Archive for November, 2007
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
Identity Theft…Become the victor….not the victim of these types of crimes.
Last December 2006…..3 days before Christmas… I became the victim of Identity Theft. I actually found out about it before the bank did.
I am constantly looking at my bank account balances and just to make sure that when I write checks…. I do not have to go into overdraft mode. At first I really didn’t think much about it until I started to see all these overdraft charges and also noticed all these very large withdrawals of cash from our bank account. When I mean large…I mean thousands of dollars just taken from our savings and checking accounts.
It was late that night and I was a bit tired so I really did not want to deal with it at that time and figured I would go to the bank in the morning and see if I was just dreaming…well I wasn’t. It was pretty obvious that something wasn’t right. It was the weekend before the holiday and all the banks were going to be closed after Saturday. That weekend we were having a large party and I needed to purchase a few hundred dollars worth of items and I needed cash for that and for some miscellaneous things as well. I needed to act fast.
My bank, police, federal,state law officials immediately investigated this and we did get all our money back.
During the investigation I was able to see those stolen checks nd the signatures weren’t even close. That is the way they do it, they steal from Peter to pay Paul.
Here is a list of some important things that you will need to do if you become a victim.
- Immediately Close the old accounts
- Open a new account
- Order new checks
- Calling all your creditors
- Call your credit unions to place alarms on your identity
- File complaints with the Federal Trade commission(FTC)
Here is what my bank does before or after the theft occurs:
- Immediately informs customers of suspicious activity they may identify often before the loss may have occurred
- Employing industry leaders who can promptly identify and respond to emerging forms of on-line fraud and identity theft
- Reaching out to customers and providing education on emerging threats
- Using fraud prevention software programs
- Reviewing questionable transactions and reaching out to customers to verify activity
- Working to prevent criminals from “taking over” legitimate accounts
My bank has a loss Management department which will refer the customer to their Identity Theft Assistance Center(ITAC)
- Place a 90-day Identity Theft Fraud Alert on all credit bureaus
- Review credit bureau reports to identify additional fraudulent accounts, inquiries and activities
- Notify financial institutions that own disputed accounts or that have made credit inquiries without the customer’s knowledge
- Work with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminals
Assist customer’s in regaining financial identity
You should know how your credit looks by viewing your credit report at least once a year to ensure information is correct and free of fraudulent activity.
The top three credit bureaus are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They share your credit information with lenders and creditors whenever you apply for credit.
A credit report includes four basic types of information:
Personal information-Employment and address history, name, birth date, and Social Security Number.
Payment history-A list of the accounts you have with different creditors, showing how much credit they extended to you and whether or not you have paid on time.
Inquiries-A record of the lenders and creditors that have requested your credit history.
Public record information-Events that are a matter of public record, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, or tax liens.
Addtional links provided by most banks:
Credit Bureaus:
- Equifax: (800) 525-6285
- Experian: (888) 397-3742
- TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
Federal Trade Commission: If you believe you were a victim-please call the FTC hotline at 877-ID THEFT (877-438-4338) to speak with a trained identity theft counselor. Or submit a complaint to the FTC’s secure online database.
Spam: To avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam visit ftc.gov/spam†.
Postal Inspection Service: If you believe your mail was stolen or redirected, notify the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service at your local post office.
Social Security Fraud Hotline: If you suspect someone is using your Social Security Number for fraudulent purposes, call (800) 269-0271.
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV):If you believe someone is trying to get a driver’s license or identification card using your name and information, contact your local DMV at http://www.dmv.org/.
Updates on Email Hoaxes: For the latest information on email hoaxes visit Symantec†.
Identity Guard® CreditProtectX3SM Identity Guard® CreditProtectX3SM is a service provided by Intersections Inc., that helps protect you against fraud or identity theft.
Please visit my blog The Real Deal tells it like it is in Real Estate
For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom -REMAX Hometown
The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estate-copyright © 2007
Posted in Real Estate - For Sellers | No Comments »
Sunday, November 25th, 2007
Recently with our current market conditions...consumers ask why should I buy a home? Why should I do it now? and how will I know if it will not loose it’s value?
