Posted on 08/05/2010 6:39:02 AM PDT by Daisyjane69
Edited on 08/05/2010 6:53:02 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
James Pethokoukis hears rumors of an August surprise coming from the White House, one that will attempt to win backs the hearts and minds of voters dismayed at the failing economic policies of the Obama administration. With the government fully in control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Barack Obama may issue an order to forgive portions of underwater mortgages processed through the GSEs, where negative equity approaches $800 billion overall. Some financial houses have begun quietly preparing for the possibility:
Main Street may be about to get its own gigantic bailout. Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt of millions of Americans who owe more than what their homes are worth. An estimated 15 million U.S. mortgages one in five are underwater with negative equity of some $800 billion. Recall that on Christmas Eve 2009, the Treasury Department waived a $400 billion limit on financial assistance to Fannie and Freddie, pledging unlimited help. The actual vehicle for the bailout could be the Bush-era Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, a sister program to Obamas loan modification effort. HARP was just extended through June 30, 2011.
The move, if it happens, would be a stunning political and economic bombshell less than 100 days before a midterm election in which Democrats are currently expected to suffer massive, if not historic losses. The key date to watch is August 17 when the Treasury Department holds a much-hyped meeting on the future of Fannie and Freddie.
Seeing as how the majority of these loans were aimed at minorities I call....racist!
Haven't we seen a constant buildup with this regime where every day we see something that goes way beyond the usual demagoguery? The obvious neutering and co-optation of the GOP has emboldened our enemies- our domestic enemies.
Could! It is crazy! A lot of people paid their mortgages honestly for years and now a bunch of deadbeats with liar loans and assorted speculators get a free ride!
This is they key. Portions. Just the overpriced/underwater part. If you don't have a job, you still have to pay the principal and interest on the reduced mortgage. This is all smoke and mirrors..............
He made the choice to buy the house, didn’t he? He could have rented.
They're spending tax "revenue" from about 2025 right now... you can't starve a printing press.
The destruction of contracts and contract law that would result, plus the dislocation of the stock market and real estate markets, to say nothing of the effect on our currency, etc.
Makes me wonder if THAT is enough to bring articles of impeachment or a search for the real BC.
This would rattle a LOT of cages.
The whole idea is to tempt you into dependence on the federal government. Resist the temptation.
Funny how the smoke and mirrors have a price tag just like they were real.
The level of animosity this would instantly create across the entire nation, defies description. For the rest of my life, I would literally have to keep myself from immediately punching anyone who told me they benefited from such debt forgiveness.
While I think the idea is assinine, my feelings for RESPONSIBLE people like yourself is this:
If they go through this, then by all means take advantage of it. Why let it all go to the dead beats and losers. The money is going to be spent and the damage is going to be done to the economy and country regardless.
It is a choice to stay in the house and draw down savings to make mortgage payments on an illusory inflated value
Other Americans might make a different choice, such as take a short sale, convert shortfall into a new smaller loan on which to make much smaller payments, and get into affordable housing rather than bleed out all savings
Notice no govt programs are required for choice #2 which is entirely honorable
No kidding. I have no expectation that I should live in my house forever. If I lose all my money I’ll just have to pack up my bags and say “goodbye house, it was nice knowing you while I could.”
Hey, its the least Obama can do...after all, we the people paid for his current home.
Don’t forget the Baraqqis already rewrote bankruptcy laws to bail out the UAW. We truly are in scary times.
responsible people didn’t take a loan from Fannie or Freddie...
welfare loving democrats did....
Now we know what that unspent TARP money was being saved for!
So I have to pay my $160k mortgage on my $400K house, and I also will get to pay for someone elses $500K house that is mortgaged for $800K?????
Wow .. thats cool! Isn’t government control great?
DO IT OBAMBI!!! NOW!!! BEFORE THE ELECTIONS
Wait a sec. The HARP, IIRC, did not give the gov’t unlimited power.
And BUSH was one of the people trying to get the Democrat congress to LOOK at Fannie/Freddie.
Bush had his problems, and he should never have signed on to TARP, but this is Obama’s doing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.