On Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:49:55 -0500, "Reginald P. Smithers III, Esq."
wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
Help me out here.

I hear the economy is frozen. Banks won't lend. No mortgages. Hoarding
their bailout money.

Yet, virtually every commercial break on MSNBC or CNN features at least one
pitch from a major bank or a mortgage company (Ditech comes to mind, which
is a GMAC subsidiary) offering low interests mortgages, loans and "we have
money to lend" announcements.

So, why aren't they lending? Seems to me that this would be an ideal time
for people to re-finance for lower rates, etc.

Economics confuses me.

Eisboch




Loans are available for anyone with good credit. They are being
selective on who they make loans to. The problem we had with Fanny Mae
was making loans for more than the home was worth, to people with bad
credit, and who were not putting any money down. It was a govt. plan to
allow everyone to own a home. The problem is, without a down payment,
the homeowner had no more invested in the home than when he was renting
an apartment.

Wait a minute here. The regulators wanted to hold Fanny and Freddie's feet
to the fire and got their butts chewed by Barney and Chris. I remember
seeing that!
--
John H.