Jennifer S. Fisher's Real Esate Blog

Trying a Day of Politeness...

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:11:52 -0600

Ok, so I'm going to try being "polite" all day...hopefully the term "polite" can be defined loosely.
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=362796

Survive the Holiday Family Drama!!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:38:53 -0600

We all know that coming together for the holidays means a chance for family fueding. Listen to this broadcast to help keep a drama-free holiday.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16525378

Home Prices Climb for the Second Straight Quarter

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:57:02 -0600

Home prices are up 3.1% from three months earlier, an improvement from the double-digit price decreases the index have been reporting.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/24/real_estate/home_prices_third/index.htm

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:50:13 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving!! See the different ways people celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S. from coast to coast.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/11/03/thanksgiving.turkey.travel/index.html

Where to Go for Healthy Holiday Shopping

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:25:20 -0600

With "Black Friday" approaching fast after Thanksgiving, and even more stores opening at 12 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. probably means even more shoppers than before. Take a look at some "healthy" (healthy=comfort, cleanliness, customer service, and eco-friendliness) places to do your holiday shopping.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/25/shopping.mall.health/index.html

How to Deal with Holiday Hell!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:56:00 -0600

If you're going out of town to visit relatives, or even staying in town to visit friends and relatives, here are some easy solutions to begin dealing with the stress of the holidays.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/11/20/tf.dealing.holiday.hell/index.html

25 Solid-Gold Ways to Save Every Day

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:41:12 -0600

With some special help from Oprah Winfrey, here are "25 Sold-Gold Ways to Save" your money every day.
http://www.oprah.com/slideshow/money/personalfinance/slideshow1_ss_omag_200803_saving

Today's World: A man gets pulled over on his tractor lawnmower while making a beer run

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:37:22 -0600

Today's World: A man gets pulled over on his tractor lawnmower while making a beer run.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33908021/ns/us_news-weird_news/

Escape Your Family For The Holidays

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:07:38 -0600

Instead of a "oblication" (an obligated vacation) this holiday season, try escaping to somewhere new! This article can give you advice on some places to go for the holidays, and booking a good hotel room wherever you go.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/11/09/escape.for.holidays/index.html

Homes: About to Get Much Cheaper

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:01:07 -0600

Home prices are getting cheaper, and with home values expected to decrease in 342 out of 381 markets now is a great time to buy or sell your home!

http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/20/real_estate/home_price_forecast/index.htm

The Grocery Game: Play or Get Played

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:51:56 -0600

In this tough economy, the more money we can save, the better. Don't let grocery stores "play" you when it comes to brands, be smart and check out all your brand options.

http://money.blogs.time.com/2009/11/09/the-grocery-game-play-or-get-playe

How to Squash Worry and Grab More Out of Live in Tough Times

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:02:30 -0600

Here are some helpful tips on how to be happy during tougher times!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/05/happiness.simple.joy/index.html

Tax Credit Specifics - Dallas Real Estate Rocks!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:25:39 -0600

Today, Congress has passed a bill including an amending that extends and expands the Homebuyer Tax Credit. Be sure to click on the NAR link below. Here are some key points:

The tax credit for first time homebuyers (those who have not had ownership interest in a residence in the last three years): $8,000 for married couples, $4,000 for those filing separately.

Contracts need to be signed by the expiration date: April 30th, 2010.

Also, those buyers who have maintained ownership of a primary residence for five of last eight years are eligible to receive a tax credit: $6,500 for married couples, $3,200 for those filing separately.

Income limits $125,000 for those filing separately; $225,000 for married couples.

Home purchase price can not exceed $800,000.

Here is a link to the National Association of Realtors President's podcast:
http://www.realtor.org/about_nar/presidents_report/_podcast_archive/mcmillan_taxcreditextended_20091105

Home sales contracts rise for 8th straight month

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:31:16 -0600

Check this out! Home sales are booming partially due to the first-time home buyer tax credit due to expire at the end of November.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/02/real_estate/September_sales_contracts/index.htm?postversion=2009110210

Tax Credit For Pets - Seriously

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:17:15 -0600

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_uiSuy7TR8

Check this out watch this and let me know what you think!

