WARNING: Your Info is Being SOLD!

Warning- Your Name is Being Sold - Take Action Now!

Here is some news that not only you, but your friends and family should all take note of! Your information is a valuable commodity. The “big three” credit companies have found a way to increase their bottom line at your expense! Read on to find out how you can protect yourself. Please spread the word, this could save someone from identity theft!

Having your credit checked is a necessary part of buying a home or refinancing. Very few consumers realize however, that the inquiries that Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian have on file have become saleable. Your Information is being sold to lenders and companies that re-sell the names and personal information!

That’s right, they are selling your name, address, credit score, phone number (even if it is unlisted), current debt, debt history, property info, age, gender, and even wealth code! They are selling your information, your privacy, and your life to the highest bidder! Not just once, but over and over again and making millions!

The cost is high for these types of “Leads” and the lenders that buy them often need to recapture a higher profit margin to pay for the expense. Often the introduction starts out as a lie with such openings as “HI Mr. Borrower, my name is Bob Lender and I work with Big Credit Company and I was asked to give you a call to verify that you where aware of the fact that your credit was run in attempt to acquire a mortgage. Well since you were interested in a mortgage, our affiliation with Big Credit Company gives us access to better rates than anyone else out there.” A complete LIE!

Protect Yourself and Your Privacy

The good news? There is a way to protect yourself! The consumer credit reporting industry has provided a way to “opt-out” of this malicious system. Call them at 888.567.8688 or go online to www.optoutprescreen.com and you can opt out for 5 years or for life if you opt out for life there is a form that needs to be signed. It takes up to 48 hours to take effect though. Not only will this protect your information while shopping for a mortgage, but also will stop the pre-approved junk mail that we get on a daily basis! The pre-approved junk mail is one of the leading causes of identity theft in the United States. Protect yourself and tell your friends and family as well.

You have the right to shop for the professional that will meet your needs, but this should be done how and when you want to, not without your consent. If you are shopping around, call or email me for a list of questions that will weed out the best lenders from the rest. Call or email me if you’d like a copy sent to you right away.

You Need a Plan

^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS IS NOT A PLAN^^^^^^^^^^^^

Are you planning on retiring? If you have worked for more than a couple years, chances are you do plan on it. But the real question is have you planned for retirement? Wouldn't it be nice if you had a plan detailing how you could quit working and enjoy life? Real estate is the answer to what you have been working for your whole life. Companies lay employees off, stocks continue to be extremely volatile, and the savings acconts/CD's are paying a measly 5-7%. Do you want to know why real estate is a better investment vehicle than anything currently available on the market? One word, leverage. Read on.

Component 1) Credit
Without good credit it is very difficult to own property. This should be the very first thing an investor should consider. Good credit opens you up to the best of loans, the best of terms and, the now harder than ever to get, option ARM loans. So, what if you don't have good credit? That is where the Clarke team comes in. We are partnered with one of the largest, and most reputable credit repair companies in the nation, Lexington Law Firm. They are a law firm that specializes in credit repair. Check out their website for more information. The company has agreed to offer my clients the ability to utilize their services and extremely reasonable fees, no contracts, and best of all a money back guarantee. Just call me today for a brief overview of how the company works and my PIN number for the site.

Component 2) Loan
Would you cut a steak with a spatula? No, of course you wouldn't. In the real estate investing world you are only as good as your tools and the mortgage on the property is a very important tool. You need a loan that will meet your standards of security as well as have an attractive enough payment. The Clarke Team is well versed in investment loans and prides themselves on being knowledge based in their business. Each of our loan officers is experienced and continuing to learn their art everyday. This is how we make a living and we strive to be the absolute best at it. If you have a question about a loan, feel free to call us and we would be more than happy to work with you on a one on one basis to help you reach your real estate goals. Consider us that razor sharp $300.00 steak knife you bring out on special occasions.

Component 3) The Mark
The hunt begins for the absolute perfect investment property. "Oh, foreclosures, you always get great deals on foreclosures!". Number one biggest mistake new investors make. If you go to a foreclosure auction, when you bid, you are bidding against professional home buyers. They will out bid you, they have the money to out bid you, and if they don't out bid you then you paid to much. Simple as that. Your goal should be to get to the deals before they are foreclosures. Again, this is where the Clarke Team shines! We are partnered with the best real estate agents in the market. Our partners are well aware of everything on the market and masters of negotiation. The Clarke Team prides ourselves on the partners we choose. Give us a call if you are looking for a great deal in your area.

Component 4) The Plan
The plan is the key to a good investing strategy. You want to know when you are going to retire. What lifestyle you want to live once you are retired. For those of you not yet ready to retire, think about the passive income you wish to maintain. The rental market is poised to skyrocket if the current level of foreclosures maintains. The people losing their home are going to need a place to live! The foreclosure combined with the sub prime alignment they will be unable to buy a home for at least 1 year. Consider that when you are looking for rentals. Cash flow is what is important.

After all this, you should consider the fact that maybe you won't be able to retire on the company pension. We already know that social security won't be there when we are. If you still are not convinced, think about today's retired, struggling everyday. That is not the life I want, and you shouldn't either. That is why it is up to you and me to change our futures and invest in real estate. Build wealth through calculated, analyzed, and of course knowledgeable decisions. And have a team that you work well with, that knows their stuff, and knows exactly where you are going. At the beginning of this entry, I had said that leverage was the key to wealth in real estate. This ideal comes down to one simple example. If you had $350,000 and you put into a 10 year CD at 9% I would say that was a great idea. Over the past 40 years real estate has appreciated at 8.9% so the CD would be a wise investment. But wait, I have never seen a CD offering 9%. And, oh wait I don't have $350,000 to put in a CD. Do you have a friend that would loan you $350,000 for ten years so you can collect the $510,000 at the end of the ten years? I do, it's called the the bank, but they would prefer to lend it to you on something tangible like sticks and bricks. This is called leverage. I could introduce you to my friend the bank, just give me a call. 1-888-232-5512 Ext. 85.