Morgan Stanley Kitson experiencing PAIN in Charlotte County...what do you think the shareholders and pension funds are feeling? - 02/28/08 10:05 PM
The County Commissioners in Charlotte County gave Syd Kitson and Partners 30 days to review their new plan for the proposed downtown area of Port Charlotte. Mr. Kitson now wants to buy just 40 of the 870 acres of land the company was supposed to buy from Charlotte County.
Don't forget that Kitson is also the "Genius" behind the Babcock Ranch Deal-94,000 acres of pristine land that will be turned into a new city of over 50,000 people....it's been challenged by the state and Lee County due to issues with Transportation Impacts.
One point I want to everyone to grasp....This is going … (0 comments)
|
Bank Failures are a very real possiblity-- What do you think is going to happen? - 02/28/08 09:34 PM
Yesterday someone sent me a story about how federal regulators are preparing for a wave of U.S. bank failures. Today someone else sent me the same basic story, but from a different source.
This made me think, "Hmmm..." I guess I was onto something as some of you may have noticed the posting on the New Rules from the Federal Reserve Board. (http://activerain.com/blogsview/360953/Simply-put-the-U)
But to satisfy myself and see just how "newsworthy" my friends information flashes were, I went to Google News and entered "bank failure."
Sure enough, in 0.27 seconds, Google identified that phrase in 473 news articles. Faced with … (5 comments)
|
Joint Center for Housing Studies Working Paper Series - 02/28/08 08:05 PM
The Joint Center for Housing Studies is Harvard University's center for information and research on housing in the United States. Established in 1959, the Joint Center is a collaborative unit affiliated with the Graduate School of Design and the Kennedy School of Government. The Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies is Nicolas P. Retsinas, who was appointed in 1998. The Center's research and additional information about its programs and activities are available at:
www.jchs.harvard.edu
Consumer and Mortgage Credit at a Crossroads
Preserving and Expanded Access while Informing Choices and Protecting Consumers by Eric S. Belsky and … (2 comments)
|
66 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY - 02/27/08 08:58 PM
66 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY
For most kinds of purchases, you can get valuable advice and comparisons on the Internet. Ask a librarian or friends which Internet sites they think are helpful, or you can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Be aware that information you find is often biased. At many websites, the only products or sellers listed are ones that pay to advertise. Before buying anything on the Internet, check several websites and make sure you deal with reputable dealers.
Airline Fares
1. Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. Remember, the … (5 comments)
|
If anyone is interested...Here's What Big Ben (Chairman Bernanke) said today during his Monetary Policy Speech Today - 02/27/08 08:55 PM
February 27, 2008, Report
Part 1: Overview: Monetary Policy and the Economic Outlook Part 2: Recent Economic and Financial Developments Part 3: Monetary Policy in 2007 and Early 2008 Part 4: Summary of Economic Projections
Full Report: Printable version (15.2 MB PDF)
… (1 comments)
|
Whose Who List..... of The Most Miserable Places in the U.S. to live - 02/22/08 02:18 PM
The 5 most miserable cities in the U.S.
*Misery Measures are derived at by ranking the 150 largest metropolitan areas on six criteria -- income tax, violent crime, Superfund sites, commutes, weather and unemployment - and then adding their ranks. For example, New York ranked worst (150th) for commutes, 150th for income tax, 99th for unemployment, 78th for number of Superfund sites, 105th for violent crime and 86th for weather, which add up to its Misery Measure of 668.
See Forbes.com's full slide show of most miserable cities.
The biggest surprise on the list is Charlotte, N.C., which is ranked ninth. Charlotte has undergone tremendous … (5 comments)
|
For posterity sake.....The Tally on Foreclosures By State for 2007 - 02/22/08 01:48 PM
2007 foreclosure filings by state
*Actual increase may not be as high due to improved or expanded data coverage in this state.
… (5 comments)
|
Facebook changes it's platform.....is it worth PAYING for "Social Ads" now that you are prohibited from putting listings in for FREE? - 02/20/08 06:14 AM
Six months after launching a free listing service for real estate, and having highly reputable companies urge their members to utilize that listing source, Facebook is reversing course and trying to monetize that which many were persuaded to try.
Facebook, it seems, has NOW decided it does not want Realtors placing their listings in its marketplace and will suspend the accounts of any persons caught doing so. They decided it was far more profitable to have Realtors promote their listings using its paid 'Social Ads' service……
Is this good business strategy for Facebook or a predatory move to squeeze money out of Realtors?
… (13 comments)
|
Whose got an opinion on XBRL or Extensible Business Reporting Language? - 02/19/08 01:14 PM
On Friday the Securities and Exchange Commission unveiled a tool on its Website designed to help investors quickly and easily analyze the financial results of public companies that reported information using extensible business reporting language, or XBRL.
