Real estate agents fill important roles in the home buying and selling process. Finding the right real estate agent for your situation may take a little time, but it is worth the investment of time to ensure that you are happy with the results of your real estate transaction. Why Do You need a Real Estate Agent? Buyers and sellers alike benefit from the services real estate agents have to offer. As a buyer, you will receive information about homes that might not show up on websites and in real estate magazine listings. By telling your agent exactly what you are looking for in a home, he or she might be able to help you in your search. Your agent may be able to show you homes that haven’t even appeared on these venues yet, giving you an opportunity to make your bid before others even know about it. When the time comes to make an offer to buy a home, your real estate agent can help you present your offer and get all the relevant ducks lined up to close the sale. That includes things like home inspections, title searches, closing costs, and other necessary components. For sellers, the story is different. A high energy real estate agent will do everything in his or her power to maximize your home’s exposure. That includes things like staging the home, hosting open houses, and showing your home frequently to interested buyers. These could be all things you may lack the knowledge, skills, or energy to do on your own. It can make the difference between getting the offer you are looking for and settling for one that is less than ideal. A dedicated real estate agent can help you by offering advice that might help boost curb appeal, make the home more marketable, and encourage a faster sale for your home. Types of Real Estate Agents Many people often get confused when they hear the term real estate agent. It means different things to different people on the street. However, they have very clear meanings and distinctions within the industry. There are three primary types of real estate professionals:
  1. Agents

  2. Brokers

  3. Realtors

  4. Buyer’s Agents
The terms, while often used interchangeably, actually have very different meanings. Real estate agents are professionals who have taken select classes, applied for, tested for, and received state licensing to become an agent. However, they must work with a licensed broker and participate in continuing education courses along the way. Brokers are required to take additional courses and complete more intensive examination. They can go into practice for themselves. However, they must continuously educate themselves in the field to remain active brokers. Realtor is a term that is set aside for real estate agents and brokers who have committed to a higher standard of accountability and become paying members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). They are defined by a strict code of ethics in representing buyers and sellers alike. Buyer’s Agents are real estate professionals who only represent buyers. That helps to erase any appearance of conflicted interests among real estate agents and places some buyers in an easier frame of mind. These professionals can earn the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation through the NAR by taking specific classes. Picking the Right One There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong professional to choose to represent you when buying or selling your home. In this field, personality may make the difference as can commitment and work ethic. You want to choose an agent you click with, who will listen to what you are looking for and help you find it. You do not want to spend an endless line of afternoons exploring homes that are outside of your price range or do not meet your requirements, for instance. Look for agents you click with and ask around about their reputation for dealing honestly and fairly with buyers and sellers (if you happen to be selling). Questions to Help You Make a Decision You might want to have a few questions in mind to ask an agent you are considering for selling your home, like these, ahead of time: Finding a great real estate agent is easy when you are looking for specific things. Some of the most important details to consider are reputation, energy, and enthusiasm for meeting your needs, whether you are buying a home or selling one.

