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Economist's Outlook
Where are the Closing Documents?
New rules governing the settlement process were introduced in the 4th quarter of 2015. NAR Research surveyed its members to gauge the impact of the new regulations and found a modest, but significant impact on volumes, but more insidious problems with REALTORS® ability to support their clients.
On October 3rd 2015, the Know Before You Owe or TILA-RESPA Integrated Documentation (TRID) rules went into effect. The rules were intended to better protect consumers, while streamlining the documentation required for settlement. One of the principle changes was the replacement of the HUD-1 form with the closing document or "CD". The closing document describes the fees, charges, and APR the consumer faces. In the past, REALTORS® often aided their clients by answering questions about the HUD-1. 54.5 percent of REALTORS® who were surveyed indicated that they had problems getting the CD for transactions and half found errors when they did get access.
When REALTORS® did get access to CDs, they frequently found missing concessions and incorrect names or addresses, but incorrect fees, commissions, and taxes were also reported. Finally, REALTORS® were more likely to have issues getting access to the CDs, when settlement was delayed.
REALTORS® advise their clients on many aspects of the home purchase process. With TRID changes causing issues for some transactions, REALTORS® can seek out lenders who are up-to-speed on the TRID rules and who are attentive to the long-term relationship between these transaction partners.
TRID: 3-months In Review
The mortgage lending process underwent a major regulatory overhaul in the 4th quarter. NAR Research surveyed its members to gauge the impact of the new regulations and found a modest impact to the market, but significant impact for those settlements that were delayed.
The TILA-RESPA Integrated Documentation (TRID) or Know Before You Owe rules went into effect on October 3rd 2015. The rules are intended to streamline the documentation process and to add protections for consumers. REALTORS® who were surveyed indicated that 10.4 percent of transactions were delayed, but less than 1 percent cancelled. When settlement was delayed, the average delay was 8.8 days.
The share of closings that were delayed and the magnitude of the delay are very similar in scope to those found in an earlier analysis. Typically, a homebuyer locks their mortgage rate 30 days in advance of settlement. Locking the rate insures against fluctuations in the rate, but the buyer must pay for this insurance. Typically, a buyer pays a premium for each 15-day increment added to the base lock (e.g. 45 or 60 day rate lock). Or, if the buyer does not have a long enough rate lock and the settlement takes longer, they may need to pay for a rate extension, which is more expensive than a rate lock. For those home buyers impacted by the TRID-related delays, they may face higher costs due to longer rate locks or extensions. It is unclear whether lenders are absorbing these costs or passing them onto consumers. However, lenders would not absorb the costs of delayed moves and scheduling for both the buyer and seller.
Delays weighed on the market in the 4th quarter, but cancellations are low. As a result, the TRID impact shifted total monthly sales volumes roughly one period. This shift in the aggregate sales volume may mask the impact on impacted borrowers though.
December 2015 Housing Affordability Index
At the national level, housing affordability is down from a year ago as higher home prices and only slightly lower mortgage rates mean that monthly payments are rising faster than incomes.
Housing affordability declined from a year ago in December pushing the index from 171.0 to 161.7. The median sales price for a single family home sold in December in the US was $226,000, up 8 percent from a year ago. For year as a whole, the median price for a home in the US 2015 was 223,900, 7.2 percent higher than 2014 price which was 208,900.
- Growing incomes and easing mortgage rates from a year ago helped to nearly offset the increase in home prices. Nationally, mortgage rates were down 2 basis points from one year ago (one percentage point equals 100 basis points) while incomes rose approximately 2 percent. The reduction in mortgage rates from one year ago saves the median home buyer $2 per month on principal and interest payments at the current home price while income growth means the median family earns $106 more per month than December 2014.
- Regionally, all four regions saw declines in affordability from a year ago. The Midwest had the biggest decline in the affordability index of 6.5 percent followed by the West, South, and Northeast with the smallest at 2.7 percent.
- The West had the biggest increase in price at 8.6 percent while the Northeast experienced the slowest price growth at 6.1 percent. The Midwest and the South fell in between with 7.8 percent and 7.0 percent, increase in single family home prices, respectively.
- By region, affordability is down in all regions from last month. The South (5.0 percent) and West (3.0 percent) had the biggest dip while the affordability decreased the least the Midwest (2.1 percent) and Northeast (0.9 percent).
- Despite month to month changes, the most affordable region is the Midwest where the index is 209.5. This means that in the Midwest in December 2015, the median income family earned roughly 2 times the income that would be needed to qualify to purchase the median-priced home that sold in the same month. For comparison, the index is 167.3 in the South, 165.1 in the Northeast, and 118.5 in the West.
- Price growth for potential home owners remains unhealthy especially in certain metro markets where inventory is an issue. Mortgage rates are currently stable and have exhibited a tendency to move lower as a result of financial market turmoil in spite of the Fed's move to raise short-term rates. Homebuyers looking to get into the market can still lock in a low rate which helps make homes more affordable and enables new owners to participate in the equity build up that results when home prices rise.
- What does housing affordability look like in your market? View the full data release here.
- The Housing Affordability Index calculation assumes a 20 percent down payment and a 25 percent qualifying ratio (principle and interest payment to income). See further details on the methodology and assumptions behind the calculation here.
President's Day 2016: How Does the White House Compare to the Average Home
In the spirit of President's Day we can use data from the 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers to see how the typical home differs from the White House.
Typical Home Purchased in the U.S.
- 84% of buyers purchased a previously owned home, with 83% of buyers choosing a detached single-family home.
- Looking at first-time and repeat buyers, both also purchased detached single-family homes more often with 80% of first-time buyers and 84% of repeat buyers.
- 52% of all buyers purchased their home in a suburb/subdivision. The typical detached single-family home purchased was 1,900 square feet.
- Homes purchased also had a median of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and was built in 1991.
- Of all buyers, the expected length of tenure in the home purchased was 14 years.
The White House
- The White House was built in 1792, and in comparison is located in an urban or central area.
- The White House contains 6 levels, has 132 rooms, including 35 bathrooms.
- It also includes features such as: a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, billiard room, movie theatre, and bowling alley.
- While tenure in the median expected tenure in home lasts around 14 years, in the White House the expected tenure is between 4 and 8 years.
For more information on this data check out the President's Day Infographic and the 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.
FHFA's GSE Housing Goals are Targeting to Increase Affordable Housing Opportunities for Low-income Families in 2015-2017: A REALTOR® University Speaker Series
In a presentation in the REALTOR® University Speaker Series held recently, Dr. Paul Manchester presented the affordable housing goals for the government-sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for 2015-2017.[1] FHFA's housing goals for the GSEs pertain to increasing credit to low-income borrowers and areas for single-family homes and increasing financing for multi-family units that are affordable to low-income renters, while maintaining the financial safety and soundness of the GSEs.[2] Dr. Manchester is the Federal Housing Finance Agency's lead economist for the preparation of FHFA's Annual Housing Reports, submitted to Congress in October each year.[3] The webinar can be accessed here.
Some highlights of the single-family home purchase/refinance and multi-family unit financing goals:
1) Share of single family loans to low income borrowers: pre-set benchmark. For 2015-2017, the GSEs have a pre-set benchmark that 24 percent of their single-family home purchase mortgages in each year should be for low-income borrowers, defined as borrowers with incomes of 80 percent or less of the area median income[4]. This is slightly higher than the 2012-2014 target of 23 percent. Although representing only a slight increase, this will improve the access to credit for low-income borrowers.
2) Share of single-family loans to low-income borrowers: retrospective market comparison. A GSE meets this goal if its performance equals or exceeds this benchmark of 24 percent or if its performance equals or exceeds the low-income share of conventional home purchase mortgages originated in the primary mortgage market during the year. This latter figure is based on FHFA analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data. However, this HMDA data is not released until September of the subsequent year. Thus in addition to comparing performance with the pre-set benchmark, FHFA employs this "look back" procedure in determining goal compliance. An Enterprise fails a goal only if its performance falls short of both the pre-set benchmark level and the retrospective market goal-qualifying share of the primary market. In 2013-2014, Fannie Mae met its goals to provide financing for single-family home mortgages made to low-income borrowers (highlighted in green in Chart 1). Freddie Mac missed its goal (highlighted in red), since its performance (21.8 percent in 2013 and 21.0 percent in 2014) fell short of both the benchmark level (23 percent for both years) and the market level (24.0 percent in 2013 and 22.8 percent in 2014). Based on its shortfall on this goal and the very low-income goal in 2014, FHFA is requiring Freddie Mac to submit a housing plan that will enable it to meet targets for 2016 and 2017. [5]3) Multi-family low income goal – For each year, 2015-2017, the multi-family goal is that each GSE provide financing for at least 300,000 units that are affordable to low income families (600,000 total). This is higher than the targets in 2012-2014 (see Chart 2). The higher target will help ease the shortage of affordable rental units. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac met their goals in 2012-2014. Together, they provided financing for 674,453 units affordable to low-income renters in 2012, 581,225 units in 2013, and 536,484 units in 2014.
4) Small multifamily sub-goal. To enhance the role of the GSEs in providing access to affordable rental housing, FHFA has established a new sub-goal for the agencies to provide financing for units in small (5- to 50-unit) multifamily properties that are affordable to low income borrowers. For 2015, the goal for each Enterprise was 6,000 units (12,000 combined); this increases to 8,000 units each in 2017 (16,000 combined), and to 10,000 units each in 2017 (20,000 combined) (Chart 3).
REALTOR® University provides on-line education on real estate and other topics at the MBA and undergraduate levels. The REALTOR® University Speaker Series provides a venue to learn about and stimulate discussion of economic and real estate issues in support of NAR's mission as the Voice of Real Estate. The Speaker Series presentations can be accessed on this webpage.
[1] The REALTOR® University Speaker Series on "Overview of the Final Enterprise Housing Goals in 2015-2017" was held on January 28, 2016 at the NAR Washington Office.
[2] Under the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act, all regulation of the Enterprises, except fair housing, was transferred from HUD and OFHEO to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. FHFA is also the regulator for the Federal Home Loan Banks.
[3] http://www.fhfa.gov/PolicyProgramsResearch/pages/meet-the-experts.aspx
