News Release: March 4, 2013

POSITIVE SIGNS FRASER VALLEY HOUSING MARKET IS STARTING TO MOVE

(Surrey, BC) – Sales on Fraser Valley’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in February experienced a typical ‘early spring’ surge, increasing by 48 per cent in one month going from 617 sales in January to 913 last month. However year-over-year, they reflect a decrease of 28 per cent compared to the 1,269 sales processed in February 2012. Since last September, home sales have idled at levels last seen in the early 2000s.

Based on February’s increase in activity, Ron Todson, President of the Board, is guardedly optimistic, “We’re seeing signals that the stand-off between buyers and sellers over the last six months is coming to an end.

“Business has picked up in the last month with increased traffic at open houses, sellers quicker to accept offers and homes selling on average two weeks faster than they did in January.”

Todson adds that tightening inventory has also had an effect, “When buyers see that their selection is diminishing they’re more motivated to act.” The Board posted 2,582 new listings last month, a decrease of 9 per cent compared to the 2,846 posted during February last year pushing the total number of active listings down by 1.6 per cent compared to 2012.

“As your REALTOR® will explain, each market is different. Right now, the market for detached homes is balanced in North Delta and Langley. The condo market is brisk in Abbotsford and Central Surrey and townhome sales are steady in North and Central Surrey as well as Cloverdale.

“One commonality amongst these areas and property types is greater affordability. What’s not doing well generally anywhere in the Fraser Valley is sales of higher-end homes unless they are priced competitively.”

In February, the benchmark price of single family detached homes in the Fraser Valley was $540,900, an increase of 0.7 per cent compared to $537,200 during the same month last year. For townhouses, the benchmark price was $296,700, a decrease of 1.3 per cent compared to $300,500 in February 2012 and the benchmark price of apartments was $202,500, an increase of 1.5 per cent compared to $199,500 in February 2012.

In February, it took on average 49 days to sell a detached home compared to 64 days in January. Townhomes took 60 days on average to sell compared to 72 days the month before and apartments spent an average of 66 days on the market in February compared to 83 days in January.

—30 —

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is an association of 2,781 real estate professionals who live and work in the BC communities of North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Abbotsford, and Mission. The FVREB marked its 90-year anniversary in 2011.

Full package:
http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package%20201302.pdf

Interest rates rising: Are you living on the edge?

By GoldenGirlFinance.com | GoldenGirlFinance.com

Canada’s benchmark interest rate has been at 1 percent for more than two years and, as a result, a lot of Canadians have gotten pretty comfortable floating along on a cloud of cheap debt. Unfortunately, most economists agree that the air will go out of that cushy lifestyle – perhaps as early as this year – when interest rates rise. The problem is, most of us are just so darned comfy, we haven’t given much thought to what a rate increase could mean to our finances and financial well-being. In other words, many of us are living in a dream…and deliberately ignoring the fact that we may be drifting toward a serious financial wake-up call.

Are you living on the edge? Find out what areas of your financial life would be affected by an interest rate increase and what it could cost you.

House and home

According the Canadian Association of Mortgage Professionals’ 2012 consumer study, about 28 percent of homeowners have a variable-rate mortgage. And let’s just be clear: Those mortgages have provided huge savings in recent years. Remember, the interest rates on variable-rate mortgages are based on the prime rate, which may vary slightly from bank to bank, but is based on the benchmark rate set by the Bank of Canada. Because the benchmark rate has been so low, borrowers have enjoyed very low interest costs on their mortgages. Unfortunately, experts say the party may soon be over, and when the BOC does boost interest rates, the payments on variable-rate mortgages will rise too.

