If you harbored any notion that the current economic crisis would somehow bring out the best in people–as we all come together like one of those old, warm and fuzzy “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” commercials, I’m afraid I have some very bad news for you. Well, actually, the FBI has the bad news, but I will pass it along.
A few days ago, FBI director Robert Mueller told the Senate Judiciary Committee that mortgage fraud cases that are being investigated by his agency are up roughly 63% just from a year ago! That’s sixty-three percent!!!!!
“The scheme have evolved with the changing economy, targeting vulnerable individuals, victimizing them even as they are about to lose their homes, ” said Mueller, as quoted in a New York Daily News article.
After the financial meltdown last year lawmakers and regulators were determined to discover who was responsible for the debacle. Yes, the very people who drafted the laws governing mortgages and yes were also responsible for oversight of them went out to determine who was responsible for the melt down. The first culprit, of course, was the lenders. I think we all know how that played out. The next group on the chopping block was the appraisers. If they wouldn’t have appraised the homes then the lenders would not have lent on them, so goes the finger pointing. From that came sordid tales of realtors and mortgage professionals pressuring and even bribing appraisers to up the value of a property.
The economic law of supply and demand says that when demand increases and supply falls, prices are sure to rise. Apparently that law has an asterisk that says “except for Las Vegas.”
An 
God, I hate cliches. But such is the case with a freshly minted 
I am capable of limitless success. Success is within me. I will make no excuses nor accept them of myself. I am not at the mercy of other people. I am not at the will of random events. My only true impediment is that which exists at the end of my own resolve.
From many of the headlines and articles I’ve been reading lately, you really would think the end of the world is near. Now, I’m not that paranoid but there are certain things you need to do to protect yourself, specifically from the coming wave of inflation, thanks to the governments spending spree of trillions of dollars. If you don’t take the steps I’m about to share with you… you might find yourself with a lot less money.
In recent weeks, though, I could not help but notice that she suddenly seemed to have a fresh glow about her. Her smile was there again and it looked like she may have even had a coating of sparkle surgically applied to her perfect teeth.
One area of business that people are off-shoring to virtual assistants more often then not, is in social media marketing. I’ll contend that using any kind of virtual assistant for your social media marketing strategy is a risky move.
I didn’t know the particular piece of information you are about to read until I read an article in which the writer’s social security number was compromised by none other than the Social Security Administration. It all happened because U.S. Territories issue their own social security numbers and a U. S. agency had made a loan.
Joshua Dorkin
Charles Feldman
Ted Karsch.
The New Real Estate Niche
by Tom Koziol | September 25, 2009After you read this post you will realize the “new” is really the “old” but, in the end, who cares. At least according to me.
We’ve all seen headlines that read: Existing home sales dip in August or words to that effect. Truth is, those headlines aren’t news anymore. They used to be but used to be has become the norm or maybe I should say the numb.
To add more numb to this post, we all have read articles telling us real estate practitioners and investors are expressing frustration with what they consider slow action from banks. That is, banks aren’t releasing inventory fast to satisfy the demand.
My question boils down to what do they really expect from institutions that have moved, on a historical basis, extremely slow. It is merely business as usual.
On the other hand, given a red-hot market has poked its head out of the ground we should expect business not to be usual. We should demand those institutions with a home inventory to get off their duffs and start moving the product. A home is no different than any other retail product, other than the sales price. When demand flares up, release the inventory and satisfy the demand.