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yeah, and nothing gets proofread, and his 'assistant' knows nothing about property... that's why his books are full of simple misheard bloopers of common real estate terms... happens a lot in book publishing... altho kiyosaki wasn't making much money to pay an assistant before writing the books, now i think of it... he WAS involved in amway and scientology tho...
looks like the Oz Fed will raise interest rates a few more times soon to head off inflation from oil price rises...
Off topic:
OMFG - taken from a thread at the SDCIA message board. I'm not a member, so can't riposte there, but I thought you might enjoy a "funny" this morning..
STAGING FAQ'S...
My house isn’t worth being “professionally stagedâ€â€¦
Even spending a mere $500 for an initial consultation should net you thousands in return and speed of sale based upon statistical data. In the previous statistics, unless the house is under 50K this argument is invalid.
The housing market is good and my house doesn’t need to be staged to sell…
You’re right. Every house will sell…it’s a matter of when and for how much. Even if your house sells quickly in a good market, it doesn’t mean it sold for the amount it would have sold for had it been professionally staged. Remember, professionally staged homes sell on a conservative average for 6%+ more*. If your home sold for 400K unstaged it probably would have sold for 425K staged.
Why can’t I just stage my own home?
Home sellers are usually incapable of successfully staging their own home. Why? Because our homes are like our children, we don’t always see all of its flaws. We’ve gotten used to the way it looks and in fact it is difficult emotionally to change it. If you can’t view something objectively then you are unable to market and package it effectively. Not to mention most home sellers don't "stage" homes everyday so the idea that they can expertly transform their own home is a bit silly. That’s what professionals are for and that is where the greatest returns come in.
Can’t homebuyers use their imagination and look past the décor?
Only a mere 10% of homebuyers can actually visualize the potential of a home. This is why having a vacant home professionally staged is so important. Buyers cannot visualize size and scale so furniture helps to give them a frame of reference.
OK, I can just about stomach the first few points, but this one really takes the biscuit.
YES - homebuyers CAN visualise past your nasty glass furniture! In fact, don't put it there in the first place! I'll only have to move it (and possibly break it, don't I wish...) while I'm busy measuring up, tapping walls, looking at flooring and generally checking the place out.
What kind of fool wouldn't bring thier own tapemeasure when viewing a house?
Someone on the thread proudly pointed out that they spent something like $6K to have thier house 'staged'.
Why - in the name of all that's holy - why not just reduce the price by $6K and let the buyers figure it out for themselves?
It appears that, indeed, I AM a child that needs leading by the left nostril while viewing a house, just in case I miss the fabulous glass coffee table - which hopefully won't be there when I actually take possession of the place.
OK, rant over. Normal service is resumed.
SmartMoney magazine (Karma Chameleon by Eleanor Laise, February 2003, pages 97-103) provides the best summary of Kiyosaki's deceptions regarding Rich Dad.
When questioned by Laise, Kiyosaki gave this string of answers regarding Rich Dad's existence.
1. "Rich Dad passed away at around the same time as his biological father -- in 1992."
2. "Two weeks later...Kiyosaki [claims] Rich Dad...is very much alive -- he's just a reclusive invalid."
3. Later when asked again, Kiyosaki "insists there was an original Rich Dad, but he admits that the character in the books is actually a 'composite' of seven different mentors..."
4. When pressed further, "Kiyosaki finally loses his cool. 'Is Harry Potter real?' he demands. 'Why don't you let Rich Dad be a myth, like Harry Potter? The real issue is, am I credible?'"
No, Mr. Kiyosaki, you are not credible. A man or woman is only credible by telling the truth. Liars are not credible.
Kiyosaki's Imagination: "Sometimes I even start the company and take it public [i.e., an "initial public offering" or IPO]." (page 90)
In Reality: SmartMoney was only able to get the name of one such company from Kiyosaki, "Yamana Resources [now Yamana Gold, Inc.], a gold exploration company that trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange. And if he had anything to do with Yamana's IPO, that comes as a surprise to the company's founder and CEO, Victor Bradley. Kiyosaki's only connection is that he owned shares of Platero Resources, a privately held mining exploration company that Yamana bought in 2001 -- six years after Yamana went public."
etc...