So how would that affect you? Well, let’s suppose that you have a mortgage with a $300,000 balance at a 3 percent variable interest rate and 25-year amortization. That equates to a monthly mortgage payment of $1,419. Now, suppose that your mortgage rate increased to 3.5 percent based on an increase in the prime rate. Now, your mortgage payment would be $1,497. For most people, that kind of increase isn’t too unmanageable. To be safe, however, most experts recommend that those who choose a variable-rate mortgage be prepared to pay up to 2 percent more per month, which would boost the monthly payment on that $300,000 mortgage to $1,744. That’s $325 more per month, a number that could prove to be a serious burden for cash-strapped borrowers.

Are you living on the edge?

Some variable-rate mortgages allow borrowers to lock in at a fixed interest rate. However, this option often includes a fee, and is likely to lock you in at a higher rate than the one you would have gotten had you opted for a fixed-rate mortgage in the first place. If you opt for a variable-rate mortgage, you have to understand that it’s a bit of a gamble. If you’re on a tight budget and paying a variable rate, you’re living on the edge.

Credit and debt

According to TransUnion, lines of credit account for about 42 percent of the $25,000 of non-mortgage debt the average Canadian carries. In many respects, a line of credit is a great way to borrow money. It’s flexible, it comes without fees and it’s much cheaper than a credit card. The risk here comes with the fact that lines of credit are variable-rate loans, which means that a borrower’s minimum payment can increase significantly if interest rates rise. This can hit people especially hard if that increase is combined with other forms of variable-rate debt.

So, let’s suppose that you’re carrying $10,000 on a line of credit at a 5 percent variable interest rate. The minimum payment on most lines of credit is 3 percent of the balance, which in this case would amount to $300. Now suppose that rate rises by 1 percent. In this case, your debt will rack up about $8 more per month in interest charges. That may not sound like much, but thanks to the power of compounding, even modest interest rate increases can make a large debt grow a lot faster, making it harder to pay off.

Are you living on the edge?

Tighter lending rules and softer profits for banks have pushed many lenders to increase the borrowing rates on lines of credit. In 2012, some banks raised the rates on these loans by upwards of 3 percent. Take a look at what you owe and what a rise in rates would do to your payments and balance. If it’s more than you can afford, you’re living on the edge.

Savings and investments

It’s easy to assume that a rise in interest rates is all bad news, but that’s only if you’re borrowing. If you’re saving and investing money instead, higher interest rates can actually be a good thing. Just as the benchmark rate influences the rate at which banks lend to consumers in the form of mortgages and other loans, it also affects the rate of interest the banks pay to depositors. This means that high interest savings accounts, GICs and cash-based investments all get a boost.

For example, the current rate of return on a 5-year GIC is around 2.25 percent. In 2008, that number was more like 4 percent. In the 1990s, rates were as high as 8 percent. These rates of return were influenced by the benchmark rate at the time. So, although consumers may have been hit hard by higher borrowing rates during those times, they also got to benefit from higher returns on guaranteed investments.

Savings help protect you from changes in the interest rate by providing a cushion to help cover higher debt repayment. In addition, the returns on savings accounts and guaranteed-return investments like GICs rise along with interest rates, helping to mitigate the risk of these rises to your overall financial stability. If you don’t have a savings account or investments, you’re living on the edge.

Stepping back from the edge   

Interest rate fluctuations are a fact of financial life. The ultra-low interest rates we’ve enjoyed over the past few years have made it easy to live on borrowed money, but all that really amounts to is living a dream. When interest rates rise – and eventually they will – it’ll be time to tighten our belts, step back from the edge and wake up to reality.

GoldenGirlFinance.com is a free personal finance and education site for women.

Nothing contained herein is intended to provide personalized financial, legal or tax advice. Nothing should be construed as an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy a security, a recommendation for any product or service by Golden Girl Finance or any associated third party, or a suggestion regarding the purchase, holding or sale of securities. Before implementing any financial strategy, you should obtain information and advice from your financial, legal and/or tax advisers who are fully aware of your individual circumstances.

Most Canadians dream about buying and owning their first home. A significant rite of passage, buying a home is not only a big financial deal, it’s a big life deal.

