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Barack Obama Wants to Reward FBs


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2007 Aug 29, 2:57am   30,640 views  270 comments

by Randy H   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

I don't follow politics for myriad reasons. I know that pretty much every Congressman and every Presidential hopeful is falling all over themselves to buy as many votes as they can -- business as usual. But I do know that the Obama crowd prides their candidate on his integrity and high ethical bar.

Well, Mr. Obama writes in Todays Financial Times "Comment" section:

Fine unscrupulous mortgage lenders

The implosion of the subprime lending industry is more than a temporary blip on our economic progress. It is a cancer that, given today's integrated financial markets, threatens to spread with devastating impact to housing and to our economy as a whole, unless we act to contain it.

Already I'm sure many of you will take some exception to Mr. Obama's statement. Myself, I don't see too much trouble with his concern; and I also think that the government has some role in providing stability to the core banking structure.

I'll go on, quoting the more objectionable excerpts. To Mr. Obama's credit, he does want to aggressively go after lenders who committed fraud, used deceptive tactics, or systematically exploited the elderly or minorities. To his detriment, not a single word was uttered about regulating or punishing the real-estate industry. I guess even a principled candidate has to be careful which lobbies he crosses.

This all started as a good idea -- helping people buy homes who previously could not afford to.

[...]

Today, as we weigh our options on how to best resolve this crisis, many argue that bailing out the borrowers and investors will just encourage them to engage in more of the same irresponsible practices.

[...]

The real victims in this crisis are the millions of borrowers who followed the rules, whose only crime was taking out mortgages lenders told them they could afford. Normally these borrowers could avoid foreclosure by refinancing their mortgages or selling their homes. The problem today is that they cannot refinance because no one will lend to them, and they cannot sell because the housing market has fallen. With some arguing that the effects of the worst subprime loans will not be felt until 2008 and 2009, this may be just the beginning.

We need to help struggling borrowers to weather this storm. One way to protect innocent homeowners -- at least until this crisis passes -- is to establish a fund to help people refinance or sell to avoid foreclosure.

[...]

That is why I have proposed a Home Score system that would create a simplified, standardised[sic] metric for home mortgages -- rather like the annual percentage rate (APR), the effective interest rate a borrower ends up paying on a loan -- allowing prospective home buyers easily to compare various mortgage products so they can find out whether they can afford to make the payments.

[...]

Owning a home represents a big part of the American dream and all Americans -- no matter what their income level -- should have the power to reach for that dream.

[...]

If we are serious about stopping this crisis [...] Washington needs to stop acting like an industry advocate and start acting like a public advocate.

I'll let you guys defend Barack or rip him apart. I'm not sure why Washington should necessarily advocate either side of the ownership/industry value chain, but I can see how this rhetoric gains populist votes.

One point for Mr. Obama: APR is not the same as EAR. You might want to get get someone on staff who actually knows something about markets, finance and economics before you go making a fool of yourself in the Financial Times.

--Randy H

#politics

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136   skibum   2007 Aug 30, 3:55am  

Randy H,

I just lost my lunch looking at those pics. Yowza!

On a serious note, therin lies the genius of Linden Labs that you must give them props for. They are mining a more or less neglected demographic, and they are sucking them dry with their business model. Gotta give them credit for that.

137   SFWoman   2007 Aug 30, 4:06am  

I guess Ron Paul is even more of a bear than I am :

http://tinyurl.com/ypy478

138   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 4:07am  

My eyes!!!

The Yiffys are the least offensive ones.

139   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 4:08am  

Looks like our own blog parties have much more grace.

140   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 4:10am  

SFWoman, perhaps Google/YouTube will propel Ron Paul into the White House?

141   Randy H   2007 Aug 30, 4:12am  

@SFWoman

Sadly, Yiffys are real. One of the writers of CSI (Miami?) is very plugged into the gamer-culture. There have been a couple of episodes that touched on the darker recesses of gaming. There was one where some deviant was acting out a GTA plot.

More about "furry fanbois" can be found on Wiki, though the article mainly tries to show how normal these folk are. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furry_fandom

I think the subculture came out of anime/manga/hentai and found an interactive outlet in online games.

