In my earlier post on the New Normal in real estate, a commenter took issue with my predictions about the future of the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (among other claims). I thought I would expand on that aspect a bit. The specific mechanism that I think will be put in place is a change in … Read more
I’m honored to be asked to give the closing remarks at the Council of MLS conference in Chicago this year at the end of September/early October. Since I’m supposed to be wrapping up the discussions of those few days, I can’t actually prepare anything ahead of time. But I can sort of cheat by putting … Read more
Just got off the phone with a broker friend of mine who thinks I’m plainly nuts with all the fearmongering and paranoia about things that will never come to pass. My recent series on real estate policy has him alternatively dismissive and wanting not to get out of bed in the morning. So I’d like … Read more
It’s time, y’all. Given all of the energy and action of late around housing, housing finance, and future of homeownership by the Federal government, I think it’s time the RE.net (and others!) put together a Carnival of Real Estate Policy. I’ve organized one and will host the first one here on Notorious. Submission deadline is … Read more
It’s a chilly, rainy day here in New Jersey under iron grey skies. If where you are is sunny, and you’re feeling happy and optimistic, and you want to stay that way, let me strongly suggest that you not finish reading this post. This is where I engage in paranoid fearmongering speculation. You have been … Read more
Click: The Magic of Instant Connections is a slim little volume that resists easy classification. I suppose you could call it a book on psychology, as it explores a particular phenomenon that isn’t well-researched: how people connect with each other. From Chapter 1: This book is about those mysterious moment — when we click in … Read more
Click: The Magic of Instant Connections is a slim little volume that resists easy classification. I suppose you could call it a book on psychology, as it explores a particular phenomenon that isn’t well-researched: how people connect with each other. From Chapter 1: This book is about those mysterious moment — when we click in … Read more
James Pethokoukis writes on Reuters today (h/t: Instapundit) that the Obama Administration may be planning to eliminate many/most/all underwater mortgages in a single swoop: Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage … Read more
So earlier today, I get an email of some interesting real-estate related links from my friends at AOL Housingwatch (where I pen an occasional column or two). In it, I find this gem of a story: Mortgage loan originators will have to be fingerprinted and sign up to a central registry to do business in … Read more