Markets Moved by Tsunami and Saudi Arabia

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Mar

15

In This Issue…

Last Week in Review: Our hearts and minds – as well as the markets – were moved by the tsunami in Japan and unrest in Saudi Arabia. Read how both impacted Bonds and home loan rates!
Forecast for the Week: Double dose after double dose hits the news wires this week. Find out what to watch and why!
View: Discover the pros, cons, and interesting tidbits about Daylight Saving Time, which begins this week.
Last Week in Review

“And now… the rest of the story” – Paul Harvey. With his famous line, Paul Harvey pointed out for years that there’s more to every story – and often those hidden details influence what happened. With that in mind, let’s look at the “rest of the story” behind last week’s news items, which had alternating impacts on Bond prices and home loan rates.
First, let us start by sending our thoughts and prayers to the families affected by last week’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The earthquake was a magnitude of 8.9 – the strongest in 140 years. The earthquake in Japan and its damage created some counterintuitive market reactions.
One would think that US Treasuries and Mortgage Bonds would have traded much higher, as often is the case with devastating natural events that drive money into “safe haven” trades. But that wasn’t the case. Why? The answer is that buying of Treasuries and Mortgage Bonds as a safe haven trade was offset by the Japanese selling some of their own massive holdings of Treasuries and Mortgage Bonds, in order to repatriate money back to their country during the time of emergency. Considering that Japan is the second largest holder of U.S. debt at $877 Billion, selling just a tiny position of their holdings has an impact on Bond prices.
In addition, Bond prices traded in very volatile fashion last week after getting jockeyed around on news out of Saudi Arabia that police had opened fire on protesters with rubber bullets. Let’s look at how this influenced the markets in a different way than one might at first imagine.
Like other recent uprisings in the Middle East, Saudi protesters are looking for more democracy, the right to elect public officials, greater civil rights, freedom of expression, more women’s rights and a higher minimum wage. Interestingly, however, oil fell last week, despite the news. Why? Shouldn’t unrest in Saudi Arabia – the world’s largest oil producer, push prices higher? Yes, but that news was offset by the earthquake in Japan. That’s because Japan is a huge importer of oil… and the market senses that the earthquake and subsequent tsunami may create an economic slowdown and diminish the demand for oil.
Seeing that Mortgage Bonds are lower – even in the face of weak Stocks and enormous uncertain global news – tells us that the gains in Bonds are not coming with a lot of conviction and Traders are selling into this strength. This is because a lot of headwinds remain for Bonds – like inflation abroad, rising government debt and continued QE2 purchases.
This is a good example of why it is important to work with a mortgage professional that understands not only what was reported in the news, but also how the many cross currents may have alternating effects on everything from Bonds, Stocks, Oil to the US Dollar.
Forecast for the Week

“Double dose!” is the phrase of the week, as we’ll see multiple reports this week focusing on the same segments of the economy:
• We’ll start off with some big news Tuesday, when the Federal Reserve holds its FOMC meeting and releases its Policy Statement later that afternoon. As always, what the Fed says about the economy, inflation, and its Quantitative Easing program could have an impact on home loan rates.
• There’s a double dose of real estate news with Wednesday’s release of data on Housing Starts and Building Permits in February. Check back with me on Wednesday to get the breakdown of how the news actually arrived!
• There’s also a double dose of manufacturing news. Tuesday’s Empire State Index looks at New York State’s manufacturing sector and is a good gauge of manufacturing overall, while on Thursday we’ll also see another important manufacturing report in the Philadelphia Fed Index.
• A double dose of inflation news also comes our way this week with Wednesday’s Producer Price Index Report, which highlights inflation at the wholesale level, and Thursday’s Consumer Price Index Report, measuring inflation for consumers like you and me! Remember: The Fed is intent on creating inflation, which is unfriendly to home loan rates, and signs of inflation from these reports could be unfavorable for rates.
• Thursday we’ll get a read on employment with the weekly Initial Jobless Claims Report. Initial Jobless claims rose 26,000 in the latest week to 397,000, which was above expectations but still below that psychological barrier of 400,000.
• Finally, on Thursday we’ll see a double dose of manufacturing data with the release of reports on Capacity Utilization and Industrial Production in February. The capacity utilization rate provides an estimate of how much factory capacity is in use. If the utilization rate climbs too high it can lead to inflationary bottlenecks in production. The Federal Reserve watches this report closely and decides how to set interest rates on the basis of whether production constraints are threatening to cause inflation.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
As you can see by the arrows in the chart below, Bond prices experienced some up-and-down volatility last week, but ended the week near where they began – meaning home loan rates are still near historic lows.
So what should you do if you or someone you know is in the market for a new home?
The bottom line is that even if housing were to drop a little further in some areas, the affordability coming from today’s rates serves as a backstop against any moderate price reduction. Remember, housing will likely be in a much better position in the second half of the year and at that time rates could be a bit higher. Now’s the time to take advantage of the combination of low rates and affordable housing. Call or email today to get started.

Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday Mar 11, 2011)

Sping Forward Beginning March 13

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on Sunday, March 13, 2011. The way we refer to time zones also changes. For example, Eastern Standard Time (EST) becomes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
But remember, some areas of the United States don’t use DST, such as Arizona, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
Benefits of Daylight Saving Time
Despite some concerns, Americans overwhelmingly like Daylight Saving Time. There is simply more sunlight in the evenings to enjoy the outdoors and get things done. Plus, additional hours of daylight can help save energy on a national scale – as much as 100,000 barrels of oil per day according to some estimates.
And brighter is safer. Studies have shown that the DST shift reduces traffic accidents. Additionally, a study by the US Law Enforcement Admin also determined that crime is consistently lower during DST, with violent crimes down as much as 10% to 13%. For many crimes, like mugging, darkness is a factor–so more light in the evening hours reduces these types of crimes.
Cons of Daylight Saving Time
Not everyone benefits from DST. For example, many farmers say that DST has a negative impact on their livestock’s natural schedules. The airline industry also reports that it costs millions of dollars to adjust time schedules – and even then, airlines report numerous problems with international flight connections during the transition time since DST isn’t followed uniformly around the world.
Interesting DST Facts
• A man was actually able to avoid the draft for the Vietnam War using a Daylight Saving Time loophole. When he was born, it was just after midnight, DST. When he was drafted, he successfully argued that in his home state of Delaware, standard time – not DST – was the official time for recording births. So he was technically born on the previous date – which had a much higher draft lottery number – and he was able to avoid being drafted.
• In September 1999, the West Bank was on Daylight Saving Time, while Israel had switched back to standard time. A group of West Bank terrorists prepared some timed bombs. Unfortunately for them, they misunderstood the time change and the bombs exploded early – killing the terrorists themselves rather than the intended victims, two busloads of innocent citizens.
• In the 1950s and 60s, each state and locality was permitted to choose start and end DST dates as they desired. During 1965, Minneapolis and St. Paul – which are considered one metropolitan area – didn’t agree on start dates, and for a period of time, these Twin Cities had a one hour time change between them. And on one Ohio to Virginia bus route, passengers technically had to change their watches seven times in 35 miles!
• To keep to their published timetables, Amtrak trains cannot leave a station before the scheduled time. So when the clocks “fall back” in the fall, all trains that are running on time actually stop at 2 am – the official time of DST change – and wait one hour before resuming their routes. In the spring, the routes instantaneously become one hour behind schedule, but they just keep going and do their best to make up the time.
Finally, since many electronic devices and computer programs are set to adjust to DST based on the old dates, they may not change automatically on March 13. So, you’ll want to double-check all of your devices and confirm that the time is correct.

————————–
Economic Calendar for the Week of March 14-18, 2011
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of March 14 – March 18
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Tue. March 15 08:30 Empire State Index Mar 17.0 15.43 Moderate
Tue. March 15 02:15 FOMC Meeting Mar HIGH
Wed. March 16 08:30 Housing Starts Feb 551K 596K Moderate
Wed. March 16 08:30 Building Permits Feb 570K 562K Moderate
Wed. March 16 08:30 Producer Price Index (PPI) Feb 0.6% 0.8% Moderate
Wed. March 16 08:30 Core Producer Price Index (PPI) Feb 0.2% 0.5% Moderate
Thu. March 17 10:00 Index of Leading Econ Ind (LEI) Feb 0.9% 0.1% Low
Thu. March 17 09:15 Capacity Utilization Feb 76.5% 76.10% Moderate
Thu. March 17 09:15 Industrial Production Feb 0.6% -0.1% Moderate
Thu. March 17 08:30 Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) Feb 0.1% 0.2% HIGH
Thu. March 17 08:30 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Feb 0.4% 0.4% HIGH
Thu. March 17 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 3/12 387K 397K Moderate
Thu. March 17 10:00 Philadelphia Fed Index Mar 28.0 35.9 HIGH

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Certified Mortgage Planner, Curtis Schartz, home, Home loan, Interest Rates, kansas city, lees summit, overland park, Pulaski Bank, purchase, Refinance, shawnee, No Cost Refinance

MMG Weekly: Something to sing about in 2011

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jan

3

In This Issue…

Last Week in Review: Traders were singing one minute only to scream the next. Read below to see why!
Forecast for the Week: How many high-impact reports can you fit in a week? Find out below.
Video View: Which credit card is right for you? Discover how to decide… plus learn about new rules that impact you!
Last Week in Review

“Wild thing! You make my heart sing!” – By The Troggs. Traders found themselves singing one minute only to be screaming the next, as Bonds saw huge swings up and down of 100 basis points on multiple days last week.
Remember, home loan rates are based on Mortgage Bond prices, so huge swings in Bonds causes home loan rates to shift as well. This underscores why it’s so important to work with a knowledgeable professional who understands how interconnected the market is and can help homeowners lock in at the most opportune times.
To help make sense of the volatility, here’s a montage of the top 5 hits last week that Traders and Bond investors appeared to be singing… and why.
#1 “Monday, Monday… so good to me.” – By The Mammas and the Papas
Last week started out with Bond prices receiving a nice bump on Monday thanks to strong demand for the Treasury Department’s auction of $35 Billion in 2-Year Notes.
#2 “Bonds in low places.” – To paraphrase Garth Brooks
On Tuesday, the Treasury Department auctioned off another $35 Billion… this time in 5-Year Notes, which carry more inflation risk. That auction wasn’t received nearly as well and sparked a sell off of Bonds.
To make matters worse, the sell off was exacerbated by the ultra-thin holiday trading volume. In other words, with many Traders out of the office for the holidays, there simply weren’t enough buyers in the market to offset the selling. So when prices dropped on Tuesday, the selling pressure gained momentum with each sale and the losses grew more dramatic. The end result was a drop of 100 basis points in Bond prices!
#3 “I’m Back. Bonds have lifted. And raised the gifted.” – To paraphrase Kid Rock
What a difference a day makes! Just one day after Bonds dropped 100 basis points, the opposite happened and Bonds saw a huge upswing. How was that even possible? Bargain hunting and a strong performance by the Treasury Department’s 7-Year Note auction were the catalysts behind the move, as buyers came out in droves and pushed Bonds up 119 basis points!
#4 “Home sweet home!” – By Mötley Crüe
Volatility wasn’t the only story that hit home last week. The final S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index for the year was also released last week. According to the report, home prices in 20 metropolitan cities fell 0.8%, which was below the 0.1% improvement that was expected and the sharpest year-over-year decline in a year. This was not a good report, and when you consider more foreclosures coming to the market, it is likely that home prices could remain under pressure for part of 2011. Stubbornly high unemployment has played a role in seeing meaningful improvement in housing.
#5 “You’re unbelievable!” – By EMF
The volatility continued throughout the week, swinging another 54 basis points on Thursday alone. But in the end – through all the ups and downs – Bonds and home loan rates were able to finish the week strong. That means home loan rates are still unbelievably low as we start the new year.
That means you still have something to sing about. Despite the overall negative trend, home loan rates are still near historic lows… at least for the time being. That may not be the case in the weeks and months ahead. Call or email today to start the process – it only takes a few minutes.
Forecast for the Week

