Steve Jobs

Have a great week

Understanding your credit score

The Five Things That Count Listed below are five main categories of information on a credit report that Fair Isaac & Co evaluate, along with their general level of importance. Within these categories is a complete list of the information that goes into a FICO score. Please note that:

• A score takes into consideration all these categories of information, not just one or two. No one piece of information or factor will determine your score.
• The importance of any factor depends on the overall information on your credit report.
• Your score only looks at information on your credit report. Your FICO score does not reflect your income
• Your score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report.
• Your score does not consider your ethnic group, religion, gender, marital status and nationality.

The score itself can range from 300 to 900. The formula for exactly how the score is calculated is proprietary information and owned by Fair Isaac. Here is an approximate breakdown of how it is determined:

1. 35% of the score is based on your payment history. One of the primary reasons a lender wants to see your score is to find out if and how timely you pay your bills.
2. 30% of the score is based on outstanding debt. How much do you owe on your loans? How many credit cards? Are they at their limits? A good rule is to keep your cards at 30% or less of their limits.
3. 15% of the score is based on the length of credit history. More information about your past payment history gives a more accurate prediction of your future actions.
4. 10% of the score is based on the number of inquiries. These may be bad for your score because they indicate that you may be in some kind of financial trouble or may be taking on a lot of debt. FICO scores only count inquiries from the past year.
5. 10% of the score is based on the types of credit you currently have. What kind and how many of each? The credit mix usually won’t be a key factor in determining your score- but it will be more important if the report lacks other information on which to base the score.
You can have access to your credit report using Equifax

Port St. Lucie

In Port St. Lucie, one of the fastest growing cities in South Florida, this 1/4 acre lot awaits your new home.
Located in the sought after area of Torino this lot is surrounded by gorgeous homes and it is high and dry ready to build.

Please contact Raquel J.
(954) 362-0980 X 2011
raquelj@rightabouthomes.com

Hiring the right real estate agent in a buyer's market

With a shift in market conditions, what used to be a tilted scale for buyers and sellers has now become a fair ground for negotiations. Homes that are priced right and marketed properly continue to sell and buyers have the opportunity to negotiate basic terms.

In a market where sellers need to make a greater effort in order to sell their homes and buyers can get creative when constructing offers, it only makes sense that you hire a competent real estate agent to help you do so, but the question is how do you know who's competent and who's not?
When you hire a real estate professional that you decide to be loyal to, you can be certain that they will be loyal to you too and bear your best interest in mind, so before you go out and "tie the knot" with a real estate agent, ask some questions:

1. Are you a Realtor? Not every real estate agent is a Realtor. A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, and voluntarily adheres to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and pledges to maintain incomparable knowledge of the real estate processes, becoming the experts of residential and commercial property transactions.
2. Do you work as a full-time Realtor®? The felixibilty of schedules in the real estate field tempts a lot of agents to keep their full-time jobs and sell real estate "on the side". While this may work for some agents, others tend to keep real estate "on the side of their minds" as well, relegating the clients' needs.
3. Do you have an assistant or partner? When a Realtor has someone they can rely on to take care of the myriad of details that a real estate transaction requires, they can spend more time on what really matters, like finding a buyer for your home or a home for their buyers.
4. What area and in what aspect of the market do you specialize?
5. Do you have a written marketing plan specifically designed to sell my house or help me find the right home for my family?
6. How do you market properties to buyers?
7. How many properties have you sold in the last three (3) months?
8. What kind of marketing materials will you produce to market my home ?
9. Do you have a written business plan and mission statement?
10. How often will I get an update on the efforts to sell my home or find a home?
11.In what ways do you encourage other Realtors® to sell my property? How do you network?
12. What can I do to help sell my property? A Realtor should have a list of ideas to help you spruce up your home.
13. How many listings do you have? What percentage of them sell?
14. What is the market trend now?
15. Based upon what you know about my situation, should I sell/buy? Why?
16. If I give you the listing, what are the first seven (7) things you will do in the first week to sell my property?
17. What methods do you use to communicate?  Pager  Phone  E-mail  Direct mail  Personal visit
18. What kind of internet presence do you have?
19. What kind of tools on your website are available for buyers / sellers?
20.How soon will my property be featured on your site?
21. On how many different sites will my property be found?
22. Why are you worth the commission?
30. Do you have any buyers for this home now?