Finding a Real Estate Agent

View Resource Finding a Real Estate Agent
With new car prices are on the rise, consumers are paying closer attention to the sticker price at the dealer’s showroom. Unfortunately, they are not providing as much clarity as most of us would prefer. One of the problems is that different option packages can cause wild fluctuations in the prices of cars that are almost the same in every other way. That is why you need to understand what you are reading – to ensure you are getting a fair deal from the dealership and a good price on your new car. Dealer Invoice The “Dealer Invoice” number tells you what the dealer reports to have paid for the car. Keep in mind that this price does not include any rebates the manufacturer might have offered the dealer or ‘holdback’ incentives manufacturers provide to dealers for actually selling a vehicle. When you include those two items, the dealer’s out-of-pocket cost might be thousands less than the Dealer Invoice price. Depending on the popularity of the vehicle, the dealer’s inventory levels and the time of year, the dealership may be more or less inclined to sell below or hold firm to their invoice price. The bottom line is that you should not take for granted that “Dealer Invoice” is the starting point for sales negotiations. Options and Add-Ons For the most part, the least expensive version of a new car is the plain Jane version that has no frills, no bells, and no whistles. Extras add extra costs to the vehicle. Options installed at the factory can make the car more attractive to own and drive. However, they can also add significant dollars to the sale price of the car and your monthly payment. Sometimes, vehicle options are bundled into packages. An SUV, for instance, might have an off-road package or even an entertainment package that includes things like DVD players or even gaming consoles to keep kids from getting bored on the long drive to grandma’s house. These things add value to the vehicle and increase the price tag quite a bit. Since options are part of the car when it arrives at the dealership there usually isn’t much negotiating room as to whether they are part of the vehicle or not. The dealer might be willing to be more flexible in what he charges you for those enhancements. Add-ons are similar to options, are added at the dealership and not by the manufacturer. They include things like pinstripes, undercoating, fabric protection, extended warranties, and VIN etching. Some of these items simply aren’t worth the costs for the rewards you get in return. Do your homework before paying extra for these types of offerings or negotiate to try to get them for free if they are something you want. Incentives and Rebates These are the hidden goodies you want to know about if you are comparing prices. Some of them may already be reflected in the bottom line price of the car window sticker so make sure you are not expecting them added or deducted at the end. In fact, that is one way some lure potential buyers into their dealerships. They advertise about available discounts, incentives, and rebates, then when you come in, they lower the boom and let you know that those discounts are already factored into the advertised price of the car. That is what the price on the window sticker shows too. It just seems confusing to buyers who are often expecting savings below the bottom line on the window sticker. If you are negotiating for a lower price, the best practice is to walk in with the number at the bottom of the windshield and begin the negotiations from there. Let the sales person you are haggling with know that that is where you are beginning the negotiation process and that you are prepared to walk if they even discuss prices above that line. It can easily become too many numbers to mentally manage – especially for mere mortals who do not have built-in calculators in their brains. Other Things You Need to Know There are other bits and pieces of information on the window sticker that are simply useful to know. These include things like the engine specs, estimated fuel economy ratings, and even your estimated yearly fuel costs. Buying a car does not have to be a huge hassle – especially if you know the make, model, and options you want before walking into the dealer. Do your research regarding the prices in your area for similar vehicles and packages and walk into the dealer with a price in mind. If the dealership will not match your number, be prepared to move on to the next one. While it might take some serious shopping, the odds are in your favor that you will eventually find the right combination of costs, options, and add-ons for a price that’s sure to make you smile.

Reading a Car Window Sticker

View Resource Reading a Car Window Sticker
You may be the most frugal person in your family. You might even be the most frugal resident of your city. However, that does not mean that you can get through life without having to make at least some significant purchases. After all, items conk out. Your refrigerator and freezer might be working fine in the morning. That does not mean that your ice cream sandwiches will not be melting by late afternoon. Your car might have gotten you to work in the morning. However, when it is time to leave at night, its engine sputters, grinds and leaves you stranded in your company’s parking lot. So when is the best time to buy big-ticket items? You might be surprised, but you can save a bundle of money by purchasing different types of items during particular times of the year. When to buy For instance, the first quarter of the year — the months of January, February and March — is an ideal time to buy a boat. That is because this is the off-season for boating. It is also a time of year during which boat shows are held, meaning you can find plenty of bargains. What else should you buy in the first quarter of the year? How about computer monitors? Gas grills and air conditioners are often priced lower, too. Moreover, if you are planning a wedding, buy your supplies during the first quarter of the year. No one wants a winter wedding, so supplies are less expensive. What about during April, May and June, the second quarter of the year? This is a good time to buy televisions and other electronics. This is largely because the fiscal year for Japanese manufacturers ends in March. They are then happy to unload old stock at discount prices. You might be surprised to learn that digital cameras, especially older models, are cheaper in the second quarter, as are vacuum cleaners. You can even find spring sales on gym shoes, running shoes and other athletic footwear. Computers tend to retail at bargain prices in the third quarter of the year, July, August and September. There’s a combination of factors here, including back-to-school sales and the fact that many top manufacturers are ready to unload older models before unveiling their newer equipment. Children’s clothing, because of back-to-school sales and office furniture routinely see their prices fall during this time of year, too. Also, if you can wait until the end of the summer, you’ll rack up big savings on swimsuits. Finally, in October, November and December, the last quarter of the year, you can find great deals on cars. You have to be willing to purchase an older model, however. Car makers have their new models out at this time, and they are happy to unload older ones through sales. Patio furniture, tools, jeans and appliances all go through price drops at this time of year. If you wait until the absolute last minute, you can pick up toys and games are deep discounts as Christmas gets closer and closer. Special cases Sometimes there are special days or times throughout the year when it makes most the financial sense to make a large purchase. For instance, seven airline industry experts will tell you that the best time to buy airplane tickets is on a Wednesday 21 days before your flight is scheduled to take off. Why is this? Airlines usually make their significant pricing changes every week, often doing this on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. If you book your flight more than 21 days out, you’ll see more deals as airlines rush to fill unoccupied seats. You should consider buying appliances on a holiday weekend. That is when retailers dramatically reduce their prices, something you are bound to notice if you’ve ever watched television near President’s Day or the 4th of July. This holds true even on less-celebrated holidays such as Columbus Day and President’s Day, according to SmartMoney. Finally, if you want to buy Broadway tickets, make your purchase just hours before the show is scheduled to start. Many big-name Broadway musicals offer same-day ticket lotteries that provide seats at cheap prices. You are taking a gamble, though; there’s no guarantee that your favorite musical will have seating available.