The new year kicks off with a bang, as nearly all of the reports due out this week are rated as having the potential for a high impact on the markets!
• We start off right away Monday morning with the ISM Index. This is the king of all manufacturing indices and is considered the single best snapshot of the factory sector, so it has the potential to move the markets if it doesn’t meet expectations that it will come in better than the prior reading.
• Tuesday brings us the first release of FOMC Minutes of the year. Although the Fed has already released its policy statement, the markets will be examining the minutes closely for indications of the Fed’s thinking regarding important topics like inflation, rates, and the overall economy.
• We’ll also see some important employment news this week. First up is the ADP National Employment Report on Wednesday, which measures non-farm private employment. The report is expected to show fewer jobs created in December than the previous reading of 93,000 jobs created in November.
• The ADP Report will be followed the next day with another round of Initial Jobless Claims on Thursday. In last week’s report, Initial Jobless Claims was reported at the lowest level since July 2008. That was good news for the labor market, but we still need to see if this report was skewed by the holidays or if it was the start of a trend lower in new unemployment claims.
• The big news of the week will be the release of the all-important Jobs Report this Friday. The Average Work Week and Unemployment Rate are expected to hold steady, while Hourly Earnings and Non-Farm Payrolls are expected to rise.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
The important thing to note in the chart below is that the overall trend for Bond prices has been downward, which is not good for home loan rates. But last week, Bonds were able to finish strong, which demonstrates that there are opportunities to benefit from positive shifts in the market and low home loan rates despite the overall negative trend.
If you or someone you know has been thinking about purchasing or refinancing a home, call or email today to discuss your goals and how you can take advantage of these nice bumps in the Bond market.

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Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday, December 31, 2010)

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

Which Card is Right for You?
These days, most people use at least one credit card and many of us use more than one. And while it’s certainly important to avoid amassing large amounts of debt, it’s also important to make sure you pick the right credit card for you. The following video from www.Kiplinger.com contains tips that can help you do just that.
View Video ————————–
Economic Calendar for the Week of January 3-7, 2011
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of January 03 – January 07
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Mon. January 03 10:00 ISM Index Dec 58.0 56.6 HIGH
Tue. January 04 02:00 FOMC Minutes 12/14 HIGH
Wed. January 05 08:15 ADP National Employment Report Dec 100K 93K HIGH
Wed. January 05 10:00 ISM Services Index Dec 55.6 55.0 Moderate
Thu. January 06 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 01/01 405K 388K Moderate
Fri. January 07 08:30 Non-farm Payrolls Dec 132K 39K HIGH
Fri. January 07 08:30 Unemployment Rate Dec 9.8% 9.8% HIGH
Fri. January 07 08:30 Hourly Earnings Dec 0.1% 0.0% HIGH
Fri. January 07 08:30 Average Work Week Dec 34.3 34.3 HIGH

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Certified Mortgage Planner, Curtis Schartz, home, Home loan, Interest Rates, kansas city, lees summit, overland park, Pulaski Bank, purchase, Refinance, shawnee, No Cost Refinance

MMG Weekly: What A Year It’s Been

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Dec

20

In This Issue

Last Week in Review: The Fed met, and Congress passed the Tax Cut Bill. But what do both of these mean for home loan rates?
Forecast for the Week: Housing, inflation, and jobs news – all in a holiday shortened week.
View: As you unwrap gifts this holiday season, don’t throw the wrapping paper in with your Yule Log… find out why, and other tips on keeping your holiday season safe and fun.
Last Week in Review

“All good things must come to an end…” or so the popular saying goes. And right now, many people are wondering if this sentiment holds true for the historic low rates we’ve seen this year. Here’s what last week’s news suggests.
First, it’s important to understand that home loan rates are based on Mortgage Backed Securities, which is a type of Bond. Bonds typically help provide some built in “assistance” when the nation is suffering economic headwinds. For example, negative economic news serves to help Bond prices improve and rates decline, including home loan rates. This is helpful to have when the economy is struggling, as buyers of all products – including homes – need the extra incentive of low rates to be encouraged to buy.
But now, the sharply higher expectations for future economic growth has caused rates to climb – particularly including home loan rates, since the Fed announced its second round of “Quantitative Easing” or QE2 on November 3rd. With QE2, the Fed will purchase $600 Billion in Treasury Securities through mid-2011 to keep our economic recovery on track.
But is there any likelihood rates can rebound? Many experts expect that home loan rates will continue to move higher over time because:
• At its meeting last week, the Fed left the door open for further QE programs if our economic recovery requires which, like QE2, could hurt Bonds and home loan rates.
• Congress passed the $858 Billion Tax Cut Bill, and while this is a good economic stimulus, in the short run it adds to the ever-growing deficit – also bad for Bonds and home loan rates.
• Last week’s Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index Reports showed that the Fed appears to be on track with their goal of stimulating a bit more inflation. Inflation erodes the value of the fixed return provided by a Bond, which causes home loan rates to rise.
It’s important to understand that rates don’t simply rise in a straight line. In fact, Bonds and home loan rates did have a late-week rally last week, and that trend of rates worsening with improving dips here and there like we saw last week may be what’s in store for us in the weeks and months ahead. At the end of the day, the ongoing and potential addition of further stimulus from the Fed, combined with the stimulus from the tax cuts, will make it tough for Bonds and home loan rates to return to the levels seen earlier this year.
But the good news is that home loan rates are still extremely attractive right now. If you have been thinking about purchasing or refinancing a home, call or email me now to get started. Or forward this newsletter on to someone you know who may benefit from today’s historically low rates.
Forecast for the Week

It will be a holiday shortened week, with the Bond Market closing at 2:00pm ET Thursday and both the Stock and Bond Markets closed Friday in honor of the Christmas holiday. But there will be plenty of action first, including:
• A double dose of housing news with Wednesday’s Existing Home Sales Report and Thursday’s New Home Sales Report.
• Wednesday also brings a read on the economy with the Gross Domestic Product Report, which is the broadest measure of economic activity.
• Big inflation news comes on Thursday with the Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Index, which is the Fed’s favorite gauge of inflation, plus there’s also the Personal Income and Personal Spending Reports, which give us some information on the consumer perspective of the economy.
• Thursday’s Initial and Continuing Jobless Claims Reports will also tell us if the good trend continues – last week’s Initial Claims was the second lowest number seen during 2010, and also the third decline in four weeks.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates rallied at the end of last week. Now would be a great time to call or email me if you have any questions about your situation!

———————–
Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday, December 17, 2010)

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

Make Your Holiday as Safe as it is Happy
The holiday season is a special time of year, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants to remind everyone that it can also be dangerous. So the CPSC has issued a number of safety tips for the holidays and a holiday safety video to help keep families healthy, safe, and happy this season.
Here are just three of the important tips that the CPSC posted on its website:
1. Choose Age-Appropriate Toys. Look at the age recommendation on the toys you are choosing and match that recommendation to your child. Avoid toys with small parts for children younger than three-years-old. Those small parts can cause a child to choke. For children under six-years-old, avoid play sets or building toys with small magnets. A child can swallow those magnets, which can result in a serious injury or even death. Starting at a young age, teach your children not to put toys in their mouths.
2. Gear Up. If sports-related gifts such as ride-on toys, bicycles, skates or scooters are on your gift list or around your house, make sure to include helmets that are sized to your child’s head and other appropriate safety gear. And then, make sure your child wears the gear properly EVERY time he or she uses the toy or sports equipment.
3. Plastic Wrap. Keep a trash bag at your fingertips while your kids are opening presents. That way, you can immediately throw away plastic wrappings and other toy packaging before they become dangerous playthings. As an added bonus, it makes your cleanup faster, too.
Plus…
Here are two bonus tips from the CPSC’s Twitter account:
• “Heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees. Be sure to monitor water levels and keep the tree stand filled with water.”
• “Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace. It can result in a chimney fire.”
If you ever have questions about the safety of a toy or product, visit the CPSC’s website at http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/.
You can also follow the CPSC on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OnSafety and even watch safety videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/USCPSC.
Have a safe and happy holiday!

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Economic Calendar for the Week of December 20-24, 2010
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of December 20 – December 24
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Wed. December 22 08:30 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Q3 2.7% 2.5% Moderate
Wed. December 22 08:30 Chain Deflator Q3 2.3% 2.3% Moderate
Wed. December 22 08:30 Existing Home Sales Nov 4.68M 4.43M Moderate
Thu. December 23 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) Dec 75.0 74.2 Moderate
Thu. December 23 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 12/18 424K 420K Moderate
Thu. December 23 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE Nov NA 0.9% HIGH
Thu. December 23 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE Nov 0.1% 0.0% HIGH
Thu. December 23 08:30 Personal Spending Nov 0.5% 0.4% Moderate
Thu. December 23 08:30 Personal Income Nov 0.2% 0.5% Moderate
Thu. December 23 10:00 New Home Sales Nov 303K 283K Moderate

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Certified Mortgage Planner, Curtis Schartz, home, Home loan, Interest Rates, kansas city, lees summit, overland park, Pulaski Bank, purchase, Refinance, shawnee

MMG Weekly: Where are rates headed – and why?

