So it finally happened. Someone out there stole my credit card number and bought a bunch of phone card charges with it. Funny thing is, I never lost my card. It was still in my wallet!

So people, beware of identity theft: protect yourself. Now more than ever in this economy. My deduction is that when I gave the waiter at a restaurant my card to pay for the meal, the number was swiped. I did some research and found out that international phone cards do not need more than a credit card number to re-charge. The culprit then takes these fresh cards and sells them for less than face value. Viola! Instant 100% profit for the scumbag.

As you may have already seen, in the recent months, there have been different scams and frauds in the news, as well as some credit and debit cards being compromised from a certain processor.

I would like to share a few effective ways on how you can keep your accounts safe:

- Check your account statements for fraudulent activity every month. If you see any suspicious charges, notify your financial institution immediately.

- Sign up for Online Banking to keep track of your transactions in real-time.

- Do not call unknown phone numbers or visit suspicious web addresses.

- Do not give out account numbers or other personal financial information, unless you initiate contact.

- Shred personal and financial information before recycling.

- Ignore any correspondence with urgent requests for personal financial information. Many scammers will include upsetting or exciting messages to get people to react immediately.

- Review your credit report annually (or tri-annually, like I taught you). Visit Annual Credit Report dot Com.

- Use cash for smaller transactions.

Luckily, I called my bank in time and reported the incident. All is safe. See you in seven-ish!

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Hi guys! I was trolling on the internet the other day and came across this article that I found would be of interest you readers. It is called, “How Do I Negotiate in Real Estate.” Now, I do not agree with everything in the article but I do think that it is a good read for anyone who is thinking about any major purchases in the near future.

The article hit upon topics like, Should I Rely on the Agent? It warns that a Realtor, though charged with a fiduciary duty, may not always be on your side. his may be true. Remember, the agent gets nothing if the deal doesn’t close. The seller will always want more and the buyer will always want to pay less. So, think about this next time you work with an agent.

Another section I found interesting was, Are You Your Own Worst Enemy? Many people are so scared of getting ripped off that they will be so intent on not acting like a fool, they do not notice the most obvious pitfalls. Others do not want to seem incompetant and will act like such a know-it-all that it puts sellers and seller agents off.

Further down the article, you will find discussions on how to negotiate successfully, how much to offer, and whether or not to lowball. All in all, not a bad way to spend ten minutes on reading. You are, after all, improving yourself.

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Now, keep in mind that this will not be in any order of importance. The first essential piece of clothing that I believe every man must own is a sheepskin coat. Why? With all the modern technology textiles, the warmest thing in a man’s closet are usually the ones invented by cavemen with sharp sticks. The sheepskin coat is stitched together from the skins of young sheep and still one of the best defenses against winter’s wraith. One side offers resilient leather that fends of the wind while the other consists of natural wool fleece that is still attached to the hide.

Winter wraith? It’s spring! What’s this guy talking about, you may be wondering. Ah, but that goes perfectly well with this site. Remember, how do the rich stay rich? Well, one way, is by purchasing things when they are lower in price, say a winter coat during summer time?

Alright, I’ll bite. So, what’s this coat going to run me? Well, a nice specimen of the coat is made by Tom Ford. As you can see from the picture up top, the lambskin coat can run up to $8,970.00. Yeah right! I know what you’re thinking. I felt the same way. Not in this economy.

So, what will I be sporting this coming winter? There is Canadian company called Mac Mor, that makes beautiful sheepskin coats, at a fraction of the cost. While still costing a few hundred dollars, it’s well worth it. I know what you’re thinking. You’re still not going to drop a few hundred dollars on a winter coat in the spring right? Not in this economy!

Okay, so here’s the kicker. I found a nice new Mac Mor sheepskin coat in my size (42, for those of you that want to know) on eBay for $100.00, but with a Best Offer option. It’s spring after all. I offered $49.00, and it was accepted! Like I said guys, buy nice things out of season. You can save a lot of money.

I also had my tailor sew on two elbow pads in dark brown suede to offset the tan color. The other reason is to reinforce the elbow joint since that is usually the weak point of the sheepskin jacket.

The picture really doesn’t do it justice, but all you have to do to make it look exactly like the Tom Ford coat is to unbutton the coat, flip up the collar, and if you must, dye it a dark brown. I personally like the neutral tan look. But hey, to each their own.

I tried the jacket on and I’ve gotta tell ya, it’s warm! I can only wear a t-shirt underneath without breaking out in sweat. So, hope you enjoyed the first segment in how to dress like a prince at a pauper’s price! See you in seven guys!

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Even with the current rainfall we here in the Bay Area have experienced as of late, there is still a shortage of water for the coming summer months. While we are close to facing mandatory cutbacks, the rest of you could use the money savings gained from our tips to conserve water.

The following tips can have households achieving a 10% reduction in water use by saving about ten gallons a day. Here is what you can do to help meet the challenge of cutting back.

Take shorter showers. Each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons of water!

Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth of washing the dishes. As I stated above, each minute you cut saves 2.5 gallons.

Don’t pre-rinse dishes. Scrape food waste directly into the compost bin. While this probably won’t add up to a minute, you can still save the proportionate amount of time it takes you to do all the dishes that month.

Use the Dishwater. Surprisingly dishwashers are often more efficient than hand washing. A modern dishwasher’s cycle uses as little as five gallons per load. Compare that to running the faucet at two plus gallons per minute.

Wait for a full load. Full loads are the most efficient way to wash clothes. A traditional clothes washing machine can run at forty plus gallons per cycle.

Use a broom. Hosing down sidewalks, driveways, and pavement is a wasteful practice. Running a garden hose can waste up to ten gallons per minute.

Install aerators on faucets. Installing aerators on kitchen and bathroom sinks can reduce indoor water use by about four percent. Inquire about FREE aerators from your local water department (the SFPUC for the local folks).

Check for leaks. Do you hear the toilet running or your faucet dripping? You could be wasting thousands of gallons per month. To check for leaks, turn off all water taps inside and outside your home. Locate your water meter, and if the dial is moving you may have a plumbing leak.

Adjust your sprinklers. This is so that water remains on the landscape, not the pavement. Reduce evaporation by watering during cooler temperatures at night or in the early morning.

Hope these tips help guys. See you in seven (-ish).

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Hi guys! I am sure you have all heard by now that Uncle Sam has issued check after to check to keep Wall Street bankers afloat. And you, as American taxpayers, who were picking up the tab, are growing increasingly resentful of paying for others’ mistakes.

And I am sure when President Barack Obama announced a $75 billion plan to lower monthly mortgage payments for up to four million distressed homeowners in mid-February, your frustration turned into rage. But the Obama administration has pitched its housing fix as one that would help all homeowners, not just troubled ones. So after fresh details of the plan were released last Wednesday, I am sure you are asking: “I’m a responsible homeowner; what’s in it for me?”

Do you qualify for Obama’s housing plan? Well, the $75 billion goes toward reducing mortgage payments for “at-risk” homeowners. The program is only available for owner-occupied, principal residences with mortgages that originated before January 1, 2009. To qualify, the borrower’s monthly mortgage payments must exceed 31 percent of their gross monthly income. In addition, they must also have undergone some type of financial hardship (such as a loss of income) that puts them at risk of default. While you don’t need to be delinquent on your mortgage to qualify, borrowers who are comfortably making their mortgage payments won’t be eligible.

So if you don’t qualify, how does it help you? Many Americans who purchased homes they could reasonably afford and made their payments on time are understandably upset at seeing neighbors who made reckless decisions bailed out on their dime. But the Obama administration argues that keeping people in their homes is in the best interest of all homeowners, since foreclosures (which can blight communities and nurture crime) will drive down property values for everyone. “One study in Chicago found that a foreclosed home reduces the price of nearby homes by as much as 9 percent,” the president recently said.

Remember, if I was to sell your house, the first thing I’m going to do is to figure out a listing price. Of course I will look at comparable homes in your neighborhood. And if you’ve got all these depressed property values, that is going to definitely harm the sales value of your home. As such, if Obama’s housing plan succeeds in reducing foreclosures for troubled borrowers, it may help to bolster the values of other homes as well.

So, what incentive do you have to keep paying your mortgage? A home foreclosure is an ugly stain on a credit report, and it can remain there for as long as seven years. To be honest, you mind as well declare bankruptcy. With banks tightening their lending standards in the face of higher delinquencies, it’s a particularly bad time to ruin your credit. If you have a home foreclosure on your credit report, you’re likely to have a difficult time getting any type of new credit these days: from a credit card to a new mortgage.

