Thousands of consumers have been fleeced by Internet auction fraud and lost all of their money… And even their merchandise too. Auction fraud was the single largest category of Internet related complaints in 2002, more than 51,000 consumer complaints were filed and since then the numbers has triple that in 2009. Law enforcement agencies are doing what they can to stop these crooks in their tracks, and responsible auction sites are trying to police their own market for added security measures… But, it’s not all so easy at times!

“The single most powerful tool to protect consumers is education”

As of 2009 majority of these so-called legitimate sites, are out right frauds. You know who they are, we can’t say these companies names because of legal ramifications. What we’ve uncovered was the consumers allegedly “won” the bid for merchandise through an Internet auction Web site, sent in their money, but never received the merchandise. In some cases the thieves combine serial identity theft to conceal their identities and divert the blame to the identity theft victim. There was one case on file in (Chicago) where one operator constantly changed his Internet auction account name to conceal the fact that although he accepted payment, he did not deliver the promised merchandise. He set up bank accounts and post office boxes in other people’s names, and directed that payment be sent to them. His identity theft victims were people with whom he had quarreled with that day, people whose identity information he and an accomplice had taken from the records of a suburban Chicago hotel, and even a dead man. There are many more cases like this arising every day about Internet auction fraud all across the United States and other foreign countries too.

Below are few tips to follow to avoid being taken by these thieves:

1. Understand as much as possible about how the auction works, what your obligations are as a buyer, and what the seller’s obligations are before you bid.

2. Find out what actions the web site/company takes if a problem occurs and consider insuring the transaction and shipment.

3. Learn as much as possible about the seller, especially if the only information you have is an e-mail address. If it is a business, check the Better Business Bureau where the seller/business is located.

4. Examine the feedback on the seller.

5. Determine what method of payment the seller is asking from the buyer and where he/she is asking to send payment.

6. If a problem occurs with the auction transaction, it could be much more difficult if the seller is located outside the US because of the difference in laws.

7. Ask the seller about when delivery can be expected and if there is a problem with the merchandise is it covered by a warranty or can you exchange it.

8. Find out if shipping and delivery are included in the auction price or are additional costs so there are no unexpected costs.

9. There should be no reason to give out your social security number or drivers license number to the seller.

Note: If the seller insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service you’ve never heard of, check it out. Visit its Web site and call its customer service line. If there isn’t one, or you call and can’t reach someone, don’s use that service.

A. Protect your privacy. Never provide credit card number, or bank account information until you have checked out the seller and the online payment or escrow service, if you’re using one, to ensure legitimacy.

B. Save all transaction information.

C. If you have problems during a transaction, try to work them out with the seller, buyer or site operator. If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with your state attorney general’s office and the FTC.

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You probably recall playing a game called “Telephone” when you were younger. Someone would whisper a statement into your ear, and that person would pass it on, until the message finally came back to the one who started it. Everyone would break into fits of laughter upon hearing how jumbled the message became as it went from ear to ear. Well, numerous articles have recently appeared in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and other publications, stating that the real estate industry is going through a “doom and gloom” phase right now. Just like the “Telephone” game, the story gets bigger and more out of proportion as more media put in their two cents worth.

A few months ago, the media told us the housing market boom had burst. They were referring to markets in Florida, Las Vegas, and both Coasts, where markets have been appreciating at 25-30% a year for the last few years. It doesn’t require a degree in Economics to understand that no product can continue having outrageous price increases and sustain unit sales. The East and West Coast real estate markets have always had violent peaks and valleys and that is what the media continues referring to.

The Midwest has always enjoyed stable markets that follow similar trends, but with prices varying only slightly. In a good year for the Midwest, we may see a 7% gain, while a bad year might show only a 2% increase. The homes in the Midwest are not showing an increase in home values right now. This has created a slight market adjustment, meaning that real estate is going down 2% in the Midwest, and not 30% that is typical of both Coasts. Everyone knows that a story has to be exciting and of high interest to make the news; and, the market in the Midwest just doesn’t meet that criteria!

