Jury Duty Scam!

Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously, but enough people skip out on their civic duty, that a new and ominous kind of scam has surfaced. Fall for it and your identity could be stolen, reports CBS.

In this scam, The caller claims to be a "jury coordinator". If you protest that you never received a summons, they ask for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Sometimes they even ask for credit card numbers.

Give out any of this information and bingo...your identity just got stolen.

The scam has been reported so far in 11 states. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call.

OH MY GOSH!!!

I saw the incoming e-mail message and I thought to myself, "What is this?"

It read, "Continous Monitoring ALERT from Identity Theft Shield."

I started getting nervous and thought, "Who is stealing my identity?"

Was it something in my VA records that were among the 26 million veterans that someone got access to?

Did someone 'electronically swipe' my credit card number?

Well, I had to find out, so I accessed my account and found out that my new credit card account just came online at the credit bureau and they wanted me to confirm that this was my account.

Fortunately, it was. I've been closing various credit card accounts, because I didn't want the additional liability any more. I found out that if you don't tell the credit card company about a discrepancy found on your statement within 60 days, you have to pay it, no matter what.

I have also lowered my credit card limits. It seems that over time, credit card companies will keep increasing your borrowing power by giving you a higher and higher credit limit. Don't fall for it!

Now, you need to be careful on how many or how quickly you close credit card accounts, because doing it the wrong way can have a MAJOR impact on your credit score. So, if you want to start being proactive on protecting your identity from thieves, then call me and I'll be glad to help you.

I feel very comfortable knowing that if anyone tries to change my mailing address or make a large purchase or use my Social Security number or any number of other things, that the service I have, Identity Theft Shield, will be there to notify me and if my identity has been stolen, their licensed investigators will be there to help restore my identity. That's the main difference between most ID Theft monitoring services. They don't have a restoration service there to help you and when you need legal access to top-rated attorneys that's also not a service that they can offer you.

For more information on how you can have this coverage like me, feel free to contact me any time at 513-615-1890 or e-mail me at: dan@danweis.com. I will never be without this service!

Are Gas Prices Draining You?

Are you concerned about the high price of gasoline? I recently came across a web site that shows where the best prices are around town.

Go to: www.CincyGasPrices.com

Also, if you find a great price, like $2.75, you can post it on the site for others.

It's amazing that gas prices have risen so high. A couple of years ago, I would have never thought that gas would be at $3.00 or more per gallon. Now, if we're to ever see $2.50 again, it'll seem like a bargain.

With our country's lack of conservation control, the growth of industrial activities in China and around world, the turmoil in the Middle East and our government's strategy of not drilling in and around North America, we can expect to see higher gas prices in the future. With Congress' lack of foresight and commitment and alternative fuels for most vehicles being years off into the future, people will continue feel the pain of digging deeper into their pockets to fill up their gas tanks at the expense of having to stop doing other things they enjoy doing or in dire situations, having to decide between paying for food, utilities or other important expenses.

Decisions have to be made by all people - citizens and government...Republicans and Democrats alike to make changes. What we decide on now will take 10 - 20 years into the future to ween ourselves off the oil from the Middle East, Venezuela and others. If we don't start to change now, we may see $5.00 to $10 a gallon prices in the future. We can't keep buying a lot of oil from unstable regimes around the world. We must press forward in this country with being more self-sufficient and take some alternative energy sources mainstream. Take a few minutes from time to time to write or e-mail your congressional leaders and let them know they must take action now, so that we won't have to rely on as much foreign oil in the future.

Also, with the forecast of having another strong hurricane season upon us, don't be surprised by more increases.

Have you changed your driving habits or your lifestyle, because of higher gas prices? Please post a comment.

36% of All Home Sales Have Title Problems!

According to 2005 survey by the American Land Title Association (ALTA), title problems, in new and resale homes and re-finances, were up from 25% in 2000.

The most common title problems are: obtaining mortgage releases and/or pay-offs for discovered liens, such as prior 1st and 2nd mortgages, unpaid child and spousal support, outstanding taxes/liens as well as recording errors of names, addresses or legal descriptions of the property.

But I could also tell you some stories about title problems that were very unique and almost caused the home transactions to blow up in everyone's face. That's for another time!

According to Rande Yeager, president of ALTA, "The booming real estate market over the last seveal years has increased the number of transactionssignificantly, which means more title problems are found. This clearly demonstrates the importance of a professional title search in all real estate transactions, whether purchasing a new home or refinancing an existing mortgage."

