What Perks Does Your Favorite Credit Card Offer?

Last week, the Federal Reserve pledged to leave the Fed Funds Rate near 0.000 percent until at least mid-2013. For credit card holders in Pennsylvania who carry a monthly balance, this is good news. Because of the Fed's call, credit card rates are unlikely to rise before mid-2013.
But cardholders can save on more than just interest costs, as you'll learn from this two-and-a-half minute piece with NBC's The Today Show. In the interview, you'll hear about "built-in" perks offered by most credit cards and ways by which you can save on everyday goods and services.
For example, did you know your everyday credit card might offer:

• Travel perks : Automatic trip cancellation protection and car rental insurance.
• Shopping perks : Discount admission to concerts and museums; free shipping from overseas.
• Consumer perks : Price protection against a drop in price; insurance against theft; extended warranties.

And it's not just "high end" cards that offer these options, either. Credit cards of all types do what they can to improve consumer loyalty. Offering free perks is just one way in which they try.
Most credit cards offer websites detailing cardmember perks and benefits. Visit the site of your favorite card and see where you might save on everyday items.

Should You Refinance Your Mortgage?

Because of strife in Greece, Spain and North Korea, conforming mortgage rates are back to all-time lows. They're at levels not seen in 50 years.  For homeowners that missed the Refi Boom of November 2009, it's a second chance.
In this well-presented, 3-minute video from NBC's The Today Show, you'll get tips getting low rates and choosing the best time to lock in.
Some of the topics covered include:

• Why were the experts wrong about rates moving higher this summer?
• How much money can you save with a 1 point drop in your interest rate?
• Should you buy a bigger home now that rates have fallen?

The advice in the piece is matter-of-fact and centered.  There is no cheerleading and the message is honest. Mortgage rates are low and they likely won't stay that way.  If you've been thinking about a refinance, talk to your loan officer as soon as possible.

15-Minute Fixes For Around The Home

Home maintenance is an ongoing project. There's always something to do around the house, or something to fix. The problem is, you may not have the time, or the skills, to get it done yourself.

In this 4-minute piece from The Today Show on NBC, you'll see some projects are quite simple.

Dubbed "15-Minute Fixes", see how simple it can be to handle 3 common household chores:

1. De-alcification of a shower head
2. Clearing hair from the inside of a bathroom drain
3. Sealing a granite counter-top

Each clean-up job is cheap, quick, and can be handled sans handyman. As Spring Fever sets in, put these fixes on your To-Do List.

How To Properly Screen A Prospective Tenant

According to the the National Association of Realtors®, "distressed homes" represented nearly 2 of every fifth home sold in January 2010. Clearly, real estate investors in Mount Holly and around the country are taking advantage of good deals on cheap property. But there's risk involved.

This NBC Today Show interview first ran in March 2009, featuring real estate expert Barbara Corcoran. Despite its age, the message remains relevant. Today may be a terrific time to buy a bank-owned home -- just make sure you do your research first. There's plenty of ways for investors to get burned.

Some of the tips in the video include:

• Buy in your own backyard
• Start small, then build to a bigger portfolio
• Watch receipts -- rent rolls don't matter if tenants aren't paying rent

Corcoran also gives pointers on how to evaluate a prospective tenant.

Foreclosures should represent a large number of 2010's total home sales and will offer interesting opportunities to bona fide real estate investors. Before you jump in, make sure to watch the video. The rents you save may be your own.

Remember, the stats and the data are from 12 months ago, but the advice stays meaningful. Real Estate investing, when you apply sound principles is still a great way to build income and acquire wealth. You just have to take time and investigate it completely.

7 Ways To Protect Your Credit Score For Better Mortgage Rates

As mortgage lenders tighten approval standards in Pennsylvania and nationwide, the importance of a good credit score is rising. Credit scores not only make the difference between a mortgage approval and mortgage turn-down, but they also play a large role in determining your actual mortgage note rate.

In the 3-minute piece, the NBC Today Show talks about 7 ways that homebuyers ruin their credit -- often by accident. Some of the highlighted mistakes include:

• Closing open credit cards
• Making appliance buys on credit prior to closing
• Asking creditors to lower credit balances prior to closing

In general, a 740 FICO will insulate a borrower from the higher costs and/or rates associated with low credit scores. Below 740, though, every 20 points adds to the damage. Watch the video and apply what you can to your own situation. The more you know, the more you can save.

10 Cities For Home Bargains

As the housing market improves across the country, certain cities are emerging as relative bargains. Some areas, like Miami, were hit hard by the recession, and other areas are buoyed by good school systems and strong labor markets.

In this 5-minute video from The Today Show, 10 cities are highlighted for their home prices. And they're not "small towns", either.

Among the featured cities:

• Miami, Florida
• Akron, Ohio
• Tuscon, Arizona
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Trenton, New Jersey

Now, this piece is about finding gems on a national scale. They exist locally here in Philadelphia , too. In fact with our traditionally moderate prices combined with the Tax credit, the market place is ripe for buyers. You just need to know what to look for.

With mortgage rates low and tax credits available, it's not likely that bargains will last.