Free Foreclosure Workshop

The California Foreclosure Institute will present a free two-hour workshop March 23, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Marina del Rey Public Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, for investors and realtors about how to start finding and buying foreclosure properties.

The guest speaker will be Lloyd Segal, author of “Stop Foreclosure Now” and “Foreclosure Investing.” 

The workshop is complimentary, but reservations are required.

Registration information: (310) 379-0101, www.foreclosureworkshop.net.  

Data Shows California’s Export Trade Rebounding

SACRAMENTO (AP) — The people who track California’s economy say the state’s export trade continues to rebound.

According to Jock O’Connell, an international trade adviser at the University of California Center Sacramento, the value of shipments exported from California in January increased by 18.5 percent compared to January 2009.

O’Connell says the improvement is the third consecutive month of year-over-year increases in the state’s export trade.

The center’s analysis of trade data released March 11 by the U.S. Commerce Department shows $10.3 billion in goods were shipped overseas in January. That exceeds the $8.7 billion the state’s exporters shipped in January 2009.

The data also show the increase in exports was reflected at California’s major ports, with the number of loaded shipping containers leaving the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland rising by 26.8 percent over last year.

Free Tax Preparation  Events Being Offered

(Board of Equalization) — Free tax preparation and e-filing is being offered to the public.

Tax help is provided through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Volunteers participating in the VITA program have been trained by the Internal Revenue Service and the Franchise Tax Board.

The volunteer program offers free help completing both federal and state income tax returns to the elderly, blind, disabled and low-income taxpayers. Volunteers can assist taxpayers in claiming the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a federal incentive for low-income individuals and families.

Taxpayers earning less than $43,279 can qualify for a “refundable” credit that can total up to $5,657. “Refundable” means that you do not have to have a tax liability to get a refund check from the government.

The volunteer sites offer free e-filing. E-filing has many advantages such as getting your state refund back in seven to 10 days.

Information: www.taxes.ca.gov.

Price and Chiang to Host Free Tax Workshop

Sen. Curren D. Price Jr. and California State Controller John Chiang will host a free tax form assistance workshop for taxpayers with annual incomes of $49,000 or less March 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mark Ridley-Thomas ConstituentService Center, 8475 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles.

Taxpayers need to bring photo identification, social security cards, or individual taxpayer identification numbers for all family members, all W-2s and 1099s, a copy of last year’s tax return, bank account and routing number, total tuition fees, total expenses paid for childcare, and other pertinent materials.

Information: (213) 833-6010.

Funds Available to Compensate Loan Modification Fraud Victims

On March 27, the First Greater Los Angeles Neighborhood Stabilization Council will host the Foreclosure Stabilization Summit at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“Operation Nextstep” will feature an array of county and state agencies assisting homeowners victimized by loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams in obtaining monetary compensation.

According to Nextstep director of Operations Osar Bey, millions of dollars for financial crime victims sit idle in state agencies such as the State Bar of California and the Attorney General’s Office.

Admission is free.