But what if you are not in trouble now, how can you protect yourself from the threat of foreclosure? Factors that can lead to foreclosure include unemployment, exploding-rate mortgages, and reckless spending. Although homeowners may have less control over their employment situation, by addressing these other factors, they can put themselves in a better position to avoid foreclosure should they suffer job loss.

I believe that as homeowners, you should make sure that you have sufficient savings set aside to pay your mortgage in the event of the unexpected. Fallback savings is critical. At least have three months of your mortgage payments saved. And of course, make sure that savings is making you money by putting it in a high yield savings account (or something comparable). In setting aside such savings, families should institute a household budget and review their online bank statements regularly to ensure they aren’t spending wastefully.

For those of you with adjustable-rate mortgages, see if you are eligible to refinance into a fixed-rate home loan, while those of you who already have fixed-rate loans should see if you can refinance into a lower rate. In doing so, consumers should first obtain their credit report and see if their mortgage is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Those with Fannie or Freddie loans may be eligible to refinance into a lower rate through a second component of Obama’s housing plan.

Is there a silver lining in this mess? It’s nearly impossible to spot any sort of silver lining in the current housing mess. But if there’s anything good to come out of this, it’s the hope that homeowners, lenders, regulators, and policymakers will learn from their mistakes and ensure that mortgages going forward will be properly underwritten and affordable. By overlooking the lessons of the crisis, we risk going through this devastating cycle again in the future.

Okay guys, see you in seven.

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How is it going readers? With the way the world economy is right now, you probably could be better right? Chances are, if you are reading this, you are living in North America (and yes, that includes you, Canada). And as difficult as it may be for you to believe, you really are rich. “How’s that now?” you may be asking. With rent, car and credit card payments that you can barely pay for, how can I possibly say you’re rich? Well, let’s take a look at the bigger picture.

Being a Real Estate Mogul, I have had the opportunity to travel to many countries outside of the United States. And believe you me, even the projects look like paradise compared to many third world country areas. The terrible reality is that over three billion people live on less than $2 per day while 1.3 billion get by on less than $1 per day. Seventy percent of those living on less than $1 per day are women. Do you know that the pimple-ridden punk kid spitting in your burger at McDonald’s makes more than 75% of the world’s population? In many parts of the world, there are people who don’t have food, never mind a Quarter Pounder with cheese.

You may be struggling financially. You may be living from paycheck to paycheck. The collection companies may be hounding you. You may be on the verge of giving up. It all seems so hopeless. But there is something you can do about it. And you can do it starting right now.

You can appreciate and be grateful for what you already have. To most of the world, you are living the dream life. You have clean water, fresh air, and you don’t live in a war zone. You may think your life sucks but there are billions of people who would gladly switch places with you in a heartbeat.

Take a look at all the things you already have and probably take for granted: freedom, safety, friends, and family. I’m pretty sure you have enough food for dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow morning. You’ve probably got enough change in your pocket to get a latte at Starbucks. You’re living in a place with heat and may be even air conditioning. I bet you have a cell phone, a color TV, a computer and most importantly, access to the Internet.

Stop dwelling on the negative things happening in your life. Take some time off and just stop. Take a deep breath. Doesn’t that feel good? Have you noticed that when you think about bills, all you get in the mail are more bills? That is the law of attraction at work. Take a page out of the book, “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne, you attract what you are and you are what you think. Change your thinking and you’ll change your life. If you’re always thinking, “My life sucks!” you will attract things that make your life suck even more. If you appreciate the things you already have and start thinking “My life is great!” you will attract things that make your life greater. It works.

I recommend you take a few minutes each day, stop and appreciate one aspect of your life. Realize that not everyone in the world can enjoy that aspect. You are special and fortunate enough to realize it. Put a smile on your face and you will feel instantly better. It really is a sad fact that most people don’t appreciate what they have until it’s gone. Don’t let that happen to you.

I hope you guys don’t find this too New Age but inspirational. In the fast pace world we live in now, it is often too easy for us to forget to just stop and smell the roses. And in many cases, that’s just all we need sometimes to get us through our stressful days.

While, I do not mean to ask you to feel better because their are people less fortunate than you in the world, I do want you to feel better about your situation. Don’t delight in other people’s misery, be delighted for everything you have.

See you guys in seven!

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Hello everyone! Ever wonder what life is like as a Real Estate Mogul? Well, now you can! I finally caved and signed up for the latest social networking craze, Twitter. I managed to dodge Facebook altogether, and it was a good thing I did!

Yesterday, it was discovered that Facebook quietly changed their “Terms of Use” to allow them to own and control all user content and information indefinitely. Check out the original article here. Do you know how valuable all that information is to researchers? It would fetch a hefty sum for companies who want to target specific age groups, sex, and other demographics to sell their stuff to. Facebook has since bowed to the pressure from their users, but who knows how long that will last?

In any case, back to Twitter. It is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Many believe it to be the next step above the current ultimate stalker website, Facebook. However, it does have its uses. One thing I am going to use it for is as a digital scheduler. If I needed to find out what I was doing on a particular day and time, I could just log in and scroll back!

So, if you are interested in what I do all day, scroll down to the bottom right of the site, and click the Twitter button. So, if you ever need to find or contact me, you can! I always have time to talk to people. I also threw in a few other buttons down there as well. With AIM, you can send me an Instant Message regarding a property for sale, or just to say Hi. If I am not logged in, it will be routed to my cellphone as a text message.

I also included a link to my LinkedIn account, as I am a big believer in the power of social networking. It also gives you a better understanding of what I do and who I am.

Okay guys, till next time, think rich, act rich, and be rich!

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Hello readers! I just finished a book called The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach. While I do not agree with every idea in his book, I do want to share with you his main point, the juice of his book, or essence if you will. The biggest secret to building financial security and wealth is automating your savings. And once you know how, you too can get rich automatically.

Step One: Put a minimum of 10% of your income into a 401k or similar retirement fund every month straight from your account. Better yet, put in the maximum amount your employer will match. Increase your contribution to 20% of your income when you can. Invest this money in portfolios that are appropriate to your age and risk tolerance. The key is to set up an automatic transfer. After a while, you won’t notice that the 10% is gone and you will make due without it!

Step Two: If you have any credit card debt or other consumer debt, put 20% of your income toward paying the balances down to zero. Do not use the cards until that is done. Give yourself a cash allowance each month for necessary expenses. When the cash is gone, stop spending. If you do not have any credit card debt, bravo! You are well ahead of the curve. In that case, invest more!

Step Three: Pay off your full credit card balance every month. Do not skip a month for any reason. This will be difficult for most Americans, just because we are a nation built on debt (LOL!). In that case, refer to Step Two first. The goal is to carry no consumer debt beyond your house and cars (if you must). Work towards the day when you are debt free. Pay off consumer debt first and then pay extra on your mortgage. Even $100 a month extra can save you tens of thousands of dollars in interest on a typical mortgage.

Step Four: Put money aside automatically with automatic fund transfers by your bank for major expenses such as taxes, insurance, vacations, wish list items, college, etc. A good budget will let you know how much you’ll need. Remember, my advice on setting aside one day out of the month to go over finances? Do it!

Step Five: Live on the difference. You will know you are doing okay if you can pay off your credit card balance every month and you have cash left in your pocket and checking account. On the flip side, you will know there’s a problem when you can’t pay off a credit card balance right away or your bank balance starts dropping instead of going up. Those are your signals to adjust your budget, your spending and your savings. Monitor your money. Get rich.

While not everything here comes from David Bach’s book, all of it was inspired by it. I’ve have found that the most commonly used method among rich people is the automatic deduction and automatic savings. As I mention earlier, “After a while, we just didn’t miss it,” is the common saying.

Take care guys, and see you in seven!

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All the pipes in your wastewater from toilets, sinks, dishwashers and washing machines come together into a single pipe, called a lateral, that runs from your house to a larger pipe, called a sewer main, under the street.

Most homes have a cleanout, a pipe that connects your sewer line to the surface of the ground, that helps prevent overflows inside homes.

The lateral is divided into two segments. The upper private segment extends from the house to the cleanout at the curb, also called a District cleanout, and the lower public segment extends from there to the sewer main.

As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining the upper lateral. Depending where you are in the country, your local sanitation department maintains the lower laterals. If there is no district cleanout, the homeowner is responsible for the lateral from the home to the sewer main.

