3 Ways to Use YouTube to Boost Website Traffic!

If you want to reach people, YouTube is an incredibly attractive environment. This video platform gets an impressive three billion daily views and claims to be the world's second largest search engine behind Google and the third most visited website in the world. And lest you think YouTube is just for the likes of Miley Cyrus-Justin Bieber fans, you're missing its powerful marketing potential:

YouTube gives you a great opportunity to drive traffic to your website. 

Start thinking of your videos as mini websites whose goal is to get viewers off YouTube and onto your full website, where you can engage them with your business.

Traffic boosters can help you do this, and they're all based on one crucial element: a compelling call to action. What's most compelling, of course, is a free gift. It can be a free report, video, consultation or app that provides information or a service that delivers a real benefit to your target.

Come up with that offer, then tell people why they need to take advantage of it immediately. Craft a compelling call to action as enticingly as you can. Then use it with these three traffic boosting tactics.

Website Traffic Booster 1: End All YouTube Videos with a Call to Action  

At the end of every video, insert your compelling call to action telling viewers how to get to your website and the benefit of doing it.
Example:
"Thanks for watching. To learn more, go to URL_example.com and get this exclusive new guide."

Website Traffic Booster 2: Leverage the YouTube Video Description Box  

When you upload a new video on YouTube, be sure to fill in the video description box. Start with a short call to action with your entire URL: "Find out more: URL_example.com." This becomes a clickable link viewers see under the video. Then put in a short paragraph describing your video and end with another mention of your URL.

Website Traffic Booster 3: Use the YouTube Call-to-Action Overlay

This is a basic banner ad that appears in the lower third of the frame when your video begins. Even though it can be closed by the viewer, it gives you another chance to put in your call to action and a mention of the URL you want people to go to. You can even include a thumbnail image. To use this feature, sign up at: https://ads.YouTube.com.

Remember, to have your YouTube videos bring more people to your website, come up with that compelling offer and put it into a great call to action. Then insert your URL everywhere that's available.... Enjoy a great month!
This e-mail is an advertisement for Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice, or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331

