Credit Bureaus Selling Client's Personal Information

Did you know that the credit bureaus sell your clients' personal information? It's true! The same agencies that possess your clients' most vital credit information will flag the files of those applying for home loans and sell their personal information as leads to the highest bidders.

With a price tag of $25 to $100 or more, your clients' names and certain specifics about their credit reports, including addresses, phone numbers, mortgage histories, and even FICO score ranges, are sold to unscrupulous mortgage companies which then blindly solicit their business. The practice creates "trigger leads" of your clients, causing a flood of unwanted phone calls and mail offers which they may wrongly attribute to you. This could result in a significant loss of trust, costing you future business and referrals.

Unfortunately, no legislation presently exists to prevent credit bureaus from profiting at your clients' expense. As trigger leads, they are simply at the mercy of any number of pie-in-the-sky offers designed specifically to try and discredit you and the mortgage professional you know and trust. Ultimately, there are only a limited number of sources where lenders may turn to obtain mortgage money, and it's unlikely that your clients will find an unbelievably low rate without an unbelievably high cost.

Your best option is to protect your clients from this unfortunate scenario through proper education and preparation. That's why, prior to taking an application for any loan program, I always encourage borrowers to opt-out of credit bureau solicitations by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com. This is a good way to avoid the problem altogether.

As your clients embark on what could be the largest financial transaction of their lives, it's important to have a professional mortgage specialist on your team who will have their best interests at heart.

Shortsale Opportunity In Birmingham Alabama

3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home in Birmingham Alabama

Overview Maps Photos Features Description

$119,900 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms Location 1716 Indian Summer Drive Birmingham, AL 35125 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

---

Scott Battles Keller Williams Metro North (205) 520-3039 battlrs@gmail.com http://www.birminghamhomesearchsite.com Listed by: Keller Williams Realty Gardendale

Our recent listings 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Home in Birmingham Alabama Charming 3 Bedroom Brick Home in Crestwood North Neighborhood Beautiful 4 Bedroom Home In Historic Roebuck Springs Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Great Home in Birmingham's Crestwood Neighborhood. Close to UAB and Children's Hospital

Charming 3 Bedroom Brick Home in Crestwood North Neighborhood

Overview Maps Photos Features Description

$187,500 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 1 Bathroom Interior: 1548 sqft Lot: 0.21 acre(s) Location 5608 7th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35212 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

---

Scott Battles (205) 520-3039 battlrs@gmail.com http://www.findhooverhomes.com Listed by: Keller Williams Realty Hoover

Our recent listings Charming 3 Bedroom Brick Home in Crestwood North Neighborhood Beautiful 4 Bedroom Home In Historic Roebuck Springs Subscribe to our listing feed

Nearby properties for sale

Completely Remodeled 4 Bedroom Home with 2500sf for Only $124,900.

Completely Remodeled 4 Bedroom Home with 2500sf

Overview Maps Photos Features Description

$124,900 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Lot: 0.33 acre(s) Location 401 Conover Drive Birmingham, AL 35206 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below:

---

Scott Battles (205) 520-3039 battlrs@gmail.com http://www.findhooverhomes.com Listed by: Keller Williams Realty Hoover

Nearby properties for sale

Birmingham Living Blog: Hanceville Alabama Old Time Bluegrass with Just Pa...

Birmingham Living Blog: Hanceville Alabama Old Time Bluegrass with Just Pa...: "Hanceville Old Time Bluegrass Last Saturday afternoon from 2:00 till 8:00 the Hanceville Recreation Center hosted Bluegrass Groups from..."

Hanceville Alabama Old Time Bluegrass with Just Passin Through

Hanceville Old Time Bluegrass

Last Saturday afternoon from 2:00 till 8:00 the Hanceville Recreation Center hosted Bluegrass Groups from North Alabama.  Admission was a donation to the bands.  There happened to be a nice group on hand to cheer on their local talent.  The Center holds roughly 200 people and the concession stand is open serving food and drinks.  This get together is perfect for familys and everyone seems to be very nice and hospitable.  They usually hold this get together on the 3rd Saturday of every month and could be held at the park in Hanceville during the Spring.  The park usually brings larger crowds especially when the weather is pretty.  So bring your family and be ready to have a good time.  Here are a few videos that I got of the last two bands to play including the band "Just Passin Through" and a group of "old timers" who put a group together on the spot.  Pretty impressive.

Oak Mountain

Oak Mountain located just 20 minutes South of Birmingham is Alabama's largest State Park.  With 9,940 acres Oak Mountain has a wide variety of family activities.  Offering cabins, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, golf, swimming and boating. No matter what you need to wind down, Oak Mountain has got it. 

There are 10-2 bedroom cabins nestled around a 28 acre lake.  Boats, paddles and life preservers are offered for the cabins guests.  The Cabins are perfect for Family Reunions and get togethers since there is a large covered pavilion close by.  Rates are $110 per night and there is a 2 night minimum for weekends.  Pets are welcome in 2 cabins (for an additional fee) but must be kept on a leash while in the park.  There are discounts for senior citizens, government workers and handicap persons. 

If you prefer to rough it, then Oak Mountain has 85 improved camping sites for RV's and 60 tent sites.  RV sites include water, electric and sewer hook ups.  There are also bath houses with hotwater throughout the camping area.  Primitive sites start at $14 and RV sites start at $18 and go up to $23 with sewer hook ups.  The backpack sites are $5 per person. 

If you enjoy golf, Oak Mountain has a newly renovated 18 hole golf coarse with a driving range.  The coarse is often rated as one of the top 75 public coarses in the United States. Tee times need to be reserved 5 days in advance and they are not accepted for same day of play.  Walk ons are welcomed however.  Oak Mountain golf coarse offers a full service pro shop with snack bar.  There is also a chipping green and putting green to get warmed up for your round.  The pro shop is also a wi-fi hotspot.  Green fees are $35 dollars Monday thru Thursday and $42 dollars Friday thru Sunday.  Clubs can also be rented for an additional $20.

Oak Mountain has two 85 acre lakes for fishing and boating.  Largemouth bass, bream, crappie and catfish can all be caught here.  Both lakes are fertilized and maintained and visitors are welcome year round.  Gasoline motors are not allowed but trolling motors are welcomed.  Private boats can be launched at either lake and jon boats can be rented.  Jon Boats are $15 per day, paddle boats and canoes can be rented for $12 per hour.  Fishing supplies, bait  and food can be picked up at the fishing center shop. State fishing licenses are required and can be bought on site.


The Park also offers swimming areas and hiking.  Swimming is at your own risk as there are no lifeguards on duty.  There is also no alcohol allowed.  If you prefer hiking, there are approximately 51 miles of trails for your enjoyment.  There are five trails each having different lengths and difficulties. The Mountain Biking trail is 17.5 miles long and is steep and rough in places.  A BMX track is located on site and there is also a trail for horseback riding.  All trails are color coded and marked in case you are lost. 

More information can be found on Oak Mountain State Park at:  http://www.alapark.com/oakmountain/.  The park gates are open 24 hours.  Admission to the park is $2 for adults on Monday thru Thurday and $3 on Friday thru Sunday.  Admission is $1 for children from 6-11 years and for seniors older than 62 years. Check out the Video Tour here.

If you or someone you know is moving in the Birmingham Area, give me a call at 205-520-3039.  I would be glad to help you find a home.  You can also check out my website at:  http://www.birmingham-realty.com/.

Sources:  Alabama State Parks Website