I make no secret that I am what was called in my native New England; frugal. Don't bother, I've heard all the synonyms. Anyway, yesterday was half-price day at the thrift store so I went to buy some polo shirts for $3.49-$0.50. As I was shopping they brought out some more junk. I got a few things. A Canon D60 body w/1Gb microdrive, a Canon 70-300 IS long lens, a Speedlite 420EZ sunpak and a Tamron 28-300 AF macro lens. $42. So, did I get a deal?
From Friday, February 03, 2006 prior to anything Casey I scribbled:
Thumbing through my copy of "The Necronomicon" (at midnight by the light of a black flame), it warns that the consequences of bringing the housing market back from the dead will be far more dangerous than letting it rot in the stygian depths to which it has fallen. The extent of those depths in the dark days ahead will not be known until the spectre of Cthulu awakens and (re)posses those things most dear to the doomed minions souls. Namely the holy speed boat, the most reverent Harley-Davidson, those objects of all desire the SUV, RV and ATV. Only then when all hope is lost and the scavengers are finished picking the bodies on the bloody battlefield clean of all that is valuable will the lamentations of the children, resigned to public schools and community college be heard. Only then as the wives cry out to the darkness, "Maui, Cancun wherefor art thou" will the true nature of the beast variously known to mere humans as the House ATM, the great equity withdrawl, the very HELOC himself so powerful that he is CAPITALIZED be revealed as a vampire sucking the lifeblood of guilty and innocent alike. Listen now, quiet, in the distance. The sound, the smell, the desperation. Those who thought an easy death, bankruptcy itself will be denied. No one gets off that easy. The laws of the gods of light and dark are no match for the US courts system. Ameriquest will eat their livers every dawn and peck out their eyes every sunset only to keep them barely alive to feed again on the morrow. And at night, where will they sleep? Not in their own beds, that's for sure.
"Now I get it! Now I know why EN commenters and housing bubbleistas hate me. I’m too positive. I don’t think housing is going to crash. I believe in the American economy. I believe in the power of capitalism and of the ability of markets to define themselves. I believe that one should never, ever give up. The haters hate my optimism. They hate that I’ve managed to work myself through very difficult times, personally hanging on the edge of insolvency. They hate that I encourage Casey in his self made conundrum and help him with advice. They hate Casey for not giving up already. The haters hate baby kittens! Now I understand. Nigel Swaby 03/30/07
And the R.I.P. part. I mean it. A lot of people were hurt, are hurt and will be hurt. Let's not stalk the funeral. It can do no good and has the potential for great harm. Talk about here. Vent, rail. Make fun of supporting actors who are still hoping that they can get "Joanie Love Chachi" out of the cancellation of "Happy Days."
Blog note: The last of the Habitat donations are still trickling in. You guys are awesome. I will put together a comprehensive list, initials and amounts only. Duane said he will also do a match. Hopefully we'll have a grand total by 5PM Friday as a tribute to our own fliptard.
Oh I just don't know where to begin Though he says he'll wait forever It's now or never But she keeps him hanging on The silly champion She says she can't go home Without a chaperone
Accidents will happen We only hit and run you used to be a victim Now you're not the only one
Accidents will happen We only hit and run I don't want to hear it 'Cause I know what I've done
There's so many fish in the sea That only rise up in the sweat and smoke like mercury But they keep you hanging on They say you're so young Your mind is made up but your mouth is well undone
(Chorus)
And it's the damage that we do And never know It's the words that we don't say That scare me so
There's so many people to see So many people you can check up on And add to your collection But they keep you hanging on Until you're well hung Your mouth is made up but your mind is well undone
(Chorus) I don't wanna hear it cause I know what i've, I know what I've, I know what I've done I know, I know, (repeat) X 16 ----
Gee, do you think I was saving this for the right occassion? Special dawg points if you guess what the next video will be.
Let's get all the stages of addiction cleared up right now. First, we can quit any time we want. The key is that when we want not when someone else says we've had enough. Second, housing, land use, transportation and their associated topics is a harmless distraction. It's not like it leads to obsessive blogging or hard stuff like following self destructive scammers. Just trying to make a little money helping people and build a net reputation never hurt anyone in meatspace except koi. What's the harm?
N.B. There's so much happening today it is going to be tough to get it all out. Lots of little small topic posts at first. Bear with me, good things are coming. This is the $3000 Casey borrowed in October to stage his comeback. This is the $1000 that Casey laid on the "kitchen table" last week.
Notice anything? Brand new bills six months ago, never been folded all the same. Now nearlt new bills, no creases just a simple fold and soft curl, all the same. He folded them over, stuffed them in a jar and only took them out for a photo op.
The mob has spoken. Eye candy and mind bleach graphics stay. Cute is out.
Actually, I wanted a separate post because there seems to be a lot of confusion as to the identity of LossMitPro. You see he's asked me to take down all tha bad things that have ever been said about him but I don't know who "him" is. Also my overexposure to Caseyworld may have warped my sense of "bad" as well. Can anyone help with that? Normally I don't talk about this stuff but I don't have any reference samples of the person being defamed or whatever it is that was supposedly done. Examples? Remember; these are illustrative and in a research context. If the original bad stuff is bad enough I may have to take it down and then only the reference material could remain. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
It has been suggested that my choice of graphics is disturbing. I don't know. Do I need an intervention? Shall I just stick to kittens and babies on sunny warm summer days with the gentle breeze tousling their hair?
As much as some have built up Casey as a criminal mastermind the reverse situation can also be true. Now that Casey has adopted a Christian, honest and open business model he should welcome any scrutiny to keep him on the righteous path. He has nothing to to fear from the mythical dawg beast pictured above. Just a figment. I truth we are loveable little fuzzballs: What's not to love?
Bloomberg has an alarming article on a new wave of financial industry hiring; bankruptcy advisers. While the report is European oriented the warning signs of a massive credit implosion are everywhere. The trend that struck me was the leveraged debt ratios used for buyouts. In 2003 LBOs carried debt equal to 4.8 times EBITA, 2004 5.1 times, Q1 2007 6.2 times. The basic theme here is "I'll give you too much for your company if you agree to take a worthless IOU." Big company, small real estate investor; it's all the same.
Every little thing Casey Serin does is tinged with criminality. Even IAFFs newfound income is based upon violating the TOS with multiple ad streams. He won't talk about it but it looks as if his solution to unsecurd debt is to ignore it until it is too old to collect. International media exposure and not one public acknowledgement from any interested agency at any level of government. How does he get away with this when every day people go to prison for far less?
Time now for my occasional reiteration of my CHASE concept:
The best option is to pay for a separate air network. $45.3 billion can pay for lots of "pocket airports" for the exclusive use of the "California High Speed Airtrain System." [CHASE] We start by funding research and constructing of a fleet of STOL "whisperfans" with a low top speed (320-350 mph) and short range (<1800km) and then pay for their operations in a fashion unique to public transit; full cost farebox recovery ticket pricing. Surprisingly those prices would be less than the projected costs of the CA-HSR fares despite the service being better.
At the Authority's March 2, 2007 board meeting, the transportation and economic consulting firm of Cambridge Systematics (CS) presented new ridership and revenue forecasts for the Authority's proposed high-speed train system. The CS study, which was prepared for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), shows the potential ridership of the high-speed train system in the range of 86 million to 117 million passengers per year and annual revenue of between $2.6 billion and $3.9 billion by the year 2030. These projections exceed the previous forecasts in the Authority's 2000 Business Plan which projected up to 68 million passengers annually and up to $1.8 billion in annual revenue by 2020. The new projections represent a 72% - 104% increase in annual ridership and a 110% - 170% increase in annual revenue. For more information please click here: "Ridership and Revenue Forecasting Study".
The only growth has been in the number of puff pieces pushing this red-headed step child. The price is now $45.3 billion and the timetable is pushed out another 9 years and... You get it. Like every non public roads proposal late, underperforming and over budget.
So, let's just ask ourselves what 117million passengers is like. A few assumptions but don't worry, the end result is a disaster beyond comprehension. If only 1/4th of the passengers ever traverse the Bakersfield - LA segment that is 29 million. The trains are likely to hold 300 passengers and run at 80% load factors. 240 people per train 14 trains per hour. Every hour. Every day. 24/7. With one of these sweet rides pulling through LAUS every 9 minutes just how are they going to que up the passengers and load them even with 3-4 dedicated tracks? They cannot and it won't matter because the alomost high speed rail turns into O'Hare the day before Thanksgiving and adds hours to the trip.
Sometimes when the heat gets to intense cowards will hide under different guises. Mortgage business goes bad? Diversify. At least for the moment these sites accept comments!
I admit to being somewhat of a Macophile. I'm not blinded, just predisposed toward liking the products and the company. I'm not alone. The "likers" are a subset of the "followers" and it apears there are a lot of followers reading EN. Reader Huck Finn says:
I work in finance as an investment analyst. People love technology and always look and hope for strong returns in the tech sectors. The 90s were awesome; when the tech bubble burst, it really hurt.
As the old saying goes, however, time heals all wounds. Since equities have done so well over the last few years, people are starting to forget the pain of '00 (and '02). There are a lot of people waiting for that big tech rally.
It may happen at some point, but I personally don't think tech is a long-term winner. There may be phenomenal gains for companies like Google and Apple, but the thing about tech: people always want more product/features at a lower cost.
For every Apple and Google of the tech world, there are thousands of dot.com companies that didn't make it.
People hate my anti-tech bias. And, really, I guess I can't blame them. I just love dividends and strong cash flows.
[cont.]
More product and more features is an expense that cuts into profits eventually. The more you offer and the less you charge for it, the higher your sales numbers. Trouble is, it cuts into profits.
Apple is enjoying its (near-)monopolistic state of iPod, but they're going to have to keep rolling out new products that people will upgrade to (iPhone) or they will have to cut costs to attract new buyers.
What happens if/when their new products no longer look like they're worth throwing another $500 toward? How often will people get rid of their new-last-year iPods for the new-this-year-but-spendy versions?
[cont.]
- they have strong brand loyalty, their product line is innovative, they have strong cash flows, etc...
So Apple is probably a bad example in the near term, but it's still part of the technology sector...which makes me nervous.
People may make be making money hand over fist on Apple right now, but I'm not one of them.
I'm a contrarian - and am always very early on my technology bets. ----
Fair statements all. Remember also the codiclies about the differences twixt good companies and good stocks. Throw in the recent Caseylike behavior of so many companies including AAPL regards options and buying sprees, etc. and there's a lot to discuss. I've purposely not said my piece, I'll save it for the comments as my opinions are not worth anymore than anyone elses' and thus I won't abuse my position other than to say the iPhone as Apple's second most interesting product could be the ultimate under the radar technology innovation of the decade rivaling wi-fi.
One of those canisters looks like anti-AXE serum and everyone recognizes the BS detector and righteous steel toed boots but the rest of the equipment seems unfamiliar. Anyone care to give it a try?
Young Sputnik pictured here has an idea to acellerate Young Toadlickerz™ "burn rate." He isn't accumulating mortgage lates or penalties except on the Utah house. In fact, if he gets lucky enough he might even find a way to ultimately keep that one with its' improvements. That would be a golden ring pulled from the manure pile he jumped into. Still, he's got expenses and minimum payments and catchup payments to consider. Since the flopper extraordinare hasn't updated his spreadsheet of doom in so long I'm a little lost as to his "monthly nut." Looks to me that -if- he can control expenses $6,000-$7,000 per moth could keep the wolf from the door. Anyone have a better analysis?
'Scouse that much money passing through the sticky fingers of Better Idea Buttfly™ won't go to the best use, we all know that by now. Keeping the wolf from the door may be a goal but who is gonna keep the bad kitty from the dynamite plunger?
Clown House's are common in my region. A Clown House™ looks perfectly normal until the hotplate in the garage conversion catches fire and 37 people pile out.
DSM IV definition: Someone who suffers from Narcissistic Personality disorder (NPD) has at least 5 of the following characteristics:
• has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements) • is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love • believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions) • requires excessive admiration • has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations • is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others • is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her • shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
For convienience I've placed a small • next to the applicable symptoms exhibited by Young Dandelion. Head shrinkers all over the world should be directed to him (not his website, that's enabling). Is there some sort of finders' fee or Guniess Book acknowledgement for successfully identifying the The Worlds' Most Narcissistic Personality?
A lad serinsane? Seems anything that could go wrong did go wrong on Casey's Earth Mission. He's wired wrong. He didn't get the right firmware upgrades and now appears immune to flash updates as well. The OS was installed without the mandatory emotional and ethical packages. Fimally the ssoftware downloaded was not just buggy but crappy RE generic timewasterware. Even with all these flaws if the CS 1.0 had been rolled out Q1 '01 instead of Q2 '06 it still might have worked. Isn't that scary?
Armchair head shrinkers. Come on. We all do it. It is one of this trainwrecks' guiltier pleasures. After last night's performance art I have a deeper appreciation of some of the various comments from people. "Just wired wrong" comes to mind. So imagine the Serin Clan does the right thing and drags him in for a full evaluation. This would IMHO be a great thing. First he'd get a complete physical workup and then... The Couch. And that is this morning's guilty entertainment. Imagine The Conversation that would go on between the doctor and Casey onThe Couch...
Safely ensconced behind the golden EN keyboard at the remote mountain headquaters of the wildest 2hr 18 mins in internet fraudcast history. Something like 750 posts so far. Traffic spiked at triple IAFF page views and is finally returning to normal.