Dania Beach Single Family, 411 SE 4th Terr MLS # H807075

This completely updated home is the largest in Dania Beach offering 3,100 sq.ft of charm. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, den/playroom with built-in bar, big kitchen with cooking island, breakfast nook and pantry. Wood floors throughout living areas. 9ft regulation pool table and brand new Jacuzzi in patio are included in the sale as bonus to the buyer.

38 SE 6th ST Duplex Dania Beach MLS # H807078

Great Investment! 2br,2ba rents for $950/month. 1br,1ba rents for $650/month. Both units are in perfect condition and allow for rent increase.

649-408 Sheridan Beach Club-MLS # H815912

THIS HOME HAS TRULY BEEN "DESIGNED TO SELL". DECORATED BY ONE OF TBS DESIGNERS, THIS BEAUTIFUL CONDO LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME OUT FROM A TV SHOW. HARDWOOD FLOORS THROUGHOUT, NEW KITCHEN, TRACK LIGHTING, SURROUND SOUND WIRED ARE JUST A FEW OF THE DETAILS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THIS METICULOUS SELLER.

Why use a Realtor

If you are buying, a Realtor will show you available homes matching your criteria. A Realtor can help you determine the right price of a property. A Realtor can serve as an emotional protection (buffer) between you and the buyer/seller. A Realtor is the difference between your property being "For Sale" and being "SOLD". A Realtor is the difference between receiving the highest price possible for your property and receiving too low a price. A Realtor will sell your house (on the average) at 16% higher than it would have had you done it on your own according to NAR statistics. A Realtor will save you days on the market. A Realtor makes sure you have a legally binding contract and complete the proper disclosures so you are treated fairly and you do not get sued. A Realtor is an excellent negotiator and makes sure you do not get eaten up in fees that reduce your bottom line. A Realtor has excelent relationships with lenders and can help qualify buyers. A Realtor will manage the hundreds of phone calls involved in selling and/or buying a property. A Realtor will develop a marketing plan to sell your property. A Realtor will spend money and effort in the sale of your home before he/she gets paid. A realtor will show you the flaws you don't see in your home so you can fix them rather than have no offers come in. A Realtor follows up during the transaction process to ensure the deal gets to closing. A Realtor represents your best interests. A Realtor will schedule all of your appointments. A Realtor is a real estate professional. A Realtor can reach a lot of buyers due to his/her targeted marketing methods and realtionships in the industry.
If you are still not convinced of the value of a Realtor, see what the National Association of Realtors has to say...click

Business Travel Tips

It's that wondreful time of the year, when we get to spend time with our families and take that well deserved vacation. While some of you may be able to get completely unplugged while you are away, some of you may need to bring you laptop or PDA along for the ride. For those of you that simply cannot leave technology behind, here are a few tips to ensure that your information remains safe while you check your e-mails, fine-tune that business proposal or just browse around the web either at the airport, your hotel room or an internet café.

Security Software: this may seem like common sense, but do not forget to update your anti-virus before you travel. Make sure your computer is password protected. Even a basic password can help protect your information if your device is lost or stolen.
While most wireless networks have some level of security, the more protection you have on your device, the better.

Keep it Simple: Take only what you need. Sometimes security can get very complicated at the airport and you may have to check you laptop. An alterante idea is to make sure that the hotel or the place that you are visiting has public computers and internet access. You can log onto your home or office computer using a remote server and a third party vendor, such as gotomypc.

Protect Yourself: Back up your data in case your laptop is stolen. Copy your essential files in a flash drive.
Hotspots: Software programs called packet sniffers can allow people to look at wireless transactions and capture the information being transmitted between the laptop and wireless access point. To avoid having someone hack into your system, turn off your bluetooth device and make sure your soft firewall is turned on.
Beware of Public Computers: Just as you need to protect your privacy on your own hardware, take extra precautions if you use a public computer. Remove all traces of your work by deleting any documents you have viewed, clear the browser cache and the history file, and empty the computer's recycling bin before you walk away. There is also a risk that a password-capturing program may have been loaded onto the computer. If you check your e-mail using hotmail, yahoo etc make sure you log out or sign out before you leave the computer.

