DONT DRINK THE COOLAID

YEAH YEAH YEAH   WE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE  

DONT DRINK THE COOLAID FRIENDS

Yes,  We have all heard about the ballooning government debt in D.C.  We all know that the debt ceiling will have to be raised again.  But so what.  The Stock Market has never been higher.  Housing is recovering  etc etc.   OK  Lets LOOK A THE WHOLE PICTURE  because NOTHING has REALLY changed.

1)  THE US GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE TO SELL ITS DEBT TO OVERSEAS BUYERS.  DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHINESE STOPPED BUYING OUR PAPER 20 MONTHS AGO  AND IN FACT ARE QUIETLY UNLOADING ALL THE DOLLARS THEY CAN AND ARE BUYING REAL FIXED ASSETS.....EVEN OVERPAYING AND OUTBIDDING US COMPANIES FOR OIL, COPPER FIELDS, PORTS, REAL ESTATE ETC WITH TH E 7 TRILLION IN US DOLLARS THAT THEY HOLD.  

2) DID YOU KNOW?!  THE CHINESE NOW OWN BOTH PORTS ON EITHER END OF THE PANAMA CANAL AND ARE FINANCING THE PANAMANIANS ON THE EXPANSION OF THE CANAL TO HANDEL OIL SUPER TANKERS

3)  DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU PAID FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE LARGEST NEW OIL FIELDS EVER DISCOVERED WITH KNOWN RESERVES TWICE THAT OF ARABIA OFF THE COAST OF BRAZIL?    ( 4.7 BILLION US TAX DOLLARS AS A GRANT TOP THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT)    DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHINESE CAME BEHIND US 5 MONTHS AGO AND OUT BID US AND SIGNED 50 YEAR LEASES ON ALL THESE OIL FIELDS WITH THE BRAZILIANS.  NOW IT BECOMES CLEAR WHY THEY WANT THE PANAMA CANAL.  EH?   IN CASE YOU ARE FROM MARS OR DONT KNOW YOUR GEOGRAPHY, WHICH IS LIKELY IF YOU RECEIVED A US PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION,  THE SUPER TANKERS IN THE ATLANTIC FROM THE NEW CHINESE OIL FIELDS WILL GO THROUGH THE NEW CHINESE PANAMA CANAL INTO THE PACIFIC AND OFF TO FUEL CHINESE FACTORIES HOMES AND CARS

4) DID YOU KNOW OR YOU LIKELY HEARD THAT RUSSIA, INDIA, CHINA AND AUSTRALIA NO LONGER TRADE BETWEEN THEMSELVES IN US DOLLARS ( THE CURRENCY OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE.  THAT STOPPED 15 MONTHS AGO AND AUSTRALIA 3 MONTHS AGO.

5)  DID YOU KNOW THAT SAUDI ARABIA , IRAQ, YEMEN AS WELL AS A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF THE WORLD BANK INCLUDING  GEOGRE SOROS  HAS CALLED FOR THE US DOLLAR TO BE DROPPED AS THE CURRENCY OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE.  YOU SAY A BIG........SO?!?!??!!

THE DAY THAT THIS HAPPENS,  THE US WILL HAVE TO BUY ALL OF ITS COMMODITIES ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE IN THE NEW CURRENCY, LIKELY A BASKET OF CURRENCIES THAT INCLUDE THE REMBODO, THE YEN,  THE EURO AND THE RUBLE.  THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO TRADE OUR FUNNY MONEY WE HAVE BEEN PRINTING LIKE A FIEND FOR THE THE NEW CURRENCY TO BUY THINGS.  WITHIN 4 WEEKS YOU WILL SEE GAS QUADRUPLE IN PRICE.  YOU WILL SEE ALL IMPORTED GOODS SKYROCKET IN PRICE AND INFLATION ON THE SCALE OF ARGENTINA, VENEZUELA, AND OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THE SAME PATH IN THE PAST THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING NOW.  MASSIVE AND PERVASIVE INFLATION THE LIKES OF WHICH WE NAVE NEVER SEEN.  IT IS COMING.  

