My friends David Israel and Andy Hodes in Chattanooga are two remarkable business people - “win / win” or no deal.

 Great neighbors in Chattanooga, and certainly the most innovative agents working the Chattanooga market.

So why does that matter to Intown Atlanta and Decatur Buyers and Sellers?

Well, this post at the Scenic City Scoop should give you pause. 

Posted June 6, 2008.

Usually the monthly Employment report is the main event of the week, but Fed Chief Bernanke stole the show.   Following the theme of other Fed officials in recent weeks, Bernanke focused on inflation risks in multiple speeches, and his comments were unexpectedly direct. According to him, inflation expectations are a “significant concern.”  He explained that the decline in the value of the dollar and the increase in the cost of energy were adding to inflationary pressures.  Inflation is negative for mortgage investors, and mortgage rates rose for the fourth straight week due to increased concern.

At the end of a volatile week, investors were closely watching Friday’s important Employment report.  The headline number came in right on target, with a loss of -49K jobs in May.  The big surprise came from the change in the Unemployment Rate.  Expected to rise slightly to 5.1% from 5.0% in April, it instead jumped to 5.5%, the highest level since October 2004.  Economists attributed the spike to an unusually large influx of young adults entering the labor force to find summer jobs, so the reaction in the mortgage market was modest.

ALSO NOTABLE:

* In May, the Unemployment Rate showed the largest monthly increase since February 1986

* The Bank of England and the European Central Bank both held rates steady

* The Fed’s Lacker suggested that the programs put in place to ease the credit crunch may encourage excessive risk taking

* Oil prices declined as low as $122 per barrel, but then rose again to record levels near $135 per barrel

So this morning, I read that post. It reminded me that we all need to be cautiously optimistic.

I have to be optimistic - I have to do that because of this little girl who expects an optimistic Daddy. That means a Daddy who is all about growing his business in a transformational Intown Atlanta and Decatur real estate market.

Here are my comments on the Bernanke article, and a few promises…

1. Lee Taylor said at July 5th, 2008 at 4:17 amAs always, David and Andy, two financially astute Realtors, keep us in the know.Gentlemen, I am concerned - jaded even - about the strength of our financial, housing and consumer sectors. So much so, that I believe their overall values are in an unavoidable epic tailspin.I’m still gonna buy and sell real estate for the next 20 years in spite of that. Nothing but good buyers and serious sellers for the next 20 years.

   I read John Mauldin every week - here’s a link to a post about him - http://intowninsider.com/?p=269 - is a wide open to possibilities, bearish, conservative, stance on real estate holdings a smart idea whose time has come?

   In Atlanta, some sellers still think it’s 2006. 2/3 of the Sellers don’t sell during their prescribed “listing” periods. Less than 2 out of 10 sell at the original asking price.

   At least 1/3 of all Realtors in my city can’t keep their signage erect. Disrespect for their brands and their profession is so obvious.

2. In the coming week, on my website, Mr. Bernanke and every other Washingtonian will be reviewed, as well Atlanta’s Sellers and Atlanta’s Buyers.I’m going to write a post about our shifted Intown real estate agency market as well.I shall also stay tuned to The Scenic City Scoop!

 In the case of this next photo, I will correct my statement about Intown Atlanta Realtors - closer to 50% can’t keep their signs erect.

Today is a day to look ahead and a day to look back.

Thanks to all of you who have served your country in uniform.

Looking ahead, I see great accomplishments in the midst of massive, paradigm shifting change.

Looking back I see the same thing.

Like this accomplishment by Soul Brother #1.

I love my daughter Kaylie - she is barely 4 months old, but she is the most positive and remarkable person that my wife and I know. What a blessing.

Since I’m feeling blessed, why focus on real estate today? Lets celebrate Fatherhood by picking a few hit videos for posterity.

Lets start with The Godfather of Soul - this is an edited video of amazing dancing. I love the Godfather.

My Dad, Bo Taylor died in 2003 after suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. His favorite singer was Eddy Arnold - a country singer who almost single-handedly led the “Countrypolitan” sound of the middle twentieth century. Here he is singing in 1973 with the smokin’ hot Lynn Anderson. I loved my Dad, and he thought Lynn Anderson was sexy. Here’s to you, Bo.

If my lovely 17 week old daughter grows up to be a famous rockstar, then I want her to rock like the sisters from Heart. This song, “Barracuda” is always on the top 50 list for me.

Happy Father’s Day.

Charles and Marie is another cool website for cool design and nifty products.

Here’s today’s Soupe Du Jour - the Bottoms Up Doorbell.

Where would you go to see lame teenpop music this summer? At a Simon Mall, of course. Thanks again to the Atlanta Business Chronicle for this totally awesome news on a day filled with bad news…

“2008 Simon dTOUR Live, featuring free live musical performances from today’s popular artists, will hit three malls in metro Atlanta this summer.

The tour launches June 13 in Nashua, N.H., and wraps on Aug. 24 in the Chicago area after visiting 24 Simon malls across the country.

Atlanta dates include:

• July 18 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Town Center at Cobb in Kennesaw, with musical act to be determined.
• July 19 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Discover Mills in Lawrenceville, with musical act Kate Voegele.
• July 20 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Mall of Georgia in Buford, with musical act The All-American Rejects.

A Cursive Memory, Forever The Sickest Kids, Play Radio Play, The Switches, Push Play and Safetysuit also have signed up for the national tour…”

My daughter believes that the music will truly suck.

My daughter is going to the parks in Kirkwood, Sweetwater Creek, the Georgia Aquarium and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center For The Arts in lieu of the malls this Summer.

I just listened to some of the trifle that these bands create - the formula for 2008’s lame music is tried and true.

In October, a new congress of venture capitalists will gather in Atlanta at the CNN Center. That’s good news.

I read this in my daily Atlanta Business Chronicle update e-mail.

“…Metro Atlanta and Georgia start-up companies will be presenting their plans and investment opportunities to venture capitalists and investors from across the country,” said Sam A. Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. “Metro Atlanta is among the fastest growing high-technology metro areas in the nation, and continues to attract high-tech companies as our strength in this sector grows each year…

The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta CEO Council and the Technology Association of Georgia have teamed up to put together the biggest venture capital event in state history — Venture Atlanta 2008.

Set for Oct. 15-16 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, the Venture Atlanta is expected to link top-tier venture capitalists, investment bankers, entrepreneurs, service providers and technology executives with Georgia technology companies…”

I might go.