Are you looking for a one of a kind place to live, boat and enjoy life? Waterlefe Golf and River Club is a BOATER'S delight!

Sip a Fresh Pina Colada from the Tiki Bar at the River Club, over looking the heated pool and Marina, while enjoying music! The River Club is a place to relax, unwind or get active! Whatever your pleasure.

River Club Attractions:

• Incredible Food & Drinks
• Active Community Calendar
• Free Poolside Pilates & Yoga
• Kayak Access & Racks
• Nature Trails
• Riverside Children's Play Area
• Top notch fitness facility
• Tiki Bar & More!

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

 Waterlefe Club Marina :

• 59 slip docking facility with boat lift availability
• Sailboat friendly waterways to the Gulf from the Manatee River
• Open to private pleasure vessels owned or leased to a resident of the Waterlefe Community
• Boats up to 25' feet long and no taller than 35' welcome
• Boat lifts must be  approved byt the Board of Directors, and will be permitted at the marina
• Sales office on-site for Boat Docks

Slip Prices:

• 20' - $33,200
• 24' - $43,200
• 29' - $53,200

***Add $10,000 for a lift***

Slips Available for Sale

• #58 - 24' no lift
• #27 - 24' no lift
• #28 - 24' no lift
• #45 - 24' no lift
• #44 - 24' no lift
• #54 - 24' WITH lift
• #49 - 24' WITH lift

SEARCH FOR A HOME OR CONDO NOW...

Thirty three beuatifully constructed buildings containing 256 units are spread over 36 landscaped acres featuring scenic lake views and tranquil fountains. You can feel secure in this gated and exclusive community....

Features and Amenities Include:

• Clubhouse / Community Center
• State of the Art Fitness Center
• Pool and Spa
• Library
• Dance Floor
• Gated Community
• Rich Architectural Detail
• Scenic Lake Views
• Decorative Fountains
• Active Social Schedule
• UP TO TWO 25LB PETS ALLOWED

FAQ's about Vizcaya Condominium Association:

Q: What are my voting rights in the condominium association?

A: Each unit has one vote. If more than one person owns the unit, the owners must designate one person as the voter that that unit.

Q: What are the rules of leasing a unit in Vizcaya?

A: Leases for less than twelve consecutive months are prohibited. No sub-letting. Unit owner must have a lease rider with proof of liability and causality insurance;tenant must have tenant insurance. Tenant must post an amount equal to one month's rent of be held by the Association in escrow for the duration of the lease.

Q: How is the association managed?

A: Beth Callans Management Corporation provides a Community Association Manage and full-time Office Manager. Also, two full-tie maintenance men perform Association-related routine and preventive maintenance work not contracted by outside vendors. The Association is governed by a seven member board of directors, elected by unit owners.

Q: How much are my assessments to the condo association for my unit type and when are they due?

A:For 2010, the assessment is $5692, payable in equal quarterly installments of $1,423, due on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st and October 1st.

I love Wells Fargo.  I listed the home preparing the seller for a long painful process that would take 6 months to a year to complete.  I advised her to call her lender to let  them know she wanted to do a short sale. 

The NEXT day, I get a call from the assigned negotiator.  That same day, I get a call from the BPO agent!  THIS WAS BEFORE I EVER HAD AN OFFER!

Within two weeks I get the unit under contract with a realistic buyer with a 90 day approval deadline.

The seller provids all required documents, and we sent in the contract.

(light at the end of the tunnel, and this was a short tunnel)

I get a call from the negotiator the next week with some questions, and some required changes for the HUD.  No big deal.

Then, today, I get the call that the deal is approved, and the WRITTEN approval is on its way.

The only down side is that the deal has to close THIS MONTH.  Wow, I called the buyer's agent who was in disbelief.  They were expecting a close next year, and hopeful that we would get a response in 90 days.

This is how all short sales should go.  Kudos to the Short sale dept at WELLS FARGO. 

