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Not All Bad News

An Interview with economist and author Dr. Ravi Batra, December 2008 regarding his book:  The New Golden Age: The Coming Revolution against Political Corruption and Economic Chaos 

With Georgia Ragsdale, CEO Watermark Financial, Inc.

Dr. Ravi Batra, a professor of economics at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, is the author of five international best sellers. He was the chairperson of his department from 1977 to 1980. In October 1978, because of dozens of publications in top journals such as the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, Econometrica, Journal of Economic Theory, Review of Economic Studies, among others, Batra was ranked third in a group of “superstar economists,” selected from all the American and Canadian universities by an article in the learned journal, Economic Enquiry. In 1990, the Italian prime minister awarded him a Medal of the Italian Senate for writing a book that correctly predicted the downfall of Soviet communism, fifteen years before it happened.

Dr. Batra has been written up in major newspapers and magazines, such as the New YorkTimes, Washington Post, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, the U.S. News and World Report, and appeared on all major networks including CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC, CNBC, among others.  He has a good enough track record predicting major global changes that he made The New York Times best-seller list — and the news pages — for correctly predicting the low inflation, falling oil prices, mergers boom, and soaring stock prices of the 1980’s.  The SMU professor’s latest major prediction involves a coming “golden age” for America.

There’s just the small matter of getting through the revolution we’re in now first.

Batra predicted the rise of Islam back in the 1960s, but just didn’t know what the catalyst would be until a revolution in Iran felled the U.S.-backed shah. Several other much-criticized but mostly on-target predictions later, Batra is now predicting a massive revolution here in the U.S. against greed and the rapidly escalating concentration of wealth. His long-term prediction for the U.S. is one of peace and prosperity — but not until after a painfully deep recession triggers that revolution and an ensuing period of chaos.  The rise of Barack Obama, with his platform of attacking concentrated poverty, is a sign that those changes are coming, Batra believes. 
“August 2007 was the start of a long period of global economic turmoil. Now that the turmoil is here for everyone to see, my worst fears are confirmed. An economic collapse is upon us,” Batra said, repeating what he had said many times in media outlets.  “But the climax,” he said, will be “a golden age, where extreme income and wealth disparities disappear to eliminate poverty on earth. … We will soon see a revolution and then, 20 to 40 years from now, economic democracy and the end of monopoly capitalism. Economic democracy will prevent the rise of billionaires.”

In his new book, Batra said the rise of Islam — a trend that many academics and authors have predicted, based on global demographics — will coincide with a “new consciousness” in the U.S. that will lead to intolerance for corruption and greed. Eventually what Batra labels “economic democracy” will produce a system that allows politicians to run for office without having to raise money and perhaps be bought off. This economic democracy will provide for full employment, productivity, and peace that we’ve not known for a long time, said Batra.

A critic of U.S. monetary policy since Reaganomics took hold in the 1980s, Batra believes the years of Americans being duped by a business-controlled government will be long gone by 2058. He credits his predictions to close analysis of history and economic cycles; the same formula had him accurately predicting the current downturn in the housing sector a few years ago.

Table of Contents

A Globe in Poverty and Economic Chaos * The Twin Bubbles: Housing and Oil * The Cycles of Inflation and Money * The Law of Social Cycle * Western Society * The U.S. Business Empire * Lies, Damned Lies, and Economists * The Muslim Civilization * Contemporary Muslim Society * Our Common Future * Global Poverty: A Call for Voter’s Revolution

Some Comments on Ravi Batra’s Work.

