tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post8427036996793663272..comments2008-12-11T13:56:48.132-05:00TraderMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241756200482130281noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-28281466224364154742008-12-11T13:56:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:56:00.000-05:00"Once more I ask - after we (investors) are done cheering government "saving us", how will markets ever be the same again - and how will we find a true market with the government fingerprints everywhere? How many years before we return to a "market" again?"<BR/><BR/>Well done.Carbon-14http://www.blogger.com/profile/05818547703768207345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-69784367115553057502008-12-11T13:22:00.000-05:002008-12-11T13:22:00.000-05:00Appraisals have always been iffy, and subject to manipulation. If the mortgage seller wanted to bump the value up or down, he'd put pressure on the appraiser. Also, it's been a practice in the industry to ask the purpose of the appraisal up front. What they are looking for is either, it's to apply for a loan, or it's for the purpose of establishing a value for the IRS on inheriting a property. (The idea is that you want a low appraisal for IRS to reduce taxes...Wink! Wink!). <BR/><BR/>And in this market, can appraisals really be any better than an analysts opinion of a stock price. I was on Yahoo finance yesterday, just giggling over some of the 'expected values' listed. Stocks selling at $3.00 with an appraised value of $25???!!!??? Ha!<BR/><BR/>Anyway, for the most part, you can go on Zillo.com, look up recent sales and recent sales trends fro free. If you are not in a custom home, it really isn't that hard to figure your home's value, and the mortgage companies have similar more professional software to do the same thing. <BR/><BR/>Hey! Maybe in a year or two, we'll see 'Mortgage Futures' trading on CBOE. Maybe an ETF... 'MORT'???? <BR/><BR/>jeganjeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05850061548373752817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2335748440449035592.post-12800736416461579572008-12-11T12:04:00.000-05:002008-12-11T12:04:00.000-05:00*sigh*Mike Maslandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06275851037612575206noreply@blogger.com