Problem #4 - Kiyosaki's Many Other Fabrications
that's 2 guys and 2 finance magazines and a failure to verify any of kiyosaki's claims now...
The NAR has published their Q2 existing home sales volume data:
http://www.realtor.org/PublicAffairsWeb.nsf/Pages/2ndQtrStateResales06?OpenDocument
as well as the Q2 2006 Metro-Area existing home sales data:
http://www.realtor.org/PublicAffairsWeb.nsf/Pages/2ndQtrMetros06?OpenDocument
Check out the linked tables too. Some tidbits: CA 2006 Q2 sales volume is down YoY -25% (no surprise there), and the fun fact the NAR spin-blurbs fail to mention is that YoY prices in many areas are flat or negative. SJ area is "up" 0.4% and SF area is up 3.4% YoY. Last I checked, neither of these numbers beats inflation. In fact, the national median home price is only up 3.7%, which is a close call with inflation, depending on which "real" inflation number you believe.
Interestingly, the areas that still have double digit price appreciation are areas that are later into the bubble game like Portland, Spokane (sorry MA and DinOR), VA Beach, SLC, and oddly enough, lots of FLA (sorry George). If the current pattern continues, it looks like Learah's "rolling boom" will become a "rolling bust" too.
Hey, can someone get my post out of moderation? I'm guessing it's the multiple links???
Just saw a segement on Kron4 about the housing bubble - their take on sales being 25% down, it’s been expected nothing to worry about - and the presenter concludes - don’t panic, just be patient to sell your house, or maybe buy a house and get in on it, you know?
I think the fact of the matter is that the Peninsula and South Bay are going for soft landing, mild decline - not as many FBs as the East Bay.
The East Bay is mega f'ed. Pen and SB are going to be fine. :(
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/15269667.htm
The trend to tap equity seems especially prevalent in the East Bay, primarily because of the white-hot housing boom in the region. Valentine, who has hundreds of clients, sees differences in the portfolio mix of his East Bay and Peninsula customers.
“Among my East Bay clients, I often see a person’s retirement plan and equity in their home comprise well over 90 percent of their net worth,†Valentine said. “Among Peninsula clients, it’s only about 50 percent.â€
Valentine believes South Bay clients tend to have more individual stocks and bonds, or wealth accumulated from venture-capital investment than is the case with East Bay clients, who have gained wealth from rising home values over the past 15 years.
Data specific to the East Bay seem to confirm that. In May 2004, the value of the average refinance mortgage was about $333,000. In May 2005, that climbed 17 percent to $390,000. In May 2006, it went up an additional 7 percent, to $417,000.
But tapping the equity in your house constantly, or cutting back on saving for retirement because of rising home values, can backfire, warned George Feiger, an executive with Berkeley-based Contango Capital Advisors.
“You are mortgaging your future,†Feiger said. “If you borrow money on the house, you have to pay the interest. That’s cash out of your pocket. So, you are betting not only on the house value appreciating in the future, you also need enough cash flow to service that debt.â€
LILLL,
We should put together a "Housing ATM Debt Clock"? Then run the defaults side by side with all the public HB's and with a "premium subscription" live streaming quotes of all the Mortgage Backed Securities ETF's.
Yeah, that would be cool.
Seems they found a renter in 3 days for one at $6200/mo which is cflo positive.
That IS depressing, though I'd image the pool of renters who could afford this much AND haven't yet bought a place must be miniscule. I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about stupid people in the 0.0001% top income percentile.
But 6200/month is just the low-end opportunity cost of around 1.5M. I bet the McMansion "worths" more than that?
SFWoman,
Yea, Strawberry is pretty transient for remodelers, temporary corporate re-locations, etc. The effect is pronounced though, as the home prices there continue to post healthy YoY gains despite everything else around there slowing.
