I hate when my economy melts down Alice Mercer cc licensed except iStockphotos where noted http://flickr.com/photos/zesmerelda/451715214/

What the heck happened? From http://www.istockphoto.com/

Money goes looking for a home In the aftermath of various bubbles in the 1990s, there was a lot of money in the “market” looking for an investment with high yields and low risk. Instead, it ended up being money in search of a bubble to invest in.

In the aftermath of various bubbles in the 1990s, there was a lot of money in the “market” looking for an investment with high yields and low risk.

Instead, it ended up being money in search of a bubble to invest in.

The new home for those $s... … your home (or your neighbors). From http://www.istockphoto.com/

The Rule they ignored…

Pile in markets! http://flickr.com/photos/define23/2610038054/

More money, more money… Source: NYT ( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/business/11mortgage.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink) and S&P Press Release (http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/index/CSHomePrice_Release_082653.pdf)

“ Who turns down money?” said the home buyer/owner From http://www.istockphoto.com/

“ Hey, they can refi in a few years, and ARMs give me a better commission, besides I’m not carrying it.” said the Mortgage Broker From http://www.istockphoto.com/

“ Hmmm, I think I have an idea!” s aid the Investment Banker Hmm, didn’t they try that here? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_term_capital_management We could reduce risk, by spreading it all around. Complexity is good! From http://www.istockphoto.com

Slice ‘em up http://flickr.com/photos/cayusa/2173546553/

Re-package ‘em

and build a giant house of cards… out of housing http://flickr.com/photos/tjflex/1347490869/in/photostream/

Does anyone like the SOB who bets against the shooter in craps? “ Any number of speculators, who do not own the original security, can place side bets on whether that security defaults.” WaPo http://tinyurl.com/3kotw9 From http://www.istockphoto.com

This isn’t heading anywhere good Source : Bureau of Economic Analysis via Sequoia Capital (http://tinyurl.com/3ttyng)

But I can’t pay the mortgage! Data from WaPo http://tinyurl.com/3kotw9 and FRB “ Normal” level All Mortgages Sub Prime Mortgages

Securitization brings multiple creditors with multiple “approaches” to renegotiating loans Hey, I’m in an ‘A’ rate tranche, I don’t have to make a deal I’ll take the risk! I got this cruddy MBS didn’t I? I have no idea what to do, or why I bought this lousy bond in the first place Talk to my lawyer! baaah We want our money! From http://www.istockphoto.com/

The loans become “road kill” http://flickr.com/photos/suzanneandsimon/1829577294/

The Mortgage Backed Securities became cow patties http://flickr.com/photos/jganderson/2387722255/

And the derivatives that were supposed to insure the whole thing are radioactive http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Nagasakibomb.jpg

The Risks of Large Complex Systems (Benoît) Mandelbrot…looking at how markets trended…discovered …tail risk…the possibility of extreme events is higher than any of the standard models predict… -- Yves Smith on Bloggingheads http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14850 Photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Toppledominos.jpg#filelinks

(Benoît) Mandelbrot…looking at how markets trended…discovered …tail risk…the possibility of extreme events is higher than any of the standard models predict… -- Yves Smith on Bloggingheads http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/14850