Title to your home

For a great and inexpensive gift on finding Morel Mushrooms, go to www.morelbook.com  guaranteed deivery before Christmas.

If you are looking for that perfect gift for $20 or under for that person who is hard to shop for, here is the perfect solution.The “Morel Mushoom Book” gives both the novice and experienced mushroomer everything they need to know about finding and preparing this highly sought after morsel including specific directions to hot morel mushroom spots.

Go to www.morelbook.com

If you are looking forf information about finding Morels, the where, when, what trees and terrain to look for, or you want to find them by the hundreds and even thousands, you need the Morelbook.  You will never regret spending $20 for a book that you will use the rest of your life.directions to several

It even gives precise directions to several thousand acres of prime Morel Mushroom ground…guaranteed.

To and order click here on www.morelbook.com

 Personal checks accepted

For complete description of how, when and where to hunt Morel Mushrooms order the Morelbook at

www.morelbook.com

The season has just started with the first gray Morels found yesterday,  A must to have is the Morelbook:

www.morelbook.com

Go to www.morelbook.com

Inexpensive gift for the out of doors type person.  Delivery by Christmas.  He/she will love it!!

Go to www.morelbook.com

 Questions: e-mail morelbook@msn.com

Jim

If you are interested in totally free bingo games on line where you can actually win money with no cost to you and no registering on your info except basically your e-mail address and zip code, there are 2 types that I have found and play.

For either one, click onto www.gsn.com then if you want to play the TV version, click onto BINGO AMERICA and click onto PRINT CARDS.  then check the station  and times and play along with the tv program.  You can win $50 except on Weds when it appears that you can win $250.

OR  Instead of printing out your cards, scroll down the page until you see BINGO AMERICA-PLAY ONLINE,  then click on PLAY NOW and when the next screen comes up, click onto PLAY NOW again.  It will take several moments for the game to download.  Hit PLAY again and you are into an online game where you can win up to $25.  At new game happens every minute and 20 seconds.

These are for real games and are definately addicting with many winners.

Also check out:   www.morelbook.com

                         www.forkidsover50.com

                          www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

Looking for a Full or Part-time Job then click on these websites:

www.aarp.org/money/work

www.aarp.org/jobtips

www.SeniorJobBank.org

www.WorkForce50.com

www.RetiredBrains.com

www.bullitin.aarp.org/yourmoney/work/articles/over_50_and_looking.html

www.morelbook.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

Here’s a site that I also enjoy.  About 6 months ago I did win a free $100 gas card in one of the contests Speedway Gas Stations were doing.  Right now they have another one in which you can win 1,000,000 speedy reward points.  It only takes 66,000 points to get a free $100 gas card, you do the math!

Log onto www.speedyrewards.com

Other sites: www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

www.morelbook.com

www.forkidsoer50.com

This is a great site on which youi can turn in codes from your coke bottle caps and earn points which can be used for buying products or entering sweepstakes.  Recently I did win a $1,000 free gift card to Best Buy.  I highly recommend this site.  You can also use your points and donate to your local school.  Check it out at:

www.mycokerewards.com

other sites to check out: www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

www.morelbook.com

www.forkidsover50.com

Due to the discovery and confirmation of a deer with Tuberculosis , in southern Michigan (Shiawassee County)  the DNR has established a new early doe gun season from Sept 18-22nd in Zone 3.  Doe permits can be purchased for $10.00 at any license retailer.  This is for private land and if you are hunting on someone else’s land, you will need the owner’s phone nmber.

www.morelbook.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

www.forkidsover50.com

1-Trimax Machine in excellent condition for sale.  Value $800+…Priced at $110

 Contact Jim at 1-517-204-8886  or mcksold@msn.com

1- Weider weight/exercise machine in exellent condition for sale $1,200 value…reduced to $175

Contact Jim at: 1-517-204-8886  or mcksold@msn.com

Now private showings only

Shaftsburg Rd. (just north of Bath Rd.)

Weight and exercise machines marked to sell

Bar bells, clothing, dishes, oak table , ceramic doll and much more!!

