Fannie Mae Delinquencies: July 2012

The latest release of the Fannie Mae Monthly Summary indicated that all measures of single family delinquency continued to decline in July while remaining at distressed levels.

In July, 2.84% of non-credit enhanced loans went seriously delinquent while the level was 7.76% of credit enhanced loans resulting in an overall total single family delinquency of 3.50%.

The following charts (click for larger ultra-dynamic and surf-able chart) show what Fannie Mae terms the count of “Seriously Delinquent” loans as a percentage of all loans on their books.

It’s important to understand that Fannie Mae does NOT segregate foreclosures from delinquent loans when reporting these numbers.

Hong Kong Bubble?: Hong Kong Residential Property Prices June 2012

Recently, the University of Hong Kong released their Hong Kong Residential Real Estate Series (HKU-REIS) indicating that, in June, the price of residential properties increased 1.18% since May and climbed 6.64% above the level seen in June 2011.

It appears that after a notable pullback in late-2011 prices are totally soaring with all measures continuing to rise notably each month.

The HKU-REIS is a set of property price indices constructed monthly using a “modified” repeat-sale methodology similar to that of the S&P/Case-Shiller indices yet suited to the Hong Kong property market.

Envisioning Employment: Employment Situation August 2012

Today’s Employment Situation Report indicated that in August, net non-farm payrolls increased only slightly adding 96,000 jobs overall with the private non-farm payrolls sub-component adding just 103,000 jobs while the civilian unemployment rate declined slightly to 8.2% over the same period.

Net private sector jobs increased just 0.09% since last month climbing 1.80% above the level seen a year ago but remained a whopping 3.64% below the peak level of employment seen in December 2007.

Recovery-less Recovery: Unemployment Duration August 2012

Be sure to bookmark the "Scary Unemployment Dashboard"... it's live.

Today's employment situation report showed that conditions for the long term unemployed were mixed in August and remained epically distressed by historic standards.

Workers unemployed 27 weeks or more declined to 5.033 million or 40.0% of all unemployed workers while the median number of weeks unemployed jumped to 18.0 weeks and the average stay on unemployment climbed to 39.2 weeks.

Looking at the charts below (click for super interactive versions) you can see that today’s sorry situation far exceeds even the conditions seen during the double-dip recessionary period of the early 1980s, long considered by economists to be the worst period of unemployment since the Great Depression.

On The Margin: Total Unemployment August 2012

Today’s Employment Situation report showed that in August “total unemployment” including all marginally attached workers declined to 14.7% while the traditionally reported unemployment rate declined to 8.1%.

The traditional unemployment rate is calculated from the monthly household survey results using a fairly explicit definition of “unemployed” (essentially unemployed and currently looking for full time employment) leaving many workers to be considered effectively “on the margin” either employed in part time work when full time is preferred or simply unemployed and no longer looking for work.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers “marginally attached” workers (including discouraged workers) and persons who have settled for part time employment to be “underutilized” labor.

The broadest view of unemployment would include both traditionally unemployed workers and all other underutilized workers.

To calculate the “total” rate of unemployment we would simply use this larger group rather than the smaller and more restrictive “unemployed” group used in the traditional unemployment rate calculation.

New Artist Find & Fall Stuff

Happy Thursday friends :)

Let's talk about what my life consists of these days ...

1. Work
2. Work.
3. More work
4. Wedding Planning (fun!)
5. Getting on Pinterest and obsessing over wedding stuff and new fall clothes every night before bed ha!

That pretty much sums it up :) No but really, I have been having a busy week as usual ... doing big things with my real estate business right now and have been spending some time getting a new logo made, doing some research on getting more in tune with the SEO search engine stuff, blah blah blah haha not super exciting things, but things that are a necessity in the crazy world of real estate!

I am ready to take my business to the next level so I have been kicking it high gear!
Can't wait to share my logo and new stuff once it get's finished!

In the meantime, I am making a BIG change and ordered a Mac yesterday ...

I know, I know ... you're thinking how in the world have I not gotten one thus far in life? 