I hope this is a sign of things to come for 2010!

If you need help with selling a short sale in Manatee County Call me today.  Free advice, and no cost short sale assistance.   Helping buyers and sellers in Manatee county for the past 7 years.

Joe Murphy 941-780-3260

www.manateemoves.com

Most people that I meet with are interested in first a "principle reduction loan modification".  They are having a tough time keeping up with the mortgage because of lower income, interest rate resets, or they just realize that they are severely upside down in their home.  I do not see many instances where the homeowner has been successful in reducing the mortgage balance.

It makes common sense that the current home owner is really the best person to own the home most of the time.  I am only there because they were denied a reasonable loan modification, or they really need to move.  That''s when the foreclosure defense attorney can potentially help.

In working short sales I have seen there effect is mostly stalling a foreclosure sale and responding to homeowners being served foreclosure papers. 

This guide gives examples of cases where Judges have actually reduced or wiped out mortgages on defendants properties!  ( which is really what everyone really wants!)

Anyway, this makes for an interesting read into the world of foreclosure defense, and I thought I would post it as a resourse for consumers to get educated, and other agents to gain knowledge.  It is written by an attorney for other attorneys so be prepared.

http://www.miamidade.gov/csd/library/foreclosure_dtlrespa.pdf

Let me know what you think.

When you need honest advice regarding real estate please feel free to give me a call.  I am an expert on short sales and foreclosures here in manatee county
www.activerain.com/manateemoves
www.manateemoves.com
941-780-3260

For the third week in a row, rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained below 5% in Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The average for conforming mortgages was 4.92% with an average of 0.7 point (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio loans to borrowers with good credit.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported applications down 1.8% for the week, although re-financings were up, as more people took advantage of historically low mortgage rates. The MBA also projected double-digit growth for home sales next year. They see 2010 existing home sales up 11.2% to 5.57 million and new home sales up a healthy 21% from 2009 levels. Another encouraging stat came from the National Association of Realtors which reported 3.6 million existing homes for sale at the end of August, nicely down from 4.3 million 12 months ago.

First time buyers may still be able to get the $8,000 tax credit expiring at the end of November. That’s six weeks away, which is not a lot of time, but not impossible. Fence-sitters should get pre-qualified now.

>> Review of Last Week

FLIRTING WITH 10,000… Investors focused on corporate earnings saw enough encouraging signs to push the Dow past 10,000 on Wednesday. It was last at that magical mark on October 7 a year ago. The market closed above 10,000 again on Thursday, but Friday was a different story. GE and IBM reported quarterly results that were less than expected and University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment fell 3.9 points, after a 7.8 point rise in September, so the week ended below 10,000, but still with an overall gain.

But don’t fret over consumers — they’re clearly showing up at the stores. Retail sales for September fell just 1.5%, way less than expected after the end of the Cash for Clunkers program. In fact, “core” retail sales (take out autos, building materials and gas) were UP 0.5% and are UP three of the last four months. Ignore the pundits — consumers ARE participating in this recovery. Other good indicators included the Empire State Manufacturing Index rising to its highest level in over five years and initial unemployment claims falling to 514,000, their lowest level since the start of the year.

But the best news for investors was on the earnings front, with JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup all beating estimates. Tech darling Google blew everyone away with earnings of almost $6 a share and an optimistic economic outlook. The week ended with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner telling CNBC: “… you’re going to see the economy growing at a significant rate…the rest of this year. [And] Positive growth in 2010 at a level that will begin to gradually bring down the unemployment rate.”

For the week, the Dow ended UP 1.3%, to 9995.91; the S&P 500 was UP 1.5%, to 1087.68; while the Nasdaq rose 0.8%, to 2156.60.

The bond market saw prices under pressure in the shortened week. This included the FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we watch, which dropped a tad from the previous week’s $100.91 close, ending at $100.72. But, as reported above, mortgage rates stayed low, keeping us in “the golden age of mortgage rates”, as one observer described it.

