Personal Responsibility For The Mortgage Crisis

83 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
  • |
I just finished an exhaustive study of 455 foreclosed homes in my home county. (Hillsbourgh County, Florida) for a project I'm working on. It turns out that 453 of them were refinanced mortgages. That is, people who already had "normal" mortgages on their homes that were current but chose to pull tens of thousands of dollars of inflated "equity" out. OK, the banks and mortgage companies put the baited hooks in the water. Everyone gets that. Some of their behavior was immoral and borderline criminal. However, very little has been asked about what happened to all that money. What did the consumers do with it? They didn't pay down credit card debt. They didn't save it. They didn't invest it. Turns out the average person spent it on "stuff". All that had the effect of temporarily pumping up the economy but also pushing it father and farther out on a very thin limb. Now the banks are bad, the mortgage companies are bad, the government is bad, everyone of them is just bad, bad, bad. Its pretty hard here in central Florida to find someone who hasn't been touched by the mortgage crisis or know someone who has. My question is, doesn't the consumer/borrower have some responsibility in all of this. Most people I've talked to were more interested in getting a bunch of money than what was going to happen 24 to 36 months down the road. They signed documents they didn't read and wouldn't have understood if they had. Many ran out of the closing with a check in their hand and went straight to the car dealership, boat dealership, etc, etc. I'd really like Warriors comments on this. Anybody?
  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Seems to me if their homes were foreclosed, they were held accountable.
    Signature
    Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
    Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4936947].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    It's an immensely complex problem.

    Your comments are on point. We were in the throes of a gluttonous consumer consumption diet that had spread to the middle class. People refinanced homes to buy cars and boats - but many refinances were to pay off high credit debt....and then the credit cards were run up once again. I know people personally who refinanced several times to pay off consumer debt. They never realized they were trading unsecured debt for secured debt which is never smart.

    There's blame enough for all in this mess. Regulators who didn't regulate, banks that went for big short term profits over and over, people who wanted more and more stuff and assumed housing prices would only go up. Many financial experts encouraged people to "use your equity"...and that's what people did. To them, "equity" was found money in houses where the value had risen year after year.

    But - Greenspan said himself to congress that "housing can never go down". If the top brain can't predict it - who can?

    The response to the problems caused has been to bail out people who were foolish and maybe that's necessary. Unfortunately, the people hurt most are those who are losing homes they've had for years (and could afford) because they've lost their jobs. Those folks don't qualifsy for refinances or for mortgage bailouts - and it sound like they'll be ignored in the latest bailout to be announced this week, too.

    Before bailing out banks (in my opinion) there should have been a requirement to stabilize rates across the board by reducing all mortgages to the going rate to 5%. That would have saved a tremendous number of homes, required the banks to take part of the hit, and would have helped homeowners who didn't treat their mortgages like a savings account to draw from.

    The other problem is all of us who own home are suffering because our homes are worth so much less than they were five years ago. I never tapped my home's equity to buy goodies - but I've lost about $60k+ in equity in this market.

    Maybe the people you are talking about were smart after all - at least they had some fun with their equity before they lost it. On the other hand, I still have my house.

    kay
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
    what it is instead of what you think it should be.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937001].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Kurt's right about that. Who didn't suffer consequences? The banks. Those people could not have taken out too much in mortgages without a lending bank approving it.

      Another question is - why should the banks and regulators not be held accountable for making bad loans?
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
      what it is instead of what you think it should be.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937022].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        <snip>

        Another question is - why should the banks and regulators not be held accountable for making bad loans?
        It would be great for the economy to stop wasting taxpayers money on big-time looting welfare recipients such as banks and oil companies.
        Signature

        Project HERE.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937184].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Let's not forget those appraisal folks.

    TL
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937322].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Let's not forget those appraisal folks.

    TL
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937423].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      Let's not forget those appraisal folks.

      TL
      There were NO appraisal standards in Florida before 2010 and no license requirements. Anyone with a laptop could be an appraiser or a "home inspector". Its been estimated that as many as 5,000 "appraisers" working in our state in 2007 had serious criminal backgrounds. A huge number of so called appraisals were done from an office without ever showing up and seeing if the house was even still there.
      Signature
      When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937470].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
        Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

        There were NO appraisal standards in Florida before 2010 and no license requirements. Anyone with a laptop could be an appraiser or a "home inspector". Its been estimated that as many as 5,000 "appraisers" working in our state in 2007 had serious criminal backgrounds. A huge number of so called appraisals were done from an office without ever showing up and seeing if the house was even still there.
        Now that's what I call deregulation!!

        Absolutely amazing.


        TL
        Signature

        "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4938411].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      Let's not forget those appraisal folks.

      TL
      The whole method is DESIGNED to be corrupt, and they corrupt things even MORE!

      REAL appraisal should be like a contractor I once met. He actually had a book that determined the cost of every little thing. But I even took a CLASS on realestate that ALSO included the technique of a "real estate appraiser". They do NOT determine what a house is WORTH, they determine what it may GO FOR! HOW?

      They take a FEW characteristics, and use them to describe a home.

      SQf?
      Pool?
      Deck?
      Patio?
      Number of rooms?
      Bedrooms?
      Bathrooms?
      Style?
      Basement? Finished?

      They then find a few homes that closely match those characteristics! They are called "COMPS". They then state a range, high and low. If characteristics don't match, they use the same techniques, or a standard amount, to offset them.

      OK, that is NOT valid! A home that costs $50,000 could EASILY be "appraised" at a million!

      But it does NOT stop THERE! There is wholesale and retail! If a PURCHASER buys the appraisal, they usually indicate the HIGH of the range! If a BANK buys it, it is the LOW of the range.

      HEY, I saw my last comp. Only ONE was what I would consider "CORRECT". But GUESS WHAT FOLKS! I KNOW the models! NO compensation was put in! It was worth $20K MORE than my home, so my home appraised for $20K MORE than it was "worth"!

      One other thing, the comps may go back MONTHS!

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4938540].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    The "taxpayers" have largely been repaid with interest. Nobody bailed out a bank because they liked banks. Tarp was designed to stabilize our economy and save our domestic auto industry. It did. It would have caused much more hardship not to do anything. Meanwhile we have people living in houses for as much as three years without making any payments, paying any property taxes or insurance. I'm with Kay. This is a hugely complex problem that doesn't lend itself to easy solutions. I've been around the real estate markets for 40 years. I know the Tampa market almost street by street and I am astonished by some of the prices I've seen that houses sold for from 2000 to 2008. Some of them have lost 75% of their "value". Unfortunately many people who didn't play the game have been hurt right along with those that did. My own house has lost around a third of its value. All of the sudden I'm also becoming a bad guy for putting together REITs and buying mostly empty bank owned properties. Not an original idea. Anyone could do it. Tampa, like a lot of cities is glutted with foreclosed properties. It will be years before the inventory stabilizes. A group I belong to has recommended that the city tear down as many as 500 houses. Truth be known, they could tear down four times that many. Anyone have any bright ideas just speak right up.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4937450].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      The "taxpayers" have largely been repaid with interest.<snip>
      The taxpayers have been looted and burdened with unprecedented debt.

      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/bu...-to-blame.html
      Signature

      Project HERE.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940952].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        The taxpayers have been looted and burdened with unprecedented debt.

        http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/bu...-to-blame.html

        T-Bird, I'm sure Wilkinson was referring to the T.A.R.P. program designed to bail out the banks in late 2008 early 2009 and not the U.S. national debt which is another can of worms entirely.



        All The Best!!

        TL
        Signature

        "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941171].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
          Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

          T-Bird, I'm sure Wilkerson was referring to the T.A.R.P. program designed to bail out the banks in late 2008 early 2009 and not the U.S. national debt which is another can of worms entirely.



          All The Best!!

          TL
          In 2000 the debt was 5 trillion with a 200 billion dollar budget surplus. At the end of 2008 it was 10 trillion with a huge budget deficit. That's a 100% increase. Not even close to a record. In 1980 the debt was a mere 500 billion. By the end of 1988 it was nearly 4 trillion. A 700% increase. The debt not only appalls me but what we got (or didn't get) for our money was even worse. For the estimated 3 trillion the Iraq oil war has cost or will yet cost we could have rebuilt every highway, school, bridge in the country and had plenty to fund good health care for every American.

