Whatever Happens In Vegas Stays in the Suitcase

As you know, in order to help us overcome our real estate losses, my husband and I started a business about seven months ago. Last week, my husband attended a promotional products convention in Las Vegas. The rep for the association that was sponsoring the event told him to make sure that he brought something to carry all the samples that he was sure to pick up there. There would be 5,000 exhibitors (yes, that's with THREE zeros).

My husband, a.k.a. Sample King of the Universe, took a large suitcase on wheels. Before the first day was over, he had gorged it completely with all the freebies that he was sure to market to his customers. The next day he shoved things everywhere (including the free bags that they were handing out), while pulling his overstuffed suitcase along with him because he had to check out of his hotel and didn't have anywhere to put it.

By the time he arrived home, he could barely walk and his arms and back ached (and he's very fit). The kids and I had a blast rummaging through all the samples and receiving an explanation about each item from my husband. There really are some amazing products out there. They now have items, like paper notebooks, with "lenticular" pictures on the covers. These are like holograms, where the image pops out at you and you actually think that you can touch it. It's very cool. I tried to take a picture to show you, but it didn't do it justice.

However, I was able to snap some pics of other interesting items that he found at the convention.

Here are dangerous hypodermic needles for drug addicts some unique looking pens and highlighters. Why they're in the shape of needles, one can only guess. Let's hope that they are marketed to medical professionals and not kids who think it's cool to look like a junkie. Oh, and the pen on your right has liquid ink in the chamber.This is not an 18-inch baton for midgets. The bottom rubber piece is a suction cup for retrieving your golf ball. If you're so arthritic that you can't bend over to pick up a golf ball off the green, you may want to reconsider your choice of athletic activities. Here is an erasable highlighter. I don't know about you, but once I highlight, I'm committed. If I have to go through and reconsider what I feel is important, then making up my mind is impossible anyway.

This item kind of scared me. It's a bag full of bright orange wrist bands for children to wear on school field trips. You can write the bus number on them, so that a five-year-old can read it and find their bus if they get separated from the group. I assume that this would replace the name label that teachers stick on the backs of young students. OK, let's think this one through. Do schools plan to lose a kid or two once they leave campus, or is this the emergency plan? The bracelet is easily removable, so if you're missing a child in your group, you may want to check the trash cans before including the orange wrist band in the description to the cops.

Now this item, I like. It's a wipe container that fits into your cup holder. No matter how old the kids are, wipes should be a staple in every car.

And what item were a bevy of vendors promoting? Sanitizer. Now that's my type of product!! Here are a few samples of the unique way you can keep your hands clean and not spread those dreaded germs.

I thought I'd throw this one in. I opened it up along with some of the sanitizers and didn't read the label. I like the spray idea, since I carry alcohol in my purse in a little spray bottle. So I promptly applied it to my hands and thought it smelled quite nice. It wasn't until later that I heard my husband telling the boys that it's an inhaler. Yes, that's what everyone needs when they're having an asthma attack and are struggling for breath while they're signing their credit card receipt.

Here is the product, besides the lenticulars, that was my favorite. It looks like one of the two and a half million pens that my husband collected at the convention. However, when you turn the clip on the barrel . . . . . . it exposes what I thought was a magnifying glass. But when I held it up to the print, the letters weren't any larger. It took me a minute to discover that it's actually a little pair of drug store reading glasses. So, if you're writing, and then you want to read what you've said, you can hold it up to your eyes without having to reach for your prescription pair. Yeah, I think you'll look real cool before inserting it back into your pocket protector.

Recession Impressions

As I sat through the long wait of filling the gas tank of my 12-seater van yesterday, I noticed that gas prices are still quite high. At the Costco on Overland and Ynez in Temecula, the regular unleaded was $3.119 (can we just round it to $3.12, already?). The damage was to the tune of $92.03.

House prices are dropping. The stock market can't make up it's mind, but seems to be getting lower, yet gas prices haven't caught on to the current economy. I am familiar with all the variables that make the price per gallon what it is. And this isn't going to be a post that rants at the oil companies. The reason that I bring it up is because, as I watched the rushed consumers at the gas station, I thought of dear friends of mine who moved out of Temecula to the mid-west exactly two years ago.

They had two kids in college and he had a great professional career (except for the fact that he would be laid off every now and then). Anyway, they couldn't make ends meet without borrowing from their house every year. They certainly didn't spend an inordinate amount of money, and he made a good living. So, I have to believe that they were not the only family in America who lived this way while the market allowed it. When they sold the house by owner at the beginning of 2006, they were able to make a small profit after using most of the equity. Selling at that time was a good move on their part because they may have been heading to foreclosure now if they had held on to it. My friends predicted that the market would drop, and that's why they sold when they did.

