Buyer's Market - National reports state that we have entered into a buyer's market for condominiums. Prices have lowered in the condominium market and many more are being built, so say experts in such real estate market.
In the Clearwater area there are many hundreds of condominiums on the market . . . and more being built.
Sounds like a buyer's market is about to begin in Clearwater, doesn't it?
What if you are the seller?
If you have the cash, you can afford to wait until this market changes. If not, sell and move on to the next deal.
Expected hotel projects on Clearwater Beach must be delayed due to this economic market.
Some folks are beginning to wonder if some of the hotel projects may be discontinued due to current economic conditions. The bad news about such construction reports is that Clearwater Beach needs more hotel rooms to keep its tourism business.
More condominiums?
Perhaps we should sell our current inventory and try to complete at least two new hotels on Clearwater Beach.
From Spain to the Middle East - The leader of a militant Muslem group publicly called for a "holy war" against infidels (non-Muslems) from Spain to Iran. This leader also calls for Muslem support of terrorists in Lebanon fighting against Israel.
Radical Hezbollah forces in Lebanon have reportedly received funding and military support from Iran and Syria over the past years and have created a strong military force to fight Israelis from houses near the Israeli border with Lebanon. Thus, Israel is not just fighting one radical religious group on the border with Lebanon; it is fighting terrorist forces who support the extinction of Israel and all of its people.
The war on the Lebanon border will be fought until radical terrorists are totally removed. Peace will not come to that area of the world until surrounding nations recognize Israel's right to exist.
War from Spain to the Middle East?
Those are the words from one of the terrorist leaders that hates America and Israel.
The way I see it, Israel had better stay prepared for the worst, and hope it never happens. Of course, with Iran developing nuclear weapons, it might only be a matter of time before Israel could be harmed in a way that it could be annihilated.
Big Oil Companies - Perhaps the manner in which big oil companies are handling excess profits due to the surging price of gas will cause most Americans to support a windfall profit tax.
For example, Exxon Oil made over $31 billion last year and has made over $10 billion the first quarter of 2006. Handsome return of oil profits when Americans are paying about $3 for a gallon of gasoline.
How many people would support a windfall profit tax on big oil companies?
One poll reflected 81 percent support such a tax on windfall profits.
Further, it makes you wonder why, with all of this excess oil profit, new oil refineries are not being built in the United States.
USF Football 2006 - Tampa fans of college football can follow USF football (our local division I college football program) by purchasing rickets to home games of personal interest. For me, I'll be going to Tampa to watch the Bulls versus Pitt on November 4 at noon. Of course, local folks who have family in North Carolina can plan to travel to Chapel Hill to watch the Bulls versus North Carolina on October 14 (Just in time to perhaps see the leaves change color.)
Who could have imagined the incredible success of the USF football program since its founding in 1996?
Kudos to Lee Roy Selmon and a host of loyal USF fans.
I remember watching USF play Slippery Rock at Tampa during one of those early formative football years. Of course, USF also played teams like Elon, Drake, Troy State, Georgia Southern, Cumberland, and other colleges with division II football programs that helped USF football to develop.
In 2006, USF will play teams like the University of Pittsburgh, UCF, Kansas, North Carolina, Syracuse, West Virginia (who beat Georgia last year in a bowl game,) and others.
USF football has come a long way as one of the new Big East division teams.
2006?
USF has one of college football's best coaches, it has a great location to play games, it has a large alumni base in the Tampa area, it has great recruits for the 2006 college football season, all in all, perhaps the only thing missing is more fans to support the developing program in Tampa Bay.
If you are a friend of USF sports, then buy some tickets to one of the games that you have interest. With the quality schedule of 2006, there must be some games that will interest local fans.
Martha Stewart and the Scarlett Letter - It appears that stockholders in Martha Stewart's public company were paid fifty-cent dividends on each share of sock owned. Not bad for a company that noticed stock values drop when Martha had her problem with stock manipulation.
Strangely enough, Martha Stewart accepted her court required "halfway house" ankle-bracelet as a token of her being wrongly persecuted for her insider stock tips and a small gain of about $50,000.
Much like the classic Scarlett Letter, Martha Stewart wore her "letter" with pride.
Of course, I had always felt Stewart was singled-out as a prominent target versus many other investors who had done much the same as Stewart. People of influence, like Stewart, tend to share ideas and investment tips with other influential people. Could this act be referred to as inside information when the person you are talking to is the chairman of the board of another large public company in which you own stock?
Do you think elected politicians use their privileged position to obtain knowledge that could be used to buy or sell stocks? Real estate? Condominiums?
Martha Stewart is back and doing quite well. Martha paid a fifty-cent dividend to stockholders who remained faithful during the tough times - that is better than most stocks I had ever owned and not as arrogant as board members of Home Depot and Exxon.
Planning - Chance favors the prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur