Photo by Mike Sage with A.BomarrattiWines. Jacks carved by Mike,Karen&Cassie.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Cats in Laptop Case at Open House Today
Well, we had a beautiful day in Kansas City. Lovely and sunny with just a bit of breeze. Brian Buzby says it may freeze tonight. Brrr. The kittens above were at the open house today. Everytime the door opened the yellow one tried to dart out. He's fast! But we caught him every time. Good thing all the visitors were animal people. The kittens love to run around the house with anyone who's going; especially up and down the stairs. They also enjoy playing the jump off the counter onto your shoulder game. Cute. One of the visitors wanted some info so I brought out the laptop. The kittens found it to be a perfectly cozy little bed for their afternoon nap.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
It's Tough Out There!
I had a pointer sign up at an intersection on the outskirts of Kansas City directing traffic to a listing. One of those big tractors with a grass mower attachments came along and ran over my sign, mangling it slightly. After bringing the sign back to the office and propping it up against my desk, several people asked me what happened to my sign. Rather than explaining about the tractor, I just replied "It's a Tough Market Out There!" Everybody laughed so I thought it would make a good picture. Thanks to Mary Fox for playing the role of photographer.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Looking Back
Here is an interesting chart showing some key factors today as opposed to the great depression:
Things have been worse. Maybe they will get worse. But they are not yet as bad as they once were.
The print is small, so here are the numbers:
Gross Domestic Product growth:-27%,Great Depression....+1% Today
Industrial Production.........-52%.....................-2%
Unemployment rate high.........25%......................6%
Federal deficit as % of GDP...1.4%....................4.9%
U.S. exports..................-66%....................+15%
Consumer price index..........-27%.....................+4%
Money supply..................-29%.....................+3%
Things have been worse. Maybe they will get worse. But they are not yet as bad as they once were.
The print is small, so here are the numbers:
Gross Domestic Product growth:-27%,Great Depression....+1% Today
Industrial Production.........-52%.....................-2%
Unemployment rate high.........25%......................6%
Federal deficit as % of GDP...1.4%....................4.9%
U.S. exports..................-66%....................+15%
Consumer price index..........-27%.....................+4%
Money supply..................-29%.....................+3%
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Power Saving / Money Saving
Kansas City Power & Light has a couple of programs you may be interested in:
You can get a $300 Honeywell Thermostat installed in your home for FREE. Now that's a deal! Yes, of course there's a catch. But the catch is that in the summer time when the demand for electricity threatens to blow a fuse due to increased demand, KCP&L will automatically start cycling electricity. This saves us from having blackouts in huge sections of the city. KCP&L.com
The other program is: Instant $2 Cash-back Rebates are available on purchases of up to six ENERGY STAR®-qualified" compact fluorescent lights (CFL) at participating Westlake Ace Hardware and Hy-Vee stores in Missouri.
Limited time and quantities - Annual campaign runs from Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, or while supplies last.
KCPL.com
You can get a $300 Honeywell Thermostat installed in your home for FREE. Now that's a deal! Yes, of course there's a catch. But the catch is that in the summer time when the demand for electricity threatens to blow a fuse due to increased demand, KCP&L will automatically start cycling electricity. This saves us from having blackouts in huge sections of the city. KCP&L.com
The other program is: Instant $2 Cash-back Rebates are available on purchases of up to six ENERGY STAR®-qualified" compact fluorescent lights (CFL) at participating Westlake Ace Hardware and Hy-Vee stores in Missouri.
Limited time and quantities - Annual campaign runs from Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, or while supplies last.
KCPL.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The Hunger Site
Winter is on its' way. There is a site where you can give food to the hungry just by clicking. (no cost to you) It's actually listed on the left but here's a link:
Hunger Site
It only takes a few seconds to help make the world a better place. Food is donated by the sponsors according to the number of clicks. Yes, you can shop here...but you don't have to in order to get them to donate food.
Hunger Site
It only takes a few seconds to help make the world a better place. Food is donated by the sponsors according to the number of clicks. Yes, you can shop here...but you don't have to in order to get them to donate food.
Home for sale in Fairway: 5402 Falmouth
5402 Falmouth Rent this 3bed/3bath for $2500/mo OR Buy it for only $399,000!
Gorgeous hardwoods, SS appliances, deck off dining room & master, walk-in closets, granite countertops, FP, 2 car garage, well behaved pets okay.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Cure For Our Financial Crisis
During the last few days I have been party to many different conversations about our financial predicament. Personally, I don't want my tax dollars to be used without thought although I do see the logic of a government bail out. This evening I received the following proposal by Dave Ramsey via a friend and fellow realtor. This proposal is very close to the conclusions that many of us have been coming to in our discussions.
The Common Sense Fix
Years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes have created an economic nightmare in this country, but $700 billion in new debt is not the answer. As a tax-paying American citizen, I will not support any congressperson who votes to implement such a policy. Instead, I submit the following three-step Common Sense Plan.
I. INSURANCE
a. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity.
b. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things:
1.Rewrite any mortgage that is more than 3 months delilnquent to a 6% fixed rate mortgage.
a. Roll all back payments wiith no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes.
b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borroweer will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower - again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives.
2. Cancel ALL Golden Parachutes of existing and future CEO's and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. THis keep underperforming executives from being paid when they don't do their jobs.
**This backstop will cost less than $50 billion - a small fraction of the current proposal.
II. MARK TO MARKET
a. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subpriime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate.
b. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks - and it cost the taxpayer nothing.
III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX
a. Remove the capital gains tax completely. INvestors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous - and immediate - liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing.
b. This move will be seen as a lighning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down.
--I think Dave Ramsey covers most of what I've been talking about with others the last few days; what do you think?
The Common Sense Fix
Years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes have created an economic nightmare in this country, but $700 billion in new debt is not the answer. As a tax-paying American citizen, I will not support any congressperson who votes to implement such a policy. Instead, I submit the following three-step Common Sense Plan.
I. INSURANCE
a. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity.
b. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things:
1.Rewrite any mortgage that is more than 3 months delilnquent to a 6% fixed rate mortgage.
a. Roll all back payments wiith no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes.
b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borroweer will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower - again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives.
2. Cancel ALL Golden Parachutes of existing and future CEO's and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. THis keep underperforming executives from being paid when they don't do their jobs.
**This backstop will cost less than $50 billion - a small fraction of the current proposal.
II. MARK TO MARKET
a. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subpriime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate.
b. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks - and it cost the taxpayer nothing.
III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX
a. Remove the capital gains tax completely. INvestors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous - and immediate - liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing.
b. This move will be seen as a lighning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down.
--I think Dave Ramsey covers most of what I've been talking about with others the last few days; what do you think?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)