I ran across this chart about top online advertisers, and thought it was kind of interesting in light of events in the real estate market.
I would assert that several of the top 10 are either directly or tangentially related to the real estate boom.
#2 – Experian – credit reports. Not sure why they spend $44mm advertising something the government says you have to give away for free – but you might be checking your credit score if you were worried about refinancing, no?
#3 – Countrywide – think we all know that one (they’re the guys that keep sending me urgent opportunities to refinance a mortage I paid off 16 months ago) Only question is if they are still in business in six months.
#7 – Low Rate Source – this is a comparative mortage vendor. Not sure they are getting their $22mm worth – because I’d never heard of them.
So what happens to “Web 2.0” and the insane stock market valuations when all the air comes out of refinancing? More interesting collateral damage?