In many areas, homes still have their original sewer lateral connection. The pipes are old, often made of clay with cement mortar joints. Over time, some have cracked or have separated joints, and sometimes the pipes have shifted out of place. These defects allow tree roots to grow into the pipes, which cause blockages.

Other causes of blockages include cooking oil and grease, the wrong things being put down the drain, and more. When pipes re blocked, overflows occur.

If you have a cleanout on your property, and a blockage occurs in your lateral, the overflow will occur outside your home. This may cause damage to your yard, your neighbor’s property, and, if the overflow reaches the storm drain, may harm the Bay.

If you don’t have a cleanout and a blockage occurs, wastewater will back up into your house causing potential health and property problems.

If you have an overflow or stoppage, call your district’s sanitation department first. They will evaluate the problem. If it is District related, they will fix it. If the problem is in the upper lateral, you will probably be advised to call a plumber.

Two Important Notes:

If you do not address the problem, there are risks involved/ You may be subject to fines for allowing wastewater to harm the environment through the storm drain, or you may be open to litigation from your neighbors for property damage.

Fortunately, there’s a good solution. Your local District may have what is called an Upper Lateral Program that can reimburse part of the cost of upper lateral replacement or cleanout installation. You must apply for reimbursement before you do the work-you can not bring in your receipts to the District afterwards for reimbursement.

Remember, keeping your upper lateral in good shape is better for the environment, and may save you thousands of dollars.

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One of these companies is called PayingPost.com. Basically, after you sign up and get your blog approved, you login and look under Open Opportunities. You then find one you are qualified for and reserve it. Once you do, you have six hours to write and post the blog with the specified conditions, and report it to them. Payouts vary depending on your Alexa ranking and blog traffic.

Blogging has come a long way in the last few years. For the first time, it was easier for people to find and identify bloggers with similar tastes and subscribe to their opinions. On the flip side, people have been able to create a new profession by blogging for a living. Depending on your audience, you can make a nice livable income by just writing your opinions.

That is where sites such as PayingPost.com comes into the picture for people who want to advertise on blogs. It is a bridge between advertisers and bloggers. It is simple to use and they have a nifty new layout as well. Clear and concise, no unnecessary filler web content. Just the way I like it!

So if you want to make money blogging, be sure to sign up for PayingPost.com. The great thing about blogging is you can make as much or as little money as you would like.

Okay guys, see you in seven!

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This year I have started a monthly habit of going over my finances every month on an appointed day. I have chosen the 15th of every month, and have vowed myself to drop everything on that evening to take out and update my debt and asset column.

Therefore, last Thursday evening I looked over my list and was happy to see that my debt column had gone down, and my asset section had gone up. However, that wasn’t enough for me. We are at an economic decline. I needed to find more ways to make myself rich and keep myself that way.

During periods of economic decline, we all find ourselves squeezed from both ends; facing both rising prices and loss of income. The media is not making it any better either by reporting that we are heading into a recession. So, while we may not have control over the economy, we do have control over how we prepare for financial difficulty.

Here are my top ten things to do (forgive me if I have said it before, it just means it’s that important to mention it twice):

1. Bring your own breakfast and lunch to work everyday instead of purchasing them. Food is always cheaper at a supermarket than a restaurant. Just think how much you will save if you just eat cereal or oatmeal from home versus a $5 breakfast sandwich with your $6 double soy latte from $tarF*ck$? Bringing your own lunch will save you even more money. Typical lunches run from $10 to $25. Packing your own only costs you $2-$5 if you know how to buy.

2. Separate “wants” from “needs.” Every time you are tempted to buy something, ask yourself this, “Do I really need this?” When money is tight, it should not be spent unless absolutely necessary.

3. Pay for unreimbursed medical expenses and dependent care with pretax dollars using a flexible savings account. This means using money from your paycheck before you get taxed. This is the same money that goes into your retirement accounts. Check with your employer for availability.

4. Keep track of all your spending. As simple as this sounds, the act of writing it down will help you give it more notice. If you know where your money is going, it will be easier to make changes if you need to.

5. Avoid using credit to pay your bills. While it may make things easier now, using credit only increases your monthly payments in the future.

6. Set up a direct deposit for your paycheck, and have some of it directly deposited into your savings account. Having this automated system set up is the key to gaining longterm wealth. I will come back to this tip in the future.

7. Avoid spending a significant amount of money on periodic purchases, like gifts and vacations. Other things to avoid are magazines, newspapers, and typical novelty drinks. While you may feel good while you are spending the money, you probably will be wishing you had the money back later.

8. Cut or downgrade your services. Can you live with cheaper cable services or no cable at all? If you have a cellphone, consider cutting your land-line.

9. Instead of buying a book, buying a magazine, or renting a video, use the library. It’s free!

10. Try to lower your energy bill. Turn off appliances and lights when they are not needed. Purchase energy efficient light bulbs. When you can, try using a fan instead of air conditioning and putting on a sweater instead of turning on the heat.

Okay, till next time guys, be smart, invest smart, and save smart.

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This is something I saw on the Boston Globe website this morning, and I had to share it with you guys. I am also using it as an example of why it is important to carefully scrutinize your staements as well as your credit reports. I have reprinted the article in full below for your convenience. Enjoy!

Several Internet complaint boards are filled with comments from credit card customers from coast to coast who have noticed a mysterious charge for about 25 cents on their statements.

Take a look at your credit card statements, and if the charge is there, don’t let it slide. It’s what the thieves want you to do. Instead, file a dispute with your credit card company, and lodge complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is run by the FBI, the National White Collar Crime Center, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Federal law enforcement officials tend to react when the complaints reach a certain volume.

If you are one of the millions hit with this scam, don’t let it slide! As the article stated, if you let this one slide, you’re just giving the crook the okay to proceed with a larger charge. Call your bank and put in a dispute and maybe sign up for fraud alert.

Okay, till next time guys, be smart, invest smart, and save smart.

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Happy New Year dear readers! I was schmoozing with a few fellow party attendees on the 1st, when I realized that many people still don’t truly understand what “Agency” means. It’s important to understand what legal responsibilities your real estate salesperson has to you and to other parties in transactions. Ask your salesperson to explain what type of agency relationship you have with him or her and with the brokerage company next time you buy or sell.

1. Let’s begin with the Seller’s representative (also known as a listing agent or seller’s agent). A seller’s agent is hired by and represents the seller of the property. All fiduciary duties are owed to the seller. Now, I know what you are wondering: What the heck is fiduciary duty? It means that your agent owes you the duty of utmost good faith and must not put him or herself in a position where his or her personal interests and his or her duties may conflict. The agency relationship is usually created by a listing contract.

2. A Buyer’s representative (also known as a buyer’s agent) is a real estate licensee who is hired by prospective buyers to represent them in a real estate transaction. The buyer’s representative works in the buyer’s best interest throughout the transaction and owes fiduciary duties to the buyer. The buyer can pay the licensee directly through a negotiated fee, or the buyer’s representative may be paid by the seller or by a commission split with the listing broker.

3. A Subagent owes the same fiduciary duties to the agent’s principal as the agent does. Subagency usually arises when a cooperating sales associate from another brokerage, who is not representing the buyer as a buyer’s representative or operating in a nonagency relationship, shows property to a buyer. In such a case, the subagent works with the buyer as a customer but owes fiduciary duties to the listing broker and the seller. Although a subagent cannot assist the buyer in any way that would be detrimental to the seller, a buyer-customer can expect to be treated honestly by the subagent. It is important that subagents fully explain their duties to buyers.

The reason I bring up the subagent is due to the fact that there was a lot of referral fees being asked for and paid a couple of years ago during our real estate boom.

4. Disclosed dual agent. Dual agency is a relationship in which the brokerage firm represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction. Dual agency relationships do not carry with them all of the traditional fiduciary duties to the clients. Instead, dual agents owe limited fiduciary duties. Because of the potential for conflicts of interest in a dual-agency relationship, it’s vital that all parties give their informed consent. In many states, this consent must be in writing. My advice is always put it in writing. Disclosed dual agency, in which both the buyer and the seller are told that the agent is representing both of them is legal in most states.

5. Designated agent (also called, among other things, appointed agency). This is a brokerage practice that allows the managing broker to designate which licensees in the brokerage will act as an agent of the seller and which will act as an agent of the buyer. Designated agency avoids the problem of creating a dual-agency relationship for licensees at the brokerage. The designated agents give their clients full representation, with all of the attendant fiduciary duties. However, the broker still has the responsibility of supervising both groups of licensees.

