January Contest Rules!

Happy New Year everyone! As you know, it is the time to make New Year's Resolutions! Studies show that you will be 68% more likely to keep it if you tell someone! In an effort to help you keep your resolution, I am holding a contest! All you have to do it go to my facebook pageHERE and tell me what your New Year's Resolution is! You must also "like" the page to be eligible. Only one entry per person please! The winner will be randomly selected and announced January 21st! 

Want to earn a 2nd entry? SHARE my facebook REALTOR page on your facebook! Once you have done that, make a comment on your New Year's Resolution and let me know you shared it! Good luck!

Since weight loss is the #1 New Year's Resolution, the winner will receive:
-A subscription to your choice of: Women's Health Magazine, Men's Health Magazine, Cooking Light Magazine
 -A $20 Visa Gift Card

Check out these amazing homes for sale!

Thinking of selling your home? Read this!

11 Reasons to List During the Holidays

1.        People who look for a home during the Holidays are more serious buyers!

2.       Serious buyers have fewer homes to choose from during the Holidays and less competition means more money for you!

3.       Since the supply of listings will dramatically increase in January, there will be less demand for your particular home! Less demand means less money for you!

4.      Houses show better when decorated for the Holidays!

5.       Buyers are more emotional during the Holidays, so they are more likely to pay your price!

6.      Buyers have more time to look for a home during the Holidays than they do during a working week!

7.      Some people must buy before the end of the year for tax reasons.

8.      December-February is traditionally the time frame military members are "house hunting" to prepare for upcoming transfers and deployment returns.

9.      You can still be on the market, but you have the option to restrict showings during the six or seven days during the Holidays!

10.    You can sell now for more money and we will provide for a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

11.     By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money! This will allow you to sell high and buy low!

Give me a call for an up-to-date market analysis

and to discuss your real estate options!

Help the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School!

UPDATE  - Another AWESOME way to donate stuffed animals is by purchasing them through Kohls.com (select the Kohl’s Cares animals and they will donate the profit so it’s a way to help in more than one way!!).
Also, if you can think of ANY other ways or have a shop where you sell stuffed animals etc, please feel free to leave it in the comments.
So I got to thinking…I have received several emails from several readers who want to support the Sandy Hook Elementary students and families of the victims by sending Stuffed animals/teddy bears and letters to them. Below is a P.O. Box that was set up to do just that!
And…I scoured Amazon looking for what I thought was a good deal on stuffed animals (see below, most are around $5 shipped). I was thinking, we could purchase these animals right on Amazon and have them sent DIRECTLY to the P.O. Box…that way you don’t have to worry about shipping them yourself and you can support them from your living room. Imagine if we all sent a stuffed animal or letter… what an impact!!
Here is the address to send letters (and stuffed animals if you choose):

Messages of Condolence for Newtown
P.O. Box 3700
Newtown, CT 06470

Amazon deals on Stuffed Animals to send directly to them:

You will get FREE shipping with Amazon Prime (sign up for a FREE 30 day trial here) or when you spend $25 or more with super saver shipping! OR, many of these are about the same price with shipping (just took to the right side of the screen to see more buying options).

Webkinz Velvety Elephant $6.29 shipped (Reg.$14.99)

Aurora Plush 12″ Baby Slushy Aurora Babies Polar Bear $8.99 (Reg. $11.99) My favorite!

Aurora World 12″ Teo The White Tiger $10.88 shipped! My second favorite!

Aurora World Esmeralda $5.49 (Reg. $9.99!)

Webkinz Pinto $6.49 (Reg. $14.99!)

Melissa & Doug Baby Roscoe Bear – Vanilla $8.75 + FREE Shipping So Loving and Cute

Webkinz Charcoal Cat $6.29 (Reg. $14.99!)

Webkinz Hippo $5.10 (Reg. $14.99!)

Webkinz Pom Pom Kitty $8.40 (Reg. $14.99!)

Webkinz Caramel Lion $5.99 (Reg. $14.99!) I LOVE this one!

Aurora World 14″ Lucky Puppy $5.99 (Reg. $14.99!) Super cute! 

Aurora World Shepherd Dog $6.08 (Reg. $9.99)

Webkinz Hedgehog $6.65 (Reg. $14.99!) 

Aurora Plush 12″ Perry Flopsie $9.36 (Reg. $12.99) This one is bright and cheery

Gund Matisse Brown 14″ Bear Plush $13.18 Shipped – More expensive but SUPER cute and nice

Webkinz Pink Pony $6.60 (Reg. $14.99)

Melissa & Doug Luster Dragon $12.22

Melissa & Doug Princess Soft Toys 12″ Plush Sunny Yellow Lab $12.04

Melissa & Doug Princess Soft Toys Thatcher Bear

Melissa & Doug Princess Soft Toys 16″ Plush Lovey Lamb $11.86 Shipped $11.86

Look for more HERE!

Originally posted HERE.

Do you know the danger of Identity Theft?

Identity theft is a growing problem in the United States. Do not be a victim of this crime! Here are a few ways to protect yourself:

Credit Reports
Check your credit report! If you discover anything suspicious, especially in the form of a credit card you don't have or debt that does not belong to you. 

You are entitled one free credit report every year from each of the three nationwide credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.

To get your free credit reports, go here or call (877) 322-8228. (HINT: To monitor your credit year-round, request a report from a different bureau every 4 months)

Security Freeze
A security freeze prevents credit bureaus from releasing any information about you to new creditors without your approval, which can stop identity thieves from obtaining credit in your name. For details, visit this website. All North Carolinians can get security freezes online. 

