^[1]RISMEDIA, May 25, 2010—Those who missed taking advantage of the first-time buyer tax credit but who are still planning the purchase of their first home, continue to have a wealth of opportunities in today’s marketplace. A few smart steps can save first-time buyers thousands of dollars. Here is a look at some of the ways how:

1. Don’t buy if you don’t plan to stay
If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner – even in a rising market. When prices are falling, it’s an even worse proposition.

2. Start by shoring up your credit
Since you probably will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Choose carefully between points and rate
When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time- say three to five years or more- it’s usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

4. Hire a home inspector
A home inspector can let you know if you’re about to buy a lemon of a house or warn you about potential problems. At best, you can move into the house confident that it’s in good shape; at worst, the inspector’s report can let you back out of the deal if the house has major, unexpected problems. Most typically, the home inspection can allow you to negotiate the home price to account for necessary repairs.

5. Get professional help
Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

6. Bonus Tip: Be patient
Buying a home is one of the largest purchases most people will make in their lifetime. The key to avoiding buyer’s remorse is to be completely comfortable before signing on the dotted line.

Is Buying a Foreclosure Really a Bargain? What You Need to Know

In today’s tumultuous economy, it’s no surprise that there are foreclosure properties to be found in just about every community across America—even ours. While a terrible hardship for homeowners to endure, foreclosures can present a unique opportunity for first-time home buyers and investors looking to purchase a “bargain-priced home” with the potential for building instant equity.

As an experienced real estate professional, I want to advise you to tread carefully when it comes to foreclosures—they might not be quite the bargain you expect. Here are some important facts you need to know before venturing out into the foreclosure market:

- Homeowners faced with foreclosure are understandably stressed and resentful, which can often lead to neglecting routine maintenance on a home. Sometimes, even deliberate damage is done. Assessing the home’s condition, therefore, is a must.

- Foreclosure properties have often been vacant for an extended period of time. Look for problems caused by damp conditions, such as mold.

- Get a thorough home inspection before bidding on the property. Once the damage/disrepair of the home is assessed, factor this in when bidding on the home.

- Contact a real estate professional—like me, a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®—who is well steeped in the community and can provide information about pre-foreclosure properties, that is, homes that have been scheduled for foreclosure but have not yet gone to auction or been sold off. These homes need to be sold quickly as owners are trying to avoid foreclosure and its impact on their credit.

-Last but not least, go to www.hud.gov for information on how to buy homes acquired by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development as a result of foreclosure action on an FHA-insured mortgage. The site also has information on special programs and opportunities for teachers, law enforcement officers and others.

While buying a foreclosure property takes patience and research, the results can be well worth your time and effort. For more information, please e-mail me, and please pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested in exploring a foreclosure purchase.

8 Ways to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving for the New Year

[1]RISMEDIA, December 30, 2009—With 2010 right around the corner, what will you be looking forward to in the New Year? Buying your first home? Sending your last kid off to college? Or obsessing over your own personal mountain of debt, even more worrisome in this uncertain economy? It may feel like “Resolution Impossible,” but if you follow Eric Tyson’s advice, you’ll remember ‘10 as the year you finally took control of your financial future.
“While the situation is improving, Americans carry too much consumer debt,” says Tyson, author of Personal Finance for Dummies, 6th Edition.. “If you have credit card debt or auto loans, take some solace in the fact that you’re far from alone and that many others have overcome these hurdles. Consumer debt is not okay, particularly in a slow economy such as this one. It can damage your personal relationships and mental well-being, not to mention the stability of your financial future.”

Here are a few tips from Tyson that will help you improve your financial health in 2010:

Partake in a little self-reflection. A misaligned mindset toward spending and shopping—compulsive or otherwise—can severely affect your financial and personal well-being. If you think you might have a problem with shopping or spending, there are several questions you should ask yourself:

-Do I feel guilty about shopping?
-Is my shopping causing financial trouble?
-Is my shopping, spending, and accumulated debt leading to feelings of helplessness, anger, confusion, fear, or depression?

Make a plan and stick to it. The reason so many New Year’s resolutions fail is that we simply state the thing we want to improve and then never create a plan for helping us get from point A to point B. Most people don’t like to plan unless we’re talking about something fun, like a vacation. But actually, planning for your financial future is a little like planning a vacation. You’re organizing your money and time so that you get to do all the great things you want when you get there. Look at it that way, and you might actually enjoy the process.