AT THE CURRENT RATE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING, THE TOTAL INCOME IN TAXES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL NOT EVEN PAY THE INTEREST ON THE NATIONAL DEBT WITHOUT A DOLLAR LEFT OVER FOR DEFENSE, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, MEDICARE, SOCIAL SECURITY OR ANY OTHER PROGRAM!   THAT IS ONLY 16  YEARS AWAY AT THE CURRENT RATE OF SPENDING.

WAKE UP.  DONT  BE A DRIVE BY VOTER OR BELIEVE ALL YOU HEAR FROM THE POLITICIANS. THEY HAVE ONE GOAL.  GET ELECTED.   THEY WILL NOT TELL YOU THE TRUTH, THATS TO UGLY  AND DONT EXPECT A BROKE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF YOU IN THE FUTURE, RETIREMENTS FUNDS? SOCIAL SECURITY?  A DREAM.   MEDICARE? OBAMACARE.  A WORSE PIPE DREAM THAT WILL END UP  KILLING  PEOPLE AND AT A HIGHER HEALTHCARE COST THAN NOW.

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.    HOW?  

THE STOCK MARKET IS PAPER.  I LIKE PROPERTY

1) GET OUT OF ALL SHORT TERM DEBT.  SACRIFICE YOUR STANDARD OF LIVING IF NECESSARY TO DO SO.

2) REFI YOUR HOME NOW IF YOU ARE PAYING MORE THAN 4.5 % IN INTEREST ON YOUR MORTGAGE

3) IF YOU ARE RENTING DO ALL YOU CAN TO BUY NOW AND LOCK IN ON LOW RATES.  LOOK FOR LEASE DEALS WHERE THE OWNER WILL OFFER OWNER  FINANCING FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS WITH 40 % OR 30% DOWN.  MANY ARE DOING THAT TO MOVE REAL ESTATE SINCE BANKS ARE ST6ILL BEING STINGY WITH LOANS,.

4)  ALWAYS USE A PROFESSIONAL LIKE THE HARDCASTLE GROUP IN ALL YOUR REFI, OR SELLING OR PURCHASING NEEDS.  I HAVE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR30 YEARS AND KNOW THE PITFALLS SO YOU WONT FALL INTO THEM. AND LET ME TELL YOU.   SOUTH FLORIDA IS PARTICULARLY FILLED WITH CON ARTISTS, CROOKS MORE THAN HAPPY TO STEAL YOUR MONEY

Its OFFICIAL.... THE WORLD IS ENDING IN 2012

Just when you didn't think things could get any worse... famine,  war, terrorism, violence, abortion, political turmoil, recession, ( near depression)  unemployment,   HOUSING COLLAPSE, gang violence and drug addiction... IT JUST GOT WORSE...

It was announced this last month that one of Queen Elizabeths Corgies  " passed away". When I read this, I put down the jobs report in the Wall Street Journal and wept.  After a passing Nun, passed me a tissue,  I reflected through my tear stains  $9.88 readers from CVS Pharmacy  and read further of the anguish, pain and, Im sure growing ANGER and disbelief that this could have happened.  It died of OLD AGE!  My God!  Is there no mercy?!

All of you people who selfishly think about nothing more than your JOB or your shrinking opportunities under the current government better thank your lucky stars that you have it SO good and are NOT a Corgi and a DEAD ONE at that!

Sound Stupid?  I hope so,, But Im afraid that MOST Americans have become so stupid of the reality of our current economic and political situation, that some of them actually shed a tear in the last three paragraphs.   

For the rest of you,, PLEASE excuse me while I beg the 47% of the country that has DRUNK THE COOL AID  while likely watching HONEY BOO BOO on TIVO, that they are in danger of permanent stupidity and serfdom and the TIVO repossessed and flat screen as well.