142   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 4:26am  

Sorry to interrupt this thread, but I just need to know what you all think.

You guys and gals might want to join in on this thread on city-data dot com; or at least see what is posted there.

I joined up and immediately started getting what they call "infractions" (de-merits?) for the wrong reasons; supposedly if you get a certain amount of these, they bann you. I put up shillers graph and they deleted it because they claim it "violates copyright" and even though I explained that it isn't a copyright violation and that it is posted all over the internet, they just ignored me and didn't respond back. I kept my posts very clean and there was no reason any of them should be removed; but they went right ahead and deleted some of them anyway.

Then they said I am getting 2 more points ("infractions") because I am violating their TOS by using my web-site name LongIslandBubble for my handle; their TOS reads:

Only one screen name is permitted per user. Your screen name may not be your email, business name or your profession, this would be advertising, and is forbidden.

I explained that the name LongIslandBubble is not an email name or a business (since I do not make any money) or a profession (bubbletition perhaps?); so I am not violating any of their TOS at least any that they haven't made up yet. :roll:

Patrick.net has always been an open-minded forum that allows both bulls and bears to interact as long as noone attacks each other. It's a shame that all forums aren't like this; especially forums like city-data dot com that only allow the bull$hitters and eliminate the bears.

I'd like to know what you think about how these biased, one-sided forums that favor the bulls over the bears by eliminating anyone who says anything negative about the housing market; even while it is obviously deteriorating. I thought these forums were about sharing information; whether it be good news or bad news as long as the information is true.

What do you all think?

143   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 4:31am  

What do you all think?

Just let them drink their own Kool Aid. They can do what they want. It is a free market. :)

144   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 4:35am  

By the way, Ron Paul is the only one worth voting for, the others are all socialists!

145   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 4:41am  

Just let them drink their own Kool Aid. They can do what they want. It is a free market.

Yes, but do you agree that they are conspiring against me, or do you think I am over-reacting?

Read the thread, it's a pretty good one!

146   EBGuy   2007 Aug 30, 4:47am  

In truth, I’m not sure the letter from “Linda” is genuine.
Thank you Randy, the letter is hilarious but it would be truly frightening to think of Linda as an actual Realtor.
Also, since I regularly harangue Randy about Mill Valley prices... the July DQ numbers show a 10% drop in the median home price (year over year) and a horrendous monthly drop from June -- which I suppose correlates nicely with his recent on the ground observations.
For me, the question of the hour is what will become of CAR's First-Time Homebuyers Affordability Index? Come on Obama, how about some Senate hearings on the REIC. Wouldn't you love to hears this.
Sen. Obama: Ms Appleton-Young, is it true that the California Association of Realtors recommended that first time buyers use an ARM and spend up to 40% of their income on their mortgage, taxes and insurance.
Ms. Appleton-Young: Its just an index that reflects the reality of the marketplace. Hey, we have to make a living somehow. Its not our fault. Mortgage brokers are evil. [breaks down sobbing]

147   e   2007 Aug 30, 4:50am  

I’d like to know what you think about how these biased, one-sided forums that favor the bulls over the bears by eliminating anyone who says anything negative about the housing market; even while it is obviously deteriorating. I thought these forums were about sharing information; whether it be good news or bad news as long as the information is true.

I say join them. Help them help the hype. Get everyone there to buy with 0% down and a neg am loan.

148   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 4:52am  

Yes, but do you agree that they are conspiring against me, or do you think I am over-reacting?

They are conspiring against reality. But that applies to all kool-aid drinkers.

149   DennisN   2007 Aug 30, 5:03am  

Tell them to invest heavily in Detroit real estate. We're going to win in Iraq any day now and oil's going back to $5 a barrel, so Ford and GM will hire hundreds of thousands of new workers in Detroit. Tell them to hurry before word gets out!

150   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 5:16am  

Tell them to invest heavily in Detroit real estate. We’re going to win in Iraq any day now and oil’s going back to $5 a barrel, so Ford and GM will hire hundreds of thousands of new workers in Detroit. Tell them to hurry before word gets out!

