HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: un026217@wvnvms.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: "Calendar" spread???
Date: 21 Aug 92 20:57:37 GMT
Organization: West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing

Hi,

What is "calendar" spread?

Thanks, Bo Wang
From: schin@acs.bu.edu (neil schier)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Investitions to Russian Far East
Date: 18 Aug 92 01:45:00 GMT
Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

My brother in Moscow tried to get in touch with you? Any luck?

Regards
Neil Schier
From: mikef@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Mike Fischer)
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 21:42:03 GMT
Subject: Re: What shows on TV worth watching as an investor?
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: misc.invest

My favorite financial show is a commercial TV offering called "Wall
Street Journal Report", sort of a video capsule of a week's worth of the
newspaper of the same name.  Note that this is different from Louis
Rukeyser's "Wall Street Week" on Public TV, which I find more
entertaining than usefully informing.  Wall Street Journal Report
usually shows up on Saturday morning at 7:00 am and sometimes on Sunday
morning at 8:00 am on the local NBC affiliate (Ch 4 in San Francisco).
This show benefits from the mega-budget journalistic web of the
newspaper and the information resources of the parent company, Dow Jones.

My second favorite is "Adam Smith's Money World", a weekly Public TV
show that picks one or two issues to study in some depth each week. 
These can be very entertaining as well as informative.

For my third favorite I will concur with all the other recommendations
of the "Nightly Business Report" on Public TV.  Very well done with gobs
of daily figures (don't blink), news items, analysis of what caused
what, and even an in-depth opinion piece -- all that five nights a week
and consistently high quality.  I try to watch this on Monday nights to
snag the 6 month T-bill rate from the weekly auction, as my ARM is
indexed to that rate.  More than that and I go into information
overload.
--
Mike Fischer     mikef@spd.hp.com     (415) 857-6444     HP Stanford Park R&D
"These opinions are personal and do not represent my employer in any way."
From: rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us (Bob Peirce #305)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
Subject: Re: Sentiment Indicators
Date: 14 Aug 92 20:47:43 GMT
Reply-To: rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us (Bob Peirce #305)
Organization: Cookson, Peirce & Co., Pittsburgh, PA

In article <8190097@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> rauchfuss@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Brian Rauchfuss) writes:
>
>Strange stuff going on in the sentiment indicators.
>
>The sp100 put/call ratio is high, indicating that a number of people are
>pessimistic about the overall stock market.

It helps to relate this to the open interest.  I get a ratio of 0.877,
with bearish < 0.7 and bullish > 3.0.  It is almost bearish; ie, traders
are bullish.

>The CBOE put/call ratio is low,

I don't keep this one.

>The specialist short ratio is slightly lower than it was a year ago, which
>means the specialists are shorting somewhat less than before.  This does not
>look like a strong indication, but is slightly bullish.

Ignore it.  Too much hedging nowadays.  It used to be that S/P ratios > 3.0
occurred around tops while ratios < 1.35 occurred around lows, but this
has not been true since actively traded options and futures came on the
scene.

>Mutual funds have raised their cash to high levels (>9%), this is bullish, even
>if it is due to all the new cash coming in, it supplies the market with some
>buying power.

High levels are 12-15% or more.  Low levels are in the 5-7% range. 
Given the cash flows they have had to absorb, I view this as bearish,
first because it is relatively low and second because there is so much
public interest. 

>This said there are still all the longer term negatives: very high valuations,
>and new stock being sold, and market sensitive to interest rate variations.

True.

>By the way, where in Barrons can you find the specialist short interest or
>specialist short interest ratio?

You can't.  It isn't reported.  The best you can do is to see how many
shares they shorted two weeks ago.  Usually this is at the bottom of the
second Market Laboratory page. 
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Brian Rauchfuss (Smokefoot)  "... the world could change in the blink
>brian@hpfcbdr.fc.hp.com           of an eye."


-- 
Bob Peirce, Pittsburgh, PA         rbp@investor.pgh.pa.us         412-471-5320
venetia@investor.pgh.pa.us [NeXT Mail]  !uunet.uu.net!pitt!investor!rbp [UUCP]
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: rscott@spock.NMSU.Edu (Joseph Good)
Subject: Wanted: Gvnt Grant Info
Organization: New Mexico State University
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 02:07:03 GMT


Help!

I'm trying to start up a music production business, and am having 
trouble financing (no credit, no co-signer, sigh), and would like
to know where I can get into on government grants and loans for
small business.

