The Housing Market Continues to Stabilize [View article]
Articles representing a variety of views are published here at Seeking Alpha. That's a good thing.
I am an active practitioner in real estate east of the Mississippi and contributor to a major brokerage house real estate survey which is a highly respected monthly review.
Frankly, when I finished reading this post, I laughed.
I have been involved with Section 8 HUD rental property for over 25 years. Sure, the large credit allowances for new complexes go to the politically connected - we all know that.
Moving South from northern Ohio, I had an option to purchase a nice parcel of land zoned multi-family. Seeing what passed for Section 8 homes were by-in-large old double-wides, I scheduled an appointment with the regional director.He informed me that there was a three year waiting list for housing, but that I would not receive approval for the project (an 88 unit development). Why? His staff would be overworked with additional active clients and no extra personnel to handle the "workload".
On the other side of the coin, earlier in my career I used to report tenant vacancy violations to the regional HUD office. Those that are into Section 8 know some of the tricks, the most frequent being having one person qualify for a Section 8 voucher, then have their significant other with a good job move in and live off the largesse of the program. I was confounded by not having any of my violation reports acted upon by the HUD case worker(s). In fact, I began to have my properties inspected more frequently. I asked a caseworker over a cup of coffee what was the reason behind the extra inspections. Her reply? We don't like landlords reporting violations after we certify a tenant - it makes us look bad. Cease reporting violations and your inspections will be curtailed. I did - and they were.
Good luck turning the HUD battleship around in a political canal.
3 Reasons Why the Treasury Should Borrow Now to Restructure and Rebuild [View article]
I must admit...when I read this article, I laughed. We are way past good debt/bad debt. My children and grandchildren will not be laughing. They will be hunting down the ones who promoted and executed our economic and debt debacle with pitchforks.
We have had several articles regarding the amount of "dips" forthcoming.
At this juncture, I believe that we are not going to have any dips over the next several years. A dip requires an economic upturn to raise the economy so it can dip.
Government policies may well keep us condemned to a long period of high unemployment and a persistent recessionary climate, similar to the malaise of the Carter years. Inflation in conjunction with a recession? Quite possible.
Spain Announces Beginning Of End: The Unfolding Global Fiasco Is Near [View article]
IMO, Kostohyrz has had the courage of conviction to take on SA sacred cows on a regular basis. Whether one agrees with him or not, the guy makes you THINK with cogent, insightful pieces. My take is that many of his critics - especially dividend "inter-galatic champions" or whatever they call themselves- are so wrapped up trying to convince themselves they have discovered the investment holy grail that they lash out when their myopic world is questioned.
An open mind that accepts challenges to one's views is healthy, not detrimental, to long term investment success.
How To Allow Your Children To Retire Young [View article]
Aspiring to have one's children retire at 35?
Too often we let the world of investing blind us to the many, many other facets of life that are not only important to our personal development, but to the well-being of our communities and country.
If you are intent on a "35 and Out" goal for your children, do them a favor. Insist they enter the armed forces after college so they learn duty, honor, country and personal responsibility.
Maybe they won't waste years 36-90.
That said, your article presented noteworthy investment tactics.
Further Signs of the Recession's Return [View article]
I'm not sure the recession ever went away.
Those that are still reckoning growth and hope at this time are mistaken. Sadly, come the tax and fee hikes in 2011, coupled with the uncertainty of the business climate for the future, our descent is likely to continue.
Why Is China Pushing into Africa's Industrial Zones? [View article]
One reason China can move into central and southern Africa is the Chinese are not bound by laws that prohibit the offering of bribes and payoffs, as western countries are by self-inflicted law.
Bribes and payoffs are considered a part daily life on the continent. Handcuffing western countries from doing "business" in Africa as is customary creates an unequal playing field.
I wonder if the Chinese are using U.S. Government Bonds as currency? They have plenty to spare.