Get rid of your four-wheeled debt. Too many people define necessities by what those around them have. A brand new car is not a necessity, although some people try to make it one by saying, “I need a way to get to work.” Guess what? There are plenty of far less expensive used cars out there that will also make it to your office. If you take out an auto loan to buy a car that you really can’t afford and you take a similar approach with other consumer items you don’t truly need, you’re going to have great difficulty saving money and accomplishing your goals. Moreover, you’ll probably feel stressed all the time—which is a poor trade-off for the (short-lived) “new car smell.”

Start making your purchases based on need, not emotion. It can be easy to give in to all of those advertisements telling us how much we “need” that new car, expensive gym membership, or trendy outfit. Marketers play on insecurities, fears, and guilt and suggest that you can feel better about yourself by buying their products. You won’t be able to overcome spending and consumer debt until you recognize these pressures and how they corrupt your buying decisions.

Research before you enter the store. Prior to going shopping for necessities that aren’t everyday purchases—say, a new refrigerator—do some research first. Your research will help you identify brands, models, and so on that are good values. You don’t want to make an expensive mistake.

Watch your food budget. Dine out less and keep stock of the groceries you already have. Learn to cook if you don’t know how. Try to keep a healthy inventory of groceries at home. This will minimize trips to the store and the need to impulsively dine out because your cupboard is bare. Try to do most of your shopping through discount warehouse-type stores, which offer low prices for buying in bulk, or grocery stores that offer bulk purchases. Saving on the amount you spend on food will help you put more money toward paying off your debt and eventually setting money aside for investments.

Become more energy efficient. Check out opportunities to make your home more energy efficient. Adding insulation and weather-stripping, installing water-saving devices, and reducing use of electrical appliances can pay for themselves in short order. Many utility companies will even do a free energy review or audit of your home and suggest money-saving ideas.

Watch what you are paying for insurance. Many people overspend on insurance by carrying coverage that’s unnecessary or that covers small potential losses. Coverage of small losses, such as $100 or $200, is not useful for most people since such a loss wouldn’t be a financial catastrophe.

“It won’t be easy getting out of debt, and it’s certainly not something you will be able to achieve overnight,” says Tyson. “Like losing weight, it’s something that takes constant dedication but has a great payoff in the end. Whenever you lose focus or feel like giving in, think about the wonderful benefits of financial well-being. Once you’re out of debt, the money you are able to invest will mushroom into substantial savings that will allow you to get more for your money,” concludes Tyson.

Do you Want to ‘Move-Up’? The Clock Is Running!

While you’ve probably heard a lot in the media about the government’s efforts to rejuvenate the housing market with the first-time home buyer tax credit, you might have missed the fact that the most recent expansion of the legislation also includes a $6,500 credit for current homeowners who want to purchase a new home…commonly referred to as “moving up.”

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I’ve worked with many homeowners who have wanted to move to a new home over the past year, but have stayed put due to a lack of confidence in the market. Now, however, thanks to the tax advantages of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, these homeowners are moving off the sidelines and purchasing the homes they’ve always wanted.

But the time to act is now—there is only a short window of opportunity! The move-up buyer credit expires in April of 2010, which means you must contract and close on your home purchase by June 30, 2010. As you know, selecting a home is not a simple process, so start your search now so you don’t miss the deadline.

For starters, here are the key facts you need to know about the move-up buyer tax credit:

1. A qualified current homeowner who wishes to move to a different home (a “move-up” buyer) must have owned and resided in their residence for five consecutive years out of the last eight. It’s not enough that you have been homeowners for five years—you must have been in the same home for five consecutive years.

2. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with a joint income up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. According to Goldman Sachs, these income limits make approximately 70% of current homeowners eligible for the credit.

3. The maximum credit amount for current homeowners is $6,500. Under the new legislation, a tax credit may only be issued for homes purchased for $800,000 or less.

4. Even though the term “move-up” is used to describe these buyers, the credit is not predicated on buying a home of higher value than your current home.

5. Move-up buyers are not required to sell their current home to qualify for the credit. They must reside in the new home for at least three years, but they can keep their existing home and either leave it vacated or use it for rental purposes.