6. Nonagency relationship (sometimes called a transaction broker or facilitator). Some states permit a real estate licensee to have a type of nonagency relationship with a consumer. These relationships vary considerably from state to state, both as to the duties owed to the consumer and the name used to describe them. Very generally, the duties owed to the consumer in a nonagency relationship are less than the complete, traditional fiduciary duties of an agency relationship.

My personal advice? If you are a seller? Insist on agents from two different firms represent you and the buyer. Both would be focused on their respective clients, and therefore no conflicts of interests will arise. Don’t penny pinch and try to save on your fees by hiring one agent to do both jobs. If you are the buyer, i would suggest you find your own agent as well. What do you care? You, as the buyer, are not paying the commission anyways!

See you next time guys!

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I was going over my tri-annual credit report the other day, and noticed some things I needed shared with you guys when examining your credit report. Yes, I do mean tri-annual. There are three major credit bureaus, and they each give out free reports once a year, so I spread them out evenly throughout the year to read.

Anyways, first and foremost, blitz significant errors. Attack them and correct them head on! Your credit score is calculated based on the information in your credit report, so certain errors there can really cost you big. However, not everything that’s reported in your file matters to your score.

Here’s the stuff that’s usually worth the effort of correcting with the bureaus:

1. Late payments, charge-offs, collections or other negative items that aren’t yours. These are the big ones. If you notice any of these, blitz, yes blitz, them immediately like your life depended on it! Because, you know what, it just may when you’re looking to close that big loan.

2. Credit limits reported as lower than they actually are. You need to get credit for what you’ve earned. Simple.

3. Accounts listed as “settled,” “paid derogatory,” “paid charge-off” or anything other than “current” or “paid as agreed” if you paid on time and in full. This should actually be number two if I was listing this in order of importance. In any case, blitz these too.

4. Accounts that are still listed as unpaid that were included in a bankruptcy. This is the same as getting credit for what you’ve earned. If you spent the last ten years paying for your bad financial habits, consider your sins paid for. They shouldn’t be on your record still. Get rid of them.

5. Negative items older than seven years (10 in the case of bankruptcy) that should have automatically fallen off your report. This is the same as number four. Consider your debt paid.

You actually have to be a bit careful with this last one, because sometimes scores actually go down when bad items fall off your report. Believe it or not, it’s a quirk in the FICO credit-scoring software, and the potential effect of eliminating old negative items is difficult to predict in advance.

Now, here are some of the stuff that you typically should not worry about:

1. Various misspellings of your name. Believe it or not, I have an alias of Alexander J. Leigh on my credit report. I don’t know how it got there but it’s never bothered me for the last ten years it’s been on there.

2. Outdated or incorrect address information. This one is simple. People move all the time. As long as your identity has not been stolen, it’s okay to have an incorrect address. There may be someone with the same first and last name as you who has lived there.

3. An old employer listed as current. As with the old or incorrect address, this is okay. Fix it if you like, but I wouldn’t bother.

4. Most inquiries. These are not hard pulls, so the companies had only limited access to your information. Many credit card companies tend to do this so they can send out credit offers.

Just a note about number one and two, if the misspelled name or incorrect address is because of identity theft or because your file has been mixed with someone else’s, that should be obvious when you look at your accounts. You’ll see delinquencies or accounts that aren’t yours and should report that immediately. However, if it’s just a goof by the credit bureau or one of the companies reporting to it, it’s usually not much to sweat about.

Oops, here are two more items you don’t need to correct:

1. Accounts you closed listed as being open. If it has a zero balance, I would leave it alone for the time being. It should drop off by itself.

2. Accounts you closed that don’t say “closed by consumer.” Closing accounts can’t help your score, and may hurt it in the short run. If your goal is boosting your score, leave these alone. Once an account has been closed, though, it doesn’t matter to the scoring formulas who closed it. If you messed up the account, it will be obvious from the late payments and other derogatory information included in the file.

Hmmm, while we are on this topic, here are some other actions to beware when you’re trying to improve your score:

1. When you ask a creditor to lower your credit limits, it will reduce that all-important gap between your balances and your available credit, which could hurt your score. If a lender asks you to close an account or get a limit lowered as a condition for getting a loan, you might have to do it, but don’t do so without being asked.

2. When you make a late payment, it will ironically hurt a good score more than a bad one, dropping a 700-plus score by 100 points or more. If you’ve already got a string of negative items on your credit report, one more won’t have a big impact, but it’s still something you want to avoid if you’re trying to improve your score.

3. When you try to consolidate your accounts, and apply for a new account, it can ding your score. So, too, can transferring balances from a high-limit card to a lower-limit one, or concentrating all or most of your credit-card balances onto a single card. In general, it’s better to have smaller balances on a few cards than a big balance on one.

4. On the other hand, when you apply for and get an installment loan, it can help your score if you don’t have any installment accounts, or you’re trying to recover from a credit disaster like bankruptcy.

Oh, and just FYI, all these suggestions work best if you have poor or mediocre scores to begin with. Once you’ve hit the 700 mark, any tweaking you do will tend to have less of a positive impact.

And if your scores are in the “excellent” category, 760 or above, you probably won’t be able to squeeze out any more than a few extra points despite your best efforts. There’s really no point, anyway, since you’re already qualified for the best rates and terms.

Whew! Okay guys, hope this helps a bit. See you in a few!

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Hello guys! Sorry for the late post this week, but I had to head up to Alaska and pick out my turkey (that’s a Senator Palin joke, guys). Just kidding!

With a decrease in buyers as of late, people have had to make their wares (house) more attractive to potential buyers. People are no longer overlooking the minor details, and nit pick on the smallest problems. Therefore there has been a trend of refreshing of homes, or remodeling projects in all areas.

Here are some tips that hopefully will come in handy when you do decide to hire a contractor.

1. Get at least three written estimates. Chances are you got a high quote and having two more to compare it with is just good sense. In this market, you may be able to use the lower two to leverage a better price with the contractor you like best.

2. Get references and call to check on the work. If possible, go by and visit earlier jobs. This is just good sense. you want to be able to examine and preview the goods or workmanship before you buy. It’s also a good idea to check with previous customers.

3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints. If nothing else, they keep records of any disciplinary actions or suspensions that your potential contractors have received in the past. You can also check to see if they are bonded or even licensed! Although I have to warn you from personal experience, a contractor has to do something really really bad to have a black mark put onto his record.

4. Be sure that the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled. Don’t leave anything up in the air. It is better to get things straight and clear before any work starts. You don’t want someone to tear down your roof and stop while it rains because you guys could not come to terms with something minor like who pays for the paint.

5. Make as small a down-payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job. I always like to structure the last final payment to be as much of the total contract price as possible. That way, I hold all the leverage.

6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance. You don’t want to get sued later, after you sell the house, by the new owners, and find that you have no one to file a cross-complaint against.

7. Be sure that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it. Please check with the local laws in your area though. I usually put in a penalty clause, such as a $100 per day charge for delays in completion. Keeps the contractors on time. Of course, if there are extreme circumstances, I always have the option of waiving it.

8. Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will do parts. It’s good to know who exactly is working on your property. As with the above tip, if there are subcontractors, you need to get their information, in case you are ever sued. More cross complainants.

9. Get the contractor to indemnify you if work does not meet any local building codes or regulations. This may be a bit difficult. By human nature, no one wants to be liable for anymore than they have to be. So, I suggest you write it right into the contract. If they complain, choose another contractor!

10. Be sure that the contract specifies the contractor will clean up after the job and be responsible for any damage. Don’t give them the final payment until the site is clean. You have no idea how much throwing away garbage costs at the dump. Simple rule, you make the mess, you clean it up.

11. Guarantee that materials used meet your specifications. I always like to purchase my own materials. Especially the simpler, smaller things such as light fixtures and what not. That way I know exactly how much is spent. Some contractors buy cheaper products and still charge you for the more expensive ones to make a few bucks.

12. Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the work. Period.

I don’t have anything against contractors! Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think all of them are bad, or think ill of them as a group. I am merely sharing some tips on how to protect yourselves when hiring a contractor to work on your home. Hope you can use some of these! See you in seven (or fewer, this week).