Anybody out there ever used them before?  I've seen them advertised
all over, but never tried them out yet.

Also, if anybody out there knows how to raise about $15k in order to 
start a business, could you give me some pointers?

Thanks!

--

Joseph Good
+-------------------+ - More than just a band....
| Green Dot Brigade | - It's a whole damn army of dots...
+-------------------+ - And we've declared war on the 7-Up dots...

rscott@nmsu.edu (NeXT mail welcome!!) (main account)

atlantis@acca.nmsu.edu  (Just plain ol' Unix) (seldom used)
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: tiwary@cs.washington.edu (Ashutosh Tiwary)
Subject: Books on investment 
Organization: Computer Science & Engineering Dept., Univ. of Washington, Seattle
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 02:51:00 GMT

Ok, I am finally going to try and figure out this investment stuff. Could
the netters recommend some basic books which explain the terminology and
help me understand how to invest in Stocks, Bonds, Mutual funds etc.
Is there a FAQ that addresses this.

Please e-mail your responses, since I do not read this newsgroup often.
I might after I read the books you are going to recommend.

Thanks in advance

- Ashutosh
tiwary@cs.washington.edu
Newsgroups: misc.invest
From: mccrate@netcom.com (Joe McCrate)
Subject: Re: Purchase the used books you sell
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 92 06:04:56 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

Three good used book stores in downtown Palo Alto:
   Bell's, 536 Emerson
   Chimaera, 405 Kipling
   Megabooks, 444 University

These are all within a couple blocks of each other.  And there are others.
I believe there is another one in the same block as Bell's, for example.

Joe

Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: fredrick@acd.acd.ucar.edu (Timothy Fredrick)
Subject: Any idea of closing costs on a 135K home in Louisville, CO?
Organization: Ntl Center for Atmospheric Research, Atmospheric Chemistry
Distribution: boulder
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 21:25:36 GMT

I hope this doesn't get posted to all the known universe -- if so, I
appologise :-)

I'm thinking of buying my first home, a $135,000 new construction home in 
in Louisville.  It's going to be a tight for me and I'll only be able to
put 5% down on the loan, but I think I can do it.

My question to anyone who has done this recently concerns closing costs.
In general, what have been your costs to close a deal on what type of
home? (If you don't mind my asking, of course)  What can I expect on $135,000.
I had a bank figure $2,321 which included a 1% origination fee -- this seemed
a little low since I've been reading the "rule of thumb" that closing costs
should be 4% of the value of the property.  They gave me:

      Origination fee            $1321
      Appraisal Fee               $300
      Credit Reports               $55
      Inspection Fee               $75
      Tax Service Fee              $55
      Underwriting Fee            $100
      Settlement Closing Fee      $100
      Document Prep Fee            $35
      Lender's Title Insurance    $100
      Recording Fees               $40
      Documentary Fee              $14
      Improvement Location Cert.   $95  (what is this?)
      Tax certification fee        $30

am I missing something important here?  On a related note, I've been told
by most places I need to have 3 months of mortgage payments in the bank at
the time I sign the loan (on a 5% down 30-year fixed loan).  Does this
sound pretty universal to you?

Any useful advice would definitely be appreciated.  I think by closing (June
1) I'll have enough for the 5%, these closing costs, escrow accounts, and
3 months in the bank.  But just barely, so knowing that I'm calculating
closing costs correctly would be a great comfort.

Thanks in advance.  --Tim Fredrick (fredrick@acd.ucar.edu)

PS - Any figures on taxes and insurance would also be appreciated, although
     I think I can get that imformation pretty easily.
From: scotty@flash.ATC.Olivetti.Com (Scott Griffin)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: 15 year vs. 30 year loans
Summary: 15 yr vs 30 yr mortgage
Date: 19 Aug 92 22:48:33 GMT



In article <HINKMOND.92Aug18143800@igor.tamri.com>, hinkmond@tamri.com (Hinkmond Wong) writes:
> 
> 	2) You will save a lot on taxes due to the extended tax deduction for
> 		30 years.  Why give the government more than necessary?

         You only "save" money for money that you pay to the mortgage company.  
         Would you rather pay me nothing or pay me $1000 and "save" $300?  
> 
> 	3) If your mortgage rate is 8% and you are investing the difference
> 		in something with a rate of 15%, you are coming out ahead.

