Another Phenomenal Day in America…….
Phenomenal because our nation is slowly moving out of the slump!!!!! May 2009…have we not gained so much ground since 2007? Are we not better off now than in 2008…. Yes…. There is a “Die Hard Optimism” attitude amongst many in sales, well at least the one wanting to go for it!!!!!
Do you remember when Rudy Giuliani was running for The New York Senate after being Major of New York City? Rudy was planning to run against Hilary Clinton…and then what….. he went for a checkup and the doctor told him he has prostate cancer. He was devastated….His dad died from prostate cancer. Rudy spent time alone….. He said to himself , “ How can I be so well yesterday and today be so sick?” oh…then the Die Hard Optimist spirit of Rudy began to arise and he said oh no….yesterday I was so sick, and now today I have the opportunity to get well …..
How many of us react to bad news? Just like the economy…. Those who are Die Hard Optimists refuse to bow down to the stinking thinking.
I was recently with some people and I just sat and listened what they were saying….. I could not believe it… They were talking of how bad our economy is….. I dared not say anything….ok I did say something….. I could not just sit there….why because I had relationship with them….how could I keep my mouth shut!!! Come on, this in not 2008, this is May 2009.
Someone said how San Diego County was approaching the 10% unemployment mark, this is bad!
Ok, I had to speak out. “Well, I come from a country where there is 35 to 40% unemployment, and I can tell you they would love to have the 10% unemployment rate!!!! And anyway, you are welcome to focus on the 10%, but I am going to go for the 90%.....I am sure I will get more done with that focus. We should rejoice and celebrate the 90% and not be sucked in by the 10%.... Why do small things always distract us from the great and big things that are just waiting for us….
Well, to be honest with you, the 10% unemployment rate in San Diego County is not an accurate figure!.. This figure is so far from the truth. They forgot to consider or account for the large military in personnel San Diego. Miramar, the other naval base, oh, what about Camp Pendleton? Did any of these figures include the Illegal immigrant workers in San Diego County and believe me there are thousands of them…..I think I even know some of them…. Experts in this field have recently mentioned to me that San Diego County unemployment is more close to 5.5%...what????? yeah…..well that is if you take into account some of these other factors.
Most of the job losses have to do with construction. The manufacturing sector is doing ok, tourism is ok, the tech industry is doing fine and even the medical research and bio techs are still ok!!!! Well, at least not like Detroit!
Our new construction projects have just about come to a halt. Every $1 spent on new Construction produces another $2 for our local economy, so yes we are affected….. but hey…things will not stay this way!!! Some major condo communities such as Advantage may turn into the largest apartment rental projects. This is all part of our local restoration.
A very interesting study took place. The study looked at all the 90 zip codes in SAN Diego County. 10zip codes out of the 90 zip codes were found with significant foreclosures. The study included looking at tests scores of elementary schools throughout our county. A very interesting statistic was found. The zip codes which had the most foreclosed properties had the lowest elementary test score results. The zip codes with the least amount of foreclosed properties had the highest elementary test score results.
The real estate industry faces many challenges right now, but hey, so did Rudy Giuliani. Washington has been slow to respond to the restrictive Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac occupancy ratios and guidelines regarding lending in projects. When Washington reduces some of these strict requirements we will see a more stable flow in our industry and the market may move more from an investor’s market to the man on the street market.
So we are heading for some great times….yesterday we were sick, and today we have an opportunity to be healthy!!!!! Another Phenomenal Day in America
Watch for my next Blog on “Kartartismos”…to be published soon!!!!!