How to Buy the Right Dividend Stock - At the Right Price [View article]
I am going to switch gears and compose a series of articles (after I return from Air University in Montgomery, AL) using a permanent portfolio/ dividend multiplier concept as an introductory teaching tool for youngsters who are financially illiterate, in large part due to little or no training within their high schools.
Perhaps SA will pick some or all of it up. We need to foster appropriate appreciation for our economic system and prepare the next generation to accept personal responsibility for their standard of living. SA participants may want to share their expertise with the upcoming generation. It is important for our future as well.
As I commented above, you composed a superb piece today-something for all levels of retail investors to profit from (not just another mundane roster of stocks and a graph so often found on investor-oriented sites).
Why American Oil Companies Passed on Shale Gas [View article]
Companies buying shale exploration rights are looking towards the future. America used to do that in many industries. I wish them well in the new hostile, regressive political environment that pushes windmills and clown cars over practicality and consumer needs.
Excellent post. Right on with foreclosures vs. short sales.
Buyers and investors are being sold a bill of goods by hucksters telling them that they should "buy now". Using 2006 prices to evaluate the price point to value the discount on a property is the same as measuring the worth of a stock by looking at it's all time high price.
The four banks I deal with are holding over 11 months worth of inventory. They can't process their distressed properties efficiently.And the real estate just keeps coming in. All are playing hardball by denying short sales. All are also getting homes back that they gave borrower concessions to in 2008/09 - as predicted, a deadbeat usually remains a deadbeat. Or, maybe the debtor is smart enough to fold on a bad deal that should have never taken place.
Sure, there is always a great deal somewhere, but we have a long way to go - and plenty of time - to return to real estate.
If Congress messes with the tax benefits of holding rental property, all bets are off. Three bills presently working their way through committee do just that.
BP bent over at the ankles and took their BP ads into "Beyond Petroleum" in 2009. BP supported, in big fashion, Obama's cap and trade scheme. They spent lavishly on advertising alternative energy, which earned them good standing (or so they thought) and public recognition from the White House.
Like Goldman Sachs, the health industry and others, BP has learned that any business that thinks it can gain political points playing nice to an administration hell bent on demonizing business and enlarging government control is sadly mistaken.
I compare this with German and Italian industry (and sadly, many American companies as well) being complicit to gain favor with facist regimes in the 1930s, and then being taken to the cleaners later. While this may be viewed as an extreme example, I am concerned about the behavior on both sides of this issue.
America's Biggest Economic Mistakes - One Made, The Other About to Be [View article]
When is the focus going to be upon the long term fiasco, Big Government?
The Housing Market Continues to Stabilize [View article]
I am an active practitioner in real estate east of the Mississippi and contributor to a major brokerage house real estate survey which is a highly respected monthly review.
Frankly, when I finished reading this post, I laughed.
Judging Treasury's Housing Report [View article]
I have been involved with Section 8 HUD rental property for over 25 years. Sure, the large credit allowances for new complexes go to the politically connected - we all know that.
Moving South from northern Ohio, I had an option to purchase a nice parcel of land zoned multi-family. Seeing what passed for Section 8 homes were by-in-large old double-wides, I scheduled an appointment with the regional director.He informed me that there was a three year waiting list for housing, but that I would not receive approval for the project (an 88 unit development). Why? His staff would be overworked with additional active clients and no extra personnel to handle the "workload".
On the other side of the coin, earlier in my career I used to report tenant vacancy violations to the regional HUD office. Those that are into Section 8 know some of the tricks, the most frequent being having one person qualify for a Section 8 voucher, then have their significant other with a good job move in and live off the largesse of the program. I was confounded by not having any of my violation reports acted upon by the HUD case worker(s). In fact, I began to have my properties inspected more frequently. I asked a caseworker over a cup of coffee what was the reason behind the extra inspections. Her reply? We don't like landlords reporting violations after we certify a tenant - it makes us look bad. Cease reporting violations and your inspections will be curtailed. I did - and they were.
