Comments on: Do Valuations Continue to Slide for Years? What’s The Answer?

By: Tom Koziol

Tom Koziol — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:32:08 +0000

Steve Sjuggerud is one hell of a huckster. I’ve read his material for years and he will tell you anything to make the sale. Mind you, that is my opinion. Once you get on one of their mailing lists, it is impossible to extricate yourself from their computer. They have more deals than the proverbial Mr. Carter has pills.

I appreciate the good laugh Murray. Thanks a million.

MasterPlan Capital LLC: Unfortunately that was the answer prior to FDR. It no longer holds any weight. Why? Because the sheeple actually believe the government is the answer.

Here is an example that is from my own backyard. I moved to Nevada to escape the choking California regulations. I had been preceded by thousands who did the same thing.

Guess what they brought with them – the same regulatory mindset. I won’t bore you to tears but should you wish to check out our Nevada Revised Statutes, you will see my point.

I still would have moved here by the way but it would have been much earlier. Freedom doesn’t evaporate overnight, it erodes slowly. Now that more Californians have arrived, the regulatory mindset is even stronger.

Proof of this lies in the draft legislative bills. I got tired of reading the laws being proposed as I was always ill after a stroll through the “new” law proposals. Government intervention is here to stay and is gaining strength as you read this post.

Coincidentally, this Friday I’ll have a post about government intervention. After you read it, make up your own mind.

By: MasterPlan Capital LLC

MasterPlan Capital LLC — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:46:18 +0000

Government intervention is not the answer.

By: Murray

Murray — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:20:57 +0000

DailyWealth editor Steve Sjuggerud isn’t perturbed, however, by gloomy foreclosure predictions…

“Don’t believe all the gloom and doom you read… The U.S. housing bust may be just about over. We should be darn close to the bottom… possibly within one year of it.You probably don’t believe me. That’s okay. I’m used to being the contrarian –- it’s a position I prefer to be in actually. But bear with me, and at least hear me out…”

By: Clifton Pape

Clifton Pape — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:26:28 +0000

We are all making valid points; however, we must keep perspective as to where “most” foreclosures are coming from. If you review the national foreclosure data you will notice that in fact, the majority of foreclosures are in CA, AZ, FL and Nevada – speculator central. The other states with high foreclosures are Ohio, MI, Indiana… basically the armpit of the mid-west with failing local economies tied to manufacturing.

By: Sam Chapman

Sam Chapman — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:40:40 +0000

Here is something else to consider. Assuming markets hit bottom, stabelize and start coming back, I think we will see modest appreciation in most markets. However, how ab out all the baby boomers who are retiring. After they stop buying, where will the replacement buyers come from? This is likely to precipitate another slide in values.

By: Ned Carey

Ned Carey — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:42:20 +0000

In Maryland they just passed emergency legislation which will add about 120(?) days to the foreclosure process. This means all foreclosures have stopped and there will be a tremendous backlog when they start up again. Just watching foreclosed properties it seems that banks take up to 6 months to list them. So there is quite the time lag and this will prolong the problem.

My question is will inflation cause real estate to go up or will higher costs of everything else cause lack of affordability to hold prices down?

By: Tom Koziol

Tom Koziol — Sat, 31 May 2008 23:17:01 +0000

Let’s say the foreclosure ratio is 1 in 388. Isn’t that extreme as well? I think so and points to a systemic problem.

By: John - Cedar City

John - Cedar City — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:55:53 +0000

I think you are definitely making a great case that we all must look at. The foreclosures are on the rise and the ARM’s are now coming due. There is a lot of money coming due because loan officers put people in loans that they did not know what they were into.

I heard a figure that 1 out of every 194 homes is going into foreclosure. That is an extreme.

By: Tom Koziol

Tom Koziol — Sat, 31 May 2008 20:38:30 +0000

I do have another answer and it is called “don’t re-elect one single incumbent”. Yes, there are some good legislators but a complete house cleaning is the only method we seem to have left to send the life long politicians a message.

Today’s scenario reminds me of an old Jerry Clower story about one of the Ledbetter boys climbing up into a tree to get a racoon. As the story continues he tells how the “coon” starts putting up one heck of a fight.

As his brother is watching and listening to all the commotion, he shouts up to the brother in the tree, “do you want me to shoot?”

The answer comes back, “yeah, shoot. One of us needs the relief.”

Forgive me for shortening the story but I think you get the idea. If enough of us yell yeah shoot and actually follow through, I bet we see a steadier course designed with real economic principles as the guide marks.

By: Mark McGlothlin

Mark McGlothlin — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:24:25 +0000

Thoughtful article Tom, there’s no question, several things need to change to restore some sense and order. There’s an interesting op-ed up over at the WSJ today – “Let’s Try Market Oriented Reform” in which Bert Ely suggests that both the players and some of the rules need to change. Food for thought…..

By: Clifton Pape

Clifton Pape — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:41:48 +0000

Tom you make a great argument. Yes inflation is a concern that is definitely heating up in the short and long run. However, I do believe that the fed has now shifted their attention to long run inflation possibilities and will begin to raise rates sooner rather than later. In reviewing the fed minutes it shows that they are paying close attention to inflation and are preparing markets for their eminent action.

Without a doubt you are right about putting money into the economy sowing the seeds for future inflation. It will be very interesting to see how quickly the fed acts to prevent inflation from getting out of control while staring at a struggling economy. For an economist this is the worst case scenario. Let’s hope they are up for the battle!