John Hoyle – Web Design and Consulting

It’s Tuesday and election day in Pennsylvania. Today might mark the beginning of a “new beginning,” or it may be just the beginning of another major political disappointment. The winner of the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary could turn out to be this country’s last hope for a major turnaround from the course this country has been taken under the leadership of George W. Bush.

We’ve been watching several documentaries that cover the events that led up to the Iraq War and the oil crisis. It’s eerie that there is so much information and documentation that proves that there is a relationship between the country going broke paying for a war none of us want to be in – and the growing wealth of the oil companies and their management. Yet the media, namely large newspapers and TV networks, are basically ignoring the situation and nothing is being done by the Justice Department to stop this pilfering of the public treasury.

Follow the money: Bush = oil and energy; Cheney = Halliburton and defense contractors.

For my part, I can only hope that either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton actually follow through on their promises and get us out of the war, improve the economy, restructure the medical insurance industry, and actively promote and finance stem cell research. Based on past history, I would put my money and my vote on Obama. Senator Clinton has already proven that she has past ties to big money and influential corporate lobbyists. For me, having Bill back in the White House is also a scary thought.

My wish is for truth in advertising from the candidates and for the winner of the election to actually do what has been promised. But in America, there is always the old fallbacks: It’s not the President’s fault because Congress wouldn’t vote for it or the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional. Sorry folks – but in spite of all the promises that were made, you’ve likely been scammed again.

Feel free to register and login and comment. I’d love to know what my friends and family think of this whole election process and what they forecast for the future.

Over the past few weeks I’ve added some new links to other sites of mine.  Today I’ve added a link to my brother’s new “business card” page hosted by Indymac Bank. Denny is a home loan consultant for Indymac in Orange County, California.

Denny and I frequently chat about the state of real estate throughout the country, but especially in Southern California where he owns a very nice home and I manage a rental property.  In spite of the doom and gloom that surrounds the real estate and banking industries right now, Denny is pretty upbeat and feels that homeowners with a good property and a decent loan will pull through just fine.

Unlike many loan brokers and bank loan officers, Denny is fortunate, thanks to his relationship with Indymac Bank and his other industry contacts, to still have access to a wide range of loan products for almost any home owner or buyer.  He can handle basic conforming home loans, “jumbos” and “super jumbos,”  and even reverse mortgages for old folks like me.  He can also serve clients in most other states.

Now that interest rates are about as low as they have ever been, Denny feels that anyone that has a loan with an interest rate over 6.50%, whether fixed or an adjustable, should consider refinancing soon.  There is actually plenty of money available, and lenders like Indymac Bank really do want to help you get a better loan.  But you need someone who knows how to package your loan file to get it past the much tougher underwriting guidelines that now exist – and Denny is certainly one of the best when it comes to pulling together a quality loan application.

I know he’s my brother, and I probably shouldn’t be bragging about him like this on my blog, but he really is one of the best brokers I’ve ever known in the home loan industry.  He’s been in the lending industry for well over twenty years and has survived and prospered through several real estate booms and busts.  When it comes to mortgages and equity loans, Denny is definitely my hero.

Oh yes, and I think Denny is a pretty cool guy in lots of other ways too!