ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY?

by Leslie Davis

As 2009 winds down, there is no question that this has been a tumultuous year economically. Though there are now more headlines lauding a stabilized economy than a year ago, the ranks of unemployed and underemployed have increased dramatically over the last 12 months.

Often my cynical perceptions are not assuaged by the optimistic headlines heralding recovery. The statistics and market segments cited are often offered as isolated variables rather than as part of a larger mechanism. There is no way of gauging whether the system is sound while simultaneously infusing billions into the economy via governmentally subsidized programs.

The merits and shortcomings of the TARP program have received considerable attention this year. The Congressional Oversight Panel, created to review the current state of financial markets and the regulatory system, maintains that TARP stopped the financial panic of 2008 and stabilized the banking system. However they admit that bailout programs have fallen short in many areas. The panel even suggests that TARP may have done harm by making some banks and firms, considered too big for regulators to allow them to fail, even bigger and by creating a new expectation that big banks will always be saved. The panel wrote that “implicit government guarantees pose the most difficult long-term problem to emerge from the crisis.”

Getting Inspected Before You Buy Could Save You a Fortune

Knowing the “true condition” of a property before you buy it puts you in a better position to negotiate the costs and repairs prior to closing. These aren’t the types of problems you want to know about AFTER you buy the house!

As your home inspector, it’s my job to provide you with a thorough inspection, and to present you with a professional and impartial opinion as to the true condition of the property before you buy it…

That’s why it’s essential you hire an inspector that has the experience and the knowledge to know what to look for. This is not the time to leave one of your largest investments to chance.