Moving to a new home can expose you to the risk of identity theft, so take precautions to guard your personal information as you finance your new home, close and open new bank or utility accounts, pack, and move.

“Identity thieves are pervasive and creative in finding opportunities to steal information, and something as simple as forgetting to forward mail can put a consumer in jeopardy of identity theft,” said Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of Intersections Inc., a consumer identity protection firm.

Schwartz offers these nine tips for keeping identity thieves at bay during and after a move:

• Submit your change of address form at the post office. Then watch for a confirmation from the Postal Service confirming that your new information was correctly updated. Mail should start coming to your new address within 7 to 10 business days after filing; follow up at the post office if it doesn’t.

• Shred sensitive documents that you’re not taking. Don’t be in such a rush that you toss papers with personal information into the recycling bin.

• Monitor financial statements. Watch your bank and credit card statements for suspicious activity.

• Use reputable moving companies. Do your homework before you hire a mover. Read online reviews, research the company, and ask trusted friends, family, or real estate agents for recommendations. Check the mover’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau. Make sure it’s registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and has a U.S. Department of Transportation number before you sign any agreement or even get an estimate.

• Keep documents with you. Transfer all important physical documents that will be making the move, such as wills, stock certificates, bonds, etc., to a safe and secure place such as a locked box. Keep physical documents with you during the move and do not leave any secure receptacles for movers or others to transport.

• Lock down your computer. Devote time and resources before your move to make sure all computers in your home are hack-proof and packed and out of sight before movers arrive.

• Supervise the move. Make sure you are present for the entire duration of the move. Your presence could deter potential theft from occurring and ensure that the movers take good care of your personal belongings.

• Check your credit report. Take a look at your credit report for several months after you’ve moved. Any suspicious activity on the report may be a sign that your information has been compromised. If that happens, immediately contact the police, your banks, your credit card issuers, and have the credit repositories put a fraud alert on your credit profile.

• Verify mail is being delivered. After the move, verify that you’re receiving all mail from the list of senders you identified and contacted beforehand.

Source: Intersections Inc.

Indiana Landmarks is taking steps to restore Evansville's former Greyhound Terminal. The city of Evansville has contributed the 1939 building and $250,000 to the nonprofit effort.

Evansville, Ind. -- Indiana Landmarks today took steps toward getting Evansville’s Greyhound Terminal in running order. Pending board approval, the private, nonprofit organization plans to restore the rare building at the corner of NW Third and Sycamore Streets.

The City of Evansville primed the redevelopment pump by contributing the building and $250,000. Vacant for four years, the 1939 building is one of two remaining terminals from Greyhound’s “Blue Period” and the only surviving station clad in enameled-steel panels.

“Everyone loves this building,” says Indiana Landmarks’ President Marsh Davis. “Some have personal associations of arrival or departure, and others just love the streamlined Art Moderne design, the colorful exterior, and, of course, the speeding greyhound.

“This will be a challenge, however. The enameled-steel panels are an uncommon building material, and problems can be lurking unseen behind the glazed surface. We’ll tackle the roof first, and anywhere that water is penetrating, since rust is the great enemy of a building like this,” Davis declared. The preservation group must also remediate environmental problems.

The City recognized the terminal’s significance in acquiring the building in 2007 when Greyhound built a new facility. Indiana Landmarks congratulated the City for recognizing the value of the downtown gem.

“Modernist landmarks often face threats because people think they’re not old enough to warrant protection,” Davis noted. “We’re grateful to Mayor Weinzapfel and the Evansville Redevelopment Commission for their investment in our restoration.

We think it will take $1 million to put the landmark right and light the neon running dog, and we’re committed to raising the rest of the money,” Davis says.

Indiana Landmarks intends to open its southwest regional office in the terminal. The organization operates nine offices in the state, most in landmarks it owns. Earlier this year, Indiana Landmarks unveiled a new state headquarters and cultural center in a formerly vacant nineteenth-century church in downtown Indianapolis. The Cook family of Bloomington contributed over $10 million to the renovation. Next month, Indiana Landmarks will hold an open house at its newest acquisition, a 1941 bank building in downtown Terre Haute that houses its western office.

Since 1997, Indiana Landmarks has employed a preservation professional to serve the southwest part of the state, operating from a home office. Stewart Sebree has been in the position since January 2001. Indiana Landmarks hopes to add staff when it opens the permanent southwest regional office in the terminal. “The office will give Indiana Landmarks a greater presence in Evansville, and in turn give preservation a higher profile in the region,” vowed Sebree.

