Opinion

May

16
2008

Letter to Editor

Not everyone can afford homes

Re: 'Veto talk on housing bill is premature' (May 15)

Dear Editor:  more...

Guest Perspective

Philosophy the talk on the cereal box

Marc Davison

Dad was in show business. He managed talent. What I remember most was how he spoke to his clients. He loved them. He was their biggest fan.

Philosophy is the talk on the cereal box

One summer night, below street level, in the dressing room of the now historic Folk City, I was offered a major recording contract. A considerable detour for an Ivy Leaguer.  more...

May

15
2008

Letter to Editor

Concessions needed in this market

Re: 'Home-sale commissions too high, seller says' (May 5)

Dear Editor:  more...

May

13
2008

Letter to Editor

Remembering 'priceless lessons' and a napkin

Re: 'Management team departs from eNeighborhoods' (May 13)

Dear Editor:  more...

May

12
2008

Letter to Editor

Wall Street, lenders, agents share blame

Re: 'Bring on the short sales, foreclosures' (May 9)

Dear Editor:

Whatever happened to: "Do unto others as you would do unto oneself?"  more...

May

9
2008

May

7
2008

Letter to Editor

Simple rules for disclosure, inspections

Re: 'Home inspection advice called 'anti-Realtor'' (May 6)

Dear Editor:

After 30 years as a Realtor the same problems keep coming up: What to disclose, who to use for inspections.

It is a very simple fix. I tell my sellers: "If you have to ask, 'Should I disclose something?' then you have to disclose that item.  more...

May

5
2008

Letter to Editor

Down payments overshadow reserve issues

Re: 'Lenders wise to beef up default-risk reserves' (May 5)

Dear Editor:

Briefly stated, in the last 10 years or so lenders have done everything they could to offer everything but "PMI type" products because the alternatives were easier to sell and far more profitable to the investors on those mortgages. Now, though I agree a higher private mortgage insurance and lender reserve standard would help in the future, we have a deeper problem.  more...

May

1
2008

Letter to Editor

No responsibility for actions

Re: 'Judges should have say in mortgage modifications' (May 1)

Dear Editor:

Woe is me, woe is us! Why don't we all just stop making mortgage payments (which are based upon our "promise" to pay), wait for foreclosure, file bankruptcy and then have a judge reduce the principal balance, the interest rate and the monthly payments?  more...

Guest Perspective

Judges should have say in mortgage modifications

Marcie Geffner

The Mortgage Bankers Association recently fought off federal legislation that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to modify residential mortgages. The MBA's victory was a huge success for lenders, but an unfortunate loss for homeowners who have declared bankruptcy.

Lenders had good reason to dislike the proposal, which would have shifted some of the power over mortgages from lenders' loss-mitigation departments to bankruptcy judges, who might have imposed modifications that the lenders wouldn't have liked.  more...