Robert's Blog

Sources of Enlightenment to the Future

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:03:57 -0600

Seated on an airplane, next to a complete stranger, enjoying complete anonymity, one ofter shares unguarded and unsuppressed thoughts and ideas. A bit like talking to a mirror, and brainstorming in a think tank with the added benefit of assurance that the participant in your conversation will most likely never cross your path again, unless you chose to extend or accept that invitation. This scene in a natural environment in which to release your uninhibited ideas and opinions about our future. Listen to yourself, listen to the words of indulging participant in this little-guarded exchange. You may discover an lucid interpretation of the past, or an enlightenment of the future, or you could be wasting a great nap time.

20-20 hindsight

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:14:00 -0600

Did you see these coming? If you did, you are probably rich beyond imagination.

1. A couple of years back, it was the moment to short stocks, not buy stocks

2. Three or four years back, it was time to sell the gas-guzler and load and buy that hybrid electric car.

3. Three or four years back, was a good time to sell your home, your rental property, and your raw land.

4. Three to four years back would have been a great time to sell all your stocks, and open savings accounts in a few different banks

Government (Taxpayer) Bailouts in Europe

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:45:12 -0600

News of the day in Paris includes a headline announcing the European Union's intention to aid the EU's auto makers with "tens of billions of euros". As Americans, we can read that to mean "fifteens of billions of dollars". In the European Union, car sales were lower this year compared to last year, to the tune of 15.7% in August, 8.2% in September, and 14.5% in October. The EU will bailout its carmakers to conserve employment for 2.6 million employees directly involved in auto manufacturing, plus all the related employment associated with the new car industry such as spare parts, accessories, etc, etc.

The housing market has also suffered a serious decline from the affects of mortgage companies loaning wrecklessly to clients, based on inflated appraisals, and some euphoric idea that buyers will be able to pay back loans which exceed their earnings, much as we are enduring in the USA.

The financial meltdown is truely a global affair.

Is the Country/Dollar near Bankrupty?

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:13:22 -0500

Is the dollar on a fixed course for bankruptcy?

Will we soon need a bushel basket to carry enough dollars to buy a loaf of bread?

What will happen to the houses we all live in if we can't pay for them?

Will lenders take them all back by force?

How can the lenders take them back, if they, too, are bankrupt?

Will the pennies on the dollar bankruptcy buyers of the foreclosed loans have the force to commandeer possession of those occupied homes?

Will cutting spending fix the problem?

Will tax increases fix the problem?

Will government bailouts fix the problem?

Is a government bailout simply the transfer of debt from a company to taxpayers?

What do you think?

Happy Labor Day

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:38:41 -0500

Happy Labor everyone! Hope you are all enjoying your day off, coupled with the weekend. Here in Driftwood Estates, on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, Santa Rosa Beach, near Destin, Miramar Beach, Fort Walton Beach, and across Choctawhatchee Bay from Niceville, we all have a close eye on Gustavo. No direct hit, but we get the strong band of winds and rain which spawn tornadoes. Most of us who live in the south have more concern for tornadoes that hurricanes. Hurricanes are fairly predictable, tornadoes are sudden, and devastating. Good luck everyone, and enjoy your holiday.

Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, coastal living at its best

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:28:47 -0500

Driftwood Estates is a little-known jewel in the crown of coastal living. Located in Santa Rosa Beach on Choctawhatchee Bay, only minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, Driftwood Estates enjoys boating, fishing, biking, convenient shopping, restaurants, a new hospital, several inland lakes, and a county party currently under construction. Watching the dolphin frolic in the bay is a daily ritual in Driftwood.

Driftwood Estates is the tip of a peninsula extending north into Choctawhatchee Bay. Driftwood lies five miles north from the Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the Sandestin Resort. Topsail State Park, Sacred Heart Hospital, shops and restaurants of the Grand Boulevard, and the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico are all conveniently located within minutes of Driftwood Estates.

Located four miles east of the Mid-Bay Bridge, residents enjoy spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and a pleasant breeze all year round.

Driftwood Estates is a peaceful mix of quality modern homes by Wayne Adams, and many spectacular bay front estate homes on the perimeter shoreline.

With the arrival of the new Sacred Heart Hospital, a large number of new homes were constructed in the general vicinity of the new hospital, too many for the market to absorb so quickly. With that swing of the pendulum, Driftwood Estates became a bargain-hunter's paradise, but it won't last forever, nor will these unbelievable interest rates.

To visit Driftwood Estates, take Mac Bayou Road north at the Sacred Heart Hospital intersection on Emerald Coast Parkway. You will come to two ‘Stop' signs, turn left at both ‘Stop' signs. This brings you into Driftwood Estates.