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Now is the time to buy. I am pretty sure you have been hearing that everywhere. Prices are low, and it seems everyone is selling. Why not take the plunge now? I mean, prices can only go up from this point right? Ah, but no one is lending, and what you have saved up isn’t enough. Kind of a catch twenty two eh? Well, if your income and savings are making homebuying a challenge, consider these options.

1. Investigate local, state, and national downpayment assistance programs. These programs give loans or grants to cover all or part of your required downpayment. National programs include the Nehemiah program, and the American Dream downpayment fund from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

2. Get the seller to provide financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as you do with a mortgage. This is called “owner carry” locally.

3. Consider a shared-appreciation, or shared equity, arrangement. Under this arrangement, your family, friends, or even an third-party may buy a portion of the home and thus share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and maintenance costs, but all the investors’ names are usually on the mortgage. There are companies that can help you find such an investor if your family can’t participate.

4. Get help from your family. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the downpayment and/or act as a cosigner for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a cosigner if you have little credit history. Time to hit up mom and pop, or that rich uncle of yours.

5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the chance to save more toward your downpayment. And in many cases, owners will apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner. This will also let you see what the economy will be like. You may decide to bail after a year, and this give syou the option to.

6. See if you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage to give you the money to make a higher downpayment. This may be possible if you have a good income and little other debt. This is more difficult as of late, but it is still possible. Talk to your local banker to see if you qualify.

Hope this helps guys! See you in seven!

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Hi guys, I have noticed in the past few months that many of my clients are “downsizing” their properties. Whether it is due to forclosures or just down to plain wanting to save more money, many are trading their houses for more modest dwellings. A popular alternative has been condominiums. However, I have gotten many questions about moving into one as many are not used to having to pay HOA (Homeowner Association) fees, and such.

So, before you buy into a condminium, contact the condo board with the following questions I have prepared for you. In the process, you’ll learn how responsive, not to mention how organized its members, your potential neighbors, are.

1. What percentage of units is owner-occupied? What percentage is tenant-occupied? Generally, the higher the percentage of owner-occupied units, the more marketable the units will be at resale. Remember, the goal is to eventually move back into a house when the ecomomy gets better.

2. What covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&R), and bylaws govern the property? What grandfather clauses are in place? You may find, for instance, that those who buy a property after a certain date can’t rent out their units, but buyers who bought earlier can. Ask for a copy of the bylaws to determine if you can live within them. And have an attorney review property docs, including the master deed, for you. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

3. How much does the association keep in reserve? How is that money being invested? If you are going to be making payments each month to a fund, you better well know what it’s being spent on. And that you are seeing some type of return in enjoyment in the form of landscaping for example. Much like your paid taxes, isn’t it?

4. Are association assessments keeping pace with the annual rate of inflation? Smart boards raise assessments a certain percentage each year to build reserves to fund future repairs.To determine if the assessment is reasonable, compare the rate to others in the area. Most of the information is usually a phone call or email away.

5. What does and doesn’t the assessment cover? Some general things include common area maintenance, recreational facilities, trash collection, and snow removal, depending on your area.

6. What special assessments have been mandated in the past five years? How much was each owner responsible for? Some special assessments are unavoidable. But repeated, expensive assessments could be a red flag about the condition of the building or the board’s fiscal policy.

7. How much turnover occurs in the building? Are people coming and going constantly? Why? Did they move in just to find soemthing seriously wrong? You never know.

8. Is the project in litigation? If the builders or homeowners are involved in a lawsuit, reserves can be depleted quickly. And more importantly, why are they being sued? Did they cut corners in the waste management? Or maybe they skimpped on the building materials?

9. Is the developer reputable? Find out what other projects the developer has built and visit one if you can. Ask residents about their perceptions. Request an engineer’s report for developments that have been reconverted from other uses to determine what shape the building is in. If the roof, windows, and bricks aren’t in good repair, they become your problem once you buy.

10. Are multiple associations involved in the property? In very large developments, umbrella associations, as well as the smaller association into which you’re buying, may require separate assessments. Find out!

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Earlier in the month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its list of the ten most fuel-efficient vehicles for model year 2009, in addition to the list of the least fuel-efficient vehicles. And of course, no suprise, the Toyota Prius took the top spot in the EPA’s list of most fuel-efficient vehicles for 2009.

So, the Prius is awesome right? No suprise there. Well, I hate that car! And not because I am a diehard automobile enthusiast either. It’s also not because it’s a stereotypical white person yuppie car. What I truly can’t stand is that fact that people buy into the hype that they are somehow saving the environment by driving one. It is the ignorance that this car inspires in people that truly infuriates me.

To help prove my point, I am going to reprint a commentary written by the president of the 60 Plus Association, a national nonpartisan senior citizen organization based in Arlington, Va, James L. Martin, called Hidden Cost of Driving a Prius. Totaling all the energy expended, from design to junkyard, a Hummer may be a better bargain.. Enjoy, while I go cool off…

When it comes to protecting the environment, senior citizens should concentrate more on
the total energy consumed in building and operating a car than its fuel efficiency - no
matter how impressive the statistics appear on the window sticker at the showroom.

Fully armed with all the facts, seniors may want to zip down to their nearest Toyota
dealer and trade in their Priuses for Scion xBs. That would be the equivalent of reducing
their energy footprint from a size 24D to about a size 5A. In the case of global warming,
one small step for man may turn out to be a giant leap for mankind.

Hah? Well, what do you think now of your underpowered, cheese-wedged, death machine now huh? Still think you are saving the environment now, you snooty, soy latte with skim milk sipping yuppies? Ha!

Drive what you want and can afford people. Or don’t drive at all, and take public transportation. Ride a bike. God forbid, walk! Me? I’m going to continue to drive. But you won’t ever catch me in a Prius!

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What’s going on guys? Autumn is setting in and more of us are opting to stay at home due to the cooler weather. That means we tend to use more energy during these next few months. So, I’m going to show you guys ways to offset this spike in energy usage rates. Plus, everyone is looking for ways to economize these days, both financially and environmentally. So, here are some ways that I save money at home and save our environment at the same time:

Buy appliances with the Energy Star rating. This rating program sponsored by the Department of Energy and the EPA can save you up to 30% in energy usage costs in the long run. And let’s face it, buying green just makes you feel that much snootier, doesn’t it?

Unplug your appliances when you aren’t using them. Believe it or not, all your household appliances are sipping on electric juice even when they are dormant! Ever wonder how that DVD player light is always on? Yup, you guessed it. It’s snacking on your electricity.

Drink filtered tap water instead of bottled water. Bottled water is more expensive and produces more plastic waste. In addition, there has been a slew of folklore surrounding plastic bottles causing cancer. Whether it’s don’t, reuse them, microwave them, or freeze them, none of it has been proven substantial. However, why risk it?

Replace your light bulbs with CFLs (which means compact flourescent light bulbs for you green newbies). They are a bit more expensive upfront but they use less energy and last longer than traditional bulbs. Therefore, it will result in long-term savings. Yes, I mentioned this tip before and no, I don’t have stock in CFL companies. Hmmm, which would be a good idea actually…

Request an energy audit of your home. State energy departments and utility companies often provide this service at a low cost to help determine your energy usage and ways to reduce it. Just like periodically checking your credit score, this is a great way to gauge what to do to save some money.

Plant trees and/or shrubbery that will provide shade in the summer and protection in the winter. Who wouldn’t like to turn down the air conditioner a few dials during the summer because he or she has a nice shady area to lounge in? Or how about turning down the heater because it’s just not that cold with the tree blacking most of the chilly wind? Good sense, right?

And last but not least, learn about any new green product before buying it. Wait until it has been tested and see if it’s worth the cost by reading reviews and comments. Don’t run out and buy the latest fad just to find out it’s a gimmick or a dud.

Alright folks, hope this helped a bit. See you in seven!

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Okay guys and gals. Today we have part two of the How To Raise Your Credit Score Arc. I’m just going to dive right back in. Last week we left off with tips on amounts that you owe, so we’ll move on from there.

Length of Credit History Tips
If you have been managing your credit only for a short time, don’t open a lot of new accounts. New accounts will lower your average account age, which will have a larger effect on your score if you don’t have a lot of other credit information. Also, rapid account buildup can look risky if you are a new credit user. Lenders will get the impression that you are desperate for money.

Dispute old negatives.
Say that fight with a certain rental car company (damn you, Enterprise!) over an unfair bill a few years ago resulted in a collections account. You can continue protesting that the charge was unjust, or you can try disputing the account with the credit bureaus as “not mine.” The older and smaller a collection account, the more likely the collection agency won’t bother to verify it when the credit bureau investigates your dispute.