This country is in SERIOUS trouble because we have a dumbed down doled out electorate that care more about milking the cow than letting it live.  The ME generation has come of age and they want a CHECK!

DONT BE STUPID... watch the world around you, study the trends, invest accordingly. .   Its really not rocket science.. Its responsibility and using your head and NOT just your heart and your stomach.

As my VERY smart Grandfather taught me... You have TWO EARS and ONE mouth... USE ACCORDINGLY.  LIsten twice as much as you talk.

God Save the Queen

These are the Times that Try Men's Souls (and create lunatics)

There are many that read this blog and take its advice that are truly perplexed at the current state of economic affairs in our nation.   

1) Should I invest in Real Estate?

2) Will the economy continue down its current spiral?

3) Should I be more liquid in my investments or lock in and tie my money up?

Lets take each one of those issues one at a time and I will give you my best, educated, highly intelligent opinion.   The fact that I have been a student of economics for 30 years and still do have my wits about me and two brain cells rubbing together,..... I should be able to give you a sensible answer.

Answer One:  Should you invest in Real Estate?   

Depends WHERE you want to invest, and for WHAT reason. I CAN tell you this and then you can make your own decision.  The Chinese, South Americans and smart North Americans I know are buying real estate investments with US dollars as quickly as possible.  Prices have never been this low as well as interest rates.   The NUMBER ONE MARKET IN THE US right now is MIAMI FLORIDA.  ( number two is TAMPA, FL)   We are seeing double digit gains in values in Miami just this year alone.  It has become a HOT SELLERS MARKET from a dismal BUYERS market in the last 12 months.  People who waited, have lost the BEST deals but there are STILL deals be had.  I myself have purchased two more condos in my own building in the last 9 months and both have already appreciated over 15%

Rents are also on the rise because inventory is now not keeping up with demand  Construction has begun again in Miami. But THOSE prices are SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER and are being bought out by foreign investors with all cash.  The GOOD NEWS IS THAT IM LOCAL AND I KNOW WHERE THE GOOD DEALS STILL ARE!

Answer Two: Will the economy continue on its current spiral downward?

The quick answer is YES.  Until things change in Washington and especially the WHITE HOUSE, the current course will remain the CURRENT COURSE...  Higher inflation, lower growth, fewer jobs, more government and the taxes that go with it and fewer opportunities

My advice?    November is coming.  VOTE EARLY , VOTE OFTEN

Answer Three Should I stay liquid or tie money up?

Let me grab that answer by the short hairs and cut to it.  STAY LIQUID or in investments that are commodities based,  NOT in US companies trading in US dollars!   You will get hammered I believe in the near term if you do.  The dollar is sinking as quick as our national debt is rising.   But REAL STUFF.. like REAL estate, REAL oil, gas, gold, silver etc. have REAL value that float with the value of MONEY and the value of money.  If your dollar is eroded by inflation, THOSE commodities will cost more IN THOSE DOLLARS thereby protecting the value of your investment.

Want the best to help YOU in making the wisest real estate investments?  Then done fool around with amateurs.  The Hardcastle Group is NUMBER ONE on the beach in South Florida and California and stands ready to give you sound, dependable guidance.

Contact me.  24/7  Greg Hardcastle   800-614-6151  toll free.

BRAIN DROPPINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR FROM MIAMI

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left..

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is congress

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

18. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

19. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

20. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

21. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

23. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

25. Going to church doesn't make you a MORAL PERSON any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

26. Where there's a will, there's relatives.

NOTE When you take from ONE source, its plagiarism... When you take from 26.... ( See above) Its RESEARCH!!!!!!!

If you want a team that knows all 26 of these truisms, but also is THE leader in luxury beach sales and leasing in all of South Florida.... Call the HARDCASTLE GROUP AT 800-614-6151

BRAIN DROPPINGS FROM SOUTH FLORIDA

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left..

