The other morning I woke up and was surprised when I looked in the mirror (yes, I looked that bad). But it was the crow's feet that I noticed most. I knew I've been busy lately, but had been in denial about being tired, until I saw the crow's feet.
Luckily, Thursday and Friday are my days off from the autos and finance world. Unfortunately, those are usually the days I focus on real estate, investments (go Jones Soda! Up 10%+ so far today!!), catching up with friends, and taking my dogs out to parks. So no immediate rest in site.
I may be getting additional duties at Evergreen Ford to go on top of my duties with Auto Loans NW, which I welcome because it'll give me a chance to see how well I can market vehicles. I seem to have marketed everything from sporting goods, homes, and everything in between, except for cars and trucks.
So with that said, I'm going to go enjoy the outdoors on my day off before it starts raining.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Wow....
Hey everyone,
I really appreciate the interest in the truck. But please, no offers to buy the truck. If I were "selling" it, I would have put a pricetag on it to begin with.
To answer some people's questions, there's nothing "wrong" with the truck. It runs fine. I just put gas in it and go. The only time I have trouble is if I don't let it warm up in the morning, it might stall a block down the street.
And please, don't leave your number in public places like the "Comments" section. Just for your own privacy.
And lastly, I don't have a ton of free time so if I don't get back to you, please don't fret.
Thanks!
I really appreciate the interest in the truck. But please, no offers to buy the truck. If I were "selling" it, I would have put a pricetag on it to begin with.
To answer some people's questions, there's nothing "wrong" with the truck. It runs fine. I just put gas in it and go. The only time I have trouble is if I don't let it warm up in the morning, it might stall a block down the street.
And please, don't leave your number in public places like the "Comments" section. Just for your own privacy.
And lastly, I don't have a ton of free time so if I don't get back to you, please don't fret.
Thanks!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Giving Away My Ford Ranger... FREE
Having recently become a part of Auto Loans NW, a company that offers auto loans packages (but specializes in loans for people with bad credit and first time buyers) and seeing the level of contrast between rich and poor in the real estate world... I've learned first hand the hardships many people have to go through in everyday life. Just in balancing finances, with home, auto, food, and all the other necessities. When I see people that have been taken to collections for bouncing a Girl Scouts Cookies check, I don't find it funny. I wish I could help somehow.
I've seen so many people come through who need a car, but they just can't afford one, can't get financing for one, and have friends and family who can't help them out. Some can't even come up with $50 for a down payment. I've met people who want to get in on the real estate boom, but don't have the resources to do so.
I wish I could buy a car for every person the banks can't help out, but I can't.
I mean, I see shows like Oprah and read about people with hardships on the news. But I've always been a hopeless bystander. Then I hear about people like Tila Nguyen (aka Tila Tequila) on Myspace taping currency to her walls to show off her newfound wealth, I kinda wish she would do something more with that money, you know? But on the other hand, this is America, so more power to her.
So it's time for me to do something.
Now, I'm not by any means a "rich" guy. I'm no Oprah, but I aspire to be like her. I can't give away hundreds of free Pontiacs in a TV show titled "Jin's Favorite Things" or "Jin's Wildest Dreams". But here's something I can do to make a difference...
I wrote a few days ago about my pickup truck. I love it. I know that my friends always wonder, "Why does he drive that so much? He's got a nicer car in his garage!"
Here's why. It's because when I drive it, my stress goes away. I don't worry about what people think of me, I don't try to race people, I don't care about where I park it, if people dent my doors in, or how expensive insurance is, or my next car payment. It takes me back to when my dad, sister and I used to ride around in a single cab Mazda truck. We would all sit so close together. I could barely see over the hood. I remember I would sit in the middle of the bench and the gear shift knob would almost touch my legs when my dad shifted (they're still short, but not as short as back then). Those were good times.
Now that my dad is sick, I treasure those days more than ever.