Some consumers also have had luck disputing old items with a lender that has merged with another company, which can leave lender records a real mess. Mind as well take advantage of their disorganization. Hey, it’s a big eat small world. Deal with it. No, take advantage of it!

Get some goodwill.
On the same vein, if you’ve been a good customer, a lender might agree to simply erase that one late payment from your credit history. You usually have to make the request in writing, and your chances for a “goodwill adjustment” improve the better your record with the company (and the better your credit in general). But it can’t hurt to ask. Hmmm, someone remind me to post a dispute letter template for you guys in the near future.

However, here is a longer term solution for more troubled accounts. Ask that they be “re-aged.” If the account is still open, you may be able to convince the lender to erase previous delinquencies if you make a series of 12 or so on-time payments. For those of you charmers out there, now’s the time to shine. Sweet talk, smooth talk, whatever. It’s your credit we’re talking about here.

New Credit Tips
Do your rate shopping for a given loan within a focused period of time. Credit scores distinguish between a search for a single loan and a search for many new credit lines, in part by the length of time over which inquiries occur. Supposedly, any and all inquires within a 15 day period is counted as one pull nowadays. Just make sure it is within the sametype of loan. Don’t shop for a new car and a house refinance within the same week.

Reestablish your credit history if you have had problems. Just remember, opening new accounts responsibly and paying them off on time will raise your credit score in the long run

Note It’s okay to request and check your own credit report. This won’t affect your score, as long as you order your credit report directly from the credit reporting agency or through an organization authorized to provide credit reports to consumers.

Types of Credit Use Tips
Apply for and open new credit accounts only as needed. Don’t open accounts just to have a better credit mix. It probably won’t raise your credit score. See my explaination above.

Apply for and use credit cards but manage them responsibly. In general, having credit cards and installment loans (and paying timely payments) will raise your credit score. Someone with no credit cards, for example, tends to be higher risk than someone who has managed credit cards responsibly for a significant period of time.

Note Closing an account doesn’t make it go away. A closed account will still show up on your credit report, and may be considered for the score. Usually accounts will stay for seven to ten years, depending on the type.

Okay folks, I’m out. See you in seven!

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All right folks! I’ve shown you the importance of your credit score, so today I’m going to give you some tips on how to raise it. Now, please keep in mind that if your score is tier one, there’s not much I can do for you. Not like you guys need it anyways. But for those of you in the 600s and would like to make that final leap, this is for you.

An analogy I like to make regarding improving your credit score is, that it’s a bit like losing weight. It takes time, effort, and there is no quick fix. In fact, quick-fix efforts can, and more likely than not will, backfire. Remember the whole Atkins fiasco? The best advice I can give you is to manage credit responsibly over time. Okay? Now on to the tips!

For Amounts You Owe
Keep balances low on your credit cards. High outstanding balances will negatively affect your credit score. Also, use your cards lightly. Racking up big balances can hurt your score, regardless of whether you pay your bill in full each month.

What is reported to the three credit bureaus is the balance reported on each of your last statements. That means paying off your balances each month isn’t financially smart (well, it is) because the credit bureaus just don’t care.

Here is how you can typically can increase your score in this area. Try limiting your charges to 30% or less of each card’s limit. And also pay off your debt rather than moving it around. The most effective way is to pay down your revolving credit. In fact, owing the same amount but having fewer open accounts will lower your score further.

Don’t forget to check your credit limits either. Your score might actually be lower than it should be if your lender is showing a lower limit than you’ve actually got. So call in and fix it. Most credit card issuers will quickly update this information if you ask.

Here is what I mean. If you consistently charge the same $2,000 each month, with a limit that’s still showing as $2,500, it will look like you’re regularly maxing out that card every month.

Oh, and don’t close unused credit cards as a short-term strategy to raise your score. Dust off that old card you save for emergencies. The older your credit history, the better. If you stop using your older cards, the issuers may stop updating those accounts to the credit bureaus. The accounts will still appear, but they won’t be given as much weight in the credit scoring formula as your active accounts. So, I would recommend you use their older cards every few months to charge a small amount and pay it off in full when the statement arrives.

Don’t open a number of new credit cards that you don’t need, just to increase your available credit either. This approach could backfire and actually lower your credit score beacuse all of a sudden, you have a bunch of potential debt. That, and it looks like you are desparate for money to use.

Looks like this post is getting longer than anticipated. So, I’m going to leave you with a few more obvious tips and give you the rest of my pearls of wisdom next time!

Always pay your bills on time.
Pretty obvious, right? Delinquent payments and collections notices have negative impacts on your credit score. And trying to dispute them is even more of a pain. Do yourself a favor, just don’t have a late payment to begin with.

Pay down your credit cards.
Paying off your installment loans (mortgage, auto, student, etc.) can help your score, but typically not as dramatically as paying down, or paying off, revolving accounts like credit cards.

The credit bureaus like to see a nice, big gap between the amount of credit you’re using and your available credit limits. Getting your balances below 30% of the credit limit on each card can really help.

While most people recommend paying off the highest interest rate card first, a better strategy is to pay down the cards that are closest to the maximum limits.

If you have missed payments, get current and stay current. The longer you pay your bills on time, the better your credit score. Be aware that paying off a collection account will not remove it from your credit report. It will stay on your report for seven years.

Okay guys, I squeezed in as much as I can this week. Stay tuned for more!

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Personally, I love high end cars. I’d take a German, Italian, or British car over a Japanese one any day. So when I was looking to purchase my vehicle the last time, I had already ruled out all Japanese cars. Now, paying for a brand new vehicle off the lot is never a great idea, money-wise. Sure, you are getting to be the first owner, blah, blah, blah.

What I like to do is get the supercars from yester-year. I get the status, the speed, the power, but not the cost! Let me just show you my latest toy first before I go further.

Sorry folks, but this is as far as I got writing this article before I had something come up. What do I mean? Here is a photo below to start you off.

First off, I’d like to apologize for the tardiness of this post. So secondly, I’m sure you all would like to know what happened. Well, the evening started with dinner at Palomino’s, a local bar and restaurant under the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, with a friend. We had a few cocktails with our meal to de-stress and unwind, nothing major. I believe three drinks tops.

As we head home, I take the US101 and transfer to I280. As my friend and I continue our previous conversation in the car, I began to feel more and more stressed out. We were talking about bad business deals, and other personal issues. In a moment of severe bad judgment, that I have not had since I was 18, I let out my frustration on the accelerator.

Now, keep in mind that this was a M Roadster. It has a 3.2 liter inline 6 powerplant with 240 horsepower, capable of launching from zero to sixty in five seconds. Imagine what it did when I mashed it while going 55 mph. The result? Well, you’ve seen the pictures. We shot ahead at a blazing speed, only BMW knows about, until I came to my senses. Unfortunately, we ran over a pothole and was guided into a powerslide.

We drifted from lane number 3 into the center divide wall, without hitting any other vehicles. But it didn’t end there, the impact was so severe that we were bounced back across all four lanes, again without hitting any other vehicles, and into the right side wall of an exit. Miraculously, neither me nor my passenger was hurt. Somebody somewhere was looking out for us.

Special thanks to the Good Samaritan who stopped and called the cops for us. I’m sending you out good Karma. So then the California Highway Patrol showed up and tested our sobriety, which we both passed. Breathilyzer and all. Then the tow truck came and hauled away my baby forever. The lesson this time folks? Don’t be stupid. Think before you do something. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t be distracted and drive. Don’t be sad when you drink. Etc., etc. etc.

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Well, it’s been another week. My, how time flies. This just goes to show you folks, make every moment count! Don’t dilly dally on anything. This is also the last segment of my How to Sell in Any Market Series. You want any more, you’re going to have to hire me! In any case, let’s not dilly dally, and get right to it!

Important First Impressions
Although there are no concrete statistics to support this, you guys would not believe the amount of sales that have been blown by minute details. Like what? Like unkempt lawns, cluttered closets, unpainted front doors, hard-to-work locks, blown light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas and bad smells.

Spend time on the little things! I can’t stress that enough. Double up on your gardening, keep things cleaner than usual. Take serious control of your pets during this period. It will pay off in the long run.

The Right Kind of Repairs
However, yes I know, I tend to contradict myself, it is important that you don’t be tempted to make improvements prior to listing without consulting your Agent. Some upgrades will not yield any real increase in value, while others may increase property value substantially.

