*******************
I’ve been in the mortgage and real estate industry for more than 20 years. Wow! How time flies!
Perhaps the greatest benefit of my profession is I get to deal with clients from every profession and occupation imaginable and many of these good folks prove themselves to be not just competent, but absolutely great at what they do for their livelihood.
So with tax season fast approaching, I would like to give you another valuable gift … The Best Tax Preparation Service I’ve ever used: Hazboun Tax Service.
Here’s the deal. Clients are always asking me for advice regarding … well, you name it: tile installer, carpet installer, attorney, plumber, handyman, dentist, etc. And I’m always happy to oblige because I almost always know someone I know personally and am proud to recommend.
So with Tax Season approaching I thought I should be proactive.
I realized over the last few years I’ve been asked by several clients if I knew of a good tax preparer I could recommend. I gladly recommended Al and Rima of Hazboun Tax Service and didn’t give it a second thought.
But an interesting thing happened. Each and every time, the client I referred called me back later and thanked me for it!
Why?
Because they received either a larger tax refund or larger tax savings than they had ever received before! … or they successfully resolved a problem or dispute they were having with the I.R.S.
Put simply, Al and Rima are the best! You can call them at 951-246-0497, or email at Hhzbntax@yahoo.com.
And by the way, I don’t just recommend them, I also use them for my own individual and business tax preparation.
Hope your new year is off to a great start!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
www.KenHallProperties.com
**************************
Friday, January 20, 2012
Why some credit cards shouldn't be "in your wallet"!
******************
As I have shared in the past, your credit score effects how much you pay for car insurance and homeowners insurance, and it determines the interest rate you will have for your car payment, your mortgage, credit cards and the list goes on and on.
As you can see, having a great credit score can save you money in so many ways. So any secrets that teach you how to optimize your credit score are certainly good secrets to know.
Did you know that if you are "maxed out" on your credit cards it hammers your credit score almost as much as if you had a late payment? (Maxed out is when your credit limit and credit balance are real close to being the same.)
Did you know that some credit card companies do not report to the credit bureaus what your maximum credit limit is? Now you may think that's a good thing, but it's not. You see, if there is no maximum credit limit reported, the credit bureaus assume that you are "maxed out" and this mis-information hits your credit score almost as much as a late payment does.
So a key strategy for raising your credit score is to make sure that your credit card company publishes your maximum allowable credit limit to the credit bureaus so that you don't get falsely accused of having reached your limit.
If you need help figuring out which companies may be using this or other dirty little secrets against you, give me a call and I'll be happy to help!
Now I have a quick favor to ask of you. Would you please be my ears for me? If you hear that any of your friends, family members or co-workers are even thinking of buying or selling, their home, would you please share my information with them so that I can help them too? I promise to take great care of them. Thanks so much, I appreciate and honor your trust.
Feel free to forward this tip to your friends so that they can take advantage of this key service also. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
www.KenHallProperties.com
*************************
As I have shared in the past, your credit score effects how much you pay for car insurance and homeowners insurance, and it determines the interest rate you will have for your car payment, your mortgage, credit cards and the list goes on and on.
As you can see, having a great credit score can save you money in so many ways. So any secrets that teach you how to optimize your credit score are certainly good secrets to know.
Did you know that if you are "maxed out" on your credit cards it hammers your credit score almost as much as if you had a late payment? (Maxed out is when your credit limit and credit balance are real close to being the same.)
Did you know that some credit card companies do not report to the credit bureaus what your maximum credit limit is? Now you may think that's a good thing, but it's not. You see, if there is no maximum credit limit reported, the credit bureaus assume that you are "maxed out" and this mis-information hits your credit score almost as much as a late payment does.
So a key strategy for raising your credit score is to make sure that your credit card company publishes your maximum allowable credit limit to the credit bureaus so that you don't get falsely accused of having reached your limit.
If you need help figuring out which companies may be using this or other dirty little secrets against you, give me a call and I'll be happy to help!
