Daily Quotes April 4, 2011!
"Adventure is a state of mind - and spirit. It comes with faith, for with complete faith, there is no fear of what faces you in life or death."
-- Jacqueline Cochran, aviator
"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there."
-- Charles Kettering, Social Philosopher
"It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed."
-- Napolean Hill, author
"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
"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it - every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have."
-- John D. Rockefeller, industrialist
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Daily Quotes March 30, 2011!
Daily Quotes March 30, 2011!
"There comes a special moment in everyone's life; a moment for which
that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will
fulfill his mission-a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In
that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour."
-- Winston Churchill, British prime minister
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it
seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for
that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe, author
"I have always found that if I move with 75% or more of the facts, I
usually never regret it. It's the guys who wait to have everything
perfect that drive you crazy."
-- Lee Iacocca, executive
"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim and have
fixed their gaze on a goal that is high--one that sometimes seems
impossible."
-- Orison Swett Marden, Motivational Writer
"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a
man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher."
-- Thomas Huxley, Biologist
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
"There comes a special moment in everyone's life; a moment for which
that person was born. That special opportunity, when he seizes it, will
fulfill his mission-a mission for which he is uniquely qualified. In
that moment, he finds greatness. It is his finest hour."
-- Winston Churchill, British prime minister
"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you till it
seems you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for
that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
-- Harriet Beecher Stowe, author
"I have always found that if I move with 75% or more of the facts, I
usually never regret it. It's the guys who wait to have everything
perfect that drive you crazy."
-- Lee Iacocca, executive
"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim and have
fixed their gaze on a goal that is high--one that sometimes seems
impossible."
-- Orison Swett Marden, Motivational Writer
"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a
man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher."
-- Thomas Huxley, Biologist
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Daily Quotes March 28, 2011!
Daily Quotes March 28, 2011!
"I base my calculation on the expectation that luck will be against me."
-- Napolean Bonaparte, French emperor
"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I
regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field,
I would pick the trait of persistence."
-- Richard DeVos, Amway Co-founder
"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."
-- Dave Gardner, comedian
"There are three hungers that people are trying to feed throughout their
lives. The first is to connect deeply with the creative spirit of life.
The second is to know and express your gifts and talents. The third is
to know that our lives matter. Fulfillment comes from feeding these
three hungers."
-- Richard Leider, executive
"Any supervisor worth his salt would rather deal with people who attempt
too much than with those who try too little."
-- Lee Iacocca, executive
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
"I base my calculation on the expectation that luck will be against me."
-- Napolean Bonaparte, French emperor
"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I
regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field,
I would pick the trait of persistence."
-- Richard DeVos, Amway Co-founder
"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."
-- Dave Gardner, comedian
"There are three hungers that people are trying to feed throughout their
lives. The first is to connect deeply with the creative spirit of life.
The second is to know and express your gifts and talents. The third is
to know that our lives matter. Fulfillment comes from feeding these
three hungers."
-- Richard Leider, executive
"Any supervisor worth his salt would rather deal with people who attempt
too much than with those who try too little."
-- Lee Iacocca, executive
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Daily Quotes March 21, 2011!
Daily Quotes March 21, 2011!
"Learn to see in another's calamity the ills that you should avoid."
-- Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president
"Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even the
greatest business triumph would be dull, routine and eminently
unsatisfying."
-- J. Paul Getty, industrialist
"When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you
you're nuts."
-- Larry Ellison, entrepreneur
"The man who gets the most satisfactory results is not always the man
with the most brilliant single mind, but rather the man who can best
coordinate the brains and talents of his associates."
-- Alton Jones, industrialist
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
"Learn to see in another's calamity the ills that you should avoid."
-- Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. president
"Without the element of uncertainty, the bringing off of even the
greatest business triumph would be dull, routine and eminently
unsatisfying."
-- J. Paul Getty, industrialist
"When you innovate, you've got to be prepared for everyone telling you
you're nuts."
-- Larry Ellison, entrepreneur
"The man who gets the most satisfactory results is not always the man
with the most brilliant single mind, but rather the man who can best
coordinate the brains and talents of his associates."
-- Alton Jones, industrialist
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Daily Quotes March 17, 2011!
Daily Quotes March 17, 2011!
"I contend that not only can you laugh at adversity, but it is essential
to do so if you are to deal with setbacks without defeat."
-- Allen Klein, businessman
"It's better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize
at length and be right too late."
-- Marilyn Kennedy, leadership coach
"The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart."
-- Robert Ingersoll, orator
"Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought."
-- Napolean Hill, author
"No one's happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy."
-- Ayn Rand, writer
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor You Want!