Everyone has been good and even the occasional trolls have kept their comments tame. But it's Friday and a long weekend. I'll clean up any loose ends tomorrow and maybe format somemore LeGate.
My only comment is that he's getting more slippery with practice. The one that had me clenching fists was the asking personal questions of callers.
Man if that's how he treats his brother then you gotta imagine mom and G are getting some seriously abusive attitude. I can only hope there's a flurry of late night calls amongst the Serin family of the sort "what do you mean mom could lose the house and maybe even go to jail?" "He owes HOW much?" Problem is I don't see as there is anything they can do at this point. Even if they sold a house or somehow came up with 200 large that only keeps the wolves at the back door at bay. The wolves at the front door won't go away for just money.
I'll go out on a limb here and predict that if tonight's fraudcast actually goes off it will be the equivalent of a hit show end of season cliffhanger.
Habitat for Humanity is the winner here and the Haterz™ should feel proud. Various emails and other contacts tell me this is just the tip of the iceberg but so far:
Thse are just the "a donation has been made" I've gotten.
"EP" $100.00 DW unk Anon unk "pp" $200
Add to this others who didn't elect a named donation.
All in all I estimate just about $1000 went to making homes available to people who need them, qualify and are willing to work. I cannot think of a better legacy.
This being the Memorial Day Weekend I will be doing my bi-annual ground level economy survey. That means I'll be looking that the yard sales up at the mountain cabin. This is both fun and educational. What are people selling? For how much? Is the house for sale too? Are they moving? Moving "down below" [to the hih desert communities] or far away? Driveway check for jet boats and 4x4s. Any home improvements halted halfway? Any activity on the empty lots? I need new ski poles and goggles and wouldn't mind an orbital sander. Wish me luck.
The phrase "the worm turns" is oft misunderstood. The mechanical screw mechanism has come to represent more subtle events. Thus we rejion Duane and Casey at the point where Duane is near his limits of tolerance.
-----
January 29th, 2007
From Casey To Nigel, Chris, Duane
Hey, could you gentlemen join me on a conference call sometime today to discuss my blog strategy going forward. The 3 of you have been the most helpful to me so far with your advice and I would love for all of as to talk.
Please respond back to me with some times that will work for you today or tomorrow morning. I will setup a conference call and give everybody a code.
Thanks guys... Here are the topics:
1) Should I continue to blog?
Chris has a good point about the HATERS starting to post highly offensive stuff on other boards about all of us including our families! If I continue it might only get worse
2) If I should continue, what should be my strategy?
Nigel has a good idea about turning this thing into a general foreclosure help forum and allow others to post their story and receive help from the community. I would still continue my story but I would start shifting the focus on helping others
3) How to deal with the HATERS?
Perhaps I can start filtering out any comments that is negative or has nothing constructive. That will change the feel of the blog very quickly. But how will that affect traffic? Should I worry about it?
4) How to handle the time commitment in running the blog?
Moderation takes me A LOT OF time. Posting quality posts takes a lot of time too. To have a high traffic blog I should post no less than once in 1-2 days. Perhaps I can outsource the moderation to a few trusted people. Chris has some ideas about decreasing the time of making good posts.
5) How to monetize the blog?
If am going to continue devoting much time to the blog I need to get paid for it somehow. Duane has offered to become an exclusive sponsor. We're still experimenting but so far things are looking good. I want to discuss future possibilities.
6) Come back story?
I'm looking to have a come back story through this blog by doing the right thing, settling my debts and learning to become a successful real estate investor even though all the haters think I can't. I want feedback on how to formulate this strategy.
7) Joy / Erin threat? Possibility of being investigated by the Feds?
What should I do if anything about any of these potential threats? ----
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 4:37 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: Check out my activity log
Gimme some toughts... Thank you for that "kick in the butt" I really did need to place a higher priority on taking care of my debt. Now that I'm all caught up on everything and have a good grasp over my finances I can start talking with the lenders more specifically... However the question is what exactly do I tell them? See the post for more of what I'm asking.
You've been through this, let me know what I should do STEP-BY-STEP and I will follow exactly. I would love to work with you Duane but on some of these things I will need a little bit more direction. If you lead I promise to follow closely.
Thanks!
-- Casey Serin
Casey,
What in the hell are you doing? Explain this...
From my email to you.. the VERY FIRST THING I SAY IS...
"As long as you don’t mention pay rate... I keep ALL of that confidential because some of my co-workers get paid differently from others... and.. that I am in no way offering long term employment.. for now it is week to week depending on how you do.."
Sooo... what do you do??? From your BLOG....
"Say if I had a job paying me 4500/mo, I can subtract my living expenses of"
You don’t think my employees know that I am considering hiring you?? Do you think they don’t read your website???
DAMN CASEY! EXPLAIN
Duane LeGate
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 1:44 PM To: Duane LeGate Subject: Re: Check out my activity log
Duane, I didn't mention anything about getting a JOB from YOU though.... that was just a number from the top of my head. I was using it to illustrate my point that with the current burn rate even with A GREAT job I will not be able to float payment. However if I find a way to negotiate with the lender, then I may be able to find a way still.
I'm traveling with Chris right now but I will call you later today. Sorry for any inconvenicnes. What time is a good time to call?.
Aside form the 4500 issue, what do you think of my activity?
The comments are starting to get very positive, did you notice. Several people are attributing my new "directions" to me working with you and you are starting to be seen as a positive figure on the blog.
Casey,
I don’t think you understand, I don’t deal in shades of gray...
Your comment:
" Duane, I didn't mention anything about getting a JOB from YOU though...."
This is a crock. Recently OJ Simpson came out with a book entitled "If I Did It."
As you are probably aware, the premise of the book was to describe the murders if he had done it. Everyone knew it was a confession, but he didn’t outright admit it.
That’s exactly what you did. No you didn’t specifically say.. Duane has offered me a job for X. You DID imply it in every way shape form and fashion. This does not sit well with me Casey. Not well at all.
You keep asking me how I did it.. I did it by OWNING up to everyone that I owed money too (I didn’t screw anyone). I was 100% HONEST. And before you rebut that with "I have been too".. YOU HAVENT
Honesty is more than telling 80% of the story. You tell some, but not all of the picture, while you technically are not lying, you are not being FULLY honest either. You and I had a very simple framework for working together. After full evaluation, I think I need to make the 15th of Feb the last day of sponsorship of your site. That will be exactly one month. I will pay you the final 750 as promised. But as it stands now, that is where the relationship begins and ends.
I wish you the best in the coming days, weeks and months, I feel you will need all the prayers you can muster to handle it.
Duane LeGate
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 2:08 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: RE: Check out my activity log
Ok Duane. Thanks for giving me a shot. I'm sorry I disappointed you.
-- Casey Serin
What do you want to do about hosting?
Duane LeGate
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 2:15 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: RE: hosting
Hosting - probably open my own account on Mosso and transfer it so that there is now DNS change... Let me check into it and get back to you by tomorrow morning.
-- Casey Serin
No hurry.. How about the 15th as a drop dead date?
Duane LeGate
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 7:27 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: Finalizing...
Casey,
I am assuming you plan on leaving the sponsorship posts on your site, since one of the main reasons for sponsoring was to help with SEO. I don't need the side bar sponsorship.. but I am assuming you will leave any and all references to the sponsorship post and links to my site indefinitely?? Am I assuming correct?
Duane LeGate
Yes I'm going to leave the posts indefinitely to help you out with SEO.
I'm still working out my hosting situation...
-- Casey Serin
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 8:51 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Finalizing...
A lot of people are asking why I ended the relationship... I have had many emails and you have seen the posts wondering on your blog and others...
What are your thoughts there?
Duane LeGate
I don't know Duane... I am wondering myself as to the EXACT reasons.
Based on your email, I'm guessing:
1) I wasn't performing fast enough on negotiating with the lenders (I DO have short sales going on all the secured lenders and I started calling the unsecured but I was running into road blocks... Yes, perhaps I could have acted faster)
2) miscommunication about the "4500/mo job" mention (I wasn't even talking about OUR job but happen to use that figure to illustrate a point... If you check the comments NOBODY thought I was talking about YOU giving me a job... But I understand why you were upset because it looks like I was going back my word about keeping the job compensation private)
3) anything else?
Don't get me wrong, I don't have any hard feelings over this. Perhaps we can work again in the future. I hate to burn bridges. -- Casey Serin From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 6:33 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: Advertising performance, other stuff
Duane, I'm curious, has the advertising on my blog brought you any sales?
I'm trying to decide right now if I should pull the blog down. The "haters" are going too far. They are spying on me and my wife and taking pictures of where we live, our cards, parent's houses, etc.
Also, I got a call from Joy's attorney. They want me to fly out to Phoenix and have a face-to-face with them and see if we can resolve the issue peacefully without courts. I told them I got no money right now to fly out there and if they want to meet they will have to fly me out or come to me. I haven't heard back from them on that.
Looks like Casey continues to screw up a good thing. Turning his blog about a trainwreck into a blog about a blog. A blahg if you ask me. That chat feature really screwed the pooch. He's even taken to begging for "supporterz." NPD and now I feel like an enabler.
How many hundred points will the DJIA fall tomorrow? I'm guessing two but the little voice wants me to say three. Do your best "Billy Ray Valentine" and show the pack who be de alpha dawg.
My Billy Ray: "It's a long weekend see? And nobody wants to walk away for three whole days when the Asia markets are so nervous. 'Sides sell in May and go away? Nobody gonn lose a bonus pocketing what they got already but sure as hell they gonna lose their ass if they be bangin they secretary in the Hamptons while China melts down. Sell them mo fos. If they still good next Tuesday but 'em back and pocke two comissions. Yeah, that's what Billy Ray say." Update:
Crap, I peeked. IAFF looks like a porn portal with everything a charge link advert. Ummm... errr.... at least that's how I imagine porn portals operated. Anyway. What were we talking about? Oh, yes. IAFF. I looked at the settlement letter. It isn't from WaMu, they've sent it to "collections." Probably for 25¢ on the dollar. 70% is a goldmine for them. 40¢ and they'd crap their pants to get a certified check in 2 days. Yes. I know. I am helping Casey. So what. Business. Besides, if Casey does settle for 40¢ it is better than nothing which will happen if he doesn't take the advice. Okay, I also know he won't make the 40 cent deal either. That's the point. He knows what is right. He knows what is possible. He isn't going to do the right thing or the possible thing.
[inspired by Stephanie Js quiverng mounds of anger at this mornings' press conference.]
Dear Mr. President,
It is with mixed feelings of dismay and relief that that I learned you earlier today had annouced your intent to step down from the Office of President of The United States of America. I wish you good health and good fortune in your lfuture endeavors.
Perhaps you are confused. Here, let me explain. The Office you hold comes with certain promises you make. One being to uphold the Constitution. When you said this morning on the subject of illegal immigration that "You can't. You can't just ship them all back" you were announcing that you could not (or would not) faithfully uphold the laws of this land. You are required under the banns of your Office to tender your resignation over this matter. I must say it takes a principled man to put his personal views ahead of duty to country or respect for thew law. If President Cheney or President Polosi or so on join you in private retirement over this issue so be it. Eventually we will get to President Paul or President Gallegley and they, no doubt will do what you will not; uphold the rule of law in the face of the mob and the rule of men.
Appears there will be another riveting 3 hours of the "minkeee dance" this Friday. LossMitPro will be, get this, discussing a real topic; mortgage issues. Let's not make this about personalities. Use this thread to make suggestions as to questions to ask or get any confusion you might have cleared up in advance.
LossMitPro said... I had a phone conversation with Serin last night, and Casey has asked me to speak about his mortgage issues during the next Foreclosure Friday (5-25-07) podcast. I agreed.
Everyone who is bored, don't read. This isn't fiction and it sure aint a summer movie with nice endings and pat sequel possibilities. 1/26/07 Duane, take a look a the abuse email I got below... Looks like Joy and the crew are fighting back. They put in a complaint with my hosting provider and that's why I got shut down. Problem is that the abuse department hours don't open up for another 2 hours and I couldn't do anything to resolve the issues right at this moment.
But if its THAT easy for somebody to shut the website down then I need to think of a PLAN B for my hosting RIGHT NOW.
-- Casey Serin
From: Hostgator Abuse [mailto:abuse@hostgator.com] Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:38 PM To: casey@serin.us Subject: [Abuse #POF-657999]: DMCA COMPLAINT :: iamfacingforeclosure.com
Dear Customer,
Your account on the gator25 has been suspended due to a DMCA complaint. Due to the nature of the complaint we have are required to take action. From our Terms of Service:
Use of our services to infringe upon any copyright or trademark is prohibited. This includes but is not limited to unauthorized copying of music, books, photographs, or any other copyrighted work. The offer of sale of any counterfeit merchandise of a trademark holder will result in the immediate termination of your account. If you believe that your copyright or trademark is being infringed upon, please email abuse@hostgator.com with the information required. A list of required information may be found here. If the request is of a licensing issue, we may require further documentation.
If you feel this claim is unfounded or untrue, please fill out a counter dmca complaint form from http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca/counter512.pdf and submit it to us.
