For your Sunday discussion

A tipping point? “Foreclose me … I’ll save money” – and interesting commentary and insight at CR. Sure, the moral and ethical thing may be to maintain the payments, but at what opportunity cost to the individual?

That free muffin at the restaurant or the lollipop at the barber or the call from the Realtor a week after the house is sold and contracts are signed and the movers have left… believe it or not, it matters.

“We see this bill as a tax increase on existing Virginia homeowners and taxpayers,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. “It pushes even more of the costs of new development onto existing residents.”

On suing buyer’s agents (no longer available) – I’m late to the party on this one, buy Jay did a bang-up analysis, and this is yet another opportunity to warn buyers of the possible perils of using a lender that has a financial relationship with the Realtor (or, as in this case, a Realtor who is also a lender).

A good buyer’s agent will show the clients the comps, the statistical analysis and methodology for their conclusions. Our job is to advise and guide – on the property’s value as well as throughout the transaction (and beyond) – not make decisions for buyers. Excellent discussion at BHB.