Mortgage backed securities had a fairly calm day yesterday never straying far from opening levels. At day’s end they did post very small gains which were not enough to spark any reprices for the better. Apparently, the market was in pause mode awaiting the extremely important jobs data that is due out this morning.

Onto the data, the U.S. Department of Labor released the monthly Employment Situation report which is the single most important economic report that is released monthly....

In 2009 :
Lo : 59 °
Hi : 85 °
Rainfall : 0.00 “

In 2008 :
Lo : 74 °** : Record Warmest
Hi : 85 °
Rainfall : 0.07 ”

In 2007 :
Lo : 67 °
Hi : 96 °
Rainfall : 0.00 “

In 2006 :
Lo : 59 °
Hi : 72 °
Rainfall : 0.00 “

In 2005 :
Lo : 60 °
Hi : 90 °
Rainfall : 0.00 ”

In 2004 :
Lo : 68 °
Hi : 81 °
Rainfall : 0.00 “

Let’s hope! For those of you sitting under a rock the past year, if you haven’t owned a home in the last 3 years you are eligible to receive $8,000 from Uncle Sam if you buy a home before November 30th 2009.

Thus far this program has actually be one of the most successful stimulus programs out there….more stimulative than cash for clunkers in my opinion even if it hasn’t received as much press. If you’ve been working with me over the past 6 months as a buyer you would have...

Poor MRS1885 and her DH were running late to their date in Chicago, so we didn't get a chance to do much more than say hello. "Here he is -- he needs a bath BAD, gotta go." God love her.

(The folks in Chicago had made an impossibly egregious demand that she be there by four o'clock. I don't know yet if she made it, or is now stuck with forty more homeless dogs.) I hope she made it, and is now resting up in a quiet room with a nice glass of something cold and refreshing. ...

Poor MRS1885 and her DH were running late to their date in Chicago, so we didn't get a chance to do much more than say hello. "Here he is -- he needs a bath BAD, gotta go." God love her.

(The folks in Chicago had made an impossibly egregious demand that she be there by four o'clock. I don't know yet if she made it, or is now stuck with forty more homeless dogs.) I hope she made it, and is now resting up in a quiet room with a nice glass of something cold and refreshing. ...