[COMPLAINT] o whom it may concern,
I am writing this to demand the removal of the content displayed at the domain http://www.iamfacingforeclosure.com/. Casey Serin or domain author has:
- posted confidential information regarding Erin Morgan, Joy O'Day and TAO Realty, L.L.C. despite having signed an NDA. The signed NDA is posted on the site with repeated admissions to the signature of the NDA. - posted, and allowed his bloggers to post, untruthful and slanderous information in effort to defame the character of the parties aforementioned - posted a link to a video created and owned by Robert Kiyosaki and / or Cashflow Technlogies / Rich Dad as well as posted, and allowed his bloggers to post, untruthful and slanderous information in effort to defame the character of Robert Kiyosaki
Casey Serin, iamfaingforeclosure.com and applicable persons or entities will soon be party to litigation for his actions. If your company continues to host Casey Serin's blog, your company, by its inaction, could potentially be a party to this litigation as you have been formally notified.
=================== Formal Declaration =================== I hereby state that Erin Morgan, Joy O'Day and / or TAO Realty L.L.C. is the owner of the exclusive rights referenced above and that I am authorized to act on its behalf. On behalf of Erin Morgan, Joy O'Day and / or TAO Realty L.L.C., I hereby state that I have a good faith belief that use of the content in the manner complained of is not authorized by Erin Morgan, Joy O'Day and / or TAO Realty L.L.C., its agents, or the law.
I, Jeremy O'Day, hereby digitally sign this e-mail message under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America with the additional statement under penalty of perjury that the information in the notice is accurate.
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
Regards, Rich G. HostGator Technical Support / Abuse Team Lead 1/26/07 Any word from Gator?
Call and email... in a respectful fashion... but have them make you a priority... the squeaky wheel gets the grease
Duane LeGate
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 1:33 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Cc: 'Shane Pike' Subject: RE: any word from gator..
I was granted FTP and control panel access. So I can get all the stuff down. I want to just go ahead and take this opportunity and get everything onto Mosso. Its 100/month. Can we make that happen?
Duane, you're blog is getting very popular! Did you see the comments coming in. Supportive ones too!
1/26/07 Shane.. can we check with rackspace/mosso and see if we can get casey up?? Tell them we will stand behind the site and make sure that no copyright stuff is getting up there...
Casey if we do this keep your nose CLEAN from that standpoint...
We can quietly get the contract back our on other peoples sites...
Duane LeGate
1/26/07 Casey,
Randy spoke to rackspace and they laughed about the whole thing.. they said they deal with WAY worse issues than that and any complaint would have a MINIMUM of 8 hours to be addressed.
I think you probably need to see if you can get back up on gator today, then work on transferring to masso
Duane LeGate 1/26/07 To Casey NLL IS DOWN
From: Shane Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 5:18 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: Getting Back Up and Running
Casey, If you need help getting IAFF back up and running on a new host, just let me know. I have moved WordPress sites to new hosts many, many times (just recently this last Tuesday), so I know the process inside and out. I know you know what you're doing, but I wanted to offer just in case I could out help in any way. -- Shane 1/26/07 Any room on your server for my site? At least temporarily Casey Serin Hey Duane, take a look at the agent response below (whom I contact via HBN)
She is not experienced in short sales... A good idea would probably be to start partnering with agents that are short sale experts because that would be the true meaning of "FAST SALE" agents.
Just a thought for later... But right now we have more urgent stuff to worry about. Casey Serin 916-595-9632
www.IamFacingForeclosure.com <- my story www.Serin.us <- join my mailing list ==========================
-----Original Message----- From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:33 PM To: Casey Serin Subject: Re: HELLO
Hi Casey Sorry to say that I am not experienced in short sales, I just attended a seminar on short sales and have a list of quite a bit in this area. If you like I am willing to help you but I have to say they are not easy sales... Let me know how I can help! ----- Original Message ----- From: Casey Serin To: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:36:59 PM GMT-0800 US/Pacific Subject: RE: HELLO
Are you experienced with short sales? -- Casey Serin 916-595-9632
www.IamFacingForeclosure.com <- Handling Mistakes, Foreclosure and Debt
www.Serin.us <- It's been UNBELIEVABLE but there is More to Come! Join my Mailing List for Important Announcements and Occasional Updates
P.S. I have recently been invited to work with a group that does big commercial loans, hard money and private equity. Do you know anybody who needs 10 million dollars or more to fund a BIG real estate deal, development or business project? Will look at all. We're also looking for SERIOUS investors with 1 million liquid or more for a couple of "invite-only" projects. Referral fees offered.
AS I am doing a copy and paste.. I missed this tidbit about the 10 million in loans…. WOW… anything for a cut huh??
As soon as the abuse department opens up (in 30-60 min) I will be asking them about turning me back on. I'm gonna remove some of the "questionable" stuff and see if they let me put the site back online.
Thanks for checking into things for the hosting Shane. Host gator has a dedicated server offering at 175/mo but I'm not sure if I wanna go with them if its that easy to scare them. However, their support is very fast, which I like.
Casey Serin 916-595-9632
www.IamFacingForeclosure.com <- my story www.Serin.us <- join my mailing list -----Original Message----- From: Shane Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 6:53 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: [Abuse #POF-657999]: DMCA COMPLAINT :: iamfacingforeclosure.com
Alright, we're making calls now to see what we can work out. We don't have *great* connections, but we're working what we have. (We'd actually just put you on one of the HBN servers, but we don't run Linux and Windows doesn't support the .htaccess settings that you need to make your permalinks work.)
In the meantime, though, would HostGator turn you back on if you told them you were taking down all the content in question? They're probably not in any hurry to look at the case since they don't make much from you, but we're trying to get you up as fast as possible, and that would save the several hours it would take for DNS to propagate.
Let me know!
-----Original Message----- From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 9:07 AM To: shane Subject: FW: [Abuse #POF-657999]: DMCA COMPLAINT :: iamfacingforeclosure.com
This is why, see below. Joy O'Day and the crew are trying to fight me.
-- Casey Serin 1/26 From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 7:12 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: [Abuse #POF-657999]: DMCA COMPLAINT :: iamfacingforeclosure.com
Casey., do you have 3-way calling?? If so I want to be on the call with gator 1/26/07 Yes I have 3 way... Should I do your cell phone?
-- Casey Serin
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 7:23 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: READ
Casey,
We posted the reason for you being down here. please look at and approve.. if its okay. please blast to your friends
Duane LeGate 1/26/07 I didn't see anything attached
Casey Serin
1/28/07
Casey,
I have been thinking about what we had talked about. I have no problem expanding our relationship but a few things need to happen.
At our office, we treat everyone like family, because 1) it is the right thing to do, and 2) you will spend as much time with us as you do your immediate family.
That being said, I look for stability as well as skills when making a hire. I think you would admit the stability part is shaky at best (yours that is).
You need to take on all of your debts head-on, in a proactive manner instead of a reactive one. These are nothing more than massive storm clouds waiting to bust. Casey, you have serious legal issues out there. You need to take steps to make amends, work out a plan, then hope like hell they don’t come after you for fraud. You may have not meant to screw anyone, or you may have not meant to commit X violation, but you did. With your high notoriety, some prosecutor may try and make a name after himself and hang you from a tree.
Staring at bills or not contacting your lenders will only provoke them further and aggravate the situation. Like the 50K promissory note on Larchmont, you CAN work out ALL situations. TO do that, you need to have cash flow, to have that you need to be employable, and to be that, you need to have a plan of action.
So, here goes. I want a written report by 5pm EST this Friday, February 2nd. The report needs to include an update on all lenders, where you stand with them , and what plan you and the lenders have worked out.
I had suggested this last week, I think you will admit it did not happen. I know you are working on projects for Chris and you need money. Guess what, you are going to have to learn how to manage your time better, and you’re going to have to put in the extra hours necessary to get yourself out of this mess.
Waking up at 5 am is no victory if you wake up for waking ups sake. You can wake up, moderate for 1 hour, handle Chris” projects for the next 3. That will be 9 am, moderate for an hour til 10.am.. contact ALL lenders for the next 3 hours. (you wont be able to get them first try) moderate for 1 hour, return phone calls from lenders, work on Chris’ projects for 3 hours.. repeat…
I have told you many times, this will not be easy, in fact it will be painful. I know you don’t “want” a full time job, but right now – to get your self out of this mess.. it is the ONLY way. If you BK on them… mark my words they will come after you with everything they have…
OK.. off my high horse. If I have the report, that tells me you are serious in making amend and turning your life around. I will employ you (in contract for ONLY for now) at a first months rate of 4,500 per month. I will explain what I will need you to do for that later. (the 4500 coupled with the 1500 will give you 6K… still not enough to handle your debt service but getting closer) … We can work on getting that number higher AFTER you start helping your self.
Let me know your thoughts..
Duane LeGate
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 12:15 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: Can I put our deal on the blog?
Duane, can I put our deal on the blog? The "haters" will definitely keep me accountable and this will add to the story of me making a turn-around.
I made it was as high on the side bar as I can put it... And its actually above-the-fold on standard resolutions of 1024x768 and up. I made the text bigger and bold to make it stand out and encourage clicks. It still looks very clean. I think it's a pretty good spot.
Any feedback?
Shane I'm assuming you have already setup some software to log click-throughs from my site so we can track performance?
I'm excited to see how this works. I'm going to write up something about HBN in the next couple of days and send over for your approval.
-- Casey Serin
OMITTED about 5 emails between Shane and Casey that talk about placement of links, color, etc… its all formatting stuff and not relative to this timeline..
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Friday, January 19, 2007 11:49 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Revised terms for advertising
Casey,
I cant find the email with your address... how you coming with the review or post of hbn...
Duane LeGate
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (His address was inserted here.)
What I'm going to do is to try HBN out as a typical user and report on my experience... How is that?
Also what about putting the HBN logo higher in the side bar to generate more traffic?
When can I call you to discuss some stuff?
-- Casey Serin
1/23/07
Hey Duane,
I gave it some though and I realized it would be a little out of place if I do a REI.TV post without also introducing HBN. So I did a nice combined post. Its written in my normal voice so it doesn't sound fabricated but I belive covers both of your services in good light.
Check it out: http://iamfacingforeclosure.com/approve1
That's a hidden URL. Let me know and I'll post it to the blog
-- Casey Serin
1/23/07 Check it out, I added a couple of paragraphs for REI.TV with the heading "Get Rich Slow"
Check it out: http://iamfacingforeclosure.com/
-- Casey Serin
1/23/07 Thanks for pitching in... Things good so far? -- Casey Serin 1/23/07 Great.. I must say you have THICK skin.. hang in there..
Duane LeGate
1/23/07
Hey Duane, aside form the blog I'm also getting people that contact me by email asking for advice on real estate education and where to start. I want to start marketing REI.TV directly and I want to get a referral code or some way to track my sales. I already referred 3 people directly today.
Thanks.
-- Casey Serin
1/24/07
Hey Casey,
Are you looking to track the traffic (uniques, page views, etc) that comes in from your site, or only the persons who have signed up for service as a result of your referral?
Depending on what you are looking for, we can probably set something up that will get you what you need.
Thanks, Randy
1/24/07 I'm looking for a way to track my DIRECT referrals. So lets say I tell somebody to go visit REI.TV. Is there a referral code I can use to tell them to put in. Or if I'm sending a URL is there a way I can attach a referral code to the URL so that I get credit for referring them?
Something like XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX???
Duane mentioned you will have affiliate program soon.. That's what I'm referring to. An affiliate code of some sort.
If I have to wait for it that's OK, just wondering if its already up.
-- Casey Serin
OMITTED ABOUT 5 emails discussing tracking codes etc, not pertinent to the timeline..
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:07 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: IAFF down?
I am showing your website being down
1/25/07 Temporarily Down... My hosting account was disabled because it was bringing the server down with all the traffic. Will have to upgrade to a dedicated server shortly (much more $$/mo though). Casey Serin 1/25/07 Casey pay it for now, I will reimburse.. then shop
Duane LeGate
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:12 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: IAFF down?
When will it be back up and what time are you posting the contracts?
Duane LeGate
1/25/07 It should be back up in the next 15 minutes and I should have the contract up within 30-45 minutes. Casey Serin
1/25/07 My current virtual hosting account at HostGator has been running slower and slower and today they shut me down for taking up too much CPU time on the server. The extra queries lately have been caused by a WordPress plug I installed where users can vote on comments (people loved it as soon as I released that feature).
Well now the HostGator people are basically telling me that my site is starting to take too many resources because of the traffice and DB queries.
So I need to upgrade to a dedicated server. They have a fully managed linux box for 180/mo. But I'm not sure if I want to stay with HostGator, though they're support has been very good. I want to shop around real quick. I don't have much time though, because it will happen again.
Who do YOU guys use for hosing/servers? Or is it in-house? Casey Serin
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:59 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: post
Casey I have to leave in 30 minutes. whats your time frame for moderating and posting the contracts? Duane LeGate
1/25/07 Almost there... I'm laying down the FULL story... Its gonna be GOOD. Casey Serin 1/25/07 Its out! This might get messy! Casey Serin
Duane, just want to follow up with you on advertising and ideas on how I can pay off my 160K of unsecured debt.
I would love to learn from your example. I don't want to declare bankruptcy and need to find a way to refinance the debt or start making enough monthly to float the big bill.
Also, google adsense kicked me off their advertising system because some "haters" on my site were clicking the links too often on purpose and Google has a rule against that.
So I want to talk to you about advertising HouseBuyerNetwork and move forward ASAP.
Here is my traffic chart for December: http://www.sitemeter.com/?a=stats&s=s27iamfacingforeclosurecom&r=35
Duane, I am ready to help myself. I would love to be able to say this year that "I made it right" by paying back all my debts.
