Author: Heather Paige Moody

In September of 2017, Equifax announced a data breach that exposed the personal information of 147 million people. The company has agreed to a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and 50 U.S. states and territories. The settlement includes up to $425 million to help people affected by the data breach.
Here’s what you need to do to determine whether your credit data has been compromised and the options that you have if your social security number appears as one of the 147 million credit records.
Use this link to the FTC and enter in the last 6 digits of your social security number. (WARNING: there are other websites out there that are asking for your information. Don’t use them—use this one – https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/equifax-data-breach-settlement )
The website will tell you whether you are eligible to file a claim.
There are 4 claim options:
Cash or Pre-paid credit card of $125
Or, Free credit monitoring for 4 years and $1 million dollars of identity theft insurance
Or, free credit monitoring for 6 years (no insurance)
Or, You incurred loss of money and time due to identity theft. If you claim less than 10 hours, you must describe the actions that you took to fix the issues. If you claim 10 hours or more, you must provide documentation. Maximum claim is $20,000.
Your claim must be filed by January 22, 2020.
Claims will be reviewed starting January 23, 2020 but no date has been set when the money will be sent or the credit monitoring option will begin.
One more thing…It used to be that you could ask for one free credit report per year. Now as part of the settlement, consumers can get up to 6 credit reports per year from Equifax for up to 7 years.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of buying a home is “does the real estate agent REALLY represent you, the home buyer?
Yes, you do have the right to ask an agent to solely represent you, and here are some FAQ’s as to what’s involved and why you should consider it when buying your next home, second home or investment property.
What does Buyer Representation mean? The real estate agent represents your interest. They are required to be loyal, accountable and not disclose any information about you that you don’t want the seller or the other real estate agent to know.

Should you call the agent who listed the house for sale? You can—but they are representing the seller, not you—and their responsibility is to get the highest price and the most money for the seller. You will also have to sign a piece of paper stating that you are aware that the real estate agent will be representing both of you—and will do their best to be fair and honest.

Will you get a better deal if you work with the listing agent? Some people think that since the real estate agent would be getting all the commission when they work with both the buyer and the seller, then the listing agent will negotiate a better deal. The bottom line is that if the seller doesn’t accept the offer, or if you, the buyer, won’t counter with another price, it’s out of the agent’s control and the sale does not happen.

Will they only show you listings that are in the MLS? An agent who represents buyers not only can show you properties listed for sale through the Multiple Listing Service, they also can contact For Sale by Owners. If there is a home you’d like to buy, but it’s not for sale, they can knock on the door for you and ask if they would consider selling it to you.

How much does it cost? Over 99% of the time, the seller still pays the real estate commission. There are extremely rare times where the seller may not agree to pay the commission, but you will know ahead of time if there are any issues.

Do you need to sign anything? Yes, there is an agreement called the Exclusive Right to Represent the Buyer and it outlines what my duties are and my responsibility to you. It lets the seller and the real estate agents know that we have an exclusive relationship, and if they tell me something about the property or the seller or any other information, I have the duty to tell you. You will usually have to sign it for a period of time—but that too is negotiable between you and the agent.
If you are thinking of selling your home, contact me and I’ll recommend several great listing agents.
If you are thinking of buying a home, I also know of many great buyers’ agents that I can recommend to you too.

Buying or selling a home can be exciting.
But, it can also be a mixture of fear, anxiety and anticipation because it means a new chapter in your life.
So, choosing the right real estate agent is one of the first things to consider when making a move.
While friends and family may refer real estate agent to you, their home buying or selling needs are probably different than yours. The internet is a good way to do your research, but consider it a starting point in your search for a real estate agent that represents your interests.
First of all, there are many intangibles that you’ll need to consider:
Is the agent’s personality compatible with yours?
Do you “sense” they are honest and trustworthy?
Does the agent have a clear understanding of your objectives and needs?
Do they have a list of referrals that you can call to get their opinion?
Secondly, here are some things for you to verify when shopping for an agent to represent you:
Licensing – While a real estate agent must pass certain tests and must be licensed by the state, you should also check to make sure their license is valid and in good standing. Have they had any complaints filed against them?
National Association of Realtors® – Not all real estate agents can call themselves Realtors® unless they belong to this association and agree to be bound by their “code of ethics.” It’s an additional layer of protection for consumers.
Education & Specialization – It’s important that real estate agents continue their education. They can also take courses if they’d like to “specialize” in certain categories of a real estate practice, like “short sales/foreclosures” or “senior housing.” Ask if the person has any educational designations and what areas of real estate they special in.
Local Knowledge – A good agent will have local information at their fingertips, including housing trends, how many houses on the market versus the percent sold, sales price trends, local crime stats, school and shopping information, and a list of professionals that they do business with to help make your real estate transaction as seamless as possible.
Experience – While a certain amount of experience is important, it should be only one of the things to consider. I’ve known of experienced agents who become lazy after years of selling real estate, and I’ve seen newer agents who are highly motivated and eager to earn your business in hopes of future referrals.
While this info is not all inclusive, if you are thinking of buying a home or selling the one you already own, please rely on me to recommend 3 or 4 agents for you to interview, so you can choose the one that you can relate to and will understand your real estate needs.

Remember filling out a W-4 form when you were first hired? It’s the form that determines how much money your employer withholds from your paycheck to pay federal and state taxes—based upon the number of “allowances” that you claimed. But have you checked to see if it’s still applicable? Consider adjusting your W-4 form if the following applies:
You owed the IRS money last year – You may want to have more money withheld from your paycheck. In fact, if you owe too much, the IRS can assess you and add a penalty for not depositing enough money into your account.
You’ve experienced a “life change” like:
Marriage
Divorce
Birth or adoption of a child
Purchase of home
Refinance of mortgage
Retirement
You expect to earn money from your home-based business or other source that does not withhold income taxes from the check.
Change in itemized deductions
Medical expenses
Gifts to charity
Dependent care expenses
Education credits
Child tax credit
To INCREASE the amount of taxes from your paycheck, you will need to DECREASE the number of dependents. You can also specify a larger dollar amount—like $50 per pay period. Likewise, to have LESS money deducted, INCREASE the number of dependents or specify a smaller dollar amount per pay period. I recommend that you check your withholding every year—right after you’ve filed your income tax return. The IRS offers a withholding calculator at http://www.IRS.gov. You’ll need your most recent tax return and current paycheck stub. Or, ask your tax preparer to help you adjust your withholding so you don’t owe too much—or get a large refund from the IRS—at the end of the year.