Ann Hayden's Real Estate Blog

Foto Friday....Alone and Waiting for Spring

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com .   

Calling ALL Wildwood, Ballwin Chesterfield home buyers to the FREE seminar.

FREE Home Buyer's Seminar at Prudential Select Wildwood, Ballwin, Chesterfield Office located at the corner of Manchester Road and Westglen Farms Drive in lovely Wildwood, Missouri.

Wednesday March 11, 2009 from 7:00pm until 9:00pm.

Questions about the tax credit?  Come find out the answers.

Want to know more about the loan process?  Here you can find out.

Does the home buying process confuse you?  Show up and receive free info.

Wondering what steps to take first?  Come to the seminar as my guest.

Seminar is free but reservations are required.  Email Ann:  Ahayden@psphomes.com or log on to;  www.SelectAnn.com to reserve your spot.

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Wordless Wednesday... Life is like this some days!

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com .   

Wordless Wednesday........I need a little more than a new roof

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com

Speechless Sunday...A view from inside the Capitol

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Call or text Ann today at 636-399-7544 to get started finding your dream home.

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com

Happy Valentine's Day!  A virtual gift for my on-line friends...

Enjoy!

And in the infamous words of my favorite actor:  "Love may not make the world go round, but I must admit that it makes the ride worthwhile."  - Sean Connery

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com .    

Foto Friday......Interesting Architecture in St. Louis

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Ballwin, Wildwood Office

Is your paper monster under control?  Do you feel like you are drowning in a sea of paper?  Does your paper pile up?  I certainly know the feeling.  In real estate, we seem to generate mountains of paper and paperwork.  Here are some timely hints for use during tax season to help you deal with all the piles of paper.

1)  To start your paper sorting task, make sure you have a shredder and trash can/recycling bin readily available.

2)  Have your filing system neatly marked with labels and appropriate folders.  Colorful ones make the sorting task easier.  Hanging file folders and regular tabbed folders seem to work best.  Your categories are based on what you are filing.  For tax items, file by IRS categories so you do not have to resort later.

3)  Get in the mood to sort by turning on a TV show or your favorite radio station.

4)  Work for 30 minutes and then take a break.  Have a small goal in mind and stick to it.

5)  Handle each piece of paper only once.  Decide where it belongs:  in your trash can, in the shredder, in the recycling bin or in your neatly marked filing cabinet or box under the appropriate folder.

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. All photographs and/or written content produced by Ann Hayden. All rights reserved and may not be reproduced or reprinted without express written permission of Ann Hayden, real estate agent with Prudential Select Properties Chesterfield, Wildwood, Ballwin Office.

Real estate needs:  www.SelectAnn.com

Wordless Wednesday...Gorgeous Missouri Sunset

© Ann Hayden, 2008-2009. Photograph was taken by Ann Hayden and may not be used or reproduced without written permission of Ann Hayden, agent with Prudential Select Properties. I will usually grant permission with proper credit and a link back, so just ask before using.

Real estate needs:   www.SelectAnn.com.

Buyers and sellers,  the better your credit score, the better interest rates you will be able to negotiate with your bank or lender.  A credit score of at least 740 will give you the best rates.  This number is an average of the three credit reporting bureaus- Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.   Consumers with the highest scores are generally considered to be the lowest risk when it comes to lending, insurance, etc.

So how can you improve your credit score?

1) Pay all your bills on time, not within the grace period but on time. 

2) Do not have too many credit cards or installment payments.  Too much credit can get you into trouble.

3) Keep your balances low.  Maxing out your cards is going to affect your credit score adversely. 

4) Start paying down the highest rate cards first, while still making the timely payments on the others.

5) Use your credit responsibly.  If someone offers you money off just for filling out an application, decline the offer.  It may not be a good deal for you.

6) Check for accuracy on your credit report at least yearly.

7) When shopping for a loan for a home, do so at 2 or 3 places within a 30 day period.  Do not go all over town looking for the best rate.  This will bring down your score.

8) If you find discrepencies on your report, dispute them immediately.

9) Always guard your information.  if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

10) If you are declined credit, find out why and how to repair the issues.

Most of all use common sense.  Your goal is to be able to get the best rates on loans, insurance, etc.  Even some employers will check your credit.  The reasoning is a person with a good score is likely to be responsible.

 Search for your real estate at www.SelectAnn.com.  24/7

© 2008-2009 Ann Hayden, All rights reserved

Original article by Ann Hayden agent with Prudential Select Properties Wildwood, Chesterfield, Ballwin Office.  Ann Hayden is committed to your goals while educating you in the home buying & selling processes.  Please call or text Ann Hayden today to get started 636-399-7544.

Real estate needs:   www.SelectAnn.com.