          Thomas
          Signature
          When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941279].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Kurt
            Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

            In 2000 the debt was 5 trillion with a 200 billion dollar budget surplus. At the end of 2008 it was 10 trillion with a huge budget deficit. That's a 100% increase. Not even close to a record. In 1980 the debt was a mere 500 billion. By the end of 1988 it was nearly 4 trillion. A 700% increase. The debt not only appalls me but what we got (or didn't get) for our money was even worse. For the estimated 3 trillion the Iraq oil war has cost or will yet cost we could have rebuilt every highway, school, bridge in the country and had plenty to fund good health care for every American.

            Thomas
            Yep...I've had this debate on the WF before. It's our spending on the military that has caused our debt. The period from 1980-1988 was when Regan increased spending on the Cold War. But even after the Soviet Union fell, our military spending didn't.

            I'm sick and tired of some people blaming cops, roads, schools and teachers for our problems. We are in debt because of military spending. Exactly when did teachers become the enemy?

            And BTW...the Bush tax cuts could have paid for every home in the US to have been upgraded with green renewable energy. Think if every household didn't have to pay power bills and instead could pump that money back into the economy, instead of sending much of it overseas for foreign oil.
            Signature
            Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
            Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4942504].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      The "taxpayers" have largely been repaid with interest.<snip>
      US taxpayers have been looted, shystered, and burdened with unprecedented debt.

      China: US Addicted To Debt

      "Chinese officials are clearly concerned that the country’s substantial holdings of American debt"

      How pathetic, sorry.
      Signature

      Project HERE.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940971].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        US taxpayers have been looted, shystered, and burdened with unprecedented debt.

        China: US Addicted To Debt

        "Chinese officials are clearly concerned that the country’s substantial holdings of American debt"

        How pathetic, sorry.
        They're right.

        In 2000 we had a yearly budget surplus of at least 200 bill per year.

        Yeh, they're damned is they do and damned if they don't.

        They can't divest themselves of our debt too quickly or the debt will lose its value.

        So, they're sorta stuck with it.

        BTW, folks around the world are climbing over themselves to buy our debt.

        TL
        Signature

        "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    I started to,but then decided I wasn't even going to touch this one.
    Signature

    Read A Post.
    Subscribe to a Newsletter
    KimWinfrey.Com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4938475].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    As for "refinancing"? There WAS a SCAM to get people OUT of fixed rate loans and into variables with low teaser rates! They tried that on ME!

    steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4938548].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author footbag_man
    i heard somewhere that, there is a rule mortgage interest will vary according to property.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4938711].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Appraisers (good ones) use the sales of homes in the area to arrive at a reasonable estimate of what a property is "worth".

      Problem was, appraisers for real estate were vying for realtor business and lender business. To get those calls, the appraiser knew he needed to justify the purchase price (which he was told in advance - part of the problem).

      To justify the price the appraiser would ignore comparables in that neighborhood and take them from another higher priced neighborhood. Underwriters overlooked that conveniently as did lenders.

      It's a co-dependent system where each player from agent to closing attorney understood that getting his share of the business meant finding ways to get the sale approved. It's always been that way and lenders underwriters were the brakes on potential abuse.

      ... until lending banks eased restrictions to make more money in the mortgage reselling market (and the sales of investment packages) and rewrote underwriting limits. The goal became not approving "good loans" but "getting loans through". That was the last straw that held the market to a semblance of reality. When it broke, so did the system. When restrictions were eased - THAT is when regulators should have paid attention. They didn't.

      My view is the entire system became corrupted. The banks may have paid back bailout money but they also have guarantees they didn't previously have and many of the bad loans they approved were removed from their portfolios. The banks are the ONLY portion of the RE market that kept their profitability that I can see.

      kay
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
      what it is instead of what you think it should be.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4939505].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Yes, the home owner, or in my case, former home home owner, is responsible. However, the ease in getting loans back then was incredible. What I did was refinance my home to invest in other property. The lady I was dating at the time lived in Vegas and was making hundreds of thousands a year by flipping homes. I knew someone else who owned 50 homes. I guess I got greedy. If I had started a few years earlier I would have made a killing also, but I got in at totally the worse time in 70 years or so. Like Kurt said, I was held responsible because I lost my home which I had owned for over 20 years.

      I haven't seen any bankers held responsible though. Much of this crisis is on them. They wanted to make loans. Any loans. So they could package them together as derivatives and keep selling them. The government, both sides, encouraged it as it helped the economy in the short term.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4939529].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by footbag_man View Post

      i heard somewhere that, there is a rule mortgage interest will vary according to property.
      Some loans require a certain income level, or loan amount BUT, otherwise, it depends onthe borrower and LTV.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940362].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        Some loans require a certain income level, or loan amount BUT, otherwise, it depends onthe borrower and LTV.

        Steve
        True. The problems were the borrower lied about their income, the loan officer changed the application, there were incentives for banks to steer prime borrowers into subprime loan, appraisers falsified appraisals ......
        Signature
        Learn Website Tips, How to Do Keyword Research, & How to Write Killer Content.
        Stop Wasting Time.
        Start Living Your Dream.
        Click Here NOW to Get Your Hands on
        One of the Most Valuable Ebooks Ever!

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946717].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Yes, greed takes over. Probably 95% of the people involved in house flipping didn't really understand way markets work and shouldn't have been there to begin with. Slot machines look easy too, for people who don't understand the law of independent events (or choose to ignore it). Of the 455 case studies I went through probably 50% or there abouts were house flips. Sorry Tim, but I have much less sympathy for flippers than I do for long time home owners who got caught up in the "easy" money. Seems you fall into both categories as do a number of my friends.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940355].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Yeah, I don't ask for sympathy. It's over with. The irony is that I never was someone who needed much to make me happy, so trying the home flipping deal wasn't really me. Being around others who were doing very well planted the idea in my head. Now, I feel bad for those millions of people who are going through what I already have been through. It's not easy to lose something that you worked decades for.

      By the way, this is the main reason this economy is not turning around. This recession is much different from all the other ones in recent decades.

      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Sorry Tim, but I have much less sympathy for flippers than I do for long time home owners who got caught up in the "easy" money. Seems you fall into both categories as do a number of my friends.

      Thomas
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940445].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

        Yes, greed takes over. Probably 95% of the people involved in house flipping didn't really understand way markets work and shouldn't have been there to begin with. Slot machines look easy too, for people who don't understand the law of independent events (or choose to ignore it). Of the 455 case studies I went through probably 50% or there abouts were house flips. Sorry Tim, but I have much less sympathy for flippers than I do for long time home owners who got caught up in the "easy" money. Seems you fall into both categories as do a number of my friends.

        Thomas
        Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

        Yeah, I don't ask for sympathy. It's over with. The irony is that I never was someone who needed much to make me happy, so trying the home flipping deal wasn't really me. Being around others who were doing very well planted the idea in my head. Now, I feel bad for those millions of people who are going through what I already have been through. It's not easy to lose something that you worked decades for.

        By the way, this is the main reason this economy is not turning around. This recession is much different from all the other ones in recent decades.
        What does sympathy have to do with it? The OP is about being responsible. By Tim losing his home, he was held responsible. I'm sure that was the deal between Tim and the bank. If Tim did't pay, the bank got the home. If the bank didn't like the conditions, they shouldn't have lent Tim the money.

        I was taught that if I lent money, not to count on getting that money back. Maybe banks should have learned the lesson my Grandmother taught me?
        Signature
        Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
        Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940581].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I can't say much here because what I have to say about the banks would get this whole thread zapped.........

    But as far as consumers -- they are very aptly called "consumers" because it seems that is all they are able to do. I wonder if schools teach even the basics of economics any more? You do not buy something that is going to go up in price later when you are in a state of stagflation that has all the signs of being artificially perpetuated and shows no signs of every letting up. Yet people were buying on balloon payments with no indication anywhere that wages were going to be increasing. How can you "bet on the come" in an economy that clearly shows that incomes will not rise at the rate your payments are going to? At the same time electric, fuel, water and other necessities were showing a continual rise that any raises would most likely barely cover if you got lucky and actually got one.

    Yep - "consumer" is the right word for what this country has produced. Aren't we just proud of ourselves?
    Signature

    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
    Beyond the Path

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940632].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      I can't say much here because what I have to say about the banks would get this whole thread zapped.........

      But as far as consumers -- they are very aptly called "consumers" because it seems that is all they are able to do. I wonder if schools teach even the basics of economics any more? You do not buy something that is going to go up in price later when you are in a state of stagflation that has all the signs of being artificially perpetuated and shows no signs of every letting up. Yet people were buying on balloon payments with no indication anywhere that wages were going to be increasing. How can you "bet on the come" in an economy that clearly shows that incomes will not rise at the rate your payments are going to? At the same time electric, fuel, water and other necessities were showing a continual rise that any raises would most likely barely cover if you got lucky and actually got one.

