BDF Realty’s Blog

“Every cloud has a silver lining” & “The grass is always greener on the other side” (Popular Axioms)   I’m not sure I’ve ever read an article that talked about the “joys of renting.”  I’m sure it exists somewhere.  Maybe it’s because I’m saturated with a bunch of real estate industry communications that always tout “the dream of homeownership” and how everyone should strive for it....

“Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while; you don’t do things right once in a while; you do them right all of the time. Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” Vince Lombardi (former Green Bay Packers Head Coach)   With low unemployment numbers, job applicants seem to really have the upper hand in the...

Grocery store prices have really gone up!  Whether it’s due to inflation, the war in Ukraine,  gas prices, Will Smith punching Chris Rock at the Oscars, or whatever explanation mega-corporations think the public will best swallow, it’s been sort of shocking how much more things cost percentage-wise.   This leads to an issue in my house.  My son is a picky eater (following the youthful...

“If you have to ask, you can’t afford it.” JP Morgan   I recently had hernia surgery which went fine (thanks for asking!).  It lasted about 45 minutes, was pain-free (while I slept), and the recovery seems to be complete.  The process was smooth.   The issues I had were pre-procedure while trying to figure out how much it was going to cost.  I had a choice- I didn’t have to get the...

Fresh out of college, I was living in New York City and was slinging cell phones by day (they were relatively new back then) and dreaming big dreams at night.  How could I become financially successful like many of the people I was passing on Wall Street everyday?  I wasn’t overly into finance, but started reading a lot of material from the real estate gurus.  Be a millionaire with no money...

He’s making a list He’s checking it twice He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice Santa Claus is coming to town (“Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie)   Oh, Santa Claus!  He’s the mythical man who causes such delight and fear in the hearts of children (and some misinformed adults).  He can be a best friend...

“The information learned while attending college is meaningless to employers; the college degree itself is the prize.  It shows you were smart enough to figure out how to graduate.” (My late brother, Gregg Furniss)   My wife and I were coming back from a weekend trip recently and stopped in for a “quick” bite to eat at a roadside Wendy’s.  Oh, I was psyched to take down my chocolate...

“The “Pottery Barn Rule” is an American expression alluding to the policy of “you break it, you bought it” or “you break it, you remake it”, by which a retail store holds a customer responsible for damage done to merchandise on display.  It generally ‘encourages customers to be more careful when handling property that’s not theirs.’” Wikipedia definition of the “Pottery Barn rule”   I...

  “Champagne tastes with beer budgets.” Common real estate agent lament   I drive an old car.  And it has lots of miles (almost 300K!).  I’m reminded of this from time to time:   “Dude, seriously?  You’re driving that?  Don’t you want to step things up a little?” An old friend   “You thinking about buying a new car soon?  I only ask because I’m looking to buy a car for my...

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.” (Bruce Barton)   “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” (Song of Solomon 2:15)   A while ago, I was talking to a family member I don’t get the opportunity to converse with very often.  It...