Protecting Your Identity

We take all the necessary steps to guard your personal information... and so should you. If your holiday plans include purchasing a new home, be sure to include protecting your identity as an item on your "making a list and checking it twice" agenda. The effects of identity theft can damage your credit rating and impair your ability to obtain financing.


While you're trekking through the malls or cruising websites looking for great holiday bargains, it may be difficult to remember that not everyone around you is as caught up in the holiday spirit as you are. Some of your fellow shoppers may actually be identity thieves looking to parlay the season's hustle and bustle into an opportunity to steal your personal information and, ultimately, your money.

According to the FTC.gov website, it is estimated that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. On average, it takes a victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve each incidence of identity theft. No one wants to lose that kind of money at any time of year, but those time and monetary costs can be even more stressful during the holidays.

"The holidays present a wealth of opportunity for identity thieves," says Heather Battison, TransUnion's senior director responsible for consumer education. "The hectic holiday season can potentially expose our personal information to theft in both high-tech ways like phishing scams, and in traditional ones, such as a stolen wallet or mail theft."

Proactive steps from TransUnion that may help minimize your exposure to identity theft during the holidays:

'Tis the Season...to Protect Your Identity

*Only carry essential documents with you; take your driver's license and the credit card or cards you intend to use that day. Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport.

*Keep a close eye on your credit card bills. This is especially important during the holidays, when close attention can help you catch any charges you don't recognize on your statement.

*The holidays mean plenty of extra trash. Shred everything that contains personal, identifying information before throwing it out.

*When shopping online, look for businesses with websites that have some level of security measures in place to protect you. For example: before you provide any personal or payment information, look for a URL that begins with https (not http) and a lock emblem on the page, typically next to the address bar.

*Before you surf the net, consider changing your account passwords and keep a list of them in a secure place. Passwords and PIN numbers should be a random mix of letters, numbers and special characters, which makes it harder for identity thieves to guess.

Preventing identity theft is important year round and especially during the holidays. By taking steps to protect yourself, you can help ensure your holidays remain bright - and secure.

~From Foundation Title

Remember you can always reach me via email at george.margrave@migonline.com or on the phone at 615-777-4663.  Happy New Year!

Give the Gift of Charity this Holiday Season!

It's a Snap with THE GOOD CARD® - a Gift Card for Charity

Network for Good has a fresh angle on gifting this holiday season: The Good Card® - a gift card for charity - is perfect for everyone on your list. Good Cards have a stored value that can be redeemed as a donation to any of more than 1.2 million charities based in the US. Good Cards can be distributed via email or physical mail, or can be private labeled to meet your brand needs. Learn more at Network for Good.

A gift card for charity is an ideal reward for employees or thank you gift for customers and vendors that links their passion for a cause to your company's brand. A new study by researchers from Harvard Business School, the University of British Columbia and the University of Liege that was recently highlighted in the Washington Post confirms that a bonus employees get to spend on others is more motivating than a bonus they get to spend on themselves. A Good Card recipient can redeem their gift card as a donation to any of more than a million nonprofits, an easy way for employees to share their personal rewards with others.

Good Card purchases, including fees, are tax-deductible to your company and are a creative way to spend funds earmarked for philanthropy. In addition, because Good Card purchases are charitable donations, they do not fall under the IRS gift limit or policies around corporate gifts with cash value. Network for Good's charity gift card program is turn-key, customizable and easy to implement - even at the last minute. The program is recommended for any company looking to put a special spin on their gift-giving this year. What's more, the person GIVING the gift (i.e., the card purchaser) gets the benefit of a tax advantage for charitable donations as well.

The Good Card is a creative and constructive way to honor partners and prospects, friends and neighbors during the holiday season and throughout the year. Visit Network for Good for more details.

Remember you can always reach me at 615-777-4663 or via email at george.margrave@migonline.com
 
Thanks for reading and Happy Holidays!

HUD $100 Down Homes

HUD is offering their foreclosed homes for $100 down until October 2012:

 

• Here is the deal
• It is only for HUD foreclosed properties
• You must use a HUD registered real estate broker or agent (If you need a referral we can help)
• You must qualify for and use FHA financing 
• You must be an “owner occupant”
• The $100 down payment program must be on the executed contract (specifically requested)
• HUD will pay up to 3% for closing costs
• 203K loans are eligible
• The homes are sold in “as is” condition

Please contact us if you have more questions George or Stephanie at 777-4663 (HOME) or email at George.Margrave@migonline.com or Stephanie.Holland@migonline.com .

 

New THDA Aquisition Limits

Last week we were notified by THDA (Tennessee Housing Development Agency ) that the acquisition limit for Davidson County MSA has been raised to $275,000. That means the first time buyers (defined as borrowers who have not had a marital interest in a home in three years) can buy a home up to $275,000. With our help the transaction can be structured with little to no cash needed by the borrower. That particular program has rates so low that the mortgage payment will very likely be less than rent. Also, do you know how nice the home that you get for $275,000 might be? Why would you be paying rent?


Just saying. That’s all.

Should you have any qeustions or need help with any of this, please feel free to contact me at my office, 615-777-4663 (HOME), my cell 615-481-4656 (LOAN) or via email at George.Margrave@migonline.com