      Yep - "consumer" is the right word for what this country has produced. Aren't we just proud of ourselves?
      I'm guessing it's the same reason the banks are also betting that the "consumer" will be able to make the payments. And I'm guessing it's in the contract that if the consumer can't make the payments, the bank will take the house back. If the bank doesn't like those terms, they shouldn't make the loan.
      Signature
      Discover the fastest and easiest ways to create your own valuable products.
      Tons of FREE Public Domain content you can use to make your own content, PLR, digital and POD products.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940667].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
    I love this thread....So interesting to see what is happening in another country.

    I cannot comment on the state of the US housing market, but I have for many years, and currently still work as a mortgage broker within an exceptionally successful estate agency [real estate agent- different set up to USA] here in the UK.

    I have to say the majority of repossessions here in the UK, circa 70% I believe, are actually buy to let repo's and not people losing their home.

    Where we differ to the US is we repossess, not foreclose, which in my opinion is boarderline criminal. Therefore if you house is mortgaged for £50,000 and the bank take it back into possession, and they sell it for £150,000 [Legally they have to prove best price was achieved, otherwise the owner who was repo'd could sue them] and the costs of selling were £15000, the ex-borrower would receive a cheque [ check?] for £85,000.

    Reality is many repossessions are in negative equity, therefore the bank is taking a hit on each and every one.

    The mortgage market here is fine. No more difficult to finance if you have a deposit, and have been sensible, than it was 5 years ago. If you do not have a deposit, and have lots of debt, then basically you rent! [I am having one of my best ever years!]

    My day job focuses very much on helping people build buy to let portfolios. Property prices have dropped, and rentals have increased. Therefore a naturally better time to invest in property and achieve a higher yield!

    Many of our banks have been taken into state ownership to avoid massive financial losses for individuals. That was the right choice by the government. Once the banks are trading at a level that is conducive to a floatation on the london stock exchange the government will do so, and more than recoup the investment they made to save these banks. We will then no doubt start the cycle again!
    Signature

    Michael Webb

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940754].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

    I just finished an exhaustive study of 455 foreclosed homes in my home county. (Hillsbourgh County, Florida) for a project I'm working on. It turns out that 453 of them were refinanced mortgages. <snip>
    I always buy property outright rather than support organized crime.
    Signature

    Project HERE.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4940991].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

      I always buy property outright rather than support organized crime.
      So, you pay cash for your properties?


      TL
      Signature

      "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941241].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        So, you pay cash for your properties?


        TL
        Yes. I despise the looting entities known as banks, mortgage lenders, and credit card companies.
        Signature

        Project HERE.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941264].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Another item that has hit homeowners hard is county assessors across our state (and I assume other places) using the absurd sales prices of 2006 and 2007 to raise property taxes by huge amounts even though the actual value of most all homes have declined substantially. Insurance in this state has been problematic since the early 90s.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4941067].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Refinancing isn't any harder in the US than it has been historically. Just after my bank went belly up in 2008, I refinanced my home with cash out AT A 1% discount!

    In the UK, you can get back all your homes value? WOW!

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4942438].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      Refinancing isn't any harder in the US than it has been historically. Just after my bank went belly up in 2008, I refinanced my home with cash out AT A 1% discount!

      In the UK, you can get back all your homes value? WOW!

      Steve
      Typical repossession procedure:

      Not paid anything to you lender for about 3-6 months [depending on circumstance; if you have paid even a nominal amount- say interest only, there is not a court in the land that will authorise a repo nowadays]

      Bank takes possession of property. You are given date to be out. It's not nice if they are not- very awkward/confrontational.

      Bank appointments an asset management company; who in turn appoint an estate agent, and chartered surveyor to value the property; usually 3 of each.

      AMC then appoint estate agent to market property.

      Whilst all this is going on, interest is still accruing on the debt.

      AMC and estate agent must prove they have obtained best price for the property, and current market value.

      Once property completes on a sale [I won't run through our conveyancing process- but it is rubbish!] all costs are added up, included accrued interest and original debt.

      If there is a surplus, the person who was repossessed will receive this amount. They won't however be getting another mortgage in the UK as underwriting stands at present for about 10 years!!

      I really think the foreclosure process where you could owe $10,000 on a property worth $150,000 and lose everything is criminal! My experience is here in the UK, with that sort of equity, the bank wouldn't reposes but enact an assisted sale.

      Hope this makes it a bit clearer
      Signature

      Michael Webb

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4956611].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Good explanation for the U.K. but most in this thread are in the U.S. which is similar but not identical.

        Seems to me there may be a future crisis looming for banks. What if they can't sell all these foreclosed properties? There are thousands of homes sitting empty and deteriorating through lack of maintenance. How long before banks start crying about excess inventory and losses?

        I handle foreclosed properties for a major Atlanta banks years ago (dated a bank VP and I was a real estate broker) and the goal was to fix up, clean up and get that property sold as quickly as possible. Today, banks are holding huge inventories of vacant properties that are stagnant.

        Innovation on this problem has been totally absent from banks and legislators. Many who have lost homes could have been allowed to rent back their homes with some type of potential buy back option for the future - THAT would have a been a good program. Even renting back below market rental values would provide upkeep and maintenance for the homes.

        Obviously, those who bought more than they should have or took stupid loans would not qualify - but foreclosures now are more about the economy and jobs and these are people who might recover financially given time. Increasingly, foreclosures are deliberate as homes aren't selling and people want out of the mortgage or area.

        Think about it - if you have a good income/resources and a $250k mortgage on a property you paid $300k for ten years ago....why not buy the same house down the street that is foreclosed and on the market for $150k? Then let the first one go into foreclosure and save money. It's being done today and some financial experts are advising on how to do it. If you end up saving $200k, a ding to your credit is worth it.



        kay
        Signature
        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
        ***
        One secret to happiness is to let every situation be
        what it is instead of what you think it should be.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4956778].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Just had a call from a guy who called me a parasite because one of the REITs is closing on his house on Monday. Bought the home in 2006 for about twice what it was worth (or more) He never made a payment after November 2008. The bank has owned the house since April. Two other mortgagors wrote off their paper. He has been the entire route through three eviction proceedings. He's lived in the house the last 35 months for free, no payments, rent, taxes, or insurance. A judge signed a set out order two weeks ago that was just finally served yesterday. .....and I'm a parasite. This is what I hear all day long and that's sort of what I had in mind when I posted this thread.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4942629].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Just had a call from a guy who called me a parasite because one of the REITs is closing on his house on Monday. Bought the home in 2006 for about twice what it was worth (or more) He never made a payment after November 2008. The bank has owned the house since April. Two other mortgagors wrote off their paper. He has been the entire route through three eviction proceedings. He's lived in the house the last 35 months for free, no payments, rent, taxes, or insurance. A judge signed a set out order two weeks ago that was just finally served yesterday. .....and I'm a parasite. This is what I hear all day long and that's sort of what I had in mind when I posted this thread.

      Thomas
      Thomas, if hypocrisy stopped people from making accusations, the world would be a much quieter place. Of course there should be personal responsibility, but con artists and shysters (eg mafia loan sharks, mortgage lenders, etc) prey on people's desperation or greed. A proper system of laws protects people from themselves as much as from others.
      Signature

      Project HERE.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4942824].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Yes, I agree, but the hew and cry in the country these days is apparently trading a government of laws for chaos. I think we are all seeing what happens when the financial industry is left to "self regulate". Even the banking "reform" that was passed was very watered down.
    This guy also picked up a few free months during the robo signing foreclosure halt. Meanwhile Regions Bank had around $5,000 in costs and had to get a restraining order on him after he threatened the people in the local branch. He was offered $2,500 "relocation expenses" in August if he just signed off and moved. He asked for more and refused to move. This is what desperation really looks like.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4943247].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Yes, I agree, but the hew and cry in the country these days is apparently trading a government of laws for chaos. I think we are all seeing what happens when the financial industry is left to "self regulate". Even the banking "reform" that was passed was very watered down.
      This guy also picked up a few free months during the robo signing foreclosure halt. Meanwhile Regions Bank had around $5,000 in costs and had to get a restraining order on him after he threatened the people in the local branch. He was offered $2,500 "relocation expenses" in August if he just signed off and moved. He asked for more and refused to move. This is what desperation really looks like.

