Broward Directory Blog

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Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number
SSA Publication No. 05-10064, October 2007, ICN 463270

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, they use the credit cards and do not pay the bills. You may not find out that someone is using your number until you are turned down for credit or you begin to get calls from unknown creditors demanding payment for items you never bought.

If someone has misused your Social Security number – You can contact the Federal Trade Commission by:

• Internet  – www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft

• Telephone  1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338)

• TTY 1-866-653-4261

Monitor your account:
Free credit reports are available online at  www.annualcreditreport.com

Click here for more information

Homestead And Other Exemption Information
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FLORIDA HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
FILING PERIOD JANUARY 1 – MARCH 1

Florida law requires that application be made by March 1st to be eligible for the $25,000 Homestead Exemption. Only new applicants or those who had a change of residence need apply. Automatic renewals are mailed in January each year.

What Is A Homestead Exemption?

Homestead Exemption is a constitutional benefit of a $25,000 exemption removed from the assessed value of your property.

All legal Florida residents are eligible for a Homestead Exemption on their homes, condominiums, co-op apartments, and certain mobile home lots if they qualify. The Florida Constitution provides this tax-saving exemption on the first and third $25,000 of the assessed value of an owner/occupied residence. While a complicated formula is used to explain this — as the additional $25,000 only applies to some of the taxing authorities — the bottom line is that the basic homestead exemption is worth approximately $800 in annual tax savings for all homes with a value of $75,000 or higher.

You are entitled to a Homestead Exemption if, as of January 1st, you have made the property your permanent home or the permanent home of a person who is legally or naturally dependent on you. By law, January 1 of each year is the date on which permanent residence is determined.

What You Need When Filing for Homestead

• Proof of Ownership.
• Proof of Permanent Florida Residence.
• If you or your married spouse have a Homestead Exemption in any other county, state or country (or an equivalent permanent residency-based exemption or tax credit, such as New York’s “S.T.A.R.” exemption) on another property you also currently own, you will not be eligible for a homestead in Broward until after you surrender the exemption in that other jurisdiction.
• Current employers of all owners.
• Addresses listed on last I.R.S. income tax returns.
• Date of each owner’s permanent Florida residence.
• Date of occupancy for each property owner.
• Social Security numbers of all owners filing (plus the Social Security numbers of any married spouses, even if not named in the deed).

Florida voters overwhelmingly approved a new constitutional amendment in January 2008 which grants added tax relief to property owners. The amendment gives homesteaded owners the “portability” right to move Save Our Homes benefits to a new homesteaded property.

The complete article and how to file…

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How Much Money EBay Stole From Me In The Last Week!
From PRNINE – Press Release Services – November 6, 2008

“Mad As Hell” EBay Sellers Do Not Need To Put Up With It Any Longer.

Charleston, SC (PRnine – November 6, 2008) – This past 7 days I did an experiment. I had not listed on eBay in over two months so I really never had any idea what I was truly spending per item in listing and final valuation fees… until now… My account was paid up and I was beginning from ground zero.

Well I put on 182 items of good to very good antique and vintage costume jewelry with most under $10.00, a number of them under $20.00 and a few under $40.00. None of my auction listings had any extra “bells and whistles” so that most listed for $.35 – $.90. I sold 55 auctions for $1,105.00… not bad for a week’s work? Can’t beat it huh!!! Well the week has ended and let me give you the total breakdown of my costs.

The rest of the story…

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Productivity Will Follow

How many times have you experienced a brilliant revelation while in the middle of something else? Ten minutes later, you go to retrieve it, and it’s gone. Or you have a task that you know you must complete, perhaps a phone call at work, but other items keep popping up. The day ends, you pull into your driveway, and realize that you never made that call.

Years ago, George A. Miller wrote an article for The Psychological Review in which he suggested that the number of items a person can keep in their short-term memory is approximately seven, plus or minus two. With everything going on in the world around us, it’s no wonder that we forget so many things.

What’s the solution? Write it down! Productivity expert David Allen* believes that you should avoid having the same thought more than once, unless you enjoy that particular thought. Our minds are prone to remember items that happened recently or which contain emotional content. Given the choice, we would probably prefer more selective criteria, especially considering the space constraints of our short-term memory. By writing notes, you free your mind to do more productive things such as coming up with innovative new ideas or analyzing existing data.

Allen has also observed that as adults, we often experience ideas somewhere other than where they’re to be implemented. Perhaps you’ve been discussing something with a client, and you have an additional thought while standing in line at the grocery. The reverse can also happen, where you remember that you are out of milk while you’re in the middle of a meeting. By writing these thoughts down when you have them, you’ll ensure that they’ll be acted upon when the opportunity arises.

How should you begin this process? Stock up on working pens, pads of paper, and a location to place these notes at work, at home, and when you’re traveling in between the two. The only thing worse than forgetting an idea is writing it down and losing the note, which doubles your anxiety. You’re wondering where the note went, prompting fears that other notes have been lost, and you’re trying to retrieve an idea which you’ve already placed in your mental recycle bin. (This bin is emptied regularly, unlike the one on your PC’s desktop!)