Look me up on Facebook!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:32:56 -0600

Hey everyone,

I officially have a facebook fan page, become a fan of me today!!

<a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Hayes-Fisher/635848200" title="Jennifer Hayes Fisher" target="_TOP" style="font-family: "lucida grande",tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: #3B5998; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Hayes Fisher</a><span style="font-family: "lucida grande",tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: #555555; text-decoration: none;"> | </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/facebook-widgets/" title="Make your own badge!" target="_TOP" style="font-family: "lucida grande",tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-variant: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; color: #3B5998; text-decoration: none;">Create Your Badge</a><br/><a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Hayes-Fisher/635848200" title="Jennifer Hayes Fisher" target="_TOP"><img src="http://badge.facebook.com/badge/635848200.375.260923020.png" width="356" height="84" style="border: 0px;" /></a>

Senate to Vote on Tax Credit This Week!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:09:50 -0500

Senate to Vote on Tax Credit This Week! The first vote on the homebuyer tax credit will be in the Senate this week, maybe as early as tomorrow. We need you to do two things right away to help with this.

1. Click here and send a message to your two U.S. Senators

2. Forward this message to your co-workers, neighbors, customers, employees, Facebook friends -everyone you know

Additionally, for updates on the progress of the legislation, follow them on Twitter @FixHousingFirst or check out www.fixhousingfirst.com.

Home Fire Safety Tip

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:48:12 -0500

Did you know that cleaning the lint filter of your clothes dryer is not the only step you need to take to prevent a dryer fire? With winter weather approaching, clothes dryers will get extra use, so jump on this annual maintenance task.

You probably routinely remove lint from your dryer's lint filter between loads. But lint can still build up inside the ducting that vents hot air outdoors. This as a potential hazard, which means you should thoroughly clean out your dryer at least one a year.

Lint build-up reduces the efficiency of dryers, and lint can catch fire if it accumulates inside the dryer. The good news is dryers are pretty simple appliances, and most consumers can easily handle routine maintenance to keep the dryer safe - and keep their utility bills in check. You see, dryers need good airflow to remove moisture from clothes. When lint accumulates in the exhaust duct or the dryer's internal ducts, the dryer cannot dry clothes efficiently. A dryer that runs twice as long uses twice as much energy, lengthens the task of doing laundry and is harder on clothes.

Here are three handy tips from RepairClinic.com for keeping dryer lint under control:

1. Clean the lint filter after each load. If you use fabric softener sheets, these can lead to a build-up of gummy residue on the filter and sensors inside the drum. Wipe the sensors with a damp cloth and use a soft bristle brush and hot, soapy water to clean the filter. If the filter is torn or won't clean up, replace it.

2. Clean out lint from the area around the lint filter. If you can, use a crevice tool on a vacuum cleaner to reach into the dryer.

3. Clean the dryer exhaust duct at least once a year. Do this more often if you dry more than six loads of laundry each week, if your dryer's duct is longer than eight feet, or if the duct has more than three 90-degree bends.

Here's how to properly clean the dryer exhaust duct:

1. Use a specially designed and inexpensive vent brush to clean the duct (See opening photo). It's available in 10- and 20-ft. lengths, starting at around $20. To order, visit http://www.repairclinic.com/referral.asp?R=1511&RccPartID=424663&Acc=1

2. Begin at the dryer and feed the vent brush all the way to the outside. At the other end, remove the exterior cap so you can push out the lint.

3. Tip: straight-walled venting allows better air flow than flexible venting, so for longer runs, straight-walled venting is recommended.

Info provided by David Lake D.A.L. Maintenance & Repairs 214-417-0016 - Best Handyman

First Time Home Buyer - Last Chance for Free Money!!!!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:07:14 -0500

First Time Buyer - Last Chance for FREE MONEY!!!

You can still get 8k if you qualify as a first time buyer. This means you haven't had a house in your name in the last three years. We must move quick now though!! It has to close by the end of November and the title companies are already getting booked. This means we have to find the house, get it under contract, inspect it, get our loan and etc.. New laws are causing delays as well from the appraisal side so time is of the essence.

