Posted on April 26, 2008 @ 9:24 pm - Written by BawldGuy
From back in the day, comes one of those memory pingin’ songs — Barbara Ann, by The Beach Boys.
It reminds me of my first Saturday in the business as an 18 year old Know It All who in reality was a Know A Whole Buncha Not Much.
Here in Paradise, it was in the upper 80’s today. The Boss decided Cuban food was in order for dinner. This, after enjoying a lazy afternoon leaving voice mails in Texas and Canada, and reading my latest novel in the satellite office down the street. In wanders a couple of my all time favorite clients. Seems a trip to their New Hampshire condo in the ‘village’ is on next week’s agenda. The two donuts made the day perfect.
Works for me. If there’s a better life than living in San Diego and helpin’ folks retire magnificently, I wouldn’t know what it would be. The cherry on another Saturday in Paradise? Runnin’ across the Barbara Ann, and driftin’ back to that Saturday back in ‘69. Ah, good times.
Sit back and relax, crank yer speakers up a bit, and listen to one of the all time memory pingers.
Posted on April 12, 2008 @ 1:29 pm - Written by BawldGuy
I hesitated more than a little before publishing this post, as it’s never my intention to make folks feel badly, even if unintentionally. The thoughts in this post come from a good place in my heart. The San Diego (or Palo Alto?) real estate investors owning income property have seen the changes happening in real time. I’ll confess my slowness in seeing the writing on the wall here. Let’s face it — we’ve been spoiled since, well, forever.
What’s been more resilient than California real estate? There are some regions sporting a similar track record, but when the roll is called, it sure doesn’t take very long. We, me included, have been lulled into a false sense of security by decade after decade of solid if not spectacular returns on our investments here.
Still, it’s not that the page has turned, but the book, and therefore the story and its ending has been changed.
This is the weekend, so I’m having some fun at San Diego’s expense, and mine too, to be sure. 20/20 hindsight tells me Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on March 16, 2008 @ 3:14 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Taking a break from real estate today, I’ve been watchin’ the tube and wondering what my friends Lani and Chris are feeling as they watch from Austin and Kansas City. Watch what? Kansas vs Texas for the Big 12 men’s basketball championship, that’s all. Yawn. I’ve been watching between documentaries on foot fungus and the care and feeding of hairless Mongolian rats.
Kansas won — whoohoo! Sorry Lani.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, The Boss left for work, her 121st (or thereabouts) consecutive day without a day off. She’s living a good news/bad news joke. Her new bridal store in Mission Valley is growing in leaps and bounds, having begun paying for itself at the beginning of her third month, something nearly unheard of in retail circles for a small startup.
NOTE: For those who do not understand who The Boss is, I don’t have time to explain marriage to you.
When we first met it wasn’t long before I knew a move had to be made. Good on the Bawld One — she felt likewise. Fortunately she loves baseball, which would have been a deal killer otherwise. She thinks like a man which makes things way more better — a lot easier too.
Anywho, today I thought it’d be nice to put one of ‘our’ songs here just ‘cuz I can. I could tell you why such a song is special to us, but then I’d hafta kill ya. Some of my friends can ask, (those who were there will not forget) but they’ll have to ply me with at least a lunch at Casa de Pico to loosen these lips. The saga actually unfolded at one of our all time favorite places to let it all hang out, McP’s in Coronado.
The Offbeats, our favorite local rock ‘n roll cover band plays there often. Their version of this song is, in my opinion, better than the original by far. It was on one of those Friday or Saturday nights at McP’s, The Boss had the real estate gals in our long running traveling road show wide eyed. Louie Louie had been officially replaced.
So here’s to The Boss, working on Sunday while feeling like Death on a Cracker. Women are ssoooo much tougher than men.
Posted on March 15, 2008 @ 1:38 am - Written by BawldGuy
If you’ve never been to a Saturday night Padres home game when we have the lead (yeah, I said we — deal with it) going into the top of the 9th, the anticipation is something you have to experience yourself. The excitement begins to rumble through the stands as the last out of the 8th is made, and the Padres begin taking the field. Slowly but surely over 40,000 fans begin to stand, impatient for what’s about to happen for almost the 500th time in Padre history.
What am I talking about?
Trevor Time — When Trevor Hoffman bursts from the Padre bullpen and runs to the mound. Hells Bells is played on speakers Grandma would never approve of somewhere above the level of an F-16 taking off. It’s at this point the crowd loses its collective mind in unison. It’s been copied with different songs around the league, but nobody comes close to Trevor Time and Hells Bells.
And yes, I know he blew a save that would’ve put us in the National League Championship Series last October. We’re over it — and remain loyal to Trevor and the Padres.
BawldGuy Axiom: The Padres will win a World Series before I turn 100. I believe that, I really do.
Here’s a taste of what’s coming soon to your team when they visit. Crank yer speakers up to 10, sit back, and enjoy. Baseball’s back!
Posted on March 9, 2008 @ 10:25 pm - Written by BawldGuy
The Boss says to say hi to the very cool couple from Gilroy who came into her store the other day. Turns out they’ve been here before — Hi Guys. Come on back, y’hear?
Also, had the good fortune to run into Cher this afternoon at my satellite office. She graciously allowed me the pleasure of buying her a drink. Unlike me, it took her about 10 seconds to finish ordering it — not to mention another few minutes cooling her heels while they made the dang thing. Starbucks is a coffee house, right?
I’ve been thinking how this market correction is different than the others I’ve experienced — survived? This one is different, at least for places like San Diego. How? The investment real estate — income property to be specific — is now at such high prices, even after this correction, that it now takes 35-50% down payments to force them to make sense. Time isn’t gonna cure this — and if that’s the argument, why would you invest in San Diego now? Your argument has to conclude prices falling more. If that happens how long would you have you been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the pretty girl to come back and smile at you?
She’s not there, and she ain’t comin’ back. I tried to tell folks, but only some would listen. The predictable return of boom times for San Diego investment property is a thing of the past. She’s not there, and she’s not comin’ back. Nobody told you? I tried like crazy, and am still doin’ my best to convince you.
The metaphor of boom times as gorgeous lady now gone — even if she comes back — you won’t want her any more. So realize you can’t find her for a good reason — She’s Not There. (The bad lighting disappears in about 8-10 seconds.)
Had a phone conference last week with a northern california investor. Seemed he wanted me to lie to him, and telling him appreciation wasn’t gonna leave him. It’s gonna be like it was before. As the conversation continued it became clear my part was to continue the fantasy. He wasn’t happy to hear the truth — appreciation is fickle and comes and goes as she pleases. Still he kept saying — ‘Lie To Me’ — tell me insane appreciation will never leave me again. Tell me everything’s alright.
This market is and has been offering very solid real estate investment opportunities — just not in California and places like it. Even in the brutally burning sun of a market correction you can find Smooth places to safely and prudently invest. This is how that looks and sounds. It’s fun, it’s liberating, and it lifts our spirits — not to mention our net worth. Turn up the volume and enjoy — see you tomorrow.