By documenting your ideas, you will achieve a clear mind and be ready to face even larger challenges!

Allen Robinson
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
First Trust Mortgage
Phone: 800-529-9758 x229
Local: 954-771-1828 x229
http://www.broward-directory.com/BrowardMortgages/
www.iborrowsmart.com/arobinson

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Reducing the Risks

Don’t wait for a discerning buyer to find faults in a listed property. The EPA website (www.epa.gov) has tons of useful information on possible hazards in a home, and you should at least check the following conditions as part of the listing process.

Radon Gas – In January of 2004, the HUD home inspection form for FHA loans (HUD 92564-CN) was modified to include information on radon content in indoor air. This form (updated again in June of 2006) is mandatory for all FHA-insured mortgages, which means a good portion of buyers may request a radon inspection as part of the home inspection process. To find a radon service professional, visit www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html.

Asbestos – Asbestos may not be easily identified, so consult with a professional if you are unsure about a material in a home. The Environmental Protection Agency says that “Usually the best thing is to LEAVE asbestos material that is in good condition ALONE.” If buyers have concerns, refer them to www.epa.gov/asbestos for current information on asbestos risks.

Lead-Based Paint – If a home was built before 1978, there’s a chance that lead-based paint was used. If the paint is peeling, that is not the only danger to be concerned about. Lead-contaminated dust and soil can also pose serious health risks to children and pregnant women if inhaled or ingested. Make certain the buyer knows if there is lead-based paint in the home, and remind them that removal of lead-based paint, if done incorrectly, can result in lead-contaminated dust being released into the air. Visit www.epa.gov/lead for more information.

Smoke Alarms – Know your state’s smoke alarm laws by heart! Some states require one smoke alarm in each bedroom, plus a detector on each floor. Make sure your sellers’ home complies – the last thing you want is a delay in a purchase for something as simple as smoke alarms!

Be sure to do your homework as there may be risks specific to the region where you live, such as California’s earthquakes or Florida’s hurricanes, that mean regional laws to follow.

Allen Robinson
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
First Trust Mortgage
Phone: 800-529-9758 x229
Local: 954-771-1828 x229
http://www.broward-directory.com/BrowardMortgages/
www.iborrowsmart.com/arobinson

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When Your Parents’ Money Is Your Problem

By Elaine Appleton Grant, November & December 2008

For adult kids, Mom and Dad’s budget woes usually come as a shock. You can head off a crisis with some honest talk now.

Half of those caring for a loved one 50 or older—about 17 million Americans—spend more than 10 percent of their income on caregiving, according to a study released last year by the National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare. The added expense can mean adult children stop saving or spend their savings, skimp on their own medical care, or pile on debt, a particularly worrisome move in a sputtering economy.

The Complete Story….

If you are a Hero’s fan (on NBC Monday Nights at 9:00pm), You can watch the complete episode online at:

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes

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Learn About Your Prospect Before the Appointment!

Do you know enough about your prospects and potential strategic partners when you meet for that first appointment?

The Internet can tremendously aid your business in many different ways. One of the great benefits is Google, the world’s leading search engine, aptly located at http://www.google.com. This search engine allows you to access a wealth of information about people—possibly those with whom you seek to form a relationship. Use this utility to research backgrounds on individuals prior to meeting with them.

As sales people, we’ve been told, “Use your mouth less and your ears more,” especially on the first few appointments. That gives us a clearer view of our prospective clients’ and referral partners’ hot buttons.

Often, because of our insecurity as sales people, we present our sales pitch too aggressively. We essentially toss darts at a dartboard and hope to come close to hitting the bull’s eye. That’s where Google comes in handy. Consider the value of walking into an appointment, armed with the knowledge of a prospective client’s goals and interests.

Many people have Web pages loaded with personal information about their family, their hobbies and their successes. The more data you gather about your contacts, the better you can tailor your presentations to suit their needs and desires.

By doing a little preliminary research, your interactions will dramatically improve. This will lead to an increased conversion ratio from prospect to client.

Here’s another hot tip! Would you like a quick listing of all the professionals in a certain field in your area? Try http://local.google.com, and put in the name of the profession (for example, “CPA”), along with your zip code. Google combines search data with Yellow Pages references to compile an amazing list of professionals, including business phone numbers, addresses, as well as links to their websites. You can use this information to develop strategic partnerships in a variety of fields.

Allen Robinson
Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist
First Trust Mortgage
Phone: 954-771-1828 x229
http://www.broward-directory.com/BrowardMortgages/
www.iborrowsmart.com/arobinson

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New ethanol deal could keep U.S. Sugar in business

Company to explore building Clewiston plant

By Andy Reid | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
November 18, 2008

Just five months after declaring a going-out-of-business sale in the name of Everglades restoration, U.S. Sugar Corp. on Monday announced a new bid to shift into ethanol production.

Even as U.S. Sugar nears a $1.34 billion deal to sell most of its sugar cane fields to the state for the restoration, Florida’s largest sugar producer also entered into a deal with Coskata Inc. of Warrenville, Ill., to explore building a 100-milliongallon-per-year production plant beside the Clewiston sugar mill.

The Complete Story…

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http://www.retailmenot.com/

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