“Indiana Landmarks will work with the City and the community, and do our homework to make sure we find a sustainable use that gives the public access to this wonderful place,” Davis pledged. “We want to fill the terminal with a use that contributes to the economy and livability of downtown.” He has heard from some who hope for a winter Farmer’s Market in the building. Others vote for a restaurant.

The statewide preservation group has three Evansville residents on its 30-member board. Businesswoman Christine Keck, Evansville Living publisher Kristin Tucker, and developer Gene Warren will play a primary role in helping the organization raise the money to complete the project.

Source: Indiana Landmarks & InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=48792

The best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips:

Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.

Beginning on July 21, consumers who are rejected by lenders for new lines of credit, such as a credit card or home loan, based on their credit score will be allowed to find out why, according to a report from CBS News. When consumers are denied, the financial institution will have to provide them with a free copy of the credit score it used to determine their ineligibility. Previously these reports would have cost consumers a small amount of money to view.

[Consumer Resource: Tips to Improve and Rebuild Your Credit]

This rule is also being extended to cover all consumers who are granted the line of credit but given interest rates that are less than ideal, the report said. In addition, the lender will have to explain what portion of the consumers’ credit history was weighing down their rating.

The large majority of a consumer’s credit score is made up of the payment history and the amount of available credit being used across all accounts. Altogether, these two factors alone make up 65 percent of a total rating. As a consequence, it is of the utmost importance to keep credit card spending under control and make regular on-time payments.

[Free Tool: Not sure where you stand credit wise? Get your Free Credit Report Card to find out.]

Source: http://www.credit.com/blog/2011/07/federal-credit-score-law-will-take-effect-next-week/

Now that you're ready to purchase a place, you want to make sure it's the right one for you. Follow these tips to find a home that's a perfect fit for you:

1. Go for the long haul

   When looking for a home, search for one that you could see yourself living in for several years -- at least five to seven years is ideal. Buying -- and moving -- to a new home takes a lot of time and effort, and can add up significantly in closing and moving costs, etc. Staying in place longer will help you avoid those added expenses. Plus, the extra time spent in your home could be just enough to help you ride out a downturn in the real estate market.

2. Leave room to grow

   Aim for a home that can adapt to your needs as your life changes, say, if you have a new baby, or Junior moves back in after college. If you can't afford a place that's large enough to meet your anticipated future needs now, look for one that will allow you to build on later on.

3. Be flexible

   Consider a place with rooms that can serve multiple functions, so the home remains highly functional for you through the years. For example, an open-floor-plan-style home is very adaptable. A kitchen that overlooks a family room is helpful when one's children are young (you can cook while watching the kids), while such a kitchen is also great for entertaining your friends once the kids leave the roost.

4. Go for your type

   Think about what style of home fits you best -- house, condo, townhome, etc. -- they're not one size fits all. For example, a single-family home -- which sits on its own lot and must be maintained by the homeowner -- may be great for a person seeking privacy, but not so wonderful for somebody who doesn't want to worry about mowing the lawn, fixing the plumbing, etc. Meanwhile, a condo might be perfect for somebody who wants a "lock 'n' leave" lifestyle, but not for somebody who doesn't like sharing a wall with his neighbors.

5. Check the surroundings

   When you purchase a home, you not only get a house, you also buy into a neighborhood. Think about whether that neighborhood will suit you. Sure, you might love the house itself, but will the loud neighbors next door or the school across the street become too bothersome for you? Also, do you like the feel of the neighborhood and does it offer everything you need? It's best to find a place in a community that you'll enjoy.

6. Buy what you can afford

   It's easy to shoot for the sky and overspend when buying a home -- you understandably want the best your money can buy. Examine your finances, keeping in mind current and future expenses, and don't exceed your means. It's smarter to buy a home you can easily afford than one you have to stretch to get into. Stay down to earth, and you'll be better prepared should unexpected financial commitments and problems arise later down the road.

7. Think "home" first

   When purchasing a home, don't imagine the dollar signs you'll see the day you sell it. A home is just that -- primarily a "home," and not an investment. So, buy a place that'd be great to live in first and think about its resale value second. Predicting real estate cycles and home appreciation is tough enough for the experts -- and much more for the average home buyer. Plus, while home renovations tend to add value to a residence, they rarely recoup more than what was spent on them.

8. Look at both old and new

   It's nice to move into a place that's brand-new. But, new isn't always better. Consider both old and new. While you might not like a previous homeowner's decorating decisions, you might like the owner-installed upgrades -- like a finished basement and a backyard deck -- that a new home might not have.

