Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Against this backdrop stock markets are growing exceptionally vulnerable to a November slide - a condition almost certain to support the prospects for steady to perhaps fractionally lower mortgage interest rates!!
In other news of the day - according to Commerce Department figures sluggish growth in consumer income lead households to dip into savings to increase their spending, a condition casting doubt on the durability of the third-quarter economic growth spurt and further eroding expectations for accelerating corporate earnings for the fourth-quarter.
With consumer income edging up a very thin 0.1% last month, the 0.6% increase in spending obviously came at the expense of savings - a "burn rate" that is not sustainable for an extended period of time. The saving rate (the percentage of disposable income socked away) fell to 3.6%, the slowest since December 2007, from 4.1% in August. The bright spot of this report was found in the core personal consumption expenditure component -- the Fed's favorite measure of inflation at the consumer level -- which showed no overall change last month.
The two major items on the coming week's calendar are the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 2nd -- and Friday's scheduled release of the October Nonfarm Payroll figures. Mortgage investors currently expect both events to be mortgage interest rate neutral.
The key to keeping kids safe this year, and every year, is close parental supervision and a few trick-or-treat precautions.
Doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and experts in the Drug and Poison Information Center offer these tips to make this year's holiday a safe one.
Costumes
Avoid potential burn injuries: Look for flame-resistant materials for costumes and be particularly aware of open flames in jack-o-lanterns.
Choose costumes that do not have sharp objects as accessories.
Beware of costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Make sure masks allow for full vision.
If your child wears a hat or scarf, make sure it fits securely and provides adequate ventilation.
Apply non-toxic face paint or cosmetics as an alternative to masks.
Make sure children wear properly fitting shoes.
Plan costumes of highly visible colors.
Adhere reflective tape or stickers to costumes or treat bags or have the child wear a reflective bracelet.
Attach each child's name, address and phone number to their clothes in case they become separated from adults.
Trick-or-treating
The most important thing to remember is to make children visible to automobile drivers. A child is four times more likely to be hit and killed by a car on Halloween than any other time.
Give kids flashlights to carry.
Accompany children under age 10.
Allow children to travel only in familiar areas.
Remind children to follow rules of crossing streets - look both ways and cross only at intersections and crosswalks.
For people who are giving out treats, healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn.
Non-food treats may include plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers and coins.
Battery powered jack-o-lantern candles are preferable to a real flame. If adults who are passing out treats do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
Candy
Feed kids a good meal before trick-or-treating so they don't get cranky or hungry half-way through.
Do not allow children to eat any treats until they've been sorted and checked by an adult at home.
Throw candy away if it appears to have been unwrapped and re-wrapped, or appears suspicious in any way.
Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use.
Children's fears
Halloween can sometimes be a frightening holiday for young children. To help ease the fright of "monsters" and unfamiliar sights, child psychologists at Cincinnati Children's say parents should help their children interpret Halloween as a make-believe situation.
Show children that someone is just wearing a mask by asking that person to remove it. Parents should also have small children try on their costumes before Halloween.
This exercise will give them time to get used to how they look.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Mortgage Rates...edging up today...Why?? BUT November Could bring lower rates - Read
Almost all of the momentum behind this morning's selling pressure in the mortgage market is being generated by investors' perception that Euro-zone leaders have stuck a deal to limit the damage from the financial crisis gripping the region. Early this morning international bankers, heads of state, and officials from the International Monetary Fund announced they had reached a deal to recapitalize ailing European banks together with an aggressively negotiated commitment to expand the euro-zone rescue fund to $1.4 trillion.
The headlines surrounding this event make it sound as though the 17-country currency bloc has managed to avert a major financial collapse just in the nick of time. And maybe they have - but the devil is in the details - which are largely missing. That fact should come as no surprise to most analysts - the just completed summit is the 14th such meeting in less than two-years designed to produce "the" solution to the regions economic woes.
As the serious business of drilling down into the essence of today's agreement gets underway -- it is highly likely the current euphoria driving a sharp rally in global stock prices will morph into disillusionment as it becomes evident a convincing fiscal and political solution to the European crisis has yet to be developed. If this assessment proves accurate - stock markets will be exceptionally vulnerable to a November slide - a condition almost certain to support the prospects for steady to perhaps fractionally lower mortgage interest rates.
In other news of the day -- the government reported earlier this morning the economy, as measured by Gross Domestic Product, expanded at a 2.5% pace in the third-quarter. Most mortgage investors discounted the news a bit - assigning part of the improved performance to temporary factors not likely to be repeated in the fourth-quarter. Still, the expansion signals some relief as the economy appeared to be on the brink of another recession just weeks ago.
Quiz: What Type of Buyer Am I?
Do you let impulse rule your decisions or are you a more methodical consumer? Your past spending habits have a lot to say about what type of home buyer you'll make. Take this quick quiz to see your strengths and possible buying pitfalls.
Freddie Mac Mortgage giant can't pay $65B as CEO plans exit
Former Putnam Investments chief Charles E. “Ed” Haldeman Jr. plans to step down as CEO of troubled mortgage giant Freddie Mac after two years.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Game 6 of World Series postponed due to rain, rescheduled for Thursday; Rangers lead Cards, 3-2
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
This Date in History...
This Date in Kings Island History: On October 25, 1975, daredevil Evel Knievel ...successfully jumped over 14 Greyhound buses on his motorcycle in the Kings Island parking lot to set a new world's record. The jump was nationally televised by ABC-TV's "Wide World of Sports" and held the highest rating in the show's history.
