Mortgage Principal Reduction?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Piscator

Seems like a mistake if allowed. Wouldn’t this give someone an incentive to stop paying their mortgage to get a modification if they owe more than what house is worth? Sounds like a plan to stick it to the responsible tax paying, mortgage paying folks once again................

Why does it not pay to be responsible and do the right thing in this Country anymore?

"Seems like a mistake if allowed"

It's idiotic and infantile...

"Sounds like a plan to stick it to the responsible tax paying, mortgage paying folks once again................"

Obama's entire re-election strategy is "us" (everyone who isn't stinking rich) versus "them" (those who are stinking rich), and doing whatever he can to buy votes from the "us" category, and making "us" afraid of "them". Liberals also believe that those in the "us" group, particularly those who enjoy "victim" status in the liberal world, are not responsible, or at fault, for anything bad that happens to "us". So if someone making $35,000 took out a $400,000 mortgage, well it's not their fault they can't pay the loan back. It's the bank's fault. Or Bush's fault. Instead of letting these people learn a lesson they need to learn, Obama gives them a pat on the head, a check, and asks for their vote because Romney won't offer them as much cash for making stupid decisions.

The fact is, there are lots of middle-class and upper-middle-class folks who work hard, do all the right things, and struggle to maintain our standard of living. From what I can tell, Obama has done exactly nothing, from an economic standpoint, for this large group of people. Why anyone in this group (unless they are in a union) would vote for Obama is beyond me. It's just beyond me.

Liberals want to offer in-state tuition to high schoolers whose parents are here illegally and thus pay no income taxes; they offer $7500 rebates to rich liberals who buy Chevy Volts (averege income of a Volt buyer is $175,000), mortgage modification programs for folks who bit off more than they could chew, credits for first-time homebuyers...None of this helps existing homebuyers who made responsible decisions and who struggle to do the right thing all the time. These programs don't help us, but we will be stuck with the bill.

[PaulS]

[QUOTE=Jim in CT;932284 they offer $7500 rebates to rich liberals who buy Chevy Volts (averege income of a Volt buyer is $175,000),
[/QUOTE]

I thought the law became effective during the Bush administration? Bob Lutz - a liberal

[Slipknot]

It pisses me off to no end

who is responsible for relaxing the qualifications to get a mortgage in the first place? someone made money off that, let those a holes bail out whoever needs help, the Federal government needs to get their act straightened out quickly.

I don't live beyond my means, never have and never will.

I bought at the peak of the market and the value decreased to less than I paid less than a year into it, I just dealt with it and have for 23 years. Getting screwed by taxes, now that I am 2 years away from paying off the house, the real estate taxes have gone up insane I wonder why
this country is in big trouble
time to revolt and take back our government

[justplugit]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

I don't live beyond my means, never have and never will.

And there in lies the secret of individual and governmental financial security.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by PaulS

I thought the law became effective during the Bush administration? Bob Lutz - a liberal

Well then, you would be wrong as usual, because the Volt didn't come out until December 2010. You can look it up to see who was President at that time...

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Well then, you would be wrong as usual, because the Volt didn't come out until December 2010. You can look it up to see who was President at that time...

He's not wrong.

Both Bush 41 and Bush 43 signed laws giving tax credits to promote the purchase of electric vehicles.

Bush 43 did indeed sign the 7,500 tax credit into law as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Full Text of H.R. 1424 (110th): Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - GovTrack.us

See Title II section 205.

Then in the spirit of a more constructive forum debate I think you really do owe Paul an apology.

A few data points are missing from the debate over mortgage reductions.

The reason it's a hot topic is that the 5 largest PRIVATE lenders just settled for 26 billion over accusations of improper lending and foreclosure behavior. A good chuck of this money is going to select underwater mortgage holders as compensation for unfair banking practices.

To date Fannie and Freddie have avoided mortgage reductions given the implications of taxpayer money and obviously the potential for abuse.

There certainly is an economic argument that mortgage reductions can be effective to stabilize the market. Some also argue that payment reductions can achieve the same effect.

While I'd agree that what might effectively be a taxpayer subsidy is a slippery slope, given the large number of mortgages held by Fannie and Freddie the taxpayer will end up taking a hit regardless if the situation doesn't improve.

-spence

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

He's not wrong.

Both Bush 41 and Bush 43 signed laws giving tax credits to promote the purchase of electric vehicles.

Bush 43 did indeed sign the 7,500 tax credit into law as part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Full Text of H.R. 1424 (110th): Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - GovTrack.us

See Title II section 205.

Then in the spirit of a more constructive forum debate I think you really do owe Paul an apology.

A few data points are missing from the debate over mortgage reductions.

The reason it's a hot topic is that the 5 largest PRIVATE lenders just settled for 26 billion over accusations of improper lending and foreclosure behavior. A good chuck of this money is going to select underwater mortgage holders as compensation for unfair banking practices.