      Thomas
      I'm almost tempted to see it, but there is now a world wide conspiracy to present perhaps the most FANTASTICALLY ABSURD world wide conspiracies to present hypocrisy in the world that has ever been! OH, there HAVE been others, but most are small and or merely NATIONAL! anyway, it's epiccenter is supposed to be only a few miles from me! I am in new jersey near the border of new york not even 2 miles from the old world trade center. GEE, TWO disasters start here in the span of about a decade? Who would have thought? In retrospect, I wonder if it is mere coincidence, or PLANNED. If not for the toll, traffic, and MESS, I would have been over there several times all ready. Maybe I could get a free interview TOO!

      ANYWAY, one of the hypocrisies is PRECISELY that people like you can have ANY such power. MOST there probably WOULD call YOU a parasite, even if some could have power over you, etc... I wonder if they really even believe HALF of it. And they locked SANTA CLAUS up on "miracle on 34th street"!?!?!?!? At least HIS "delusions" were harmless and NICE.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4944673].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Yes, I agree, but the hew and cry in the country these days is apparently trading a government of laws for chaos. I think we are all seeing what happens when the financial industry is left to "self regulate". Even the banking "reform" that was passed was very watered down.
      This guy also picked up a few free months during the robo signing foreclosure halt. Meanwhile Regions Bank had around $5,000 in costs and had to get a restraining order on him after he threatened the people in the local branch. He was offered $2,500 "relocation expenses" in August if he just signed off and moved. He asked for more and refused to move. This is what desperation really looks like.

      Thomas
      I doubt Regions Bank is out a dime. The loan was probably securitized and any cost a bank/servicer/debt collector spends is reimbursed by the investors. The investors are getting screwed out of a ton of money. Rarely does the bank own the loan, therefore, the bank/debt collector does not lose any money, in fact the opposite happens. The foreclosure business is extremely lucrative.
      Signature
      Learn Website Tips, How to Do Keyword Research, & How to Write Killer Content.
      Stop Wasting Time.
      Start Living Your Dream.
      Click Here NOW to Get Your Hands on
      One of the Most Valuable Ebooks Ever!

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946682].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dagaul101
    It's sad that our current situation necessitates the need to spend on many things we don't necessarily need, if this current financial situation has taught us anything, it's that many of our mindsets have to change
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4943553].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Here's a number...

    There is $700 billion in negative equity in the U.S. housing market.

    That means Americans owe $700 billion more than their homes are worth.

    I thought it would be more.

    TL
    Signature

    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4945854].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      And that's a big reason why the economy isn't turning around. People won't spend as much money on other items when they know their home isn't worth as much as their mortgage.
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      Here's a number...

      There is $700 billion in negative equity in the U.S. housing market.

      That means Americans owe $700 billion more than their homes are worth.

      I thought it would be more.

      TL
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946211].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    It IS more. Much more. Banks are carrying silly numbers on their books. The original amount of the mortgage, costs, fees, insurance and property taxes. My clients make much smaller actual value bids on properties after the bank takes ownership. (I make it very clear these are take it or leave it bids, not a negotiation.) About 95% get accepted. THEN the mortgagor has to write off the difference between the two numbers.
    ..... Her's an example that I won't even charge you $17 for. Just finished one for a couple. Lady buys a house in 2002 for $42,000. She refinanced it in early 2008 for $135,000. (The actual value at that time may have been around $55,000.) She defaulted (of course) lived there for a year for free then packed up, took the money and moved. Mellon of NY foreclosed, took two years, taxes, fees, insurance, etc. They wound up with around $146,000 on their books. My client comes along and bids $33,000 and the bid was accepted. NOW and only now the difference shows as a loss for the bank. (Its just a bit more complex than that because Mellon had sold the mortgage but you get the idea.) My client then spent (or will spend) about $6,500 on title work, upgrades, deferred maintenance, AND (this was the key to this house) getting it qualified for government subsidized section 8 housing. (Took a half dozen phone calls, two home inspections and some paperwork.) The good people at section 8 put a rental value that they are willing to pay of $750 a month on this particular home. The client can either have a pretty good return on an investment of less than $40,000 or sell the property to an investor. Valuation is easy since all the variables are known. (Investors like that) A buyer might get more rent but they are assured of the subsidy amount. I didn't invent anything new here people. This is available all over the country to anyone willing to work for a living. If you think there isn't any investment money out there you are dead wrong. There's tons. People don't trust the equity markets, banks don't pay anything, Fox scares the crap out of them every single night, etc. Lots of folks are sitting on cash.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946498].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Looks like they are starting to spend it a bit more now also since the third quarter growth was at 2.5% for the US, compared to 1.3 and 0.4 for the first two quarters.

      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Lots of folks are sitting on cash.

      Thomas
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946614].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      It IS more. Much more. Banks are carrying silly numbers on their books. The original amount of the mortgage, costs, fees, insurance and property taxes. My clients make much smaller actual value bids on properties after the bank takes ownership. (I make it very clear these are take it or leave it bids, not a negotiation.) About 95% get accepted. THEN the mortgagor has to write off the difference between the two numbers.
      ..... Her's an example that I won't even charge you $17 for. Just finished one for a couple. Lady buys a house in 2002 for $42,000. She refinanced it in early 2008 for $135,000. (The actual value at that time may have been around $55,000.) She defaulted (of course) lived there for a year for free then packed up, took the money and moved. Mellon of NY foreclosed, took two years, taxes, fees, insurance, etc. They wound up with around $146,000 on their books. My client comes along and bids $33,000 and the bid was accepted. NOW and only now the difference shows as a loss for the bank. (Its just a bit more complex than that because Mellon had sold the mortgage but you get the idea.) My client then spent (or will spend) about $6,500 on title work, upgrades, deferred maintenance, AND (this was the key to this house) getting it qualified for government subsidized section 8 housing. (Took a half dozen phone calls, two home inspections and some paperwork.) The good people at section 8 put a rental value that they are willing to pay of $750 a month on this particular home. The client can either have a pretty good return on an investment of less than $40,000 or sell the property to an investor. Valuation is easy since all the variables are known. (Investors like that) A buyer might get more rent but they are assured of the subsidy amount. I didn't invent anything new here people. This is available all over the country to anyone willing to work for a living. If you think there isn't any investment money out there you are dead wrong. There's tons. People don't trust the equity markets, banks don't pay anything, Fox scares the crap out of them every single night, etc. Lots of folks are sitting on cash.

      Thomas
      You spoke about the $6,500 on title work, upgrades, deferred maintenance, etc.,

      But...

      Did your client have to put any money down on the property to secure the property?

      How did the financing work???

      Thanks!!

      TL
      Signature

      "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4947124].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
        Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

        You spoke about the $6,500 on title work, upgrades, deferred maintenance, etc.,

        But...

        Did your client have to put any money down on the property to secure the property?

        How did the financing work???

        Thanks!!

        TL
        I could have found mortgage money for them but in this instance they chose to pay cash, The REITs I've organized almost without exception pay cash. When they need to mortgage out they will borrow on the package not the individual property.
        Signature
        When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4947262].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
          Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

          I could have found mortgage money for them but in this instance they chose to pay cash, The REITs I've organized almost without exception pay cash. When they need to mortgage out they will borrow on the package not the individual property.

          Thanks, but what on Earth does "mortgage out" mean??

          TL
          Signature

          "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4947277].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
    Thomas, of the 455 foreclosures you studied, 453 of them were refinances.
    How do you know the mortgages they had were "normal" and not predatory?

    As pointed out here, the talking heads on tv were encouraging homeowners to borrow the equity out of their homes to pay off bills, invest, etc. So-called experts told people it was a bad idea to pay off their mortgages early - loss of tax deductions, etc.

    We don't know how people used the money they got from their refis. Sure, some people bought investment properties, boats, cars, paid bills, started a new business, but we don't know what they did with the money.

    Yes, the borrower has some responsibility in this foreclosure crisis. The blame game gets old. There has been nothing but finger pointing for the past two years and nothing has been done to curb foreclosures or sustain the housing market.

    The economy is tied to the housing market. Our economy will not recover until the housing market stabilizes. It's going to be a long time before we hit bottom.

    I bought many foreclosures over the years. I didn't flip them, I moved into them, remodeling them myself and moved out after 2 years and 1 day. I wouldn't touch a foreclosed property now if you paid me - a little problem called clear title.

