“Rob, what are the odds that the MBA will set up a ‘Man Park’ at the big conference in Las Vegas in October?” Slim to none. The United States is an interesting place. We’re approaching the summer, and last week Steve Pruitt reminded me that New Jersey is pretty much the only place where land meeting water is called “the shore;” everywhere else it’s called “the beach.” (Yes, people in New Jersey can go to the beach, and there are shores even outside the Garden State… “Shore” is a generic term for the place where land meets water. Don’t argue.) As we approach summer, those of us in the United States find that we no longer have an AAA-rated government. (The rating agencies have pegged countries like Canada, Denmark, and Australia higher.) Affordability continues to be troubling, but the data seems clear that removing parking requirements and other zoning changes can make a big difference in urban affordability and it doesn’t even take that long… What worked in Minneapolis may work in Chicago and other cities. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by Calque. Calque provides a binding backup offer on your borrower’s departing residence to clear the existing mortgage balance and closing costs in 48 business hours or less. And it costs less than other buy before you sell solutions. Hear an interview with attorney Brian Levy on the intersection of change chatter around the GSEs (Fannie and Freddie) and the Federal Reserve.) Software, Products, and Services for Lenders and Brokers