"I contend that not only can you laugh at adversity, but it is essential
to do so if you are to deal with setbacks without defeat."
-- Allen Klein, businessman
"It's better to be boldly decisive and risk being wrong than to agonize
at length and be right too late."
-- Marilyn Kennedy, leadership coach
"The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart."
-- Robert Ingersoll, orator
"Education comes from within; you get it by struggle and effort and thought."
-- Napolean Hill, author
"No one's happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy."
-- Ayn Rand, writer
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor You Want!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Daily Quotes March 9, 2011!
Daily Quotes March 9, 2011!
"Difficulties are things that show a man's nature."
-- Epictetus, philosopher
"You can't do it unless you can imagine it."
-- George Lucas, director
"Hope is a vigorous principle; it sets the head and heart to work, and
animates a man to do his utmost. It makes a seeming impossibility give
way."
-- Jeremy Collier, critic
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
"One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its
reward to the man who loves his work. But speaking for myself, I can
honestly say this isn't so... I continue to find my greatest pleasure,
and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls
success."
-- Thomas Edison, inventor
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
"Difficulties are things that show a man's nature."
-- Epictetus, philosopher
"You can't do it unless you can imagine it."
-- George Lucas, director
"Hope is a vigorous principle; it sets the head and heart to work, and
animates a man to do his utmost. It makes a seeming impossibility give
way."
-- Jeremy Collier, critic
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-- Eleanor Roosevelt
"One might think that the money value of an invention constitutes its
reward to the man who loves his work. But speaking for myself, I can
honestly say this isn't so... I continue to find my greatest pleasure,
and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls
success."
-- Thomas Edison, inventor
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
Friday, March 4, 2011
For the week of February 28, 2011
For the week of February 28, 2011
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE
Market Update
Things do keep changing, but we all hope that by and large those changes mean progress. We certainly saw evidence of that in the housing market last week, as Existing Home Sales headed up in January for the third month in a row. They've now reached a 5.36 million annual rate, close to the long-term trend of 5.5 million and up over 5% from a year ago. This, as Martha Stewart says, is "a good thing," since the supply of existing homes has now dropped to 7.6 months, close to the 6-month ideal, which favors neither buyers nor sellers.
The Case-Shiller home price index for the 20 largest metros was down in December, its sixth straight monthly decline since the tax credit ended. The media seemed thrilled to announce a "double dip" in housing prices, probably because they've been unable to use their "double dip" catch phrase for anything else. The facts, as usual, tell another story. Case-Shiller was down just 2.4% for the year, its smallest drop since the 2006 price peak. And some observers anticipate modest price gains this year. New Home Sales did fall 12.6% in January, which may have been due to the bad weather, though sales were up in the Northeast and Midwest and down in the West and South. Go figure. Inventories are now at their lowest level since 1967.
BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK...Targeting is a powerful business strategy. Don't try to be all things to all people. Pick a niche. The secret to broadening your appeal often lies in narrowing your focus.
Review of Last Week
BULLS TAKE A BREATHER...Everyone on Wall Street had Presidents Day off Monday but the bulls never really showed up for work the rest of the week either. Well, bulls did stage a bit of a comeback on Friday, but it wasn't enough to bring stock prices up to where they were the week before. So after three weeks of charging higher, the markets fell off, as all three major indexes went south for the week.
The Middle East continues to trouble investors, with Libya the latest focal point for that region's violent uprisings. There was a sympathetic jump in oil prices, never a good development for our economy, and the week ended with the second estimate for Q4 GDP revised DOWN to a 2.8% growth rate from the original 3.2%. Weighing in against these negatives, the latest Consumer Confidence Report showed people's attitudes about the economy are actually growing more upbeat. The Richmond Fed index showed robust manufacturing growth in the important mid-Atlantic region. And initial jobless claims went below 400,000 for the week, while continuing claims remain under 4 million.
For the week, the Dow ended down 2.1%, at 12,130; the S&P 500 was down 1.7%, to 1,320; and the Nasdaq was off 1.9%, ending at 2,781 .
Bond prices benefited from both increased tensions in the Middle East and the drop in GDP. The flight to safety helped the FNMA 4.0% bond we watch end decidedly up for the week, closing at $98.17. Mortgage rates eased a tad lower again. Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgages showed national average fixed-rate mortgage rates staying down near historic lows.
DID YOU KNOW?...Mortgage interest rates are based on Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), also called mortgage bonds. When bond prices go up, mortgage rates go down, but when bonds drop, rates rise.
