We asked you what you thought about “affordable housing” this month (page 13) and received an array of answers.
It’s the hot button around the real estate and construction industries these days (mold seems to have go the way of radon and solar energy as the big topic.)
Affordable housing sounds good. It has social connotations and certainly is politically correct. But, will it go the way of “affirmative action” and other lip-service topics?
If we’re going to have affordable housing, let’s see some real plans from someone. If we’re going to use the term to campaign against impact fees and other bugaboos in our industry, let’s quit faking it and send the money to Habitat for Humanity, which truly is making housing affordable from those who can’t afford it.
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Hope you enjoy reading about Jeff Cooper
(page 1) and his new book (page 5).
Putting big thoughts in quick statements is as old as the book of Proverbs ...
“Who so keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (21:23)
... and as recent as Will Rogers:
“Whoever wrote the Ten Commandments made ‘em short. They may not always be kept but they can be understood.”
... and as modern as country music titles:
“My wife ran away with my best friend, and I miss him.”
My favorite bit of advice from Cooper:
“People can’t see what you eat, only what you wear. Eat hash and buy good clothes.”
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A new year brings new leaders all over the area. We’ve already profiled a few, there are a few more this month and we’ll finish up next month.
These people are spending a lot of their time helping your profession; there is almost nothing in it for them. Time is money in real estate and construction, and time spent organizing meetings doesn’t spend at the bank.
So, let’s all appreciate what others are doing on our behalf.
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When we started talking to people about selling million-dollar homes, we thought we’d be getting into a fancy part of the industry. Sort of like having Maine lobster on the menu instead of Florida shrimp.
Turns out that it’s not much difference being up there in the clouds. It may take longer and it certainly costs more to handle, and the commissions certainly are better, but selling houses seems to be selling houses, no matter what.
Bet a lot of us would like to see a commission check on a seven-figure house, though.
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A internet company called E*Trade conducts quarterly surveys and reports 57 percent of the 1,800 polled said they find real estate investments more viable than stocks.
The only surprise here: why just 57 percent?
9/11 was bad enough, but the ongoing stories of greedy CEOs seems to have left the stock market has been worse for stockbrokers.
Get it while it’s hot.
— Fred Seely is the editorial director of Bailey
Publishing & Communications Inc. He can be reached at [email protected].