Community Weekly Report 39

d-mars.com FREE

®

COMMUNITY WEEKLY REPORT

Bids | Public Notices | Non-profit | Events | Faith-Based | Fashion | Health | Political | Lifestyle | Sports

Volume 2, Edition 39

|

Inspire, Inform & Educate

|

September 30 - October 6, 2021

Page 2

Getting Smart About Your Credit Score

D-MARS.COM INFO

Page 2

Reduce Your Energy Bills Bills This Fall With These Tips

MAIN OFFICE: 7322 Southwest Fwy., Suite 800, Houston, TX 77074

Page 3

Get a Clear View of Roles in a Real Estate Transaction

Phone: (713) 373.5577 Email Us: contact@d-mars.com Visit Us Online www.d-mars.com

2 | September 30 - October 6, 2021

Community Weekly Report

Getting Smart FINANCE

About Your Credit Score By d-mars.com News Provider

G

ood credit opens doors. Not only can it help you secure an affordable loan, but it is also often needed for access to open everyday accounts, such as for your utility services and cell phone. It can help you land a job, boost your chances of securing an apartment, and even improve your dating prospects, according to research.

Whether your credit is “good” is determined by your credit history, which looks at your payment patterns over time and your credit score, which rates your credit risk at a moment in time. But it’s more complicated than that, and if you’re like many Americans, you may be confused by some of the details.

According to a recent Freddie Mac survey of homeowners and renters, one in three Americans isn’t aware that credit score elements such as the length of credit usage or having joint credit and loan accounts are reported to credit bureaus. Additionally, more than half of homeowners and renters aren’t aware that being behind on housing payment can result in an impaired credit rating, and nearly 60% don’t know or realize it can impact their ability to get a loan in the future.

Toget getaahandle handleon onyour yourcredit, credit, To consider these tips: consider these tips: 1. Pay on time. The best thing you can do to build, maintain or improve your credit is pay bills on time. The types of accounts considered for credit payment history include: • Credit cards • Retail accounts, such as credit cards from department stores • Installment loans, such as car loans, on which you make regular payments • Mortgage loans • Student loans • Finance company accounts, such as car dealer in-house lenders

2. Watch your credit card balance. If you allow your credit cards to reach high, unpaid balances, or if you only pay the minimum due, credit cards can cost you hundreds (and even thousands) of dollars in interest and can impair your credit.

3. Review your credit report annually.

You’re entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report each year from each major credit bureau via annualcreditreport.com. You can also keep an eye on your credit score through free apps such as Credit Karma, NerdWallet, WalletHub or others.

Be aware, however, the scores shown in these apps are not the same as FICO scores used by most lenders and creditors to make lending or credit decisions. Still, they’re useful for reviewing the financial activities affecting your credit.

4. Get savvy. Education has power. Learn more about managing credit by checking out Freddie Mac’s free suite of financial education resources, CreditSmart. Over the past two decades, more than 5 million consumers have benefitted from these tools and now this program can be customized by users.

“Financial education is personal. Whether you’re renting a home, are on the path to homeownership or saving for the future, our newly released curriculum empowers you to customize your experience and learn at your own pace,” says Cindy Waldron, vice president, Single-Family Housing Insights and Solutions at Freddie Mac. To access these resources, which are available online or on mobile devices, visit creditsmart.freddiemac.com.

The impact of good credit on your life can’t be overstated. Use free resources to learn more about how it works. Then, stay on top of your credit by actively monitoring it and working to improve it.

Source: StatePoint

REAL ESTATE

Reduce Your

ENERGY BILLS

Bills This Fall With These Tips

By Stacy M. Brown News Provider

T

he updates you make in fall can prepare your home for the long winter months ahead, helping you stay more comfortable all season while reducing your energy bills and other expenditures.

Here are some home improvements to consider, as well as tips and insights for making the most of these upgrades: • Select insulated siding: Did you know that most wall insulation is placed only between the studs? Since wall studs represent up to 25% of the wall surface of an average home, that’s like having one side of your home with no insulation at all! Check out siding that provides continuous insulation, such as CedarMAX insulated vinyl siding from ProVia, which is not only one of the most energy-efficient exterior claddings on the market, but offers enhanced curb appeal and durability.

• Improve windows and sliding glass doors: New windows can make a substantial impact on your overall energy efficiency, if you select wisely. To identify the most energy-efficient windows for your home, refer to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) climate zone map, which divides the country into four regions. For each region, the agency provides recommended values for the two major characteristics that affect the energy efficiency of vinyl windows: the U-Factor (which measures the window’s insulating value) and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (which represents the amount of heat from the sun that passes through the glass). Learn the specs of any windows you’re interested in before making a purchase to ensure they’re a good fit for your region.

