According to the Federal Reserve, the amount of consumer outstanding debt now exceeds the pre-2008 crisis levels. That means consumers owe more money today than they did back in 2008. The difference is in the makeup of that debt. Today, consumers owe more in combined non-mortgage debt than they do in home financing. Not surprisingly, student loans lead the pack.…
Author: Michael Vitali
It’s Time to Get on With the Business of Business
I don’t know about you, but I am fed up with the political BS going on in Washington, DC with the President, his cabinet, tweets, conversations, and the election. It’s over! It’s time to get on with running the Country. The Democrats only interest is in discrediting Trump and blocking anything he tries to do. Regardless of any potential benefits…
Who’s Discriminating Against Whom?
Unfortunately, Wells Fargo is back in the news. They are back this time on the wrong side of a suit brought by the City of Philadelphia. The City is going after Wells for discriminating against minority borrowers in their mortgage lending. They claim Wells charged higher rates to Black and Latino borrowers for their loans as compared to what they…
What Would We Do Without Nurses?
I apologize for missing a blog post or two lately. I am recovering from some pretty major cervical surgery and it is tough to concentrate with this pain in my neck. Through my process, I spoke with my surgeon twice; once before and once after my procedure. Otherwise, communication and information came from his assistants and nurses. If it weren’t…
Why Does Pharma Advertise to Consumers?
It’s one of those things that bug me. I see all these ads on TV by big pharmaceutical companies advertising drugs you can only get by prescription. Why advertise directly to consumers for something they cannot buy? There must be a reason. Do they believe, or does market research show, that this information will lead to the consumer to request…
Would You Mortgage “Movable” Collateral?
In ongoing efforts to increase homeownership rates and provide home financing to underserved markets, both Fannie and Freddie are entering the mobile home financing market. This is part of their ‘Duty to Serve’ requirements under the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act that I mentioned in an earlier blog. The intent is to expand the market for the purchase of,…