How to Spot Hidden Fees

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With the rising prices of gas and seemingly everything else, restaurants, travel companies, rideshares, and other businesses are tacking on new fees to the basic costs of their services. Businesses are feeling inflation impacts just as the rest of us are, and some are adding fees to help them survive. Consumers should be aware of what fees businesses are adding, so they can make informed decisions on where to spend their money. These hidden fees might not be evident at first glance, so if you want to avoid paying them, or at the very least plan for them in your budget, there are a few things you should do. BBB recommends the following tips to help you spot fees and avoid them when possible.

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara for supporting Your Moment of Trust.

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Interest Rates Take a Dip

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The HOP (Home Ownership Podcast) Episode 103:  Village Properties Realtor and host of the HOP, David Charles Allen, gives the latest Santa Barbara Real Estate Stats.  Last week. there were 40 new listings, 12 price changes, 36 coming soon, 24 pending and 10 expired listings.  Surprisingly, interest rates dropped from almost 6 per percent to below 5 percent. Interest rates on thirty-year fixed loans dropped down to 4.875% and thirty-year jumbo loans dropped to 4.5 percent.  Houses are not selling quite as quickly as they were a couple of months ago due to a number of factors which David discusses in this episode.  

David and co-host Patti close the show by talking about their fur babies.  David recently took a long road trip with his dogs and cat.  Find out how it went!

You can reach out to David by calling 805-617-9311 or email david@davidcharlesallen.com

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Tips to Choosing a Realtor from BBB of the Tri-Counties

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Buying and selling a home is a major decision, so be sure to choose a real estate agent who will guide you through the process. Look for an agent or broker who is experienced, knowledgeable about your housing market, and always acts in your best interest. Listen to the tips in this episode as a guide.

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs for sponsoring this podcast.

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Inflation: How to Get By When Prices are High

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust! Inflation is higher than it has been since the 1980s in both the United States and Canada. With prices rising on everything from gas to groceries to housing costs, how can you buy what you need and still stay on budget?

Inflation is impacting every household. The same amount of money buys less than it did just months ago, so paychecks don’t go as far. When price hikes hit people who already have limited budgets, covering basic monthly expenses becomes difficult. Parents may find themselves having to choose between healthy meals and cheaper, less nutritious options.

Young people must decide whether to put gas in their tanks or pay tuition. All income levels are showing signs of financial stress. Even high earners are cutting back. In this podcast BBB of the Tri-Counties gives tips for dealing with higher prices.

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for sponsoring this podcast.

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Sell your House Now, or Wait a Year?

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The HOP (Home Ownership Podcast) Episode 102: Hosted by David Charles Allen of Village Properties. Santa Barbara has been a bit warmer than usual with temperatures in the 80’s and very little June gloom, which is often prevalent this time of year.

Interest rates remained steady with 30 – year jumbo loans at 4.875 and 30- year fixed loans at 5.625%. Sales stats were also almost the same as last week with 45 new listings, 17 price drops, 29 properties closed, 23 pending and 7 coming soon.

David notes that there has definitely been a shift in the market, with fewer multiple offers and properties taking longer to close.

David discussed all the many factors that go into the decision whether to sell your home now…or wait a year.

And finally, David and Patti chat about their fur babies at home. You can email David at david@davidcharlesallen.com or call 805-617-9311.

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Deepfake Scams Make it Look like you’re Watching a Celebrity’s Video

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From the BBB of the Tri-Counties:  Scammers are taking advantage of new deepfake technology to create videos so convincing that people hand over their money. This latest con looks like business magnate Elon Musk endorsing an investment plan, but the video is fake, and the investment is a scam.  A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara for sponsoring Your Moment of Trust.  

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The Housing Market Already Responds to Higher Interest Rates

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The HOP (Home Ownership Podcast) Episode 101: The BIG NEWS is that the FEDs have raised interest rates, up to 5% for 30-year jumbo loans and 5.625% for 30-year fixed conforming loans. This hike in interest rates is already affecting the real estate market. As the interest rates continue to rise, some buyers may be reluctant to take out loans and cash buyers might not have to pay as steep of a price to purchase a home. This last week there were 46 new listings, 17 prices were lowered, 31 coming soon, 28 pending and 4 listings expired. If you’d like to talk to David about buying or selling property in Santa Barbara, email him at david@davidcharlesallen.com or call 805-617-9311

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The Perils of Payday Loans

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Welcome to this week’s edition of Your Moment of Trust from BBB of the Tri-Counties: If you’ve ever needed extra cash to tide you over to your next paycheck, you understand the appeal of a payday loan. Now, video ads on places like TikTok are promoting small, short-term loans to a new, young audience – and making them seem cheap and easy. However, just because it looks simple, doesn’t mean it is. Predatory payday lenders are using the platform to make dishonest claims promising instant cash with no credit checks, late fees, or interest rates. Many times, the advertisers are getting around the rules of the platform. TikTok and Meta have rules restricting ads for short term/payday loans, but some have found their way through. In this podcast you’ll learn what you should know before taking out a payday loan from a social media ad.

A BIG THANK YOU to Ayers Automotive Repairs in Santa Barbara, for sponsoring this podcast!

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Interest Rates Creep up–Still a Limited Supply of Homes for Sale

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The HOP (Home Ownership Podcast) Episode 100: The early summer weather is beautiful, from the mid-70’s to the low 80’s and there is some fun surf to be had! Buyer demand may be waning a bit and this week, there were 40 New Listings, 32 Pending Sales, and 9 Price Changes. At the end of the show, David & Patti discuss their fur babies and talk about a Japanese theme Dog Park–Tsukuba Wan Wan, where people can play with all sorts of dogs.

To contact David Charles Allen, host ot the HOP, email david@davidcharlesallen.com or call 805-617-9311.

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Avoid Home Repair Scams

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June is National Homeownership Month, an opportunity for U.S. residents to reflect on the importance of the home and its role in their lives. With a median asking price of $225,500 for a home, becoming a homeowner takes dedication, patience and smart budgeting. For many first-time homebuyers, closing the deal on their purchase is a time of celebration and gratitude. While moving furniture and solidifying paperwork might seem like the biggest obstacle to enjoying their new home, it doesn’t take long before they find their first major home improvement project. In this episode, hear tips from BBB of the Tri-Counties on how to avoid home improvement scams.

A BIG thank you to Ayers Automotive Repair in Santa Barbara for sponsoring this podcast!

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