Bad news, good news, have you heard the joke about the economist?

The juxtaposition of news story about the economy are interesting – on one hand the Federal government has declared a victory on turning around the economy, on the other, those of us in the commercial real estate business know that until there is transparency in the lenders holdings, the loans will not flow, the capital markets will not return, and the transaction volume will remain virtually non-existent.

Good news from the Albuquerque Journal (need I say anymore?)
abq-betterdays-09162009

The not so good news about capital markets in the commercial real estate world, from yesterday’s RealShare conference titled Warning Signs.

The Wall Street Journal had a dour article on the ballooning balance of commercial backed securities.

President Truman once asked an economist his opinion –the economist replied with something like “on one hand it could be good, on the other hand it could be bad” to which Truman quipped “next time bring me a one handed economist”

Small housing… now portable?

My friends and family will tell you that I’ve recently become a bit obssessed with Teardrop trailers – an offshoot of our family’s fabulous cross-country summer adventure.
teardrop

My continual search for this perfect Teardrop trailer has yielded this trailer –
bikecamper.

I made a dozen or so trips to China, and can recall many amazing sites and feats that people were able to do on their bikes – from carryring a loady of 2x4s (on his shoulders) to more than one person on a bike – but nothing like the photo above. What do you suppose he does in that trailer? live? rent it out? store his mother in law?

(thanks to Kevin Cyr for taking the photo)

CCIM 2010 – final exam dates

ccim

The CCIM instititute
posted today the dates for the Course Concepts Review and final exam for 2010:

Spring 2010 Program – New Orleans, LA
Portfolio Submission Deadline: January 12 CCR/Comp Exam Registration Deadline: March 23
CCR: April 18 – 19
Comp Exam: April 20

Fall 2010 Program – Orlando, FL
Portfolio Submission Deadline: July 13
CCR/Comp Exam Registration Deadline: September 21
CCR: October 19 – 20
Comp Exam: October 21