Hope your holidays went well...
-- Casey Serin
1/13/07
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 12:35 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Cc: 'Shane Pike' Subject: LONG Time getting back to you
Casey, I am sorry for just now getting back to you. I was sick, then Christmas, NewYears, then I took a vacation after New Years, then been in New York. I am copying Shane. Shane meet Casey, Casey meet Shane. Shane handles all of our advertising and SEO. I still want to do something with your site. Sooner versus later. 2 conditions: we can pull out any time if you do anything we feel is harmful to anyones rep. 2nd, we are the exclusive advertiser. We are also going to ask you for certain things from and SE standpoint. That said. you guys chat.
Duane LeGate
1/13/07
Duane, here is my current financial statement, I know you asked for this a while back:
1) sell all remaining houses 2) generate $250,000 to settle all my debt (no BK), keep my wife in school and get financially healthy 3) do everything with 100% integrity
Feel free to give me any advice...
-- Casey Serin
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 9:01 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: call me
Call me when you get this
My phone is not working... Here is my wife's number: XXX-XXX-XXXX I will be on it all day.
-- Casey Serin
1/16/07
Hey Duane, I apologize about not picking up if you tried to call me back... That's my wife's cell phone and she had to go to school for the day and take it with her.
I lost my cell phone so I'm going to setup a Vonage or Skype account this morning so I can call you back.
What time are you going to be available? -- Casey Serin 1/16/07 Now thru 2:15 EST... 3:30-5:00 EST... I am coaching 2 basketball teams tonight so I am not available after that..
Worse case scenario call me tomorrow..
Duane LeGate
1/17/06
Casey, Here are the specific terms of our agreement for this month. We will pay you $1,500 through February 15, half now and half at the end. In return, you will:
1. Make HBN the exclusive advertiser on your blog. 2. Add an HBN ad to your sidebar (which we will provide). That ad will expand to include REI.TV once we launch REI.TV. 3. Post at least two posts about HBN that include links to the HBN homepage on either we buy houses (preferably) or home buyers. 4. Post at least two positive posts about REI.TV after it launches.
Obviously the REI.TV part is still in limbo pending your conversation with your friend tomorrow. We'll make any necessary changes to this agreement should he object.
I'll get you an HBN ad very soon! Thanks! Shane
From: Shane Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 5:04 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Cc: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: RE: Terms
Here are the files you need for the ad. One is the image and the other is the HTML. We'd like for it to go right above the Recent Comments section.
Let me know if you have any questions!
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 10:33 AM To: 'Shane Pike'; 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Terms
Casey, Please print a copy of the agreement. This is a temporary one until we see how things go. We will replace it with a more formal one soon. Sign the agreement and fax to 888-326-1219. As soon as I receive and you have our ad on your site I will overnight a check to you. What is your address?
Duane LeGate
1/16/07 Side note:
Wow... I am #3 in Google for "Hardship Letter". That's a pretty good search term. That's people who are trying to work short sales or something similar. Although, they are probably already working with someone at that point... But still a good search term.
Back to the TERMS:
1) I've been thinking about advertiser pricing a bit. Any chance we can do $2,000/month since it's an exclusive spot in the sidebar. In return I can do several good quality posts about HBN as I begin to investigate and continue to mention your company in the posts with every available opportunity.
2) And how much of our agreement can I share on the blog.
I think it will be very positive if I say that I have a sponsor and I'm sending the entire 2K/mo towards my debt. That will justify my investment of time into the blog.
3) How long of a trial should we define? How about 1 month. This way after a month we can both evaluate and see if this relationship is "win-win"
4) I still need to talk to Chris (I will see him tonight) about REI.TV. I suspect that it's going to interfere with what I'm doing with him. I'll get back to you tomorrow about it. What you be willing to proceed with our deal without the REI.TV for now?
-- Casey Serin
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 12:42 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Cc: 'Shane Subject: RE: Terms
Casey,
You are viewing life to short term... 1500 a month is plenty for a one month trial. If your site can do what I think, you will be paid handsomely.
Lets leave off rei.tv for now. If we come to an agreement on employment and or a buyout of your site, we will include rei.tv
I have no problem with you discussing our one month trial on the site. I don't want you to discuss anything about me or use my name without approval.
I want to approve all blog posts with respect to HBN or any of our web properties.
Call me tomorrow morning to discuss further. If you agree to the changes you and I have made, print and fax and I will cut you a check.
Duane LeGate
1/16/07
Ok 1500 sounds good for a one month trial... I'll take whatever I can (begger's can't be choosers right?)
Approving posts... How about approving just the ones that deal with HBN. Are you really willing to approve EVERY one of my posts? I like to post something every 1-2 days. That might be a lot of work and I don't want to have too much of a delay when new stuff happens.
-- Casey Serin
1/16/07
Sounds good... Do you have a formalized agreement or just print out the following that Shane sent:
=========
Here are the specific terms of our agreement for this month.
We will pay you $1,500 through February 15, half now and half at the end.
In return, you will:
1. Make HBN the exclusive advertiser on your blog. 2. Add an HBN ad to your sidebar (which we will provide). [That ad will expand to include REI.TV once we launch REI.TV.] 3. Post at least two posts about HBN that include links to the HBN homepage on either we buy houses (preferably) or home buyers. [4. Post at least two positive posts about REI.TV after it launches.]
===========
I would take out stuff about REI.TV for now and add the following:
* The term of this agreement is one month from signing, after which time both parties have the right to re-negoatiate
* Before posting Casey must get prior approval of any blog entry that contains information about House Buyer Network
1/16/07
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 1:50 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Terms
I have to leave now.. when do you think you will sign and send and put the ad up?
Duane LeGate
1/16/07
Duane, lets confirm everything tomorrow morning... By then I will also clear it by Chri.
How early can I call you?
-- Casey Serin
Duane, how about this for the final terms:
=================
House Buyer Network (HBN) will pay Casey Serin $1,500 for advertising From Jan 19th, 2007 to Feb 19, 2007. Half upfront and half at the end.
In return, Casey Serin will:
1. Make HBN the exclusive advertiser on your blog. 2. Add an HBN ad to the sidebar using provided HTML code. 3. Post at least two posts about HBN that include links to the HBN homepage about "We Buy Houses" service to help people who are facing foreclosure. 4. The term of this agreement is one month from signing, after which time both parties have the right to re-negoatiate. 5. Before posting Casey must get prior approval of any blog entry that contains information about HBN.
==================
If that looks good I will print it, sign it and fax it to you and setup the ad by tomorrow morning. What's your fax number?
1/18/07
Here you go Duane, I will get the ad up later today or tomorrow morning by the latest
You can wait until you see the ad before sending the check if you want:
1420 E Roseville Pkwy, Suite 140-331 Roseville, CA 95661
-- Casey Serin Bonus image from a loyal reader. Enjoy.
Aspiring foreclosure portal IAFF administrator Casey Serin has all but met (on paper) his one week goal of $1000 by selling 4 weeks of adspace. The traffic numbers seem to bear out that tthis is a good deal for the advertisers. Good for him. 'Scourse he is front loading all this months' income in the first week but no doubt more one trick ponies wait in the wings. I expect his creditors are overjoyed as well at their good fortune. Any bets on how long before Cashcall places a "hold" on his PayPal account?
"From 1890 through 1990, the return on residential real estate was just about zero after inflation." - Robert Shiller
Let us examine this through direct comparison rather than average or medians . Anyone care to live in an 1890 original condition home? No garage, several hundred sq feet, maybe a tub and toilet, soapstone sink, wood stove?, coal furnace at 20% efficiency, etc. etc. ? 1950? How about 1970? Ahh now were are getting close. You'd still be looking at a smallish place and be lucky to get the 2 car garage. You might also find yourself with aluminum wiriing and that original aluminum siding and some nice formaldehyde insulation and asbestos lineoleum tiles and 1 1/2 baths, single pane windows, 60% efficient oil burner heating, etc. etc.
No, Schiller has it all wrong. The median 1890s house has not kept pace with inflation unless it has been subject to continious homeowner improvements to keep it nearer in quality and size and ammenities to the latest medians. Moving target.
A man comes home from the store after purchasing a roomba. He walks in to find th back door jimmied and a greasy Frenchman there pockets bulging sweeping the floor.
"Oh monseiur! Good morning. Ahhh em Pierre. I was outside admiring your lovely home. It is, how you say,.. how I would like to live as well. Not to worry monsieur. I only took ze things lying around. For zee instance; your health care card. I notice you are not using et. I use et for my family non? To repay you monsieur I am sweeping your floor, so you can just take that silli robot thing back to ze store nes pas?
See also: http://exurbannation.blogspot.com/search?q=roombas
I think amnesty is a great idea. Blanket across the board, and not just one time only amnesty. It is the only practical and humane thing to do in preparation for establishing the changes in our current unworkable immigration policies. Not just people but employers.
Okay, just what is "amnesty?" Forgiveness without penalty for past transgressions. What is the single thing that amnesty is not? Permission to continue breaking the law.
Those great social commentators R.E.M. have devolved to the depths of merely crooning about Casey. Sing along as we countdown to blog shutdown:
That's great, it starts with an foreclose, duns and lates, a late night call- Nigel Swaby is not afraid. Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn - blog serves its own needs, don't misserve your own needs. Bump it up a notch, speed, grunt no, strength no. Pryamid structure clatter with fear of height, down height. Wire in a fire, represent the seven games in a government for hire and a brownfield site. Left her, wasn't coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck. Team by team reporters baffled, trump, tethered crop. Look at that low fruit! Fine then. Uh oh, overflow, population, common area yard, but it'll do. Save yourself, serve yourself. Blog serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed. Tell me with the rapture and the reverent in the right - right. You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched.
It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it and I feel fine.
Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in flipper tower. Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn. Lock him in uniform and book burning, blood letting. Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate. Light a candle, light a motive. Step down, step down. Watch a heel crush, crush. Uh oh, this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear! A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.
It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it and I feel fine.
The other night I tripped a nice continental drift divide. Mount St. Edelite. Robert K., Leonid Breshnev, Duane LeGate and Rob Dawg. Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom! You symbiotic, patriotic, slam, but neck, right? Right.
It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it. It's the end of the blog as we know it and I feel fine...fine...
"I need more help with comment moderation. My previous attempt to recruit moderators didn’t go over well. So I’m trying again." Isn't this how he ended up with 8 failing real estate deals?
Next: Plagarism, how to award winning blog yourself into DMCA hell.
Blog note, running late, too many comments previous post, Duanr email chronology soon. Sorry.
LossMitPro has suggested that Mrs. S not be included in this mess. The reasoning is sound that absent any evidence she could very well be a victim. Evidence:
The 11 credit cards in her name are maxed out. Her name is on many of the loans. Her name is or was on many of the deeds. She is featured prominently in the fix'n'flip process right up until IAFF went live. She lives in a community property State and has been attending finance classes off and on for 5 years. "The $1000 Contract."
She knew, she benefited, she's liable. The plural of "anecdote" is not "data" but the sum total of all available information can be. The only scrap that says she is not involved is Casey. Like I said; s-crap. S for Serin.
The South Park boys have hit on this great scheme they found on the internet. They buy 8 houses and... but then Cartman... and the Chef finally... and? Talk among yourselves I'm going to Disneyland.
And Caspedia guys? Feel free to scour this blog for tidbits. Murse jokes should run a couple pagez™. Heck (tm) wordz™ alone would run a couple pagez™.
It was pretty clear he was a train wreck waiting to happen. After talking with him about the properties, I didn’t see any “THERE” there. The only asset I saw was his blog, and he had the ability to get work. So, we had to focus on 2 things at once. One, get steady income from blog/work or preferably both. Two, unwind the houses as fast as possible.
The hurdle was the NLL—example... Casey sells blog, NLL whips out contract and says pay me… Casey sells his story.. ditto. He had told me about the NLL contract in passing. When I started asking questions about it, I became REAL concerned. I asked him to send it to me so I could read it. He did. The whole freaking tone of the NLL contract sounded like it was written by a first grader that had just watched Perry Mason. I let someone in my office that is a contract master (but not an attorney) look at it. We both agreed it was a MASSIVE joke. But to be on the safe side I sent it to my attorney. He literally LAUGHED. He was telling me how this was a legal form of indentured servitude. Ok. I thought these ladies can be reasonable people right?? So I picked up the phone and called Erin. I told her who I was, and why I was calling which was to ask them to release Casey from the contract. I also told her it wouldn’t stand up anyway, he has no assets, so they have no benefit… kinda… lets just all move on…
Well, you would’ve thought I had called her mom a bad name. She dug in and let me know the contract WAS legal, it WAS written by a professional attorney, THEY did give Casey valuable services, Casey screwed the whole thing up being wishy washy. And finally.. hell no! CLICK…
I called back. She didn’t answer. So I called Joy. Brother… I would NEVER want to meet up with her in a dark alley… “I aint scared of NUTTIN” except Joy. The way she sounded on the phone reminded me of “Mister T”.. .. UUGGHHH HHEEEYY BBBOOOYYY YOOUUU LIISSTTEENNN HHEERRREEE….