If you know any first time buyers, please let them know this. If it's you, stop waiting!!! I have helped a lot of first time buyers this year find beautiful homes at serious discounts. They love this as well as the check in the mail for 8k which they don't have to pay back.

Dallas to recover by 2011

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:29:06 -0500

Thought I would share with you this promising article... Have a wonderful day!

Forecast: Dallas to recover by 2011

Four Texas markets will be among the first in the nation to recover from the recession, says a nationwide forecast by IHS Global Insight.

Dallas-Fort Worth is one of those markets and is currently positioned to recover in 2011.

Austin and San Antonio will lead the way, bouncing back to their pre-recession job levels sometime next year, according to the Lexington, Mass.-based economic forecasting firm, while Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth are among eight other metropolitan areas predicted to recover by 2011.

IHS Global Insight says that most metros will start adding employment next year, but the increases are likely to be tepid. "Solid gains will not return for the majority of the country until 2011," it says.

At the bottom of the scale are five Northeastern and Midwestern industrial markets that are expected to remain in the doldrums for several years. IHS Global Insight predicts that Cleveland, Detroit, Hartford, Milwaukee and Providence won't wipe out the remnants of the recession until sometime after 2015.

The following are 50 major markets, grouped by the predicted year in which each area will return to pre-recession job levels:

2010

Austin

San Antonio

2011

Houston

Dallas-Fort Worth

Kansas City

Oklahoma City

Raleigh

Salt Lake City

Virginia Beach-Norfolk

Washington

2012

Atlanta

Baltimore

Boston

Charlotte

Columbus

Denver

Indianapolis

Jacksonville

Memphis

Nashville

New Orleans

New York City

Orlando

Philadelphia

Richmond

San Diego

San Francisco-Oakland

San Jose

Seattle

2013

Birmingham

Las Vegas

Louisville

Miami-Fort Lauderdale

Minneapolis-St. Paul

Pittsburgh

Portland, Ore.

Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

Sacramento

Tampa-St. Petersburg

2014

Buffalo

Chicago

Cincinnati

Los Angeles

Phoenix

St. Louis

After 2015

Cleveland

Detroit

Hartford

Milwaukee

Providence

What is the $8000 tax credit - Take Advantage when buying a home!!

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:11:44 -0500

What is the $8000 tax credit - This is an actual tax credit and not a tax deduction from your income. Meaning if you qualify for the full amount and at the end of the year you do your taxes and it shows you would be getting $1,000 back then you would actually be getting $9,000 back because of the tax credit. $1,000 you were already getting back plus the $8,000 equals $9,000 back to you.

Just so you know the $8,000 amount can be lower and is based on your income. The most important thing is that you have not owned a home in the past three years. Currently you must close and fund on your loan by November 30^th, 2009 although we are all hoping this get's extended.

Those of you who are first time home buyer's or have not purchased a home in the last three years should be taking advantage of this.

Please call with all your questions so we can help you find the right home before the dead line. FREE MONEY

Jennifer S. Fisher

Keller Williams Realty

972-588-8090

Mortgage News - Dallas, Texas

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:02:27 -0500

Nick DePalma
Production Manager/ Senior Loan Officer

1002 Raintree Circle
Allen, TX 75013
Phone: (469) 277-1881
Mobile: (214) 497-0596
Toll Free: (866) 432-6015
Fax: (866) 908-6073
www.primelendingallen.com

For the week of June 29, 2009 - Vol. 7, Issue 26

>> Home Base

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE We continued to have encouraging housing news last week, starting with Existing Home Sales up 2.4% for May to a 4.77 million annual rate. This was the third month in a row of increased sales, which are now 6.2% above their January low. And the percent increase for the last two months is the largest since April 2004. The existing homes supply decreased to 9.6 months from April's 10.1 months. The median price of an existing home INCREASED to $173,000.

Next we saw new home sales at a 342,000 annual rate for May, with the supply dropping to 10.2 months from April's 10.4 months. New home inventories are now at 292,000, down 49% from their mid-2006 peak and at their lowest level since 2001. Sales were down slightly for the month, but still above their January low. The 111,000 new homes for sale still under construction are at their lowest level since 1970. The 135,000 completed new homes for sale are the lowest level since 2006. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported purchase loan applications UP 7.3%!

