Home Base
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE We continue to see signs of improvement in the housing market and last week showed us a surprising 9.6% increase in new single-family home sales for July. This was their steepest percent rise since 2005. New home sales are now at a 433,000 annual rate, up 31.6% from their January low. Even more significantly, inventory of unsold new homes plummeted to a 7.5 month supply from their 8.5 month level in June. This put inventories at 271,000, down over 52% from their mid-2006 peak, and at their lowest level since 1993. New home sales have now been up 4 months in a row, increasing since March at an annualized rate of more than 121%!
Prior to this good news, the Case-Shiller home price index reported a quarterly rise in prices for the first time in three years. The index also posted its second straight monthly increase, up 1.4% for the 20 metro areas it tracks. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's purchase-only index had home prices up 0.5% in June following a 0.6% rise in May. The FHFA index is up 0.5% for the first six months this year. Agency chief Edward J. DeMarco said: "This is further evidence that prices may be stabilizing for the nation as a whole."
Finally, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported mortgage applications for home purchases were up 1.0% last week over the week before. This was the fourth consecutive weekly gain for home-purchase applications.
>> Review of Last Week
UP A LITTLE MORE... The Dow went up eight days in a row before it slipped just 36 points on Friday. This was the venerable index's longest uninterrupted advance in over two years and, despite the small drop on Friday, it was still UP 0.4% for the week!
Tuesday saw consumer confidence come in at 54.1, way higher than the previous 47.4 reading. And Friday, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment for August hit 65.7, up nicely sfrom last month's 63.2. We also had durable goods orders up a healthy 4.9% for July. For the past three months there have been gains in these orders that are now showing up as increased shipments, which will boost Q3 GDP. As far as Q2 GDP is concerned, last week's preliminary reading was unchanged from the advanced reading of –1.0% and better than the expected –1.5%. This was helped by a consumer spending decline that was smaller than anticipated. Yay!
Please note that corporate profits in Q2 grew at an annual rate of 24.9%, following their 22.8% growth rate in Q1. And all the Q2 profit growth came from US operations, not revenues earned overseas. Some analysts feel it won't be long before these profits go into more US business investment and hiring. New claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 10,000 and continuing claims fell by 119,000. Finally, President Obama nominated Ben Bernanke for a second term as Fed Chairman, a move investors expected.
For the week, the Dow was UP 0.4%, to 9544.20; the S&P 500 inched UP 0.3%, to 1028.93; while the Nasdaq ended UP 0.4%, to 2028.77.
Bond prices did pretty well for the week, in spite of the big auction offerings that could have depressed prices but didn't. In fact, the price of the FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we follow edged up from the previous week's $99.69 close, ending at $100.19. Mortgage interest rates were up slightly for the week, but still well within the historically low levels they've been at all year.
>> This Week’s Forecast
THE FACTORIES, THE FED, THE JOBS... Well, the start of the week features two good looks at the state of manufacturing, with the Chicago PMI and the ISM Index. Midweek, the FOMC Minutes should shed some light on the Fed's view of the economy at their last meeting. Then the week ends big with the August employment report. Many economic indicators are now picking up, but the jobs picture is always the last to brighten. Will we see some glimmers in the data?
>> 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.
Friday, September 4, 2009
JD Power has Ranked Keller Williams #1 in Client Satisfaction two years in a row!
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Brian E. Betts
801/858-3080
betts@kw.com
Keller Williams Realty Receives Nod as the
Highest Ranked in Customer Satisfaction
J.D. Power and Associates names company highest in customer satisfaction
for second year in a row
AUSTIN, TEXAS (September 2, 2009) —According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM, Keller Williams Realty, Inc., the third largest real estate company in North America, received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from home buyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the second year in a row. The company also ranked second-highest among home sellers in the study.
“We couldn’t be prouder. This is an achievement our associates have truly earned. It is the face-to-face interaction and the relationships they build daily that has impacted this study and elevated Keller Williams Realty to another level in customer service,” said Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty. “Knowing that this study was conducted during the toughest times the market has seen shows that spirit and dedication can make an impact.”
The study was produced by J.D. Power and Associates to measure home buyers’ and sellers’ customer satisfaction. The results of the home-buying experience were determined by three factors including the agent, office and the package of additional services.
“I am absolutely beaming with pride that our agents have been honored in such a fantastic way,” said Mary Tennant, president and COO of Keller Williams Realty. “We are lucky to be in business with such incredible business people, who have shown incredible resolve over the past two years. If there was a time to build their business, it is now.”
###
About Keller Williams Realty Inc.:
Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty Inc. is the third-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 679 offices and 73,000 associates in the United States and Canada. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale visit Keller Williams Realty online at (www.kw.com).
New Home Run 2! $4000 for a new home!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME RUN 2 GRANTS
What is the $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
The Home Run 2 Grant is a mortgage assistance program that grants $4,000 to home buyers who wish to: (A) have a new home constructed, (B) have a partially-constructed home completed, or (C) purchase a newly-constructed home. It must be the primary residence of the home buyer. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
How is Home Run 2 different from the first Home Run program?