She hung up too.. however I was to scared to call her back… J
So.. back to my attorney. We have an unenforceable contract. It is a joke and everyone knows it HOWEVRE… that would NOT preclude The NLL from flaunting it and ruining any deal Casey may land in the future. TO be clear, for those of you that hadn’t read it. The contract basically stated that not only did the own Casey, but now and forever.. I MEAN ALL of Casey. Even his thoughts.. his future earnings.. his HAIR… EVERYTHING… Why snowflake signed it I will never know. The more I thought about the contract the madder I became.. I mean who in their RIGHT mind.. WHO… would screw someone over like that.. I mean.. HEY THERE HE IS>> KICK HIM WHILE HES DOWN… AGAIN…AGAIN..
What they did was just flat out EVIL!!
So I wanted to have the contract busted for a lot of reasons.. but now for me the main one was principle. Options? Court. That simple. Venue was a problem.. Im in GA> CASEY in Cali, The NLL in AZ and Cali.
So I asked Jerry… what happens if I have Casey expose Laverne and Shirley? He advised against it… they could cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble. OK, not to back down from a good fight. I made a business decision. If they come after me… I will not only defend but attack, if they go after Casey… I got his back . I told Casey I would foot the first 10,000 in legal bills. I said lets expose them for what they are… the LEACHES they are.. and shame them to death with THEIR own actions.
So as most of you know… we did… and BOY did it get FUN….
More to come….. ---- Rob Dawg says; Part 2.2 the emails that go with this part of the story.
This is just so wrong on so many levels. I don't know which is more disturbing, the image or my finding it topical. There's just something "not right" about the whole situation. All the things I expect to hold society together are absent from this story. Lacking any inner moral compass where are the externals checks and balances? Okay, we are seeing some personal crisis intervention but where were they six months ago? It's just not right. N.B. Duane 2.1 later this afternoon.
Update: This is what I'm talking about. From IAFF and posted in the comments this is thread.
131. Casey Serin May 18th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
What’s really crazy is that I put myself against the wall with this agreement with my wife. All of you are witnesses. No way to wiggle out of this one… I don’t think.
Listen up you lying cheating sack. You can't live up to this promise. It is your nature to do anything EXCEPT the right thing.
"Stickiness" and unwinding were the pattern. I believe that much of that had to do with borrower equity exposure and the price of alternatives. This time with little/no equity and the alternative (walk and rent) costing 1/2 or less of "holding on" there is far less stickiness. I would additionally suggest that the shift to multiple mortgages will also contribute to instances of stairstep pricing instead of stickiness. When the 1st forecloses the 2nd takes a 100% hit and the 1st has no incentive to price higher than their being made whole; typically 80%. A stairstep. Besides, it provides the opportunity to revisit our friend the enchanting Pangolin. [Which is an animal which has a sticky tongue much like some award winning blogs which are not animals but are sometimes run by them. P.S. There is no truth to the rumor that Pangolins are endangered due to the insatiable demand for their pleather hides.]
Is it too soon to say it's all over except the arrests? How many fence sitters got turned into haterz™? Does anyone still think he's a poor kid who just got in too deep?
Here's the deal. Habitat for Humanity will accept PayPal and credit card donations. They are a nationally known organization. They've never been known to use the cash for penny stocks or Tahoe weekends. Time to step up and show what haterz™ are all about.
Donate to HfH at Habitat here> and either straight donate or donate in the name of the Ventura County Cooper Road" handicapped access project or any project of your choice. The idea is to do something good for people in trouble but take any personal issues out of the equation. Duane tells me he will match the first $1000. That's awesome. I'm not so rich but $100 to HfH is something that needs to be done. Other haterz™ have pledged more. Put Exurban Nation in your comments section and then tell Casey what you've done. See if he is willing to take the credit. [Full IRS deductions apply at HfH.]
Ok, I first contacted Casey after learning of him through a guy by the name of John Of ForesakenCraft.com. That site doesn’t exist anymore for whatever reason, but it was a housing bubble type of site. He had interviewed Casey and called our company because we had just released some stats calling for steep housing declines in certain markets. So I go to IAFF, and had an interesting read. Initially, I thought he was a kid that went to a get rich quick seminar, and used their methods, got majorly stuck, and didn’t know what to do. ((( Ok, more background on me – I HATE RE GURUS. That’s why we built the REI site (btw it will be a free site soon) so that people could learn, at there own pace how to build wealth thru real estate slowly. ))) So after looking at his site, I emailed him. He(Casey) called me back fairly quickly. I told him about our main business HBN which is all about helping people in his situation. We had a couple of problems there though, we didn’t have representation in some of the places he had homes, and in some cases the people that were there didn’t have short sale experience. We had a nice chat. He was a really likable guy on the phone. I told him I would help in any way I could but we needed to work together. I wanted to find out what kind of hole the kid was in. If I were to help, or get people to help, I had to know the good, bad and ugly. A lot of times when dealing with distressed individuals, they leave off a couple a pieces of information that just happen to be MAJOR things. He gave me a brief background of his story – you know readers digest type version. After the first phone call, I sat down with Matt, and Randy (really good guys in the office) to discuss Casey. The possibilities were endless. With REI coming out in January, we talked about how we could show CASEY as a how NOT TO do things. We thought about digging into our network further to try and help him. We thought about a million different possibilities. We discussed everything. But we put the ball back in Casey court. He has to show us his hand… and I mean EVERYTHING. In the meantime, he told us he used to program and we have a bunch of sites in development so I wanted to delve in further. I mean the kid needed a job, we needed people. He needed money to pay his debts… it could’ve worked out nicely.
It was pretty clear he was a train wreck waiting to happen.
Follows emails for this period:
---- 11/10/2006
I found out about Casey through a guy named John. John used to run Foresakencraft.com a blog about housing. It (the blog) has since disappeared, but he contacted our company to get a follow-up to a story that was run in the central valley business times about us. John and I had a good discussion, and we talked about how the investors (read:speculators) were ruining the market. He had just interviewd Casey and suggested I look at Caseys site…
I looked at his site and with a cursory glance… I saw the same situation I was in 6 years prior…
So 2 hours later I sent this email…
“Casey,
I got your name and contact information from John at Forsakencraft. Call me and I will see if my network can help you. We help people in distress from all over the nation.”
11/14/2006
I sent this email to Casey..
“Please email me all of the gurus you have seen with number of times you have been there and amount of money spent…
11/14/2006
Here are the documents
(he sent over all the documents and legalease from Laverne and Shirley.
-- Casey Serin 916-595-9632
http://IamFacingForeclosure.com <- My story... Unbelievable! http://casey.serin.us <- Join my Mailing List for Major Announcements 11/14/06
-----Original Message----- From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 4:12 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: RE: The legal document, more info
Duane, keep in mind that I actually ended up signing the entire "STATEMENT OF AUTHENTICITY.doc" when I met with them in person. The one I'm sent has the COPYRIGHT part crossed out. But I have another one (don't have it on me) that I signed WITH that part in tact. I also signed the "CASEY SERIN AGREEMENT.doc" just like it appears.
I have both of those signed versions of the documents at home and right now I'm at the office. When I get back home I will send those agreements too. But there is nothing different, just my signature.
11/14/06
Casey,
I have already spoken to my attorney and forwarded the docs... will chat with you tomorrow. Sleep well.
Duane LeGate President House Buyer Network, Inc. The main person to talk to. She is the one who put the whole deal together.
Erin Morgan [...] Let me know how that goes
-----Original Message----- From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 9:32 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: around??
Casey, Give me a call to discuss options
From: Casey Serin [mailto:casey@serin.us] Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 4:15 PM To: 'Duane LeGate' Subject: RE: REI.TV and HouseBuyerNetwork.com
Seminar Gurus I went to:
Russ Whitney Kris Kirchner David Lindahl Bruce Norris
I did retake some of the Russ Whitney seminars but those were free as part of the package. I also have bought a bunch of study-at-home courses.
I don't have the exact amounts, that's what my wife and I are trying to figure out right now as we go through our receipts.
My guess is somewhere around $30,000 or so.
-- Casey Serin 916-595-9632
11/15/06
Casey, I am not sure what time you wake up on the west coast. I have feedback form the attorney. Call me at the number below when you can.
Duane LeGate
11/15/06
Casey,
Joy thought I was a telemarketer and hung up on me. I called back and left a message. My attorney had his secretary call me to tell me that he will be out until after lunch tomorrow, I want to get you on the horn with him. I am leaving work and will touch base tomorrow. I want to advertise on the site as we discussed, and want to make sure you receive the funds, not the vultures from Phoenix.
Duane LeGate
11/17/06
Casey, > > > > Congrats on the job.. its one step in the right direction. I am sorry > I didn't get with you yesterday, I was slammed. Please call me the > number below when you get up and around so we can continue our discussions.
11/17/06
I am at an all-day event today. Will try to get with you on break but can't promise.
Are you still interested in ads? any other ideas?
-casey
-----Original Message----- From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 1:55 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Job
Yes still interested in advertising.. but I have a few caveats.... have lots of ideas... but I am warning you.. you cant let that contract with Joy just sit... that has the potential to bite you in the ass worse than any foreclosure..
-----Original Message----- From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Monday, November 20, 2006 10:16 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: sent this on friday.. havent heard from you
11/21/06
Duane, here are my properties and how much the lender is likely to lose. See attached spreadsheet. On top of that I have about 140k in unsecured debt across about 15 credit accounts (credit cards, credit lines, installment loans)
I'm going to call you right now.
-- Casey Serin 916-595-9632
His spreadsheet
CASEY'S PROPERTIES
[...] This is an early form of the spreadsheet -Rob Dawg
11/21/06
Duane,
Here is the contact for corp lines of credit. This guy says I should be able to get you unsecured 50K+ in 2-4 weeks.
Bill Shuttic bill@corpbrokersinc.com (310) 413-0514
Tell me what you think...
11/22/06
Duane.. I have been in contact with the investor I work for. There might be a conflict of interest for me to do a mentorship-type thing with you. He doesn't want me to do that if I continue working with him. But like I said, my probation time is going to be over Jan 1st. So I can do whatever I need to do after that time. However, I *did* give him a commitment until then.
I DO want to take a look your offer for mentoring and start to consider it right away without waiting.
I'm just making sure you're aware of the whole picture. It sounds like you're a guy who doesn't like suprises and and a guy who wants to know all the facts.
Casey Serin 916-595-9632
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 6:54 AM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Something to keep in mind...
Casey,
Commitments made are to be commitments kept. You need to keep your commitment to him. I am not looking to "mentor" you as much as I want to help you decide what is best. XXXX XXXX will be the mentor. You can check him out at XXXXXXXXXXXXX.com
You're right, I don't like surprises. Thanks for making me aware. Matt will get back to you soon. I have seen nothing from you so far that would preclude us from working together.
If we don't speak again, have a happy Thanksgiving!
11/22/06
Duane, what do you think of Nouveau Riche again?
The guy I work for actually is a part of that company and is trying to get me to spend another $20K to join that thing.
-- Casey Serin 916-595-9632
From: Duane LeGate [mailto:duane@housebuyernetwork.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 12:21 PM To: 'Casey Serin' Subject: RE: Nouveau Riche
NONONONO... DO NOT SPEND another DIME! You will not NEED to. Turn down any offer that has you spending one red cent. EVERYOFFER!
Have a good Thanksgiving.
11/28/07 Casey,
I went home sick yesterday morning. I just came in the office to check messages.. etc.. I am getting ready to leave and sleep. Hopefully, I will feel better tomorrow. I will touch base with you when I get back in.
Duane LeGate
12/4/06
Duane, you said I shouldn't do bankruptcy... I would love to know how you were able to pay off 700,000 in unsecured credit.
The weight of my dead is really pressing down on me right now. BK is starting to sound really nice, however, you encourage me to hold on and find a way to pay it back. I agree that it's the right thing to do.
but...
To service my 150K of unsecured debt I will have catchup the late payments (15-20K) and have monthly payments around $5-7,000 per month.
If we can work something out on advertising that would be great, if not I would love to hear your ideas on how I can carry it.
Thanks for your time...
By the way are you feeling better from your sickness? I hope so.
Be on the lookout for Sputnik_the_Cat, aka S_t_C, aka "The Fishy Treats Bandit™." S_t_C was last seen dropping upper decker fishy surprises in the Modesto area. Current location believed to be Salt Lake City. If you see a hairball, do not, repeat do not attempt to clean this yourself. Notify Hazmat immediately. Watch your shoes!
[Schedule Note: Part 2.0 slight delay, mid morning estimate. Received additional info for story line, real life minor j-o-b distraction.]
Ve vill rewrite history! All references to past atrocities by ze Buttfly Reich vill be eliminated! You vill not listen to that... that man with the "French" sounding name. They, those "French" they eat snailz! Ve masterz of the air the Buttfly Party, we swallow nothing but the largest shnitzles. Who are you going to belief?
Allowing any more money or credit anywhere this tard is tantamount to giving a drink to a drunk.
So, it appears there is some trickle of posts at IAFF. Problem is he's too busy reading the Duane saga here. At first I thought it might be of some help but it seems clear that Casey doesn't dwell so most likely it is on to the next shiny object for him.
My company was built on my new found goal – that was to put other people first, and finances second. Amazingly, as I have gone thru life with this as my moral backing, I have never had to worry about finances (since the change in my life). Something about working hard and doing the right things by others has that affect.
So, our company has a very philanthropic type hue to it. We give and give often. We don’t tout to who, why, where, and what reason. But because we give and do try and make a difference, I sleep well at night. Looking back, I realized that although I didn’t have all my priorities in line, I wasn’t a bad person, and I also realized that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes, people just need a helping hand, some love, and for absolutely nothing in return.