Last week we reported the housing market needs to get back to 1.6 million starts a year just to meet knock-downs and population growth. A new Harvard University report heartily agrees. It says there will be millions more echo boomers than there were boomers who first grew the housing market. The report projects household growth between 12.5 and 14.8 million in the next 10 years! The report also notes that price declines and low interest rates have brought affordability to many housing markets.

>> Review of Last Week

A BUMPY RIDE SIDEWAYS... The markets swung both ways last week and ended basically flat, the Dow down a bit, the Nasdaq up a bit and the S&P 500 off by a hair. Although most stocks edged down two weeks in a row, many analysts saw this merely as a summer correction. There were few economic disappointments, although both initial and continuing jobless claims inched up. All was not perfect at Walgreen, Nike and Boeing, but Oracle beat expectations, typical for the tech sector.

Beyond the good housing news covered above, recent manufacturing reports keep heading upward. The Richmond Fed Index of mid-Atlantic manufacturing went positive for the second month in a row. This hasn't happened since September 2007. In addition, Durable Goods orders were up in May for the second straight month!

The Fed had its meeting and said the rate could stay down a good while longer, since inflation's in check. They also confirmed their commitment to buy $1.25 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities this year, which many feel will keep mortgage rates low. Real Q1 GDP was revised UP to -5.5%, from its original -5.7%. Personal income went UP in May, as did personal spending (PCE), for the fourth time in the last five months. Consumer sentiment also went UP more than expected.

For the week, the Dow ended off 1.2%, to 8438.39; the S&P 500 slipped just 0.3%, to 918.90; while the Nasdaq rose 0.6%, to 1838.22.

It was a bumpy ride all week in the bond market though things finished fine. Prices improved as inflation concerns lessened. The FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond ended at $99.69, off 16bp for the day, but up for another week. Mortgage interest rates are staying at their historically low levels.

>> This Week's Forecast

FIREWORKS GALORE... The economic calendar packs plenty of excitement into a short week, with the markets closed Friday for Saturday's 4th of July holiday. The week ends on a big bang Thursday when the June employment report comes out. Jobs are a lagging indicator, so unemployment is expected to inch up a little more.

Tomorrow and Wednesday we'll have Consumer Confidence and important manufacturing readings with the Chicago PMI and ISM Index, plus Pending Home Sales. Not much in the way of corporate earnings, except for General Mills.

>> The Week's Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Economic Calendar for the Week of June 29 - July 3

Date	Time (ET)	Release	For	Consensus	Prior	Impact
Tu June 30	09:00	Consumer Confidence	Jun	55.1	54.9	Moderate
Tu June 30	09:45	Chicago PMI	Jun	38.5	34.9	HIGH
W July 1	10:00	ISM Index	Jun	44.0	42.8	HIGH
W July 1	10:00	Pending Home Sales	May	1.1%	6.7%	Moderate
W July 1	10:30	Crude Inventories	6/26	NA	-3.87M	Moderate
Th July 2	08:30	Initial Jobless Claims	6/27	NA	627K	Moderate
Th July 2	08:30	Average Workweek	Jun	33.1	33.1	HIGH
Th July 2	08:30	Hourly Earnings	Jun	0.2%	0.1%	HIGH
Th July 2	08:30	Nonfarm Payrolls	Jun	-370K	-345K	HIGH
Th July 2	08:30	Unemployment Rate	Jun	9.6%	9.4%	HIGH

>> Federal Reserve Watch

Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months. Wednesday, the Fed said it expected to keep rates "exceptionally low" for an extended period. The experts are taking them at their word.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%-0.25%

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Aug 12	0%-0.25%
Sept 23	0%-0.25%
Nov 4	0%-0.25%

Odds of change from current policy:

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Aug 12	1%
Sept 23	3%
Nov 4	5%

Error! Filename not specified.