A few things to consider:
- There are many tax benefits in owning a home including Income Tax Deductions, possible tax credits, and Homestead Exemption.
- Because it is a buyer’s market there are many great values in the Daytona Beach Florida Area.
- Many seller’s who need to sell will negotiate.
- Many current seller’s on the market have had appraisals done recently. Why for the purpose to determine value.
Why buy now?
We have no idea how market conditions will be for the next year. We can speculate but the truth is no one actually knows.
The market is not crashing…Prices are stabilizing and the truth is with the past market..properties gained profit that was not the norm.
With inventories up…you have a wide variety to select from. That could mean a larger home, a newer home, more amenities or a better bargain.
Will I loose value?
In all honesty, it depends on what you want to accomplish.
Investing? Buy low sell high! Be careful…there is lots of inventory out there!
In my mind if you plan to live in a home for at least 5 years…they have a phrase I learned in real estate school but never used …today I will…quiet enjoyment.
Ex. My parents purchased their home in the 70’s, they raised 7 kids…they placed a fence around the house to protect us, they painted the house the color they want. They could access it any time they want, have company over and received all the benefits from owning a home…
Determining your needs is the first step and contacting a loan officer would be the next. Once you know what you qualify for…Contact a Realtor….so if you are in the market to purchase real estate in Daytona Beach, Call Midori Miller of Century 21 Sundance Realty.
Posted in Real Estate - For Buyers | No Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
I would like to expose the fact that I am now called the ”slimiest Realtor “in Florida
…but in a different way.
Normally when I take a listing I pledge to devote all my time and effort into servicing the client by helping them understand our current market. I will also offer my services in another way. I am pretty handy and that has helped me cultivate even more business by offering a talent that most realtor’s dread and that is by assisting my clients with manual labor. I know…manual labor? It isn’t enough that I am always holding their hands and trying to make a transaction end up smooth. Last week I had taken this listing in Pembroke Pines Florida and it is priced pretty well and hopefully will sell sooner than later. When I met with the owners I mentioned a few things that needed to be done on the outside to make it more curb appealing. Two things I noticed that needed to be done was replenish the mulch in every bed in the front yard and one other thing….there was a bad case of slime growing all over the main entry archway. 
I told them it was not an insult to them but it needed to be taken care of and so I offered to help them remove it. Yesterday I put on a pair of old shorts and a t shirt and went to their home got on a ladder and sprayed a few coats of bleach on all the spots and let it sit and then I hosed it down. In the meantime the homeowners were staring at me and could not believe how great it came out and thanked me for thinking of a very easy way to remove it and it didn’t cost them anything. After all was done I was now soaked from head to toe in dirty water and green slime that actually was stuck to my body.
I know that because I went the “extra mile” they will remember me and what I did for them. So now my good name in the industry has changed. Every time you hear the name Neal Bloom you will know that I am the “slimiest Realtor in Florida.”
For more information about South Florida Real Estate please check out the rest of the story at The Real Deal Tells it like it is in Real Estate
Neal “The Real Deal” Bloom
South Florida Realtor (954)608-5556 or nealb63@myacc.net
RE/MAX Hometown
2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103
Weston Florida 33331
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
When we were planing on selling our own home….it was easy to find the one and it took about a week of looking at 20 before we decieded on one, we then put our other home on the market.
We were able to close on the new one before the old one closed because of our unusually high credit scores.
The only thing I was stuck on decieding was the type of loan we wanted.
Please read the rest of this story here.
Posted in mortgages, homes for sale, buyers | No Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
Residents and visitors of Davie FL -
Local News and Activities
Davie activity calender for December at a glance
 Hollywood Dog Obedience ClassesMonday, December 3 at 6:30 PM
Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, 4271 Davie Road
Gold Coast Dog Training Classes
Tuesday, December 4 at 6:30 PM
Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, 4271 Davie Road
Holiday Tree/Menorah/Kinara Decorating Contes
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 at 9:00 AM
Davie Town Hall, 6591 Orange Drive
Decorating Contest
“Jingle Belling Through the Tropics” will be this years theme
December 5th thru December 7th
Tree, stands,menorahs,kinaras and lights will be provided at no charge.
