Since the real estate bubble burst in 2007, many people have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. As a result, banks and financial firms have seen profits decline as short sales and foreclosures pile up. Five years later, the country is still feeling the effects of the bubble burst. About 28% of all single-family homes with a mortgage in the United States are now underwater, with U.S. home prices down nearly 33% from where they were during the peak of the housing bubble, real estate intelligence firm Zillow… Read More

Since the real estate bubble burst in 2007, many people have fallen behind on their mortgage payments. As a result, banks and financial firms have seen profits decline as short sales and foreclosures pile up. Five years later, the country is still feeling the effects of the bubble burst. About 28% of all single-family homes with a mortgage in the United States are now underwater, with U.S. home prices down nearly 33% from where they were during the peak of the housing bubble, real estate intelligence firm Zillow Inc. (Nasdaq: Z) reports.#-ad_banner-# As a whole, the U.S. housing market lost nearly $6.3 trillion in value since the housing crisis first began. This lost value has hit homeowners and lenders equally hard. Historically, the percentage of residential mortgages in foreclosure in the United States hovered between 1 and 1.5%. Today, it is up about 4.5%. Foreclosure filings in the United States are projected to keep increasing for the next few years, according to RealtyTrac, an online database of foreclosures, auction and bank-owned homes. To make… Read More

Now that President Barack Obama has been reelected, many fear his vision of big-government planning, spending and taxing. But what is so bad about big government anyway? #-ad_banner-# The problem is, with a growing government comes growing expenses. And these days the United States is sitting on the edge of a much-talked-about “fiscal cliff” that could make a huge dent on its financial status. Simply put, the country can’t afford to keep spending like it has.    But not all is lost: This major disconnect could mean a tremendous opportunity for savvy… Read More

Now that President Barack Obama has been reelected, many fear his vision of big-government planning, spending and taxing. But what is so bad about big government anyway? #-ad_banner-# The problem is, with a growing government comes growing expenses. And these days the United States is sitting on the edge of a much-talked-about “fiscal cliff” that could make a huge dent on its financial status. Simply put, the country can’t afford to keep spending like it has.    But not all is lost: This major disconnect could mean a tremendous opportunity for savvy investors to make at least a 40% return.   You don’t have to go too far If you look closely at state and local government budgets, then you’ll see how their problems only get worse. Though state tax revenue is picking up, mandated spending obligations and reduced federal stimulus are placing a heavy burden on budgets.    Imagine the size of the hole in the pockets of these local governments during the past few years as they incurred less revenue from lower property values, and endured cutbacks in federal and state aid. In addition, some states have seen a mass… Read More

Have you ever been traveling somewhere and opted for a scenic route to make your trip more enjoyable? Many of the world’s savviest investors also travel a different path in an effort to avoid a lackluster performance in their investments.#-ad_banner-# Because they are willing to go off the beaten path in the quest for superior returns, they follow a different set of rules. That’s why many of these investors want to get paid two ways — with capital appreciation (buy low, sell high) and… Read More

Have you ever been traveling somewhere and opted for a scenic route to make your trip more enjoyable? Many of the world’s savviest investors also travel a different path in an effort to avoid a lackluster performance in their investments.#-ad_banner-# Because they are willing to go off the beaten path in the quest for superior returns, they follow a different set of rules. That’s why many of these investors want to get paid two ways — with capital appreciation (buy low, sell high) and cash flow (dividends). To accomplish this, they often seek out investment opportunities few know about. We at StreetAuthority like to call these kinds of investments “Secret Wealth Investments.“ These “Secret Wealth Investments” go largely ignored by the average investor. They’re not overly sexy and they don’t get many headlines in the financial press, but they pay some of the market‘s best dividends. In fact, some of these “Secret Wealth Investments” are FORCED… Read More

The global athletic footwear and apparel market is fiercely competitive and has remained fairly stagnant amid the tough economy of the past several years. Despite all that, Nike (NYSE: NKE) has remained a retail… Read More

Being in the right place at the right time can be rewarding, especially when it comes to investing. Being in the right asset class, the right country or even the right sector when they… Read More

When it comes to investing, it’s all about valuation and timing. If you can find undervalued assets at the right time, you can make an absolute fortune. Some assets are priceless because they are not… Read More

Many investors look to the so-called BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) for emerging growth opportunities. However, these investors may be overlooking one emerging powerhouse in Southeast Asia. Overall, as an investor, I particularly like emerging-market dividend… Read More

When it comes to investing, I want to have my cake and eat it too.  While I love to find companies that rise when the markets do, I especially love stocks that buck the… Read More

In light of a slow economy in recent years, it’s remarkable when you can find a company that has delivered strong dividends and impressive returns. It’s even more impressive when that company is building on a winning streak of more than… Read More

I am always on the hunt for “forever” stocks. These are stocks that can weather the storm and grow even during the market‘s darkest days. In fact, StreetAuthority co-founder Paul Tracy has built a very successful portfolio… Read More