About Greene County, MO

Each year our Keller Williams Springfield Missouri Market Center has the privilege of finding creative and fun ways to help raise funds to support KW Cares! This organization helps support people in local communities that are undergoing difficulties or are faced with a natural disaster. This week we had our annual chili cook off/silent auction to benefit KW Cares and it was a great success!

With the chili pots heated and desserts all lined up it was time for the competition to begin! We had eight pots of chili and one pot of hot fudge chilly to choose from. Each taste was supposed to cost a dollar and give you a vote. However as in many elections, I think there was some voter funny business going on! In the end we raised $1421.76 for KW Cares! This year we also included a silent auction and at the last second I made my final bid and got the item I wanted!

1. Check your credit report for accuracy. You can get one free credit report per year from each of the three credit bureaus- TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. After you received your report, check it for accuracy. Make sure your name and social security number are correct. Incorrect information happens all too often. Make sure your account hasn't been merged with someone with a similar name or social security number. You can get your free copy at www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp

2. If you find errors, get them corrected. If you do find something on your credit report that is incorrect, you need dispute the mistake by contacting the credit bureaus directly. The credit bureaus will have their dispute procedures on their website and they are also required by law to investigate any disputed items. These investigations should be finished within 30 days of your filing of the dispute.

3. Keep your credit card balances low. It's a good policy to keep the balances below 25% of your available credit. Even if you pay off your credit cards every month, a high average balance will affect your score. This accounts for about 30% of your credit score.

4. Keep accounts open. This accounts for about 15% of your score. Don't cancel your old credit card or get a lot of new ones in a short period of time because this can hurt your score.

5. Make sure you pay your bills on time. Payment history accounts for about 35% of your credit score so paying your bills on time is the most important thing you can do. If you are having difficulty paying your bills, contact your creditors to work out a payment plan. Communication with your creditors is crucial.

6. Be careful about new credit requests. Every time someone runs your credit, an inquiry is recorded. If you are trying to get a loan, don't apply for other new credit first. This accounts for 10% of your score.

7. Pay off debt. The best way to boost your credit score is by paying down your credit cards.

8. Paying off a past due collection account will not remove it from your credit report. These will stay on your report for seven years.

9. Be cautious of credit-repair companies. Don't pay someone to clear away the negative items in your file. This can actually hurt your credit rating.

10. Ask your mortgage lender. For more information on how your credit score will impact your loan and interest rate, please contact your mortgage lender.

Going Green, Recycle Congress in 2010!

2010 are the mid-term elections. Are you happy with the job congress is doing? Do you want someone in office who represents you and actually reads the bills before voting on them? Its time to vote them all out of office, both sides of the aisle. Our country needs to return to smaller government and actually follow the constitution.