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How to opt-out of Catalog Junk Mail

Ok. I am a little green and I guess that is my motivation for this post. However, it is a productive thing as well.
So there it is, I can not only be environmentally friendly but productive also. I am talking about eliminating all the junk catalogs we receive. I saw a simple post on a great environmental blog by Jennifer Bowles from the Press Enterprise. Her Blog http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/environment/ had a recommendation for opting-out of paper heavy catalogs. What a great idea. Christy and I have this issue with catalogs and mail. It is a challenge for us to throw this stuff away. We want to read some of them, however they just keep stacking up and cluttering our desk.

What’s the saying with mail? “Touch it once…”. If I’d only learn…

Well, we’ll touch it numerous times before it ends in the wastebasket. So this idea works for me. If I can eliminate the source of the problem (the catalogs) then I can not only save a few trees, but be a little more productive and have a less messy desk.

There is a free online service called http://www.catalogchoice.org/ that will contact these companies that send the catalogs to you and have them stopped. I tried it and it only took a few minutes.
According to the groups that sponsor this project, 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers each year. They said that translates into 53 million trees and 3.6 million tons of paper.

Robert
http://www.robertandchristy.com/

Be Prepared for a Disaster - Home Inventory

Be Prepared with a Thorough Home Inventory
As we are reminded by the devastating fires in California, a disaster can strike at any time. Being prepared with a home inventory is an important step in preparing for the unexpected. Download this free software program...

Put yourself to the test. Could you make a list of everything in your home from memory, without going room by room? Most of us would answer no, which is why a Home Inventory is such a necessity. When a natural disaster or burglary occurs, your insurance company will require documented proof of possessions that are stolen, damaged or destroyed. They will want an itemized list which is not easily created, especially during a crisis.

As daunting as it may seem, preparing your home inventory can be quite simple with the right tools. Paper and pen is one option, but inventory software is an excellent alternative. The Insurance Information Institute offers home inventory software called Know Your Stuff (http://www.knowyourstuff.org/). This software is not complicated to use and even makes creating a home inventory enjoyable. It contains an inventory wizard along with the ability to store digital or scanned photographs and receipts. Once you have completed your inventory, it is easy to keep your information up-to-date and maintain an accurate record of all your possessions.

Keep in mind, after creating your home inventory you can store a copy of the file and all receipts at another location such as a relative or friend’s home or in your safe deposit box. An even better option is to store your information on a secure server at Secure Swiss Databank (http://www.vault24.com/public/product.php) where you can access it day or night. In the event your home is destroyed, you will have peace of mind knowing you can access your inventory list from a remote location and you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged or destroyed.

Robert & Christy Thompson

Realtors-GRI serving Corona and Surrounding Inland Empire Communities

http://www.robertandchristy.com/

Is Corona going to evacuate due to Fire?

Here is the latest on the Fires - From City of Corona

Updated: 10/28/2007 at 12:00 PM
The fire suppression efforts on the Santiago Fire continue. The firefighters are making great progress. There was no movement of the fire over night and the weather continues to cooperate with the effort. You may see air craft supporting the effort and there will continue to be smoke that may be visible for the next several days. Please don?t be alarmed by this activity. There is no direct or imminent threat to the City of Corona. The Corona Fire Department remains committed to the firefighting effort and are directly involved in supporting that effort to protect our community.

Santiago Fire Update
Updated: 10/26/2007 at 2:00 PM
The City of Corona is continuing in its efforts to keep the residents informed on the current situation of the Santiago Fire in Orange County. The Corona Fire Department is working closely with Regional Fire Officials to provide everyone with updated information as it becomes available. Today you may see a significant amount of firefighting resources moving towards the east side of the fire including firefighting aircraft in efforts to hold the fire at the County line.

The Santiago Fire does not pose an immediate danger to Corona, specifically the resident's of the Eagle Glen area. In the event that conditions change the fire department will inform citizens of the potential impacts and the appropriate actions to take.

The Fire Department continues to remind our citizens that they should always have their own family emergency evacuation plan and preparedness kit for any emergency.

For updated information throughout the weekend, the Hotline number will continue to be staffed by personnel to keep everyone in the City of Corona informed on any changes in the current status in the progress of the Santiago Fire.

