Every minute, 30 football field sized sections of forests are cut down—and that is just from illegal harvesting (“Corruption and the Environment”). The modern world has become so reliant on wood products that at the current rate of deforestation there will soon be no forests left to enjoy. Governments refrain from making their clear-cutting plans public to avoid scrutiny. With governments very unlikely to change their policies, unless monetary gain is guaranteed, it is on the people of the United States and the rest of the world to reinforce positive environmental consciousness. If people were to become aware of the consequences to living extravagant lifestyles, more natural resources would be conserved for future generations.
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Trees are becoming a scarcer resource everyday, thus planting trees not only saves homeowners money, but also positively affects the environment around them. In order to create a healthier, more financially stable society, and to reduce unnecessary energy emissions from properties, homeowners, realtors and developers must consolidate to reduce home sizes and create larger, more environmentally sustainable outdoor landscapes.
Since the inflation of the United States dollar continues to rise every year, housing prices in relation to the peak of the market in 2006 are at a standstill, or even are decreasing in many cities. The housing market has fully recovered from the devastation of 2006. Currently, homes in San Francisco are worth, on average, almost 15% more than in 2008. Unfortunately, due to inflation the majority of the value in the housing market has decreased since the mortgage fallout, by 19.4% (“American House Prices”). The housing market peaked just before the collapse of 2006, mainly because banks became greedy and did not check the majority of their clients credit scores. As the time passed, banks soon realized that their plans were not unfolding as planned. The Washington Post estimated that at the time of the fallout 1 in 5 mortgage holders had below average credit. In many banks, whole empires were controlled by “subprime mortgages”. This meant homebuyers who had poor credit scores dictated the
The mortgage crisis of 2007 marked catastrophe for millions of homeowners who suffered from foreclosure and short sales. Most of the problems involving the foreclosing of families’ homes could boil down to risky borrowing and lending. Lenders were pushed to ensure families would be eligible for a loan, when in previous years the same families would have been deemed too high-risk to obtain any kind of loan. With the increase in high-risk families obtaining loans, there was a huge increase in home buyers and subsequently a rapid increase in home prices. As a result, prices peaked and then began falling just as fast as they rose. Soon after families began to default on their mortgages forcing them either into foreclosure or short sales. Who was to blame for the risky lending and borrowing that caused the mortgage meltdown? Many might blame the company Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but in reality the entire system of buying and selling and free market failed home owners and the housing economy.
In 2008 the real estate market crashed because of the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act and Commodities Futures Modernization Act, which led to shady mortgage lending or “liar loans” (Hartman). The loans primarily approved for lower income and middle class borrowers with little income or no job income verification, which lead to many buyers purchasing homes they could not afford because everyone wants a piece of the American dream; homeownership. Because of “reckless lending to lower- and middle-income borrowers who could not afford to repay their loans many of the home buyers lost everything when the market collapsed” (Tankersley 3). Homeowners often continued to live in their houses for months or years without paying any
Anyone that was living in America, or even watching from abroad, knows that in 2008 America had a huge collapse of the housing market. Homes were foreclosed on in record numbers causing the real estate balloon to burst. But the collapse did not happen overnight and in many ways was destined to happen. According to Investopedia.com in order to attract buyers and sell houses, mortgages were offered to less than qualified applicants. Then just a few years before the collapse subprime mortgages made up 20% of the market. (Investopedia.com) Factors such as the 1993 passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the 9-11 terrorist attacks led to an increase in unemployment. With unemployment numbers climbing many homeowners
During the early 2000 's, the United States housing market experienced growth at an unprecedented rate, leading to historical highs in home ownership. This surge in home buying was the result of multiple illusory financial circumstances which reduced the apparent risk of both lending and receiving loans. However, in 2007, when the upward trend in home values could no longer continue and began to reverse itself, homeowners found themselves owing more than the value of their properties, a trend which lent itself to increased defaults and foreclosures, further reducing the value of homes in a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle. The 2008 crash of the near-$7-billion housing industry dragged down the entire U.S. economy, and by extension, the global economy, with it, therefore having a large part in triggering the global recession of 2008-2012.