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Dec

13

In This Issue

Last Week in Review: Are rates going to come back? Here’s a break down of possible scenarios!
Forecast for the Week: Get ready for a busy week. Find out what you should watch.
View: Know someone in college or headed there soon? Watch the video below for tips to avoid unexpected college costs.
Last Week in Review

“Where do we go from here?” That question from Alicia Keys’ song is on the minds of many Americans, as they wonder where home loan rates are headed after the recent negative news for Bonds.
Last week, Congress was busy at work on negotiations to extend the Bush-era tax cuts. That news kept a lid on any improvement for Bonds and home loan rates, due to the prospect of an ever-increasing deficit.
And adding to the troubles for Bonds and home loan rates last week was news that inflation is growing in China… and growing fast. How does that impact us? Remember, it’s a global economy, so Bond prices all over the world worsen on news of inflation, which is bad for home loan rates.
So the big question is: Will home loan rates go back down?
Although rates are still near historic lows, they have been headed up… and indications are that those unbelievably low home loan rates may be behind us. In fact, there are only a few things that would bring back the lows that we saw in early November:
• If the tax cut package doesn’t get passed, it would be very bad news for the economy and Stock market – but it would help interest rates.
• If the Fed’s recent round of Quantitative Easing falls on its face and doesn’t meet its mission of creating inflation, boosting Stock prices, lowering unemployment and creating consumer demand – Bond prices could make some gains as the threat of deflation reemerges. But this is a long shot.
• If the financial problems in Europe worsen significantly – which would drive investors into the safe haven of the US Bond market – it could help Bond prices, but probably only modestly.
Realistically, the chances of these events happening are unlikely – and in the end, rates may see some brief and fleeting improvements, but many experts believe they will likely continue to creep up over time. And when you include the stimulative action of extending the present tax rates and adding further cuts, it’s tough to see Bonds or home loan rates improving much.
The good news is that home loan rates are still extremely attractive and are still near historic lows for now. If you or someone you know has been thinking about purchasing or refinancing a home, NOW is the time to call or email to get started.
Forecast for the Week

Get ready for a busy week of economic reports and news that could impact home loan rates!
• We’ll start off Tuesday morning with the Retail Sales report for November, as well as the Fed’s final FOMC Meeting and Policy Statement of the year coming on Wednesday.
• We’ll also see new inflation reports starting on Tuesday with the Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures inflation at the wholesale level. The very next day, we’ll see the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with a look at inflation on the consumer level. With all of the recent talk over inflation concerns in the future, it will be important to see what these reports reveal – since inflation is the archenemy of Bonds and home loan rates.
• We’ll also get a dose of manufacturing news in the Empire State Index, which looks at New York State’s manufacturing sector, and is a good gauge of manufacturing overall. On Thursday, we’ll also see the Philadelphia Fed Index, which is another important manufacturing report. Those two indices have the potential to impact the market, since they indicate the health of the manufacturing sector in the US.
• Thursday brings the Initial and Continuing Jobless Claims Report. Last week, Initial Jobless Claims came in at 421,000, which was below expectations. That was encouraging news, but we still need to see consistent readings below 400,000 before real confidence in the labor market can take hold.
• Finally, we’ll see more housing news this week, when reports on Housing Starts and Building Permits in November are released on Thursday.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
The chart below shows the recent direction of Bonds – and, therefore, home loan rates. The important thing to note is the downward trend, which shows how Bond pricing and therefore home loan rates continued to worsen last week.
Fortunately, there’s still time to lock in at near historic lows. It only takes a few minutes to see if this makes sense for you, or one of your friends, family members, neighbors, clients or coworkers. Call or email today, and I’ll be happy to help right away.

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Chart: Fannie Mae 4.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday, December 10, 2010)

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

Surprise: More College Expenses! Here’s How to Avoid Them…
College tuition costs are staggering these days – and so are some of the college-related expenses that you may not be expecting. Watch this video from Kiplinger.com on unexpected college expenses to come up with ways to avoid those indirect costs.
Whether you’re planning to send a child to college soon or you know a student in college this year that has already experienced some of these unexpected costs, this video is invaluable!

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Economic Calendar for the Week of December 13-17, 2010
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of December 13 – December 17
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Tue. December 14 08:30 Producer Price Index (PPI) Nov 0.5% 0.4% Moderate
Tue. December 14 08:30 Core Producer Price Index (PPI) Nov 0.2% -0.6% Moderate
Tue. December 14 08:30 Retail Sales Nov 0.8% 1.2% HIGH
Tue. December 14 08:30 Retail Sales ex-auto Nov 0.6% 0.4% HIGH
Tue. December 14 02:15 FOMC Meeting 12/14 Unch 0.25% HIGH
Wed. December 15 09:15 Capacity Utilization Nov 75.0% 74.8% Moderate
Wed. December 15 09:15 Industrial Production Nov 0.3% 0.0% Moderate
Wed. December 15 08:30 Empire State Index Dec 3.0 -11.14 Moderate
Wed. December 15 08:30 Core Consumer Price Index (CPI) Nov 0.1% 0.0% HIGH
Wed. December 15 08:30 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Nov 0.2% 0.2% HIGH
Thu. December 16 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 12/11 425K 421K Moderate
Thu. December 16 08:30 Housing Starts Nov 545K 519K Moderate
Thu. December 16 08:30 Building Permits Nov 558K 550K Moderate
Thu. December 16 10:00 Philadelphia Fed Index Dec 12.5 22.5 Moderate
Thu. December 16 10:00 Index of Leading Econ Ind (LEI) Nov 1.2% 0.5% Low

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Certified Mortgage Planner, Curtis Schartz, home, Home loan, Interest Rates, kansas city, lees summit, overland park, Pulaski Bank, purchase, Refinance, shawnee

QE or Not QE…That Is The Question

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Oct

4

Last Week in Review: The Fed faces a tough decision, but what could it mean for Bonds and home loan rates?
Forecast for the Week: This is a huge week, despite the limited number of reports due out… find out why.
View: Before you plan your next trip or a winter vacation, consider this surprising tip!
Last Week in Review

“I CAN NO LONGER STAND HERE WAITING FOR YOU TO DECIDE…” Those lyrics from the band Chicago’s 1980’s hit sum up the sentiments of many market analysts and traders after last week’s back and forth statements from Fed officials about the possibility of another round of Quantitative Easing… otherwise known as “QE2″.
As we stated last week, many analysts have been feeling that QE2 was very likely, if we continue to see weak economic reports. But comments made by a number of Fed officials throughout the week indicated that QE2 may still be up in the air. For example, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Dennis Lockhart stated, “there is growing sentiment that further accommodation through large asset purchases is coming… but at this point in time, it’s not a foregone conclusion that we need to go there.” Those comments were followed by other similar comments from other Fed officials, including Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser, who doesn’t support any further Bond buying. Additionally, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said that monetary stimulus will depend on economic data, while Minnesota Fed President Narayana Kocherlakota says new asset buying would have a more muted impact than prior purchases. This would indicate that at least a few Fed members are hesitant ab out a big QE2 package.
On the flip side, however, New York Fed President William Dudley said on Friday that the Fed is almost certain to lend support through Quantitative Easing in order to ensure that a slowing economy does not fall further. He gave an example of how a $500 Billion purchase plan might impact interest rates, stating that it would have a similar impact to a Fed rate cut of .50 to .75%… and although this was just an example, the fact that he mentioned a specific number was not lost on Traders. Mr. Dudley went on to say that he feels a double dip recession is not an issue, but rather the focus is on how the economy can grow faster than its current pace.
Those comments are important because the markets figured that QE2 would be a lock, unless the Fed sees stronger-than-expected economic data before its November 3rd meeting… specifically, employment data. But last week the analysts and investors were faced with uncertainty around the issue and were left sifting through comments to try to predict what the Fed will do. And that uncertainty caused traders to shift money back out of Bonds at different times last week.
———————–
The Fed and Chairman Bernanke Face a Tough Decision with QE2

But what would another round of Quantitative Easing mean to Bonds and home loan rates?
Let’s break it down into four important aspects: (1) When would it happen? (2) How much money would it involve? (3) Why is this being contemplated? (4) And what does it mean to home loan rates?
First, as stated above, whether QE2 happens will be dependent upon the upcoming data releases. Many experts agree that if the Fed does make a move, it will most likely happen at the next Fed meeting, which is scheduled for November 3rd.
Second, the question of “how much” is still up in the air. As stated above, New York Fed President William Dudley gave an example of a $500 Billion purchase – but estimates are all over the board at this point, from $200 Billion to $2 Trillion. Yet the big question is whether QE2 will even do any good. Recently, former Fed Governor Larry Meyer felt that even $2 Trillion would hardly move the needle on GDP growth or reduce unemployment rates. In fact, he likens it to pushing on a string. Mr. Meyer’s sentiments were also echoed last week by former Fed official Joe Gagnon, who estimated that the Fed is indeed likely to do at least $1 Trillion in additional QE, but that it would have little impact.
That brings us to the third question: Why even contemplate QE2? Think about this: a large round of QE2 would almost assuredly hurt the US Dollar. And by hurting the US Dollar, our exports become more affordable abroad, as well as making imports appear relatively more expensive. This helps large multi-national companies, which have a large influence on the economy, as well as the major Stock market indices. This could be the goal of the Fed. Ahh…but you can’t outright say you are trying to weaken your currency. After all – haven’t many members of Congress and the Administration been bashing China for currency manipulation? The US may be trying to do exactly what it has both denigrated and admonished other nations of doing.
In other words, even if QE2 didn’t have a direct impact on the economy, the drop in currency value – which, if you’ve been paying attention to the Dollar-Euro relationship, has already been happening – would be very beneficial. But at what cost? While Stocks should benefit, Bonds may have a different reaction.
And that brings us to the heart of what you need to know: What would QE2 mean to Bonds and home loan rates?
If the Fed does go through with another round of Quantitative Easing, Bond prices should – initially – improve for two reasons. First, Bonds would likely improve due to the soft economic data causing QE2. Second, Bonds would improve simply because the announcement of QE2 would include large Bond purchases. The key word is “initially.” That’s because, even though Bonds would initially improve, the eventual softening of the Dollar, rising commodity prices, and rise in Stock prices could become a drag on Bonds, which would negatively impact home loan rates.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS DISCUSSION, THINGS AREN’T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR MANY FINANCIAL MATTERS. TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COST OF CHECKING YOUR LUGGAGE WHEN YOU FLY. CHECK OUT THE MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE VIEW BELOW FOR SOME SURPRISING INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SEND YOUR LUGGAGE FOR LESS!
Forecast for the Week

This week’s economic calendar may be light in terms of the number of reports, but don’t let that fool you for one second. The reports that are due out may have a huge impact not only on the economy this week, but also on decisions that will shape the economy for months to come.
We’ll start off with an update on the health of the housing industry, with the Pending Home Sales report on Monday morning. After that, things start to heat up with the ADP National Employment Index on Wednesday and Initial Jobless Claims on Thursday. But the big enchilada comes on Friday, when the all-important Jobs Report will be released. This report includes official labor statistics on non-farm payrolls and the unemployment rate, as well as average hourly earnings and changes in the average work week.
These reports on employment are always important, but they take on even more significance in the current climate. That’s because the question of whether the Fed will move forward with another round of Quantitative Easing as we’ve been discussing, depends heavily on the employment data that is released before the Fed’s upcoming meeting on November 3rd. And since the release of the November Jobs Report on October data is due out November 5th – two days after the Fed meeting – this coming Friday’s report is the last chance for the Fed members to see the official labor statistics before they meet to discuss QE2 and other financial policies.
Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. As you can see from the chart below, Mortgage Bonds experienced some volatility throughout last week. Overall, Bonds and home loan rates ended the week worse than where they began, despite the volatility.
With home loan rates still at historically good levels, homebuyers – and homeowners looking to refinance – still have a tremendous opportunity. But it won’t last forever… which means now is a good time to act.

