Kirk and Terry Blog

Would you like the keys to financial freedom? Mary Farrell’s Beyond the Basics, outlines the characteristics of people who have achieved their financial goals. It’s no secret that people who achieve their goals have a plan – they set financial goals, save and invest their money, and they keep an eye on their investments. Here are five strategies from Fortune magazine for building wealth:

• Start early and save. If you save $1K a year at 25, you’ll have about five times what you would have than starting at age 45.
• Invest in index funds rather than individual stocks. They’re easier and safer for the average investor with little time for research.
• If your employer has a 401(k) plan, use it. Your employer’s contribution is like free money.
• Avoid mutual funds with a management fee higher than 1 percent.
• Get rid of your credit card and consumer debt. Pay off the highest rate card first, then work through your lower rate cards.

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home! 

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing which repairs and fix-ups will net you the most value for your home?  It’s call the “Homeseller’s Guide To Money-Making Fix-Ups,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning on selling soon.  You can get a free copy by visiting our website at…

www.MarcsHomes.Com

Studies have shown that your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary.  Here is this month’s word, so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

advertent (ad-vûr-tnt) adj.

Meaning:  attentive, heedful
 
Example Sentence:  The sea captain was advertent to the changing tides and shifting winds at dawn.

FREE Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away!

Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE.  See my “Free Resources Page” at www.MarcsHomes.Com

Q.  We are thinking about selling our home soon.  How do we select the best real estate agent?

A. Before you hire a real estate agent there are several things you want to think about.  While it might be nice to have cousin Sal list your house or your best friend’s husband, remember this is a business decision.  You want to hire the best person for the job. 

      First, interview several agents with at least 3-4 years of experience and a solid record of sold properties.  They should be knowledgeable about your neighborhood, community, and houses similar to yours. They should have good pricing skills and know the current market conditions.  Be sure to ask for references!  Next, compare marketing plans and resources used for selling your home. Look for innovative ways the agent uses to target and attract the right kind of buyer for your home.  The more traffic they can generate, the higher your odds of getting your home sold fast and for the best price.  Next, select an agent who is affiliated with a reputable company with good community exposure.  Finally, you want an agent who is compatible with you and who communicates well.   

      If you are buying or selling a home and need competent and caring representation, please call me at 804-527-3948.

Ah…the open road, it’s your chance to get away from it all; maybe have some adventure and fun.  This time of year is especially great for hitting the road and seeing the changing of the seasons. But before you head out, here are five tips for making it a safe and enjoyable road trip this fall:

1. Map out where you’re going, and where you plan to stay.  Make sure you know the route you’ll take. You can get updated maps and information online or at local travel agency.  Also, let people know your travel plans and when you plan to arrive at your destination.
2. Check on the latest weather conditions.  Don’t get stuck in bad weather unexpectedly.  Go online or check with local, and cable weather channels to keep up on the local weather conditions.
3. Bring along extra water.  Keep hydrated while you’re on the road to keep from becoming fatigued.  If you get lost, you’re prepared.
4. Pack extra food to take along.  Plan to keep at least food for 1-2 days per person, and include healthy snacks (nuts, grains, fruits).
5. Carry along a travel safety kit.  Include an emergency medical kit, flashlight, batteries, portable radio, cell phone, and blankets.

Now you're ready for a fun autumn road adventure! Drive safe!

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home! 

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing which repairs and fix-ups will net you the most value for your home?  It’s call the “Homeseller’s Guide To Money-Making Fix-Ups,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning on selling soon.  You can get a free copy by visiting our website at…

www.MarcsHomes.Com

Found this joke and wanted to share a laugh for the day!

Tammy’s dishwasher stopped working so she called a repairman to fix it.  She left her key under the doormat while she was at work with a note:  “Please fix the dishwasher.  Leave the bill on the counter and I’ll send you a check.  Don’t worry about my bulldog…he won’t bother you.  But remember whatever you do…do not talk to my parrot!”

While the repairman went about his work the meanest looking bulldog he’d ever seen calmly watched him. 

