I will admit that I truly fear the Obamanomics of the next four years...but, it is what it is. McCain lost, and we now have a new president, and we need to make the best of it. If you were for Obama, congrats... Time will tell.
So, what next? Let's get back to work. Let's get back to buying and selling, and living, and loving. This is America, and whether we like the president or not is irrelevant. We are Americans and we agree to disagree and move on. We get back to business and go after our goals. There is no room for hatred, angst, or regret. We should pray for our leaders, hope the very best for them, and then, keep an eye on them.
I will say this for all to see: I will admit I was wrong if Obama does a good job. I will watch his administration, pray for him and all of his staff, and hope that he implements good ideas and sound policies. And, after all is said and done, if we prosper, and taxes do not go up, I will admit that I was wrong. I will begin trying to see the "center" a bit more clearly, and seek to understand.
The following has nothing to do with real estate....
I will also say this regarding the social issues of Homosexual rights and abortion - he is dead wrong. I have no problem with any person living they way they want to within the law. If someone chooses to pursue relationships with the same sex, that is their decision. But I do not have to agree that it is normal, or equal to the way we were design to relate sexually. Homosexuality is a deviate choice just as much as pedophilia and adultery, and alcoholism... it is a choice that a person makes, and it is a deviate choice. And they will face God someday... that is their choice. If someone were to ask me my opinion, I will express it. But I also know some homosexuals and I get along fine with them and I care about them. It is not my place to pass judgment. I am called to love all people, and pray for them, and be available to tell them about Jesus, if the opportunity arises.
As For abortion - that is dead wrong - literally. Life begins at conception. It is not arguable.
The reason I bring this up is because I really do not think that you can simply separate social issues from economic ones. If we believe the Old Testament, and I do, we see that God judged His people when they turned from Him. He allowed ungodly leaders to take His Chosen People into captivity and be destroyed - the good with the bad... Some were spared, but many people suffered incredibly. America has been very prosperous, and I believe that we have decided as a whole that we do not need God butting into our business. It is possible that Obama is part of the judgment... we may suffer greatly due to our rejection of holiness and righteousness. Prosperity has made us selfish and arrogant.
Well.. that is enough ranting... I really hope I am wrong, and I hope Obama makes right decisions and the country is blessed. Either way, I am going back to work, and I will keep praying for prosperity AND righteousness. I hope you will all join me in that task.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Fall of America?
That sounds pretty dramatic... I know. But, if you are honest, and if you study history, you will see some disturbing parallels to other Empires that have fallen. Namely, Rome. When Rome fell, they were at their largest expanse, had vast amounts of capital, and saw no end in sight. They had no need for God, and basically, asked Him to leave. So, God did. And without His blessing, the Empire of Rome collapsed. From lack of morals, lack of direction and purpose, lack of meaning. Rome was engulfed in "self". So, the Empire essentially imploded.
If we take an honest look at American politics, we will see similar "lackings". Morals? Not to be found on Capital Hill. Direction and purpose? You got it: Self. Every politician on both sides of the aisle are serving self. Sure, they talk a good talk, but the evidence is very clear that the vast majority of the people we pay to "serve" us are really serving only themselves. There are some that line up with our own agenda better, so they appear to be less self-serving, but the bottom line is that there are very few "public servants" left.
Machiavelli wrote over 400 years ago about this: A "Representative Republic" is the best and the worst type of government. Essentially, he said that, in theory, a Democratic state such as ours now is (supposedly) would eventually implode. His theory was based on the fact that when "public servants" can manipulate laws to improve their status, and decide how much to pay themselves, and all that entails, that eventually (he actually estimated 200 years) those in power would gain too much power and the end result would be revolution. That is why he preferred the Government of "The Prince". He imagined a person who was in charge of everything, and if that person were truly virtuous, there would be a perfect state. Of course, he admitted the likelihood of this was remote...
To the point: America is not unshakable, as we have recently seen. But it also seems America is arrogant and unwilling to do what it takes to correct its course. Here is what I truly believe will save us:
1. Let God back in. Yes, the Bible... let people freely believe what Jesus has said and let them talk about it at work, at school, and in the government without mocking them, firing them or suspending them.
2. Cut by at least 50% all the pay for all congressman, senators, and everyone else in public service (not at the local level - for the most part, they are underpaid.) I mean cut their pay, their benefits, and their budgets. This way, only those who truly want to serve because they love America will WANT to serve. Don't make it so lucrative.
