This is your open thread for today. Please post random links and off-topic discussions here.
Month: July 2006
Interest Rate Change Misconceptions: Cap rates
“The interest rate on their mortgage had risen to 9.5 percent, from 3.5 percent three years ago. They didn’t have the equity or good credit to qualify for refinancing at a lower rate.” This quote was from Ben’s ‘the housing bubble’ blog this morning and it perfectly illustrates the misconception that I hear all the…
Pity for those with no "PITI"?
I’ve commented on this before at Inman News and other blogs, but it deserves it’s own post. Here is an exerpt from my letter to the editor: To help borrowers qualify for a home loan and to get payments in line with a lenders loan program, it is necessary for the taxes and insurance to…
More Editorial Truth Spotted In The P-I
Last week when Bill Virgin snuck an uncomfortable Seattle real estate truth into a sports opinion column, I was surprised. Today, when I read a P-I editorial titled ‘Easy credit driving housing prices?‘ I just about fell out of my seat. Deep in the Commerce Department’s report are even more troubling concerns: The personal savings…
Majority Of New WA Mortgages "Nontraditional"
A perceptive reader pointed out a post at Calculated Risk that pointed to a 29-page report by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (pdf). The interesting piece of information is contained on page 25, in Chart 4, reproduced below. Click to enlarge And here’s the money quote from the write-up: Nontraditional loan products can be appropriate…