Federal Interest Rates vs Consumer Interest Rates...

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:18:03 -0500

Can we open a dialog about interest rates...?

Question: Why is it that when the 'Fed' lowers interest rates and none of this discount ever reaches the consumer?

When the Fed lowers an interest rate, it is doing what, exactly? Is the Fed just lowering the amount of interest it charges to its own clients for the money it creates in the form of bonds?

If that's anywhere near correct, then when the Fed issues bonds, it further dilutes the value of the dollar, meaning the value of America.

So, if consumers who take loans from banks to buy beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, or a home for sale in Driftwood Estates, don't get the discount from the Fed, who does?

Obvious answer, those who borrow directly from the Fed by purchasing bonds to serve as collateral for funds they loan to consumers.

Those borrowers are what... banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions?

So, can it be said that every time the Fed lowers their 'interest rate', the financial institutions get a raise?

Why can't we, consumers, borrow directly from the Fed? Cut out the middle man, so to say...

Revival of the Cold War?

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:21:20 -0500

On December 3, 2007, I wrote this blog about Russian capatilists and the Vladimir Putin. I wonder if it will get more attention today, in light of recent events in Georgia.

"Russia is now a very wealth country. Vladimir Putin has created a disciplined nation, and the young majority don't like Americans. They blame us for most of the problems in the world.

After seeing the report on CNN, one realizes that it is conceivable that something much worse than the former 'Cold War' could happen.

According to the report, Russians are indoctrinating their youth to be strong nationalists with little respect for human rights. One might summarize that within 10 years a conflict could develop between opposing sides of the old 'Cold War'

If you saw the report you were surely as impressed as I am, and you may want to share your impressions.

Is there enough Russian wealth to take up the slack in our troubled mortgage loan industry?

Will Russian wealth buy cheap American real estate and business?

Will Russian wealth invest in American manufacturing to take advantage of our cheap labor as a result of the weakness of the American dollar on the international market?

At least there's a plot for an interesting book about 'Revival of the Cold War'!

What are your thoughts?"

Thank you Miss Doudou!!

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:15:50 -0500

I just received the following message from Miss Prisca Doudou. I can barely contain my excitement?!! Prisca must be extremely wealthy and kind, as she would like to invest $9,500,000 in US manufacturing. That's great for the US economy because we don't manufacture a lot of things, we import most everything from China. Lucky me! All I have to do is provide Prisca my vital information such a bank accounts, credit cards, etc., which she will use to export the money here for investment in the US, and, here's the reward, Prisca will give me 15% commission for the service! I will earn $1,425,000 just for letting Prisca use my accounts to transfer the investment cash. Miss Doudou is certainly generous. Has anyone else been this fortunate?

I wonder if Miss Doudou is a member of the ActiveRain community....

	Dear , I would like to request your assistance in a financial transaction. cher I get your contact with a member of sit.I it your desire to invest in manufacturing and property management in your country. I have nine million five hundred thousand United State dollars. USD ($ 9.500.000.00) to invest USD in the transaction and I need your help to receive the funds in your account in your country. I will gladly give you 15% of the total sum for your help. please, it is important that you contact me through this my e-mail directly (MissDoudou@xxxx.xxx) for further explanations. Awaiting your immediate response and God bless you. Regards Prisca Doudou.

Dear ,

I would like to request your assistance in a financial transaction. cher I get your contact with a member of sit.I it your desire to invest in manufacturing and property management in your country.

I have nine million five hundred thousand United State dollars. USD ($ 9.500.000.00) to invest USD in the transaction and I need your help to receive the funds in your account in your country. I will gladly give you 15% of the total sum for your help. please, it is important that you contact me through this my e-mail directly (MissDoudou@xxxx.xxx)
for further explanations.

Awaiting your immediate response and God bless you.
Regards
Prisca Doudou.

8-8-8-8-8

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 17:34:32 -0500

Yesterday morning, around 8 am, I checked my time, and it was eight minutes after eight am on the eigth day of the eigth month of the eigth year into the 20th century following the death of Christ. This made me very hungry so I went str8 to the kitchen and 8 breakfast. The Chinese chose that d8 to open the Olympic games in Beijing.. I forgot to play the lottery. My wife heard on TV that a child was born at 8:08 am whose w8 was 8 pounds and 8 ounces. This probably the eigth time I've told this story. W8 a while, and I'll tell it again. All in all, it was a gr8 day for me, and I hope yours was gr8 also.

Opening of the Olympics in Beijing

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:39:27 -0500

Let the games begin. I suppose most everyone say at least some of the festivities presented by the Chinese in Beijing to introduce the Olympic games of 2008... Guess everyone was impressed so far...