Dubbed "Financial Explorer," it takes information from financial statements and generates ratios, graphs, and charts to give a graphical picture of a company's performance. It is the latest addition to the collection of software the SEC has been rolling out with an eye to possibly making the use of XBRL mandatory, which could happen by the end of 2008.
"With Financial Explorer or another … (2 comments)
|
Hop on board for the "Parade of Foreclosure's Tour!" Goodness gracious WHAT has it come to??? - 02/19/08 06:50 AM
Countrywide Financial, a nationwide mortgage lender, has decided to experiment with a "Parade of Foreclosures" tour in February and March. While banks don't want to own homes, foreclosures they put on the market aren't necessarily going to be the deal of a lifetime. Banks want to get their money back, and Prospective buyers looking for foreclosures aren't likely to see them advertised using the word "foreclosure", but the Guru's in Real Estate know where to get the information.
Is anyone doing these in your area, and here's a question...
Do ya' rent a limo bus or get a "Green" car to take the … (3 comments)
|
Castro Resigns as President of Cuba..... - 02/19/08 05:42 AM
Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power.
"I will not aspire to nor accept - I repeat, I will not aspire to nor accept - the post of President of the Council of State and Commander in Chief," read a letter signed by Castro published early Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma.The announcement effectively ends the rule of the 81-year-old Castro after almost 50 years, positioning his 76-year-old brother Raul for permanent succession to the presidency. Fidel Castro temporarily ceded his powers to his brother on July 31, 2006, when he … (7 comments)
|
What do you think about Short REFI's? - 02/18/08 06:25 AM
Here's a Big Monday Morning WHAT IF?
What If Delinquent borrowers could refinance their loans, but with some of the debt forgiven?
This type of transaction, called a short refinance or short refi.
Here's how a short refinance works:
You owe $200,000 on a house that you bought at the top of the market.
Since then, house values in your neighborhood have fallen by 20 percent, and your house is now worth $160,000.
The rate on your subprime adjustable-rate mortgage has gone up, and you can't afford the higher payments.
Instead of foreclosing, the lender agrees to forgive $40,000 of the debt and … (6 comments)
|
Now wouldn't this be interesting in the United States....Nationalizing Mortgage Lenders! - 02/17/08 11:35 AM
The U.K. has decided to "nationalize" Northern Rock PLC after the mortgage lender almost collapsed last year as the subprime crisis turned into a global credit crunch, according to reports on Sunday. The surprise move makes Gordon Brown's British government and taxpayers in the country the new owners of the struggling company, the Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition. The government will run Northern Rock (UK:NRK: news, chart, profile) until it can find a buyer. But that may take time because many other financial-services companies in Europe and the U.S. are dealing with their own subprime-mortgage-related losses, the Journal … (5 comments)
|
I have the best medicine if you need an Attitude Adjustment... - 02/15/08 09:37 AM
Turn off the music on my blog....and then turn up the Speakers! (Trust me) … (3 comments)
|
The Economic Report of the President .....see if your opinion matches his - 02/12/08 12:05 PM
Today, the White House released the Economic Report of the President, an annual report to Congress on the Nation's economic progress. The report released today reviews the state of the U.S. economy, the outlook for the next several years, and a wide variety of economic issues that underlie many of the Administration's economic policies.
The U.S. economy continued to grow for the sixth straight year in 2007, but we are facing a rough patch. Although real GDP growth slowed in the fourth quarter of last year, economic growth is expected to continue in 2008. Most market forecasts suggest a slower … (2 comments)
|
Project Lifeline....GRAB HOLD NOW! - 02/12/08 11:54 AM
“Project Lifeline,” the new program will be available to people who have taken out all types of mortgages, not just the high-cost subprime loans that have been the focus on previous relief efforts.The program was put together by six of the nation’s largest financial institutions, which service almost 50 percent of the nation’s mortgages.These lenders say they will contact homeowners who are 90 or more days overdue on their monthly mortgage payments. They will be given the opportunity to put the foreclosure process on pause for 30 days while the lenders try to work out a way to make the mortgage … (0 comments)
|
Immigration to Play Lead Role In Future U.S. Growth U.S. Population Projections: 2005-2050 - 02/11/08 02:44 PM
If current trends continue, the population of the United States will rise to 438 million in 2050, from 296 million in 2005, and 82% of the increase will be due to immigrants arriving from 2005 to 2050 and their U.S.-born descendants, according to new projections developed by the Pew Research Center. Of the 117 million people added to the population during this period due to the effect of new immigration, 67 million will be the immigrants themselves and 50 million will be their U.S.-born children or grandchildren.