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Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday, October 1, 2010)
In This Issue

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

Save Money by Shipping Your Luggage
You may spend less by using a shipping company – rather than the airlines – to get your bags to your destination.
By Cameron Huddleston, Kiplinger.com
You may be able to save money by shipping your luggage rather than checking it in the next time you fly. The idea might sound absurd. But if you do the math – as Airfarewatchdog.com has done for you in this chart – you’ll see that it would cost you less in some cases to send your bags to your destination by FedEx, UPS or U.S. Postal Service ground shipping.
Passengers who have luggage that exceeds airlines’ size and weight limits will score the biggest savings. They’ll spend about $50 less by shipping one overweight suitcase than checking it in – and up to $200 by shipping two overweight bags.
Even if the cost is the same for shipping and checking bags, you get so much more from FedEx and UPS, says Airfarewatchdog.com founder George Hobica, who ships his luggage. They have better delivery records than the airlines, they provide tracking numbers so you can follow your shipment online and they let you insure items that the airlines don’t, he says. Plus, you’re more likely to get a refund from a shipping company than an airline if your luggage is damaged or lost.
Another benefit: You won’t have to wait in long lines at the airport to check your bags. And if you have small children, you’ll be a lot less stressed if you don’t have to lug your kids and luggage from the parking lot to the terminal.
The key is to ship your luggage a few days BEFORE your flight so that it arrives at your destination when you do. If you’re visiting a relative, the shipping logistics are easy. But if you’re going to be staying in a hotel or condo, you should consider having the shipping company hold your items so you can pick them up. Otherwise, you might have to pay a fee to have the hotel or rental office hold your luggage until you arrive.
Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2010 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.

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Economic Calendar for the Week of October 4-8, 2010
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of October 04 – October 08
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Mon. October 04 10:00 Pending Home Sales Aug 1.0% 5.2% Moderate
Tue. October 05 08:15 ISM Services Index Sept 51.8 51.5 Moderate
Wed. October 06 08:15 ADP National Employment Report Sept 18K -10K HIGH
Thu. October 07 01:00 Jobless Claims (Initial) 10/02 455K 453K Moderate
Fri. October 08 08:30 Non-farm Payrolls Sept 0 -54K HIGH
Fri. October 08 08:30 Unemployment Rate Sept 9.7% 9.6% HIGH
Fri. October 08 08:30 Hourly Earnings Sept 0.1% 0.3% HIGH
Fri. October 08 08:30 Average Work Week Sept 34.2 34.2 HIGH

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Certified Mortgage Planner, Curtis Schartz, home, Home loan, Interest Rates, kansas city, lees summit, overland park, Pulaski Bank, purchase, Refinance, shawnee

Helpful Summer Money Saving Tips

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jun

17

IN THIS ISSUE…

Make your money go further this summer! The US economy appears to be slowly recovering, but there’s still a lot of work to do and Americans across the country are still looking for ways to help their money go a little further. This edition features three articles that will not only help you save, but also help you understand how the ups and downs of the US and global markets impact you.
• It’s a Small World – How do the troubles in Europe (and with the Euro) impact the US economy and home loan rates?
• A Cost-Effective Vacation – Whether you’re planning a short getaway or a long vacation, consider relaxing with nature on a cost-effective vacation.
• Q&A: Bull Versus Bear? – Why are animal names used to describe action in the Stock market?
Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members and coworkers who may find the information helpful as they head into summer. And if you have any questions or need any help at this time, just call or email to discuss your unique situation.

It’s a Small World After All…

The problems in Europe continue to dominate the headlines and influence market direction around the globe. So what exactly is going on…and what does all of this mean to you, to our economy and to home loan rates?
Due to financial instability in several countries in Europe – including Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and Greece – the European Central Bank along with the International Monetary Fund unveiled a $955 Billion loan package. Additionally, in a plan similar to our TARP plan in the US, the European Central Bank will purchase Bonds and private debt from the countries facing instability.
However, it seems that nearly a Trillion dollars doesn’t go very far these days, as the announcement didn’t lead to the confidence that was hoped for. There is concern about how these already financially strapped countries will pay for all this additional debt…and many wonder if the European bailout plan is just a temporary band-aid rather than a solution.
The result continues to be a weaker Euro. As you can see in the chart above, the price of the Euro near the end of May was well off where it was a few months ago, when it cost more than $1.50 for each Euro.
Why Is This Important?
When the Dollar was weaker, it made our imports more costly and travel to Europe more expensive. But it also made our exports far more attractive to foreign purchasers, and that has helped many of the large multi-national US corporations. As this situation is now reversing, it will likely have an adverse effect on those same multi-national corporations – which has contributed to some of the decline in Stocks we have seen.
And remember… when Stocks decline, Bonds and home loan rates are typically the beneficiary. As long as the global viewpoint that the US is a safe and stable place for Bond investments continues, Bonds and home loan rates could benefit.

Happy Campers! The Cost-Effective Vacation You Can Take Again and Again

Camping can be a relaxing vacation for an entire family, high school seniors after graduation, or just a group of friends who want to get away. It provides the opportunity to get away from the hectic pace of everyday life, to rise and sleep with the sun rather than a clock, and to enjoy the company of friends and family.
And it’s cost-effective. Not only will you save on your accommodations ($20 a night for a campsite versus $120 or more for a hotel), but you’ll also save by packing your own food rather than eating out. Better still, it’s the type of activity that you can enjoy in your own backyard, a few miles down the road, or halfway across the country.
Whether you’re planning a short getaway or a long vacation, consider packing up your camping supplies and relaxing with nature. The information below can help you plan for and enjoy your cost-effective camping vacation.
Reserve Your Spot
Camping has always been popular, but interest has increased over the last few years as the economy has slowed down and families have looked for an inexpensive way to travel and spend time together. That means campgrounds across the country are booking up faster than many people may expect.
If you’re planning a camping trip this summer – whether it’s down the road or across state lines – take a few moments now to plan the trip and reserve your campsite. There are a number of online resources for specific campgrounds and state parks, but you can also reserve spots at campsites across the country by visiting http://www.recreation.gov/ or http://www.reserveamerica.com/.
These websites allow you to search for the perfect spot-whether you’re looking to camp in a tent, an RV, or a lodge. You can even search for campgrounds near a specific park or one that you can bring your boat to. So, if you’re planning a trip across country, you can map out your route and reserve your campsites along the way! And, if you’re planning on getting away more than once, you may want to consider joining a camping club for additional information and discounts, such as http://www.campclubusa.com/.
Selecting (and Laying Out) Your Campsite
When picking the perfect spot for your camper or tent, consider the following tips:
Water and restrooms-Chances are, you’ll be walking to the water faucet and restrooms throughout the day (and sometimes in the middle of the night). So make sure you know where they’re located and try to situate your campsite so that you have a short, easy walk to them. Nothing’s worse than walking all the way across the campground or across rough, difficult terrain multiple times a day.
High and dry-Make sure you know where the low-spots are…and avoid them when setting up your equipment. Otherwise, you may wake up to water in your tent or a large puddle surrounding your camper when it rains. You’ll also be more comfortable if you find a relatively flat spot, so you can avoid the awful “sleeping-bag slide” towards the bottom of your tent or camper.
Cooking and cleaning-Don’t just setup and settle in…make a layout plan for your campsite. Where will you cook…is it far enough away from dry leaves and twigs so your fire won’t get out of control? Where will you eat…is it close to the campfire/stove? Where will you hang clothes to dry…is it out of the way enough so that people won’t accidently walk into the clothesline at dusk? Thinking through the “workflow” of your campsite before you set up can help alleviate stress and frustration later on.
Fun in the…shade-All too often we associate camping fun with the sun. But there may come a time when you just want to relax in the shade. In addition, you may want to keep your tent or camper cool. So look for a spot with a few shade trees…and try to determine where the shade will fall at key times-like noon and early evening-so you know where to set up your chairs and other equipment.
Garbage detail-A clean campsite is a happy campsite. After all, you don’t want to find yourself overrun with insects and small critters simply because you didn’t dispose of last night’s supper. So bring plenty of garbage bags, keep them sealed after use, and haul them to the garbage can at regular times throughout the day.
Final Thoughts
To make sure you-and your campground neighbors-enjoy your outdoor adventures, follow these final thoughts on campground etiquette:
• Don’t feed the wildlife. That will only cause problems for you and/or future campers.
• Clean up your campsite throughout your stay. And do a final sweep before you leave to make sure you’ve removed all your garbage.
• Only burn wood. Everything else should either be recycled or disposed of in the appropriate place.
• Keep all your food in airtight containers/bags…and store them away from your camper or tent to make sure you don’t attract unwanted “visitors” from nature.
• Only cook in a safe place away from your tent/camper and away from dry leaves or twigs that may catch fire.
• Keep your pets on a leash and your kids within sight. Your campground neighbors will appreciate it and everyone will be able to enjoy the outdoors.
• Buy firewood at the campsite. Many Departments of Natural Resources suggest this tip because it helps prevent campers from introducing unwanted pests that aren’t indigenous to the area.
• Keep an eye on the weather. If a storm is approaching, take the appropriate precautions.
• Respect your neighbors. That means following posted quiet hours and keeping the volume down between dusk and dawn.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors all summer long…whether you’re vacationing in your own backyard or halfway around the country. Happy camping!

Q&A: Bull Versus Bear?

QUESTION: Why are animal names used to describe action in the Stock market?
ANSWER: The terms “Bull” and “Bear” are used because of the way those animals attack. Bulls attack using an upward thrusting motion with their horns, and Bears attack by moving their powerful claws in a downward motion. So an upward market is termed a Bull market, while a downward market is called a Bear market.
These concepts are important to home loan rates because a Bear market could help Bond prices and home loan rates improve a bit more, as some of the money from Stock sales finds its way into the Bond market, including Mortgage Bonds. On the other hand, a Bull market will be at the expense of some of the recent improvements that Bonds and home loan rates have enjoyed.
The reality is, Mortgage Bonds have looked a lot like a lottery winner recently, since Bond prices really should be much lower, and home loan rates much higher. But Mortgage Bonds are catching every lucky break – from the situation in Greece…to the declining Euro…to the correction in the Stock market. It’s all going in the favor of Mortgage Bonds…for now.
But the Bond market’s good fortune may not last very long – so be sure to give me a call if I can help explain the current rate situation and how it might benefit you.

The material contained in this newsletter has been prepared by an independent third-party provider. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, real estate and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.
As your Trusted Advisor, I always want to make sure you are clear on all details of the home financing process. If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing or refinancing a home, give me a call today!
In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com
If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:
Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to the recipient or distributor a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner, Pulaski Bank Home Lending, Overland Park, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Independence, Liberty, Parkville, Gladstone, Shawnee.

