[Rich Toscano]

[quote=walterwhite]Does it edit all of the ignoreds posts? Or just the threads they start? It could make some subsequent statements in response to the ignored difficult to understand.

I already feel confused[/quote]

It hides all comments from an ignored user. If you get confused, that’s what the “click here to view this post” link is for.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=TexasLine]oh! I don’t agree with this at all. Sorry Rich. There is nothing more important than learning from others. And in order to do that dialogue should be as open as possible,…even amongst those who disagree.

It is possible that someone who has been “ignored” might actually have something constructive to say at some point, no?[/quote]

Once again, it’s not about disagreement. It’s about being able to hide posters who consistently make comments that you find uninteresting or irrelevant. If there’s nobody that fits that bill for you, then don’t use it.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=desmond]Yes, why would you want to read somebody with a different opinon?[/quote]

It’s not about differing opinions, it’s about people who constantly opine on topics that you don’t find interesting. It’s basically a threadjack mitigation tool.

[Rich Toscano]

Thanks guys… I took care of them.

[Rich Toscano]

Sure, I agree, every situation is different. Again, I am just generalizing here.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=briansd1]Actually, it depends on the holding period.

When I hear people say “we want move up in 5 years” I wonder why they would take on more costly loans.

I believe there’s is more psychology/animal spirits in people decisions that rationale.[/quote]

Because there is a difference in wanting to move in 5 years and being forced to… or, put another way, getting the fixed rate opens up the option to keep the property longer than originally intended.

[Rich Toscano]

Yep, it did work in the past for sure… I am pretty convinced it won’t work so well in the future, but of course that is speculation (and the timing is always in question… it seems like it can’t be long now, but I’ve already thought that for a while!)

[Rich Toscano]

Makes perfect sense for a shorter-term situation like that, BG. I was generalizing, thinking in terms of a new long-term purchase.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=briansd1]bearishgurl, the reason I say that Greenspan was right, is because I have a buddy who went with adjustable in 1989 (he bought at the high back then but rode it out). He has not refinanced even once…. And all along he’s enjoyed the lowest rates because rates went down the whole time.[/quote]

Understand this, brian. I myself have used adjustable-rate mtgs since 1986 . . . continuously. If I could get another one on my next purchase with the same or very similar terms as the one I have now, I would do it again . . . in a heartbeat. But that’s probably not possible. The “FB” of late (who had a “subprime” version of the same mtg) has given them a bad name so they are likely no longer available to prime and alt-a borrowers who understand how to use them responsibly :={[/quote]

I am hard pressed to think of a more backward-looking decision than choosing a variable loan over a fixed rate loan right now. (Except maybe to lend someone money for 30 years at 4% fixed). Just because something worked in the past doesn’t mean it will work in the future. Looking at economic fundamentals will serve you better than looking in the rear view mirror.

[Rich Toscano]

Too many variables.

Yes, I agree that US rates will likely rise and that it will make the deficits substantially worse due to increased debt service costs.

Regarding the prediction on timing (that we in the US will get our turn once the EU crisis is resolved for better or for worse) — I think it’s plausible and I’ve thought the same thing myself, but in matters of timing one can only ever makes guesses. It’s a possibility but there are many others too.

[Rich Toscano]

Great post afx… you pretty much summed up my experience as well. Like you, I use Backblaze as the secondary backup, with Time Machine as the first line of defense.

[Rich Toscano]

Here is my perspective as a mixed Mac/PC user, if this helps anyone.

I’m not that nuts about Carbonite. I used it for a couple of years. It seems clunkier than the other solutions, and it doesn’t back up sparse bundles on the Mac (so if you are encrypting data with something like Espionage you are screwed).

After doing a lot of digging on this question, for Macs I think that Arq looks like the best solution. However, I was looking for my business (mixed Mac and PC environment), and wanted to keep everyone on the same platform, so Arq wouldn’t do. From online reviews, in terms of usability, speed, etc, the two winners seemed to be Backblaze and Crashplan. They were pretty similar, but Backblaze was cheaper for their business plan, so that’s who I went with. No issues so far, and I’ve tested out the restore capabilities (for encrypted backups as well) and it seems to work like a charm.

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=sd_matt][quote=sd_matt]So how much inflation would we have to see for a house (to be rented later down the line) to be a sensible purchase right now?[/quote]

Is this question a sensible one or does no one know the answer? I’ve asked it before…[/quote]

I don’t think the question can be answered as stated… way too many variables involved.

[Rich Toscano]

Talking about the assumable loan, here…

[Rich Toscano]

[quote=urbanrealtor]
Instead, you just need to run faster than the dude next to you (maybe by putting your last bullet in his leg).
[/quote]

Ha! Well done… you are truly the master of callbacks.

I have never bought into the “we’re better than everyone else so everything will be ok” argument. For one, I think we’re a lot less better than most people think (the mkts just haven’t realized it yet). Even if that’s wrong, the zombies are tireless and catch up with everyone eventually. (Which is to say, I don’t believe that our creditors will let us endlessly rack up unsustainable amounts of debt just because other countries also have debt).

That said, while I feel confident that our debt situation is unsustainable and will come to a bad end at some point, I don’t pretend to know for sure what’s going to happen (as you point out, there is too little prologue). I just think that the prospect of much higher rates is a very good possibility given the circumstances, and I think it’s worth it to try to protect myself against that outcome.

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