Now I have a quick favor to ask of you. Would you please be my ears for me? If you hear that any of your friends, family members or co-workers are even thinking of buying or selling, their home, would you please share my information with them so that I can help them too? I promise to take great care of them. Thanks so much, I appreciate and honor your trust.
Feel free to forward this tip to your friends so that they can take advantage of this key service also. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
www.KenHallProperties.com
*************************
Friday, December 16, 2011
What is the Biggest Mistake Sellers Make in Today's Real Estate Market?
*********************
I was speaking with a nationwide top real estate agent the other day. During our conversation, I asked him, "What is the biggest mistake that you see sellers make in today's real estate market?"
His answer blew me away because it seems so easy to avoid. He said the biggest mistake he sees people make is not making a counteroffer on purchase offers they deny.
He said it is critical for sellers to not take offense to a buyer's offer and completely forget about them.
Instead, try to come to an agreement with an offer of your own that is below what you are asking and above what they offer. While this seems like such an obvious answer, he said many people just ignore a real low offer. That is a HUGE MISTAKE!
Frequently a buyer comes in at a low price on the first offer just to see what will happen, even if they are prepared to pay full price.
It is so important to keep the lines of communication open. Communication is the secret to success in all relationships.
Just remember that you have somebody that has seen your house and wants to buy it. Obviously they want to pay as little as possible, you want them to pay as much as possible, and that's why they call it negotiations. Counteroffers can be a great way to sell and buy a home.
Don't forget, if you are thinking of buying or selling a house, it's critical that you have the right real estate agent working for you. There are so many rookies out there that talk the talk, but if you ask them how many deals they have actually done in the last 12 months, most have pathetic numbers to report.
Is that who you want working on what is likely to be the biggest transaction you will make? Of course not!
Give me a call, I have years of experience to direct you and help you along the way. In today's economy, you just can't afford to make a financial mistake.
You have my number and my email address; I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
www.KenHallProperties.com
CA DRE License #01418440
I was speaking with a nationwide top real estate agent the other day. During our conversation, I asked him, "What is the biggest mistake that you see sellers make in today's real estate market?"
His answer blew me away because it seems so easy to avoid. He said the biggest mistake he sees people make is not making a counteroffer on purchase offers they deny.
He said it is critical for sellers to not take offense to a buyer's offer and completely forget about them.
Instead, try to come to an agreement with an offer of your own that is below what you are asking and above what they offer. While this seems like such an obvious answer, he said many people just ignore a real low offer. That is a HUGE MISTAKE!
Frequently a buyer comes in at a low price on the first offer just to see what will happen, even if they are prepared to pay full price.
It is so important to keep the lines of communication open. Communication is the secret to success in all relationships.
Just remember that you have somebody that has seen your house and wants to buy it. Obviously they want to pay as little as possible, you want them to pay as much as possible, and that's why they call it negotiations. Counteroffers can be a great way to sell and buy a home.
Don't forget, if you are thinking of buying or selling a house, it's critical that you have the right real estate agent working for you. There are so many rookies out there that talk the talk, but if you ask them how many deals they have actually done in the last 12 months, most have pathetic numbers to report.
Is that who you want working on what is likely to be the biggest transaction you will make? Of course not!
Give me a call, I have years of experience to direct you and help you along the way. In today's economy, you just can't afford to make a financial mistake.
You have my number and my email address; I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
www.KenHallProperties.com
CA DRE License #01418440
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
My Client Dave Just Saved $1,300!!
I just got this email from my client, Dave:
*******************
Dave J to me
show details 1:35 PM (13 minutes ago)
Hi Ken,
I took the advice of your client newsletter of a few weeks ago about getting a lower rate on my credit cards. My first attempt a couple of weeks ago was contacting U.S. Bank who wouldn’t budge on their 12.00% APR. That told me I was probably getting their best rate possible. Just a few minutes ago, I called Citibank about my rate which had increased to 19.99%. This sudden rate increase was after a 0% APR offer had expired.
