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Posts Tagged ‘politics’

Please, rather than voting based on popularity, style, appearance, race, sex, outside pressure, party, media focus or any other absurd reason, be sure to cast your vote as someone that is informed about the candidates.

Some will say that relationships and associates do not matter. Some will say that experience or lack of it will not matter. Make up your own mind, but to do that you must explore these items. You must discover the nature of relationships, associations, and experience to determine which candidate will be the best to lead.

Your country is counting on you to make the right vote, not the popular or assumed. Only you can choose the right vote.

In politics, the term “Bradley Effect” has been thrown around quite a bit lately. The theory is that white people will claim to be in favor of voting for Obama, the black candidate, but will instead vote against Obama due to racial issues.

While I am sure there is a small percentage of whites that will say they support Obama yet vote against him due to race, I am also wondering about an idea that has had little to no talk. What about a reverse Bradley Effect?

Obama is the first African American candidate for US President that has ever had a real chance. Since his nomination the daily polls have been showing him up, meaning there is a good chance that Obama may come out the winner. However, I wonder if African American voters could create a reverse effect. Let me explain…

Voting based on skin color, regardless if it is “for” or “against” will happen on both sides of the racial fence. There will be whites voting against Obama and blacks voting for Obama simply because of his skin color.

So my question is this… what if there is a large group of black voters that don’t agree with Obama’s views at all, but are afraid of potential negative affects from the black community if they said they were not going to vote for him? Could this be possible? Could a black voter claim to be for Obama to prevent being called a “sell out” or something worse, yet vote for McCain in the polling booth when no one is looking? This would cause a similar effect showing the same inflated numbers, but the racial end would be black…

This is something I doubt we will ever know. If indeed Obama looses, I believe the Bradley Effect will be a great source of coversation for years to come. As I am sure the idea of white voters lying and changing thier vote will be debated,  I would just love to hear someone actually discuss a “reverse” affect of blacks claiming one things and doing another as a possiblity as well.

Today, at 10:02pm, Governor Micheal Easley quietly signed North Carolina house bill 2188 into law. The major purpose of this law was to change how lenders that service mortgages are supposed to communicate additional charges to their customers. However, a small surprise got slipped in to the bill… surprising huh?

SECTION 3.  G.S. 53?243.11 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

“(16)   In connection with the brokering or making of a rate?spread home loan as defined under G.S. 24?1.1F, no lender shall provide nor shall any broker receive any compensation that changes based on the terms of the loan. This subdivision shall not prohibit compensation based on the principal balance of the loan.“

This is the last item they added. You can see it for yourself at http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2007/Bills/House/HTML/H2188v5.html

What does this mean? According to this, and the way I read it, a mortgage broker can charge an origination fee (which would be “based on the principal balance of the loan”); however, this seems to call into question the ability for a mortgage broker to make any money on the mark up of wholesale mortgage rates to retail. This could easily fall into the first prohibited category which is “based on the terms of the loan.”

If you are thinking that is good news, you are sadly mistaken! This is not good at all. And I am not talking about for just brokers. I am talking about the reprocussions this will have on consumers and the overall housing market.

You see, mortgage brokers act much like the typical lender. They get the mortgage rates at a wholesale discount and then sell it at a retail price. That’s not a “bad” thing. The benefits to the public is that the retail pricing is not set in stone, so that flexibility allows the market to be competitive. But if this is taken away, they only way a broker can make money is to charge higher upfront fees such as origination and application fees. While these are normal for any loan, the fact that a broker will have to charge 2 points instead of 1 makes it appear less attractive, even if the rate is now a “wholesale” rate.

The ironic part is that lenders and banks will still be able to make money on the wholesale to retail spread. Only mortgage brokers have to disclose the wholesale profit they make. Lenders don’t… it’s not required by law. Why? The argument is that brokers know up front how much they will make, while lenders must sell the loan to another party (such as Fannie Mae) before they realize any additional profit. That profit may be higher or lower than anticipated when they actually sell, so there is no way to nail down an exact amount to disclose. Of course, law makers could require they provide the client with a range of profit they anticipate making, but no, only brokers are required to show this profit. As such, this profit has become demonized and mortgage brokers have been slammed as greedy bastards looking out for only themselves.

So 2 things here irritate me..

the double standard that provide banks and lenders an unfair advantage in what should be a competitive market and literally puts extreme limits on what brokers can make.

the way that politicians slip things in to bills instead of being bold and just saying here it is… we are making major changes.  It is cowardice at the least!

So as politicians and bank executives continue their agenda to eliminate mortgage brokers, North Carolina mortgage clients (both buying homes and refinancing a mortgage) should brace for less competition, higher fees and less service. Its coming…

This post is my opinion and interpretation of the new law and does not reflect the position or views of anyone other than me!

Hillary Clinton and John McCain offer a Joke to Voters

Hillary wants to use a “windfall tax” on the oil companies (which will increase their expenses and thereby our gasoline prices - DUH!) so that she can use that money to suspend the gasoline tax for the summer. McCain also wants to suspend the gas tax to save us money!