Showdown Between Bulls and Bears

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

May

24

In This Issue

Last Week in Review: Stock market teeters on the verge of becoming either a correction…or an “official” Bear market.
Forecast for the Week: A fully loaded plate of economic news is in store, including reads on housing and consumer attitudes.
View: How you can “insure” a smart and safe vacation this summer.
Last Week In Review

IT’S A SHOWDOWN…THE BULLS VS. THE BEARS. But we’re not talking about the Chicago Bulls who were recently knocked out of the NBA playoffs. We’re talking about the Bull Market that Stocks have enjoyed over the past months…that is now slipping back lower.
So why are these animal terms used to describe action in the Stock market anyways? The terms “Bull” and “Bear” are used because of the way those animals attack. Bulls attack using an upward thrusting motion with their horns, and Bears attack by moving their powerful claws in a downward motion. So an upward market is termed a Bull market, while a downward market is called a Bear market.
Last week, Stocks saw a sharp thrust downward, with prices down more than 10% from their peak. But that doesn’t mean it’s a Bear market just yet. Instead, the drop can be seen as a “correction”, if prices recover and resume their uptrend. A correction can be quite healthy, and help a Bull market sustain its strength. But here’s the trick: if the market drops 20% from its peak, it’s officially considered a Bear market. That means every Bear market was once potentially just a correction. And so the debate rages on. Is this a good time to buy – because you believe it’s a correction and prices will move much higher? Or is this a time to sell, before the correction turns into a Bear market? The answer should become clearer over the next few days, as the market’s direction takes hold.
Waiting in the wings are Bond prices and home loan rates… A Bear market could help Bond prices and home loan rates improve a bit more, as some of the money from Stock sales finds its way into the Bond market, including Mortgage Bonds. On the other hand, a correction back to a Bull market will be at the expense of some of the recent improvements that Bonds and home loan rates have enjoyed.
The reality is, Mortgage Bonds have looked a lot like a lottery winner recently, since Bond prices really should be much lower, and home loan rates much higher. But Mortgage Bonds are catching every lucky break – from the situation in Greece…to the declining Euro…to the correction in the Stock market. It’s all going in the favor of Mortgage Bonds…for now. But the Bond market’s good fortune may not last very long – so be sure to give me a call if I can help explain the current rate situation, and how it might benefit you.
———————–
BULL MARKETS THRUST UPWARD…WHILE BEAR MARKETS SWIPE DOWNWARD

Despite the sharp sell-off in Stocks, the markets did receive some good news last week on the inflation front. The Producer Price Index (PPI) was reported lower than expectations for the month of April, and the more closely followed Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell to report the first month-over-month decline since March of 2009. And when volatile food and energy prices were removed from the equation, the annual Core index came in at its lowest level since January 1966. Those numbers appear to show that inflation is subdued – and with oil prices significantly lower from where they were a few weeks ago, there will even be more downward pressure on headline inflation in the next report.
But the reality is that inflation will eventually begin to rear its ugly head – and once that happens, inflation can accelerate rather quickly. China recently reported a spike in inflation – and last week, the UK saw surprisingly higher inflation numbers being reported as well. So the Fed – and the markets – will have to continue to keep close tabs on inflation in the US.
WHILE YOU CAN’T CONTROL IF THE BULLS OR BEARS WILL WIN THE NEXT ROUND IN THE MARKETS…THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL. FOR EXAMPLE, CHECK OUT THE MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE VIEW BELOW FOR TIPS ON “INSURING” A SMART AND SAFE VACATION THIS COMING SUMMER.
Forecast for the Week

There’s a very full load of economic reports on tap this week, including fresh news on the health of the housing industry. After last week’s reports on Housing Starts and Building Permits in April, we’ll see reports on Existing Home Sales right away Monday morning and New Home Sales on Wednesday.
We’ll also discover how consumers feel about the economy with a report on Consumer Confidence on Tuesday, followed by the Consumer Sentiment Index on Friday. Both reports have risen lately, indicating that consumers feel better about the present and future economic conditions. The markets will be watching to see if that trend continues in this week’s reports.
The manufacturing sector of the economy will also be in the spotlight this week. Wednesday brings the Durable Goods Orders report, which measures new orders placed and is considered a leading indicator of manufacturing activity. That report will be followed by the Chicago PMI on Friday. This report surveys more than 200 Chicago purchasing managers about the manufacturing industry and is a good indicator of overall economic activity.
And if that wasn’t enough, we’ll also see more inflation news this week. First, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and GDP Chain Deflator for the first quarter will be released on Thursday. The Chain Deflator is a key inflation measure included in the GDP Report. And since inflation is the archenemy of Bonds and home loan rates, this report could be a market mover. Unlike the Consumer Price Index that was released last week, the Chain Deflator has the advantage of not being a fixed basket of goods and services, so changes in consumption patterns or the introduction of new goods and services will be reflected in the Chain Deflator. Then, one day after the Chain Deflator comes out, we’ll see the Personal Consumption Expenditures report on Friday. This report measures price changes in consumer goods and services, and is considered the Fed’s favorite gauge on inflation. After last week’s better-than-expected inflation news, the markets will definitely be watching these reports.
Rounding out the week, we’ll also see reports on Personal Income and Personal Spending this Friday.
But that’s not all…in addition to all those reports, the government will auction off $42 Billion of 2-years on Tuesday, $40 Billion of 5-years on Wednesday, and $31 Billion of 7-years on Thursday. These auctions may move the markets depending on how they are received.
Oh, not to mention that the news coming out of Europe may once again add to the market’s volatility here at home.
That’s a very full helping of potentially market moving activity. But you can count on me to be here and watching very closely. And remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.
Mortgage Bonds have improved over the last few weeks, as Stocks have undergone their move lower. I’ll be watching closely to see if Bonds…and home loan rates…can continue to improve in the week ahead.
———————–

The Mortgage Market View

“Insuring” a Smart and Safe Vacation
Summer is right around the corner, and that means many people are starting to plan some kind of summer getaway.
When planning your fun-filled itinerary, the last thing you want to do is worry about any financial loss that might occur as a result of a missed flight, an injury or illness, lost baggage, or any other unforeseen incident. To ensure your peace of mind while away from home, many companies provide several different types of traveler’s protection plans to help ease the burden.
Without insurance, a traveler can lose nonrefundable deposits and prepayments that can add up to hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. A good, comprehensive travel insurance plan will often reimburse a traveler for all pre-paid, nonrefundable expenses for a covered loss.
Here are some general types of coverage you may want to consider before heading out for this summer’s vacation:
Travel Arrangement Protection – This covers you in case of trip cancellation, interruption, or travel delays (these can include inclement weather, lost or stolen passports, quarantine, hijacking or natural disaster).
Medical Protection – Just because you have health insurance at home, the moment you set foot on foreign soil or even set sail on a cruise, many health plans are considered null and void, so be sure you get travel medical protection to cover emergency medical expenses, such as illness and accident expenses, and emergency medical transportation to the nearest medical facility.
Baggage Protection – Not only do you want coverage for lost, stolen or damaged baggage, but many plans offer reimbursement for the purchase of essential items if baggage is delayed.
Worldwide Emergency Assistance – If traveling outside of the country, make sure you purchase a policy that covers international emergencies. This can include emergency cash transfer assistance, legal assistance, and lost travel documents assistance.
The cost of travel insurance is based, in most cases, on the value of the trip and the age of the traveler. Typically, the cost is 5-7 percent of the trip cost. Like most every other type of insurance, be it automobile, medical, or homeowner’s, you hope you never need to use it. But it can be a relief to have it when you do need it.
The bottom line is: Before embarking on your next trip, do your homework! Talk to your insurance agent – or call me for a recommendation – and learn more about all the different insurance options available to you, so you can make the best choice for your peace of mind!
________________________________________
Economic Calendar for the Week of May 24 – May 28
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Mon. May 24 10:00 Existing Home Sales Apr 5.6M 5.4M Moderate
Tue. May 25 10:00 Consumer Confidence May 58.5 57.9 Moderate
Wed. May 26 08:30 Durable Goods Orders Apr 0.9% -0.3% Moderate
Wed. May 26 10:00 New Home Sales Apr 420K 411K Moderate
Wed. May 26 10:30 Crude Inventories 5/22 NA 0.162M Moderate
Thu. May 27 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 5/22 NA NA Moderate
Thu. May 27 08:30 Chain Deflator Q1 0.9% 0.9% Moderate
Thu. May 27 08:30 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Q1 3.3% 3.2% Moderate
Fri. May 28 09:45 Chicago PMI May 62.1 63.8 HIGH
Fri. May 28 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) May 73.3 73.2 Moderate
Fri. May 28 08:30 Personal Income Apr 0.5% 0.3% Moderate
Fri. May 28 08:30 Personal Spending Apr 0.3% 0.6% Moderate
Fri. May 28 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE Apr NA 0.1% HIGH
Fri. May 28 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE YOY NA 1.3% HIGH

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner, Pulaski Bank Home Lending, Overland Park, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Independence, Liberty, Parkville, Gladstone, Shawnee.

Markets See Huge Swings

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

May

10

In This Issue

Last Week in Review: Markets experienced huge swings in wild rollercoaster ride.

Forecast for the Week: This week will bring reports on trade, consumer sentiment and retail sales, and market-moving Treasury Auctions – all against a backdrop of continued uncertainty in Europe.

View: Saving and spending wisely with budgets that make sense.

Last Week In Review

“You bring me up and down!” While Janet Jackson was singing about love and relationships, investors around the world could surely relate during last week’s push and pull of wildly erratic markets. And we could be set up for an encore performance in the week ahead as anxiety persists in the European financial system.

The drama began on Monday when news of a pending bailout package for Greece sent Bonds lower, as investors pulled out of this “safe haven” and started looking toward stocks.

The very next day Stocks were back down, and Bonds were pushed up and out of their trading range, as 40,000 Greeks took to the streets to protest details of the bailout plan.

Capping off the week of volatility was Thursday afternoon’s Stock Market freefall scare, during which the Dow plummeted 998 points then recouped more than 600 points – all in the span of 15 minutes.

Thursday’s mysterious event, characterized as a “near-panic”, may have been caused in part by a wave of electronically submitted sell orders being executed at a mind-boggling pace. Remember, a majority of trading in the markets is done by computer. With Stock prices down significantly, many computer triggers for sell orders were hit. These triggers began executing sell orders at “market price.” With the enormous flood of market sell orders coming in, bidders pulled back, so there were very few bids to satisfy the sell orders. In such situations, the computer will keep seeking out the next available bidder in an effort to fill the order…no matter how low that bid is. One extreme example was the trading of Accenture (NYSE: ACN) stock, which went from $40 down to $0.14 (yes, 14 cents), then came all the way back to close at $41.09.

The Bond market, which generally has an inverse relationship to Stocks, responded to these tug-of-war pressures and events with exaggerated ups and downs, as seen in this week’s bond chart below.