Key projections:
Nearly one in five Americans (19%) will be an immigrant in 2050, … (1 comments)
|
Would you buy a house in a BOX? - 02/09/08 09:41 AM
The House In A Box is built in a factory that is currently delivering one complete residence every 3 days. You can order the home one day, and watch it roll out of the factory a few days later, all at a considerable savings over conventional home construction. They arrive virtually ready to move into. The plumbing and electrical systems are already installed, and the floors and the cabinets already built in. Many builders say the concept may represent the housing market of the future. All the windows in the homes are a vinyl, low-E, double pane glass window, and all … (10 comments)
|
Foreclosed homeowners could get their houses back - 02/09/08 09:36 AM
The Cleveland law firm of Novak, Robenalt, and Pavlik has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of local homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure by Deutsche Bank. "Most of the homeowners had never even heard of Deutsche Bank," said attorney Thomas Robenalt. "There was a rush to file, to sell these mortgages because they were selling them at a profit."Two Cleveland federal judges have dismissed all pending Deutsche Bank foreclosures, and Robenalt's firm has filed a class-action lawsuit. The suit contends the bank began foreclosure action before it had legal standing to do so. Robenalt believes homeowners foreclosed upon … (3 comments)
|
The Collateral Risk Industries Newest Tool-ZAIO Lender - 02/09/08 09:21 AM
First maybe this will help explain what Zaio is ....it's an acronym for ‘Zone Appraisal and Imaging Operations’. The companies goal from the statements in the video seems to be "restoring the competitiveness and independence" of appraisers. Watch the short video on this new tool, and let me know what you think. I am especially curious to find out what the appraisers out there think of it! … (3 comments)
|
Babcock Ranch now faces a legal challenge from the state of Florida about traffic concerns - 02/08/08 06:41 AM
On Jan. 28 the State of Florida filed the challenge against Charlotte County’s decision to move forward with the project. Lee County Commissioners had already filed suit, and thankfully the State agreed with the concerns over traffic impacts of Mr. Kitson's-Babcock Ranch in Charlotte County.
There needs to be an assurance in the development order that Kitson & Partners of West Palm Beach will pay for regional traffic impacts, according to the state’s challenge — the same reason Lee County opposed the Babcock plan.“As the project develops in phases, our concern is the transportation needs won’t be fully addressed and the … (0 comments)
|
Could Noah build his ark today? (Mid-Week Humor Break) - 02/07/08 08:47 AM
Could Noah build his ark today? If Noah had lived in the United States today the story may have gone something like this: And the Lord spoke to Noah and said, "In one year, I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all flesh is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark." In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. In fear and trembling, Noah took the plans … (5 comments)
|
Don't Cry to hard for the Poor Poor Builders...the Senate is handing them all 'The Holy Grail' - 02/07/08 08:11 AM
As an Example:
Lennar Corp. has found a way to salvage something from the huge losses it incurred by overpaying for land during the housing boom....The Holy Grail!
Okay, what that means is Lennar gets the tax loss, but still holds an interest in the land on its books.
"That's the holy grail," said Robert Willens, president of tax and accounting advisory firm Robert Willens LLC. "The accounting is saying that they're not really selling it, whereas the taxes are more formal in the way they look at it."
Late last year, the Miami-based home builder sold a big swath of land … (6 comments)
|
Mortgage industry regulation imminent? It is according to the OTS - 02/06/08 10:39 PM
OTS Director Reich Addresses National Association of Mortgage Brokers
Washington, D.C. — Feb. 6, 2008
Office of Thrift Supervision Director John Reich addressed the National Association of Mortgage Brokers today during its Legislative & Regulatory Conference in Washington.
“We believe that there may be two potential areas where OTS could play a role in achieving this goal –
(1) licensing and registration of mortgage originators, and (2) joint state and federal oversight of state regulated mortgage banking companies,” Reich said.
In his prepared remarks, the Director said 2008 is beginning an era of reform by the federal sector and the states to set … (4 comments)
|
What is Warren Buffet buying....is he onto something you need to be? - 02/06/08 03:42 PM
… (2 comments)
|
GET READY....The FED has the "Answer" Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) - 02/06/08 01:00 PM
Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA)
The FED Board proposal is intended to protect consumers and to preserve consumer choice by targeting protections to borrowers who face the most risk. The proposed regulations are designed to protect consumers from excessive layering of risk even as the practices that increase risk may change.
The FED Board has sought to ensure that these standards are clear for lenders to reduce unintended consequences for consumers. Though clear, the standards are intended to be not overly prescriptive, so as to preserve access to responsible credit while amply protecting consumers.