If you leave your laptop at the hotel room or in any way unattended, use a cable lock, and be sure to lock your computer bag in the trunk rather than leaving it in the front or back seat. Taping your business card to the laptop helps ensure your computer can be easily returned to you in the case that it is lost.

Great Tools for real estate professionals

Rentometer great tool to find out the average rental in a community Google Readear Great tool to keep track of all of your friends blogs or companies you like to keep track of what the writh Edit pad EditPad Lite is a general-purpose text editor, designed to be small and compact, yet offer all the functionality you expect from a basic text editor. EditPad Lite works with Windows NT4, 98, 2000, ME and XP. Printer Anywhere print documents and photos on other people's printers as easily as on the local one connected to your machine.

Plan for 2007

Right About Real Estate - Plan for 2007

Florida – Emergency Insurance Assessment

Due to the unprecedented hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund has exhausted nearly all reserves accumulated since 1993. To rebuild its hurricane emergency funds, the state of Florida has issued an Emergency Order requiring all licensed property and casualty insurance companies, including mortgage guaranty insurers, to collect from Florida policy holders a special assessment of 1% of direct written premiums as of January 1, 2007. Depending on when their systems are updated, the special assessment may appear as ‘Surcharge' and will be included in the total amount due.

This assessment will apply to both new and renewal premiums on insured loans (including hazard, flood and MI) secured by properties located in Florida. The initial assessment period is for one year; however, Florida has the option to renew it. The assessment will appear as follows:

The insurance commitment and certificates for loans on properties located in Florida will include the 1% assessment effective January 1, 2007. Bills for premiums that are due and payable January 1, 2007 will include the 1% assessment.
The special assessment is required for all Florida loans that close on or after January 1, 2007. If the insurance commitment/certificate is issued prior to January 1st, and the loan closes after that date, the 1% assessment will be required in addition to the total amount due as shown. The following condition will be hard-coded in the UW Portal and used by the underwriters for Florida loans underwritten prior to January 1st:

Effective 1/1/07 a 1% surcharge applies for all hazard, flood and MI insurance policies. If a loan does not close prior to 1/1/07 updated policies will be required and the loan must be satisfactorily re-underwritten.

For additional information, please refer to the website for Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation at http://www.floir.com/hurricanes/fhcf.htm.

Homestead:much more than just a tax break

The most commonly known benefit to claiming your primary residence in Florida as Homestead is a tax benefit. By claiming your property as Homestead, you have two tax benefits: the first one is that you are exempt from paying property taxes on the first $25,000 of the assessed value of the residence.The second one is that your annual property taxes are capped at a maximum increase of 3% per year (may vary in each county). In order to qualify for Homestead exemption in 2007, you must occupy the residency prior to December 31st, 2006 and apply prior to March 1st, 2007 (if you are planning on purchasing a home soon, make an effort to close prior to December 31st so you can qualify for the tax break). You can apply for Homestead by visiting any of the property appraiser's offices or on-line at your county's property appraiser's website. You will need the following documents to qualify:
1. Proof of Ownership: Recorded Warranty Deed, Co-op Propriety Lease, Notice of Proposed Taxes or Tax Receipt.
2. Proof of Permanent Florida Residence (preferably dated prior to January 1 of the tax year for which you are filing): Florida's Driver's License or Florida I.D. Card, Florida Voter's Registration; or Recorded Declaration of Domicile.

And the sometimes overlooked benefit of claiming your Florida residence as Homestead is that of asset protection. The Florida Constitution exempts homestead property from levy and execution by judgment creditors with unlimited monetary protection. However, Homestead is not protected against tax liens, mortgages, homeowner association assessments, or from mechanics liens associated with labor or materials to repair or improve the homestead property.

