Why do we Buy the Lie ? Nor Yeretsian

We the people love a good story and we follow…

We follow the crowd, we follow our friends and trends.

We might hold off for a while and then we give in.

The pressure is too great, from those around us to conform .

Find a different crowd, get new friends who are more like you want to be and are comfortable being.

Ask all the questions that need to be asked , even the dump ones – take nothing for granted.

Think for yourself , what is your inner voice saying to you.  Listen to it !

Why do we get carried away with the excitement of an economic boom and then over build ?

False prophets … Has the infra-structure been built on false prophets or the

 overtly optimistic forecasts of the decade of overbuilding in the U.S. and now

 everyone is in trouble both private and public sectors .

False or imaginary numbers of the last decade of rising house prices in the U.S. and in any economy.

Where house prices / values and developments are the basis of assessments for rising realty taxes.

The Cities base their forecasts on what is happening in their communities and

 need to build and spend in anticipation of what will / may come.

 Otherwise there will be big problems and the Cities will not work efficiently for their citizens.

The Cities with their teams of planners/advisers should be the sober / rational player , not over build – not over tax .

They are the professionals we were counting on, to make our activities in the Cities easy and efficient.

They were not supposed to be the Problem !

Now how do the citizens who have economic challenges themselves – and the Cities  going to pay for all this ?

When the value/prices of homes and properties comes down 10% – 20% – 30% – 40% + …

How do we adjust the system ?

Or is the system only designed/ built to work in one direction, build + tax more ?  

Is the system at the City level broken ?

Does the municipal system of government and taxation have any flexibility built into it to address economic conditions and local real estate valuations or do we simply stay on a crash course – Where we end up in so much debt that we end up doing mass layoff at the City and major cuts of programmes because No Body was thinking clearly ahead and prepared for both good times and bad ?

This maddening roller coaster ride is bad for all parties : citizen / tax payers / the City / the City’s employees + unions : all lose .

The pain of contraction, job losses , failing real estate values, reduced tax revenues and over looking needed repairs to infrastructure ( roads,bridges,water,hydro,schools,police services,hospitals,fire departments,etc… ) because we can’t pay for it .

The Cities should care about their citizens on many levels, and not take their tax payers for granted.

Cities do not have an endless supply of money and citizens willing to pay for everything the Cities dream up.

Citizens must get involved and choose better leaders. 

 More capable people must get involved and stand for leadership.

Otherwise we will get the Dumb leading the blind down the garden path to nowhere .

Don’t Buy the Lie. Keep it in perspective , at the end of the day someone must  pay !

Let’s discuss it  / join us at  www.yinvestthinktank.blogspot.com

Twitter : EnvoyCapRealty

Blog : www.capitalmoves.blogspot.com

Envoy Capitol Realty Inc., brokerage          Toronto  , Canada
Buy/Sell/Lease/Manage/Develop/Syndicate

Blog : www.yeretsianonrealestateinvesting.wordpress.com

Nor Yeretsian            ( August 18 , 2010 )

The Amero – single unified currency for North America ? Nor Yeretsian

Well some of us are still optimistically waiting for NAFTA to happen.

A level playing field for all businesses in Canada – USA – Mexico .

Open borders with free access for products/services and
people flowing back and forth , something like Europe.

When we mature enough here in North America , we may get there.

The things that would have to change  and the new things we would have to learn and re-learn.

With a new currency – like the Amero .
Valuation of everything into the new currency.

The basic principles of valuation would not change, so it would be good to learn and know them.

This would really be the New World, with free and open boarders and a new currency .

We can see why they , the powers that be – may not want all these changes in an election year.

The implications on many levels from taxation , to zoning , to productivity , etc – would be vast.

Brave New World – of efficiency , less governmental regulations  -
larger private sector working and producing with less down time and
red tape…just imagine the possibilities.

How would all this impact real estate ? 

The value of real estate in your city or town ?

How long would it take for us to learn to adapt to the new system , new rules and new taxes ?

Let’s discuss it at  www.yinvestthinktank.com

email :  capitalmoves@gmail.com

Twitter : EnvoyCapRealty

Envoy Capitol Realty Inc., brokerage     Toronto , Canada
Buy/Sell/Lease/Manage/Develop/Syndicate

Blog : www.capitalmoves.blogspot.com

Nor Yeretsian  ( August 11 , 2010 )

Deep Economy : Do things Locally ! Norair Yeretsian

The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future :
Deep Economy by Bill McKibben is a book about location,location ,location !
You and I have the best location, to do all the things we want.
In Deep Economy, Bill McKibben explores our current state and problems and
suggests we can do better by doing it within reach/locally.
And thereby build a stronger and healthier economy by building many
micro local economies. Because we now have challenges everywhere and
it weakens the whole economy, example our food :

” Even apart from terrorists, the centralized food  system we’ve built presents risks.
The industrialization of poultry is the nub of the problem ‘ of avian flu ‘ says
Kennedy Shortridge, a Hong Kong microbiologist who has spent three decades
studying influenza viruses. Concentrated agriculture also manages to make us
sick on a fairly regular , if less dramatic, basis. Seventy-six million American
fall ill annually from food-borne illness; 300,000 are hospitalized, 5000 die.
Salmonella is the biggest culprit, and its prevalence has doubled since the 1070s,
which makes sense when you consider the enormous poultry barns and cattle
feedlots that grew up in those years.”

