group of followers.

Community certainly uses leadership, but not in the self-centered, “heroic” way that has become so common in the business world. These days we make a big fuss about the evils of micromanagement – the interference of managers in the affairs of their subordinates. Much more serious is “macro-leadership”: the exercise of power “from the top down” by detached leaders. Community requires a more modest form of leadership, which can be called engaged and distributed management. The community leader engages personally to engage others so that anyone and everyone can take the initiative. If you doubt this can happen, look at how Wikipedia, Linux and other open source operations work.

So maybe it’s time to wean ourselves off the heroic leader and recognize that we usually have enough leadership — leadership that intervenes when it’s appropriate and encourages people in the organization to get things done.

That’s how IBM came into e-business. An enthusiastic programmer eventually convinced the middle manager that the opportunity existed. The manager put together a team with virtually no budget. And when the initiative finally reached Lou Gerstner, then CEO, he supported it. That was it. Enough leadership!

From top-down to average.
How can we rebuild companies as communities? Unfortunately, most of the hundreds of articles and books on how to manage large-scale change – transformation, revitalization, upheaval – focus on leadership. A popular example is “Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail” (HBR Classic , January 2007), in which the author, John Kotter, identifies eight steps: First, create a sense of urgency. Then build a strong leadership coalition in which “senior managers always form the core. This coalition must create a vision and broadcast it so that others can realize it. The process moves on to planning for short-term wins, consolidating improvements, and institutionalizing new approaches.

Kotter’s approach sounds reasonable enough and has probably worked. But how often and for how long? What happens when the driver of leadership leaves? Perhaps it’s time to rebuild companies not from the top down or even from the bottom up, but from the middle – through groups of middle managers who band together and make key changes in their organization.

Can major transformations really begin like this, almost spontaneously, with small actions by people outside the top management? Well, think of the American Revolution, which began with the tea party, or the French Revolution, which began with storming a prison to free a handful of prisoners. In his recent book, “Community: The Structure of Belonging,” Peter Block, an authority on workplace learning and productivity, wrote: “Most sustainable improvements in community happen when citizens discover their own ability to act … when citizens stop waiting for professionals or elected leadership to do things and decide that they can give back what they have delegated to others. Think of all managers as citizens of their corporations.

A useful framework.
In large hierarchical organizations, certain conditions help ease the transition to community:

Community Remains.
It’s much easier to build what’s left of a community than to create one from scratch. In my experience, many companies that seem to have lost their sense of community actually retain it somewhere, even if it is hidden from executives who have not appreciated it. For example, in pharmaceutical companies that have become bumbling behemoths focused on sales and acquisitions, you can always find groups of scientists who are still deeply committed to finding cures for diseases.
Often the remnants of commonality must be sought among middle managers. A significant number of these people tend to be knowledgeable about the enterprise and deeply interested in its survival. After examining the role of middle managers in corporate transformation, Quy Nguyen Hai, professor at Insead, wrote: “I was surprised by the intensity with which [middle managers] sought to protect the long-term interests of the company and the well-being of their subordinates. again and again” (“Praise for Middle Managers,” HBR, September 2001). Senior managers, not to mention middle managers themselves, should recognize the power of this dedication.

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Community-based organizations that do not wish to have their lobbying activities restricted may register as social welfare organizations under section 501(C)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donors’ donations to such organizations are not exempt from taxation. Moreover, these organizations may engage in partisan political campaigning, but only as a secondary activity. A helpful explanation of the differences between these categories of organizations can be found here.

Funding

Budgets for civic organizations can be in the thousands or billions of dollars, depending on their size and scope of activity. Most community organizations build their budgets through fundraising. Funding for civic organizations comes from a number of sources: private donations, membership fees, sales of goods and services, and grants from international agencies or governments.

