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LIABILITY INSURANCE – WHAT IS IT
Texas requires that you have liability insurance on your car with a minimum coverage of $30,000. What is this? You are in an accident and the police find you are at fault (for example: running a red light, rear-ending someone), and someone gets hurt. You can bet your bottom dollar the injured person will file…
Read MoreINSURANCE What Does it Cover? What Does It Cost? Is It Worth It?
We all deal with insurance – auto, home, flood, renter, life, accident, and so-called “gap” policies. If you are going on a cruise, you’ll be told you had best get “trip insurance”. When you purchase an appliance, you’re asked, “Do you want “the insurance?” The types of insurance you’re offered are mind-boggling. And health insurance…well,…
Read MoreUNIQUE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PURCHASING A TOWN HOME
Thinking about buying a townhome? They are all the rage in Houston, springing up like mushrooms, especially inside Loop 610. What are the major issues you should be aware of? You will be buying into a community as well as a residence. Just as a residence needs maintenance and upkeep, so do the “common areas”…
Read MoreCREDIT REPORT / FICO SCORE
Your credit score is used by the financial industry in deciding whether or not to lend you money and/or what interest rate you are to be charged. It is a secret sauce algorithm that utilizes your past payment history, how much of your available credit you are using, and any defaults, write-offs, judgments, or evictions…
Read MoreSOLAR PANEL SCAMS
Currently nearly one million homes every year have solar panels installed, and solar panel fraud is on the rise. The standard come-on is that solar panels will significantly cut your electric bills by at least 50%. Is this true? I have heard stories, where the savings are half of that or less. A solar panel…
Read MoreHOME REPAIR AND REMODELING WARRANTIES WHAT ARE THEY WORTH
Home repair and remodeling projects are high dollars, high anxiety, and fraught with financial risk. In Texas, there is almost no regulation over a person who calls himself or herself a “contractor”. Many contractors will be offering some sort of warranty to soothe your worried mind and spur you to sign up. What are these…
Read MoreWHEN YOU NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY PART II REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT
When you need to hire an attorney get a written, signed Representation Agreement (“Agreement”) that establishes the scope of the attorney-client relationship. At a minimum, the Agreement needs to contain the following: Matter of RepresentationThe type of matter the lawyer will represent you on (examples: auto accident personal injury, drafting a will, probating a will,…
Read MoreHIRING AN ATTORNEY WHAT TO EXPECT – CAR ACCIDENTS
Watch any amount of TV and you will see dozens on dozens of ads of guys snarling with pit bulls, jumping up and down on the roof of an 18-wheeler, or some with a softer touch, each trying to outdo each other in squeezing money out of insurance companies in auto accident cases. What’s going…
Read MoreWHEN YOU NEED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY PART I INITIAL INTERVIEW
We may not like it, but there are instances in our lives when we need an attorney. Common situations are preparing or probating a will, divorce, personal injury, or criminal charges. If you own a business, it’s best to keep an attorney on retainer for the many issues faced in running a business. When you…
Read MoreFoundation Problems
FOUNDATION PROBLEMS – AVOIDING CONTRACTOR FRAUD The current severe drought is causing the Houston area “gumbo” soil to shrink making concrete foundations crack, and older pier and beam homes to shift. Floors will slope, sheetrock will crack, and doors stick. Foundation repair companies are having land office business. As with any weather-related repair crisis (flooding,…
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