To Financial Giants, Everything is a “Micro-Loan” Three years ago, the federal government used tens of billions in taxpayer dollars to save the banking system. Now, at this dire economic moment, the country needs the banks to return the favor. –Joe Nocera, “Mr. Banker, Can You Spare a Dime?”; The New York Times (9/10/2011) It’s...Read More
No, I didn’t catch Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke when he was in town Thursday. But I’m pretty sure I just passed Thomas L. Friedman walking around the south end of Lake Calhoun about an hour ago. A St. Louis Park native, Friedman must have known that the terrific weather this weekend made it an opportune...Read More
“Please Stand By” Sorry to anyone trying to access this blog earlier today (that included me, trying to post!). The company hosting City Lakes Real Estate has become increasingly unreliable the last few weeks — so much so that I’m switching to another vendor this weekend (or more accurately, this blog’s ace Web developer, Tim Elliott, is executing the...Read More
Check Out the Podcast Instead The Friday bylines for any news Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke makes tomorrow will all say “Minneapolis.” That’s because Mr. Bernanke will be here, giving a 90 minute lunchtime address at the Economic Club of Minnesota. Want to attend? You’re too late; according to the ECOM’s Web site, “due to the extraordinary...Read More
Telling the Difference Between “Good” and “Bad” Real Estate Business Much has been made about today’s cautious, fussy Buyers. Not only do Sellers’ homes need to be updated and in pristine condition — they need to be tantalizingly priced, too. A lot less ink has been spilled about today’s fussy Realtors (including yours truly). Taking...Read More
Leasing a Mercedes for the Cost of a Toyota Is there trouble ahead for Toyota? That certainly seems possible, at least based on my (exhaustive) experience shopping for a new car lease starting Sept. 1 (keep reading to find out the winner). From below, Toyota faces intensifying pressure from Kia and Hyundai, which are essentially doing...Read More