The first person that I spoke with, located in their Kansas City office, was only able to lower my rate to 18.99%. However, SHE OFFERED to transfer me to a supervisor for further review of my account. In that subsequent conversation I referenced my relationship with Citibank that dates back to 1992. Also, I stated that the other credit cards in my possession were offering 8% and 12%. That Florida based supervisor quickly reviewed my account and immediately offered an 11.99% rate for the next 6-months (which is prime rate of 3.25% plus 8.74%.)
Assuming that I will pay off my card balance in the next 6 months this rate modification will provide a savings of over $1,300. That is money that I would have lost if I had not closely read my statement for the rate change and made a phone call. Not a bad return for a 5 minute investment.
Thanks for the sound and practical financial advice. Keep up the great work. I actually look forward to receiving your emails every Saturday morning!
Regards,
Dave J
******************
By the way, Dave owns "Roadside Advertising" in Temecula. If you need any type of advertising signage, he's your man.
43040 Rancho Way
Suite 300
Temecula CA 92590
951-506-6633
http://www.RoadsideAdvertising.com
******************
*******************
Dave J to me
show details 1:35 PM (13 minutes ago)
Hi Ken,
I took the advice of your client newsletter of a few weeks ago about getting a lower rate on my credit cards. My first attempt a couple of weeks ago was contacting U.S. Bank who wouldn’t budge on their 12.00% APR. That told me I was probably getting their best rate possible. Just a few minutes ago, I called Citibank about my rate which had increased to 19.99%. This sudden rate increase was after a 0% APR offer had expired.
The first person that I spoke with, located in their Kansas City office, was only able to lower my rate to 18.99%. However, SHE OFFERED to transfer me to a supervisor for further review of my account. In that subsequent conversation I referenced my relationship with Citibank that dates back to 1992. Also, I stated that the other credit cards in my possession were offering 8% and 12%. That Florida based supervisor quickly reviewed my account and immediately offered an 11.99% rate for the next 6-months (which is prime rate of 3.25% plus 8.74%.)
Assuming that I will pay off my card balance in the next 6 months this rate modification will provide a savings of over $1,300. That is money that I would have lost if I had not closely read my statement for the rate change and made a phone call. Not a bad return for a 5 minute investment.
Thanks for the sound and practical financial advice. Keep up the great work. I actually look forward to receiving your emails every Saturday morning!
Regards,
Dave J
******************
By the way, Dave owns "Roadside Advertising" in Temecula. If you need any type of advertising signage, he's your man.
43040 Rancho Way
Suite 300
Temecula CA 92590
951-506-6633
http://www.RoadsideAdvertising.com
******************
Monday, October 17, 2011
I'm Spilling The Beans Today!
*******************
I'm going to spill the beans today!
As many of you know, I do a lot of reading. I typically read about 2 or 3 books a week. I do this to stay well informed for my benefit as well as yours.
I'm often asked how I do it. Where do I find time to do that much reading? Well, if the truth be told, about 90% of all the books are audio books. This allows me to listen during all those down times throughout the day. Like when I am driving, during my walks, waiting in the checkout line, getting my oil changed, and so much more!
About 5 years ago, I found this great website called Audible.com. They have thousands of books that I can download right off the internet, onto my computer.
From there, this easy to use program allows me to listen from my computer, burn to a disc so I can listen in my car, or download directly into my IPOD.
Most of the books I choose have to do with business and financing, however, they also have fiction novels, travel books, self help books, radio shows and periodicals, you name it. There are best sellers by top authors like Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Stephen King, Dan Brown and more. There are also audio magazines like Forbes and Scientific American; audio newspapers like The New York Times Audio Digest; and even radio shows like Car Talk and This American Life!
Listen on your commute, at the gym, or anywhere you go. It's a great way to learn, and be entertained at the same time. I find I listen to subjects that I normally wouldn't think about.
So now you know one of my best kept secrets about how to stay informed and educated. Statistics say that if you spend 1 hour a day reading in your field, in three to five years you will be a national expert. So I strongly recommend this service. The plan I use is about $23 dollars per month.
