I'm paying down debt. Just paid off the small balances on our cars and rolled those payments into the mortgage. I figure that this next several months will offer plenty of downturns and buying opportunities. But if there is any uncertainty ahead, I prefer to get out of the debts while I have no problems paying them down.

Refinance today. If you are at 3.875 you could drop a point to 2.75 on a 30 or 2.5 to drop it to a 15.

I'm looking to convert to a 15. Loan officers seem overwhelmed right now. Been having trouble getting a hold of the one who helped with my last mortgage.

Mine is easy to get a hold of...problem is my bank is a good 75-100 basis points above market rate at this point. (Hence him being available).

I have just been making a couple extra payments to shave a few years off.

Guys, go to bankrate.com and check mortgage rates at 0800, 1000, and 1200 EST tomorrow. Go with the lowest lender. I checked today when we were talking at work. It was 2.125 for a 10, 2.25 for a 15, and 2.625 for a 30. You don't have to put in any private info and just call whoever the lowest rate is. Today it was sebonic. This is how I got my 2.625 15 year... back in 2016.

The financial types will say leverage up and get that money to working for you. I cannot argue with that from just a financial standpoint but I had the opportunity to pay my house off in 1995. It was the best thing I ever did. No house payments and no car payments. I sleep like a baby every night.

I went with paying down the mortgage refinanced at 2.9% for long term security in case our career situation changes.

Look at your cashflow and see if by taking x amount of money, you can reduce your outlays an appreciable amount or pay off a debt. If so, it makes sense to do so. If not, save it for an investment or a rainy day.

You should look at refinancing regardless (either lower your rate or lower your term). We were only about 18 months in on a mortgage so I refinanced. Saves me about 500 or so a month, which is more than worth it.

Difficult to give advice without knowing your financial situation - income, savings, future income, extra cash amount, monthly expenses, savings rate, age, etc....
Also, how many years left on your mortgage?

Here is what I'm getting this morning.

Rates (resized).png

Everyone is different and it really comes down to how many years left on your mortgage and what rate you can get where you live.

SharedScreenshot (resized).jpg

Yep. This morning my local bank is at 3.75 for a no points 20 yr refi. Bankrate has randos at around 3.00 for no points.

Briggs and Stratton declared bankruptcy. I consider this a harbinger of things to come, soon. No, its not due to electric/ cordless tool share rising( though this is a factor).
Nor the fact a new Chineese "Clone" engine can be purchased for 100 dollars (this didn't help).
Or the fact Briggs engines have gotten poorer in quality for years (and more expensive).
They enjoyed 85% of the Market share of small engines up until recently.
They simply borrowed too much, paid too much in bonuses, cheapened quality by moving much production out of the US, and now become the new Kodak.

Of note, rates change multiple times throughout the day. If you are looking, check several times during banking hours. A 15 year fixed jumped up 1/2 a point as far as what was available for me in the past 5 hours.

rates2 (resized).png

Had not heard about B&S. This article goes into more details about the issues that they are having and their plan forward.

I do think the battery operated is having an impact. Outside of my lawn tractor and pressure washer, I have switched completely to electric and have been elated. I know others have as well. With the ease of operation and now more regulatory and local ordinances for things like noise, a lot of places are forcing people to go electric. There is a lot of commercial-grade electric lawn care out now with more on the way that operators are beginning to pivot to.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2020/07/20/briggs-stratton-small-engine-maker-files-bankruptcy-protection/5473165002/

When I bought my house the housing market had been on fire for a couple of years. In 1977, I could had bought a small house for $15,000.00, but I did not have any money. Two years later that same house was selling for around $33,000.00. The market had been like that all over the country.

When I could finally buy, it was one of those now $33K houses. Mortgage interest rates were 10%. And you still had to pay points.

I thought this was a stock board. Doesn’t anyone want to talk about Tesla?

What's to talk about? It's a cult with a stock price that's not based on reality.

I sold all my TSLA back in early 2017. So, no... I don't want to talk about Tesla.

