Doris Barnett-e-PRO Professional Trainer

Our youngest daughter Alison, surprised us today with an e-mail that said she is one of 3 in the District with a shot at getting (winning) a $1000. savings bond for her poster. The energy company Oncor came by their school and brought big pads of drawing paper, Markets, Crayons, colored pencils and paints and they gave a presentation to the 5th graders about electricity and some safety tips. All of the kids took home this gift set and then they asked the students to draw a poster about what they had learned and submit it to win a $1000. savings bond.

So if you have access to Facebook perhaps you will view her page and should you like her ideas: liking it at the bottom of the page will move her closer to her savings bond. We thank you in advance and I think that Oncor had a pretty cool marketing idea- to get the kids involved like this and to get me wanting this for her bad enough to reach out to all of you today. It is fun that she can communicate this well. It is the second time she has been included in a District level art project-I always thought it would be for her writing-but, here we are today! Enjoy her efforts. Log in to Facebook first and it will work faster. Then come back here and click the link. Thanks again!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=265378&id=26260898491#!/photo.php?fbid=486688848491&set=a.486687518491.265378.26260898491

Good luck to the other finalists, I am stacking the deck a bit I admit-I have worked for several years to get my online group together so I hope you will play with us today. She is so excited she almost hugged my head off when I got home!

We all appreciate your support!

Doris

It's that time of year: Hunters Glen in Plano, Tx is having their

Bi-annual Fall Garage sale this Saturday from 8-2 pm. 10/09/2010

Hope to see you there. See map below.

SEast Corner of Independence and Legacy Shopping starts at 8am-2pm

Pickup maps at Schilmelfenig Middle school (Timothy and Maumelle)

Doris Barnett 972-907-0000 or cell 214-236-2908 REALTOR

RE/MAX Abrams

1221 Abrams

Richardson, Tx 75081

Credit scores are important to folks considering buying almost anything today. They also impact your employment-more and more Employers are checking your credit to see if you are $ savvy prior to a hiring decision. Fixing errors can make a difference. Check out the "how to" video and find the forms you need right here.

Credit scores can range from 350-850 and are composed of:

• 35% is your payment history
• 30% is based upon how much debt you have
• 15% is based upon the length of your credit history
• 10% is the type of debt (revolving, installment, mortgage)
• 10% is based upon whether or not you have a lot of new accounts

***Our favorite lenders are reporting that a 680 credit score is a doable loan right now. Make that a good target if you are below that number.

Improving your score can be helped by:

1. Paying your bills on time
2. Do not max out your credit cards or revolving debt plans
3. Do NOT open many new accounts or apply for many in a short period of time(the exception is for mortgages-you may speak to several different lenders in a 2 week period and it only counts as one inquiry.)
4. Do not Close accounts especially if open for a long time even if they have a zero balance
5. Check your report annually for FREE

How to start a credit score:

• Start by applying for a credit card. Try the bank or the department store first
• Lenders and REALTORS are in a position to help consumers see what needs to be done to improve their credit ratings. In some instances it may be better to wait and work on improving their credit rating then being able to qualify for a better loan rate.

NOTE: Copyright 2009 Texas Association of REALTORS. Page 23 in TAR housing initiatives program. (Affordable housing certification.)

***Personal note-FICO can not be had "for Free" When you speak with a lender or pay an online company you can learn your FICO score. FICO is another formula kind of scoring plan.

Send me an e-mail to http://mailto:helpRhome@yahoo.com for a FREE website to learn about your creditworthiness and make some plans for the future. When the interest rates and the number of properties are at the present levels it is truly a BUYERS market and right now the whole country is FOR SALE!

***Comments attributed to my personal opinion or information.

Who built it? This question is just like it's sister question=How much is that one???

For those of you who feel like Whaaat? when someone...like another REALTOR asks that question here is the 20/20 hindsight answer. Einstein says I shouldn't have to memorize it if I can look it up. Heh if he doesn't have to remember all of those details...I can look it up too: Voila the builder list and how they RANK in Texas.

It would set you apart if you knew. I wonder if it is like my blood test though? My Texas doctor was "concerned" about the red blood cells, the Doctor from the Mayo clinic told me hmmm-I guess your "normal"s didn't show up the day they made this average. I started to feel pretty darn less than average right then and there. (Texas Doctor's comment-Well if the Mayo clinic says you are fine-who am I to argue!)

What if a builder had a really great crew on a build project (now a listing) and their average crew wasn't showing up? Should we judge 1 by all. Frankly I don't like it much when I am judged except against my own past performances. Where are the- How are they doing now ratings? I want to be able to quote "look at how far this builder changed over the years!" Now them's some numbers. I am a thinking. ; ).

Then I remember, well they are right-I have only taught 25,000 REALTORS how to make a better business. What am I bragging about-I have only been in the business 20 years and I'm only licensed in 2 states. NAR certified trainer but, I think-I still have room to learn a few things. Which is why we all still attend classes every year and that's how I spent this week. Ups and downs (That never changes) Still it was fun to realize I still admire those REALTORS who know that kind of thing. I spent my week learning how to help people find better ways to afford a home and now I have the private link that gets me to all of the programs to-look it up. Might come in handy for the next group of folks I help or teach. Could I drive down the street and talk about the financing program that got each person into a home? Probably too private.

By the way I know and really admire a REALTOR who not only knows how good the builder rankings are they don't have to ask me who built it. He can drive down a street and tell a buyer who built it, by the look of a home. Now that, I admire and I would like to learn it from him. Wonder what he is doing next week? Enjoy your weekend and remember-cut yourself some slack-look it up. REALTORS Rock!

I took an affordable housing class in Dallas this morning towards the designation and "Holy cow" my head is overloaded with all of the ways to do this. There are so many ways out there that we could be helping folks buy a home! Need to get the word to the masses. Bond programs, Grants, low low interest loans. There will never, not in my lifetime, anyway be a better time to buy a home.

If you are a Veteran do you know that there are programs for you not only at a Federal level but at a State of Texas and sometimes City level as well? There are Bonds and Grants that can be combined into one property. If this is your first home or you haven't owned one in 3 years you are golden with your DD-214 in hand, low low rates and lots of inventory on the market-why aren't you calling us? Did you know that there is also a program for surviving spouses? Even if your Vet husband was one (or more) husband's ago and you are single again you can still qualify for similar programs. Looking into this might just change your life. The state programs do not require you to be "born" in Texas. Have you lived here for at least one year or did you enter the service in TX?

I, for one am raising my hand to offer help.

Give me a call and let's talk about the options that could put you into a home PDQ.

I am excited about how we can help now! Sometimes all it takes is the information and knowing who to call to get things moving along. YOU moving along.

• Doris Barnett
• RE/MAX Abrams
• 972-907-0000