Chicago's Mortgage Choice - May 30, 2017 Real Estate Report - Summer is Here

It is hard to believe that we have already celebrated Memorial Day in 2017. Doesn't it seem that this year is going particularly fast? On Memorial Day, we remembered those who died in service to our country, a tradition that goes back as far as the Civil War and was originally known as Decoration Day. While there are ceremonies and parades going on across our country, the average American is also participating in Memorial Day picnics because good weather has finally arrived throughout the country. Yes, the timing of Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of the summer. The kids are heading into their last weeks of school, vacations are starting and many people are moving because of the homes they have purchased during the spring homebuying season. This means that Americans are also meeting their new neighbors and becoming part of different communities -- a very joyous occasion. While we all enjoy the picnics and new homes, we should not forget the meaning of Memorial Day and its roots which came from a time when our Nation was literally torn apart. We mention this because today again our country is divided, and while differences of opinions are part of what makes our Democracy great, we hope that our divides heal over time because the more energy we expend focused upon conflicts, the less we can focus upon progress. Speaking of progress, we may take off for Memorial Day weekend, but the economy does not. We have another reading on our employment situation coming up this week -- always an interesting time for the markets. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - May 2, 2017 Real Estate Report - Which Report Was Right?

This week we will get evidence of which jobs report was an accurate depiction of the current employment picture. The January and February jobs report showed major increases of over 200,000 jobs. The March jobs report showed a relatively modest increase of just under 100,000 jobs. The average for the past 12 months has been about 180,000 jobs per month and, therefore, the quarterly numbers were right on target in this regard. The question is, will we return to the strong numbers of January and February, stay with the lower figure for March, or move back to the norm? If you are confused as to where the true numbers lie, imagine what the Federal Reserve Board must be thinking when they meet this week. They don't get the benefit of April's numbers because they meet before the employment report is released. And yet they must decide whether to raise rates again at this meeting. Most are predicting that the Fed will hold steady at this week's meeting. Until last week, the stock market had cooled significantly since their last meeting, international tensions are higher and the inflation data released recently was decidedly tame. Of course, we can't predict their decision, but the evidence supports this hunch. As we have pointed out in the past, the Fed controls short-term rates and if the Fed acts when the markets are not expecting it, volatility in the bond and stock markets can follow. It will be an interesting week. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000