Inside Lending Newsletter - For the week of March 26, 2012 – Vol. 10, Issue 13

>> Market Update  QUOTE OF THE WEEK..."I invented my life by taking for granted that everything I did not like would have an opposite, which I would like." --Coco Chanel INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... The renowned French fashion designer certainly would have appreciated that while February's Housing Starts were down 1.1% for the month, Building Permits bumped UP 5.1%, to their highest level since 2008. The housing recovery is full of opposites. In spite of that monthly dip, starts are UP almost 35% from a year ago. And before their February slip, single-family starts went up four months in a row to an 18-month high. Continuing the theme of opposites, February Existing Home Sales fell 0.9% but are UP 8.8% over a year ago. And while the median price rose, a good thing, the supply also rose, not a good thing, but is still only 6.4 months. Friday, New Home Sales were off 1.6% for February, at a 313,000 annual rate, but the months' supply is only 5.8, inventories are at record lows and the median price of new homes sold is UP 6.2% from a year ago, all good things. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK... Watch out for stress. When you feel it, just stop, relax and enjoy the world around you. Then focus that positive energy on new business and profits. >> Review of Last Week HOT, THEN NOT... Investors pushed stocks to the S&P 500's highest level since mid-2008, then took their profits, concerned that global economic conditions are still worrisome. As a result, the Dow and the S&P 500 suffered their worst weeks of the year, although the techie Nasdaq edged upward. The global negative vibe came from manufacturing indexes in China and Europe showing activity contracting in those regions. Not a great sign for our economically interconnected world. Over here, the slight dips in housing numbers were a bit disappointing, although, as noted above, there was positive data as well, indicating real estate appears to be starting a recovery. Supporting that recovery is an improving jobs situation, as weekly initial jobless claims edged down to a multi-year low of 348,000. That number still needs to get way lower, but at least it's no longer growing. For the week, the Dow ended down 1.2%, at 13081; the S&P 500 closed down 0.5%, to 1397; and the Nasdaq went UP 2.2%, to 3068.  Bond prices were hammered early in the week, then benefited from the stock sell-off and the less inspiring economic data. The FNMA 3.5% bond we watch wound up the week off just .01, at $102.12. National average mortgage rates headed up for the second week in a row in Freddie Mac's weekly survey. But mortgage rates still remain well below their levels of a year ago.  DID YOU KNOW?... According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there's been a reversal of the trend toward more single buyers: 64% of buyers are now married couples, the highest proportion since 2001.  >> This Week’s Forecast PENDING HOME SALES, Q4 GDP AND, OH YES, INFLATION... The only thing left after last week's avalanche of data on February housing was Pending Home Sales. This measure of signed contracts indicates actual sales a few months out and a mild trend upward is expected today. Thursday, the Q4 GDP 3rd Estimate is forecast to remain in moderate growth range.  Core PCE Prices, excluding volatile food and energy, should remain within the Fed's guidelines, although prices overall keep edging up. This, unfortunately, can also push up mortgage rates. >> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of Mar 26 – Mar 30  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact M Mar 26 10:00 Pending Home Sales Feb 0.5% 2.0% Moderate Tu Mar 27 10:00 Consumer Confidence Mar 70.0 70.8 Moderate W Mar 28 08:30 Durable Goods Feb 2.5% -3.7% Moderate W Mar 28 10:30 Crude Inventories 03/24 NA -1.160M Moderate Th Mar 29 08:30 Initial Unemployment Claims 03/24 350K 348K Moderate Th Mar 29 08:30 Continuing Unemployment Claims 03/17 3.385M 3.352M Moderate Th Mar 29 08:30 GDP-3rd Estimate  Q4 3.0% 3.0% Moderate Th Mar 29 08:30 GDP Deflator-3rd Estimate Q4 0.9% 0.9% Moderate F Mar 30 08:30 Personal Income Feb 0.4% 0.3% Moderate F Mar 30 08:30 Personal Spending Feb 0.6% 0.2% HIGH F Mar 30 08:30 PCE Prices - Core Feb 0.1% 0.2% HIGH F Mar 30 09:45 Chicago PMI Mar 62.0 64.0 HIGH F Mar 30 09:55 Univ. of Michigan Consumer Sentiment-Final Mar 74.3 74.3 Moderate >> Federal Reserve Watch    Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months... The Fed has stated it wants to keep the Funds Rate low for quite some time, which is what economists expect. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same. Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25% After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Apr 25 0%–0.25% Jun 20 0%–0.25% Jul 31 0%–0.25% Probability of change from current policy: After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Apr 25      <1% Jun 20      <1% Jul 31      <1%

This e-mail is an advertisement for Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice, or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331