The Best Time to Buy

View Resource The Best Time to Buy
When it is time to get a new vehicle, there are three potential ways for you to pay for it. The first, paying in cash, is not a very common method, just because of the large amount needed to buy a vehicle. Even when a purchaser might have such a large sum, it is typically tucked away in less liquid investments. Moreover, when you consider the difference between the return on investment and the cost of borrowing, it might not even make financial sense to pay in cash. The other two options, buying a vehicle or leasing it, are both ways to finance the cost of the car. Each has its pros and cons, and the best choice for you depends on your situation. What does buying a car entail? When you buy a car, you become the owner listed on the title. If you use a loan to finance the purchase, your lender is also listed on the title as holding a lien, which is a right to ownership until the loan is paid off. The process of buying a car involves making a down payment, usually of several thousand dollars, and then financing the rest of the purchase with a loan. Traditional auto loans have terms of 36 to 60 months, but recently, 84-month auto loans have gained in popularity. Advantages of buying a car What is a car lease? Think of a car lease like a long-term rental agreement, often lasting 36 months. The leasing company continues to own the car you drive, but you pay a monthly fee for the right to use it. After the lease is over, you must return the car to the dealership in like-new condition, except for ordinary wear and tear. A lease also usually includes a mileage allowance, typically of 12,000 miles per year. If you cause damage to the car or go over the mileage allowance, the leasing company will charge you when the lease is over. Typically, mileage charges are assessed on a per mile basis, so going well over the mileage limit can be a costly expense when you turn in the leased vehicle. Financially, the monthly cost is based on how much the car’s value will drop during the leasing period, plus a financing charge that is like being charged interest. Advantages of leasing a car Buying a car has its advantages and disadvantages. Leasing a vehicle have them as well. The key to making the best decision for yourself is in determining what factors are most important to you and using the method that is most appropriate to help you reach your goals and priorities.

