Friday, July 27, 2012

This was sent to me via email. HOw true it is and I thought I'd share this with everyone.
                                   Around the corner I have a friend,

In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,

For life is a swift and terrible race,

He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine but we were younger then,

And now we are busy, tired men.

Tired of playing a foolish game,

Tired of trying to make a name.

"Tomorrow" I say! "I will call on Jim

Just to show that I'm thinking of him."

But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,


And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the  corner, yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir," "Jim died today."

And that's what we get and deserve in the end.

Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Remember to always say what you mean.

If you  love someone, tell them.

Don't be afraid to express yourself.

Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you.
Because when you decide that it is the right time

  
it might be too late.


Seize the day. Never have regrets.

And most importantly, stay close to your friends

and family, for they have helped

make you the person that you are today.

Monday, July 23, 2012

21 QUESTIONS THAT HELP MAKE A HOUSE SELL FASTER!

21 QUESTIONS THAT HELP MAKE A HOUSE SELL FASTER!


  (Will the answers to these questions help me get more cash for my home, in a shorter period of time and with the greatest of ease?)
 

1.   Does the house or any part of the house need painting?
   

2.   Shall I re-seed the lawn and get my landscaping in top shape?
   

3.   What about the window & screens? Any holes or cracks? Do they work will or do they need attention?
 

4.   Does the carpet need cleaning?  How about replacing?
 

5.   Are pets under control at all time?
 

6.   Are all appliances in good working order?
 

7.   Should I stay out of a prospective buyers’ way?
    
8.   What is the buyers’ first impression of the exterior of our house?  What can I do to improve it?
  9. What is the buyers’ first impression as they step inside my house?  What can I do to improve it?


10.  Since the buyer will be looking in the closets, should I take some of the clothes out to make them look roomier?
    
11.  Can I take items from the kitchen cabinets to make them more spacious?
 
12.  Is there any furniture I could store or dispose of to make rooms appear larger?
  13.  Do any cabinets need to be touched up or refinished?

  14.  Should I remove an ornate item that a buyer may want as part of the house?  For example, a special chandelier?

  15.  What about the door mats? Should I replace them with new ones that are neutral and omit our family’s name?

  16.  Should I give my real estate agent a list of things my family likes about the house and our neighbor hood?

  17.  Should I ask my real estate agent for a list of recommendations prepared specifically for helping market  my house?

  18.  Is the price and terms offered going to appeal to most of the buying public in by my price range?

 
19.  Do I need to be aware of other houses similar to mine also being offered for sale?
  20.    Are the garage and storage areas as clean and neat as the should be?

   
21.  Before spending needless time and money, should I consult with my Coldwell Banker agent, Gloria B?











































CST: Central Standard Time - What's current time in Central Time Zone now? (USA & Canada)

CST: Central Standard Time - What's current time in Central Time Zone now? (USA & Canada)

Monday, July 16, 2012

Credit and Financing

With all the talk of banks tightening their credit lending policies what does all of this mean?...
When considering purchasing a home first thing you will be asked by a REALTOR or Seller are you pre-qualified or pre-approved?
Basically what they are asking is can you afford to purchase this house?
Alot of times I am asked what happens to my credit "fico" score if I start shopping the interest rates.

Here is a very simplified answer. When you shop the interest rate with different banks, mortgage companies and they want to run a credit report on you all of these types of reports will be counted as one and will not lower your "fico" score. Why? Because in essence you will only buy one house at a time. Just like you will more than likely buy one car at a time.