3. Cut Government spending drastically. Cut out welfare except for only the truly disabled. Put a limit on the time anyone able-bodied can receive any funds - down to 90 days per calendar year.
4. Provide an alternative income tax - a flat tax any person can pay instead of reporting every single penny spent... If someone wants to continue doing their taxes as it is today, fine.. but it may make more sense to give them an alternative.. If I was told just pay 20% of my total income instead of working all those hours to provide all the documentation, I'd pay the 20% and forget about it.
5. Prohibit government from borrowing any more money. They need to "live with in their means." The interest payments alone that will be saved would be incredible.
6. Punish Media reporters who lie. (I am not really sure how that could be done.. they all are biased... I just was hoping...)
To close, I will say that I am voting Republican this year. I believe strongly that Obama's liberal fiscal plans will push America into even a deeper tailspin. I am unhappy with John McCain, but when you can only choose between two, this year, the choice is incredibly obvious. Oh, don't believe the liberal media -- they have been wrong three elections in a row...
If we take an honest look at American politics, we will see similar "lackings". Morals? Not to be found on Capital Hill. Direction and purpose? You got it: Self. Every politician on both sides of the aisle are serving self. Sure, they talk a good talk, but the evidence is very clear that the vast majority of the people we pay to "serve" us are really serving only themselves. There are some that line up with our own agenda better, so they appear to be less self-serving, but the bottom line is that there are very few "public servants" left.
Machiavelli wrote over 400 years ago about this: A "Representative Republic" is the best and the worst type of government. Essentially, he said that, in theory, a Democratic state such as ours now is (supposedly) would eventually implode. His theory was based on the fact that when "public servants" can manipulate laws to improve their status, and decide how much to pay themselves, and all that entails, that eventually (he actually estimated 200 years) those in power would gain too much power and the end result would be revolution. That is why he preferred the Government of "The Prince". He imagined a person who was in charge of everything, and if that person were truly virtuous, there would be a perfect state. Of course, he admitted the likelihood of this was remote...
To the point: America is not unshakable, as we have recently seen. But it also seems America is arrogant and unwilling to do what it takes to correct its course. Here is what I truly believe will save us:
1. Let God back in. Yes, the Bible... let people freely believe what Jesus has said and let them talk about it at work, at school, and in the government without mocking them, firing them or suspending them.
2. Cut by at least 50% all the pay for all congressman, senators, and everyone else in public service (not at the local level - for the most part, they are underpaid.) I mean cut their pay, their benefits, and their budgets. This way, only those who truly want to serve because they love America will WANT to serve. Don't make it so lucrative.
3. Cut Government spending drastically. Cut out welfare except for only the truly disabled. Put a limit on the time anyone able-bodied can receive any funds - down to 90 days per calendar year.
4. Provide an alternative income tax - a flat tax any person can pay instead of reporting every single penny spent... If someone wants to continue doing their taxes as it is today, fine.. but it may make more sense to give them an alternative.. If I was told just pay 20% of my total income instead of working all those hours to provide all the documentation, I'd pay the 20% and forget about it.
5. Prohibit government from borrowing any more money. They need to "live with in their means." The interest payments alone that will be saved would be incredible.
6. Punish Media reporters who lie. (I am not really sure how that could be done.. they all are biased... I just was hoping...)
To close, I will say that I am voting Republican this year. I believe strongly that Obama's liberal fiscal plans will push America into even a deeper tailspin. I am unhappy with John McCain, but when you can only choose between two, this year, the choice is incredibly obvious. Oh, don't believe the liberal media -- they have been wrong three elections in a row...
Monday, September 29, 2008
To Buy, or Not to Buy... now that's a Question!
The financial crisis in the US, no matter where the blame falls, has caused an over-abundance of foreclosures on the market, in many areas of the United States. The national buzz is that homes are being bought for 50 cents on the dollar... Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your perspective, that simply is not true in San Antonio. So let's talk about it:
Through misfortune or fraud, an owner loses their home to the lender through the foreclosure process. Depending on the bank, they are now trying to sell an asset to offset the loss of the foreclosure itself. The process of foreclosure is expensive. They have to hire an appraiser, a local asset manager, an inspector, pay for some repairs (sometimes), and then maintain the home while it is being sold. So the lender not only lost money through the defaulted loan, they are losing money daily through the process of selling the home. They usually hire an asset manager and a Realtor, and sometimes that is the same company. The process is somewhat burdensome, and costly. So, do you really think they will just price it 30% below market and dump it? Think about it... that really makes no sense.