How to store firewood: Keeping your firewood dry - FIRE SEASON - THIS IS A GOOD READ
There are endless ways to store firewood. But when money is tight and you need dry firewood stored outdoors, something simple such as inexpensive tar paper and a fiberglass tarp can do the trick.
Expansion of Mortgage Program Is Limited in Scope
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s expansion of a mortgage refinancing program could reduce the monthly payments of up to one million homeowners, but analysts said the modest scope of the plan meant it would probably do little to heal the housing market or help the broader economy.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Tricks, Not Treats: 6 Horror Stories of Bad Neighbor Behavior
HouseLogic lists some of the craziest, creepiest, and grossest neighbor behavior, and provides some valuable advice for managing neighbor-on-neighbor disputes.
Improve soil quality by raking less - NOW THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR!!!
If you dread the annual task of leaf-raking, I have good news for you: Raking and collecting leaves every autumn is a tradition without scientific basis. Research has proven that mowing leaves into your lawn can improve its vigour, and observation shows that mulching with leaves in planting beds doesn't smother shade-tolerant perennials.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Home Renovation: Tips for Thrifty Upgrades
Gone are the days when home improvements were "a dollar in, a dollar (or more!) out."
Still, it's an excellent time to undertake home renovation projects. Contractors, tradesmen, and other skilled craftspeople are eager for work. Their empty schedules may mean better rates for you than in years past. And scaling a gigantic home renovation down to a smaller scope can save money.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Apple bacon coffee cake
After a spring and summer of early morning marketing and weekends filled with putting my bounty by, I know the shorter days have a little less to keep me busy. One way I fill the Saturday morning void is with baking and preparing breakfast treats. And this is one of my fall favorites. A moist morning cake topped with maple-sweetened apples and salty, crispy bacon. It is a perfect warm treat for a crisp autumn morning.
Curb Appeal Ideas - A Checklist for Creating Curb Appeal
If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, you need to start working on your curb appeal to make a good first impression on potential buyers. This article offers a variety of landscaping tips to help you succeed.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
White House Pledges Support for Housing
Housing is "extremely important to the President," a key White House advisor told the Mortgage Bankers Annual convention in Chicago.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Joys of Homeownership
Today's experts spout off the latest statistics about long-term wealth, home values, and interest rates, yet there's a much more sentimental side to homeownership. In fact, many home buyers are drawn to homeownership for these warm and fuzzy reasons.
Monday, October 10, 2011
12 Exterior Doors That Make a Statement
While any old doors will provide passage to and from your home, high-style doors can make a great first impression and offer a sneak peek at your home's interior decor.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
OPEN HOUSE TODAY 1PM-3PM.
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Friday, October 7, 2011
Triggers for Rejection
“WE regret to inform you...” Nobody applying for a new mortgage or a refinancing wants to see or hear these words. But last year more than two million people were turned down for home loans, according to federal data, often because they didn’t meet certain lender requirements or because their applications were incomplete or otherwise problematic.
61% of Americans unaware of energy efficiency rebates, incentives
Whether it's a $60 utility rebate on a new refrigerator, a $500 federal tax credit for upgraded insulation or $1,875 from the state for replacing a natural gas water heater with a solar model, Southern California homeowners are eligible for dozens of financial incentives when they make energy-efficient upgrades.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Leaf Rakes, Blowers/Vacuums and Shredders
Autumn leaves start out beautiful, but eventually they become just a mess on the lawn. Fall clean-up of leaves is not a chore most gardeners look forward to. Some gardeners wonder if it is even necessary to rake leaves. Won't the leaves just compost naturally on the lawn?
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Construction spending increased 1.4 percent in August but remains well below healthy levels
U.S. builders increased spending on homes, office buildings and other projects in August after a big decline in July.
The gain is modestly good news for the economy, but it still left the construction industry far below levels considered healthy.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Mortgage Daily Commentary
The lion's share of the European debt crisis, a slowing domestic economic picture, and the expected impact of the credit market intervention plans of the Fed are already well priced into the mortgage market. From this point forward it will take massive amounts of even more dismal news and events to support steady to fractionally lower mortgage interest rates - but the slightest glimmer of improving economic news will trend to nudge rates higher and at a fast pace!
Fed Chairman Bernanke, speaking to members of a bipartisan congressional panel earlier this morning, said the Fed is prepared to take further steps to help a fragile economic recovery get back on its feet. Bernanke urged lawmakers not to cut spending too quickly in the short-term to avoid creating even more drag on the economy as it attempts to recover from the deepest most sustained recession since the Great Depression. The more aggressive the efforts to revive economic growth -- the more hesitant mortgage investors will become in terms of pushing rates notably lower.
A bill circulating through Congress aimed at forcing China into letting its currency rise is increasing the potential of a trade war between the U.S. and China. Lawmakers want to slap duties and other restrictions on imports from China and other countries found to be subsidizing their exports by undervaluing their currencies. Adopting protectionist measures against one of the largest financiers of American government debt may cause greater problems than it is intended to resolve. Mortgage investors are going to watch developments very carefully here. Should a major buyer choose to leave the market - the upward pressure on rates will increase notably.
As always...stay tuned,,,
11 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes
Carve out a spot on your plate (no matter how full it is) for these yummy dishes.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Button up your house for winter
Some people don't button up the house until caulking fails, wind whistles in, and the first eye-popping utility bill of the winter lands in the mailbox. But you can cut fuel costs, stop air leaks, and prevent damage from water, ice and snow by sealing the house before winter hits.
Man Caves and Other Magnets
Every home should have a place to relax on your own or with family or friends. For some this retreat is claimed by one gender and is often called a “man cave,” and is stocked with potables, munchables, and viewables.