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is congress

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

18. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

19. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

20. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

21. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

23. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

25. Going to church doesn't make you a MORAL PERSON any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

26. Where there's a will, there's relatives.

NOTE When you take from ONE source, its plagiarism... When you take from 26.... ( See above) Its RESEARCH!!!!!!!

If you want a team that knows all 26 of these truisms, but also is THE leader in luxury beach sales and leasing in all of South Florida.... Call the HARDCASTLE GROUP AT 800-614-6151

WHO DO WE BLAME FOR ALL THE SPENDING?

(After all,.... non of US are responsible!!!!?!!,,, I want names!)

U.S. debt surpasses GDP NOW WE ARE OFFICIALLY GREECE!!!!! GET OUT THE BAKLAVA!! Lets Celebrate and throw all of Nancy Reagan's White House China in the Fire Place.... OOPPAA! WHO IS THE BIG SPENDER HERE? Ok so the President says that the 1% of you out there are KILLING and EATING the CHILDREN of the rest of the 99% of us...out THERE..... That cant be such a huge list! Lets get all the names and put them in CAMPS so that they cant hurt us like the Japanese Americans would have in WW11. We put THEM in camps and stole all thier money and their businesses for the 99%.. Why not those 1% people that are so EVIL ( Well... they ARE paying 52% of all tax revenues to Uncle Sam) BUT THATS JUST CONFUSING THINGS!!!! INCONVENIENT FACTS Compensation on Wall Street is set to be the lowest since 2008, when the financial crisis hit. According to people familiar with the situation, compensation for most of Goldman Sachs' approximately 400 partners will fall at least in half from 2010 (though that still amounts to more than $3 million per person). And pay for Goldman's fixed-income trading division could see compensation fall by 60%, with some people receiving no bonus at all. Morgan Stanley is expected to cut bonuses for some investment bankers and traders by 30%-40%. These compensation cuts are after banks made plans to slash more than 200,000 jobs over the next few years. WHAT ABOUT THE PRESIDENTS "COMMUNITY ORGANIZER" BUDDIES? Steve Rattner, an Obama CZAR spoke last month at the Detroit Economic Club, a nonpartisan organization that hosts public-policy discussions. To promote that appearance, Rattner agreed to an interview with local radio personality Frank Beckmann… The host opened the interview by asking if Rattner stepped down from his White House post in anticipation of the Security and Exchange Commission's (SEC) suit that would later allege a kickback scheme involving Rattner's private-equity firm. Things did not go well… I won't ruin the surprise, but the fireworks are well-worth listening to the interview posted to the WJR talk radio station website… Obama is not just a SOCIALIST.. HE IS A CRONY CAPITALIST/SOCIALIST... that actually in scientific economic circles is known as STATE FACISISM ( You know... TO BIG TO FAIL BUSINESSES in bed with the REGIME in power. (* See: NAZI GERMANY 1933-1945) This man was personally implicated in bribing New York state pension officials (but hasn't been indicted yet). He made close to $500 million via his private-equity fund (Quadrangle), while his investors underperformed municipal bonds. This guy lives in a $15 million home on Martha's Vineyard and in the same Fifth Avenue apartment building as George Soros. This is a guy who flies his own plane… whose wife is the leading fundraiser for the Democratic Party. This is Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and Michael Bloomberg's best friend. And Barry Diller's. This guy spent his entire life in the rarified world of Ivy League colleges, investment banks, and New York City's most elite social circles. And yet… even with all of these advantages, he ended up accused of bribing New York State pension officials to get them to invest with his private-equity firm. (By the way… I have to hand it to OBAMA! on appointing Rattner as the "car czar." OBAMA! knew about the corruption charges, and he appointed Rattner to restructure General Motors anyway. After all, who better to steal from bondholders than a crook?) And now, Rattner was going to lecture us, the great unwashed, about "income inequality." It was simply unbearable… After spending about 20 minutes congratulating himself on the bailout of GM (which cost taxpayers roughly $80 billion and bondholders roughly $27 billion), Rattner put up a chart he seemed to believe indicated rich people in America were making far too much money. ( NOTE) Rattner ended up settling his SEC case for $6.2 million, a pittance for the billionaire. He was also banned from "associating with any investment advisor or broker dealer" for two years. And as his appearance with Frank Beckmann makes clear… he doesn't want to talk about it. ELECTIONS MATTER... TODAYS LESSON No more needs to be said on this subject.. If you dont get it... Call 911.. you have no brain waves. SURE DEAL FOR TODAY Letting Hardcastle Group steer you with our extensive knowledge of Real Estate Investment, sales, purchases and management so you dont end up as a sorry news story on someone else's BLOG. Give us a call. 800-614-6151

