Are You Renting???

Are you renting? If so, hit this LINK and plug in your rent. It will give you an accurate calculation if you should buy or continue to rent. I think that you will find it shocking how much you can truly afford. I look forward to hearing about your experience.

Donating Plasma

As an agent for Arbor, my desire it to respond to phone calls and emails quickly (even on my days off). If you were unable to reach me on Friday morning, it was for a very good reason. Here is the story behind Friday morning:" On Friday my wife and I donated Plasma. I have donated before for the Red Cross, but never got paid for it. My wife and I decided to see how much we could get paid for donating. After about 20 minutes on the web, we found a place in Portland that pays: Biomat USA. On your first donation you receive $25 and on the second $40. We don't need the money, we just thought if we are going to donate, why not get paid?

So we left the kids with the grandparents and headed off early to Biomat. We needed to stand in line 30 minutes before they open to make sure we got in, it is that popular. We pulled up into the parking lot, immediately I wanted to leave. There was a very different variation of people that I was not used to. My wife said "no, we are doing it" and we got in line. We waited in line for over 30 minutes, then they opened the doors and rushed us in. When we first entered, it looked like the DMV back in LA California, lots of seats with blue tones on the walls. After signing in and getting a physical, I was placed on a bed away from my wife. Now here comes the very interesting part. All these people there were doing it for money. My wife and I would have done it for free to help save lives. We just wanted some fun money to go out to a nice lunch. But these people really needed the money. One guy that was donating, needed the money for his 5 hour old baby. Another needed the money because he just lost his job. My heart was breaking the longer I spent there. I was so sadden for these people that "need" to sell a part of their body to not go hungry, or for their children not to go hungry. How blessed I am to have a great job, that pays well and allows my children to never go hungry. You would think that these people would be down hearted about their situation, but no! They were upbeat and encouraging.

Now here comes the embarrassing part. So I am 50 minutes into donating and feeling good when all of a sudden, I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. The nurse looked over at me and began to run to me. She said "are you okay?" I said NO! She called over 3 other people to help. They put my feet up, began fanning me with my chart and gave me an ice pack. I thought I was going to die. They shut off the machine that separated my plasma from my blood and took the needle out. I began to feel better. Everyone was looking at me (at least that is what it felt like). I was so humbled. After I was feeling better, a lot of the people that were donating ask if I was okay. Again I was humbled, because when I first walked in to the place I wanted to know if they were okay.

My wife and I each collected our $25 and left. As we were getting out of the parking lot, a man (who had just donated) asked if we could jump his car. We did. He was the father of 3 children (1 just 2 months old) and his car was really beat up. He really needed the money for his 3 kids. My wife and I left and went to our favorite BBQ restaurant Russell Street BBQ. We spent $25 at Russell Street and then bought a $25 gift card for my in laws for baby sitting. The same money that we paid for BBQ tofu and a gift card, was the same money that other donors were paying for diapers. I am very blessed and I am reminded to be very thankful for what I have!

July new US home sales up 9.6 percent

New US home sales in July surge 9.6 pct, beating expectations in 4th straight monthly increase

