Russ Msrtin's (edumakated) Blog

It is no secret that anyone getting a mortgage above the conforming limit of $417,000 is in for some sticker shock as the rates on non-conforming mortgage loans have gone through the roof.  For instance, a typical 30 year fixed rate mortgage is about 6.375% (no points) right now versus about 7.5%...

I have never aligned myself with Democrats or Republicans.  In fact, I am a proud independent and have always given my votes to the candidates that I feel best represent my personal interests politically regardless of their party affiliation.  I voted for Clinton.   I voted for Bush.  There are m...

 From that.... to this:   Ric Flair FinanceYet another reason why the mortgage industry has no credibility left.  I thought Trump Mortgage was bad, now we have ex-pro wrestlers hawking mortgages.  I know some of you felt I was a little too blunt on the previous post about consumer intelligence a...

When I was completing my MBA in marketing at Northwestern University (Kellogg), I recall a very well regarded marketing professor telling the class that when we are designing marketing campaigns at large corporations that it is important to remember that the general populace is pretty stupid.  W...

Mortgage banks and mortgage brokers have a love-hate relationship.  Kind of like Eminem and his wife, Kim (or is it ex-wife again).   They need each other, but their love or hate depends on the time of day. As the mortgage meltdown continues to grab headlines, it appears that mortgage brokers and...

I told you several months ago that 99% of people pay their mortgages on time and also suggested that once we start digging into the foreclosures data we will see that it isn’t little old ladies going into foreclosures but specuvesters. My main point really is that all the talk about predatory le...