A typical example is the Yellowstone Park Foundation, which is an NGO that serves as the official fundraising partner for Yellowstone National Park in the American West. More than 16,000 individuals, corporations and foundations donate to the foundation each year. The purpose of the foundation is to fund programs to protect, preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources and to introduce visitors to Yellowstone Park. The Foundation receives 52% of its income from individuals, 21% from gifts from corporations, 21% from gifts-in-kind, and 7% from other sources (grants from government and foundations, and income from investments). Donations do not have to be large – many community organizations in the U.S. ask citizens to donate as little as $10, $25, or $50.

Different levels of government also provide funding to community organizations, especially those involved in service delivery. For example, the government in the U.S. funds a variety of services for victims of domestic violence, such as transitional housing, counseling, and a domestic violence hotline.

Donations to community organizations registered under section 501(C)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code are tax-exempt. This tax policy encourages Americans to support community organizations.

International NGOs and International Funding

Foreign civil society organizations operating in the United States range from the German Goethe Institute, which promotes study abroad of the German language and Germany and encourages international cultural exchanges, to the network of Confucius Institutes, which provides information on Chinese education, culture, economy and society. Another example is the Hitachi Foundation, based in Japan, which focuses on strengthening communities in the U.S. through programs such as the Business and Jobs program aimed at improving the lives of underserved Americans. Since 2007, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) has supported key lobbying actions in favor of abolishing the death penalty in Illinois and Maryland. The European Commission acts as one of the largest donors of development projects in the world, and dozens of American civil society organizations submit project proposals to the European Commission for funding. All of Germany’s party institutes also work in the United States.

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Organizations provide services.

Many public organizations in America provide social services and humanitarian aid to American citizens. The 19th century American industrialist Andrew Carnegie established a foundation to open public libraries across the United States. A century later, this tradition was continued by Bill Gates, who founded the Gates Foundation to equip thousands of public libraries with computers and Internet access, making modern Internet technology available to millions of Americans. Other community organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, focus their efforts on disaster relief and humanitarian aid. Such organizations are often supported by various church organizations across America. Providing victims of domestic violence with a variety of services and shelter, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is another example of an organization that provides assistance directly to citizens.

Community-based organizations engaged in expert analysis and research

The role of other community organizations is to provide expert analysis on major public policy issues. There are civil society organizations and think tanks that deal with a variety of issues, including foreign policy and the public life management system. The analysis carried out by American think tanks covers the entire range of policy issues. Right next door to the Carnegie Endowment in Washington is the Brookings Institution, which has been analyzing public policy issues for almost a century. The mission of the Institute for American Enterprise is “to expand individual freedom, personal prospects and strengthen free enterprise. The Institute embodies these enduring ideals through the development of independent thinking, open discussion, reasoned argument, facts, and the highest standards of research and description of findings.” The Cato Institute “upholds the principles of individual liberty, limitation of state power, free trade, and peace.” The Heritage Foundation sees its goal as a conservative public policy based on the principles of free enterprise, limitation of government power, individual liberty, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. The number of think tanks used to be small, but it has grown exponentially over the past three decades.

Community-based organizations for the protection of human rights

Community-based organizations are also being created to preserve what they consider to be Americans’ constitutional rights. For example, the National Rifle Association was created in 1871 to protect the right to own firearms and to provide firearms training for police and self-defense courses, improve firearms safety, improve shooting techniques, and promote hunting in the United States. Today, the National Rifle Association is better known as one of the main political forces advocating for reducing restrictions on gun ownership and defending Second Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. The Brady Center for the Prevention of Gun Violence, on the other hand, works to pass and enforce federal, state laws, regulations and public policies that would ensure stricter control over gun use and ownership. Both of these organizations, along with thousands of other civic organizations, play an important role in the gun control debate that is currently underway in the United States following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut late last year.

Many civil society organizations, especially those that advocate for civil liberties, are devoting a great deal of attention to criticizing our authorities. The American Civil Liberties Union is a prime example. Its purpose is to defend and preserve individual rights and freedoms as enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and U.S. law. Every day the ACLU works with the courts, legislatures and the public to protect and preserve individual rights and freedoms.

