Bank of America: Third Quarter Earnings, $1.18 Billion. Countrywide Loan Settlement, $8.6 Billion. One of the Biggest U.S. Banks Unable to do Math, Priceless.
I’m sure it is difficult for most people who are struggling with the day to day items of life to focus on the macro problems plaguing the economy. Many families are hearing more and more everyday about a neighbor or friend that has lost a home to foreclosure and deep down many are feeling a pit in their stomach that they may be next. This is not only a financial crisis but one that will test the fortitude of many.
California Housing Prices Down 41%: Examining the Summer Selling Season and Future Trends
What a difference a year makes. In May of 2007 the median price for a California home was $595,000. Today the median price stands at $350,140, a drop of 41% from the peak. The drop in itself is stunning but what is more amazing is the speed in which this correction has occurred. The previous bubble which was seen in Southern California saw prices drop over a period of 6 years following a gradual trajectory. This time, that is not the case. There are many reasons why this correction has happened so quickly and in contrast to the other one, is very different even though it occurred in the same location.
Total California Housing Inventory 159,898: Or is it Higher? Foreclosures and Playing with Actual Inventory Numbers.
Many readers to this site know that I am fascinated with trying to get an actual overall housing inventory number for the state of California.  Conflicting reports, REOs, and inventory that doesn’t show up on the MLS makes it very difficult to get a handle on what is going on in the market. We do know however that nearly half of all sales in California are made up by foreclosure resales.  That is, homes that have already gone through the rather lengthy foreclosure process.
Fannie Mae Mortgage Portfolio: $64.5 Billion in Alt-A or Sub-prime Loans. Why This is not a Conservative Bailout.
As we inch closer and closer to a full fledged bailout of the two giant government sponsored entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac it would be useful to dig into their financial statement to see how one of their portfolios’ is structured.  Unfortunately the general public is under the impression that Fannie Mae somehow operated only in the ultra conservative world of traditionally fixed 30-year mortgage products. Yes and no.