Atlanta, GA Market Week in Review - September 18-24, 2011 - 09/25/11 09:20 PM
The week was relatively light of economic data.  As last week evidenced, more has been driving the market that domestic data alone.  The debt issues of Europe and the potential implications of a default of Greece has been the primary focus of the global market. 
 
On Tuesday, housing starts came in at 571,000.  This was much lower than the 590,000 that had been predicted. 
 
Wednesday morning saw Existing Home Sales rise 7.7% in August.  The actual was 5.03 million.  This is more than the prediction of 4.7 million.  All eyes were on the 2:15 pm EST Federal Open Market Committee statement on economic … (2 comments)

Select Atlanta Area Museums to Offer FREE Admission on September 24, 2011 - 09/22/11 09:36 PM
Museum goers can visit select Atlanta area museums for FREE on Saturday, September 24, 2011.  Twelve Atlanta area museums will be participating in the Seventh Annual Smithsonian Museum Day.  
These metro Atlanta museums will duplicate the Smithsonian Institution’s free admission special for that day.  Next Saturday, select museums across the country will open their doors free of charge.  Visitors must download the Museum Day Ticket from www.smithsonian.com.
Museum visitors must present the official pass the gain free admission.   Each pass has a limit of two people, per email address and is only valid at participating museums and cultural venues. … (8 comments)

HVCC and It's Influence on Today's Appraisal Standards - 09/04/11 01:59 PM
The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) was implemented in May 1, 2009 by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).  It was designed as an attempt to improve the independence of appraisers.  It contained provisions that prohibit lenders and third parties from influencing appraisals to arrive at a certain value.  
According to NAR, the HVCC establishes standards on solicitation, selection, compensation, conflicts of interest and appraiser independence. Mortgage brokers and real estate agents are prohibited from selecting appraisers. Lenders are permitted to use “in house” staff appraisers to conduct appraisals. However, the loan production staff is prohibited from:
1) Selecting, retaining, recommending, or influencing the … (8 comments)

Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream & Desserts Now Open at Edgewood Shopping District - 09/03/11 07:54 PM
Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream & Desserts is now open in the Edgewood Shopping District.  The location held its Grand Opening on June 18, 2011.  At Morelli's, you will find a large selection of ice cream, gelato, yogurt, sundaes, and more. 
There are traditional favorites like:
Banana Black Walnut Butter Pecan Chocolate Cookie Dough Cookies N' Cream Peach Strawberry Vanilla Vanilla Bean  
You will also find unique varieties such as:
Avocado Balsamic Strawberry Blueberry Pancake Coconut Jalapeno Death By Chocolate Elvis Lives (Banana ice cream Ginger Lavender Green Tea Key Lime Pie Krispy Kreamier Maple Bacon Brittle Mojito Sorbet Peach Mango Pear Pumpkin Pie … (8 comments)

Atlanta, GA Market Update - September 2, 2011 - 09/02/11 10:43 PM

A disappointing jobs report send increased demand for mortgages and treasuries. The Nonfarm Payrolls report indicated no change in jobs.  This gives indication of stagnant growth in the economy.  The economic outlook was for 70K to 100K added jobs.  The national unemployment rate remained at 9.1%. 
 
The markets will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day holiday. 
 
Earlier today, the FDIC seized two Georgia banks.  Woodstock-based CreekSide Bank with two locations was taken over.  Cumming-based Patriot Bank of Georgia with one locaiton was also both seized.  They were also both sold to Atlanta-based Georgia Commerce Bank.  Due to the … (3 comments)

Atlanta, GA Market Update - September 1, 2011 - 09/01/11 10:15 PM
The market has been active thus far this week.  Mortgages rates worsened slightly this morning following weakened demand for Treasuries.  This comes after reports that factory orders increased 2.4% last month.  Chicago Manufacturing activity also came in better than anticipated further lessening demand for treasuries.
Yesterday, Fed minutes confirmed possible discussions of possible stimulus plans to attempt to improve the economy.  Interest rates ended the day today slightly improved from this morning's worsening.  This leaves them about the same as yesterday's close.
The metro Atlanta unemployment rate dropped to 10.4 in July.  This is a slight decline from 10.5 in June.  The … (3 comments)

 

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