Mortgage Rates Plunge

Last week's signs of a slowing economy caused mortgage interest rates to plunge according to BankRate.com's weekly national mortgage survey. Rates on a 3o year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 6.29 percent from 6.49 the previous week.

Fall is great time to buy a home. There is more inventory and more homes to choose from. Interest rates are great also. Visit my website to view all New Jersey real estate listings. Then contact me. I'm here to help.

Tags: mortgage rates plunge, new jersey real estate listings

Home Energy Saver

Now that the first day of Fall is upon us, we will be experiencing cooler temperatures and higher energy bills. I found a great website about dedicated to helping you save energy in your home.

This site, Home Energy Saver, is designed to help consumers identify the best ways to save energy in their homes, and find the resources to make the savings happen. You can calculate how much energy and money can be saved with energy efficient appliances. It also calculates heating and cooling consumption. There is a database of state incentives for Renewable Energy, along with state rebates and tax incentives for upgrading insulationto DOE-recommended levels of insulation. As well as, links to over 4,000 electric and gas companies.

If you are interested in saving on energy costs, you will enjoy this site.

Tags: home energy saver, high energy bills, save on utility bills

Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime impacting more than 10 million victims each year. Often, consumers first learn they are identity theft victims when they are in the process of buying or renting a home and ruining thier dream of homeownership. The National Association of Realtors is working with the Federal Trade Commission to educate comsumers to minimize the risk of identity theft. This new initiative, Deter-Detect-Defend is focused on empowering consumers to protect themselves against identity and to minimize its impact.

Together, the NAR and FTC hope to educate consumers to take the necessary steps to deter, detect and defend against identity theft and make it more difficult for identity thieves to steal a consumer’s personal information. This will help consumers better protect their credit, and increase the likelihood of realizing their home ownership dreams.

Deter Identity Theft
Consumers can deter identity thieves by safeguarding their personal information.

Detect Identity Theft
Consumers can detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring their financial accounts and billing statements. Many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after the damage has been done. The faster consumers detect the theft, the more they can limit the damage.

Defend Against Identity Theft
Consumers should defend against identity theft as soon as they suspect a problem. It’s important to act quickly to minimize the damage.

Tags: identity theft, national association of realtors, federal trade commission, deter-detect-defend

Steps In Buying A Home

Check Credit Rating


Buying a home is an exciting time, full of possibilities and pressures. Starting with some initial preparation and planning will help make the entire process more efficient and less overwhelming.

To start the ball rolling, you should:

Check Your Credit Rating:

Even if you are sure that your credit is excellent, it is wise to check on it at the outset. You'd be surprised how many mistakes are made due to faulty social security numbers, similar names or errors made by retailers. If there is an error, write a letter to the appropriate credit bureau. They are required to assist you in sorting things out and usually take about 30 days.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. AnnualCreditReport.com is the official website to help you obtain your free credit report.

If you have any questions about obtaining your credit report or reading it once you receive it, contact me or visit my website. Here you can view all central New Jersey real estate listings.

Tags: annual credit report, new jersey real estate, central new jersey real estate, central new jersey homes for sale

Metuchen Schools Open Sept. 11

The Metuchen School calendar has been revised with the first day of school being Monday, Sept. 11. Teachers will report back, Thursday, Sept. 7.

It looks like Labor Day weekend is going to be pretty much of a washout with Ernesto coming through, but Metuchen students will have one more weekend to enjoy in their summer vacation.

With school almost upon us, I thought you might appreciat school related links.

Metuchen School District

School Calendars

Metuchen Adult School

Metuchen Public Library

Jersey Clicks

Homework Center

HomeworkHelp.com

Stay dry this weekend and have a fun and exciting school year!

Tags: metuchen school district, metuchen schools open sept. 11