Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Now that the government has bailed out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac we may see lower interest rates for the short term. In some transactions I am currently dealing with I've seen rates drop by as many as 30 basis points. I'm not sure where rates mights fall to, but I think it is reasonable to conclude that rates may be entering a period where they stabalize. This contrasts sharply to the last few months where volatility in rates made it difficult to advise a client on when the best time to lock rates was.

Supporting Local Business: Patio Bike Shop and The BikeSmiths

One of the hobbies I have is riding my road bike on a nearly daily basis. As anyone who shares the same hobby knows, bike maintenance is an important thing.

I've been impressed with the service I have received from both The Bikesmiths (located on Locust Avenue in the UWM area) and the Patio Bike Shop (on Forest Home Avenue in Hales Corners).

The staffs at each store are extremely knowledgable and take the time to listen to your questions and concerns. So you get a solution from them that suits your needs and not a generic answer. Customer service is also tremendous in both places. They address your needs in short order and in most cases will make minor repairs as you wait.

The bike and gear selection in both stores is not on the level of Wheel and Sprocket (which is another good local business), but both stores have enough options to suit most needs.

As both stores have small staffs you always get a person who knows exactly what they are talking about and is passionate about what they are doing which is not always the case at the bigger stores.