Immanuel
Gold Member
- May 15, 2007
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I'm going to agree and disagree with what you wrote. I'm one of those that because of job may end up in trouble. I'm lucky in the sense of having bought in '95, so my house is still worth more than I paid, even with re-fi. Fixed mortgage, under 5% interest rate. Of course if I lose my job, likely, that won't matter.Zander, I suspect that we are going to see some deflation for the next few years as the economy continues to collapse. If my guess is right (and it is a guess as there are too many variables to know anything with certainty in this modern world of ours), those housing prices will fall a lot lower. I have an adopted son (one of many) who bought a condo with his new wife right after they were married. Like most property in San Diego, it has fallen tremendously in value and is worth about half of what he owes. He is paying $3000 a month on the mortgage, yet he could buy another similar condo and only pay 1500 a month.
Now, tell me with a straight face that you would tell him to continue paying that $3000 a month for the next twenty years when for the same money he could buy a full sized house. It is a business decision just like any other. He had no way of knowing that housing values would tank so seriously in San Diego. I tried to warn him before he bought, but that is water over the dam, now.
Fact remains that if treated like any other business decision, he should walk away. The bank took a risk in financing the loan. It was a business decision for them, too. they have made fifty thousand in interest, so up to now it has been very lucrative to them. It is time for them to take some of the loss, too.
A lot of other people feel the same way I do. It is not a question of morals or ethics, but just business. IF the banks were stupid enough to put too much of their money in real estate, then they did not diversify enough. Shame on them.
I have to disagree with you.
To walk away only because it makes "business" sense is dishonest. Sometimes people do not have a choice. They bought a home expecting their income to last and then through no fault of their own, they lose their income and they have no choice. But, if the reasoning is that... well, they can get a better deal on the other side of the tracks, is dishonest and immoral in my humble opinion.
The value of my house has plummeted. I could do better if I walked away from this one and bought at the bottom of the market, but that would be wrong. I borrowed the money for this house and I agreed to pay it back with interest. I took a risk just as the bank did and right now, it appears that I lost. That does not mean that the bank should take the loss for my decision.
Immie
Of course, I could declare bankruptcy, but unlikely to do so. I'll sell and probably come out slightly ahead in these times.
Now if I'd bought when this same home was selling for over twice I'd pay for? Should that warrant me walking away? Numbers: I bought in '95, $130k. In 2004 was valued at $380k. Does that make sense? It didn't to me. Since I had 3 kids and my elderly parents living with me, I wasn't about to sell and uproot all.
But what if I had? The same unit it now selling for @$200k. Lots of folks bought when it was much higher. Should they be able 'to walk away?' Regardless of circumstances of employment?
I'm not sure where you disagree with me.
For one thing, I said that sometimes people don't have a choice. They lose their income and there is nothing that they can do about it.
On the other hand, walking away simply because I can find a much better deal now that the market has collapsed is wrong.
Where do you disagree with me.
Immie