Get ready the following are the list … (28 comments)
|
Have you heard about "Price Protection"? - 02/06/08 12:06 PM
As the housing slump drags on, some builders have a deal for potential buyers: Sign a contract, and if the cost of comparable homes drops before closing, you get the lower price. KB Home and Ryland Group hope such "price protection" guarantees will lessen consumers' paralyzing fears about buying real estate whose value is falling and get them to the dotted line, bring in much-needed cash and reduce high cancellation rates.
Pitch from Ryland:
"Ryland Homes’ “Purchase Power Advantage” national sales event will offer homebuyers exceptional savings, plus the added assurance of price protection and interest rate protection on new homes built just … (3 comments)
|
The US is no longer in the TOP 10! - 02/06/08 08:28 AM
The business of accessing capital is getting tougher, in which ever corner of the world your boardroom happens to be sited. Proof of this comes from the Milken's Capital Access Index (.pdf) , which places the U.S. at #11, down from #5. The Milken Institute’s determinedly quantitative method aims to capture a broad picture of economies, across macroeconomics, banking and finance, the equity and bond markets, and alternative sources of capital.
We are not alone though, all of the top-ten nations posted decreases in available capital.
On the debt side the picture is hardly more rosy. Banks are getting much more picky … (1 comments)
|
Can someone explain this please....Rally or Anomalie? - 02/05/08 06:39 PM
Last Friday morning (Feb. 1), right after the release of a disappointing U.S. employment report, the Euro rallied and the U.S. dollar fell. "Dollar Approaches Record Low Versus Euro as U.S. Loses Jobs," promptly reported Bloomberg.
But just minutes later, the dollar reversed and the EUR/USD exchange rate plunged. The fall was fast and deep; by Friday night, the dollar stood over 100 pips stronger against the euro – despite that morning's bad economic news.
Strange?
You can say that again. But what happened next was even stranger.
On Tuesday (Feb. 5), the dollar again took the upper hand and pushed … (3 comments)
|
Word of the Week----"C Ashtration" - 02/05/08 07:35 AM
C ashtration is a word concocted to describe the financial impotence that comes after buying a home.
(But also watch out for credit cards, particularly those with low introductory, or teaser, interest rates.)
Got any other words you'd like to share that "fit" the current economic situation?
Have a great day!!
… (8 comments)
|
Beazer is getting of Mortgage Biz and these 5 Markets...Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati/Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; Columbia, S.C., and Lexington, KY. - 02/04/08 08:03 PM
Beazer Homes USA Inc. said it will discontinue its mortgage origination business and exit five markets.
The Atlanta-based home builder (NYSE: BZH) said it will discontinue mortgage origination services through Beazer Mortgage Corp. effective immediately and has entered into a new marketing services arrangement with Countrywide Financial Corporation (NYSE: CFC), whereby Beazer Homes will market Countrywide as the preferred mortgage provider to Beazer Homes' customers.
The company also said that as part of a review of its business launched last July, it has decided that it will exit its homebuilding operations in Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati/Dayton and Columbus, Ohio; Columbia, … (2 comments)
|
What was your favorite Superbowl Ad? - 02/04/08 09:44 AM
The 1973 Super Bowl has become a frequent point of reference this year because Super Bowl VII, played Jan. 14 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, was the game in which the Miami Dolphins became the first team in modern pro football history to finish a season undefeated. Their 14-7 win over the Washington Redskins, despite placekicker Garo Yepremian throwing the worst pass in Super Bowl History, gave them a 17-0 record – the record being challenged Sunday by the New England Patriots, who would with a victory over the Giants finish 19-0. But the 1973 Super Bowl also marked another … (43 comments)
|
Latest Cellphone Feature: Reading Aloud - 02/04/08 09:41 AM
Without help, Marc Maurer, who is blind, cannot distinguish between bottles of Tylenol and Vitamin C or tell if he's handing a cashier a $20 bill or $1 bill. Four years ago, he signed for what he thought was a $44 hotel room bill that was charged to his credit card for $44,000.
So when inventor Ray Kurzweil approached the National Federation of the Blind two years ago to create a cellphone that reads print, Maurer, a Maryland lawyer and the organization's president, jumped at the technology.
Last week, K-NFB Reading Technology -- a joint venture between the Baltimore … (1 comments)
|
Will Real Estate Agents turn into the next Multi-Level Marketing "Product"? - 02/02/08 08:52 AM
Last Night while out "Networking" I was approached for the SECOND time this week about a new Concept that was going to "Revolutionize the Real Estate Industry". Of course I was curious so I let the person continue with the explanation. I'm going to try to use the same words and I'd love to know what the Active Rain Family Thinks of this:
The plan is that we are going to offer top notch support, marketing, training, business plan building, goal setting and achieving, etc. .
It is a well known fact that real estate agents are the foundation of a real … (12 comments)
|
|
Connect. Share. Learn.Welcome to ActiveRain, the #1 social community for real estate professionals.
;)
;)
;)