We may need to go smaller , faster.
Detroit , Michigan is planning on destroying many urban vacant homes
and creating farm land : Urban farms.
City councils in Toronto and London , Ontario have been debating whether
to allow residential properties the permitted use of : raising chicken, and
possibly other farm animals in their backyards ?
There is a minor movement to getting vegetable gardens growing on Hydro fields.

We could grow more of our food locally and become healthier in the process.
You and I have the best location : Ontario, Canada to do all that we want.
Geographically well located, and with a nice seasonality to grow and raise wonderfully.

Challenges exist and they must be addressed. Environmental issues of the lands is
another concern, testing must be done first prior to growing things on these properties.
And someone needs to establish healthy standards for the soil conditions for that the
results are beneficial for all.

Land and the quality of our land is very important for our health and well being.
When you buy and sell property there is a responsibility to care and protect the
future uses of these properties. Due diligence is important in this area to satisfy
all concerned that the properties are safe and clean ; environmentally.

Adam Smith (1776) in The Wealth of  Nations that ” it is not the actual greatness
of national wealth, but its continued increase” which raises wages.
Benjamin Friedman in The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth
provides a modified perspective on this increase. How modern commerce was
thought to be a one time event — that they would soon hit a plateau.
The new economic revolution showed that businessess could keep improving
their operations, apparently indefinitely.

” By the early twentieth century, increasing efficiency had become very nearly
a religion, especially in the U.S., where stopwatch-wielding experts like
Frederick Taylor broke every task into its smaller parts, wiping out inefficiencies
with all the zeal of a pastor hunting sins, and with far more success. “
writes Bill McKibben ( Deep Economy ,2007; Times Books)

Is it time to re-think, re-set and get back to the Garden of Eden ?

Let’s discuss it :  Twitter @ EnvoyCapRealty  or just below …

nyeretsian@yahoo.com May 16, 2010

17 % Less Realty Tax !!! Norair Yeretsian

The Town of Strathroy has no Debt and it reduced the property tax
( town portion) by 17% (2008) .  Amazing !

Unbelievable . This is outstanding !

All Cities and towns in Ontario should learn from Strathroy .

What a model of how to run a municipal (local)  government .

Great leadership by  local officials , who responsibly tax and
spend in a caring manner.

So it can happen, taxes can go down !

Town of Strathroy, Ontario is a well run community according to
Mr. John Grogan (Re/max Centre City Realty Inc.) a sales
representative (www.johngrogan.ca) :

” everything is going well in Strathroy .

Industry ( mostly automotive) is working and things are busy”

Yes its a small town, but its run very well. It just built a new
two ice pad Arena and purchased a new Fire truck ($150,000)
without any Debt.

You have to be proud of your local leadership when they manage
your Town and your tax dollars in such a responsible manner !

Its time to consider a drive out to Strathroy, Ontario
to check out the real estate  opportunities there !

Let’s continue the discussion on Twitter : EnvoyCapRealty

nyeretsian@yahoo.com         May 13 , 2010

Things will be Booming in London : 2012! Norair Yeretsian

In a meeting today in London, Ontario with 36 real estate professionals,

when asked the Question : Where do you see the real estate values of
City of London, Ontario in the year 2012 ( 24 months from now ) ?

The real estate professionals ; realtors with an average of about 25 years
experience on the front line of the industry responded by overwelmingly
voting in favor of a Boom (31 votes) compared with Bust (1 vote) and
Boom Boom (4 votes) .

The one vote for decline from today : Bust vote , was rationalized
upon the concern of rising interest rates. Which historically has
effected real estate values in a negative diection and values !

One vote for Boom , suggested that it can’t get any worst
commercially speaking. So it must be a Boom by 2012 !

The vast majority voted for Boom and 4 votes for Boom Boom!

The Boomers voiced all the positive development and growth
that London is experiencing … the growth of the
knowledge industries : University of Western Ontario.
The growth of the population.
The new airport cargo terminal,  lots of good things coming
to the City of London and the surrounding areas .

You may want to visit London soon and scope it out .

Advice : Use a local real estate professional, that’s what the smart money does!

Let’s continue the discussion on Twitter : EnvoyCapRealty

nyeretsian@yahoo.com May 13, 2010

The Rise of the Creative Class by Richard Florida , Norair Yeretsian

The Rise of the Creative Class and how its transforming work, leisure,
community and everyday life (2002) by Professor Richard Florida,
now at the Rotman School of Management at the University of  Toronto,
was a National Bestselling book that needs to be read by all our
City Councillors and planners. His latest book , The Great Reset
appears to deliver great wisdom and foresight to future City development
and planning. Although as most of us know it should be planning and
then development not wait for an application, then public forum fighting
and grand standing ( political career made and destroyed) and then
compromised negotiation where no one gets all they want
( no body happy — but good enough attitude, just move on).