That brings me to the title of this article, “Now is the time to buy!” Buyers believe what the media says about the real estate market, even though they are reporting on markets other than the Midwest, so they decide to put their plans of home ownership on hold. At the same time, there is a glut of available homes on the market. High inventory of homes, now at an all-time high, means many sellers are reducing their asking price, many going way below market value. The result is obvious! You won’t find a better time to buy, with prices and sellers so flexible! Why not take advantage of these low prices before the rest of the Buyers figure out what is happening?

Most people own a car and a house because you need transportation and a roof over you’re your head. Statistics show that the average person moves every 5-7 years. Why? Because life circumstances change, the kids leave home and you need to downsize, more mature buyers are looking for the convenience of ranch-style living with everything on one level, maybe you’re ready to start your family and need more space, newlyweds decide to invest in a home and build equity instead of renting, and the beat goes on.

So, you see, people will always move from home to home. The only question is when and the best answer for the best value is now! With home prices bottoming out, the market has corrected itself and inventory is high. Buy now, before everyone else jumps on the bandwagon. You’ve heard the adage, “Strike while the iron is hot!” Well, the iron is HOT; the time to buy is NOW!

Drivers with car insurance whose cars have been flooded may be covered for more than they think. The Better Business Bureau and Insurance Information Institute recommend that all car owners read their car insurance policy closely or they will miss out on reimbursements or other benefits they are entitled to when disaster strikes.

“Drivers spend a lot of money on auto insurance, but too often they wait until they need to make a claim after an accident or emergency and don’t remember what their policy will cover,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “After a widespread emergency such as a flood, when many people are making claims simultaneously, it’s important for car owners to ask the representative handling their claim about their coverage and deductible, as well as any options that are included, so they get their money’s worth.”

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), a non-profit organization, comprehensive coverage will reimburse drivers for loss due to damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, catastrophic storms, vandalism, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. This includes flooding.

“Although many states do not require that you purchase comprehensive coverage, if you have a car loan, your lender may have required you carry it until your loan is paid off,” said Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the I.I.I. “Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a 0 to 0 deductible.”

Many drivers also have coverage for a replacement rental car, although they may not realize it because this optional coverage was added at such a minimal expense, usually just a couple of dollars a month. This coverage provides immediate access to a replacement rental car until repairs are made to their flooded car or they are authorized by their insurance company to purchase a new car.

Drivers whose cars are totaled may not have to continue making payments on the balance they owe on the car if their auto insurance included gap coverage. This coverage pays the difference between the amount the insurer pays for the totaled car and the amount the insured owes on their lease or loan. Without this coverage, drivers are responsible for paying the remainder of their lease or loan even when their car is totaled.

The best advice is to be prepared to know what your auto insurance covers and what you should do if your car sustained damages in the flood by following these tips:

Report damage as soon as possible. If your car is not drivable, your agent or claims center may be able to save you time and money by having the car towed directly to the repair facility instead of to a temporary storage facility. In addition, arrangements may be made immediately to provide you with a replacement rental car, if your policy includes this coverage.

Know what your deductible is and any other additional charges before authorizing work. Expect your insurance adjuster, claims representative or repair facility appraiser to review the damage with you and explain the repair process, including the use of original or generic auto parts. Before authorizing repairs, know what your deductible is, as well as any additional charges you will be expected to pay once repairs are complete.

Ask about warranties on repairs. Ask whether your insurer has a repair facility referral program that offers a written limited or lifetime repair warranty backed both by the repairer and insurer for as long as you own your vehicle.

Do business only with a reputable company. Obtain insurance from companies, independent brokers or direct marketers that have a proven track record of handling auto insurance claims effectively. Get a referral, or contact BBB or your State Department of Insurance.

Realty Times places Chicago amongst the thirty best cities where young people could choose to live. One of the reasons for this is the popularity of the condominium in Chicago. Chicago contains some of the most culturally rich communities in the United States. Each neighborhood in Chicago maintains a unique identity and because of this, two different neighborhoods could seem like different parts of the world. There are several different communities in the Chicago area. Every community has its own advantages and disadvantages, due to the location. Probably the cheapest community is the Yates Estates Private Condominium Home, where prices start at 4,900.

