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Welcome
to Homefront News, a quarterly newsletter presented
by Bernie Saul, President, Equitylink Mortgage, Inc.
Archives
June
2002
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The
Best Pricing in the Nation:
3 Year and 5 Year Arms at 5.25% & 6.125% respectively
30 Year Fixed Jumbo - 6.625%
30 Year Fixed Conforming - 6.375%
15 Year Fixed Conforming - 5.875%
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For
Your Protection
Because of the risk of loss, theft,
or consumer fraud, I suggest that you place your
drivers license and all credit cards on a photocopier,
making copies of both sides. Then you will know
what you had in your wallet if it is lost or stolen,
as well as all the account numbers with phone numbers
to call and report their loss. Keep the photocopy
in a safe place. If lost or stolen, be sure to file
a police report immediately, this proves to credit
providers that you were diligent. Most importantly,
call each of the national credit bureaus immediately
to place a fraud alert on your name and SSN. The
alert means any company that checks your credit
knows your information was stolen and they have
to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
Time is critical! |
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Inside
this Issue:
For
Your Protection
Medical Bankruptcies
Credit Bureaus
Landscaping
Dear Father
Courting the Contractor
A personal note
Travel for Less
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1/2
of All Bankruptcies…
Due to Medical Bills
Illness,
injury, and out-of-control medical expenses are at least
partly responsible for about half of all personal bankruptcies
filed by Americans. Medical costs hit women, the elderly,
and households headed by women the hardest.
When
do I lock my interest rate?
With EquityLink, you do not need to stress about
when you should lock your rate. If rates fall after
you have locked, we will move your loan to another
source to get the lower rate. |
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Hot
Tip!
The
Interest Only loan option…
Adjustable rate starting at 3.625%.
Then pay as much or as little as you want
toward the principle. A great tool for sophisticated
investors! |
The
Conforming Loan Limit of $300,700 is the break point
before loans fall into Jumbo rates which are at a higher
rate.
The
FHA loan limit in metro Denver is $239,500.
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When
your friends or family are discussing home financing,
Do them a favor…
Suggest that a call to EquityLink will save money
and stress.
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Landscaping
for Resale
Some
landscaping changes will add more value to a property
per each dollar spent. The most affordable changes
consist of cleaning up the front yard. Pull out
any trash that has become lodged in the bushes.
Trim back branches that extend over a driveway
or sidewalk. If a plant is half dead, it may need
to be removed completely and replaced with a fresh
shrub or young tree.
Flowerbeds
should have the soil turned and raked. Fill in
between existing perennials with bright annuals
to add impact. Choose colors that jump out such
as yellow and scarlet. Cover the exposed soil
with mulch such as shredded red cedar to produce
a professional finished effect.
Lawns
should be edged next to sidewalks and driveways.
Remove any large weeds or clumps of crabgrass.
Dig out brown spots and fill in the holes with
pieces of fresh sod. Apply fertilizer with iron
and make sure to water the grass as often as needed
to keep it a deep green.
Decorate
the porch and front steps with pots of blooming
flowers. Attach window boxes beneath windows and
on porch railings. Hang a basket of petunias,
geraniums, or begonias near the front door. As
a finishing touch, add a Welcome to Our Home sign
or welcome mat.
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On
a personal note:
I underwent major surgery for cancer in January
at Littleton Hospital. All is well now and I am
back in the swing of things. I want to thank all
of you for your cards, letters, gifts, and prayers
on my behalf. A special thank you to my friend,
Bob Mager, who took me fishing for a week in Montana.
Of course, nothing is more meaningful than the love
and support of family when "the hog is in the mire."
Bernie |
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Dear
Father…
Help
me to remember that three feet make one yard,
sixteen ounces make one pound, and sixty minutes
equals one hour. Help me to do business on the
square. Make me sympathetic with the man who was
broken in the struggle, and keep me from putting
in the gaff where it does not belong. Blind me
to the petty faults of others, but reveal to me
my own. Deafen me to the rustle of unholy skirts
and help me to live day by day so that when I
look across the table at my wife, who has been
such a blessing to me, I shall have nothing to
conceal. And when comes the sound of low music
with the scent of fresh flowers and the crunch
of footsteps on the gravel, make the ceremony
short and the epitaph simple: "Here Lies a Good
Man."
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Courting
The Contractor
Homeowners today not only need to be savvy about bids,
contracts, change orders, and punch lists, but they literally
have to sell their project to a busy contractor. It reminds
me of dating. You want the contractor to be interested
in you, but you don't want to be too aggressive. You hope
he likes you and you like him. Don't tell him your renovation
horror stories. Let him do most of the talking. Ask him
about some of his recent similar projects, his payment
schedule, his expected time to complete the work. Be sure
to draw up a contract and have it reviewed by your attorney
before signing. A good contactor will not be afraid of
a contract to define the scope of work, payment schedule,
and work schedule. Never pay more than 30% for a start
up fee, and always retain 10% until the job is 100% complete,
including punch list items. Get copies of the paid receipts
for materials used so the supplier doesn't put a lien
on your house for payment of materials not paid by the
contractor. Or better yet, you pay the material suppliers
directly. Contractors who have been paid 100% are not
motivated to wrap up the final little details that can
be so irritating. Ask for a copy of your conractors liability
insurance as well as a copy of their workers compensation
insurance. Be prepared for the fact that your job will
take longer than expected or promised. Certainly, top
dollar doesn't always mean top work. Take your time.
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Travel
for Less
You are just dying to getaway from it all, but the advertised
airfares are pricey. The good news is that for any particular
destination, there are a multitude of ticket prices and
a host of companies that will sell you a seat. And chances
are you can find everyone of those ticket prices on the
internet. Here are some tips for booking the best deals:
Compare listings on www.expedia.com
and www.travelocity.com.
Check individual airline websites for special offers presented
online only. Bestfares.com
(800-880-1234) allows you to view the latest airline specials,
talk to a live agent and get discounts for an annual fee
of $49.95. Trip.com
(800-894-6470) offers IntelliTrip, a service that scans
16 airline websites. Because it guarantees this service,
Trip.com
asks $10 for each itinerary booked, which can include
hotel and rental car. Contact the consolidators. Cheaptickets.com
(800-377-1000) and online-only services Lowestfare.com
and Travel.com
offer 25% to 45% off published prices. Try your luck at
online auction. The best deal you'll get on Priceline.com
is about a 40% discount, so use this method if the consolidators
didn't satisfy you. |
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A
Special Thanks for Referrals From:
- Zach
Nies
-
Dianne Schulte
-
Kelly Jurgemeyer
- Mary
Beth White
- Carol
Wadsworth
- Kevin
Barnum
-
Krista Nash
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- Donna
Smith
- Craig
Pritchett
- Adele
DiJulio
- Beth
Hanlon
- Lynda
O'Mara
- Todd
Thacker
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Understanding
Your Credit Report
To answer all your questions about your credit report
and how to improve your score, visit www.privatelessons.net/credit.asp.
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National
Credit Bureaus:
Transunion
PO Box 1000
Chester, Pa. 19022
800-888-4213 |
Equifax
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
888-841-7335
www.equifax.com
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Experian
PO Box 2002
Allen, Tx. 75013
888-397-3742
www.experian.com
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