That article was absolutely on target. I was a loan officer for Production Credit Assn. in southwest Washington from 1974 to 1984, and while we had (modest) targets for portfolio growth, our paramount duty was to "mind the store"- make sure we didn't expose our company to bad loans, at least to the best of our ability. Local banks did the same thing, and are still doing so. I remember when I was first made aware of the concept of a "mortgage broker"- we bought a house in a suburb of Seattle, and the real estate agent recommended "Margie" as a "mortgage broker"- I asked what that was- she said, "She can get mortgages from many different sources- to fit your situation." "So how does she get paid?" I asked. "Well, on commission, of course." I remember thinking at the time, that this was going to be a problem eventually. It takes all the objectivity out of the loan "vetting" process when you don't get paid unless the deal goes through, and everyone in the process (real estate agent, mortgage broker, appraiser and even pest inspector) ends up conspiring to get the loan through to they can get paid. It all went up the line, aided by the fact that the fund managers, with billions of 401K dollars pouring in relentlessly, desperately needed "investment instruments" to put that money into. And what could be more impressive to clients than the high interest subprimes? Lenders could rationalize them by the fact that Congress was demanding that they loan to low income, disadvantaged and "under served" people, and Fannie and Freddie looked the other way when the "creative" packaging started- NINJA ("no income, no job or assets) loans (sometimes called "liar" loans in the business), "80/20's" (first mortgage at 80% of value, thereby avoiding private mortgage insurance), 2nd mortgage at 100% of the remaining equity- having the effect of using up all the collateral margin, but both loans being within their respective guidelines, and handily removing the only safeguard in the process. And I won't even start on all the shenanigans when the loans got "packaged" and sold into the investment market- but it was even more egregious than the making of the loans in the first place.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.