The first Home Run program, which ended in June 2009, provided a $6,000 grant to eligible home buyers. Home Run 2 provides a $4,000 grant. The first program required that homes be ready for occupancy upon closing. Home Run 2 buyers have two additional options. They can purchase a home that is contracted for construction or partially finished and contracted for completion. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
When a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment is issued, if the Eligible Home is fully constructed, the Commitment expires 10 calendar days after the date of issuance (unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday and then it is the following business day). If the Eligible Home is somewhere in the construction process, the Commitment expires on June 30, 2010.
All other aspects of the program are materially the same as the first Home Run program, as summarized below.
Who is eligible to receive a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
• Home buyers who did not receive a $6,000 grant under the previous $6,000 Home Run Grant Program.
• Home buyers (any person taking title) must meet the following income restrictions:
Single person, maximum income, $75,000
Married couple, maximum income, $150,000
If more than one unmarried person is taking title to the Eligible Home, each such single person is subject to the $75,000 income limit.
Income calculations will be determined by the Adjusted Gross Income as verified by the Approved Lender using the 2008 IRS Federal Income Tax transcript obtained directly from IRS or from an authorized third-party vendor.
• Home buyers must occupy the purchased home as a primary, permanent residence.
• If home buyers need a mortgage loan to purchase the home, the loan must be a fixed interest rate, amortizing mortgage loan with a term of 30 years or less.
• The Home Run 2 Grant Program is effective only for home purchases closed after a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment has been issued for that specific transaction. The grant funds may not be issued for homes purchased prior to obtaining the Home Run 2 Grant Commitment.
Can Cash Buyers qualify to get the Home Run 2 Grant?
Yes. Cash Buyers must contact Utah Housing directly. Cash Buyers, like all other Buyers, must obtain a written Home Run 2 Grant Commitment prior to closing.
What property types can be purchased with a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
Eligible property types include single-family detached homes, condominiums, planned unit developments (PUD), twin homes, town homes and manufactured homes permanently affixed to a foundation.
What type of loan can a home buyer use to purchase the home?
If a home buyer needs a mortgage loan, it must be a fixed interest rate loan with a term of 30 years or less. Loans may be obtained from any Approved Lender. Examples of qualifying loans include:
Conventional loans
FHA, VA, or Rural Housing loans
Utah Housing Corporation loans
Cash Buyers should contact Utah Housing directly for assistance in qualifying.
How does a home buyer apply for a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
Apply for a grant through an Approved Lender, defined below. Approved Lenders are the key link between a home buyer and the Home Run 2 Grant. Approved Lenders are listed on this website. The Approved Lender assists a home buyer to provide necessary information to secure the grant commitment from Utah Housing Corporation. A home buyer does not work directly with Utah Housing Corporation (unless the home is being purchased for cash).
How do I find a lender to help me obtain a Home Run 2 Grant?
Look on the list of Approved Lenders for the Home Run 2 Grant Program on this Website.
How Does a Mortgage Lender Become an “Approved Lender” for the Home Run 2 Grant Program?
Any mortgage lender authorized to originate mortgage loans in Utah may click on Program Forms on this Website, access the document there titled “Home Run 2 Grant Funding Agreement” and review the contractual agreements contained in it. If the Agreement is acceptable, the mortgage lender must have the Agreement executed by someone from their organization with authority to sign legal contracts and forward the original, executed document to Utah Housing. Once Utah Housing completes its review of the dated, signed Agreement, the lender is added to the list of Approved Lenders on the Utah Housing Website.
Do I have to be a first-time home buyer to get a Home Run 2 Grant?
No. Home Run 2 Grants are available to all home buyers (all persons who take title) whose maximum income is $75,000 for singles, $150,000 for couples and, if more than one single person takes title, the $75,000 limit applies to each such single person.
Can the $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant be combined with the new $8,000 federal tax credit?
Yes, if home buyers meet the independent criteria of both the federal government and the Home Run 2 Grant programs, they may take advantage of both. The $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant is available to both those who are first-time home buyers as well as those who previously owned a home. The $8,000 federal tax credit is available only to first-time home buyers.
How many Home Run 2 Grants are available to home buyers?
A total of approximately 1,950 grants of $4,000 each will be available. Only one grant can be used for the purchase of each home and can only be issued to persons who did not obtain a grant under the previous $6,000 Home Run Program. Home Run 2 Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to fully-qualified home buyers. The approximate number of remaining grants is posted at all times on Utah Housing web page at www.utahhousingcorp.org.
Is the Home Run 2 Grant taxable?
The Home Run 2 Grant will probably be taxable as income under federal and state tax laws. Utah Housing does not provide any tax advice regarding the taxability of the Home Run 2 Grant. If Utah Housing receives a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that a Home Run Grant is not taxable, Utah Housing will post the ruling on its Website (www.utahhousingcorp.org) and a home buyer should review the ruling in connection with the preparation of their tax return(s).