Groups must make decorations for their own tree,menorah and or kinara.
Entries must be decorated no later than Friday, December 7, 2007 before 12 noon.
There will be awards for best decorations.
free Lunch will be provided for all groups participating on December 5th.
Annual Holiday Lighting of the Greens
Sponsored in part by the Davie Community Redevelopment Agency
TIMES:
6:15pm-Santa arrives by Fire Engine
6:30pm-Horse Parade down Orange Drive
6:45pm-Tree Lighting and Snow Play
Visit over 50 beautifully adorned trees, menorahs, and
kinaras with over 250,000 lights.
Free entertainment will include a petting farm, climbing wall,
holiday magic show, exotic animals, bounce house and music, and 20 tons of snow
with supervised snow play areas for children ages 0 to 5 and another for children ages 6
 Area Market Reports
 Community links
Public Elementary Schools
Public Middle Schools
Public High Schools
If you are interested in Real Estate for sale in Davie FL ……
then we strongly urge you to look at the opportunities available here.
Please visit my blog The Real Deal tells it like it is in Real Estate 
For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom -REMAX Hometown
The Real Deal tells it Like it is in Real Estate-copyright © 2007 |
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Posted in homes for sale, real estate, Real Estate - For Buyers | No Comments »
Saturday, November 24th, 2007
If you are looking to buy real estate there are a few things to think about during the holiday season. Marketing and advertising entice us to purchase lots and lots of presents for others. Sometimes too much and it could have a bearing on whether you will have the ability to purchase a home.
Often times we blow our budgets during the holidays. It’s OK, we are giving. If you are in the market to buy a home there are a few things you should think about.
Remember your loan officer or mortgage company has approved you for a mortgage. Do not incur any other debt. Your approval may depend on ratios…ratios in what you take in as income vs. what you pay out. Here are some common mistakes buyers make before closing on their new home.
Purchase a car- No! Do not purchase anything big. You may affect your approval on your loan.
Do not co-sign for anything- Again it’s important not to increase your debt it make have a bearing on whether you close on your home.
Control your spending with credit cards…Again…increasing debt….lowering your changes of owning a home.
Do not spend all of your savings-The lender may have to verify your reserves so make sure they do not fall short of what is needed.
Pay your bills on time- If you are in the market to buy a home most likely they will pull your credit one final time. Just 2 points short on your credit score can affect your qualification, your rate and your down payment.
This holiday season, if you are buying a home be smart and watch your pennies! Remember breaking the bank will not be helpful it could in fact prevent you from buying a home!
Midori Miller, Century 21 Sundance Realty
Posted in buyers, Real Estate - For Buyers | No Comments »
Saturday, November 17th, 2007
I’ve included the 2007 Money Magazine City stats
for the city of Weston FL. I find it very interesting when you compare them to the best places average.
If you look at these comparisons you will notice that Weston Florida’s medium family income is higher…family purchasing power is higher and the job growth % from 2000-2006 is more than double. Yet if you look at our sales tax…you will notice that those figures are lower. Please look at the rank for our city and you will see that it is no where in the top 100 cities.
Let’s compare Weston FL with the top best places. You will see where the average figures stack up against the rest. In my opinion as a resident of Weston FL….our fair city is an excellent place to purchase a home and to set down some roots for your family. Inventory in our housing market is high in general and “it’s a great time for buyers to come to Florida and purchase a home.” Prices continue to come down and should be leveling off soon so if you want to take advantage of finding a good deal out there then you should contact a Weston FL Realtor® who in knowledgeable in the area and also is a proud citizen here as well. The city provides a large venue of different activities to choose from.
Other community related stories
Market Reports
It makes sense to buy now …it makes sense to hire a Realtor® who is a neighborhood expert and who can help guide you in the right direction.
For more information please contact Neal The Real Deal Bloom-Realtor® /Remax Hometown2500 Weston Road ,Suite 103
Weston FL 33331
(954)608-5556
Posted in Real Estate - For Buyers | No Comments »
