This will be a day-to-day journey of what is happening in the real world from the perspective of me, a working class American. So many at this site live in a world where they believe all citizens adhere to the theory that Bush is Hitler, that people in the Middle East would fall in love with America all over again if we would abandon Israel, and a wide variety of other non-sense. In the meanwhile, actual people are living in an actual world doing actual things that actually matter. This will be a window to peek through to see what's going on in the real world, not the one in the left's imigination.

The main point on the agenda today are individuals, usually couples, who are financing their homes. These people have placed themselves in a position where they are not able to obtain what would be regarded as "normal" consumer financing, i.e. a bank loan, because of credit history or because of the type of housing they are wanting to build. And then some just don't like banks and would prefer to work with an individual.

Got some delinquent accounts to be handled. Look, if you're going to borrow money or make a commitment, pay it on time. I don't care if you have to cough up a lung, pay up or you're going to be evicted. If you don't pay, figure out what bridge you want to start living under and stake your claim.

Got a individual wanting to purchase and 30 yr old former retail store, great frontage, 12,000 sq ft, plenty of parking. Looks like it going to sell for $2,700,000. He wants to renovate the building, add a second level. Looks like the permits are approved. Good to know people downtown. Cash sale. People with cash are the best. They know how to manage their money. I can respect that.

New financing in place. $450,000, 12%, 4 month balloon. Probably close this week. 2% commission for me. Less than what I usually charge but doing as a favor. Still a nice paycheck.

This must be a joke...right?

This guy does not really think anyone cares about his tawdry {fortune} desire....

Oh I get it. This is another version of Judith the spam queen...shouldn't have even bothered.

The road to hell is paved by developers.

I don't think anyone want's to be reminded too often about the millstones of debt around their necks.

I'd like to have my HANDS around your neck. Then I would squeeze like there's no tomorrow.

Busy day yesterday. Been talking to several home builders I work with who build from Irvine over to San Bernardino up to Santa Barbara and they tell me they are covered up with requests for new housing starts. The economy's definately in a turnaround. It's just a matter of time for it to retool and for demand to catch up with supply and things will be off and running again.

With tax rebates coming back in the mail this time of year is always hot with new buyers and investors. Hardly had time for lunch yesterday, another eat while you work deal. Got at least 150 clients in the pipeline with most of them thankfully ready to close the deal. This summer should be jumping with commerce since people are over the jitters of 9/11 and the Iraq war.

Stock tip: check out Duke Power, utility company in the east, primed for growth, currently paying over 7% dividend return.

A lot of investing is teaching people how to get their money to work for them. If you are dependant upon getting by on just what you earn at your job, your going to find when it comes to retirement you don't have enough. All people need to put money aside, invest it in at least a mutual fund or a 401K, do something. I perfer real property and stocks but everyone can find their own niche. But let your money work for you as well as you working.

Regarding 401K's, I had someone complaining to me recently about the decline of the value of their 401K. During the 90's, they had contributed a total of around $200K into the account and the value had increased to over $1M at the end of the 90's. Come 9/11, and the value had dropped to around $350K, so he's telling me how he's lost $650K. But, that's not how to look at it. The market goes up and down. He invested an average of $20K per year for 10 years and now it's worth $350K, almost double what he put in. He then agreed his money was doing a good job of working for him. It's a matter of prespective. Prespective is what seperates winners from losers. If you have a vision, and the things of the world just seem to keep going the other way, time to change your vision.

Nobody cares about your 9 to 5 life, you buffoon.