Most people assume it’s better to buy a home than to rent, and to be honest, I have a bias toward home ownership, too. That being said, I have counselled people on the merits of renting. Recently, I met a young man named Sam, and thought I would share his story on renting versus owning.

RENT OR OWN

Every new homebuyer should first understand the differences between “renting and saving” and “buying and owning.”

For most people, renting is better on cash flow, not just because mortgage payments are often higher than rent but because of all the other costs associated with owning a home, such as condo fees, property tax and maintenance.

The idea of building equity can justify the increased strain on cash flow, but renters can build equity through renting and saving.

RENT AND SAVE

Sam is 26 years old and currently paying $600 per month in rent. He shares a three-bedroom condo with two roommates and has saved $25,000 to buy his own place. Sam has found a two-bedroom condo for $300,000 but is nervous about taking the leap.

Based on a five-per-cent interest rate, a $275,000 mortgage would require monthly payments of $1,600. Condo fees and property taxes would add $350 per month, bringing the total monthly cost to almost $2,000. That’s a big increase from $600-per-month rent.

BUY AND OWN

Let’s assume Sam buys the two-bedroom condo and we look ahead five years. In that time, Sam will have paid down his mortgage balance to $243,395, which means he has built up $31,605 of equity (assuming no growth on the property).

What will Sam’s situation look like five years from now if he continues to rent? In the rent-and-save scenario, if Sam can afford $2,000 per month to buy the home, theoretically he should be able to save $1,400 per month ($2,000 less $600 rent). If he were to save $1,400 per month for five years, he would have $84,000 in savings or an investment (also assuming no growth). This simplified mathematical analysis makes rent-and-save look like a better financial option after five years than buy-and-own.

CAN HE SAVE THE DIFFERENCE?

The biggest challenge in renting and saving is, of course, the saving part. Few of us have the discipline to save $1,400 per month for five years.

Buying and owning for some is a means to force savings, with mortgage payments seen as one of the most important payments you make.

Although Sam feels he is a pretty good saver, he does not think he can save $1,400 per month. He’s also concerned about becoming house-rich but cash-flow poor. He wants to enjoy life, and buying a house would drastically reduce extra cash flow.

One option is to get a roommate in the new condo to help pay expenses. Sam’s costs will drop to $1,400 per month. If he continues to rent and saves the difference of $800 his roommate is paying, he will have $48,000 after five years.

If we work backward to figure out how much he needs to save per month to have the same $31,605 equity in the home, he would have to put away about $525 per month.

INVESTING VERSUS REAL ESTATE PRICES

In this example, I have assumed no growth in property values or alternative investments. Sam asked me which would give him a better return, investing in real estate or mutual funds?

Real estate agents are likely to tell you that owning is a great investment because house prices are going to go up. Investment professionals will tell you that investments have performed better. The problem is no one knows which will do better in the future.

So although there are advantages to buying a house, it may not always make sense.

Jim Yih is a financial expert. Visit his award-winning blog, RetireHappyBlog.ca

Read more: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/rent+question/7949112/story.html#ixzz2LGP2cNLI

News Release: February 4, 2013

HOME SALES SLOW TO NEAR HISTORIC LEVELS IN FRASER VALLEY AS BUYERS WATCH AND WAIT FROM SIDELINES

(Surrey, BC) – A total of 617 sales were processed through the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in January, a decrease of 23 per cent compared to 799 sales during the same month last year. January 2013 ranks as the second slowest for that month in the last thirteen years, second only to January 2009 during the global recession.

Scott Olson, president of the board, says there is a distinction between what REALTORS® saw four years ago compared to today. “People want to buy. We’re already seeing early signs of a typical spring market with more foot traffic at open houses and an increase in calls.

“Buyers have been holding off in hopes that prices will drop more, however it’s become clear that sellers are only willing to go so far. Prices for typical homes in the Fraser Valley have decreased by only two to three per cent in the last six months and in January we’re starting to see a reversal of that – in half of our communities prices have crept back up.”

