The Number of Bank Failures Grows 64 So Far This Year

Government regulators expect the total number of bank failures in 2010 to eclipse the 140 that failed in 2009...

U.S. Role in Mortgage Market Grows Even Larger

Wall Street Journal article.

The U.S. government's massive share of the nation's mortgage market grew even larger in the first quarter, rising to 96.5% of all home loans during the first quarter, up from 90% in 2009.

U.S. Role in Mortgage Market Grows Even Larger 

We need to get private money back into the financial markets.

Problem Loans Outpacing Efforts by Industry & Government

I read in a newsletter for real estate brokers (ask me privately for the source) that "problem loans are far outpacing the efforts of the lending industry and the government to restructure unaffordable mortgages."  The ratio is almost 3-to-1 of loans going bad to restructuring loans.  This on top of the fact that most modified loans are delinquent and/or in default in one year.

It's all politics and trying to look good; even if it's wasting taxpayers money to look good.

Can they really wait until the economy turns around to deal with all of the foreclosures and bad loans?  I don't think so...

Office Copiers May Hold Personal Secrets

I'd like to thank Augie Scampone for letting me know about this informative and important investigative video.

Office Copiers May Hold Personal Secrets

This would also apply to personal copiers that small businesses have as well as those found at FedEx Kinko's, Office Depot, Staples, public libraries and at other public locations. BEWARE and protect your sensitive information!!!

The Norris Group Real Estate Radio Show and Podcast welcomes Bill Tan

Bruce Norris hosts a weekly radio show. He interviews interesting people about current real estate topics. Listen to all of the archived shows. They're really good!

The Norris Group Real Estate Radio Show 4-24-2010

How foreclosure impacts your credit score

Hope this www.CNNMoney.com article will help you or someone you know. This particular quote was worth reading the whole article.

"Despite the problems a poor credit score can cause, Experian's Sweet recommends that people who are in financial dead ends, like totally unaffordable mortgages, it's better to recognize that and cut your losses quickly; don't prolong the problem.

'You need to do what you need to do to get your finances back in order," she said. "Don't worry about your credit score.'"
How foreclosure impacts your credit score

This article is also for investment properties too. And for heaven's sake; DO NOT PLEDGE YOUR OWN HOME AS COLLATERAL FOR INVESTMENT DEALS. I've seen too many people not heed this advice and now have their personal house at risk due to bad investment decisions.

Earthquake Driving, Disaster Safety & Creating Your Own Car Disaster Kit

My friend Elaine Masters: entrepreneur, speaker & owner of Drivetime Yoga www.DrivetimeYoga.com, wrote an appropriate newsletter after yesterday's earthquake. You've heard of & probably have (I hope) a Home Earthquake Disaster kit.  Here's information on creating a Car Disaster kit!  Elaine's really nice & I know you'll like her.

I was returning from an Easter trip on Sunday afternoon when the earthquake hit. Although we were in a parking lot at the Long Beach ferry terminal, you could feel the ground roll. At first, I dismissed the shaking as part of the terminal docking machinery.  We learned what actually happened while driving home. The freeway suddenly seemed ominous and I realized how little prepared I was. In this issue, I'm focusing on preparing your car so you'll be better prepared even miles from home with your disaster kit in the trunk.

Take care of Number One first: If you find ever find yourself in an emergency situation with your blood pressure spiking and your mind racing out of control, try this calming breath technique to relax and ground. You can be a beacon for your family & friends in a dire time.

Alternate Nostril Breathing:
1. Try this with your eyes closed if that's safe and comfortable, but it also works with your eyes open. Begin on an inhale.
2. Place your right thumb on your right nostril and blow out the left nostril.
3. Then inhale through the left, then place the middle finger of your right hand on the left nostril.
4. Release the right nostril to exhale.
That is one cycle. Repeat for 5 to 10 minutes to restore balance and calm.

Disaster Preparedness: FEMA has a great disaster safety brochure that's available online. Their suggestions for driving during an earthquake include:

Stop as quickly as safety permits, pull to the side of the road and stay in the car.

Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses and utility wires.

Do not attempt to drive across bridges or overpasses that have been damaged.

Proceed cautiously after the earthquake has stopped, watching for road and bridge damage.

If you are on the coast be aware of possible tsunamis, drive inland and to higher elevation. Avoid parking in low lying areas.

Do not use your car, unless there is an emergency. Do not go sightseeing through areas of damage. You will only hamper the relief effort. Keep streets clear for the passage of emergency vehicles.

For more suggestions to make your trip enjoyable and safe take Drivetime Yoga and Flytime Yoga along. Learn more...

Happy travels!

Elaine Masters, RYT, speaker & author

Speaker, author, creator of products for business travelers, office workers and commuters. www.DrivetimeYoga.com, Amazon.com and Baker & Taylor Distributors wholesale. Flytime Yoga and Drivetime Yoga are registered trademarks. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010, The YoGo Project.

