The baby boomer generation was taught to, "Buy real estate, its the best investment out there."  And why wouldn't they subscribe to this theory?  They watched their parents houses double, triple&quadruple in value. 

Fast forward to my generation, Generation FaceBook and we've watched our parents house values drop year after year for the past 5-6 years.  Sure there is a vast majority of us (myself included) that believe Real Estate is and always will be the best investment and that all markets are cyclical.  However, there is a small percentage of our generation (rapidly expanding) - that has no problem with paying $2,000-$3,000 rent a month for a studio apartment in New York City.  It's the life style baby!  Living in the Big Apple, the city of dreams or is it the city that is crushing the American Dream?  There is an epidemic of 20somethings that live check to check, but they do it in the greatest city of all...New York City.  A 25 year old making $75-$90,000 can barely pay his bills in New York City.  Sure the nightlife is great & there are daily celebrity sightings - but where will you be when it comes time to settle down, BUY a house and raise a family? 

The American dream is being crushed and our old school values that enabled each genration to do better then the past, will stop with Generation Facebook , IF we do not start saving and living within our means. 

Tweet that?

And to you Lady Gaga, there is a desk right next to mine if you ever decide to sell houses in heaven.  Just promise me you will never wear a dress made of meat to a listing presentation?

Each week presents new opportunity, new challenges&new experiences! 

We all have a decision to rise up or are shy away.  First be thankful that we can ALL control our own destiny.  Second, each Monday start the day off with some ME time.  Visualize your week, set goals & devise a game plan to achieve those goals... 

Each Monday, I will be posting a motivational video to jump start the day, enjoy!

Many of our grandparents migrated to this country.  They came to America for a better life.  For the most part, they started with nothing and had to work hard for everything they earned.  In the beginning they worked just to provide the bare necessities for their family.  Through hard work and perseverance, they eventually were able to acquire more and more, working their way up the ladder and one day realize The American Dream.  The Dream differs from person to person but the common factor is: having a place of your own, a place to call home. 

"A home is where the heart is" Clich, I agree.  Let's break this down further and understand how this saying came about, how we've veered from it&how we can get back on track.  Our grandparent's home was a place to rest your head at night.  It signified the Journey.  The journey from a foreign country.  A journey that involved learning a new language (with no one to teach them), finding work (with very little education) & finding a way to provide food, shelter&unconditional love for their family.  I would like to expand the saying, "Home is where the heart is."  Home is where the story begins, the memories are made & the heart is protected.

As American Greed kicked in, we grew richer as a country but poorer as a "family".  Bank accounts were growing exponentially but so was the divorce rate.  Families were divided, houses were war zones & the values instilled in us by our grandparents were hidden behind Wall Street, easily attained credit and selfish decisions.  Home became the place where the heart was broken. 

The financial bubble burst, white collar crimes were on the rise and the "American Dream" was heavily mortgaged, under water and the cause of hardship in America. 

Why? Greed.  Why?  No moral conscience.  Why? No old school values.  Why?  Why Not.

America was a country founded on hard work, sweat & tears.  We will see these tough times through and bounce back, it's the American way.  We can only hope that the next generation will be clich and place the heart back in the home.