Wherever you live, make sure the windows and sliding patio doors have been independently tested to meet strict EPA energy efficiency standards, and check to see that the windows are ENERGY STAR Certified. The ecoLite, Aspect, Endure and Aeris lines from ProVia all offer comfort and energy efficiency, as well as optional upgrades that can help make an additional dent in your energy bill or add aesthetic appeal. Some lines come standard with ComforTech Warm Edge Glazing, a high-tech glass package that measurably improves thermal performance for less heat loss, warmer glass temperatures and reduced interior condensation. Finally, be sure any new products are delivering their full value with a proper installation that eliminates drafts.

• Seek further savings: Did you know that by installing energy efficient products, you may be eligible to receive an energy tax credit? When purchasing products for your home, consider shopping with companies that are clear about the status of their products, as well as provide needed documentation certifying your eligibility.

• Pass it on: Environmental stewardship is a valuable lesson to impart to the next generation. While you make energy-saving updates to your home, consider checking out free resources that can help your children understand why this matters. For example, the “Sammy the Star” ENERGY STAR Educational Program, found at provia.com/ energy-star, teaches children about the importance of saving energy.

Energy savings and environmental protection go hand-inhand. This fall, consider home upgrades that prioritize both.

Source: StatePoint

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

September 30 - October 6, 2021 | 3

Community Weekly Report

Get a Clear View of Roles in a

Real Estate Transaction

By Marla Lewis President of the Houston Black Real Estate Association

T

he last thing you want during a real estate transaction is a replay of the famous Abbott and Costello Who’s on First? routine. Not only is it helpful to understand all the players’ roles during the process, but this knowledge can help you determine what information to share with which parties. Here are the basics.

Customeror orclient? client?

Customer If you are working with a real estate agent to buy property, you are that agent’s client, right? Not necessarily. You might be a client or you could be a customer. While these terms sound similar, don’t think they are interchangeable. They connote different responsibilities on behalf of the agent.

You are a client only when you hire an agent to represent you. Buyers often sign a written agreement when hiring a buyer’s agent. Your buyer’s agent can help you search for properties, give you information about financing, assist you in preparing offers and other related matters.

However, an agent can also help you with these matters

REAL ESTATE

even if you don’t hire that person to represent you. In this case, you are a customer rather than a client. For example, you might work with the selling agent (also called a listing agent) of a home. Typically, the listing agent will provide you information and assist you without offering opinions and advice. Keep in mind there’s a big difference between giving information and giving advice.

The listing agent owes his or her primary loyalty to the seller. As such, you don’t want to share any information that you wouldn’t want the seller to know. For example, if you make an offer of $200,000 but are willing to go as high as $225,000, you should not tell the listing agent. The listing agent would be obligated to pass this information on to his or her client.

You also might work with what’s called a sub-agent. A sub-agent also represents the property owner in cooperation with the listing agent. You also are considered a customer when working with a sub-agent, so don’t lose sight that the sub-agent represents the seller.

On the other hand, if you hire a buyer’s agent, that person must put your interests above all others. So if your buyer’s agent finds out that the seller is moving to another state this month and has received no offers thus far, you can expect your agent to share that information with you.

Regardless of whether you are a client or a customer, all agents must treat you honestly.

Howcan canyou yoube besure surewho’s who’swho? who?

How Real estate law in Texas requires a broker to provide you with a form, Information About Brokerage Services, at the first substantive meeting between the two of you. This form spells out the differences between listing agents, sub-agents, and buyer’s agents. The form also outlines their duties to you. If you have any doubt about what your relationship is with an agent, be sure to clarify this before proceeding.

Anintermediary intermediary An

ary between the buyer and seller on the same transaction, as long as that broker complies with certain legal provisions. An intermediary acts in a manner that does not favor one side over the other. The parties must give written consent to such an agreement.

The intermediary may not disclose certain information to the other party, such as confidential details or anything one of the parties tells the broker not to disclose. The broker also must not disclose whether the seller will accept less than his asking price or whether the buyer is willing to pay more than the amount written in his offer, unless this obligation is waived by the seller or buyer in writing.

Regardless of the choice you make about agency representation, I recommend you work with agents and brokers who are realtors. Realtors go beyond the legal requirements by adhering to a code of professional conduct. To find a realtor and to check out real estate listings across the entire state of Texas, be sure to visit HAR.com. And for information about the Houston Black Real Estate Association, please visit hbreahouston.org.

It is possible for one broker to serve as an intermedi-

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication

4 | September 30 - October 6, 2021

Community Weekly Report

Experience Our World of Advertising, Marketing, Media and Communication