We were shown much about the technological capabilities of the Chinese. We got a glimpse of what can be done with the profits from all the stuff we buy from China.

By the end of the games, we will see many more amazing things. The Chinese will need to be treated with more respect henceforth, and will have more of a say in decisions that affect world governance.

Just trying to open an interesting topic of discussion... so what were your impressions?

Sunsets on Choctawhatchee Bay, from Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:42:19 -0500

Here are a few pictures of sunsets on Choctawhatchee Bay, from Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Amazing sunsets appear everyday, but today was special. Hope you enjoy.

Isn't that breathtaking?! When you have scenery like this to work with, you don't need to be a great photographer.

Can you think of any other planet you would prefer to live on?

Just more reason to love Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Choctawhatchee Bay

Olympics in China - Affects on USA

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:04:29 -0500

Let the games begin. They will withing a week, and in China. So many of us, probably like myself, respect the athletes, and enjoy a perfomance/contest from time to time, but probably prefer a good football game to spend our television time on.

However, recent programs on the travel channels are opening our minds about the Chinese, their numbers, the size of their country, their eating habits, living habits, and their nationalist devotions...

They seem to be really proud, and dedicated people, with a lot more history than any of us know about.

There is something eating at me, saying, guess what, Americans, all planetarians, are going to learn a lot about the Chinese and China, real soon.

Question is, how will this knew knowledge affect our dependence on the Chinese for production of about everything we possess? What else will we learn?

Sunset from Driftwood Estates, Santa Rosa Beach, Walton County, Florida, near Destin and Sandestin

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:18:10 -0500

Hi, sunset in late July, from Driftwood Estates in Santa Rosa Beach, Walton County, Florida, across Choctawhatchee Bay, Mid-Bay bridge, Destin, Sandestin, Fort Walton Beach. Sunsets are spectacular all year long, and change by the second. Choctawhatchee Bay widens across the intracoastal waterway which goes from Pensacola all the way up the east coast to Virginia. Barges and all sorts of pleasure watercraft are seen on the intracoastal. Often, on Choctawhatchee Bay, sailboats are out and about. There was hardly enough wind for them on the day of this picture.

Fires Burn Homes in Forests

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:33:09 -0500

We see a lot of news about forest fires during the dry, hot, windy seasons, and we see the sadness of those who lose their homes to forest fires, and we even see these courageous souls come back and start all over in the same place...

Well, at the risk of getting hammered from all directions, I'll say anyway what I think I about that. Leave fall from trees and dry up in forests, lightning is a fact of life and starts fires in dry forests. Homes built inside forests that burn, burn just like the forest.

And somebody pays for the insurance to make restitution. Firefighters risk their lives, and we spend fortunes dropping water from airplanes onto burning houses.

What are we doing folks? Just don't build a house inside a forest, or, if you do, build it underground, let the trees burn, then come out of ground.... really, we're never going to prevent mother nature from starting fires, and if we did, the consequence would probably be more serious than forest fires.

All Grows Well

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:57:40 -0500

Hi. I just wanted to share some of these flowers with my friends. Aren't they just gorgeous!! It seems like just about everything grows well here in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. That's good, and bad... Flowers, for example, a so beautiful and pleasing to the eye and the nose. And many of the insects are tolerable. And birds and lizards are all fun to see. But, then, on the flip side of that coin, there is so much grass to cut, and weeds grow, too, and not all the insects are friendly, i.e., yellow flies, deer flies, 'no-see-ums' (those near microscopic gnats that bite, and mosquitoes, and not all snakes are cute like green snakes and black racers.... there are also plenty of pigmy ratlers... and don't forget everybody's least favorite, the termite!! Anyway, just wanted to share some flower pics with you... hope you enjoy.

The Real Estate Market after the Election

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:45:34 -0500

What do you think the real estate market will do after the election in November? If Obama wins? If McCain wins? I can turn on the television and hear from the talking heads exactly what the outcome will be and how it will affect us. I can hear that in two versions, the democratic and republican version. But, really, what I find most interesting is opinions from working stiffs like you and me... We live in a real world. To me, if anyone one asked?, it looks like Obama is going to be our next president. He certainly has the oratory, and the presence, and he's likeable here and around the world... Anyone else have an opinion you dare to share?

Holding the Bag

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:07:17 -0500

Is the Florida Real Estate Market Improving? We've been hard hit here for lots of reasons. Prices got rediculously high and were supported by appraisals, lenders, Realtors, and buyers. Then the second shoe fell, and reality stepped in. We've had the flood of foreclosures, short sales, auctions, etc. Lots of buyers and institutions found themselves 'holding the bag'. My sentiment is that we're nearing the worst of it all and that things are beginning to steady out, short of turning north. I'm just hanging a carrot here to get some 'on the field' feedback. I can turn on the TV to find out what talking heads say, I am more interested in what the ground troops have to say. Thanks in advance for your thougths.

