The real estate blog.

For the experience, one of my favorite and scariest roller coasters in existence is the Wild Mouse at Lagoon in Utah. It’s unique in that the cars are small, but the ride is extraordinary.

It’s had several incantations and I may be projecting an older version on the newer one, but here’s what I remember - this ride will take you to the edge of oblivion and then at the very last second jerk you back to a higher and more exhilarating drop. At the end of it all you feel lucky to have survived, but you can’t wait to do it again.

Welcome to Wall Street this past week.

It began with a proposed bailout to protect the backbone of U.S. mortgage lending and ended with huge gains for the very same stocks that supposedly needed bailed out.

At the end of it all,

we had been the the edge of the abyss, but somehow managed to be saved and even up. The cost? Mortgage rates. At the beginning of the week they seemed destined to head lower. By the end, they were the highest they’ve been for a year. All in one week.

The upcoming week will be pivotal. Those bearish or bullish on the economy will find themselves making critical decisions. Attitudes and sentiment will lie in the balance.

I fear that for Wall Street to recover, a deal with the devil will have to be made. Higher stock prices for higher interest rates? Better returns on equities for lower returns on commodities? The bears and bulls have staked their positions, but the Wild Mouse will have the final say. Where that ends up, nobody knows.