Increasing the value of a home in Chicago is done by individuals that wish to sell their property and by increasing its value they hope they can make a better deal. Making the right improvements will help you sell your property in Chicago faster and earn more cash. And if you make the “market smart” improvements, you will definitely come out ahead. There are a lot of ways to go about when trying to increase a home’s value. Installing a new front door, repainting, reorganizing the space, remodeling the rooms and other options will be mentioned further in the article.

Here are some ideas to help you increase the value of your real estate property:

-Clean up the house and fix what you can-this advice might sound a little bit too obvious, but the effect that it produces is big. Clean your house thoroughly. Clean the windows, the sink, vacuum the floor, if there any leaks, fix them

-Make sure the property is secured-especially if it is a luxury home. People will tend to pay more for a house they feel safe in, so consider installing a burglar alarm, security doors with reliable locks and a fire alarm

-Paint the interior and exterior-New paint draws potential buyers and improves curb appeal. Use a different color on windows and doors to provide contrast. And new paint seems to increase the size of the interior

-Hard-wood floors-by investing only 0 for wood panels you can greatly increase the value of the home, since the wood floors add warmth and have quite an impact on the overall look and feel of the home

-Wall paneling-another popular home improvement project. Real wood paneling improves appearance and increases market value of the home. If you’re a “do-it-yourselfer”, this task should not be too difficult for you.

All in all the Chicago real estate market is on a high. Yes, there are a lot of homes for sale, but once you have increased the value of your home, you won’t experience any difficulties in selling quickly and at a good price. But before starting a home improvement project, consider the costs verses enhancement ratio to decide which of the improvements mentioned above will have the biggest impact, in case you have limited budget and have to drop several of them. Plan the project carefully and take your time, when searching for the best prices and selection of materials. And last but not lest, make sure that your project meets the building code requirements of Chicago.

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In the United States of America Cars is most important need of routine life. For some People car is necessary and for some people car is way to express their indulgence, their affection. Whatever the intention is, cars must be protected from some unwanted incident. This is the point where you need insurance for your car/vehicle. There are many types of auto insurance quote policies and auto insurance providers are present in America.

The costs associated with car insurance are increasing everyday. But if you had done your homework and done proper inquires then it is possible to save some money on your policy.

It is little difficult to get auto insurance policy which is not only cheap but also provide you quality services. Normally you have to compromise on one thing. In car insurance you can’t afford a coverage that has mediocre services.

If you really want to save some bucks out of your car insurance policy then you have to do some inquires. First of all make a list of your need and then search for the policy that suits your need.

There are basically two types of policies:

1) Third Party policies.

2) Fully Comprehensive policies

Third Party policies

Third Party policies is lot more cheaper then other. But policy has its disadvantage. It will not pay you in many cases. If your vehicle’s market value is less then you can go for this type of policy.

Fully Comprehensive policies

This policy is costlier then the other one but this is safer option. It pays you in many cases and it can cover your entire loss due to an accident. So it is batter to be safe then sorry.

Visit our website http://www.1-auto-insurance.info for further information

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Everybody is talking about the government’s bailout packages. But how will they affect Chicago real estate. This article discusses Chicago real estate and how the government’s bailout will offer help and hindrance.

Housing is about supply and demand and the government is trying their best to help in both areas. With the Fed buying (A LOT) of US Treasuries bonds they are artifically lowering interest rates on mortgages, which should make housing even more affordable, which should create more demand, but who is buying? The problem is that so many people have been foreclosed or have negotiated short sales and now their credit is so bad they can’t get a mortgage, so the pool of potential buyers is greatly reduced. I also know there are plenty of people that are current on their existing mortgages that would love to take advantage of these lower prices, but can not because either they can not sell their current home or the price they would receive would not be sufficient to payoff their current mortgage.