We currently have 3K per month as a set aside for community good will. We will spend more based on a particular need or event, there have been a few times where we haven’t spent that much. Caseys situation is the only one that has ever been publicized…
So now I will take a breather.. and introduce how I met Casey and begin the timeline. I wanted to share this so you will know my thinking in dealing with him.
And now… after seeing from whence I came, you will see many parallels with Ser Casey. That’s why I reached out to him… starting to make sense??
Part 1.0 Circumstances beyond control. Part 1.1 Crisis and character
[Continues...Part 1.0] Then a series of events happened to me that I would not wish on my worse enemy. In a VERY short time frame, our family dealt with death, I had to help my sister (the one I was telling you that had bipolar) deal with some very unpleasant things she had gotten herself into, and 5 other things that I would consider MAJOR, but will not share here. Long story short, all this stress lead to me having a massive heart attack on 8/24/02 at the age of 38. I died that day and I will always have Dr. Chang to thank for bringing me back and letting me enjoy some more precious time on this great earth. Ok, things are getting sticky. I owe the banks, lines of credit, and business partners. Dr. Chang told me that rehabbing WAS OUT. My net worth, or should I say my negative net worth ballooned to a few hundred K shy of 1 million. I had MILLIONS of dollars in notes and such out. I couldn’t finish my properties, and then the hammer hit.
Just as all the stress I was under lead to my heart attack, the stress got to my wife also… in the fashion of a nervous breakdown. I literally got out of CCU and 2 days later she said she wanted to divorce me. There was nothing in my life at that point that was remotely stable. I over leveraged, and got my butt hung out to dry, I had more personal things to go on in my life in a very short window of time than most people will ever have to confront in an entire lifetime. In fact in a counseling session with a Christian based family practitioner, he said that any one of the “stressers” as he called the events could lead to marital strife, but with all we have on our plates, he thought maybe we had passed the point of no return.
So I moved into one of my houses. A TV, a couch, a bed and a computer was all I had.. Looking back, this time I had is what saved everything. I had to go back and make an accounting of my life. I asked myself tough questions. Are you raising your children properly? I would go to their games and recitals and such, but was I TRULY engaged in their lives? Was I giving them the proper moral up bringing? Was I a good husband? Did I live for myself or was I truly a good partner for my wife? How did I view wealth, I was lying to myself… I was seeking wealth for wealths sake and not for family stability and using it to help others. I kept asking questions until I finally asked myself the ultimate one. “If I would have died, what would they have said about me at my funeral?” When I finally answered myself truthfully.. I didn’t like it… I didn’t like it AT ALL. I searched and realized that I wasn’t the person I wanted to be, I wasn’t the person I could be.
So I had to do first things first. I had to admit my weaknesses and work to get my wife and therefore my family back. I had to provide financial stability. I had to figure out a plan that gave me steady income and pay back all of my creditors. I couldn’t get a job because of my condition. So I called a former co-worker and on the back of a napkin came up with a business plan that I could run out of my home, provide recurring revenue and get everyone paid. BK? Not an option for me. It would have been financially prudent, however, as I saw it these entities, whether it be banks, mortgage companies, and even friends had invested in ME. I owed it to THEM to pay them back properly. As of this writing, I have one carry over note left with a buddy of mine. I have 3 properties besides my residence. I have a successful business that I moved out of my house and now employ over 10 people not including all of our outsourced partners. I coach all 3 of my sons sporting activities – over 26 teams in the past 4 years. I sit on the board of many non-profits for the sake of helping others, my wife and I have a very healthy marriage and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her. I feel proud of my surroundings.
Part 1.0 Circumstances beyond control. Part 3; Doing well by doing good.
Duane LeGate Part 1.0 Circumstances beyond control
[Dawg's note: Duane is a much better writer than he admits to. The preamble today is 3 parts]:
Ok, in order for me to give you the timeline of events, I am also going to tell you why I do what I do. And, in order for me to do that, I need to give you a little bit of history so you can see inside my warped brain.
As some of you know, I was buying and selling real estate around the year 2000. My first condo I bought at an auction, I rehabbed, sold and closed in under 30 days and made over 20K. I’m thinking… hey… easy… I’m mister real estate… If I can flip one that easy, surely I could do 2 in a month. So off I went. The 2nd property was an utter failure and I got my shorts handed to me. That made me question everything I was doing. However, the 3rd went nicely so I continued. Buying – then Selling. Now it is time to buy rental property to build a portfolio, and even dabble in small commercial. This all continued until I had time 11 properties. Some of those properties were in various stages of rehab, some were complete and on the market, and some were newly acquired. Then 9/11 hit. Real estate in my market STOPPED as I knew it. It just STOPPED. So, since things were not moving (closing) , the carrying costs of these properties coupled with the continued rehab drained any remaining finances I had. My burn rate just for the mortgages and carrying costs were north of 20K per month. I also had rehab expenses, and then of course, I had to fund the family expenses. I started to refinance every property I had and suck as much equity out as I could to fund the operation. Nothing changed, In 9 months, I only had one closing, and that closing was on a property that I had already taken what little equity was left. My burn rate was UNBELIEVABLY high and at this time it grew to north of 35K per month…
Part 2; Crisis and character. Part 3; Doing well by doing good.
According to this Innman article Floria is the mortgage fraud capital but look at how California is closing in California: 2006 2nd 2005 8th 2004 19th 2003 23rd 2002 30th
From the article: Kempner said the MBA has asked the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to set aside $31.25 million over a five-year period to provide 30 new FBI field investigators and two new prosecutors at the Department of Justice to coordinate prosecution of mortgage fraud cases. The MBA also advocates providing $750,000 for task forces that would target areas with higher-than-average concentrations of mortgage fraud.
Okay, let DL go to bed. There's still plenty to discuss as we wind down. This is something that's been on my mind for a while. People claim to have gaydar (the ability to detect sexual orientation). I think there's a more important sense; Q-dar, the ability to sense the intelligence of people you encounter. I've met a lot of really smart people and it's true. They are noticably different. Duane says Casey would score high. I disagree. I'm disturbed that my Q-dar mat be miscalibrated.
Mr. LeGate will be providing me with the raw stream. I will format and get his approval. The posts will appear at the top of blog. Duane's own words:
I think it may be easier for the gang to follow if we start from day 1... however... I may not have the timeline down pat as I have not kept everything in the inbox... so... I have to look into the inbox.. deleted items... and phone calls from memory... something will bound to get lost in translation.....
You blog guys scare me... if I dare make a mistake and say X... someone will google and say ....BUUTTTT wait a minute... 7 months ago you said X plus Y.... I will blog every detail I know on the following conditions... [...] I can nail his butt....... I don't mind opening myself up to a can of worms... so be it... I just want what little story I can add to the saga to be as accurate as possible...
Sorry about that. The link was banwidth limited and I'm not confortable just stealing it outright. Thus something even funnier. Casey's traffic today. Anyone here know anything about response curves like that? Casey sure doesn't.
91. Hater Antagonist May 16th, 2007 at 12:18 am To: The Haterz Re: Casey Serin
First of all, I am NOT Casey and I an NOT Nigel!
He doth protest.
Study the writing styles and that should be evident, at least to more reasonable minds. (But then, I consider my target audience; thus shant question the tainted mentality of them whom queue otherwise.)
Tad judgemental and inflammatory eh?
Secondly; while I can understand why many of you pick on Casey,
Mind reader and psychologist. Must be fun at parties.
I cannot and do not condone
Guess what God of the Known Universe; you cannot condemn either. Get over yourself.
the utter depravity
Thank you, thank you, we'll be here through the entire trainwreck. Try the veal.
and hypocritical flavor most (but not all) of you demonstrate.
I check the condiments aisle and the spices and even baking products. Couldn't find hypocritical flavor anywhere. Everywhere I looked however, Eau De Troll was on clearance by the gallon.
I have seen this kid (Casey) portrayed as a con, a thief, a mental defective, the single cause for rising property costs, a scam artist, manipulator, an a** and the devil incarnate;
You missed a few. Be sure to leave you name and address at the door and we'll get you the full list.
but never for what he TRULY is…
A scared individual facing a daunting task, recovery from great financial folly of his own making! Nothing more, nothing less. A person facings growing pressure from many and varied sides, which often manifests in poor choices. (But I sense, and pray, he will become a better man for it.)
Now you've done it. You've attempted to humanize our play mouse. He is not anything more than a toy for enjoyment. He cannot feel fear or any other emotion. That's been proven time and again. He does not care, try, strive, act responibly, accept responsibility, empathize, sympathize, prioritize or -ize at all. He is not a man and thus will not emerge a better man.
Thus, enough with the bulling!
Casey Serin is a person in crisis,
Uhhhh yeah. Your point in all this rambling?
one facing overwhelming calamity that would crush the vast majority of peons who so enthusiastically rush to judgment against him; based entirely upon what they read or have read. These same poor souls, the Haterz so coined, arrogantly point fingers of distain toward Serin; all the while coveting their cautious little lives, plagued by no risk. Whereas life without risk is dull, boring, mundane and filled with endless days of gazing at computer screens – geekely wishing for something better. I pity you.
Oh, haterz™ are jealous of Casey's flight from the nest up at the top of the stupid tree, hitting every branch on the way down as he plummets into a pile of sh!tstorm. If only the haterz™ had the wherewithall to juggle chainsaws on a tightrope over alligators with no practice like Casey.
Your breed is not uncommon, you’re a dime a dozen; cheep as blades of grass!
As common as it is these days to describe oneself as a haterz™ I can think of a far more common (in both senses of the word) net denizen; The Anonymous Troll.
In contrast are the risk takers whom enjoy great reward, and yes, often great loss and devastation. Yet these same gamblers, the dicemen, the ones bold enough to pursue their dreams (even in the face of disaster)? These are the achievers, whom overcome not folly but doubt and scorn.
Interesting that you use gambling metaphors. Surely you meant visionary capitaists who contributed to society not the parasites who bled it.
At long last… Cut this kid some slack!
Been there. Done that. He spent the money on Ikea not Cashcall.
Whereas while you’re here to scorn Serin, I’m inclined to return the gestures. So bring it on, Haterz, show what you’re really made of; demonstrate my point by acting stupidly… I have every confidence you’ll do nothing less.
~The Hater Antagonist
Bring it on indeed. Kindly provide contact information as to where to "bring it." Ohhhhhh, all brave behind the bushes. Little child throwing snowballs at the gentleme's and ladies hats. We certainly shant response at the IAFF cesspool where you laid this turd. Please, man up. Become better for it. Accept the hardening the crucible will form for your telling us who you are. Thought not. Yawn.
At least that's the way it appears to me. Little Fliptard wonders aloud:
"So everybody assumed I go out everyday and live a extravagant lifestyle that I can’t afford. But that’s not the norm!"
Ignore for the moment that this is not Casey writing. Instead focus on the fact that he doesn't think his lifestyle is extravagant for his means. Clearly he needs examples of extravagances. Let's remind him shall we?
I'll start: Camcorder, May '07 Return of Camcorder for $100 restocking fee, May '07
We're making a list and checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty or nice...
This is definitely a keep up or you'll miss it all type of day. The wheels are coming off the trainwreck. The MSN article is diving his visits ballistic. 6k in the 5AM hour alone. No way the Wordpress software can serve up any page requests at that rate. 500 errors until the furor dies down.
I hate these teases. But... I've been at the sidebar with Duane LeGate and he has some stories to tell. Both of us think this is the place to tell those stories. What does the dawg patch think? Can we post out over several days the saga without pissing everyone off? No tease, just a blog management issue mostly.
Please welcome one of our two special guests Zewg. Itsallgood when people "get" EN and decide to play. And speaking of playing; play nice. Zweg is one of those who as noted in the comments, plays fair. Getting taken advantage of by the abusertard of the internet only makes him like... well like the 300 million or so of us in this country alone suffering the first pangs of this bubble.
"Shocked, schocked I tell you. Gambling, gambling going on here." "Your winnings sir." " Thank you very much." Money Magazine has some startling news. No Recovery till '08. Sorry to break it to you this way.
Casey reports: ...shut the blog down. She [G] has had enough and she has very valid points. So I have a very hard decision to make. I will save that for another post. The Snowflake is looking for a snowstorm within which he can loose himself. We may not be willing to look away but he is unable to crash in silence. Besides the earliest haterz™ told him this was the right thing to do. Can't have them validated.
Okay, I've replaced the keyboard -again- after that last Nigelpalozza. I think some of the other good bubblebloggers are on top of this but as I am on the SacBee news feed this showed up: Mosquito Bubble
Lexus in the driveway, algae in the pool, NOD in the mail.
Funniest post at C|NET so far. Only the EN insiders will appreciate though.
What about me? Reader post by: Nigel Swaby Posted on: May 14, 2007, 4:34 PM PDT Story: Casey Serin: The world's most hated blogger? I'm quite honestly fed up with all the media exposure that Serin is getting. I am an AWARD WINNING blogger from Salt Lake City and many people link to me as authoritative.
My success in Real Estate and Olympic Pin Sales have brought me untold riches and it is me who should be held up by the press as a role model.
Just today I was sitting in my expansive garden. I gazed into the 28,000 gallon pond with koi (which are fish)in it and I said to myself, "Nigel, you have everything anyone could want. You have a BMW, you have 12 blogs, you have a POOL... IN YOUR HOUSE; What more could you really want in life?"
