Posted on May 31, 2008 @ 8:57 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Just looked at our next Texas location and it rocks. Too early to spill the beans, but we’ll be putting our boots on the ground very soon. Hint: It’s on the A-List of areas having appreciated more than 7% in the last 12 months.
Also, a buddy living in another region has convinced me to fly up there to check out the ‘unreal deals’ available. Gee, haven’t heard that one before. Worth a flight and a day or two to find out though. We’ll see.
Off the cuff — follow me on twitter, I’m @BawldGuy. Just go to twitter.com — it’s free, and you’ll like it. Go to my profile and see who follows me and who I follow. If you do the same, you’ll find out what folks in the business around the country talk about with each other.
Also off the cuff here — so many of my clients have been sorely disappointed by the performance of mutual funds in their 401(k) plans. They complain how they’ve heard most of their adult lives how the returns were in the range of 8-12% annually, when their real life results haven’t reached even 5% yet. Now we have a 20 year study which proves just that. (More on that this week.)
No time here to expand on the thought, but it’s nice to finally have a 20 year study on which to fall back, know what I mean, Verne? Verne’s not laughing — guess he’s in mutual funds. Here’s the last train to Capital Growth for those San Diegans interested.
I’d love to talk with you about getting started with your own Purposeful Plan — one heading straight for a very cool retirement. You can find me by clickin’ here, then waiting for my always quick response. I need a fix, so hurry up, wouldya? Much appreciated.
So it’s Saturday, which means there’s a video, right? Then I put ‘train’ in the title, geez. Settled on The Monkees, a band for whom I’m still in the dark. How in Aunt Millie’s old robe did they ever do so well? Dateline should do an investigation, ‘cuz there’s gotta be a conspiracy buried somewhere. Anyway, it so happens they did have a song about a train, so that’s the one I’m usin’. Sorry in advance.
Posted on May 26, 2008 @ 11:47 am - Written by BawldGuy
I’ve seen spontaneous welcome home airport scenes like this three separate times. Everyone of them had me wiping tears. The looks of surprise, gratitude, and pride in the soldiers’ faces was beyond powerful. There’s not a uniform in my field of sight that’s ever allowed to pass without a simple, “Thanks for your service.”
Wanna make your year? The next time you see a small (large?) group of soldiers in a restaurant, quietly pick up their tab. Do it anonymously, ‘cuz it’s about them, not us. Every opportunity to show our heartfelt appreciation should be acted upon.
You may never know the impact a simple act of appreciation might have on a returning soldier. They’ve more than earned our respect and admiration. Openly demonstrating our appreciation for the sacrifices they’ve made is, in my mind, an obligation we share as Americans, as we benefit from the freedom for which they put their lives on the line.
The first video is a much viewed airport scene of a spontaneous response to soldiers returning home.
The next video is, in my opinion, the all time best rendition of our Star Spangled Banner. At the end, when she’s walking off, watch and listen to the sound of freedom in a fly over. I’ve never heard it done better, and I’d like to hear your thoughts — on both videos.
Thanks you to all the military folks out there, and the veterans who’ve made my life of freedom possible. I’m forever in your debt.
Posted on May 24, 2008 @ 8:24 pm - Written by BawldGuy
This past week, and throughout all of the coming week or two Brown and Brown clients have been and will be closing escrows. Every single client is acquiring multiple properties with 10-20% down payments — with a fixed rate of 6%.
Wait just a doggone minute here! Real estate investors can’t do that any more, can they? Ah, yeah, they can. I keep tellin’ you. Stop drinkin’ MSM’s (mainstream media) Kool-Aid. While from every corner we’re being told what we can’t do, we’ve been doin’ it.
I’ve had clients tell me right up ’till they get confirmation of closing, that the loan won’t materialize. “Hadn’t I been following the news lately?” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on May 18, 2008 @ 11:38 pm - Written by BawldGuy
As I wrote earlier this week, I’m in Phoenix for Unchained. Though I’m an ‘instructor’ here, their word, not mine, the opportunity to learn is almost overwhelming. I’m not a tech guy by any stretch of the imagination, but some of these folks? If I studied what they did for a year, I still wouldn’t no what they’ve forgotten. You can’t put a value on that, ‘cuz if you did, nobody could afford it.
It affects how I do business and the value I’m able to offer my clients. It’s a huge deal. Already there are folks showing me how to bring Brown and Brown’s service to higher and more effective levels — always a good thing. We’re always looking to improve what we deliver to our clients. Good enough, simply isn’t good enough, know what I mean, Verne?
Our main concern is always measured in terms of end results for our clients. Let’s just say I’m jazzed within an inch of my life after what I’ve seen and heard today. And there are still a couple days left. We’re gonna get even better.
Very cool.
Though I’m on the agenda for Tuesday morning, it pales in comparison to the learning I’ve been afforded here. I’d love to walk away after my turn in the barrel knowing I was at least able to match the Gold Standard set so far.
I don’t know who the smartest person in the room is, but it certainly hasn’t been me. Some of these tech people make me feel like Forrest Gump’s slow little brother. Geez.
Posted on May 18, 2008 @ 12:42 am - Written by BawldGuy
I’ll be one of the panel members of Unchained, which is a conference for real estate pros, related venders, and marketing types, both social and otherwise. Sound a tad ambiguous? It’s the best I can do. It’s all about how to be excellent if that helps any. It’s put on by Greg Swann and Brian Brady over at BloodhoundBlog. Greg’s the proud owner, while Brian is a contributing writer, as am I.
One of the subjects sure to come up is the economy and real estate specifically. I have some thoughts to offer. Take a deep breath or two and your shock will dissipate.
I mentioned earlier this year how historically, in bad real estate times, one of the signs a recovery might be on the way, is the gathering of what I call the Godzillas. I define Godzillas as investors, people or entities, bringing a minimum of $50 Million to the table. I spoke of one such group having raised near $1 Billion. This is now happening in several sectors of the real estate market — both by type and geography. They’re surveying the lender landscape, and like much of what they see.
What has given huge encouragement to me personally is what’s emerging from lenders — it appears, one by one, they’re beginning to pull their heads out…(you finish this one). What am I talking about?
Many sophisticated real estate investors have been quietly buying bad loans from lenders at impressive discounts. Ironically what makes this encouraging isn’t that they’re being purchased. No — what’s so cool about this is that the lenders are finally facing the music everyone else has been playing. They’re bitin’ the bullet and clearing the shelves of all their rotten apples. This is what’s often referred to as cleansing the market — indeed. And that’s exactly what this will do.
I’ve been working on a post regarding this topic for several days, when up pops Sean, a sporadic commenter here. He’s seen this trend surfacing too, wanting to know my thoughts. Good on you Sean.
Bottom line? This is an exceptionally good thing.
When the banks begin selling their ‘defective merchandise’ at the swapmeets, the cleanse is officially in overdrive.
