When I was building my publishing company, I had oodles of opportunities to buy buildings in New York City.
I didn’t because I didn’t understand, or was scared or was too busy, or whatever. I had lots of stupid excuses.
The one time I did, I made 70.91 times on my money.
Yup, I was an idiot.
My dear friend and reader, Lucky dropped this comment on this site yesterday.
I have made more money in real estate during my lifetime than I ever did working for someone else. Due to the wonderful tax breaks even for the very small real estate investor like me, I have not paid income tax since the early 90s when I quit working. You need to get more into real estate Harry and forget The Market. Yes, I do file through my accountant every year…quite legitimately.
Another friend of mine called F. was negotiating a New York City office lease eons ago for his agenting business. He eyed the lease. That business was a lot more profitable than his. He’s now a billionaire, from real estate.
Today I own 62 real estate syndications — in commercial and residential.
The perils of auto-pay
Some companies email you and tell you what they’re charging you that month.
Others — like DirectTV — just keep raising their rates and not telling you.
CHECK. CHECK. CHECK.
Three ways to make your laptop run faster
1. Put in more RAM memory. Some laptops will take as much as 32 gigabytes. Some take only 16 gigabytes. the more RAM you have, the faster your machine runs. I bet you have 4 gigabytes.
2. Swap out your slow, spinning hard drive for a modern, solid state drive (SSD) — preferably one from Samsung. I have a bunch of Samsungs. They work 100% reliably. they’re fast.
3. Replace your worn-out keyboard. Call Ron at 877-253-8898 x 525. He’s with www.sparepartswarehouse.com
This article is absolutely worth reading.
The piece begins:
In the past year, despite hundreds of people asking me, I’m proud to say that I’ve managed to avoid all temptation to write an article about Donald Trump or the slow motion, 20-car pileup that is this year’s US presidential election.
Until now.
Before, I stayed out of the gravitational pull of Trump’s narcissistic publicity machine for a few reasons:
1. There’s already so much stuff out there about him and how terrifying he is as a presidential candidate, I never felt like there was anything I could say that wasn’t already being said by somebody smarter or more informed than me.
2. The guy doesn’t need any more attention or publicity. Seriously, fu*k him. But most importantly:
3. Trump is an effect, not a cause. You don’t get a major party nomination off your own merits; you get there because you’re able to represent and channel millions of people’s thoughts and feelings. There is a putrid stench fermenting just beneath the surface of 21st-century society, and it birthed Trump, not the other way around. Nothing about the man himself is particularly unique or noteworthy, in my opinion.
So I just avoided the topic altogether. I try to stay away from politics on this site and write about more universal themes.
But then the other night, I dabbled in watching the Republican National Convention the same way a child might dabble with trying out mom’s cigarettes or a college girlfriend might dabble in trying out an*l sex – with an innocent curiosity that was quickly overwhelmed by shock, horror, and intense pain.
What struck me the most was this constant narrative that somehow the world has become this insane and dangerous place and we need somebody to take charge and make everything “safe” and “secure” for us again. At one point there was even a gigantic projection of the words, “Make America Safe Again” at the back of the stage.
Safe from what? …
For the entire excellent article, click here.
This week’s New Yorker cover. Any resemblance to anyone you know?
More comments on the election
When applying for health insurance…they ask questions…
Thinking about a web site you for or your business?
I write this column in the world’s most popular (and totally free) web site software, called WordPress. Highly recommended.
Harry Newton, who closes his eyes some days to the volatility. Here’s the last ten days. Amazing stuff:
Here’s the VIX over the same ten days. We have an expression in Australia for this. It’s been up and down faster than a whore’s drawers.
Keep it up Harry. I loved this blog. Ditto on WordPress.
All the best,
Harry, the rich elites particularly liberals live in a world most of us never get to see or enjoy. Being rich is a luxury. So the anger your article refers to is very very real. Mid-America has had ENOUGH. A big part of the distortion in America, perhaps the major factor, is the media, largely liberal, along with Hollywood and company. Your ugly pictures and cartoons of Trump are the norm; no accident, but the media selling their viewpoint, not the unbiased news they are suppose to report. The public credibility of our media is even worse, if that’s possible, than of believing or trusting in Hillary.
Plus, do we really want another lawyer in Washington? Lawyers exemplified by Hillary and her famous rape case “win” against a 12 year old, is about “winning”, not solving problems and improving situations, making the world a better place to live. And about votes. Almost all of our elected politicians are lawyers. Ah ha, that explains a lot, no?
ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH.
Hi Harry-
I have been a long time reader of your website. Overall I find it very informative and have learned quite a few things that keep me coming back.
Several times you have mentioned your involvement with Real Estate, specifically syndications that you have become involved with over time. This is an area that I have been always curious about, but haven’t found a good source. Any chance you can give a quick primer on how a new comer should begin his / her research on the topic. I’d appreciate to hear you view point on how to find such investments, how to evaluate, your lessons learned and how to smell a potentially bad deal.
Thanks-
Jason