[source: noscamnc.gov]

Guard Your Personal Information

Protect Your Social Security Number

• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
• Give your Social Security Number (SSN) only when absolutely necessary.
• Ask why a SSN is needed, who has access to it, and how it is kept confidentia.
• Don’t print your SSN or driver’s license number on your checks.
• Shred old bank statements, insurance forms, credit applications, etc.

Finances

• Limit the number of credit cards you carry.
• Watch billing cycles for missing bills and review monthly statements for odd changes. Contact your creditors if a bill doesn’t arrive when expected or includes charges you don’t recognize.
• Use automatic deposits for payroll, social security or other federal benefit checks. To sign up for automatic deposit of social security checks and other federal benefit payments, call (800) 333-1795.
• Keep copied credit cards (front and back) in a safe place in case a card is lost or stolen.
• Destroy receipts that show your entire credit card number. It’s illegal for a business to print the full credit card number on the electronically generated customer’s receipt.
• Review your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statements for errors in your yearly salary. To order a statement, call (800) 772-1213.
• “Opt out” of sharing your nonpublic personal information or credit report information with other businesses.

Protect Passwords

• Don’t carry your personal identification numbers (PIN) in your wallet or purse.
• Don’t share PINs or passwords, even with close friends or relatives.
• Avoid using easily available information for your PINs or passwords such as your mother’s maiden name, your or your family members’ birth dates, your SSN, phone number or a series of consecutive numbers (i.e., 1, 2, 3, 4).
• Choose a different PIN for each account.

Protect Your Mail

• Call 1 (888) 5-OPT-OUT to stop pre-approved credit card applications.
• Place outgoing mail into a locked mailbox such as a blue postal service box.
• Don’t leave incoming mail sitting in an unlocked mailbox.
• Cut down on junk mail by sending a letter with your first and last name, home address and signature to Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512. There may be a one dollar fee for processing.

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By: Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

In July, the Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) wrote about a “Land owner saying no to North Carolina Railroad Co”, detailing the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) Company’s attempt to acquire dozens of acres of land in eastern Wake County. The story is about Lou Beaman, who owns 19 acres of property near a railroad line that runs along U.S. 70 and her neighbors who were approached by NCRR with offers to buy their property. One potential use of the property would be to build a Goldsboro to Greensboro commuter rail, and a recent study concludes that it would be feasible. However, “building the infrastructure and support facilities would cost $1 billion”, according to another recent TBJ article.

The study conducted by HNTB did not cover whether there is sufficient demand to support such a project, so more studies will need to be done. We will have to follow how the 21st Century Transportation Committee and the Special Transit Advisory Commission address this and other issues involving our local and state transportation infrastructure.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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Submitted by our friend at Old Republic Home Protection, Patty Collins

Many homeowners get into the spirit of Halloween by turning their homes into haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and handing out treats to costumed kids who come to their door. If you’re a homeowner planning on getting involved in the holiday, following a few precautions can help keep the night from turning scary in an unwanted way:

• Make sure any hazardous obstacles such as a garden hose or lawn decorations are put safely away.
• Check all outside lights and replace any that are burned out.
• Keep sidewalks and walkways clear.
• Consider using battery-powered candles for carved pumpkins - they’re safer than a real flame.
• If you do use real candles, make sure they are kept away from the areas where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
• Properly light and clear the path to your door so that trick-or-treaters don’t hurt themselves.
• Secure all Halloween decorations. You don’t want your decorations coming loose and injuring someone, or being stolen by vandals.
• You might want to consider adding extra homeowner’s insurance for Halloween night. Nothing puts a damper on fun faster than a lawsuit, a distinct possibility if a child gets hurt on your property or in your house. Contact your insurance agency to see if they are willing to do this.
• If you’re planning a rather gruesome Halloween display, you may want to post warning signs to give the weak-stomached a heads up.
• Only give out kid-friendly treats. Items should be prepackaged and big enough that they don’t pose a choking hazard to small children.

Courtesy of Move, Inc.

For more information on buying a home in the Triangle area, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty!

