Securitize This


Securitize This

By: Jim Macklin
Secure Document Research

In a recent article published, a staggering statistic was announced about the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States. Let me preface this by stating that twenty years ago, the financial services industry only contributed 16% of the GDP, while manufacturing, goods and services comprised the bulk of the GDP for the U.S. Meaning that goods were being manufactured, services were rendered and the economy is flourishing because of work product that actually produces something that is consumed, or services that are performed to promote the sale of goods. When money moves through the system, the system is healthy and grows. Conversely, when the system is stagnant and money stalls, the system tries to bury its head and consumers suffer all forms of malady.

Fast forward to today’s reality. The financial services industry now contributes 48% of our nations’ total GDP! Nearly half of what we are “worth” as a nation is derived from an intangible, non-product industry. Let’s examine the cause and effect of this crippling statistic. When Banks and lenders like Washington Mutual, World Savings, Countrywide and their ilk began using Wall St. profits from the sale of AAA rated mortgage-backed securities, then allegedly pooled them into REMIC Trust entities for reporting purposes, a dragon was released with an insatiable appetite for more, more, more.

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The 50 Yard Dash


The 50 Yard Dash

By Jim Macklin
Secure Document Research

Back in high school, we all had to run the short race that was a flat out sprint. More injuries occur in the shorter races than do in the races of duration for one simple reason…it places a higher impact on all muscles in the shortest amount of time, and with sometimes career ending results.

The recent run-up in housing prices, spurned by dog-fights at the auctions between private home buyers and investor money looking for another “bargain”, is a red herring. REO properties and direct sales in the short sale and traditional MLS (Multiple Listing Service) listings are now seeing one of the first signs of a healthier economy. Or so says the Real Estate industry. The numbers do not lie, however, there is a lot of activity to be sure, as compared to even one year ago, but this is a short race, so tape up and stretch.

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