But it's time to give up the truck. Free. No catches, no hidden fees. Someone else needs it more than I do. Now's the hard part. Who do I give it to? Just email me at jinlee411 [at] hotmail [dot] com with 200 words or less why you deserve this 1992 Ford Ranger White Standard Cab 2 wheel drive long bed 5 speed manual with about 150K miles and I'll choose the 3 responses that are the most moving, deserving, creative, funny, and most importantly, in need of a car.
The rest is up to the readers to vote here on the blog. Your identity will remain private to the readers of this blog. I have a feeling that I'll receive maybe 10 to 20 entries, so your chances of winning should be good, should you choose to enter.
Here's the Carfax on the car in PDF format. And here's the Mileage Log and all service performed on the truck since I bought it (yes, I'm meticulous about it).
Despite what I said about the truck in a previous post, it runs great as long as I warm it up for 30 seconds. But I'll toss in some extras for peace of mind.
I'll toss in a 6 month / 6,000 mile warranty through One Stop Autobody in Lynnwood, a major service tune-up (right before delivery) through Express Tune in Issaquah, and an auto detail through All Star Auto Detail in Issaquah.
I know I'm not doing much, but I'm glad it will go to someone who needs it more than I do.
Oh, and the deadline. I'll review all the posts as of Thursday, June 15th, 2006 at noon. That's over a month from now. I'll give myself a little day off that day to review entries. Oh, and good luck!
I've seen so many people come through who need a car, but they just can't afford one, can't get financing for one, and have friends and family who can't help them out. Some can't even come up with $50 for a down payment. I've met people who want to get in on the real estate boom, but don't have the resources to do so.
I wish I could buy a car for every person the banks can't help out, but I can't.
I mean, I see shows like Oprah and read about people with hardships on the news. But I've always been a hopeless bystander. Then I hear about people like Tila Nguyen (aka Tila Tequila) on Myspace taping currency to her walls to show off her newfound wealth, I kinda wish she would do something more with that money, you know? But on the other hand, this is America, so more power to her.
So it's time for me to do something.
Now, I'm not by any means a "rich" guy. I'm no Oprah, but I aspire to be like her. I can't give away hundreds of free Pontiacs in a TV show titled "Jin's Favorite Things" or "Jin's Wildest Dreams". But here's something I can do to make a difference...
I wrote a few days ago about my pickup truck. I love it. I know that my friends always wonder, "Why does he drive that so much? He's got a nicer car in his garage!"
Here's why. It's because when I drive it, my stress goes away. I don't worry about what people think of me, I don't try to race people, I don't care about where I park it, if people dent my doors in, or how expensive insurance is, or my next car payment. It takes me back to when my dad, sister and I used to ride around in a single cab Mazda truck. We would all sit so close together. I could barely see over the hood. I remember I would sit in the middle of the bench and the gear shift knob would almost touch my legs when my dad shifted (they're still short, but not as short as back then). Those were good times.
Now that my dad is sick, I treasure those days more than ever.
But it's time to give up the truck. Free. No catches, no hidden fees. Someone else needs it more than I do. Now's the hard part. Who do I give it to? Just email me at jinlee411 [at] hotmail [dot] com with 200 words or less why you deserve this 1992 Ford Ranger White Standard Cab 2 wheel drive long bed 5 speed manual with about 150K miles and I'll choose the 3 responses that are the most moving, deserving, creative, funny, and most importantly, in need of a car.
The rest is up to the readers to vote here on the blog. Your identity will remain private to the readers of this blog. I have a feeling that I'll receive maybe 10 to 20 entries, so your chances of winning should be good, should you choose to enter.
Here's the Carfax on the car in PDF format. And here's the Mileage Log and all service performed on the truck since I bought it (yes, I'm meticulous about it).
Despite what I said about the truck in a previous post, it runs great as long as I warm it up for 30 seconds. But I'll toss in some extras for peace of mind.
I'll toss in a 6 month / 6,000 mile warranty through One Stop Autobody in Lynnwood, a major service tune-up (right before delivery) through Express Tune in Issaquah, and an auto detail through All Star Auto Detail in Issaquah.