[Photo Credit: JAGwired on Flickr]

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By: Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

The credit industry is certainly tightening its belt and securing financing is a challenge for even the most credit worthy. So what do you do if you want to take advantage of the extraordinary buyers market we are experiencing but you do not have the 5-20% down lenders now require?

A USDA Rural Development Housing Loan might be the answer for you. Although these loans have been around for a while, you may not know about it. The program is offered by the Rural Housing Division of the US Department of Agriculture to encourage development in more rural areas. Locally, buyers can find qualifying homes in the Wake Forest, Wendell, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs areas as well as in Granville, Franklin, Johnston and Chatham counties.

The benefits of a USDA Rural Development Home Loan are:

• No down payment required
• NO mortgage insurance required
• Flexible credit qualifying
• Reasonable debt to income ratio allowances
• Strong fixed rates
• Possible to finance up to 100% of repairs (perfect if you are looking for a fixer upper.)

For information about eligibility, visit the USDA Income and Property Eligibility webite or, call me at 919.573.6150 for a list of mortgage consultants.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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Submitted by: Brandon Moye, Mortgage Loan Consultant, SunTrust Mortgage

The inflation data released last week supported the view that inflation rates are slowing. The September Consumer Price Index (CPI) remained flat from August, and the core rate, which excludes food and energy, rose only 0.1% for the month. The Producer Price Index (PPI) reflected an even greater impact from lower energy prices with a substantial decline.

Also Notable:

• Oil prices fell below $70 per barrel, down from $147 per barrel in July
• Capacity Utilization fell to 76.4%, easing inflationary pressures
• After peaking last week, Libor rates moved lower
• September Housing Starts fell to the lowest level since 1991
• Average 30 yr fixed rate:
• Last week: +0.20%
• This week: +0.02%
• Stocks (weekly):
• Dow: 8,939 +717
• NASDAQ: 1,715 +134

The Week Ahead

The Economic Calendar will be nearly empty this week. Leading Indicators will come out on Monday. Existing Home Sales will be released on Friday. The weekly Jobless Claims report on Thursday will be the only other economic data. Investors also will be looking ahead to the October 29 Fed meeting.

The market commentary material provided is from a third party vendor, MBSQuoteline, and is not necessarily the opinions of the employees or staff of SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Additionally, the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, but there is no guarantee it is without error.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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By Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

I am back with five more ideas from the U.S. Department of Energy for conserving heat and saving money:

1. Close fireplace dampers when not in use. When in use, reduce heat loss by opening dampers in the bottom of the firebox (if provided) or open the nearest window about an inch, close doors to the room, and lower thermostat setting to 50-55ºF.

2. Let the sun shine in. Open curtains on south facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat the home, and close them at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.

3. Stay out of hot water. Water heating accounts for 15 percent of household energy use. Reduce water heating costs by lowering the water heater’s thermostat setting. Each 10ºF reduction can save between 3-5 percent in energy costs. Also insulate the hot water heater and hot water pipes.

4. Install storm windows over single-pane windows or replace them with Energy Star qualified windows. Storm windows reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent, and storm windows with low-e coating that reflect heat back into the room during the winter months save even more energy. Look for the Energy Star label to maximize savings. Energy Star qualified windows reduce heating and cooling bills by an average of $345, but could be higher in cold and hot climates, compared with uncoated, single-pane windows. Can’t afford new windows just now? Tape clear plastic sheeting to the inside of window frames if drafts, water condensation, or frost are present.

5. Net big savings with a little label. When replacing appliances, light bulbs, electronics, or heating and cooling systems, cut energy bills by up to 30 percent ($600 per year) with Energy Star labeled products. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in place of comparable incandescent bulbs. Find retailers at Energy Star.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of NC offers a great online energy audit tool. In the long run, a whole-house energy audit is a fool proof way to make a plan to address wasted energy and make your home operate efficiently for years to come. You can also find a qualified local auditor in the Triangle area by visiting the Residential Energy Services Network.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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Tags: General Category, homes and community by Janelle - 1 Comment »

Submitted by: Brandon Moye, Mortgage Loan Consultant, SunTrust Mortgage

Last Monday, the government announced that it will use up to $250 billion of the $700 billion rescue fund to make equity investments in a wide range of financial institutions. Their purpose is to inject capital into the banking system and encourage lending. Many other countries have taken a similar step. This, along with the other government actions, seems to have increased investor confidence in the banking system, and conditions in the credit markets showed signs of improvement during the week. Equity markets were extremely volatile last week, and the stock market ended with moderate gains. Mortgage rates moved in a very wide range during the week as well, but they finished the week nearly unchanged.