         If you can find me a risk free 15% investment this year you are doing
         better than 90% of the mutual fund managers.  Don't forget the tax you
         will pay on the 15% yearly return.  The 8% return on the mortgage you
         are paying off early is risk free and untaxed.

Just my 2%  :-)
Scott.
From: brian@baja.Corp.Sun.COM (Brian Edge)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Need help with rental depreciation
Date: 19 Aug 92 22:53:03 GMT
Reply-To: brian@baja.Corp.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: baja.corp.sun.com

I am buying a rental house and was hoping someone could help me out
as to how depreciation works.  Is there a set number of years you
can depreciate?  How do you know how much each year is allowable??
Is the amount that you depreciate deducted from your gross income
for the year?

This is a single family residence, they can be depreciated can't they?

I know that a tax consultant can help me alot but money's tight.

thanks,

Brian
From: macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Title Insurance
Date: 20 Aug 92 15:22:33 GMT
	<MACRAKIS.92Aug18111732@next4.osf.org> <19666@fritz.filenet.com>
Distribution: usa
Organization: OSF Research Institute

About title records, I said:

   : As for `damn near all the information being computerized', this is far
   : from true....

In article <19666@fritz.filenet.com> asylvain@felix.filenet.com (The
Chipmunk) replies:

   I can't claim 100% certainty, but I think they go back as far as the 
   '60's here in So.Calif.  Three decades is relatively safe.

In Massachusetts, the title insurance company requires 50 years back
(in fact, this may be some sort of statutory requirement).  There can
be older problems, but that would be covered by the title insurance,
and not constitute negligence or malpractice by the title searcher.

	-s
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate,misc.consumers.house,misc.consumers
From: eliot@chutney.rtp.dg.com (Topher Eliot)
Subject: Re: Making an Offer for a Home with a LIEN and Title Insurance
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 92 21:31:53 GMT
Distribution: misc
Reply-To: eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com
Organization: Data General Corporation, Research Triangle Park, NC

In article <23495@alice.att.com>, ark@alice.att.com (Andrew Koenig) writes:
|> In article <19651@fritz.filenet.com> asylvain@fritz.filenet.com (The Chipmunk) writes:
|> 
|> > Mechanics' liens can also victimize a perfectly well-intended
|> > homeowner, who just gets screwed.  It's been known for a homeowner to
|> > contract some labor, say building a block-wall with iron-work, and
|> > dutifully pays what's owed.  Now, it turns out that the contractor
|> > sub-contracted somebody to put up the iron-work, and does NOT pay the
|> > sub.  Well, the sub can but a lien against the homeowner.
|> 
|> > Unfortunately, I do not recall the legal remedy to this situation.
|> 
|> Around here, it seems to be common practice, before giving the last payment
|> for a job to the main contractor, to obtain a signed statement from the
|> contractor to the effect that all subcontractors have been paid.

This probably gets you the privilege of suing the contractor if it turns out
that one of the subcontractors wasn't paid, and has put a lien on your house
-- a privilege you probably already had, anyway.  It does *not* get you liens
magically removed if the subcontractor put one on your house.  A signed 
statement from each subcontractor *and supplier* saying that in fact they 
had already been paid would be better.  The trick is to know who these parties
are.

-- 
Topher Eliot             Data General DG/UX Systems Administration Development
(919) 248-6371      eliot@dg-rtp.dg.com       {backbone}!mcnc!rti!dg-rtp!eliot
Obviously, I speak for myself, not for DG.
misc.consumers.house archivist.  Send mail to house-archive@dg-rtp.dg.com
"I opened an STR on myself and I had to reject it."  -- Paul McGrath
From: hinkmond@tamri.com (Hinkmond Wong)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: 15 year vs. 30 year loans
Date: 18 Aug 92 21:38:03 GMT
Organization: Toshiba America MRI, Inc.

>>>>> On Tue, 18 Aug 1992 14:46:37 GMT, loftis@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Loftis) said:

> 	I like the idea of paying off mortgages ASAP.  If you look at
> the total payments on a 30-year note, you could nearly buy two house on
> 15 year notes.  It is amazing the amount of interest you pay.



I think to sum up the whole idea behind paying a 30-year mortgage in 30 years
instead of getting a 15-year mortgage, has been to

	1) Invest the difference between the 30-year and 15-year mortgage
		payments in an investment which has a yield greater than your
		mortgage rate

	2) And, take advantage of the tax deduction for as long as possible
		(30 years in this case).