[4] FHFA sets the prospective target based on six factors: specified in Housing Economic and Recovery Act which transferred all regulation, except on fair housing, from HUD to FHFA: (1) national housing needs; (2) economic, housing, & demographic conditions; (3) past goal performance and effort; (4) ability of Enterprises to lead the industry in making mortgage credit available; (5) projected size of relevant primary conventional, conforming market; and (6) the need to maintain the sound financial condition of the Enterprises.
[5] For more information about the GSEs' performance, see FHFA's 2015 Annual Housing Report at http://www.fhfa.gov/AboutUs/Reports/ReportDocuments/Annual_Housing_Report_2015.pdf).
Financing, Home Inspection, and Appraisal Issues: Major Issues Affecting Contract Settlement
In reporting on their last contract that went into settlement or was terminated over the period October–December 2015, REALTORS® reported that 33 percent of contracts had delayed settlement, according to the December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
Among contracts that had a delayed settlement (33 percent), 45 percent had financing issues, an increase compared to the share of about 40 percent in the first half of 2015. REALTORS® reported that the "Know Before You Owe"/TRID regulations have led to longer closing periods.[1] In the December 2015 survey, 53 percent of respondents reported that they are experiencing a longer time to close compared to a year ago, up from 37 percent in the October 2015 survey when NAR first gathered this information.
Among contracts that were terminated (seven percent), 29 percent had financing issues and 29 percent had home inspection issues.
[1] The "Know Before You Owe"/TRID regulations that took effect on October 3, 2015, were intended to provide disclosures that will be helpful to consumers in understanding the key features, costs, and risks of the mortgage for which they are applying.
In What States Did Properties Sell Quickly in October–December 2015
In the monthly REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, the National Association of REALTORS® asks members "For the last house that you closed in the past month, how long was it on the market from listing time to the time the seller accepted the buyer's offer?"
Nationally, properties sold in December 2015 were typically on the market for 58 days compared to 66 days one year ago (54 days in November 2015; 66 days in December 2014, according to the November 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
Fewer days on the market are an indication that inventory remains tight. Short sales were on the market for the longest time at 86 days, while foreclosed properties typically stayed on the market for 68 days. Non-distressed properties were typically on the market for 57 days.
Properties typically sold within a month in the District of Columbia, Utah, and Colorado. In the oil-producing states of North Dakota, Montana, Kansas, and Louisiana, which are undergoing slower job growth following the collapse of oil prices, properties stayed on the market longer at 60 days. In Wyoming, properties typically sold after 90 days on the market. Texas appears more resilient to the oil price collapse, as properties typically sold after 45 days on the market. Diversity in the Texas economy may explain this phenomenon. Local conditions vary, and the data is provided for REALTORS® who may want to compare local markets against the state and national summary.
11 Respondents were asked "For the last house that you closed in the past month, how long was it on the market from listing time to the time the seller accepted the buyer's offer?" The median is the number of days at which half of the properties stayed on the market. In generating the median days on market at the state level, we use data for the last three surveys to have close to 30 observations. Small states such as AK, ND, SD, MT, VT, WY, WV, DE, and D.C., may have fewer than 30 observations.
More Workers Filed Unemployment Insurance Claims in January 2016
- The number of workers starting a period of unemployment is on the rise. The U.S. Department of Labor reported that in the week ended January 30, 2016 285,000 claims were filed, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's level. Some of the increase may be due to weekly volatility, but even four-week moving average which strips out the weekly volatility shows an increase in jobless claims (Chart 1). In the four weeks of January 9 – 30, an average of 284,750 workers filed unemployment insurance claims, an increase compared to 263,000 claims filed in October 2015.
- The uptick in the number of claims filed appears to be associated with the steep fall in oil prices, plunging from about $100 per barrel in 2012-2014 to about $32 in January 2016[1]. This has led to a cutback in jobs and investment spending in the oil-producing states of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wyoming, and New Mexico (Charts 2). In the fourth quarter, the economy expanded at a slower pace of 0.7 percent as spending across most sectors declined, save for residential investment which grew at a healthy pace of 8.1 percent (Chart 3).
- Given the headwinds coming from falling oil prices, NAR projects existing home sales of 5.34 million in 2016, a modest increase from the 5.26 million existing homes sold in 2015.
[1] West Texas Intermediate, spot price.
Home Buyers, 34 Years and Under: 27 Percent of Residential Sales in December 2015
Buyers who are 34 years old and under accounted for 27 percent of home sales in December 2015, according to the December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
The participation of buyers who are 34 years and under has remained essentially unchanged since the housing market's breakout recovery in 2012. Income growth has lagged behind the increase in house prices, making it harder to qualify for a mortgage and save for a downpayment, especially for someone with student loans.[1] Buyers 35 to 55 years old accounted for nearly half of sales, while buyers 56 and over represented 24 percent of home sales. Older buyers are more likely to have better credit profiles and the savings or home equity to use as downpayment than younger buyers.
Nationally, buyers 34 years and under accounted for 28 percent of all buyers in calendar year 2015. Younger buyers comprise a larger portion of the residential market in Utah (39 percent), Pennsylvania (38 percent), New York (36 percent), Ohio (35 percent), Illinois (36 percent), and Colorado (33 percent).
[1] Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Households and Economic Decision-making, October 2014. Among renter respondents, 50 percent reported they do not have the downpayment to purchase a home, and 28 percent reported they cannot qualify for a mortgage. See http://www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/2014-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201505.pdf
How Commuting Costs Factor Into Home Buying
Either way you look at it, buyers know that commuting costs are high. Some buyers need to be closer to their job while others need to be close to school districts. The National Association of REALTORS® releases its annual report Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report to understand the trends of buyers and sellers. One trend we found fascinating in 2015 was the emerging importance of commuting costs. We cut the data and found 30 percent of respondents purchased homes this year to reduce commuting costs as they cited this factor as being very important to them.
We segmented this group further and found that 64 percent of buyers purchased their home so that it was convenient to their job, which was the most important factor in selecting a neighborhood. Of this group, 23 percent cited that they compromised on the price of their home to be geographically closer to work and thus have more free time for friends and family. What is also interesting to note is that this group was also made up of 40 percent first-time home buyers, compared to the 32 percent of all buyers that purchased a home this year.
The median age for this group was 39 years old; they bought homes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and were typically 1,900 square feet. The median income was $82,000 and the median home price purchased was $212,000.
So how does this compare to other buyers? We segmented married couples that had children under 18 living at home because it was similar in size as a subgroup, which comprised 34 percent of all buyers. Forty-three percent of this group cited that the distance to schools was the most important factor in selecting a neighborhood. Twenty-seven were first-time buyers, closer to the overall median, and these homes were typically larger with four bedrooms and two bathrooms at 2,200 square feet. The median age for this group was 36 years old; they bought homes with median income of $100,000 and the median home price purchased was $260,000.
The data also indicates that once families had kids, living closer to schools took priority over living closer to work. When segmented for children living at home, respondents reported that they actively compromised on the distance from their jobs more than any other group (18 percent with kids at home, compared to 13 percent of all buyers and 10 percent with no kids at home).
Will An Early Spring Deliver Increased Home Sales?
This year marks the 130th anniversary of Groundhog Day, and this morning Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow at the annual celebration. This means that an early spring is predicted this year. Looking back at existing-home sales in 2015, sales in March showed the first significant increase month-to-month. Starting in March of 2015 existing-home sales stayed above 5,000,000 through the end of October. With an early spring to come this year can we expect this home sales trend to continue?
Note: These headline figures are seasonally adjusted figures.
Find out more about Groundhog Day and existing-home sales.
Raw Count of Home Sales (December 2015)
- Existing-home sales increased 14.7 percent in December from one month prior while new home sales rose 10.8 percent. These headline figures are seasonally adjusted figures and are reported in the news. However, for everyday practitioners, simple raw counts of home sales are often more meaningful than the seasonally adjusted figures. The raw count determines income and helps better assess how busy the market has been.
- Specifically, 438,000 existing-homes were sold in December while new home sales totaled 38,000. These raw counts represent a 25 percent gain for existing-home sales from one month prior while new home sales increased 12 percent. What was the trend in the recent years? Sales from November to December increased by 7 percent on average in the prior three years for existing-homes and 3 percent for new homes. So this year, both existing and new home sales outperformed compared to their recent norm.
- Annual figures show that existing-home sales increased 6.5 percent in 2015 from a year ago while new home sales dropped 14 percent. In raw counts, 5,256,000 existing-homes and 499,000 new homes were sold in 2015.
- Why are seasonally adjusted figures reported in the news? To assess the overall trending direction of the economy, nearly all economic data – from GDP and employment to consumer price inflation and industrial production – are seasonally adjusted to account for regular events we can anticipate have an effect on data around the same time each year. For example, if December raw retail sales rise by, say, 20 percent, we should not celebrate this higher figure if it is generally the case that December retail sales rise by 35 percent because of holiday gift buying activity. Similarly, we should not say that the labor market is crashing when the raw count on employment declines in September just as the summer vacation season ends. That is why economic figures are seasonally adjusted with special algorithms to account for the normal seasonal swings in figures and whether there were more business days (Monday to Friday) during the month. When seasonally adjusted data say an increase, then this is implying a truly strengthening condition.
- What to expect about home sales in the upcoming months in terms of raw counts? Independent of headline seasonally adjusted figures, expect slower activity in January for existing-home sales. For example, in the past 3 years, January sales typically dropped by 22 to 32 percent from December. However, activity gets better in February and existing-home sales typically increased by 4 to 5 percent from January. For the new home sales market, the raw sales activity in January tends to be better than that occurring in December, and activity gets even better in February. For example, in the past 3 years, January sales rose by 6 to 14 percent from December while February sales rose by 6 to 15 percent from January.
Sales for Investment Purposes: 15 Percent of Residential Sales in December 2015