An Idiot’s Guide to Next Financial Bubble Burst

Why is the Financial Crisis in Europe so important to us here in the US? Who needs those pesky Europeans, right? Well... besides the fact that over 22% of everything we export overseas is BOUGHT in Europe, and the fact that..... .. ok.. lets just stop there. 22% is reason enough to sit up and listen.

The European Union is an economic and political institution forged over decades, sealed with a treaty in 1993 but only, truly made real in 2002, when most of the current member states dropped their currency in favor of the common euro. For centuries a breeding ground for war and imperialism, Western Europe had bound itself together in peace and apparent prosperity, with a supranational government all its own to be quartered in Brussels.

Things have changed. While most major banks remain multinational (with interests around the world) their errors — some would say crimes — have brought renewed focus on the sovereign state. Today, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain are on the edge of default, the euro zone nations have a new catchphrase: “Exposure.” As in, how much “exposure” do our banks have to the bad debt held by yours. This is the least you should know.

Why are these nations in debt? Like any state (or person, for that matter) it spent more money than it took in. Sound familiar? Sounds like the good ole' US of A to me!!

Traditionally, but especially, after switching over to the euro, these nations' governments paid out huge amounts of cash they simply did not have. To compound this, the retirement age there is low by modern Western standards, and benefits are generous. Public sector employees are well paid. Sounds good, right? So when the money ran out, these nations have turned to European banks for loans. Soon, these governments were... AND ARE.... borrowing hundreds of billions and those debts, like subprime mortgages in the United States, are toxic and insolvent.

Just like here, European banks will take 50 cents for every dollar owed to them by these nations' governments. In exchange, these countries must impose what many have described as a crushing austerity. That means no more early retirement, reduced pay for public workers (the ones who manage to keep their jobs), large-scale cuts to social programs, and a staggered repayment of the reduced debt.

There have been riots in cities across Europe by thousands who want their cake, pie, STEAK, seconds, valet parking... and Eat it too! EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING FOR NOTHING... or I should say. They dont want to PAY for what they HAVE received and continue to wish for.

What will happen if Greece or any of these other EU nations default on its foreign debt?

The first thing you would notice is a massive drop in stock markets from the U.S. to Japan, and all across Europe.

German banks, and maybe French too, would need massive bailouts. The prospect of those defaults in other debt-ridden countries could cause a run on the banks. Even more money would leave the market. And when money leaves the market, demand drops. When demand drops, economies go in the crapper.

It is for this reason, you are seeing the US work through the IMF to prop up these European banks with...YES... PRINTED MONEY... from our ever printing, never stopping, dollar presses in the basement of the Treasury Department. (15 trillion and counting........)

My prediction? All of these measures are fingers in the dike stop gap moves. They have not even begun to address the REAL problem.. and that is the enormous FLOOD behind the dike wall that is not likely to go away any time soon.

And what is that flood? To much debt. To much government, to much spending, the politicization of economic fundamentals and the violation of those economic fundamentals. Lets simply say that 1 - 1 = ZERO and always WILL equal ZERO no matter what your local politician says. And when you blow hot air into a balloon... at some point, if you dont stop.. IT WILL BURST.