I only mentioned this because it is an example of why there is clumpy sticky price action. Strawberry is just one neighborhood of many like this sprinkled throughout the BA. These are not the neighborhoods to watch if you're trying to time the bottom. It's very easy to underestimate the tremendous amount of wealth that props up these types of communities. Strawberry isn't Belvedere/Atherton/Woodside etc. Most of the people there have to work. But very few are likely to be forced into selling at 50% off. All they'll do is rearrange their portfolios and find new hobbies for their flipping spouses.
I'm not so sure the $6200/mo level demand will be much affected by a recession. People paying that kind of money for rent aren't price shopping, and usually represent the upper 2-3 levels of corporate management, high-income professional services, or successfully self-employed/entrepreneurial types. Recessions are just "take from the poor and give to the rich" periods, after all.
[The theatre is on fire...]
Please do not rush to the exit, and if you are running, please crawl. It "falsely" signals to the moviegoers that their lives are in danger.
But 6200/month is just the low-end opportunity cost of around 1.5M. I bet the McMansion “worths†more than that?
The lesser of those homes start around $1.5M. The three people I know who live there are roughly $2.4M, $3.5M, and one that's maybe $4.0M.
The lesser of those homes start around $1.5M. The three people I know who live there are roughly $2.4M, $3.5M, and one that’s maybe $4.0M.
So 6200 is a bargain! :)
One of the options my wife and I considered was making arrangements with a luxury rental place in Las Vegas? Some rent for as much as 20K a month (so I'm pretty sure that ain't happening) but others which seemed every bit as nice were going for as little as 5K per month. Not only furnished but additionally had the kitchen completely outfitted and stocked with essentials.
We felt (b/c nobody seems to know what LV homes should be priced at) that this may be a good short to medium term solution. It's definitely easier and more straight forward then BUYING a place you'd be lucky to use 2 months out of the year and then YOU having to worry about an either rented or empty (abandoned) home the other 10+ months out of the year!
SFWoman,
Uh, could someone refresh my memory here. Is this the same "15% is in the bag for Orange County" Gary Watts? Or is this a different guy? If so, how did we get from 15% in the bag to, "Please don't make your desperation to unload your overpriced pos so damn obvious"?
Some rent for as much as 20K a month
I will not be surprised because I heard some hotels charge that much per day.
The lesser of those homes start around $1.5M. The three people I know who live there are roughly $2.4M, $3.5M, and one that’s maybe $4.0M.
My, we move in exclusive circles, don't we ;-). Please remember to toss me a few truffles and filet bones when I pass through the neighborhood, m'key?
Peter P,
You know, I've heard those kind of numbers being thrown around by high end hotels but just because Robin Leach tells me that Mick Jagger paid 20K a night doesn't necessarily make it so? Or was "Sir" Elton?
Some of the homes in LV rent by the week also for the many convention goers as well. You DO save by taking the whole month but by the week is still pretty reasonable.
Some of the homes in LV rent by the week also for the many convention goers as well. You DO save by taking the whole month but by the week is still pretty reasonable.
I think hotels are definitely cheaper than vacation condos. 30 nights/year at Four Seasons should cost WAY less than an IO mortgage of 1M.
What a great stock market day, by the way.
Days with thin volume and strong breakouts are always good if you've bet the right direction.
Luckily for me the more doom & gloom I kept accumulating the more I reversed my bias to the bullish side.
Peter P,
Let's say an avg. rate of $800 a night (Four SeasonsExecutive Suite) that's about 24K for the whole month. I'm not sure what an IO for a cool mil. would be but even if it WERE less, the "magic" seems to only work until midnight when the carriage turns back into a pumpkin anyway!
Not too sure how I'd feel about Mrs. DinOR brushing up on her tennis skills with the "resident pro" at the Four Seasons though?
Not too sure how I’d feel about Mrs. DinOR brushing up on her tennis skills with the “resident pro†at the Four Seasons though?
