Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Lead Poisoning



I've been reading about lead poisoning and its history because I was shocked to find that lead as a staple ingredient in many residential building materials, including paint, was not banned until 1978.

The link above is a brief history of the awareness of the illness commonly referred to as Lead Poisoning, and it illustrates something I think is very interesting. It screams conspiracy. We've known how dangerous lead was for a very long time. Long before 1978, anyway.

I am always wary of giant corporations. I'm not the young man I once was who thought that all big businesses are evil, but when I'm in the water with them, as we all are all the time, you should be aware of what they are. When you a surfing in the Pacific Ocean, you should be aware of sharks and other perils that are posed to befall you at any moment.

Sometimes I feel like a lot of this kind of thing is still going on with the same culprits at the wheel. Big business, in this case the oil and energy companies, dampen the cries of those who raise flags regarding harmful materials, in this case lead. The real estate industry, older than the oldest industry, lets them fight the battles against cost and alarm. The builders are happy to have the work and stay quiet. Use lead paint. It's cheaper. The big businesses say it's safe. We know it's not rrreally safe, but use it anyway for now and while you still can.

This kind of thinking bothers me. Must we wait for regulation to do what's right?
As I become more immersed in this business, I hope that I needn't wait for regulatory measures to let my conscience keep it hand on the wheel. In fact, I resolve to make it so.

There are brownfields all over. There are uninhabitable buildings rotting because it would cost more to modernize them than tear them down. We can't leave the same artifacts and thought processes for the next generation.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Commercial Real Estate Trends



I really enjoy Agent Genius. They have interesting articles like this one that talks about trends to watch for in 2011, and they present their info in a way that isn't all doom and gloom.

It makes me feel like I'm getting into this biz at just the right time. I can't remember what the market was like when everyone was freaking out about how wonderfully easy everything was. I don't remember when you could just sit on your butt and wait for the money to come in. And I don't remember when you could do huge deals with hardly any work and maintain those contracts without actually having to do it yourself. I'm getting into it when the going is hard. . . and you know what? I'm better off for it.

Here's why:
I can position myself through hard work and perseverance to be the go-to person for any piece of real estate in this area. I will work hard to maintain those relationships. People will know me as the guy who works hard for a living and to make his partners money. Then, if the market ever looks like it did before I got into it, I will be be in the perfect situation because I will appreciate the high tide and won't ever be complacent or content to sit around and wait for things to happen.

It's good to start hungry.
It's good to stay hungry.

This industry is primed and ready for new leadership. I'm excited about that.