February 2015 Monthly Letter

Happy Ground Hog Day! And while I am at it Happy Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the sheep. Well, in fact, it is the year of the goat. Political correctness and spin tells us it is the year of the sheep because the sheep is one

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January 2015 Monthly Letter

Happy New Year! As many of my long term readers remember, I put out the annual Gold Report each year with our forecast of the year ahead. As with many businesses, the internet with big data and instant access has kind of made the annual Gold Report forecast outdated. However,

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December 2014 Monthly Letter

“The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.” — Billy Graham Something that I have often observed throughout my 30 years in commercial real estate, is that top producers don’t spend much time complaining about how difficult it is to close transactions or make money

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November 2014 Monthly Letter

Some of you already know this but late in October, in my quest to run a marathon on all 7 continents, I knocked off South America by running in the Galapagos marathon. Sure 541,000 people a year cross the finish line in 1100 U.S. marathons. It is difficult – extraordinary,

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October 2014 Monthly Letter

As we approach Halloween and the political season moves into full swing, I have determined that Halloween is a holiday created by politicians because they want to teach children to knock on other people’s doors and ask for a handout! Despite my opinion, the average household plans to spend $125

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September 2014 Monthly Letter

 “There are those in life that make it happen. There are those that let it happen. and there are those that wonder – what the hell happened!” As school goes back into session, I am reminded that our economy is like high school – you survive it. Last week Fed

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August 2014 Monthly Letter

“Health is the slowest possible rate at which one can die.” I try to keep these kinds of thought in mind as my 53d birthday approaches this week and I pound out my morning runs and drink my green smoothies. Speaking of green and living a long time, people are

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July 2014 Monthly Letter

The number one issue affecting commercial real estate in the near and long term? America’s growing energy independence – this according to Chicago based Counselors of Real Estate. Energy’s implications are twofold. Rising energy costs act like rising interest rates and put a damper on the economy and rent and

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June 2014 Monthly Letter

Once again our County and our real estate was tested by fire this month. I hope and pray that each of you and your family and your homes and properties were safe. One hundred years ago, the world suffered an even bigger surprise than our recent fires. Instead it was

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May 2014 Monthly Letter

“Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.” – Charles Sykes As I have preached many times, employment is the key component to real estate values (more people moving in than out and being employed). On the positive

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