What the lenders are doing when hiring the Realtors and asset managers is positioning themselves to sell the home for the very most money they can, just like any other seller. The difference is that they are not obligated to disclose anything about the house, and they are not liable for defects after closing. So, the market analysis and appraisals are done, and the home is placed on the market at fair market value, or slightly less. Typically, the lender has standard procedures to market at one price, and reduce the price should they not sell it at that price - usually there is a 30 day analysis, and price adjustment if deemed necessary. This goes on until it is sold. Through the research I have done, there really is no rhyme or reason as to why one home sells for market value or for substantially under market value. Sometimes it is the neighborhood, sometimes its their marketing strategy - or lack thereof. In any case, my point is that you cannot say all foreclosures are a good deal... so you need to be very, very careful.
So, here is the push of this whole commentary: if you are looking to buy a home, include foreclosures in your search. It is every bit equally possible that someone may price their home below market because they need to sell, and that may be the best deal for you... better than any foreclosure. The foreclosure home is completely "as is", while you may have some recourse if you discover a defect when buying from an individual owner. There is no rule in real estate. Everything is numbers until it is you writing the check. Bottom line is that you need an expert to work through all the data and options to be sure that you are making a solid investment.
Therefore - if you are looking in San Antonio, or around San Antonio, you can call me. I have been selling homes and investment properties locally for over 14 years. I will give you my honest opinion. I can give you testimonials from my clients, who have said they are very, very happy they chose to work with me. Give me a call. 210-979-0111
Through misfortune or fraud, an owner loses their home to the lender through the foreclosure process. Depending on the bank, they are now trying to sell an asset to offset the loss of the foreclosure itself. The process of foreclosure is expensive. They have to hire an appraiser, a local asset manager, an inspector, pay for some repairs (sometimes), and then maintain the home while it is being sold. So the lender not only lost money through the defaulted loan, they are losing money daily through the process of selling the home. They usually hire an asset manager and a Realtor, and sometimes that is the same company. The process is somewhat burdensome, and costly. So, do you really think they will just price it 30% below market and dump it? Think about it... that really makes no sense.
What the lenders are doing when hiring the Realtors and asset managers is positioning themselves to sell the home for the very most money they can, just like any other seller. The difference is that they are not obligated to disclose anything about the house, and they are not liable for defects after closing. So, the market analysis and appraisals are done, and the home is placed on the market at fair market value, or slightly less. Typically, the lender has standard procedures to market at one price, and reduce the price should they not sell it at that price - usually there is a 30 day analysis, and price adjustment if deemed necessary. This goes on until it is sold. Through the research I have done, there really is no rhyme or reason as to why one home sells for market value or for substantially under market value. Sometimes it is the neighborhood, sometimes its their marketing strategy - or lack thereof. In any case, my point is that you cannot say all foreclosures are a good deal... so you need to be very, very careful.
So, here is the push of this whole commentary: if you are looking to buy a home, include foreclosures in your search. It is every bit equally possible that someone may price their home below market because they need to sell, and that may be the best deal for you... better than any foreclosure. The foreclosure home is completely "as is", while you may have some recourse if you discover a defect when buying from an individual owner. There is no rule in real estate. Everything is numbers until it is you writing the check. Bottom line is that you need an expert to work through all the data and options to be sure that you are making a solid investment.
Therefore - if you are looking in San Antonio, or around San Antonio, you can call me. I have been selling homes and investment properties locally for over 14 years. I will give you my honest opinion. I can give you testimonials from my clients, who have said they are very, very happy they chose to work with me. Give me a call. 210-979-0111
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bush Words
Twelve and 1/2 minutes of intensity. I am a Realtor, and I didn't think it was that bad. Maybe because San Antonio seems to be bucking the trend, or maybe because I am usually a very positive person. It isn't that I missed it.. it has been a rough year. Every deal is taking twice as much work to get closed, but I am closing deals. I guess we're not in Kansas anymore...
