Introducing The Baby

I can give you a hundred reasons for my hiatus from blogging over the past couple of weeks, none of which will satisfy my loyal readers, however. Thank you for hanging in there with me. It occurs to me that some additional regular features might be a way to manage my blog content a bit better - gotta have a system, you know! So, it is time to launch the Nikki-Watch!

Nikki is the youngest member of my family, having just turned ONE! She is an American Boxer according to her papers, but we are quite certain she is part human. Her full name is Nikita Latifah Guadalupe, courtesy of my teenage daughter, Taylor Ann. Here is the first picture of Nikki that we ever saw, courtesy of the breeder's ad on the Internet, which was the impetus for us to hop in the car and go get her:

I will post additional photos of Nikki from time to time, chronicling her life with us at the Foster household. You will be able to click on the "Nikki-Watch" label for postings and get all those related to Nikki at the same time.

I'll catch up with you all again soon.

Home Prices – Interest Rates – Affordability

As a real estate professional, I spend a lot of time studying home market trends and listening to industry analysts. Although I may not agree with much of what I read, mostly due to general national data versus local market data, I like to share market outlooks from time to time and give credit to their source. Here is one I came across last week from Bill Gross, Managing Director of PIMCO, in his April 2007 Investment Outlook newsletter:

“ . . . if home prices in the U.S. have peaked, and are expected to stay below that peak on a real price basis for the next three years, then the Fed will cut rates and cut them significantly over the next few years in order to revigorate an anemic U.S. economy.”

On the surface, it looks like a prediction of lower home loan rates over the next few years – even lower than the existing historically low rates. Or . . . does it indicate that rates will remain the same and that home prices will decline. Or . . . well, you might see some lack of strong outlook that you can hang your hat on here. No matter what direction the housing sector might turn, the statement works. The bottom line is this – first time homebuyers should not be shy about jumping into the housing market. Interest rates are low. Available home inventory is high. And regardless of the future, near or long term, the tax benefits of home ownership in America are unparalleled in the world.

Oh – and I certainly do not want to overlook the move-up homeowners. Even though the sale price of the home you are currently in might be depressed, so is the price of the home you will be buying. The net difference between the two will be relatively the same even if the market starts to recover. As such, now is very likely as good a time as any to make your move - your choices for a next home are aplenty.

All for now. Hope all is well in your world.

Promotionally Weary

It seems to me that I might be better off not opening mail, reading e-mail, watching television or listening to the radio because I am increasingly tired of being presented offers for cable telephone, digital this & that, trash collection, etc. that lead with a price tag of $29.95 for the first 4 months. So . . . . have you ever read the fine print to see what the payment is for month 5 and beyond? More often than not these days I am unable to find any reference at all to what the future payment might actually be. It is not that I am interested in the offers, but rather that I am offended by the tactic to lure unsuspecting consumers into the lair of “only” $29.95 a month. Full disclosure by the offerors should be mandatory – frankly, I assumed that it was. I guess that makes this an open letter to all Attorneys General across the country – please protect the consumers in your jurisdiction and leave your respective States a better place when you step down from office.

There – I let that one go – blogging is healthy for my soul. Peace.