Posts Tagged ‘Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’

Double Dip Recession? Why Not Bet on the Trifecta?

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

Oppenheim Law tells all at 6 pm tonight with perspective on the state of Florida Real Estate via a free Webcast or be part of a live audience in Boca Raton.

Double Dip Recession

Homeownership will no longer define the American Dream. That’s because 30-year, fixed-mortgage loans that we’ve known since the 1950s may become a luxury if the federal government tightens constraints on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—the two lenders that historically backed home loans for the masses (even with far less than perfect credit scores). Indeed, a private mortgage finance market could emerge with entirely new rules—rules that make it harder and more expensive to get a loan.

Next, consider convicted Ponzi scheme mastermind Bernie Madoff’s comments from his prison cell. Madoff told New York magazine that Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney knew all along that he was working the system—and did nothing. Madoff suggested that the entire government is a Ponzi scheme. What if Madoff is right? It’s a disturbing thought…

That leads us to the question, “Why isnt Wall Street in Jail?” Where’s the accountability? Clearly, greedy banks did their dirty deeds and clearly American taxpayers are footing the bill. Wealth has been destroyed. Lives ruined. Yet Wall Street—and the prominent firms that make up the financial services industry—seem to be living above the law.

What’s an American homeowner—or foreclosure victim—to do?

Join Oppenheim Law tonight, March 9 at 6 p.m. Roy Oppenheim is holding a real estate workshop where he discusses how the aftermath of Wall Street’s greed is still affecting homeowners across the country and what you can do to pull yourself out of the hole the banks created. Oppenheim will also share how rising oil prices, continued unemployment and the possibility of an American double-dip recession is impacting the South Florida real estate market, as well as the pros and cons of how changes to mortgage options could impact South Florida foreclosures and short sales.
(more…)

Real Estate Madness: Madoff Burns Banks and Brands Government

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

Real Estate Madness: Madoff Burns Banks and Brands GovernmentIs the whole government a Ponzi scheme? Bernie Madoff thinks so and who would know better than the master manipulator himself?

When the greatest financial criminal in history calls collect, you listen. The result? A fascinating feature by New York Magazine writer Steve Fishman exploring Bernie Madoff’s brazen plan, subsequent panic and tumultuous downfall.

Perhaps most interesting is Madoff’s assertion that some of Wall Street’s most prestigious firms, including Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney were never blind to the scheme he was orchestrating.

“Look,” he said, “these banks and these funds had to know there were problems.” Madoff told them absolutely nothing about how he made those returns. “I wouldn’t give them any facts, like how much volume I was doing. I was not willing to have them come up and do the due diligence that they wanted. I absolutely refused to do it. I said, ‘You don’t like it, take your money out,’ which of course they never did.”

Madoff continues, “It’s unbelievable. Goldman … no one has any criminal convictions—the whole new regulatory reform is a joke. The whole government is a Ponzi scheme.”

As the housing market continues to waffle and the government rolls out plan after plan to no avail, it’s hard to argue with him.

According to the latest numbers from CoreLogic, the national average of state mortgage holders who are underwater is 22.5%. Florida sits at an astonishing level above 60%.

Homeowners, however, are not powerless in today’s market. Join Oppenheim Law next Wednesday, March 9, for the next free Real Estate Workshop where Roy Oppenheim will share how rising oil prices, continued unemployment and the possibility of an American double-dip recession is impacting the South Florida real estate market.
(more…)


PHP/MySQL Components, WordPress Plugins, and Technology Opinions at TravisWeston.com

Bad Behavior has blocked 2337 access attempts in the last 7 days.