The result is that

	1) The money (difference between a 30-year and 15-year mortgage
		payment) that you invest will be equal to another house.  So,
		it could be sitting in a bank account somewhere.

	2) You will save a lot on taxes due to the extended tax deduction for
		30 years.  Why give the government more than necessary?

	3) If your mortgage rate is 8% and you are investing the difference
		in something with a rate of 15%, you are coming out ahead.



--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Hinkmond Wong				Internet: hinkmond@igor.tamri.com     +
+ Software Engineer			Phone: (415) 872-2722 x3328           +
+ Toshiba America MRI, Inc. 		FAX:   (415) 875-2915                 +
+ So. San Francisco, CA  94080                                                +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: bartels@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov (Jeff Bartels 283-4167)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Help
Date: 17 Aug 92 20:08:42 GMT
Organization: McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company

In article <Bt4t68.KuF@news.larc.nasa.gov>, fuhrmann@avd20.larc.nasa.gov (Henri D. Fuhrmann) writes:
|> 
|> 	I am a first time home buyer and to tell you the truth,  I'm
|> a bit scared.  My wife and I are looking for a VA, HUD, or assumable home that
|> needs cosmetic repair.  We would like to fix it up and sell it within a year 
|> and move up a notch to another home in need of repair.  We found a few homes 
|> that look like they might be good investments but the streets they are on 
|> are not very appealing. Some of the questions I have are pretty basic,  but 
|> here goes.
|> 
|> 1)Is it always better to buy rather than rent? I heard that with a mortgage
|>   one is primarily paying off interest. Is this actually better than rent?
|> 
|> 2)What should one look for in an investment home? Neighborhood?
|> 
|> 3)How much can one expect to make on a home that was run down?
|> 
|> 4)Is fixing up a home with the intention of selling it for more a risky thing?
|> 
|> 5)Does it matter from which bank one gets a mortgage from? Why?
|> 
|> 6)How long would it take to buy a house,  fix it up, and sell it? one year?
|> 
|> 7)Should I shop around for a realtor or just pick any?
|> 
|> 	As you can see I have no experience with real estate. I would greatly
|>   appreciate any help, advice or anecdotes.
|>  
|> 		Thank you very much in advance.
|> 
|> 		Henri Fuhrmann


... The three golden rules of real estate investing are as follows:

"Location, location, location"
From: asylvain@felix.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Re: Title Insurance
Date: 20 Aug 92 02:34:52 GMT
            <19628@fritz.filenet.com>
            <MACRAKIS.92Aug18111732@next4.osf.org>
Reply-To: asylvain@fritz.filenet.com (The Chipmunk)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Foundation for the Increased Wealth of Chipmunks

Written in article <MACRAKIS.92Aug18111732@next4.osf.org>
 by macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis):

: As for `damn near all the information being computerized', this is far
: from true.  In Middlesex County (which includes Cambridge, MA), they
: do have the past 5-10 years' records on line, but nothing before that.
: Many houses being sold today were last sold before 10 years ago.  And
: actually understanding what the records say can sometimes be
: non-trivial.

I can't claim 100% certainty, but I think they go back as far as the 
'60's here in So.Calif.  Three decades is relatively safe.
From: smith@navajo.rc.arizona.edu (dennis smith)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Tax break
Date: 20 Aug 92 18:55:52 GMT
Distribution: na,local
Organization: University of Utah Logan, UT 84321

I prepare my own tax forms every year. The only break I can see is for the
amount of interest I paid on my mortgage in excess of what ever the
standard deduction for that year is. I accounted for property and car
taxes. So let say you pay $10000 in mortgage interest, property tax and
other deductions, and the standard deduction for the year is say $5750.
your saving will be (10000-5750)*.34=$1445 in tax dollers (assuming that
your marginal tax bracket is 28% and you pay 6% state tax). So you are
paying let say $8000 dollers in interst and you are saving $1445 in
taxes. I would rather pay my mortgage as soon as possible and pay uncle
sam the extera tax rather than pay the hefty 8000 dollers to a mortgage
company. You can always argue that I could invest the extra payment and
earn some interest, but with todays rate and the tax liablity on earned
interest, I still think paying off the mortgage is the safest way of
investmen. Am I missing anything here ?
From: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM (John Fox - SunExpress IR)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: mortgage program?
Date: 19 Aug 92 14:00:44 GMT
Reply-To: jfox@hooksett.East.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: hooksett.east.sun.com

Does anyone have a simple one hanging around? Nothing fancy, but allowing
for extra principal payments would be a plus.