By Alan Zibel, AP Real Estate Writer
On Wednesday August 26, 2009, 12:27 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sales of new U.S. homes surged 9.6 percent in July, another sign the housing market is climbing back from the historic bottom it reached early this year. Driven by falling prices, the fourth-straight monthly increase was greater than expected.
The Commerce Department said Wednesday that sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 433,000 from an upwardly revised June rate of 395,000. Sales are now up more than 30 percent from the bottom in January, but are still off nearly 70 percent from the frenzied peak four years ago.
The median sales price of $210,100, however, was down slightly from $210,400 in June and was off 11.5 percent from year-ago levels. Prices are still up from March's low of $205,100.
Last month's sales pace was the strongest since September and exceeded the forecasts of economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who expected a pace of 390,000 units.
In a kind of Cash for Clunkers effect, homebuyers are rushing to take advantage of a federal tax credit that covers 10 percent of the home price, or up to $8,000, for first-time owners. Home sales must be completed by the end of November for buyers to qualify.
Builders and real estate agents are pressing Congress for that credit to be extended. If it isn't, sales could reverse their upward trend.
Some builders are already seeing sales dip.
At A.F. Sterling Homes in Tucson, Arizona, sales dipped in July because the builder said it couldn't guarantee the homes could be finished in time to qualify, said Randy Agron the company's vice president,
"The real estate market is really a fragile thing," he said. "It's not the right time to take (the tax credit) away."
But still, the economy is healthier now, so sales are unlikely to fall back to the lows of last winter, even if the credit is discontinued, said Wells Fargo economist Adam York,
"People don't have the sense of panic and dread," about their futures, he said.
As sales rise, that's likely to make builders more confident about getting going on new projects, and that's likely to eventually lead to more jobs in the construction industry, which has been hurt badly by the recession.
"These are crucial elements of a sustainable recovery," David Resler, chief economist at Nomura Securities, wrote in a research note.
Each new home built creates, on average, the equivalent of three jobs lasting one year and generates about $90,000 in taxes paid to local and federal authorities, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
There were 271,000 new homes for sale at the end of July, down more than 3 percent from May. At the current sales pace, that represents 7.5 months of supply -- the lowest since April 2007. The decline means builders have scaled back construction to the point where supply and demand are coming into balance.
AP Real Estate Writer Alex Veiga contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

Consumer sentiment improves more than expected

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer sentiment rose more than expected in August and expectations hit the highest level since the recession began, indications that Americans' pessimism about the economy may be lifting.
The housing sector also showed signs of life as a national measure of home prices posted its first quarterly increase in three years.
The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday its Consumer Confidence index rose to 54.1 from an upwardly revised 47.4 in July. Economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a slight increase to 47.5.
Still, the index is well below 90, the minimum level associated with a healthy economy. Anything above 100 signals strong growth.
Economists closely monitor confidence because consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity. Consumer sentiment -- fueled by signs the economy is stabilizing -- has recovered a bit since hitting a record-low of 25.3 in February.
Many analysts expect the economy to grow 2-3 percent in the current July-September quarter, spurred by a more stable housing market and the Cash for Clunkers program, which has boosted auto sales.
But economists worry that without healthier consumer spending, the recovery may weaken next year.
The housing slump and a weak job market have made consumers reluctant to spend. But the outlook for jobs is improving, the Conference Board said, with fewer respondents saying positions are "hard to get," and more claiming they are "plentiful."
Consumers' expectations for the economy over the next six months rose to 73.5 from 63.4 in July, the highest level since December 2007, when the recession began. The consumer confidence survey was sent to 5,000 households and had a cutoff date for responses of August 18.
Sal Guatieri, an economist at BMO Capital Markets, said the jump in the expectations index meant consumers likely will spend more in the months ahead.
"It won't be a smooth ride, but with consumer confidence now tracking higher, the groundwork for a sustainable recovery appears to be in place," he wrote in a note to clients.
The housing sector also received positive news. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller's U.S. National Home Price Index rose 1.4 percent in the second quarter from the January-March period, the first quarterly increase in three years. Home prices, while still down almost 15 percent from last year, are at levels last seen in early 2003.
The reports, along with President Barack Obama's reappointment of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve chief, sent the financial markets higher. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 80 points in midday trading, and broader indices also gained.
Obama said Tuesday that his administration's $787 billion stimulus package, and the extraordinary efforts by Bernanke to pump trillions of dollars into the financial system, have helped turn the economy around.
"Our auto industry is showing signs of life," Obama said. "Business investment is showing signs of stabilizing. Our housing market and credit markets have been saved from collapse."
Jobs are a weak spot, however, and could limit future consumer spending if Americans remain concerned about layoffs or declining wages.
Still, the Labor Department reported earlier this month that the unemployment rate dipped for the first time in 15 months, and workers' hours and pay rose slightly in July. The unemployment rate slipped to 9.4 percent, from 9.5 percent, while July job losses slowed to a total of 247,000, the fewest in a year and a big improvement from June's 443,000.

By Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer
On Tuesday August 25, 2009, 12:02 pm EDT

Stocks jump as Bernanke says economy near recovery

(Bernanke the brain)

Stocks surge after Bernanke declares economy on verge of recovery, home sales jump

By Sara Lepro, AP Business Writer

On Friday August 21, 2009, 6:21 pm EDT

NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said what investors wanted to hear, that the economy is indeed on the verge of recovery, and they responded with a rally that sent the major indexes to new highs for the year.
The Dow Jones industrials shot up 155 points Friday, closing above 9,500 for the first time since Nov. 4, and all the big indexes finished with gains of more than 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, Treasury prices tumbled, pushing yields sharply higher, as investors no longer felt they needed the safety of government debt.
The stock market's gains were broad, reaching across all industries, but the biggest jumps came from energy, industrial and material stocks as oil and commodities prices soared. Bank stocks also rose sharply.
Just nine days after the Fed declared the economy to be "leveling out" rather than contracting, Bernanke went further, saying, "the prospects for a return to growth in the near term appear good." Speaking at an annual Fed conference in Wyoming, Bernanke did warn that lending is not back to normal, and that the difficulty consumers and businesses are having obtaining loans will be a challenge. But his tone was the most optimistic it has been since the start of the financial crisis.
A bigger-than-expected jump in home sales also gave stocks a boost and helped send bonds lower. The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes rose 7.2 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million in July, from a pace of 4.89 million in June.
It was the fourth straight monthly increase and the highest level of sales since August 2007. The rise in sales came amid a sharp decline in home prices.
The day's news ended a week of erratic trading on Wall Street. Investors have been struggling with concerns about consumer spending, but the combination of Bernanke's remarks and the home sales data pulled stocks out of the doldrums.
Still, while Bernanke's positive assessment on the economy was encouraging, the market's challenges, including rising unemployment and sluggish consumer spending, are certainly far from over. The market appears to be on an upward trajectory, but analysts cautioned that stocks will likely bounce around through at least the rest of the summer.
"The news isn't going to be all good from here on out," said Jordan Smyth, managing direct at Edgemoor Investment Advisors in Bethesda, Md.
The Dow rose 155.91, or 1.7 percent, to 9,505.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 18.76, or 1.9 percent, to 1,026.13, its highest close since Oct. 6. And the Nasdaq composite index rose 31.68, or 1.6 percent, to 2,020.90, reaching its highest close since Oct. 1.
For the week, the Dow rose 2.0 percent, the S&P 500 gained 2.2 percent, and the Nasdaq added 1.8 percent.
About four stocks rose for every one that fell Friday on the New York Stock Exchange where consolidated volume came to 5.88 billion shares, up from Thursday's 5 billion.
Bond prices tumbled. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, jumped to 3.56 percent, from 3.44 percent late Thursday.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 12.83, or 2.3 percent, to 581.51.
In other signs of investors' growing confidence in the economy, oil prices touched their highest point of the year on hopes that energy demand will soon pick up. After nearing $75, light, sweet crude for October delivery rose 98 cents to settle at $73.89 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
And the dollar, which, like Treasurys, is considered a safe-haven asset, tumbled against other major currencies.
While Bernanke's comments were clearly reassuring for the stock market, investors could quickly lose their optimism if one of their greatest concerns, consumer spending, shows more signs of weakness. The Fed's upbeat comments last week set off a rally that quickly stalled after a weak reading on consumer sentiment.
Next week, investors will get two key reports on consumer confidence that, if worse than expected, could easily upset the market's gains.
"We're not past the volatile stages of the market," said Lowell Pratt, president of The Burney Co., an equity management firm.
As job losses continue to mount, it will be difficult for consumers to feel comfortable about spending freely.
"Consumer spending normally is the driver of recoveries at the beginning," said Bob Baur, chief global economist at Principal Global Investors. "That's not happening this time."
"At some point, the market is going to ask to see more than just mixed data," he said. "It's going to want to see some real jobs produced and an end to job losses and some validation that the consumer isn't going to stay in a slump."
Analysts have long warned of an eventual decline in stocks after the market's massive jump since early March, during which major indexes have risen more than 45 percent off of 12-year lows. But the market has yet to see a significant pullback.
Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average fell 1.4 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 gained 2.0 percent, Germany's DAX index jumped 2.9 percent, and France's CAC-40 soared 3.2 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed the week up 184.56, or 2.0 percent, at 9,505.96. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 22.04, or 2.2 percent, to 1,026.13. The Nasdaq composite index rose 35.38, or 1.8 percent, to 2,020.90.
The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of small company stocks, rose 17.61, or 3.1 percent, for the week to 581.51.
The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index -- which measures nearly all U.S.-based companies -- ended at 10,463.53, up 223.01, or 2.2 percent, for the week. A year ago, the index was at 13,185.26.