Approximately 15 percent of REALTORS® reported that their last sale was for investment purposes (16 percent in November 2015; 17 percent in December 2014), according to the December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
Nationally, sales for investment purposes comprised 14 percent of residential sales in calendar year 2015. Purchases for investment purposes made up a larger portion of sales in Florida (22 percent), South Carolina (19 percent), California (18 percent), and Nevada (17 percent).
Purchases for investment purposes have declined since 2012 as rising home values led to fewer sales of distressed properties. At their peak in 2012–2013, investment sales were approximately 20 percent of residential sales.
Latest GDP (4th Quarter 2015)
- Economic growth was feeble in the final quarter of 2015, rising only 0.7 percent. One bright spot, however, was the housing sector, which through new home construction and rising home sales drove housing investment to rise by 8.2 percent. It will be the housing sector growth that will keep the U.S. economy to avoid recession and growing, albeit, sluggishly in 2016.
- Breakouts by specific sectors are as follow:
- Consumer spending grew by 2 percent
- Business spending did not grow
- Residential investment grew by 8 percent
- Government spending rose by 1 percent
- Exports fell by 2 percent
- Imports rose by 1 percent
- Business inventory grew, reflecting more production than sold items
- The combined total GDP grew by 0.7 percent.
- For the year as a whole in 2015, GDP expanded by 2.4 percent. This would mark the 10th consecutive year of subpar economic expansion of being less than the historical normal growth rate of 3 percent. A direct financial consequence of multiple years of slow economic growth versus what the economy would be had the economy only been normal (rising 3 percent a year), is a $1.7 trillion shortfall in national income. With 320 million people living in the country, it translates into roughly a $5,000 per person per year shortfall. The resulting economic anxiety can fuel populist demand for outside-of-establishment political candidates to get traction and votes.
- Aside from the slow 2015 GDP growth, the economy woke up on the wrong side of bed in 2016. GDP growth is expected to be even slower, rising only 1.0 to 1.5 percent in 2016. Fortunately, it is the growth in new home construction and the resulting income generations that will keep the U.S. from avoiding a recession. Slow growth is still a growth and will lead to about 1.5 million net new job additions this year.
- As an aside, there are some activities that we consume for free that are not counted in GDP. Technology has permitted us to enjoy many free internet contents and YouTube videos. These free activities do not generate income and hence are not part of GDP accounting. Nonetheless, we can take some consolation that few additional enjoyments are added to life despite slow economic expansion.
Hidden Demographics of First-Time Home Buyers
For the third year in a row, the percent of first-time home buyers in the pool of all home buyers has decreased to a historical low number, according to The National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Report released in November 2015. In 2012, the percent of first-time home buyers was 39 percent of all buyers and in 2015 it was down again to just 32 percent. In the western region of the United States, it was as low as 26 percent and highest in the Northeast region at 46 percent.
Diving into the demographics of first-time home buyers, we see that over time the median age has held steady at 31 years for five years in a row since 2011. Millennials aged 25-34 years have comprised the largest share of first-time home buyers at roughly 50-60 percent in the last decade. In 2015, Millennials accounted for 58 percent of first-time home buyers compared to 50 percent ten years earlier in 2005. By way of comparison, repeat buyers were almost spread evenly around 20 percent in most age groups except Millennials and those over 75 years old last year (see table below for comparison).
What's more interesting is the fact that the percent of first-time home buyers varies largely across the country. In the Mountain region of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, first-time home buyers were only 21 percent of the total number of buyers in 2015, the lowest of any other region. They were also a low 25 percent in the East South Central. First-time home buyers made up 43 percent in the Middle Atlantic in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey; and 42 percent in New England.
Buyer demographics also saw huge differences between household compositions for first-time buyers. Unmarried couples made up the largest first-time home buyers at 57 percent compared to married couples who accounted for only 27 percent. Both single males and single females accounted for 39 percent of first-time home buyers as well, well above the 31 percent of all buyers.
*In NAR's annual survey, the questionnaire asks respondents "Was this your first home purchase?" First-time home buyers are defined solely by answering yes to this question.
Applications for Purchase Mortgages
- Applications for purchase mortgages rose 4.6 percent for the week ending January 22nd after a 1.6 percent decline in the prior week. Despite recent volatility, the 4-week moving average remains 21.3 percent stronger than the same time last year.
- Applications to purchase homes swung dramatically in wake of the implementation of TRID, but have since gained traction. More recent end-of-year volatility has also given way to steady growth relative to last year.
- The 4-week moving average, a means of smoothing this weekly volatility, sat at 21.3 percent stronger than a year earlier. While this was a decline from the 25.7 percent year-over-year gain from a week earlier, the measure is robust relative to last year's late January strength.
- The gains were concentrated in the conventional sector which jumped 5.5% compared to a 2.7% gain in the conventional space.
- The average contract rate on a 30-year fixed slipped 4 basis points higher to 4.02 percent. Rates have fallen steadily from 4.20 percent just four weeks ago, but are 19 basis points higher the 3.83 percent average this time last year. Despite the increase rates remain historically low and FHA's fees are much lower aiding affordability.
- This week's improvement is likely to concede ground next week due to snow-related delays in the South, Mid-Atlantic, and southern New England regions. However, purchase applications should pick up thereafter.
- Buyer sentiment suggests sustained interest and a drop in actual doors opened isn't necessarily contradictory. Rather, this pattern likely reflects the sharp drop in available inventory in December. Price growth and withering negative equity will help to generate nascent trade up activity, but additional inventory is needed to maintain turnover and to arrest strong price growth.
Latest New Home Sales (December 2015)
- Home sales of newly constructed homes rose solidly in December. The latest tally is the second highest monthly sales pace in nearly eight years. The annual total is the best in nearly a decade. The gain also affirms the continuing housing recovery and one key reason as to why the U.S. economy will avoid recession in 2016.
- Specifically, new home sales rose 10.8 percent from the prior month after accounting for seasonal adjustments. Moreover, the sales were higher by 9.9 percent from one year ago. The sales pace of 544,000 is the second highest monthly tally since 2008. Despite the seemingly impressive figures, it is also worth noting that new homes of 800,000 to 900,000 had been the norm before the housing market bubble and crash. Therefore, there is still a plenty of room to grow.
- The median price of newly constructed homes was $288,900. This is lower than a year ago, but reflects not depreciation in home price but rather homebuilders' focus in recent months on the starter home market. The price for the year as whole set a new record of $293,600 in 2015, a gain of 3.8 percent from one year ago.
- The price of existing home has been rising faster in recent months, but the gap between new home price and existing home price still remains wider than normal. Since homebuilders have to account for the cost of labor, materials, lot purchase, and some profits there is not much room for the newly constructed home price to fall. This means, existing home prices need to rise at a faster rate for the foreseeable future to narrow the price gap back to historical normal.
- Homebuilders are finding buyers fast – about 3 months. Yet, the puzzle remains as to why the homebuilders cannot quickly ramp up production. The accessibility of construction loans from community banks continues to be a struggle because of many new financial regulations. Also, even for those who are able to get the loan, finding qualified construction workers have been very difficult despite the high wages. This trend begs the question as to why there are so many people of working age not in the labor force when the construction industry needs them.
Case Shiller Housing Price Index
First-time Buyers: 32 Percent of Residential Sales in December 2015
The share of first-time home buyers increased slightly to 32 percent of residential sales in December 2015 (30 percent in November 2015; 29 percent in December 2014), according to the December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey.
Nationally, sales to first-time home buyers were 31 percent of residential sales in calendar year 2015, essentially unchanged since 2012, the breakout year of the housing market recovery. First-time buyers made up a larger share of the residential market in New York (49 percent), Pennsylvania (41 percent), Illinois (40 percent), New Jersey (40 percent), Massachusetts (38 percent), and Georgia (37 percent). Compared to 2012, first-time homebuyers accounted for a smaller share of the market in California (32 percent) and Washington (31 percent) in 2015, likely on account of the steep price increases since 2012 as well as the preference to rent among young workers who tend to be more professionally mobile early in their careers.
Sustained job creation and the low interest rate environment are sustaining housing demand, but lack of supply, decreased affordability, and difficulty in qualifying for a mortgage are keeping many first-time homebuyers off the market.[1]
[1] Federal Reserve Board, Survey of Households and Economic Decision-making, October 2014. Among renter respondents, 50 percent reported they do not have the downpayment to purchase a home, and 28 percent reported they cannot qualify for a mortgage. See http://www.federalreserve.gov/econresdata/2014-report-economic-well-being-us-households-201505.pdf
Highlights of December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey
Market conditions vary across local markets and states, but the REALTORS® confidence and traffic indices indicate generally unchanged market activity in December 2015 compared to November 2015. Compared to December 2014, market activity slightly improved, according to the December 2015 REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey Report.
Sustained job creation and the low interest rate environment appear to be sustaining housing demand, even as the lack of inventory and tight underwriting standards are constraining market activity. However, in oil-producing states, homebuying demand appears to be easing. The TILA/RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) regulations, commonly known as "Know Before You Owe," which came into effect on October 3, 2015, appear to have lengthened the closing period: about 53 percent of respondents reported longer closing times compared to a year ago, up from 37 percent in the October 2015 survey. It typically took 40 days to close a sale, up from 36 days in July 2015 when NAR started collecting this information in the survey.
The share of first-time home buyers rose slightly to 32 percent of sales. Purchases for investment purposes accounted for 15 percent of sales, while distressed properties made up eight percent of sales. Cash sales accounted for 24 percent of sales. Properties were typically on the market 58 days nationally compared to 66 days a year ago, an indication that supply remains tight relative to demand.
Tight inventories, decreased affordability, and more stringent credit standards continued to be reported as key issues affecting sales, especially to first-time homebuyers. The collapse in oil prices is also a concern among REALTORS® in oil-producing states. Still, respondents were broadly "strongly" confident about the overall outlook for the next six months, especially in the single-family homes market, with the confidence index registering at 72 (50 indicates a "moderate" outlook). Local conditions differ, but respondents typically expected home prices to increase 3.3 percent.