If I have additional questions, who do I contact?
Contact an Approved Lender.
Important Note: Buyers should make sure that they work closely with an Approved Lender for the Home Run 2 Grant Program to ensure that required materials are submitted in a timely manner, but not prematurely.
When a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment is issued, if the Eligible Home is fully constructed, the Commitment expires 10 calendar days after the date of issuance (unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday and then it is the following business day). If the Eligible Home is somewhere in the construction process, the Commitment expires on June 30, 2010.
Steps to obtain a Home Run 2 Grant.
1. Buyer signs a contract to: (A) have a new home constructed, (B) have a partially-constructed home completed, or (C) purchase a newly-constructed home. It must be the primary residence of the home buyer. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
2. Buyer applies for mortgage loan through an Approved Lender and Approved Lender obtains all required Home Run 2 documentation and written loan underwriting approval.
3. When all required Application materials have been obtained, Approved Lender submits a Home Run 2 Grant Request to Utah Housing and receives from Utah Housing a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment authorizing the Grant for the Buyer.
4. The purchase closing is scheduled at a title company. As soon as closing documents have been signed, the title company faxes required documents to Utah Housing so that it can request that the Escrow Agent send a wire of $4,000 to the closing.
5. The Home Run 2 Grant Commitment must be dated on or prior to the date shown on closing documents.
Click Here for More Info!
What is the $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
The Home Run 2 Grant is a mortgage assistance program that grants $4,000 to home buyers who wish to: (A) have a new home constructed, (B) have a partially-constructed home completed, or (C) purchase a newly-constructed home. It must be the primary residence of the home buyer. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
How is Home Run 2 different from the first Home Run program?
The first Home Run program, which ended in June 2009, provided a $6,000 grant to eligible home buyers. Home Run 2 provides a $4,000 grant. The first program required that homes be ready for occupancy upon closing. Home Run 2 buyers have two additional options. They can purchase a home that is contracted for construction or partially finished and contracted for completion. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
When a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment is issued, if the Eligible Home is fully constructed, the Commitment expires 10 calendar days after the date of issuance (unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday and then it is the following business day). If the Eligible Home is somewhere in the construction process, the Commitment expires on June 30, 2010.
All other aspects of the program are materially the same as the first Home Run program, as summarized below.
Who is eligible to receive a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
• Home buyers who did not receive a $6,000 grant under the previous $6,000 Home Run Grant Program.
• Home buyers (any person taking title) must meet the following income restrictions:
Single person, maximum income, $75,000
Married couple, maximum income, $150,000
If more than one unmarried person is taking title to the Eligible Home, each such single person is subject to the $75,000 income limit.
Income calculations will be determined by the Adjusted Gross Income as verified by the Approved Lender using the 2008 IRS Federal Income Tax transcript obtained directly from IRS or from an authorized third-party vendor.
• Home buyers must occupy the purchased home as a primary, permanent residence.
• If home buyers need a mortgage loan to purchase the home, the loan must be a fixed interest rate, amortizing mortgage loan with a term of 30 years or less.
• The Home Run 2 Grant Program is effective only for home purchases closed after a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment has been issued for that specific transaction. The grant funds may not be issued for homes purchased prior to obtaining the Home Run 2 Grant Commitment.
Can Cash Buyers qualify to get the Home Run 2 Grant?
Yes. Cash Buyers must contact Utah Housing directly. Cash Buyers, like all other Buyers, must obtain a written Home Run 2 Grant Commitment prior to closing.
What property types can be purchased with a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
Eligible property types include single-family detached homes, condominiums, planned unit developments (PUD), twin homes, town homes and manufactured homes permanently affixed to a foundation.
What type of loan can a home buyer use to purchase the home?
If a home buyer needs a mortgage loan, it must be a fixed interest rate loan with a term of 30 years or less. Loans may be obtained from any Approved Lender. Examples of qualifying loans include:
Conventional loans
FHA, VA, or Rural Housing loans
Utah Housing Corporation loans
Cash Buyers should contact Utah Housing directly for assistance in qualifying.
How does a home buyer apply for a $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant?
Apply for a grant through an Approved Lender, defined below. Approved Lenders are the key link between a home buyer and the Home Run 2 Grant. Approved Lenders are listed on this website. The Approved Lender assists a home buyer to provide necessary information to secure the grant commitment from Utah Housing Corporation. A home buyer does not work directly with Utah Housing Corporation (unless the home is being purchased for cash).
How do I find a lender to help me obtain a Home Run 2 Grant?
Look on the list of Approved Lenders for the Home Run 2 Grant Program on this Website.
How Does a Mortgage Lender Become an “Approved Lender” for the Home Run 2 Grant Program?
Any mortgage lender authorized to originate mortgage loans in Utah may click on Program Forms on this Website, access the document there titled “Home Run 2 Grant Funding Agreement” and review the contractual agreements contained in it. If the Agreement is acceptable, the mortgage lender must have the Agreement executed by someone from their organization with authority to sign legal contracts and forward the original, executed document to Utah Housing. Once Utah Housing completes its review of the dated, signed Agreement, the lender is added to the list of Approved Lenders on the Utah Housing Website.