Homebuilder sentiment index rises in August

NEW YORK (AP) -- The National Association of Home Builders says its housing market index rose in August to the highest point in more than a year.
The Washington-based trade association said Monday the index rose one point to 18, a level not seen since June 2008.
The reading for current sales conditions was unchanged at 16, while traffic by prospective buyers rose three points to 16. The index for expected sales over the next six months jumped four points to 30, signaling that builders think the worst of the housing slump is over.
The report reflects a survey of 474 residential developers nationwide.
Index readings lower than 50 indicate negative sentiment about the market. The last time it was above 50 was in April 2006.

On Monday August 17, 2009, 1:02 pm EDT

New Signs Of Life In Housing

Steve Hagenbuckle, managing principal for TerraCap Partners, has stated some interesting points. Listen to what Steve says and let me know what you think: New Signs Of Life In Housing

New Homes for the Tax Credit of $8,000

Above you will find a picture of homes that will be done before the tax credit of $8,000 goes away. Arbor has really thought ahead to make sure we have enough inventory to sell for those that are going to take advantage of the tax credit. If you are still confused on how the tax credit works, hit this LINK that will answer all your questions.

On another note, it's official, the Feds believe that we are now working our way up out of the recession: "Stocks jump as Fed raises view of economy." I will tell you that if you are with a company that has survived and maybe even thrived in this economy, you are with a great company. I love the direction that Arbor is going. While other builders are running for the hills selling or foreclosing on land, Arbor is doing just the opposite. So the big question is, what will the new home market look like in 3 years here in the Portland Metro. Area? My prediction will be that Arbor will continue to be the number one builder in Oregon and will have the prime real estate property that everyone wants. As I have said in the past, Arbor is a forward thinking company.

Come see me or call (503-888-0133) to see what we have available for sale to meet the tax credit deadline of November 30, 2009.

A Las Vegas Vacation

My wife and I went on a 5 day vacation to Las Vegas w/out the kids (the photo is me in front of the NY hotel)! It was amazing and we didn't loose a penny (we don't gamble).
Being in the Real Estate business, I always have the housing market on my brain. As we flew in, I noticed plots of land that had a few homes on it and then just vacant lots. It looked as if the builders started building, ran out of money or foreclosed on the land and walked away. Now these poor people that purchased have less than a half built neighborhood. The scene of empty roads with dirt lots made me so sad. It makes me so proud to work for Arbor. It is nice to be selling homes and know that Arbor will be able to finish beautiful neighborhoods because we are a reputable builder that positioned ourselves very well for this market. With that said, it looks like the worst is behind us in this recession. Look at the article below.

It is good to be back to the Pacific NW!

