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Tan-Man pleads for more government "help" to ease lending (while still under SEC Investigation)


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2007 Oct 30, 10:15am   18,809 views  130 comments

by HARM   ➕follow (0)   💰tip   ignore  

Dean Tan-man walking

LA Daily News: Foreclosures, housing slump hurting California economy

“‘The problem we are seeing now is that first-time homebuyers can’t get into the market,’ Mozilo said. ‘This is the most expensive housing market in the country and the federal government has not done anything to help ease lending.’”

And what else, pray tell, SHOULD the government have done to "ease lending" that is has not already done (which itself is the single biggest reason why houses here are so damned expensive)? The government (incl. Fed) thus far has:

1. Dropped short rates to 1% and held them there nearly 3 years.

2. Cut 50 bps when it should have been RAISING them to combat inflation/defend the USD.

3. Provided every conceivable preferential tax incentive known to mankind to inflate housing prices, including raising the capital gains "homestead' exemption to $250/500K, virtually waiving the old primary residency rule (replacing it with "any 2 will do"), generously expanding the 1031 exchange to RE, etc., etc.

4. Growing the GSEs to absorb 50% of the national mortgage market and (until recently) hiking the conforming price limit every year, regardless of how working class incomes were doing.

5. Deliberate non-enforcement of mortgage fraud laws, ignoring blatant cash-back financing scams, phantom/shill bidders, lending to illegal aliens, identity theft, allowing the NAR to run a virtual information monopoly (MLS) etc., etc.

6. No application of fiduciary rules/SOX to mortgage brokers, lax-to-nonexistent regulation of the RE industry vs. securities.

“‘Programs (like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) have the same limits for North Dakota as (they do) for Los Angeles. And no one here can buy a house with what they are offering,’ he said.”

No non-rich person in L.A. can buy a house because (a) the prices are too damn high, and (b) the NINJA-ARM easy money spigot just got turned off. $417K should be PLENTY of money to buy a run-of-the-mill middle-class house *anywhere* in the U.S., given current incomes. Putting taxpayers on the hook for even MORE bad loans will not make them more "affordable", but create an even bigger moral hazard, reward the reckless & stupid, punish the responsible & prudent, prolong the inevitable bust, and make the aftermath even worse than it already is.

“Mozilo said the problems stem from the loosened lending and credit rules in the late 1990s through 2004.”

“‘It was an easy market,’ Mozilo said. ‘People subscribed to the belief they couldn’t lose - and for a while they didn’t. Prices continued to go up. What created the problem we have now is that prices began to fall and panic set in.’”

I guess Tan-Man had to throw in a couple of truthful statements just to confuse people, though his dates are off --it should be "late 1990s through 2006". Meanwhile, the man best known for that unique orange glow may be getting measured for an orange jump suit.

Discuss, enjoy...
HARM

#housing

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1   HelloKitty   2007 Oct 30, 11:03am  

Moz wants to boost the fannie/freddie limit to 830k for CA. The NAR/CAR is heavily behind this lobbying also.

Its really out of control in LA thanks to above policies +speculation.

Most listings are between 1 and 2 million. Majority of inventory is in this price point. Literally if you search any LA city there are 10 homes at every single number in that range 10 homes for 1.75, 8 of them at 1.79, etc the huge huge huge bloated list of 1M+ homes is breathtaking to witness. Im not even talking about malibu or bev hills, just places like encino or pasadena for gawds sake.

It seems in LA the trend is to cash in and retire out of state but you need to get that high price to do so thus the sticky inventory.... what a mess.

2   Peter P   2007 Oct 30, 11:23am  

I am still counting on Ron Paul to adjust the fannie/freddie limit back to its rightful place - 0.00K.

3   HARM   2007 Oct 30, 12:22pm  

I want to be the first here to volunteer to sacrifice my family's financial future so some greedbag seller can achieve his/her dream of work-free wealth and early retirement. Because nothing is too good for Big Boomer.

*Boo!*

Happy Halloween everyone! (P.S. anyone think Tanzilo needs a costume tomorrow?)

4   OO   2007 Oct 30, 1:03pm  

I am waiting for Ron Paul to get rid of IRS entirely.

5   lunarpark   2007 Oct 30, 1:10pm  

Did you feel that?

6   B.A.C.A.H.   2007 Oct 30, 1:13pm  

I thought that by now a republican presidential candidate would've used the $417K issue to leverage red vs blue state differences, like the gay-bashing or faith-based initiatives, etc.