    For the past century, the real estate market has relied on a simple concept of recording or filing real property documents. In most states, it is not a requirement to record anything. However, it is (obviously) in a lienholders' best interest to record any security instrument that represents a debt.

    One of the biggest problems with the market was started by Fannie (that would be the US taxpayer) and banksters with the creation of the Mortgage Electronic Recording System. This so-called electronic recording system was established to circumvent local filing/recording fees. Not only did or does track the assignments of loans, it also got too big for its britches and started shredding original notes.

    Enter wrongful foreclosure. There is one small rule that is a law, or used to be a law, that required a wet ink document/note to foreclose on a property. Since the newly created two party justice system, the banksters have been handed a free pass to say they simply lost that note and please forgive them, but go ahead and foreclose.

    The foreclosures were happening faster than the brainacs who developed the complex formula of securitization predicted. So what does the bank do? Hire robo signers to sign fraudulent affidavits in courts and assignments recorded in local lands records offices.

    One individual did this and was jailed.

    What happened to the banks that did this? Not a damn thing. They get a do over. A do over.

    Another significant problem here in Texas is the notices of sale are not signed and riddled with errors. I have been passing along my research to the Texas Attorney General with a warning of how bad this will affect not just this state, but the US. I am aware that the foreclosure process is not being handled properly in every state in the US. It seems the banks are above the law. And from what I have seen, they certainly are.

    If you don't pay your mortgage, the bank has a right to foreclose, no doubt about it. The blatant disregard for the judicial system is where I have a problem.

    So, what do you think can happen when a house is sold at the courthouse steps using a notice of sale that the beneficiary or trustee "forgot" to sign?

    What will happen when the real party in interest forecloses but it is later determined that the real party in interest wasn't the one who conducted the foreclosure sale?

    Some people seem to think this is not a problem for them, they can pay their mortgage. It is a problem. It is a problem nationwide.
    Signature
    Learn Website Tips, How to Do Keyword Research, & How to Write Killer Content.
    Stop Wasting Time.
    Start Living Your Dream.
    Click Here NOW to Get Your Hands on
    One of the Most Valuable Ebooks Ever!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946663].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Lori Kelly View Post

      Thomas, of the 455 foreclosures you studied, 453 of them were refinances.
      How do you know the mortgages they had were "normal" and not predatory?

      As pointed out here, the talking heads on tv were encouraging homeowners to borrow the equity out of their homes to pay off bills, invest, etc. So-called experts told people it was a bad idea to pay off their mortgages early - loss of tax deductions, etc.
      Actually, many said to have the home as the SECOND loan to pay off!

      FIRST CREDIT CARDS, since the rate is so high and variable!
      THEN the home.

      We don't know how people used the money they got from their refis. Sure, some people bought investment properties, boats, cars, paid bills, started a new business, but we don't know what they did with the money.
      You're RIGHT!

      Yes, the borrower has some responsibility in this foreclosure crisis. The blame game gets old. There has been nothing but finger pointing for the past two years and nothing has been done to curb foreclosures or sustain the housing market.
      You're right. Paying off other peoples mortgages is DUMB! Over all, HONEST people get hurt, and it doesn't really help the market.

      I bought many foreclosures over the years. I didn't flip them, I moved into them, remodeling them myself and moved out after 2 years and 1 day. I wouldn't touch a foreclosed property now if you paid me - a little problem called clear title.
      As I understand it, a tax lien is supposed to have clear title.

      Not only did or does track the assignments of loans, it also got too big for its britches and started shredding original notes.

      Enter wrongful foreclosure. There is one small rule that is a law, or used to be a law, that required a wet ink document/note to foreclose on a property. Since the newly created two party justice system, the banksters have been handed a free pass to say they simply lost that note and please forgive them, but go ahead and foreclose.
      Well, I once wrote a program a number of banks have used. It tracked mortgage documents. The FIRST one? The NOTE! Apparently, it IS still needed, but is like a CC signature! NEEDED, but NOT often asked for or verified!

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4947375].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    Lori, you're really up on this. Nice to see somebody so sharp. 1.You're right about Regions. With collateralizing they are out nothing at all. 2. I research the sale and mortgage history of each property extensively. Probably why I'm up till all hours. I've gotten to where I can smell a shark mortgage a mile away. Some of the same companies show up over and over. I've actually seen cases where the same owner refinanced as many as 5 times in three years. 3. Quiet title is taking about 3 to 4 months and cost around 3K depending.... In Texas I have used a company called "Tax Title Services". Works just as well for foreclosures as it does for tax deed properties. They will rate the risk and then go out and find an underwriter. 4. I use a really good 2% lawyer. (2% of the lawyers in the world make a fine living straightening out the messes the other 98% create.) Took me forever to find one that really understood real estate, trusts, REITs, etc. All of them will SAY they do. Fat chance.
    .....One little secret I wasn't going to get into here is the IRS. People are terrified of them and I don't understand exactly why. I've found them to be extremely workable. One little item that you will be hearing more and more about in the coming months goes like this. If you refinance a property and default the IRS MAY regard the amount you pulled out as income. IRS liens are starting to show up everywhere (Texas is a good example). Almost nothing survives an IRS lien process. (Two minor exceptions). Its the quickest way I know to clear a title and the competition is almost non-existent. In Texas, the only one I know of, the state can and does foreclose for back child support. This CAN (there are exceptions) wipe out everything behind it.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4946952].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      Lori, you're really up on this. Nice to see somebody so sharp. 1.You're right about Regions. With collateralizing they are out nothing at all. 2. I research the sale and mortgage history of each property extensively. Probably why I'm up till all hours. I've gotten to where I can smell a shark mortgage a mile away. Some of the same companies show up over and over. I've actually seen cases where the same owner refinanced as many as 5 times in three years. 3. Quiet title is taking about 3 to 4 months and cost around 3K depending.... In Texas I have used a company called "Tax Title Services". Works just as well for foreclosures as it does for tax deed properties. They will rate the risk and then go out and find an underwriter. 4. I use a really good 2% lawyer. (2% of the lawyers in the world make a fine living straightening out the messes the other 98% create.) Took me forever to find one that really understood real estate, trusts, REITs, etc. All of them will SAY they do. Fat chance.
      .....One little secret I wasn't going to get into here is the IRS. People are terrified of them and I don't understand exactly why. I've found them to be extremely workable. One little item that you will be hearing more and more about in the coming months goes like this. If you refinance a property and default the IRS MAY regard the amount you pulled out as income. IRS liens are starting to show up everywhere (Texas is a good example). Almost nothing survives an IRS lien process. (Two minor exceptions). Its the quickest way I know to clear a title and the competition is almost non-existent. In Texas, the only one I know of, the state can and does foreclose for back child support. This CAN (there are exceptions) wipe out everything behind it.

      Thomas
      Hi Thomas. Thanks. I have been running a foreclosure forum for two years. I am a licensed Realtor. Disclosure - I got my license a few years ago and only to benefit myself when I bought and sold properties - save the commission.

      It sounds like you are doing great due diligence in your purchasing. Your local land records are probably online so you can get a good idea of the public record filing. The scary thing is the documents that are not recorded. But a quiet title action will do just that - quiet the title.

      I'm not sure about IRS liens, but it would seem to me the lien is attached to the person who owes the debt, not the property. Unless, of course, the lien is recorded before you buy the property, and obviously in that event, you would know about it.

      If the lien is not recorded, then the first come, first recorded requirements would be considered and if there is no IRS lien recorded after a property is deeded to you, I wouldn't think the IRS has any recourse against you or the property. Not sure though, haven't dealt with many IRS liens.

      If you refi and default, and you live in a state or your mortgage or deed provides for a deficiency judgment, then you, as a borrower, can be sued for the deficiency - the difference between the loan amount and the sale amount. But I've never heard it being attributed to income. Only when credit card debt is forgiven do you get a 1099-C, but not in real estate. There is also a mortgage forgiveness act - the IRS forgives the debt or deficiency if the property was a primary residence.

      When you're buying properties in different states, be sure to check for rights of redemption. Texas does not have a right for a borrower to redeem the property - it varies state by state.

      Title insurance is bull****. If you are getting a loan to buy the property, the lender requires a policy to protect them. You do have an option to purchase a title policy to protect you but good luck with the title company coming to your rescue if there are defects in the title. The find that little clause on page 1,593,569 paragraph 16.(b)(2)(4)(iiiii) that they claim relieves them of the responsibility to defend any action.