These are just a few of the key facts surrounding the move-up buyer tax credit. If you would like to find out more, including whether or not you are eligible for the credit, please e-mail me. Be sure to forward this email to all your homeowner friends so they can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

10 Time-Saving Tips to Take the Stress Out of Moving

When it comes to moving, a little preparation goes a long way. As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, my experience tells me that tons of time and energy can be saved by planning ahead, staying organized and focusing on details.

Here are 10 great, time-saving tips to make moving fast and efficient, courtesy of HGTV’s FrontDoor.com:

1. Make a moving schedule. Starting 60 days before the move, use a week-by-week checklist to keep the process on track. The tasks to accomplish further from moving day might seem trivial at first, but staying on schedule will prevent last-minute headaches.

2. Hire a quality moving company. Resist the temptation to hire a company that offers a too-good-to-be-true rate. An unreliable mover will cost time and money in the long run if items are lost or broken. Check out moving company credentials with the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

3. Pare down your possessions. If an item won’t be used in the new home, don’t waste time packing it. Notorious clutter items—unread books, unfinished projects and half-empty cleaning products—are prime targets to leave behind.

4. Pack like a pro. Come up with a packing system so all boxes end up in the right rooms when they get to the new home. One option is to buy a set of magic markers and create a “color code” system for the movers—red-labeled boxes for the living room, blue for the kitchen, etc. On moving day, draw a floor plan of the new place with each room labeled and give it to the movers.

5. Make the house move-out ready. Most movers won’t disconnect anything that’s hard-wired, so unplug all the appliances and lighting fixtures that go. Make sure all paths are clear from the house to the moving truck. Speed up the process by knowing the ground rules for what movers will and won’t do.

6. Stock up on packing supplies. Don’t run out of packing tape the morning of the move; have plenty of supplies on hand. Early on in the moving process, start gathering boxes, tape, bubble wrap, newsprint, box cutters and markers. Try to save time and the environment by packing with materials you already have. Load up suitcases and plastic containers and use pillows, scarves and towels to “wrap” fragile items.

7. Pack a moving survival kit. Don’t throw everyday essentials like ID and medicine in with other belongings, only to have to dig through boxes later. Instead, pack a “last-to-go” box with all of the necessities—toiletries, snacks, important documents—and keep it with you instead of packing it in moving truck.

8. Spruce up the new home before moving in belongings. It’s easier to clean, paint and make improvements while the new home is still empty. Before hauling in all the furniture and boxes, be sure to vacuum, dust baseboards and wash the kitchen and bathroom floors.

9. Map out the new floor plan. Decide how to arrange the furniture before moving it into the new place. The best way to do this is to make paper cutouts of the furniture. Measure the dimensions of the piece and tape together newspaper pages to match the “footprint” of the furniture. It’s much easier to reshuffle newspaper than all that heavy furniture.

10. Change the address and notify companies before the move. Completing a change-of-address form before you head out can prevent hassles such as past-due bills, service lapses and even identity theft. Schedule dates in advance to discontinue utilities, phone, cable and Internet, and arrange for these services at the new address.

From start to finish, the moving process can be very stressful. Why not make it easier by following a few, simple steps. If you would like to receive more tips, such as these, please e-mail me, and be sure to pass this article along to your friends, family and colleagues.

As a leader in real estate, I am repeatedly asked specific questions about today’s market – especially in today’s economy. In an effort to provide more information to my community, I am sending you this Top 5 Real Estate Social Networking Systemsm “e-Article,” in which I provide useful real estate information to my real estate networks. If you find the enclosed information beneficial to your family and friends, I encourage you to forward it to your “social network” as well.

Top Remodeling Projects for Boosting Your Home’s Value

Whether you are thinking about putting your home on the market or you are concerned about increasing your home’s equity in a time of depreciating house values, knowing which remodeling projects yields the best return on investment, is critical.

Not all home remodeling projects are equal in terms of ROI, however. Here are the National Association of Home Builder’s suggestions for the best ways to add value to your home:

• A Home Office Remodel
With more and more people telecommuting in today’s difficult business climate, home offices are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Creating a state-of-the-art space for potential teleworkers is a surefire way to increase your home’s value.

• Renovate or Add a Family Room
A family room is an excellent way to make existing homes more like new construction. Take into account what homes in your area are like. People like to purchase homes that blend with other homes around them.

• Replace the Roof
The roof is one of the first impressions people have of a home. Replace an old roof or change the character of your home by looking into architecturally styled roofing tiles.

• Landscape Your Yard
Landscaping is also an integral part of your home’s first impression. A professionally landscaped yard adds value to your home and increases your living space.

