If the market isn't rational now what was it a few months back when all you could hear were the choruses of "The only way is up, badubah." Sounds to me like a lot of people have got caught with their hands in the cookie jar and have got burnt. The market is MORE rational now that it has priced in an element of risk to share prices for the first time in years.
Overly exuberant brokers and loan officers told clients not to worry about concerns like their ARMs resetting; they could always refinance and, anyway, interest rates were bound to fall.
With credit much tighter today, the refinance option is off the table for many. And, as prices have fallen in many places, it's more difficult to sell a home for the amount owed.
"They can't refinance it, they can't sell it, and they can't afford it," said Paul Hancock, a Florida attorney specializing in mortgage brokering and real estate law.
How the cases will play out is in doubt but there's one thing for sure: There'll be a lot of work for attorneys over the next few months.
The US housing market in its three phase business cycle of "Boom, Bust and Recriminations" is now entering the recriminations stage.
I do wonder if we are close to the opportunities phase, although I'd like to see some homebuilders go bust before I could say so with any certainty.
Another interesting development in this phase is big investments banks going after loan originators to force them to buy back some of the worst loans from that came out of their securitisation departments.
Be interesting to see how that goes as many banks (Irish included) thought they were ridding themselves of the risk by selling them on.
Shouldn't be a problem for Irish Banks.
Use of the more moderate word "shouldn't" noted
Yeah I know. This fence is quiet comfortable!
Though there's a myth that repossessions/evictions cannot - no not ever! - happen in Ireland that's probably based on pre-globalisation notions of ownership. Here in the UK though any suggestion of problems in the property world are played down there appears to be a growing issue. I live in a large, prosperous market town 60 miles north of London. There were 22 repossessions last month alone.
Is it likely that Ireland could find itself in subprime trouble? If so are any cracks starting to show? or what signs should we all look for?
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