The amount of knowledge you will gain, the time you will save and the fun you'll have doing it will likely make this the best $20 purchase that you'll make each month.
Thanks for letting me share with you. Don't forget, whenever you have real estate questions, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. If I don't have the answer, I know where to find it. I stay informed, and will always give you honest answers. But then, you already knew that, didn't you.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
*********************
I'm going to spill the beans today!
As many of you know, I do a lot of reading. I typically read about 2 or 3 books a week. I do this to stay well informed for my benefit as well as yours.
I'm often asked how I do it. Where do I find time to do that much reading? Well, if the truth be told, about 90% of all the books are audio books. This allows me to listen during all those down times throughout the day. Like when I am driving, during my walks, waiting in the checkout line, getting my oil changed, and so much more!
About 5 years ago, I found this great website called Audible.com. They have thousands of books that I can download right off the internet, onto my computer.
From there, this easy to use program allows me to listen from my computer, burn to a disc so I can listen in my car, or download directly into my IPOD.
Most of the books I choose have to do with business and financing, however, they also have fiction novels, travel books, self help books, radio shows and periodicals, you name it. There are best sellers by top authors like Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Stephen King, Dan Brown and more. There are also audio magazines like Forbes and Scientific American; audio newspapers like The New York Times Audio Digest; and even radio shows like Car Talk and This American Life!
Listen on your commute, at the gym, or anywhere you go. It's a great way to learn, and be entertained at the same time. I find I listen to subjects that I normally wouldn't think about.
So now you know one of my best kept secrets about how to stay informed and educated. Statistics say that if you spend 1 hour a day reading in your field, in three to five years you will be a national expert. So I strongly recommend this service. The plan I use is about $23 dollars per month.
The amount of knowledge you will gain, the time you will save and the fun you'll have doing it will likely make this the best $20 purchase that you'll make each month.
Thanks for letting me share with you. Don't forget, whenever you have real estate questions, give me a call or shoot me a quick email. If I don't have the answer, I know where to find it. I stay informed, and will always give you honest answers. But then, you already knew that, didn't you.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
*********************
Monday, October 10, 2011
How To Make A Grown Man Cry!
*******************
Most of the time, the tips I provide are great FREE services that bring you HUGE benefits.
Today's tip could save you thousands of dollars and countless working hours, but will cost you only $2-$10/month.
A friend of mine just lost what seemed like his whole life, when his laptop fell in the water last week. He said he nearly cried!
We have all heard horror stories of computers crashing and people losing all of their data, hard work, not to mention perhaps all of your vacation pictures. This only has to happen to you once before you become a believer in this tip!
We all know we should back up our computers daily, but let's face it, it probably doesn't happen even once a month, much less daily.
Here is a great service that will back up your computer automatically for $2 per gigabyte. It stores the information on a secure online server via your internet connection every time you are away from your computer for more than 30 minutes or so.
I just signed up for this myself and it was so easy to set up. Just go to www.DataDepositBox.com.
Trust me; if you don't have something like this in place to protect you and your valuable information, you are taking a huge risk.
Thanks for joining me; I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
********************
Most of the time, the tips I provide are great FREE services that bring you HUGE benefits.
Today's tip could save you thousands of dollars and countless working hours, but will cost you only $2-$10/month.
A friend of mine just lost what seemed like his whole life, when his laptop fell in the water last week. He said he nearly cried!
We have all heard horror stories of computers crashing and people losing all of their data, hard work, not to mention perhaps all of your vacation pictures. This only has to happen to you once before you become a believer in this tip!
We all know we should back up our computers daily, but let's face it, it probably doesn't happen even once a month, much less daily.
Here is a great service that will back up your computer automatically for $2 per gigabyte. It stores the information on a secure online server via your internet connection every time you are away from your computer for more than 30 minutes or so.
I just signed up for this myself and it was so easy to set up. Just go to www.DataDepositBox.com.
Trust me; if you don't have something like this in place to protect you and your valuable information, you are taking a huge risk.
Thanks for joining me; I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
********************
Monday, October 3, 2011
Secrets To Raising Your Credit Score!