Every time I look at TSLA I tell myself they are way overvalued...and then it shoots up another 50%.

Sold my APT shares at $28.00 thinking it had peaked

So many overvalued stocks atm, is it because so many new young investors joining the share markets ?

https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/afterpay-zip-tech-bubble-2-222312459.html

So was today a "buy the dip" or "take the money and run" day?

It’s a “trailing stops activated” kind of day

There is a growing sensation that the DOW will drop back to 20K before the end of the year. So while its tempting to chase the FAANG/FAZER/TSLA/etc type stocks now, you've got a better than even chance of chase those rabbits down the hole, and having no funds to invest at the "bottom". COVID and ELECTIONS are two big emotional influences.

Obviously everyone needs to decide for themselves, but if you are invested fully (i am), find stocks with less emotion. More fundementals. TSLA is NOT one of those.

Here's a fun play: AMZ is reporting on July-30th, my predication is they will knock it out of the park. As hard as it is to drop $3k/share today, you might find a quick 10-15% kick short-term. The reason I say to consider AMZ is their business model FUNDEMENTALLY addresses the new normal. The work from home mentality. People won't want to go to retail shops for another year. They have the selection and fair prices people want. And they can deliver nearly anything ina few days.

AMZN is my favorite stock and my largest holding. I don’t think they are going to have blow out quarter (this time). Sure everyone is buying stuff from them like crazy but there are huge costs associated with that. They had to hire and train a ton of people and then spent a huge amount of cash to make things Covid safe. What has happened is a large amount of brick and mortar shoppers have now converted to buying online. Nobody does online shopping better than Amazon. During this time Amazon also was able to expand overseas. These are huge wins for Amazon that will eventually translate into sizable profits. Amazon’s long term prospects look outstanding.

Exactly the point. Their LONG TERM prospects are outstanding. You can play the swings right now, but I still hold a bunch of AMZ from way back when. People that want to casually get in and out may be about to buy today at 3000 and sell in a week for 3500... before they see it drop to 2800 in 90 days... (that kind of thing). In every case, buy value stocks!

I am wondering 2 things

1) How far will The Fed let the market pull back before it starts jawboning it back up again?

and

2) If this next round of the Covid gets worse, will The Fed still have enough juice left in its quiver ( mixed metaphors ) to talk it back up again?

Oh and 3,

3) Will the election have any effect, at all?

Can Amazon continue to sell counterfeit goods via their marketplace without repercussions? Quite a scheme they have connecting buyers and sellers and skimming off the top of every transaction. Sure they can claim ignorance, make good on refunds and sometimes shut down sellers but c'mon.

Imagine getting caught passing counterfeit money at your bank and just offering to replace the bad bill and go your merry way

"Unlimited"

Lots of good information in here, thanks all. I got completely lucky and bought 1000 shares of WKHS (Small potatoes I understand ) at $5.88 right as they were running up. Not sure if I should hold, or sell and wait for the dip?

Click, click, click. Seatbelts on folks.
....and here we gooooooo!!!!!
Im buying something on the dip today.
Studying my options, no pun intended.

Yep, another good day to swoop in and acquire some low hanging fruit!

keupvzpoaxd51 (resized).png

The game is rigged.

https://www.ccn.com/something-stinks-kodak-insider-trading-not-executives/

I ran into an article just a few days ago regarding Kodak and its stock. I cant remember what caught my eye about the headline, because when i looked at the stock, it was like $2 dollars for quite some time. I don't think there was any mention of the loan in the article and I'm trying to remember why they thought it was a good buy, but I'm going to see if I can find it. I wish i would have bought that day lol.

Crappy GE is beginning to look like a buy. I think it can double in the next year from this price.

I could not find the exact article, but it was basically the same as this and was released on Monday. "Shares are up, should you buy?" No mention of an impending loan.

https://www.investorsobserver.com/news/stock-update/eastman-kodak-company-kodk-stock-climbs-9-38-this-week-should-you-buy

They have been shedding business units trying to become profitable again.

