The Labor Department announced today that an estimated 4,000 US jobs were lost last month despite a forecasted 110,000 job gain.
 
These job losses in August reflect the first and largest decline since August 2003 and are attributed to losses primarily in the construction, manufacturing and transportation sectors.
 
The fact is that all of these sector job losses are a direct result of the housing slump and we have NOT seen bottom yet. Our strong economy throughout the Bush Administration has had a record housing market as its core.
 
The lack of Consumer confidence created by the latest housing crisis and [...] Continue Reading…

According to the National Association of REALTORS® existing-home sales are likely to decline in coming months as the mortgage crunch is expected to continue. The mortgage crunch was created by sub-prime lending that has led to record foreclosures causing many investors to withdraw from funding the mortgage market.

The Pending Home Sales Index that is based on contracts executed in July of this year was 16.1 percent lower than July 2006. The 16.1 percent was a National average with the western states taking the biggest hit with existing-home sales down an unprecedented 21.8 percent from last July.

The stock market has [...] Continue Reading…

Last week saw one of the most volatile stock markets in recent memory. The problem resulted from mortgage woes created by the sub-prime lending market.

While the stock market calmed down after an influx of billions of dollars the problem regretfully has only just begun. Sub-prime lenders put thousands of borrowers in homes they simply could not afford and will be unable to maintain.

Most of these homeowners were maxed out with payments at the onset of the loan and with the rising adjustable mortgage rates increasing monthly mortgage cost the home owners that were already in over their heads are [...] Continue Reading…

2007 Columbia Start! Heart Walk

Date:  Saturday, August 25, 2007
Time:  8:00am — 12:00pm
Fee:  Free. Participants receive a T-shirt by raising $100 or more.
Location:
Stephens Lake Park
2001 E. Broadway
Columbia, MO 65201

on Saturday, August 25th the 2007 Columbia Start! Heart Walk will create great opportunities for people to improve their health by walking while simultaneously raising funds to help fight stroke and heart disease.

Companies, family and friends can organize teams of walkers.  Walkers ask others to support their walk effort by sponsoring them with a donation to the American Heart Association.  Your Columbia Missouri Real Estate Pro’s at All Pro Realty urge you [...] Continue Reading…