Later, when I was sitting in my professionally designed kitchen, I leaned against the high grade counter top and the answer came to me... I want to be just like Casey Serin. Even the love of the entire Jamaican Bobsled Team cannot fill the void in my heart.
I have seen many things in my life. I have met Ziggy Marley, for Christ sake. I have worn the finest leatherette and doused my body in the fancy body spray. I have deleted many comments and I am stickier than any of you will ever know- but I have never had the love of the media.
WHAT ABOUT ME? ----
Good work. Please claim authorship in the comments. Please note, no reimbursements for keyboards or monitors will be accepted at this time.
Thanks for writing in regarding the confidential information on robertcotesux.blogspot.com. In accordance with our Terms of Service (http://www.blogger.com/terms.g), we've completed processing your complaint. The content in question no longer appears on Blogspot.com.
Please let us know if we can assist you further.
Sincerely, The Blogger Team
Original Message Follows: ------------------------ From: Rob Dawg Subject: [#146800029] Child endangerment on blog Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 14:39:42 -0700 (PDT)
[#146800029] Child endangerment on blog
This is Robert Cote. Your continued stonewalling in the issue of robertcotesux.blogspot.com has placed my child in danger. If you had listened the first hundred times you got complaints about this blog you wouldn't currentlly be implicated in child endangerment. Do something now. ----
Of course the site is archived in dozens of places. I can only hope the Blogger Team understands the seriousness and now stops stonewalling on the identity of the perpetrator. What are the consequences for concealing the identity of a a child molester? I imagine there is someone somewhere getting a tad brown in the boxers about now.
While the rest of the finacial world is scratching its head or other body part Cerebrus has seen the future. That future? The legacy costs of large American companies will be Federalized. $7.4 billion for Chrysler now. Chrysler in 18 months with no healthcare and vastly reduced retirement obligations and a depreciated US dollar?
Thanks to the shout out about the CNET story concerning Casey and his haterz™. Here is the entirety of my replies from which the qoutes were excerpted:
Dean, You ask a lot of complex questions. I speak for myself, not the hundreds of people who actively participate in my blogosphere. Those of us who saw the bubble in housing prices caused by a liquidity glut in the credit markets exacerbated by untested financial instruments originally used Casey as a "poster child" for the things wrong in the larger picture. Over time and as more information came out Casey picked up many more critics for past present and future actions that were his alone. As a teen he attempted an email ponzi scam for but one example. And then came the drama. Soliciting "advise" and then doing the opposite being perhaps the most obvious behavioral defect in his various online personae. And that became another reason to criticize; his affectations. Finally it became sport. Everyone has an opinion and anyone can speculate. Is he mentally ill? Mentally feeble? Do his bizarre personal habits affect his judgement of vice versa? On and on. For many of us however Casey has become the eye of the storm not the storm itself. He continues to commit crimes and his site gets dozens of daily visits from various law enforcement agencies. He can't help himself anymore but why won't our public officals help us by intervening?
Casey has sought the spotlight and when he achieved it he couldn't hold on in the malestrom of his own creation. Thus dozens of blogs has spun off dissapating any fleeting opportunity he believes may have existed. He doesn't know it yet but IMO jail is an absolute certainty. The damage to the public trust and more important the re-electability of some law enforcers are now tied to his successful prosecution.
Casey has proven to be worse than immoral. Immoral people know right and wrong. Casey appears to be immune to social concepts like justice and fair play. That is a far more dangerous sociopathy.
Regards, Rob Dawg ----
Nigel Swaby is a failed mortgage broker that appears to be self destructing after tripping on Casey's coattails. There are about 8-10 anti-casey casual blogs. Exurban Nation is just the biggest and most well known. That said a careful read of EN will show that is not a Casey blog. He appears in approx 1/3rd of all posts and is still less than half even recently. As mentioned before Casey is but a reference poiint for EN. THere is much more we talk about and at a level very uncommon for an anonymous unregeistered unmoderated blog. You will also notice it is not monetized. I attempted Adsense but have since learned they don't want to pay, they don't pay. No appeal is ever accepted and no one has ever successfully challenged their contract terms.
EN is about housing, economics, land use, planning, transportation and technology. The binding thread is their interaction producing the current UScentric built environment. Please don't call EN a Casey blog unless you are willing to accept CNAT as nothing more than a 4th column of Microsoft lovers with seroius unresolved Macintosh envy.
Regards, Rob ----
CNET: Well, you may not be a "Casey blog" but I think it's fair to say you're an "anti-Serin blog."
Okay, yes. It leaks through that I resent the dimunition of public civility he generates. I am negatively affected by the costs of lending he necessitates. I am concerned that the immorality he exudes is contagious. ----
The really scary smartz™ people at Calculated Risk are usually far too classy for the likes of me but the other day I got fed up with all the euphisms and doubletalk surrounding the credit upheaval we are just entering. Anyway I suggested we make up a drinking game. How many people are of the right age (old enough) to remember "Hi, Bob" from college? Everytime someone on the Bob Newhart Show said those words you had to drink. Other acts of debauchery were associated with any number of other predictable acts. Problem is I played too much and can't remember much.
Okay, so what are the rulez™ and codewordz™? The one that got me started was "contagion" as in "The sub-prime contagion is contained." That deserves a single swallow don't you think? If that's the case what is required for the word "tsuami?" "Meltdown?" "Risk adjusted basis?"
[N.B. First person to suggest purging at any mention of David Learah gets dipped in AXE and thrown into the trunk of a BMW.]
Squeezed from the decks of ships solely crewed by manly men. $27.59 available at better pleather shops everywhere.
Update: Sales aren't going as well as hoped for Eau De Swabbo so now for a limited time Swabtard Industries has teamed up with Flailing International and brings you this amazing offer. Forget about Formulox. Get rid of your Propecia. And for the Olympiad's sake, throw away that spray-on hair. Try the new Swabco Scalp Algae System! Comes with everything you need to grow a colony of hairlike single-celled organisms on your forsaken cranium! You just add sun. Comes in three exciting colors: Modesto Green, Larchmont Lawn Brown, and Mormon White. Swabco Scalp Algae, good for you, good for the ladies, and good for the environment. Free with every bottle of Eau De Swabbo!
• My problem is I can't read German. • My problem is I am not a details person. • My problem is that I’m NOT used to having so many opportunities coming at me all at once. • My problem is I need to FOCUS.
Like most things in life I think we can offer better than Casey delivers:
• My problem is the murse has misaligned my spine causing me to leak chi and drip karma everywhere. • My problem is wheatgrass shots cost more than everything I own at the moment. • My problem is Galina isn't as dumb as I thought.
What some kind of secret haterz™ code? Nope, the reply count on Swabbo's flagship SLCRE blog for the last 9 posts. Seems that when you are sinking it is your long coattails that go under first.
Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed A poor Kansas farmer, barely kept his family fed, Then one day he was drillin' for some crude, And up through the ground came a subsidized food.
Corn that is, ethanol gold, Brazilian tea.
Well the first thing you know ol Jed's a etanol-aire, Kinfolk said "Jed move away from there" Said "Californy is the place you ought to be" So they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly.
Men's Journal tells us "power naps" are the best. Here we were haterz™ all toiling away at W-2s when we should have been curling up with a good... awww you fill in the rest. ;-) Good to see Galina has him on a leash as well.
How Long Is A Good Nap? THE NANO-NAP: 10 to 20 seconds Sleep studies haven't yet concluded whether there are benefits to these brief intervals, like when you nod off on someone's shoulder on the train. THE MICRO-NAP: two to five minutes Shown to be surprisingly effective at shedding sleepiness. THE MINI-NAP: five to 20 minutes Increases alertness, stamina, motor learning, and motor performance. THE ORIGINAL POWER NAP: 20 minutes Includes the benefits of the micro and the mini, but additionally improves muscle memory and clears the brain of useless built-up information, which helps with long-term memory (remembering facts, events, and names). THE LAZY MAN'S NAP: 50 to 90 minutes Includes slow-wave plus REM sleep; good for improving perceptual processing; also when the system is flooded with human growth hormone, great for repairing bones and muscles.
James Kunstler has an entertaining feature called Eysore Of The Month. EOTM highlights some of the stupidest examples of planning and artitecture besotting our fair lands. Like this one: What's funny is that it is a museum of human rights in Winnepeg. Why funny? Well something about the design nagged at me. Then it struck: See any resemblance?
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), Nov. 13, 1789.
It is interesting how often the entire quote is split up. Conservatives don't like the first part because it give life to the living document theory. Liberals don't like it because it criticizes the power of taxation.
But enough. It is Casey that is facing one of the inevitables. The Tax Man cometh.
Tom McClintock has another fight on his hands. This time a very good bill intended to explicitly outlaw property transfer fees has been hijacked to actually legalize the practice. Read about it and why it is important. An utterly insidious practice now spreading across California is the “private transfer fee.” It is a new invention of developers who want to build housing tracts, but are faced with hysterical opposition by the usual suspects...
[See Steph no scary she-hulks just scary politicans. Now it'a my turn to wake up in a cold sweat and feel for my wallet.]
Good for her. It isn't easy to man up but it seems she's headed in the right direction. Limits. Expectations. He won't do it, she will. But is she going to come out of this okay? California is not kind to joint debtors and with all the publicity it will be hard for her to turn on him or plead ignorance. We don't know enough to be judgemental. Nobody cheat and tell her about her FICO.
Actually just a new post to tell everybody to check out the StephPic.
May 10th, 2007 Advertise Become a sponsor by purchasing a link in the sidebar and get the following benefits:
Be seen by my 6,000 average daily visitors. Positioned “above fold” to be readily seen without (much) scrolling. Get all the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) benefits of a quality link from this PageRank 5 blog with Alexa rating of 49K. Piggy-back on ongoing mainstream media exposure and inbound links this blog receives. Benefit from this blog’s top ranking under popular terms. Example: “foreclosure”. Support my mission to turn this into a foreclosure help blog. Current price: $100 / mo + $25 one time setup fee.
Terms:
Month-to-month subscription via PayPal. Prices subject to change with 30 day notice. Cancel any time with a click of a button. I reserve the right to approve or reject your link for any reason. There is a limit of 10 link positions. After 10 positions have been filled, no more links will be accepted for that area. TO ORDER: Email me with your link text and URL. I will review the ad and send you a payment link. ----
I've gotten some interesting emails about this. Just when you think... awww you know the rest.
Update: That picture is just too boring. Here's a shark with a laser.
"Fortunately, the socialists now dominate only two of America’s major parties" - Vin Suprynowicz commenting on the sad state of US Immigration Enforcement.
What's the beef? Well contrary to what many people are assuming I dislike the current state of affairs because of the harm done in the donor countries for the meager to negative impacts here in the US.
Calm down. Casey is doing what any desperate animal would do. He's cornered and yapping and snarling. Off. On. Mysterious behavior. Sad. We all knew this was coming. We all knew that the worse things got the less Casey would talk about. The antennas are out. Nothing will escape the radar. Patience.
Subflation: Substandard growth. Sub Rosa inflation statistics. Subconcious subliterate populace. Subsequently; subsistence wages.
FOMC unchaged. IMO a lost opportunity. Not unexpected, just disappointed. M3 is out of control. Not just rising 11-13% but literally beyond out ability to manage the amount of money that spontaneously generates. M1 is actually down yet liquidity drowns us all. That said, we've got the makings of a percfect storm do we not? Subflation. Got a better word for what we are facing?
20. The number of months ago the downturn started. 19. The percentage drop in Toll Bros. revenue. 14. The percentage drop in contects written. 19. Latest cancellation rate (percent). 6. Cancellation rate 2006 (percent). 90 million to 130 million. Dollar writedowns this quarter. $320,000,000 Robert I. Toll equity extraction 2004-2005 Article at CNN Money. [With apologies to Harpers.]
The LATimes reports on one of those "what are they smoking?" stories.
76-story condo tower planned for downtown L.A. Developers plan a $1-billion L.A. complex. Doubters fear a glut. By Roger Vincent Times Staff Writer
May 8, 2007
Plans for a $1-billion high-rise condominium complex overlooking Pershing Square park in downtown Los Angeles were unveiled Monday by developers who expect to build the tallest residential building west of Chicago.
At 76 stories, the taller of two planned towers would dramatically alter the city's skyline and rival in height the U.S. Bank office skyscraper. The project, named Park Fifth, also calls for a 14-story five-star hotel. It will front on the park, as does the historic Biltmore Hotel catty-cornered to the planned development. ... The project would stand at the northeast corner of 5th and Olive streets on the site of the Philharmonic Auditorium, which was razed in the 1980s to make way for an office and hotel complex that was never built. The demand for offices collapsed in the early 1990s, and downtown has been burdened by an oversupply ever since. ----
Hey, there's an idea worth pursing. The rationale is that the market will be healthy again by the opening in 2010.
"Nigel's sites are so bad..." "How bad are they?" "Nigel's sites are so bad that posters put in their two cents and demand change back.
Alright not so funny. That's why I was hoping to hear you do better. I mean I feel like I loose intelligence just by visiting. It seems as if he visits real economics blogs and writes up the opposite for his commentary.
What? You didn't think the Title was going to be "Prince Charming" or "Goody Two Shoes" did you? Sure as hell wasn't gong to be "Stand and Deliver". Of course given the number of times it has been suggested and we are talking about Galina and her prospects there's always "Strip."