Many thanks,
John
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis)
Subject: Re: How important is title insurance?
Organization: OSF Research Institute
   <q83mmcr@lynx.unm.edu> <AJG.92Aug12095903@sp1.ccd.harris.com>
Date: 12 Aug 92 11:25:34

In article <1992Aug11.221036.3534@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
   rbm8p@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Rick MacDonald) writes:

   >The attourney who is handling my deed in an owner-financed house
   >purchase wants me to buy title insurance.  The house is 40 years
   >old and is located mid-neighborhood.  Is title insurance just a
   >gimmick?

In article <AJG.92Aug12095903@sp1.ccd.harris.com>
   ajg@controls.ccd.harris.com (Arnold Goldberg) writes:

   Title insurance is the only way title companies make money.  No
   wonder they won't let you close without getting it.  But, it's not
   always necessary....

   You'll have a really tough time talking a title insurance company
   into closing without the title insurance, though....

Apparently title companies have different roles in different states.
In Massachusetts, you buy title insurance via the bank's lawyer (who
buys it from a title insurance company).  I don't know if he gets a
cut.  Banks always require title insurance for their interest in the
property.  Whether you get title insurance for your interest in the
property is your choice.  Every expert I've heard or read recommends
that you get it.  Like all insurance, you pay a relatively small
amount up front (about 0.1%) to protect an unlikely but disastrous
future event.  In practice, you don't have the choice of title
insurance company, since the bank chooses its carrier, and it is much
more economical to get your coverage from the same company, rather
than go to another one.

	-s
From: amalik@bubba.ma30.bull.com (Alka Malik Sobti)
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
Subject: Making an Offer for a Home with a LIEN, Title Insurance
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:36:13 GMT
Reply-To: amalik@bubba.ma30.bull.com
Distribution: misc
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA


I had posted this earlier but did not see any responses on the net and
did not get any responses mailed to me.  I am re-posting it.

	We are thinking of making an offer to a house.  But, we found out 
        from the seller's lawyer that there is a lien attached to the home.
 	Since I had never heard of liens, I would like to get some advice as 
	to 
		- should we not make an offer in a situation like this 
		  OR
		- if we do consider making an offer, then what should one
		  look out for and are there any special procedures in the
		  making/writing an offer, getting a real-estate lawyer, 
		  home-insurance etc. in order to get a clear title.  
		  What is covered in the title insurance?
	
		  And let's say that if the offer goes through and we buy 
		  the house with a clear title, then can something come up 
		  later on regarding the lien on the house (due to the
		  seller).  Or any other complications, etc. 

	I would like to get any suggestions/advice at the earliest.  I would
	prefer if you e-mail the responses to me directly since I hardly 
        read news.  Also, if I should be posting this message to some
	other newsgroup please let me know. 

	My e-mail address is:
		amalik@bubba.ma30.bull.com

	Thank you.

							- Alka
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate
From: wicklund@intellistor.com (Tom Wicklund)
Subject: Re: Title Insurance
Organization: Intellistor, Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 14:57:23 GMT

In <19666@fritz.filenet.com> asylvain@felix.filenet.com (The Chipmunk) writes:

>Written in article <MACRAKIS.92Aug18111732@next4.osf.org>
> by macrakis@osf.org (Stavros Macrakis):

>: As for `damn near all the information being computerized', this is far
>: from true.  In Middlesex County (which includes Cambridge, MA), they
>: do have the past 5-10 years' records on line, but nothing before that.
>: Many houses being sold today were last sold before 10 years ago.  And
>: actually understanding what the records say can sometimes be
>: non-trivial.

>I can't claim 100% certainty, but I think they go back as far as the 
>'60's here in So.Calif.  Three decades is relatively safe.

But you can still have problems from older records.  Check any
property law text for examples of how claims can come back from the
distant past.

The other thing which computerized records won't show are assessments
or leins which aren't recorded yet.  While there are supposed to be
time limits for this, I've had a special assessment which was not
billed until 7 years after my closing.  The builder should have paid
it but didn't, and the builder was very good at stonewalling (he got
the City of Minneapolis to pay him $500,000 when he broke a contract).
Newsgroups: misc.invest.real-estate,co.general,misc.forsale