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Low down payment mortgages help first-time buyers access the American dream
(BPT) – Traditionally, saving up for a 20% down payment has been the largest obstacle for aspiring homeowners and this challenge is even more acute when interest rates drive monthly mortgage payments higher. Despite higher rates cooling home sales last year, hundreds of thousands of first-time homebuyers leveraged private mortgage insurance (MI) to put as…
Read MoreBBB Tip: How the military community can avoid scams and fraud
Each year, scammers manipulate millions of American consumers to steal billions of dollarsthrough various schemes. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data shows that more than $10billion was lost to scams in 2023. While many organizations dedicate themselves toeliminating the substantial impact scams have on the public, the best line of defense comesdown to awareness and avoidance…
Read MoreBBB Scam Alert: Investment scams cost Texas residents nearly $500,000 within the first two months of 2024
Within the first two months of 2024, Texas residents have reported nearly $500,000 lost to investment scams to BBB Scam Tracker, with many reports detailing new promotional tactics scammers are using that encourage investors to participate in the scheme. By framing an investment opportunity with ‘New Year’ discounts on service, withdrawal, and tax fees, some Texas…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Avoiding online purchase scams and impostors this holiday season
As the holiday season approaches, Better Business Bureau (BBB) urges consumers to remain vigilant against a surge in online scams that could threaten their festive spirit. During the past five years, Texas residents have reported losing $17.5 million to scams, 21% due to online purchases. BBB has identified online purchase scams as the No. 1…
Read MoreBBB Business Scam Alert
Entrepreneurs beware of fake marketing services for small businesses Small business owners are passionate, dedicated individuals who have accumulated years of expertise in an industry. Through time and experience, they often have found ways to improve processes and use that knowledge to the benefit of their customers and clients. However, one aspect of business ownership…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Maintaining and servicing your air conditioning system
Texas residents are no strangers to triple-digit temperatures during the summer months and understand the importance of keeping cool during heatwaves. However, when the heat arrives in force, many residents learn their current air conditioning systems cannot keep up with demand. When indoor temperatures reach unbearable levels, consumers turn to reputable HVAC contractors to help…
Read MoreBBB Scam Alert: Texas employment scam reports in 2023 shatter five-year records
In quarter one of 2023 (January thru March), reports of employment scams to BBB Scam Tracker from Texas residents doubled, and money loss increased substantially compared to the typical rates Better Business Bureau (BBB) receives at the beginning of the year. The organization reminds jobseekers to be wary of fraudulent job postings, especially high-paying work-from-home…
Read MoreHow the World Really Works
I start this article with a quiz. What are the 6 human-made materials that are essential for our modern comfortable, affluent lifestyle? The book “How the World Really Works”, by scientist, Vaelav Smil, says they are low-cost energy, food, ammonia, steel, cement and plastics. Had I taken the quiz, I probably would have gotten energy…
Read MoreApril Brings Attention to Autism
April is National Autism Awareness Month. Awareness months are helpful because they bring public attention to issues facing many of our friends and families and autism is no different. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the medical term for Autism is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is described as a group of…
Read MoreBBB Tip: Top 5 Coastal Bend-Area Scams of 2022
In 2022, Coastal Bend-area consumers and businesses reported multiple scams to BBB, totaling $30,000 lost for the year. Across Texas, BBB received an average of 250 scam reports per month totaling $1.9 million lost for the year. While the tactics of scammers often shift to take advantage of marketplace trends, online shopping, employment and phishing…
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