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"No rest for the wicked!" I'm not sure where the phrase comes from but it comes to mind when I am dashing about like a man with his hair on fire. Ever since the presidential election, the phrase has fit as perfectly as the pair of Ugg's my wife got me for Christmas. Showings increased as did contracts. And my buying clients were ready to move forward as well. Call it consumer confidence or call it an aberration, I can only report what has been the experience of Thomas McCarey. I attribute it to a mixture of ridiculously low interest rates combined with a faith, hope and confidence in incoming president Barack Obama. Take a look at today's New York Times which reports that 79% of respondents to a NYT-CBS poll -
were optimistic about the next four years under Mr. Obama, a level of good will for a new chief executive that exceeds that measured for any of the past five incoming presidents. And it cuts across party lines: 58 percent of the respondents who said they voted for Mr. Obama’s opponent in the general election, Senator John McCain of Arizona, said they were optimistic about the country in an Obama administration.
I share this hope, faith and confidence. And not simply because it bodes well for my profession. But moreso for what it bodes for my boys. The beauty of change, including radical change (for the election of an African American as president of the United States is a radical change) is that it becomes synthesized into the culture's psyche. In a real and important sense it becomes normal. And so for my boys and their generation an African American man being president is just the way it is. Like kids of color and white kids being in the same classroom. Or a woman being the head of a corporation. Or everybody having the right and opportunity to vote. Or an African American being president. In the meantime my phone keeps ringing with folks calling on my listings. As I write this brief blurb I am hosting an open house at the newest luxury listing of The Real Estate Lounge Chicago at 1055 N Hermitage. A bunch of snow-top walkers have ambled by to see this East Village two bedroom penthouse with a fully decked rooftop. Plus showings are on tap tomorrow. List price of $499,900 includes a garage parking space. Also showing tomorrow is my West Loop one bedroom timber loft at 1250 W Van Buren. With a south-facing view and parking included, first-time buyers and in-town seekers have flocked to this great condo which is listed at $229,900. As was the case with my gorgeous Lakeview listings at 550 W Surf and 726 Addison, I look forward to these viewings leading to, as we say in real estate, "something in writing." With consumer confidence inching forward (combined with those ridiculously low mortgage rates), I don't think my confidence in the market is misplaced.
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