“Ravi Batra has made an outstanding reputation in the United States as an international economic theorists in the best Western tradition.”  Leonard Silk, New York Times

  “The forecasting record of this widely respected Southern Methodist University economist has won glowing praise from many pragmatic investment masters.”  Tom Peters, Chicago Tribune

  “Dr. Batra writes about his subject as clearly as if he were telling bedtime stories.” Christopher Lehmann Haupt, New York Times

  ” The good professor has a formidable academic reputation and, from what I know, his forecasting record is impressive.” Barton Biggs, Morgan Stanley

  “Batra [is] a scholar who has earned a considerable reputation as an expert on trade.”  Albert Crenshaw,Washington Post

  “His predictions in the early 1980s of low inflation, falling oil prices and a wave of mergers–mocked for years–have proved close to the mark.” Thomas C. Hayes, New York Times

  “Ravi Batra was used to making tumultuous global forecasts and having nobody listen–then predictions started to come true.”  Chip Brown, Associated Press

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Los Angeles, CA (September 26, 2008) – Watermark Financial, Inc., a Los Angeles based boutique commercial mortgage firm, secured $15,000,000 in financing for the refinance of a single family home in Montecito, CA.

The variable rate loan, fixed for 6 month periods carries a 4.47% interest rate and an interest only payment schedule, was facilitated by Watermark for the privately owned home. “Watermark specializes in making the best match between borrower and lender. We are proud to have helped a client close on a large balance transaction, especially during such volatile market conditions,” said Watermark President Georgia Ragsdale. “The client is a retired Wall Street executive and he was thrilled with the interest rate. This is a custom loan product for special borrowers with high value properties over $5,000,000.”

Completed in July of 2008, this spectacular estate compound harkens back to the Andalusian and Moroccan influences on the architecture of Montecito in the early 1920s. Though grand in proportion and in luxury of space, the home also exudes a sense of warmth, family and belonging.

Watermark was formed by Georgia Ragsdale and Elizabeth Braman, Esq. and serves clients in the development and real estate investment sector.

ABOUT WATERMARK FINANCIAL, INC.
Watermark Financial is an experienced financial lending team offering individuals and companies access to debt and equity financing for all their funding needs. Watermark secures the best available loan products and rates with access to a variety of nationwide investors and lending sources. Watermark’s proven expertise and client centered focus on custom solutions are how they close loans. Based upon the specifics of a project, Watermark will match a client’s request with the best financial products available.

To learn more, please visit www.watermarkfinancialgroup.com
For additional information or to schedule an interview with Georgia Ragsdale please contact Angela Hartman.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Angela Hartman
A Hartman Inc.
angela@ahartmaninc.com
direct: 323.650.9862
cell: 323.791.8226

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Pay Only What You Owe

An interview with David Seymour, Property Tax Assessment Reduction Specialist 

With Georgia Ragsdale, CEO Watermark Financial, Inc.

Q: David, with the decline in property values, you must see the world as a place where literally everyone needs your services.  Help me understand what you are able to do for homeowners. 

A: I think it is important that all property owners realize that there is a way to save property tax dollars during a down cycle when real estate values are decreasing.  While the government is quick to raise property taxes when home prices are booming, the Assessors’ Office rarely lowers assessment values when market prices fall.  My firm specializes in working with the Assessors’ Office to renegotiate property assessment values on behalf of homeowners so that their taxes are based on current market conditions rather than based on the original assessment values established at the time of purchase.

Q: What is the time frame for property owners to realize their likely savings?  

A: After and initial application and appeal are filed, the property owner should receive a refund within three to six months.

Q: Regarding commercial properties, please describe what kinds of declines you are seeing there? And do you take commercial properties through the same procedure as single family properties? 

A: While the real estate decline in commercial properties initially was not as severe as with single family homes or condos, recently we are finding that more and more commercial properties are qualifying for a reduction in property taxes.  The procedures for filing an appeal for a commercial property are similar to that of a single family residence, however, for commercial property far more market research and data is required to convince an appeal’s board that a lower tax assessment is justified. 

Q: What can someone do to get started with you today if they know their property values have taken a hit?

A: The easiest way for your clients to start the process would be to contact me with the property address they believe is entitled to a reduction and as a courtesy to Watermark Financial I will provide your client with an initial review for free. 

David Seymour is Red Flag Consulting Solutions’ founder and Chief Executive Analyst. David has succeeded in building businesses, increasing valuation and raising millions of investment dollars for start-ups, emerging and middle market companies.  David is a licensed attorney in California and has a master in business administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University.  He can be reached at (310) 403-7974 or through email at dseymour@redflagcs.com.