 Humungous sale with many items for everyone still remaining

Terms cash on the barrelhead

call Jim for details or mcksold@msn.com   517-204-8886

  Hope you had a terrific Morel Season this past sping.  I had a superb season, finding literally thousands of the wily morels.  I still have many frozen & dried, which not the same as fresh morels, but really great when the snow is swirling in January, etc.  Just had some thawed morels in my verison, stir fry.  all ingredients came off of my property, which I think is kindof neat.

   Now if you ar not having consistantly great Morels Seasons, you owe it to yourself to get the “MORELBOOK”, which will tell the secrets of Morels and truly guide you by both odometer and GPS readings to the very spots that I have been getting Morels for over 30 years and I still do.  Yes with this book more folks go there now, but there are so many Morels and thousands of public acres there that you will still do well. 

To buy a MORELBOOK you can oder on line at www.morelbook.com     (Yes you can send a personal check if you prefer.)  $20.00

or   e-mail  morelbook@msn.com 

or  send check or money order & address to Morelbook   PO Box 438   Haslett, Mi 48840

GUARANTEED TO PUT YOU ON MORELS IN MOREL TERRITORY

     2 really super East Lansing Homes

***627 Gunson Street *** This is a great 3 Bedroom, 2 Full bathrooms, Cape Cod with a Fireplace, in mint condition, ready to move into.  Why pay the high costs &  throw rent money out the window and then put up with the noise of dorm life, when you could build equity for yourself or your student and pay much less for house payments!!  This is not a rental but your student could live here.  Located a short but comfortable distance from campus and downtown.  This is a family neighborhood, not a student rental area.  Priced to sell at $164,000

***510 Kedzie .  Nearly 2000 square feet of ranch living with 3 Bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms with 2 Fireplaces and unique wine celler area and loads of extras.

$209,000

mcksold@msn.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

www.morelbook.com

       Newly remodeled, this quality 3-Bedroom Ranch features New Kitchen, Ceramic & Hardwood Floors, New Roof, New Seamless Eavestroughs, full basement.  This neat, quality interior & decor are a must to see, as it is definately not a dive.  Priced to sell at $94,500

Call Jim McKibben at 204-8886 or mcksold@msn.com for more info or to view this home at a time that fits  your schedule.

Certified Buyer Representative

Go to www.morelbook.com    Free delivery within 7 days, use your credit card or Pen Pal

    Ok, I admit it, I found 43 Morel Mushrooms last Saturday the 26th April.  For directions to the exact spot, go to www.morelbook.com

Happy reading and schrooooming!

J T McKibben

Go to www.morelbook.com

Go to www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

    In the city of Mason there are:

11 Homes for sale for under $100,000

112                          under $200,000

52                             over  $200,000

For as complete list of homes in any city go to mcksold@msn.com   or  www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com 

    Everything you need in www.morelbook.com

www.morelbook.com

    www.morelbook.com

    Everything you need to know and exactly where to go.  www.morelbook.com 

It is just around the corner.  Go to www.morelbook.com

For morelmushrooms, go to www.morelbook.com

   To to www.morelbook.com  

    There are currently 1488 homes listed for sale in the city of Lansing.  For a free list e-mail mcksold@msn.com or call 517-204-8886.

You can also search for and view homes at www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

For Coldwell Banker Hubbell-Briarwood Real Estate contact Jim McKibben, Broker at 517-204-8886 or mcksold@msn.com    www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com  for all of your real estate buying and selling needs.  Buyer Representation and Seller Representation agreements available.

Briarwood Realty Co. Broker, James McKibben mcksold@msn.com  www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

517-204-8886 for buying or selling your home.  Free buyer or seller booklets on website.

  If you are looking for James McKibben, e-mail him at mcksold@msn.com or call 517-204-8886

To search for your home go to www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com or e-mail or call James and he will do your search for you.

   If you are looking for Jim, you are at the right spot.  Jim has been a Realtor and Broker for around 21 years and is an ABR.    mcksold@msn.com       517-204-8886   www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

Jim McKibben

    Looking for a home in the Greater Lansing Area, go to www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com  or e-mail

Jim McKibben at mcksold@msn.com  to have Jim, an ABR do the searching for you.