____________________________________________________________________

NEW YORK (AP) -- The economy's most vexing problem, unemployment, is showing the first signs of easing. And Wall Street is celebrating.
Major stock indexes jumped more than 1 percent Friday after the government said the nation's unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in July for the first time in 15 months and that employers cut fewer jobs. Bond prices fell, driving yields higher as investors left the safety of Treasurys.
The Labor Department report handed investors the best evidence yet that the economy could be climbing out of the recession. Analysts widely consider unemployment the biggest obstacle to a recovery in the economy, which is driven by consumer spending.
The surprise figures injected new life in a monthlong rally and provided validation for traders who have been betting since March that the economy is healing. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 114 points to cap its fourth straight weekly gain. The Dow is at its highest level since early November.
The government said employers shed 247,000 jobs in July, the fewest in a year. Economists had expected 320,000 lost jobs. The unemployment rate dropped to 9.4 percent from 9.5 percent in June, rather than rising to 9.6 percent as forecast.
"It really gave the market the proof that it needed to see," said Burt White, chief investment officer at LPL Financial in Boston.
The report is often the most anticipated bit of economic news each month on Wall Street and nervousness about what it would reveal held stocks to modest moves most of the week. The exception came Monday when Ford Motor Co. said its monthly sales rose for the first time in nearly two years because the government's cash for clunkers program was drawing customers. That, and good news about manufacturing, construction and banking, sent the Standard & Poor's 500 index over 1,000 for the first time in nine months.
With the pop Friday, the S&P 500 index is up 14.9 percent in only four weeks and 49.4 percent from a 12-year low in early March.
Still, some analysts say the gains have come too quickly and question whether an economic rebound can ever live up to the expectations investors are now setting.
"We've run very fast, very quickly," said Marc Harris, co-head of global research for RBC Capital Markets in New York. "I think we're due to take a breath."
The Dow rose 113.81, or 1.2 percent, to 9,370.07. The broader S&P 500 index gained 13.40, or 1.3 percent, to 1,010.48, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 27.09, or 1.4 percent, to 2,000.25.
About 2,300 stocks rose on the New York Stock Exchange, while about 700 fell. Consolidated volume rose to 7 billion shares from 6.8 billion Thursday.
For the week, the Dow added 2.2 percent, the S&P 500 index rose 2.3 percent and the Nasdaq rose 1.1 percent.
Meanwhile, bond prices fell as the jobs reading limited demand for the safety of government debt. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note, which moves opposite its price, rose to 3.86 percent from 3.76 percent late Thursday.
Financial and retail stocks rallied Friday along with the broader market.
Insurer American International Group Inc. posted its first quarterly profit since 2007. The insurance giant, which is now majority owned by the government, rose $4.61, or 20.5 percent, to $27.14.
The jump in retail stocks came a day after many posted lackluster July sales. A drop in unemployment could make consumers feel more confident about making purchases, which could help the recovery along. Their spending accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Macy's Inc. rose 98 cents, or 6.5 percent, to $15.99.
Analysts say some of the market's recent gains are tied to short-covering, in which investors have to buy stock after having earlier sold borrowed shares in a bet they would fall.
On other days, selling has been contained because investors don't want to miss a rally that has surprised many traders with its strength. On Wednesday, the Dow fell only 39 points but it was the biggest drop in a month.
Investors will be looking for more insight into the economy when the Fed's interest-rate committee concludes a two-day meeting on Wednesday. It is unclear when policymakers will decide the economy is strong enough to handle rate hikes that will be needed to keep inflation in check.
Light, sweet crude fell $1.01 to settle $70.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 14.78, or 2.7 percent, to 572.40.
The dollar mostly rose against other major currencies, while gold prices advanced.
Overseas markets also rallied on the U.S. jobs report. Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.9 percent, Germany's DAX index gained 1.7 percent, and France's CAC-40 rose 1.3 percent. Early Friday, Japan's Nikkei stock average closed with a gain of 0.2 percent.
The Dow Jones industrial average closed the week up 198.46, or 2.2 percent, at 9,370.07. The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 23.00, or 2.3 percent, to 1,010.48. The Nasdaq composite index rose 21.75, or 1.1 percent, to 2,000.25.
The Russell 2000 index, which tracks the performance of small company stocks, rose 15.69, or 2.8 percent, for the week to 572.40.
The Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index -- which measures nearly all U.S.-based companies -- ended at 10,416.26, up 269.24, or 2.7 percent, for the week. A year ago, the index was at 12,905.73.

By Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer
On Friday August 7, 2009, 6:01 pm EDT