This kind of tug-of-war makes the market very volatile – and underscores why it is more important than ever to work with a true mortgage professional who understands the market.

Counteracting some of the international angst last week was some positive domestic data and increasing sentiment that the US economy is improving.

———————–
The Stock market’s erratic behavior frustrated traders and investors last week.

In the end, strong domestic economic data, like Friday’s better than expected official Jobs Report, was overshadowed by the drama in Europe and received less fanfare than it deserved.

According to the Labor Department, 290,000 jobs were created in April, well ahead of estimates for 187,000 new job creations. The increase was the biggest rise since March 2006. Overall, non-farm payroll employment has expanded by 573,000 since December, with the vast majority of the growth occurring during the last two months.

Despite the job growth, the Unemployment Rate ticked up from 9.7% to 9.9%. The main reason was an increase in the labor force of 805,000. That’s because unemployed individuals who do not look for a job for four weeks are removed from the labor force. When those people move back into job search mode, they are counted again – which can cause the Unemployment Rate to rise even when more jobs are being created.

OVERALL, THE ECONOMY IS SHOWING SIGNS OF A RECOVERY. BUT IT’S STILL IMPORTANT TO SAVE, SPEND, AND BUDGET WISELY. CHECK OUT THE MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE VIEW BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BUDGETS THAT MAKE SENSE.

Forecast for the Week

The markets will open on the heels of Friday’s late night meeting of euro zone countries. There, leaders signed off on a support package for Greece, pledged to take steps to stem the spread of a “systemic” debt crisis and scheduled an emergency Sunday meeting of all 27 European Union finance ministers in hopes of quelling more turmoil on Monday.

It will be interesting to see how emerging details of their plan to create a European stabilization mechanism will affect the markets in the days ahead.

On the economic report front, this week will start out slowly. In fact, the first major economic report will be Wednesday’s Balance of Trade reports on exports and imports. Remember, a negative balance of trade – or a deficit – occurs when imports surpass exports. Rising deficits can be reflective of increased consumption, which can be a sign of a strengthening economy.

On Thursday, we will get another look at Initial Jobless Claims, which came in slightly above expectations last week but was still 7,000 lower than the previous week. The markets will be watching this report to see if the trend lower continues.

The week caps off on Friday with a host of reports on Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization, Consumer Sentiment and the big report on April’s Retail Sales.

In addition to these reports, and the continuing European saga, this week’s Treasury Department auctions may also affect the markets. The government will auction $38 Billion in 3-Year T-Notes on Tuesday, $24 Billion in 10-Years on Wednesday, and $16 Billion in 30-Year Bonds on Thursday.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds broke out of their trading range but the markets saw huge swings by the end of the week.

———————–
Chart: Fannie Mae 4.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday, May 7, 2010)

The Mortgage Market View

Spending and Saving Wisely

Click the Link to view the latest MMG Weekly Video

Last week, it was reported that Personal Spending rose the most in five months, as the economy is starting to pull out of the recession. At the same time, however, the Personal Savings rate fell to 2.7%, the lowest level since September 2008. These numbers represent how individuals struggle to balance spending with saving. In the end, it’s important for everyone to save, spend, and budget wisely. Check out this week’s video from Kiplinger.com to learn “Why Budgets Make Sense.”

——————————————————————————–
Economic Calendar for the Week of May 10 – May 14
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Wed. May 12 08:30 Balance of Trade Mar -$40.0B -$39.7B Moderate
Wed. May 12 10:30 Crude Inventories 5/08 NA 2.75M Moderate
Thu. May 13 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 5/08 440K 444K Moderate
Fri. May 14 08:30 Retail Sales Apr 0.2% 1.9% HIGH
Fri. May 14 08:30 Retail Sales ex-auto Apr 0.5% 0.9% HIGH
Fri. May 14 09:15 Capacity Utilization Apr 73.8% 73.2% Moderate
Fri. May 14 09:15 Industrial Production Apr 0.6% 0.1% Moderate
Fri. May 14 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) May 73.5 72.2 Moderate

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.
As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.
In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com
If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner, Pulaski Bank Home Lending, Overland Park, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Independence, Liberty, Parkville, Gladstone, Shawnee.

Fed Doesn’t Change Their Tune

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

May

3

Last Week In Review

They say “the only constant is change…”, yet last week’s meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee ended without any major changes…no change to the Fed Funds Rate, and no change to the now-famous verbiage in their Policy Statement, stating that rates will remain low for an “extended period” of time. While the Fed does not control home loan rates, what does all this mean for those seeking home financing in the months ahead? Read on for details.

There are two important things to note about last week’s Fed meeting. First, despite strong earnings, a stronger Stock market, and better consumer confidence and housing numbers, St. Louis Fed President Thomas Hoenig remains the lone dissenter to the verbiage in the Policy Statement on keeping rates low for an “extended period.” He feels that there is a strong risk of inflation ahead…and that the Fed needs to prepare the markets for the eventual hikes that will be coming to the Fed Funds Rate. When the Fed does indeed change this language, it will signal that the Fed has a consensus on inflation being a threat…and since inflation is the arch-enemy of home loan rates, the change in verbiage will cause rates to move higher.
In addition, the Fed made no mention in their Policy Statement about selling any of their Mortgage Backed Security (MBS) holdings – and the added supply coming into the market will also cause home loan rates to rise. That said, the Fed may have discussed the topic during the meeting, and it could come up when the Meeting Minutes are released. There is growing concern that if the Fed doesn’t begin selling some of these MBS holdings by 2011 that additional asset bubbles may arise. It’s likely that the Fed will look to sell a meaningful chunk by year end, and this will be yet another headwind for home loan rates during the coming year.
If you want to see if you can benefit from the current low-rate environment before these items adversely impact home loan rates, please give me a call or send me an email…and as always, please feel free to pass along this newsletter to a friend, coworker or family member that might benefit.
In other news, Consumer Confidence rose sharply in April, to its highest reading since September 2008. This number is important because the more confident that consumers feel…the more likely it is that they will help fuel the economy. Also, the Commerce Department’s Gross Domestic Product Report indicated that the economy grew for the third straight quarter, despite the report coming in slightly below estimates. Inflation readings within the report remained tame, giving the Fed cover to keep interest rates low, with inflation appearing to be subdued. But inflation concerns can arise quickly, and although the Fed is not acting just now…we can be sure they are watching very carefully.
Greece was still the word last week, as Standard & Poor’s Bond rating agency downgraded the debt of Greece to “junk” status. The lack of confidence in Greece’s ability to repay their debt has pushed yields on their 2-Year Notes up to a whopping 18% to try and incent investors – and by way of comparison, our own US 2-Year Notes are yielding just over 1%! This is why credit downgrades are such a concern, and why the warnings from Moody’s about the US overspending must be taken very seriously.
There has been much greater volatility in the Bond market lately, with large price swings in both directions. It’s no coincidence that the volatility increased just after the Fed exited their buying program. While concerns about Greece have caused some investors to lose some confidence in European debt instruments, and move their holdings over to US securities, which are viewed as a safer bet, the situation is fluid and there’s no telling how much and for how long Bonds and home loan rates will benefit from the situation. Overall – the mix of news and market activity benefitted Bonds and home loan rates last week, improving to better levels over the week prior.
LIBERTY AND FREEDOM FOR ALL IS ALWAYS A CHANGE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION! CHECK OUT THE MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE VIEW TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORY OF “CINCO DE MAYO”, BEING CELEBRATED THIS WEDNESDAY!

Forecast for the Week

Two important reports bookend the week ahead, and hopefully both will show changes in a good economic direction.
Monday’s Personal Income and Personal Spending Reports will give us a look at the Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE), which is the Fed’s favorite gauge of inflation. Rest assured the Fed will be watching this report very closely, as it could impact their decisions on rates and Policy Statement verbiage, as we discussed.
Thursday will bring another Initial Jobless Claims Report. At this stage in the economic recovery, the weekly Initial Jobless Claims readings we are seeing are still pretty high, which suggests that businesses are both reluctant to hire and are looking to trim overhead.
And the big enchilada of employment news wraps up the week, as April’s Jobs Report is due for delivery on Friday morning. Last month’s report showed that 162,000 jobs were created in March, making it the biggest one-month increase in three years. Additionally, there were upward revisions to January and February, which brought the last two months’ net job losses to near zero. But it’s not time to break out the party hats just yet…last month’s report also showed that the official Unemployment Rate remained steady at 9.7%, and when factoring in the “underemployed”, including people who accepted part-time work because full-time work is simply not available, the rate of unemployment overall rose from 16.8% to 16.9%. This report will be very important to watch, as the labor market is key to our economic recovery.
Remember this rule of thumb: Weak or negative economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong or positive economic news normally has the opposite result.
As you can see in the chart below, the instability in Greece and the Fed’s decision to keep rates low for an extended period of time gave Bonds a boost above a key technical level. But remember, volatility is the name of the game at the moment, and things can change quickly. I’ll be watching closely to see in which direction Bonds and home loan rates move this week – and always welcome a call or email from you if I can help answer any questions!
———————–
Chart: Fannie Mae 4.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday, April 30, 2010)

The Mortgage Market View

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo…and Its Connection to the United States
This Wednesday marks the celebration known as Cinco de Mayo, or “May 5th”, in Spanish. Although many people have heard of this holiday – and even join in the celebrations with gusto – plenty of folks are not aware of what this holiday is all about. And most people don’t realize that the event being commemorated may have actually played an important role in shaping the United States that we know today.
Let’s take a look at what this holiday is about, and have even more reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo – as well as liberty and freedom – this Wednesday, May 5th.
What Does Cinco de Mayo Commemorate?
Many people believe that Cinco de Mayo is the day that recognizes Mexico’s independence from Spain. To set the record straight, that conquest happened on September 15th, 1810. Cinco de Mayo, on the other hand, celebrates an event that took place over 50 years later.
On May 5, 1862, the Mexican cavalry, under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, defeated the French at the battle at Puebla, a city 100 miles east of Mexico City.
The French army, having not suffered a defeat in nearly 50 years, landed in the port of Vera Cruz and headed toward the capital city with a specific mission. Fearless of any opponent, the French sought to overthrow the capitol and gain control of Mexico, even bringing along a Hapsburg prince to oversee the would-be empire.
So…What’s the Connection to the United States?
The goal of France’s leader, Emperor Napoleon III, was to gain proximity to the US, in hopes of supplying the Confederate Army with support in their fight against the North…as he desired to sustain the division within America.
To America’s benefit, the undersized Mexican cavalry used their knowledge of the terrain to defeat the powerful French army. This victory enabled the Northern States to continue to build the greatest army in the world at that time. Fourteen months later, the North soundly defeated the Confederate Army in the battle at Gettysburg, thus ending the Civil War. Union troops were subsequently rushed to the Texas/Mexican border to help expel the French from Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo is rightfully celebrated in both the US and Mexico – and it’s a great occasion to honor freedom and liberty.
________________________________________
Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of May 03 – May 07
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Mon. May 03 08:30 Personal Income Mar 0.3% 0.0% Moderate
Mon. May 03 08:30 Personal Spending Mar 0.6% 0.3% Moderate
Mon. May 03 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE Mar NA 0.0% HIGH
Mon. May 03 08:30 Personal Consumption Expenditures and Core PCE YOY NA 1.3% HIGH
Mon. May 03 10:00 ISM Index Apr 60.0 59.6 HIGH
Wed. May 05 10:00 ISM Services Index Apr 56.1 55.4 Moderate
Wed. May 05 08:15 ADP National Employment Report Apr 30K -23K Moderate
Thu. May 06 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 5/01 440K 448K Moderate
Thu. May 06 08:30 Productivity Q1 2.4% 6.9% Moderate
Fri. May 07 08:30 Average Work Week Apr 34.0 34.0 HIGH
Fri. May 07 08:30 Hourly Earnings Apr 0.1% -0.1% HIGH
Fri. May 07 08:30 Non-farm Payrolls Apr 187K 162K HIGH
Fri. May 07 08:30 Unemployment Rate Apr 9.7% 9.7% HIGH

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

As your trusted advisor, I am sending you the MMG WEEKLY because I am committed to keeping you updated on the economic events that impact interest rates and how they may affect you.

