Brentwood TN Real Estate and Homes

Talk is cheap. And while it is important that negotiations are beginning between President Obama and Congressional leaders regarding the looming "Fiscal Cliff" our country is facing, action is needed as well. Read on to learn more details, and what all of this means for home loan rates.

If you've been wondering what the Fiscal Cliff is about, here are the main issues. As we head into 2013, tax cuts for individuals and various tax breaks for businesses are due to expire, taxes pertaining to President Obama's health care law will begin, spending cuts enacted by Congress as part of the debt ceiling deal of 2011 will go into effect, and long-term jobless benefits will expire.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that if all of these items occur, it could take an estimated $600 billion out of the U.S. economy in 2013, pushing the country into a recession. Given that Europe is officially in a recession for the second time in four years, it's especially important that our leaders take action now before our economy follows suit.

Heading into 2013, another important issue to monitor is inflation. Remember that one of the goals of the Fed's latest round of Bond buying (known as Quantitative Easing or QE3) is actually to create inflation. While the latest Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index reports showed that inflation remained tame at the wholesale and consumer levels in October, inflation can manifest and get out of hand quickly. This is significant because inflation is the arch enemy of Bonds (and therefore home loan rates, which are tied Mortgage Bonds) as it reduces the value of fixed investments like Bonds.

So what does this mean for home loan rates? Bonds and home loan rates should continue to benefit from the continued uncertainty in Europe, and the uncertainty here regarding the Fiscal Cliff, as investors will likely continue to see our Bond market as a safe haven for their money. But inflation is a very real threat to home loan rates, and we need to keep a close eye on it in the weeks and months ahead.

The bottom line is that home loan rates remain near historic lows, making now a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

3 Mindset Fixes (And A Script) For More Effective Networking

If you're not meeting enough of the right people or getting as much referral business from your networking as you should then Scott Gerber, founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Council, has some solid mindset fixes for young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs young at heart:

Don't jump the gun. Doing things for others before you start doing things for yourself is the first step to a stronger networking position. Don't look at your contacts as means to an end–look at them as people with desires. People can sense when you only want to use them to get business just for yourself. But getting to know them, finding out their goals, plans, and dreams not only makes you appear more caring but arms you with intelligence to help make their life or business more successful.

Figure out your specialty. You can't be Master of Everything in your industry and you'd be foolish to try. In every industry specialists are usually at the top; there are those who specialize in market niches, client types, family situations, and even parts of anatomy. When you specialize, you have an incredible power over prospects–access! You become the gateway, the access, to a solution. In most cases, specialists make more money and have less trouble getting new business than their generalist counterparts.

Plan to create value. The formula here is: Meet, Connect, Repeat. Whenever you attend a networking event, go with the intention of connecting at least one person with something they want: it could be a solution, it could be a relationship, it could be anything you can help make possible. Repeat this plan each event you attend. It's easy to do.

Have a great script ready. When you meet someone for the first time just ask: "Who are the two or three people you'd like to meet that can help you in your business?" Then, all you have to do is start connecting the dots. Being known as a connector for others will soon reward you with new contacts and new business from places you never dreamed possible. It's easy to treat networking events like social occasions, but if you arrive with the intention of being a connector, you'll be more productive and enjoy yourself even more.

Share these tips with the other professionals in your network and feel free to call if I can help connect you to someone you need to know!

Economic Calendar for the Week of November 19 - November 23

They say that no news is good news. But last week, several reports brought some surprising good news to the markets. Read on for details and what they mean for home loan rates.

There was good news on the labor front, as last week’s Initial Jobless Claims fell to 339,000, the lowest level in over four years. This news came on the heels of the surprising drop in the unemployment rate to 7.8% in September. This is encouraging news and could ease fears of slowing growth.

Also encouraging was the news from RealtyTrac that foreclosure activity declined to a five-year low in September, falling 7% from August and 16% from the same period last year. Housing has already improved substantially in certain parts of the country and this news bodes well for those states and areas that struggled with high foreclosure activity. Rounding out the week was some of the most surprising news of all: Consumer Sentiment surged to 83.1 in October, the highest level in five years.

Tempering this good news was a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said that the world economy will grow by 3.3% this year, the slowest since 2009. The IMF said that unless Europe and the U.S. address the financial threats to their respective economies, growth will continue to slow.

