Market Update

QUOTE OF THE WEEK... "Appearances are often deceiving." --Aesop, Ancient Greek storyteller INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... To some pundits and the mainstream media, March Housing Starts appeared disappointing: up a tepid 2.8% for the month and down 5.9% versus a year ago. But a closer examination of the report shows those headline numbers are deceiving. The low monthly number was all due to a drop in always volatile multi-family starts. Single family starts were up a strong 6.0% in March and are up 9.1% over the last two months. The 5-month moving average is the highest since July 2008. Plus, the number of homes under construction (started but not finished) is up 21% over a year ago! Reflecting this activity, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) April confidence index was up one point from March. Some analysts expect steady gains here, as the spring selling season picks up steam. We also saw construction employment, on the increase since June 2011, up 2.6% year over year in February. More evidence of a spring pickup came when the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported March listings on realtor.com were up 9.5% from a year ago. In addition to better selection, buyers get more time to decide. The median age of inventory was 102 days. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK... Stop doing so much! Look for ways to cut busy work. Group small tasks and do them during down time. Or outsource peripheral chores at a cost that's less than what you make working on your core business. Review of Last Week UP!... In the real world, what goes up must come down. On Wall Street, what goes down must come back up. So after the prior week's miserable performance, stocks last week shot up strongly. The S&P 500, in fact, enjoyed its best weekly gain since July 2013. Part of the investor optimism came from the EU, Russia, the U.S., and Ukraine making new efforts to resolve their differences. There was also some worthwhile economic data. Initial and continuing jobless claims both topped forecasts, while the Philly Fed manufacturing index almost doubled estimates. The rest of the reports were mixed. Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization bested expectations, while Retail Sales grew nicely in March. But Business Inventories and NY Empire Manufacturing disappointed, and Housing Starts and Building Permits were not as strong as forecast. The Fed Beige Book of observations from around the U.S. posited that "economic activity increased in most regions of the country since the previous report." Nonetheless, Fed Chair Janet Yellen told The Economic Club of New York that the central bank remains committed to an accommodative policy, meaning super low rates. The week ended with the Dow up 2.4%, to 16409; the S&P 500 up 2.7%, to 1865; and the Nasdaq up 2.4%, to 4096. There was heavy selling of Treasuries, and bonds in general suffered as both the U.S. economy and the Ukraine crisis showed signs of improvement. The FNMA 4.0% bond we watch finished the week down .05, at $104.15. Yet national average fixed mortgage rates fell for the second straight week and hit a six-week low in Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey for the week ended April 10. This of course helps affordability in the spring selling season. Remember, mortgage rates can be extremely volatile, so check with your mortgage professional for up to the minute information. DID YOU KNOW?... Rents are considered affordable when monthly rent and utilities are under 30% of household income. Harvard reported earlier this year that more than half of all U.S. renters have unaffordable housing situations. This Week’s Forecast UP, DOWN, AND SIDEWAYS... This week's economic data is expected to head in all three directions. March Leading Economic Indicators and New Home Sales should trend upward. Existing Home Sales for March and the Michigan Consumer Sentiment - Final read for April are both predicted to remain the same. But March Durable Goods Orders are expected down a bit. Initial and Continuing Unemployment Claims are forecast up, though that's a downward trend in jobs.

11 tactics to protect your home from burglary - PLUS 5 health benefits to - of all things - chocolate!

A home burglary occurs in the U.S. every 13 seconds and only one in four burglars are ever caught. Here's how to keep the bad guys away. 1. Replace all exterior locks with deadbolts. Locks only provide security if you know who has every key. When you move into a new home, hire a reputable locksmith to install new deadbolts. Deadbolt locks can't be opened without a key. Bored-in deadlocks embedded into the door are even harder to break through. Spend a few dollars more for good locks and you could save thousands. 2. Eliminate exposed door hinges. Burglars can take out the pin on exposed hinges and walk right in. Re-hang the door with hinges inside. 3. Install peepholes and motion sensor lights. Always know who's at the door before you open it. Sensor lights also illuminate the path to your entrance when you come home in the evening. 4. Remove hidden keys. One out of 3 break-ins happen with no forced entry. If you're hiding a key under a mat, in a fake rock, or anywhere else, remove it. If you worry about losing keys, install a deadbolt with a keypad. 5. Put lamps on timers. Install timers throughout your house and set them for random times - don't have them all go on at 6:30 and off at 11. Most burglaries occur from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so set some lights to turn on during the day if the house is empty then. 6. Install window locks or pins. These discourage burglars who don't want to make noise by breaking glass. Use the same brand of lock for all windows, so they're easy to set. If they use a key pin, keep it in a secure but accessible location in case of fire. 7. Trim trees and shrubs near windows. These can hide a burglar at work. 8. Don't make it obvious no one's home. When you go out, turn telephone and answering machine volumes down. Don't leave notes for family or friends on the door or mailbox. If you'll be gone a while, ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail, or have the post office stop delivery until you get back. 9. Don't leave ladders and tools lying around the yard. Impulse burglars can use them to gain access. 10. Destroy new TV and computer boxes. Don't let the world know you've just bought something of value. 11. Install an alarm system. Choose a local alarm or a monitored system. Local alarms make noise to scare off intruders. A monitored system makes noise too, but it also sends an emergency signal to a monitoring center that immediately alerts the police. There are installation costs and a monthly charge for the monitored system, although it may get you a discount on your homeowner's insurance. CHECK OUT THAT HEALTHY CHOCOLATE! A popular health magazine reports: 1. Chocolate reduces chances of heart disease and stroke. A recent study found that people consuming the highest levels of chocolate had a 37% reduction in cardiovascular disease and a 29% reduction in stroke compared to those with lower chocolate intakes. 2. Chocolate may help you in math. Flavonols in chocolate are thought to improve blood flow to the brain. One study reported participants could do calculations faster and more accurately after drinking hot cocoa. 3. Chocolate makes you feel good. Chocolate contains phenethylamine, which triggers the release of endorphins, a reaction similar to the one people experience when they fall in love. 4. Chocolate relaxes you. Studies have shown chocolate contains the compound anandamide, which activates the brain receptors for relaxation. 5. Chocolate may help you live longer. One study found that participants who ate candy one to three times a month had the lowest mortality rates of the group. If you're buying your first home, moving up, or downsizing, we can help you with the financing. We're happy to answer your questions, whenever you're ready to take advantage of today's attractive housing market. We can also help with refinancing your existing home or funding home improvements. Please call or email us any time. We're always here for you.... Have a great day! P.S.: Mortgage rates remain at historically attractive levels. When buying or refinancing, it's smart to start the process early. Please call or email us to explore the appealing options available now.