   If you are thinking about buying your fist home or your 20th home, you should find an ABR-Accredited Buyers Representative, to represent you 100% at no cost to you.  Secondly you should obtain a home buyers’ booklet as a guide.  To obtain a free buyers’ booklet on line, go to www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com  click on buyer booklet .

     Also, for aa ABR e-mail Jim McKibben at mcksold@msn.com 

    Thinking about buying a repo or a home to live in, go to:   www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

e-mail=   mcksold@msn.com

cell= 517-204-8886

    Morel Mushroom Season is just around the corner.  For $20 you can know how to identify, care for, cook, and also exactly where to go to find them and where in the woods, which trees, plants, slopes ete to find them.  This book has both odometer readings and GPS readings to the exact spots my family has been picking thousand of Morels each year for nearly 40 years.  Why am I sharing my secret place?  My family is now all passed on and now only me and my wife fo looking and we have way more spots than we can possilby cover.  You can use your credit or debit card via Pay Pal, a secure and safe way of paying.  The $20 covers everything, including postage.  If you give me your e-address, I’ll keep you informed of when the first schrooooms are up and which stage is up.  It makes a great gift, too.

   Go to:   www.morelbook.com  

mcksold@msn.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

   Tonight, I listened to Katie Couric report again regarding how Seniors are literally being robbed by scam artists over the phones.  I’m somewhat at a loss as to what to say that I haven’t already said.  Basically anyone who calls you and asks for money or personal information, is simply not legit and is trying to get your money.  Legitimate companies, banks, credit card companies simply do not call and ask for personal information or money.  Hang up and call the number on your bank statement or credit card and tell them about the call.  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE ANY CALLER ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION OR MONEY OR PIN NUMBERS OR ANYTHING THAT A CALLER ASKS FOR.  JUST HANG UP!!

    To find all homes in Lansing and a 30 mile radius that are listed by any Real Estate Company, log onto:  www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com or contact me at mcksold@msn.com  or 517-8886

    We in the Great Lakes Areas are blessed with a major chunk of the world’s water supply and while we at least somewhat take this for granted, there are areas of the US and the other arid parts of the world that weant our water.  The day could easily come when the US Congress could be comprised of representatives that would favor the arid parts of the US and even the world, perhaps even favor an agreement of water for oil??!!  We need to take legal steps now to protect the Great Lakes’ Water.  “The solution is the proposed GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BASIN WATER RESOURCES COMPACT”.  The compact would keep control of our water in the hands of the Great Lakes States.  This compact needs the legislative approval of all of the Great Lakes States and then the US Congress.  Several of the states have approved it, however, Michigan has not even conducted a hearing on it and this is just plain unacceptable.  We need to contact our legisators in Michigan and get them in gear to get this bill a hearing and then passed.  Please do it now!  It is SB-212,HB-4336 & HB 4343.  You can read more about it in the September issue of Michigan Out of Doors, page # 08.  Also check it out at www.mucc.org   We need to get this “WATER RESOURCES COMPACT” into law and soon.  

To sell or buy a home, contact me at 1-517-675-7923 or 204-8886 or mcksold@msn.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

www.forkidsover50.com

www.morelbook.com 

     I just read that the State of Michigan is trying to find new revenue and a proposal has been made, to tax all cellphones and all calls made.  Unless you want more taxes, please visit:  www.mywireless.org  and click onto the state of “Michigan” to protest to your legislator or to let him/her know how much you want more taxes. 

    Following my viewing and reading that foreclosure, refinance and other scams are now at a record high here in Michigan and nationwide, I want to again address this sneaky maneuver that scam artists do so well.  One of my clients in Lansing told me that he must have received a dozen or more mailings advertising that they would “Buy his home”, “Refinance at low or zero interest”, and so forth. These are more than likely scammers looking for a desparate home owner.  Signals for scams are: Cash Offers, Fast Closings, Low Offers, Blank documents, Telephone Solicitations, Junk or High Closing Fees, Foreclosure Threats, Offers That Seem Too Good, To Be True, generally are just that.