• Replace Old Windows
Thirty percent of a home’s energy is lost through its windows. Replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones ups the overall quality of the house and saves you money on monthly utility bills.

• Remodel Your Basement
Do you have space that serves as a black hole of unused items…like your basement? Remodeled basements make excellent game rooms or guest suites, adding value to your home without adding space.

• Paint, Paint, Paint
It’s been said over and over but can’t be emphasized enough. Hire a professional if you need help and keep the colors neutral if you’re looking to sell.

• Remodel Your Kitchen
Kitchens sell a home, and in this case, size does matter. But a kitchen remodel is a long-term investment; you’ll see payback 10 years down the road. Sometimes doing it yourself can save money, but always bring in a professional for the big jobs.

• Remodel or Add a Bathroom
A bathroom remodel can mean making the most of your current space by upgrading fixtures, flooring and lighting. Or add a bathroom and automatically increase the value of your home.

For more information on adding value to your home, visit www.nahb.org/remodel, or in Canada, www.chba.ca.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I am happy to provide specific remodeling suggestions based on your individual needs and home values in your neighborhood. Please e-mail me for more information or to receive a complimentary copy of Top 5’s Home Improvement Q & A Guide. Also, if you feel this article can be of benefit to your family and friends, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Joel L. Naroff
Chief Economist

INDICATOR: June Existing Home Sales
KEY DATA: Existing Home Sales: +3.6%; 1-Family: +2.4%; Condos: +14.0%

IN A NUTSHELL: “The turnaround in the housing market appears finally to
be here and indeed may be gaining some speed.”

WHAT IT MEANS: Housing may no longer be the weakest link. Existing home
sales rose in June, the third consecutive monthly increase. Demand has clawed itself back to where it was a year ago, a very nice signal that the market has not only hit bottom but is making its way back. Importantly, demand rose in every region of the country. In the West, which is the poster child for problems, sales were well above what they were a year ago.
Yes, many of those purchases were for foreclosed homes, but a sale is a sale. While demand was stronger for condos and coops than signal-family structures, we shouldn’t take much from that. The condo market is more volatile. Meanwhile, sales of single-family homes were actually higher in June than they were in June 2008. The inventory of homes for sales fell a little but is still too high and median prices are down by over 15% for the year.

MARKETS AND FED POLICY IMPLICATIONS: This was a very good report. One or two months of gains doesn’t tell us a lot. Three consecutive months of rising sales provides so hope that an upward trend is actually under way.
The increases are also well distributed across the country. While some
may argue this is just a rally being caused by tax incentives and foreclosures, I disagree. Does it really matter what type of home is sold?
Not really. I believe that prices have come down significantly enough to encourage buyers to start making offers. We are also seeing prices start to rise off the bottom. Given that so many of the sales are foreclosures, the increase in the purchase price, even if it is not adjusted for seasonal trends, is still a good sign. When buyers see prices rise they get off the fence so they don’t get priced out of the market. In addition, the belief that if they wait they can get a lower price disappears. Thus, look for demand to continue to improve. The markets should like this report.
Investors are looking for reasons to believe earnings will rise going forward and a turn in the housing market can only improve expectations. As for the Fed, Mr. Bernanke commented that he thought the market was stabilizing (Fed Chair rarely goes out on a limb) and that indeed seems to be the case. This report reminds us that investors will soon have to focus more closely on when the Fed will start removing some of the stimulus in the system and also how fast they will do so. When we get to that point in psychology, we can really believe the recession is over.

As a leader in real estate, I am repeatedly asked specific questions about today’s market – especially in today’s economy. In an effort to provide more information to my community, I am sending you this Top 5 Real Estate Social Networking Systemsm “e-Article,” in which I provide useful real estate information to my real estate networks. If you find the enclosed information beneficial to your family and friends, I encourage you to forward it to your “social network” as well.

9 Ways to Avoid Identity Theft

Identity theft is a crime that occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Because a stolen identity enables criminals to default on loans, get driver’s licenses and other documents in your name, and even open new lines of credit, ID theft can ruin your good name, destroy your credit, and cost you dearly in time and money to get your affairs straightened out.

While there are no fool-proof ways to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission offers practical tips to help protect yourself.