Inside Lending Newsletter - For the week of March 19, 2012 – Vol. 10, Issue 12

>> Market Update  QUOTE OF THE WEEK..."I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy." --Marie Curie INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... The Polish physicist and chemist, famous for her pioneering work on radioactivity, could have been describing the U.S. housing market. But we are making progress. Realtor.com reported that the U.S. median list price of homes they track was almost 7% higher in February than a year ago. The web site of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) also reported that the inventory of U.S. for-sale housing is 22% lower than a year ago. Additional progress was seen in the median age of inventory of homes on the site dropping almost 10%, year over year. Realtor.com summarized the situation this way: "The nation's housing markets as a whole are in better shape today than at any time since the 2009-2010 tax credits." But it should be noted that although current inventory levels are near a two-year low, they're likely to grow a bit during the spring selling season. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK... Rules (as opposed to laws) aren't there to control us, but to guide us. If you need a creative solution, you may have to break the rules. But that can be profitable, and it's always fun! >> Review of Last Week NEW HEIGHTS... The stock market enjoyed its fifth straight weekly gain, and its tenth in 11 tries. The broadly based S&P 500 is now up more than 11% for the year, as it ended the week above 1400 for the first time since mid-2008. Investors were feeling more hopeful in spite of the painfully slow U.S. economic recovery, worries over global economic growth rates and the still precarious European debt situation. Our economic indicators remain mixed. Excluding autos, retail sales were up 0.9% in February versus a 1.1% hike in January. Initial weekly jobless claims were down 14,000, to 351,000, a slight improvement in the labor market. Inflation is still worrisome, with consumer prices UP 0.4% in February, although "core" prices, excluding food and energy, were up just 0.1%. Empire Manufacturing hit its highest level in over a year and Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing reached a multi-month high, but overall industrial production was flat. Finally, University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment slipped from the prior month's one-year high. For the week, the Dow ended up 2.4%, at 13233; the S&P 500 also closed UP 2.4%, to 1404; and the Nasdaq went UP 2.2%, to 3055.  With signs the economy is improving, albeit at a snail's pace, money flooded back into riskier stocks, sending bond prices lower. The FNMA 3.5% bond we watch ended the week down .95, at $102.13. In Freddie Mac's weekly survey, national average mortgage rates edged up slightly from their record lows. Demand for purchase loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, was up for the week and is now almost 12% above the level of a month ago. DID YOU KNOW?... The index of leading economic indicators (LEI) predicts future economic activity by looking at 11 indicators, including initial unemployment claims, new orders for consumer goods, building permits and S&P 500 stock prices.  >> This Week’s Forecast FOCUS ON FEBRUARY HOUSING... This week reveals a pretty complete picture of the February housing market. Tuesday, Housing Starts and Building Permits are expected to edge up a little, a good thing, but no breakthrough yet in builder confidence. Wednesday, Existing Home Sales should creep closer to the 5 million annual rate. Friday, New Home Sales are forecast to remain at January's annual rate. There are no dramatic changes forecast for Initial and Continuing Unemployment Claims. The Leading Economic Indicators Index should move up a bit. >> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of Mar 19 – Mar 23  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact Tu Mar 20 08:30 Housing Starts Feb 705K 699K Moderate Tu Mar 20 08:30 Building Permits Feb 695K 676K Moderate W Mar 21 10:00 Existing Home Sales Feb 4.61M 4.57M Moderate W Mar 21 10:30 Crude Inventories 03/17 NA 1.750M Moderate Th Mar 22 08:30 Initial Unemployment Claims 03/17 355K 351K Moderate Th Mar 22 08:30 Continuing Unemployment Claims 03/10 3.363M 3.343M Moderate Th Mar 22 10:00 Leading Economic Indicators (LEI)  Feb 0.6% 0.4% Moderate F Mar 23 10:00 New Home Sales Feb 321K 321K Moderate >> Federal Reserve Watch    Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months... The Fed kept the Funds Rate right where it's been at last week's FOMC meeting. And it's expected to stay there a while longer. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same. Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25% After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Apr 25 0%–0.25% Jun 20 0%–0.25% Jul 31 0%–0.25% Probability of change from current policy: After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Apr 25      <1% Jun 20      <1% Jul 31      <1%

This e-mail is an advertisement for Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice, or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331

Warren Buffett's best investment?

Now it's the single-family home!
Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is widely regarded as one of the world's most successful investors. He recently appeared live on CNBC's Squawk Box program, Monday, February 27, 2012, for his annual "Ask Warren" three-hour marathon. Among the many topics covered was the housing market. Here is Warren's latest advice on investing in that area.

Buffett began by pointing out, "...equities are still cheap relative to any other asset class," but added, "I would say the single-family homes are cheap now, too." He then made this startling statement:

"If I had a way of buying a couple hundred thousand single-family homes... I would load up on them."

He admitted that he would need a way to manage so many residences: "... the management is... really the problem because they're one by one. They're not like apartment houses." But if it were practical, he would "load up on them and I would take mortgages out at very, very low rates."

He then offered an insightful summary of the current situation in the housing market: "If anybody is thinking about buying a home -- five years ago they couldn't buy them fast enough, because they thought they were going to go up, and now they don't buy them because they think they're going to go down. And interest rates are far lower."

Keying off the low mortgage interest rate situation, he pointed out:

"It's a way, in effect, to short the dollar, because you can take a 30-year mortgage and if it turns out your interest rate's too high, next week you refinance lower. And if it turns out it's too low, the other guy's stuck with it for 30 years. So it's a very attractive asset class now."

Buffett was then asked, point blank, if he were a young individual investor who had to choose between buying a first home or investing in stocks, which one would be the better bet? His characteristically direct answer:

"...if I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or 10 years, I would buy a home and I'd finance it with a 30-year mortgage and it's a terrific deal."

He followed that with this business idea:

"... if I was an investor that was a handy type, which I'm not, and I could buy a couple of them at distressed prices and find renters -- and again take a 30-year mortgage -- it's a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now and I think that's probably as attractive an investment as you can make now."

