2011 Yuletide Tips For Holiday Safety

This holiday season “Don’t Let The Grinch Take An Inch”. The Durham Police Department Crime Prevention Unitoffers simple safety strategies that could lessen, or even eliminate, the opportunity for a crime to occur.

Whether in town or travelling, in general be aware of your surroundings at all times,be alert to suspicious people and vehicles, and avoid dangerous situations.

If You Are Travelling…

• • Before your trip copy all credit cards, airline tickets, passports and important documents ‐ front and back.
• • Jewelry, luggage and all valuables should be photographed prior to trip.
• • Inform your Neighborhood Watch block captain and/or a reliable neighbor of your travel schedule.
• • Remember to stop delivery of your newspaper and mail.

Home Security

• • Utilizing good dead bolt locks can deter a forced entry into a residence. Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave home, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
• • Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from the outside. Consider breaking boxes down and transporting to the recycle station instead of setting them at the curb.
• • Conduct a holiday inventory. Take photographs or make videos of items and list descriptions and serial numbers. Keep photos/video in a secure place for future reference. If your home is burglarized, having a detailed inventory can help identify stolen items and make insurance claims easier to file. Make sure items like TVs, DVDs, DVD players, stereo equipment, cameras, camcorders, sports equipment, jewelry, silver, computers, home office equipment and power tools are on the list.
• • If you are at home and you hear someone breaking into your residence, leave the residence as quickly as possible. If you cannot leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call the police.
• • When you leave home, use at least two timers for turning on lights within the residence. Also turn on a radio or a television. This will give the appearance that the home is occupied.
• • Upon your return, if something looks questionable such as a slit screen, a broken window or an open door, do not go in. Call the police from a neighbor’s house or cell phone.

• • Report any suspicious activity to 9‐1‐1 immediately. When in doubt, call 9‐1‐1 !

• • Neighbors watching out for each other can deter criminal activity in a neighborhood. Consider starting a neighborhood tradition by looking in on neighbors and reaching out in the spirit of the season by helping someone less fortunate or lonely.

Motor Vehicle Safety

• • Never leave your vehicle running and unattended. Also, do not leave a spare key inside the vehicle.
• • Do not leave valuables such as laptop computers, cellular phones and chargers, cash, loose change, radar detectors, detachable stereo covers, GPS, Palm Pilots, CDs, and sports equipment in view.
• • Keep a record of all your serial numbers for stereo equipment, amplifiers, and other personal items.
• • If you choose to drink alcohol at a party, DO NOT drink and drive.
• • Do not create or send text messages while driving.

When Shopping…

• • Park in well‐lit areas. Be sure to lock the car and to close all windows.
• • Carry wallets in front pockets and purses close to your body. Consider carrying your wallet inside of a coat or pants pocket to deter purse‐snatchers.
• • Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; pay with a check or a credit card. Make sure that only one receipt is printed and that only the last four digits of your card are visible on the receipt.
• • When returning to your vehicle (or home), have your keys in your hand ready to open the door.
• • Do not store packages in plain view in your car.
• • If you take packages to the car, but plan to return to the store/mall, drive to a new location. Criminals can be on the lookout for unsuspecting shoppers who simply drop their purchases into the trunk and then return to shopping.
• • Most vehicles are equipped with factory car alarms. If you become startled or are approached in a suspicious manner, push your vehicle’s panic alarm or the horn button on your key fob.
• • When shopping with children, teach them to go to the store clerk, information center or security guard if you get separated.
• • It’s always best to have a second adult when shopping with small children. They can watch your surroundings when loading children into safety seats.
• • Be careful of people who rush you into signing anything – a contract or sales agreement. Read it carefully and consult someone you trust for a second opinion.
• • Be cautious of persons claiming to represent companies, consumer organizations, or government agencies that offer to recover lost money from fraudulent telemarketers for a fee.