The problem is complex, as is the solution. The solution is expensive, but failure to act will be more expensive. While I have my opinions on what needs to happen, smarter and wiser people need to lay down their swords of partisanship, and get real honest about what needs to be done. This isn't about who is smarter, this is about masterminding a real solution that wont bring up more problems later. I think President Bush is wise to bring the Senators in and get a broad perspective. I honestly am not worried about him doing the right thing, I am worried about the politicos... Obama is such a ego-maniac, I just see him trying to one-up everyone. Not that I think McCain has the answer either.. but that is my point.
The solution is a high clash of ideas with a low clash of egos. We need real patriots right now. We need men to be honorable, honest, and candid. We need a vastly varied array of perspectives and input, and then we need a bold answer that will meet this challenge and bring stability back to our country.
I think it is possible, but I fear that the solution will have pork in it, and that afterwards, these men will dance around the stage with their chest s fully out, strutting about with the fact that they saved the country. As I said before, I am usually optimistic, but the current state of our politics has me quite concerned. I see very few people that love the country abouve themselves. And it makes me sad.
We shall soon see what comes about. Let us all pray that humbler hearts will win, and true patriotism rules the day.
The problem is complex, as is the solution. The solution is expensive, but failure to act will be more expensive. While I have my opinions on what needs to happen, smarter and wiser people need to lay down their swords of partisanship, and get real honest about what needs to be done. This isn't about who is smarter, this is about masterminding a real solution that wont bring up more problems later. I think President Bush is wise to bring the Senators in and get a broad perspective. I honestly am not worried about him doing the right thing, I am worried about the politicos... Obama is such a ego-maniac, I just see him trying to one-up everyone. Not that I think McCain has the answer either.. but that is my point.
The solution is a high clash of ideas with a low clash of egos. We need real patriots right now. We need men to be honorable, honest, and candid. We need a vastly varied array of perspectives and input, and then we need a bold answer that will meet this challenge and bring stability back to our country.
I think it is possible, but I fear that the solution will have pork in it, and that afterwards, these men will dance around the stage with their chest s fully out, strutting about with the fact that they saved the country. As I said before, I am usually optimistic, but the current state of our politics has me quite concerned. I see very few people that love the country abouve themselves. And it makes me sad.
We shall soon see what comes about. Let us all pray that humbler hearts will win, and true patriotism rules the day.
Friday, September 19, 2008
End of an Exciting week!
Whew!! I made it through another week of real estate. I have been selling homes for folks for the last 14 years, and there has never been a time like this. The market is flexing more than Arnold Schwarzenegger in front of a mirror! First the A-bombs of Merrill Lynch and Lehman Bros... then AIG, then the bailout... what's next? McDonald's going out of business??? (We are only talking about the last 7 days mind you...) It is difficult to stay on top of all of this.
So, what is the bottom line? First, let me say that my office now has 17% of the residential, single-family sales in the San Antonio MLS, according to the MLS statistics. So, even though the market is down, we are moving up. That's the god news for my buyers and sellers. The San Antonio market is down 21% from last year same month. So, the market is definitely down... no one can claim we aren't feeling it. The odd thing is average sales prices are up, though units are down. I think what is happening is that a lot of the remaining qualified buyers are buying bigger homes to maximize on their profits when the home prices go back up.. which they will ... some day... Also, a lot of higher end homes have hit the market, many of them selling, but selling at a loss. In other words, when the market gets tough, those who own the most expensive real estate feel it first. Let's face it, if you loose your job and your overhead is 8000/month, it takes a lot less time to get in serious trouble than when your monthly nut is $1000. Either way, losing a job draws air rapidly, but that would explain the abundance of homes over $500K in our MLS.
Wow! Too much to analyze. It is just too much. If you go searching the web, you will find plenty of opinions on all sides of the issues. So, my advice? If you want to buy a home more than 30% more expensive than your current home, this is a great market. Sure, you will sell for a little less, but you will more than make it up on the buy. There are a lot of great deal in the market over $400,000. (Before you pull the pin, let me do a CMA on your current home and do an analysis on the potential gains... then you'll go in with your eyes open wide.) If you don't need to sell - stay put. It may take a year, or even two, but it will get better. If you must sell, or if you are in trouble - call me right away. I'll give you all the information you need to make the best decision you can for you and yours...
As always though, Real Estate is still the safest place for your money long term. If you look at the history of home prices, overall, they always go up... I guess it boils down to timing.
Have a Real great day!
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