David J. White

Wow Mike, that's bordering on the ridiculously uninformed! Who do you know in our area that's ever "given money" to KB, Lennar, or Centex? In fact, who's given money to any of the sellers you represent? Sure, Centex built Fusion, but I'm pretty sure no one gave them money. I'm quite sure that no homebuyers gave them money, and I'm nearly certain that the state didn't give them any money. They are simply private sector businesses who actually pay taxes to the state on their earnings. Say, Catalist represents sellers in the private sector too; does anyone give them money? Maybe you should ask them? As a homeowner, taxpayer, local developer, and well informed, full-service Realtor, I'd encourage you to act on your shame and settle somewhere that isn't in need of some serious tax relief right now. But first, I would have to think that a few buyers out there could use a little tax relief to help them buy homes from your sellers right now. If not, send 'em both over. David White South Bay Brokers, Inc. Manhattan Beach, CA

Tom, this is a really smart proposal. As a banker and later a financial services strategy consultant years ago, we worked hard to cultivate new relationships and retain the ones we had. The wisdom of that model seems to be lost on today's large mortgage lenders. Of course much of this results from the disconnect between lenders and ultimate investors. Still, many a loan is still serviced by an arm of its originator, though the underlying asset has been sold. Where have their bright marketers and relationship managers gone? A financially enlightened self interest would certainly justify sensible retention efforts directed toward of their mortgage borrowing clientele.

Would that our Citizen of the World in Chief will see this brilliant, unbiased research and move straight to #1 without delay, stopping only briefly in #6 to shield his assets from the incentive-killing, initiative-sapping taxation for which his ultimate destination is well known. Far better a solution than continuing to bully our entire country into going there against its will (save the odd romantic vacation). Alas, #1 has high housing prices, sustained not by growth in the French economy or by a growth in market (non-union) wages, or even by romance itself, but by - - you guessed it - - rampant tax-funded housing subsidies! This despite structurally high unemployment, production costs, and budget deficits. No bias in that research at all; let's renew those passports and jump the Pond!