The financial crisis emerged because of an excessive deregulation of business operation of financial institutions and of abusing the securitization mechanism in the absence of clearly defined rules to regulate this area in the American mortgage market (Krstić, Jemović, & Radojičić, 2013). Deregulation gives larger banks the opportunity to loosen underwriting lender guidelines and generate increase opportunity for homeownership (Kroszner & Strahan, 2013). After deregulation, banks utilized many versions of mortgage loans. Mortgage loans such as subprime and Alternative-A paper loans became available for borrowers challenged to find mortgage lenders before deregulation (Elbarouki, 2016; Palmer, 2015). The housing market has been severely affected by fluctuating interest rates and the requirement of large down payment (Follain, & Giertz, 2013). The subprime lending crisis has taken a toll on the nation’s economy since 2007. Individuals who lacked sufficient credit ratings or down payments resorted to subprime mortgages to finance their homes Defaults on subprime and other mortgages precipitated the foreclosure crisis, which contributed to the recent recession and national financial crisis (Odetunde, 2015). Subprime mortgages were appropriate for borrowers with substandard credit and Alternate-A paper loans were
The housing crisis of the late 2000s rocked the economy and changed the landscape of the real estate business for years to come. Decades of people purchasing houses unfordable houses and properties with lenient loans policies led to a collective housing bubble. When the banking system faltered and the economy wilted, interest rates were raised, mortgages increased, and people lost their jobs amidst the chaos. This all culminated in tens of thousands of American losing their houses to foreclosures and short sales, as they could no longer afford the mortgage payments on their homes. The United States entered a recession and homeownership no longer appeared to be a feasible goal as many questioned whether the country could continue to support a middle-class. Former home owners became renters and in some cases homeless as the American Dream was delayed with no foreseeable return. While the future of the economy looked bleak, conditions gradually improved. American citizens regained their jobs, the United States government bailed out the banking industry, and regulations were put in place to deter such events as the mortgage crash from ever taking place again. The path to homeowner ship has been forever altered, as loans in general are now more difficult to acquire and can be accompanied by a substantial down payment.
The first sign of the “ Financial Crisis ” occurred in 2006. Many house prices began to drop. Realtors at first where thrill, they considered that the overexcited house market will finally return to it’s stable place. What real estate agents didn’t realize that many property owners have taken loans that were about 100 percent or more from their property worth. Many people blamed the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 . This act motivates banks to
In 2010, the American economy was struggling to bounce back from a devastating collapse in 2007. The housing market had collapsed and economists were baffled. The stock market did not entirely crash, yet the economy still could not be stimulated. For the most part, much of the financial industry was left unregulated, allowing banks to loan money to people trying to buy houses, with no guarantee of the money being returned. With a low interest rate of 1.24 percent, people were looking towards the housing markets as an investment. The low interest rate sparked a demand for both mortgages and housing, expecting the prices of houses to rise. However, in 2004, the rates began to rise. By the end of 2004, the interest rate was 2.25 percent.
Due to such events as the subprime mortgage crisis, the auto market and Wall Street’s failure, the United States suffered a severe economic blow. Looking at the situation from an economic view, supply is supposed to equal demand. Due to the mortgage crisis and the careless attempts of some to make money, there is a superfluous amount of empty homes throughout the United States. In the subprime mortgage crisis, the nature of the failure was the inability to account for money given to individuals, who lack the appropriate requirements. In order to obtain a loan, collateral is needed. References were not being checked and poor credit history went ignored. People were obtaining loans and not paying attention to the interests rates associated. “This time around, the slack standards allowed millions of high-risk borrowers to get easy home mortgages. When this so-called subprime market collapsed beginning about a year ago, ordinary working people bore the brunt” (Gallagher, 2008). Companies were so anxious to place people in homes, that it cost them billions of dollars and
In the late 2000’s, the US encountered an unforgettable financial crisis which was caused by low interest rates and sky high real estate prices. This enticed not only those within the US to purchase
The affect of environmental issues occur everyday and in particular deforestation is becoming a highly ranked subject. From animals to the human race, the alacrity of trees that are cut down affects every individual in a variety of ways. Not only do people need to help the planet but they need to help themselves and further generations to come, such as children and grandchildren because these natural resources that are being taken away from society are as well shaping the future. For comprehensible reasons, forests use to make up the world, until man made creatures started to destroy and destruct the most important supply to human kind which are trees. Trees are crucial to every living entity for the reason of providing oxygen to all.
Imagine you have just moved into your new dream home. You 're career is growing in success and now you are resting easy in a comfy bed, in a beautiful home, located in an up and coming neighborhood. Months pass and the mortgage you agreed to has increased significantly in interest. The economy is suffering and the housing market is crashing. You can no longer make your payments on your mortgage. The thought of losing your home is terrifying. This was the case of many home owners in 2006-2008.
All that is required is motivation and time; with these two objects, the world can work together to rebuild what used to be great forests and pave way for new forests to thrive. In the past decades, deforestation has plagued the world’s environment at an increasing rate, but, if humankind takes initiative and works together towards reversing these deadly effects, there is hope for a better future.
Imagine living in a world without trees. It is nearly impossible because trees play such a crucial role all throughout the world by providing the earth with a home for plants and animals, natural resources, and protection. If the current rate of deforestation continues a world without trees could become reality. According to National Geographic, deforestation is defined as “clearing Earth’s forests on a massive scale, often resulting in damage to the quality of the land” (“Deforestation and Its...” ❡1). Since early times trees have been used to benefit humans without regard to the harm it has caused. The United States was 46 percent forested before the European Settlement and by 1907 was already only 33 percent forested (Becker ❡2). Although it can be used for developmental and agricultural purposes, deforestation has a negative impact on the earth that has a detrimental effect on humans, animals, and plants.
I am appealing to you as a conservationist. I believe that the natural resources of the forest can be of great help to us. As we experience this oil and gas crisis in the US, we are forced to import oil from foreign countries. Thus causing the cost of