Diane Lynch

People do not always know the importance of a good credit score. Letting your score deteriorate can cost you a lot of money. Did you know that insurance companies will increase their premiums for people with bad credit? Credit card interest rates go up too for people with bad credit. It's nearly impossible to get a mortgage and if you do, the rates will be higher. And the list goes on....

Your credit score can affect so many areas of your financial life. And yet the FICO score is a bit of a mystery. I took a class about it and nobody really knows how they score it and there are no cut and dry rules.

Here are a few things you can do to improve your credit.

1. Keep your credit card bills below 30% of your available credit. If you are always near the limit, your score will go down.

2. Never, never pay the mortgage or equity loan late. Even one time can really hurt. Automatic payment is a great tool to insure you don't forget.

3. Pay all your bills on time; the credit report shows how many times you paid your bills late. Online banking is great....as soon as the bill arrives, log it in and set the date you want it paid.

4. Keep your oldest credit cards open and use them occasionally. The older your credit history, the better.

5. Don't have too many accounts open; close some of the newer accounts. Too much available credit can hurt your score.

6. Don't have too many inquiries on your credit report. If you are making a big purchase such as a house or car, multiple inquiries do not affect your score because they allow you to shop around. But multiple inquiries to open new cards is never a good thing.

Please pass this info along....we need to educate people on keeping their credit scores healthy!!

Each year the agents in my office vote for the agent they believe exemplifies our office mission and values. The person is awarded with the Mark Fortson Award, in honor of an agent who passed away about 6 years ago. I knew Mark and he was a really nice person, a very fitting example for this award.

Well to my surprise, I WON the award this year! And not only that, I found out that I had come in close to winning for several years. What an honor. It is really affirming to be recognized by your peers. Thank you to the great agents in my office.

And may 2011 be the best year ever!!!

As an agent for Realty Executives since 1998 I have seen a lot of changes in the way real estate is done. I have adapted to those changes and use the latest technology to help people buy and sell homes. No longer are we gluing photos to feature sheets but we now use digital cameras to create beautiful brochures. It is said that 90% of buyers and sellers start their search for information on the internet. So what better place to post info that buyers and sellers want? The websites I use for posting listings syndicate them to hundreds of websites....some I do not even know about! It's a wonderful thing how they perpetuate themselves over and over to reach so many people.

I have also found that although buyers and sellers can find a lot of info on the internet, they don't really understand how the real estate industry works. They don't know the protocol of working with one agent from start to finish and how that agent can save them lots of legwork and can educate them along the way. They believe it is necessary to call all the listing agents for information on houses for sale instead of calling their own realtor. Many buyers and sellers do not know how commissions are split between agents and brokers and they assume it all goes to one agent.

As real estate agents, we get the inside story before the public is aware, whether it's about foreclosures or government tax credits. We take seminars and classes to be knowledgeable in the latest trends. We have a wealth of resources from our colleagues and our Associations.

This is without a doubt the best home buying environment I have seen in my career with low prices and low interest rates. Why wouldn't a buyer take the opportunity to get the deal of a lifetime?

Check out some things to do in Warrenville.....

Jan. 3rd - DuPage Forest Preserve Beginner Cross Country Skiing

Jan. 7 - Adult Book Discussion at Warrenville Public Library

Jan. 9 - Fitness NOW Open House at the Park District Rec Center

Jan. 10 - DuPage Forest Preserve - Archery for Kids and Ice Fishing for Beginners

Jan. 13 - Colonel Warren's 200th Birthday Celebration (Warrenville's founder)

Jan. 17 - Park District Program - Fermilab Barn Dance

Jan. 24 - DuPage Forest Preserve Bread from the Oven

Jan. 26 - Library Program: Inside Writing and Publishing

Park District Lunchtime Basketball - Tuesdays and Thursdays

Albright Museum open Sundays 1-4pm

Blackwell Forest Preserve Snow Tubing

It seems there are more and more people looking for decent lower cost rentals and there are none to be found.

I have been trying to find housing for several newly divorcing parents with up to 3 children who need housing for $1000 or less per month. It just doesn't exist! So sad to see these families go from a nice house in the suburbs to a 2 Bedroom rental one-third of the living space they are used to. The despair in their eyes when they describe what they need and know their budget won't allow for anything close.

It's not just divorcees who need help. There are people out of work who have lost their homes and have to rent, but the income is still not there. Their credit is shot, they are high-risk, they have to double the security deposit.

The housing situation is in dire need. Is there no way to convert these bank owned properties into affordable rentals? Can we help people stay in their homes and pay rent when the bank takes over? There has got to be a better plan than government housing programs that are severly over-burdened? I am perplexed by the need and lack of solutions.....