I can't because they already suspended my account.

By the way, take a look at the last post; a fellow Long Islander who agrees with me and is telling them about a house he bought in 2002 and was lucky enough to get out in time only to just break even.

151   SFWoman   2007 Aug 30, 5:21am  

Allah,

They conspired against you. They are TERRIFIED and their arguments don't hold up well, or they wouldn't have a problem with a point of view that's different than their own. At least they didn't accuse you of being unpatriotic or aiding and giving comfort to terrorists.

152   DinOR   2007 Aug 30, 5:28am  

Allah,

If some of those price reductions don't look frantic, I don't know what does?! Some of them came in as little as a week. (Doesn't exactly inspire confidence now does it?)

I talk regularly with an internal wholesaler for ____ firm and he is a HUGE fan of yours!

153   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 5:35am  

They conspired against you. They are TERRIFIED and their arguments don’t hold up well, or they wouldn’t have a problem with a point of view that’s different than their own. At least they didn’t accuse you of being unpatriotic or aiding and giving comfort to terrorists.

SFWoman,

That is confirmed now. I just realized that they also deleted the graphic of the inventory on Long Island as well as the ARM reset schedule; those were the first two graphics; you can see they replaced them with "moderator cut : personal website". It wasn't even a link to a website, I uploaded those pictures directly to the site; no those pictures are "too scawy, we can't have that here!".

154   EBGuy   2007 Aug 30, 5:44am  

It has begun. Ginnie Mae announces, "We don't need no stinkin' conforming loan limit". Its only saving grace:
Frenz said in the memo that Ginnie Mae will continue to require that the borrower's downpayment plus the amount of the VA guaranty be equal to at least 25 percent of the purchase price or the home's value, whichever is less.

155   DinOR   2007 Aug 30, 5:51am  

"too scawy"

I've heard little children say that so many times. (Now I know how it's spelled!)

156   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 5:51am  

If some of those price reductions don’t look frantic, I don’t know what does?! Some of them came in as little as a week. (Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence now does it?)

I talk regularly with an internal wholesaler for ____ firm and he is a HUGE fan of yours!

DinOr,

I have thousands of these price reductions; some are as high as 30% or more and I'm not talking about sale price, I'm talking about an asking price that is still not pullin any interest!

Here's an example:
mls#1991137
614 Bayview Ave, Bellport, NY
-30.4% change from first recorded price
Asking Price $195k as of 08/24/2007
Asking Price $280k as of 08/14/2007

Tell your friend from ____ firm, thanks!

157   DennisN   2007 Aug 30, 5:56am  

And now for something completely different:

www.cbhhomes.com/viewpage.aspx?ID=424

Corey Barton (known locally as "Hurry Build'em") was giving 6 months free mortgage payments lately in order to sell houses. Now they are going to try eBay. You can't say they aren't willing to try anything to move unsold inventory.

158   DinOR   2007 Aug 30, 6:03am  

DennisN,

Gawd! That's funny, especially the neon "Reserve not met". And this is ID!? But... but.. bu.

159   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:03am  

The feds say housing is still going up; guess we don't have to worry about a loanowner bailout :lol:

160   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:05am  

Corey Barton (known locally as “Hurry Build’em”) was giving 6 months free mortgage payments lately in order to sell houses. Now they are going to try eBay. You can’t say they aren’t willing to try anything to move unsold inventory.

Ah, great! Always wanted a house in Idaho; I can grow potatoes in my backyard....I bit $10k!

161   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:09am  

Probably a bunch of realtor's ring bidding the price up and hoping some sheep come along.

162   skibum   2007 Aug 30, 6:15am  

The feds say housing is still going up; guess we don’t have to worry about a loanowner bailout

Remember the idea of the "rolling boom" in real estate? Seems like a joke now. Well, this must be the "rolling bust."

163   skibum   2007 Aug 30, 6:20am  

allah,

Seriously, though, between the OFHEO data you cited and the GDP data released today (yes, our economy is still healthily expanding!), I find it hard to imagine how the Fed can cut the Fed Funds rate in the face of this and other data without it being completely obvious to everyone that they are trying to bail out Wall Street.