     Be leery of e-mails or Web Ads promoting elimination of mortgage loans, credit cards and other debts while asking for an up-front fee to prepare documents.   These documents are generally entitled: Bond For Discharge of Debt, Bill of Exchange, Due Bill, Redemption Certificate or similar variations.  DO NOT FALL FOR THESE TACTICS.  If you do, you will lose your money and very likely you will lose your home and you will still owe for your motgage.  Some scams will give you some few thousand dollars for your signature, and what you sign away is your home and you will still owe for the mortgage.  An example would be the lady who came through an open house I held several weeks ago.  Sadly she told me how she and her husband thought they were refinancing their home and did receive some $14,000, however they had actually sold their $150,000 home for $14,000 and lost their home, plus they still owed for their mortgage.  For more information or to report that you are a victim of fraud, click onto:  http://www.fbi.gov   Then click onto “Common Fraud Schemes” in lower center of page. or call 1.202.324.3000  

mmon Fraud

     Discussing a client’s inablility to make their mortgage payments is not ever a comfortable discussion to have.  This is especially true of our more mature clients whose generation prides themselves on fiscal responsibility and find it to be shameful to not be able to meet their financial obligations.  In spite of this, many Boomers and Seniors may find that they need to consider a “short-sale” to sell their homes and to reduce their monthly payments.  The sale price may fall well below the mortgage amount (also known as upside down loans).  The lender provides an accommodation in the hopes of mitigating an impending loss.  If you find yourself in this sitiation, know that your situation is more and more common for us more mature home owners and you are in good company.  You need also to be aware that there is the real possibility of Federal Tax  implications, in that as sellers, we may be taxed on the amount that the mortgage company has forgiven.  On the other hand a short sale saves the lender the costs of foreclosure and the borrower avoids a foreclosure on his or her credit report.Do contact your Tax Accountant &/or Attorney.  For a brief overview,  “How to Do a Short Sale” is available at:   www.ehow.com/how_8132_short-sale.html   To list your home to get it sold, please contact Jim & Sandi McKibben at 517-8886 & mcksold@msn.com

www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com 

   As I earned my SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) Designation, I learned about ElderLaw Attornies, for the first time.  While many attornies will take you on as a client, only some are specialized to deal with the issues that we seniors have.  I guess it makes sense that one should specialize in working for and with Seniors.

    This week, I had the good fortune to learn of an excellent Elder Attorney via one of my clients, who contacted me regarding listing her home to sell it, which Sandi and & did do, with her son present and in agreement with her choice.  Her son-in-law called me, on behalf of his wife, my client’s daughter.  Actually he left me a message, telling me that my client was mentally incompetent and that I “should call his wife and discuss selling her mom’s (my client’s) home.”

    Knowingthat my loyalty is only to my client, I did not return the call.  I did call my client and shared what the message was.  My clint then contacted her elder attorney, who then called me today.  He shared with me that my client was very competent and that if her son-in-law or daughter contacted me again, that I should ignore what them may say and to refer them to the attorney.  He further shared information to me, including that he is an Elder-Attorney.  Based upon his actions today and other information about his services, plus other people who are his clients, I am 100% certain that he provides excellent legal advice for Seniors.  He is Attorney John Bos  1-517-332-3800

    Having been an advid Morel Mushroom “hunter” since a young boy in Brookville, Indiana, I moved to Michigan in 1965, as a Science Teacher in Livonia, Michigan.  I soon found that Michigan was an even greater area to find these tasty little wonders of nature.  In Indiana, April is Morel month, while in Michigan, it is basically the month of May.

    Now at 63 years young, I have finally taken the advice of many of my friends and written the “Morel Book”.  It explains the basics of how and where Morel Mushrooms grow, where they grow, and when they grow.  In this 50 some page book, over 50 pictures also assist in identifying true morels, which parts of the forest they grow and which trees and plants they prefer to grow around, and even how to prepare and cook the sponge mushrooms.  It gives odometer and GPS readings to my favorite Morel Mushroom spots in Michigan, plus buyers, sellers and “referrers” get 1 years’ worth of notification via e-mail or phone, of when they are up and answers to e-mailed questions for one year.