Civil Society Organizations Monitoring Governmental Practices

NGOs in the U.S. monitor elections and the fulfillment of campaign promises, conduct investigations and expose corruption, and actively advocate on behalf of national minorities. One function of NGOs is court monitoring, where U.S. citizens monitor decisions.

For example, WATCH, a Minnesota NGO, describes its purpose as improving the efficiency and responsiveness of the court system in cases of violence against women and children. The organization is a member of the National Association of Judicial Monitoring Programs, which provides training and materials to organizations in various states. Because the U.S. Constitution guarantees openness of the courts to the public, members of community-based organizations that monitor the courts have no difficulty gaining access to the courts and observing what is happening in a court case.

Public organizations defending the interests of their members and the public before the authorities

Another common activity for civic organizations is to advocate for the interests of people in their constituencies in institutions, legislative and electoral bodies at all levels of government. Large civic organizations use their voter mobilization and fundraising capabilities to influence policy. For example, the American Association of Retired Persons, a non-profit, non-governmental organization for people of retirement age. It has 37 million members. The association informs its members about legislation affecting their retirement living conditions, such as health care, Social Security and pension laws. The organization also advocates for its members with service companies, helping them get discounts based on their limited retirement budgets, and provides services such as retirement plans. It also lobbies state and national governments on the issues its members care most about, such as health care and health insurance laws. According to the association’s 2011 annual report, the organization encouraged its members to reach out to their representatives in Congress during the deficit-reduction budget debate there. More than 8 million members sent letters, e-mails, made phone calls and signed petitions demanding that Congress not cut individual welfare benefits in the final version of the state budget. In this way, community organizations are able to influence policy by shaping public debate on issues of public interest.

MomsRising is another example of this type of community organization. I know MomsRising well because my wife Donna Norton helped found the organization, which now has over a million members. MomsRising seeks to increase the economic security of families and end discrimination against women and mothers. MomsRising focuses its efforts on organizing grassroots action from below to lobby lawmakers and amplify women’s voices in the national media. When we lived in the United States, Donna regularly went to Capitol Hill to talk to members of Congress about paramount maternal issues and concerns: affordable health care, parental leave, child welfare, flexible work schedules and equal pay. She relayed appeals and real-life stories directly to elected officials. CBOs can check to see if elected leaders are hearing their voices and the opinions of their constituencies. A civic organization is able to provide this important service to its members who live in different parts of the country and have no opportunity to come to Congress in person.

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There are about 1.5 million community organizations in the United States today. These independent, voluntary unions of people help assert individual freedom while maintaining a sustainable social order. We call it “civil society,” but that term does not capture the diversity of organizations, the momentum and energy of citizens who come together to solve a social problem or address a pressing need. Though strangers start a movement toward a common goal, they often come from the same neighborhood, church, union, business partnership or youth group. They interact with each other, negotiate, resolve differences, fight for a common cause and try to convince society and government of their rightness – all without any control from the state. In this way, civil society fosters unity and solidarity through the activism of citizens.

Through non-governmental organizations, Americans unite to solve local problems, such as keeping children safe on the roads, reducing crime, improving schools (in the U.S. local governments are responsible for education), increasing transparency in local government, etc. CBOs also work on national issues such as health care reform and immigration law reform. Some U.S. civic organizations attempt to address global issues, such as the Association for Arms Control or the Global Women’s Fund.

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These workforce housing communities create jobs and provide access to good schools, quality public utilities and infrastructure, convenient access to transportation, employment centers and healthcare plus a full spectrum of affordable housing choices – from San Diego, Orange County, Riverside and Los Angeles to the greater Sacramento region.

Jamboree works with community leaders to provide resident services that enhance neighborhoods and transform the lives of low-income families, seniors on fixed incomes, formerly homeless children and adults, and those living with a mental health diagnosis.

