[IronKettle]

Also worth noting that this was somewhat of a plot point in The Big Short:

* A GS employee scoffs at Christian Bale's character (Burry) for saying that he actually investigated the mortgages that comprised a few CDOs

* Steve Carrell's team goes down to Miami to meet realtors and mortgage buyers

[shostack]

That was one of the best scenes in the movie IMHO. Personally, I also had no idea that level of investigation took place. This strikes me as similar to how energy trading firms will pay for thermal imaging data of power lines and such to gain an edge, or how other companies look at satellite imagery of parking lots to predict retail performance.

[hguant]

Which makes sense - when you're dealing with that much money, (and working in an environment where lying and sweeping things under the rug are viewed as valuable skills) it's irresponsible NOT to go and see what's going on with your own eyes, or to employ some third party to do so for you.

[shostack]

That was one of the best scenes in the movie IMHO. Personally, I also had no idea that level of investigation took place. This strikes me as similar to how energy trading firms will pay for thermal imaging data of power lines and such to gain an edge.