Bendover Ben truly has a fine line to walk. We'll see how he does.

164   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:25am  

Seriously, though, between the OFHEO data you cited and the GDP data released today (yes, our economy is still healthily expanding!), I find it hard to imagine how the Fed can cut the Fed Funds rate in the face of this and other data without it being completely obvious to everyone that they are trying to bail out Wall Street.

I agree. You know, I think Bernanke is just putting this info out so he could make an excuse to not cut short term rates; I think if they start cutting those rates now, the foreigners are going to be pissed! ...and that won't sit well with the greenback.

165   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:35am  

There is one bear still on this thread kicking all the bulls a$$es!

I'd like to join in, but they suspended my account!

166   e   2007 Aug 30, 6:45am  

>>614 Bayview Ave, Bellport, NY

Whoa - wow is that house cheap. It's livable and everything!

Compare that to http://www.burbed.com/2007/08/30/easy-cummuting-at-this-425-fixer-upper-near-alum-rock/

167   DinOR   2007 Aug 30, 6:46am  

"rolling bust"

In spite of the humor you intended, that may well play out skibum!

Rolling corrections are not entirely unheard of. We may stumble along and find what "looks" like support in the housing market only to find what we thought was solid ground turned out to be a trap door!?

In fact, the more I think about it the more it seems likely. Again Randy H would describe this as "stickiness".

168   e   2007 Aug 30, 6:49am  

Wow, there's some pretty awful advice on that thread:

http://www.city-data.com/long-island/144309-why-would-someone-want-buy-into-6.html

If you had bought that house in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, you would have enough equity now that you could ride out this market and never worry about it.

You are suffering from Analysis Paralysis. You buy a home for your family when you can afford to.

Putting your life on hold for 6 years because you are worried about statistics and the conditions of a global market you have zero control over is just going to make you nuts. In ten years you'll be saying the same thing... just about a different market with different circumstances.

Get a deal, buy the house, raise your kids... in 10+ years you won't care about this at all. Home prices are not going to fall for another 7 years unless the economy craps out for 7 years too. And if that happens... stock up on shotgun shells, gasoline, and beef tallow.

I guess in some ways its right "buy a house when you need it" - but the phrasing is generally so bogus.

169   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:53am  

>>614 Bayview Ave, Bellport, NY

Whoa - wow is that house cheap. It’s livable and everything!

Please, don't start this again! If you like the house, buy it!

170   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:54am  

Wow, there’s some pretty awful advice on that thread:

They're all bulls on that thread and they do everything they can to keep the bears off; I started the thread, they removed all the graphics I put up and suspended my account!

171   skibum   2007 Aug 30, 6:55am  

eburbed,

Even for your site, that Alum Rock house is truly a sight to behold. I didn't realize there were shotgun houses in San Hosebag. It looks Depression-era to me. How exactly would a contractor "breathe new life" into that thing?

I shouldn't comment on the "cum-muting" typo...

172   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 6:56am  

It's funny how the moderators suspend my account and then posted that.

173   Peter P   2007 Aug 30, 6:59am  

I shouldn’t comment on the “cum-muting” typo…

Don't be a "hippocrit." ;)

174   OO   2007 Aug 30, 7:40am  

Allah,

I went to the link you posted, their Intelius site is so behind the curve. They are trying to charge me $14.95 for information that I could get at propertyshark for free. What kind of loser web2.0 are they?

The city data they posted for the neighborhoods that I know is more out-dated than wikipedia. That site has nothing useful to offer.

175   Allah   2007 Aug 30, 9:21am  

I went to the link you posted, their Intelius site is so behind the curve. They are trying to charge me $14.95 for information that I could get at propertyshark for free. What kind of loser web2.0 are they?

The city data they posted for the neighborhoods that I know is more out-dated than wikipedia. That site has nothing useful to offer.

OO,

I didn't even know they had anything like that; I was just brought there by a google search. That site is heavily biased; probably run by realtors. Mention anything negative about the market...you get an infraction by the web police!

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