Building workforce, low-income communities in California

Working with city and county government and community partners to build low-income and workforce housing, we develop, construct, manage and preserve affordable housing that strengthens communities throughout the Golden State – from Orange County and San Diego County to the Inland Empire in Riverside County and San Bernardino County, as well as in Los Angeles County, the greater Sacramento region and beyond.

While our building types include a handful of mobile home communities, single resident occupancy (SRO or zero bedroom units) and single-family homes, the vast majority of Jamboree’s affordable housing development portfolio features multifamily apartment homes for low-income and mid-income families, seniors and those with special needs, with supportive services that transform lives and strengthen communities for lasting impact.

With an asset portfolio of $3.2 billion, Jamboree is one of the largest nonprofit builders of quality affordable housing in California – and among the nation’s top five largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. Our $1.1 billion affordable housing development pipeline reflects our public and private partnerships with local cities and counties to design and build healthy communities that enable residents to live, work and thrive in their own cities. Jamboree is proud to be Orange County’s largest nonprofit affordable housing development company. We’re also the largest developer of Permanent Supportive Housing in Orange County, bringing hope to end homelessness in OC and beyond with proven solutions that work.

Quality Development and Construction

Jamboree’s Quality Development and Construction, Inc., is a California licensed general contractor. It is the technical consultant, design expert, construction manager and general contractor for building affordable housing communities developed by Jamboree in cities from Southern California to Northern California. 

As part of our Housing Development Group, this team of professionals has decades of varied design and construction experience that brings both broad and specialized expertise to all aspects of new construction and rehabilitation of existing affordable properties. This ensures construction standardization across Jamboree’s affordable housing asset portfolio throughout California, as well as more cost-effective design solutions and greater sustainability to maintain affordability for the long term.

As the dedicated licensed general contractor for Jamboree projects, Quality Development and Construction provides all labor and material necessary to build the project, engages subcontractors, coordinates schedules and budgets, and ensures compliance with standards and regulations. When a trusted third-party partner is selected as the general contractor, Quality Development and Construction serves as the construction manager during the entire development process to augment the technical knowledge and expertise of our trusted design and construction partners.

By providing in-house services, our team addresses all aspects of design and construction – from strategic master planning to post-construction warranty service – to ensure the highest industry standards and benchmarks in all specifications unique to Jamboree affordable housing properties.

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The initial cost of incorporating a new business depends on whether you use a web-based do-it-yourself service or a law firm. Using a web-based service or any service other than a law firm may save you money initially, but it will cost you money in the long run. For example, contractors who incorporate should also make sure that their corporations are properly licensed with the California State Contractors License Board before they do any construction work. If you include but do not comply with contractor licensing laws, you may find that saving money on an outside interface exposes you to significant civil and criminal penalties for contracting without a license.

Contracting without a license is a misdemeanor
Neglecting to apply for and qualify your corporation for a separate contractor’s license with the California State Licensing Board (CSLB) so that your corporation is always properly licensed during a construction project is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. and six months in jail. In addition to potential criminal liability, your corporation will not be able to demand payment for construction services performed without a license, and may be forced to refund any money received for construction services performed without a license. For more information on the adverse consequences of contracting without a license, see the article on our website titled Possible Consequences for Unlicensed Contractors in California .

How to estimate the cost of registering your business
To determine if you can afford to incorporate, ask your accountant and your attorney to estimate the costs and tax consequences. In particular, ask your accountant to estimate the minimum annual taxes your corporation will have to pay in local, state and federal taxes. Unlike businesses operating as sole proprietorships, California corporations pay an annual minimum state tax whether they make a profit or not.

In addition, forming a corporation can put you in the unenviable situation of having your income taxed twice because your corporation will pay income tax and you will also pay income tax on the wages and dividends you receive from your corporation. Ask your accountant if you can avoid the possibility of double taxation by registering your corporation as a Subchapter S corporation.

