Mark Brian

Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are big factors in determining whether you’ll qualify for a loan and what your loan terms will be. So, keep your credit score high by doing the following:

1. Check for and correct any errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for someone else’s poor financial management.

2. Pay down credit card bills. If possible, pay off the entire balance every month. Transferring credit card debt from one card to another could lower your score.

3. Don’t charge your credit cards to the maximum limit.

4. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a mortgage. You’re penalized less for problems after a year.

5. Don’t order items for your new home on credit — such as appliances and furniture — until after the loan is approved. The amounts will add to your debt.

6. Don’t open new credit card accounts before applying for a mortgage. Too much available credit can lower your score.

7. Shop for mortgage rates all at once. Too many credit applications can lower your score, but multiple inquiries from the same type of lender are counted as one inquiry if submitted over a short period of time.

8. Avoid finance companies. Even if you pay the loan on time, the interest is high and it will probably be considered a sign of poor credit management.

This information is copyrighted by the Fannie Mae Foundation and is used with permission of the Fannie Mae Foundation. To obtain a complete copy of the publication, Knowing and Understanding Your Credit, visit www.homebuyingguide.org.

I hope you will all plan to start your Christmas shopping early with 27 local and regional artisans at the Mistletoe Market at the Anderson County Museum. The Friday's "Sip and Shop" is from 4-8 p.m. Get an early start on Saturday at 9 a.m. and shop until 5 p.m. All the vendors look forward to seeing you this weekend. While you're at Anderson County Museum, check out the new exhibit Trade Street while shopping at the Mistletoe Market. Admission is free, but artisans hope you find lots of treasures to take home.

Also I read that Tom Craig, author of Upcountry SC Goes to War will be signing his book on Sat the 7th from 1-3pm.

You can also help someone in need when you come by bringing non -perishable food items. The Museum will deliver all the donations to the Good Neighbor Cupboard. There will be free admission, free parking and plenty of wonderful items to help you get a head start on your holiday shopping!

For more information call the Anderson County Museum at 864-260-4737

I just found out that the Foothills Playhouse in Easley is going to be presenting the wild and crazy comedy "They Came From Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen's Guild's Coffee Morning." It sure is a long title, but it sounds like a funny story.

The story is about a group of Farmsdale Avenue ladies attempting to put on a unique production of a sci fi thriller. High tech effects going awry and the limited talents of some of the Dramatic Society ensure laughs as the the cast struggles to perform. The tear jerking culmination has hysterical audiences on the edges of their seats. Call 864-855-1817 to make reservations or visit their website at www.easleyfoothillsplayhouse.com.

Performances on November 6 and 7 are at 8 p.m. with the November 8 matinee at 3 p.m.

Foothills Playhouse is located in the Old West End Elementary School at 201 S. 5th Street in Easley.

• Provide the post office with your forwarding address two to four weeks ahead of the move.

• Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of your change of address.

• Create a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified about your move.

• Arrange to disconnect utilities and have them connected at your new home.

• Cancel the newspaper, or change the address so it will arrive at your new home.

• Check insurance coverage for the items you’re moving. Usually movers only cover what they pack.

• Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.

• Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.

• Check with your condo or co-op about any restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits for moving.

• Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most, such as toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you’re moving out of town, be sure to:

• Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets.

• Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.

• Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.

• Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.

• Let a friend or relative know your route.

• Empty your safety deposit box.

• Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.

This handy checklist is reprinted with permission from REALTOR magazine (REALTOR.org/realtormag) with the permission of the National Association of REALTORS Copyright 2008. All rights reserved

I found this article and there is so much wrong with what happend I suggest you read it and come back to hear what is wrong.

First, how can an Economics professor be so out of tune with reality that for up to date information about buying a foreclosed home she turns to a website instead of contacting a REALTOR? Not only that, but she is paying for information that is considered by many to be inaccurate or dated when she could be getting up to date listings automatically emailed to her about new listings as soon as they hit the MLS. Not read about them after they have already sold. I have personally seen foreclosed homes in Anderson get 2 offers within hours of hitting the MLS and have at least 6 offers within 4-5 days of being on the market!

So this professor decides to pay to find out about properties instead of hiring a Buyers Agent. So just like some of the people that called too late on the foreclosed home in Anderson SC, she did not get a great deal. Instead of experiencing dissapointment like this Economics professor, why not experience the thrill of buying a home at a bargain price? Hmm, I am glad I am not sending a child to study Economics at UCLA.

But to add insult to injury, the Professor cancels her subscription to RealtyTrac only to discover months later she is getting billed by another internet company. Now if I so much as charge a $5 footlong from Subway my wife will see it on the bill. While there is no doubt my wife is brilliant because she married me, well, she is not an Economics professor! Or am I the brilliant one for marrying her? I'd like to think we are both brilliant....

Anyway, my wife can see a charge on a credit card that is not normally there. Thank goodness! But not an Economics professor? It makes you wonder if this econmic professor should be buying a home! After all, since she cannot keep her personal expenses under control and notice charges on her credit card she did not make....

Listen people. Do not give money to some one from the internet or from one of the many radio commercials you hear about lists of foreclosed homes. If you want to know about foreclosures in Upstate SC just email or call me. Simple, so far isn't it? Then you hire me as a Buyers Agent by signing an Exclusive Buyers Agent agreement. I send you the propeties that fit what you are looking for. I guide you through the whole process and help you get the property at the right price. Costs you nothing since the seller pays the Buyers Agent commisssion. Easy as pie...or keep on wasting valuable time and money like the Professor. The choice is yours.