September 30, 2008

Blogs

Market Commentary: September 30, 2008

Dr. Barton Smith from the University of Houston’s Regional Forecasting department is well known for his local and Texas economic symposiums.

Dr. Smith is one of my personal favorites and I feel his commentary below is a good read given the status of the banking industry and the possible implications to you and I on a daily basis.

DIRECTOR’S COMMENTARY - September 29, 2008

Solutions to The Banking Crisis

Submitted by paige-martin on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 2:37pm.

Hurricane Ike - Tax and Insurance Benefits

Following is a great summary of ways to maximze your tax and insurance benefits as originally distributed by Gainer, Donnelly and Desroches.

The initial damage estimates for Hurricane Ike are $10 to $12 billion and may well increase significantly over that amount. Victims of the storm may be able to mitigate their damages through insurance coverage and tax benefits. These benefits are not automatic, however, and there are steps which affected persons must take in order to take advantage of these.

Insurance Recoveries

Submitted by paige-martin on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 2:13pm.

Market Update: September 23, 2008

Following is a great recap on the most recent changes in the mortgage market, as originally distributed by Shane Price with Houston Capital Mortgage.

Now it's simply getting redundant. Yet another large financial firm has hit the skids.

This go-around features American Insurance Group, a huge multi-line insurance company. AIG lost its mojo dealing in credit derivative swaps – contracts that transfer and, ideally, insure against credit risk.

Submitted by paige-martin on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 6:26am.

Hurricane Ike - IRS Provides Disaster Relief to Ike Victims

Texas and Louisiana taxpayers that were affected by Hurricane Ike were granted additional relief today by the IRS.

The deadline for all tax returns and tax payments with an original or extended due date occuring

Submitted by paige-martin on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 6:13pm.

Weekly Market Update: September 19th

Following is a great summary on the most recent turmoil in the market as originally distributed by Bruce Worthington with New England Investment and Retirement.

Submitted by paige-martin on Fri, 09/19/2008 - 3:47pm.

Mortgages

Downtown Houston Activities: Week of September 18

Despite Hurricane Ike, Downtown Houston and the Medical Center never lost power. Following is an update on the events in Downtown as provided by the Downtown Houston Management District.

Back to business
Thanks to the City of Houston's Public Works Department and the Downtown District's operations and street teams for all the hard work they have done to clean up downtown.

Submitted by paige-martin on Thu, 09/18/2008 - 8:48am.

Hurricane Ike - School Closures

The following school districts and colleges have announced closures related to Hurricane Ike:

Submitted by paige-martin on Tue, 09/16/2008 - 8:08am.

Real Estate Resources

Hurricane Ike - Ok to Drink City Water

Houston residents now have been given the go-ahead to use city water without boiling it.

Mayor Bill White lifted a boil-water order on Monday that had been imposed after Hurricane Ike hit the city on Saturday. Mayor White said the city's water supply has been tested and no widespread contamination has been detected.

The mayor said that water pressure has been restored to normal levels. He said some high-rise structures had disabled pumps and were unable to get water to the highest floors.

Submitted by paige-martin on Mon, 09/15/2008 - 6:29pm.

Hurricane Ike - Taxpayer Filing Extensions

IRS Gives Taxpayers in Area Threatened by Ike Until Sept. 22 To File Corporate and Individual Estimated Taxes

WASHINGTON — Taxpayers and tax preparers affected in coming days by Hurricane Ike will have an extra seven days to file corporate tax returns and third-quarter estimated taxes otherwise due on Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.

Hurricane Ike is expected to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas, not far from Houston, by early Saturday morning.

Submitted by paige-martin on Sun, 09/14/2008 - 8:51am.

City of Houston Resources

Mortgage Market Update

Following is a great update on the most recent changes in the mortgage industry as originally distributed by Shane Price with Houston Capital Mortgage.

Sometimes one should be thankful for small favors, such as three-day holiday weekends.

There were only four days of bad news last week instead of the usual five. No surprise, the Federal Reserve was at the forefront of the brigade.

Submitted by paige-martin on Wed, 09/10/2008 - 2:24pm.

Mortgages