13 minute read
Financial
Keeping Your Information Secure
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Password Security
• Never save passwords in browser • Don’t use the same password for all • Change passwords and security questions periodically • Dashlane – Free App for saving passwords
Use Biometric Logins If Available
• Face ID • Touch ID
Don’t Share Too Much On Social Media
• Quizzes on favorites and firsts a data mines for hackers
Set up text or email alerts in internet banking and pay attention to them
• Password Change • Deposits over $ XX • Withdrawals over $ XX • Balance below $ XX
Phone Security
• Password/PIN/Touch ID for access to device • Don’t dismiss updates; those ensure security • Don’t use public Wi-Fi for payments or internet banking access • Don’t use jailbroken devices if using your device for payments or internet banking
CARD SECURITY
Most merchants and cards have a Chip
How does Chip work?
Tokenizing/encrypting the card data while at rest and in transit so it is more difficult to obtain
For those merchants that do not:
• Use signature transactions for safety – especially at fuel pump • Near interstates go into gas station; or check the pump • Online, use tokenized payment methods like
Google Pay or iPay that keep your card information in a tokenized/encrypted vault • Check gas pumps for cut or stretched stickers • Look under your Wi-Fi at gas station “Mike’s
Playground” or other
“playgrounds” as those are used to skim card data and pull the information
remotely
Be aware of old-school scams
• Smishing- trying to get your information by SMS text messaging; i.e. “Your account has been compromised, please provide your card number and PIN number by calling…” • Phishing – trying to get your information by email links that spoof real sites asking for information updates or tell you your account has been locked or compromised with a “click here” to verify…
American Bank & Trust offers free ID PROTECT with all of our accounts!
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Buying And Selling In A Hot Housing Market
By Dave Ramsey
The housing market is white hot right now! Home prices are way up over last year, and 50% of homes are selling for more than the asking price—$20,000, $50,000, even $100,000 more in some cases.
That’s causing buyers everywhere to do some insane things to get the houses they want. More than half made an offer last year without seeing the house in person.
Many are even willing to skip a home inspection if it will get their offer accepted. In case you’re wondering, both are really bad ideas.
There’s nothing mysterious about a hot housing market. It’s what happens when you have more buyers than homes to buy Demand is high, but the supply is low, and that drives up prices. I’ve heard a lot of people say we’re actually in a housing bubble. That’s when demand causes home prices to jump so high, so fast, that buyers can’t keep up. Homes stop selling, flooding the market and causing prices to drop like a rock. But I don’t think that’s what’s going on.
We have a housing shortage, fueled by a shortage in building supplies—another thing to thank COVID-19 for. With fewer new homes to choose from, buyers are looking at used homes, but not many people are selling right now. Plus, a lot of the buyers are moving to areas with a much lower cost of living, so they have the cash to make these wild offers on the homes that are available. That’s the perfect combination for the feeding frenzy we’re seeing now. And even though I think the frenzy will slow and prices will stabilize, I don’t think home prices will drop significantly any time soon.
What Does A Hot Housing Market Mean for Sellers?
This is great news for sellers! With more motivated buyers than sellers, competition is fierce, and sellers have the advantage. You can sit back, let the offers roll in, and pick the best one. But you shouldn’t make the leap to sell until you’re sure you’re financially and emotionally ready. If you are, the next step is to find a reputable agent and talk over your situation: • Are you selling and buying? Sell your home before you buy. You’ll likely be able to sell your home before you find a new one, but you never want risk being stuck paying two mortgages. • Use your advantage in your favor. In a hot housing market, buyers will be more likely to accept your terms. Take advantage of it! • A multiple-offer game plan is a must. Get on the same page with your agent on price, types of financing, and contingencies you’ll accept so it’s easy to pick the best offer. • Higher price point homes aren’t moving quite as fast. Houses valued at $500,000 and up may take a little longer to sell, so don’t get discouraged if it takes a few more showings to get offers.
What Does a Hot Housing Market Mean for Buyers?
It may be a seller’s market right now. But buyers aren’t completely out of luck. One thing’s for sure: Buyers need a seasoned real estate pro on their side. Between crazy offers and fewer homes to choose from, this is no time for amateur hour.
Here’s some advice for winning in a seller’s market: • Stick to your budget. Don’t let emotion or a time crunch cause you to make bad money decisions. House fever causes 20% of firsttime home buyers to go over budget. This is a bad idea. • Know what it takes to have a competitive offer. If you’re buying with a mortgage, get preapproved— not just prequalified—for a conventional loan. I always recommend a 15-year, fixed-rate loan, where the monthly payments are no more than 25% of your take-home pay.