They can force the democrat candidates to take a stand by saying that the increase from $417K is really just to bail out overextended elite people in leftist California and NY and other such places. Rove and Bush were able to stoke such kind of resentment on other issues to win the elections.

Maybe it's because Florida is a swing state and so like here $417K is not a lot there, either.

(a few minutes later...) Hmm, just after typing the previous line and clicking submit for this note about red state schadenfreude towards us, I had to move under the doorframe during that earthquake we just experienced in the Bay Area

7   svcausguy   2007 Oct 30, 1:56pm  

LOL Yes we have the best goverment money can buy...

8   GammaRaze   2007 Oct 30, 2:21pm  

Well, if the prices crash, it will become easier for first time homebuyers (like, maybe, me) to buy houses. Shouldn't this tan man (whoever he is) be happy about it?

A crash in housing means more affordable houses for everyone!

9   StuckInBA   2007 Oct 30, 3:07pm  

Yes, it's hard not to feel a 5.6 one. My head is still hurting. Fortunately no damage. It was over before I could even panic.

10   GammaRaze   2007 Oct 30, 3:19pm  

In the peninsula (94404), I did not feel anything. Strange.

11   indianguy   2007 Oct 30, 3:34pm  

The way thngs are going, My projections for housing downturn is becoming gloomier everyday. My earlier home-buy entry point was 40% below the peak. Now I have revised it to 60% below the peak! Am I right or have I become too much of a bubble head? ;-)

12   StuckInBA   2007 Oct 30, 3:36pm  

This thread is happening on the same day when people are questioning why should Fed reduce the rates tomorrow. Rubin is criticizing "weak dollar policy". WSJ has an article that questions the need to cut rates. So many have made arguments - stock markets near their all time highs, world economy doing quite fine, dollar tanking, oil hitting new highs, many companies having the pricing power to raise prices etc. Anyways, it's a broken record.

We know they will drop rates. Logic can go kiss their behinds.

The reason for Mozillo asking for "help" is same. No point presenting facts to him. They don't have any use for facts any more. They will all try to do what they think will help themselves and their cronies. Even if it doesn't end up helping them, they will still try.

Politics and economics, it's no longer about people. Greenspan went and Bernanke came. Bush will go and another Clinton will come. No one with a spine qualifies for being leader of any sort. It's all about how good you are in manipulating. And manipulators have no use of these things that we call facts.

13   skibum   2007 Oct 30, 3:48pm  

Mozilo is just trying to save his ass and to save CFC. Their recent proclamation of turning the corner and expecting profits next year are hooey. He's desperate for a market to sell CFC's loans to, and what quicker and better way than to open the spigot at the GSE's?

RE: The Fed, they will most certainly cut tomorrow. 25 bp vs 50 bp, don't know - my guess is 25bp, but I wouldn't be surprised with another attempt at "shock and awe" with 50 bp. I have lost all faith in them holding to their mission of price stability. They are lackeys of Wall Street. Doesn't matter that the dollar is tanking, oil is flirting with $100/barrel, GLD is up. They've got Wall Street and stocks to protect!

BTW, did feel the quake here in the Peninsula...

14   HARM   2007 Oct 30, 4:45pm  

@SIBA,

Yeah, but...

Ok, I don't have a snappy come-back. You win. :-(

15   HARM   2007 Oct 30, 4:48pm  

Original Bankster,

Awesome site --thanks! I can't believe I hadn't heard about it before.

16   HelloKitty   2007 Oct 30, 5:11pm  

Price stability for the fed means home prices only in one direction --UP.

17   Bruce   2007 Oct 30, 6:42pm  

OK, here's an eye-popper:

While Mozillo is calling for additional assistance, he's receiving covert backing from Federal Home Loan Banks which are supplanting the role of FOMC. This baby will end up at the taxpayers' door in the event of default.

Read 'em and weep . . .

http://www.bloomberg.coma/pps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a_12kTFSFGU&refer=home

18   Bruce   2007 Oct 30, 6:50pm  

Damn I hate this format. How about:

http://tinyurl.com/ysy9ld

With thanks to Yves at Naked Capitalism.

19   Bruce   2007 Oct 30, 7:00pm  

I guess they pulled it?

http://tinyurl.com/2ma3me

20   Lost Cause   2007 Oct 30, 7:29pm  

It is worth repeating -- an orange birthday suit.

