Durable goods orders were down in July by 7.3%!  This ties in with the new home sales   in July down 13.4%!  This is just more proof to us here at www.myslohomefinder.com that the raising   of interest rates will slow the economy and may even push us back into recession!   Go to www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obispo County home search needs!   The Week Ahead:More Data Than Last Week             New Factory Orders for durables in July dropped a huge -7.3 % after jumping 3.9 % the month before. Analysts forecast a -4.0 % drop for July.   Tuesday: Consumer Confidence, Prior 80.3 , Consensus 78.0 Wednesday: Pending Home Sales Index, Prior -0.4%, Consensus-1.0% Thursday: GDP, Prior 0.7%, Consensus0.7%. Jobless Claims, Prior 336K, Consensus330K Friday: Consumer Spending, Prior... 08/26/2013

In news that shocked the market, new home sales were down 13.4% last month.  Higher rates on mortgages were blamed!  This news caused the home builder's stocks to drop like rocks.  Here at this blog we have been having a lively debate about the economy, and if the present "mini housing boom" was due solely, or mostly, to  the artificially low 3% plus interest rates for the 30 year mortgage.  It appears like our position that the surge in sales and prices were mostly due to the low rates and not a strong economy is proving to be true.  Eric Rodriguez is in our "brain trust" here, and he has been pushing the point that higher rates, especially in the 5% area, will slow the housing market.  He argues that it could even reverse the market altogether! He even pointed out that we could have a... 08/23/2013

 Sales of previous owned homes were up by 6.5%!  The most in 3.5 years!   Prices were up 13.7%!  Sales up 17.2% from a year ago!   It appears that the initial shock over rising rates has settled in and buyers are seeing that rates are going up more!  They are buying now while rates are still historically low.  ­­   What's up today:Existing Home Sales and FOMC Minutes               "Panic" over rising rates is how the National Association of Realtors explains a big jump in Existing Home Sales during July, to a 5.390 million annual rate that is far beyond the Economist consensus for 5.150 million and well beyond the Economist high-end estimate for 5.300 million. Sales gains swept all four regions with the percentage gain the strongest in the Northeast.FOMC Minutes, at 11:00 PST, should be... 08/21/2013

Want to find a home or investment property Atascadero or in San Luis Obispo County?    Go to www.myslohomefinder.com to search the cities of San Luis Obispo County to find that special home.  We are known for our special treatment of people, and being able to help you find that special home. 08/19/2013

The Week Ahead:Limited Data Focuses on Housing; Punctuated by FOMC Minutes           Today, there is no Data.   Tuesday: No Data Wednesday: Existing Home Sales, Prior 5.08 M,  Consensus 5.15M. FOMC Minutes Thursday: Jobless Claims, Prior 320 K,  Consensus 329K. Friday: New Home Sales, Prior 497 K,  Consensus 487 K.   Dow is trading at 15,094  +13  the 10 yr bond is at 2.86 from 2.79 Friday, . Currently point structure is higher from Friday   Conv. - 4.625%­­ FHA.   - 4.25%       Have a super week!!!   08/19/2013

Want to find a home or investment property in San Luis Obispo County?    Go to www.myslohomefinder.com to search the cities of San Luis Obispo County to find that special home.  We are known for our special treatment of people, and being able to help you find that special home. 08/14/2013

The 30 year mortgage rate is stable.  We have noticed a slow down in San Luis Obispo County California.  We were having bidding wars on many of the lower priced properties, and now we are having less.  Makes you wonder how much the "tapering off" will hurt the real estate market with higher interest rates. Check out www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obispo County home search needs.     The Day Ahead:Producer Price Index               Producer price inflation for July came in much softer than expected-largely due to a surprise drop in energy costs. The July Producer Price Index was unchanged after jumping 0.8 percent in June. Analysts expected a 0.5 percent increase. The core rate, which excludes both food and energy, posted at 0.1 percent, compared to 0.2 percent in June. Th... 08/14/2013

