On top of the Roller Coaster coming down - 02/29/08 11:05 PM
Wow...last week, I was talking with people who were seriously considering getting out of the real estate business.  You see it was only 3 weeks ago that mortgage rates were awesome.  They were quite stimulating for the economy....a reprieve, if you will in the bastion of negative real estate news. 
Last week, however, mortgage rates had escalated to where they were eyeing the 7.0% mark.  That brought out the naysayers who, after three weeks of bad economic data coupled with inflationary remarks by Bernanke, said that maybe it was time for them to "shift out of real estate" and into something … (2 comments)

I HATE "I CAN'T"!!!! - 02/28/08 10:51 PM
Whe, wa, wa.....!  Winers, baby's, thumbsuckers and just a lot of whining.  I can't stand it...but as much as I can't stand whining and complaining....I just hate the phrase....I CAN'T!  I hate it....
This is a difficult market.  I've been a real estate attorney and a mortgage banker for 14 years.  Although I'm still a young buck, I've seen a lot in my 14 years.  We've been influenced by the markets over the 14 years, but this is the first time I ever remember being "tied to the markets".....Having said that, I am experiencing tough moments and moments of success.  But I … (19 comments)

Variables of AR Blogging Success - 02/23/08 10:38 AM
OK....so here it is.  I've written over 200 blogs on AR.  Some I've just whipped up as a free association thought and I've gotten over 40 comments.  I've also put a lot of thought and research into a certain post and got a big zero as far as comments. 
I was an English major and YES I DO LOVE TO WRITE, but unlike a lot of people on AR who say that it's not about other things, it kinda is.  I love writing, I love competition (so I really do like points - but my happiness isn't tied to them), and … (9 comments)

New Year's Resolution 50 Days Later - 02/19/08 11:07 PM
How are you all doing with your New Year's Resolutions?  I have been so excited to attack this year more than this year.  How are you doing.  I've only set a few goals, trying to make this a realistic approach in order to assure a myriad of successes this year.  I don't need a million goals, just a few achievable ones.  Here's where I sit YTD.
1)  Spiritual - I made a committment to reading the bible daily.  I'm reading one chapter of proverbs and one chapter of the new testament each day.  I'm also trying to memorize a verse every day.  … (9 comments)

Keep your eyes on the prize!!!! - 02/19/08 10:28 PM
This market is insane.  Bond prices got rocked today.  The rates shot up....AGAIN!!!!  That's all that has been happening receintly.  Bernanke, last week, said that our economy sucks, but we have worries of inflation.  So our stock market drops, but the rates go up!  When the stock market goes up, rates go up.  When it drops, rates follow.  Bernanke speaks and the stock market drops.  Then he says that we're inflationary.  Well which is it??????  You see if our economy sucks, the our rates should be going down?  Right? 
Well what's a guy supposed to do with a out of whack … (0 comments)

Bait and Switch.... - 02/18/08 09:43 PM
I potentially lost a deal tonight because of false terms that were given by a competitor.  I don't mind losing going head to head.  Let's compare apples to apples or oranges to oranges. 
                            
Anyway, the competition gave a rate that I know is impossible to give.  The rate wasn't even within the market for any lender.  but then again there were no rates that the borrower could lock into today since the markets were closed.  The other lender sits in a real estate office that is not well respected and they don't have to "earn" by serving their clients.  Also, … (10 comments)

A fool is thought to be wise when he keeps his mouth shut! How Bout Real Esate Professionals? - 02/17/08 10:19 PM
Proverbs 17:28 Says exactly that thought.  Supposedly the smartest man who ever lived was King Solomon.  The SMARTEST MAN WHO EVER LIVED SAID EVEN A FOOL IS WISE IF HE CAN SHUT HIS TRAP!
How much more in AR?  In real estate. Growing up, I was pretty much God's gift to God.  He was pretty dang lucky to have me walking the face of this earth.  Obviously, it didn't take God long to get me looking front and center.  So...after college, I go to graduate school for Clinical Psychology.l  I got my Master's Degree.  I don't remember a whole heckofalot, but I … (5 comments)

Definitely, Maybe - 02/16/08 10:56 PM
Most of you know that I'm married with 5 kids.  As a result, I'm an alcholic, serious drug user and in constant therapy. 
Just kidding of course.  Yes, I do have 5 kids.  I have a great wife and I know that I am living proof that God has blessed me greatly.  However, after 10 years of marriage, I rarely get a night off with my wife and I.  We used to have a weekly "date night", but our babysitter just went off to college so getting out is so difficult.  HOWEVER, we did get out last night for dinner (Portillos) … (8 comments)

The Day After - 02/15/08 10:59 PM
I live 20 miles east of DeKalb Illinois.  I attended Northern Illinois University Law School.  I contacted two friends of mine who are teachers there.  I offered my sypathies and prayers for them as they deal with the aftermath of some idiot who chose to go on a random or non-random killing spree before taking his own life.
My friend who is a 39 year old professor told me that she had that murderer in her class last year.  To top it off one of the victims was one of her best friends.  She said that it's been overwhelimingly difficult to be … (5 comments)

OK...so I acted like a baby today! Give me my bottle and leave me alone! - 02/14/08 10:31 PM
Gotta tell you when I was growing up I had a great family and a great life.  I went to college and spent 5 and 1/2 years graduating from a 4 year undergraduate school.  I found and accepted Christ into my life and "grew up" so to speak.  I went on and got a Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology and then went on and got a law degree at Northern Illinois University. 
That brings me to today.  I have a number of commercial deals that I've been working on for over 9 months.  Today they've stalled somewhat.  No different really than … (9 comments)