21   Steveoh   2007 Oct 31, 12:35am  

Has anyone read Fed Govenor Fred Mishkin's comments at the Fed's site yet? (Patrick's links)

"The interest of the Federal Reserve in financial stability does not arise out of a concern for the functioning of financial markets as such or out of a desire to aid distressed investors or institutions. Rather, the Federal Reserve vigorously promotes financial stability because of the intimate connection between a stable financial system and solid macroeconomic performance."

I would love to see a disection of this piece, here.

22   DinOR   2007 Oct 31, 1:41am  

"$417K should be PLENTY"

Yes it should. Especially when considering "current incomes".

That's what makes this all the more frustrating. Here we are, PLEADING for there to be "some" relationship between incomes and home prices and all we're getting is last ditch efforts to support that very disconnect!

No one's had more fun at Orangelo's expense than myself but it's hardly just him. It would be easier to identify those that *don't have an interest in propping up home prices "at all costs". Raise the limit to $830K!? You've got to be kidding me.

23   Duke   2007 Oct 31, 1:55am  

Steveoh,
That was a great article. The peice you quoted is consistent with the mandate of the FOMC - price stability and maximum sustainable unemployemnt.

More genrally the article discusses the current complexities of providing liquidity. While Moral Hazard for fraudulent borrowers and lax lenders has made a lot of hay at this site, this article points to the bigger Moral Hazard of banks (and international investors) presuming bailouts from the Fed.

I think this will be one of the earliest explanations for why the Fed will provide money to some banks and not to others. The discount window will be very closed to certain entities. And if this causes bank failure which causes some unemployment as well as some inflation - so be it. The Fed cannot be seen as backing bad lending. All investors, caveat emptor.

Things are playing out exactly as people have forseen, even big banks will begin to implode and the Fed will ovrsee the sale of their assets and accounts. The difference between this and the savigs and loan crisis will be magnitude. This one will be big. And since many countries have the same fundametal problems as the US (overpriced collateral) and exotic, highly leveraged financing, the hit to asset prices will have to be larger as their is less 'real money' to buy the bargains.

This is going to be ugly. For anyone aged 20-50, this will be the biggest financial event you will see in your life.

24   skibum   2007 Oct 31, 2:12am  

Steveoh,
The problem is, Mishkin, like the rest of the Fed, says one thing and does another. Nice that he touts price stability, diminishes the need to help financial markets. However, unless they know something the rest of us don't about truly how badly the real economy is doing, they are being incredibly hypocritical.

I have no expectations of rates being held today. The real question is 25 vs 50 bp.

25   DinOR   2007 Oct 31, 2:27am  

I enjoyed Chris Thornberg's comments in Reuters:

"Fires out, California housing still burns"

"We've got a giant mess on our hands" says Chris.

Ya' think?

26   StuckInBA   2007 Oct 31, 2:35am  

skibum :

The problem is, Mishkin, like the rest of the Fed, says one thing and does another.

Absolutely. It's very much like Paulson wanting "strong dollar". Say one thing, do another. Rinse. Repeat.

We will see another "The risk remains that inflation will fail to moderate as expected". This Fed will go down in history as one with the least credibility. But then, once you are someone's bitch, I guess you don't really mind people laughing at you.

27   skibum   2007 Oct 31, 3:19am  

RE: The Tan Man, disgruntled shareholders are suing him and other mgmt for their recent share selloff while painting a rosy picture of CFC:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=avos6a_QIVNo&refer=home

28   SFWoman   2007 Oct 31, 3:53am  

KQED (88.5 in SF, KQED.org streamed) is having a forum on 'Desperate Homesellers at 11:00am today, it sounds like it might be interesting.

When last night's earthquake hit I was sitting in a chair talking on the phone to a friend three blocks away. I said 'Oooh, this feels like it's going to get big.' and she said 'What? What are you talking about?' She didn't feel a thing. Another friend called me immediately after and I clicked over to her and she told me it felt largish to her as well.

My friend who lives eight blocks away and I felt it fairly well, but our friend who lives right in between us felt nothing at all. Supposedly we are all on the same geological strata. It's odd how earthquake waves affect things.