Yes they have and I think the bottom is near. I was going to try and hold out for below 6 but it might not get there.

I'd hold for that $6 personally. I've owned GE for years and not just a couple shares either.
I cut my holdings to Half when it hit $7.51. Regretted it a little since it went up a little after, and Div paying soon. Still made the dividends and wishing I'd sold all of it.
However, while back I mentioned companies to big to fail backed by government contracts. So, it will do great in future.
But no way it doubles. Like Atari said above they have sold several aspects of company.
So buy at $60 ish, then when your at 25% up, then sell.
And speaking of dips on market past couple days....Ive been buying RTX Raytheon like crazy. Keeps going lower every day, so I buy more everyday. This stock long term will have tremendous upside and dividends are damn good. This one will double+, may take 6-12 months, but it will double.

At this point is the stock market any different than going down to the track and putting money on the ponies?

Kramer "investing" in KODK on July 27th...

I have been considering RTX for a while now
Bottomed out perhaps ?

4 for 1. This was one heck of a great day.

Yes, unless you were buying stocks the week of March 18th!! That day changed stock history. That's for another time.
Disclosure-- I also worked with Raytheon radars for 10 years. Little biased, they make great stuff. Fast forward 30 years, Ive always kept an eye on this stock.
There also a company not so directed towards the effects of 2020. There set up for decades to come. BA...Boeing is another really good stock. Its taken a beating directed towards world travel and 737. But long term, there not going anywhere. Here to stay companies, think 20 years. Thats why AMZ, Apple, Amazon are also long term solid buys. But, dont spend 3k a share on Amazon! Wait for Long to buy that one. IT will have a 30% dip, give it time.

PINS Pinterest +$7 per share, up 28%

Listen to the the conference call

AAPL, AMZN, SE, LVGO, etc.

Look through the short term to the vaccine and the ultimate destination. "In the ditch" is next up.

GL fellas

How big was that truck you backed up to APPL at $300?

Own 1500 shares of PIN Ice

Ice you were right - This is a pickers market which is shaping up to have select big winners during this down time we are all in. I owned mostly Diversified sectors of ETFs/mutual funds and had little stocks but I realized I needed to flip my portfolio to stocks, which I did over the last few months.

60% of my portfolio is now in a mix of AMZN APPL AYX CRWD DOCU FB FSLY MELI TTD PD ETSY SE LVGO NVTA MSFT GOOG NVDA OKTA PYPL PINS ROKU SQ TSLA TWLO and for later on DIS and SPG. I don’t day trade these. All long term keepers. I want to see what happens with them.

Still have some ETF’s QQQ ARKW ARKG IGV

I also still have 25% cash for a rainy day to buy dips or value/comeback stocks later. My cash protects my portfolio and keeps me humble. I never once wished I went “all in” the market even with my stocks gains. I know these gains are not locked in and things can turn fast. We are in a shit time right now and I know this. I don’t feel good about things in the short term. Who does? Mid to longer term I feel like things will be good though, even really good. Hope it does work out this way. Will see how things play out.

Thanks for triggering me to change the way I do things Ice!

Not as big as the one last Jan 2019 when it hit $145

Don't you love all those idiot analysts that don't get it and were wrong all the way up. That's what you get when you value businesses on old metrics and don't look to the future.

Where did Dan Niles go? Doubling down on his short position at $250 a few months ago.

Great job Pinny! I see you added ETSY from our boy Andras. That was a previous Motley rec too

Andres who? Just kidding. He is the man. He even chats with his subscribers and answers direct questions also!? The $23 a month he charges is insanely low! Thanks for mentioning him Ice! Some of the Motley Fool subscriptions look interesting also, but more expensive and some are even sold out?

https://seekingalpha.com/checkout?service_id=mp_1180

Risky but now I just buy the full chunk of a new position I want all at once now and did ETSY the full amount a few days ago. Looks like earnings will be Aug 5th. Should be fun.