You don’t want to put in a swimming pool in your yard in San Francisco, for example. Not only will it not increase the value of your home, you won’t get back the cost of putting it in. However, getting a permit for converting an office into a bedroom, would be a worthwhile task. Not only will the value of your property go up, you only need to make a few minor changes to do it, such as putting in a closet and paying for the apllication fee.

Not Giving the Sales Effort Enough Time
You should never give too little time to what is inherently a long process. Homes may take 3-6 months to sell, in any market. Well, more like 7-10 months now. Estimate how much time you have before you need to sell and then plan ahead to allow extra time. You don’t want to be forced to accept a disappointing offer.

Sit down with your Agent and go over a weekly plan. Meet often and stay in touch. With the market as volitile as it is, it always good to meet and refine your weekly plan.

Screening Prospects
One of the best reasons for hiring an Agent (me) is his (my) ability to prequalify a prospect financially before valuable negotiation time is lost. More importantly, your Agent (me) may discover when a prospect has an ulterior motive for shopping homes, other than purchasing.

Basically, let me do all of the leg work for you. I can toss out the lookie-loos, and make sure that the people I bring to your house, actually wants to buy it. Or for that matter, CAN actually purchase it.

You Can Make a Difference
The top agents in the industry report that sellers themselves are responsible for at least one out of ten sales! You can network your business and personal friends, you can hand out fliers at your place of business and elsewhere, and you can keep the house in move in condition. Your Agent should be ready to hand you all sorts of assignments to make the team effort successful.

Testing the Market
I know I have said this before but this is something I have to stress. Never put your property on the market, unless you really want a sale! Don’t waste my time or yours. Get ready for a professional sales push when you list with a great agent (ahem, me). If your plan harbors some indecision, resolve it before you list, because success is every great Real estate Agent’s objective!

Well, that’s it for me folks! Please keep all of these things in mind next time you want to sell your house. See you in seven. I’ll come up with more things to help you save money.

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I am sure you have heard a number of bigwig money-making gurus spout this nonsense before and have thought nothing much of it. But it is true, in order to save or make money even, you have to spend it. Hey, with the way the current economy is, it doesn’t hurt to consider a few counter-intuitive options!

Spend Money
Like I said, and I’ll say it again, just so you can get used to it: if you want to get the most for your money, you are going to have to spend it. One of the biggest mistakes people make when they are trying to get their finances in order is to stop spending money altogether. This is a big mistake. What’s Newton’s law of motion? “A body that is in motion, stays in motion.” This can be similarly applied to the flow of money. You are not going to make any money unless you spend it.

So what do I mean? Consider this, not all spending is the same. Of course, you should limit unnecessary and frivolous purchases, but spending on essential upkeep, preventive measures and items that will save money in the long run is vital for getting and keeping your finances in order.

For example, scrimp on stuff such as routine car maintenance and energy-saving bulbs, and you could pay for it in the long run. When things go wrong with cars, especially with that European hotness you have tucked away in your garage, it could end up costing you big. And with rising electricity and energy costs, switching to the new bulbs could save you a pretty penny in a little less than a year! Haven’t been going to the dentist to save on health insurance? Boy howdy, that root canal is going to hurt, physically and financially! Okay, okay, enough. You get the point.

Don’t Stay Home in Front of the Idiot Box
Yes, yes, staying at home watching television is cheaper than going to the movies. I know, I know. Or is it? While staying home is certainly less expensive than going out with your friends, it isn’t likely to improve your financial situation significantly. Remember Newton’s law of motion? Since when has sitting money ever made anyone rich?

Here’s what I suggest. Instead of staying home, bitching and lamenting that you can’t afford to go out, take the initiative. Sign up for some classes at the local community college to improve your job prospects and learn new cost-cutting skills so that next year you don’t have to sit at home thinking about the things that you want but still can’t afford. Who knows, you might just meet your future business partner at one of these classes! You know what I mean. If like minded people work together, things are going to progress much faster. So, if your goal is to get rich, having similar minded people with you, working on the same thing, will get there faster.

Don’t Buy The Cheapest
This is almost the same as what I was talking about earlier with the scrimping. Cheap rarely means what you think it means. It actually means, cheap, not best value. To get the most out of your hard-earned money, you must think value rather than price. A car that is inexpensive, but costs a lot to drive and needs frequent repairs has less value than a car with a
higher price tag but costs less to run and maintain.

For example, for those of you in the know, I love the 1992-1995 BMW 8 Series car. It had a price tag of around ninety thousand dollars when it first came out. However, now you can pick one up for merely eight thousand dollars! Why don’t I get one? Because of the complex V8 or V12 engines. They are expensive to maintain and require a lot of maintenance. Instead, what should I get? You guessed it, a Honda Civic (or something comparable). This concept of buying value over price can be applied to anything and will mean that you rarely buy items which are the least expensive.

Don’t Buy Things That Are on Sale
Much like things that are cheap, things that are on sale are rarely the best value. In fact, it is usually the opposite.

There are two major problems with most items on sale: they are often something that you really don’t need, and there is something wrong with them.

If it’s not something you’d buy even if it weren’t on sale, it’s a purchase you shouldn’t make. Do you really need thirty pairs of 50 cent underwear or that gigantic jar of mayonnaise? When you find something on sale that you do need, don’t buy it without looking at other options. If you need the item and there aren’t better options, then buy away.

Also, things that usually go on sale are things that have gone bad or are about to go bad. Ever notice the specials menu in restaurants? No, it’s not what the chef has fresh for the day, it’s food that’s about to go bad, and they need to move it! While I can’t say for certain that all restaurants do this, but it make sense doesn’t it?

Alright, that’s all the time I have for this week folks. thanks for joining me again and see you in seven!

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So, you step into your local financial institution the other day, hoping to get a loan. You’ve got a nice down payment, a decent credit score, this should be cake, you think. Like a lot of self employed, or independent contractors, you’d be in big trouble now. The bank needs to see verifiable income for the last few years. Oh crap. All those cash jobs and other income you’ve been getting don’t help.

So, what to do? In economic downtimes, I like to get a temporary job, just so I can keep the flow of money going. I don’t need a six figure salary job, just something worth my time to tide me over till my next big investment matures. So, on to the point of this week’s rambling.

The first step in any job search is to send out your resume. It is the most important document in any job search. I am going to show you how to properly showcase your accomplishments, contributions, and results, and instead of just spouting the job description of each position you’ve held; ie, the biggest mistake.

Here are my top three tips:

1. Think Bigger Picture

When preparing your resume, don’t bog the reader down with details of your day to day tasks. Trust me, if you are interviewing for an administrative assistant position, your interviewer already know what one does. He or she doesn’t want to see a resume that only says you can type and answer a phone. You have to go beyond that to point out your specific strengths.

State the bigger picture. What did you do and how did it serve the organization as a whole. Going back to the administrative assistant position, consider how successful the person you supported in the past has gotten and how you helped him or her do his or her job better. What role did you have in his or her successes? Those are your accomplishments you should highlight.

2. Be Specific

Focusing on your accomplishments rather than your specific responsibilities will help keep your resume concise. Remember, you’ve got a maximum of eight to ten seconds to wow the person skimming your resume.

First make sure you’ve got the basics. Where have you worked and how long have you worked there? If you were given a long snooty sounding job title, cut it and keep it short. No “Maintenance Engineers,” just Janitor.

Given the time you have to catch a recruiter’s eye, a focused, accomplishment-driven resume is the way to go. Don’t load up on peripheral stuff, it’s too hard for a hiring manager, and you’ll likely get skipped over.

3. Don’t Just Punch the Clock

I know in the beginning of this post, I made it sound like you should just get any old job for the time being. Yes and no. This is America. I want my cake and eat it too. Find a job you can enjoy for years. you never know how the economy will turn out.

Many potential employers will ask, and you will have to answer: what have you done in terms of enhancing the position or the company you previously worked for. If you can’t answer, and you and your employer deserve more.

Look for other opportunities in which you can contribute and grow professionally and you’ll enjoy a more rewarding career. And you’ll have a more successful resume.

Well, that’s it for this week. Hopefully, you can take something away from this dissorganization…

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Welcome back guys! Today I am going to continue with the next five tips I have for assisting in your home sale in any market. No dilly dallying this week, let’s get right to it!

1. Staging Your Property
This is more important now then ever. First impressions are everything when it comes to purchasing, especially in a downward sliding economy. Make sure to put unwanted and unnecessary items in storage. Open the curtains, turn on the lights, do anything to create more light. Play soft music or otherwise improve the ambience. Remember, you are selling a home. People associate home with comfort.