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Cutest Dollhouse and TutorialJacinda
I immediately added this fabric dollhouse to my list of things to sew when I first saw it. It opens up so all the dolls can fit nicely inside while she totes it around. Use the same tutorial to also make a fabric barn. Keep reading to find out more…
Check out the full tutorial on UK Lass in US.
Jacinda Boneau is a fabric designer and founding co-editor at Prudent Baby, the premier DIY destination for crafty moms seeking ways to make their lives even more stylish and beautiful.
Article Posted 4 years Ago

subset: commoncrawl


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There are seven area soccer teams still in the playoff and six of them play today.
The Randall girls (16-4-1) are scheduled to take on Cleburne (12-7-1) at 6 p.m. in San Angelo. The Pampa girls (12-7) are scheduled to play San Angelo Lakeview (12-6) at Coronado's field in Lubbock at 4 p.m.
The Canyon girls (12-10) are scheduled to play Crowley (16-3) at 3 p.m. at C.J. Kelly Soccer Complex in Midland. The Amarillo High girls (12-5) are scheduled to play Abilene High (15-7) at 4 p.m. at Midland Lee's field in Midland.
The Randall boys (12-4) are scheduled to play Granbury (10-10-1) at 5:30 p.m. at Midwestern State in Wichita Falls. The Tascosa boys (7-12) are scheduled to take on San Angelo Central (15-4) at 1 p.m. at Midland Lee's field in Midland.
The Randall girls, fresh off a first-round bye, will find out if the shift from an offense-heavy attack last year to a more balanced style of play this year will pay off in the playoffs like it did during their 9-1 district slate.
Athletic Ashley Mosely and speedy Stephanie Renteria lead the offensive charge for the Lady Raiders. Sophomore defender Randi Ruff, who shined in the playoffs last year, is back from a knee injury and should help the Randall defense protect keeper Deana Beauregard. Renteria was named the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Athlete for the month a February.
Cleburne will counter with a strong midfield attack led by Joy Meggars, Stacey Lassiter and sweeper Robin Shelly.
"I think what we have ahead of us is going to be a complete challenge," head coach Joy Ellis said. "We're going to have to go out and play our game with the ability we have and play smart."
The Pampa girls have hit their stride just in time for the playoffs, ripping El Paso Ysletta 5-1 in the bi-district round.
While Pampa coach L.J. Patulea says she's going into the match blind, Lakeview coach O.J. Garcia got a chance to scout Pampa in their win over Ysletta. But Patulea said she thinks her girls can handle anything Lakeview throws at them.
"The kids are really focused and ready to go," she said.
Misti Northcutt leads the Pampa attack, while keeper Leslie McWilliams protects the net for the Lady Harvesters.
The Canyon girls (12-10) are coming off a 1-0 win over El Paso Canutillo and hope to ride that momentum against Crowley - one of the state's elite programs. Canyon coach Tammy Stephenson said she doesn't know exactly what Crowley brings to the table but based on her knowledge of club soccer in the Metroplex she has a pretty good idea.
"I think their probably very skilled and technically correct," Stephenson said."We've got to be perfect and take advantage of their mistakes."
Keeper Kendl McNatt will be a big key for Canyon because Crowley will create its share of shots. Stephenson said McNatt put together a strong practice Monday and knows she'll have to play at a high level to give the Lady Eagles a chance to win.
The Amarillo High girls take on a talented Abilene High team. Lady Sandies head coach Stacy McPherson got a chance to watch Abilene High Friday and thinks her team matches up well with the Eagles. But McPherson also knows that Abilene High has to be talented to be where they are.
"Obviously, they had to do something good
The Lady Sandies will need big performances from Lindsey Sheffield, Natalie Longhofer, Lindsey Gloe and Crystal Simpson - all players that have produced down the stretch.
The Randall boys catch a strong program in Granbury that record-wise (10-10) had an off year. But with Randall starting the year 2-4 before reeling off 10 straight wins, the players know records can be deceiving.
A healthy Chris Sowers should help keep pressure off the excellent goalkeeping duo of Chad Green and Corey Holliman, who platoon at the position. The Randall defense has been stingy all season, giving the team the chance to pull out 1-0 wins even when the offense isn't clicking.
The Tascosa boys are coming off an emotional playoff-clinching win over previously undefeated Amarillo High, but head coach Eddie Babcock knows its going to take more than momentum to upset San Angelo Central.
"They've got a very possessive midfield," Babcock said. "Their defense is very tight. But if we use our speed to our advantage, I think we can break their defense and set up some chances to score.
During the year, Babcock has relied heavily on scoring threat Jonathan Brack and defender Bradley Herbert. Both will have to make an impact if Tascosa's thinking upset.
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G2D Games
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Devil is trying to hurt the cupid heart flying in the sky. It's your duty to save it. Move away to the safest clouds place without being hurt by the arrows.
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Last week Hilke Brockmann, German professor in sociology, started a discussion about a 'mothers quota'. Regarding to the 45 year old mother of two a quota for mothers in politics and business would lead to a more family-friendly labor organization ... read more
Tag: quota
Role model: Norway
What separates Norway from other European countries? ... read more
No need for a quota
The latest survey of Rochus Mummert Management Search shows no need for quotas. ... read more
DLDwomen 2012 – A unique event
On July 11 and 12 the third DLDwomen took place in Munich. ... read more
EU Commission Will Enforce Women's Quota at EU Level
EU Commissioner Viviane Reding is about to impose a women's quota at European Level. ... read more
The effective promotion of women
"How can we promote women?" This question has become indispensable on the agenda of major global corporations. To answer the question, the manager magazine interviewed two of Henkel's female top manager: Kathrin Menges and Marie-Eve Schröder. ... read more
Including the full spectrum of diversity
Better opportunities for disabled Henkel employees in Brazil. In 2011 the Business Executive Committee Mercosur unanimously approved an investment to adapt the three Henkel plants in Brazil (Jundiaí, Itapevi and Diadema) for the proper access of people with any kind ... read more
Women missing in Davos
Each year, the global elite consisting of prime ministers, bankers, business tycoons and other movers are coming together at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of ... read more


