It was a day off for most people today, but not for me.  Still I was able to jettison a work responsibility that has been like a ball and chain for far too long- so holiday it was.  I felt a foot taller and like a 100 pound weight was lifted off my back.  Sort of celebrated by opening some Sake with my chicken and pasta.  Chased that with some cinnamon buns and while my palate was confused – it was pleasured.

This could be the beginning of a new adventure down a long rice wine highway.  The stuff has a bit more of a kick, yet isn’t quite hard liquor either.   The clear stuff was pretty smooth going down, and  I hear the cloudy Sake is good too.  Memories from my younger days come flowing forward – when my grandpa made rice wine, and was pretty liberal with sharing it with his clientele.  I did try it a couple times, but no clear memory rings loud.

I wonder if the markets will finally take off here as the charts look like its leaning sideways and could break through to the upside.  Holiday today – but tomorrow might signal some clues to a new direction.  Long term outlook is still to the downside, but a little pop here is due.

In efforts to boost the economy, the Fed has lowered overnight lending rates, which in turn have caused mortgage rates to fall.  Although, I feel home prices have another 10-20% to go (depending on your locale) this is a good time to start getting a feel for what is out there (supply of homes) and what you can afford.

NY Times article about low rates.  And a nice Rent VS Buy calculator.

Seasonally, homes sell more in the spring and early summer.  Putting it all out on a limb, my guess is the sweet spot for a home purchase is in later half of 2010.