Do I have to be a first-time home buyer to get a Home Run 2 Grant?
No. Home Run 2 Grants are available to all home buyers (all persons who take title) whose maximum income is $75,000 for singles, $150,000 for couples and, if more than one single person takes title, the $75,000 limit applies to each such single person.
Can the $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant be combined with the new $8,000 federal tax credit?
Yes, if home buyers meet the independent criteria of both the federal government and the Home Run 2 Grant programs, they may take advantage of both. The $4,000 Home Run 2 Grant is available to both those who are first-time home buyers as well as those who previously owned a home. The $8,000 federal tax credit is available only to first-time home buyers.
How many Home Run 2 Grants are available to home buyers?
A total of approximately 1,950 grants of $4,000 each will be available. Only one grant can be used for the purchase of each home and can only be issued to persons who did not obtain a grant under the previous $6,000 Home Run Program. Home Run 2 Grants are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to fully-qualified home buyers. The approximate number of remaining grants is posted at all times on Utah Housing web page at www.utahhousingcorp.org.
Is the Home Run 2 Grant taxable?
The Home Run 2 Grant will probably be taxable as income under federal and state tax laws. Utah Housing does not provide any tax advice regarding the taxability of the Home Run 2 Grant. If Utah Housing receives a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that a Home Run Grant is not taxable, Utah Housing will post the ruling on its Website (www.utahhousingcorp.org) and a home buyer should review the ruling in connection with the preparation of their tax return(s).
If I have additional questions, who do I contact?
Contact an Approved Lender.
Important Note: Buyers should make sure that they work closely with an Approved Lender for the Home Run 2 Grant Program to ensure that required materials are submitted in a timely manner, but not prematurely.
When a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment is issued, if the Eligible Home is fully constructed, the Commitment expires 10 calendar days after the date of issuance (unless that day falls on a weekend or holiday and then it is the following business day). If the Eligible Home is somewhere in the construction process, the Commitment expires on June 30, 2010.
Steps to obtain a Home Run 2 Grant.
1. Buyer signs a contract to: (A) have a new home constructed, (B) have a partially-constructed home completed, or (C) purchase a newly-constructed home. It must be the primary residence of the home buyer. Homes that have been previously occupied do not qualify.
2. Buyer applies for mortgage loan through an Approved Lender and Approved Lender obtains all required Home Run 2 documentation and written loan underwriting approval.
3. When all required Application materials have been obtained, Approved Lender submits a Home Run 2 Grant Request to Utah Housing and receives from Utah Housing a Home Run 2 Grant Commitment authorizing the Grant for the Buyer.
4. The purchase closing is scheduled at a title company. As soon as closing documents have been signed, the title company faxes required documents to Utah Housing so that it can request that the Escrow Agent send a wire of $4,000 to the closing.
5. The Home Run 2 Grant Commitment must be dated on or prior to the date shown on closing documents.
Click Here for More Info!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Quotes!
Here are some quotes!
"We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped
by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them
like a shadow that never leaves them."
-- Buddha
"Investment decisions or personal decisions don't wait for the picture
to be clarified."
-- Andrew Grove, executive
"It's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you
stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose, and focus all
your full attention on what's happening right at this moment."
-- Phil Jackson, basketball coach
"We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else,
a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to
that one objective."
-- Dwight Eisenhower, 34th U.S. president
"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will and be
judged by only one thing: the result."
-- Vince Lombardi, football coach
"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
shoulder of giants."
-- Isaac Newton, scientist
"I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability
to take advantage of it. The man who can smile at his breaks and grab
his chances gets on."
-- Samuel Goldwyn, movie executive
"A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and
usually the best way to get there."
-- H. Stanley Judd, Writer
"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to
use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal,
and by maintaining focus."
-- Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
"He who hesitates is poor."
-- Mel Brooks, director
"Every time we've moved ahead in IBM, it was because someone was willing
to take a chance, put his head on the block and try something new."
-- Thomas J. Watson, executive
"I think there's a great beauty to having problems. That's one of the
ways we learn."
-- Herbie Hancock, musician
"My father taught me that reputation, not money, was the most important
thing in the world."
-- William Rosenberg, Dunkin Donuts founder
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone
who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep
your mind young."
-- Henry Ford, Industrialist
"Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude."
-- Ralph Marston, Author
"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem
improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become
inevitable."
-- Christopher Reeve, Actor
"We must do that which we think we cannot."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
-- Arthur Ashe, Tennis Player
"No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an
uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."
-- Helen Keller, lecturer
"You can't steal second base and keep you foot on first."
-- Frederick Wilcox, writer
"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I
think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible
for myself, and I had to make good."
-- Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host
"I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of
success, but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to
keep faith with life."
-- Madeleine Albright, secretary of state
"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of
courage and true progress."
