About Albany County, NY

What advice can be offered when a national insurance broker like Aon is predicting 10 percent across the board increases in health insurance premiums?

The advice is NOT sit-back, auto-renew and wait for a Public Option. Because there is a very honest chance the Public Option never materializes.

To view the entire article Click Here.

Thank you,

Ryan H.

I get requests for all kinds of info but the most common request is for Albany NY market data. I am finally pleased to announce that we can now provide personalized market statistics quickly and easily and best of all for free! Want to know what the home down the street sold for? Not sure if the market has stabilized? Want to know the current sale price to list price ratios for your neighborhood? We can help visit our main site at Albany NY Homes or our direct link to statistical data compiled directly from the Multiple Listing Service at Albany NY Market Trends and Statistics

As I get calls in our listings from buyers who are looking to gain information, I would say that 85% of the time they are NOT working with an agent. This is one of the biggest nonsensical decisions I come across in my position as a real estate professional. With that being said, I don't blame them but for the following reasons PLEASE take a deep breath and try to understand the BENEFITS TO USING AN AGENT:

1) It's a FREE service to you.

2) They have your best interests in mind and will work for you to get the best deal on a particular property.

3) They DO ALL THE WORK! We all have full time jobs (at least you should if you're looking to buy a home) and why would you want to take on the work load of trying to stay up to speed on the market.

4) You WILL LOSE out on the REALLY GOOD DEALS! A good agent constantly prospects the market for new listings and notifies you immediately as they hit the MLS.

5) Most Real Estate search sites take up to 3-4 days AT LEAST to land the new listings. AKA "Missing the boat!"

6) Creating a relationship with a good agent will make life easier on you because they have a feeling after looking at a couple of homes what you actually LIKE & DISLIKE. Thus, not WASTING YOUR TIME looking at homes that don't fit your criteria.

7) A good agent has the resources to provide you with service professionals (Attorneys, inspectors etc.) that can help create for a smooth transaction. NO GYPSIES!

8) Before you get too deep into unfamiliar territory, an agent will discuss the necessary steps & possible risks with buying a home.

9) Calling on a "for sale" sign of a listed property puts you in first position not to get individually & fully represented by the listing agents whose FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION is to the SELLER!

10) ITS A FREE SERVICE TO YOU, a BUYER"S AGENT GETS COMPENSATED by the owner of the house your interested in buying!

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Everyone here very much appreciates your support of the Albany Insurance Professional blog as we continue to provide quality, useful insurance information and tools.

Thank you,

Ryan H.

www.ryanhanley.com

Paul Sullivan of the New York Times in April of 2009 wrote an article in the
Wealth Matters section titled "Never Mind your 401(k). How's Your Insurance?"
Mr. Sullivan starts his article with a very simple yet powerful sentence,
"Insurance is the least sexy asset in most portfolios." Why is this simple,
straight-forward sentence so powerful? Because it is true and drives the
sub-concious perception of insurance in almost every American's mind.

You may view the latest post at
http://www.ryanhanley.com/2009/08/31/disability-insurance-not-sexy-very-important/