Internet Scams to be Aware of.

There is no question cybercrime is on the upswing. WHY these people who either try to hack our various accounts, steal our credit card or personal information, or install malware or spyware on our devices for nefarious purposes it is either deviousness or just robbery for money. Anyway make passwords ten characters or longer with numbers and symbols and capital letters, change them often, put them everywhere including your phone to avoid theft problems.

But as an FYI here are nine internet scams to keep you top of mind of these people trying to irritate your daily life:

1. Fake prizes, sweepstakes, gifts, lottery scams. There is no free pizza. Think if something is too good to be true, and you are not even a customer of the business or wanted to be on their email list, just hit delete.
2. Phishing/Spoofing emails. It looks like something came from Bank of America or Chase, but HEY you do not even have an account there despite their nice logo and signature block. DELETE. No one will ask for your passwords or social security number that is legitimate.
3. Fake arrest warrant, court appearance, or government prosecution scam. The FBI may show up at your door but they won't be sending you "emails" scaring you. Delete again.
4. Click-Bait scams. They lure you with celebrity news, images, fake media footage, the cute cat video. Click in NO links or images. Again delete. They want to load viruses.
5. Fake email addresses. They are CLOSE to legitimate but off a few letters or adding in some dots. LOOK at the details closely even if you are not a good detailed person.
6. Fake emails. They have poor spelling, poor capitlization, poor grammar. Probably overseas originators. Delete.
7. Social Engineering manipulation. The troublemakers READ around on you and try to guess your answers to security questions for online accounts. Don't divulge anything that is privileged information to any "friends" and be aware of the type of profile you are showing to the world. Don't click on all those personality tests on Facebook.
8. Spear phishing. This is "targeted" within one company phishing. Like human resources wants you to validate your internal password, or needs to verify you social security number with your company's logo in the email. It is fake hitting everyone in the organization. Whaling targets top executives across industries and surprisingly a lot have fallen for giving up sensitive information.
9. Craig's List Scams. Used like for work at home ideas where you become a transfer agent using your bank accounts to money launder and transfer money through. You're winning cause you are promised to get a cut of the money but this is ILLEGAL and is used heavily with wire fraud. Do not deal with people you do not know. Craig's list people also counterfeit organization's checks for small under $2,000 amounts that the FBI does not want to deal with, so know WHO you are dealing with.

In summary, be cautious of any requests for sensitive information via email. Pay attention to site's URL and emails closely. Gmail and Hotmail are hacked the most so you might want other email providers. Hold your cursor over links to ensure the URL is correct. Deploy security patches in a timely manner. Create strong passwords and never give them out.

A Renters-'s Dilemma

Landscaping Solutions

Landscape designers transform difficult properties into beautiful landscapes. Here's a short list of common landscaping problems and how your landscape designer will overcome them.

1. Working with Small Yards

Landscape designers combine eye-catching landscaping with space-conscious designs. Curves and tiered levels add more depth and points of interest without swallowing up your valuable space. It’s important to plan ahead with your landscape designer as you choose plants. Plant small trees instead of large ones and hide your fence with flowering vines instead of big shrubs.

2. Avoid High Maintenance Landscapes

Landscape designers often encourage homeowners to avoid high-maintenance landscapes. High maintenance usually ends up in homeowner neglect. Instead, most designers suggest planting low-maintenance species that are native to your area. With the large variety of low-maintenance plants available to homeowners today, you can have a yard that requires almost no upkeep. Low-maintenance yards also require less water. In this time of environmental concern, designing a landscape that conserves resources is always a plus.

3. Refurbish Rather than Replace Your Yard

Landscape designers always recommend that you re-use as much of your existing yard as possible — even when undertaking a large landscaping renovation. Skilled designers generally help homeowners decide which plants to leave in place and which to remove. Any designer will tell you that refurbishing your yard — instead of replacing everything — saves you time and money.

4. Landscaping Solutions for Busy Streets and Intersections

A busy street or intersection presents a different set of challenges for your landscape design. A buffer of fast-growing, dense shrubbery can make a world of difference when it comes to providing privacy. A small, enclosed garden is another way to close off your backyard to outside noise.

5. Landscape Designers are Worth Every Penny

These landscaping solutions are just a taste of what a good landscape designer can provide your property. Whether you're looking for a total landscape renovation or just a quick update, a professional designer will help you find the perfect design for your home and budget.