9. Location, location

   You've heard this tip before, but a home's location does matter. A house that's located on a busy, noisy street may be less enjoyable to you as a homeowner than one situated on a quiet, secluded cul-de-sac. Plus, a home on a cul-de-sac is likely to be worth more than a poorly located one when it comes time to resell. So consider a home's location before you're smitten by a spectacular interior.

10. When it comes time to sell

    While you want to think of your place as a home first and not an investment, it doesn't make sense to purchase a white elephant, either. You should put at least some thought into how easy -- or difficult -- it'll be to resell the home one day. If a home is so unlike other nearby homes in terms of size, style, price, etc., you might want to skip it and look elsewhere -- it could become a burden should you want to someday move on.

Features of a Lease Option

• Buyer buys the option for a property at a price decided upon as the cost of the option.
• A price is mutually agreed upon by the buyer and seller and this will be the price at which the option will be exercised.
• For residential property the period of time during which the lease option has to be exercised ranges between one to three years.
• The buyer may have to pay a monthly lease payment, which may or may not be adjusted against the purchase price of the property.
• The two parties have to agree whether the buyer can further sell his option to a third party, whether he wishes to stay in the property or sub lease it.
• Distressed properties are purchased by investors, renovated and upgraded and then offered as lease options to interested buyers.
• Payment of maintenance, utilities, taxes etc have to be decided between the buyer and seller.

A lease option is similar to a lease, except that in a lease option, the buyer has the purchase option at a later date. This option is used by a buyer if he is relocating or setting up a business and does not have the resources at present to pay for the property. It is preferable to a mortgage since the risk element is far lower in this option. For the seller, it holds promise of higher returns and a definite chance of his property being sold. It also provides a price security to the seller in case the value of the property declines. These are therefore more popular in a slow market besieged by recession. Sellers may not agree to a lease option generally when the prices of real estate are increasing. Lease options are good for first time property buyers, since it gives them time to collect their resources to pay for the property they have selected, after 1-3 years. Such a situation arises when they do not have the savings for a down payment. They may even be able to come to an agreement to live in the house they plan to buy through the lease option.

Steps to complete before taking a lease option

• Is lease option the best alternative financially? This involves verifying whether you can afford the monthly lease payments, and whether there is a certainty of managing to collect the money for the purchase eventually, so that buying the option is not just a waste of money.
• Checking whether the property is the best available in the area
• Get a valuation done of the property from a professional.
• Negotiate the terms with the seller and draft a good contract.
• Verify the insurance details.

Once all these are looked into, a lease option may bring you closer to your dream property

Source:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• How You May Be Exposed To A Chemical
• Children And Poisoning
• Home Product Precautions
• Family Disaster Plan/Supplies Kit
• Major Chemical Emergencies/Notification of an Emergency
• Shelter-In-Place
• Evacuation/Emergency Procedures For School Children
• Chemical Poisoning
• First Aid Treatment For Chemical Burns
• Who Helps In A Chemical Emergency/Points to Remember
• Important Telephone Numbers

Chemicals Are an Important Part of Life

Chemicals are a natural and important part of our environment. Even though we often don't think about it, we use chemicals every day. Chemicals help keep our food fresh and our bodies clean. They help our plants grow and fuel our cars. And chemicals make it possible for us to live longer, healthier lives.

Under certain conditions, chemicals can be poisonous or have a harmful effect on your health. Some chemicals which are safe, and even helpful in small amounts, can be harmful in larger quantities or under certain conditions. Chemical accidents do happen... at home and in the community, and the American Red Cross wants you to be prepared.

Read more here: http://www.redcross.org/museum/prepare_org/text/basic/chemicalsTX.htm

The U.S. population is projected to grow by 150 million within the next 40 years and "more compact, mixed-use development" is needed to handle the growth and changing demands, Patrick Phillips, CEO for the Urban Land Institute, told an audience at the National Association of Real Estate Editors annual conference this week.

"The design and development of urban areas will be radically different in the decades ahead,” he said. “We are seeing a push to make our cities more livable and sustainable.”

One-person households are the fastest-growing type of household, he noted. Also, younger generations, in buyer preference surveys, are placing a higher value on the sense of community and are willing to swap extra space for convenience.

An urban renaissance has been taking place with neighborhoods that are near urban centers becoming more desirable, Phillips said.

Source: “Population Growth to Drive More Compact Housing,” Inman News (June 16, 2011) [Log-in required.]

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011061702?OpenDocument