Miami "The Sunshine State"

To your right, the Freedom Tower, where the first Cuban immigrants arrived to become American citizens. Do I sound like a tour guide? Well, that may be because eight years ago I had the opportunity to work as a tour guide in Miami, a city where great shopping and white sand beaches are the main attraction. But working as a tour guide, I learned that Miami has a lot more to offer, so allow me to give you a few recommendations of places to visit next time you fly down to the Sunshine State.
Let's start our tour in Downtown Miami. Take a boat tour from Bayside to see up close the homes of the rich and famous. Since real estate is our business, hop on the Downtown monorail (free ride) and watch from up high the old and new construction in contrast.
Continue your tour through Coconut Grove, one of Miami's oldest cities. Watch on your left Miami's first airport , where PanAm used to be the only airline. After being one of the most poor areas of Miami, Coconut Grove became one of the most expensive pieces of real estate thanks to the 1930's mafia. Adjacent to Coconut Grove is one of the cities with most charm: Coral Gables. Banyan trees give shade to streets with spanish names and houses built of coral. On Sundays, The Biltmore Hotel, where Al Capone used to stay, offers one of the cities best brunches with buffet tables wrapping around the pool.
Just drive a little further and you'll be in "LA CALLE OCHO" (8th St with a flavor of Cuba). Stop for a Cuban coffee (cortadito) to give your day a jolt and watch the Cuban culture at its best with folks playing chess and smoking cigars. Finish up your tour in South Beach (notice I say finish the tour, not the day). South Beach doesn't sleep and neither will you. Spend all day lying on the beach or just watching people go by (you can spend all day watching people go by and don't get bored). When the sun sets, have dinner at one of Lincoln Rd's amazing restaurants and then it's off to Salsa! Dance all night at any of Miami's great clubs (Level and Bash are great choices). If you like salsa (and even if you don't it is still a scene to watch), don't miss Mango's on Ocean Dr. On Sundays, Nikki's Beach is the place to see and be seen. This Miami's hot spot is right on the sand, perfect after a day of sun and fun.
And at last, my favorite place: The Everglades, wich means "The Never ending river of grass". While most people think it is a swamp the Everglades is one of the world's slowest moving rivers(it moves one mile per day). Take an air boat ride through the river's sawgrass and watch the most exotic birds fly by and maybe spot a few alligators.
And ok, I know you can't miss the opportunity of being in Florida and not going shopping, so just for kicks, the most popular malls are the Aventura Mall in NE Miami-Dade, Sawgrass (an outlet mall in SW Broward), and the Dolphin Mall in NW Miami-Dade.

Are you involved in mortgage fraud and don't even know it?

Right About Real Estate Podcast - Are you involved in mortgage fraud and don't even know it?

Are you involved in mortgage fraud and don't even know it?

So it's inevitable: The market is changing.

Remember those days when a listing would only remain on the market for a few days? Remember the multiple offers, the cash deals and the appraisals below purchase price that didn't make a difference because buyers had to pay the difference if they wanted to buy a home?

Well, those days are gone, but with a shift in market conditions, and sellers asking lower prices for their properties than their neighbors who sold last month, there is phenomenom taking place that has mortgage fraud written all over it.

Let's say I am a buyer looking to purchase a home. I find the perfect 3 bedroom home in the neighborhood of my choice and the owners are asking $455,000 for it. I know there are comparable homes in the area selling for $485,000 - $495,000, so this home will probably appraise for about $490,000; I offer the owners $425,000 for the home and they accept. I haven't even closed and I already have $65,000 equity in my property! Up to this point, everything is great, until I remember that my neighbor's nephew who just bought a house walked out of closing with all of his equity in his pocket, and so I decide to write the offer to the sellers instead of for $425,000, for $490,000 and include and addendum, which I will obvioulsy not send to the bank so they don't start asking questions, that states that the sellers will credit the buyer with $65,000 at closing. No harm done, right? the sellers will still get their $425,000 and I will get the equity that is mine anyways...