Operating Capital.
Another cost to consider is the amount of money shareholders will have to contribute to the corporation as working capital. By consulting with your accountant and lawyer, you can determine how much money (capital) your corporation will need to cover start-up costs, operating expenses, and meeting minimum capital requirements. For example, the CSLB requires that corporations applying for a contractor’s license have at least $2,500 in capital. The corporation’s initial capital contribution is what shareholders pay to the corporation in exchange for stock. In addition to the minimum amount required by law, you and your accountant should estimate the amount of working capital your corporation will need to reach a level where you expect your corporation to begin generating enough income to cover its expenses (working capital).

Attorney Fees and Expenses
Together with your attorney, you should determine what legal fees and expenses you will incur to set up your corporation. In addition to charging fees for the time it takes to prepare your corporate documents, attorneys will also require that you pay the state filing fee and the cost of your initial corporate materials. State fees include fees for reserving your corporation name, filing your corporation’s articles of incorporation with the Secretary of State, and registering the sale of your corporation stock with the Department of Corporations. Initial corporate supplies usually include a corporate seal, stock certificates, a ledger to keep track of your corporation stock transactions, and a folder to keep all your corporate records together and in an orderly fashion.

In addition to the basic documents that your attorney will prepare to create your corporation (articles of incorporation, bylaws, minutes of initial meetings and corporate resolutions), your attorney may also recommend that your corporation limit the transfer of stock by purchasing shares. sale agreement. Sale and purchase agreements are designed to ensure that shareholders are treated fairly and their rights are protected. It also allows shareholders to decide which third parties may become shareholders in the future and provides safeguards for minority positions by limiting stock sales.

Your attorney may also recommend drafting employment contracts for key employees and securing personal loans you make to your corporation with promissory notes and security agreements. To complete the formation of your corporation, your attorney should help you organize and conduct the initial corporate meeting at which the corporation will sell stock, appoint and elect directors and officers, authorize the corporation to open bank accounts, conduct an election to determine tax status for the state and IRS ( Subchapter S election ), select the principal business location and establish other important functions the corporation will need to begin business operations.

Corporate Formalities
Once your corporation is formed, your attorney should provide you with written instructions on how to comply with corporate registration and record keeping. For example, your corporation will be required to file an annual information report with the California Secretary of State, hold an annual meeting of stockholders and directors, keep minutes of annual meetings, and file tax returns. Please keep in mind that failure to comply with these and other routine corporate formalities can result in the loss of a major benefit of forming a corporation, protection from personal liability for business expenses.

Obtaining a contractor’s license for your corporation
Another cost item to estimate for setting up your corporation is the cost of your corporation to obtain a California contractor’s license. You can usually get this information from your attorney or contractor licensing office. Also, ask how long it takes the licensing board to process license applications, because until your corporation gets a contractor’s license, it can’t legally do contracting business.

Once you have an estimate for professional legal and accounting services, state registration fees, licensing costs, and initial business capital, you should have a good estimate of how much it will cost to register your business.

The benefits of incorporation
In all likelihood, the total cost estimate to incorporate your construction business and cover the increased taxes and associated corporate expenses will be significant. It can easily take six months to prepare a business plan, obtain estimates for professional services, retain professionals, and complete the formation and license for your corporation. So why bother? What are the benefits of incorporation that justify the expense and additional business complexities of maintaining a corporation?

Some of the major benefits of incorporating your business are (1) being able to separate and protect your personal assets from potential liabilities and financial losses of your business, (2) creating a more professional business image, (3) being able to raise capital by selling stock in the corporation, (4) creating a legal entity that can continue to exist after its founders die, (5) facilitating the business’ ability to attract and retain key employees, (6) increasing your ability to sell your business and (7) creating the ability

Construction is a risky business
Construction businesses have a high failure rate. Even the construction of a relatively small structure usually requires coordination and cooperation between property owners, lenders, architects, engineers, municipal building departments, building inspectors, general contractors, subcontractors, tradesmen, insurance companies, equipment suppliers and building material suppliers.

