    I’m no economist… but I am a strong advocate of free markets and responsibilty for the choices we make in our lives. The Wall Street Journal published a commentary today titled Fannie, Freddie and the Housing Bust that sums up the situation we face with the housing market, mortgage lenders and the government’s role. I don’t disagree with the long-term value of Mr. Penner’s comments below, but let’s be honest… the question most of us have is “How is this going to affect ME?” From the many economic commentaries I read … the end result ain’t going to be pretty. Mr. Penner’s comments may be the Fed’s approach over time as well, yet the real result of this “healthy correction” may then be a tumultuous roll to recession with many long years before we recover. Hence, I think dividend paying stocks and dividend-based funds are an increasingly essential part of any long-term portfolio in this climate, ideally in tax-advantaged accounts.Â
“The current crisis is the result of the normal ebb and flows of credit cycles, and the free market will amply handle the correction that is already happening. Calls for Federal Reserve intervention or for other governmental involvement — including an increase of the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac lending limits — must be rejected.”
“In the free market, those that made bad credit decisions must be allowed to pay the price, and only by paying dearly can lessons truly be learned. Borrowers who were unwitting and took on too much debt must learn that there are consequences for their actions. Homebuilders that built too many homes or overpaid for land need to face the consequences. Wall Street firms that provided credit to all of these activities with too much laxity must also pay a price. This is all part of a healthy correction.”
“All of these players reaped benefits during the housing boom that preceded the current crisis. Certain homeowners were able to temporarily live above their means. Homebuilder and bank profits have been exorbitant, and shareholders and executives of these companies have profited mightily in the boom. To not permit losses now would be a direct violation of the free-market ideals at the foundation of our economy.”
Mr. Penner is a principal with the firm Lubert-Adler and is the managing partner of PGP, a real-estate investment firm. In the 1990s, as CEO of Nomura Capital, he helped pioneer the application of securitization technology to real-estate finance.
© Wall Street Journal, August 16th, 2007
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