So what does all of this mean for home loan rates? Remember that good economic news normally causes investors to move their money out of safer investments like Bonds—including Mortgage Bonds, which home loan rates are based on—and into riskier investments like Stocks to try and take advantage of gains. However, the Fed’s continued Mortgage Bond purchases as part of their third round of Quantitative Easing (QE3) and tame wholesale inflation data helped Bonds and home loan rates remain near record lows last week.

The bottom line is that now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance, as home loan rates remain near historic lows. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

Avoid These Alarming Statistics This Flu Season

Between November and March, your chances of contracting the flu increase by as much as 80%, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In fact, anywhere from 5% to 20% of our country's population contracts the flu every year. But that’s not the worst part. More than 200,000 of us are hospitalized because of it, and roughly 36,000 people actually die from it. That means lost work time and even lost medical expenses.

But there are some things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Be sure to share these tips with your coworkers, colleagues, and family members to help them avoid those alarming numbers and stay healthy this flu season.

Wash your hands: The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by the influenza virus. It is most commonly transmitted in one of two ways. The first is by inhaling saliva particles left behind by a sneeze or a cough from someone who is infected. The second, more common way is via hand-to-hand (or hand-to-object) contact. That’s why it is so important to regularly wash your hands, especially during flu season.

Keep your body hydrated by drinking plenty of water. The average adult needs to drink a minimum of eight, 8-ounce glasses a day to achieve the proper level of hydration. Doing so will help to keep your system flushed of various toxins.

Get your exercise. Aside from the obvious reasons, aerobic exercise causes your heart to pump larger quantities of blood at a faster rate. In turn, your breathing rate increases in order to transfer oxygen from the lungs to your blood. The end result is that you sweat. This process has been shown to increase virus-killing cells within the body.

Eat a balanced and healthy diet. Regular consumption of certain food items has actually been shown to reduce colds and flu. Yogurt and garlic are two in particular. Any vegetables or fruits that are dark green, red, or yellow in color should also be a part of your normal repertoire, as they are chock full of phytochemicals, natural plant chemicals that boost the potency of the vitamins that are in the food you ingest.

Get a flu shot every fall. The CDC recommends this type of shot for anyone who wants to avoid the flu, but you should consult with your doctor to see if it's right for you.

Economic Calendar for the Week of October 15 - October 19

A “Gross” Domestic Product. And last week’s final reading of GDP for the second quarter was far from pretty. Read on to learn why this matters…and how home loan rates are faring.

Last week, the final reading of GDP for the second quarter was reported at an anemic 1.3%. This was after a sizable downward revision to previous estimates—and this is significant because GDP is the broadest measure of economic activity. In addition, Durable Goods Orders (i.e. orders for products like furniture and computers that are designed to last for an extended period of time) came in shockingly low. Figures like these speak to the improvement needed in our economy, and are a big reason why the Fed announced its latest round of Bond buying (known as Quantitative Easing or QE3) on September 13.

There was some surprisingly good news last week, as Initial Jobless Claims came in at 359,000, much better than expected and the best reading since late July. One of the main objectives of QE3 is to promote job growth, which is essential for our economy to grow. Time will tell if QE3 and this money injection into the economy will spark economic growth and lower unemployment…or if it will devalue the U.S. Dollar, raise commodity and asset prices like Stocks, and heighten inflation fears.

So what does all of this mean for home loan rates? Inflation is the arch enemy of Bonds and home loan rates because it reduces the value of fixed investments like Bonds. If inflation does creep into the economy, this could have a negative impact on Bonds and home loan rates in the coming months.

On the flip side of that, negative economic news like the GDP Report and Durable Goods Orders often causes investors to move their money out of risky investments like Stocks and into safer investments like Bonds, including Mortgage Bonds (which home loan rates are based on). That’s why home loan rates often improve when our economy is struggling. In addition, investors also tend to move their money into safe investments like our Bonds during times of global uncertainty, such as last week’s strikes in Greece and riots in Spain. These two factors and the Fed’s QE3 Mortgage Bond purchases are the main reasons that Bonds and home loan rates have improved of late.

The bottom line is that home loan rates remain near historic lows, meaning now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2012

The Hispanic population is the largest ethnic or minority race in America. In fact, 52 million Hispanics now live in the United States…which is more than double from 20 million in 1990. By the year 2050, the Hispanic population in the U.S. is estimated to reach 132 million!