Ok.. you ready for the joke? You just got it… this gas plan is a joke.

Real Life Example:

The federal gas tax is only 18.4 cents per gallon. My Acura TL holds roughly 15 gallons of gas and I fill up about 6 times a month. 15 x 18.4 = $2.76 saved per fill up. That’s not even ONE GALLON OF GAS! Ok, so 6 fill ups a month would be $2.76 x 6= $16.56 a month. Over 3 months I would save $49.68, roughly one fill up!

So Hillary and McCain’s Plan on Gas: Vote for me and I will save you about $20 a month on your overall gas bill. Hmmm. Sounded better the other way: Suspend the Gas Tax and save Americans “millions of dollars” this summer. (Of course, we won’t take office until next year, so you do understand this is all talk, don’t you?)

Although my savings would be $50, somehow I believe the gas prices would continue to go up as a result of the “windfall tax” as to erode my savings. And when that gas tax comes back, OUCH!

I hope others are seeing past these political jokes as well. This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors and when the smoke clears and the whole thing fails, these politicians will simply blame the oil companies again.

So does this mean we simply vote Obama? Not so fast… I just bring you this reality of the joke to make you think in reality when considering who you will vote for. Don’t just listen to their words. Discover for yourself what they are really saying.

Could a “Failing Economy” be Political Hype?

Sure, I know its tough out there. Energy costs, especially at the gas pump, are eating up more and more of our money. And it seems that everywhere we turn the feeling is that we are in a recession.

However, the numbers say something different. For the past 2 economic quarters we have still seen growth in our economy. Sure it was just a small gain, but it was positive. This morning, despite economists expectations of bad news about unemployment rates, the numbers actually showed that umemployment rates fell in April! And all reports earlier late last year said we would not see the real estate housing market return until 2009, but now they are saying 3rd quarter 2008. Personally, I think the real estate market turns the tide this summer nationwide, with Charlotte real estate beginning any time.

So what does this all mean? Is it all just politics? Are we in a recession? Is the sky falling?

I have been saying for months that the sky is NOT falling. Yes, we have seen a down turn in the economy and we are all feeling the crunch. But listening to the talking heads, the politicians, and the news media (which can’t say anything good) you would think we are in another great depression!

So it makes me wonder… how much of this is spin and hype from a big year in politics? How much of this is “Bold Headlines” material, and just how much of it is reality?

For those that do not subscribe to the theory that America is falling away and that our economy is dead, now is the best time to take action. While others are sitting around moping about how bad things are, you are able to take advantage of the market and make big strides. From investments to real estate, the world lays at your feet waiting to be seized!

If you live in the Charlotte NC area for example, you are part of the best real estate market in the country. Charlotte even features the best economy in the nation. So take advantage of your opportunity and stake your claim today.

What do you think? Express you opinion now…

Campaign to Fix your ARM

Both North and South Carolina have a tremendous number of ARMS that need fixing. Today I am launching a campaign to Fix your ARM! (adjustable rate mortgages)

- No longer must you live with a broken mortgage program that threatens your home’s security!

- No longer must you worry about what mortgage interest rates do… it won’t matter to you!

- No longer will the news of foreclosures scare you!

- No longer will you worry about your struggling budget and personal economy!

As your Charlotte mortgage lender, I will stive to Fix your ARM! I will work diligently to refinance your adjustable rate mortgage into a fixed rate mortgage with no surprises! I will not rest until your mortgage refinance saves you money and saves your personal economy! I will press on in Charlotte, Gastonia, Monroe, Matthews, Cornelius, Lake Norman, Huntersville, Concord and all of North Carolina and all of South Carolina until I have helped every single home owner I can refinance out of that adjustable rate mortgage they are struggling with!

I will work hard to bring you a lower mortgage rate. I will work with blood, sweat and even tears (yes, tears!) to lower your monthly mortgage payments! If you are in need to refinance your mortgage in Charlotte, or anywhere in North and South Carolina, I am here to be your mortgage lender!

I will not run a campaign based on negative smear campaigns, but I will speak the truth! I will find hope for you and help you overcome the financial challenges your adjustable rate mortgage payment has burdened you with! No, I am not able to walk on water, but I do one hell of a job in getting you a better, lower, cheaper mortgage in Charlotte!

So be sure to Vote Now! Cast your vote and apply to refinance your mortgages in NC and SC now!

This year’s election has captured the attention of the entire country. In so many ways, we are on the brink of witnessing history, and that creates excitement. In addition, with all that is going on, this year’s election has been called the most important election in recent history. And while I am not a “political” person, I have also been watching and listening more intently.

So I am surprised at the latest moves by the Democrats. Am I the only one that is catching this? Read the rest of this entry »

I hate politics. I am not looking forward to this Presidential election.

I am not registered either Democrat or Republican, so this post is not politically motivated. I am an independent and consider myself to be moderately conservative, but with some liberal undertones. Sounds like a good drink huh?

So I found the following picture very funny. It is an actual sign in North Carolina. For those of you seeking a sign on how to vote, maybe this could help:

Read the rest of this entry »