-- Nicholas M. Butler, American Philosopher
"Success is always temporary. When all is said and done, the only thing
you'll have left is your character"
-- Vince Gill, Musician
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it
takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and
effort."
-- Jesse Owens, Olympic Athlete
"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see
farther."
-- J.P. Morgan, industrialist
"When the solution is simple, God is answering."
-- Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, writer
"Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what
he does from day to day to lead himself."
-- Thomas J. Watson Sr, executive
"The only certain means of success is to render more and better service
than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be."
-- Og Mandino, author
"Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will
have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire."
-- Napolean Hill, Motivational Writer
"People fail forward to success."
-- Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics mogul
"The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward
making it happen."
-- Lee Iacocca, Auto Executive
"What keeps so many employees back is simply unwillingness to pay the
price, to make the exertion, the effort to sacrifice their ease and
comfort."
-- Orison Swett Marden, motivational expert
"The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or
dishonor to the latest generation."
-- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn
again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility."
-- Albert Schweitzer, Humanitarian
"Great hopes make everything great possible."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Statesman/Mason
"Difficulties in life are intended to make us better not bitter."
-- Dan Reeves, Football Coach
"To succeed, it is necessary to accept the world as it is -- and rise
above it."
-- Michael Korda, Publisher
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes in to us at
midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in
our hands, and hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
-- John Wayne, Actor
"Fortune favors the audacious."
-- Desiderius Erasmus, Theologian
"People, when they first come to America, whether as travelers or
settlers, become aware of a new and agreeable feeling: that the whole
country is their oyster."
-- Alistair Cooke, Journalist
"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the
pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret
weighs tons."
-- Jim Rohn, Motivational Coach
"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to
performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
-- Robert Heinlein, American Novelist
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe
that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost,
must be attained"
-- Marie Curie, Chemist
"We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped
by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them
like a shadow that never leaves them."
-- Buddha
"Investment decisions or personal decisions don't wait for the picture
to be clarified."
-- Andrew Grove, executive
"It's no accident that things are more likely to go your way when you
stop worrying about whether you're going to win or lose, and focus all
your full attention on what's happening right at this moment."
-- Phil Jackson, basketball coach
"We succeed only as we identify in life, or in war, or in anything else,
a single overriding objective, and make all other considerations bend to
that one objective."
-- Dwight Eisenhower, 34th U.S. president
"Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will and be
judged by only one thing: the result."
-- Vince Lombardi, football coach
"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
shoulder of giants."
-- Isaac Newton, scientist
"I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability
to take advantage of it. The man who can smile at his breaks and grab
his chances gets on."
-- Samuel Goldwyn, movie executive
"A good plan is like a road map: it shows the final destination and
usually the best way to get there."
-- H. Stanley Judd, Writer
"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to
use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal,
and by maintaining focus."
-- Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
"He who hesitates is poor."
-- Mel Brooks, director
"Every time we've moved ahead in IBM, it was because someone was willing
to take a chance, put his head on the block and try something new."
-- Thomas J. Watson, executive
"I think there's a great beauty to having problems. That's one of the
ways we learn."
-- Herbie Hancock, musician
"My father taught me that reputation, not money, was the most important
thing in the world."
-- William Rosenberg, Dunkin Donuts founder
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone
who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep
your mind young."
-- Henry Ford, Industrialist
"Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude."
-- Ralph Marston, Author
"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem
improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become
inevitable."
-- Christopher Reeve, Actor
"We must do that which we think we cannot."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady
"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."
-- Arthur Ashe, Tennis Player
"No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an
uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."
-- Helen Keller, lecturer
"You can't steal second base and keep you foot on first."
-- Frederick Wilcox, writer
"I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I
think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible
for myself, and I had to make good."
-- Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host
"I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of
success, but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to
keep faith with life."
-- Madeleine Albright, secretary of state
"Optimism is essential to achievement and it is also the foundation of
courage and true progress."
-- Nicholas M. Butler, American Philosopher
"Success is always temporary. When all is said and done, the only thing
you'll have left is your character"
-- Vince Gill, Musician
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it
takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and
effort."
-- Jesse Owens, Olympic Athlete
"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see
farther."
-- J.P. Morgan, industrialist
"When the solution is simple, God is answering."
-- Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
"Keep your fears to yourself, but share your inspiration with others."
-- Robert Louis Stevenson, writer
"Nothing so conclusively proves a man's ability to lead others as what
he does from day to day to lead himself."
-- Thomas J. Watson Sr, executive
"The only certain means of success is to render more and better service
than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be."
-- Og Mandino, author
"Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will
have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire."
-- Napolean Hill, Motivational Writer
"People fail forward to success."
-- Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics mogul
"The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward
making it happen."
-- Lee Iacocca, Auto Executive
"What keeps so many employees back is simply unwillingness to pay the
price, to make the exertion, the effort to sacrifice their ease and
comfort."
-- Orison Swett Marden, motivational expert
"The fiery trials through which we pass will light us down in honor or
dishonor to the latest generation."
-- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn
again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility."