I know I'm not doing much, but I'm glad it will go to someone who needs it more than I do.
Oh, and the deadline. I'll review all the posts as of Thursday, June 15th, 2006 at noon. That's over a month from now. I'll give myself a little day off that day to review entries. Oh, and good luck!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Credit Score Advice?... Well, I'm not an expert but...
Since I'm part of the real estate and auto loans industry, I've met quite a few people who are clueless about credit.
So here's my two cents. Call it "Credit for Dummies".
I'm always happy to help answer any credit related questions, free of charge of course. Or go to Homes in Issaquah Forum and post your anonymous questions in the Credit Related Questions section.
Credit Score Range : Credit scores range from 300 to 850, with 850 being the best score you can get. Anything over 700 is generally "very good". Having a score of over 700 generally qualifies you for "prime" interest rates when applying for an auto loan or mortgage.
What's a Prime Rate? : Prime rates are the low interest rates shown at banks. As many people know, if a bank is advertising 6% interest rates on a loan, they probably only qualify for 8% or so, depending on their credit score. Of course, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate. If you have a bad score, your interest rate can be 2 or 3 times the prime rate.
Average Credit Score : The national average is 676 according to MSN Money.
What's a bad score? : Anything below 550 is considered awful according to CreditScoring.com.
What are my options? : If you have a terrible credit score, there are other ways to get a loan. You can use sub-prime lenders who usually charge a higher interest rate than typical walk-in banks. You can find cosigners (but I don't recommend this except in rare instances). However, if you have a bankruptcy and a lot of charge-offs on your credit report, using a sub-prime lender may be your only option (they specialize in first-time and bankruptcy clients).
What does my credit report show? : There are 4 categories on your credit report. Real Estate / Mortgage, Installment Accounts, Revolving Accounts, and Other Accounts. Having a little bit of each type of account, keeping your balances low, being on time with your payments, and showing a strong history of paying on time will all improve your credit score.
What doesn't my credit report show? : Your credit report does not reveal your nationality, income, amount of money in your bank account, level of education, or sex. It is merely to paint a picture about your financial responsibility.
Ask more questions at the Homes in Issaquah Forum
I've seen more than my share of sub-550 credit scores. Now, you may ask, how does your credit score get this low? Usually via multiple bankruptcies, pages of collections, spending more than your credit limit on your credit cards, and having multiple cars repossessed.
This isn't to poke fun at those people however. Think of the family of 4 that is being supported by a $10 / hour job. After rent, car payments, food, there isn't much left. With that said, I've seen people in similar situations with vastly different credit scores.
Many people just aren't educated about credit. There is no shame in this. Just keep in mind that help is free (even credit reports are free) and you shouldn't have to pay a fee to have your credit repaired. People in difficult situations may feel vulnerable (bankruptcies, divorces, illnesses, injuries), and if you find yourself in a similar situation, watch out for people who are ready to take advantage of you. They could make a bad situation even worse.
So here's my two cents. Call it "Credit for Dummies".
I'm always happy to help answer any credit related questions, free of charge of course. Or go to Homes in Issaquah Forum and post your anonymous questions in the Credit Related Questions section.
Credit Score Range : Credit scores range from 300 to 850, with 850 being the best score you can get. Anything over 700 is generally "very good". Having a score of over 700 generally qualifies you for "prime" interest rates when applying for an auto loan or mortgage.
What's a Prime Rate? : Prime rates are the low interest rates shown at banks. As many people know, if a bank is advertising 6% interest rates on a loan, they probably only qualify for 8% or so, depending on their credit score. Of course, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate. If you have a bad score, your interest rate can be 2 or 3 times the prime rate.
Average Credit Score : The national average is 676 according to MSN Money.
What's a bad score? : Anything below 550 is considered awful according to CreditScoring.com.
