[GregWeld]

BTW -- I'm not ragging on anyone -- nor pointing fingers -- nor trying to show anyone is better or smarter.

I'm merely stating what I "see", and feel, to be the facts.

We (wife and I) sit on several boards.... some have finance issues - most do not. I'm a "lender" and an angel investor on a personal basis. I can tell you that I'm hit every day with, "invest in my great game changing idea" - and, "I just need some help" - and, my personal favorite line, "I don't really need to but....."

Had I been really smart -- I would have shorted all the home builders to zero... because the people that I hang with all saw this coming. None of us (and admittedly we're on the older side) could understand why financial institutions were lending to the LEAST credit worthy folks (those with no downs) and giving them the "best" (lowest) rates. I knew then as I know now - that isn't going to work. In my life - the least credit worthy didn't qualify for loans - and the "on the edge ones" got little credit and PAID A PREMIUM rate.... only the most credit worthy got the Prime plus rates...

When you see credit issued to those that deserve and EARN it... things will return to normal. I also agree with Dave (Flash) when he says the pendulum tends to swing too far to one side on both sides. That is what we're seeing now, but if you have good (top tier) credit - you can get it without too much hassle. What's too much -- is open for debate... but expect to actually have to PROVE that you can pay it back.