-- Albert Schweitzer, Humanitarian
"Great hopes make everything great possible."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Statesman/Mason
"Difficulties in life are intended to make us better not bitter."
-- Dan Reeves, Football Coach
"To succeed, it is necessary to accept the world as it is -- and rise
above it."
-- Michael Korda, Publisher
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes in to us at
midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in
our hands, and hopes we've learned something from yesterday."
-- John Wayne, Actor
"Fortune favors the audacious."
-- Desiderius Erasmus, Theologian
"People, when they first come to America, whether as travelers or
settlers, become aware of a new and agreeable feeling: that the whole
country is their oyster."
-- Alistair Cooke, Journalist
"We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the
pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret
weighs tons."
-- Jim Rohn, Motivational Coach
"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to
performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
-- Robert Heinlein, American Novelist
"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have
perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe
that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost,
must be attained"
-- Marie Curie, Chemist
Loan Mod! Too Good To Be True...
We hear lots things about Loan Mods, everyone's hope is to stay in their home. Moving is brutal under good circumstnaces. So it is easy for people to fall prey to loan mods scams. I am not aware of any well rated Loan Mod Companies out there. When your clients ask you about it...
Here is an article from Inman News
"""Florida officials are suing four related companies that were allegedly collecting up to $1 million a month in up-front fees for loan modification services that they failed to deliver, soliciting consumers through the Internet and automated phone calls using President Barack Obama's voice.
FHA All Day.Com, the company's owner, Jason Vitulano, and three other affiliated companies are accused of failing to perform services promised to homeowners facing foreclosure, after the Florida Attorney General's office received more than 300 complaints.
The companies allegedly charged up to $5,000 for loan modification services, claiming to have an attorney on staff even though investigators found no evidence that attorneys were working on any files, Attorney General Bill McCollum said in a press release.
The Miami Herald reported that one recorded call the companies allegedly used to solicit business began with a man saying, "Message from our president," followed by a recording of Obama saying: "All across this state, there are families who have done everything right, but are now facing foreclosure or are seeing their home values plummet."
The attorney general is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting FHA All Day.com, Safety Financial Services Inc., Housing Assistance Law Center, and Housing Assistance Now from charging up-front fees.
The lawsuit also seeks restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties of $15,000 for each violation of the Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation.
The Herald reported that when it tried to reach Vitulano Tuesday, nobody answered the phone at his business and his home telephone number had been disconnected.
The company's Web site, www.FHAALLDAY.com, informs visitors that the company is "no longer accepting any new applications."
The Federal Trade Commission last week announced a coordinated national effort to crack down on mortgage rescue scams, taking action with 23 state attorneys general against 178 companies accused of deceptively marketing foreclosure rescue and loan modification services."""
Again please let your folks know that people really do not have a lot of experience with Loan Mods and to be very leary of people looking for big money up front. For goodness sakes follow the old adage of, it is too good to be true...
Here is an article from Inman News
"""Florida officials are suing four related companies that were allegedly collecting up to $1 million a month in up-front fees for loan modification services that they failed to deliver, soliciting consumers through the Internet and automated phone calls using President Barack Obama's voice.
FHA All Day.Com, the company's owner, Jason Vitulano, and three other affiliated companies are accused of failing to perform services promised to homeowners facing foreclosure, after the Florida Attorney General's office received more than 300 complaints.
The companies allegedly charged up to $5,000 for loan modification services, claiming to have an attorney on staff even though investigators found no evidence that attorneys were working on any files, Attorney General Bill McCollum said in a press release.
The Miami Herald reported that one recorded call the companies allegedly used to solicit business began with a man saying, "Message from our president," followed by a recording of Obama saying: "All across this state, there are families who have done everything right, but are now facing foreclosure or are seeing their home values plummet."
The attorney general is seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting FHA All Day.com, Safety Financial Services Inc., Housing Assistance Law Center, and Housing Assistance Now from charging up-front fees.
The lawsuit also seeks restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties of $15,000 for each violation of the Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation.
The Herald reported that when it tried to reach Vitulano Tuesday, nobody answered the phone at his business and his home telephone number had been disconnected.
The company's Web site, www.FHAALLDAY.com, informs visitors that the company is "no longer accepting any new applications."
The Federal Trade Commission last week announced a coordinated national effort to crack down on mortgage rescue scams, taking action with 23 state attorneys general against 178 companies accused of deceptively marketing foreclosure rescue and loan modification services."""
Again please let your folks know that people really do not have a lot of experience with Loan Mods and to be very leary of people looking for big money up front. For goodness sakes follow the old adage of, it is too good to be true...
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Utah Ranked No. 1 for Expected Economic Recovery
Thought you might enjoy this!
by PR or News Wire
In the midst of economic turmoil, federal bailouts, and budget deficits in more than 40 states, a new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) offers a roadmap to recovery based on economic performance trends from states over the last 10 years. The second edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index shows how the federal bailout of the states may simply encourage out-of-control spending by states, which is up 124 percent over the last 10 years, without requiring them to make the tough decisions needed to bring about financial stability.