What are my options? : If you have a terrible credit score, there are other ways to get a loan. You can use sub-prime lenders who usually charge a higher interest rate than typical walk-in banks. You can find cosigners (but I don't recommend this except in rare instances). However, if you have a bankruptcy and a lot of charge-offs on your credit report, using a sub-prime lender may be your only option (they specialize in first-time and bankruptcy clients).
What does my credit report show? : There are 4 categories on your credit report. Real Estate / Mortgage, Installment Accounts, Revolving Accounts, and Other Accounts. Having a little bit of each type of account, keeping your balances low, being on time with your payments, and showing a strong history of paying on time will all improve your credit score.
What doesn't my credit report show? : Your credit report does not reveal your nationality, income, amount of money in your bank account, level of education, or sex. It is merely to paint a picture about your financial responsibility.
Ask more questions at the Homes in Issaquah Forum
I've seen more than my share of sub-550 credit scores. Now, you may ask, how does your credit score get this low? Usually via multiple bankruptcies, pages of collections, spending more than your credit limit on your credit cards, and having multiple cars repossessed.
This isn't to poke fun at those people however. Think of the family of 4 that is being supported by a $10 / hour job. After rent, car payments, food, there isn't much left. With that said, I've seen people in similar situations with vastly different credit scores.
Many people just aren't educated about credit. There is no shame in this. Just keep in mind that help is free (even credit reports are free) and you shouldn't have to pay a fee to have your credit repaired. People in difficult situations may feel vulnerable (bankruptcies, divorces, illnesses, injuries), and if you find yourself in a similar situation, watch out for people who are ready to take advantage of you. They could make a bad situation even worse.
Movie Review : Mission Impossible 3
Last night I was excited to go watch Mission Impossible 3 at Lincoln Square Cinemas in Bellevue.
To sum it up, the trailers ruined it for me. A slightly above average action movie overall.
I had been watching all the various trailers on Yahoo Movies over the past few months, and unfortunately, all the good action scenes are in one trailer or another (not in its entirety of course). There were maybe 2 action scenes that I was excited about because they were totally new and unexpected. And the storyline wasn't strong enough to hold my attention on its own. If it weren't for the action scenes, I would have fallen asleep. Brodie even feigned snoring during some of the romantic scenes which they easily could have done without.
Still, the action was great and the style of the movie felt new even though it's probably common for action flicks (I noticed almost a blurry effect to make everything seem like it was moving faster than it really probably was). I guess I would rate the actors performances, but I'm no drama major. I'll just say I would watch Philip Seymour Hoffman again, he's a good villian. The ladies in the movie were unconvincing, but beautiful to look at. Tom Cruise was as expected.
My grade, if I had to give it one, would be a solid B.
One last remark, is it just me, or does Tom Cruise look more like Ben Stiller every year? Especially on some of the many closeups during this movie, I swear I thought I was watching Ben Stiller.
To sum it up, the trailers ruined it for me. A slightly above average action movie overall.
I had been watching all the various trailers on Yahoo Movies over the past few months, and unfortunately, all the good action scenes are in one trailer or another (not in its entirety of course). There were maybe 2 action scenes that I was excited about because they were totally new and unexpected. And the storyline wasn't strong enough to hold my attention on its own. If it weren't for the action scenes, I would have fallen asleep. Brodie even feigned snoring during some of the romantic scenes which they easily could have done without.
Still, the action was great and the style of the movie felt new even though it's probably common for action flicks (I noticed almost a blurry effect to make everything seem like it was moving faster than it really probably was). I guess I would rate the actors performances, but I'm no drama major. I'll just say I would watch Philip Seymour Hoffman again, he's a good villian. The ladies in the movie were unconvincing, but beautiful to look at. Tom Cruise was as expected.
My grade, if I had to give it one, would be a solid B.
One last remark, is it just me, or does Tom Cruise look more like Ben Stiller every year? Especially on some of the many closeups during this movie, I swear I thought I was watching Ben Stiller.
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