Buying or Leasing a Vehicle

View Resource Buying or Leasing a Vehicle
Online shopping is convenient, sparing you the hassle of having to drive back and forth to brick-and-mortar stores, the cost of the gasoline to get there and the frustration of waiting in long lines. However, buying something online doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be getting a deal. You might end up spending more if you are not careful. Fortunately, you can avoid overspending by shopping around before you make an online purchase. The best news is that doing this is not much of a hassle. There are several price comparison sites on the Web that can help you complete your comparison-shopping in minutes. The Federal Trade Commission provides several tips for consumers who want to buy a product online. The most important? You need to think about your goals before you start shopping. The Federal Trade Commission recommends that you decide whether you want a product that is at the top of its line or one that is budget-priced. The commission recommends that you identify particular brands that you like and calculate your shopping budget before you start your online hunt for refrigerators, cars or tablets. It is important, too, for consumers to read online reviews of products. Almost anything you’d want to buy online comes with customer reviews. These reviews can help you determine whether the flat-screen TV you are thinking of buying is a hit or a dud. You can also hunt online for coupons or discount offers, which many manufacturers offer to Web-based shoppers. Once you’ve done your preliminary research, it is time to search the many comparison-shopping services on the Internet. These sites allow you to type in a particular product — say the latest PlayStation video game — and pull up the prices that these products are being sold at by various online merchants. You can use these sites to compare not only prices, but also shipping options and costs to determine which online retailer provides the best overall value. Google Shopping is probably the most popular, and largest, comparison-shopping engine today. Type a product in this engine — anything from board games and video games to furniture and hardware — and you’ll be sure to find plenty of online buying options. However, Google Shopping is far from your only choice. Other popular comparison-shopping engines include PriceGrabber and Nextag, both of which have their loyal fans and will provide a wide variety of results for just about any product you can imagine. Shopping.com is a good way to find the lowest-priced products on online auction house eBay. That is because Shopping.com is part of the eBay family of companies. This site is a good one if you are looking for the best deals available on the traditional auction site. Shopzilla is another biggie, having operated since 1996. The site is especially useful if you are searching for DVDs, CDs and other electronic items. Online shopping takes much of the hassle out of buying. However, it does not eliminate all of them, and neither do price-shopping engines. It is true that these comparison-shopping engines can help you find the lowest prices for a broad range of products. However, remember that the product with the lowest price tag is not always the product that you should buy. Never purchase a product online based on price alone. Before making a purchase, read the reviews of the merchant offering the product. These reviews will tell you whether the merchant has a history of delivering products on time, selling products that work or responding quickly to consumer complaints. If you do not do this research before buying? You might get stuck with a product that doesn’t work while trying to contact the merchant that doesn’t respond to your email messages or phone calls.to your email messages or phone calls.

Comparing Products Online

View Resource Comparing Products Online
When you are trying to manage your money wisely and live within a budget, the traditional vacation might not be within reach for you. Between airfare, hotels, dining out, and sightseeing, a week-long vacation can easily cost $1,000 per person. Imagine, though, if you could cut out the airfare and hotel cost entirely, and slash the dining out cost significantly as well. This can be a reality if you take a staycation, where you just stay at home but treat your city and nearby areas as your vacation destination. Staycations are gaining popularity, and for good reason, because you can relax for a week without the stress of knowing you are breaking your budget or going into debt. How to Have an Amazing Staycation Prepare ahead of time. Just as you would make travel arrangements and pack before a vacation, take the time to get ready for your staycation, too. Here are a few things to consider doing to prepare: Be a tourist in your own city. Try to look at your city through new eyes. If you were visiting for the first time, what attractions might you be interested in seeing? Ask friends, neighbors, and co-workers about their favorite spots in town or within an easy day trip distance. Some favorite destinations might include: Relax and enjoy your hobbies at home. You don’t have to fill every day of your staycation with elaborate plans and activities. In fact, the most relaxing vacation will often include days when you don’t feel like you need to do much of anything. Sleep in, read a good book outside in the sun, take a bath, play a board game, and maybe go for a walk around the neighborhood. If there’s something fun you feel like you never have time to do during your usual busy life, your staycation is the perfect opportunity to do some of that.

Taking a ‘Staycation’

View Resource Taking a ‘Staycation’
When you’re buying your loved one an engagement ring, you might be experiencing a roller coaster of emotions. The prospect of spending your life with someone you adore and preparing for marriage is something no one takes lightly. While it is an exciting time, it can lead to a great deal of stress if you are not sure how to go about buying an engagement ring. From how to work out a budget to figuring out your financing options and more, this handy guide will get you up to speed on buying an engagement ring. Setting a Budget Of course, nothing is too good for your loved one. However, you need to be realistic when it comes to planning your engagement ring budget, including giving consideration to account for any expenditures related to your upcoming wedding or the down payment required to buy your first home together as man and wife. You need to know that you can afford the ring you are looking to purchase before going into the jewelry store. Thankfully, working out a budget is not so complicated when you know how. There are four basic steps to calculating your engagement ring budget:
  1. Make a record of your income. Sit down, and write down your cash inflows, including your pay, interest on investments, and other amounts you receive from other sources. Create an itemized record either on paper or in a spreadsheet.