“Too many states were too eager to add programs and increase spending during the good times, but we now face very difficult choices,” said Indiana Senator Jim Buck, chairman of ALEC’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. “While we need to make tough choices to live within our means, we also need to remain focused on policies that foster economic development and job growth as the best solution to our budget woes.”
Co-author and renowned economist Dr. Arthur B. Laffer summarized the report's finding when he said, “States cannot tax their way into prosperity.” Rich States, Poor States presents rankings of the 50 states based on the relationship between policies and performance, revealing which states are best positioned to make a recovery, and which are not.
Laffer and his co-authors, Stephen Moore, senior economics writer at The Wall Street Journal, and Jonathan Williams, director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force for ALEC, analyze how economic competitiveness drives income, population and job growth in the states. They found that, “states with a high and rising tax burden are more likely to suffer through economic decline, while those with lower and falling tax burdens are more likely to enjoy robust economic growth.”
According to Williams, “The top performing states keep taxes, spending, and regulatory burdens low, while the biggest losers in the book tend to share similar policies of high tax rates, unsustainable spending and regulation.”
“New York earns the dubious distinction of having the worst economic outlook of any state,” according to the report. “The New York governor just might have broken the record for the number of bad ideas he put forward during a recent 17-minute budget address—most notably his 137 proposed tax increases come to mind.”
“As legislators, we know that we are in direct competition with other states for human and investment capital,” said Utah Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman, Senator Wayne Niederhauser. “Rich States, Poor States has provided invaluable information to strengthen our efforts to reduce tax burdens in Utah and we are happy to again be ranked as the most competitive state in the nation.”
TOP FIVE STATES BOTTOM FIVE STATES
1. Utah 46. New Jersey
2. Colorado 47. Maine
3. Arizona 48. Rhode Island
4. Virginia 49. Vermont
5. South Dakota 50. New York
Rich States, Poor States shows that “The decline of California is probably the best evidence that we can present as to the impact of poor state policy making on the economic pulse of a state.” In chapter two, the report contrasts the fiscal policy structures of California and Texas to “demonstrate how economic theory actually works in the real world.”
“California continues to increase regulations, raise taxes and spend profligately,” state the authors. “Texas, on the other hand, has a pro-growth economic environment with a competitive tax system, sound regulations and spending discipline that will help Texas maintain its superior performance well into the future.”
by PR or News Wire
09 June 2009—
In the midst of economic turmoil, federal bailouts, and budget deficits in more than 40 states, a new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) offers a roadmap to recovery based on economic performance trends from states over the last 10 years. The second edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index shows how the federal bailout of the states may simply encourage out-of-control spending by states, which is up 124 percent over the last 10 years, without requiring them to make the tough decisions needed to bring about financial stability.
“Too many states were too eager to add programs and increase spending during the good times, but we now face very difficult choices,” said Indiana Senator Jim Buck, chairman of ALEC’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force. “While we need to make tough choices to live within our means, we also need to remain focused on policies that foster economic development and job growth as the best solution to our budget woes.”
Co-author and renowned economist Dr. Arthur B. Laffer summarized the report's finding when he said, “States cannot tax their way into prosperity.” Rich States, Poor States presents rankings of the 50 states based on the relationship between policies and performance, revealing which states are best positioned to make a recovery, and which are not.
Laffer and his co-authors, Stephen Moore, senior economics writer at The Wall Street Journal, and Jonathan Williams, director of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force for ALEC, analyze how economic competitiveness drives income, population and job growth in the states. They found that, “states with a high and rising tax burden are more likely to suffer through economic decline, while those with lower and falling tax burdens are more likely to enjoy robust economic growth.”
According to Williams, “The top performing states keep taxes, spending, and regulatory burdens low, while the biggest losers in the book tend to share similar policies of high tax rates, unsustainable spending and regulation.”
“New York earns the dubious distinction of having the worst economic outlook of any state,” according to the report. “The New York governor just might have broken the record for the number of bad ideas he put forward during a recent 17-minute budget address—most notably his 137 proposed tax increases come to mind.”
“As legislators, we know that we are in direct competition with other states for human and investment capital,” said Utah Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman, Senator Wayne Niederhauser. “Rich States, Poor States has provided invaluable information to strengthen our efforts to reduce tax burdens in Utah and we are happy to again be ranked as the most competitive state in the nation.”
TOP FIVE STATES BOTTOM FIVE STATES
1. Utah 46. New Jersey
2. Colorado 47. Maine
3. Arizona 48. Rhode Island
4. Virginia 49. Vermont
5. South Dakota 50. New York
Rich States, Poor States shows that “The decline of California is probably the best evidence that we can present as to the impact of poor state policy making on the economic pulse of a state.” In chapter two, the report contrasts the fiscal policy structures of California and Texas to “demonstrate how economic theory actually works in the real world.”