Social Security Number
Your social security number is a helpful tool for crooks who are trying to take out credit in your name. Protect it! Don't carry your social security card in your wallet. Do not print it on your checks. Do not give it out unless it is absolutely necessary. Always ask why it is needed, who will have access to it, and how it will be kept confidential. 

Shred
Your records often contain confidential information. Shred or erase hard drives from old copiers, printers, and computers that might hold private information. Clear all date from old cell phones to ensue that your private information can't be recovered. Shred outdated tax records, credit card applications, old financial statements, insurance forms, etc.

Finances
Watch billing cycles for missing bills, which can be an indication of ID theft or other financial fraud. Review monthly statements. If you discover incorrect charges, notify the company and dispute the charges. Reduce the private information on your checks and limit the number of credit card you carry. 

Notify your credit card company in advance when you travel, especially out of country. Photocopy credit cards (front and back) and keep the copies in a safe place in case a card is lost or stolen. Review your Social Security Earnings and Benefits Statement for errors. Call (800) 772-1213 to order a statement.

Passwords
Carry PINs and passwords in your head, not in your wallet or purse. Do not share PINs  or passwords with anyone, even close friends or relatives. Don't over-use the same PINs and passwords. Create different ones for different accounts. Passwords should have at least eight characters. Use letters, number and symbols (#%$). (HINT: Avoid consecutive numbers, family names, birthdates, SSN, phone numbers, etc.)

Online
Use public wi-fi hotspots for casual web surfing ONLY. Only access email, financial information, or enter private information on a secure wireless system. Make sure your home wireless router is encrypted and password-protected. Create a long, complex password to deter hackers from breaking in. Confirm that your computer is protected by an active firewall. Keep your operating system, spyware and virus protection up to date. 

Shop with online merchants that you trust. Do not click on pop-up messages or ads offering prices too good to be true. Never enter private data like your SSN or a credit card account number online unless you are on a secured website. Look for https (instead of http) in the web address and a "lock" icon somewhere on the screen. When you place an online order, print out your order confirmation. Keep receipts and copies of communications about your order, along with a description of the product and its price. Read refund and privacy policies.

When selling items online, watch out for (real-looking) fake checks and money orders. Be wary of overpayments and endorsed checks. Never wire "excess" payments back to the buyer or to someone else. Pay for online purchases by credit card. 

Email
Beware of emails that ask you to confirm your personal information or account number, or to transfer money. Avoid clicking on anything in an email, even it appears to come from a trusted source like your bank or a friend.  Forward spam emails to spam@uce.gov. Never send your SSN or financial account information by email unless they are encrypted. (HINT: Emails that say you have won money, can make a lot of money, or please for help are usually scams).

Mail
Stop pre-approved credit card offers by calling (888) 5-OPT-OUT or visit this website. Place outgoing mail containing private information into a locked mailbox. Avoid leaving your incoming mail in an unlocked mailbox. Consider getting a locking mailbox. Don't send money to cover taxes or fees on a prize, lottery or sweepstakes winning. It is a scam.

We are having a contest!

We are celebrating the holidays the best way we know how! With an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest! Here are the details:

You have from today, Monday, December 3rd, 2012 until Thursday, December 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM to email a picture of you wearing your Ugly Christmas Sweater to HMcGowin@gmail.com. They will be uploaded to the facebook page daily. Do not upload it directly or it will be removed.

In order to be eligible, YOU MUST "LIKE" MY FACEBOOK REALTOR PAGE! 
Amanda Parmer REALTOR Page
Then it is time to tell all your family and friends to vote! They must also "like" my facebook REALTOR page for their vote to count! In order to vote, they must simply click "like" on your photo.

Voting ends on Thursday, December 13th, 2012 at 11:59 PM. The winner will be announced the following day. The winner will receive a Dunkin' Donuts gift card!

Why Should I Buy A House Now??

We can go back and forth all day about the pros and cons of buying a home now.  When you ask Google, the top results will be compelling arguments for either side.  

Basically, it boils down to what you want and how much you want it for!

If you are definitely only going to be in a specific location for just a few years, renting just might be your best option....unless  you have a guaranteed income or allowance for housing and you can purchase a home for less than you rent- and then rent the home when you move and earn money on your investment...

Check it out:

Rent a home for $800/month means you're going to put down a $800 security deposit, plus the $800 rent every month, and that's not including utilities and pet fees and the 4% inflation every year.  You can exponentiate that for a period of three years and find that renting will cost a little over $31,000.

Spending the same amount of money every month, but investing it in a mortgage will buy a home priced right around $150,000.  And as a homeowner, you can enjoy the added tax benefits, inflation to add value and equity, not dealing with a landlord, having the freedom of painting, having pets, remodeling to suit your tastes and the list goes on and on.

Among historically low mortgage interest rates (check them here!) , buyer incentives to include:  closing cost assistance, buyer possession, furniture allowances, remodeling and decorating allowances, home warranty, landscaping packages and more, as well as depressed sale prices, this is a great time to make the financial decision to buy a home!

Experts agree that while home ownership still carries some risk, it's still a steady and worthwhile investment.  It is, in fact, the only investment that you can use at the same time you pay for it and it will steadily appreciate.  Not quickly, but how many quick investments work out in the end anyway?

Of course buying a home and making any type of investment is not a decision to be taken lightly and will impact your entire lifestyle for many years.  But it can definitely set your financial future up for success as well as give you the peace of mind and somewhere to call home.

Check out my website for home buying tips and to browse homes, both for rent and for sale, that are available!  I would love to assist you with all of your real estate needs!

www.AmandaParmerSellsHomes.com

"I'm never too busy for any of your referrals!"