Burbank Real Estate Blog: June 2007

Monday 18

 3 Month & 6 Month Bill Auction

Tuesday 19

Housing Starts Consensus Forecast for May 1.470 Million

Redbook a timely indicator of consumer spending and also represents about 10% of total retail sales.  This measure tracks weekly sales from discounters, chain and department stores.

State Street Investor Confidence Index Measures actual levels of risk in investor portofolios

4 Week Bill Auction 

Every Thursday night in July and August free dance lessons will be offered at the AMC Walkway at San Fernando Road and Palm Avenue.  The lessons will be followed by 2 hours of live music! 

Here's the schedule:

July 5: Royal Crown Revue


July 12: Stompy Jones


July 19: Steve Lucky and the Rumba Bums


July 26: T/B/D

August 2: Bayalo


August 9: Jose Rizo Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars


August 16: Louie Cruz Beltran and His Latin Orchestra


August 23: La Palabra

August 30: T/B/D

                                     August 2007
 

As some of you may know one of the most wonderful resources we have, Griffith Park, experienced a tragic fire last month.  It was truly sobering to watch on TV and quite sad as my husband and I watched the flames in the distance, from our back yard. 

After all was said and done.....more than 800 acres were burned that included Dante's View and the Bird Sanctuary.  For those who are interested in more detailed information about the fire, there is an amazing interactive map that details the path of the fire.

With it's 4210 acres, Griffith Park has the distinction of being the largest municipal urban park in the United States! It is full of wonderful hiking trails and it's home to the LA Zoo, LA Observatory, Autry National Center, Greek Theater, LA Equestrian Center, Travel Town and many other great attractions.

Since the fire certain areas remain closed.  The City of Los Angeles has set up the Griffith Park Recovery Blog to communicate important information about access as well as recovery efforts in the park.

If you are new to the area, I recommend that you experience Griffith Park first hand! 

The time is here!

The Senate is voting on the Bingaman Renewable Electricity Standards (RES) amendment this week!

This marks a vital turning point in our nation's shift away from fossil fuels.  We need to make sure our lawmakers are on board.

The RES amendment would increase our use of renewable electricity to 15% of America's electricity by 2020. It would also slash global warming pollution, create hundreds of thousands of new high-paying jobs across the country, and save consumers billions of dollars on our electric and gas bills.

It makes sense and it's a win-win solution!

I've sent a message to my Senators, asking them to vote YES for RES, and I hope you'll join me. It only takes a minute -- but it could change the future, for generations to come.

Let your Senators know today!

Thanks!

Thursday, June 14th is Flag Day! 

This day was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916, but the history is somewhat interesting!

It is believed to have originated back in 1885, when a Fredonia, Wisconsin school teacher,  BJ Cigrand, had his pupils celebrate the Flag's "Birthday"!

Thereafter he actively continued to advocate June 14th as the observance day for the "Flag's Birthday".

Each year he picked up more supporters for the idea until June 14th eventually became a national proclamation.

What's great about this story is the power of one person, with so much enthusiasm for a cause, in this case, celebrating the Flag's birthday, who managed to effect awareness and promote patriotism.

It's food for thought for all of us and the hidden potential each of us holds for whatever causes we feel passionate about! 

Change is effected one step at a time!

Monday11

 3 Month & 6 Month Bill Auction

Tuesday12

Redbook a timely indicator of consumer spending and also represents about 10% of total retail sales.  This measure tracks weekly sales from discounters, chain and department stores.

4 Week bill and 10 Year Note Auction

Treasury Budget -US Treasury releases a monthly account of budget surplus or deficit.  Consensus is $-70B

The higher the deficit the more T notes and T bills have to be issued by the US Treasury to finance our government, this, depending on demand, can result in lower bond prices and higher rates.

Wednesday13

Import and Export Prices....again another tool to gauge inflation in our economy.

Retail Sales 

Business Inventories-Consensus .3%

Beige Book This report is prepared for the FOMC upcoming meeting where the Fed sets interest rate policy.

EIA Petroleum Status Report reports on crude oil inventories in the U.S.

Ok, so I have to comment on the fact that my previous post.......  Happy Birthday AR  was indeed,

my 50th post!!!!!

It's an achievement of sorts, especially for me!  I was having a difficult time with my first post, enough that I never thought it would be written, much less be followed up with 50 more!

Just thought I would share!                                        

I just got back from the AR bash in Long Beach, Ca..........I have to say, that, as I was driving out there tonight I kept thinking....ok, is this going to be weird?  Not even close!

What's great is that I had the priviledge of meeting so many wonderful people, not the lease of which was Jeff Turner and his lovely wife!  (Not to take away from TLW, who, by the way, was there in spirit along with Broker Bryant,you'll see many pictures from other sources, I'm sure). 

I also had the opportunity to meet with Matt Heaton and Jonathan Washburn, who are truly exceptional individuals!

I do have to say, however, that I felt slightly left out as many people whipped out their Kodak Easyshare V705 to take pictures!  From what I could see it is truly a wonderful camera!  Nice pick Jeff!

Overall an excellent way to spend a Saturday night! 

Jeff, thank you for hosting this wonderful event and for your candor and insights!

Also a heartfelt thank you to all of the wonderful people I met tonight who truly felt like family by the end of the evening! 

As you probably noticed Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke's statements about the current state of affairs sent some shocks in the stock market.  Ben speaks, people, especially investors, listen.

The underlying fear is that the Fed is done lowering interest rates and may in fact be looking towards raising rates.  

Things to ponder:

• Rates abroad due to strong economies and currency considerations, may be looking to go up in some countries.
  

• Housing market slump, per Mr. Bernanke, may not be over and has not penetrated to other parts of the economy yet.
  
• Possible  job cuts in  the future may play a role and would dampen consumer spending habits.
• Have we seen the worst of the foreclosure mess and how will that impact the economy?
• Will the situation in Iraq and the Middle East present some underestimated challenge?
• Will Putin's current stance shift us into another Cold War?
• What will happen at the Fed's next meeting on June 27-28?
• Will the Dodgers make it to the World Series?  (Sorry had to see if you were still with me!)