Back to Reality

A few observations from my vacation time in Florida:  the real estate market troubles are more obvious in southwest Florida than at the New Jersey shore- probably due to the vast variety of housing options available.  Even saw a few homes boarded up…sad.  Commercial real estate is also suffering- a fair amount of retail store fronts empty and some chain restaurants and super markets have closed. 

In contrast, the beautiful high end shopping and dining districts were busy.  There were many special holiday events scheduled in those areas- a smart move by the business community to attract customers. 

Lower interest rates and the start of a new year are a source of hope for the many businesses dependant on the real estate industry.