Quite the contrary, I think many local municipalities would prefer local experts compared to huge multi-billion dollar companies buying huge rental portfolios in certain area.

We'll see how the banks "loan" during the next wave of sfrs being foreclosed on as well as 700 BILLION in bad commercial loans.

Here's an article in Bloomberg that talks of real estate damage in the Billions:Oil Spill May Cost $4.3 Billion in Property Values Thoughts?

Another way to look at is this: Last week, why would Texas University take delivery of 1 billion in gold bars when they could just hold GLD ?

I don't know what his net worth is, but when I left his fund, we had just under 1 billion AUM, and we charged 2 and 20, which means on just the 2% management fee alone the fund was making $20mm a year.

If that's it - 777 points - then it's a GREAT THING that we didn't waste our $700 BILLION on this bailout.

The CBO works with assumptions that never seem to materialize.Look at another huge government run program – Medicare.Started in 1966 at a cost of $3 Billion, it was only expected to cost $12 Billion (adjusted for inflation) by 1990.The reality was that it cost $107 Billion.

Here are just of few of the examples of countries that certainly are treating the US well.Last year expenditures for Pakistan $2.1 billion, Egypt $1.6 billion, and Libya $13 million.

Houzz was valued at a Billion dollars.  

The chosen shares should be:(1) Shares with market cap exceeding $10 billion(2) Steady dividend payment exceeding 2% (on the market price of the share) in the past 5 years(3) Net income at less >5% of revenue(4) Yearly growth of at least 5% in revenue and net income(5) With good management (this may be a bit difficult for some people, but name of the directors will some time give some hints on this)The investment in the chosen shares should be of fixed amount each month, with more shares to be bought during a bad market and less shares in a good market.