>> This Week’s Forecast

HOME SWEET HOMES… This week is full of news on the subject we love most. Tuesday we get Housing Starts and Building Permits for September, Friday delivers Existing Home Sales. For a gauge of the broader economy, the PPI looks at producer prices, while the LEI consolidates a group of indicators. We will all keep watching Initial and Continuing Unemployment numbers as we wait for Secretary Geithner’s prediction to come true.

Corporate earnings will stay big in the picture as 12 companies who are part of the Dow Jones Industrial Average share Q3 results.

>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

• Get approved for your mortgage!   Unless, of course, you are paying cash. This is very important because the mortgage process is more rigorous and it takes more time for mortgage approval now compared to years prior.  Ideally, this should already be done, but if you still need to be approved,  make sure to choose a mortgage lender who is locall and who has experience working with "First Time Home Buyers."  Your Real Estate Agent will have several options for you... ask for them.  

• Work closely with a professional Real Estate consultant or team!    Home inventories, especially in the ranges that most "first time home buyers" are looking in are "challenged" right now, so you will need someone looking out for your interest, with experience and vast knowledge of the area that you would like to live in; and who knows how to use all the resources available to find a home for you that meets your expectations and your needs in a "time efficient" manner.  Communication is key!  Make sure to choose an agent who is accessible by phone and email and who communicates with you consistantly and who is experienced with the process!
  

• CHOOSE A HOME THAT IS NOT A SHORT SALE...Short Sales are NOT an option for you!     Short sale home listings will not suit your needs because of the time involved in the process of "closing the deal" on a short sale home purchase. Typically short sales take anywhere from 60 to 90 days... or longer... to get to the closing table.  Since a large percentage of homes in the lower price ranges are short sale listings, home buyers in those price categories will need to be informed QUICKLY of homes coming on the market in those ranges that are NOT SHORT SALES in order to be successful in obtaining an "accepted offer" in time to close by November 30th.  Don't rule out "Inventory, New Construction Homes" or "For Sale By Owner Homes!"

• Make sure you've scoped out options for "Home Owner's Insurance!"   Especially in Florida during hurricane season... it's very important to get your insurance in place EARLY in the transaction!  Ask your real estate or mortgage professional for referrals to insurance providers in your area.

• Pick a "Title Agent" who has experience closing "Real Estate" transactions!  The title company or agent is key to a successful, timely closing!  They are the "go between" for the mortgage lender, real estate agents, home owner or condo association representatives... literally anyone involved in the transaction. They coordinate and monitor the progress of all of the parties involved making sure that everything comes together by the contracted "closing date."

Mortgage rates continue to remain at three-month lows. Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average long-term mortgage rates down for the third week in a row! The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is just above 5% with an average 0.7 point (including the origination fee). And the average rate for 15-year fixed rate mortgages hit a new record low in the Survey. These rates are for prime borrowers with an 80% or lower loan-to-value ratio on loans eligible for purchase by Freddie Mac.

Finally, please remember the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers is set to expire in just over two months. Those eligible need to close by November 30!

>> Review of Last Week
HAPPY DAYS ARE NEAR AGAIN... The stock markets continued their upward moves last week, posting gains in four of five sessions and for the week overall. The big news of the week was Fed chief Ben Bernanke announcing, "From a technical perspective, the recession is very likely over." This was followed by billionaire Warren Buffet effectively calling the recession's end, commenting that the economy has "sort of plateaued at the bottom right now." The world's most successful investor added: "I think we're certainly... through the worst of it in residential real estate in all probability."

In addition to these positive pronouncements, investors had some solid economic developments to ponder. Tuesday we had August Retail Sales shooting up 2.7%, easily beating expectations. Excluding the auto sales boost from the government's Cash for Clunkers program, we still had a 1.1% hike for the rest of retail. Retail in fact is up at a 14.3% annual rate over the last three months and up 5.1% if you take out auto sales.

