Reporter: 1.2 million homes have gone into foreclosure in just the past year and a half, and of course, for each individual family it is a huge deal. It’s devastating, but it also devastates the market and the neighborhoods that surround it. So we are joined now by John Adams. He is a real estate broker, a radio host and a columnist here in Atlanta. He talks all things real estate. So let’s get right into that. We see these foreclosure numbers that are inching up every month, and then we’re also seeing what’s happening in these neighborhoods. An empty house…
John: It’s bad.
Reporter: … is a bad thing. There’s no question about it.
John: Reggie, I think it’s important we recognize, as Christine said, it is a tragedy for each individual family, but it’s broader than that. When the house is empty, it tends to attract vagrants, it attracts crime, the bank takes the house back, they’re losing money on a daily basis, the house goes into disrepair often, the air conditioning is…the air conditioning compressor is stolen, the…in many cases the actual copper wiring is ripped out of the walls, so the house loses value on an ongoing basis, and this is a problem for the neighborhood. Who wants to buy a house in a neighborhood where there are homes like this out there, and there’s nobody to buy these houses, because each represents a major construction project. So it’s a wow gold,
Reporter: And you say that it’s time for the government to step in and to start offering incentives, left and right, to get
John: Well, I think the President’s housing initiative has some good first steps. The loan refinancing, for those that can afford it, the loan modification for people in imminent danger of foreclosure. The $8,000 tax credit was a good first step, but I agree with Senator Johnny Isakson who said that, “…housing led us into this recession; housing is gonna lead us out.” I’d like to see a $20,000 federal tax credit for anybody who buys a foreclosed home. I’d like to see financing made available for investors who are willing to take on … buy wow gold,
These are major renovations; it’s not just paint and carpet, Reggie. Somebody’s gotta go in there and spend $15,000 to $20,000 to restore this house to livable status, and then either put tenants in it or sell it, and in this marketplace, selling is tough, so more than likely this home will have to be rented.
Reporter: Alright, so let’s talk about renting, because there are a lot of people out there who say, “Look, it might not be time for you to buy at all, or maybe you’re just not a home-owner. Maybe this is going to be a renting life that you’re going cheap wow gold,
John: Well, not at all, and I think this represents a change from multiple administration policy for the last 20 years, where we had this idea that we have to put every American into a position of home ownership.
Reporter: Hmm-hmm.
John: Right now about 30% of American households rent, and as we try to move higher than that 70% ownership figure, each percentage point is much more difficult to achieve. And we now can look back and say that in the early 2000, or 2001, 2002, we were making loans to people who, quite frankly, shouldn’t have been buying if they weren’t ready. And I think the return to stricter underwriting guidelines makes sense, and I think some people, we need to recognize, simply value the flexibility of renting; it gives them the opportunity to make a decision to move. Some people, particularly young people, shouldn’t be pushed into home ownership. If you buy a condo for example in Atlanta, Georgia, right now, and within a year or two you’re transferred or you take a job somewhere else, you may have a great difficulty selling that condo in this market.  world of warcraft gold,