To date Fannie and Freddie have avoided mortgage reductions given the implications of taxpayer money and obviously the potential for abuse.

There certainly is an economic argument that mortgage reductions can be effective to stabilize the market. Some also argue that payment reductions can achieve the same effect.

While I'd agree that what might effectively be a taxpayer subsidy is a slippery slope, given the large number of mortgages held by Fannie and Freddie the taxpayer will end up taking a hit regardless if the situation doesn't improve.

-spence

"in the spirit of a more constructive forum debate I think you really do owe Paul an apology."

We were talking baout the Volt, which did not exist before Obama was President. The reason why I specified the Volt credit is that it's dishonest for Obama to say that Republicans only care about the rich, when his policies (Obama's credit for the Volt) is in effect giving cash back to folks whose average incomes are around $170,000. The fact that Bush had a similar program is irrelevent, because Bush wasn't saying that his political opponents only care about rich people. If my point was that only liberals offer green credits, I would be wrong. Since my point was that Obama has enacted policies that give tax credits to wealthy people, I am not incorrect. But Paul indeed has a point. Obama did not invent the concept of green credits. However, his point was moot, because it was not refuting what I had actually said.

"A good chuck of this money is going to select underwater mortgage holders as compensation for unfair banking practices."

Fine. And after those lenders fork over that money to the feds, they jack up their prices to pay for that. That hurts all of us. It hurts those of us who did nothing wrong.

"There certainly is an economic argument that mortgage reductions can be effective to stabilize the market"

I don't doubt that. However, that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. If my neighbor did something stupid, why does he get financial help and I don't? Why does he deserve that money more than me?

Spence, there is also a common-sense argument that you take responsibility for your actions.

"the taxpayer will end up taking a hit regardless if the situation doesn't improve."

I may or may not take a hit if foreclosures hit the market. I will definitely take a hit if my money is taken from me and given to someone who was reckless and irresponsible.

If the value of all the homes are artificially inflated, all that does is postpone the inevitable correction that needs to take place.

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Well then, you would be wrong as usualI ask a simple question and you insult me - classless, because the Volt didn't come out until December 2010. You can look it up to see who was President at that time..so there no lead time to develop a car.

And on top of it, a short search shows that the credits were intro. by Bush.

"For those who say that the Volt is the work of government interfering with the private market via the tax incentives given to those who purchase plug-in vehicles like the Volt, they might wish to keep in mind that these incentives were introduced not by the Democratic administration but by the George W. Bush administration"

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by PaulS

And on top of it, a short search shows that the credits were intro. by Bush.

"For those who say that the Volt is the work of government interfering with the private market via the tax incentives given to those who purchase plug-in vehicles like the Volt, they might wish to keep in mind that these incentives were introduced not by the Democratic administration but by the George W. Bush administration"

Paul, if you want both of us to dial it down, I'll do that. You were not asking a simple question, you were making a gotcha! comment, as your laughing-face icon shows.

My point about the Volt was (1) factually accurate in that Obama implemented that credit, as the car didn't exist before he was President, and (2) it shows the hypocrisy of Obama (and his supporters) for making the false claim that liberals are more interested in helping the poor than in helping the rich. Obama's Volt credit exactly supports my claim.

I will henceforth dial it down...

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

You were not asking a simple question, you were making a gotcha! comment, as your laughing-face icon shows.

The laughing emicon was for Bob Lutz - the CEO or Chairman of GM. As conservative of a person as there is

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

..None of this helps existing homebuyers who made responsible decisions and who struggle to do the right thing all the time. These programs don't help us, but we will be stuck with the bill.

F that

I am almost done paying for my own home, I am not gonna pay for anyone elses'.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

F that

I am almost done paying for my own home, I am not gonna pay for anyone elses'.

Oh yes you are. Your federal income taxes, and the fees you pay to your bank, fund these loan modification programs.

It's disgusting. I tell my 6 year-old that decisions have ramifications. Try telling that to a liberal. Lack of responsibility is one of the pillars of liberalism, one of the core beliefs of the foundation of liberalism. Everything bad that happens, must be someone else's fault.

Gimme, gimme, gimme.

[zimmy]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

F that

I am almost done paying for my own home, I am not gonna pay for anyone elses'.

I don't think you pay anyone elses in any way. I could be wrong with the new law, but under HARP you certainly don't. It just makes it so people who can't refi due to market circumstances beyond their control, can. Fannie mae will make less on interest, but it should not require any change in tax policy. I may be wrong, but I don't think in this case I am.

[zimmy]

I can't find specific details, but it does look like the new law would encourage delinquincy. If that is the case, it is insane. Have to see real info first, but...

Update: what I just read on LA Times is not the law tied to HARP that I had recently discussed with some guys in the financial/mortgage industry. To me, HARP makes sense because principal gets reduced as more of the payment goes toward principal. Just dropping the principal for delinquent payers is a harder sell, although anyone who wants to buy or sell a home is held hostage by the situation.