Initial claims for unemployment fell again last week, this time by 12,000, to 545,000. The four-week average of continuing claims dropped too. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Fed Index, which gauges manufacturing in that region, shot up to +14.1 in September from 4.2 in August. This harmonized nicely with Industrial Production now up two months in a row, at a 10.4% annual rate.

For the week, the Dow ended UP 2.2%, at 9820.20; the S&P 500 shot UP 2.5%, to 1068.30; while the Nasdaq also pushed UP 2.5%, to 2132.86.

Bond prices declined in thin trading, with the market anticipating the record supply that will be on tap at next week's Treasury auctions. The FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we watch finished down from the previous week's $100.78 close, settling at $100.44. Nonetheless, mortgage rates inched down a bit more, continuing at their historically low levels.

>> This Week’s Forecast
THE FED AND HOUSING WEIGH IN... The Fed meets this week and although there's no drama around whether they'll raise the rate (they won't), there's will be more than the usual interest in their FOMC statement, coming out Wednesday at 2:15. That's all because of Fed chief Bernanke's recession-ending comments last week. More key housing data comes with the Federal Housing Finance Agency's July Housing Price Index Tuesday, then August Existing Home Sales Thursday and New Home Sales Friday.

>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of conforming mortgages showed rates dropping to similar levels, which is very nice considering a 30-year fixed-rate conforming mortgage averaged 6.35% just a year ago. The benefit to the real estate market is clear. As Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft put it, “Low mortgage rates are helping to keep housing very affordable.” First-time homebuyers enjoy even more affordability, thanks to the $8,000 tax credit, but be sure to remind them they need to close by November 30!

Prices may even be stabilizing. The listing and valuation site Zillow.com reported buyers are getting smaller discounts off seller’s listing prices. July purchasers paid just 3.3% below list price vs. an average of 3.5% for June and 4.6% back in January.
>> Review of Last Week
SHORT WEEK HITS NEW HEIGHTS…There were just four trading days last week, but the stock market made gains on three of them, sending the Dow to a fresh high for the year. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes were also UP for the week, as investors seemed ready to accept more risk in what increasingly appears to be a recovering economy.

But all is not well just yet, as the Fed’s Beige Book on Wednesday alleged that employment, consumer spending and construction remain weak. This of course justifies the Fed keeping the funds rate low. But the Beige Book did note the rate of economic decline is slowing and manufacturing shows improvement, as reported here last week. The Trade Balance offered an interesting mixed message. The trade deficit expanded the most in a year. Economists say this shows trade won’t add as much to Q3 GDP growth as it has in the past. On the other hand, exports and the overall volume of international trade are up now three months in a row. This revival in exports, some economists feel, signals the US economy is in recovery.    

Initial claims for unemployment dropped 26,000 for the week, to 550,000, the second lowest level in the recovery. Continuing unemployment claims dropped by 159,000 to 6.09 million, the lowest level in five months. Both FedEx and Texas Instruments raised their earnings outlooks for the current quarter. Treasury Secretary Geithner told Congress to remove bank bailout money from his budget! And Friday saw the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index registering a way-higher-than-expected 70.2.

For the week, the Dow ended UP 1.7%, to 9605.41; the S&P 500 shot UP 2.6%, to 1042.73; while the Nasdaq pushed UP 3.1%, to 2080.90.

The bond market held up for the week, with the auctions that went on helping to support prices. The FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we watch finished up from the previous week’s $100.50 close, ending at $100.78. As mentioned above, mortgage rates dipped a trifle more, to near historic levels.
>> This Week’s Forecast
BUYING AND BUILDING… On the buy side, we’ll have August Retail Sales telling us how the all-important consumer is aiding the economic recovery. The August Consumer Price Index (CPI) will show if inflation is hurting that consumer’s buying power. Building will be measured on Thursday with August Housing Starts and Building Permits revealed to all.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Speaking of mortgage rates, these dropped nicely last week, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. Nationally, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 5.08% with an average of 0.7 point. That was down from 6.35% a year ago! These rates are for prime borrowers who can put 20% down and who qualify for loans eligible to be purchased or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae.