This Week’s Forecast
STEADY AS SHE GOES...This week there's a wide range of economic news, but it's all expected to be a bit bland. Core PCE Prices, the Fed's favorite inflation measure, should drift up a little, but stay well within the target range. The ISM and Chicago PMI indexes are forecast to show manufacturing growing, though at no faster a rate. Pending Home Sales, a measure of signed contracts for closings a few months out, should be down a bit in December after being up a bit the previous month. Q4 Productivity is expected to hold steady.
The big news of course will be the February Employment Report come Friday. But again, steady progress is predicted, not the dramatic boost in jobs we need. With 180,000 new jobs forecast, the unemployment rate will actually inch up because of workforce expansion.
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.
Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months...There are more rumblings about inflation, which could send the Fed Funds Rate heading north, but not while the jobs recovery is proceeding at such a snail's pace. For the first half of the year, economists think there is virtually zero likelihood of a rate hike from the Fed. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE
Market Update
Things do keep changing, but we all hope that by and large those changes mean progress. We certainly saw evidence of that in the housing market last week, as Existing Home Sales headed up in January for the third month in a row. They've now reached a 5.36 million annual rate, close to the long-term trend of 5.5 million and up over 5% from a year ago. This, as Martha Stewart says, is "a good thing," since the supply of existing homes has now dropped to 7.6 months, close to the 6-month ideal, which favors neither buyers nor sellers.
The Case-Shiller home price index for the 20 largest metros was down in December, its sixth straight monthly decline since the tax credit ended. The media seemed thrilled to announce a "double dip" in housing prices, probably because they've been unable to use their "double dip" catch phrase for anything else. The facts, as usual, tell another story. Case-Shiller was down just 2.4% for the year, its smallest drop since the 2006 price peak. And some observers anticipate modest price gains this year. New Home Sales did fall 12.6% in January, which may have been due to the bad weather, though sales were up in the Northeast and Midwest and down in the West and South. Go figure. Inventories are now at their lowest level since 1967.
BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK...Targeting is a powerful business strategy. Don't try to be all things to all people. Pick a niche. The secret to broadening your appeal often lies in narrowing your focus.
Review of Last Week
BULLS TAKE A BREATHER...Everyone on Wall Street had Presidents Day off Monday but the bulls never really showed up for work the rest of the week either. Well, bulls did stage a bit of a comeback on Friday, but it wasn't enough to bring stock prices up to where they were the week before. So after three weeks of charging higher, the markets fell off, as all three major indexes went south for the week.
The Middle East continues to trouble investors, with Libya the latest focal point for that region's violent uprisings. There was a sympathetic jump in oil prices, never a good development for our economy, and the week ended with the second estimate for Q4 GDP revised DOWN to a 2.8% growth rate from the original 3.2%. Weighing in against these negatives, the latest Consumer Confidence Report showed people's attitudes about the economy are actually growing more upbeat. The Richmond Fed index showed robust manufacturing growth in the important mid-Atlantic region. And initial jobless claims went below 400,000 for the week, while continuing claims remain under 4 million.
For the week, the Dow ended down 2.1%, at 12,130; the S&P 500 was down 1.7%, to 1,320; and the Nasdaq was off 1.9%, ending at 2,781 .
Bond prices benefited from both increased tensions in the Middle East and the drop in GDP. The flight to safety helped the FNMA 4.0% bond we watch end decidedly up for the week, closing at $98.17. Mortgage rates eased a tad lower again. Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgages showed national average fixed-rate mortgage rates staying down near historic lows.
DID YOU KNOW?...Mortgage interest rates are based on Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), also called mortgage bonds. When bond prices go up, mortgage rates go down, but when bonds drop, rates rise.
This Week’s Forecast
STEADY AS SHE GOES...This week there's a wide range of economic news, but it's all expected to be a bit bland. Core PCE Prices, the Fed's favorite inflation measure, should drift up a little, but stay well within the target range. The ISM and Chicago PMI indexes are forecast to show manufacturing growing, though at no faster a rate. Pending Home Sales, a measure of signed contracts for closings a few months out, should be down a bit in December after being up a bit the previous month. Q4 Productivity is expected to hold steady.
The big news of course will be the February Employment Report come Friday. But again, steady progress is predicted, not the dramatic boost in jobs we need. With 180,000 new jobs forecast, the unemployment rate will actually inch up because of workforce expansion.
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.
Federal Reserve Watch
Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months...There are more rumblings about inflation, which could send the Fed Funds Rate heading north, but not while the jobs recovery is proceeding at such a snail's pace. For the first half of the year, economists think there is virtually zero likelihood of a rate hike from the Fed. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.
All "Betts" on Brian! The Only Realtor you Want!
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