This e-mail is an advertisement for Nick DePalma. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is copywritten by PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2009 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company is exempt from licensing in the following states: AL, AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY. Arizona Mortgage Banker Number License Number 0907334; California Department of Real Estate License Number 01857468; Connecticut Mortgage Lender License Number ML-13649; Illinois Mortgage banker License number MB.6760635; Maine Supervised Lender License Number SLM8285; Maryland Mortgage Lender License number 11058; Michigan First Mortgage Registrant License Number FR 0010163 and Second Mortgage Registrant License Number SR 0012527; New Jersey Licensed Lender Number 083659; New Mexico Mortgage Loan Company License Number 01890; North Dakota Money Broker License number MB101786; Tennessee Mortgage Registrant Number 4023; Texas Regulated Loan License Number 7293; Vermont Mortgage Banker license Number 6127; Vermont Mortgage Broker license Number 0964MB; Washington Consumer Loan License Number 520-CL-49075; Wisconsin Mortgage banker License number 214170.

This email was sent to jennifer.fisher@kw.com.
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Plano Texas Mortgage News

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Mon, 18 May 2009 20:37:40 -0500

Nick DePalma
Production Manager/ Senior Loan Officer

1002 Raintree Circle
Allen, TX 75013
Phone: (469) 277-1881
Mobile: (214) 497-0596
Toll Free: (866) 432-6015
Fax: (866) 908-6073
ndepalma@primelending.com

For the week of May 18, 2009 - Vol. 7, Issue 20

>> Home Base

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the median price for a single-family home in Q1 was 13.8% lower than in Q1 a year ago. But first-time buyers represented half of all purchases and many went for foreclosures and short sales. These "typically are selling for 20% less than traditional homes," according to the NAR, and this skews median prices downward. On a hopeful note, 18 of the 152 metro areas in the survey reported PRICE INCREASES.

Equally hopeful was the fact that in many areas, the number of homes for sale continued to drop in April. Some analysts see this as a sign the housing market is nearing a bottom, especially since inventories have historically increased in April.

Finally, at last week's NAR conference, the CEO of the International Council of Shopping Centers pointed out that demographics are in our favor. The high school graduating class in 2010 will be the biggest in our country's history. As that huge cohort moves forward, it will generate lots of economic prosperity, beginning in the near future.

>> Review of Last Week

LET'S TAKE OUR GAINS... Well, we had a nice two-month rally in which the Dow headed north eight out of nine weeks, so it wasn't surprising that a slew of investors finally sold off their holdings and took their gains. This of course drove prices down, so last week the stock market indexes went lower across the board.

It wasn't just profit taking that sent stocks down. Wednesday, April Retail Sales came in at -0.4%, which investors didn't much like. But if they had looked more closely, they would have seen the decline was mostly in two categories - gas stations and grocery stores, where experts don't expect weakness to persist. Take out these sectors and retail was down just 0.1%.

For the rest of the week, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) came in flat, which shows inflation is in check, but the Core CPI number was up a little more than expected. Industrial Production was down for April, though better than expected. The NY Empire State Index, a good measure of manufacturing, shot up for the second month in a row, hitting its highest level since last August. University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment came in higher than anticipated. Finally, the President of the Dallas Federal Reserve averred that "the U.S. economy has pulled back from the edge of the abyss."

Nonetheless, the Dow slipped 3.6% for the week, to 8268.64; the S&P 500 dropped 5.0%, to 882.88; and the NASDAQ slid 3.4%, to 1680.14.

Even though stocks were falling, things weren't all that terrific in the bond market, though prices held on well enough. The FNMA 30-Year 4.0% bond, a mortgage backed security closely tied to mortgage rates, closed Friday at $100.12, down only 12bp. Mortgage interest rates were largely unchanged for the week, remaining at historically low levels.

>> This Week's Forecast

HOUSING PLUS A FEW OTHER ITEMS... They'll be taking the temperature of our favorite industry once again with April Housing Starts and Building Permits on Tuesday morning. Wednesday we'll have the minutes from the Fed's April 29 meeting. Thursday the Philadelphia Fed Index gives a pretty good read on manufacturing.

Corporate earnings reports for Q1 have slowed to a crawl, but Hewlett-Packard, Target, Deere and Home Depot will be interesting to watch.