Check out the video:

Click Here

And a final note: Buffett wrote in his latest letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders: "Housing will come back -- you can be sure of that."

Remember, we're always here to answer any questions.... Have a great day!

P.S. So with today's mortgage rates at historic new lows and with very affordable home prices, this is a great time to upsize, downsize or refinance. Please call or email us now to discuss your situation.

This was sent to you because of your relationship with Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Lender. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331

Inside Lending Newsletter -For the week of March 12, 2012 – Vol. 10, Issue 11

>> Market Update  QUOTE OF THE WEEK..."Opportunities? They're all around us...there is power lying latent everywhere waiting for the observant eye to discover it." --Orison Swett Marden INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... It shouldn't take a particularly observant eye to see the historic affordability available to home buyers, thanks to current home prices and mortgage rates. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Housing Affordability Index reached a 42-year high in January. An index of 100 represents a median-income family's ability to afford a median-priced, existing single-family home, with a 20% down payment and mortgage payments at 25% of gross income. January's record reading was 206.1!  Freddie Mac's chief economist commented, "the typical family had more than double the income needed to purchase a median-priced home in January." There's also talk about prices finally bottoming out. Data aggregator CoreLogic's National Home Price Index in January was at its lowest level since January 2003, and their chief economist noted prices are "not far from the bottom."  Finally, the NAR forecasts existing home sales UP 6.8% for the year. BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK...  Pay attention to the little stresses in your work. They're usually easy to fix, but if you ignore them, you can wind up with a whole bunch that add up to one big stress. >> Review of Last Week DOW, OW! OTHER TWO, UP... Investors responded to the now usual combination of better and worse than expected economic news by sending the Dow down, but keeping the other two market indexes up for the week. Monday's ISM Non-Manufacturing showed slightly stronger than expected growth among service businesses. But our economy is now globally connected, so it wasn't good that China dropped its 2012 growth forecast to 7.5%, the lowest in eight years, and Eurozone Q4 GDP shrunk 0.3%. Meanwhile, our trade deficit ballooned in January to $52.6 billion. There were enough negative vibes to dampen investor optimism over the February Employment Report's gain of 227,000 nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate remains 8.3%, with almost 13 million out of work. There are 8.1 million "involuntary part-time workers" who want a full-time job but can't find one. And over half the increase in professional and business services jobs were in temporary help services. So the housing market still isn't seeing the jobs recovery it needs. For the week, the Dow ended down 0.4%, at 12922; the S&P 500 closed UP 0.1%, to 1371; and the Nasdaq went UP 0.4%, to 2988.  Better than expected economic data, plus a Greek debt agreement, sent bond prices lower. But details of the Greek deal kept worries alive, sending investors back to the safety of bonds. The FNMA 3.5% bond we watch ended the week down .06, to $103.08. The national average rate for 15-year fixed mortgages hit a record low in Freddie Mac's weekly survey, while national average rates for all other mortgage types continued near record lows.  DID YOU KNOW?... A company's Market Capitalization is the value of all outstanding shares, calculated by multiplying the total number of shares by the current market price of one share. >> This Week’s Forecast RETAIL SALES, THE FED AND INFLATION... Tuesday gives us Retail Sales for February, predicted to be flat, excluding auto sales, but up a bit when you include them. A few hours later that day, we'll have the FOMC Rate Decision from the Fed. No one expects them to touch the Funds Rate, but their Policy Statement will be scrutinized for its take on the economy. The Fed keeps an eye on inflation, but we won't get those readings until Thursday's February wholesale PPI inflation and Friday's CPI consumer inflation. They're both forecast to be up overall, but the Core numbers, which exclude volatile food and energy prices, are what the Fed pays attention to. They should be up just a bit, but within Fed guidelines. >> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of Mar 12 – Mar 16  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact Tu Mar 13 08:30 Retail Sales Feb 1.0% 0.4% HIGH Tu Mar 13 08:30 Retail Sales ex-auto Feb 0.7% 0.7% HIGH Tu Mar 13 10:00 Business Inventories Jan 0.6% 0.4% Moderate Tu Mar 13 14:15 FOMC Rate Decision 03/13 0%-0.25% 0%-0.25% HIGH W Mar 14 10:30 Crude Inventories 03/10 NA 0.832M Moderate Th Mar 15 08:30 Initial Unemployment Claims 03/10 358K 362K Moderate Th Mar 15 08:30 Continuing Unemployment Claims 03/03 3.415M 3.416M Moderate Th Mar 15 08:30 Empire State Manufacturing Mar 15.0 19.5 Moderate Th Mar 15 08:30 Producer Price Index (PPI) Feb 0.5% 0.1% Moderate Th Mar 15 08:30 Core PPI Feb 0.2% 0.4% Moderate Th Mar 15 10:00 Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Mar 12.5 10.2 HIGH F Mar 16 08:30 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Feb 0.4% 0.2% HIGH F Mar 16 08:30 Core CPI Feb 0.2% 0.2% HIGH F Mar 16 09:15 Industrial Production Feb 0.5% 0.0% Moderate F Mar 16 09:15 Capacity Utilization Feb 78.8% 78.5% Moderate F Mar 16 09:55 Univ. of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Mar 76.0 75.3 Moderate >> Federal Reserve Watch    Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months... No one living in the real world expects the Fed to raise the Funds Rate at this week's FOMC meeting. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same. Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25% After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Mar 13 0%–0.25% Apr 25 0%–0.25% Jun 20 0%–0.25% Probability of change from current policy: After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Mar 13      <1% Apr 25      <1% Jun 20      <1%