HOWEVER!!!! When it comes to credit cards and their inquiries each time they look at your credit report they will lower your score. Why? because you can get as many as 3 or more credit cards at one time.
As to the lenders tightening their credit lending policy, yes that is true and what they are looking at most importantly are the following not necessarily in this order:
1. Income
2. Down Payment
3. Credit
These are the MOST crucial items when applying for a loan or refinancing a home. Do you have enough income to sustain the loan. How much of your own money are you using to purchase the home. How are you at payin gback your creditors. These are very important factors and they are looking at them almost under a microscope.
IN order to get to get started for a home loan these are the items you will need:
  • Social Security numbers
  • residence information for the past 2 years
  • Most recent (2 month)pay stubs
  • Employment history for past 2 years
  • w-2 forms for the past 2 years
  • Self employed individuals need 2 years Federal Tax returns
  • All bank, 401k & stock statements for the 2 months.
Once you gather all of this information and give to a reputable mortgage bank/person you will then be able to be "pre-approved". What this means is that the bank in theory will set aside the money for you until you find the property you want and get it appraised.
If you only supply the reputable mortgage bank/person a credit report without verification of the items above you will only be "pre-qualified" because based on the credit report it shows that you qualify to purchase the house but does not have actual proof of all the information they need to be positive or that there are not any hidden surprises that do not show up on credit reports.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Urban Legends about FICO Score...

or the Truth about Credit.
"FICO"  stand for Fair Isaac and Company. Information is provided by 3 major credit reporting agencies:
  • Equifax
  • Experian
  • Transunion.
What makes up a "FICO" score? 
  • 35% is payment history.
  • 30% is Amounts owed.
  • 15% Length of Credit history.
  • 10% New Credit.
  • 10% type of credits used.
Where do most people stand in the FICO scores?
Most people  28% are in the 750 to 799 FICO score range. 19% are in 700 to 749. 16% 650-699. 12% 600-649.11% 800+. 8% 550-599. 5% 500-549. 1% up to 499.

Did you know that...?

The average number of credit obligations  is 11?

Fewer than 4 out of 10 have ever had a 30 or more days late?

Only 2 out of 10 have ever had a 60 or more days late?

48% carry balances less than $1,000?

22% carry balances between $1,000 & $10,000?

and that 30% carry more than $10,000 of NON-mortgage related debt? (pretty sad statistics)

Just thought you'd like to know some interesting money matters stuff.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

home

“HOME – a world of strife shut out, a world of love shut in.”
“HOME – where Heaven touches earth.”
“HOME – where we grumble the most and are treated the best”
“HOME –the ONLY place on earth where faults of humanity are hidden under the sweet mantle of charity”

“HOME- the ONLY Asset that provides extensive tax benefits and equity gains.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

A Simpler Mortgage Form for Home Buyers?

A Simpler Mortgage Form for Home Buyers?

CAN do ATTITUDE

“Can Do”
WINNING
Attitudes


CAN’T
CAN
We’ve never done it before
We have the opportunity to be first
It’s too complicated
Let’s look at it from a different angle
We don’t have the resources
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
It will never work
We’ll give it a try
There’s not enough time
We’ll reevaluate some priorities
We already tried it
We learned from the experience
There’s no way it’ll work
We can make it work
It’s a waste of time
Think of the possibilities
It’s a waste of money
THE INVESTMENT WILL BE WORTH IT
WE’LL CANNABALIZE OUR OWN SALES
We’ll do it before they do it
We don’t have the expertise
Let’s network with those who do
We can’t compete
We’ll get a jump on the competition
Our vendors won’t go for it
Let’s show them the opportunity
It’s good enough
There is always room for improvement
We don’t have enough money
Maybe there’s something we can cut
We’re understaffed
We’re a lean, mean machine
We don’t have enough room
Temporary space may be an option
It will never fly
We’ll never know until we try
We don’t have the equipment
Maybe we can sub it out
It’s not going to be any better
We’ll try it one more time
It can’t be done
It’ll be a challenge
No one communicates
Let’s open channels
Isn’t time to go home
Days go so quickly around here
I don’t have any idea
I’ll come up with some alternatives
Let somebody else deal with it
I’m ready to learn something new
We’re always changing direction
We’re in touch with our customers
It’s too radical a change
Let’s take a chance
It takes too long for approval
We’ll walk it through the system
Our customers won’t buy it
We’ll do better at educating them
Our company is the wrong size
We’re perfect for this project
It doesn’t fit us
We should look at it
It’s contrary to policy
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
It’s not my job
I’ll be glad to take the responsibility
I CAN’T
I CAN!


Myths vs facts

From the guru of agency, John Reilly: Regarding the Bright Analysis by Lisa Sturtevant, PhD Bright Chief Economist Our analysis shows that t...