Some good news from Wells Fargo, where their chief economist, Dr. Scott Anderson, predicts an economic turnaround in the second half of 2009. The impact of a staggering $2 Trillion in economic stimulus actions by the government will finally take hold, and Dr. Anderson predicts the 3rd quarter of next year will be better than expected. Anderson predicts that the housing sector will lead the way. “One bright note is that the sector that led the economy into this morass is about to turn the co... Read Full Story
What are the holidays without catching at least part of It’s a Wonderful Life, the timeless classic with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. (little known fact… the movie was a complete flop when it debuted in 1946. It is only later that it became quintessential holiday fare).
And you no doubt remember the scene when George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) and Mary (Donna Reed) are leaving for their honeymoon, and there is a run on Bailey Brothers Building and Loan. George has to scramble to... Read Full Story
A few years ago, my family asked my dad, who’s health was failing at the time, what he most wanted for Christmas. He replied “I just want peace in the world, and all of you to be happy, successful, healthy.” To which my older brother replied “would you settle for a sweater?” Gotta love pragmatism.
But other than shopping a little harder for deals and watching budgets a little more closely, this is not the season for pragmatism. It’s a time to reflect,... Read Full Story
It is no secret that the schools in San Ramon are a magnet for home buyers looking for top-notch schools in a pristine, well-managed community. But it looks like the San Ramon schools are attracting more than just eager kids looking for a great education, as there has been a rash of coyote sightings recently at several San Ramon Schools:
Coyote sightings around San Ramon schools have been reported recently, the latest one Thursday morning when one of the animals was seen sleeping under a sch... Read Full Story
One of the “perks” of being in a recession is usually downward pressure on interest rates. An economic slowdown reduces the demand for capital, and usually leads to lower interest rates. And volatility in stock prices usually leads to more investment in money market instruments, thereby increasing the “supply” of money available to lend. Add to this the Federal Government’s campaign to add liquidity to the market through cuts in the Federal Funds rate, and it ... Read Full Story
You know what they say… when the going gets tough, the tough read cartoons. Here are some of my recent favorites (click to enlarge)
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Bloated. Sluggish. Slow moving. Weighed Down. Lethargic. No, I’m not talking about how I felt after consuming 22,000 calories on Thanksgiving (who invented yams with marshmallows on them anyway? That’s just not fair!). I’m talking instead about the Pleasanton real estate market, which limped through the month of November as if in a deep sleep. It seems the October melt down on Wall Street had an impact on the Pleasanton market, with sales down sharply for the month. ... Read Full Story
The Dublin real estate market remained steady in November, with pending sales of single family homes matching October’s level at 23 for the month. This has been fairly consistent since August, with the exception of September, which saw a spike in pending sales to 42 for the month. Inventory declined slightly in November, with 101 single family homes on the market at the end of the month, down from 110 in October. This indicates a 4 month supply of homes in Dublin, which is a decent s... Read Full Story
According to Forbes.com, San Francisco is one of the markets most likely to recover quickly from the current real estate recession. In a nutshell, commercial real estate experts think that San Francisco’s strategic access to Asian trade (via the ports of San Francisco, and more importantly Oakland), and relatively strong office and apartment rental markets make it a good bet to recover fast. The logic is that a strong job base and relative lack of overbuilding in the commercial market... Read Full Story
