Savvy-Boomers

Your next step will be to fill out the accounts and settings windows.  These are all important and should be examined thoroughly.  Be very careful when you get to the part that asks for e-mail addresses.  You should add all of the addresses that you use on a regular basis. If you go back later and try to add in more addresses LinkedIn will try to match those up with an existing account.  It is easier to just add in the important ones right now.

 Next you will be working on your Privacy Settings.  This is where you can choose the settings that will get the best exposure for your LinkedIn Account.  Be sure to let your network see the changes you make later in theses settings. You need to concern yourself with the Service Provider Directory.  In order to get listed in here you must have some recommendations and in order to get them it is necessary to give a few as it is appropriate. It takes a little thinking to get the job done right but in the end your LinkedIn platform will be very effective.

Once you have decided how you are going to use your LinkedIn account there are two boxes that govern how you will use the network and how you want to connect with other people.  It will be best if you check all the boxes to begin with.  Once you see how the network reacts to your account you can uncheck boxes that aren’t necessary.

Do not skip over the USER AGREEMENT. Take the time to read through it so you will understand what LinkedIn expects from you.  You don’t want to have a well planned layout cancelled because of a misunderstanding

Check back each day and we will post more great tips to help you progress through the steps of setting up a successful LinkedIn Account

Why should I consider using a networking site like LinkedIn?  It is mainly used by business people for professional network activities.  It can be used to find work, to find someone to work for you, to find people you used to work for or with.  You can use it to help promote your business and even to buy or sell a business.  This is not a place you can go to find out who is having coffee at Starbucks.

If you are going to sign up to use a networking site like LinkedIn you need to decide how you want to use the account.  This will set the tone for all of the responses you will give to the various questions you will be answering as you build your platform.  You will find that laying the proper foundation will help you to get the kind of results you are expecting.  If you think that LinkedIn is for you and can help you build your future then go to http://bit.ly/cTBa2t and start creating your account.  Be sure to bookmark this page and we will provide you with great tips on building your LinkedIn platform.

Grand Circle Travel has announced a reduction of $600.00 per person for an escorted tour of Ireland if you act now for this last minute travel bargain. This all inclusive 13 day escorted tour of the Emerald Isle can be yours for just $1995.00 if you book by May 28th.
This price includes airfare from several US cities and gives you the opportunity to see everything from the Irish castles to the lively local pubs. You’ll enjoy a home hosted lunch and watch the sheep dogs in action on a local farm. If you’ve thought about the Irish countryside as the back drop for your next vacation then consider this great offering at a much reduced price. You must book before May 28th, 2010. Call 1-800-221-2610 or on line visit www.gct.com/tc

Yesterday I had a pop up appear on my desk top that was very professional looking and there was an alert that said my computer was compromized. IT WAS! This malicious piece of advertising was able to change a setting in my computer and I was not able to get a connection to the internet.
So… I thought the antispyware program was suspect so I tried everything I could to get rid of it and it was there to stay. It required that you buy their program in order to get out of it. Eventually I used windows defender which was already in my computer to get rid of the program. I took the computer to Best Buy and the Geek Squad took a look and made a quick change and it was back to normal in 15 minutes. They told me that they had seen a lot of this problem in the last few days. Beware of A blue background advertisement that doesn’t go away and says across the top of the page Antispyware SOFT, Inc. DON’T BUY IT! You’ll need to run a program such as Defender or any other anti spyware program that you trust. It was able to change a setting to require that you use a proxy address and you will need to change it back before the computer will work properly.

Take a Spectacular tour of Bryce Canyon in Southern Utah and join us as we take a marvelous trip into the unique world of spires and canyons that have been carved out of the sandstone by Mother Nature.

In the past couple of years there have been a large number of people from Canada who have come to the US to buy homes.  It’s because the real estate in some areas of the US is a lot cheaper than it is in Canada.  In some areas houses can be purchased for about one third of what it would cost for a similar home in Canada.

I have recently worked with several families from Edmonton Alberta who have learned about the substantial bargains that are available in Arizona.  They have purchased homes that were bank owned or that were available as short sales. In both of these instances the homes have been purchased at prices that were around 50% of what the prices had been just a couple of years ago.  One gentleman from Edmonton told me that if he bought the same home back where he was from in Canada it would have cost him three times as much.

 The west side of Phoenix grew rapidly in the last few years and the prices for single family homes rose very quickly.  Some of the owners refinanced their homes assuming that the continuing inflation would make the homes worth a lot more when they decided to sell in a couple of years and there would be plenty of money to pay of the new mortgages.  When the real estate market turned up side down most of these home owners found the value of their homes started to go down and soon many owners were stuck with mortgages that were way over what the homes would actually sell for.  Some of the financial situations of the owners changed and as they could not sell the homes for the money that was owed on them some of the homes were abandoned and subsequently foreclosed on.  These homes went back to lending institutions that were required by law not to have a large percentage of their assets in real estate and so they were forced to sell these homes as quickly as possible.  For people who had the time to look and the money to buy there were many great bargains beginning to show up in real estate.

