Thomas Smicklas

Real Estate Has Hit Bottom? Not Even Close

I have a piece today on SA regarding the upcoming investment opportunity in apartments.

I agree completely with the above article regarding single family housing. Increased taxes, defaults (again) for the many who were given a break on their mortgage who shouldn't have had a mortgage in the first place, the preference to rent rather than buy from Millenials, a decrease in traditional familiy units creating a continuing surplus of 20th century-style homes on the market, the inability of big box builders to adjust to the size and taste of buyers who want less space and more energy savings...the list goes on.

And don't foget the forced lifestyle changes the Obama administration is pressing on many fronts.

Housing will continue to take a beating.

Housing, Dating, Marriage and the Tax Code

An old Benny Hill comment:

Question From Host: What is a bachelor?
Answer: A man who has not considered marriage.
Reply: NO, you're wrong. It is a man who HAS considered marriage.

Ingrid Beckles: Freddie Mac's Plan for the Housing Market

Excellent post.

I do believe that a majority of home occupiers (I set them apart from homeowners - who can afford to live in a home they finanvced) will crap out of almost any re-fi scheme because they are lacking income, budgeting habits, intelligence or all three. Just like the government.

Obama's Big Win at G20: Europeans Lose Control of IMF

The summary statement from the G-20 tells me that Obama gave away the store in order to make nice and be loved by the G-19. Net result is a big loss of independance for U.S.

No further stimulus was provided according to the summary document. Control over compensation is to be regulated worldwide. The lisy of giveaways is a path to socialism.

As Medvedev stated, "Obama is my comrade."

An Investor's Guide to Corporate Bonds

Excellent primer for bonds.

Big Box Home Improvement Stores Should Benefit from Government Mortgage Subsidies

You are correct on the ownership. However, I stated that Home Depot RUNS HD Supply. They provide the pipeline to product for many facets of the operation.


On Mar 27 09:39 AM Fred Merkle wrote:

> Home Depot does NOT run HD Supply. They sold them in 2007....Depot
> only owns 12% or so.

BB&T Bank: A Rose Amongst the Thorns

Occasionally, I will submit in my blog a personal experience piece that brings a non-technical viewpoint to a security. I have mentioned BB&T favorably before - a good bet in a bad financial sector.

To those that find this shallow, I agree that extensive technical and detailed fundamental analysis is preferable. Personal experience can be useful - and, as Peter Lynch would attest, too rare in picking a stock for an appropriate portion of one's portfolios.

The Dividend Dilemma

Obama is all about words rather than substance. I have no problem with that, as talk sure beats action by the government is displayed in the bailout fiasco to date.

A public whipping of banks to cut dividends will suffice, as the majority of Americans know nothing of preferred or bond instruments. The common stock will take the hit, which will satisfy the masses. Obama gets his political points. Good for him.

I predict that preferred stocks and bonds will not be touched.

World Bank Publishes Procurement Blacklist

Thank you for this post. I am sure that without, as with other international agencies, political correctness, bribes, threats and preferential staffing with third world employees the Bank's list would number about 10,000 companies, entire countries - even a continent or two and not just the current roster.

4 Key Paths to Portfolio Flexibility in 2009

Any retirement funds that of necessity income oriented should include a suitable mix of the preferred ETFs such as PFF for a higher yield, blended corporates and treasuries, not forgetting TIP. Inflation is the 600 pound gorilla in waiting, imo. Don't forget the tax man cometh, sooneth, and shield that income.

No need too buy my entire list. Pick and chose a small portfolio you are comfortable with.

The Losses of a Money Magazine Portfolio

Well done.

PNC Financial Services: Wisely Moving Ahead

If it is any consolation, I owned National City with a cost basis of about $3/share, thinking "what's the downside to this bank, where I do business?" I found out.

America: Is This the End of an Era?

Sorry to dissapoint the hate America first crowd, but we have survived events a lot worse than this recession. We are in the midst of resolving our economic concerns with resolve and fresh leadership. What is the rest of the world doing? Blaming America.

Brilliant.

U.S. Housing: A False Dawn Recovery in 2009?

Build a home people can afford and buld it to a high standard of craftmanship, and, like a good restaurant on restaurant row, peole will come. My field of dreams is a 3/2 bedrrom 1300 sq. ft home that we are selling like hotcakes in NC, while luxury homes and specs sit and rot. We are buying their vacant lots for about 20 cents on the 2005 appraisal.

We are even financing some guyers ourselves with credit in the mid 600s with more than enough stable income (teachers, etc.) to make payments.

The big box guys are behind the curve, as usual. We have our own bull market, discovered through direct observation.

Time to Buy Water ETFs?

Either ETFs have benefits. I prefer PHO at this juncture because I believe that BHB/PE will authorize gazillions here faster than third world countries can muster in their part of the planet as a part of the "US Five Year Plan". PHO has the stocks in the sweet spot to benefit.

Do Five Year Plans work? Ask China and some die hard Soviets. But, I digress.