From start to finish, the typical construction project is under tremendous economic pressure because of the common practice in the construction industry of awarding contracts to the lowest bidder. Unfortunately, sometimes the lowest price is offered by a company that overlooked costs and offered a low price as a result of a bidding error.

Other times, there will be one or more bidders who win the project because they cut corners to lower the price of their bid. As a result, progress is often interrupted because one or more participants in the construction process are not working properly, or because of unexpectedly long periods of bad weather.

Whatever the reason, construction delays can have a negative impact on the financial situation of everyone involved in the project. Thus, given the risky nature of the construction business, a wise business owner will take steps to separate and protect their personal assets from exposure to these risks. Registering your construction business, along with the right insurance coverage, can protect your personal assets and more than justify the cost and time required to register your business.

Creating a professional image
The inclusion of your business indicates a certain degree of financial capability and business sophistication. Anyone who has gone through the process of starting their own business knows what it takes to create and successfully run a corporation. Thus, your clients and potential clients may believe that incorporated businesses have more credibility, reliability and professionalism than unincorporated businesses. To improve your corporate image and comply with CSLB regulations, make sure that all contracts, invoices, letterhead, promotional materials, business cards, etc. of your corporation contain your corporation name and license number exactly as they appear on the Contractors License Board. Using a company name other than the one listed on the CSLB may result in a charge of contracting without a license.

Raising money by selling stock
If your corporation is not registered as a publicly traded company, such as General Motors, you may not advertise the sale of your corporation’s stock to the public and the number of shareholders of your corporation will be limited. Check with your attorney for the actual number of shareholders and restrictions on selling stock in your corporation. Generally speaking, you may only sell stock in your corporation to people you know personally or with whom you already have a business relationship, such as family, friends, business associates and employees.

You should only sell stock in your corporation on the advice of an attorney to make sure that your investors are properly informed of the restrictions associated with your corporation’s stock and to ensure that all transactions in your corporation’s stock are properly recorded. Keep in mind that shareholders appoint and elect corporate directors. The corporate directors then appoint and elect corporate officers who manage the day-to-day operations of the corporation in accordance with the articles of incorporation and the guidelines established by the board of directors of the corporation. The election of directors is determined by a majority vote. Consequently, the person or persons who control a majority of the stock of the corporation controls the corporation.

A corporation has an unlimited life span.
Unlike you or me, a corporation does not have an unlimited life span. In theory, a corporation can exist forever. This means that you can transfer ownership of your corporation by leaving your corporate stock to your heirs or by selling your stock. Either way, your corporation can exist long after you do.

This also gives you the opportunity to improve your corporation’s chances of retaining key employees by making attractive offers to buy corporate stock or by including corporate stock in their benefits package. Be sure to consult with your accountants and lawyers before proceeding with the transfer or sale of stock to your employees. For example, when you sell or transfer corporate stock, your shareholders should be bound by a share purchase agreement that restricts the sale of corporate stock so that you and/or other shareholders and the corporation can control the transfer or sale of corporate stock.

Board of Directors
Once your business is incorporated, you can hire other successful professionals as members of your corporation’s board of directors. These individuals can bring prestige, knowledge, business connections and skills that can enhance your corporation’s profitability and allow you to retire with dignity.

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Fair Housing / Inclusive Practices
Fair Housing goes beyond low income and allows for a wide range of rental prices and affordability, creating flexible models and designs that offer a healthy return on investment for developers and investors, while meeting different housing requirements and needs by area, region and country. demographics. Inclusive housing is also important because lifestyle norms and gender identity definitions are changing, and fair housing practices must be respected. This sometimes requires changes in zoning and redistricting laws and enforcement and/or implementation of FHEO Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity practices and standards.

