Bond Yield: Up to 3.30% @ 3:06 pm
CEO of Bank of America, Ken Lewis, stepping down from his post at the end of this year.
Public-Private Investment Program has seen $1.13 billion in private money investment so far.
Should statistical ratings agencies who rate mortgage-backed securities be collectively liable for each other’s ratings?
Bond Yield: Up to 3.29% @ 9:04 am
Meet the seven primary “cast members” of the biggest financial drama in the nation.
Head of Atlanta’s Federal Reserve says don’t expect rate hikes soon.
Informative piece where Chronicle columnist Kenneth Harney discusses potential revisions to the First Time Homebuyer’s Federal Tax Credit, which is set to expire on December 1st of this year.
$5 billion to go towards developing more jobs in healthcare.
Bond Yield: Up to 3.29% @ 3:35 pm
Long over-due changes being implemented by the Fed to curb dubious credit card issuers’ practices.
Predictions for increases in the Federal Funds rate, but they’re months from now. Strange, I know, but some good info in the article nontheless.
CIT being merged with Indymac (now called OneWest Bank)? Rumors so far.
Bond Yield: Up to 3.29% @ 9:23 am
S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index of 20 cities shows third consecutive month of price gains.
Starting tomorrow, $555 million in funding to help U.S. military service families: Homeowners Assistance Program begins.
Senate Bill 1678 introduced to extend Homebuyer’s Tax Credit to June of 2010. It expires on December 1st of this year currently.
Bond Yield: Down to 3.27% @ 1:49 pm
Oregon state legislature passes new law mandating lenders to meet with homeowners for modification options.
Roofing materials that double as solar panels gaining in notoriety.
Proposed California law to enable buyers of foreclosed properties to choose the title and escrow company for the purchase transaction.
Bond Yield: Down to 3.31% @ 10:34 am
Industry executives meeting next month to consider revising onerous appraisal rules.
Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America’s Save the Dream Tour arrives in the Bay Area October 16-20.
State and local housing agencies to get $35 billion boost?
Bond Yield: Down to 3.34% @ 9:00 am
Interesting survey of six major economies in growth and recovery.
As Fed slows buying Mortgage-Backed Securities rates will creep back up.
Former Fed Chief on the prospective future of the Fed.
Investors’ appetite for commercial debt on the rise.
Robert Reich helps us understand the surge in the Dow.
Week 4, September 2009
I am hoping that you all have had a chance to check out how Weekend Wanderings.com has turned into a daily web-log this week with some new features I think you’ll like, including updates on the Bond Yield where I tell which direction it’s moving and what its percentage is listed on the 10-yr Treasury Note, Suggested Reading where sometimes several times a day I comment upon and link to articles in the finance publications that I think are pertinent to those who finance homes, and the hopefully soothing Momentary Getaway where as a wind-down to the day I post a video someone has published of a beautiful place in the world. (Scroll down to see the whole week if you haven’t already.) You’ll also see in the column on the right under Blogroll a list of links to websites that I think can be helpful to homeowners and those who finance their homes. The inspiration for these ideas has been the result of my surveying different blog sites and choosing the types of features in these sites that appealed to me the most. My hope continues to be to develop this site as one worthy of visiting more than once a day if you’re wanting to learn more about the daily changes in the finance world, but also one you will come to for great discoveries I’ve found of fun and inspiring events happening in the Bay Area, great artist websites, and also a daily dose of tranquility found in a Momentary Getaway. While Thursday will continue to be the day when I publish the original features of Weekend Wanderings, I’m pleased with how my blog survey has led me to opening up this site to a daily operation. Hope you dig it too!
See here for a peek at the website of my friend who encouraged me to start a blog.
To contact me about financing your dream-home click here.
Weekend Wanderer’s Events
…finding the treasures in your town and beyond.
Two for This Weekend:
Berkeley Video and Film Festival: They claim “the revolution will be digital— and it’s already here!” Focusing almost exclusively on the medium of digital films, this festival embraces the “liberating” elements of the digitized process as much as anybody. One romantic comedy feature film and many, many short documentaries are the line up for the festival this year which runs Friday and Saturday at Landmark’s Shattuck Cinema in downtown Berkeley. Cool stuff! Check it out here.
Iranian Voices of Freedom in San Francisco: This show at the Davies Symphony Hall this coming Sunday will feature the Iranian band Shams Ensemble, who are credited with creating the anthem for Green Revolution supporters in Iran. This is their first American performance since the much publicized disputed election in Iran, and it promises to be something to see. You can check out a video of them performing here, and you can see about going to the show here.
Help Your Fellow Living Beings:
Family Giving Tree in Milpitas: From their website: “In the 18th year of the program’s existence, the number of gifts and backpacks donated has grown to over 650,000, making the Family Giving Tree the largest gift and backpack donation program in California.” These folks are committed to brightening the lives of children in need with holiday gifts and school supplies, but also by inspiring in these children the spirits of “kindness, philanthropy, and volunteerism.” Check them out here.
Two Weekends from Now:
LovEvolution in San Francisco: Inspired by the “Love Parade” in Berlin, this biggest dance/music event in the city is going on its sixth year. From their website: “We do not dance in the streets to escape the reality of our times – we dance to face them as a community, pointing the direction to a better way, set to beats and the full color of our expression.” If you love the dance beats and you’re looking for a colorful San Francisco experience, this is sure to be one of them. Check it out here.
Pic of the Week… from my own camera.
When the weather is too hot in Oakland, we improvise. 
Bond Yield: Down to 3.38% @ 8:58 am
Study claims laws to help homeowners stave off foreclosure are “toothless.”
I’d rather the FDIC stayed out of the news too. But they’re in it.