SocraticGadfly: Flippers, not poor, caused subprime collapse

November 30, 2008

Flippers, not poor, caused subprime collapse

As Steven Malanga notes (and yes, he's from a hard-right think tank), contrary to myths of both Democrats about poor first-time homeowners AND Republican talking points blaming Fannie, Freddie and the Community reinvestment act, it was, in essence, speculative homebuyers who caused the problem.

Malanga focuses on "flippers." He could have included second-home "investment" buyers, and "apartment renter"-buyers, who treated 2/28s and similar mortgages like leases, but, flippers were certainly the primary portion of the speculative homebuyers.

Read the full story. Even the Manhattan Institute can find an acorn on occasion.

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