Olson suspects the market stalemate may be coming to an end. “The number one reason people buy a home is a lifestyle decision – you need a bigger home, a smaller one, closer to work or school – so when the right home comes along you can only wait so long.

“With interest rates as low as they are, our local economy as strong as it is and prices so tenacious I think we’ll see the effects of this pent-up demand and a return to more balance in the market.”

In the last six months, prices for all three residential property types combined have decreased by 2.5 per cent while year over year they’re on par, showing an increase of 0.7 per cent. Of the three property types, prices of single family detached homes have been the most resilient, increasing 1.5 per cent in the last year going from $532,700 in January 2012 to $540,500 last month.

For townhouses, the benchmark price in January was $293,700, a decrease of 2.0 per cent compared to $299,800 during the same month last year. The benchmark price of apartments in Fraser Valley in January was $200,400, an increase of 1.2 per cent compared to $198,000 in January 2012.

REALTORS® added 2,643 new listings in January, 4 per cent fewer than the same month last year. This decreased the number of properties available in the Fraser Valley to 8,031, a decrease of 3.5 percent compared to January 2012. By historical comparison, January 2013 ranks as the third highest in terms of active listings in the last decade.

—30 —

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is an association of 2,802 real estate professionals who live and work in the BC communities of North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Abbotsford, and Mission. The FVREB marked its 90-year anniversary in 2011.

Full package: http://www.fvreb.bc.ca/statistics/Package%20201301.pdf

BCREA revises Fraser Valley’s 2013 forecast

On January 30, BCREA’s senior economist Cameron Muir released the first quarter housing market forecast for BC including breakdowns for Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver.

The 2013 predictions for Fraser Valley have changed since last fall, becoming more conservative. Muir still expects home sales to increase in 2013 compared to 2012, but not to the degree that his department anticipated three months ago. In addition, he’s forecasting home prices will moderate at a slightly faster rate.

Fraser Valley REALTORS® can expect sales to increase by 2.4 per cent this year compared to 2012; and average MLS® prices will continue to slide 3.3 per cent this year on top of the 3.7 per cent reduction during 2012.

Muir states in the report, “Headwinds in the global economy continue to constrain growth in British Columbia. The US has yet to generate enough employment to take a serious bite out of their jobless rate, while early signs of burgeoning domestic demand in China weren’t enough to keep economic growth from slipping to a ten-year low in 2012.”

The forecast describes 2013 as a transition year to next year when sales are expected to rebound even further and prices will stabilize. In 2014, BCREA is predicting an increase of 7.5 per cent in Fraser Valley home sales and prices to remain flat (-0.6 per cent) compared to this year.

Muir describes lower home prices in the Fraser Valley as a move in a positive direction improving affordability and encouraging potential buyers back to the marketplace. “In addition, many potential buyers that stayed on the sidelines in 2012 will likely enter the marketplace over the next year as the relatively strong financial condition of BC households precludes any deflationary spiral.”

For Greater Vancouver in 2013, Muir is forecasting slightly stronger sales than Fraser Valley, an increase of almost 10 per cent this year compared to 2012, and not quite as high reductions in MLS® home prices -2.2 per cent on average in 2013 and -0.3 per cent in 2014.

CMHC’s Housing Market Outlook, released in the fall of 2012, anticipates sales in the Fraser Valley will increase by 1.4 per cent in 2013 compared to 2012, while prices remain relatively stable. CMHC only releases two forecasts per year — spring and fall — while BCREA releases quarterly.

January 14, 2013

Title Insurance Tidbits

                        Title insurance is usually an afterthought for people getting a mortgage. But it’s becoming more of a decision point since so many lenders now require it.

The purpose of title insurance is to protect you if there’s a problem with your title. Those problems can turn into expensive nightmares in the small chance that you encounter them. Examples include ownership disputes on your property, title fraud, un-discharged liens, encroachments, zoning issues, survey problems, property tax arrears and so on.