• Make a cash offer if you can. Cash is king, and it’ll set you apart from other buyers in a good way! • Know when to walk away Before you blow your budget or settle for a home you don’t really want, stop and let things cool off a bit. Waiting a few months may feel like an eternity, but it can be just enough time to let a hot housing market settle down. • Be prepared for a longer search. This is especially true if you’re a first-time home buyer.
Most real estate pros agree this seller’s market is here to stay for a while. While home prices have exploded nationwide, every market is different, so be prepared for just about anything. Regardless, play it smart. A new home should be a blessing, not a burden—both emotionally and financially! >
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Dave Ramsey is a seven-time #1 national bestselling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth, and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.>
Anthony Grosch, Licensed REALTOR® Cell: 504-339-5292 Office: 504-362-1823 3001 General DeGaulle Blvd., Suite B New Orleans, LA 70114 Anthonygrosch2@juno.com anthonygrosch.latter-blum.com
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3 Questions To Help Create A Business Strategy That Works
I love talking about business strategy with my team. It’s so cool to be in a room with smart, super-motivated people discussing ideas for taking a project to the next level.
In the process, we’ve discovered an easy way to get started down this path is by asking three questions. These questions are simple, basic, and to the point. Plus, they help lay a successful foundation for your strategy. They are:
Where are you?
Before making any decision on where you want to take your business, you need to assess where you are today. Write down which goals you’ve hit and which ones you haven’t, what’s working and what’s not, and areas where you overly optimistic and those where you were realistic.
Once you complete your list, the next step is to ask yourself why you progressed in some areas and bombed in others. Begin by taking an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. Also, consider what opportunities you see for your company as well as any potential threats.
Finally, think about the environment in which your business operates. What external trends, like competition, customers, regulatory and even political issues, might affect your business? Find out what’s going on in your business that’s driving its performance.
Where do you want to go?
This may be the single most important question you’ll ask yourself all year. Simply put, without a vision your organization will perish. You can’t make payroll, your team becomes just a bunch of employees, morale goes down, turnover goes up, and sales go down.
Once your vision is clear, make a list of mid- and long-term objectives for the next three to five years. For example, you want $4 million in revenue in year three. The key is to be clear about what you’re aiming at. These targets for tomorrow, along with the perspective of where you are today, provide you the proper context for the next step.
How do we get there?
You know where you need to be going; now how do you get there? Create a game plan that is specifically geared to get you from where you are today to where you want to be in the future.
List what you need to start doing, what you should continue to do, and what you need to stop doing, as well as any obstacles you may face. Once you figure these out, start setting your goals. Remember, for goals to work, they must be specific, measurable, time-sensitive, written down—and above all—yours.
Once your goals are set, make an action plan that aligns with your goals. What’s an action plan? It’s simply a written list of who does what by when. Follow that by repeatedly communicating your vision and plans to your team to keep them onboard.
Creating a strategy for your company isn’t a quick or easy thing. It takes a lot of thought, a lot of time, and tons of patience. But once it’s complete, it will become a compass that points straight toward success!
Will Redondo
985-264-1824
1703 N Causeway Blvd, Ste F 1703 N Causeway Blvd, Ste F Mandeville, LA 70471 985-674-6398 Mandeville, LA 70471 Licensed in Louisiana Independently Owned and Operated 985-674-6398 Licensed in Louisiana Independently Owned and Operated WWW.NEXTHOMENORTHSHORE.COM Will Redondo
985-264-1824WILL@NEXTHOMENORTHSHORE.COMNextHome Northshore o ers our Agents & Clients
the latest and most advanced tools in Real Estate.
THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE IS HERE. NextHome Northshore offers our Agents & Clients the latest and most advanced tools in Real Estate. > Broker/owner Will Redondo fi rst opened the agency in 1992 as an independent brokerage, which has evolved and thrived by maintaining a high level of professionalism, and by always putting our client’s interest and needs fi rst. >> >
In December 2017 we proudly became a NextHome franchise so that we can improve our Are You In or Near Retirement! service to all of our clients. NextHome gives us the tools and technology we need to stay ahead of all Real Estate trends and compete in an ever changing market.
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This is a single premium fixed deferred annuity issued by a life insurance company which may include a first year Bonus. Interest rates are subject to change. Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty. Guarantees subject to the claims-paying ability of the Insurance Company and not insured by FDIC. Surrender of the Contract may be subject to surrender charge or market value adjustment. Products not available in all states and not available at all ages. *Leadership and small business expert Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored numerous best-selling books, including EntreLeadership. The Ramsey Show is heard by 18 million listeners each week on more than 600 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. >
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