Olympic West - Pico East Initiative

Would this change to the traffic to and from the westside help?

Olympic West - Pico East Initiative is important. Will you remember which one is the One way in the direction you want to go? Will all the residents in the middle have the traffic on their streets double or Quadruple? Will all those small businesses along the way get hurt by this?

FYI
The City of Los Angeles is hosting three public scoping meetings on the proposed Olympic West - Pico East Initiative in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The purpose of the meetings is to receive public comments regarding the scope of the environmental analysis being prepared for this project.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Westside Jewish Community Center – 5870 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Thursday, April 2, 2009
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Temple Beth Am – 1039 South La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Stoner Recreation Center – 1835 Stoner Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Public Comments
During the public scoping meetings, anyone wishing to comment will be able to do so via written comment forms or public testimony.

Opportunity at hand? Now? Or soon?

"IF A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY APPEARS, DON'T PULL DOWN THE SHADE." Tom Peters.

On Wednesday, the Fed announced that over the course of 2009, they will purchase an additional $750 Billion of Mortgage Backed Securities, as well as $300 Billion in long-term Treasuries, primarily to help shore up the housing market and keep home loan rates low. On the announcement, Bonds exploded higher, leaving Bond prices within whiskers of the best levels ever.

However, it's important to understand that while their actions may keep a lid on rates moving higher, they may not cause them to move lower. While we know there is little inflation at the present time, the chatter of future inflation could have a negative impact on Bonds and home loan rates, or at least stifle any improvements.

Although the media is already spinning it differently, this may not be a time to stay on the fence, hoping and waiting for lower rates and/or lower real estate prices. Home loan rates remain within inches of all-time historic lows, but may not necessarily move significantly lower based on this purchasing plan - waiting is a very risky move.
More good news last week, as Housing Starts for February came in better than expected and actually increased for the first time in eight months. In addition, Fed Chairman Bernanke stated the recession should end in 2009 and that he is confident of the long-term outlook for the US economy.

Also, an update on Mark-to-Market - the accounting rule which has had a devastating impact on the financial markets - which we have discussed many times, including in last week's issue. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) agreed that it will propose to allow companies to use more "leeway" in applying the accounting rules they use to value their assets, and planned a final vote for April 2nd. If this rule change is approved, it could result in better first-quarter financial statements for companies that have been affected by this rule. Stocks have been moving higher lately in the hopes that Mark-to-Market will be fixed, and a resolution could help Stocks further improve.

So what are you going to do with your Cash? Leverage into cheap priced Real Estate or buy Stocks?

If it is Real Estate call me.

Keith
310-391-0821

BTW If you need a referral to a Stock person send me a note.
Gary with Wealth Pinnacle is a very good guy to know.