If this sound so great and so harmless, why is it wrong? For starters, inflating prices in this manner keeps an unrealistic sense that property values are still on he rise and doesn't allow the market to have a much needed correction. But more importantly, this practice is considered mortgage fraud and it has devastating consequences for the banking industry, buyers, sellers and realtors.

from what I have heard and read, there are a few rings in the South Florida area operating in the following manner: A buyer purchases several properties this way in a three month period (most times with stolen identities). Let's say he buys 12 to 15 homes during this period of time and cashes out over a million dollars in equity. After the third month, he fleas to the Cayman Islands and by the time the properties start forclosing, he is long gone, leaving behind an investigation that will come back to haunt those less fortunate than the buyer, who didn't go to the Cayman Islands, like the seller, the mortgage broker, the realtors...

So you can imagine what I've done in the past few months, everytime I get an offer like this on one of my listings (I've gotten four so far)... I advise the seller to tell the buyer: "the seller will either accept the lower price (the offer minus the equity) and the you can get a HELOC the day after you close, or you do it the way you propose, but we include the clause in the contract and not in an addendum (this way there is no risk of the bank not finding out) and the contract is not contingent upon the property appraising for the higher amount, but you are forced to purchase so long as it appraises for the lower amount."

This is no fairy tale, so three out of the four times I've done this, the buyers have said no thanks and gone to buy a different property. It is terible for the seller and it is terrible for me since we don't make the money, but you know what, my license is worth a lot more that a few thousand dollars I would have made in commission and so is my freedom, as this is punishable with prison time. As for the sellers, I have been lucky enough that they've appreciated their freedom more than they did the sale and I have found buyers for their homes shortly after. Should the seller have told me "forget it, we are taking the offer", this would have been a much tougher decision, since I would have probably had to resign as their Realtor and forget about getting paid.

I am sure if you live in an area that was fast appreciating last year and it is now slowing down you've seen this phenomenom, so I am really looking forward for your comments stories about situations like this one.

To Blog or not to Blog!!!

Lets start with what is a Blog? A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media.
Why to start a blog? for many years people have kept online journals displayed on a website. In 1999 after a slow start, blogging rapidly gained in popularity. Blogging combined the personal web page with tools to make linking to other pages easier — specifically permalinks, blogrolls and TrackBacks. This, together with weblog search engines enabled bloggers to track the threads that connected them to others with similar interests.
How to start a blog? they are several webistes that offer the capability to host a blog for free some of them are:
Blogger
wordpress
You just have to click on "create" and the program will walk you through the set up, step by step, once you set it up, you can start posting.
Some tips for creating a successful blog are:
1)You should update your blog as often as you can
2)Remember to use phrases that are relevant for your customers or the people that you are interested in reading your blog so that search engines conect you to the right readers.
3)Register your site to blog directories.
4)Advertise it in your business cards,website, e.t.c.
Know you are ready to go BLOGGING!!!!

5 things you should do before selling

Avoid having the sale of your home fall through because of things that are well in your control.
In most standard contracts, it is specified that a Buyer has the right to inspect the property for damage or malfunction of appliances, plumbing, electric system, A/C unit, termites, roof condition and pretty much anything they deem appropriate within a certain amount of days from the date both parties sign a contract. Should they find anything that is not functional, they have the right to cancel the contract with no penalty.
To avoid having a buyer conduct an inspection and find things that may surprise you, it may be a good idea to consider the following 5 points:

1. Have a "pre-inspection". Prior to putting your home on the market, call a home inspector and have them provide you with a report including all necessary repairs.

2. Put yourself in a potential buyer's shoes and think which ones of those needed repairs, would scare you the most. Consider making some if not all of the repairs suggested by the inspector before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract. The items that usually scare buyers the most are those regarding the roof, termite infestation, plumbing and electric systems and A/C units.

3. If you decide not to repair some of the items listed on the inspector's report, then get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that will need to be repaired or replaced. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs. You may also want to consider getting estimates on cosmetic repairs or replacements not included in the inspector's report, such as worn carpeting.

4. Gather together all the warranties and guarantees you may have for the appliances, termite treatments, roof repairs and other items that will remain with the house.

5. Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don't forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

TECH TOYS FOR YOUR HOME

If having the latest technology in your home is important to you and your family, then keep an eye out for these 10 cool features and products:

1. Automated lighting controls, window coverings, audio systems... From a remote control, you can do anything from turning on and off the lights of one room or the entire house, control the temperature and start your favorite movie.
2. High-tech toilets Brondell Inc has developed the most high tech of all toilets. The Swash 400 and Swash 600 promise to make your bathroom experience more comfortable and clean with features that include heated seat, gentle-closing seat and lid, push-button controls to adjust water pressure and temperature, a self-cleaning spray arm that moves forward or back to adjust to the anatomy of male and female users, a wireless remote control and a blow-dryer designed to eliminate the need for traditional toilet paper.
3. Home Theater Motion Simulator Chair Connect the D-Box Chair to your home entertainment system through a specialized controller that receives special effects codes from hundreds of DVDs and videos. As the movie plays, the chair moves in response to the signals. So if you're watching Jaws, you will actually experience the boat rocking.
4. The unbreakable window The Window Factory has come up with a window that features reinforced framing with break-resistant glass similar to the glass used in automotive windshields. The windows are said to be tough enough to stand up to baseball bats, crowbars and bowling balls. A unique secondary deadbolt lock secured to the frame makes the windows burglar-resistant as well.
5. Anti- microbial countertops This Silestone counter tops with Microban anti-microbial protection are resistant to germs, bacteria, mold and mildew and continue to clean long after you've cleaned them.
6. Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator The first residential elevator that runs merely by the forces of gravity. It is the pumps or turbines of the vacuum that pull you up to the next floor, and the slow release of air pressure that floats you down. This self supporting vacuum elevator can operate up to 35 feet, or three stops, with no pits or hoist ways required. Since a pit is not needed, the vacuum elevator appeals to any existing home that can accommodate a 3 foot diameter ring. it can be installed in one day and no excavation or infrastructure is required.
7. Automatic lawn mower Hate mowing the lawn? No problem. With the Robomower you will never have to do it again. The Robomower is suitable for mowing an area up to a one-acre lot size. Simply schedule a weekly program and forget about mowing for the entire season! The RL1000 will automatically depart at the times you have pre-set, cut your lawn and return to the charging station at the end of each operation. It will then recharge and wait for the next scheduled operation. A buzzer is heard five minutes prior to automatic departure, warning people to clear the mowing area.
8. Garbage-o-way™ Forget the garbage bin in your kitchen and send the odors outside. Built into the kitchen wall there is a hole with a flap cover through which all garbage is disposed into a cylindrical container housed outdoors which is fitted with a hydraulic press to compress the rubbish and keep odors contained. The cylindrical container is mounted on wheels to be easily moved for collection.
9. Biometric Door Lock Always forgetting your keys? Let your fingerprints open the door. The Biometric Door Lock allows you to open your door three different ways--fingerprint, pass code or emergency key. This secure locking system can be programmed with up to 78 different prints. Adding and deleting fingerprints is a snap. No need to drill new holes in the door, this Biometric Door Lock installs easily into the existing holes on your door. Powered by four AA batteries, it can be operated for up to a year without changing the batteries.
10. Car stacker Not enough space in your garage? then stack your cars with the Car-Lift. It can be used in existing garages with heights starting at 9-foot 6-inches and for garages in the planning stage, there are belowground lifts that can place up to two cars below ground. Access to any car is as simple as pushing a button.

Should you rely on the internet to search for a home?

We all know that the internet has changed the real estate industry and the way in which home buyers search for homes. Searching the internet before roaming the streets can save you precious time, but using the wrong sources will only confuse you.
When searching for homes on the internet, make sure your source has real-time connection with the MLS. The MLS shows the data that Realtors input in a real-time basis, thus providing the most reliable information. A lot of internet sources are not constantly connected to the MLS and do not update their records constantly, making the data you pull out outdated. In an ever-changing real estate market, outdated information means wrong information. To pull out the most updated, straight-from-the-MLS information, visit the HOME SEARCH section of our website.