Predicting the future
Most common question asked of most mortgage professionals is: what is going to happen with rates?Most mortgage professionals agree that the ability to answer that question would result in most being retired and wealthy by now. Interest rates, specifically mortgage interest rates, are becoming increasingly difficult to predict as the financial markets have changed.This is what we know: the Federal Reserve and other governing bodies don't like inflation. If the economic data being generated indicates inflationary pressure then the Fed will lean toward raising rates to protect against that projected inflation. Combine that with world events (like the recent Brexit vote), natural disasters, and even the presidential election and you find yourself doing your best to guess what the future may hold.As of this writing, the Fed is leaning toward no increase in September, but December is still a possibility. Watch the 10 year treasury as an indicator week to week. It has been a good measuring stick and if it is moving higher, chances are mortgage rates will do the same.Jayson Stebbins is a 23 year veteran of the mortgage banking industry. He grew up in Morgan Hill and currently lives in Gilroy. He is the local branch manager of Guild Mortgage. You can reach Jayson and his team at (408) 825-0220 or at stebbinsmortgageteam.comÂ
New homes are back
Almost everywhere you look, formally littered lots as well as vacant parcels are being developed into new homes. As we drive around Morgan Hill there is everything from low-income senior apartments to luxury homes and everything in between.
Alley dumping disgusts caller
Hazardous waste: "Hi Red Phone. Here's my complaint: Sometime around July 3, somebody dumped a 5-gallon bucket of human waste in the alley on La Coche Way, behind our house. The smell is horrendous. We've made numerous phone calls everyday to the city.
For the big game: Buffalo wings
The big championship football game will take place next weekend. Although the Bay Area does not have a team represented at the game this year, many will still tune in to see the final game of the season. While some watch for the game, others watch for the memorable commercials. For others like me, it will no doubt be the food. This week, I share my recipe for the favorite sports watching food: buffalo wings.
Lee: Fuel School in session
Welcome to Fuel School 101. Yes, there’s a science to properly fueling the body for competition. High school athletes, take notice. For this article, I’ll focus on the ubiquitous energy bar, which has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. San Benito High junior three-sport standout Marisa Villegas loves Clif Bars; last year at the end of the track season, Villegas told me in addition to her regular meals, she sometimes ate two to three Clif Bars a day during her most intense workout sessions/races (hey, when you run as fast as she does, you need some serious fuel).
Sportsmanship, Super Bowl and local prep playoffs
Wanted to quickly address the near-brawl during last Friday night's basketball game between Christopher High and North Monterey County. As I reported before, the benches cleared after a hard foul was committed on Christopher's DJ Campos midway through the second quarter of a Cougars 67-25 win. (Read the story) Players from both teams began pushing and shoving one another and the situation was about to be sorted out when the benches emptied – an obvious no-no – and fans went wild, hooting and hollering. Luckily no punches were thrown - at least I didn't see any - and the game continued fight-free the rest of the way.