Whether you are a real estate investor or a homeowner, whether you own one property or one hundred, PLEASE read on and save yourself some money. According to the Tax Foundation and the U.S. Census Bureau, property taxes are rising at more than twice the rate of inflation in this decade. That was bad enough when home values were on the rise. Now, if you don’t take action on proposed higher property taxes, your cash flow may suffer even more.

This is the time of the year when properties are reassessed. Property Tax authorities or assessors offices will send property owners an update on the “assessed” value of their property which, in 9 out of 10 cases, will be higher than the past value. What should you do to protect yourself and fight?

Appeal the Proposed Increase!

1. Call the assessor’s office and find out how they arrived at this value. In some counties the tax value is based on a percentage of the property’s estimated value. Find out how this value was established—this is vital in markets where property values have dramatically declined.

2. Research property values in the neighborhood and verify the properties’ assessed values within one mile of your residence. Several years ago I appealed the proposed property tax for a rental property I owned. I won the appeal because I was able to prove 2 of the houses in the neighborhood with identical floor plans had lower assessed values. Since I was able to prove this, the county had to lower my assessed value. In my case, it made a $200 difference on my tax bill! So it was worth the effort.

3. Build your case and do it quickly. There will be a deadline on your proposed assessment to file an appeal. Do it immediately. There is no cost to do this and the worst that can happen is you lose and the property stays at the proposed value.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a free and clear home? If you do not have the additional funds to make principal payments, an easy answer to this would be to make your mortgage payments biweekly. By sending in half of your monthly mortgage payment every two weeks, you make the equivalent of one extra payment a year. Following this schedule on a $300,000, 30 year loan, you would save $77,000 over the life of the loan and pay it off much faster!

Recently, United Airlines began to charge customers $25 for an extra bag on their domestic flights. Rental car companies are charging a concession fee if the lot is conveniently located near an airport. Along with a gas tax, city occupancy, etc., some hotels are charging customers for any item taken out of the minibar for more than 60 seconds, even if it is not consumed. Gift cards have shorter expiration dates. Many banks have eliminated free ATM usage, adding to other “service charges” you may or may not know about.

We consumers are getting stuck with higher fees so companies can make more money. Watch service fees on your credit and debit cards, pack light and shop for value. These fees can add up!

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .
‘If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.’

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
‘You better pray that will come out of the carpet.’

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL .
‘If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!’

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
‘ Because I said so, that’s why.’

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
‘If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.’

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
‘Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.’

7. My mother taught me IRONY
‘Keep crying, a nd I’ll give you something to cry about.’

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS .
‘Shut your mouth and eat your supper.’

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
‘Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!’

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
‘You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.’

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER .
‘This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.’

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
‘If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!’

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
‘I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.’

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
‘Stop acting like your father!’

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
‘There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.’

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
‘Just wait until we get home.’

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING .
‘You are going to get it when you get home!’

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
‘If you do n’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way.’

19. My mother taught me ESP.
‘Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?’

20. My mother taught me HUMOR .
‘When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.’

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT .
‘If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.’

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
‘You’re just like your father.’

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS .
‘Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?’

24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
‘When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.’

25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE
‘One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.’

Every worn out woman needs a place to think, to recharge those batteries and renew. Whether it is yoga, a day spa, or a soak in your bathtub, taking a “timeout” everyday does help your perspective. This is especially true when life seems like an endless treadmill of stress, distractions and long hours. We may have a lot of experiences but are we really enjoying our journey?

When your children throw temper tantrums, do you issue a time out? When they take the time out, do they come back quieter and calmer than they were before the tantrum? This is the same for us. Take a time out and get perspective, and balance in your life! You will be happier and more productive, and your kids, spouse, employer and clients will notice! Time outs are not just for kids!

Happy Mother’s Day. May you get the best gift of all…time.
Lisa

Believe it or not, automakers are diving into extra-long auto loans in order to cut buyers’ payments. Toyota motor credit acknowledged it is making 84 month loans to cut payments and boost sales.

They are assuming the consumer shops with a monthly budget in their heads. And in today’s credit squeezed market, dealers have less access to cheap interest rates and are therefore cutting payments by offering longer term loans.

I think this is insane. Please, wise women out there, don’t so this! When you drive a car off the lot it immediately loses value!! Be aware and go for the shortest term car loan possible!

Earth Day is today, April 22nd but you can celebrate all year long by taking advantage of these three earth friendly ideas that will help you use resources wisely at home.