      Love, love, love your quote at the 2% of lawyers make a fine living straightening out the messes the other 98% create. Soooooo true.

      I don't think you can foreclose in Texas for back child support. I could be wrong. The Texas Constitution protects homeowners.

      Ever heard of gambling the ranch? That's how the homestead act came into being.

      When a property in TX is homesteaded, the only foreclosure that can occur for non-payment is an original mortgage lender or a second, third, etc. lienholder.

      A judgment creditor cannot force the sale of a home in Texas.

      Sorry, went off topic. Please accept my apologies. I get carried away when this talking about this subject.
      Signature
      Learn Website Tips, How to Do Keyword Research, & How to Write Killer Content.
      Stop Wasting Time.
      Start Living Your Dream.
      Click Here NOW to Get Your Hands on
      One of the Most Valuable Ebooks Ever!

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4947276].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    @ Lori, The IRS can and SOMETIMES does lien a property. That doesn't mean it can't be dealt with. They must be notified twice in the 90 days proceeding a sale. After the sale they have 120 days to do SOMETHING or the lien is extinguished. You're right about it going against a person but they will tie up somebody's property if there is no other way. On the other hand I've had them sign off a property just for asking. Doesn't relieve the taxpayer, just kicks the property loose.
    -
    They almost never 1099 a residential mortgage (they can) but they will on a commercial or rental property. There is so much fraud going on that they are starting to crack down.
    -
    Yep. Texas is the ONLY state that can foreclose a property for child support and the lien WILL survive a tax sale. So will local code liens and owners association assessments. That property I bought by accident in Hill County, Texas was a $7,000
    child support lien. (We have conflicting court cases going on here so be sure to check on the code liens locally). NOBODY that I know of checks out child support liens in Texas. Not every county does them.
    -
    Be glad to visit your forum sometime. I'll bet I could learn a few things. I pick up small things that help me all the time. I like that 2% thing too. About 20 years ago I was teaching a continuing education class to a bunch of Realtors and that just came out of my mouth without thinking. I liked it so well I kept on with it.
    -
    @ Steve, Tax Liens/ Tax Certificates vary so much by state it behooves you to get to know the laws of your state like you know the color of your eyes. Even the people who handle these things don't often know the laws well. BE the smartest person in the room and it will pay you well. In SOME states SOME things survive. In other states they don't.
    -
    @TLT, Mortgage out means that after the REIT is closed the investors may want to borrow back some of their money to do something else with. They borrow on the REIT not each individual property although each property is encumbered. We aren't doing that at the present because the money available is private money and fairly expensive at the moment.

    Whew! Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4948440].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    @Lori, Don't apoligize for going off topic. I ramble on myself. (That's why I use DNS to make posts.) I actually didn't think this thread would last through 5 posts. Never thought there would be a half dozen people on here that were all that interested.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4948576].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Thomas,

    In the 1970s, I learned about a VERY stupid concept. I thought it DIED in the 80s. Maybe it HAD! Well,it is BACK! And with fixed rates of 6% and LESS, WHO would DARE get a VARIABLE rate? Well, THOSE are back now ALSO! HELL, Last I heard, QUICKEN STILL ran the MORONIC idea of a variable interest only loan! And they try to make you sound like an IDIOT for not doing it. "After all, do you REEEELY want to spend more money on the idea that you may stay there longer without knowing if you ever will?" You stay up to 3-7 years, and the property appreciates, and you could make a LOT of money! If you stay there longer, or have trouble selling the property at a break even or better price, the interest could sky rocket and bye bye credit!

    And NOW, they are talking about having LONG term loans! With all that garbage, and CMOs almost a HOUSEHOLD TERM, OF COURSE people are interested!

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4948705].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
    With the Uk mortgage market we seem to do things very differently to you guys over there in the states. I work very close to 2 "RAF" airbases, that are USAF outposts here in the UK. RAF mildenhall and RAF lakenheath, so I speak to Americans a lot about their finances, and they are usually surprised about how the UK is set up.

    Typically we will take out a loan on a property purchase with a minimum 10% deposit or greater. There are some schemes requiring less, but I won't complicate things.

    The bank offering the money will typically assess your affordability based on income, outgoings, dependents [children] etc. Typically offering between 3 and 5 times salary- but up to 5.5 for high income, low expenditure.

    You can the then choose which type of rate you wish to have.

    The choices being:

    Firstly you choose the term of the whole mortgage. New borrowers typically 25-35 years, older borrowers will have smaller loans, therefore can pay off quicker etc.

    Fixed rate for 2, 3, or 5 years. You will be tied to the lender for this period of time with a financial penalty to leave. At the expiry of the fixed rate term you automatically go on to the lenders standard variable rate. This varies lender to lender. At this point you can either select a new product from the existing lender, transfer [remortgage we call it] to another lender- upto a maximum of 85% of the property value- so if you haven't paid 5% off and put 10% down, you are not going anywhere. Or you can stay on the SVR.

    Tracker rate: This tracks the bank of England base rate [currently 0.5%] at an amount above or below the BOEBR dependent of what the product states. This tracks for a period of time, with the same terms as above. Many people here took out trackers for the life of the mortgage about 5 years ago, that were 0.01% below BOEBR, with no minimum, for the life of the mortgage [5 year tie in with early repayment charge] they are currently on historically low mortgage rates on 0.49%! [Many did the opposite and tied in for 5 years at 5.99%- you had to choose, the lucky ones chose right]

    CAPPED: a tracker with a maximum it will go to. Again set period, same deals on ERC as before.

    Discount: Tied in for a period of time, and a discount from the lenders SVR.

    Just incase this is deemed as mortgage advice by the FSA here in the UK

    Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

    ))))

    Michael
    Signature

    Michael Webb

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4956673].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Lori Kelly
    Michael, that is a good explanation of how things work in the UK. Repayment should be based on an individual's ability actually repay the loan, not a FICO score.

    There is a huge crisis looming, but not necessarily for the banks. You see, banks have no "skin in the game". The majority of the home loans are not owned by banks, they are owned by investors all around the world. The bank is a debt collector. More than 60% of all home loans are securitized. That percentage might be higher, I can't recall.

    If these loans were assets on a bank's balance sheet, you bet the banks would be in a hurry to get them resold. They're not on the balance sheets - they don't own them. So there is no hurry and in fact, just the opposite. The longer the banks can extend and pretend, they collect late fees. Banks keep late fees. Banks also allege they do drive by appraisals, i.e. $100 a pop times 20,000 foreclosures. Not a bad racket. There are many, many other junk fees the bank adds to the borrower's account and the bank keeps that money.

    The supply is incredibly unhealthy. As bad as I hate to say it, homes will have to be bulldozed. There is no other way to help us return to a healthy supply and demand.

    The only loss the banks will experience is on the loans they own. And as far as those loans, the banks (surprisingly - NOT) want to work with the homeowner and modify the loan.

    There is a Fannie Mae leaseback program. After foreclosure good ol' Fannie has decided to allow the homeowner to stay in the house and rent it. However, there is no option to buy it back in the future.

    How were those people able to buy more than they should have? Debt to income ratios checked? Probably, but during the greed frenzie, those numbers were changed before it made it to the underwriters desk.

    Who allowed the stupid loan products to begin with? How in the world is a pick a pay loan resulting in negative amortization legal? Time for our lazy ass regulators to get off their asses and take these loan products off the table.

    11,000,000 homeowners are underwater. And that's right now. There is no bottom in sight.

    Exactly Kay - why would you stay in a home that is severely underwater? A house with a loan of $300,000 and a $150,000 value. It doesn't make good business sense to stay. It will take more than a decade for that house to return to the $300,000 and that's a break even point? No thanks.

    Buying real estate is a business deal. Yes, Americans feel a responsibility to make mortgage payments no matter what. I have seen people deplete their retirement, their savings, borrow on credit cards, friends, anything to "save their house and do the right thing." Where does that leave our retiring population? Poor. And without a house because they will eventually lose it to foreclosure.

    11,000,000 underwater properties is mind boggling. But just wait, it will get worse. A lot worse.
    Signature
    Learn Website Tips, How to Do Keyword Research, & How to Write Killer Content.
    Stop Wasting Time.
    Start Living Your Dream.
    Click Here NOW to Get Your Hands on
    One of the Most Valuable Ebooks Ever!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4957052].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Yep, that's what I did. I sold my best websites to pay my mortgages and then still had to foreclose. So, not only did I lose my house I lost most of my income in the process. I was making good money from those sites from adsense. My fault. Not complaining, but I would do it all differently now.