  2. Create a record of all cash outflows. Include in this:

    3. Once you have done this, you need to estimate any variable expenses you have. For example, what you spend for entertainment, in restaurants, on gas, at the grocery store, and so on. Don’t underestimate these expenses — if anything, overestimate to give yourself a bit of a financial cushion.

    Once you have done this, combine all your expenses for the year, divide by 12, and record the number in your spreadsheet. That will be your monthly expenditures.

  1. Compare your expenses against your income. That will help you pinpoint areas where you can cut back, so you can put some savings aside for a ring. If your expenses are greater than the money you have coming in, you need to tighten your belt. If your income is greater, depending on the cost of the ring you select, you should be in good shape to make your ring purchase. Either way, it is time to start allocating money to your ring fund.

  2. Add information on your investments and savings account to your spreadsheet. That will allow you to have an idea of savings growth potential over time so that you can determine if you have available funds in savings to purchase the ring, without significantly impacting your wedding, honeymoon or other post-wedding plans.
Creating a budget is something that everyone should do, not just when you are buying an engagement ring. As things change, you can simply add or subtract these from your spreadsheet. It’s super useful whether you are saving up for a big purchase or just wanting to watch your pennies. Know What You are Looking For Next, comes the exciting part — finding the right ring. If you are not sure where to begin, this list will help: Once you have found the right ring, it is time to think of how you are going to buy it. Purchase/Financing options There are several main ways that you can pay for an engagement ring: either with your savings or by using credit. Of course, there is a third way that involves selling some of your personal belongings or other assets. Savings. If you are lucky and astute enough to have planned ahead, you can use money from your savings account or other non-retirement investment accounts for your purchase. Credit. Perhaps you do not have quite enough money saved to buy your ring of choice outright. You may want to use a combination of savings and credit to purchase the piece. If you have no savings available at all, be aware that using credit will probably make your ring payments continue for a few years. With this in mind, it is advisable to speak to your loved one to find out if they are comfortable with this. Be aware that you may be able to get credit from the jewelry store where you are buying the ring, and they could offer a better interest rate than your credit card company. They many even offer an interest-free option. Buying an engagement ring should be a very exciting time and through being aware of your finances, you can ensure you buy something beautiful, as well as affordable for your bride-to-be.

Buying an Engagement Ring

View Resource Buying an Engagement Ring
Credit counseling is a service that can be beneficial to consumers who have credit problems, those seeking to avoid credit problems, and those who are simply looking for ways to enhance their already good credit profiles. What this means is that almost everyone can benefit from credit counseling, provided you are working with a reputable organization. What is Credit Counseling? Credit counseling is a service that educates consumers about reducing debt, managing money, and using credit wisely. Different organizations will do this in distinct ways with the ultimate goal of helping you develop a favorable relationship with your debt so that it is working for you rather than against you. The key to remember, though, is that you do not need to be struggling with debt to benefit from credit counseling. Who Should Use Credit Counseling? While many people only consider credit counseling when they find themselves in over their heads with debt, the fact remains that you can benefit in many ways from the services. Even if you do not have the means to work with a long-term financial planner, you can work with a credit counselor to create long and short-term financial goals and begin working on a plan for achieving them. People who are sailing in debt-infested waters can turn to credit counseling to help them right their ships and set their financial futures back on the right course. You will also find credit counseling highly beneficial if you are looking for ways to pay off your debt, reduce your debt, or obtain (and maintain) a debt-free lifestyle. Credit is a two-edged sword for many. You need it to get it, but once you have it, you often find it even more necessary. Credit counseling helps you manage your finances more effectively no matter how meager or robust they may be. The service is ideal for people of all ages, life stages, and income levels. Services Provided Services will vary somewhat from one agency to the next, but most will include some variation of the following services as part of their credit counseling offerings: Fees Charged Credit counselors get paid in two ways. Some charge fees to consumers for their services. Others receive funds from creditors when they successfully negotiate payment structures. Ask up front about their fee structure and your financial obligations to them. Some agencies keep the first payment as a donation. Ask about this specifically before signing with any agency and use that information in your decision-making process. Be on the Lookout Not all credit counseling agencies have your best interests at heart. Watch closely for signs that all is not right, like these: Credit counseling is a valuable service that is being used daily to help people, just like you or someone you know, take control of their debts and their financial futures. You will have to schedule an appointment with a reputable credit counseling agency to learn more about how this valuable service can be beneficial to you.