Don't worry. It does not have a tennis court onsite. ;)
And don't worry about her gambling either. It does NOT have a casino.
That said, it is too pricy. I rather wait for those $149/night special at Venetian...
MA,
I know it wasn't me. I've heard that for some time too. Can't get my mind wrapped around how exactly it is that GE and the likes are going to re-accelerate earnings and take a leadership role? In the end I guess I'm just a "widget" company guy. Last I looked Schering Plough is trading at like $19 a share? If you can deal with it call up a 10 yr. chart on SGP. Although I don't recommend it. It's too depressing.
MA, there are ETFs on S&P/Barra indexes:
http://finance.yahoo.com/etf/education/09
You may want to take a look.
not investment advice
However, SmallCap value has been outperforming LargeCap growth for quite a while:
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=my&s=IJS&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=IVW
Is it possible that the turning point is near?
The Four Seasons Mexico City is great, has enormous rooms for families, and is super cheap on weekends. The breakfast is also very, very good.
I have never been to Mexico City. How was the food in general? I never had luck with Mexican food. :(
Well they say they have a "non-gaming atmosphere" but it's RIGHT ON the Strip!
One thing I HAVE learned about marriage over the years though is sadly gambling is infinitely cheaper than shopping! It can take 12 HOURS to burn through a couple of hundred bucks at penny slots! My buddy played a marathon session at the Silverton with "Lil' Lucy" and after about 14 hours he's UP six bucks?
Let's be honest here, how long does it take going shopping (no, not Walmart) to go through say 2/300 bucks?
When it comes to excess, how much worse is a casual gambling habit (bet's on the 49'ers) than a CHRONIC shopping condition?
So you guys like small caps, I was worried that I had made a mistake, the price of the fund I have has been tanking and I was considering cutting my losses and reducing the percentage I gave it in the portfolio, unfortunately it's in a 401k plan and I don't get much choice about which funds I can pick. Also I read in a Money magazine that traders were getting out of small caps - although that was a few months ago now. They seem to give a big weighting to large caps, but I'm not so sure. What do you think about mid-caps?
Let’s be honest here, how long does it take going shopping (no, not Walmart) to go through say 2/300 bucks?
Not long enough.
When it comes to excess, how much worse is a casual gambling habit (bet’s on the 49′ers) than a CHRONIC shopping condition?
Shopping and gambling are all morally neutral bu themselves. The problem lies in the word "excess".
For me, food can be very expensive too. If I move to vegas, I will probably go broke without gambling. :)
I have been trying to consider who would fair better in a downturn, small cap versus midcap - i.e companies going bankrupt, I guess I'll know when it happens, luckily I don't have much money in the game at the minute, hopefully by the time I do, I'll be more savvy.
eburbed
Strawberry is East of 101, the little Peninsula between Seminary Dr and Blithedale Ave/Tiburon Blvd. The McMansions are located in the new development up the hill or out on the point next to the water.
Is this legal?
$900000 CASH OUT RIGHT AFTER YOU PURCHASE! BUY AND REFI, WALK AWAY WITH CASH!
You can try that, but if you walk away, you'll be on the hook for the $900K. The bankruptcy law will enforce it unless you spent it on consumables.
but this certainly is:
We can use your old appraisal, or have it reappraised for a higher amount to get more cash out!
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After a 2 year tightening cycle and 17 straight rate increases, the Fed has finally decided to pause. What do you think the Fed will do next?
Will the Fed pause again at their next meeting, or do you believe this is only a temporary reprieve? Or conversely, do you think it's possible the Fed could lower rates next time?
And most importantly, what do you think the Fed should do? What is in the best interest of the U.S. economy?
Also, will there be any real impact from the pause in the tightening cycle?
Lastly, what do you think the Fed's ultimate agenda is? Are they going to try to prop up housing to "save us" from a recession? Or do you think they will try to funnel U.S. $$ into something else, like the stock market?
#housing