Super Deal - Estate-size lakefront lots, Montgomery, Texas

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:21:59 -0500

Hi. I live over here in Florida. I used to live in Texas. When I lived in Texas, I expected to stay there until the chickens came to roost. Well, my wife got a peek and the beaches in northwest florida, and that all changed. So now we live in Florida. So, just outside of Houston, in a developping community known as Montgomery Trace, we own three beautiful, huge, lakefront lots. If you're interested, take a look at this link, and let me know. http://www.rmonk.com/FSBO-MontgomeryTrce.html

Does Power Corrupt Good People?

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:28:34 -0500

Guess we've all seen the person who gets elected to the POA, PTA, or the School Board, or the Union management, or this committee or another, and instantly becomes a changed person.

What makes us be that way?

It's like the perfectly sweet, kind, gentle little old lady or gentleman we all know and adore, who, upon finding himself/herself seated at the controls behind the steering wheel, becomes an aggressive wannabe tank driver, fighter pilot, state trooper, or the Lone Ranger, all in one, dilligently in pursuit of a bandit or a bad guy.

Tail-gating, horn-blowing, hi-beam-flashing, bird-flinging foul-mouth champion, out to set the world straight.

There must be some of you psychological thinkers who can clear this up with a simple, logical explanation for the rest of us...

I'd sure be grateful to you.. Thanks.

For Rent - Driftwood Estates - Florida - Cheaper than a Mortgage Payment

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:29:59 -0500

3000 square feet brick home, 4 large bedrooms, 3 full baths, large open floor plan, large kitchen with breakfast room, great room, dining room, 2-car garage, utility room, large pantry, fireplace, vaulted ceilings, 100 feet by 250 feet level lot, trees, Choctawhatchee Bay view, northern point of Driftwood Estates, near Gulf of Mexico at Topsail State Park, near shopping and restaurants at Grand Boulevard of Destin Commons, near Sacred Heart Hospital. For rent at $2000. Call 850-428-1776 .

Lions roam free in Santa Rosa Beach

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:25:21 -0500

These two young lionesses, JouJou on the left, Bijou on the right, have been seen hunting food in the jungles of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Generally, these beasts prey on small lizards, large flying animals such as butterflies and and sparrows, and have occasionally taken down a green or black snake. They appear affectionate and loving, however, one should not be misled. The true purpose of their tolerance of human-kind is their attraction to treats. JouJou and Bijou are the youngest in a pride of four females. If you should encounter these girls in the wilds of Santa Rosa Beach, approach them only with extreme caution.

Radical new Cutting Edge Water Transportation System Introduced to Choctawhatchee Bay

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:49:04 -0500

Several recent sitings of a strange watercraft have occured in Choctawhatchee Bay near Driftwood Estates in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Possibly a product of the local skunk works, the vessel resembles a surfboard, being long and narrow and is powered by a type of paddle. The particular version of this new watercraft appears to be the two-passenger model. The vessel is quiet, sleek, and stable. The pilot navigates by forcing the paddle-like object into the water and exercising a rowing-like motion alternatively to either side of the vessel. Definely this timely new transportation system has promise in our fuel-challenged economy.

hello

A Bucket of Worms

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:34:17 -0500

Well, why not bring up a few questions about the coming presidential election and the effects the election will have on real estate...and everything else? There is a lot at stake in this one....

Will we stay in Iraq, or leave?

Will taxes rise or fall?

Will Americans panic, or regain their confidence of the past?

Will internationals support us, or search for weaknesses?

Will our government grow or reduce in size?

Will tax payers bail out the mortgage industry?

Will there be peace in the middle east?

Global warming?

A new source of energy?

We are living very exciting times. Thoughts of the future, the near future, are dramatic.

Any ideas about what's ahead?

ActiveRain is Growing in Walton County, Florida

Robert Monk Florida Real Estate (100% Realty, Inc.) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:16:57 -0500

About a year ago, I began to experiment with ActiveRain following an invitation from a coleague in the mortgage business.. I had asked a question, which my coleague answered, but she also referred me to ActiveRain to gather more data about my concerns...

Since then, I learned many things here, and have used this free site to market my listings, and myself. I think that overall, I have improved my SEO, search engine optimization, and have made it much easier to locate me on the internet.

As I get better at this, I find that by doing a search for property in the territory I farm, I have a good chance of coming up on the first page of the search.

That has to be useful and valuable.

The experience has been pleasant and educational for me, I hope that others in Walton County and elsewhere are having the same impression.