About Berrien County, MI

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BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a
change! The chicken wanted change!
*
JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he
recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the
chickens on the other side of the road.
*
HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little
chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified
to ensure right from Day One! that every chicken in this country gets
the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this really isn't
about me.
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GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road.
We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not.
The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground
here.
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DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?
*
COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clea rly see the
satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.
*
BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your
definition of chicken?
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AL GORE: I invented the chicken.
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JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now
against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the
chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.
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AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black
chickens.
*
DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize
that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before
it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to
do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking on his
current problems before adding new problems.
*
OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is
why he wants to cr oss this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken
learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm
going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the
road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.
*
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but
we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the
road.
*
NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty!
You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.
*
PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.
*
MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was
going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs
when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any
insider information.
*
DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad?
Yes, the chicken crossed t he road, but why it crossed I've not been
told.
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ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.
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GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road.
Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.
*
BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we
will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart
warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and
went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.
*
ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.
*
JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads
together, in peace.
*
BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken 2008, which will not
only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and
balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of
eChicken 2008. This new platform is much more sta ble and will never
crash or need to be rebooted.
*
ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did
the road move beneath the chicken?
*
COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

LOSING A FRIEND:

THIS IS A VERY TOUCHING STORY ABOUT LIFE & DEATH,

AND THE FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE.

IT'S CERTAIN TO STIR UP YOUR HEART, TOUCH YOUR SOUL. ;

I'M STILL CHOKED UP OVER IT!

HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!

While the headlines were focused on the poor performance of the stock market, mortgage rates improved moderately during a volatile week. Mortgage rates were helped by a couple of factors. Seeking to reduce risk, investors sold stocks and moved the funds into relatively safer Treasury bonds and government guaranteed mortgage backed securities. In addition, slower economic growth and lower energy prices reduced expectations for future inflation. More good news for the housing market came from the September Existing Home Sales report, which rose 5.5% from August to the highest annual rate since August 2007.

Another important development was a decline in Libor rates during the week. Libor rates are viewed as a primary indicator of credit market conditions. They are also an important benchmark for setting the rates on many consumer loans, including adjustable-rate mortgages. Libor rates shot higher during the credit crisis when financial institutions became reluctant to lend money to each other. The broad series of recent government actions brought Libor rates down closer to more normal levels.

A series of government officials made statements during the week, including Fed Chief Bernanke, former Fed Chief Greenspan, Treasury Secretary Paulson, and FDIC Chairman Bair. The common theme is that the government is ready to take further actions as needed to support the economy and financial markets. Broad support was seen for a second fiscal stimulus package. The decline in the housing market was a key factor in causing the credit crisis, and many proposals are under consideration to help stabilize the housing market and prevent foreclosures. The bottom line, though, is that it will take some time for economic conditions to improve

Check out the real Harbor Country, "third coast" so easy to get to from Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis.

http://www.chuckheaver.com/Chuck_Heaver_Consulting/Blog/Entries/2008/9/20_My_Harbor_Country.html

The biggest news in real estate markets around the country (Michigan real estate included) is the government’s decision to step in and bailout the two major mortgage lenders of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. While some are viewing this as another step towards an economic disaster, the effects of this decision may actually have some potential benefits.

Recent trends show mortgage rates are falling for once. This past week was the third consecutive week in which they fell to just under 6.4% (thirty year adjustable mortgage rates) which is considerably less than the mortgage rates of a year ago which were over 6.45%. Fixed rate mortgage rates also went down to under six percent, also a considerable decline from the 6.15% percentage of a year ago.

Whether these mortgage rate drops are a result of consumer spending, small increases in the sales of Michigan homes or some other unseen factor, they should certainly prove welcoming to first time homebuyers who may want to purchase Michigan property but can’t afford the financing that comes with high mortgage rates. Everybody knows the biggest culprit behind the existing market situation was bad mortgage lending practices which largely involved giving mortgage to borrowers who couldn’t afford them so a lower mortgage rate could make things easier for a broader range of people.

Many real estate markets suggest that the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout—while certainly a cause for concern—could drive down mortgage rates further as investors become less hesitant and worried about the future of the two lenders which may in turn encourage buying. For the time being however, first time homebuyers who can obtain a mortgage and are fully aware of the multiple financial risks involved when it comes to buying Michigan homes may want to evaluate their options and take advantage of these mortgage rates that could rise or fall depending on what the future holds with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout.

Southwest Michigan

August 2008

Year-To-Date Market Statistics

(-/+ 2007)