This Just In: Government Intervention in Housing Market Didn’t Work

Maybe the voices (including mine) that have been calling for allowing the housing market to seek its own level will finally be heard.

Even the New York Times is now questioning the wisdom of using artificial measures to attempt to quash the epidemic of foreclosures and the decline in real estate values. Read more

Real Estate Stimulus Fail

For two years I’ve preached that artificial means to prop up an inflated real estate market are not permanent solutions. Obama and his economic advisors (who are gradually jumping ship) thought otherwise. Can you guess where this is going? Read more

The BP-Induced Economic Hangover

President Obama made promises last night on behalf of the federal government for which there is no present money to fulfill. Millions of gulf coast residents will be expecting billions of dollars to flow their way and not just from BP. Indeed, I will not be surprised if BP is forced into bankruptcy and/or becomes a takeover target. Read more

Municipal Bonds for Junk Collectors

Poor financial management exists at all levels of government. City politicians have to buy votes too. Also, local politicians and bureaucrats are more likely to be naive in their thinking about where the money will come from to pay for everything. It’s no surprise, then, that we have cities staring bankruptcy in the face, including a state capital. Read more

Bracing for Second Real Estate Collapse?

Recent reports of home sales and pending contracts are favorable. But is this just the calm before a second storm? Typically, the economists can’t seem to agree. Read more

Investing for a Worst Case Scenario

The past two years have seen endless bailouts and rescue attempts initiated by the government toward those who are financially inept, clueless, or reckless (e.g., Wall Street). (OK, in some cases – a minority – the bailees have just been unlucky.) Some folks think that these massive government interventions will lead to a more calamitous economic conditions in the coming years. Read more

The Questionable Logic of Extended Unemployment Benefits

Congress has again extended unemployment benefits, this time June 2. I’ve lost count of the number of extensions that have been passed and the billions that have been spent. This won’t be the last. Our President wants to extend them through the end of the year. He really means through Election Day but he can’t say that for public consumption. Besides, what’s a few billion here and there when votes are at stake? Read more

U.S. to Increase Homeowner Aid

The title of this post should probably be “Honk if I’m Subsidizing Your Lousy Mortgage – Part II.” Read more

Stimulus Money and Academia

Our local paper published a long piece today about use of our tax dollars. The article is entitled “VU puts stimulus funds to work.” The writer and Vanderbilt University are boasting about Vanderbilt having snagged $87 million in stimulus dollars to fund 194 difference academic research grants. Read more

Hard Truth Weekly Reader – Shall We Panic?

This is a week for considering not how things are in the world of personal finance, but how bad they can become. If you are inclined toward getting in a funk after reading negative predictions, you might want to skip this post. If you are willing to read some hard truth to guide your own money decisions, I’ve got some helpful stuff for you. Read more

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