"Home buyers and regulators alike have recently questioned the value and cost of title insurance. A Loan Policy of title insurance is required by lenders prior to the issuance of a loan, even on a refinance, to assure that the title is clear. Before a policy is issued, an extensive search is conducted to locate problems, so the can be rectified and the transfer of property and/or loan can proceed."

Unlike other forms of insurance that focus on possible future events and charge an annual premium, title insurance is purchased for a one-time fee at closing or escrow and protects against loss arising from title hazards and defects that already exist. Title companies often search back up to 40 - 50 years through manual records to find and clear up problems, usually without invoving the home buyer or borrower. So while title insurers pay fewer claims than most other insurers, their upfront costs are significantly higher.

ALTA also advises home buyers to purchase an Owner's Policy of title insurance in addition to the Lender's Policy. This can be requested at the time of the closing. Unlike a Loan Policy, an Owner's Policy protects the homeowner for as long as they (or their heirs) have an interest in the property, so there is no need to repurchase this coverage on a refinance.

"I have always stated to all of my clients that they should purchase an Owner's Policy, because if you need it, you'll be glad you have it. Also, I have always purchased it on every property I've owned."

Are You Dis-Organized At Home?

Do you ever look at your closets, drawers, garage, etc and wonder how did it ever get to looking like it does? It may be time to organize your life better, because the fewer things you tolerate on a daily basis, the more enjoyable your life will be. Go ahead, organize your life!

Do you ever hear, "I'm tired of walking through a maze in the garage to get inside at the end of the day." or "Mom, where's the scissors?" or "Dad, have you seen the scotch tape?" How many times have you been forced to run to the store to purchase something that you thought you knew exactly where it was. What a waste of time and money! It seems from time to time that we don't always follow the bit of advice I heard so long ago:

"A place for everything and everything in its place."

Of course, it's not easy to accomplish, since most of us seem to be less than organize. Organization is not an accident. It doesn't just happen. It takes deliberate thought, planning and attention to get organized and stay organized.

Having an unorganized home is one of the leading causes of excessive, needless spending. If you can't find something you need, you may have to buy another one. You may have to purchaseseveral of the same item, so one will be available when you need it. Sound familiar?

Here are a few helpful hints to get you started on your quest for organization:

Divide and conquer. Determine which rooms and areas of your home need the most attention first. If you feel overhelmed, then tackle one of the easiest areas first and get it completed. You'll feel a lot better with yourself and you'll be able to go after more areas with more energy.

Develop a plan of attack. Write down those things that are in multiple locations around the house as well as those items that seem to be lost when you need them. Then write the logical location for each item next to it on the list. Your family members will more likely to pur things back in a specific location, if it seems logical to them.

Ready, set, go! No, this isn't a race. In fact, this may take you several days or weeks to cpmplete, depending on how extensive your disorganization has become. Take your time to do a thorough job of cleaning up and sorting items.

You'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel once you start to get things organized. You will need to continue to work at maintaining your newfound organization. But, once you realize the financial and emotional benefits, it will be much easier to maintain.

Your Adjustable Rate Mortgage May Cost You More Soon!

Do you have an adjustable rate mortgage (A.R.M.) first mortgage or a second mortgage that's an ARM or tied to a line of credit?

Now may be the time to look at switching to a FIXED rate mortgage before your monthly payment goes up!

I read an article recently that spoke about the upcoming barrage of adjustable rate mortgages that will be due for a change in their interest rate calculations. Between now and the end of 2007, there will be approximately $2,000,000,000+ (yes, that's billion) worth of mortgages that will have higher interest rates attached to them.

That means more money out of your pocket!

Obviously, fixed rate mortgages are higher now than they've been in the past few years, but by keeping an ARM, you may continue to see your monthly payment creep higher each adjustment period.

My recommendation to you is to contact my preferred mortgage consultant, Rick Pilger of Trustcorp Mortgage and have him prepare a FREE, No-Obligation Mortgage Analysis to see if it's in your best interest to keep the mortgage you have or to switch to a FIXED rate mortgage. Rick can be reached at (513) 772-2900 or by e-mail: rpilger@trustcorp.com.

Important Point: I would NOT use an internet mortgage company for my mortgage. There's too much risk of having extra hidden fees, penalties or undisclosed charges to come up at the last minute. The internet is great for education, but make sure that you can sit down face-to-face with your mortgage consultant to get all of the facts.

Don't miss out on reviewing your situation before it's too late!

If you have any questions that you feel aren't being answered properly or are too confusing, please contact me at anytime and I'll be glad to help you.

Dan
dan@DanWeis.com
http://www.HomeBuyingClass.com
http://www.cincinnatirealestatehelp.com/