PBH / off topic: do your thing (travelguide, pictures) / post

Do as I say, not as I do

This caught my attention. Old Ed probably made millions in his long career with Johnny Carson and then he hawked various insurance and medical plans on late night TV after Johnny went off the air. Must not have taken his own advice

Note: It was also funny to see a US congresswoman from California lose her house to foreclosure. She makes six figures plus and has a gold plated health and pension and she can't manage her finances. It's no wonder the national budget is such a disaster.

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Ed McMahon May Lose Beverly Hills Home
By JAMES R. HAGERTY and GLENN R. SIMPSON
June 4, 2008; Page A3

Ed McMahon, the longtime sidekick to television star Johnny Carson, faces the possible loss of his Beverly Hills home to a foreclosure action initiated by a unit of Countrywide Financial Corp.

Howard Bragman, a spokesman for Mr. McMahon, said late Tuesday that his client is having "very fruitful discussions" with the lender and hopes to find a resolution. It isn't clear whether that would allow the 85-year-old Mr. McMahon and his wife, Pamela, to remain in the six-bedroom home.

A Countrywide spokeswoman said the lender couldn't comment in such cases "due to privacy issues."

Mr. McMahon, a jovial fixture of American television for decades, is one of the most prominent people caught up in a wave of mortgage defaults that has devastated low-income areas, suburbia and even a few posh gated communities, such as the one where the McMahons live. U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, a California Democrat, recently lost a home in Sacramento to a foreclosure. Rep. Richardson didn't respond to requests for comment.

ReconTrust, a unit of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, on Feb. 28 filed a notice of default on a $4.8 million Countrywide loan backed by Mr. McMahon's home. The notice was filed with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office but hasn't previously come to light. According to the filing, Mr. McMahon was then about $644,000 in arrears on the loan. It isn't clear whether Countrywide still owns the loan or is acting on behalf of investors who acquired it. Public records also show that Mr. McMahon had a separate home-equity line of credit from Countrywide of up to $300,000 secured by the same house.

Mr. McMahon's home has been on the market for about two years, his real-estate agent Alex Davis said. Mr. Davis said the price had been reduced, but he couldn't immediately provide details. The Christie's Great Estates Web site, which includes homes listed by Mr. Davis, lists the asking price at $5.75 million and says it has a canyon view and a master-bedroom suite with his and her bathrooms.

Mr. McMahon broke his neck in a fall about 18 months ago and hasn't been able to work, Mr. Bragman said. That health problem, along with the weak housing market and economy, has forced Mr. McMahon into foreclosure proceedings, Mr. Bragman said.

The McMahons "understand that they are in the same situation as hundreds of thousands of other hard-working Americans, and their hearts go out to them," Mr. Bragman said.

It isn't inevitable that the McMahons will lose their home to foreclosure. Lenders often ease terms on loans or provide more time for borrowers to catch up. Lenders also sometimes agree to accept less than the full amount due on the loan if the borrower can find a buyer for the home.

By Tinto (Moderator) on Jun 4, 2008, 08:24 in Off Topic.

sloopskipper says on Jun 4, 2008, 08:51:

Another fool.

Why in the hell would an 85 YO man, who has made millions, still have to work to keep his home?

And I would seriously doubt that he became "$644,000 in arrears" in the 18 months that he couldn't work.

An old couple NEEDS a 5 bedroom house? Gimmee a break.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 4, 2008, 09:13:

I'd guess hookers and blow or he's the worst investor ever. Living in California most (all?) of his long life and he hasn't made at least some money on real estate?!

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sloopskipper says on Jun 4, 2008, 09:41:

Worst investor, and/or biggest spender?

I can not understand people like that.

I never made a lot of money, but was able to retire at 55, with a decent portfolio, owned my home/cars, and was also otherwise debt free.

And I thought that "I" was somewhat undisciplined.

Ed McM possibly made as much in a year as most of us make in a lifetime.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 4, 2008, 10:26:

Maybe he'll soon be selling vodka from a push cart on El Rodeo Drive:

http://www.luxist.com/2005/09/13/ed-mcmahon-vodka/

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peteyw says on Jun 6, 2008, 15:31:

Ed has to keep dough coming in. He's paying alimony to two ex-wives in California. Plus his current wife doesn't look like the 'shop at Walmart' type.

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