    To receive a copy, you can send $20 to Morelbook  PO Box 438, Haslett, Mi 48840 Cashiers check or money order or  major credit cards via Paypal, as my website is up and running with Paypal.  Log onto:   www.morelbook.com

    To receive a FREE copy, you must do one of the following:

1.  List your home or property with Jim & Sandi McKibben mcksold@msn.com or morelbook@msn.com

2.  Buy a home or property with Jim or Sandi McKibben writing the offer.  517-204-8886

3.  Let Jim & Sandi McKibben refer your listing (sale) or purchase of a home or property with a top Realtor in any area of the USA, or let us refer the same for a family member or freind selling or buying any where in the good ol USofA.  There is no charge to the person you allow us to refer, however the listing or selling Realtor will gladly pay us a small referral fee and we will send you a FREE Signed Copy of Jim McKibben’s “Morelbook”.

     Inquiries to morelbook@msn.com   or mcksold@msn.com  or 517-204-8886

www.mcksoldrhome.com  www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com  www.4kidsover50.com www.forkidsover50.com

      As Seniors, it is highly recommended that we transfer our major assets, such as our home and investments into a revocable living-trust to avoid probate costs and delays after our passing.  After we are gone, our successor trustee, whom we named, can pay any bills and transfer our assets to those we indicated and as provided by the revocable living-trust terms.

     It is important to use an attorney who specializes in living trusts, to prepare the revocable living-trust according to our wishes.  It is also important to have the attorney prepare a “pour-over will”, for any assets we may overlook or acquire later on.

     If you need the names of a good elder-attorney and/or living trust attorney in your area, contact me and I’ll locate one for you.    mcksold@msn.com

     As a licensed Realtor I continue to marvel at how little understanding most property owners have of how to protect their property rights from what may seem to be an insignificant situation.   For example, the neighbors up north , have been walking across your land to get to your semi-private lake, to swim, picnic and fish.  Things go well for years, and you never say it’s ok or not ok, but then one day, you decide that you don’t want them to do this anymore.

     You let them know that they can’t cross your land anymore nor use your shoreline.  You even erect a fence, to stop their crossing your land.  Your neighbors tell you to take down the fence and that they want to continue to use the lake.  You refuse and your neighbors take you to court.  When the judge rules that you must take down the fence and you must allow your meighbors to not only cross your land, but they may also use your lake frontage as they did for years.

      Your neighbors have just won rights to you property, due to adverse possession.  Adverse possession and prescriptive easements can occur when someone uses your property in an open and hostile manner.  If this continues for a number of years, you can loose your right to stop them and even anyone that may buy your neighbors’ property and want to use yours in the same way.

     To protect yourself, periodically walk your property and keep an eye out for people having entered or used your property.  Ask neighbors if they have noticed anyone using your property.  If you find that someone is using your property either take necessary steps to stop their use or give them permission to use your property.  Giving permission constitutes “giving license” to use your property.  You may take back your permissiom should so choose to do.  Giving permission stops the adverse possession or adverse easement.

    If you have questions regard this, please feel free to contact me at mcksold@msn.com or contact your attorney. 

Having looked for, picked and eaten Morel Mushrooms for over 50 years, from Southeastern Indiana to the Upper Pennensula in Michigan, I am starting to get the itch to find my morel sacks and head out. I do know that it is too early, even though the time is only a month or so away here in Michigan.
Right now, I am concentrating on putting the final touches on my new paperback book on “Morel Mushrooms” scheduled to go on sale the last week in March 2007. It will take the novice and the serious Morel hunter and give the great secrets on finding loads of Morel Mushrooms, even precise directions to some of my hot and great spots, and even the trees that Morels have an affinity to. Would you pay $30.00 to insure that you would know where to go and identify and prepare Morel Mushrooms?
E-mail me at morelbook@msn.com  or Log onto:   www.morelbook.com

The Internal Revenue Code, section 1031 allows us to legally defer taxes on the capital gain generated by the sale of property, when property is exchanged for other like-kind property. The qualifications are complicated, but our intent “as an investment” is a key component.
Any change in our purpose in acquiring a property may well impact the IRS’s acceptance of our tax deferred status for the capitol gains tax.
Many of us had made exchanges for rental properties, then later converted the property into a personal residence, planning to resell after awhile and take advantage of the $250,000 or $500,000 capital gains exclusion.
Pursuant to the American Jobs Creation Act f 10/22/2004, we must own the property for five years from the date of the tax free exchange, before we can sell and claim the personal residence capital gains exclusion, plus we must be able to show that we used it as a personal residence for at least 2 of the 5 years we owned it after the exchange.
Always consult your Tax Accountant for changes that may affect your unique situation.