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In need of a logo for my website/app
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I am currently developing a website and smartphone application where you can see what is the hotspot for the night in your area. Whether your getting a bite to eat or you are looking to go to a club, my website/app will let you know where the place to be is. The name of the company is called The Night LifeLine. I want the logo to incorporate the name and possible a catchy image like a drink or something along those lines.
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Five Best: John Matteson
Dorothea Lange
By Linda Gordon (2009)
Though it's possible that you do not know the name Dorothea Lange, you probably know her photographs: the raw, intense gaze of a migrant worker, a mother with two children leaning on her, in 1930s California; the grim man in a San Francisco bread line, as weather-beaten as his slouch hat and worn-out coat. Lange could photograph suffering so well because she had known it; she survived childhood polio. Linda Gordon's biography would be essential reading if only for its harrowing description of Lange's disease, or for its finely wrought exegesis on the iconic migrant-mother image: "The picture could even be said to stand for the nation, much as Marianne stands for France—Migrant Mother is the enduring, ultimately invincible nation enduring a terrible collective tragedy." But the book is sharply crafted throughout as it tells the story of a woman who made a name for herself in an era when photography was still a largely male preserve. "Lange's photographs will always evoke the best in American democracy," Gordon writes. "Dorothea Lange" evokes the best in chronicles of artists' lives and work.
Kate Remembered
By A. Scott Berg (2003)
Writers who inject themselves into biographical accounts do so at their peril. Occasionally, though, the biographer who assigns himself a walk-on part succeeds, enhancing instead of distracting. Few have turned the trick with greater panache than Scott Berg in his book on Katharine Hepburn. Berg and the actress became friends during the course of his writing, and we are thus treated to scenes of Hepburn, late in life, bantering with Berg and showing all the delicious, wry humor that screenwriters tapped into as Hepburn revolutionized what it meant to be a female Hollywood star. When she meets the writer, she quizzes him. Tennis? No, but he does go to the gym, which she dismisses as a "boah." Smoke? No. Hepburn admits that she doesn't either: "I used to. Gave it up. Disgusting habit. Well, I hope you drink." Despite his subject's imperious reputation, Berg never backs down, even when she calls him an "idiot" during a madly competitive game of Parcheesi.
Personal History
By Katharine Graham (1997)
Autobiographies of the powerful can make disappointing reading. They're frequently dull, defensive works—evasive, self-serving and, all too often, badly written, whether penned by the principal or a hired hand. Katharine Graham's "Personal History" is a luminous exception. As the publisher of the Washington Post in the 1960s and '70s, Graham, who died in 2001 at age 84, was arguably the most influential American woman of her time. Yet she was plagued by self-doubt and quick to condemn herself for her supposed lack of energy and decisiveness. She took over the newspaper only with great reluctance, after the devastating suicide of her husband, Philip, in 1963. "Left alone, no matter at what age or under what circumstances," Graham writes, "you have to remake your life." The trick, she says, is just "to put one foot in front of the other, shut [your] eyes, and step off the edge." To her own amazement, she lands on her feet.
First Lady of Letters
By Sheila L. Skemp (2009)
Born the same year as James Madison, Judith Sargent Murray shared her great contemporary's fascination with the laws of nature and the rights of human beings. But Murray undertook her inquiries with a different objective in mind. She began with a seemingly simple question: Was it true that "one half of the human species is endowed with unquestionable superiority over the other?" When she posed this question in 1779, most of her fellow Americans would have answered yes. Murray, however, spent decades arguing that women were the intellectual equals of men. Sheila L. Skemp's "First Lady of Letters" is an admirable history of this all but forgotten Federalist-era women's rights advocate, who argued powerfully that girls could shine as brightly as boys if only they were given the benefits of a classical education and parents who encouraged them to "reverence themselves."
A Chainless Soul
By Katherine Frank (1990)
At about age 21, Emily Brontë was bitten by a dog that appeared to be rabid. Without a word to anyone, she calmly went indoors, picked up a red-hot iron and cauterized the wound herself. Brave, brilliant and unsettlingly wild, the author of "Wuthering Heights" left much less of a personal record than her sister Charlotte, but the fragmentary evidence shows that Emily Brontë was very much what she said she hoped to be: "Through life and death, a chainless soul / With courage to endure." I don't quite buy the central premise of Katherine Frank's biography: that Brontë suffered from anorexia nervosa. This too-eager diagnosis, though, is redeemed by the book's otherwise discerning treatment of Brontë's life and strivings, from the horror of her early education to the savage triumph of "Wuthering Heights," published only a year before Brontë's death from tuberculosis at 30. Almost at odds with its own thesis, "A Chainless Soul" conveys Brontë's tremendous appetite for life, a passion that found its highest expression in the tortured romance of Heathcliff and Catherine.


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Give the perfect gift this holiday—a gift certificate from Downtown Bloomington! Accepted at over 80 downtown merchants, there's something fun and unique for everyone. Available in $10, $15, $20, $25 and $50 denominations, the gift certificate comes with a list of participating members—see below for listing.
Purchase a Gift Certificate
Cash or check. If paying online,credit card.
Visit Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Monday–Friday 8:30am–5:00pm at 302 S. College Avenue [the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center] to purchase gift certificates in person. Can't make it in person? Send us an e-mail or call us at 812–336–3681 to place your order.
Choose your denomination:
Gift Certificates expire within 90 days from the date of purchase.
Downtown Gift Certificates are valid for 90 days from the date of purchase. Purchase date is listed at the top right corner of the certificate. There is no limit on the number of Downtown Gift Certificates purchased. Use the BUY ONLINE link above to purchase online and your CERTIFICATES WILL BE MAILED to you, or use one of the options described to BUY IN PERSON. If your downtown business wishes to participate, contact us by e-mail or by calling 812-336-3681.


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PORTLAND, Ore. - It's been hard for almost any visiting team to get a good result at the Portland Timbers' cozy Jeld-Wen Field in this Major League Soccer season.
Friday night, the Union were tasked with taking points from the match without two of their most important players. Danny Califf sat out because of a cold and Jordan Harvey was suspended.
For most of the game, the Union's makeshift backline held firm. But it finally was beaten in the 72d minute on a set-piece goal by Mamadou Danso, and eventually succumbed to a 1-0 loss in front of 18,627 raucous fans.


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Welcome To Screamscape!
If you're a theme park lover or enjoy the best thrill rides the world has to offer, you've found the right place.
From new ride announcements, construction reports and the latest rumors: Screamscape always has something new to report.
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DUBAI Developments & AttractionsDubai, U.A.E.
New Theme Parks, Attractions and Resorts - (5/31/16) A reader has sent in a new picture from Dubai showing off the progress of the Dubai Eye giant wheel (210 meters tall) taking place as the large central spoke piece of the wheel has now been lifted into place.
Copyright © 1996 - 2016 by Lance Hart & Screamscape.com. All rights reserved.