Related social services and support programs

The opioid crisis and substance abuse as well as mental illness, stagnant wages and inadequate training and education – all of which exacerbate social and income inequality – are triggers for the affordability/opportunity gap. Community and social programs designed to lift people out of poverty and stabilize individuals, families and communities are part of the affordable housing solution.

Affordable Housing Solutions.
Strengthening partnerships between communities, developers, lenders, agencies, and residents

Lenders were encouraged to create more flexible, efficient and appropriate financing options when traditional tax credits and financing/equity investments alone are not enough. Lenders can create more appropriate types of loans that allow developers to meet the demand for affordable housing while making a profit and meeting the needs of the community and its residents. Communication and collaboration are key to determining what is most beneficial from one neighborhood/project to another.

Overcoming bureaucracy, making the process more efficient, and finding new solutions to decades-old problems

New state programs

• Homekey focuses on developing a range of housing types for the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless. They range from hotels and motels to single-family homes and apartment buildings and aim to provide “permanent or transitional housing for the target population.” Homekey is an example of a publicly funded program designed to encourage and support development in one specific area.
• The Middle Income Housing Tax Credit (MIHTC) is similar to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. These tax credits, issued at the federal level to public housing agencies, can be allocated and made available to developers of affordable housing. Once investors raise and purchase the credits, the developer will be able to get a share and invest in the construction of apartments or properties that qualify for the MIHTC. To qualify, these properties must set aside 60 percent of the apartments for households earning 100 percent or less of the area’s median income. MIHTC will create another tier of affordable housing that will pay higher rents while meeting the needs of the underserved sector. It also gives developers/investors the opportunity to create mixed-income/multi-purpose properties, not just low-income housing, which can sometimes be difficult from a cost-effectiveness standpoint.

Where are the new opportunities for growth and development?

• Urban infill and adaptive reuse provide creative housing opportunities, while breathing life into older properties and filling empty lots with new development.
• Rural migration means cost-effective land, which means more cost-effective upfront costs. But it also raises concerns about utilities and infrastructure, as well as transportation, communications, and employment opportunities for residents.

New Energy Regulation and Incentives
All types of multifamily dwellings will now be subject to the same energy code requirements. Previously, there were differences in requirements between low-rise and high-rise. Now a low-rise apartment building and a high-rise apartment building will be in the same category.
The new energy code is largely aimed at encouraging decarbonization/conversion to electrification.
The SOURCE energy category was added when determining energy ratings (SOURCE encourages electricity over natural gas).
For new construction, natural gas furnace installations must also be pre-wired for electric heat pump installation.
This does not apply to rehabilitation centers. If your existing property uses natural gas, you can still replace that system with a natural gas system without any penalty (although you will get extra points for switching to electric).
Battery must be included in solar for non-residential buildings (which, in the context of apartment buildings, may include a detached community/residential building).
Residential buildings must, at a minimum, be prepared for battery storage.
Prescriptive solar PV systems are applicable to all multi-family buildings (including high-rise buildings).
Any projects filed for a permit before January 1, 2023, will still be subject to the 2019 energy code, and properties can actually be permitted after January 1 after the proper paperwork is filed.

The post Solving California’s Affordable Housing Problem appeared first on CACX.

For over five decades, Western Center has advocated on behalf of Californians experiencing poverty in every branch of government—from the courts to the Legislature. Through the lens of economic and racial justice, we litigate, educate and advocate around health care, housing, and public benefits policies and administration.

