Grayson Hodge

9 Ways to Stay Safe Online and Protect Your Privacy

By Nerissa Sardi

RISMEDIA, September 17, 2009-Nearly everyone is using the Internet these days to find information or connect with others. But surfing the Web can still sometimes feel like the Wild West. Despite technological advances to help reduce the risk of identity theft, becoming the victim of an Internet scam or having your privacy invaded is a persistent threat. And, as a number of recent incidents involving social networking websites have shown us, it can even be fatal.

Keeping your guard up is essential to avoid trouble on the Internet. Here are nine tips to help you stay safe online:

1. Be careful who you give your information to. Avoid giving out personal information such as your name, address or telephone number on websites until you have read and understand their privacy policy. For example, be on guard for online promotions or contests in which you may be asked to provide details about yourself. This information could be used to market to you in the future. Never give out your Social Security number or passwords online, unless you are certain the site is secure.

2. Don't reply to spam. Ever get one of those strange, unexpected e-mails for real estate, weight loss, work-at-home or investment opportunities? Your best bet is to delete those e-mails without opening them. Never reply to these e-mails, even to request they remove your name from their lists. Replying will alert the sender that your e-mail is a "live" e-mail attached to an actual person.

3. Use secured websites. Before you purchase a product or service online with a credit card, make sure the connection is secure or encrypted. Look for a small lock icon on the website, or look at the URL address line; a secure connection will begin with https:// ("s" for secured) instead of http://

4. Beware of public wireless access. Don't send personal or confidential information when using public wireless connections in cafes and other public places. Fellow wireless users could potentially monitor what you are doing from only a few feet away.

5. Think before you post. Avoid revealing personal information or photos on websites such as Facebook, MySpace or SecondLife. Personal or embarrassing information and images can haunt you in years to come when you are applying for college or a new job. If it's on the Internet, it's available for a potential employer, your school, a future or current spouse, your mother or grandmother to find.

6. Beware of classified listing meet-ups. When using websites such as Craigslist or Freelist to buy or exchange goods locally, always bring someone you trust with you to meet the seller/buyer. Be cautious about letting strangers into your home or meeting in unsafe places

7. Watch your cookies. Cookies are tidbits of information that websites store on your computer. Some cookies are useful, such as those that store information about you so you don't have to retype info every time you go to that site. Other cookies are used to track your motions through a website. Some companies keep this data for their own usage- however, some sell your information to other marketers. Be sure to monitor and edit the cookies on your computer.

8. Use anti-spyware. Spyware is sneaky software that rides its way onto computers during the download of screensavers, games, music and other applications. Spyware sends information about what you're doing on the Internet to a third-party, usually to target you with pop-up ads. Anti-spyware will help block this threat.

9. Monitor your kids' Internet use. Move computers out of the bedroom and into family space where parents and others can check on your child's Internet use by simply walking by. Set specific times that your child may surf the Web, and set rules about social media websites, such as Facebook, My Space and Twitter.

For more information, visit www.findlaw.com.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-09-16/9-ways-to-stay-safe-online-and-protect-your-privacy/#ixzz0RMJkKpIn

RISMEDIA, September 15, 2009-RE/MAX International, Inc. recently announced a partnership with California-based iQual Corporation whose flagship product, the ApprovalGUARD^TM Service, is designed to help consumers understand and manage their credit profile. The terms of the partnership will allow RE/MAX to provide consumer credit information and articles written by professional credit experts on real estate website remax.com.

"Consumers have always found it difficult to understand their own credit, but in today's market many are also finding it harder to qualify for credit, and are looking for resources to help them proactively manage their personal credit profile," said Marnie Blanco, Vice President of eBusiness at RE/MAX International. "Remax.com is a one-stop hub of consumer resources and information on everything from preventing foreclosure and choosing a contractor, to finding an experienced agent in your neighborhood. Now, our partnership with iQual will allow us to provide consumers with a host of easy-to-read articles to help consumers become experts on their own credit health."

For more information, visit www.approvalguard.com or www.remax.com.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-09-14/remax-international-partners-with-iqual/#ixzz0RAuel9Lq

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Hundreds of thousands of first-time homebuyers across the country have begun to claim their tax credits, according to new government data released on Friday. So far, nearly 315,000 people have claimed the tax credit after filing an amended 2008 tax return, according to a Treasury Department report on the status of the Recovery Act. California led all states with 42,304 claimed credits. Eligible first-time homebuyers can claim the credit of up to $8,000 -- or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less -- on either an amended 2008 return or on their 2009 return. Treasury's figures more than likely sharply underestimate the real number of people who have taken advantage of the credit because many homebuyers have not yet claimed it on their tax return. According to a recent National Association of Realtors survey, about 1.1 million first-time homebuyers have used the credit. NAR expects that number to grow to about 1.8 million by the time the credit expires on Nov. 30. The discrepancy between Treasury and NAR probably stems from the fact that a majority of eligible first-time homebuyers have opted to wait to file for the credit on their 2009 returns, which they can file in early 2010. State-by-state data. The Treasury figures show how some of the hardest-hit states during the housing downturn are now among the states with the largest numbers of claimed tax credits. California, Georgia, Florida, Arizona and Michigan are all in the top 10, when it comes to claiming the credits. Though part of that is likely skewed by population figures, other large states like New York and Virginia have been left in the dust. "We're seeing some big increases in many of the areas with the biggest price corrections," said NAR spokesman Walter Maloney. "That's no coincidence." A National Delinquency Report from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed that California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada combined accounted for 44% of all foreclosure starts during the quarter. Last quarter, the Cape Coral metro area in Florida recorded the largest decline in home prices: 52.8% to $84,000, according to a NAR report. After California, Texas and Florida were the next states with the largest number of claims, with over 29,000 each. Arizona had nearly 9,300 claims and Nevada rounded out the top 20, with 5,259. Most of the smaller states made up the bottom of the list, with Vermont's first-time buyers bringing up the rear, claiming just 351 credits. Applying for the credit is as easy as filing income taxes. First-time homebuyers just have to claim it on their return -- no other forms or papers have to be filed. National Association of Realtors estimated an extra 350,000 sales will occur this year, solely because of the credit. The National Association of Homebuilders, more conservatively predicted 165,000 extra home sales.