Creating Your Own Car Disaster Kit

You can create your own Car Disaster Kit tailored to your families' needs and tastes. Your kit may contain: Kitty litter or sand bag for slick road conditions (especially in winter) Jumper cables Inflated spare tire Cotton gloves with traction dots and heavy duty gloves Jack - make sure it's always in the car Extra windshield wiper fluid Reflective safety vest and reflectors for the road to avoid accidents while fixing car All purpose medical kit Hammer Whistle Flashlight Blanket Extra bottles of water (only buy PET safe bottles to avoid plastic contamination) Protein, granola bars and nuts Napkins, wipes Extra batteries Extra essential medications, toothbrushes, small soaps & shampoos, towel and toilet paper. Other great links: Great online list from Edmunds to create your own roadside emergency kit.   AAA Severe Weather Kit review Martha Stewart video on Preparing Your Own Car Safety Kit Remember to breathe deeply, stretch often and stay well with Drivetime and Flytime Yoga. More about the Flytime Yoga Booklet & Passport Wallet.

The Top 10 Privacy Myths

Here is an article from Darity Wesley, an expert on privacy solutions. This is one of her newsletters.

Privacy 101- Myths About Privacy
By Darity Wesley

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie deliberate, contrived and dishonest but the myth persistent, persuasive and unrealistic."
- John F. Kennedy

Privacy has been an issue over the millennia and its role in our daily lives continues to be an important discussion in our personal as well as professional worlds. This month I offer you the top 10 Privacy Myths so you can find out for yourself, “What’s privacy got to do with me?” Actually, it has quite a bit to do with you both personally and professionally.

The Top 10 Privacy Myths are:

10. I am sure corporate is taking care of this for us. Don’t be so sure...if there is no privacy policy stated in the employee manual, then there probably isn’t one. You need to ask to find out how your personally identifiable information, like your social security and driver’s license numbers, are being protected.

9. There is no Return on Investment on privacy protection. If a company does not have a privacy policy and terms of use statement on their website as prescribed by law, I am not inclined to give them my business. More and more, the FTC and the U.S. Department of Justice are surfing the web to find violators of these laws. Additionally, many top-notch businesses use their superior privacy and information security policies as effective branding and marketing tools.

8. The company I’m doing business with knows what it is doing. They may or may not. The only way to know for sure is to read their privacy policy. If it is not evident, ask to see it. Also, I am leery of websites that have no contact information beyond an email address. If given a choice, I will do business with someone who offers complete information.

7. I don't collect any information from people. If, in the normal flow of your business, you add an email address to your contacts then you are collecting information – and you need to protect it.

6. If they are asking for my Social Security Number (SSN), they need it. Wrong. SSNs are not designed to be personal identification. Don’t give your number to anyone unless they are mandated to use it. If your SSN is requested on a form just enter: Not Applicable or N/A. If they really need it they can ask you for it directly and you can ask them why they need your SSN.

5. I have to give out information to anyone who asks for it. No, you don’t! For example, if you go to buy new tires and they ask for any personal information like your email address, you are not obligated to give it to them. When you volunteer personal information like that you get added to their database and the next thing you know it’s sold and you are getting lots of spam.

4. All websites that take credit cards adequately protect my financial information. Not necessarily, even though they are directed to by law. I am leery of websites which process credit card transactions and do not display a secure website icon or do not provide contact information beyond an email address. You should think twice before doing business with a site like this.

3. One easy to remember password is good for all of the websites I use. Passwords tend to be pretty predictable for most people. I strongly recommend having unique passwords for your social networking websites that are not at all similar to your online business ones. That way, if someone finds out what your password is they cannot use it across other websites that you use. It’s also a good idea to change your passwords every year or so.

2. Privacy is a right. In ancient cultures, the ability to run off from the tribe, to hide out in a cave and not participate was considered ‘privacy’. You may be surprised to know that the U.S. Constitution does not provide any explicit right to privacy. As we moved into the Industrial Age, a new concept was raised in an 1890 Harvard Law Review article written by Louis D. Brandeis, who served on the U. S. Supreme Court from 1916-1939, and his Boston law partner Samuel D. Warren. The article, which was apparently a response to newspaper reports published regarding the behavior of Warren’s wife in social settings, defined privacy as ‘the right to be left alone’. Now it is has become the right to protect our personal information.

And the #1 Privacy Myth is (drum roll please) I’ve got nothing to hide. You may have no criminal activities in your past, but you do have a trail of private personal and financial information you want to shield in order to protect yourself from the horrors of identity theft.

The Privacy Guru® says, “As always, stay aware and alert!”

Darity Wesley is CEO and Legal Counsel for Privacy Solutions, Inc. a San Diego based consulting firm. You can always reach Darity at Darity@PrivacyGurus.com or 619-670-9462.


You know, the Census Bureau is sure asking a lot of questions. And they & the government and so careful with our information, aren't they?

I'm not suggesting you be paranoid, just be aware.

Sharpen Your Ax!

“If I have 8 hours to chop down a tree I am going to spend 6 hours sharpening my ax!” __ Abraham Lincoln

Information is knowledge and knowledge is power.