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Home > Gaming > Nintendo Gaming > Nintendo 3DS/DS > Nintendo 3DS/DS Games
Maximum Games Maximum Games American Mensa Academy (3DS)
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Get ready to stretch your brain cells as you put yourself through more than 100 unique, fun and challenging puzzles, mini games and more designed to stretch and train your brain in key areas including logic, language, visual and more.
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Micro Center Return Policy:
We guarantee your satisfaction on every product we sell with a full refund — and you won't even need a receipt.* We want you to be satisfied with your Micro Center purchase. However, if you need help or need to return an item, we're here for you!
If an item you have purchased from us is not working as expected, please visit one of our in-store Knowledge Experts for free help, where they can solve your problem or even exchange the item for a product that better suits your needs.
If you need to return an item, simply bring it back to any Micro Center store for a full refund or exchange.
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Desktop / notebook computers, tablets, processors, motherboards, digital cameras, camcorders and projectors, 3D printers, 3D scanners, and CD/DVD duplicators may be returned within 15 days of purchase. All other products may be returned within 30 days of purchase. Merchandise must be in new condition, with original carton / UPC, and all packaging / accessories / materials. If you need to return software, a game or a movie, remember that you may not retain any copies — it's not legal, and it's not nice.
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Wireless phones and devices may be returned within 14 days of purchase. When returning a wireless phone or device with a plan, you are responsible for ensuring that your service is cancelled with the carrier. If you don't cancel your service, you may incur additional charges from your carrier. All carrier charges are your responsibility.
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The Augusta hospital announced Monday that it's taking a stricter stance on its policy banning carolers from singing religious Christmas music in public patient areas.
An office at Harrison & Harrison Inc., 102 Newton Bridge Road, was ransacked between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 6:15 a.m. Monday. A revolver, video camera and a case containing various equipment, altogether valued at $2,700, were stolen, Athens-Clarke County police said.
Entry to the building was gained by breaking a back door lock, according to police.
Van Everick Goss, 36, of Magnolia Terrace, was arrested early Sunday morning after he was found laying on the ground at a westside intersection, Athens-Clarke County police said.
When responding to a 4:51 a.m. report of a man staggering in the road, an officer found Goss lying on North Finley Street, where motorists turning from Prince Avenue would not be able to see him and possibly run him over, police said.
Laura Whitaker often reflects on her time with Martha Wylie during the holiday season. This time of year evokes memories of the mentor she lost to pancreatic cancer nine years ago.
MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — A metro Atlanta school board has approved of changing the criteria it uses to determine teacher salaries.
Marietta City Schools spokesman Thomas Algarin told the Marietta Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/1ig81vo) that the district's more than 600 teachers will now be paid on a scale factoring their years of experience and level of educational attainment.
An Athens woman was arrested on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges Sunday night after she was caught shoplifting at an eastside store and tried to swallow some of the many pills officers found in her purse, according to an Athens-Clarke County police report released on Tuesday.
A manager of Dollar Tree on Lexington Road called 911 at about 10:30 p.m. to report a shoplifting in progress, police said.
The manager told police about a customer who had been in the store for about 90 minutes and that her purse was "becoming significantly larger as time went by."
ATLANTA (AP) — Federal wildlife officials are offering free admission at national wildlife refuges on several holidays next year.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said Monday that free admission is being offered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Presidents' Day weekend; National Public Lands Day; Oct. 12 — the first day of National Wildlife Refuge Week; and on Veterans Day.
There are eight national wildlife refuges in the state of Georgia. The areas are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — a branch of the Department of the Interior.
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's agriculture commissioner is warning that proposed federal food safety rules could be cumbersome and expensive for farmers.
Gary Black, a Republican, asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adjust its plans for enforcing a law that overhauled the country's food safety system. FDA officials agreed to review the proposals last week after receiving similar requests from others.
The angels will not be heard on high, nor will the little Lord Jesus sleep in heavenly peace at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center.
The Augusta hospital announced Monday that it's taking a stricter stance on its policy banning carolers from singing religious Christmas music in public patient areas.
ATLANTA (AP) — It's been a tough couple of years for Monster.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nearly six decades after it first aired, an "I Love Lucy" Christmas special was last week's most-watched holiday program, according to ratings released Tuesday.
It's beginning to look a lot like ... the day after Christmas?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton is seeking charitable donations with a one-week special offer. She says her husband and former president Bill Clinton will personally match any donation made to the Clinton Foundation through Dec. 31.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday that gay marriages can continue in Utah, denying a request from the state to halt same-sex weddings until the appeals process plays out.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Maybe it was getting his first video game, Cosmic Avenger, for Christmas at age 12, and then having to wait an entire year for the hard-to-land Colecovision console to play it on that made Michael Thomasson so determined to get his hands on every video game and system he could find.
Now, 31 years and roughly 11,000 games later, Thomasson is the newly crowned world record holder for having the largest collection of video games. He is featured in a two-page spread in the just-released "Guinness World Records 2014 Gamer's Edition."
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Salvation Army bell-ringers in Biloxi collected two golden rings. The diamond engagement and wedding rings were wrapped in a two-page letter asking that they go to a Christian couple who cannot afford a diamond and are making a lifetime commitment.
BOGART - Kawon Bryant started his standout junior season under the watchful eye of his mother. Years ago, she'd agreed to let Bryant's youth football coach adopt him and now she was on hand to watch Bryant begin his pivotal junior year.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco police say 30 people were arrested during the 49ers' final regular season game at Candlestick Park.
Police did not say what the arrests were for at Monday night's game, when the 49ers clinched a playoff spot after beating the Atlanta Falcons 34-24. The San Francisco Chronicle reported (http://bit.ly/1cvjPYp) that at least some of the people were arrested on suspicion of stealing seats from the stadium.
In addition to the arrests, police said 81 people were ejected and seven people were cited.
SAN FRANCISCO — On a night they cheered "The Catch" and all the San Francisco greats of old, the current 49ers looked ready to move that success right into the future at a flashy new stadium.
RALEIGH, N.C.— A judge says the annual New Year's Eve possum drop can go on as planned in a North Carolina town.
CHICAGO — Anticipating heavy traffic on the government's health care website, the Obama administration extended Monday's deadline for signing up for insurance by a day, giving Americans in 36 states more time to select a plan.
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — A north Georgia trucking company is giving away more than $360,000 in bonuses to its employees this holiday season.
HONOLULU — He won't use it, and he didn't actually sign up for it himself, but President Barack Obama has enrolled for health coverage through the new insurance exchanges.
ALBANY, Ga. — Authorities in south Georgia say they're searching for the suspects who fatally shot a man weeks before he was scheduled to get married.
ATLANTA — Federal wildlife officials are offering free admission at national wildlife refuges on several holidays next year.
ATLANTA — Firefighters were battling a blaze early on Christmas Eve at a restaurant in Atlanta's midtown area.
Athens, GA • Athens Banner-Herald ©2016. All Rights Reserved.


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Starting Saturday at the Garfield County Fairgrounds, antique tractors, engines and farming equipment are on display. Folks from around the Oregon, Washington and Idaho area are also coming to the fairgrounds to showcase old-time horse and mule farming operations, to show us how farmers did it before John Deere made it automatic.
"In the past we've had as much as 80 head of horses and mules here doing the actual old time farming all the way from plowing through seeding," said WA. Agriculture Museum Secretary, David Ruark.
Some of the items on display date back to the late 1800's. If you'd like to attend the Spring Farming Fair you can check it out in Pomeroy this weekend. It's free to get in and starts at 9:00 a.m. on the Garfield County Fairgrounds.


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News & Local Info
Four people involved in the supply of a lethal concoction of drugs
to two men who died in County Cork after ingesting them
have been given...
Cork Media Enterprises t/a Cork's 96FM
Registered Address: Broadcasting House, Wellington Road, Cork. VAT Number: IE 4883442V. Company Registration Number: 137313
Directors: D. Buckley (Chair), R. McManamy, N.McKeown (UK), K. McGeary, S. Barry.


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This information enables us to identify the rooms that will best accommodate your party and to prepare for your arrival.
See room terms and details for information about rollaway and/or extra person charges.
Please note that at most Starwood hotels, guests 17 and under are considered children. All other guests are considered adults. You will be told of any hotel-specific differences in this policy on the following page.
Reclining on white sandy beach of Le Morne Peninsula lying in the shadow of the iconic mountain, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is one of the finest resorts of the island, located moments away from the world famous kite surfing site and the One Eye Wave. Bespoke luxury is the defining feature of this glorious new resort. With its graceful design, sumptuous facilities and incomparable personal care, The St. Regis Mauritius Resort is a true local retreat with global allure.
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This project received 1 bids from talented freelancers with an average bid price of $480 USD.Get free quotes for a project like this
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Project Budget$250 - $750 USD
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Project Description
Looking for someone to make me a flagger for craigslist that automatically scrapes for good working proxies, so that I would never have to worry about proxies. I would like to be able to paste the urls of the ads I want to be removed and have the program remove any ad within minutes. I specifically just need this to work in one city. I would like the program to work on both my mac and my pc. I would like a working demo that I can try out, prior to paying for the actual program. Please email if interested.
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AUGUSTA - Other than major championships, there aren't many weeks in golf when turning on the television and tuning in is an absolute must.
This is one of those weeks.
Tiger Woods returns to action for the first time since his Masters victory, joining eight more of his top 12 friends in the instant classic Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C.
As if that wasn't enough, Annika Sorenstam returns to action for the first time since her record-tying fifth consecutive victory, joining a field everyone hopes will succumb to her again at the Michelob Ultra Open in Kingsmill, Va.
Anyone who really believes that the month of May absolutely has to have The Players Championship to make it interesting can go sit with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and sulk.
Woods and Sorenstam are the most dominant figures in their field since Jack Nicklaus and Nancy Lopez. Their respective quests to outdo the standards set by those legends picks up a huge head of steam this week.
Both of them are coming directly off victories in the first majors of the season. Both of them engage genuine fantasies of a Grand Slam run. One of them is out to prove that marriage didn't dull his drive; the other is proving that divorce didn't diminish her passion.
That they both are playing in 3-year-old events on the highest quality venues that have already risen to the top of the crop on each tour only whets the appetite.
Quail Hollow Club and Kingsmill Resort are longtime golf hot spots with renovated appeal perfectly on display.
Defending champion Joey Sindelar calls the Wachovia at Quail Hollow one of the "top-five environments" in golf.
"It's become the tournament guys want to come to," he said.
That's proven in the fact that Woods has added the tournament to his air-tight rotation. The only marquee player not to show up yet is Ernie Els, and that will change next year when his contractual obligations to play elsewhere end.
"I've got to get there, mate," Els said as he noshed on lunch in the clubhouse at Augusta National. "Everybody tells me how great it is."
The often finicky touring pros have been effusive in their praise of the young event that club owner and second-generation Augusta National member Johnny Harris has fashioned into the Masters of the minors.
"It's one of the best run tournaments I've ever seen and the golf course is incredible," said 2004 Masters champion Phil Mickelson.
"The guys that aren't playing here, they're missing something," said 2003 Wachovia winner David Toms.
"You kind of feel the tournament has been here 70, 80 years already," said Masters runner-up Chris DiMarco.
Fans love it, too. The event has sold out its 35,000 daily tickets in advance each of the three years. The amenities are first rate, right down to the bleachers that come directly from the Masters and this year will be outfitted with awnings.
As another added luxury, if the event ends at its scheduled 6 p.m. sign-off the fans are invited to stick around and watch the Kentucky Derby on the largest on-course video screen in golf.
For the savvy channel changers, Sorenstam will provide a historic alternative near Colonial Williamsburg.
Sorenstam is chasing history this week in relative anonymity. No woman golfer has ever won six consecutive tournaments she started. Lopez set the standard of five straight in a six-week span of her rookie season in 1978. The feat got her a place on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Sorenstam has won five straight in three different countries and two different seasons dating back to last November. That she's spread it out from Japan to Virginia shouldn't diminish the accomplishment.
Like Tiger, Annika is that rare player considered capable of winning every single time she tees it up. That she'll be teeing up this week on a course that for so long hosted the men of the PGA Tour only enhances the historic chase.
And doubles the pleasure on a great week in golf.
Savannah Morning News © 2016. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us | Privacy Policy


