Gwenn Tanvas - Wisconsin Mortgage Expert - FHA Loans - VA Loans - USDA Rural -

Did you know that identity theft often occurs when you are obtaining your Government Free Annual Credit Report? Therefore, you must protect yourself before you become another victim of America's fastest rising crime.

So How Is Identity Stolen With The "Free Credit Report" Scam?

1. "Phishing" is the name of one of the primary scams. It has become increasingly popular. It happens when you receive emails requesting your contact and social security number from individuals pretending they are a legitimate company. For instance, your bank will never request your social security number or private information so that they can verify your account or check your credit.

2. Another popular way is to go to a website advertising a "Free Credit Report." It asks you for your name and social security number which you happily provide. Well guess what..... If it is a fake website, you have just had your identity stolen.

In either case, you may actually even receive a copy of your credit report, because they forward your information to a real website which in turn sends you a free copy of your report. In reality, the identity thieves have started your nightmare and you don't even know it. This is a very good reason of why you should NEVER put your personal information into a form from an email. If it is a link from an email, don't share your info either.

Here are some obvious signs of Internet Identity Theft

• Statements and bills are coming late or not at all to your home
• Collection agencies or creditors will contact you about accounts you do not have or charges you have not made.
• There are transfers or withdrawals that have not been made by you on your financial account statements
• You have been denied credit or are being offered unfavorable credit terms (i.e. a high interest rate with no underlying explanation)
• You are getting letters or calls from businesses or debt collectors about products or services that you did not purchase.

Identity Theft: How bad is it?

In the past year, 7 million people became identity theft victims. The average loss to an American is thirty hours of their time and over $500 in financial losses.

In the last year, total personal losses have been over five billion (with a "b") dollars.

On average, one out of every seventy-nine shopping sprees is one involving stolen identity.

What you should do if you become the victim of Identity Theft:

1. First, alert the fraud department of the three agencies which monitor credit. Tell them you are a victim of identity theft and ask them to put an alert on your credit information. (Unfortunately, you may be required to pay for this service.)
2. In addition, get your credit report from these three large credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and closely scrutinize your credit reports looking for credit cards you did not order, inquiries you did not make and other suspicious activities.
3. Next report your case, including all the details to your local police department.
4. To report identity theft to the central department of the American government for fraud protection, call the toll-free hot-line at 1-877-IDTHEFT.
5. Close all accounts on the credit reports that you believe were opened fraudulently utilizing your name.
6. If your bank or checking accounts, or even your ATM card, have been compromised then shut those accounts down as soon as possible.
7. Your local postal inspector should be alerted, as they undoubtedly have used your personal address info, this address needs to be immediately terminated and you should create a new postal box.
8. Contact the Social Security Administration to make sure that your name and earnings are all correct.

When trying to get a credit report it is important that you know the possible scams and how to avoid them. You can receive a free credit report today by emailing me at gtanvas@patriotms.com - I will be happy get you pointed in the right direction and help you avoid an identity theft nightmare.

Gwenn Tanvas of Patriot Mortgage, is a nationally recognized expert specializing in helping release her clients from the "credit prison" that too many people find themselves in. When you or one of your friends find yourself needing real answers and real solutions to credit issues, you can confidentially contact her at 920-560-5606 or gtanvas@patriotms.com - You can find more tips and information at http://www.wisconsinloantips.com

This is a bit long - but important info none the less!

- Down Payment Assistance was a great program and helped many families realize the dream of home-ownership. Now that Down Payment Assistance is no longer available, what options do buyers have?

It is a well known fact that many people simply cannot qualify for financing due to the lack of a down payment and are concerned about cash reserves after their home is purchased. Often times, down payment gifts are poh poh'ed because the borrower is concerned about repaying the loan after adding the additional expense of owning a home.

Move over DPA . . . There is a new game in town - This new program is referred to as the Punctual Payment Program and is administered by the Rainy Day Foundation. Actually the program has been in existence for quite some time and is getting renewed attention due to the lack of DPA programs. The program does not replace seller funded down payment assistance.

The program is funded by a seller concession similar to the old DPA program. When the buyer makes on-time monthly mortgage payments, the Program will reimburse them for each payment made up to a maximum of 6% of the sales price of their home.

Punctual Payment is NOT Down Payment Assistance:

Borrowers will still need to provide a 3% down payment (3.5% effective 1/1/09) through either their own funds or an acceptable gift source. The Program will simply reimburse the borrower on a monthly basis for making the mortgage payment on-time, thus allowing the availability of money to quickly replenish their savings, repay a 401K loan or a relative from which they had borrowed the down payment.

This Program provides a great marketing opportunity - rather than reduce the sales price of the property . . . offer the Punctual Payment Program.

Realtor/Seller/Builder Benefits:

• Increase Home Sales
• Unique builder marketing opportunity in all channels (Radio, TV, on-site, etc.)
• Identified leader in the industry providing actionable community assistance
• Promotes favorable attention to brand
• Improves customer satisfaction scores
• Social Marketing builds on corporate goodwill and assistance

Buyers will be motivated knowing that their payments will be reimbursed as they settle into their new home.