Alright, alright. Mrs. S has shown Mr. S the door to the abyss. Cripes, Casey is so stupid he thinks blogging about it is a good thing. We've all seen it. We can all read between the lines. I'm personally imaging the dinner scene in "The War of the Roses" but everyone is different. Wonder child has no way of surviving on the streets. Galina clearly has no idea of the magnitude. Clearly there have been a lot of lies on Casey's part.
Me, I'm going to listen to a little classic rock and maybe some upbeat jazz. Update: In light of Galina's new career path compatible with her creditwortiness the top picture has been change. Additionally since nigel has his knickers in a bunch and in the interests of our lovely lady readers a little equal time more to their liking.
190. Richard McBeef May 7th, 2007 at 12:53 pm Casey has been arrested and is awaiting transport at the Sacramento County Sheriffs way station in Elk Grove. I have a friend who is an officer (and a reader of this blog, no names please) he tipped me off this morning. Sounds like he’s getting hit with a Federal indictment and will be handed over to them later this evening.
Guess it had to catch up with him sometime. Goodnight funny man. :sadwave:
I want to believe in a semi-vegan way but hoax or no people are gonna talk so talk here.
There's a lot of confusion being deliberately sown over the ongoing debate pitting SMARTMode and SmUG. For those who don't have their Exurban Nation secret decoder ring handy SMARTMode is Standard Municipalities And Regular Transport Modalities. SmUG has enjoyed such a widespread acceptance it almost needs no explanation; Smart Urban Growth. Unfortunately the SmUGLers (Lovers) are the same would be ruling class social control freaks that have brought us 3 generations of failed built environment attempts to cure societal ills with forced living patterns.
Okay, enough general introduction. The idea has been repeated so often that it has aquired a patina of certitude: The Exurbs will suffer disproportionately in the post bubble housing market. Like all big ideas there's a kernel of truth that cannot be ignored. And like all big lies that kernel is twisted to a conclusion. First it is necessary to understand the issue of form exurb versus cenurb as separate from other factors such as energy, growth and demographics as well as decades long demographic trends. The places that will suffer the most are the recently high growth areas for but one issue. Wherever there has been recent large scale growth there will be more housing trouble. This is but one aspect that needs to be teased from the Exurb/Cenurb debate. But I need to hear some assertions. In the lead in thread "Four Horsemen" energy, commute times and similar characteristics were mentioned. Repeat them here but if you think the Exurbs are less energy efficient please expand by telling me why. The biggest problem in these discussions is getting past assertion to the facts. Thanks.
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth flipping, and to flip. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take equity from the earth, and that they should indebt one another: and there was given unto him a great line of credit. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and saw a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of granite countertop for a penny, and three measures of Pergo for a penny; and see thou hurt not the brushed nickel fixtures and the stainless appliances. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Recession, and Depression followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with easy credit, and with mortgages, and with HELOCs, and with the financiers of the earth.
So, unless there's any real news this is a good day to talk about larger issues than seat covers stained by cheap pleather jackets and such. In the que are discussions including a blog round up, a further explanation about why the exurbs won't suffer disproportionately contrary to expert opinion, the state of the urban density war and stupid transit facts.
And yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of debt I shall fear no foreclosure for liquidity and FICO are with me.
A theory. Having bought enough houses and refinanced many times personally it occured to me what might have happened to the "missing" Utah payment. When a new loan is originated there is a delay of one month before payment #1 is due. The wrap was probably structured like this. At the same time young real estate impressario Casey continued along with an existing loan, merely bringing it up to date. That month before the pass through payements started mean nothing to the existing loan. It's a theory. What's yours?
"Below the Crowd" went back and checked the status and as of Friday our own little Hammar Scammer™ is a corporation in good standing with the State of California. Ubber Alles Kalifornia.
Hammar and the IAFF post by btc: ---- 168. BelowTheCrowd May 5th, 2007 at 9:48 pm Hammar Investments appears to be active.
It often takes a while for the California Secretary of State website to update. As we all know, this is an aged corporation that Casey bought and presumably had to have reactivated. I suspect the reactivation paperwork and fees took a while.
Corporation HAMMAR INVESTMENTS, INC. Number: C2556789 Date Filed: 9/10/2003 Status: active Jurisdiction: California
Address 3636 AUBURN BLVD SACRAMENTO, CA 95821
Agent for Service of Process CASEY SERIN 3636 AUBURN BLVD SACRAMENTO, CA 95821
Of course, he could have created a new corp for about $150 and it would be no less creditworthy than his current one.
Update:Back by popular demand. Nigel started this. You get to finish it. Go wild. Oh and if it isn't funny enough to please me I'm going back and posting the picture the google images with safe search off brings up as the number one hit for "ugly pleather." I'm gonna need therapy for that one.
Hey early rizerz™! Saturday, no 7:00AM post for you. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." - Ralph Waldo Emerson. Instead it is time to collect some lose endz™. • Should we consider paying Yulia to keep us updated should Casey go "under the radar?" Or under cover? Or up the river? Etc? • Should we start "dead poolz™"? How long before IAFF next goes dark? What is the next chapter? Etc? • What lose endz™ are still nagging you?
Special mursti-fursties for the significance of the picture and heading. This is such a smart group that it is really tough to sneak something subtle past but I think it'll be a bit before anyone figures it out.
One of my favorite sub-genre's of Science Fiction is the Future History. Some are the great works in Literature not just the field. What if Charlemange had not been ambushed? If Alexander had turned from India? Chamberlin hadn't studied Maceadonian wheeling tactics? Daley hadn't delivered Illinois? Fascinating stuff. IMO tells us more about who were are than real history which is encrusted with inconvienient facts.
"[Casey]'s right, you are haterz. Not because you dislike him, but because you dislike him for any small amount of success he may have."
I do not, in any way, wish failure upon Casey. Any legitimate success on his part would go a long way to dissapating any lingering negativity. Any inkling of maturity or responsibility on his part would be met with cheers and probably support. One aspect that makes watching so addictive is his ability to choose the one of an infinite number of paths that results in worst case outcomes. Not content to merely fail spectacularly and publically, Casey is compelled to pursue even illegal means of failing. I mean, come on. If he had straight up chosen to be the full on very best criminal he could be the world would be a better place. Last April he would have closed on 8 houses, rented them out at the very lowest rates, never made a payment, never gutted the properties, never continued to spend on education, never have wasted time or money on trying to fix everything in the aftermath. The results? Casey would have $100-$150k squirreled away to work with. Dozens of people would have been living in affordable housing for many months. The banks, acting sooner, would have long since disposed of the properties.
I’m talking out my story with all the juicy details and recording everything as it comes. This “brain dump” then goes to the transcriber to be converted to text. Then we massage and edit the text. It’s a fun process and not as hard as I thought.
I went back and forth on writing this foreclosure book. At this point I’m going full speed ahead.
Questions, questions. Where to start? Most of my questions revolve around two general ideas. Who researched the potential sales numbers? Two does the publisher have any idea of the potential litigation?
I'm sure you all have your own questions. He won't answer but the EN community surely will and our answers will be far more entertaining.
Stephanie J posits that Tahoe was the nearest "skillz based" gambling place Casey could think of and that he went there to to bet whatever was left of his 1.3million shares of that worthless stock on "00". He has the personality for it. He is the type to believe in deus ex machina. Now wait, I didn't say he was either intelligent or educated enough to know about deus ex machina just that he was suseptible. Much like you can die of infection without a degree in biology. He was up, he could do no wrong, he bet the farm.
By popular demand a top level post to talk about the latest. Several of us, including me are forbidden so whomsoever has the post, put it up. [no graphic until I can get the context]
...and not a damn new thing, not even any interesting old things. I feel like I'm shopping a yard sale after all the good stuff is gone. I know, I know "itsallgood" but the flake drives from Sacto to Tahoe only to waste 2 hrs plus driving and 2 hrs talking to a publisher and 5 hrs screwing up a canned wordpress plug-in. I'm sick of the hors de'ouvres bring on the tartare.
I was sitting in my basement. I just rolled myself a taste Of something green and gold and glorious To get me through the day. Then my friend yelled through the transom "Grab your coat and get your hat son, There's a nut down on the corner, Givin' dollar bills away" But I laid around a bit Then I had another hit. Then I rolled myself a bomber. Then I thought about my mama. Then I fooled around, played around jacked around a while and then I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and it rolled right by. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned... oh me... oh my.
It took seven months of urgin' Just to get that local virgin With the sweet face Up to my place To fool around a bit. Next day she woke up rosy, And she snuggled up so cozy. When she asked me how I liked it, Lord it hurts me to admit, I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and it rolled right by. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned... oh me... oh my. I'm makin' no excuses
For the many things I uses Just to sweeten up my relationships And brighten up my day. When my earthly race is over And I'm ready for the clover And they ask me how my life has been I guess I'll have to say, I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and it rolled right by. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned and I missed it. I got stoned... oh me... oh my.
Words & Music by Shel Silverstein and George Cummings
I have no idea what this has to do with anything but then my hold on what you so called normals try to pawn off on us special snowflakes as reality never was very convincing anyway. Since no one thought the last topic was funny perhaps this one will tickle your funny bone.
This mini-vacation stuff is great. My creative juices are flowing more freely than my rectum after a double wheatgrass enema. Anyway enough about recreational diversions. Big things are happening here at Exurban Nation and I want you all to be the furst/murst whatever to hear. As of now if you donated to my tip jar you'll be able to post instantly. Yes, that's right, instantly. Now this isn't easy so I have to ask you be patient as I get the bugs worked out. I don't have the same mad skillz that some do. So, there it is; donante, here, here, here or here and you'll be able to comment without any delays. Oh and as a special contest anyone who can expalin the graphic or post heading gets to post immediately for FREE. Yes, Free!
ABC News is reports that a train carrying two SRBs for the Space Shuttle has plunged into an Alabama swamp. Understand, these are the same SRBs that doomed the Columbia. SRBs are made in segments not for technical reasons but in spite of technical reasons. In a porkbarrel deal the prefered design of a single composite wound SRB was rejected in favor of the cast ring segments and infamous O-Ring design because it steered the contracts to favored manufacturers and favored transport modes (trains).
It's no secret I have a very low opinion of the planning profession. So low that I bristle at using the word profession. Astrologers are not astronomers. But sometimes the blind squirrel gets a nut and this is such a case. The American Planning Association has this article from 2003:
When the Bubble Bursts Good news: Housing doesn't necessarily behave like the stock market. By Corey Cox, AICP In 1987, economist Kenicihi Ohmae stood on a Tokyo street corner with an American television reporter. Ohme placed a white handkerchief on the sidewalk. "Right here, we're standing over the most expensive residential area in Tokyo," Ohmae said. A square foot of property smaller than his hankie was worth $22,000. Fifteen years later, the same square foot had dropped in value by nearly 60 percent. ... A housing bubble takes place when housing prices are pushed higher than an area's economy can adequately sustain. ... Some experts think there is a disconnect between the overall economy and housing prices. They worry that another bubble, like the one in the technology sector, is in the offing. The tech bubble preceded the stock market downturn that wiped out $7 trillion in investor wealth.
Almost the entire article is highly recommended. "Almost" because like all would-be social architects the APA fells compelled to slip in a little agenda vice affordable housing.
Business trip? Yeah right. Business Fraud is more like it. Sorry, I was sleeping. Yes, even the Dawg needs to close his eyes occassionally. And see what happens? Casey's bipolar slams so hard upcycle that reality can no longer contain him. When will th various law enforcement agencies that monitor this and his blogs step up and protect us?
http://www.hfmgv.org/dymaxion/I met R. Buckminster Fuller shortly sometime his passing at an MIT confab. Imagine building housing the way Toyota builds cars today rather tham the way Daimler built cars in 1897.
Casey: I have to come up with 2 months of rent money plus May’s payment by tomorrow [May 1st]. And there is even talk of pre-paying 2 months in advance if we are to stay here. Even though I don’t think my sister-in-law is going to kick me out, there is always that chance.
Translation: Pay up AND get out or pay up and pre-pay to stay.
What say ye? How will this chapter play out? I'm betting that he begs a few more days because of the V-Dubbs "crisis."
Gov’s move may delay Mass. foreclosures By Scott Van Voorhis
Massachusetts has effectively become the first state in the nation to put a moratorium on foreclosures in the wake of a groundbreaking announcement by Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday, a top housing activist contends. Patrick ordered state banking regulators to seek delays of up to two months in foreclosure proceedings against homeowners who have filed complaints with the Division of Banks.
Why not repeal all this pesky gravity stuff while you are at it? Jeeez. Points for figuring out the choice of graphic.
Housing Bubble, credit bubble, public planning, land use, zoning and transportation in the exurban environment. Specific criticism of smart growth, neotradtional, forms based, new urbanism and other top down planner schemes to increase urban extent and density. Ventura County, California specific examples.
About Me
Name: Rob Dawg
Location: Ventura County, (that's in SoCal), United States
To all who have been so very generous; THANK YOU. I am humbled by the response. We are nearing enough to "do thy will" and "do some good." This is the shameless Tip Jar wherein money to move EN to a permanent home may be deposited.
I make no secret that I am what was called in my native New England; frugal. Don't bother, I've heard all the synonyms. Anyway, yesterday was half-price day at the thrift store so I went to buy some polo shirts for $3.49-$0.50. As I was shopping they brought out some more junk. I got a few things. 
A Canon D60 body w/1Gb microdrive, a Canon 70-300 IS long lens, a Speedlite 420EZ sunpak and a Tamron 28-300 AF macro lens. $42. 
So, did I get a deal?