What about everyone else whose timing was not so precise? Are they some of the ones who are in foreclosure now? Since many states didn't appreciate at nearly the rate that California and others did, maybe this isn't a universal issue. But I think the lack of easy access to equity cash when needed is a large contributing factor to why there may be a recession in the near future. Even those who are not at risk for foreclosure feel the impact of a declining real estate market, and are not able to tap into "instant equity". No, I haven't had time to read the doom and gloom blogs lately, and I don't pay attention to the Chicken Little media.

I think one of the variables important to whether or not a recession is imminent is the unemployment rate. Reports indicate that the nation’s unemployment rate has jumped from 4.7 percent to 5 percent, a two-year high (thanks to the lending and construction fields, I'm sure). Retail sales are in the sewer. Manufacturing activity has slowed. The nation’s major banks are piling up big losses and stocks don't know what their doing.

When people aren't able to dip into their equity and spend on cars, remodels, boats, vacations, furniture, exorbitant outdoor landscaping that they never use because they're working too hard--or even necessities--it impacts many sectors. With the weakening dollar and hurting businesses, it seems inevitable that something's got to give. Rumor is that key interest rates will be cut by half of a percentage point at the end of the month. If the low interest rates on long-term lending don't stimulate the housing sector, we could be in for a long haul. Then what? The government is talking about giving every family a $1,600 rebate check. The $600 we received in 2001 must have made an impact, but, even with my seemingly endless optimism, I don't see that permanently helping too many people. And, as much as we'd all like a check in the mail, is it the government's role to hand out money when people have recklessly borrowed too much?

It makes sense that Americans not purchase items that they can't afford. But this rings true no matter what the economy is doing. If everyone starts buying prudently now, many businesses will be shutting down, which only serves to exacerbate the problem. But, if people continue to spend like in the time of the heyday, then we're also in trouble if they can't truly afford it. So, I sit and wait because the ball is rolling, and when it stops is totally out of my control. This too shall pass, so we need to watch carefully and take notes so that we will be more prepared the next time. That's my impression, anyway.

Your House Can Be A Movie Star

Have you ever wondered where TV shows, movies, commercials, and print ads find the properties that they use for their productions? Well, lose sleep no more--location agents. Yes, real estate can be represented by a different type of agent than what we're used to. Specifically, your house can be marketed to location scouts for a variety of uses.

So, if your house looks like this

or this or this or, heck, even this (yikes--is that a house?!),then you may be sitting on a gold mine. The charge for using your home is dependent upon a number of factors, but figures thrown out there are anywhere between $500 to $5,000 a day.

If you're real serious, you can snail through the 27 .pdf pages of this California pamphlet for more information about your property in a starring role. So, if you wouldn't mind the following vehicles on your property or your street, then this might be the perfect money-making opportunity for you. Check it out:

Parked closest to the location:
• 35-foot, 5 or 10-ton electrical truck (contains all lighting equipment)
• 35-foot grip truck (contains other equipment)
• 60-foot, 10-ton production truck (may include generators at rear of tractor)
• 20-foot camera van (camera equipment)

Space permitting, this equipment also needs to be parked as close as possible to the location:
• 30-foot, 5-ton set dresser’s truck (contains props, flats, greenery)
• 30-foot, 5-ton special effects truck (if required, contains material/props for stunts, special effects)
• 30-foot crane (if needed, a large crane on wheels)

Parked nearby:
• 65-foot dressing room – toilet unit (commonly called a "honey-wagon")
• 30-foot pick-up truck with wardrobe trailer
• 30-foot catering truck
• Motor homes 8 x 25 feet (two or more), for actors or director
• 15-foot maxi-van (for shuttling crew, cast)
• Production cars – 2-3 vans (for errands, runs to studio)
In addition, there may be "picture vehicles" – cars/trucks used

Oh, no, I don't think your neighbors will mind one bit.

Let's see, I have acreage, a ranch house, a killer view with lots of hot air balloons, and tons of privacy for the production crew. My only concern: what if they ask to black out the windows and move the beds into the living room?

Want A Timeshare? Just Charge It!

Thank you to the reader who sent this little nugget my way. How about owning this penthouse (you need to click on the "penthouse" link at the top) at an "exemplary address" in Manhattan for a week every year? The best part? You can charge it on your American Express card! Prices for this timeshare range from $40,680-$121,400. And, if you buy before March 31, 2008, you get ten times the Hilton Honor points! Yippee! The irony is that, once you purchase the timeshare and earn your extra points, you won't need one because you'll probably have enough points to stay in hotels for the rest of your life.

