Ordinarily a gas water heater not lighting or firing consistently means it needs a new gas valve. Due to recent environmental regulations, now it means you need to replace your water heater! No longer can a plumber install a new gas valve if the water heater isn't low nox! Just this morning we have to replace a 2003 model due to the gas valve failing.

Check out this great starter property! Only 3 years new….and stylin'

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With the federal first-time buyer credit expiring for those who haven't yet locked in an offer on a property, the state of California has a $10,000 buyer credit program starting May 1. This is a limited funds program, so it's a first-come, first-served offer. For more information click here.

Last time I received one of these real estate notices in the mail, a group of others did, too. This was when there was a scam going on for a service to "negotiate" your property taxes down to current values for a small fee. This company ended up with a lawsuit filed.

Today I got a "Form 77748-I" Predatory Lending Notice with an 800# to call because they "have determined that your loan may have violations of Truth In Lending Act (TILA) and or the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)."

Now I haven't called, and don't plan to, but I am pretty sure this is more of the same.

A loan officer directed me to this site years ago, as an easy way to eliminate annoying and unsolicited credit card offers and stabilize my credit score. Apparently these companies hit up your credit to "prequal" you for their unsolicited product. They don't count as a "hard" hit, but after 15 or 20 it will affect your score by a few points.

It's like the do not call registry and works for 5 years before renewal is required (if you do an online registration). For more info:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.shtm

And a link to the site:
https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

Why is this important? Not only will it help your credit score stabilize, but if helps reduce the risk of credit/identity theft. How many of these offers do we throw in the garbage? It's definitely beneficial to eliminate a possible problem at the source.