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FailedAgent, If you are looking for some kind of factor that might explain how stock prices have risen in the face of declining dividends, I would suggest (in addition to the speculation answer already provided by awgee) a personal theory of mine: 401k plans. Yup. If you think of the...

FailedAgent, I for one believe in learning through discussion. The apparent disconnect with this audience may have to do with a theoretical question posed to an audience of practitioners. In layman terms, these guys make a living off the stock market, so your question on the surface...

I'm interested to see if the DJIA circuit breaker goes off tomorrow to see if Roubini gets another prediction fulfilled. <a href="http://www.nyse.com/press/circuit_breakers.html">http://www.nyse.com/press/circuit_breakers.html</a>

For the last three years, I've been playing the stock market simulator over at Investopedia. It's not a perfect simulation, but I feel like I learned a lot about trading. At the moment I'm saving up an emergency fund, but afterward, I'd like to start investing for real with a single lump sum of...

Looks like the IPO was delayed: <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/105574-macromarkets-real-estate-etfs-delayed">MacroMarkets Real Estate ETF's Delayed</a> I didn't see a new date. The idea of participating in the real estate market without actually owning a home is appealing (I...

It is my view when big business comes to government seeking action, the request is usually in "spin" form, just like this one. Red flag #1: "An unusual alliance of financial industry interests and consumer advocates, represented by the Financial Services Roundtable and the Consumer...

Short term, this should instill confidence in the markets, wouldn't you all agree? I am always amazed at the kind of trust people put into Buffet. Forget E. F. Hutton (you probably already have). In the past, I have read the Berkshire annual reports with much interest. He is indeed a...

Stepping_Up, I certainly did not want to hear a student loan was used for the purpose of speculating on the stock market, but I certainly applaud your ingenuity. Don't they require the money to be spent at an educational institution? They just give you the money and expect you to use it the...

On the Calculated Risk blog I came across this chart showing the correction from peak in the first year of the major corrections from the year 1900. <a href="http://www.chartoftheday.com/20081010.htm?T">Stock Market Volatility from Chart of the Day</a> People keep making comparisons...

One of the lessons on this blog for which I'm grateful is the buyer psychology. Though we may disagree on the price, we all know owning a home is a worthwhile endeavor. And yet, when you look at the bottoms when the market over-corrects you wonder, "why didn't properties just get snapped up...

Hi Nancy, I imagine parents like me would agree with your concern for children. I was outraged a couple years back to discover a sexual predator registered in the same Woodbridge condo complex I rent in Irvine. After calming down, I investigated and found the occupant had since moved. I...

EvaLSeraphim: Thanks for the link. Now that I understand how it works, it seems the pain would be felt by someone who financed with a low rate that will now be adjusting upward (limited by cap). By the way, <a href="http://www.mtgprofessor.com/">The Mortgage Professor's Website</a>...

Firstm I don't have a mortgage, however, I notices the increase in the London Inter Bank Offering Rate in the news today and read some mortgage rates are based on LIBOR. Anybody know the rough percentage of loans based on LIBOR, and, if it is significant, what the ramifications are if LIBOR...

I just noticed in Firefox the IHB logo is on the tab for IHB. Very cool. Sorry if this is old news, I have a history of not noticing things immediately.

<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/09/real_estate/FHA_ban_on_downpayment_help/index.htm?postversion=2008060914">FHA would ban down-payment help</a> The headline (at the time I copied the url) reads: "FHA would ban down-payment help" even though most of the article is Federal Housing...

no_vaseline, "Prefabs are a DREAM to finance. Banks love those. And people LOVE to purchase them on resell for some reason." I couldn't tell if this was sarcasm or surprise. Please clue me. DeadbeatRoomate, Thank you very, very much for this information. Ironically, I've...

Sorry, I think I used the wrong terminology. I assumed any home not built by a developer was a custom home. As momopi deduced, I'm really just exploring the idea of contracting a builder to build a new house rather than buying a new home from a developer. I thought it might be another...

I'm sure custom homes are built for the wealthy all the time. But I'm wondering if it is possible for the average Joe to pull something like that off. Er... hypothetically... me. Say I knew of a great lot I believed was available for residential zoning, and suppose I was able to work out a...