This week will open with a little more pressure on the rate markets. The end of the drive to continual lower rates appears finished. We have warned that was happening two weeks ago, although we still do not expect mortgage interest rates to increase a lot. Mortgage rates did not fall nearly as much as treasury rates as investors stampe... Read More

My two oldest boys had a little fun over the weekend.  We shot this video to illustrate the safety of the Clear View Retractable Screen.  Notice the controlled return when and object hits the screen mesh releasing the pull bar back to the housing.  Clear View is the only retractable screen system with a consistent and du... Read More

Not much in the way of market-driving economic news to stimulate markets this week. Weekly claims on Thursday and on Wednesday July consumer credit are about it for data. On Wednesday the Fed will release its Beige Book, the Fed's detailed economic data from each of the 12 Fed districts; normally not much new stuff but there is a littl... Read More

This week has treasury borrowing a total of $102B in 2 yr, 5 yr, and 7 yr notes; the total is $2B less than last month's series. On the economic calendar July existing home sales are thought to have plummeted 13% while new home sales are expected to be up 3.0%. Existing home sales in June dropped 5.1%, following a 2.2% decline the mont... Read More

Well the season is rapidly approaching.  We have had such a late start on summer this year that most of us haven't realized that gutter cleaning season in Santa Cruz is only a month or so away. Gutter cleaning is an important aspect to maintaining your property.  An overflowing gutter or clogged downspout can lead to damage t... Read More

One of the incredible benefits of cleaning windows in Santa Cruz is working at the beach.  I just finished cleaning windows for one of my monthly clients down at Pleasure Point.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and I look forward to going again next month.  Cleaning your windows at the beach is ultimately a question o... Read More

Last Week;Last week brought us more mixed economic news.The two ISM reports remain above contraction levels but areweakening. The bigger-than-expected drop in factory orders madesense after we saw the continued decline in orders from the ISMreports. Auto and truck sales were up for July but sales could crash ifemployment and incomes we... Read More

Last Week;Last week brought us more mixed economic news.The two ISM reports remain above contraction levels but areweakening. The bigger-than-expected drop in factory orders madesense after we saw the continued decline in orders from the ISMreports. Auto and truck sales were up for July but sales could crash ifemployment and incomes we... Read More

This week; markets have a plate full of data to work on but the week has nothing that will over-power the employment report for July that will be released on Friday. Early estimates are for a decline of 87K jobs but somewhat deceiving in that the decline in jobs is census related and some decline due to the annual auto manufacture... Read More

Overview and Outlook As the euphoria faded from the large rally of the first quarter, the S&P; 500 fell dramatically under price action that was reminiscent of 2008, giving back all of the gains from the first quarter and bringing the year to date performance down to a negative 6.65%. There have been a few much ballyhooed "rallies" on ... Read More

This Week;after a strong week last week in the stock market and selling in the bond market, one focus will be Treasury auctions. Always an issue with traders, but for over 18 months now Treasury has seen strong overall demand for its borrowing. A total of $104B of notes will be sold beginning on Tuesday with $38B of 2s, Wed $37B o... Read More

Last week;a good one for the bond and mortgage markets. The 10 yr note yield fell to 2.93% frm last Friday's close at 3.06%, mortgage prices for 30 yr conventionals increased by 22/32 (.69 bp) on FHAs +32/32 (.100 bp), 15 yr conventionals 27/32 (.84 bp); mortgage rates fell about 8 basis points. The DJIA -101, gold -$17.00, c... Read More

I was fortunate enough to do two great deal with incredible entreprenuers over the last couple of years. Tapulous was the first of these and was just sold to Disney in a great transaction for everyone involved.   In one of the earlier times I talked about Tapulous it was at just around 6.5M users.  It is now well over 35... Read More

For years, many retirees and people near retirement could bask in the near certainty that with sound asset allocation and a long term investing perspective, they could expect a steady and possibly even a growing stream of income during retirement.  Unfortunately, the recent global credit crises and ensuing recession has forced man... Read More

Last Week;the consolidation continued in the US financial markets. The DJIA rallied 511 points, the NASDAQ +104, and the S&P; 500 +55. Mortgage prices barely moved through the week, up 7/32 (.22 bp) for 30s and 15s; the 10 yr note yield moved back above 3.00% to 3.06% +8 BP. There was little in the way of economic data; the July ISM se... Read More