Market Monitor 1.08.10

Weichert Financial Services Market Monitor I ssu e 11, V olu me 1 / Ja n 8, 2010 Financial Goals for the 1st Half of 2010 Tim McLaughlin The Week Ahead -> The “Keys” - Inflation data will highlight this week (and year) Taking a page out of a book from a mentor that I respect dearly, here are some easy goals and timetables to get financial fit in the first half of 2010: Date Economic Release Prediction Last 1/12 NFIB Small Business Opt - 88.3 New Year's Day: Save more. "Saving more" is the top goal on people's resolution list this year, according to a 1/12 Trade Balance -$34.6B -$32.9B recent survey commissioned by Putnam Investments, which found that respondents put thriftiness ahead of those 1/12 IBD/TIPP Eco Optimism - 46.8 two perennials "losing weight" and "exercising more." Be it increasing your 401K, saving pennies, or shopping smarter 1/12 ABC Consumer Confidence - -41 and /or less, it seems like a goal on everyone’s 2010 list. 1/13 MBA Mortgage Applications - 0.5% Martin Luther King’s Day: Get educated. In honor of the 1/13 Monthly Budget Statement -$100.0B -$51.8B thoughtful civil rights leader, take an hour or two over the weekend to study up on one financial issue that you've 1/13 Fed Beige Book - - ignored. Look up the expenses embedded in your mutual funds, investments, etc. Calculate how much your debt is 1/14 Import Price Index (MoM) 0.1% 1.7% actually costing you. Figure out what's actually covered by your insurance policies...and what isn't. 1/14 Import Price Index (YoY) - 3.7% Presidents Day: Prepare for new credit-card rules. In 1/14 Advance Retail Sales 0.4% 1.3% late February, the second phase of the Credit Card Act will 1/14 less Autos 0.3% 1.2% kick in. To be well prepared, look at your February credit card bills to memorize your due dates, which, by law, will 1/14 less Autos and Gas - 0.6% be the same each month. Paying your bills on time is the most important factor in your creditworthiness, and now 1/14 Initial Jobless Claims 440K 434K should be even easier to accomplish. Also take a look at your interest rate: If it's variable, it will climb when interest 1/14 Continuing Claims 4950K 4802K rates go up...and they will. Finally, expect new billing statements by summer with far more information, including 1/14 Business Inventories 0.0% 0.2% how much interest you have paid year-to-date. 1/15 CPI (MoM) 0.2% 0.4% Memorial Day: Get your annual credit report. To start 1/15 ex Food/Energy 0.1% 0.0% the summer right, take advantage of the once a year freebie and check your credit report for accuracy and to 1/15 CPI (YoY) 2.8% 1.8% help avoid identity theft. The credit bureaus will also try to sell you a credit score and may offer a discount. If you 1/15 ex Food/Energy 1.8% 1.7% want an idea of what your score is, buy the FICO score, developed by Fair Isaac Corp. 1/15 CPI Core Index SA - 220.52 th 1/15 Empire Manufacturing 11.25 2.55 January 8 : Capitalize Big! This one is probably the most important. Capitalize on opportunity! Want a lower 1/15 Industrial Production 0.6% 0.8% mortgage rate and payment? Refinance your mortgage if you haven’t before rates go up. Want to take advantage of 1/15 Capacity Utilization 71.8% 71.3% the housing tax credit before it goes away, and capitalize on low rates and affordable housing? Do it now while the 1/15 U of Michigan Confidence 73.8 72.5 opportunity is hot. And who will help? As always, your Weichert Gold Services Manager and your knowledgeable Weichert Realtor. Lets capitalize on 2010...we can help!!! Weichert Gold Services. Real Estate, Mortgage, Insurance, Title, Home Connections. We Do It All For You. At the date of this printing all information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This publication is a service to our clients and friends. It is designed only to give general information on the topics actually covered. It is not intended to replace tax, legal or financial advice, for which you are encouraged to seek a competent professional advisor. Weichert Financial Services Executive Offices: 225 Littleton Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950. 1-800-829-CASH. An Affiliate of Weichert, Realtors®. Licensed Mortgage Banker with State Department of Banking: NJ, NY, CT, and PA. Licensed Lender: DE, MD, VA, DC, AK, TX, and WV. An Equal Housing Lender.

Market Monitor 1.08.10

by Weichert Real Estate Agent on Jan 08, 2010

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Market Monitor 1.08.10 — Document Transcript