Real estate lawyer Bob Aaron wrote a recent overview of title insurance here. He says, “Most real estate lawyers today regard title insurance as a critical component…and will usually not close a purchase without it.”

And no, lawyers don’t get big kickbacks for pushing title insurance. Aarons says lawyers “are not permitted to get referral fees/commissions” on title insurance. Lawyers recommend it because it protects the homeowner, limits the lawyer’s liability and makes closing more efficient.

*******

There are two broad types of title insurance:

1. Homeowner policies, which:
• Cover the homeowner
• Last as long as you own       the property
• Are priced based on the       property value
2. Lender policies, which:
• Protect the lender’s       interest in your mortgage
• Last as long as you       have your mortgage
• Are priced based on the       mortgage size

The cost of title insurance varies widely depending on the location, type and value of the transaction. It starts at roughly $150-$350, but can climb from there. Here’s a calculator to estimate policy cost from FCT (First Canadian Title), Canada’s top provider of title insurance.

Once you pay for title insurance, you can often avoid paying for it again. Here are some cases where that’s true:

• You purchase a homeowner      policy and stay in your home
       (Homeowner policies generally cover your property for as long as you own      it.)
• You pick a lender that      doesn’t require a lender title policy
       (Many do, but some don’t.)
• You refinance and choose      a lender that pays for its own mortgage-only title policy
       (A broker can tell you which lenders do this. Keep in mind, a lender-only      policy doesn’t protect you.)
• You switch lenders and      your existing policy is “ported” to the new lender
       (If it can’t be ported, many lenders will pay the new title insurance      premium for you on a straightforward switch.)

Title insurance can be switched to a new lender only under certain conditions, says Reta Coburn, president of FNF Canada, the Canadian division of the world’s largest title insurance organization. “Loan policies for lenders are transferable when the original mortgage is not being discharged from title and is simply being transferred by way of a registered assignment of mortgage,” she says.

The stipulations are that, “The original mortgage security must remain unchanged and no additional funds can be advanced, unless provided for under the original mortgage terms and conditions. The date of policy is the date of registration of the original mortgage, so the new lender assumes the coverage under the policy of the original lender at the date of that mortgage registration.”

Two related notes:

• The loan-to-value cannot      increase if a title policy is being transferred to a new lender.
• Lenders don’t usually      accept assignments of collateral charges, so for practical purposes a      title policy on a collateral charge mortgage isn’t generally      transferrable.

Eric Haslett, LLB, VP Residential Title Insurance at FCT, adds that: “Provided the new lender agrees to take an assignment of the existing mortgage, the…title insurance policy will follow the mortgage to the new lender and no additional title insurance premium is charged.”

But lenders don’t always accept a mortgage that a prior lender has registered. That’s because, as Haslett puts it, “The new lender is stuck with whatever the language is in the existing lender’s mortgage documents.”

And here’s an interesting side note:

Haslett says, “New lenders often don’t request assignments from an existing lender because (doing so) provides that lender an opportunity to…retain the borrower.”  If the old mortgage is discharged and a new mortgage is registered, however, “The existing lender often doesn’t know about the borrower moving until it’s too late.”

In addition, when clients change lenders using a refinance instead of an assignment, the party requesting the discharge statement (from the existing lender) doesn’t need to disclose the new lender’s name. As a result, the existing lender cannot see who they are competing against.

Haslett adds that, “If a lender wants the old mortgage discharged and a new mortgage registered, it will attract a new title insurance policy in the name of the new lender and result in a title insurance premium

Farewell to ING
Article written by Boris Bozic

I feel like that old man slowly watching his friends die off; checking every day to see if his name has made into the obituary section, realizing it hasn’t he goes about his day.

In the short time that I’ve been blogging I’ve written a few farewell blogs to lenders who are no longer with us.  Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, we bid so long to ING in the broker channel.

