Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties Warning Signs Your Identity Has Been Stolen Identity theft affects millions of Americans every year, with thieves draining people’s bank accounts, destroying credit scores and even ruining reputations. Unfortunately, many victims aren’t aware of an issue until significant damage is done, but by learning the telltale signs of identity theft, you have a much better chance of detecting any problems before it’s too late. LifeLock, a part of credit reporting agency TransUnion, suggests watching out for the following red flags: Personal Banking You receive a call, email or letter from your bank notifying you of possible fraud on your account. You see withdrawals you can’t explain on your bank statement, or charges you didn’t make on your credit card statement. Your interest rates go up due to unknown credit activity. Your credit report shows accounts you didn’t open or credit checks by c...

  November 2021 This newsletter is focused on financing. Whether you're trying to buy or if you are looking to save money, there are things to consider when it comes to real estate financing. Read more below.  If you have questions, or if you need me to refer you to an excellent loan officer, you can always give me a call. Click here to find out how to select a loan officer and key items to consider.  Learn more click here.  I am here to support my clients, whatever their real estate needs might be.  When you’re ready to make your move to buy or sell, give me a call. As always, I am here for you, and I welcome any communication from you. HOMEBUYERS, FINANCE Compare Interest Rates and APRs When you apply for a mortgage, you may not pay the advertised rate. The best rates are for those homebuyers with the best credit scores. However, lenders are competitive, so you’d be wise to apply to several lenders at once. You’ll receive a loan estimate that you can compa...

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties 7 Ways to Pay for Your Child's College Education As a parent, you’ve undoubtedly thought about your child’s college education—no matter what their current age is. And if you’re planning on paying their way, or at least helping them out, cost is certainly a factor. Unless you’ve got a huge sum of cash to plunk down when it’s time to pay, chances are you’ll need to find multiple ways to fund your child’s education. Here are seven options to consider: FAFSA Whether you or your child is paying, begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for any aid. The form allows you to receive financial aid such as federal grants, work-study grants, work-study opportunities, student loans and even some state- and school-based aid. Some colleges award this money on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it’s important to fill it out ...

  Information is brought to you by Hope Leitner Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties How to Freeze Your Credit for Free To stop a criminal from using your personal information to open a credit card in your name, start by preventing lenders from checking your credit unless you first unfreeze your information. Even if you have poor credit—or are low on savings—protecting your credit from identity theft by taking advantage of a free credit freeze is a good idea. Thieves can steal your personal information (i.e., Social Security number, driver’s license number and birth date) and create new identities to fraudulently get loans and open credit card accounts in your name. A credit freeze prevents lenders from checking your credit in order to open a new account. So, if a criminal has your personal information and tries to open a credit card in your name, a credit freeze will stop the lender from checking your credit. If you have a credit freeze in place, you must remove i...