 Visit www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obispo County home search needs-   The Week Ahead:Plenty of Data to Digest                   Today the U.S. Treasury monthly budget report for June showed notable improvement. The Treasury posted a surplus of $116.5 billion versus a May deficit of $138.7 billion.        Tuesday:Retail Sales, Prior 0.4% , Consensus 0.3%. Import Prior -0.2% , Consensus 0.9%. and Export PricesPrior -0.1% , Consensus 0.2%.   Wednesday: Producer Price Index, Consensus 0.8%.Prior 0.3%   Thursday: Consumer Price Index, Consensus 0.5%.Prior 0.2%, Jobless Claims, Prior 333K , Consensus 330K. Industrial         Production, Consensus 0.3%.Prior 0.3%. Philadelphia Fed Survey, Prior 19.8% , Consensus 15.0%.   Friday:Housing Starts, Prior 0.836M , Consensus 0.900M.... 08/12/2013

www.myslohomefinder.com "is the best web site for real estate searches in San Luis Obispo County!"  says Bob Devitt.  I used the web site to search for properties and  Mike and his team at Prudential California Realty in San Luis Obispo searched the  whole county with me.  I found a short sale opportunity and bought a "screaming nice 3 bedroom 2 bath home on 2.5 acres below the market price."  In the 9 months that we have owned the home it has gone up $75,000!  Thank you Prudential California Realty for your help!  I highly recommend them!   Go to www.myslohomefinder.com or call Mike and his team at (805)459-0074   08/10/2013

Rates have been holding steady this last week.  But if we start to "taper off" the Fed buy programs and if they raise rates we can easily shoot up to 5% plus.  That is why it is so important to buy now! See www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obispo County home search needs.     Last week-              Dow is trading at 15,394  -102  the 10 yr bond is at 2.59 from 2.59 Yesterday, . Currently point structure isunchangedfrom Yesterday.       Conv. – 4.25%­­   FHA.  _ 4.125%           Have a super weekend!!!         08/10/2013

The President has been talking about the privatization of Freddie and Fannie Mae.  Bravo!  This should have been done 20 years ago, and we wouldn't have had the sub-prime problems.  We should go back to private financing!  Remember when you had to have "skin in the game" and put down 20%!  We need to get back to those days! Visit www.myslohomefinder.com for all your home search needs in San Luis Obispo County California.     What's up today!                 Thejobs market is improving based on jobless claims data where auto-retooling adjustments are fading in importance and where most readings are at or near recovery lows. Initial Jobless Claims came in at 333,000 in the August 3 week, just under the Economist consensus for 336,000 and only a little higher than the prior week's revised ... 08/08/2013

  If you are search for a home, ranch, or vineyard in the San Luis Obispo County area. Please use my web site at www.myslohomefinder.com to help you with the search. We have the finest web site in the county!  You get the full MLS search options that are only available to real estate agents only. www.myslohomefinder.com   Give me a call at 805-459-0074 or email me at- mhendrickson@prucalcc.com         08/07/2013

If you are searching for a home or investment property in the San Luis Obispo County area, go to- www.myslohomefinder.com to use the state of the arts MLS search engine to locate that special property.  We were rated as one of the best search engines for the area. Check us out!   Or call Mike at 805-459-0074 for more information about us, and to help you search the local real estate market.     08/05/2013

  The past week:Nonfarm Payroll, Unemployment Rate, Factory Oder               Nonfarm Payroll employment grew less than expected in July even though the unemployment rate came in lower than expected. Total payroll jobs in July increased 162,000 after gaining a revised 188,000 in June (originally up 195,000) and increasing 176,000 in May (previous estimate was 195,000). Expectations were for a 175,000 gain for July.The Unemployment Rate eased to 7.4 percent in July from 7.6 percent the month before. The consensus was for a 7.5 percent unemployment rate.Factory Odergoods, up 1.5 percent, were solid in June though down from an especially strong May which is revised upward to 3.0 percent.           Dow is trading at 15,572  -53  the 10 yr bond is at 2.61 from 2.67 Yesterday, . Currently po... 08/03/2013