In a speech last Wednesday, Fed Chief Bernanke suggested that the key tools to “confront and solve” market problems are now in place. He emphasized, though, that financial markets and the economy may take months to recover. Many investors had expected that the rescue plan and other government actions would have a larger immediate impact. Now the general outlook is for economic growth to remain weaker than normal until at least the middle of 2009. Bernanke added that he expects the inflation rate to decline due to a slowing economy and lower energy prices, which would be good news for future mortgage rates.

The market commentary material provided is from a third party vendor, MBSQuoteline, and is not necessarily the opinions of the employees or staff of SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Additionally, the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, but there is no guarantee it is without error.

For more information about Raleigh real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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By Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

Recently I posted a few fall maintenance tips. Along those same lines, and in light of the current economic climate, I thought a list of ways to cut your energy bills would be timely. These ideas for conserving heat and saving money come from the U.S. Department of Energy and are offered as a way for you to conserve energy and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket. You gotta love that!

1. Plug air leaks with caulking, sealing, or weather stripping. Save 10 percent ($190 per year) or more on energy bills. Focus on windows, doors, outlets or switch plates on exterior walls.

2. Properly maintain the heating system. Heating accounts for half the average family’s energy bill (approximately $950 per year). Make sure the furnace or heat pump receives professional maintenance each year. The small cost (about $75-100 for most service calls) will pay back in better performance all year long.

3. Install a programmable thermostat. Programming the thermostat from 72ºF to 65ºF for eight hours a day while no one is home, or everyone is tucked in bed, will cut the heating bill up to 10 percent ($90 per year), paying for a basic unit in less than a year.

4. Seal and insulate heating ducts. A system can lose up to 60 percent of its warmed air before it reaches the register (wasting $570 in warmed air per year) if ducts are not properly insulated in unheated areas such as attics and crawlspaces.

5. Insulate, insulate, insulate. Adequate insulation in the attic, ceilings, exterior and basement walls, floors, and crawlspaces can save up to 30 percent on home energy bills ($630 per year). Focus on the attic. (Heat rises.) Most homes should have between R-30 and R-49 insulation in the attic. Learn more at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.

These five suggestions and the other improvements that I will post later will impact the energy efficiency of a home. They will also save home owners money in the short term and serve as a selling point to potential buyers later. Be sure to save any receipts, all documentation, and any manufacturer’s information because this information demonstrates how well the home has been cared for.

For more information about real estate in Raleigh, NC, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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The Triangle Caregivers Conference is dedicated to addressing new approaches and issues in care-giving, while providing advice for those caring for loved ones and support for the challenges they face.

The one-day conference will feature keynote speaker Nancy Coey, author of Finding Gifts in Everyday Life. This free event will also include lunch, educational workshops, pampering activities, and vendors offering products and solutions just for you. Limited off-site caregiving will be available at no cost!

Date: Thursday, October 23rd
Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Place: McKimmon Conference Center, Raleigh
Cost: Free
Purpose: dedicated to new approaches and issues in caregiving.

Visit the Triangle Caregivers Conference website to register!

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by Katie Dunkle, Client Coordinator

We all could use a little good news this week, so when the American Cities Business Journal listed Raleigh and Durham among the top 100 Hottest Job Markets in the country, the horizon looked a little bit brighter for those of us living in or wanting to relocate to the Raleigh/Durham/Cary or anywhere else in the Triangle area for that matter. For the complete list, visit bizjournals.

According to the Triangle Business Journal, senior vice president of economic development at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, Ken Atkins, isn’t surprised by Raleigh’s ranking. The high quality of life, reasonable housing costs and strong schools continue to attract the interest of potential new employees, Atkins noted. Career opportunities for local residents and newcomers alike will definitely add to the Triangle area’s appeal.

For more information about Triangle area real estate, contact Buyers Advantage Group Realty today!

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