Reach out…

Now’s the perfect time to connect with your Spanish-speaking clients and potential clients by wishing them a happy Hispanic Heritage Month this September 15 through October 15!

A little history…

Originally authorized by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as National Hispanic Heritage Week, the observance was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1988. September 15 was chosen as the first day of the celebration because it is celebrated as the independence day of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, and Chile celebrates on September 18.

Discover more…

Read stats and facts about Hispanic Heritage Month on the U.S. Census Bureau’s facts and features page! You can even pass the link on to clients and referral partners who might be interested in learning more.

Economic Calendar for the Week of October 01 - October 05

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. And despite a slew of disappointing economic news last week, home loan rates continue to reach record best levels. Read on for details.

The majority of economic reports released last week added to the uncertainty about our economic outlook. Retail Sales fell more than expected while the NY State Manufacturing Index remains at relatively low levels. In addition, the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) reported that the outlook for job growth has fallen due to a weakening economy. The survey revealed that 23% on those polled in July think that US employment will rise over the next six months, down from 39% in April.

But the economic news wasn’t all negative. Inflation at the consumer level remained tame in July, while Housing Starts for June increased nearly 7% to 760,000. This marks the highest level for housing starts since October 2008. Since home builders don't start a house unless they are fairly confident it will sell upon its completion, if not before, changes in the rate of housing starts can tell us a lot about demand for homes and the construction outlook.

In other important news last week, Fed Chairmen Ben Bernanke was on Capitol Hill delivering his semi-annual testimony before both the Senate and House. He confirmed that our economy is weak, uncertainty in Europe is threatening U.S. growth, and unemployment is stubbornly high. But perhaps more significant was what Bernanke didn’t say: There was no mention or hint of another round of Bond buying (known as Quantitative Easing or QE3) at the next Fed Meeting.

It’s important to remember that rumors or hints of QE3 could help Bonds (and thus home loan rates, which are tied to Mortgage Bonds), but once an official announcement is made, Bonds and home loan rates could suffer as Stocks would likely rally. However, the weak economic data here and the continued problems in Europe mean that investors will likely continue to see our Bonds as a safe haven for their money…helping home loan rates in the process.

The bottom line is that home loan rates continue to reach historic lows, making now a great time to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

One Day = 1,440 Minutes

By Jason Womack, Author. Productivity Coach. http://amzn.to/bestbetter

Schedule "think" time on your calendar.

Start with blocks of 15 minutes. I recommend you schedule five of these sessions over the next week. Consider starting with just one a day.

There are two goals for this activity:

• Rarely do you get enough time to focus on one thing while you're at work. To get better at what you do, you MUST practice focusing. I want you to be able to hold your concentration on one topic, idea or problem for extended periods of time. During these focus sessions, you may come up with a new or different solution just because you had "time to think."

• If you schedule just one 15-minute block of think time a day, you'll be able to do it. (I've seen too many people try to block out an hour or two, only to have "something come up" that pulls them out for half or even all of that time.) 15 minutes...it's short enough to find, and long enough to matter!

Economic Calendar for the Week of July 23 - July 27

"Gonna keep on tryin' till I reach the highest ground." Stevie Wonder. And US Bonds (including Mortgage Bonds, to which home loan rates are tied) are continuing to reach for the “highest ground” or best levels ever. Read on for details.

Last week, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke was mum about another round of Quantitative Easing (QE3). This put a pause on the Stock rally we saw midweek, to the benefit of the Bond Markets and home loan rates.

Also helping Bonds and hurting Stocks was a threat by Credit Rating firm Fitch, who said that the US may lose its AAA rating next year unless Congress comes up with a credible plan to significantly cut the budget deficit. And Fitch didn't stop there. They downgraded Spain three notches to BBB, which is just two notches above junk status!

The lack of confirmation of QE3, the US debt downgrade threat, and the escalating drama in Europe caused a "risk-off" trade or flight to safety into the US Dollar. This means US Bonds are being purchased as a safe place to "park" money, and this is helping Bonds and home loan rates reach for their best levels. And while that’s great news for TN homebuyers, it is also important for our economy to strengthen and improve. Last week’s economic report calendar was light, though we did see a glimmer of good news as the latest weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report showed its first decline since April.

The bottom line is that now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a Brentwood TN home, as home loan rates are reaching for historic lows. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all.