      The Day Ahead:ADP Employment Reports, GDP, FOMC               ADP Employment Reports a 200,000 rise in private payroll growth for July vs June's upwardly revised 198,000 rise. Economist expectations were looking for slight slowing, to 179,000 vs ADP's initial June reading of 188,000.Second quarter GDP growth gained an annualized 1.7 percent, following a 1.1 percent rise in the first quarter.FOMC Meeting Announcementat 11:00 pst.           Dow is trading at 15,622  +101  the 10 yr bond is at 2.68 from 2.59 Yesterday, . Currently point structure ishigherfrom Yesterday       Conv. – 4.375%   FHA. _ 4.25%    Average - 4.56%   Last year - 3.52%      Historic High - 18.56% November 1981        Have a super day!!!   07/31/2013

We have been monitoring the inflation rate, and we have seen signs that it is back!  We are waiting to confirm the rise in next months data.  We are waiting to see if the spike is due to unrest in Egypt or perhaps a general inflation that comes as a result of all the "money printing" going on around the world.    The Day Ahead: No Significant Data                     Dow is trading at 15,587  +41  the 10 yr bond is at 2.51 from 2.48 Yesterday, . Currently point structure isunchangedfrom Yesterday       Conv. – 4.25%   FHA. _ 4.125%           Have a super day!!!   07/23/2013

Inflation is raising its ugly head again.  Today the CPI was up by .5% in June compared to .1% in May.  This ties in with last weeks announcement that the PPI had increased to .8% in June.  We are going to have to monitor these numbers very closely in the next few months.  Inflation is like a thief in the night and robs works of buying power.  With the inability to raise their wages, this could "rob" works of what they earn. I will keep you posted on further developments! Go to our web site at www.myslohomefinder.com for all your real estate search requirements in San Luis Obispo County.     The Day Ahead: Consumer Price Index, Industrial Production, Housing Market Index Headline inflation at the consumer level jumped in June-largely on energy. Meanwhile, the core rate held steady. The ... 07/16/2013

  What is the real cost of QE!  We are going to have to wait and see!  But the higher rates are going to form a 2nd banking crash which could be worse that the 2008 crisis.  Please read the excellent article by John Rubino and input from Zero Hedge.  Just look at the chart below and this will shock you! Variable Rate World, Part 3: “This Horror Show Is Just the Beginning”   By John Rubino on July 11, 2013 · 11 comments It’s easy to assert that big banks and other holders of long-term bonds will be crushed by rising interest rates, but it’s tough to calculate just how bad the carnage will be and how quickly it will come. Tough but not impossible. A couple of recent Zero Hedge articles provide some data – and it’s brutal. First, this from July 8: Chart Of The Day: Taper Fears Lead To Big... 07/13/2013

Rates are slightly better from yesterday.  The troubling problem that came up today is that inflation has ticked up higher.  PPI jumped .8 % in June!  We will have to monitor this number!  Higher inflation will hurt the recovery more than in the past, since wages and jobs are stagnant.  Please go to our web site www.myslohomefinder.com for all your San Luis Obispo housing needs.  Also call us if you have any questions at 805-459-0074.     The Day Ahead: Producer Price Index, Consumer Sentiment               Inflation worsened in June at the producer level. The June Producer Price Index jumped 0.8 percent, following a 0.5 percent boost in May. The latest number topped the consensus projection for a 0.5 percent increase. The core rate, which excludes both food and energy, firmed to 0.2 pe... 07/12/2013

Ben Bernake said that the economy still needs stimulus and rates are going to stay low for a while longer.  This was like rocket fuel to the market and stocks, precious metals, and commodities shot up.  All you need to do is look around the world at the recessions in Euro Land, China slowing and Australia in free fall to "get it".  All these events can take down the U.S. economy.  Does anyone recall their U.S. history and what happened in the mid 1930's when the Fed raised interest rates?  Started another tail spin down!   Just look at the real estate market!  New mortgage applications are down by 28% in the last month.   The housing recovery has gone from "white hot" to just "hot".  Any more interest rate spikes will change this to "warm", and even more to "room temperature". We have r... 07/11/2013