>> Review of Last Week
OFF FOR THE HOLIDAY… The market took a break from its steady move upward, dropping on good economic news, then rallying despite some negative employment data, but still closing a bit down for the week. For the year, the Dow is still UP 7.6%, the S&P 500 UP 12.5% and the Nasdaq UP a whopping 28.0%.

The good news that oddly sent stock prices south included the fantastic Pending Homes Sales and single-family home construction numbers mentioned above. You can add to that BOTH Chicago PMI and ISM Manufacturing readings showing US manufacturing is now expanding. That’s right. Manufacturing is starting to grow. The ISM Services Index did not yet indicate growth but it did rise for August, showing business activity in the non-manufacturing sector increasing for the first time since September 2008.

August employment hit Friday. We’ll do the worst first. The unemployment rate went to 9.7%, a new high we haven’t seen since 1982, but still well below that year’s 10.8%. But the 216,000 drop in non-farm payrolls was better than expected. And private-sector payrolls fell by 198,000, their smallest decline in a year. Other good signs included average hourly earnings up for the second straight month, registering their largest gains so far this year. Some economists feel payrolls could start expanding by year’s end. They observe that with corporate profits up 24% annually in the first six months, businesses are now able to expand payrolls. We hope so.

For the week, the Dow was down 1.1%, to 9441.27; the S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, to 1016.40; while the Nasdaq slid just 0.5%, to 2018.78.

Bond prices did OK most of the week, then sunk a bit Friday as the stock market rallied in spite of the not-so-great jobs report. Nevertheless, the price of the FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we watch finished up from the previous week’s $100.19 close, ending at $100.50. As noted above, mortgage rates were down for the week, to very nice levels.
>> This Week’s Forecast
SHORT AND SWEET… With Labor Day on Monday, we have just four days of trading and not a whole lot of economic news. The jobs story will continue, as we monitor weekly initial jobless claims and take a look to see if continuing claims will drop. The Trade Balance will tell us how we’re doing in the global marketplace, then the week ends with another reading of the mind of the all-important consumer, this time using the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index.
>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Many people don't realize that the plastic they are 'recycling' is NOT recyclable in their area recycling center, and it is being discarded when it gets to the plant! A survey conducted by www.Earth911.com showed that 75% of the recycling centers in the US only accept Plastics 1 & 2 (See list), and only 25% of recycling centers process Plastics 3 thru 7.

Are You Rinsing Your Plastic Containers? 
Are You Discarding the Lids Before Recycling?
 YOU SHOULD BE!

The numbers located on all plastic containers tell you what their original use was for, and what recycle possibilities they possess.

Check with your area recycle center to see which plastics they do and do not process - save them some time, and find other uses for the plastics they DON'T recycle.

Decoding the numbers:

#1

Original Uses:  Soft drink bottles, water bottles, plastic food jars

Recycled Uses:  Carpets, fleece jackets, food & drink containers

#2

Original Uses: Detergent & bleach bottles, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, grocery bags, cereal box liners

Recycled Uses:  Nonfood containers (such as household cleaners and motor oil), outdoor decking, recycling bins

#3

Original Uses:  Shrink-wrap, siding, window frames, medical tubing

Recycled Uses:  Pipe, decking, gutters, mud flaps

#4

Original Uses:  Newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags, produce & bread bags, shrink-wrap, toys

Recycled Uses:  Shipping envelopes, furniture, trash cans

#5

Original Uses:  Takeout meals, yogurt, deli foods, medicine bottles, bottle caps & closures

Recycled Uses:  Garden rakes, storage bins, ice scrapers, oil funnels

#6

Original Uses:  Egg cartons, hot beverage cups, packing peanuts, plates, protective packaging for furniture and electronics

Recycled Uses:  Egg cartons, thermal insulation, protective packaging for furniture and electronics

#7

Original Uses:  3 and 5 gallon reusable water bottles, oven baking bags

Recycled Uses:  Bottles, plastic lumber

DID YOU KNOW? YOU CAN RECYCLE YOUR PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS AT ANY PUBLIX?