Good luck turning the HUD battleship around in a political canal.
3 Reasons Why the Treasury Should Borrow Now to Restructure and Rebuild [View article]
Economic Double-Dip? Try a Triple [View article]
At this juncture, I believe that we are not going to have any dips over the next several years. A dip requires an economic upturn to raise the economy so it can dip.
Government policies may well keep us condemned to a long period of high unemployment and a persistent recessionary climate, similar to the malaise of the Carter years. Inflation in conjunction with a recession? Quite possible.
Spain Announces Beginning Of End: The Unfolding Global Fiasco Is Near [View article]
An open mind that accepts challenges to one's views is healthy, not detrimental, to long term investment success.
How To Allow Your Children To Retire Young [View article]
Too often we let the world of investing blind us to the many, many other facets of life that are not only important to our personal development, but to the well-being of our communities and country.
If you are intent on a "35 and Out" goal for your children, do them a favor. Insist they enter the armed forces after college so they learn duty, honor, country and personal responsibility.
Maybe they won't waste years 36-90.
That said, your article presented noteworthy investment tactics.
Further Signs of the Recession's Return [View article]
Those that are still reckoning growth and hope at this time are mistaken. Sadly, come the tax and fee hikes in 2011, coupled with the uncertainty of the business climate for the future, our descent is likely to continue.
Who Is Buying This Market? [View article]
Warp speed trading has dwarfed mutual funds, retail investors and even so-called program traders.
If this fact doesn't trouble stock market investors, they're on fantasy island.
Why Is China Pushing into Africa's Industrial Zones? [View article]
Bribes and payoffs are considered a part daily life on the continent. Handcuffing western countries from doing "business" in Africa as is customary creates an unequal playing field.
I wonder if the Chinese are using U.S. Government Bonds as currency? They have plenty to spare.
How to Buy the Right Dividend Stock - At the Right Price [View article]
Perhaps SA will pick some or all of it up. We need to foster appropriate appreciation for our economic system and prepare the next generation to accept personal responsibility for their standard of living. SA participants may want to share their expertise with the upcoming generation. It is important for our future as well.
As I commented above, you composed a superb piece today-something for all levels of retail investors to profit from (not just another mundane roster of stocks and a graph so often found on investor-oriented sites).
Don't Sweat a Dividend Tax Hike [View article]
Why American Oil Companies Passed on Shale Gas [View article]
And the Housing Fraud Continues [View article]
Buyers and investors are being sold a bill of goods by hucksters telling them that they should "buy now". Using 2006 prices to evaluate the price point to value the discount on a property is the same as measuring the worth of a stock by looking at it's all time high price.
The four banks I deal with are holding over 11 months worth of inventory. They can't process their distressed properties efficiently.And the real estate just keeps coming in. All are playing hardball by denying short sales. All are also getting homes back that they gave borrower concessions to in 2008/09 - as predicted, a deadbeat usually remains a deadbeat. Or, maybe the debtor is smart enough to fold on a bad deal that should have never taken place.
Sure, there is always a great deal somewhere, but we have a long way to go - and plenty of time - to return to real estate.
If Congress messes with the tax benefits of holding rental property, all bets are off. Three bills presently working their way through committee do just that.
BP Will Be OK [View article]
BP bent over at the ankles and took their BP ads into "Beyond Petroleum" in 2009. BP supported, in big fashion, Obama's cap and trade scheme. They spent lavishly on advertising alternative energy, which earned them good standing (or so they thought) and public recognition from the White House.
Like Goldman Sachs, the health industry and others, BP has learned that any business that thinks it can gain political points playing nice to an administration hell bent on demonizing business and enlarging government control is sadly mistaken.
I compare this with German and Italian industry (and sadly, many American companies as well) being complicit to gain favor with facist regimes in the 1930s, and then being taken to the cleaners later. While this may be viewed as an extreme example, I am concerned about the behavior on both sides of this issue.