A little over one year ago, the Supreme Court handed down the decision in Kelo, which held that the city of New London could condemn land to sell it to private developers in order to increase the tax base. At the time, it generated huge amounts of outrage – the formation of Life Liberty Property, …
Category Archives: Historical
The Pin That Pops the Housing Bubble?
This was originally published in Jun 2006, and what it describes was indeed that pin. The housing bubble is not the primary focus of this website, but to pretend it does not exist is plainly wishful thinking. One of the ongoing phenomenon that have been driving the bubble is the “Stated Income”loan, where the lender …
President Bush and Emmanuel Goldstein
(This is a historical post, and applies to every Republican president since Nixon at least to my personal knowledge. Time has taken some of the bloom of President Bush, mostly due to political constraints placed by others) The Anchoress has a much needed perspective on President Bush. I am neither religious nor conservative, and yet …
Cold Hard Numbers
(This is a somewhat redacted letter I was been sending out during the 2000s mortgage crisis) I have just recently attended a talk by Gregory Smith, the county assessor, on the future of home values in San Diego. He expects prices to continue to rise by 5-10% per year, citing scarcity as the reason. Basically, …
The Perfect War
(originally written 20 years ago, republished because it’s worth keeping. I do not favor war with Iran) Another blogger has a wonderful article about the demand for an antiseptically perfect war, with no collateral damage, no casualties (certainly no bystanders), and everything wrapped up in a nice little package before the attention span of the …
Looking Beyond The Bubble: What’s Next For Highly Appreciated Markets
(This was originally published in March 2006) Doing my workout this morning I asked myself what’s next for the real estate market. The state of the market here locally is that prices are and have been in decline. There is no longer any mystery about whether they will decline, only how much and for how …
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The State of Our Educational System
US News has an interesting editorial by Mortimer Zuckerman in their latest issue, having to do with the departure of Lawrence Summers and the downside for Harvard’s students. It seems that Summer’s celebrated episode of Hoof in Mouth Disease was only a public reason for the faculty turning on them. It seems he wanted the …
The Perceived Will to Fight
Power = capabilities X interest X will If any of the elements on the right are zero, power is zero, no matter how strong the other elements. If interest and capabilities to defeat an enemy are great, but will appears weak, then so is power. He also deals with the differences between actual will and …
Fear and Greed, or How Did The Housing Bubble Get So Big?
(This was originally posted in 2006) One of the occasional questions I get from people has to do with why the housing bubble got so big (or if you’re one of those still in denial about it, how prices jumped so far so fast). This has to do with several factors. Legislation made real estate …
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Dammit Jim, I’m a Real Estate Agent Not A Doctor!
(With apologies to the late great DeForrest Kelley) Just got off the phone with an agent I know who had an interesting experience today. One of this agent’s listings called. Actually his significant other did, because the guy fell down in pain. Still somewhat conscious, but in lots of pain. Now, if I were in …
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