Could the Fed’s decision NOT to raise rates be basically an admission this “recovery” is a farce? If the economy can’t absorb even a token rate increase, it must be FAR from robust. As we’ve discussed, there’s simply not enough income (productivity) to service all the debt. It’s like a sub-prime borrower using a teaser rate to squeeze […]
The Fed FINALLY admits it… Read More »
Will the Fed Raise Interest Rates? Global stock markets continue to convulse as participants and pundits try to divine whether Janet Yellen will really pull the trigger and raise interest rates. Our bet is no. Or if so, maybe by only a quarter point (25 basis points in bank-speak) just to prove the Fed hasn’t
The Fed’s Plan Revealed… Read More »
Think about the role money has in your daily life… As real estate investors, we buy, rent, sell and refinance…all to acquire dollars…which is currently the money de jour. And because, since 1944 the dollar has served as the world’s reserve currency, the health of the dollar affects virtually everyone…everywhere. Lately, we’ve seen a lot of headlines
03/22/15: The Death of Money – A Conversation with Jim Rickards Read More »
Commercial real estate can be a leading indicator of broader economic trends…especially employment, which is very important to real estate investors. Because when businesses are optimistic, they lease space to house more people and accommodate growth. Likewise, when businesses are pessimistic, they don’t add space, renew leases or accept rental increases (important if you’re the
10/4/14: Tracking Trends in Commercial Real Estate and the Broader Economy Read More »
U.S. home ownership is around a 19 year low…banks are lowering their standards for jumbo loans…millennials aren’t buying houses…and the middle class is moving inland to more affordable markets. Other than that, there’s not a lot going on. 😉 But what do all these headlines mean to everyday real estate investors? Behind the shiny silver
8/3/14: Clues in the News – Banks, Millennials, the Middle Class and Interest Rates Read More »
Love him or hate him, Peter Schiff always speaks his mind. We happen to love him. Not only do we admire his courage in trusting his own judgment… even when all the “experts” say he’s wrong, but we appreciate his willingness to explain his reasoning to anyone interested enough to listen. For those that don’t
6/22/14: Stop, Go or Proceed with Caution – A Conversation with Peter Schiff Read More »
As market mariners, we’re always watching the financial waves to know which way the wind is blowing and whether a swell is headed our way. After discovering the painful price of myopia in 2008, we’re not only diligently watching the horizon, but we spend a lot more time talking to smart people from a variety
1/12/14: Booms, Busts and Bubbles – Watching Market Cycles Read More »
Because the US dollar is the reserve currency of the world, what happens in Washington DC and at the Federal Reserve has a big effect on the rest of the world. Likewise, how the world responds to Washington and the Fed affects the strength of the US dollar, which in turn affects interest rates. And
10/13/13: Government Shutdown and Debt Ceiling Debate – Ramifications for Investors Read More »
We like real estate. We think real estate is a GREAT investment…maybe the BEST investment. BUT (and yes, it’s a big bubble of a but), not all real estate is the same. And not all real estate markets are the same. And not all real estate market booms are the same. So, because we’ve been
9/15/13: Clues in the News: Fools Rush In – Beware the Jobless Recovery Read More »
Gold, oil, interest rates, the dollar and the Dow. These are just a few of the many market indicators captains of investment funds watch. But what, if any, importance do these items have for real estate investors? In the studio to muse on the meaning of moving market metrics: Your captain of conversation, Robert Helms
7/7/13: Moving Market Metrics and What They Mean to Real Estate Investors Read More »