As for the supply aspect, the government is trying to keep as many people as possible in their homes. Obama’s refinance and loan modification program is definitely a step in the right direction, but is it too late? Probably not, but what happens to the people who just got laid off and can’t find a new job? I believe the government could have a greater impact on the supply side than demand.

The government announced today that they will be purchasing/leveraging up to TRILLION in bad (toxic)assets. There are some interesting aspects of this plan, but I’ll concentrate on the real estate part. Assuming most of these bad assets are foreclosures, the government could play a major role with the supply of homes on the market. I would first take at least 50% of foreclosures currently listed off the market. Then for every 3 foreclosure that sell, put another 2 on the market (I wanted to keep the numbers simple). I believe this would help stabilize prices and balance supply and demand.

Chicago, isn’t only Frank Sinatra’s “kind of town”, it is a city loved by many people. Chicago is as cosmopolitan and as cultured San Francisco, yet as street-wise as New York; it is the city that unites this great land – the ‘heart’ of America, if you will. In terms of music and art, Chicago has always been ahead of the times: while New York shows us “what IS”, Chicago shows us “what will BE”. In terms of Industry, Chicago was the fountainhead of the West, and a driving force in the very creation of America. Today, with the city of Chicago still growing, but housing boom settling down, people are wondering about the state of Chicago real estate.

The fact is, while some Chicago neighborhoods are showing declines over the last year in both asking and selling prices, other areas of the city – notably, Des Plaines – are showing encouraging increases. And, while the Chicago housing market is not as “hot” as it was a couple years ago, it is certainly a great place if you’re looking to buy a home that you plan on keeping for a while (whether a home or a rental property). Here’s why:

GROWTH & “REHABBING”

Yes, at 3 million inhabitants (9.5 in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, or “Chicagoland”), Chicago continues to grow. As both a testament to and a symbol of this growth, the magnificent 2,000 foot tall Chicago Spire (now under construction) will be (upon completion, in 2010) the tallest building in America, and the tallest residential building in the world. For those who aren’t thrilled about living almost half a mile above the Windy City’s streets, there are plenty of other housing options in “Chi-town”.

“Rehabbed” buildings account for some of Chicago’s most architecturally interesting and sought-after homes. Rehabbing is simply the rehabilitation, refurbishment and often restoration of old buildings that have fallen into disuse, usually for residential use (lofts). Rehabbed buildings include former warehouses, factories, and other industrial buildings, many of which have been granted Heritage status by the City. Chicago’s industrial past has left a wonderful selection of beautifully restored loft buildings, and matching neo-architectural condos.

Another choice open to those looking for a home in Chicago, is the foreclosure market. While this can be a tough nut to crack – and an especially difficult for those just looking to get rich quick – it is a viable way to save considerable money on a home. Whatever you choose to do, whether it’s a loft, a condo, or a new family home, if you’re looking to buy a home in Chicago right now, the market is on your side!

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We know we all need to have car insurance, but it\’s not getting any easier in these days of financial turmoil. That doesn\’t mean you have to blindly pay whatever your insurer quotes though, as there are several simple things you can do to reduce the cost of your premiums.

First, shop around and buy online: Figures show that many people simply renew their current policies without shopping around. The internet makes it easy to compare prices from different insurers, so why not take advantage of this? Plus, you\’ll usually get a discount of 10% or more just for buying your policy online.

Now, think about what kind of policy your car and situation merits. For example, if you go for third party, fire & theft, you can significantly reduce your monthly premiums compared to a comprehensive policy.

Next, you may be eligible for a no claims or a clean driver discount for each year you don\’t make a claim on your insurance. The higher the discount available, the more you could save. It\’s also possible to protect your no claims discount for the life of your policy, so that even if you had to make a claim, you would still be able to maintain your no claims discount level.

Then there\’s the deductible. The excess on a policy is the amount of a claim you have to pay before the insurer pays the rest. Choosing to have a higher than standard excess level will usually mean lower premiums.

How secure is your vehicle is the next question to ask yourself. By fitting a proper alarm and immobiliser it can also reduce your premium. Parking you car off-road, for example on a driveway or in a garage, will also mean a cheaper policy.