      Originally Posted by Lori Kelly View Post

      Yes, Americans feel a responsibility to make mortgage payments no matter what. I have seen people deplete their retirement, their savings, borrow on credit cards, friends, anything to "save their house and do the right thing." Where does that leave our retiring population? Poor. And without a house because they will eventually lose it to foreclosure.
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4957313].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author rondo
      Originally Posted by Lori Kelly View Post

      The supply is incredibly unhealthy. As bad as I hate to say it, homes will have to be bulldozed. There is no other way to help us return to a healthy supply and demand.
      Interesting thread. Here in Australia the Sunday newspapers are displaying more and more ads for USA property investment seminars. Apparently it's the cash flow "opportunity of a lifetime" for us Aussies.

      Yes the house prices over there seem ridiculously low, and the rental returns sound amazing - 30+% yields are often quoted. But it all sounds a bit too good to be true to me.


      Andrew
      Signature
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4961085].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Lori Kelly View Post

      The supply is incredibly unhealthy. As bad as I hate to say it, homes will have to be bulldozed. There is no other way to help us return to a healthy supply and demand.
      It isn't really! First off, there aren't enough homes even for the people here. Some places are repurposed, etc... NEXT, most are not ones many people would want. NEXT, some want to buy other lots, etc.... HECK, in MY home, the home represents only 75% of the stated value. The other 25% is the land. Still, the neighborhood and infrastructure count for something ALSO.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962209].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    @Lori, I agree with you about the vacant housing situation. Nothing goes down hill faster than a vacant house. A group I belong to has recommended that the City of Tampa tear down around 500 marginal houses. In truth, they could tear down 5 times that many and it wouldn't make a dent in the problem.
    -
    There is an upside to the mess which won't cure the problem but its showing up in a number of markets. Its called CASH. There is a ton of cash sitting on the sidelines. It doesn't even need to be your own. REAL investors look at the world as an interest rate. Its a mindset. Show them a decent return, no smoke and mirrors, and they're in. @Lori, banks are not quite as reluctant to get rid of these things as you might think. After they have run up the tab with their junk fees some banks are ready to push these things out the door. I will not deal with Bank of America or Chase but other banks are ready to talk turkey. Its very disorganized. Be careful what you offer because they will accept. Forget what is on the books for this stuff. 30¢ on the dollar is about what we have been running.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4957548].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

      @Lori, I agree with you about the vacant housing situation. Nothing goes down hill faster than a vacant house. A group I belong to has recommended that the City of Tampa tear down around 500 marginal houses. In truth, they could tear down 5 times that many and it wouldn't make a dent in the problem.
      -
      There is an upside to the mess which won't cure the problem but its showing up in a number of markets. Its called CASH. There is a ton of cash sitting on the sidelines. It doesn't even need to be your own. REAL investors look at the world as an interest rate. Its a mindset. Show them a decent return, no smoke and mirrors, and they're in. @Lori, banks are not quite as reluctant to get rid of these things as you might think. After they have run up the tab with their junk fees some banks are ready to push these things out the door. I will not deal with Bank of America or Chase but other banks are ready to talk turkey. Its very disorganized. Be careful what you offer because they will accept. Forget what is on the books for this stuff. 30¢ on the dollar is about what we have been running.

      Thomas
      What you said is ****KIND OF**** right. You left out one VERY major thing! Investors are like gamblers! The bigger their chance for a loss, the bigger they want the reward to be! That means stock must be a low price, so they can buy more shares, and see a bigger return if their is a payoff, or interest rates must be higher.

      So a bum looking for a mortgage will, ideally, pay a higher rate than a decent guy that currently CAN pay the loan back.

      BTW in the US, the STATE dictates a LOT about how realestate is repossessed. I really don't know what to think about the UK method. What is to stop one from getting a great deal on a mansion, seeing a profit, and benefitting from something they PLANNED?

      And LORI is right about the FICO score. JUNK! Sears pulled a nasty trick on me and because they ran my name through the system, and gave me $8000 I will NEVER use, my fico score is LOWER. Can I get rid of it without adversly affecting my fico score? Maybe not. Who knows? The formulas vary, and are probably proprietary.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4957767].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        What you said is ****KIND OF**** right. You left out one VERY major thing! Investors are like gamblers! The bigger their chance for a loss, the bigger they want the reward to be! That means stock must be a low price, so they can buy more shares, and see a bigger return if their is a payoff, or interest rates must be higher.

        Steve
        Steve, there is a big difference between an investor and a speculator. I do my level best to keep the "get money now" people out of my groups. Even then a couple have slipped in.

        Thomas
        Signature
        When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4958356].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
    We have 2 major credit referencing agencies here in the UK. Experian, and equifax. Lenders will register credit searches, and credit activity with these agencies, who then create a score. I am not 100% on Equifax, but Experian is out of 1000.

    The banks however are now not just looking at the score. They are looking at your account conduct, lifestyle, and overall credit profiling....

    These are the major chances in the credit markets here in the UK.

    In the past [2006] I could have got you a mortgage, if you HAD UNLIMITED ARREARS ie never paid anything back! lenders would loan to you, and then do exactly what has been described above: package it up, and sell it on!

    A lot of the UK banks invested in the USA for these types of loans- they are now owned by the government predominantly)))
    Signature

    Michael Webb

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4958232].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Webbatron View Post

      We have 2 major credit referencing agencies here in the UK. Experian, and equifax. Lenders will register credit searches, and credit activity with these agencies, who then create a score. I am not 100% on Equifax, but Experian is out of 1000.

      The banks however are now not just looking at the score. They are looking at your account conduct, lifestyle, and overall credit profiling....

      These are the major chances in the credit markets here in the UK.

      In the past [2006] I could have got you a mortgage, if you HAD UNLIMITED ARREARS ie never paid anything back! lenders would loan to you, and then do exactly what has been described above: package it up, and sell it on!

      A lot of the UK banks invested in the USA for these types of loans- they are now owned by the government predominantly)))
      WOW! In the US, there are THREE agencies. Two of them are experian and equifax!!!!!

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4958971].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        WOW! In the US, there are THREE agencies. Two of them are experian and equifax!!!!!

        Steve
        Good example of corporate power being consolidated worldwide.

        Thomas
        Signature
        When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4959050].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        WOW! In the US, there are THREE agencies. Two of them are experian and equifax!!!!!

        Steve
        I am sure there are more here in the UK, but the lenders do not seem to reference them. It would seem these 2 companies have a "global dominance" on credit referencing? That is slightly concerning in itself!!

        [[NB: I understand there is more to the world than the UK and the USA- Not sure our governments do, but hey))) ]
        Signature

        Michael Webb

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4960339].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Webbatron View Post

          I am sure there are more here in the UK, but the lenders do not seem to reference them. It would seem these 2 companies have a "global dominance" on credit referencing? That is slightly concerning in itself!!

          [[NB: I understand there is more to the world than the UK and the USA- Not sure our governments do, but hey))) ]
          Yeah, there may be HUNDREDS in the US, but most people only use FOUR! Dun and Bradstreet for corporations, and the three I mentioned for everyone else.

          If equifax, transunion, or experian don't give you a decent rating, you can all but FORGET about getting a decent loan. Today, they are even used for JOBS and car rentals(If you use a debit card)! NO, I am NOT kidding!

          The US and UK represent a HUGE share of the market. The US used to be a very respected country. The UK used to be so big that people, at least in the US, would say "The sun never sets on the british empire". That was LITERAL, since they had places on practically every continent. And canada and australia, etc... probably use the same orgs that great britain does.

          HECK, one benchmark for interest rates in the US is LIBOR(London Interbank Offered Rate)! One big US insurer at least USED to be "Lloyds of london"! Some of my earlier financial accounts were insured by them over the US standard. So YEP, it looks tiny on the map, but a lot in the UK affects the world.

          Steve
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4960749].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Thomas,

    That was kind of my point. BTW transunion s the OTHER agency in the US. Are THEY in the UK also? And the new vantage score DOES peak very close to 1000.

    Anyway, yeah, network solutions used to be one of several viable SSL C/As. There were two that owned almost 100% of the market. Network solutions was one. The other was thawte. Network solutions bought the other. Sun had a lot of potential that was spread around. NOW, ORACLE bought them. And oracle was NOT the most popular among the E50!!!!!! MYSQL was! Oracle bought MYSQL! Some of these mergers are just BAD!

