Recent Posts At Straight Talk

• Housing Starts – When Up is Down March 16, 2010
  Yeah, you heard that right.   Compared to February of 2009, housing starts were up.   Compared to January of 2010, housing starts were down.   Compared to what the market expected, housing starts were “less down.” You’re going to hear a lot of it blamed on bad weather.   I’m not so sure I buy that as being that [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• Housing Double Dip? March 16, 2010
  Meredith Whitney thinks so.    Listen to what she had to say on CNBC this morning…….   Are you sick and tired of the lack of straight talk in the mortgage world?We are.   That's why we write here - even though we have to do it under a pen name - because our lending institutions don't [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• The Big Short – Michael Lewis – Thoughts on the Future….. March 16, 2010
  Watch CBS News Videos Online Are you sick and tired of the lack of straight talk in the mortgage world?We are.   That's why we write here - even though we have to do it under a pen name - because our lending institutions don't like it......If you want to work with someone who [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• The Big Short – Inside Wall Street’s Collapse Part 1 March 16, 2010
  Watch CBS News Videos Online Are you sick and tired of the lack of straight talk in the mortgage world?We are.   That's why we write here - even though we have to do it under a pen name - because our lending institutions don't like it......If you want to work with someone who [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• Known Unknowns – Huh? March 16, 2010
  The CEO of PIMCO (the largest bond investor in the country) did an interview on CNBC this morning.   I’m going to attempt to translate what he said…..  (My comments are in bold) Investors should be holding healthy levels of cash in order to take advantage of "known unknowns" that become clearer as the economy evolves, Pimco’s [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• Mortgage delinquencies at historic highs March 15, 2010
  We’ve got another post that will be coming up later tonight (or tomorrow morning, depending on time frames) that addresses the often repeated statement by the National Association of Realtors –  ”It’s a Great Time to Buy a House!” This is another of those type of reports.   If you listen to a lot of the [...] […]
  Kenny
• Mortgage Rates March 15, 2010
  Quick update on what’s going on in the market today……. Mortgage rates are quiet today on a mixed bag of news.    A couple of manufacturing reports came in in what you’d call the “Goldilocks range”  (not too hot, not too cold).    The dollar is rallying a bit and oil prices are down.     The market is somewhat [...] […]
  Sean Vault
• Bank Failure #29 & #30: Florida and Louisiana March 13, 2010
  From the FDIC: Centennial Bank, Conway, Arkansas, Assumes All of the Deposits of Old Southern Bank, Orlando, Florida Old Southern Bank, Orlando, Florida, was closed today by the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. … As of December 31, 2009, Old Southern Bank had approximately $ […]
  Kenny
• Bank Failure #28: Park Avenue Bank, New York, New York March 13, 2010
  From the FDIC: Valley National Bank, Wayne, New Jersey, Assumes All of the Deposits of the Park Avenue Bank, New York, New YorkThe Park Avenue Bank, New York, New York, was closed today by the New York State Banking Department, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC as receiver. ..As of December 31, 2009, [...] […]
  Kenny
• Mortgage Rates Today….. March 12, 2010
  Well, we told you earlier that the retail sales report would probably push rates up.    Now that I’ve got today’s rates, here’s an overview of the changes from yesterday: 30 year Fixed under $417,000 – no change from yesterday. 15 year fixed under $417,000 – a minor increase. 30 year fixed over $417,000 – a minor increase 15 year [...] […]
  Sean Vault