Carey's Blog

When I'm wrong, I usually don't mind to admit it (well, except when I have to admit it to my significant other). So, I'll admit it: I was wrong. With foreclosures soaring and home prices falling, I was sure that rental rates in Orange County would be going through the roof as opportunistic real e...

You've been hearing a lot about them lately, but do you actually know what a reverse mortgage is? The reverse mortgage works very similarly to a negative amoritzation loan, where instead of paying down the principal as with a traditional loan, a balance is actually added monthly to the principal....

In John Mauldin's ever-educational newsletter this week, Mauldin delves into that wonderful old adage that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. Taking into consideration GDP, there may be some truth to the saying. Whether the US is officially in a recession is debatable: it...

Bo Hussung today posted about a common thread of positivity in the majority of his posts since joining Active Rain, and it reminded me of a local phenomenon called Laughter Yoga. If you have a couple minutes and need an excuse to laugh, watch this video, and then get laughing! It's a great way to...

Michael Phelps won his tenth and eleventh career gold medals last night, making him the most successful Olympian so far. Just one more medal and he'll beat the record for most medals won in one Games. Congratulations, Michael! I haven't really been following the Olympics or Phelps-mania, besides...

There's something very comforting about Ben Bernanke (Federal Reserve Chairman). I don't know what it is, but he seems to have the face of a really nice uncle or grandpa who's always there for you, steady as a rock. I read today that the year over year CPI (consumer price index, an important meas...

We all know that the American dollar is having a bit of a breakdown right now. This time last year, you could buy a euro for about $1.34. To buy that same euro today will cost you $1.49. One result of this slide, as reported in the BBC today, is that some American shop owners are starting to hedg...

According to Fannie Mae CEO Dan Mudd, the company is trekking its way steadily through the "99th year of a 100 year storm." Although housing prices are still declining in many areas of the US, Fannie Mae is forecasting that the cost of weathering the credit crisis will peak within the year. The f...

Another blogger today posted on the various random "holidays" that take place in the next few months. Did you know that last Tuesday was watermelon day? And that there's a national cookie day? And that all of October is dedicated to celebrating vegetarianism? Since August is Eye Exam Month (?!?),...

There are two great reasons why this is a wonderful Friday for me (Cyara): 1. Last night at 9:02 pm, I walked out of what is officially my last classroom experience in the quest to receive a bachelor's degree in business. What a surreal -- but excellent!!! -- feeling!  I actually already walked i...