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4959480].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    One item I haven't seen mentioned here is the SEC. Chris Cox was "running" the SEC. He was a nice guy who happened to be absolutely unqualified. He wasn't supposed to be qualified. He was simply a seat warmer. The investment bankers worked around him like he wasn't even there. They asked the administration to put him in there for exactly that reason. I've never seen any evidence that he understood all that was going on around him. He certainly didn't understand complex economics. He depended on the very people who he was supposed to regulate for any information he thought was needed and they told him exactly what they wanted him to know.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4959733].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
    UK government website link to our reference agencies.

    I work in finance day in day out- I have never heard of call credit! [IE no one uses them that matters]

    ico.gov.uk/ for_the_public/ topic_specific_guides/credit.aspx

    Had to break it up due to post count
    Signature

    Michael Webb

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4960342].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
    @Rondo, I'm aware of those ads and you're right, they are to good to be true. This is a very large country and the economics are very uneven. I can't imagine handling all the problems from such a distance. I live in a county in Florida that's about the size of Delaware. I'd like to think I'm something of an expert in this area but I find new neighborhoods all the time that I didn't know existed. The difference of a few blocks can make a huge difference in a rental market. Add to that the title problems, which are gigantic and getting worse. They can usually be dealt with but it takes competent legal advice and boots on the ground not to mention endless patience. Being familiar with county procedures and personnel helps but it takes awhile Management is yet another area for scammers. Some of the same dirt bags that were mortgage brokers and appraisers a couple of years ago are now suddenly forming management companies. I have a little check list I've made over the past two years to help me evaluate properties and I still have to go through about 75 to find one worth grabbing.
    -
    We used to have a saying here in Florida, "The best way to make a small fortune in Florida is to come south with a big one." Its even more true now than ever before.

    Thomas
    Signature
    When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4961751].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author The 13th Warrior
      Very stupid and very simple.

      If I steal a car, I will do jail time.

      If a billionaire steals a car, will he do the same jail time if both my and his records were clean?

      Why should money enter into the equation of justice, if its true justice?

      Why should he get better representation of the law than me?

      Money=Justice=NO True Justice at all, by definition.

      There's your answer.

      Who is getting the worse of the consequences?

      Who is NOT getting consequences at all?

      Because you play golf with the President or Congressman, you get a pardon and I don't, even though we have the exact same record and same crime?

      The lesser of evils is still evil.


      The 13th Warrior
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962146].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by The 13th Warrior View Post

        Very stupid and very simple.

        If I steal a car, I will do jail time.

        If a billionaire steals a car, will he do the same jail time if both my and his records were clean?

        Why should money enter into the equation of justice, if its true justice?

        Why should he get better representation of the law than me?

        Money=Justice=NO True Justice at all, by definition.

        There's your answer.

        Who is getting the worse of the consequences?

        Who is NOT getting consequences at all?

        Because you play golf with the President or Congressman, you get a pardon and I don't, even though we have the exact same record and same crime?

        The lesser of evils is still evil.


        The 13th Warrior
        I think money should ALWAYS enter into the equation! MY problem is that few see things the way *I* do. Let's take bernie madoff.

        OK, his "networth" may be $1B? OK, then the world says $1B, right? So how do I figure it?

        $50B?
        MINUS illegal enrichment of $3B=<0! But WAIT, I'm not done!
        MINUS employee salaries paid out of other peoples money!
        MINUS the loss of everyone else!
        MINUS the loss of people because of those losing.
        etc... ad nauseum!

        His REAL net worth, and net value to the economy is very much NEGATIVE!

        There are NOT many people in jail that really have ANY money when it comes right down to it. Not car thieves, burglars, murderers, ID thieves, etc....

        Yet when they get out of jail, people say "They paid their debt to society". BULL!!!!!!!

        If they "earn" $5 for doing the jail's laundry, 100% of it should be split among the victims according to what they lost. If any administration work needs to be done, let COMPUTERS do it. And THINK OF IT! We won't have to pay for a jail store! After all, NOBODY is likely to have enough to buy anything! NO weightroom, because they couldn't afford it! NO cable, because they couldn't afford it! The JAILS win! The STATES win! The TAXPAYERS win! The VICTIMS get MORE! The ONLY losers would be the criminals! But they SHOULD lose! THAT is the whole point!

        Hell, at one point I could have stolen MILLIONS in bearer bonds! If I had, do you think the bank would let me off without paying it back?

        And if a crook stole a $5 radio from a store, he may be charged with stealing a $25 radio. WHY? Because the store lost an item that they were selling for $25! They may have actually lost a $25 sale!

        So what is my point? They should look at the REAL value of the person, NOT a bunch of numbers in the bank. Money SHOULD be considered, but only if looked at right. After all, a lousy poker player may have a hidden hand, and win the game and a million bucks. If it is then revealed, they will be forced to return the money. Were they EVER really a millionaire?

        Steve
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962281].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author potentialeight
    Just throwing this out there. I had a very friend whose parents lost the home they were living in over this because they couldn't pay the mortgage, etc. There were lottery tickets piled up and overflowing into the floor in a small trash can beside of their computer desk in their living room. I don't feel sorry for them the least bit.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962290].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by potentialeight View Post

      Just throwing this out there. I had a very friend whose parents lost the home they were living in over this because they couldn't pay the mortgage, etc. There were lottery tickets piled up and overflowing into the floor in a small trash can beside of their computer desk in their living room. I don't feel sorry for them the least bit.
      WOW! Most people, in the US, pay $5 or more per ticket! So imagine how much money those tickets represented! I have to admit, in the past decade I HAVE bought maybe 20 tickets! They probably cost between $35 and $50, ALL TOGETHER! so I guess I spend about $5 a year.

      Steve
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962322].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    As to investing in realestate? Most people I have known that have done it say they won't again. People can treat things HARSHLY, and tenants are given a LOT of rights. ALSO, RE brokers are BIG LIARS!!!!!!! If you buy a property, have it assayed by YOU and maybe a non local inspector. There is a LOT of incest in the R/E area! HECK, my old broker was married to a guy that WAS a broker, and is now into appraisal. She apparently knew painters and home inspectors TOO! In short, you may end up buying a DUMP AND, if you don't, it may BECOME one.

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962303].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Webbatron
    I don't want to get into the "why" too much, as if i'm honest there is an eBook waiting to happen here; but now is the time to be investing in property- in the UK anyway.

    Prices are historically low.

    Rentals, because it is so hard in general for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder are typically high.

    Low price, high rent = highest yields in my lifetime being achieved.

    Typically housing and property will increase again overtime. You just need a longer term plan of 5-10 years instead of 6 months like maybe 2003-07

    Any UK warriors got £50k to invest, I can show you how to create a net of mortgage interest income of £800-1100 a month! )))

    The best NET return I have ever achieve for a client [and that was about 6 months ago now] was 13.4% yield gross, and 11.2% NET.

    The market is there now....That's all I am saying.
    Signature

    Michael Webb

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4962849].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Thomas Wilkinson
      Originally Posted by Webbatron View Post

      I don't want to get into the "why" too much, as if i'm honest there is an eBook waiting to happen here; but now is the time to be investing in property- in the UK anyway.
      In the U.S. too. (Buy on fear, sell on greed.) This is the most unique market that has ever existed in the U.S. Cash is king. (Yours or some body elses.) I apply some of the same techniques for stock/option trading in a down market. Money pretty much works the same everywhere.

      Thomas
      Signature
      When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4963240].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author myob
        Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson View Post

        This is the most unique market that has ever existed in the U.S. Cash is king.
        Indeed, fortunes were made by those who invested when the stock market crashed in 2008 (and recovered dramatically early this year). Those fortunes are now funding investments in the housing market at garage sale prices.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4969359].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Roaddog
          Originally Posted by myob View Post

          Indeed, fortunes were made by those who invested when the stock market crashed in 2008 (and recovered dramatically early this year). Those fortunes are now funding investments in the housing market at garage sale prices.
          Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson
          This is the most unique market that has ever existed in the U.S. Cash is king.
          Yup, the rich get richer...
          The world changes so much...lol


          Half billion here, a half billion there...pretty soon your talking real money...
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[4969632].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rondo
    Interesting, and rather disturbing article in the NYTimes about this exact topic:

    How a Financial Pro Lost His House.
    Published: November 8, 2011
    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/bu...his-house.html



    Andrew
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5066716].message }}

Trending Topics