>> The Week's Economic Indicator Calendar

Date	Time (ET)	Release	For	Consensus	Prior	Impact
Tu May 19	08:30	Housing Starts	Apr	523K	510K	Moderate
Tu May 19	08:30	Building Permits	Apr	NA	503K	Moderate
W May 20	10:35	Crude Inventories	5/15	NA	-4.63M	Moderate
W May 20	14:00	FOMC Minutes	4/29	NA	NA	HIGH
Th May 21	08:30	Initial Jobless Claims	5/16	630K	637K	Moderate
Th May 21	10:00	Leading Economic Indicators (LEI)	Apr	0.8%	-0.3%	Moderate
Th May 21	10:00	Phila. Fed. Index	May	-18.0	-24.4	HIGH

>> Federal Reserve Watch

Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months. Virtually no one expects the Fed to start raising the funds rate just yet.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%-0.25%

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
June 24	0%-0.25%
Aug 12	0%-0.25%
Sept 23	0%-0.25%

Odds of change from current policy:

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
June 24	1%
Aug 12	3%
Sept 23	5%

Error! Filename not specified.

This e-mail is an advertisement for Nick DePalma. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is copywritten by PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2009 PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, a PlainsCapital Company is exempt from licensing in the following states: AL, AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NC, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY. Arizona Mortgage Banker Number License Number 0907334; California Department of Real Estate License Number 01857468; Connecticut Mortgage Lender License Number ML-13649; Illinois Mortgage banker License number MB.6760635; Maine Supervised Lender License Number SLM8285; Maryland Mortgage Lender License number 11058; Michigan First Mortgage Registrant License Number FR 0010163 and Second Mortgage Registrant License Number SR 0012527; New Jersey Licensed Lender Number 083659; New Mexico Mortgage Loan Company License Number 01890; North Dakota Money Broker License number MB101786; Tennessee Mortgage Registrant Number 4023; Texas Regulated Loan License Number 7293; Vermont Mortgage Banker license Number 6127; Mortgage Broker license Number 0964MB; Washington Consumer Loan License Number 520-CL-49075; Wisconsin Mortgage banker License number 214170.

Top 5 Job's for 2009 by your Plano, TX Realtor

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:07:01 -0500

The top 5 job's predicted to grow in 2009 are 1. Education, 2. Government, 3. True Sales people, 4. IT by 28% but no necessarily Engineers or Computer Science degrees, 5. Health-care. Might be time to look into a career change or if you have experience in on of these fields look into what companies might be hiring. Job Searching Tip - Take the job you are looking for and copy and paste into the background in your resume using 7 pt white font. This will help the computer system pick up on key words you might otherwise not have in there. Happy Searching

Mortgage Market and What it's doing in Plano

Jennifer S. Fisher (Keller Williams Realty) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:29:57 -0500

Nick DePalma
Production Manager/ Senior Loan Officer

1002 Raintree Circle
Allen, TX 75013
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For the week of April 6, 2009 - Vol. 7, Issue 14

>> Home Base

INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE Well, well, well - last week saw yet another encouraging indicator for the housing market. Pending sales of existing homes, based on contracts signed in February, rose 2.1% over January. Compared to February 2008, the pending home sales index is down a scant 1.4%! The National Association of Realtors expects the median price of existing homes to decline just 5.1% this year, with sales up 1% over 2008. Next year, they see the median price going up 4.1% and sales on a 5.8% climb.

On top of that good news, the Federal Housing Finance Agency's House Price index had US home prices RISING a seasonally adjusted 1.7% from December to January. This is for homes bought with mortgages that fall within Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's limits. This was interesting, as it followed the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index which showed a 19% price drop in January compared to a year ago. What gives? Case-Shiller tracks only 20 metro areas, including several in the three or four states with the steepest price declines. In addition, critics point out that indexes like Case-Shiller, which rely on repeat sales, consistently overstate price declines because they include a higher percentage of distressed properties.