Benefits to Homeowners:

• Motivates home-buyers to purchase
• Reimbursement of mortgage payments builds homeowners cash reserves
• Protects homeowners by paying their mortgage in case of loss of employment
• Protects homeowners from any type of unforeseen financial difficulty

Below is a snapshot of the Program Process Time-line:

The Punctual Payment Program is Available NOW is all 50 States, however not all lenders are offering the Program. I would imagine as we move forward, more will provide this program as part of their FHA offerings.

If you would like more information on this awesome program, please email gtanvas@patriotms.com - We have several Lenders that are actively participating in this FHA program.

When the House Is Not Selling

Remember . . . "Presentation is Everything!"

As a private seller, you have to make sure that your home is presentable to a potential buyer, and keep in mind that, in a competitive market with more inventory than we've seen in some time, Presentation is Everything!

By eliminating points the potential buyer may find fault with and by bringing out the positive amenities, you are more likely to sell your home and get the price you are asking for. Here are just a few tip to help support your efforts.

1. Let There Be Light. Buy some 100­watt bulbs to brighten the rooms, and open curtains or blinds to let light in. Unless a window faces a brick wall or some type of eyesore, open the drapes!

2. Garage, Not Garbage. Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter and make the garage more spacious. You will be moving and will need to start organizing anyway! So why wait until the last miinute? Clean up oil spots in the garage or carport with a good cleanser to remove that lived-in appearance. The home may not be brand new, but it is new to the potential buyer.

3.Make Scents. Get a nice potpourri air freshener, or keep some refrigerated cookie dough on hand to throw in the oven when a prospect is coming over. Make the house smell like a home.

4.Paint­relief. Consider re­painting any areas that need to be touched up, especially the front door and entryway, and any appliances that are showing their age.
5.Power Plants. Trim down any jungles outside, especially if they cover the house. Get rid of any half­dead houseplants. Water the lawns briefly before any visit, and keep lawns mowed and edged. We are getting into winter here in Wisconsin, so be sure to deadhead plants and prepare a nice winter scape in the yard. Also, bird feeders stratigically place in yard bring a warm welcome to visitors.

6.The Price is Right. Price may be a sensitive issue, but with increased inventories and declining home values in many neighborhoods, keep in mind that every shopper in a buyers market is determoned to get the best deal possible. This is a great time to compare your house with others on the market in the same area. The price is and presentation of your home are the two things that will sell your home faster than anything else.

7.The World is Your Stage. Professional staging can help to showcase the best side of a home, create more interest, and get you top dollar. With increased inventories, staging could provide the competitive edge you need. If you interested in a free local "Home Staging" workshop, please shoot us an email. We are in the process of setting several dates. email: gwennt@century.net and we will put you on our notification list for upcoming workshops.

These tips were taken from our Consumer Guide entitled: 33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast!, a special guide we have available for FREE on our website - To obtain a copy of this Guide, please follow this link and request a copy today! Give Me The Free Guide

On Tuesday, November 11, we will observe Veterans Day. But did you know that the whole week has been designated National Veterans Awareness Week? What a wonderful opportunity to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of the country, and commitment to serve and sacrifice for the common good of the USA.

We at Patriot Mortgage have put toghther a special project in Honor of the Men and Woman serving our great country. Patriot Mortgage, together with Camera Corner and Evans Title of Green Bay are setting up video studios in each Patriot Mortgage Office (Appleton, Green Bay & Oshkosh), to allow family and friends to record a free video postcard to be sent to their loved on serving our country. For more information, please visit my website http://www.wisconsinloantips.com/vetday08.htm

Veterans Day dates back to November 11, 1918 when the Germans signed the Armistice, an order to cease fire, and World War I ended. Originally Veterans Day was known as "Armistice Day", but in 1953, the name was changed to Veterans Day, so that the many other military veterans could be honored and acknowledged as well.

One of the most recognized Veterans Day ceremonies is held at Arlington National Cemetery, which draws hundreds, if not thousands of visitors. Most visitors to the cemetery make a point to stop and visit the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." This shrine is in honor of the many thousands of veterans who gave their lives in defense of our nation.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most visited sites by Americans, prominent dignitaries, and individuals visiting from foreign lands. The site is guarded 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by Tomb Guard Sentinels. All Sentinels are volunteers and are considered to be the best of the 3rd US Infantry - the "Old Guard". And becoming a Sentinel is not just about volunteering time. Each soldier has to meet very specific qualifications. The soldier must be in superb physical condition, possess an exemplary military record, and meet certain height, weight, and build requirements. The soldier must also commit to giving up drinking and swearing...for life!

Once the basic requirements have been met, the training is broken down into three stages; temporary duty, low-visibility walks, and high-visibility walks. To earn a "walk" the guards must memorize a seven-page document about the history of Arlington National Cemetery, and be able to recite the document verbatim. A "walk" occurs between guard changes.

