“Big as Reagan’s mandate was, in two elections, the man was never bigger than his country. There was never narcissism or a bloated sense of personal destiny in him. He gloried in the country, and drew sustenance from its heroic deeds and its capacity for recovery. No political class rode with him to power anxious to lay its hands on the nation’s treasure, eager to supplant the forces of the market with its own economic preferences.

To be sure, Reagan faltered midway through his second term—the arms-for-hostages trade, the Iran-Contra affair, nearly wrecked his presidency. But he recovered, the nation rallied around him and carried him across the finish line, his bond with the electorate deep and true. He had two years left of his stewardship, and his political recovery was so miraculous that he, and his first mate, Secretary of State George P. Shultz, would seal the nation’s victory in the Cold War.

There is little evidence that the Obama presidency could yet find new vindication, another lease on life. Mr. Obama will mark time, but henceforth he will not define the national agenda. He will not be the repository of its hopes and sentiments. The ambition that his would be a “transformational” presidency—he rightly described Reagan’s stewardship in these terms—is for naught.

It is in the nature of charisma that it rises out of thin air, out of need and distress, and then dissipates when the magic fails. The country has had its fill with a scapegoating that knows no end from a president who had vowed to break with recriminations and partisanship. The magic of 2008 can’t be recreated, and good riddance to it. Slowly, the nation has recovered its poise. There is a widespread sense of unstated embarrassment that a political majority, if only for a moment, fell for the promise of an untested redeemer—a belief alien to the temperament of this so practical and sober a nation.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Consider that students attend college for 9 months a year; this means they are spending $910 per month to pay for their housing.  If a student used this money to purchase an apartment, this amount will pay for a mortgage of $170,000 (5.0% amortized over 30 years).

Proper planning may help a family reduce the cost of going to college and create the possibility of gaining a good return on investment for funds that might otherwise be used for rent only.  Think about it.

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

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“Tax reduction thus sets off a process that can bring gains for everyone, gains won by marshalling resources that would otherwise stand idle—workers without jobs and farm and factory capacity without markets. Yet many taxpayers seemed prepared to deny the nation the fruits of tax reduction because they question the financial soundness of reducing taxes when the federal budget is already in deficit. Let me make clear why, in today’s economy, fiscal prudence and responsibility call for tax reduction even if it temporarily enlarged the federal deficit—why reducing taxes is the best way open to us to increase revenues.”—President John F. Kennedy,
Economic Report of the President,  January 1963

President Kennedy understood that tax cuts spur the economy and leads to more money going to the government.  Here is what I think he knew.  39.6% of $100 is $39.60.  25% of $200 is $50.  By lowering taxes, economic activity grows and the taxable pie grows, thus a lower tax rate means more tax dollars for the feds. Our nation doesn’t have problem with have to little in the way of taxes, our problem is that we have a bunch of drunken sailors in Washington, DC, that are spending geometrically more money than they have.

Laffer writes the following.

“Anyone who is familiar with the historical data available from the IRS knows full well that raising income tax rates on the top 1% of income earners will most likely reduce the direct tax receipts from the now higher taxed income—even without considering the secondary tax revenue effects, all of which will be negative. And who on Earth wants higher tax rates on anyone if it means larger deficits?” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

In summary, its not too late, let your Senator, Congressman and the President know that they need to stop spending and to not allow our taxes to be increased in 2011.

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

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“The vast majority of residential foreclosures being conducted in Hawaii are proceeding under a state law that is more than a century old, provides no court oversight and is widely panned by consumer advocates for failing to adequately safeguard the rights of homeowners.

One expert who has analyzed foreclosure laws nationally says Hawaii’s 1874 law is among the weakest in the country, partly because it allows a home to be sold relatively quickly without safeguards common in other states.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Here a few simple rules if you can’t make your payments or if it looks like you are going to be foreclosed on your home.

1.  Talk to the lender. Many people have told me that if you keep a line of communication open with the bank, they may have some latitude in giving you more time to work things out.  If they won’t give you more time, then at least you will know their plan and how you will have to work within it.

2.  Be realistic. If there is no way you can save your home, then accept that and try to use the foreclosure to your advantage.

3.  Get legal advice. A foreclosure is no small thing and it is important that you to speak with a qualified attorney so that you know what rights you might have.

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

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“Katie Everett, a real-estate broker in Denver, says none of her clients kicked in cash when selling their homes last year. This year, “about half are willing to bring money to closing, anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000,” she says.

Are these people crazy to be tying up even more of their cash in their homes, in effect doubling down on what has been a losing bet thus far? After all, any number of variables, from the employment picture to the credit markets, could weigh on housing for years to come.

Yet economists say trading up to new homes or refinancing existing ones can be smart—even if it means plunking down more cash to get out of old mortgages. People living in less-desirable neighborhoods might be able to find better homes in tonier ones that offer better appreciation potential. And with mortgage rates so low, such buyers can keep their monthly payments manageable, even though the new homes are more expensive.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

Click here to view the embedded video.

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

More Video Blogs

Keahi’s Resume

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“A niche mortgage mess is brewing in homes made of earth, tires, concrete and trash. Environmentally minded people built them, hoping to conserve energy and to re-use what might otherwise wind up in a landfill.

Such sentiments in some cases have been no match for the new resolve of the banking industry in the wake of the housing bust. Banks have become much pickier about examining sales of comparable homes, in deciding whether and how much to lend. Owners of odd homes can be out of luck.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

Given the current lending environment, you may be better off building your dream home in a conventional manner.

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

More Video Blogs

Keahi’s Resume

Honolulu Real Estate Is A Good Investment

Why A Buyer Shouldn’t Buy

Supply Of Honolulu Homes

Honolulu Home Median Price of $1,000,000

Honolulu real estate makes a lot of sense over 10 years

How To Make Disclosures

Buying more might make your retirement better

Under New Rules-Lenders Even More Important

Sellers Beware Of Company Addenda

Sellers Get Your Surveys In Advance

Are Realtors Paid Too Much?

“There were 122,222 babies born in Honolulu between 2000 and 2009, compared to 59,029 deaths.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

SEARCH FOR YOUR HONOLULU HOME

If you would like to discuss your real estate needs, feel free to call me at 808-737-2093 or toll free at 877-737-2093.  You can email me at keahi@lava.net.

More Video Blogs

Keahi’s Resume

Why A Buyer Shouldn’t Buy

Supply Of Honolulu Homes

Honolulu Home Median Price of $1,000,000

How To Make Disclosures

Sellers Beware Of Company Addenda

Sellers Get Your Surveys In Advance

Are Realtors Paid Too Much?