“California continues to increase regulations, raise taxes and spend profligately,” state the authors. “Texas, on the other hand, has a pro-growth economic environment with a competitive tax system, sound regulations and spending discipline that will help Texas maintain its superior performance well into the future.”
Quotes!
"No matter how much success you're having, you can't continue working
together if you can't communicate."
-- Matt Cameron, Musician
"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
-- Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
"Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate."
-- John F. Kennedy, 35 President of the United States
"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss
the future."
-- John F. Kennedy, 35 President of the United States
"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-- Henry David Thoreau, Author
"Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material
gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and of all achievement."
-- Claude M. Bristol, Author
"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be
enthusiasm."
-- Bruce Barton, Author and Politician
"Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But
if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as
great today as they ever were."
-- David Rockefeller
"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to
performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
-- Robert Heinlein
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which
you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to
yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing
that comes along." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady
"You make the world a better place by making yourself a better person."
-- Scott Sorrell
"Without a compelling cause, our employees are just putting in time.
Their minds might be engaged, but their hearts are not. Meaning precedes
motivation."
-- Lee J. Colan
"The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to
do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from
meddling with them while they do it."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
"A good plan is like a road map: It shows the final destination and
usually the best way to get there."
-- H. Stanley Judd, Writer
"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by
drawbacks and discomforts."
-- Arnold Bennett, Novelist
"Failure is nature's plan to prepare you for great responsibilities."
-- Napolean Hill, Motivational Writer
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only
ones among you who will be really happy are those who sought and found
out how to serve."
-- Albert Schweitzer, Humanitarian
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with
success unexpected in common hours."
-- Henry David Thoreau, Author
"I have failed over and over again in my life. And that's precisely why I succeed."
-- Michael Jordan, basketball player
"It's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your
goal that will enable you to attain the success you seek."
-- Mario Andretti, Race Car Driver
"I don't believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I
do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing."
-- Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. president
"The greatest lesson of life is that you are responsible for your life."
-- Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
"I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of
any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything,
even nature."
-- John D. Rockefeller
"Not being in tune with your customers is like living in an alternate
reality; the way you think your customers feel about your product is not
always the same as what your customers really think about your product."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
"The discipline you learn and character you build from setting and
achieving a goal can be more valuable than the achievement of the goal
itself."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
"The one word that makes a good manager - decisiveness."
-- Lee Iacocca, Auto Executive
"Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem."
-- Henry Kissinger, secretary of state
"If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race
of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Philosopher
"Learning is not compulsory, but neither is survival."
-- W. Edwards Deming, quality expert
"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too
late the one that is open."
-- Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor
together if you can't communicate."
-- Matt Cameron, Musician
"Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
-- Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
"Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate."
-- John F. Kennedy, 35 President of the United States
"For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life.
And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss
the future."
-- John F. Kennedy, 35 President of the United States
"There is no remedy for love but to love more."
-- Henry David Thoreau, Author
"Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material
gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and of all achievement."
-- Claude M. Bristol, Author
"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be
enthusiasm."
-- Bruce Barton, Author and Politician
"Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But
if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as
great today as they ever were."
-- David Rockefeller
"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to
performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
-- Robert Heinlein
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which
you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to
yourself, "I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing
that comes along." . . . You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady
"You make the world a better place by making yourself a better person."
-- Scott Sorrell
"Without a compelling cause, our employees are just putting in time.
Their minds might be engaged, but their hearts are not. Meaning precedes
motivation."
-- Lee J. Colan
"The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to
do what he wants them to do, and self-restraint enough to keep from
meddling with them while they do it."
-- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States
"A good plan is like a road map: It shows the final destination and
usually the best way to get there."
-- H. Stanley Judd, Writer
"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by
drawbacks and discomforts."
-- Arnold Bennett, Novelist
"Failure is nature's plan to prepare you for great responsibilities."
-- Napolean Hill, Motivational Writer
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only
ones among you who will be really happy are those who sought and found
out how to serve."
-- Albert Schweitzer, Humanitarian
"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and
endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with
success unexpected in common hours."
-- Henry David Thoreau, Author
"I have failed over and over again in my life. And that's precisely why I succeed."
-- Michael Jordan, basketball player
"It's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your
goal that will enable you to attain the success you seek."
-- Mario Andretti, Race Car Driver
"I don't believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I
do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing."
-- Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. president
"The greatest lesson of life is that you are responsible for your life."
-- Oprah Winfrey, talk show host
"I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of
any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything,
even nature."
-- John D. Rockefeller
"Not being in tune with your customers is like living in an alternate
reality; the way you think your customers feel about your product is not
always the same as what your customers really think about your product."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
"The discipline you learn and character you build from setting and
achieving a goal can be more valuable than the achievement of the goal
itself."
-- Bo Bennett, Author
"The one word that makes a good manager - decisiveness."
-- Lee Iacocca, Auto Executive
"Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem."
-- Henry Kissinger, secretary of state
"If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race
of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, Roman Philosopher
"Learning is not compulsory, but neither is survival."
-- W. Edwards Deming, quality expert
"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too
late the one that is open."
-- Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor
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