*******************
Today's tip will help you whether you are buying a new house, a new car, a cell phone, or applying for homeowners insurance!
With the rapidly changing conditions we've seen in the real estate and mortgage industries, it's critical to keep your credit score as high as possible.
Some employers pull credit reports on job applicants, so it will even help there.
These quick tips will help increase your overall credit score.
First, never cancel a credit card that is more than 2 years old. Having a "seasoned" account, one that is more than 2 years old is a big plus for you.
Next, increase your maximum allowable credit limit. In other words, if you have a credit card that is close to its maximum balance, call the credit card company and ask them to increase the credit limit.
The credit bureaus don't like to see "maxed out" credit. Tell them you would like them to do this without pulling your credit.
In addition to this, spread out your balances among your cards trying to keep the ratio between card balances and credit limit to 30% or less.
For example, let's say you have 3 credit cards and $3,000 in credit card debt. If all the cards have limits of say $4,000, it would be best to put $1,000 on each of the cards than to have just 1 of those cards with the full $3000 balance.
Finally, be sure to pay your bills on time. The number one reason for a low credit score is late payments.
And here's a scary fact. Studies show that 79% of all credit reports have errors on them. 79%!!! That's almost 8 out of every 10 reports. That almost sounds criminal, but it's true.
If you are even considering buying a new home or refinancing, let's take a look and see if we need to do some "homework" to build your credit score up to its highest possible point. Since lower scores mean higher interest rates, even a few lost points on your credit score could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in wasted interest payments.
Don't wait, give me a call soon to talk about your options.
You see, our relationship doesn't end when I help you find a beautiful home for your family; that's really just the beginning. Although I am here to make sure you get to the closing table with no surprises, I also want to help improve the quality of your life and to save you some of your hard earned money. And when your family grow's, or you decide to invest in another property, I want to be there to help you then too!
Thanks again for letting me enter your world each week and thanks for the referrals of your friends and family members. I appreciate it and so do they, I promise you that!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
*********************
Today's tip will help you whether you are buying a new house, a new car, a cell phone, or applying for homeowners insurance!
With the rapidly changing conditions we've seen in the real estate and mortgage industries, it's critical to keep your credit score as high as possible.
Some employers pull credit reports on job applicants, so it will even help there.
These quick tips will help increase your overall credit score.
First, never cancel a credit card that is more than 2 years old. Having a "seasoned" account, one that is more than 2 years old is a big plus for you.
Next, increase your maximum allowable credit limit. In other words, if you have a credit card that is close to its maximum balance, call the credit card company and ask them to increase the credit limit.
The credit bureaus don't like to see "maxed out" credit. Tell them you would like them to do this without pulling your credit.
In addition to this, spread out your balances among your cards trying to keep the ratio between card balances and credit limit to 30% or less.
For example, let's say you have 3 credit cards and $3,000 in credit card debt. If all the cards have limits of say $4,000, it would be best to put $1,000 on each of the cards than to have just 1 of those cards with the full $3000 balance.
Finally, be sure to pay your bills on time. The number one reason for a low credit score is late payments.
And here's a scary fact. Studies show that 79% of all credit reports have errors on them. 79%!!! That's almost 8 out of every 10 reports. That almost sounds criminal, but it's true.
If you are even considering buying a new home or refinancing, let's take a look and see if we need to do some "homework" to build your credit score up to its highest possible point. Since lower scores mean higher interest rates, even a few lost points on your credit score could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in wasted interest payments.
Don't wait, give me a call soon to talk about your options.
You see, our relationship doesn't end when I help you find a beautiful home for your family; that's really just the beginning. Although I am here to make sure you get to the closing table with no surprises, I also want to help improve the quality of your life and to save you some of your hard earned money. And when your family grow's, or you decide to invest in another property, I want to be there to help you then too!
Thanks again for letting me enter your world each week and thanks for the referrals of your friends and family members. I appreciate it and so do they, I promise you that!
Sincerely,
Ken
951-760-3833
CA DRE License #01418440
*********************
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