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Excellent and worked on my Vizio
on 6/20/2007
I needed an adapter plate for my Vizio 32 inch LCD to connect it to a Peerless articulating arm mount that I also purchased from Buy.com. The entire installation was very painless and everything went smoothly.
Was this review helpful to you?YESNO


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Hadaba Beach, Sharm El Sheikh
1 Reviews
1 Reviews
This is the beach near to the hotel, i read a few coments before going that it was along walk from the hotel (Some people complain about anything!!). But take my word its only about 10 minutes and they run a free bus their and back approx 5/6 times a day.
The corals here are amazing, and if your not very confident in the water like myself you can hire a life jacket for £2.00 at the beach or the hotel shop sell them for about £9.00.
Get an instant answer from local experts and frequent travelers
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LUM Series Ultrafine Vertical Roller Mill adopts SBM abundant experience in producing vertical grinding mill and the ...More Details
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The Raymond grinding mill was ever popular in mining, building materials, chemical engineering and metallurgy industr...More Details
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SCM granite processing plants have everything on board: feeders, crusher, screen, and power installation with simple and robust construction for high availability.
— Pine Jack, Manager
Escondida's proved and probable reserves are currently 3,900Mt, HPC cone crusher is a key equipment for the copper ore beneficiation plant to achieve the goal.
— Jame Green, Doctor


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Other projects made by HeikeK:
Offer some kudos...
Join the conversation...
Ask a question...
Add your comment...
|Here are some details about my project:
|Romantic, Classic, Traditional
What was your source for this jewelry project?
Online Photo or Website
Name of website or photo different tutorials by Perri Jackson (ShaktipajDesigns)
What materials did you use? 30x20mm (about) teardrop cab, 10mm and 7mm round beads, 10x6mm rondelle beads, copper wire and beads
Hi Heike, this is soooo beautiful and so much work and patience involved. I love everything about this piece, and labradorite I think is my favorite gemstone at the moment.
Thank you, zivastrukelj! Labradorite is one of my all-time-favorites, and this one had such a beautiful flash. But there wasn't su much patience necessary. The bezel is basically an embellished RAW stitch (right angle weave) and the coiled beadcaps are quite easy (and fast) to make. The coiled beads needed some practice, though, and they are perhaps the elements that I love the most in this piece. :D
Truly beautiful.
Gosh.. more of that Labradorite like the other project! Is it possible to share the source of where you obtain your stones? =^..^= What a beautiful design and colors! (I adore copper and labradorite!)
Thank you, Heather! Labradorite is one of my favorite stones and I buy it wherever I find them. But most of the time there are only very few really beautiful beads in a strand full of, well, not so beautiful ones :). I'm from Germany, so I try to buy from European sellers. I got the cab here: http://www.das-edelstein-paradies.de/ (all the stones I bought here are beautiful). The beads are from different sellers, for ex. http://stores.ebay.de/perlerie-bacatus and http://www.precioussparklebeads.co.uk/.


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Price of 2015 Toyota Tacoma – Whenever mid-range Japanese hits will promote, we can expect individual's considerable changes in their design then shows and might satisfy all needs of the potential users.
Their 2015 Toyota Tacoma are granted at 3 separate bed designs: reach Cab, increase Cab, twice Cab very long Bed. 1st therefore the continue any is going to be 73.5" longer, however your second one particular is going to be 13 inches shorter. Also, it is likely your your upcoming model shed a few lbs in its pounds mainly because out of using increased aluminum inside their construction. Talking regarding the outside design, your mid-shape truck can obtain much healthier aerodynamics.
Furthermore, its headlights and grille does pass through one refreshment in their form. What's most, their color palette would be enriched by just some latest colors. Within the cabin regarding the 2015 Toyota Tacoma there'll end up being the typical 2 rows to seats to take care of 5 everyone during the trip. Although, that novelties can range from the better plus a lot more many extreme tech qualities, such as the sound program with 6 speakers, Bluetooth, rearview digital camera. There will also be Entune plus navigation systems, HD radio plus many more.
As far as on motor options, some sort of 2015 Toyota Tacoma is going to be around alongside four distinct run products. The first singles are going to be the 2.5L four-cylinder that will be able to generate 170 horsepower and 170 lb-ft torque. Their next choices are going to be one 2.7L four-cylinder with all the ability to generate 190 horsepower to 200 lb-ft torque. The last two will be: the best 3.5L V6 among 220 horsepower then 260 lb-ft torque, plus four.2L V6 developing 250 horsepower and/or 280 lb-ft torque.
All of the powertrains is supposed to be combined either to 5 to six-speed transmissions, simultaneously available since handbook then automated variations. Their towing potential of this brand-latest choose up is actually calculated at nine,500 weight, whereas their gasoline consumption are rated become 24 mpg in town and also 30 mpg regarding the highway.
Price of 2015 Toyota Tacoma
The price of all 2015 Toyota Tacoma is likely to be much like the cost of their predecessor that ranges off $ nineteen.250 to $ 33.900.


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Top Definition
You Fucking Didiot! Why Would You Do Such A Stupid Thing?
Beküldő: Profe Tonta 2005. január 21.
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
a dumb idiot
I can't believe Sally fell for that line! She is such a didiot!
Beküldő: Zillionaire Z 2008. október 17.
Someone who exhibits two times the stupidity of a normal idiot
"Did you see her grade on the last test?"
"Yeah, she got a 4%, she's a didiot"
"Yeah, she got a 4%, she's a didiot"
Beküldő: Moo00oo00oo00 2009. április 15.
the crossover of being both dumb as fuck and being a complete idiot
bob-whats 10 plus 1
bob- you fucking didiot
bob- you fucking didiot
Beküldő: TextileSmartass 2014. november 15.
Some who is dumber than an idiot. Also used for a shortened version of dumber than an idiot.
Those D'idiots! Only someone dumber than an idiot would horseplay while running on the edge of a cliff!
Beküldő: chocolatejavgrl14 2012. június 21.
did the idiotic thing
the extreme of an idiot will be an didiot.
Beküldő: r1verside 2009. szeptember 27.
its a person being a dick and a idiot at the same time. cheryls are the original didiot.
erin:"Your such a didiot!"
Beküldő: hipopotamus fishy 2011. február 3.


text: Review Conceptual Example 5 before attempting this problem. Thenrefer to the drawing, in which the generator delivers 5.00 times asmuch current at very low frequencies as it does at very highfrequencies. Find theratio R2/R1 ofthe resistances. Note: The ac current and voltage are rmsvalues and power is an average value unless indicatedotherwise.


