I was just on Yahoo's home page and saw an ad for Countrywide... But yesterday I heard on the radio that they're asking for ANOTHER $2bil after Bank of America already invested the same amount.
Are they still making mortgages? How? Why? I'm so confused!!!
2007-09-12 03:27:22 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
no, no, i'm not looking for "insider" information. I was just starting to learn about finantial stuff (mortgages, stocks, savings, etc) and then all this happened. I had been wondering how long it would be before I could buy a house someday, and then all this "credit crunch" stuff started happening so now I guess it'll be a lot farther away. But in the meantime, I'm just curious about how all this stuff works... and I thought I'd figured out that Countrywide was pretty much in Limbo, but then I saw that ad....
2007-09-12 03:46:21 · update #1
Bdancer:
I thought for mortgage companies, though, it was the opposite. Advertising brings in business, but that business results in them loaning out money that they won't have immediate return on, and if they're looking for 2B right now, why would they be motivated to pay for advertising which will result in their coffers being even more empty?
2007-09-12 03:48:37 · update #2
Countrywide needs to create new loans to cover the losses they've already suffered on the past ones.
The infusion of cash allows Countrywide to funds these new loans. These loans are then bundled up as securities that they sell to other investors. The proceeds of those sold securities would then be used to fund more new loans, as well as cover their losses. They need to create a lot of business to turn over that money, hence the ads to drum up new business. I'm a Countrywide accountholder and they've been sending a lot of notices and making a lot of phonecalls to refi my mortgages.
Problem is: a lot of homeowners are not prime customers (credit, home values) for these new loans, so Countrywide has to make a decision as to how much subprime stuff they can offer to create new loans, the same issue that has put them in trouble in the first place. They can't create a lot of junk because investors won't get fooled again into buying them.
Besides, I already have a 30yr fixed-rate with a better interest rate than what's out there now, so there's no reason for me to refi.
2007-09-12 04:13:06 · answer #1 · answered by CMass Stan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just be careful. I have friends in the mortgage industry, and everything is up in the air, even conventional loan companies are not sure what is going on. Unless you absolutely need to buy or sell, stay put for now until the dust settles.
2007-09-12 04:02:19 · answer #2 · answered by Steveo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
personally i havn't invested in "countrywide"..in a long time..and prefer "bank of america"
small banks are bought out all the time..the loans..are taken over by the new company..
in the fine print of your "finance" it states..the lending company (eg Countrywide) can sell your finance agreement at any time with no charge to you but you will get a notice that you have a new company.
is this what your asking or for an "insider" for trading on the stock position??? personally i havn't traded in "countrywide" in years....and gone with the better "dividend " paying finance /banks..
2007-09-12 03:35:53 · answer #3 · answered by m2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're asking for more money because they are still in business. Why wouldn't they still be advertising? I understand they have a lot of mortgages in the works and need the cashflow.
Rumor is that they were about to file bankruptcy but apparently investors still are willing to fork over money.
2007-09-12 03:34:44 · answer #4 · answered by bdancer222 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just saw one of their TV commercials and at the end the audio dropped out as if they had to edit what the spokesperson was saying. At first I thought it was just a technical problem but I've seen it several times since and the same thing happened...strange they wouldn't have just pulled the commercial entirely...must be strapped for cash.
2007-09-12 03:36:37 · answer #5 · answered by Haggis 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's all funny money. While they are having difficulties, Bank of America has and probably will continue to infuse them with money. Bank of America is getting what they want in return. This all part of the shake out in the industry.
2007-09-12 03:33:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just read in Business Week that they are cutting their workforce by 12,000 people. HHmmm, imagine getting 2Bil to help you out then a few weeks later cutting your workforce by 12k people! WOW!!! Must be pretty bad for them. BoA set themselves up to make a cheap purchase!
Who wants odds that we hear the merger in 3-6months?
2007-09-12 04:04:06 · answer #7 · answered by Mark S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are still making mortgages. I am doing wholesale loans with them. They can, they are just using the money for admin and for saving the houses they have, etc.
2007-09-12 06:27:53 · answer #8 · answered by healthspot_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just keep away from this company if they are in the red by this much. They are laying-off many workers which means they probably are starting to sell their contracts.
2007-09-12 03:32:46 · answer #9 · answered by anaise 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds weird
2016-07-30 03:01:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