5 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional

Whether you are buying or selling a home, it can be quite an adventurous journey. You need an experienced Real Estate Professional to lead you to your ultimate goal. In this world of instant gratification and internet searches, many sellers think that they can For Sale by Owner or FSBO. The 5 Reasons You NEED a Real Estate Professional in your corner haven't changed, but have rather been strengthened due to the projections of higher mortgage interest rates & home prices as the market continues to recover. 1. What do you do with all this paperwork? Each state has different regulations regarding the contracts required for a successful sale, and these regulations are constantly changing. A true Real Estate Professional is an expert in their market and can guide you through the stacks of paperwork necessary to make your dream a reality. 2. Ok, so you found your dream house, now what? According to the Orlando Regional REALTOR Association, there are over 230 possible actions that need to take place during every successful real estate transaction. Don't you want someone who has been there before, someone who knows what these actions, are to make sure that you acquire your dream? 3. Are you a good negotiator? So maybe you're not convinced that you need an agent to sell your home. However, after looking at the list of parties that you need to be prepared to negotiate with, you'll realize the value in selecting a Real Estate Professional. From the buyer (who wants the best deal possible) to the home inspection companies, to the appraiser, there are at least 11 different people that you will have to be knowledgeable with and answer to, during the process. 4. What is the home you're buying/selling really worth? It is important for your home to be priced correctly from the start to attract the right buyers and shorten the time that it's on the market. You need someone who is not emotionally connected to your home to give you the truth as to your home's value. According to the National Association of REALTORS, "the typical FSBO home sold for $208,700 compared to $235,000 among agent-assisted home sales." Get the most out of your transaction by hiring a professional. 5. Do you know what's really going on in the market? There is so much information out there on the news and the internet about home sales, prices, and mortgage rates; how do you know what's going on specifically in your area? Who do you turn to in order to competitively price your home correctly at the beginning of the selling process? How do you know what to offer on your dream home without paying too much, or offending the seller with a low-ball offer? Dave Ramsey, the financial guru, advises: "When getting help with money, whether it's insurance, real estate or investments, you should always look for someone with the heart of a teacher, not the heart of a salesman." Hiring an agent who has their finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying/selling experience an educated one. You need someone who is going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear. Bottom Line You wouldn't replace the engine in your car without a trusted mechanic. Why would you make one of the most important financial decisions of your life without hiring a Real Estate Professional?

Sell NOW Before Competition Hits the Market

In their current edition of the Home Price Expectation Survey released last week, Pulsenomics asked this question of the 100+ economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists they surveyed: "In your opinion, what is the primary driver of recent home value growth in the U.S.?" Here are the top four reasons given by those surveyed:  As we have stated before, the current lack of inventory in most housing markets has caused home appreciation to increase at greater percentages than historical averages. This means that this is a great time to sell your home as supply is low and demand is high. However, things may be about to change... The fortuitous situation sellers see themselves in may soon change for three reasons: As more homeowners realize their equity situation has dramatically improved over the last four years, they will be more likely to put their homes on the market. With the residential real estate sector outperforming a sluggish economy, more home builders will be looking to add new construction inventory to a depleted supply of housing stock. Many banks are just now foreclosing on loans that have been delinquent since the housing bust. These houses will also be coming to market. According to Daren Blomquist, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, in the Q2 2016 U.S. Residential Property Vacancy and Zombie Foreclosure Report: "Lenders have been taking advantage of the strong seller's market to dispose of lingering foreclosure inventory." Bottom Line In most housing markets, don't wait for this additional competition to hit the market. If you are considering selling your house, now may be the time.

How Does Housing Help Build Family Wealth?

 As the economy continues to improve, more and more Americans are seeing their personal financial situations also improving. Instead of just getting by, many are now beginning to save and find other ways to build their net worth. One way to dramatically increase their family wealth is through the acquisition of real estate. For example, let's assume a young couple purchased and closed on a $250,000 home in January. What will that home be worth five years down the road? Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists every quarter. They ask them to project how residential prices will appreciate over the next five years. According to their latest survey, here is how much value that $250,000 house will gain in the coming years.  Over a five-year period, that homeowner can build their home equity to over $40,000. And, in many cases, home equity is large portion of a family's overall net worth.

Bottom Line

If you are looking to better your family's long-term financial situation, buying your dream home might be a great option.