Can Credit Counseling Help?

View Resource Can Credit Counseling Help?
The decision to get married is no small thing. It carefully interweaves two separate lives into one. If one partner in the relationship has serious debt problems, it can be a point of serious concern for the future health and financial stability of the relationship. That the two of you should address before exchanging vows. Major Concerns to Address You are not responsible for the debts your spouse created before the marriage – and vice versa. Those debts remain your own – individually. However, new debts you create as a couple belong to both of you. That includes things like credit cards you add your spouse to and loans for which you cosign. Those belong to both of you and failing to pay those loans off on time can put your good credit at risk. If you live in a community property state, you may even be responsible for debts your spouse created during the marriage – even if you had no knowledge of the debt. You need to set ground rules about debt before you get married – perhaps by sitting down together to come up with a plan for you and your future spouse to take actions to cut spending and to start addressing past and present debt problems. While you may just be tempted to pay off your partner’s debt, that’s not always the best choice for your relationship or your partner. That is especially true if you must take on debt to do so. Swapping out your partner’s debt for your own could place your credit rating at risk and put you on the hook if you are unable to pay off those debts. You especially shouldn’t help your partner pay off debts if he or she is hiding things from you, like: Successful relationships require trust and hiding major financial problems or assets should raise serious concerns. A person who keeps financial secrets will only serve to erode your own trust in that person. Steps to Take Before You Marry Don’t take your walk down the aisle together until the debt problems of the past have been addressed and steps are actively being taken to eliminate those problems and get your spouse-to-be back on the straight-and-narrow for a strong financial foundation for your marriage. Have open and frank discussions together about how financial issues will be addressed once you are married. Consider working together to create a financial plan for your life partnership that includes addressing and paying off debt, cutting spending, and creating financial freedom for a brighter future when spending may not need to be as limited. Steps to Take Once You’re Married If you don’t live in a community property state, consider keeping your accounts separate to shield yourself from your partner’s bad credit decisions and to ensure that at least one of you maintains good credit for emergencies that happen in life. If you happen to live in a community property state, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself from the debts of your partner if you get a divorce. However, that is only the case if you have a pre- or post-nuptial agreement that stipulates who owns what debts in the marriage and who will be responsible for paying them upon dissolution of the marriage. The final things you need to do, for the health of your marriage, is to discuss the differences in your attitudes on spending and debt. Sometimes, there is common ground. However, when you consider that money is the leading cause of stress in a relationship, it becomes even more important to act now and address these differences early to determine if you should take that next step.

If Your Spouse-to-be Has Serious Debt Problems

View Resource If Your Spouse-to-be Has Serious Debt Problems
Moving is one of life’s most stressful events. What with organizing your belongings and packing them up, as well as sorting out the general moving logistics, it is no wonder that people often overlook details such as finances during a move. For example, it is crucial that you notify your employer and insurance provider, as well as remember to change your address with the postal service and banks or credit unions. Money may also be tight during a move, and if you overlook important financial details, it might get even tighter if you miss essential bill payments. With this in mind, we have created a financial “to-do” list, so you keep on top of everything you need to do both throughout and after your move. Tips for Moving Your Finances with You These handy tips cover the important tasks of moving your finances with you, so you do not get any potentially expensive surprises down the road. Moving home requires a great deal of effort and planning. It is easy to become bogged down in details and to forget to focus on your finances. Why not print out this “to-do” list and keep it somewhere safe, so you can refer to it when the time comes?

A Financial “To-Do List” When You Move

View Resource A Financial “To-Do List” When You Move