Author Archives: Patrick Butterfield

About Patrick Butterfield

He's no fan of Realtors. As a group, that is. Or politicans. Or most economists. Himself, he's a sagittarius, a free-thinker, and a libertarian. He's built a comfortable lifestyle through success with varius investments. He is worried for this Country: the effects of a 30 years or so of living beyond our means are starting to be felt. Attitudes towards debt and spending are changing, perhaps for a generation. Large, structural changes will take place as our economic infrastructure adapts to this new normal. The time is now to be present and to be involved.

The College Debt Trap

Posted on August 10, 2010 by Patrick Butterfield

With only 40% of student debt being actively paid back, this problem is growing worse quickly. Bankruptcy laws need to be changed immediately. Banks and colleges would drastically scale back lending, which is a good thing. College demand would drop, and colleges would be forced to live within realistic means again. Continue reading →

Posted in Banking and Finance, Fresh Perspectives, Social Mood Swings | Tagged Bankruptcies, Consumer Debt, Student Loans | Leave a comment

Renting is Back in Style

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Patrick Butterfield

David Neithercut, chief executive of Equity Residential, the nation’s largest landlord, has noticed this “psychology change” in consumers. Continue reading →

Posted in Social Mood Swings | Tagged Renting | Leave a comment

Foreclosure Goes Hollywood

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Patrick Butterfield

Foreclosure is the story of a broken family striving to stay together while a curse and the ghosts of a haunted house try to tear them apart. Continue reading →

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Social Mood Swings | Tagged Foreclosures, Movies | Leave a comment

Too Pig to Fail

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Patrick Butterfield
Posted in Banking and Finance | Tagged Humor, Lobbying | Leave a comment

41 Percent of borrowers would strategically default

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Patrick Butterfield

This story is somehow being spun as a positive in other places…that 59 percent of borrowers say they wouldn’t default…but the real story is that a huge number, 41 percent, would. Continue reading →

Posted in Banking and Finance, Fresh Perspectives, Home Economics, Social Mood Swings | Tagged negative equity, Strategic Defaults, Underwater Borrowers | Leave a comment