Stolen LinkedIn Passwords are Only Half the Problem

Last week, a high-profile hack resulted in millions of people worrying about the security of their accounts on sites such as LinkedIn, eHarmony, and the BBC.

In response to the situation, LinkedIn deactivated the stolen passwords and sent emails to the owners of those accounts with information on resetting their passwords. By the end of the week, LinkedIn had not been able to identify any actual account break-ins due to the compromised passwords.

But the stolen passwords were just the first problem!

Watch Out for a Second Scam

Soon after the highly publicized hacking, a second attack wave was unleashed on unsuspecting LinkedIn members. The second wave came in the form of a phishing scam. This scam consisted of phony emails that look as if they were sent from LinkedIn. The phony emails include a link that directs users to a phony website that looks like it will reset the LinkedIn password. And, you guessed it, once users put their information into the website, they’re vulnerable all over again!

Don’t Click That Link!

LinkedIn has confirmed that it is sending emails to members whose passwords were compromised, but the company stresses that those emails do NOT include any links. Instead, the company has included specific instructions that need to be followed to reset the password. So if you see an email that looks like it will help you reset your password, don’t bite.

Stay Up to Date

As part of its communication to members, LinkedIn posted some important reminders about best practices for protecting passwords from phishing scams and other malicious scams.

You can read the password best practices on LinkedIn’s blog and follow LinkedIn’s Twitter feed to stay informed on the latest developments of the hack.

Economic Calendar for the Week of June 11 - June 15

Last Week in Review: The Jobs Report for May was released. Was it good, bad, or ugly?

Forecast for the Week: The economic report calendar is light, but will the rally in Bonds and home loan rates continue?

View: Taking a home inventory is easier than you think...and it’s free! See important details below.

There’s good, there’s bad, and there’s ugly. And the Jobs Report for May was just plain ugly, with not one good data point within the release. Read on for details...and what they mean for home loan rates.

On Friday, the Labor Department reported that 69,000 jobs were created in May, with 82,000 private sector job gains offsetting government jobs losses. This was a HUGE downside miss - basically half of what was expected. Adding to the pain were downward revisions to the previous two months, which erased another 49,000 jobs from what was previously reported. And if that wasn't enough, the unemployment rate ticked up to 8.2%, when expectations were for it to hold steady.

The Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR) actually improved by .2% to 63.8, but it is still hovering at a 31-year low. The LFPR is quite simple: If you are 16 years of age and not in the military and you have a job, then you are participating. If you don't have a job, you are not participating - that is how the ratio is measured. The big picture is how do we as a country reverse this significantly negative trend? We must have more people participating or working to help pay for those who are not.

So what does all of this mean for home loan rates? Remember that weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve. And last week, several weak economic reports and the ongoing drama in Europe helped home loan rates reach record best levels. With inflation moderating, Stocks getting killed, and the US Dollar very strong thanks to the drama in Europe, the Fed has room for more stimulus (known as Quantitative Easing, or QE3). But it’s important to note that with home loan rates already at historic lows, another round of easing probably won’t cause home loan rates to move much lower.

The bottom line is that Brentwood TN home loan rates remain near historic lows and now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a Brentwood TN home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you.

Home Inventory Made Easy:

Send This Link to Clients and Friends

Here’s a great idea you can pass on to your clients, friends, and family members — whether they’ve owned a home for decades or are just settling into homeownership.

Imagine the nightmare of having a home damaged or destroyed. Then, to make matters worse, imagine trying to remember all of the home’s contents for insurance and replacement purposes. Many thousands of Americans find themselves in that situation every year.

Now’s the time to make sure that doesn’t happen!

Here’s how…

Homeowners can create a home inventory list with ease thanks to FREE access to the Insurance Information Institute’s "Know Your Stuff" software, which is available at www.knowyourstuff.org. The software is user friendly…available as an app…and even provides free secure storage online so users can be sure their inventory is accessible in the event that their home is damaged.

After a quick setup, users can create a name for each room in their home — kitchen, living room, family room, master bedroom — and begin adding items. A drop down list is even available with the most common household items as well as the specific information required by insurance companies, in case a claim needs to be filed. Want to add a picture or a receipt for a large ticket item? No problem, just upload the image.

Once the home inventory is completed, it’s a good idea to have the homeowner’s insurance agent review the list to make sure the home has sufficient coverage.

Economic Calendar for the Week of June 04 - June 08