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Rugulah

Member since: Feb 3rd, 2008

Rugulah's Latest Comments

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Recent Comments:

Guns at Home: Do Neighborhoods' Firearms Permits Lower Property Values? (AOL Real Estate)

Jan 18th 2013 12:34AM As a real estate agent, it would not be up to me to disclose the neighbors gun ownership, even if I knew it. But, if the information were available – which currently it is not – I could show a potential buyer where to find that information.

I believe that many of my clients would be afraid to live in an area where a lot of people own guns with the possible exception of hunting rifles. I've been reading some of the posts, like the one that says 'a glock is faster than 911 anytime,' and this is why. People don't want to live near someone who might just shoot at anyone who moves. (Don't blame me. This is how buyers think.)

There's currently a case up here where a grandfather shot his grand daugher because he thought she was a bad guy, forgetting she was staying with them. This is more likely than actually shooting a bad guy.

Survey Suggests American Airlines Has Rudest Employees Among Domestic Carriers (Gadling)

Dec 13th 2012 9:11PM I'm not surprised about Delta. The company treats it's employees like dreck and they pass it on.

Bank Threatens to Foreclose on Stage 4 Breast Cancer Patient (AOL Real Estate)

Jul 11th 2012 6:44PM The banks can afford to cut the payments until she is well (or she passes) or to renegotiate her loan. Since for the first half of the mortgage, they collect mostly interest, they will not suffer if they do this, even if they do this for a lot of people. But, it's rare that they even pay attention to people who are in trouble through no fault of there own.

A couple of years ago, the banks were spreading the tale that people in mortgage trouble 'bought more house than they could afford.' In most cases, this was a lie. Unexpected medical expenses, the death of a breadwinner, the loss of a job caused the problems. But the banks see sick people, widows and orphans as money making opportunities.

Bank Threatens to Foreclose on Stage 4 Breast Cancer Patient (AOL Real Estate)

Jul 11th 2012 6:38PM I sell real estate and can tell you from (lots of) experience with banks that they lie, cheat and will steal if they can. Small community banks are better, credit unions are the best for getting mortgages.

There isn't a real estate agent I know who doesn't think there should be a lot of high level bankers in jail. It'll never happen, but it should.

Whistleblowers Win $46.5 Million in Foreclosure Settlement (AOL Real Estate)

Jul 2nd 2012 5:17PM The truth is, many of the big mortgage lenders do not try to work with those who have fallen behind. They'll tell folks that they can refinance and then go ahead and foreclose without telling them for weeks. They'll lose (or pretend to lose) paperwork, cash checks and then claim they didn't get them and do everything they can to keep people from stopping the foreclosure.

Most people who get foreclosed on aren't 'people who bought more home than they could afford.' These are people who, often through no fault of their own, suddenly find themselves unable to keep up with their mortgages for a short period of time. People lose their jobs, get sick, their kids get sick, a breadwinner dies – the banks don't care what the reason might be.

I work in real estate and see this all the time. It's heartbreaking. Why should a short sale take nine months when a buyer is offering list price, in cash? Why shouldn't a bank give a little leeway to a woman whose husband died suddenly and then who, two weeks later loses her job. What is she and her 6-year old supposed to do?

Shame on the lenders.

Short Sales That Are Long on Value (AOL Real Estate)

Mar 3rd 2012 3:22PM You can get a good deal buying a short sale, but be prepared to jump through hoops and wait. And wait. I had one short sale – a full priced cash offer – take nine months from submitting the purchase agreement to closing. If you can afford to wait and can take the chance that the whole thing might fall through, then go for it. But, be aware of the risks. I believe that in some cases it's simply neglect on the part of the banks but wouldn't be surprised if there was some fraud, too. I predict that whoever is doing this will get rich instead of being sent to jail, where they belong. (I'm a licensed real estate agent in Minnesota.)

BofA Threatens Family With Foreclosure Over $1 'Coding Error' (AOL Real Estate)

Nov 5th 2011 5:23PM I'm a real estate agent and have to deal with banks, mortgages, foreclosures and the like all the time. This doesn't surprise me at all. In order to save money, the banks won't hire enough people to do the work that needs to be done, they don't properly train the ones they do hire. If these workers don't make their quota (and the banks prefer a foreclosure to a save) then these workers get fired.

I support transferring money to small community banks and credit unions where mortgages aren't bundled and sold as a commodity.

Is Your Peanut Butter Carcinogenic? (Slashfood)

Apr 25th 2011 8:22PM 1) This is not news. I've been hearing about this since the 1970s.
2) Is peanut better better than peanut butter?

10 ways to survive a Russian winter vacation (Gadling)

Jan 16th 2011 7:55PM I live in Minneapolis/St.Paul where the winters are similar to winters in Moscow and I agree with most of these suggestions. I don't agree with the suggestions to drink vodka. Alcohol causes you to lose heat, and although you may feel warmer you won't be if you get drunk. Drink in moderation and you'll be OK. Oh, don't forget the light gloves under the warm mittens. And a scarf.

Middle-Aged Women and Short Hair -- What Gives? (Lemondrop)

Oct 27th 2010 10:10PM I have short, short hair and I love it. Wear your hair the way you want, but I'm never growing it out. I wash it every morning, towel dry it and comb it into place and I'm done. Plus it's cute and my husband loves it too. When my hair was long, it was a mess. Feh!