   My research indicates that about 5,000,000 Senior Citizens succumb to financial abuse and fraud every year.  Once again, we see that high pressure sales tactics, promised spectacular profits and guaranteed returns continue to be tip offs that someone is trying to take us Seniors for a ride to financial rip off.

    Cold callers work the phone lines, internet and U.S. Mails often trying to “warm us up” with flattery or friendship or by talking about local sports teams or our hometowns.  We need to recognize these scammers’ techniques and we need NOT to feel compelled to be polite or to disclose financial information even the smallest amount of information.  I just had a caller this evening who just wouldn’t give up.  Every time I said no, I’m not interested, he would say something like, “well Mr. McKibben let me confirm your mailing address, or the bank that you use.”  I finally said, “I really do not wish to be rude, nor to hang up on you, however I’m going to say goodby now and then I’m hanging the phone up, I said ‘good-by’ ” and I hung up.  Even so, I was probably too polite.

    Also, especially when on line, with the internet, we Seniors need to be especially wary of “off shore” scams and investment opportunities in other countries.  Anytime money is sent or invested overseas, it is much more difficult to find out what happened to it or to locate missing funds.

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have a website to educate us Seniors regarding investing wisely and to avoid swindles.  To access their site, click here: http://www.sec.gov/investor/seniors.shtml

    The S.E.C. also have a free “Senior’s Care Package”  which has a collection of articles I found really worthwhile, plus advice to help us Seniors make wise investment decisions.  Their topics include: “Get the facts on Saving and Investing; Cold Calling; and Questions You Should Ask About Your Investments.”  To access your free care package, click here:   http://www.sec.gov/investor/seniors/seniorscarepackage.htm

    I have learned that we need to take proactive steps to keep financial and personal information that is on our Personal Computer (PC) from being stolen and/or used improperly.  For example do NOT ever:

**Send vital or private or financial information via e-mail.  Unlike most websites, e-mail is never secure.  As with phone scammers, they will try  every trick they can think of and scam artists are very skilled.  Just hit the DELETE BUTTON!

** We need to protect our computers from e-mail viruses.  Viruses are often received via e-mail.  Do Not open an attachment from someone you don’t know.  If you receive a strange message from a familiar address, check with that person, to make certain that they really sent it.  It may be a “spoofed” e-mail, a message that appears to have been sent from one source when it actually was sent from another source entirely.

    To Protect you and your computer and your network from viruses follow these tips:

>Constantly maintain your anti-virus software current & updated.

> Always run your anti-virus software on a regular schedule.  If your computer starts acting strangely, run your software NOW!  I run mine a minimal of twice per week.

>Do maintain and use a firewall>

>You should download & run new software patches whenever available, to stop new threats, which will continue to appear on the scene.

>Download free software ONLY from sites that you know and trust and don’t install software without knowing what it is.

>Set Internet Explorer browser security to “high”.

>Don’t click onto links in pop-up windows or in spam e-mail.

>Just do not respond to any inquiries about your account numbers or other personal information via e-mail…..Just HIT THE DELETE BUTTON!!

    As I read more on this ongoing trend, I find that the most prominent activity is aimed at Seniors and non-seniors who think that they are getting a new loan when they are actually signing the transfer of their home to these scam artists, while claiming to have their best interests at heart.  These folks are very, very convincing and seem to know the buttons that get us to relax down and to trust them.  Some of the signals that we need to watch for as signs of scams include:

**Promising huge profits over a short period of time.  If it seems too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.

**If they are doing high pressure tactics to get you to sign and/or personal information such as your Social Security Number, Mortgage Number, Driver License Number, Checking or Savings Account Number and the like.  Remember they are extremely good at what they do and they can disarm our common sense.  They are trained to know what will get us to trust them and those issues that we would like to happen.  Do not give any information out over the phone or otherwise.  Do not sign anything at all nor agree verbally to anything.  Ask for their full name and phone number and let them know that you will have your attorney contact them after you talk with your attorney.  If they hang up or will not give you their name and number, then you know that they are scammers.  Either way, do contact your attorney.