Posted by Jamie Bullock

The Burish and Serena Team

www.USA-FloridaHomes.net

Property Tax Appeal

If you feel you are being unfairly taxed, and you want a reduction in your property taxes, we can help.

We will evaluate your situation and if we determine that you are in fact being unfairly taxed we will prepare your case and then present it to the Tax Asessor and/or the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) and lobby on your behalf for a taxable valuation reduction. 

When dealing with the government nothing is easy and nothing should be taken for granted. In order to prepare a case that will win when presented to the Tax Asessor and/or the Value Adjustment Board you will most likely require professionals that know how to build a case, choose the best comparables, know the system and can win.

We are those professionals and we will work for you to lower your tax burden. Demand fair taxation from your government and let us help you receive it.

Tax Petition Form

The Value Adjustment Board

The Value Adjustment Board (VAB) serves as the decision-making authority when there is disagreement between the property owner and Property Appraiser concerning exemptions, valuations and classifications. Petition filing and scheduled quasi-judicial hearings are handled by the VAB to settle any disputes. Effective September 1, 2008, the VAB will consist of two County Commissioners, one School Board Member and two County citizen members, one who is appointed by the County Commission and must own homestead property within the county, and the other who is appointed by the School Board and must own a business occupying commercial space within the school district. Authority for the VAB is vested through Florida Statute Chapter 194.

VAB Petition Filing Requirements

All VAB petitions filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court appealing determinations of the Property Appraiser must have the petitioner’s original signature, must be notarized and accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. Copies or faxed petitions will NOT be accepted. The deadline for filing all petitions is September 12, 2008. Petitions not accompanied by the proper fee (see below) at the time of filing, shall be deemed invalid and shall be rejected (Florida Statutes Section 194.013(3)) and returned to the petitioner with appropriate filing instructions.

The return of a petition improperly filed shall not grant a waiver nor extend the filing deadline for the petition. Petitions filed after the deadline are considered “Late Files” and are forwarded to the Special Magistrate or VAB Attorney for review, but a hearing will not be scheduled. Petitions postmarked by the deadline dates, but received after those dates, are considered late. Petitions are not to be returned to the Property Appraiser's Office.

You are encouraged to contact the Property Appraiser’s Office to discuss your issue prior to filing a petition.

VAB Petition Filing Checklist

Obtain a petition form from the Property’s Appraiser’s office, from this website (below) or request one be mailed to you.
Complete all applicable sections of the petition. Make sure it is notarized if the form requires a notary.
Checks should be made payable to: Clerk of Circuit Court.
Your completed petition, depending on the type, must be received by the Clerk’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m., on September 12, 2008, along with the applicable filing fee.
Mail to:
Clerk of the Circuit Court,
Board Records Dept.
1010 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL 34205

FILING FEES – Pursuant to Florida Statute 194.013

Petitions shall be filed with the appropriate filing fee, as follows:

Single petition - $15.00 per parcel

Single petition for: 1) condominium association, cooperative association, or homeowners' association; and 2) more than one contiguous, undeveloped parcel – if the Property Appraiser determines such parcels are similar in nature (such determination must be in writing from the Property Appraiser) - $15.00, plus $5.00 per additional unit/parcel.

The Florida Department of Revenue has proposed draft Rules for Value Adjustment Boards. You may view the drafts of Rule 12D-9 and Rule 12D-10 at the Department of Revenue website.

Please contact us for more details.

