My Home Loan With Jay

A couple of years ago I read an interesting book by Dr. Robert Cialdini. A Regents Professor at Arizona State University, Dr. Cialdini is a social psychologist..   I decided recently to re-read his book, “Influence: Science and Practice”. This work centers on influence triggers that help someone ...

It seems the tea parties held this week are driving the left nuts. They just don’t know what to make of ordinary people taking time out of their day to register their disdain with politics as usual.   This was not about Republicans vs Democrats. What is misunderstood is there is a growing disgust...

I must admit that when I first learned President Obama stated the “we do not see ourselves as a Christian nation” I was quite distressed. Why would he say this during Holy Week while in a predominately Muslim nation?     I kept asking myself, what was the point? The two conclusions my feeble mind...

It’s that time of year. The first Monday in April marks the men’s basketball NCAA National Championship Game.   This year will be one of great interest to me and the hometown hero’s of the University of North Carolina with take on the Spartans of Michigan State.   I have always considered March M...

One of the major culprits of the current financial crisis, in my opinion, has been a complex and little understood accounting principle. This accounting principle is called “mark to market”.   I am no accountant and will be the first to admit I don’t fully understand this hideously complex financ...

This week FHA issued a mortgagee letter to respond to declining markets. These changes go into effect for all FHA appraisals beginning April 1, 2009. This aligns the FHA appraisal requirements with FNMA which also requires new reporting as of April 1.   Appraisers are currently expected to note t...

As the news this week unfolded over the retention bonuses being paid to AIG executives I found myself becoming increasingly outraged. My outrage however, has not been directed over the bonuses being paid. This post is not about the merits of paying the bonuses.   No, rather my outrage is over: Th...

I confess that growing up I didn’t get the whole idea of St. Patrick’s Day. I suppose that growing up in the South and being Protestant probably had a lot to do with my apathy for this holiday.   I was vaguely aware that far off places like New York and Chicago had big celebrations, parades and s...

I recently completed a six part review the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan. In many of these posts, I mused about the Unintended Consequences that may be associated with elements of this plan.   As a disclaimer I must inform you this six part series was written between the time of the...

The news media reports tell you that home values have experienced the largest declines in many, many years. Has this become an obstacle in your decision for purchasing a home?   I can understand your anxiety. Who wants to purchase a home when you believe it will immediately decline in value?   Un...