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Let's See, Hmmm, $8000 Tax Credit or a Job? Tax Credit or a Job? Hmmm...

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Plus

The Homebuyer Tax Credits are Making The News, Again . . . . Jobs, we need jobs!!

But, we need to MAKE things in America! My husband is a weldor fabricator - 35+ years experience. He is working 4 days a week at his company - that's what they did so everyone could stay working. Some weeks it's 3. He has worked on things that have gone into space, surgical tools, wrought iron fences, eyeglass hinges. boat props, you name it. Most of the jobs in the area for welders want to pay $12-14 / hour and there are quite a few postings - so there is work, but not much pay - and no one wants to do those jobs because it's hard work for the money. A skilled trade and you would think supply and demand would push wages, but it doesn't.

The dog groomer gets $40+, $60-$90/hour for an IT person to look at your computer - last time I did that was 8 years ago when I figured out I knew more than she did - she even asked me how I knew so much!

Electricians, plumbers, heating contractors, lawn and landscape people, nail techs, hair stylists, REALTORS, accountants, Cell Phone Service Providers - HUGE! We are all service people. But when no one can afford the services anymore, we will be done.

We worked at Eastman Kodak for years. They had digital before anyone - but noooo, they sold FILM! Who would want digital pictures when they could have 35MM prints on Kodak paper?? Do you know what their business is now? Every few years they bring in a batch of new presidents, CEO's, CFO's and whomever, give them 20+ years on the books, vacation out of their ears, options and golden parachutes. They restructure and re-organize (again). They put in a few years and then off they go to some other company.  That is the only way the pension fund can get "raided" that's why no one has bought up Eastman Kodak to break it up. They can't get at the money!!

This is just one little example of the problems we are facing. People need to WORK. We need to stop GIVING people money and have them WORK for it instead. But, that is a whole other blog!

Comments (6)

Donna Harris
Donna Homes, powered by JPAR - TexasRealEstateMediationServices.com - Austin, TX
Realtor,Mediator,Ombudsman,Property Tax Arbitrator

People want to fix the real estate industry, but if they would fix the job issue, the real estate industry would automatically follow suit...

Sep 01, 2010 03:41 PM
Jerry Murphy, CRS, SRES
Long Realty West Valley - Anthem, AZ
Anthem, Phoenix, and Scottsdale AZ Real Estate

Exactly, jobs, jobs, jobs.  That will fix everything.  And this may seem counter intuitive to a lot of people, but we need wage inflation as well.  Because if wages keep falling it means fewer and fewer jobs. All you have to do is the math. Fewer dollars for people doing the same amount of work means less money for people to spend on products and services.  Less spending on products and services means fewer jobs.  It's a viscious cycle.  We need wages to start increasing again for our economy to get back on track.  Good post Angela and best of luck to you.

Sep 01, 2010 03:50 PM
Linda Hinson
S & L Properties - Calabash, NC

Angela, I am a retired teacher, and the other day I was reviewing the new pay scale which amounts to minimum wage for a teacher who teaches core subjects like history, math, science, and English.  You have to take in consideration all the hours of work put in at night...the pay is enough in NC to qualify a beginning teacher with a child to qualify for food stamps.  I called several massage therapists for a massage the other day and the quotes were from 50-70 dollars for one hours.  My beautician charges $100 for a two hour perm.  A nail tech gets $45-$60 for an hours worth of work or the vet who charges $150 for a 15 minute visit...what is wrong with this picture?????

Sep 01, 2010 04:11 PM
Ted J. Macy
Top Agents Atlanta Metro - Milton, GA

You cannot buy and the tax credit means nothing if you do not have a job or have income.  Sometimes a job (just over broke) is not what it takes in this type of economy.  Having a great idea and a business that works is also a way out of the unemployed picture.

Sep 01, 2010 04:57 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Angela, I totally agree that jobs are key to getting out of our current economic depression.  The tax credit helped move some houses, but now what?  Jobs...that's what!

Sep 01, 2010 05:15 PM
Angela Penkin
RE/MAX Plus - Rochester, NY

Donna - thanks for your support

Jerry - point well taken for sure - the cycle needs to straighten out. Wages have to go up. My husband and I would talk all the time about camera and film sales and I would be like, how often do they think people are going to buy a new camera, how many rolls of film? They need to find other businesses. I used to take 600 digital pictures at my son's football games - you can bet I would not have done that with film.

Linda - I know that is bizarre how we (me included) think nothing of paying some of those amounts, yet we don't want to pay someone $40 to fix a $400 lawnmower part. Or decent wages to daycare workers.

Ted - you are right about that - my BFF real estate friend always reminds me - what did the company that made buggy whips do when no one used horse drawn carts anymore and drove cars and trucks instead.

 

Sep 01, 2010 05:18 PM