29   HelloKitty   2007 Oct 31, 3:57am  

Latest trend here in SoCal. This one 'isnt in the news' yet but im noticing a whopping jaw droping 50% of homes that actually do sell are selling AT A LOSS. Its actually higher because im not counting realtor commission, closing costs, remodeling, maintenance, vacancy. The other trend is only 1 of 3 listings actually sell, the rest get cancelled when wish price fairy doesnt show up with multiple offers(or the trustee sale occurs and listing is cancelled). Used to be 9 of 10 listings sold.

The 'sold at loss' are foreclosures, short sales, and the occasional seller bringing a check to closing. The sellers walking away with a profit bought pre 2004 and did not heloc.

The trend started in september after the financial nuclear bomb went off. Now we are in financial nuclear winter....how many years does it last again?

30   lunarpark   2007 Oct 31, 4:19am  

quarter point cut

31   HARM   2007 Oct 31, 4:19am  

@Steveoh,
What skibum & SIBA said.

@HelloKitty,
Historical precendent suggests a 5-8 year downturn. Great CR post with graphs here: http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/2007/10/housing-busts-and-sticky-prices.html

33   SFWoman   2007 Oct 31, 4:24am  

Today's Family Values are brought to you from Washington state:
http://tinyurl.com/22ldhz

How's the housing market up in the Pacific Northwest area? Has Bend turned yet?

34   skibum   2007 Oct 31, 4:28am  

25 bp, as I expected. Just enough to try to appease Wall Street, while trying their darndest to maintain some credibility.

Interestingly, the market did not like it at all. 100 pt Dow drop just after the announcement. I suspect some were unhappy with "only" 25bp, while others are not happy with the accompanying statement, still trying to give credence to fighting inflation, and with one vote (Hoenig) actually for keeping rates steady.

35   DinOR   2007 Oct 31, 4:28am  

"wish price fairy"

"financial nuclear winter"

LOL! I'd read this morning that 27% of SAC's "sales" are actually foreclosures! I'd advocate reading the Reuters article w/ Chris Thornberg for all our CA posters. So many of his comments were targeted specifically toward the CA mkt. He seemed to imply that CA will likely have (or is in) a "Statewide Recession" and that the impacts will be greater there.

36   skibum   2007 Oct 31, 4:38am  

DinOR,
Much of California is probably already in recession. It's only in hindsight that economists will "Christen" these times recessionary. Unemployment is noticeably higher in CA than the most of the rest of the US (save the disastrous rust belt). There is no real employment growth in all those Central Valley, IE, Sacto boom areas other than real estate related jobs, and we know what's happening there. Tech in Silly Valley is reporting strong earnings, but even here there are signs of belt tightening. All in all, it's not surprising he's calling for a statewide recession.

37   SFWoman   2007 Oct 31, 4:41am  

The Saint Joseph statues are back:

http://www.stjosephstatue.com/

How much was Mozillo compensated last year?

38   DinOR   2007 Oct 31, 4:46am  

@SFWoman,

Family "values" indeed! They ran that story at 5:00am on the NW Cable News and... I thought.. this COULDN'T wait until after everyone's had their coffee?!

The Bend Bubble Blog is accusing those of us on the PDX blog of being pansies! They're circulating a rumor that a local (and rather high profile) builder is going to declare BK! I had tried to warn that Aaron Krowne (Mortgage Implode-O-Meter) had gotten into considerable legal difficulties for announcing a MB firm was D.O.A. They later claimed that his pre-mature announcement lead to lenders cutting off their warehouse lines of credit leading to their ultimate (and inevitable) demise!

How hard would it be for a builder to make the same claim? Bend is (according to a local MB) a disaster area! However he feels the impact to the community will be minimal. For the most part the growing, out of control inventory was to a large extent, simply REIC players flipping homes, lots etc. to one another. That's a relief!

39   HARM   2007 Oct 31, 4:58am  

Wow, Bernanke cut 25bps and I feel almost "content" about it (vs. another 50 pt-cut). I guess my expectations of the Fed have gotten so low that even a modest bad move looks like good news now.

40   Duke   2007 Oct 31, 5:18am  

Arny movement on 30 year mortgages rates? Presumably the ceiling for a qualified buyer (20%down, traditional debt to income ratio, owner occupied) using a savings & loan (whose business is to lend to community memebers to buy homes, not seek the highest returns possible in investing) would be something like Fed Funds rate plus 2.5%?

Specuvestors would have to go to Wall Street and their rate, given foreign averision to American debt, would now (finally) be higher?

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