The Center’s goal is for ALL Californians to have access to healthy, sustainable and affordable housing in neighborhoods of their choice. The Center advocates for robust, clear and enforceable displacement protections and works to:

Protect tenants from eviction and landlord abuse, and ensure access to housing through…

Work to ensure fair rents, require good cause for eviction, strengthen procedural protections for tenants facing eviction, and remove incentives for investor speculation.
Combating Housing Discrimination.
Creating ways for homeless people to access the supports and resources they need to obtain and maintain housing.
Working to end unfair policies that lead to the criminalization of homelessness
Preserving existing housing stock by…

Preventing the conversion of old subsidized units to market rate units
Calling for public subsidies that allow affordable housing operators to lower rents while maintaining high quality housing.
Strengthen laws that ensure that rental units and neighborhoods are healthy and habitable
Promote fair planning and development by…

Eliminating local government to deny affordable housing projects
Using private development to help create housing units for people and families with very low and extremely low incomes.
Providing funding for affordable housing
Creating more opportunities for community ownership and control of land and housing; ensuring that public land is used for the public good
Dismantling structural racism in land use and planning

The post Western Center on Law & Poverty appeared first on CACX.

There’s no reason you can’t use these resources for your business. By the end of 2013, be sure to visit at least two of the organizations listed below. If you don’t find even one or two pieces of information that will help you in your business, contact me . and I will personally help you find the information you are looking for for your company.

Small Business Administration

The SBA offers advice and training for small businesses through area offices across the country. You’ll find business development professionals providing free and low-cost services in your area.

Suitable for: a wide range of business owners. In one office you may find someone who hasn’t started a business yet, next to an entrepreneur looking for a $5 million loan to buy real estate.

SCORE, known as Small Business Advisors of America, is a nonprofit association of more than 13,000 volunteer business advisors in the United States and its territories. SCORE members are trained to serve as advisors, counselors and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners. These services are provided free of charge as a community service.

Suitable for: startups for the first two years. SCORE offers tremendous support to companies seeking to avoid the pitfalls that will kill most new companies in the first 24 months.

Small Business Development Centers

SBDCs help aspiring entrepreneurs realize their dreams and help existing businesses stay competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace. SBDCs are housed at top universities and state economic development agencies.

Suitable for: existing companies looking to get to the next level.

Chamber of Commerce.

Your local or regional chamber is a membership-based community organization that actively promotes, educates and advocates for its members through a variety of services and programs. Member offerings typically include networking opportunities and events, educational seminars, leadership development and special member offers from other chamber members.

Suitable for: companies interested in local networking and business development.

Veterans Business Support Centers

The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling and mentoring, and referrals to eligible veterans who own or are starting small businesses. The SBA has 16 different organizations participating in this cooperative agreement to serve as Veterans Business Support Centers (VBOCs).

Suitable for: veterans who want to start a business or need help managing and growing an existing business.

Women’s Business Centers.

WBCs are a national network of nearly 100 educational centers in the United States and its territories that help women start and grow small businesses. The SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) oversees the WBC network, which provides entrepreneurs (especially economically and socially disadvantaged women) with comprehensive training and advice on a variety of topics in multiple languages.

Suitable for: women who own their own businesses, whether they are in the startup or growth phase.

Procurement and Technical Assistance Centers

PTACs provide local personal counseling and training services designed to help businesses that want to sell goods and services to federal, state and/or local governments. PTAC services are either free or at a nominal cost.

Suitable for: business owners who would like to know about such services before beginning the difficult journey of selling products and services to the government.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers

Each U.S. Export Assistance Center (USEAC) has specialists from the SBA, the Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. Together, their mission is to help small and medium-sized businesses compete in today’s global marketplace by providing export assistance.

Suitable for: entrepreneurs targeting the global arena.

Certified Development Companies.

CDCs are non-profit corporations certified and regulated by the SBA. They work with participating lenders to provide financing for small businesses. There are 270 CDCs nationwide, covering certain geographic areas.

Suitable for: an existing business owner looking for loan financing to purchase capital equipment, another company or enter new markets.

Running a business today is difficult. Don’t make it difficult by trying to do everything yourself. Take the time to visit the support organizations mentioned above and let them help you run your company better and smarter.

The post 9 organizations that can help your business right now appeared first on CACX.