Today's Market News - 02/12/08 09:24 AM
Bond prices rose a touch on Monday in quiet trading. The big news of the day came from insurer AIG who said that its prior accounting for credit default swaps was in error and the previously reported $1.6 billion in write-downs really turned out to be $4.88 billion. The error was found by PWC auditors and will probably not be the last one auditors identify at companies in the coming months as the turmoil of the fall, complexities of instruments, and illiquidity stretched accounting and other systems and procedures.  Wow...honest mistake or more behind the facade? 
There was also news on Monday that … (0 comments)

Oprah ruined my life....but I got it back! - 02/11/08 06:57 PM
It all started with Oprah Winfrey.  My wife was invited to a show 3 years ago with a girlfriend.  She went to the show and had a wonderful time.  I received a call from her (my wife, not Oprah) after the show saying that she was on "Oprah's Favorites" show.  She calls me and has me drive to the studio and pick her and her girlfriend and the $5,000 worth of stuff that each of them got.  .
After she got her voice back, she showed me all the gifts that she got.  Welllllllll, there were a few boy toys as well.  Digital … (69 comments)

You ever just binge? - 02/11/08 10:54 AM
Here's the deal....when I was in graduate school, I got to running every day.  I lost 35 pounds and was in the best shape of life that I've ever been in.  I would eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, but would stop when I wasn't hungry anymore.  I quit eating junk and most importantly, stopped eating the moment I felt full.  Invariably though, one day a month I would just chow down on candy bars, pop fully loaded with sugar and chips.  At about 3:00 in the afternoon, I was done.  I ate so much crap that I was like … (8 comments)

1 step removed from Johnny Depp - 02/08/08 09:49 PM
So my wife isn't a big Depp fan, but she is in love with Brett Favre.  My 16 year old half-niece who lives with us 1/2 of the time is in love with the Depp-ster.  My 39 year old assistant thinks that he rocks as well.  So he's coming to town for 3 months to shoot a new movie.  Tomorrow my business partner is going out with her boyfriend.  He's a driver for celebrities and is the driver for him for the next three months.  Well tomorrow night, Kim, my business partner,  will be with her boyfriend as he drives him … (6 comments)

Today's Market....the cyclone continues to spin.... - 02/08/08 09:42 AM
Today's Market CommentaryBond prices plunged on Thursday as a miserable thirty-year auction, hawkish comments from Dallas Fed President Fisher, and technicals combined to batter bonds. Yields rose 15bp or more across the bulk of the curve. Despite selling at the lowest level since 30yr auctions began in 1977, the long-bond auction was very weak as the award rate of 4.449% was much weaker than the bid side of the market (4.404%) at auction time. The indirect allotment was 10.69% and the coverage ratio was 1.82. This compares to a 27.2% and 2.13 average, respectively, for the last six 30 year auctions. … (4 comments)

Today's Market.... - 02/06/08 09:22 AM
Although Tuesday was billed as "Super Tuesday" for the Presidential nominating process, for the economy and stocks, it was everything but a super day. The ISM non-manufacturing index, which has grown in stature over the past couple of years even though it still carries less weight than its sister report, produced Tuesday's shocker, plunging to 44.6, its lowest level since the index began being published in 2004 and eight points below estimates. Plunging to recessionary levels, Merrill Lynch this morning noted that the ISM plunge could contribute to the Fed making an intra-meeting cut before the mid-March FOMC meeting. Because the … (2 comments)

Today's Market Commentary - 02/04/08 03:42 PM
The yield curve shifted surprisingly little on Friday despite major economic news. Yields fell two basis points or less across the Treasury note and bond curve. The December payroll report was very weak, posting a decline in jobs for the first time since 2003. The ISM manufacturing index rose to 50.7, well above estimates and the prior month's level. Stocks had a good day and posted nice gains for the day and week. In contrast to last week, this week's economic calendar is painfully light with no significant reports on the agenda. Even so, the week is sure to have plenty … (0 comments)

Reminder...Vote Against Campton Tomorrow....Vote for Responsible Leaders on Tuesday - 02/04/08 09:30 AM
Tomorrow is the big day.  Vote...print this out and take it with you. Support people who stand against big government.  Remember, you need to write in Robert Young.  Forward this to your friends, family and anyone in Campton who cares about the direction that we're headed.
Support the Free Us Candidates:
Village President - Robert Young  (Write In) 
Village Clerk - Carolyn Higgins
Trustees - William Brown
                William Lundborg  
                Fred Robinson
                Susan Secondi 
                Richard Seehafer
                Marty White
… (0 comments)

Concerned Citizens for Campton's Citizens...not Citizens for Campton's Government - 02/03/08 09:33 PM
Proponents of the Village of Campton Hills promised to spare its residents from many of the typical burdens of government.  Apparently not on that list is the unseemly conduct that so often accompanies the campaign process.  Candidates - even in this self-described hamlet of rural charm - seem more driven to smear fellow residents with a different point of view than to discuss the merits of the actual issues.
But voters would be wise to stay focused.  The fact is, both sides have received support from commercial interests (developers and otherwise), and while that may make for catchy headlines and tempting conspiracy … (0 comments)

 
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Larry Bettag Illinois FHA Specialist

Saint Charles, IL

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Larry Bettag - Cherry Creek Mortgage

Address: 40W310 LaFox Road, Saint Charles, IL, 60175

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 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
(John 14:1-4, New King James Version) I review for BookSneeze

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