This e-mail is an advertisement for Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice, or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331

Inside Lending Newsletter - For the week of March 5, 2012 – Vol. 10, Issue 10

BULLETIN... HUD is set to increase FHA up-front mortgage insurance premiums April 1. This is a significant change -- please relay this to your buyers immediately: waiting will be costly. Call or email us for further information. >> Market Update  QUOTE OF THE WEEK..."If I had a way of buying a couple hundred thousand single-family homes... I would load up on them." --Warren Buffett INFO THAT HITS US WHERE WE LIVE... Buffett, one of the world's most successful investors, appeared live on CNBC last Monday and told viewers: "... if I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or 10 years, I would buy a home and finance it with a 30-year mortgage, and it's a terrific deal." He added, "... if I was an investor that was a handy type... I could buy a couple of them... and find renters... and again take a 30-year mortgage.... I think that's probably as an attractive an investment as you can make now." Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkx57Ifein8&feature=share Later that morning, as if on cue, January Pending Home Sales came in UP 2% from December and UP 8% over a year ago. This measure of homes under contract from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) hit its highest level since April 2010. The NAR's chief economist commented, "the trend in contract activity implies we are on track for a more meaningful sales gain this year."  BUSINESS TIP OF THE WEEK...  Apple means innovation. Disney says magic. What's the one special thing you stand for? Decide on that, then make it the focus of all your marketing efforts. >> Review of Last Week GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS... Bad news: the Dow suffered its third weekly loss since the start of the year. Good news: during the week, the Dow closed above 13,000 for the first time since 2008; the Nasdaq sailed over 3,000 (but didn't stay there) for the first time since 2000; and the S&P 500 had its best two-month annual start since 1987. Good news, bad news also describes the economic data we continue to get. The bad news began with Durable Goods sliding 4% in January. This was followed by the good news that Consumer Confidence spiked to 70.8 in February. More good news came with manufacturing doing well in the Chicago region, followed by the bad news that manufacturing overall is growing, but slower than expected. It was good news that the Q4 GDP 2nd Estimate rose to 3%, February auto sales reached their highest level since before the recession and same-store sales shot up 6.4% at 18 retail chains. But bad news that Personal Spending, up 0.2%, and Personal Income, up 0.3%, were both weaker than expected. For the week, the Dow ended down 0.04%, at 12978; the S&P 500 closed UP 0.3%, to 1370; and the Nasdaq went UP 0.4%, to 2976. Better economic data hurt bond prices in the first half of the week, but European worries ultimately drove investors back to the safe haven of bonds. The FNMA 3.5% bond we watch ended the week up .01, to $103.14. In Freddie Mac's weekly survey, national average fixed mortgage rates eased this week, staying at or near record lows for the coming spring home buying season.  DID YOU KNOW?... In 2012, the NAR expects a 1.1% rise in the median price for existing homes, a 2.1% median price rise for new homes and a 3.3% rise in rents.  >> This Week’s Forecast ALL EYES ON FRIDAY...  That's when we get the February Employment Report which will tell us if the jobs situation, vital to the housing recovery, will continue its upward crawl. The consensus among economists is that there will be fewer new jobs for the month, although the Unemployment Rate should remain the same. Those with jobs are accomplishing more, as Q4 Productivity is expected to be up again. The ISM Services index is predicted to show growth, but the Trade Balance should still have imports exceeding exports by over $48 billion. >> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates. Economic Calendar for the Week of Mar 5 – Mar 9  Date Time (ET) Release For Consensus Prior Impact M Mar 5 10:00 ISM Services Feb 56.0 56.8 Moderate W Mar 7 08:30 Productivity - Rev. Q4 0.9% 0.7% Moderate W Mar 7 10:30 Crude Inventories 3/3 NA 4.160M Moderate Th Mar 8 08:30 Initial Unemployment Claims 3/3 355K 351K Moderate Th Mar 8 08:30 Continuing Unemployment Claims 2/25 3.405M 3.402M Moderate F Mar 9 08:30 Average Workweek Feb 34.5 34.5 HIGH F Mar 9 08:30 Hourly Earnings Feb 0.2% 0.2% HIGH F Mar 9 08:30 Nonfarm Payrolls Feb 207K 243K HIGH F Mar 9 08:30 Unemployment Rate Feb 8.3% 8.3% HIGH F Mar 9 08:30 Trade Balance Jan -$48.1B -$48.8B Moderate >> Federal Reserve Watch    Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months... Everyone still expects the Fed to keep the Funds Rate down for now, since they said they'll try to keep it there til the end of 2014. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same. Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25% After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Mar 13 0%–0.25% Apr 25 0%–0.25% Jun 20 0%–0.25% Probability of change from current policy: After FOMC meeting on: Consensus Mar 13      <1% Apr 25      <1% Jun 20      <1%