Honestly I was so afraid to switch from PC that I have procrastinated. 

BUT, with the iPhone, my iPad that I use every day, and the fact that I am so sick of cleaning viruses off of my computers... I figured it was time to switch!  

Anyone have any tips or suggestions? Please pass them along ha I will be in training for a while once this beast gets here ;)

Couple things I have discussed on Fbook but not gotten to blog about yet... 

A few weeks ago Chris, myself and Frankie (field trip day for him ha!) went to the Woodland Art Fair downtown Lex and scooped up one of my favorite paintings by the most awesome artist EVER!

Chris Hartsfield 
Watercolor Realisms 
He is amazzzzzzzing ... I was midly obsessed with him.

This is my favorite one we bought ...
(**We did not buy his originals, they are super pricey and out of my budget ha, these are copies but look so good and exactly like the originals!**)

"Kentucky Faves" 

My picture on my phone honestly does not do it justice, but it's pretty awesome right? 

I love how custom he makes them to your hometown. I thought they looked kind of rustic so picked up this frame at Hobby Lobby and then Chris actually stained it a few days ago and it looks better now that it is darker! :) 

I hung it right in the kitchen, next to my newly painted kitchen and chalk board painted pantry door! :)
Everyone has commented on it and thought the painting was awesome!

I got two smaller ones for the bathroom but am waiting until those dang frames go 50% off at Hobby Lobby!
But they are pretty cute too ...

 Can't find the name of the mint julep one :( 

"Old Fashion Aristocrats"

I loved both of these too. Very Kentucky-like ;) and Southern. Chris nor myself even drink bourbon lol but I  still think they are just super cute!

He has other states that he does stuff for as well ... check out his website at
www.ChrisHartsfield.com

Let's see... what else ... oh speaking of Kentucky ... 

While showing houses last week look what I opened the back door to see in one backyard ...

Yes, your vision is correct ... a real life UK shrub hahahahaha

If that is not a KY Wildcat Fan then I don't know what is! 

How funny is that? Love it! 

The kids are doing good ... 

They had picture day last week, so of course I made them do a small photo-op before heading to school ... 

 
They looked so cute! :)

And of course someone had to be involved too in the model session ... 

He's home-schooled 

hahahahaha ;) 

So we had pretend picture day!

Lastly, some Pinterest ... 

I am soooo ready for Fall clothes ... anyone else? 

I am obsessing over the following: 

This mayan tribal chunky cardigan ... love it! 

love her leather pants, short jacket and super cute scarf! 

I love a black dress with boots ... and the tweed jacket is a total fave! 

Big chunky sweaters that are comfy of any kind are my absolute favorite! 

love a little bit of cheetah print somewhere ha 

I am obsessing over this chevron hammered knuckle ring!

Ok gotta go show houses! 

Can't wait for the weekend ... Saturday I might get to relax and not work for a day! yayy! 

ISM Non-Manufacturing Report on Business: August 2012

Today, the Institute for Supply Management released their latest Non-Manufacturing Report on Business indicating that service related business activity was mixed in August with the business activity component declining while the overall non-manufacturing index improved to 53.7 from 52.6 in July.

At 55.6 the business activity index declined 2.80% since July falling 1.42% below the level seen a year earlier.

This month, service industry respondents are sounding mixed to negative with some reporting "unpredictable" conditions, tighter budgets or even palpable slowdown:

"Markets and customers we serve remain strong and have not caused any adverse impact to our business." (Management of Companies & Support Services)

"Economy still stagnant. Small jobs keeping us going. Expect some improvement in capital spending in fourth quarter." (Professional, Scientific & Technical Services)

"Small slowdown in tourism. Commodity prices on the rise." (Arts, Entertainment & Recreation)

"Budgets are tighter; there are fewer new purchases being pursued that were not planned or budgeted." (Finance & Insurance)

"Overall conditions continue to be unpredictable. Sales are inconsistent as customers reel to the news of the day, which creates havoc on the supply chain to respond." (Retail Trade)

"Customers appear to be refocusing their resources on internal costs and efficiencies." (Wholesale Trade)