And when a soldier becomes a Sentinel and earns a "walk" it certainly is not an average walk. Each step, hesitation, and placement of firearm is precisely calculated and has a specific symbolic reference. Each guard takes 21 steps across the Tomb, stops on the 21st step, turns and faces the tomb for 21 seconds, then steps off for another 21-step walk down the mat. Both the 21 steps and the 21-second hesitation symbolize the "twenty-one gun salute", the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. After each about face, the Sentinel changes the placement of the rifle to the shoulder closest to the visitors to signify that the Sentinel stands between the Tomb and any possible threat. The Sentinel then repeats this until the guard changes.

The changing of the guard occurs every hour on the hour from October 1 to March 31 and every half hour from April 1 to September 30. The tomb has been guarded every minute of every day since 1937, even during the storms and hurricanes. Each Sentinel commits two years of his life to guard the tomb, and is given a wreath pin signifying they served as a Sentinel. Presently, there are only 400 wreath pins worn.

In 5th grade my father had meetings in Washington DC and the entire family took a two week trip to the nations capitol. I can remember that trip like it was yesterday! It is quite interesting, as my older siblings do not have the vivid memories that I hold. I suppost it was my age. None the less, seeing the changing of the guard at age 10 was most impressive and even at the your age of 10, I felt the honor.

As we pause and pay tribute to America's veterans, we must honor them with our gratitude, knowing that they served and sacrificed to protect and preserve the values of this great nation...and continue to do so today.

It is sad to say but our society seems to decide our value by our credit line or credit worthiness. With a good credit report, it is likely you will participate in and enjoy many of the finer things in life. However if your credit report is "challenged", you probably will not.

Few creditors, if any, will extend individuals with bad marks on their credit history loan options.

But what if you had no other option? What if you were forced to choose between buying food, and making the payment on your car? What if you were prevented from making timely payments by a lack of employment, a medical emergency or some other personal crisis? Should just one late payment result in up to ten years of being punished by having to pay higher rates and fees?

One wonders why this system is allowed to operate as it does. In a court of law, judges will give you a chance to defend yourself before deciding your fate - this is one very important difference not to forget. In America, we are guaranteed the right to face our accusers before judgment can be passed. With your credit record, however, this is completely untrue. The credit bureaus have the final say on your credit report.

Unbeknownst to us, creditors and credit bureaus have been trading information about us for a long time. They trade your personal information (name, address, social security number), they trade your private information (who pulled your credit, what you purchase, and the terms of your loan) and they trade your painful information (late payments, liens, bankruptcies.) Much of it amounts to hearsay, which can end up bringing you financial hardship.

Under the current credit system, your credit file is stamped with negative and damaging information, whether it is yours or not, before you have the opportunity to defend yourself. Ironically, YOU are expected to prove whether negative or erroneous information on your report is wrong. Remember, the credit bureaus will assume that you are guilty unless you can be proven innocent. This is a direct contrast to the common American principle that one is innocent until proven guilty. Why do the credit bureaus not offer us this same courtesy? It doesn't seem fair that we don't have any chance to defend ourselves before negative information is put on our report. The truth is that consumer rights would decrease the credit bureaus profits.

Credit bureaus exist to make a profit and their product is your credit file. Credit bureaus sell your credit information, which their buyer's (credit card companies, etc...) rarely question. Creditors, in return, give the bureaus whatever data they may have collected about you. Mistakes, however, are frequent. It doesn't matter if the credit report is right or not, it will be hard and expensive for you to prove that your information is false.

What can you do about it?

Every person living in a democratic nation is entitled to a defense. Consumers have the legal right to retain an attorney to defend themselves against unfair accusations. Instead of you being forced to disprove negative items, the credit bureaus should have to provide information verifying the accuracy of their report. The law and Congress are in agreement. Because of the unfair nature in which your information is collected and distributed, credit repair is both a legal and ethical right of every American.

You will probably need more than just a standard form letter to corroborate your credit worthiness. This is where our preferred attorneys come into the picture. Just as you may choose not to repair your own vehicle, you do not have to repair your own credit either. Using an attorney will strengthen your chances of having negative items removed from your credit report. After all, are you more likely to act if you get a letter from an attorney or a letter from an ordinary person?

Our attorneys question everything. If the credit bureaus issue statements that items have been verified, they are not accepted and our preferred attorneys will continue to press for validation of all negative items.

Credit bureaus have been in the driver's seat for too long. They continue winning unless you take action, so don't put it off. If you are tired of being in "Credit Prison", contact me now for solutions.

Gwenn Tanvas, Certified Mortgage Planner in Appleton, WI , specializes in helping release her clients from the "credit prison" that too many people find themselves in. If you, a friend, a family member or a colleague find yourself needing real answers and real solutions to credit issues, you can confidentially contact her at 920-560-5606 or at gwennt@centurytel.net or on the web at http://www.wisconsinloantips.com.