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WOODBRIDGE-Here are some memories from Giff Kucsma after my March 27 column where I asked "if any reader knows where Maurer, Engleswood or Spa Spring as referred in the material is located":
Recreation & Lifestyle
Middlesex Professor Translates Legendary Sicilian Author
by staff report • • 0 Comments
EDISON—Santi V. Buscemi, professor of English at Middlesex County College, has published a translation of Luigi Capuana's book of children's fairy tales, "C'era una volta." The book is called "Sicilian Tales," and it is published by Dante University Press.
Local Authors Present Lecture At The Perth Amboy Gallery
by staff report • • 0 Comments
PERTH AMBOY—Authors of "Then and Now: Perth Amboy," Paul W. Wang and Katherine Massopust, gave a lecture on their book at the Perth Amboy Gallery.
Remembering The Past: More Memories Of Mr. Frolich's Early Youth
by Diane Harrison • • 0 Comments
by Diane Norek Harrison ELIZABETH-Cherry Street is one of the oldest streets in Elizabeth, as it was created back in the days of colonists who built Elizabethtown, and was a means to travel to the northwest part of the area.…
Widows Or Widowers Dance
by staff report • • 0 Comments
CARTERET—Middlesex East Widows Or Widowers, Carteret Chapter, will hold an open dance on Friday, July 10, at The American Legion Hall, 1155 Roosevelt Avenue.
Singles Dance Party
by staff report • • 0 Comments
WOODBRIDGE – Steppin' Out Singles will host an upscale singles dance party at Forge Inn, 1002 Route 9 N. in Woodbridge on Friday, July 3 at 8:30 p.m.
Flea Market Vendors Sought
by staff report • • 0 Comments
WOODBRIDGE – The Barron Arts Center is seeking vendors for their annual Flea Market on Saturday, July 18.
Four Paws Pet Fair
by staff report • • 0 Comments
RAHWAY– The Rahway Center Partnership will host the Four Paws Pet Fair in downtown Rahway on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the YMCA parking lot on Irving Street.
Vendors Needed
by staff report • • 0 Comments
PERTH AMBOY – Spaces are available to sell food, arts & crafts, novelties, etc. at the 23rd annual Roberto Clemente Festival from Friday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 23. Over 30,000 people are expected to attend the festival at the…
Remembering the Past: Rahway Information Wanted & Facts About Linden Churches
by Diane Harrison • • 0 Comments
RAHWAY-I received an e-mail asking readers for some help with past information. "I have been working on my family genealogy for the last year or so and just found out that my great uncle was a driver for Haines Dairy in Rahway in 1942. His name was Edgar Baylis and I am looking for any info on the dairy, the area (he lived on Montgomery St.) him or anything related."


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Sight Support Ryedale aims to positively affect the lives of partially sighted and blind people in Ryedale by enabling them to take part in activities which sighted people may take for granted, to provide opportunities for friendship and peer support, to offer information and resources, and to represent their views.
NEW FACILITY AT OUR LOCAL CINEMAAn Audio Description service can now be enjoyed at the Palace Cinema in Malton. The facility is so far available in Screen 1, in selected seats, so do telephone the cinema to check that it's available for the film you wish to go to. 01653 698899.
|Winter 2016
Return to top
About Us
Welcome to Sight Support Ryedale
We are an independent charity offering support to anyone in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire who has a serious sight problem. We make available a network of support, activities and friendship to help counter the social, emotional and practical problems that living with sight loss can bring. We have a thriving and active membership, supported by over 30 volunteers.
The charity has been helping people with visual impairment since 1994, and now provides a wide range of support and activities, including fortnightly social groups, information and advice, excursions, an annual escorted holiday, walking group, Yoga sessions, book group, computer training, and supply or loan of aids and equipment.
We aim for high user-involvement in the running of our charity, with members and volunteers playing a vital and much-appreciated role on our management committees.
This is a unique initiative funded by the Big Lottery and is a collaborative project involving RNIB, together with five other local sight loss charities mainly throughout Yorkshire. Over the two years of the project, Optimeyes will be using innovative approaches to ensure that people living in Ryedale who are over 50 become more conscious of seeking advice on caring for their eyesight. We work closely with a range of local health and community services in a joint approach to ensure that early help, advice and support is provided to older people whose vision might be at risk.
Our service is free and confidential so if you are experiencing some sight problems, or noticed some loss of vision, please get in touch. One of our friendly and professional staff will be happy to call on you to provide help and advice, and to arrange appropriate assistance should you require it.
If your eyesight seems fine but you haven't had an eye check-up in the last 2 years (1 year if you are over 70) we strongly recommend that you see an optician so that any potential problems can be picked up at an early stage so that your eyesight continues to remain healthy.
Our users say:
- "As you lose your sight, you find that you can't do many of the things that you used to enjoy. Sight Support Ryedale has helped me back into the mainstream of life, and makes me feel that there is still life even after sight loss."
- "Losing your sight can be a lonely and depressing thing. My In-Touch group gives me a community of friends who understand."


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News Profile
Keeping the Peace
Burque's fair-trade mecca faces closure
By Sam Adams
A cooperative of more than 800 South African Zulu works full-time to create brightly colored baskets and bracelets fashioned from telephone wire. These crafts catch the eye upon entering Peacecraft, Albuquerque's only retailer that deals exclusively in fair-trade products. The items sold here provide enough income to support the Zulu co-op's members and families, says Sharon Cantrell, Peacecraft's outreach director. The trade also creates jobs for fathers, she says, in a region where many families are split apart when men have to travel across the continent to find work.
Council Watch
A Mother's Plea
By Carolyn Carlson
Tears flowed down the face of Sylvia Fuentes as she spoke to the City Council at the Monday, Nov. 15 meeting. She begged councilors to take a hard look at police training and the culture behind 2010's steady pace of officer-involved shootings. She talked about those victims who were mentally ill and not criminals firing weapons at officers.
Related Stories
Ain't I a Woman?
Transgender Day of Remembrance
By Joni Kay Rose
On a July night in 2009, Teri Benally was with some acquaintances in an Albuquerque park. She told her friends she was going home and left. That was the last time they saw her. According to news reports, Teri was found badly beaten and unconscious on Maple near Coal the next morning. She died, at the age of 42, in the hospital.
Sergio Salvador salvadorphoto.com
Photo Essay
A Dose of History
Boutique lodging is the cure for an ailing hospital
By Jessica Cassyle Carr
On Sept. 5, 1926, Albuquerque began weeklong festivities to mark the opening of the Santa Fe Hospital. Built in the Italianate architecture style, the facility was designated to treat employees of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company. In the '40s the name was changed to the AT & SF Hospital and later, in the '80s, was purchased by a group of psychiatrists who named it Memorial Hospital. This week sees another grand opening for the building at Central Avenue and I-25. It's come back to life as the Hotel Parq Central.
Odds & Ends
By Devin D. O'Leary
Dateline: Massachusetts—A former pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Haverhill has been charged with stealing $83,147 from the church—most of which was used to pay off his extensive pornography bills. According to Haverhill police reports, Rev. Keith LeBlanc had a credit card he used exclusively for online pornography. By the time he was caught, the credit card had racked up a $25,000 balance. Haverhill's Eagle Tribune reports that Comcast cable bills from the church rectory show that LeBlanc charged $4,021.14 worth of "adult" movies to the church during his tenure. An Archdiocese of Boston investigation led by attorney Mark Dunderdale led to LeBlanc's removal from the pulpit in June. "Father LeBlanc admitted to Dunderdale that he has an addiction and needs help," police Detective Glenn Fogarty wrote in his report. According to Det. Fogarty's report, LeBlanc has been sent to St. John Vianney Center in Pennsylvania, a church-run retreat that specializes in "behavioral health issues" of clergy. LeBlanc was pastor at St. John's for six years.
Related Stories
Kudos to Jeffrey A. Davis for his letter to the editor ["Boys Gone Wild in an Agency Turned Rogue," Nov. 11-17]. I agree that the New Mexico Game and Fish Department acts in obvious conflict with the public's interest in "managing" our wildlife populations. Because the department makes money from selling hunting licenses, it caters to its hunting constituency and ignores the majority who fund public lands and pay other federal taxes that support wildlife.
EVENT HORIZON (Friday, Sep 30)
Got Minerals?
Fall Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show
By Megan Reneau
Browse gemstones, mineral specimens, rough rock, slabs, jewelry, beads, cabochons, fossils, tools and equipment.
EVENT HORIZON (Friday, Sep 30)
Grecian Festival
By Desiree Garcia
Taste authentic Greek cuisine, watch dancers streaming by in colorful costumes, enjoy browsing imported jewelry, gifts, foods and pastries, and tour the St. George Church.
EVENT HORIZON (Saturday, Oct 1)
Latte Birthday Wishes
Birthday Bash
By Renée Chavez
Enjoy the signature brews, live music, live art demonstrations, games and a special beer release while raising money for the charity There's A Better Way to help local homeless families.
EVENT HORIZON (Wednesday, Oct 5)
Night at the Museum
Outside of the Box
By Renée Chavez
Live music and dancing, cash bar and food trucks with snacks for purchase, local vendors, talk by pilot of the beautiful fractals hot air balloon and much more.
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