Watch This, Then Tell Me Zillow is a Good Idea.

BillBuying Concerns, Economy, Financing, Government, News, Seattle Times Articles Leave a Comment

[“Their stock has been doing very poorly of late, down from $125/share one year ago to about $16.50/share today.”] If this doesn’t scare the heck out of you, nothing will. The unparalleled concentration of wealth is accompanied by: domestic legislative power/influence international and domestic control of financial markets control of information/data distribution Together this represents too much control in the …

Trapped?

Bill and DianaEconomy, Financing, News, Personal Finance, Refinancing, Seattle Times Articles, taxes Leave a Comment

Ever get the feeling that the deck is stacked against you. This Jan 31, 2012 article in the Seattle Times, Page 3, “Freddie Mac bets against struggling homeowners” justifies that feeling. If you’re self-employed, have less than 20% equity in your home, and currently have a mortgage interest rate in excess of 6%, don’t expect relief anytime soon. If you’re a …

It’s been quite a year…

Bill and DianaBuying Concerns, Financing Leave a Comment

200 9. That was a year full of challenges and changes. I stopped blogging about this time last year as it became apparent that I could no longer anticipate with any degree of accuracy what would occur next. Anticipating what real estate and financial markets will do is an important service that I provide to my clients. In the turmoil …

The Fixx (not the band)

Bill and DianaFinancing, Seattle Times Articles Leave a Comment

An idea came to me yesterday while reading and listening to various opinions and objections regarding the stimulus package. It seems there is a consensus of concern about how to use the money to make the most immediate positive impact on the economy. How do we get it into the system WITHOUT the banks snagging it and sitting on it? …

OUR FUTURE BANKERS

Bill and DianaFinancing, Personal Finance, Refinancing Leave a Comment

Here they are, our State Representatives. “The Cop”, “The Mom in Tennis Shoes”, and “Whatever, I Need to Work Somewhere”. I’ve tried to locate the email addresses for these folks on-line to no avail. What they offer is a form on their respective pages to be filled out, along with a message, and sent into the ether with the hope that …

Happy New Year 2009

Bill and DianaEconomy, Financing Leave a Comment

 So arrives another new year. Live your life! As 2008 closed out amidst concern, if not angst, over the economic turmoil that has consumed our collective national consciousness, I am perplexed. Is it the power of the media that has us running for cover….because it tells us to? Granted, major financial institutions and auto manufacturers failing is going to grab …

The More I Learn, The Less I know…..

Bill and DianaEconomy, Financing, News Leave a Comment

As if things weren’t strange enough, the subscription service that brought you Monday Morning Coffee for the last few years ceased operations in June. Since then I have been musing as to what to do for the many subscribers that have enjoyed those weekly snippets of wisdom. A dear long time friend and client jarred me back to responsibility last week …

Housing Pessimism: Get Over It….

Bill and DianaBuying Concerns, Economy, Financing, Selling Concerns 1 Comment

I suppose it is not fair to ask today’s prospective home buyers what all the fuss is about. Given the daily onslaught of negative media coverage of housing and the economy, it is permissible to be concerned about whether or not to take the plunge. However, I don’t understand the hand-wringing, mind warping fear that has gripped many home shoppers to …