patrick.net

"by the lb."

(Don't get me wrong, there's plenty of guys up here that could stand to lose a few lbs. too)

All I ever hear about is how everyone's into kayaking etc. but evidently that must come right after they finish their next micro-brew? At least I'm honest about it. I'm a.... pool hall guy.

"and some very probable tax code changes"

Really? How 'bout that!

Congress overrides Bush's attempt of fiscal responsibility:

http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN0823679120071108

Duke (1,2,3,4, above),
I think it will take at least those numbers to beat the systemic malfeasance into submission. I think that people will eventually have to meet those standards, or something close to them, in order to bring credibility back to that market. I am still in awe of how things got so far out of control.
Bald greed, ain't it a humdinger.

"systemic malfeasance"

Ouch!

I'd heard they have already changed the FICO model? No more "piggy backin'" on accts! Hey, it's a step. Since I don't see much of anyone w/ 5% (let alone 25%) down we can safely dismiss that one. On #4 I've never said we should totally do away with the exemption altogether so I'd be open to moving it out to 8-10 years if it means bringing sanity back?

Ooops, sorry. No offense intended.
That's just my oldfartishness coming out. There was a time when those numbers, although high, were the norm. Yes, it was painful for the buyer, but the market seemed to be more stable.
Yeah, we had booms and busts, but the magnitude seemed much more managable. Then again, I guess it's all in it's own context. What we griped about then, that seemed catastrophic, is chump change now.

New thread: Bloomberg to WaMu: “Be careful what you wish for”

Richmond,

None taken. Did any of us ever imagine a time when actually having a down payment for a home would've been a requirement? The fact that we let people w/ "decent" FICO's "pre-raid" their equity and then turn around and buy w/ zip down can't have been a positive.

I just realised that if you scale the Oz govt surplus to the American population, you would have an AUD$1.5 trillion surplus now... and we may as well call dollar parity for all intents and purposes...