The parrot, however, was driving him crazy with its relentless yelling and cursing.

Finally, the repairman couldn’t take it anymore and yelled, “Shut up you stupid bird!”  To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”

Ha ha ha! Have a great day!

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home! 

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing which repairs and fix-ups will net you the most value for your home?  It’s call the “Homeseller’s Guide To Money-Making Fix-Ups,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning on selling soon.  You can get a free copy by visiting our webstie at…

www.MarcsHomes.Com

Are you a smart consumer?  Each year millions of dollars are lost from unscrupulous people and businesses who take advantage of unaware homeowners. The Better Business Bureau of the U.S. and Canada recently published four “red flags” that could prevent you from being taken by a scam artist:

• Identity Theft.  ID theft has become a serious threat to consumers.  Thieves can gain access to your personal information by sifting through your trash and recycling bins, stealing your mail, sending you unsolicited emails pretending to be a financial institution (called “phishing”).  Check with your bank or financial institutions by telephone before responding to unsolicited emails.  Shred all personal and financial information before putting it in the trash.  Lastly, never give out any personal information from unsolicited phone calls.
  
  
• Door-to-door tricks.  Beware of uninvited door-to-door sales people.  They may have a product or service they are trying to sell to you that is overpriced, and you may feel pressured to purchase.
  
  
• Mortgage fraud.  Mortgage fraud is a serious concern.  Typically, a “rip-off” artist buys a property and then artificially increases its value through a series of sales with another scam artist.  A mortgage is then secured at the higher mortgage price.
  
  
• The renovation racket. The BBB receives more complaints about home improvement contractors than any other profession.  Obtain at least three bids before having any work done on your home.  Pay little or no money upfront for renovation work.  Resist pressure to sign a contract, or have it reviewed by an attorney before signing.  Check with your local BBB and Registrar of Contractors to see if the company has had any complaints.

Being alert goes a long way.  Check with your local Better Business Bureau, or online at www.bbb.org for more information.

FREE Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away!

Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE.  See my “Free Resources Page” at www.MarcsHomes.Com

Perhaps you crave an early retirement (let’s say, by age 55) so you can travel, play golf or write the great novel. Or maybe you want to switch gears at some point and pursue a new career direction without worrying about money. Either way, there are common-sense steps to reaching your financial goals. Here are a few sound money strategies you can start using to get out of the “daily grind” and into your retirement “fun zone”!

* Start saving early, frequently and as many ways as you can! Use automatic payroll deductions and take full advantage of tax-advantaged 401(k) s and Roth IRA accounts. Here is a prime example of building a solid nest egg: Let’s say you start saving $500 a month at age 40 with annualized earnings of 8%. By age 65, you would have saved about $475,000. If you had started at age 30, you’d have that amount by age 55. If you leave it intact in your savings account for another 10 years, it would grow to over $1,054,000 without adding another cent to it! Based on your lifestyle, you might want to estimate that you need 70% to 100% of your present yearly income to cover expenses during retirement.

* Practice reality-based investing. The best solution is to hire a qualified financial planner and work together to structure a diversified portfolio. Look at the whole gamut of asset classes, with special attention paid to your risk tolerance and time-line. Conduct a yearly review to re-balance your portfolio to bring it back to consistent earnings.

* Don’t reach into your retirement savings until retirement. Here’s where many people backslide: They begin to eye the money for new houses, cars or fancy vacations. Retirement seems far off in the dim future so lots of rationalizations can be created for dipping into the money now. Remember, you may be less flexible to build-up the same amount of money later in life. If you absolutely NEED to tap into your retirement funds, do so as a last resort and replace them as quickly as possible. Make savings a habit, wise spending a discipline, and you’ll be on your way to an early (and comfortable) retirement.

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home! 

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing which repairs and fix-ups will net you the most value for your home?  It’s call the “Homeseller’s Guide To Money-Making Fix-Ups,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning on selling soon.  You can get a free copy by visiting our webstie at…

www.MarcsHomes.Com