This e-mail is an advertisement for Dan Davidson. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment and/or mortgage advice, or a commitment to lend. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee of its accuracy. The material contained in the newsletter is the property of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company and cannot be reproduced for any use without prior written consent. It is designed for real estate and other financial professionals only. It is not intended for consumer distribution. The material does not represent the opinion of PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. © 2012 PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company. Trade/service marks are the property of PlainsCapital Corporation, PlainsCapital Bank, or their respective affiliates and/or subsidiaries. Some products may not be available in all states. This is not a commitment to lend. Restrictions apply. All rights reserved. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company (NMLS no: 13649) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a state-chartered bank and is an exempt lender in the following states: AK, AR, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, LA, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY. Licensed by: AL State Banking Dept.- consumer credit lic no. MC21004; AZ Dept. of Financial Institutions- mortgage banker lic no. BK 0907334; Licensed by the Department of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act- lender lic no. 4130996; CT Dept. of Banking- lender lic no. ML-13649; D.C. Dept. of Insurance, Securities and Banking- dual authority lic no. MLO13649; Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee, IL Dept of Financial and Professional Regulation, - lender lic no. MB.6760635; IN Dept. of Financial Institutions- sub lien lender lic no. 11169; ME Dept. of Professional & Financial Regulation- supervised lender lic no. SLM8285; MD Dept. of Labor, Licensing & Regulation- lender lic no. 11058; Massachusetts Division of Banking– lender & broker license nos. MC5404, MC5406, MC5414, MC5450, MC5405; MI Dept. of Labor & Economic Growth- broker/lender lic nos. FR 0010163 and SR 0012527; Licensed by the New Hampshire Banking Department- lender lic no. 14553-MB; NJ Dept. of Banking and Insurance-lender lic no. 0803658; NM Regulation and Licensing Dept. Financial Institutions Division- lender license no. 01890; ND Dept. of Financial Institutions- money broker lic no. MB101786; RI Division of Banking- lender lic no. 20102678LL and broker lic no. 20102677LB; TX OCCC Reg. Loan License- lic no. 7293; VT Dept. of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration- lender lic no. 6127 and broker lic no. 0964MB; WA Dept. of Financial Institutions-consumer lender lic no. 520-CL-49075. PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company is an Equal Housing Opportunity Lender. NMLS# 10331