Protect Yourself on the Internet

• • Shop with reputable companies. When ordering from a new company, request a catalog and have it sent to your residence.
• • Protect your personal financial information by using a secure browser — one that can encrypt or scramble credit numbers or other personal data. Consider using the company’s 800 number or using a check or money order to pay for your purchase. Always print out a copy of your order and confirmation number for your records.
• • Think security! Be leery of persons asking for your password or social security information.
• • A con artist’s website can look just as professional as a legitimate company’s. Always know who you are dealing with.

 Mitzi Anthony is the Marketing Rep for Choice Title LLC, you can respond here, or contact her directly mitzi@choicetitle.com    

 http://twitter.com/choicetitle  

 Her weekly Blog can be found here.

• Our families and those that seem like family
• Our military families and the sacrefices they make
• Our first responders who give up time with their families to watch over ours
• Those less fortunate that next year will be a better year for them.

Stay safe on the highway and God Bless.

Mitzi Anthony is the Marketing Rep for Choice Title LLC, you can respond here, or contact her directly mitzi@choicetitle.com  

 http://twitter.com/choicetitle

 Her weekly Blog can be found here.

Thank you to my uncles, cousins and son; for all you’ve done and continue to do everyday.

Mitzi Anthony is the Marketing Rep for Choice Title LLC, you can respond here, or contact her directly mitzi@choicetitle.com  

 http://twitter.com/choicetitle

 Her weekly Blog can be found here.

I was going to take the easy way out and just post a link this week, but then thought better of it. I realized how lucky I was to be employed at a job I enjoy, in a market that was not the pits, among people that have some of the best work ethics I’ve ever witnessed. And being a farmer’s daughter, I’ve seen some pretty good efforts.

I watch you, my friends and colleagues, show up early, work late and weekends. Go out of your way to be kind and generous (with both your time and money) just to make sure folks get in the home they love. That of course, in turn, makes you successful, some might even say lucky. I say you’re determined. Determined to do your best and be your best.

The realtors have had to find creative ways to connect with a public that is more elusive every day. You put yourself out there on FB, Twitter, LinkedIn, Twillow, ActiveRain and heaven only knows what others. You’ve learned to be faster, smarter and more knowledgeable than ever. The lenders have had to endure more rule changes, mortgage mergers and underwriting snags than ever before in your industry. Yet, every day, I see a smile, hear a kind word or a suggestion of another program that might get that young couple into a home. Or a better way for the fella to get his home sold so he can take that new job he just got….that’s somewhere else. Or sell her the perfect home, in a great neighborhood that she had no idea was there because she just got transferred here from out of state.

The changes we’ve seen since Hurricane Katrina, and the boom that followed, I think lulled us into a momentary sense of plenty. It may seem like hell now, in comparison, but remember….

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” - Winston Churchill

We’ll eventually come out the other side and most will be the better for it.

Louisiana is gaining ground on many fronts and our area is gaining more than most. We have plant expansions, NuCor, port expansion and more construction than we’ve seen in a while. Keep up the great work my friends and great success will follow. Aren’t we “lucky”??

Mitzi Anthony is the Marketing Rep for Choice Title LLC, you can respond here, or contact her directly mitzi@choicetitle.com  

 http://twitter.com/choicetitle

 Her weekly Blog can be found here.

(a)    No seller of property that will be purchased with the assistance of a federally related mortgage loan shall require directly or indirectly, as a condition to selling the property, that title insurance covering the property be purchased by the buyer from any particular title company.

(b)    Any seller who violates the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be liable to the buyer in an amount equal to three times all charges made for such title insurance.

Now ask any realtor, banker, or  asset manager and this is not the way the REO market has been run. In fact it was the complete opposite, statements like “seller to choose closing attorney”, or “title company seller’s preference” is not only the norm but expected. The original idea was that systems and tools could be put in place to handle large volumes of closings. RESPA obviously saw some risk for corruption, or at the very least, dealings that may not serve the consumer.

The Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) must have finally heard this loud and clear because they have now made a dramatic change to their REO addendum on Section 2B, page 1 line 4 to state, “The closing shall be held at a place so designated and approved by the Purchaser.”  I would imagine we will start to see many banks follow FNMA’s lead in the future.  We’ll see…

For more information on REO Properties go to our Closing 101 section or contact Gareth.