Finally, we can report the California housing market is showing signs of recovery. Low prices, combined with today's historically low mortgage rates, have created a level of affordability that is attracting buyers in droves. 600,000 homes were sold this February - 80% more than in February 2007. Agents in some markets see investors returning and the strong sales have left existing home inventories at 6.5 months, a normal market level that's now ahead of the rest of the country's 9.7-month supply!

>> Review of Last Week

UP AGAIN... The market boom continued last week as stocks gained for their fourth week in a row, reaching new seven-week highs, with the Nasdaq hitting its highest level in three months. Experts say the stock market recovers first, then the housing market, then the economy in general and finally the jobs market.

Investors began the week unhappy with the government's auto task force, which fired General Motor's CEO Rick Wagoner, then gave GM 60 days to come up with a better restructuring plan and Chrysler 30 days to cut a deal with Fiat. The big negative news was Friday's March employment report, which saw unemployment inch up to 8.5% with the loss of another 663,000 jobs. But these numbers were no worse than expected and investors know employment is a lagging indicator.

Economic highs included durable goods orders up for the first time in six months and ISM Manufacturing also up. Add recent good news in housing, retail and factory orders, and many are saying the depth of the downturn is behind us. We aren't turned around yet, but some experts feel we will go no lower. Let's hope they're right. The best news came Thursday when the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) voted to relax mark-to-market accounting rules. Now banks can value securities using the cash flows they generate. This should reduce banks' writedowns, freeing up their ability to lend, which should help housing, business and jobs. The G-20 meeting in London was neither a big success nor a big disappointment. The group agreed to $1.1 trillion in loans to support developing countries and international trade.

For the week, the Dow continued UP a nice 3.1%, to 8017.59; the S&P 500 was UP 3.3%, to 842.50; and the NASDAQ ended UP 5.0%, to 1621.87.

Bonds ended the week with Treasury prices getting hammered a bit, but it wasn't as bad as it might have been. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury, which runs counter to price, creeped up to 2.891%. But with the Fed's trillion dollar commitment to buy mortgage-backed securities to keep rates low, 30-year fixed rate conforming mortgages continue at historically low levels.

>> This Week's Forecast

SHORT, MAYBE SWEET... The coming holiday-shortened week holds little economic news, but does start another earnings reporting season with Alcoa getting things going on Tuesday. Thursday's February Trade Balance report could be a focal point, as January showed a drop that could create concerns around our global economic growth. Bond markets close early Thursday and both stock and bond markets will be closed in observance of Good Friday.

>> The Week's Economic Indicator Calendar

Date	Time (ET)	Release	For	Consensus	Prior	Impact
W Apr 8	10:30	Crude Inventories	4/3	NA	2840K	Moderate
Th Apr 9	08:30	Initial Jobless Claims	4/4	NA	669K	Moderate
Th Apr 9	08:30	Trade Balance	Feb	-$36.5B	-$36.0B	Moderate

>> Federal Reserve Watch

Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months. Economists believe the Fed will keep the fed funds rate down for an extended period.

Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%-0.25%

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Apr 29	0%-0.25%
Jun 24	0%-0.25%
Sept 23	0%-0.25%

Odds of change from current policy:

After FOMC meeting on:	Consensus
Apr 29	1%
Jun 24	5%
Sept 23	5%

This e-mail is an advertisement for Nick DePalma. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is copywritten by PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is exempt from licensing requirements in the following states: AL (d/b/a PlainsCapital Mortgage Corporation), AK, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV, WY. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is licensed in Arizona under license numbers BK 0907334, 0109732, 0109733, 0114564, 0114949, 0114950, 0114951, 0114952, 0114953, 0114954,0114955, 0114956, and 0114957; Maine under license numbers SLB8287, and SLM8285; Maryland under license number 11058; Michigan under license numbers FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Nevada under license number XMCO 03094; New Jersey under license numbers 0803658, 0803659, 0804096; New Mexico under license number 01890; North Dakota under license number MB101786; Tennessee under license number 2360; Washington under license numbers 520-CL-49075, 520-CL-49075-49097, 520-CL-49075-49098, 520-CL-49075-49099, 520-CL-49075-49100, 520-CL-49075-49101, 520-CL-49075-49624, and 520-CL-49075-49693; and Wisconsin under license number 214170.