Sheila Bair

“It's a decision that needs to make sense for you financially, and for some people, it won't.”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair said decisions about debt need to make financial sense for the individual, and for some they will not.

“I try to avoid talking about 'good debt' now,”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair said she avoids the 'good debt' label and urges borrowers to presume against debt.

“A lot of the folks that had those subprime mortgages didn't understand what they were getting,”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair said many subprime mortgage borrowers before the 2008 crisis did not understand what they were getting into.

“Make sure your mortgage is affordable before you do anything else, and make sure you're going to be there for many years, because home prices over time will appreciate in value, but they go up and down,”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair advised ensuring mortgage affordability and planning to stay in the home for many years as prices fluctuate.

“I think your presumption should always be against debt ... it's a burden on your financial future, and there are a lot of ways it's marketed that make it look like it's not.”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair said debt is a burden on one's financial future and is often marketed as less risky than it is.

“Young people shouldn't feel pressured to buy a home or borrow to go to college,”

Sheila Bair · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-15

Bair said young people should not feel pressured into buying a home or borrowing for college.