Many owners of homes with mortgages that were way over the current value of the homes in question wanted to sell their homes but didn’t want to be involved in foreclosures and so they decided to try the short sale.  Their credit would not be so adversely affected and they would be able to purchase another home in a couple of years and once the short sale was complete the lending institution would not have the right to come after them for more money. 

When the short sales and the foreclosures were added to the list of homes that were being sold for greatly reduced prices in some areas on the west side of Phoenix there was a list of bargain properties that began to exist and soon there were people from all over the country beginning to look at the housing market in the Valley of the Sun.  Now there is a large group of people from Canada who are involved in purchasing a retirement home or a second home in the Phoenix area.  I have had the pleasure of helping several families find homes in the area that proved to be huge bargains for them. I can help with transportation in the area and names of realtors who can facilitate transactions that will save as much as 30% or 40% and even more on your next purchase. http://bit.ly/cLpRDKIn the past couple of years there have been a large number of people from Canada who have come to the US to buy homes. It’s because the real estate in some areas of the US is a lot cheaper than it is in Canada. In some areas houses can be purchased for about one third of what it would cost for a similar home in Canada.

I have recently worked with several families from Edmonton Alberta who have learned about the substantial bargains that are available in Arizona. They have purchased homes that were bank owned or that were available as short sales. In both of these instances the homes have been purchased at prices that were around 50% of what the prices had been just a couple of years ago. One gentleman from Edmonton told me that if he bought the same home back where he was from in Canada it would have cost him three times as much.

The west side of Phoenix grew rapidly in the last few years and the prices for single family homes rose very quickly. Some of the owners refinanced their homes assuming that the continuing inflation would make the homes worth a lot more when they decided to sell in a couple of years and there would be plenty of money to pay of the new mortgages. When the real estate market turned up side down most of these home owners found the value of their homes started to go down and soon many owners were stuck with mortgages that were way over what the homes would actually sell for. Some of the financial situations of the owners changed and as they could not sell the homes for the money that was owed on them some of the homes were abandoned and subsequently foreclosed on. These homes went back to lending institutions that were required by law not to have a large percentage of their assets in real estate and so they were forced to sell these homes as quickly as possible. For people who had the time to look and the money to buy there were many great bargains beginning to show up in real estate.

Many owners of homes with mortgages that were way over the current value of the homes in question wanted to sell their homes but didn’t want to be involved in foreclosures and so they decided to try the short sale. Their credit would not be so adversely affected and they would be able to purchase another home in a couple of years and once the short sale was complete the lending institution would not have the right to come after them for more money.

When the short sales and the foreclosures were added to the list of homes that were being sold for greatly reduced prices in some areas on the west side of Phoenix there was a list of bargain properties that began to exist and soon there were people from all over the country beginning to look at the housing market in the Valley of the Sun. Now there is a large group of people from Canada who are involved in purchasing a retirement home or a second home in the Phoenix area. I have had the pleasure of helping several families find homes in the area that proved to be huge bargains for them. I can help with transportation in the area and names of realtors who can facilitate transactions that will save as much as 30% or 40% and even more on your next purchase. http://bit.ly/cLpRDK

On Thursday, April 22 the Surprise Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a business education event.  The course that is being offered is entitled “Strategic Planning and Business Development” and it will be presented by Mike D’Hoostelaere of the Small Business Development Center. He will be discussing how to conduct effective drip marketing and staying in front of your customers and prospective customers.  This will be a free presentation presented to members of the Chamber and their guests and is part of the ongoing Business Development Series.  It will take place at the Ultra Star Cinemas of Surprise from 7:30am to 9:00am.  Food will be provided and this will be a great opportunity to network with other members of the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce contact me at jeremoline@gmail.com or go directly to the chamber at http://bit.ly/dAK1bE

This weekend, April 17 and April 18, rounds 3 and 4 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series will be taking place.  This event will be held at the Speedworld Raceway Park that’s located a little South of Highway 60 at Jomax Road on the West Side of the Valley of the Sun.  The official address is 19421 w Jomax Road, Wittman Arizona

Arizona will be represented at the races by Robert Naughton of Flagstaff, Rich Ronco of Glendale and Fooddrill Morotsports of Peoria.

Round 3 of the Off Road Racing Series gets underway on Saturday with practice at 10:30 am and races staring at 2:30 pm and the gates will open at 9am. Admission is $30.00 for adults and $10.00 for kids 6 to 12 years of age. Don’t miss the Margarita Party after the races from 7 to 11 at Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler in Surprise.

On Sunday Round 4 will begin practice at 8:00 am and admission will be $30.00 and $10.00 just as they are on Saturday. Races will again start at 2:30 pm.

Speedworld is an off road park which accommodates everything from BMX races to radio controlled model airplane competition. For further information call the track hotline
at 623-546-1605 or go to RaceSpeedWorld.com. Overnight camping is available for the weekend.

This competition was mistakenly listed previously as taking place on last weekend.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

                     Wildflowers are blooming along the highway toward Festival on

                                                                        the  West side of Phoenix near the White Tank Mountains.  This

                                                                        is the perfect time for a family hike in the White Tanks.