S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

These are the times that try men’s souls. —Thomas Paine, The American Crisis (1776) During my 45 years in the real estate business I, like many, have suffered the slings and arrows of difficult times and enjoyed the successes that have most often outweighed them. Reflecting on the world today, and on several recessionary periods […]

Jack Jones, as he had done countless mornings before at the local Starbuck’s, stirred a little sugar into his first cup of “high test” and opened his Wall Street Journal to purvey the happenings of the day. The news remained mixed. The usual political and economic turmoil, oil production damaged by cancellation of the Keystone […]

Any article focusing on the hotel industry in today’s world is a daunting task. So much is happening with lightning speed that to stop for a moment and explain what is going on in this tsunami of change is almost impossible. The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant evolutionary period on many fronts. The impetus […]

Finding Creativity Editor’s Note:  Stephen Barker was the recipient of the 2017 Clifford P. Weaver Award, and this was his submission for the most creative transaction of the year.  The Society of Exchange Counselors presented Mr. Barker with the award on January 23, 2018. I did not have the opportunity to meet Cliff Weaver, as […]

As I travel around I can’t help notice the abundance of unsaleable land parcels scattered around the landscape of America. As we all have experienced, not all land parcels are located on Main Street USA. There are many land parcels inclusive of…

Everyone thinks Bill Gates popped together a hair dryer and a couple of old telephones in his garage one afternoon to build a computer. Far from it. Bill was obsessed as a boy by the computer. He snuck into the University of Washington computer labs and stayed late while still in grade and high school.

With the success of Harry Hustler’s debut as a speaker at a recent state NAR meeting, which he was invited to share and impart his long tenure real estate wisdom, Harry was asked to remain for a more e intimate round table discussion after the main festivities. Harry, uncomfortable with the modest notoriety, was however heartened that this extension and further definition of his business philosophy in the hope that it may help some looking for a new and different perspective to incorporate into their brokerage and real estate repertoire.

Harry Hustler, as he had done countless mornings before, stirred a little sugar into his first cup of Starbucks “high test” and opened his Wall Street Journal to purvey the business happenings of the day. The news remained bleak. Bernie Madoff gets 150 years in the crowbar hotel. GM can’t quite figure if it is a car company or a political operative. Iran is suppressing the masses. Unemployment continues to rise. Real estate continues to take a hit. Harry read on, getting his morning elixir of the economic mess our politicos, bankers and Wall Street friends have showered upon all of us within the last couple of years. However, in the economic strife-torn malaise of doomsday prognostications, Harry has remained comfortable in his circumstance, but unsettled by the unrest.

As we all know, it’s hard to fly like Superman not only when your cape is on fire, but when you have a portfolio filled with Debt laden properties that are ready to hit the proverbial lender graveyard. Historically, Debt has undermined many great fortunes. Among our founding fathers, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin, (and most of the other founding fathers) experienced the continual and unrelenting anxiety associated with maddening Debt.

The recently well attended S.E.C. meeting in Carefree, Arizona, was the epitome of a selfless collaboration of problem solving professionals. The treasure trove of experience, knowledge and creativity highlighted a most productive marketing session.