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I like the controlled burn. Good one Trooper. If only these darned things were more portable, artillery practice.

"Price: $1,299,000 Redfin Savings: $25,980* 31455 LOBO CANYON RD AGOURA HILLS, CA 91301 Beds: 3 Baths: 3 Sq. Ft.: - Lot Size: - Property Type: Single Family Residential Area: Malibu County: Los Angeles MLS#: 07-158177 Status: Active On Redfin: 312...

Serious suggestions: turn it into a community center for neighborhood kids who get home before their parents do. If the house is rather large, turn it into a private school. This actually happened sometime in the 1950s with an estate near where I live.

<p>As the number of vacant hard-to-sell houses starts to pile up, what might the unfortunate owners/banks/bagholders do with them? Of course they could sell them or rent them out, but how about something else?</p> <p>1. Empty the pool and charge the local skateboarders</p> <p>2. Invite Jim...

<p>"People will tap every available source of credit before losing their homes. Is it realistic to think homeowners who are attached to their property will rationally conclude they should not tap their credit cards to try to hold on until either the market comes back or the government bails them...

<p>I find this surprising, but reassuring. I've known various people who have worked on this forecasting project for over 20 years. It is so different from the NAR's type of forecasting that they shouldn't both be called forecasts. Maybe we can get the NAR's method changed to...

<p>Echoing a couple of other posters, I like renting out the place and taking the loss as a tax deduction. Move somewhere else that costs less. Let's say that your condo falls $500 a month short of paying your mortgage interest + HOA + taxes. You get to deduct $6000 + depreciation. The...

<p>Broadleaf. It's in Vernon, just south of downtown LA. Individual retail customers are slightly unusual, but accepted there. Call in advance and they will have things ready for you. Otherwise, you stand in the lobby of a refrigerated warehouse in scenic Vernon for 15 min while they get it...

<p>Cook your own meals.</p> <p>For an astonishing experience in fine dining for rock-bottom prices, find the suppliers of fine and exotic meats that service your local high end restaurants. I am not sure about Irvine, but there is a place near downtown LA that has a huge operation in buffalo...

I have a question on builder cancellations. It's my understanding that builders typically get 5-10% of the purchase price up front as a deposit. Many people have been sacrificing their deposit and cancelling. I know this may sound odd at first, but wouldn't it be a good idea to encourage...

If my informal experience around LA and OC is any indication, I'd say yes, downward. 1. In the nicer areas with homes we were looking to rent, there was a rather large increase in supply in the past 3-4 months. Much of it for sale, but not selling. Lots of it ticking slowly downward in...

The spirit of William Jennings Bryan lives. Hillary's five year freeze (and perhaps the Fed's inflationary policies) could use a quote from the Cross of Gold speech, which advocated moving from the gold standard in order to cause inflation and make it easier for farmers to pay their debts in...

We just did our own rental with no agent. Good experience, probably much better than with an agent. It was my perception that the agent was trying to keep the owners from renting, because the property was for sale until a few weeks ago.

As I said on another thread, I suspect parts of the deal will be: 1. That the rate freezes will apply to people who have been making payments regularly, especially those where borrowing rates are higher than they would get now. 2. Major changes in underwriting and appraisal standards...

I think we should be careful about the difference between "failing" and being "bailed out". There is a very broad range of circumstances where a company, its management, its employees, and its shareholders feel some real pain, but the company doesn't go under. It can be extremely difficult to...

"I have seen some very nice homes for rent at good prices." The realtor/leasing agent can buy a little top ramen with their commission on the lease, and nobody gets hurt.

<p>I am in the process of renting a nice house. I have a few comments.</p> <p>1. This house was previously for sale and "perhaps" for rent. The real estate agent would not have added any value to this transaction. </p> <p>2. I was quite impressed by the Nolo stuff on being either a renter...

Still no permabull volunteers? I guess that my detailed calculations of a 45% drop from peak prices by year end 2009 wouldn't qualify me for that position. However, I'm becoming more convinced that it won't take down the entire economy. I am actually quite optimistic about the long term...

I agree with lawyerliz. There is a munibond problem, but for the most part, it is not them defaulting. Even if completely uninsured, the vast majority of munibonds have paid in full and on time. However, there are a few groups that will be made very uncomfortable if bond insurers are...

I am curious whether there are large numbers of title examiners who are switching to finding and proving fraud. It seems that many would have the right background. For example, claiming to be an owner-occupant when you aren't can often be found searching the public records (e.g., you can't be...