The FTC recommends taking the following precautions:

- Shred statements and other documents containing personal information before discarding them.
- Don’t carry your social security card in your wallet, and keep it in a secure place at home.
- Never give out personal information or account numbers over the phone, the Internet or through the mail unless you know for certain who you are dealing with.
- Be sure the anti-spyware/anti-virus software programs on your home computer are up to date – and do not click on links sent to you in unsolicited e-mails.
- Be alert to unexpected bills, bills that do not come in as expected, denials of credit for no apparent reason, and calls or letters about purchases you did not make.
- Inspect your credit report annually – and put a “fraud alert” in place on Equifax, Experian and/or TransUnion the moment you suspect a problem.
- Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established in your name without your knowledge.
- File a police report to help with creditors who ask for proof that you may have been a victim.
- Report wrongdoings to the Federal Trade Commission, which works with law enforcement in their investigations of fraud.

For more information, please visit www.ftc.gov or, in Canada, www.safecanada.ca.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I am committed to bringing you relevant information regarding real estate and personal finances. For more information, please feel free to e-mail me. Please also feel free to forward this e-mail to any family members and friends who might also benefit from this information.

Here is a great article I read last night:
11 Traits of the Best of the Best

Posted By susanne On July 2, 2009 @ 1:03 pm In Coaching, Training | Comments Disabled

RISMEDIA, July 3, 2009-Whether you’re taking on a new role or looking to improve your professional success in the industry, sometimes it takes a little direction to help you move in the right direction. Jon Gordon a speaker, consultant, and author of Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else, offers the following traits to help you learn from others who had what it takes to be successful in business:

1. The best know what they truly want. At some point in their lives, the best have a “Eureka!” moment when their vision becomes clear. Suddenly they realize what they really, truly want to achieve. They find their passion. When that happens they are ready to strive for greatness. They are ready to pay the price.

2. The best want it more. We all want to be great. But only the best of the best are willing to do what it takes to be great. The best don’t just think about their desire for greatness; they act on it. They have a high capacity for work. They do the things that others won’t do, and they spend more time doing it. When everyone else is sleeping, the best are practicing and thinking and improving.

3. The best are always striving to get better. They are always looking for ways to learn, apply, improve, and grow. They stay humble and hungry. They are lifelong learners. They never think they have “arrived”-because they know that once they think that, they’ll start sliding back to the place from which they came.

4. The best do ordinary things better than everyone else. For all their greatness, the best aren’t that much better than the others. They are simply a little better at a lot of things. Everyone thinks that success is complicated, but it’s really simple. In fact, the best don’t do anything different. They just do the ordinary things better.

5. The best zoom focus. Success is all about the fundamentals, and the fundamentals are little and ordinary and often boring. It’s not just about practice, but focused practice. It’s not just about taking action, but taking zoom-focused action. It’s about practicing and perfecting the fundamentals.

6. The best are mentally stronger. Today’s world is no longer a sprint or a marathon. It’s a series of sprints combined with a boxing match. You’re not just running; you are getting hit along the way. The best are able to respond to and overcome all of this with mental and emotional toughness. They are able to tune out the distractions and stay calm, focused, and energized when it counts.

7. The best overcome their fear. Everyone has fears. The best of the best all have fear, but they overcome it. To beat your enemy, you must know your enemy. Average people shy away from their fears. They either ignore them or hide from them. However, the best seek them out and face them with the intent of conquering them.

8. The best seize the moment. When the best are in the middle of their performance, they are not thinking “What if I win?” or “What if I lose?” They are not thinking “What if I make a mistake or miss the shot?” They are not interested in what the moment produces but are concerned only with what they produce in the moment. When all eyes are watching, they rise to the occasion. As a result, the best define the moment rather than letting the moment define them.

9. The best tap into a power greater than themselves. The best are conductors, not resistors. They don’t generate their own power, but act as conduits for the greatest power source in the world. It’s not always politically correct, but you can’t talk about greatness without talking about God. It would be like talking about breathing without mentioning the importance of air.

10. The best leave a legacy. The best live and work with a bigger purpose. They leave a legacy by making their lives about more than them. This larger purpose is what inspires them to be the best and strive for greatness over the long term. It helps them move from success to significance.

11. The best make everyone around them better. They do this through their own pursuit of excellence and in the excellence they inspire in others. One person in pursuit of excellence raises the standards of everyone around them. And they do this in both their work and life. …The point is to strive to be your best and inspire others to be their best, because it’s in the striving where you find greatness, not in the outcome.