Just knowing that I'll leave my week vacation in Manhattan with a "sense of clarity" certainly is enough for me to charge my life away and make outrageous payments for eternity. I mean, isn't "clarity" priceless? (I know, it's the wrong credit card.)

I've never been a fan of timeshares, and it's something that I don't think I'd ever buy. I may be wrong because I've never researched it, but I see them as depreciable assets. For one week a year, it doesn't seem worth it to me any way I look at it. However, I must say that I have several friends who own one or more timeshares and love them.

Speaking of timeshares, have you heard of "condo hotels"? It takes the idea of timeshares up a notch--but you're stuck in one location. Basically, you can buy a hotel room and, when you aren't using it, the staff can rent it out to others. Some are as low as $200K, but others are a bit more pricey. Here is one that came my way. I looked at these when I thought that we'd actually be able to pull our money out of the apartments. I ruled it out quickly, but it was one of those, "Wouldn't it be great to own a vacation rental in a totally cool spot that we could use whenever we want, and make money from it the rest of the time?"

I gave up on vacation rentals long ago because A) I think it's kind of gross, B) Supposedly, you are lucky if you cover your taxes and insurance with the income that you make, and C) The management fees are exorbitant (30% in the areas where I was researching).

When we stayed in an upscale cabin in the mountains, it was surprising to me how many personal effects the owners left in the home. The medicine chest was full of prescriptions, pain relievers, toothbrushes, etc. The owner had just stayed there before we arrived, and the shower had a used bar of soap in it. I mean, was that what they considered hospitality? Did they really intend for the renter to use it and then for them to lather up with it after we did? There were clothes in the closet. Works of art. Knick-knacks. It felt like home, just not my home. But the really important stuff was kept in a locked cabinet. Do they just leave on the days when a vacationer is scheduled? I almost expected to find them behind the false wall of a hidden room.

I keep looking, though, waiting for the prices to fall low enough in tourist areas. Not that I'd buy--it's just what I do for fun. Don't people try to unload their second homes before losing their primary ones? I haven't noticed a big decline in the places where I'd be interested in visiting. If anyone knows of a good vacation rental location where prices have dropped significantly, please share for others who may have the funds to jump in.

Good News!!

After close observation and analysis of recent activity (and a reader tip), I'm happy to report that the "fake" searches linking to my site are . . . well . . . fake! The trolls have been busy gobbling up the rat bait--so now I know for sure and I won't worry about being associated with illegal activities anymore. Their "rallying attacks" and fake comments (that are so obvious I don't publish them) now serve only to gift me with endless amounts of amusement. See? Every creature has a purpose. Actually, I'm quite flattered to be getting their undying attention and devotion. Don't worry, though. They'll crawl back into their holes, and I won't waste my precious space and your valuable time mentioning them again.

I'm so glad to be committed once again--and I'm more excited than ever! I will be posting regularly about real estate, business, and family-related subjects. That should be my mission statement, but let's not get carried away.

I wasn't prepared to write anything for today, so I'll be back tomorrow with more blather about my losses, recovery, and everything in between.

I do have one quick tidbit, though. Yesterday I received a phone call from a 1031 exchange company. The sales person told me that I had contacted them a while ago and wanted to know if I still needed information on T-I-C's. I told her that we lost our prospective investment money in real estate. She said, "Oh, I hate it when that happens!" I'm sure she does.

Then she asked if she could e-mail me her contact information just in case I "changed my mind". I said, "Huh? Um . . . I . . . lost . . . all . . . the . . .money. So, please don't bother." She sounded a bit disappointed as I hung up. I'm not sure, though, because I put the phone down so quickly.

One must wonder how desperate these firms are now if they have to dredge up year-old contacts based on one-call inquiries. I think they must have glued their shredded phone logs back together or something. I wonder how many of these businesses that specialize in T-I-C's will be around next year--or even next week.

I guess I just created another angle to the foreclosure fiasco. This time, I can't blame the media.

Fake, Fake! It's Just a Joke!

You will not believe the search that has brought traffic to my blog: "fake foreclosure"! This must be some kind of a joke. Who would search for a fake foreclosure?