    E-mails, U.S. Postal Mailings, Web Site Ads, and the like that promote elimination of mortgage loans, credit card debts, & other debts, especially if they request an upfront fee to prepare documents of any type, are also signs of possible scams.  Again, if in any doubt at all please feel free to contact me at mcksold@msn.com or your attorney or better yet, do both.  Remember legitimate banks, mortgage companies, credit unions do not call or e-mail you for personal information, just say no and hang up.

   The National Consumer Law Center does have a free 68 page report, “DREAMS FORECLOSED: THE RAMPANT THEFT OF AMERICANS’ HOMES THROUGH EQUITY STRIPPING FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS”  Go to:   www.consumerlaw.org/news/ForeclosureReportFinal.pdf

     One of the fewest questions which I receive when I’m working with first time buyers is how they should take title to their home.  It is also the least asked question by 2nd time and Senior buyers.  How you take title should be a part of your overall estate planning, as well as who you include on the title with you.

    My extensive reading on this issue presents the example of Mrs. Green who met a wonderful man Mr. Jones.  The day before their marriage Mrs. Green added Mr. Jones as a joint tenant to her primary home  and rental units.  Mrs. Green later predeceased Mr. Jones.  They had intended to have a will drawn up, but never got around to it, although they both had adult children and both intended to leave their individual assets to their respective children. 

However, since  Mr. Jones was on the title, the property was kept for himself following Mrs. Green’s demise.  As it turned out Mr. Jones really disliked Mrs. Green’s two sons and he had a will executed and willed everything to his daughter.  Mrs. Green’s sons are basically out of the picture.

Another mother Mary, added her only son David to her home’s deed/title.  A year of so later, son David married Susan and all seemed well until about 9 years later, David’s beloved Susan divorced him and she sued for her half of David’s portion of his mother’s home and could have forced the sale of Mary’s home, if ex-husband David not buy out Susan’s portion.  

     There are basically three ways in which we can take title to property:

1.  Joint Tenancy=Multiple names on the title and everyone has an equal share.  Upon death of any member, title immediately passes to the remaining names, whether they are related or not.

2.   Tenancy in Common=Lets each person share property equally, but each person can sell or will their portion, if they so choose to do so.

3.   Tenacy by the Entirety=can be used only by married couples and varies from state to state.  If one partner becomes deceased the property Title immediately passes to the other.

    I will be doing additional postings on this topic and related topics in the near future.  Meanwhile if you have questions, please e-mail me at mcksold@msn.com   or www.greaterlansinghomesearch.com

   Ok, one final word on Home Equity Loans & Reverse Mortgages.  You may find that your kids may get a little touchy, as you use either of these very legitimate forms of pulling out your home’s equity, that belongs to you, not the kids.  Quite often, I spend time with the “kids” before I ever begin to actually list a home, as they are understandably concerned about their parent’s well being and being treated properly,and “their” inheritence.   On occasion, I need to point out to the kids, who may well be in their 50’s to 70’s, that this is really their parent’s home,  & their parent’s equity/money.

   Either type of mortgage will work, depending, as I stated yesterday,on your particular needs.  Again, let me point out that all types of equity loans require re-payment, except the Reverse Mortgage, which is like having the bank or mortgage company make monthly house payments to you, just the reverse of what we did for so many years.  From which comes the name “reverse” mortgage.  Payments go in the reverse direction to you, from the mortgage company.  Eventually the mortgage company will be repaid, from the sale of your home, more than likely when sold by your heirs, not you.  This is all set out within the reverse mortgage agreement, prior to your signing. 

    If done with a legitimate mortgage company or bank, you will not have to ever move out of your home…it will NOT ever be sold out from under you.  But you should have your attorney look over all paperwork, before you sign a single paper…not even one!!  A legitimate mortgage company or bank will not mind your attorney looking over all papers and/or being present when you do sign.  If you want your kids there also, that’s ok too.  Do not move forward without your attorney’s approval.

    Also, remember that your home equity will be reduced by whichever type of equity loan you take out.   From their view point, you may well shrink the kids’ -inheritance that is.

   If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at mcksold@msn.com