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: curtis@kcmortgageplanner.com

If you prefer to send your removal request by mail the address is:

Mortgage Success Source, LLC is the copyright owner or licensee of the content and/or information in this email, unless otherwise indicated. Mortgage Success Source, LLC does not grant to you a license to any content, features or materials in this email. You may not distribute, download, or save a copy of any of the content or screens except as otherwise provided in our Terms and Conditions of Membership, for any purpose.

Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner, Pulaski Bank Home Lending, Overland Park, Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Olathe, Leawood, Lenexa, Independence, Liberty, Parkville, Gladstone, Shawnee.

Labor Market Geats a Dose of Happy News

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Dec

7

“HI HO, HI HO, IT’S OFF TO WORK WE GO!” And even those who have been feeling grumpy about the weak labor market found something to smile about last Friday. The official Jobs Report for November was released – and the improving numbers were a big surprise to the markets.

According to the Labor Department, only 11,000 jobs were lost in November, despite expectations of 125,000 jobs lost. As you can see from the chart below, this marks the least number of jobs lost in nearly two years – since December 2007. Adding to the favorable news, the Unemployment Rate improved to 10.0%, when expectations were for it to remain at the 10.2% level.

While the news was good for the economy and helped Stocks improve sharply, it wasn’t so favorable for Bonds…and as a result, home loan rates moved slightly higher on the news, continuing their worsening trend for the week overall.

———————–
Chart: 2009 Job Growth/Losses (In Thousands)
weekly112309Last Week in Review

In other news, based on early numbers, 195 Million shoppers hit the stores and websites on Black Friday, which was up from last year’s 172 Million. Cyber Monday – the online equivalent of Black Friday – also showed an increase in web shoppers, up by 6% from last year. It appears that the shopping traffic was up, but the dollars-per-shopper may be down a bit. This might be indicative of not only consumers being conservative…but also the fact that with all the deep sales taking place to incent buyers, fewer dollars may be spent to get the very same merchandise as a year ago.

SPEAKING OF THE HOLIDAYS…YOU CAN STILL DECORATE FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. TAKE A LOOK AT THE MORTGAGE MARKET GUIDE VIEW ARTICLE BELOW FOR CREATIVE, COST-EFFECTIVE TIPS FOR SPRUCING UP YOUR HOME THIS SEASON.

Forecast for the Week

The week ahead starts out a bit sleepy in terms of economic reports, with no major releases due until Thursday when the Initial Jobless Claims report and the Balance of Trade report will both arrive.

Friday will bring another shot of economic news when the Retail Sales Report – the most-timely indicator of broad consumer spending patterns – is released. We’ll also get a look at the Consumer Sentiment Index for an updated snapshot of how consumers are feeling about the economy.

In addition to these reports, the markets will be watching the latest round of Treasury auctions. This week’s auctions include longer-term maturities such as 10-year Notes and 30-year Bonds that compete with Mortgage Backed Securities or Mortgage Bonds. So as we’ve been seeing of late, the auctions could cause some volatility, depending on how well they are received.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.

As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds hit a high for 2009 on November 27th, but traded lower last week due to financial news and a better-than-expected Jobs Report.

Chart: Fannie Mae 4.5% Mortgage Bond (Friday Dec 04, 2009)
weekly12709

The Mortgage Market View…

Budget-Friendly Decorating Tips

The holiday season is a costly time of year. There are gifts to buy, parties to prepare for, and any number of other miscellaneous expenses. One expense that can really add up is the money put toward holiday decorations. Here are some budget-friendly decorating tips that go easy on your wallet while also making your home look and feel beautiful.

The Nose Knows

We associate the holidays with certain scents. Pine, cinnamon, and cloves seem to top the list. If your family celebrates Christmas, you’ve most likely got the pine part covered with your fresh Christmas tree. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, or if you’re partial to an artificial tree, you can ask your local Christmas tree lot about the branches they’ve trimmed off of trees and have no use for. Freebees like these can be used to adorn mantles, decorate coffee tables, or may be tastefully strewn across a dining room table. They add a splash of color and a fresh pine scent without the presence of a tree.

Regarding the scent of either cinnamon or cloves, there are several ways to achieve it. Two of the easiest and least expensive methods are the use of potpourri and scented oils. Strategically place two or three such items around the house, and you’ll be immediately transported into the holiday mode.

Lighting Is Everything

The good news is that achieving the proper holiday lighting doesn’t require you to purchase any expensive fixtures. Instead, start with candles and lots of them. Candlesticks, votives, tea lights, and pillar candles all have the ability to create mood through incandescence. Candlelit dinners seem to look and taste better, and movie watching in a candlelit room adds ambience to the experience.

The bad news about candles is if you shop for them in the wrong place, you can rack up a hefty bill in no time at all. If you’re thinking about burning a lot of candles this holiday season, it can easily turn into one of those unnecessary expenses. For an array of inexpensive candles, look no further than your local Ikea store. If that’s not a possibility, simply log onto www.ikea.com and browse the nearly 100 different types of candles they have to offer.

Color, Color, Color

The holidays are all about color. If you celebrate Christmas, red, green, and white will serve as your color palate. If Hanukkah is your holiday, it’s all about blue, silver, and white. And if Kwanzaa is your celebration, look no further than red, green, and black. If none of these options work for you, there are always fall colors like brown, orange, and yellow.

Whatever your color choice may be, it is important to incorporate it into every room. Tablecloths and cloth napkins can provide the color in your dining room. In terms of the living room, pillows and throw blankets can serve as your holiday color accents. Even holiday gifts awaiting their opening can be wrapped in the appropriate colored paper. In terms of the rest of your home, be creative. Just make sure to utilize the colors that represent whatever holiday you are celebrating.

The Sound of Music

Music is decoration for the ears. Most of us have some sort of holiday-themed music somewhere in our collection. If not, pick up 3 or 4 compilation CDs that illustrate the holiday you are celebrating or look for 24-hour holiday-themed music stations through your cable or satellite service. Play these (on a lower volume) whenever you have a gathering in your home, or simply feel like getting into the spirit of the season.

But don’t stop there. Genres like soft jazz or classical music are also great to pipe into your living room during your gatherings. They add a soothing sophistication to any holiday event.

With just a little creativity, your home can look, smell, and sound just like you want it to this holiday season…without breaking the piggybank!

The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Remember, as a general rule, weaker than expected economic data is good for rates, while positive data causes rates to rise.
Economic Calendar for the Week of December 07 – December 11
Date ET Economic Report For Estimate Actual Prior Impact
Wed. December 09 10:30 Crude Inventories 12/4 NA 2.09M Moderate
Thu. December 10 08:30 Jobless Claims (Initial) 12/5 NA 457K Moderate
Thu. December 10 08:30 Balance of Trade Nov -$37.1B -$36.5B Moderate
Fri. December 11 08:30 Retail Sales Nov 0.5% 1.4% HIGH
Fri. December 11 08:30 Retail Sales ex-auto Nov 0.5% 0.2% HIGH
Fri. December 11 10:00 Consumer Sentiment Index (UoM) Dec 68.0 67.4 Moderate

The material contained in this newsletter is provided by a third party to real estate, financial services and other professionals only for their use and the use of their clients. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, we do not make any representations as to its accuracy or completeness and as a result, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

Contact Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner at Pulaski Bank with any questions.
816-347-1678 x-307

Now Available $6500 Tax Credit for Homewwners $8000 extended

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Nov

23

Tax Credit for Homebuyers

First-Time Homebuyers (FTHBs): First-time homebuyers (that is, people who have not owned a home within the last three years) may be eligible for the tax credit. The credit for FTHBs is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a maximum available credit of $8,000.

Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

Current Owners: The tax credit program now gives those who already own a residence some additional reasons to move to a new home. This incentive comes in the form of a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified purchasers who have owned and occupied a primary residence for a period of five consecutive years during the last eight years.

Single taxpayers and married couples filing a joint return may qualify for the full tax credit amount.

What are the New Deadlines?

In order to qualify for the credit, all contracts need to be in effect no later than April 30, 2010 and close no later than June 30, 2010.

Tax Credit Versus Tax Deduction

It’s important to remember that the tax credit is just that… a tax credit. The benefit of a tax credit is that it’s a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction, rather than a reduction in a tax liability that would only save you $1,000 to $1,500 when all was said and done. So, if a first-time homebuyer were to owe $8,000 in income taxes and would qualify for a tax credit of $8,000, she would owe nothing.

Better still, the tax credit is refundable, which means the homebuyer can receive a check for the credit if he or she has little income tax liability. For example, if a first-time homebuyer is eligible for a tax credit of $8,000 but is liable for $4,000 in income tax, she can still receive a check for the remaining $4,000!

Higher Income Caps

The amount of income someone can earn and qualify for the full amount of the credit has been increased.

Single tax filers who earn up to $125,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, single filers who earn $145,000 and above are ineligible

Joint filers who earn up to $225,000 are eligible for the total credit amount. Those who earn more than this cap can receive a partial credit. However, joint filers who earn $245,000 and above are ineligible.

Maximum Purchase Price

Qualifying buyers may purchase a property with a maximum sale price of $800,000.

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Remember, the new tax credit program includes a number of details and qualifications. For more information or answers to specific questions, please call or email me today.

In addition, you may be able to benefit from additional housing related provisions, including the following:

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Tax Incentives to Spur Energy Savings and Green Jobs

This provision is designed to help promote energy-efficient investments in homes by extending and expanding tax credits through 2010 for purchases such as new furnaces, energy-efficient windows and doors, or insulation.

Landmark Energy Savings

This provision provides $5 Billion for energy efficient improvements for more than one million modest-income homes through weatherization. According to some estimates, this can help modest-income families save an average of $350 a year on heating and air conditioning bills.

