bills_fan

Boooo...we still do it. Just about everyone is married and most have kids. Octoberfest is one of our two "Guys Weekends" every year. Just go up and booze for three days. We rent the chalet and 10-12 guys come every year.

Its not even funny and obviously very edited. Stern really needs to get a fresh shtick.

You remember correctly. Fun course, a bit challenging at times, and gorgeous. I try to play there whenever I get back to WNY in golfing season.

Real nice course, just out 20A from the stadium about 30-40 minutes is Byrncliff. Enjoy. http://www.byrncliff.com/

Pretty cool, I hadn't seen that one. At least they are starting to produce nice looking cars for the eco-crowd. The Prius, Fit et. al. are just embarassing...golf carts with windows. I've said...when Jeep builds an eco-friendly Wrangler that has off-road capability, then sign me up. Till then, forget it.

Colts, Braves, Red Wings and Steelers are all run right. But the best run has to be the Spurs.

Here is the only decent looking eco-car... http://www.teslamotors.com/

I see PA, MI and OH being the crucial swing states. If McCain takes 2/3, he wins. Obama has had his problems winning in the rust belt.

Here's a couple possibilities... http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pag...-2512-3444.html http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_pag...-2203-2532.html Edit: http://chooseart.artselect.com/perl/search...sOrArtist=angel

Any idea what she was looking at or for? There are many pics of angels...statues, photos, designs etc. Was this perhaps a photograph of a statue or was it more fantasy-type art?

Only in America does this schtick work!! http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/05BZgsO4EUdQ9/610x.jpg

Ouch! Thats why I stick with vacation and short term rentals.

It was a really small studio, a long walk from the Path. True. But if you bought the house, you are essentially paying yourself. If you rent, that money you pay every month goes out the window. Never to be seen again. Agreed. You will have more cash up front. At least an apt. Houses suck.

I said taxes. And it was not a condo, but a co-op. All of my apt were co-ops. A co-op is a uniquely NY thing, essentially it is a real estate corporation that owns the building. You buy shares in that corporation, entitling you to occupy your apartment. Its helpful to think of the shares are the same thing as a deed. The shares are pledged for the mortgage. The interest on the shares is deductible, same as on a mortgage. The property taxes. You don't pay prop taxes on your apt, but the corporation pays them on the whole building. You pay maintenance to the corporation every month. All of the buildings I have owned a co-op, the maintenance also included heat, hot water and electricity. So, you pay $500 per month, for example, and 60% of that is tax deductible (the prop tax portion of the maintenance). There are no separate co-op fees, it is included in the monthly maintenance.

I did not include the tax refunds, so I did not include the interest, taxes and co-op fees (no HOA here). All three components are tax deductible and I received refunds every year. So, to what extent it factored in, I'm not certain. I don't have the desire to go back and figure it all out.

No, its above and beyond the purchase price, after closing costs, less the cost of any improvements I made and not including tax deductions. I don't know any other way to describe it but "profit." Renting is not always less expensive. It definately doesn't carry less risk. If you rent for two years, that money is gone...you will never see it again. If you buy, you may make money, lose it, or break even. It is 100% certain that after renting for 2 years, you will have nothing. After two years of owning almost any real estate, you at least have a chance of getting that money back.

You are NEVER better off renting. First job after school...bought a studio in Hoboken, NJ, sold 2 years later for 10k profit. Bought 1 bedroom on Upper East...sold 3 years later 60k profit. Bought 2 bedroom in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, sold 2.5 years later...125k profit. I made improvements to all three, but the first two were just asthetic improvements. I sold all 3 properties on craigslist, no broker. Add in the tax deductions and it really is a no-brainer.

I'm not in the carribean? Siesta Key and Holiday Valley.

The real problem with the Twins is their multi-billionaire owner Carl Pohlad (who has more money than most, if not all, MLB owners and is in his 80s) won't spend any money on the team. Hey Carl...you can't take it with you!!

No list is complete without the Knicks!

They are vacation properties and thats what the prevailing rates are in the markets where I own. Also, when I tell you, I do nothing...I do nothing. Except cash a check that is...

I had some success with short-term vacation rentals (ski and beach properties). The management company does just about everything, for 25% of the rental. Totally worth it, all I do is collect a check every month that, when evened out, covers the mortgages on the places and allows me to buy my wife a nice dinner. Of course, I knew the markets very well before I bought and always take care of my rental agents. My properties are rented aggressively.

I drive an 05 Jeep Wrangler and absolutely love it. I have had absolutely no problems.

Thanks for the update Bill...good luck.

Jack London is really an unappreciated author, beyond the obvious White Fang and Call of the Wild. If you want a good one for the summer, pick up Martin Eden. Many think its London's autobiography, as a struggling young writer. Here is a summary if you want, personally, I would just read it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Eden