Be sure to refer to your Agent. He or she can offer helpful advice to create the right first impression. What I like to do when showing a residential home, is to have cookies baking in the oven. Not only will the kitchen smell wonderful, you will have fresh cookies to offer clients!

2. Seasonal Selling
Many clients I have met in the past years believe that selling property is seasonal. While it may seem like that makes sense, with people staying inside during the winter months and coming out during the spring months, it is not true. Don’t base selling decisions on the seasons. Property sells year around.

3. Low Pricing
Don’t price your property too low. It will give off the wrong impression. Buyers who are serious about purchasing a home will have done their homework. Or, their Agent would have fully informed them of the current market. If your home is priced too low, people will get the impression that there is something wrong with it. So, hire an Agent to make sure that no money is left on the table.

4. Not Re-evaluating
I make it a rule of thumb to re-evaluate my marketing plan with my clients every ten days. You and your Agent should do so too. You never know when you may need to make intuitive changes based on the current market.

5. Trust Your Agent
It is easy to believe your Agent is not going the job when there aren’t any offers. That is not always the case. Most sellers are unaware that eighty percent of all buyer activity comes from the sign and the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Any Agent can provide those things. So, if you don’t have a problem showing the home, but it hasn’t generated any interested buyers, it may be that time to re-evaluate the price!

That’s all the time I have for this week folks. Thanks for continuing to read!

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Before I continue with my story, here’s a quick side track. But it’s related, I promise. Have you guys noticed the sudden popularity of television shows about food? I mean between Rachel Ray, Alton Brown, and Bobby Flay, we’ve pretty much ushered in a new era of Food Network shows.

Anyways, I thought, wow, wouldn’t it be cool to supply fish, shrimp and other seafood to these wonderful chefs? I mean, everyone’s got to eat, and the idea of fine dining is the new popular thing to experience.

So, I placed some calls and ended up in Mexico, along the Sea of Cortez, checking out and meeting big seafood suppliers. Now, you must be thinking, “That’s it? So easy!”

Ha! Nothing could be further from the truth. There are tons of things to worry about: how to keep the seafood fresh while in transport, the actual transport, and getting FDA approval, just to name a few.

Anyways, enjoy the following video I made while down south. I wanted to check out the “crop” so to speak and they had a guy throw some feed in the water to attract the shrimp. Then down went the net and captured some.

Now, keep in mind that at the time of the video, it was still two months before shrimp season, so they were all really small.

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So, you conquered the business world, you have more money that you could spend in three lifetimes, and you have the perfect arm candy for every night (and it was all thanks to reading Alex Leigh dot Net, of course!). Since becoming rich, have you ditched all your old friends? Or, have you become a kind hearted philanthropist?

So, which billionaire am I?

After answering a few amusing questions, the program spit out my answer. I am officially a Megalomaniac! Muahahaha! I rule with an iron fist and do not tolerate incompetence. And apparently, I have no friends, but employees. Interesting… That’s eerily accurate! LOL!

Which Billionaire Are You?

Please visit the site through the link I post above and post your result in the comments section. It would be nice to see what else people get. Plus, I will know which one of you I would need to take out to secure my money. So all you Megalomaniacs, watch out!

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So, you fixed up that starter home top to bottom, and are finally ready to put it on the market and make a killing. Sound like it’s a couple of years ago? Think it’s impossible in today’s market? Well, you are wrong. A good businessperson can profit in any type of market. Believe it or not, just as many real estate transactions are occurring right now.

While reasons for home sales have changed, if transactions are still occurring, money is still being made; just by different people. But what if you could be one of those people that have transactions in any and all types of markets? Wouldn’t that be great?

Let me give you an example. When the economy is booming, lenders become more lenient, or creative so to speak. It seems that during the “up times,” everyone and their grandma could get financed for a home purchase, with zero down and pay interest only. Ah, the good ol’ days… Well, in those markets, the idea is to make minimal payments until the value of the property increases, and then sell. Basically, you’re making money using the bank’s assets.

Now, when the economy is in a downturn, many careless investors lose out on big money when the value of property drops, and suddenly they find themselves owing more than their properties are worth. My suggestion? Rent it out. Rentals always increase during recession periods. Make sense?

In any case, let’s get to the tips for this week.

1. Pricing Your Home
Do not price your home too high. Better yet, get an objective opinion and have your Real Estate Agent research comparable sales and advise you of the appropriate price range for your property. Leave emotion at the door. This is business.

2. Financing Position
Be flexible on financing options. Don’t pigeon hole yourself into only accepting all cash. Not everyone has cash lying around. Being flexible on financing options may secure a better selling price, and a better selling chance! For example, no one likes to offer rent to own options. However the upside to offering this is expanding the pool of potential buyers. Imagine, finding a great family to purchase your home, when you would not even have met them, had you not offered the option. It may require more work, but we’re talking hundreds of thousands of dollars here. It’s worth a bit of sweat equity.

3. Market Timing
Don’t make the mistake of selling something at a time when no one can afford it. Ask your Agent to determine whether the market cycle is ripe to net you the money you need.

4. House Showings
Provide easy access to your home for sale. With the internet, people have gotten used to buying certain things unseen, but not a big purchase such as a house. Do not do “Appointment Only.” It is the most restrictive. In contrast, houses on lock box are the most accessible. The more accessible it is, the chances for the right buyer to show up, increases. However, people have different lifestyles. Let your Agent help you determine a solution that will best fit your situation.

5. Marketing Technology
Don’t fear technology. Put it to good use. make sure your Agent is up with the latest technology, such as internet sites that cater to home buyers. Check around to see what technology is being utilized in your area. In some places, cable television advertising is popular. In others, using 800 numbers are the norm. A good Agent will know where you can get the best exposure, and properly advise you.

Okay, that’s it for this week folks. Check back next time for five more tips!

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For those of you who have never watched Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, it is an Emmy Award-winning ABC reality television series that began broadcasting in 2003. The premise of the show is as follows: a family’s house, including all rooms, exterior and landscaping, is made over by a team of builders and designers in 7 days while the family goes off on vacation. Usually the family is in some sort of financial trouble, thus making the show an instant tear jerker.

It is a spinoff of Extreme Makeover, and is hosted by Ty Pennington, formerly a carpenter on the show Trading Spaces. He is often made fun of online as being, “a role model to those inflicted with ADD,” “not a person you want to give a megaphone to,” or “someone you just want to punch.”

I’ll admit, I am not exactly Mr. Pennington’s number one fan, but he is not the reason why I can’t stand the show. In fact, I am even willing to miss the beginning of Desperate House- er… Lost, just so I won’t have to watch the end of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition!

The show obviously tugs at people’s heartstrings for ratings. Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for helping struggling familys, and volunteer charity work, but that fact that ABC is profiting while doing so just plain bothers me. In fact, I was always convinced that the show was not always truly helping the familys featured on the show. And today, I was proven right!

Back in 2005, the show demolished the Harper family’s decrepit home and replace it with a sparkling, four-bedroom mini-mansion. The family then proceeded to used the two-story home as collateral for a $450,000 loan that went to fund a failed construction business. It’s set to go to auction on the steps of the Clayton County Courthouse on August 5, 2008.

For those interested, the house has four-bedrooms with decorative rock walls and a three-car garage that towered over ranch and split-level homes in Clayton County. The home’s door opened into a lobby that featured four fireplaces, a solarium, a music room and a plush new office.

This is all ABC’s fault. Each show is like giving a brand new Ferrari to a newly licensed sixteen-year-old. Someone is bound to get hurt. And just like any other big corporation looking to save their own butts, ABC issued a statement that it advises each family to consult a financial planner after they get their new home. “Ultimately, financial matters are personal, and we work to respect the privacy of the families,” the network said. Nice. Legally weasel out of any financial liablity.

What infuriates me even more are the commenters that just don’t know what they’re talking about. “It’s aggravating. It just makes you mad. You do that much work, and they just squander it,” Lake City Mayor Willie Oswalt said. Guess you don’t need too much smarts to become Mayor in that town.

This is a classic case of lottery winner syndrome. I think that it’s 80% of the state lottery winners spend all their money within five years and go back to their way of life prior to the win. You have to be smart with money while you are poor, and when and if the big money ever hits, don’t change your business and spending decisions. And of course, continue to read Alex Leigh dot Net!

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