1. Do an energy audit. Zero in on your home’s problem areas and you may be able to cut utility costs and help the environment at the same time. Check out the U.S. Department Energy Audit at eere.energy.gov to help you get started.

2. Consider a solar water heater, especially if you plan on staying in your home for the long term.

3. Cut back on water usage. According to the American Water Works Association, 69.3 gallons of water are used daily per person in a single family home. Surely we could do something about this.

Let’s all do our part for the environment! Happy Earth Day. Lisa

With the subprime markets tightening their purse strings, where do buyers go who have low credit scores or lower than ideal income to qualify for a mortgage? Today it is harder than ever to get a good loan if your credit score is below 600. By doing your own due diligence, you can research for information to help you make an informed decision on mortgages no matter what your credit score, income or other factors, such as fees associated with the loan.

www.dontborrowtrouble.com
Freddie Mac provides good information on avoiding-high priced loans.

www.fanniemae.com
Helps you find products (mortgage loans) that help low-to-middle income families buy homes.

www.annualcreditreport.com
I cannot stress the importance of knowing not only your credit score but what exactly is on your credit report. You can check your report from each of the three major credit reporting companies free of charge.

Beware of adjustable rate mortgages. In my opinion, you would be better off to continue to rent until you feel you can afford the higher payment associated with a fixed rate mortgage.

I recently was in the hospital for a surgical procedure which required I stay overnight to be monitored. The pre-op, operation and post-op experience were fine. The staff was efficient and friendly, the hospital clean, and I thought all was well and that I was in good hands.

Until the sun went down, or should I say, until the shift change. I was moved into a semi-private room and had a very nice roommate. All was well until about 10:00p.m. when the place turned into a morgue. It seemed no one was there from 10:00p.m. to 6:00a.m. which may have been fine if I had been doing well, but as my luck would have it, I experienced a few minor complications. I ended up living a nightmare.

It started with my IV. It needed to be moved as my vein collapsed. It took 3 nurses to find a vein. By the time that was finally accomplished, I was in a lot of pain and my medication being fed to me intravenously wore off. So they gave me more—much more.

At 2:00a.m., I pressed the call button as I was feeling nauseous. No one came, not for 15 minutes, not for 30. I kept pressing the call button. My roommate who could walk with her IV tube and stand tried to help me by getting a pail as she could tell that if someone did not come soon, I would lose it.

I did. Finally someone showed up at 3:00a.m. She changed my bedding and put me back to semi-comfort. She did all of this without saying a word or apologizing for taking over an hour to respond. At 6:00a.m., some guy came in to take my blood pressure. I asked him to come back. He refused to come back, again with the call button, again with no response.

When the shift changed again at sunrise, the magical 7:00a.m. time, it was back to a friendly, efficient and safe care. Nurses came in three times between 7:00a.m. and 9:00a.m.

My doctor came in at 9:00a.m. for rounds and discharge me. I told her about my experience. You know what she said? “I recommend to my patients if they ask to hire a private nurse for nights. They can get you what you need and you don’t sacrifice care.”

I was stunned. So, I pay a fortune for health insurance. I pay deductibles to doctors and hospitals. I even paid a deposit when I went into the hospital so they were covered, and now I need to pay for private nursing while I am a patient in the hospital? Does this make sense to anyone out there?

It really makes me wonder what happens to people who have long term hospital stays. What happens to those who cannot afford care? What happens as the nursing shortage continues to increase?

This is the Real State of our Health Care System. It is not just about insurance coverage for all. It is about getting the proper care one needs in order to get well. No matter how much money one has.

Guess if I have to go into the hospital again for any reason, I better think about getting my own nurse so I can be properly cared for. Hope this gives you some food for thought.

Lisa

Credit markets have tightened. Banks are getting stingy on making new loans, and you need money. Here are a four tips to get your FICO (credit) score up no matter what your financial situation is today so if you must borrow in the future you will have done all you can to make you look like a good credit risk. Remember, credit scores are the deal maker or breaker to a lender.

1. Buy your score so you know what it is. When you order a free credit report, you can order a FICO score from Equifax for $7.95. You could also order your score online from Fair Issac’s website at www.myfico.com for $15.95.

2. Pay your bills on time. Your score rises with timely payments. 35% of the formula that makes up your FICO score counts towards payment history.

3. Reduce your debt. Your credit score reflects the debt ratio for each of your credit cards, so the less debt you have the lower the ratio and the better the chances of being able to borrow.

4. Don’t open any new accounts or credit cards and don’t close any either. Believe it or not, closing an account will have a negative impact on your score.