Auto Bailout, Again, Again

Today the White House announced that Chrysler will finally be declaring bankruptcy. Well, duh! The only people who didn't see this coming was those on Capital Hill and The White House. Those with an ounce of common sense recgonized that bandaids aren't the best cure for a cut femoral artery. Chrysler was just too far gone. Now if Chrysler doesn't sell as many cars, maybe Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, or others might sell a few more. I don't see Americans ceasing to move things and themselves around anytime soon.

After tea parties are all quited down, maybe Capital Hill and The White House will finally recgonize that throwing money at private and/or public business is not the answer. Capitalism will eventually work. It is what makes this great country such a land of opportunity.

Mr. and Mrs. congress seat holder, please focus your efforts on making a fiscally sound budget and positioning our tax structure where it acutally has the most benefit to the federal treasury. I promise it's less of a rate than you think.

Calling All Retail Building Owners!

Here are ten strategies that Heidi Stout Tretheway shares in the most current issue of Knowledge-Leader magazine.

1. Shift your expectations. Market conditions may substantially change rental rates.
2. Be prepared to adjust rent. This may be the key to maintaining a tenant's momentum through the 2009 holidays.
3. Consider short-term opporutnities. Renogotiate or replace the tenant in a stronger market.
4. Reevaluate operations. Is it possible to cut operating costs to shave dollars off the common area maintenance charges?
5. Partner on tenant improvements. Many tenants with exceptional credit - and virtually all those lesser-rated - arestruggling to secure loans for TI.
6. Don't compromise. Unsavory tenants could pollute your existing mix.
7. Hoard cash. Your lender may require a cash infustion to rebalance the equity equation.
8. Find new sources of revenue. This might include advertising, kiosks, hosting special events, or reciprocal parking arrangements.
9. Focus on demographics. Understand your center's psychographics and demographic, and doggedly pursue merchants who are the best fit.
10. Get help. Your tax, legal and real estate advisors can suggest teh best path to repositioning or restructuring your property, debt and tenant mix.

Source: Knowledge-Leader