The number is (951) 817-5800. Additionally, anyone living outside the boundaries of the city, in the Riverside County area, may obtain information by calling (951) 940-6985 or 211 for Riverside County Residents.

Both the Corona Fire and Police Department's will be deploying additional staff over the weekend in the Eagle Glen area of Corona.

A Town Hall Meeting will take place on October 26, 2007 at 4:00PM at the Temescal Valley Elementary School located at 22950 Claystone Ave., Corona 92883. This informational meeting is being held as a service to citizens living in the affected area of fire activity in Orange County.

We will keep this updated as things develop.

God Bless,

Robert & Christy

http://www.robertandchristy.com/

Latest on SoCal Fires

The latest Info is here:
Please click on the link for Fire evacuation & Shelter Information, courtesy KFI640am. http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=153218&article=2817933 Our son, got evacuated from his school, Cal State San Marcos, in North San Diego County. He also got evacuated from his house in Rancho Bernardo. Needless to say we are a little nervous….. We hope the link will help any of you who need further information.
http://www.robertandchristy.com/

Is it a Good Time to Buy? Credit Scores Matter

If you are debating if it is a good time to buy, consider your credit score. Guidelines have tightened up.

Personally, we are not big fans of FICO scores. Example, consider the person who has been paying their bills, maybe not always on time, but they eventually get paid. Then something tragic happens in their family. They maybe not able to make ends meet during the crisis but always come through. FICO will shred this person. Does this mean they will not pay their bills when they get over the crisis? No. Life just through a left hook and they are recovering. However FICO loves to throw salt in the wound. Makes them feel like a fish out of water.

All that aside, It is absolutely necessary to get your credit score up high to score a decent rate on your home.

Travis Black, our recommended lender gave us the following information on Understanding Credit Scores:

Credit scoring was developed in the 1960s as a means to determine whether or not consumers were likely to repay their loans. The score ranges from 350 to 850 with a higher score being extremely favorable. Essentially, a high credit score translates into lower interest rates for the borrower.
There are five factors that comprise the credit score. Payment history accounts for 35% of the score; outstanding credit balances have a 30% impact; credit history makes up 15%, type of credit factors at 10%; and inquiries influence the score by 10%. This gives the lender a snapshot of an individual’s sense of financial responsibility and ability to pay back loans.
There are many quick ways to improve your credit score, but it may not always be the way you think. Closing a rarely used credit card with a good pay history may actually lower you credit score. Before making any changes, consult with a credit or lending professional.

Travis BlackBroker/OwnerFirst Choice Mortgage
(909) 203-5900 http://www.yourfirstchoice.com/
http://www.robertandchristy.com/

The Latest on SoCal Fires

The latest Info is here:


Please click on the link for Fire evacuation & Shelter Information, courtesy KFI640am. http://www.kfi640.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=153218&article=2817933



Our son, got evacuated from his school, Cal State San Marcos, in North San Diego County. He also got evacuated from his house in Rancho Bernardo. Needless to say we are a little nervous…..



We hope the link will help any of you who need further information.

http://www.robertandchristy.com/

When the Real Estate Market Bottoms out - Buy Now

Are you a buyer waiting for the “bottom” of the market? First of all, how do you know when we’ve hit “bottom”? We don’t. We only know the bottom was reached when prices start coming back up. Then it’s too late. And what makes prices start to increase? A lack of inventory sufficient to take care of the demand (basic supply and demand principle). So really, isn’t it better to buy when the interest rates are low, the inventory is high (lots of choices), and there are people who are willing to take less than the market might otherwise bear?

So what is the prediction? Economists are saying prices in Riverside County might drop 7-9 percent. So, if that’s true, if you were to buy today, offering 7-9 percent less than the market value of a house that you like (because there are so many to choose from), you are likely buying at the bottom, right? How about if you offered 10 or 11% less? Now you’re getting a screaming good deal. Those deals are out there. We have recently seen banks accept offers as much as $100k less than listing price.

Buyers, you may need to make a few offers before you find that desparate seller or bank willing to accept a low offer. But what’s the harm in trying?

When asking people how do they know when the market has hit bottom, the typical response is the newspaper. However, do you follow the newspaper to make stock market decisions? The typical answer is “no, by the time it’s in the paper, it’s too late”. That’s also true of real estate. Don’t follow the newspaper, follow a real estate professional. We know the real story. Cha-ching!