Repairing Public Housing and Making Key Energy Efficiency Retrofits To HUD-Assisted Housing

This provision provides a total of $6.3 Billion for increasing energy efficiency in federally supported housing programs. Specifically, it establishes a new program to upgrade HUD-sponsored low-income housing (for elderly, disabled, and Section 8) to increase energy efficiency, including new insulation, windows, and frames.

Expanding Housing Assistance

This provision increases support for several critical housing programs. It includes $2 Billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to help communities purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed, vacant properties.

As always, if you have any questions about your specific situation or would like to discuss how you may benefit from this program, please call or email me. I’ll be happy to sit down with you.

Thank you,
Curtis Schartz, CMPS
Certified Mortgage Planner
Pulaski Bank Home Lending
(816) 347-1678 ext. 307 – phone
(913) 707-1525 – cell
(913) 234-8609 – fax
www.KCMortgagePlanner.com

Update on the $8000 Tax credit

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Oct

30

Some encouraging news on the extension of the $8000 tax credit…while it is not a done deal, as it still must be reconciled between the House and Senate and then voted on for final approval, it’s looking good. And it’s not only looking good for the extension, but there are some additional enhancements to the credit in the works as well. Yesterday, the Senate reached an agreement to extend the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers. They also added a $6,500 tax credit for other primary home purchasers, meaning not just limited to first time home buyers. They also raised the qualifying income limits in a very meaningful way – singles were increased from $75,000 to $125,000, and joint taxpayers from $150,000 to $250,000. Buyers must have executed purchase agreements in hand by April 30th, and then will have until June 30th to close. More details are likely to come, and changes could be made as reconciliation and voting takes place.
Contact Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner at Pulaski Bank, today to get ready to purchase your new home and take advantage of the tax credit before it runs out.

HVCC Nulification

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Oct

23

Yesterday on a conference call with the president of NAMB they said that there was a bill introduced this week in the House that will Nullify the HVCC. This is great news for the industry. Ever since HVCC went into effect the ability for loan officers and Certified Mortgage Planners to communicate with their appraisers was taken away, and has cost consumers a significant amount of money. We are hopeful that this amendment to Nullify HVCC will pass the house and the Senate within the next month. We shall see. Keep your fingers crossed.
Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner with Pulaski Bank

Time is Running Out!

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Oct

23

For those of you still planning on taking advantage of the $8000 tax credit for purchasing a new home in Shawnee, Lee’s Summit, Overland Park, and the rest of the Kansas City Metro time is running out. Don’t count on the tax credit getting extended. There is some opposition against extending it. In order to get closed in time you will need to be contracted within the next 1 – 2 weeks. Most large lending institutions have already cut people off. At Pulaski Bank we have a commitment to our clients to get it done if at all possible. Remember that the deadline for closing is November 30th. However, you need to take into account a couple of items. First is that the bill actually reads that the Deed or Mortgage has to be recorded by November 30th as well. Whether the IRS will check this or not I don’t know, but you sure don’t want to risk it. The other item to consider is that November 30th falls on the Monday after Thanksgiving. So you really need to be closed by November 25th to be assured that you make the deadline. If you are out searching for a lender and a mortgage planner that will get you the best rates and the lowest costs, as well as, get you closed in time to get the $8000 tax credit look no further. Call Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner at Pulaski Bank today to get your pre-approval.

The Time to Act is NOW!

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Oct

2

Interest Rates for Kansas City, Overland Park and Lees Summit have hit all time lows today. If you have not refinanced at or below 5% now is the time to act. These low rates will not last. Everything is pointing to higher rates in the near future. It appears that Mortgage Backed Securities found a top today. They spiked up after the poor jobs report and rapidly came back down. This action will typically signal a top – meaning that we may have bottomed out with the current interest rate cycle. The Fed announced that they will scale back the purchases of Mortgage Backed Securities so they can continue to purchase them through the first quarter of next year. We will see rates gradually creep up until the point that they are done purchasing. At that point rates will jump higher.
Contact Curtis Schartz Certified Mortgage Planner today to find if you can benefit from these low rates. Pulaski bank is one the top mortgage lenders in Kansas City. Call me today and find out why.

Interest Rates are Improving

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Sep

10

The US Treasury auctions went well this week. Currently interest rates for Kansas City, Overland Park, and Lees Summit are improving. We are approaching the lowest rates that we have seen this year. It is time to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit and purchase your first home before the tax credit expires and rates go up. If you have not refinanced your home loan yet or your are sitting on an interest rate in the mid 5′s or higher it is time to contact me and get your house refinanced. These rates won’t last for long contact Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner with Pulaski Bank today.

$8000 Tax Credit

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Sep

1

Time is running out for 1st time home buyers in Kansas City, Lees Summit, Overland Park and the rest of the Country to receive an$8000 tax credit for purchasing a home. There are 3 months left to take advantage of the low interest rates and this great incentive. If you know of anyone that is thinking about purchasing a home make sure and have them contact Certified Mortgage Planner Curtis Schartz. Even if they don’t think that they have the money down there may be a solution. At Pulaski Bank we have several solutions for buyers to get into homes with no money down or zero down home loans. It is important that we get started on this process right away. The $8000 tax credit rules state that you must close prior to December 1st, 2009. The typical time frame to close on a house is 30 days plus the time that it takes for you to find a home. In order to be sure you close in time you will want to be contracted by mid October. There will be a big push at the end with people trying to purchase a home to get  in on the tax credit before it expires .Don’t get left out in the cold. Contact me today so we can get your pre-approval process started and get you on the road to home ownership.

Inflation’s Impact on Interest Rates

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jul

29

What’s Going on with Inflation and Interest Rates?

If you’ve seen the news lately, you know concerns about inflation are increasing. But what does it really mean to you?

The fact is, inflation is a very serious issue, and it will likely be on the rise as 2009 proceeds…and along with it, home loan rates will rise too.

To help you learn more about this important topic, I want to send you a link to a short video, featuring the nation’s foremost mortgage industry expert. In this video, you’ll learn how inflation impacts interest rates and what the outlook is for down the road.

Because home loan rates will be on the rise, if you or any of your family, friends, neighbors or co-workers have been considering a purchase or refinance, now’s the time to act.

Please contact me today to discuss your specific situation, and feel free to forward this email and video link along to others that you think might benefit from it as well.

Watch the Video

Our First Meeting: What to Expect.

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jul

17

When we sit down to our first meeting we will have already gone through a detailed interview over the phone. That way I will be prepared with potentially several different Mortgage Plans in a spreadsheet format. This will allow us to have an in depth conversation about the different loan programs and Mortgage Plans available to you for your unique situation. We will look at tax efficiencies, cash flow, and break even points. Once we are through you will be able to make a clear and educated decision about which loan program is right for you and which Mortgage Plan best fits your individual financial situation. Once you have made an educated decision we can sign documents and get the mortgage process started. When you leave my office you will no longer feel nervous about one of the largest financial transaction that you will make in your lifetime. Call me today for the best Mortgage Transaction you will ever have.

The True “No Cost Refi”

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jul

10

You hear it on the radio and TV commercials all the time “No Closing Costs out of your Pocket.” It’s is the last part that most people don’t hear in these deceptive advertisements. The truth is there are certainly closing costs involved. Every loan has costs associated with it. The important part is how it is packaged. There are many loan officers and companies out there that will try and deceive you. They will say no points, but then turn around and have outrageous underwriting or processing fees. They may also try and put the fees in a different section of the Good Faith Estimate in order to conceal the true amount of what they are charging. Of course, they tell you not to worry because none of the fees are out of pocket fees and they will be rolled into the loan. In addition they may charge additionally higher fees in order to get you a lower rate. 

What most people don’t realize or never calculate is what the break even point will be after they spend all of the money refinancing. They are just excited to have a lower rate then everyone else.

If you are working with a true professional and an expert in the mortgage industry they will likely show you several different options of how to structure your loan. That way you will be an educated consumer and therefore make an educated decision as to what Mortgage Plan will be best suited for your financial needs and goals.

Many times I will end up structuring a “True No Cost Refinance” for my clients. A true no cost refinance is structured completely different then what you may expect to see when you meet with your Certified Mortgage Planner. Your interest rate is a little higher then what it would be if you were to pay your own closing costs. By charging a little higher interest rate we are able to cover part or all of the closing costs. That way they are not rolled into the loan and it did not cost you anything to refinance your house. You start saving money right away. Instead of having a break even point of 5 years or more down the line when you pay your own costs, or even worse pay points to buy down your rate. This scenario is especially effective if you don’t plan on being in your house longer then 5 years, or if there is a chance that rates could go lower within the near future. 

Using a true no cost refinance also enables you to be able to maximize your interest savings by allowing you to refinance with every incremental rate drop of .25% – .5%, depending on your loan amount. Most often refinancing for that small increment would never payoff if you had to pay closing costs every time that you did it. 

I hope this information proves beneficial to you and keeps you from spending thousands of unnecessary dollars. 

Please contact me or blog here with any questions. I would be happy to put together a personalized mortgage plan just for you and help you manage your mortgage going forward. 

Curtis Schartz

Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist

Pulaski Bank Home Loans

913-707-1525

www.KCMortgagePlanner.com

Curtis Schartz, Certified Mortgage Planner

By Curtis Schartz, CMPS

Jun

24

My name is Curtis Schartz.  I am a creative, passionate and empowered certified mortgage planner.  Unlike most mortgage professionals, I devote my time and energy on you; solving your mortgage needs.  We are in this together: my success is your success.

To divulge a little info about me:  I grew up in a small town in central Kansas called Ellinwood.  I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, so as you can guess, my wife and I are avid Jayhawk fans.  I enjoy spending time on Grand Lake in the summers with my family and friends.  And in the winter I find great joy and peace as a sportsmen being outdoors and in the woods hunting various game.

I love what I do in the mortgage industry, working with my clients.  In fact, my mission is to build strong, lifelong relationships, one person at a time – to become your Mortgage Planner for life.
My approach to this business is different than most.  By referral only is a mindset on which I continue to build my business.  I spend 100% of my time giving you world-class service, guaranteed!  You will be so happy with the service I provide, you will be eager to refer those closest to you so that I can assist them with their mortgage needs.

Please call me 913-707-1525 or write today so I can help you start saving money right away.

My goal is to help you make an educated decision as to which mortgage product is right for you. I will do that by asking you a series of thought provoking questions so that I can get a good idea of where you are at financially. From there I will put together several mortgage plans for you so that we can examine the differences in tax efficiencies and cash flow. Once I close your loan the service doesn’t stop. I will continue to manage your mortgage for you. I will keep track of your rate and if rates drop to a point where I can save you 40 or $50 per as a low cost or no cost refinance you will be hearing from me. You will receive all of this great service along with the lowest rates and costs on the market.

If that sounds great to you then call or write me so we can get started saving you money right away.