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Britain to Nationalize Troubled Mortgage Lender
NY Times ^ | 17 Feb 2008 | JULIA WERDIGIER

Posted on 02/17/2008 3:24:27 PM PST by oblomov

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I could see the same thing happening here under a Democratic administration.
1 posted on 02/17/2008 3:24:30 PM PST by oblomov
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To: oblomov

Everybody have fun tonight!


2 posted on 02/17/2008 3:26:12 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken (Seldom right but never in doubt)
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To: oblomov; nicmarlo
The British government announced Sunday that it would bring Northern Rock, the struggling mortgage lender, under its control.

Bad idea.

3 posted on 02/17/2008 3:30:02 PM PST by Toddsterpatriot (Why are protectionists so bad at math?)
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To: oblomov

They sure could. Although it isn’t quite necessary. All they need to do is is create a federal 1st home loan program that would underwrite and/or guarantee the loans made to first home buyers, at subsidized rates.

Why should 2% be a “teaser”. Just make 2% the rate for primary residences, period. Everyone can have a home. We’d have a perpetual housing boom.

Only evil landlords would get hurt under such a scheme.


4 posted on 02/17/2008 3:30:40 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: Toddsterpatriot

It is a bad idea, except for the depositors. Apparently they don’t have the same kind of FDIC insurance we have. If you had money saved in that bank you’d be quite angry if it wasn’t insured by the government.


5 posted on 02/17/2008 3:32:14 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: monkeyshine

During the S&L crisis our government took over close to 1000 S&L’s, paid off the insured accounts, liquidated the assets and then shut them down.


6 posted on 02/17/2008 3:39:04 PM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: oblomov

Wonder what this will do to the markets tomorrow here (if anything).


7 posted on 02/17/2008 3:47:53 PM PST by rb22982
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To: rb22982

No markets tomorrow.


8 posted on 02/17/2008 3:50:48 PM PST by Petronski (I didn't leave the GOP. The GOP left me.)
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To: monkeyshine
If you had money saved in that bank you’d be quite angry if it wasn’t insured by the government.

They can pay off the depositors (didn't say that was a good idea either) without taking over the bank. Hopefully they'll sell it quickly.

9 posted on 02/17/2008 3:53:37 PM PST by Toddsterpatriot (Why are protectionists so bad at math?)
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To: Petronski

Oh yeah, President’s Day.


10 posted on 02/17/2008 3:56:21 PM PST by rb22982
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To: oblomov

>>The government rejected two takeover proposals for the lender, which ran into trouble last year because of a funding shortage that followed the subprime mortgage crisis in the United States. The government was forced to shore up the company with about £55 billion, or $107 billion, in loans and guarantees.<<

This isn’t quite as terrible as it sounds since the Government is their largest creditor - its not unlike when the U.S. takes over a business that owes more taxes than the business is worth.

But the precedent is not positive.


11 posted on 02/17/2008 3:56:35 PM PST by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.)
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To: oblomov

‘nationalization’ = subsidy

financial sector lobbyists = bailed out

taxpayer = screwed.


12 posted on 02/17/2008 3:59:12 PM PST by 4Liberty (U.S. Income Tax laws are enforced... but Immigration laws aren’t = global tax.)
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

Everybody Wang Chung tonight!


13 posted on 02/17/2008 3:59:54 PM PST by dfwgator (11+7+15=3 Heismans)
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To: Moonman62

Not much of a market for Northern Rock/British Gov’t to liquidate into.

We’ll see. I’m surprised the Sovereign Wealth Funds haven’t bought up a bunch of these mortgages/properties since their dollars are worth so little in comparative purchasing power the best thing is for them to buy depressed US real estate.

Could be that there are serious problems with the record keeping. I had heard about some homeowners who were able to avert foreclosure because the lenders, who packaged and resold the loans, couldn’t prove they still had the right to foreclose. These things have been sold and resold so many times, it may be difficult to find out who actually holds the notes on these homes.


14 posted on 02/17/2008 4:02:24 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: monkeyshine
Heck, why charge 2%? Why not give away houses free? The prices will go to the moon that way!
15 posted on 02/17/2008 4:06:55 PM PST by JasonC
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To: Moonman62
When you hear they are liquidating anything, I'll consider the parallel. Until then, all they are doing is living in denial and pretending it can all be made to go away.
16 posted on 02/17/2008 4:08:20 PM PST by JasonC
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To: Toddsterpatriot

Yeah I don’t think the UK wants to hold onto the bank for eternity. They’ll probably do what they have to do (the politically expedient stuff) and then either sell it off or shut it down.


17 posted on 02/17/2008 4:09:28 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: JasonC

Well you can’t give away houses, because that would be communism. But you can charge 0% interest with government backed loans. This, along with a $2 million per person economic stimulus package, and our country will be on the road to recovery.


18 posted on 02/17/2008 4:16:44 PM PST by monkeyshine
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To: monkeyshine
Aw, why can't we have communism? I am sure if we ask Obama nicely, he will lead a loud chorus of "yes we can!"
19 posted on 02/17/2008 4:23:07 PM PST by JasonC
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To: oblomov
The British government announced Sunday that it would bring Northern Rock, the struggling mortgage lender, under its control.

May I suggest a novel idea? Let it fail. The market will sort it all out.

Oh, and if you (collective "you") disagree with me...be very careful.

5.56mm

20 posted on 02/17/2008 4:27:06 PM PST by M Kehoe
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