Pay annually: Many insurers charge you interest for the privilege of paying in monthly installments. So definitely pay annually if you can, but if you can\’t manage this, then find the insurers who don\’t charge extra for the monthly payment method.

You will save on your insurance if you\’re a social user instead of a commuter as you\’re likely to have a lower mileage which you will get a discount for. Even if you are a commuter or use your car a lot, make sure you accurately calculate your mileage as you may be overestimating causing you to have higher than necessary premiums.

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According to a recent survey done in May 2006, it has been revealed that in the highly cutthroat competitive world of auto insurance industry, an approximate of 1500 prospects are visiting daily on the web for an auto insurance quote. Auto insurance is fast becoming a booming business trade while getting affordable car insurance has become a recent phenomenon with the common man.

Almost 1200 cases are registered everyday alone in US for car accidents. People are getting more curious about how to safe guard their cars and other vehicles against this kind of damage. The answer is Auto Insurance. Auto insurance is referred to the procedure of getting your automobile insured. This action is taken in view if any kind of accident or damage is brought to the automobile. The most important purpose of this cover is to gives out security in opposition to the losses sustained due to the mishaps. Auto insurance is used to cover many automobiles such as cars; trucks and all other vehicles that may need insurance cover and are more prone to damages and accidents.

Before getting car insurance, it is necessary for you to get a detailed view of different car insurance rate or car insurance quote from more than one auto insurance company. The auto insurance quotes may be different for different companies, so it is your responsibility to carefully look into the insurance quotes and then decide which one is suitable for you and your vehicle.

Car insurance is considered necessary for the reason that there is a lot of reckless and irresponsible driving going on the roads that lead to accidents everyday. The auto insurance quotes or other vehicle insurance quotes are usually quoted by the companies before considering number of factors like, age of the vehicle holder, how old is the vehicle, has the vehicle been damaged before also, location of the vehicle, is it second hand and other factors. The particulars as regards the car, like where it is being parked, whether the owner keeps it in a garage which minimizes the risk of being stolen and also the average the vehicle is giving at the moment it is being insured are some more deciding factors which are considered by the insurance quote company before giving the insurance. If the car travels not as much of as a precise limit of miles then such cars are likely to be given some kind of mileage price cuts and discounts.

Therefore, Automobile insurance is an incredible thing that we all require and should command careful consideration while getting one’s vehicle insured from accidents.

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It is compulsory for every driver to have auto insurance for their vehicles. Without auto insurance on their cap, drivers face strict penalty charges, revocation of license and registration and even serve jail sentence in some parts of the country. Chicago Auto insurance serves as a protection for the car, the owner and third parties in case of traffic and road accidents.

If you’ve got a new car and need insurance for this, you have to obtain the most affordable car insurance in this time of global economic recession. It is a fact that auto insurance rates have gone up in the light of the recession.

Here are a few tips on how to obtain cheaper Chicago auto insurance and some useful information for your reference:

1. Most often, we are attracted with the words “affordable” with bold and large-sized font of the advertised cost of premiums. Double check how comprehensive the liability of this insurance premium have.

2. Nowadays, searching for affordable car insurance have made easier through the use of internet. There are a lot of websites operated by car insurance companies that offer free vehicle insurance quote. In this way you can browse this information at any time of the day within the comforts of your home less the hassle of talking to an insurance agent. Some of these agents may get very persuasive as well as aggressive once a prospective client approaches them.

3. There are also websites that offer comparative insurance quotes of top vehicle insurance companies. You may also use this resource to get the most affordable car insurance.

4. If your car is not that expensive, you need not to obtain expensive premiums. Remember that vehicles depreciate in value every year but your insurance premium does not decrease.

5. In some cases, other insurance companies may take into consideration your driving records, habits and attitudes. If you’ve got a bad record, they can make your insurance premium higher.

6. Most insurance companies base their insurance quotes on the driver’s personal profile such as age, gender and marital status.

7. The most common thing that these car insurance company looks upon is the actual mileage your car have travelled as well as the future mileage of your vehicle.