get_elements_by_tagname("entry"); foreach($entries as $entry) { $story_array[$counter] = new xml_story(); $element = $entry; $titles = $element->get_elements_by_tagname("title"); $title = $titles[0]; $story_array[$counter]->headline = $title->get_content(); $publish = $element->get_elements_by_tagname("published"); $date = $publish[0]; $story_array[$counter]->date = getDateFormat($date->get_content()); $content = $element->get_elements_by_tagname("content"); $description = $content[0]; $story_array[$counter]->description = $description->get_content(); $links = $element->get_elements_by_tagname("link"); $link = $links[0]; $href = $link->get_attribute_node("href"); $story_array[$counter]->href = $href->value(); $counter++; $labels = $element->get_elements_by_tagname("category"); foreach($labels as $label){ $labelTerm = $label->get_attribute_node("term"); $flag = 0; for($x = 0; $x < sizeof($labelArray); $x++){ if($labelArray[$x]['label'] == $labelTerm->value()){ $labelArray[$x]['num']++; $flag = 1; break; } } if($flag == 0){ $tempArray = array(); $tempArray['label'] = $labelTerm->value(); $tempArray['num'] = 1; $labelArray[sizeof($labelArray)] = $tempArray; } } } function getDateFormat($stamp){ $T = strrpos($stamp,"T"); $date = substr($stamp,0,$T); $year = substr($date,0,4); $month = substr($date,5,2); $day = substr($date,8,2); $time = substr($stamp,$T); $hour = substr($time,1,2); $min = substr($time,4,2); $format = "F jS, Y g:ia"; return date($format, mktime($hour, $min, 0, $month, $day, $year)); } ?> May 2007: A Good Time to Buy a House? - SHINE TV by Lightship Mutual


Subscribe to SHINE TV
Name:
Email:


New 401k Training
We are in a national recession, and your 401k is declining. You're fearful, anxious, and worried about what to do next:
  • What exactly is a 401k?
  • Should you invest more...or less into your account right now?
  • How can you maximize your employer's company match while minimizing your stock market risk?

Special bonus: We'll share with you an opportunity at the conclusion of the training in which you can make $50 cash...no strings attached.



Recent Comments
Anonymous: Thanks, Justin. I appreciate your insight and forthrightness. -mariat

Justin S. Parr: Good question Chris...and one which I've received before. Actually the 99 year FDIC repayment...(more)

Anonymous: Hey Justin. Nice. But what about the 99 years that the FDIC has to repay you if your bank lost the...(more)

Anonymous: Good stuff guys...looking forward to more videos. Very helpful (and timely) right now w/ the econ....(more)

Anonymous: Keep a level head, CREATE a plan, and stick to it!!

Popular Posts
Related Posts
Categories
'.str_replace("/", " & ", str_replace("_", " ", $labelArray[$i]["label"])).'
'; } ?>
Archives
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
   Learn about SHINE TV      


May 2007: A Good Time to Buy a House?


As America's housing market continues to crumble, clients regularly ask us, "Should I buy a home now?" And we give the same response...it depends.

Consider Your Time Horizon
How long do you plan to live in this house? One year? Twenty years? If you are planning to stick around for more than 7 years, then we suggest you ignore the short-term market bumps and just purchase the property. You are not in this to make a quick buck or to roll the dice on a fast market turnaround. Additionally, fixed rate mortgages are still historically low, and you may even have an opportunity to purchase a home at (or even below) its fair market value.

On the other hand, if you plan on living in this property for a year or two, with fingers crossed that the real estate jackpot is eighteen months away, then now is not a good time for you. Home prices continue to plummet and many experts agree there's no end in sight. Besides, your house is not a casino; it's not meant to satisfy your gambling streak and to entertain your ambitions of fame and fortune.

Indicators Indicate an Indication
As we've been writing about for a while now , the U.S. housing slump is real, and it's here to stay for a while. Just today, Standard & Poor's announced a drop in first quarter home prices from a year ago...the first year-over-year price drop in more than 15 years. S&P index committee chairman David Blitzer sums it up: "We still don't see anything that looks like a clear bottom. We're still headed down."

Labels:

Written by Justin S. Parr @ 8:24 AM

Comments: Post a Comment


View Additional Blog Entries

   Services    •    Community Forum   •   SHINE TV™   •   Contact Us   •   About Us   

Copyright © 2008, Lightship Mutual LLC. All Rights Reserved.   •  Media Relations  •   Privacy and Disclosure

CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo) are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc.  These marks are awarded to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.