The Harvard Business Review (May 2010) (Andy O’Connell)
book review’s comments on
The Great Reset by Richard Florida (HarperCollins,2010)

” We humans are good at making cities bigger, but we’re lousy at making them
smaller. When an urban area loses population and business
–as New Orleans did after Katrina — homes,office buildings,retail
space just sit there and rot : Very rarely does the bulldozer
put them out of their misery. The difficulty of shrinking is one of the
obstacles facing cities in the wake of the most recent ” great reset,”
the author’s term for the global economic downturn.”

Professor Florida argues that elected officials
” need to get over their love affair with big renewal projects”
and move money towards neighborhood projects/developments
which will do better at improving people’s lives.
” Government, won’t be the prime mover in the future years; its
role is merely to enable and accelerate society’s development of an
‘ idea-driven economy ‘, in which every person’s creativity is valued
and individuals shed the burdensome possessions that have been
dragging them down for years. “

The great desire going forward is a new City council which will have
the wisdom and strength of  leadership with a positive determination
to use all our resources in a meaningful and efficient way to create a
City for all that encourages enterprise ,innovation and future
developments,among its creative citizens.

With a positive view We can do better ! We can do more.

We can do this without the easy — let’s just tax them and build it.
The reallocation of resources and review process, with trimming and
pruning services / taxes is all a part of having a healthy garden and environment .

No sacred cows .
It’s evolution and not revolution to getting to our better and possibly our best place.
A great City that works on all levels efficiently and without over taxing its residents
because professionals who care about each dollar they get, spend it carefully and responsibly !

Let’s continue the discussion on  www.  Twitter :  EnvoyCapRealty

nyeretsian@yahoo.com May 10, 2010

What they don’t teach you in Class. Part 1 : by Norair Yeretsian

Let’s start a dialogue about the things they don’t teach you in Class, and I mean any Class.

Politics / Market psychology / Big City deal making /etc …

Like the real politics behind local government ( municipal / civic ) , in matters of
official plans / zoning-bylaws : permitted uses.

And the direct impact on valuation of that real property.

Is it really about good planning, when a decision it made ?
Is it really what the community wants as interpreted by the city councillors ?
Are there battles being fought behind the scenes that the general public
is completely unaware of ?

Where do you learn ; how the really big city deals are made?

How Ted Rogers negotiated real estate deals and determined values of the assets acquired ?

The Brilliant acquisitions of  # 1 Mount Pleasant in Toronto for about one third the cost of construction.
Followed by the Sky Dome in downtown Toronto and the Nortel headquarters in Brampton .
All great trademark Rogers deals!

How do you do it ?

Yes we have a lot of questions. However that ‘s a great place to start with Questions.

Add to the list , send us your comments. These will become nice topics for future discussion points.

nyeretsian@yahoo.com May 4, 2010

Urban planning Guru and the Prosperity of our Cities Norair Yeretsian

With an authoritative voice and finger pointing at the City councillors
and the planning staff, she told them they were destroying this beautiful City !

I judged this book by the narrow sound bite I just heard on my TV and
thought here is yet another ‘ nut job ‘ telling my City’s leader what they
are doing wrong and how to right it . So I tuned her out and did not read her books.

How wrong I was back then , when I could have both read her and meet with her.

That Lady was Jane Jacobs, brilliant writer and promoter of a simple intelligence
that we have been missing in our urban planning process ever since.

Back then we seemed to have left the human element by the road side as
we planned and built our cities around the automobile/transportation.

Then as progressive city councils and planner went through City Hall,
read her book and planned forward seem to have missed her point(s).

They have gone to the other extreme , where they have purposefully made it
inconvenient for anyone with a vehicle to move anywhere in our City.
Thus creating a great frustration with traffic congestions and great amounts
of  pollution ( with its negative health consequences) and great economic loss
with all that productive human talent sitting in vehicles whether public or private,
going nowhere fast and spending a live time doing it.
The result the great stress among the citizens and that has  ended up
hurting the very people they think they are helping.

No one is happy with the mess and our quality of life suffers greatly and families suffer.

Read Jane Jacobs ‘ books again and appreciate what they really say about ;
our Cities  and our lives in our Cities. The development process and planning ,
official plans and zoning-by that work to make our lives better and our business
can operate without the threat of prosecution .
Understand how your citizens really live and work , and then work to accommodate them.
It has to work well with the citizens in mind first and foremost  , not just look pretty on paper.

Humanize it !

Don’t make it a sterile environment where everything is so organized that the human community is lost.

Read Jane Jacobs’ books and be enriched  :

The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961)

The Economy of Cities

Cities and the Wealth of Nations ; Principles of Economic Life (1984)

Dark Age Ahead (2004)

nyeretsian@yahoo.com May 3 , 2010