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2009-Contract activity for pending home sales has risen for six straight months, a pattern not seen in the history of the index since it began in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, increased 3.2% to 97.6 from a reading of 94.6 in June, and is 12.0% higher than July 2008 when it was 87.1.The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it was 100.7.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the housing market momentum has clearly turned for the better. "The recovery is broad-based across many parts of the country. Housing affordability has been at record highs this year with the added stimulus of a first-time buyer tax credit," he said. "Other buyers are taking advantage of low home values before prices turn higher. Nationally, the typical mortgage payment now takes less than 25% of a middle-income family's monthly income to buy a median priced home, with payment percentages so far in 2009 being the lowest on record dating back to 1970. As long as home buyers stay within their budget, mortgage payments will be very manageable," Yun said.

NAR estimates that about 1.8 to 2.0 million first-time buyers will take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit this year, with approximately 350,000 additional sales that would not have taken place without the credit. Buyers have little time to act because they must complete the transaction by November 30, 2009 to qualify for the credit. Unless extended, contracts signed but not completed by that date will not be eligible- it is taking approximately two months to complete home sales in the current market.

The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast declined 3.0% to 78.8 in July but is 4.7% higher than July 2008. In the Midwest the index slipped 2.0% to 88.1 but is 8.1% above a year ago. In the South, pending home sales activity rose 3.1% to an index of 103.8 in July and is 12.0% above July 2008. In the West the index jumped 12.1% to 112.5 and is 20.0% above a year ago.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said Congress needs to keep the momentum going. "Even with a good recovery taking place, the market is not yet back to normal. With a gradual absorption of inventory, we are on the cusp of a general stabilization in home prices," he said. "To ensure that housing has a broad stimulus to the overall economy and stays on sound footing, we're encouraging Congress to extend the tax credit into 2010, and to expand it to all buyers of primary residences. The faster we stabilize home prices, the fewer families will face foreclosure and the quicker credit can be extended to other sectors of the economy," McMillan said.

NAR's Housing Affordability Index (HAI) stood at 158.5 in July, below the peak set in April but is still 36.0 percentage points higher than a year ago. The HAI is a broad measure of housing affordability using consistent values and assumptions over time, which examines the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates and family income.

Yun expects existing-home sales to rise through the fourth quarter. "Unless the tax credit is extended, no one should be surprised to see home sales drop in the first quarter of next year," he said. "However, the fundamentals of the housing market and the economy are trending up, and we expect home sales to generally pick up in the second quarter of 2010. The buyer psychology may be shifting from, ‘Why buy now when I can purchase later,' to ‘I don't want to miss out on a recovery.'"

For more information, visit www.realtor.org.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-09-01/pending-home-sales-on-a-roll-up-for-sixth-straight-month/#ixzz0PxPSiYCs

Late Summer Tips for Sprucing up Your Lawn

By Jessica Damiano

RISMEDIA, August 29, 2009-(MCT)-If your grass is looking shabby, a little bit of work now will ensure a thick, lower-maintenance lawn for years to come. In much of the country, the ideal time to renovate your lawn is late August through mid-September, so there's still time to spruce up your lawn.

Adjust the pH
All the fertilizer in the world won't help your grass if your soil's pH is out of whack. The ideal range for growing turf grass should be between 6.3 and 6.8. While grass will grow in soil that's outside this range, it won't be able to soak up enough nutrients from the soil or fertilizers and will be more susceptible to weeds and disease. Ideally, you should test your soil first so that you know exactly how much lime to apply. Inexpensive test kits can be purchased at garden centers.

Core aeration
Oxygen is imperative for soil health, soil health is necessary for a healthy root system, and you can't have healthy grass without healthy roots. Use a core aerator (a power tool widely available for rent at garden centers) to pull 3-inch-long, 3/4-inch-diameter plugs out of the soil. Leave them on the grass, where they'll break down in no time.

Enrich
Spread a 1/2-inch layer of compost over the entire area. Don't worry if some falls into the aeration holes.

Seed
Select the right seed for your site and apply in two directions to ensure adequate coverage. Tall fescue is the most heat and drought tolerant of any of the cool-season grasses so it's ideal for dry sites in full sun. Kentucky bluegrass is another good choice in many regions. For dry shade, use fine fescue as long as it's not a high traffic area. All three can be combined as well.

Water
Give the area a good, deep soaking-just this once-then sprinkle lightly twice a day until new growth is 2 inches high. Begin mowing when the grass is 4 inches high. Leave clippings on the lawn as a free source of nitrogen.

(c) 2009, Newsday.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Read more: http://rismedia.com/2009-08-29/late-summer-tips-for-sprucing-up-your-lawn/#ixzz0PllYi5FJ