Mortgage bond prices rose last week pushing mortgage interest rates lower. Oil prices fell the first portion of the week, which helped bonds rally. Unfortunately, some pipeline shutdowns ignited inflation fears Thursday and Friday causing bond prices to fall and rates to rise, erasing a lot of the earlier improvements. Stocks remained volatile with some optimism despite data that showed the economy continued to struggle.
For the week, interest rates on government and conventional loans fell by about 3/8 of a discount point.
The Fed meeting Wednesday will be the most important event this week. Look for reactions to the data prior to the meeting to be heightened. The post-meeting data releases the later portion of the week may result in slightly diminished reactions but still have the potential to cause mortgage interest rate volatility.
Economic Factors
Economic Indicator Release Date Time Consensus Estimate Analysis
Consumer Confidence Tuesday, April 29, 2008 62.0 Important. An indication of consumers' willingness to spend. Weakness may lead to lower mortgage rates.
ADP Employment Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Down 55k Moderately Important. A different survey of employment. Weakness may help rates improve.
Q1 Advance GDP Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Up 0.4% Very important. The aggregate measure of US economic production. Weakness may lead to lower rate
s.
Q1 Employment Cost Index Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Up 0.8% Very important. A measure of wage inflation. Weakness may lead to lower rates.
Fed Meeting Adjourns Wednesday, April 30, 2008 25 basis point cut Important. Most expect the Fed to cut rates, but volatility may surround the adjournment of this meeting.
Personal Income and Outlays Thursday, May 1, 2008 Income up 0.4%, Outlays up 0.2% Important. A measure of consumers' ability to spend. Weakness may lead to lower mortgage rates.
Employment Friday, May 2, 2008 Unemp. @ 5.2%, Payrolls -80k Very important. An increase in unemployment or a large decrease in payrolls may bring lower rates.
Factory Orders Friday, May 2, 2008 Up 0.4% Important. A measure of manufacturing sector strength. Weakness may lead to lower rates.
Fed Focus
The Fed has been walking a delicate line of trying to stimulate the economy without stoking inflation too much. Unfortunately the Fed is faced with continued signs of economic weakness amid rising price pressures. Most analysts believe the Fed's biggest worry is the stumbling economy and will therefore cut rates again this week by 25 basis points. People often hear that the Fed is cutting rates and believe that mortgage interest rates will follow suit. This is usually not the case in the short-term as recent history shows. Mortgage interest rates have spiked higher following most of the recent rate cuts.
Remember, the Fed cuts rates to spur the economy. This is usually seen as positive for stocks at the expense of bonds. While nothing is set in stone and reactions can vary, floating into the Fed meeting is risky. The Federal Reserve has direct control over the level of short-term interest rates. The Fed's influence over longer-term interest rates is less certain. A cautious is prudent heading into the Fed meeting this week.
*Information Courtesy Tonya Esquibel, WR Starkey Mortgage, Franklin, TN*
Vanessa Stalets - 615-957-6333
Brentwood TN Real Estate
RE/MAX Elite
615-661-4400
$ 499,500
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It can be a fun and tiring experience all at the same time. There are certain things you should do to ensure you have a safe move, whether you are moving to Brentwood Tn, Franklin, Nashville or elsewhere.
moving. Things like a cart dolly or two wheeled truck, as they are sometimes called, will be needed to move heavy things like the refrigerator, freezer, washer and dryer. Even if you have ten men ready and willing, you do not want someone hurting themselves because of your move.
Before everyone arrives to help with the move, make sure every thing is packed up, or at least almost every thing. This will ensure no one is standing around waiting to grab a box. Having every thing ready to go and waiting will make the entire process much easier for everyone.
which should be done periodically throughout the day to keep everyone safe. People will ask for help from someone carrying a box down the steps, that person in turn will put the box on the steps and help with what ever needs doing, completely forgetting about the box. The next thing you know someone is coming down with a chair or another box and does not see the first one, trips and goes sailing(or thumping more likely) down the stairs. Accidents happen like this all 
the time.
locked. There are two reasons for this. The first is obvious. You do not want any unwanted guests helping themselves to what ever has been moved or still needs to be moved. The other is the weather factor. It never fails that when you are in one house, it will be raining at the other or vice versa. You can keep floors dry and slip proof by keeping the windows shut when you leave one house for the other.
You can also divide your help into teams. Locate one in the new house and keep the other one at the old house. As the trucks show up to the new place, the second team can unload. This gives the first team a needed 
break. When the first team comes back to load up again, the second team is taking their break. They can also help start to unpack. This keeps all your helpers rested and ready to go!
Call now to find out how I can help you with EVERY step of your move, from finding the perfect home in Brentwood, Franklin or Nashville Tn, to last minute packing and moving tips! I am your 1 stop do it all REALTOR in Brentwood TN and I look forward to serving your real estate needs!
This meant finding the biggest house for the least amount of money. The more square footage and the more bedrooms the better. As the children grew up and moved away, the house became even larger. The only time it seemed crowded was during the holidays and even then there was plenty of room for everyone.
maintain it, the holidays are no reason to keep that lumbering giant in Brentwood, Franklin or Nashville TN. It's time to downsize. This can actually be a fun time in your life. It gives you the time to reflect on the many memories you have from the old house, while you plan for the exciting move to the new one! Packing can be a fun way to share some of those memories. One way to do this is to have a packing party just for family.
Before you begin, make sure you know what you are taking with you and what you are not going to need. You can do this by packing some of the things away on your own first, mainly those items you know you will want to take with you. Then you can call the family in to help. Make sure the grandchildren are included in the invitation. Let the family know this is going to be a whole day affair.
This is where the fun begins, a trip down memory lane can cause some great laughter. As your family arrives, explain you are going to be selling the house and you are packing up what you are not going to be taking with you. As the kids wander from room to room it is their job to explain about the stain on the living room carpet that just mysteriously appeared. They can also talk about how the unwanted house guest "No Body" kept doing things behind everyone's back. This makes for much hilarity and you may just discover the answers to years old mysteries!
As each item is packed up and placed away, the children will packing their own memories as well. These can be shared with other members of the family and the new generation too. The trophies which have gathered dust can be bragged about once again. The old favorite toys in the attic can be brought back to life with the grand kids in the house to listen and 
watch, passing on old family secrets and joy. 
As each family member packs up a box, make sure there is one they are going to take home filled with the sentimental treasures they had when they were growing up. This is a wonderful way for a part of the old house will remain with each of them for years to come. Although a tear or two may be shed, everyone will agree that being a part of the move and 
having the chance to share the sweet memories together is a heart warming way to make the ending of a chapter in your and their lives easier and the beginning of a new one more fun! 
Vanessa Stalets