MARKET COMMENTARY on MARKET COMMENTARY on Monday: 05/12/08 10:30 AM EDT : April is obviously a heavy tax receipt month and in April of last year, revenue exceeded outlays by $177.7 billion. But due to the economic slowdown, last month's surplus is expected to be lower at about $158.0 billion. This would put the running total for the fiscal year to date (begun last October) at a deficit of $153.4 billion. This is much larger than the $80.8 billion deficit for the same period in the 2007 fiscal year.On Friday, the report on housing starts for last month will be released. In the last report, the Commerce Department said the seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of housing starts fell in March by 11.9% from February's 1.075 million to 947,000, the lowest pace in seventeen years. Most analysts believe the housing slide has not bottomed yet. The starts pace is expected to have declined once again to between 925,000 and 940,000. The rate of building permit issuance is expected to have fallen to about 910,000. -- Our Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or renter. This month's issue includes topics such as: "First Time Buyers' Dos And Don'ts"; "Taking The Real Estate Investment Plunge"; "Tax Rebate Uses For Buyers"; "Review The Landscape Before You Buy Or Sell"; "Housing Bills Will Help Homeowners And Economy".