Prior to this good news, the Case-Shiller home price index reported a quarterly rise in prices for the first time in three years. The index also posted its second straight monthly increase, up 1.4% for the 20 metro areas it tracks. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's purchase-only index had home prices up 0.5% in June following a 0.6% rise in May. The FHFA index is up 0.5% for the first six months this year. Agency chief Edward J. DeMarco said: "This is further evidence that prices may be stabilizing for the nation as a whole."

Finally, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported mortgage applications for home purchases were up 1.0% last week over the week before. This was the fourth consecutive weekly gain for home-purchase applications.

>> Review of Last Week
UP A LITTLE MORE... The Dow went up eight days in a row before it slipped just 36 points on Friday. This was the venerable index's longest uninterrupted advance in over two years and, despite the small drop on Friday, it was still UP 0.4% for the week!

Tuesday saw consumer confidence come in at 54.1, way higher than the previous 47.4 reading. And Friday, the University of Michigan consumer sentiment for August hit 65.7, up nicely sfrom last month's 63.2. We also had durable goods orders up a healthy 4.9% for July. For the past three months there have been gains in these orders that are now showing up as increased shipments, which will boost Q3 GDP. As far as Q2 GDP is concerned, last week's preliminary reading was unchanged from the advanced reading of –1.0% and better than the expected –1.5%. This was helped by a consumer spending decline that was smaller than anticipated. Yay!

Please note that corporate profits in Q2 grew at an annual rate of 24.9%, following their 22.8% growth rate in Q1. And all the Q2 profit growth came from US operations, not revenues earned overseas. Some analysts feel it won't be long before these profits go into more US business investment and hiring. New claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 10,000 and continuing claims fell by 119,000. Finally, President Obama nominated Ben Bernanke for a second term as Fed Chairman, a move investors expected.

For the week, the Dow was UP 0.4%, to 9544.20; the S&P 500 inched UP 0.3%, to 1028.93; while the Nasdaq ended UP 0.4%, to 2028.77.

Bond prices did pretty well for the week, in spite of the big auction offerings that could have depressed prices but didn't. In fact, the price of the FNMA 30-year 4.5% bond we follow edged up from the previous week's $99.69 close, ending at $100.19. Mortgage interest rates were up slightly for the week, but still well within the historically low levels they've been at all year.

>> This Week’s Forecast
THE FACTORIES, THE FED, THE JOBS... Well, the start of the week features two good looks at the state of manufacturing, with the Chicago PMI and the ISM Index. Midweek, the FOMC Minutes should shed some light on the Fed's view of the economy at their last meeting. Then the week ends big with the August employment report. Many economic indicators are now picking up, but the jobs picture is always the last to brighten. Will we see some glimmers in the data?

>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

1. Your property/ies are now and will remain FEATURED on the top 5 real estate websites in the world: www.realtor.com, www.trulia.com, www.zillow.com, www.homegain.com and www.homefinder.com
2. We are about a week away from rolling out 11 new websites which will feature your properties alongside a 'Market Snapshot' application that allows consumers to get real-time market information on your neighborhood. These websites are neighborhood specific and will place your properties in front of people searching for homes in your neighborhood
3. Your properties are now FEATURED on the foremost international real estate website in the world, www.worldproperties.com.
4. We have updated and re-engineered our main website to include many new and advanced features, such as an IDXPro MLS search feature and a Market Report application, which are attracting many new buyers to your property/ies
5. We have initiated a dynamic and targeted direct mail campaign that is bringing more and more prospects to your property/ies

While times remain challenging for real estate we are excited about the future. As the economic tsunami begins to roll back and property values begin to stabilize we believe the continued upward trend in home sales will persist. While it is indeed more difficult to receive financing for a home purchase, mmortgage rates remain at near all-time lows and qualified buyers that have a down payment and a stable job history can still get a loan

With our new technology in place your properties are at the vanguard of the industry, receiving more exposure than any other agency can or will offer.