Firstly, if the news that the ING brand will no longer be available in the broker channel, well, I’m surprised – anyone would be surprised.  Scotia Bank, who purchased ING Canada, is focused on franchising customers and their strategy is to enhance and grow their own brand.  So it was only a matter of time before orange would become totally red.  I guess the time is now.  The loss of any lender in our space is troublesome, on many levels. Competition has many benefits, pricing, product innovation, and credibility.  To think this announcement won’t create a dominos effect is a little naive.  Recently some lenders have announced a reduction in finder’s fee.  Why? Because they can.  That’s what happens when choices become limited.  Don’t believe me? Ask any broker in Australia.  I’m not suggesting there will be a mad rush by lenders to reduce compensation but with every announcement telling us another lender has exited the market the possibility increases.  It’s Darwin’s theory of business evolution. To continue reading, or for other articles, please click here.

To subscribe to “To The Point with Bozic”, please click here.

Thanks to Stuart Herder for this!

Things Your Burglar Won’t Tell You!

THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU . Read all the way to the end. You just might learn something that will save you the hassle of having your home burglarized.

I am particularly interested in the part about the wasp spray…

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste… And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you’re out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house.. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don’t let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it’s set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom – and your jewelry. It’s not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door – understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don’t take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won’t look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here’s a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids’ rooms.

12. You’re right: I won’t have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it’s not bolted down, I’ll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you’re reluctant to leave your TV on while you’re out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at http://www.faketv/.com/ )8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON’T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. I might even wear a 3-piece suit!

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t hear it again, he’ll just go back to what he was doing. It’s human nature.

4. I’m not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I’m looking for signs that you’re home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I’d like. I’ll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It’s easier than you think to look up your address. Parents: caution your kids about this. You see this every day.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation.

8. If you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon ,California , and Kentucky ; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runshttp://www.crimedoctor.com/ and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job.

Protection for you and your home:
If you don’t have a gun, here’s a more humane way to wreck someone’s evil plans for you.

WASP SPRAY

A friend who is a receptionist in a church in a high risk area was concerned about someone coming into the office on Monday to rob them when they were counting the collection. She asked the local police department about using pepper spray and they recommended to her that she get a can of wasp spray instead.

The wasp spray , they told her, can shoot up to twenty feet away and is a lot more accurate, while with the pepper spray, they have to get too close to you and could overpower you. The wasp spray temporarily blinds an attacker until they get to the hospital for an antidote. She keeps a can on her desk in the office and it doesn’t attract attention from people like a can of pepper spray would. She also keeps one nearby at home for home protection… Thought this was interesting and might be of use.

FROM ANOTHER SOURCE:

On the heels of a break-in and beating that left an elderly woman in Toledo dead, self-defense experts have a tip that could save your life.

Val Glinka teaches self-defense to students at Sylvania Southview High School . For decades, he’s suggested putting a can of wasp and hornet spray near your door or bed.
Glinka says, “This is better than anything I can teach them.”
Glinka considers it inexpensive, easy to find, and more effective than mace or pepper spray. The cans typically shoot 20 to 30 feet; so if someone tries to break into your home, Glinka says, “spray the culprit in the eyes”. It’s a tip he’s given to students for decades. It’s also one he wants everyone to hear. If you’re looking for protection, Glinka says look to the spray.

“That’s going to give you a chance to call the police; maybe get out.” Maybe even save a life.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night.
Tell your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your parents, your Dr.’s office, the check-out girl at the market, everyone you run across. Put your car keys beside your bed at night.

If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either you turn it off or the car battery dies. This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator. Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break into your house, odds are the burglar/rapist won’t stick around. After a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there. This is something that should really be shared with everyone. Maybe it could save a life or a sexual abuse crime.

P.S.
I am sending this to everyone I know because I think it is fantastic.Would also be useful for any emergency, such as a heart attack, where you can’t reach a phone. My Mom has suggested to my Dad that he carry his car keys with him in case he falls outside and she doesn’t hear him. He can activate the car alarm and then she’ll know there’s a problem.

Please pass this on even IF you’ve read it before. It’s a reminder.