I mean, when I blogged about the businesses that I would start if a venture capitalist gave me a million dollars, it was all in good fun. I was merely creating the most absurd business ideas that anyone could ever think of (if I were serious, why would I blab them to the world?). I really had no idea that someone would need or request a fake foreclosure. Why do you think they would do that? Maybe they're trying to get their spouse to divorce them and, instead of splitting their assets, want to be spiteful by losing everything. Maybe they were researching for companies that "rescue" homeowners threatened with losing their homes and they meant to find "fake foreclosure companies". Whew! Maybe it was just a fluke.

The negativity in real estate can be overwhelming for people who approach it with integrity. There are so many dishonest and illegal activities that it almost makes me never want to do another real estate transaction again . . .almost. At least I can sleep well at night knowing that I have never been a part of these shenanigans. Heck, I never even knew they existed until recently. I can see now how someone like me can get eaten up alive in this business. I think the commercial market takes it up a notch. The piranhas are strictly out for themselves. I'm glad that I made it out alive and financially solvent. That happy ending was a true miracle.

The one positive note from all this stuff is that I'm grateful that we lost only what we did and nothing more--especially our souls. I should thank these people who searched for "fake foreclosures" and stumbled onto my site instead. They have given me more optimism, humor, and hope than I could have ever accomplished in such a short period of time.

However--and this is the sad part for me--if my site continues to be a magnet for those who are contemplating or performing illegal and immoral activities, I will have to reevaluate the direction of my blog. My purpose was to bring investors of all kinds together for moral support--and some fun--but only the Internet can twist such pure intentions and expectations into something so underworldly and lurid.

Everyone wants to leave their mark on this world. I am no different. However, if I simply raise my children right and be a good wife to my loving husband, then I need do no more. With seven kids and the hope of a large progeny, I will make an impact on the future, regardless of what happens here.

You may be thinking that I should just remove the undesirable key words that make my blog detectable by search engines. But, frankly, I won't be censored. I don't want to put myself out, as I have been for the last 101 posts, and worry about what someone will think or do, and try to predict the sickness that will be attracted to my site. I won't allow people, who I don't even know, to dictate what and how I write.

I make no income from this. My life would be much easier if I were to discontinue sharing my experiences and (very expensive) education with you. I've enjoyed myself immensely, but I've also taken on this responsibility as seriously as I would have a paying job. I think you can sense my level of commitment by what I've put before you. I am a writer, and this was a great way of turning something negative into a powerful learning experience for all of us.

My favorite part was hearing from all of you--even the negative doom and gloomers. Exposing their ignorance and hatred was so fun, wasn't it? I really don't care what those kinds of people say or think about me because if they wanted to obsess about me, when I didn't even know they existed, then more power to them. You know what they say about negative publicity. They did more for bringing traffic to my blog than I could have ever paid a public relations expert to do.

Anyway, this is the deal: If I continue to get hits on my blog from searches for fraudulent and illegal (I know that's redundant) activities in the next few days, I will reconsider continuing. I want to stay with you, but, in the end, I never desired to be associated with something evil. My goal was to educate and entertain. And I hope that, to some extent, I have met or exceeded that mission.

All I Really Need to Know About Investing I Learned in Kindergarten

While contemplating the lessons that we all try to impress upon our children, I have come to the conclusion that investing in apartments follows the same rules as the popular book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum.

(Property Managers) Share everything, even your parking lot with the complex next door.

(Owners) Play fair, unless you're trying to sell a property.

(Tenants) Don't hit people, except the person who lives in the apartment above you and the police who come out to control the melee.

(Maintenance) Put things back where you found them, especially if you need a few tools for your garage--and an air conditioner.

(Tenants) Clean up your own mess. Don't leave it behind for the owners to pay someone to haul it away.

(PM) Don't take things that aren't yours, unless you need to pay your bills.

(Tenants) Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody, and you end up in jail, unable to pay your rent.

(Tenants) Wash your hands before you eat after diving into the dumpster.

(Tenants) Flush~especially if you dump your cigarette butts in the toilet.

(Owners/PM) Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you, but don't help if you're showing a vacant unit.

(Tenants) Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. And when you draw and paint, feel free to use the nice, clean, white walls in your apartment as a canvas. And don't bother working because your housing is free!

(PM) Take a nap every afternoon, even if you're working in the on-site office.

(Owners) When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together because there's a crazed tenant out to kill you.

(Owners) Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that. And when some tenants put their roots down, it's awful hard to dig them out when they haven't paid the rent in months.

(Owners/PM) Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we. Unfortunately, the rodents that the tenant smuggled in don't die until they've chewed up all the carpet and half of the walls.

(Owners/PM) And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK. "Jane in #2B deals drugs!"

Have a great weekend! I'll be back posting on Monday.