Jude's Real Estate Rumblings

And...the story might be even a bit gloomier than it already appears. The Labor Department uses a lot of averaging to help it come up with its numbers more quickly, but this practice can skew the current picture significantly. Think of it this way - and because it's now baseball season, here's a Baseball analogy - let's say that mid-way through the season, a red-hot hitter with a batting average of 340 declines into a bad slump for several weeks. While he now can't even hit a basketball thrown underhand to him, his average - while lower to 300 - is still very strong due to his previous hot performance. So someone looking at just the statistics may think that this batter is still absolutely terrific, but he is really someone the fans are booing as he approaches the plate. This is not very different from current numbers being reported by the Labor Department - previous averaging is likely causing an understating of the ACTUAL number of job losses...which somewhat masks how b ad the job market really is.

This bleak Jobs Report greatly boosts the odds of not only a first-quarter recession, but perhaps a worse economic downturn than many economists fear. The Federal Reserve may respond to this increasing trend in job losses with additional interest rate cuts when they next meet to determine monetary policy on April 30 and June 25. As we've seen in the past though, such rate cuts do not translate into lower long-term rates for mortgages, so there is no better time than right now to refinance an existing mortgage or to structure a new one. Let's work together to make sure your current financing is a home run!

From the Aurora Sentinel,

AURORA | The city's new stretch of light rail may be surrounded by high-rise apartments, pedestrian-friendly plazas and other mixed use developments, according to planning officials.

At an initial public workshop session April 3 held at North Middle School, representatives from Aurora's planning department paired with lead designers from an Oregon-based urban design firm to present preliminary station area plans for a future RTD line.  Read on... http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=18849

I seldom pass along inspirational
stuff, but this one got to me .

I believe,
in these difficult and mean-spirited times in which we live, there needs to be a
message of hope.  

We can all
use a single image that speaks to us of love, harmony, peace, and joy.  
     
An image
that suggests the universality of us all.  I have been sent that image, and
I want to share it with you all.
   

All I ask that all of you take a
moment to reflect on it.  . .  http://www.utterz.com/~u-NTA2MDU5NA/utt.php#uttNTA2MDU5NA

Southshore, a waterside community in southeast Aurora, has been named the "National Masterplanned Community of the Year," by the National Sales & Marketing Council of the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB). Developed by John Laing Homes and Village Homes, Southshore is the first Colorado community to win this coveted designation. Located near E-470 and Smoky Hill Road, Southshore hosted last year's Parade of Homes. "Aurora's proud to have Southshore, the National Masterplanned Community of the Year, in our great city," said Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer. "Southshore's not just great houses. It's the 21st century model for bringing people, open space, entertainment and great shopping together in a vibrant package." Susan Peterson, general manager of Laing/Village, LLC, the developer of Southshore, was thrilled the community received such high honors. "We're all still on Cloud Nine. We especially appreciate the city of Aurora's partnership and support in our development. I think if you talk with any of our residents, you'll appreciate why they love living at Southshore, " Peterson said.