A few years back I suffered from my first concussion (hopefully, my ONLY ever to have)! Sudden heavy rain, Crocs with slick bottom, concrete floor of garage smooth, pushing equipment quickly across the floor…you can fill in the rest of the story.

Sitting in the emergency room of Johnston Willis Hospital, I realized how lucky I was to have Diane care enough to drive this mess of blood, considering the jerk I was in the process of getting ready to go. 

Then again, as I lost forever 40+ minutes of memory in the process, I can only take her word on my acting stupid.  Oh, wait a minute, as I am a male/Marine/attorney, there is a pretty good chance her memory is correct!

APPLICATIONS OF MEMORY LOSS

Waiting for a CT scan, my mind wandered (as it often does) to what message does this experience gives me to share with my readers relating to REALTY REALITY. For those of you who experienced the 2008 Great Recession or similar (e.g., 1998 Russian ruble devaluation, 1986 Tax Act leading to real estate collapse, followed by RTC “clean up”), yet choose to pretend it never will happen again… you may share my concussion loss of memory!

CONCUSSION CONSIDERATIONS

Since part of a concussion can be a loss of certain memories, I’ll be kind and assume that those of you forgetting about 2008/1996/1986 have also suffered a similar accident.  Then again, your CT scan may have come back with similar proclamation, “We examined Rick’s brain and found nothing.”  Diane could have told them that and saved the cost of the CT scan!

1. HISTORY DOES NOT REPEAT, BUT IT DOES RHYME. Ok, I took that phrasing from someone else; but it sure feels right when we discuss real estate trends. The term “overpriced” generally is said by those who lost in an auction process, or they have sold at a low cap rate and now what to buy the same type of investment property at a high cap rate. Continue to LOVE real estate; be realistic when the love is gone; pivot and move on (to at least safer realty investments).
2. NEW STUFF HAPPENS. Even though I never previously flipped backwards on a wet smooth garage floor while wearing crocs, does not mean it will never happen. The growth that started around 2010 (yes, even while Obama was President) and continued unabated for years (yes, even during Trump’s first term as President), did not last unabated.  Did you factor in a war with Iran in your investment plans for 2026?
3. GOOD STUFF IN BAD TIMES. And if it all comes crashing down tomorrow (not my prediction), those who are light of foot (and with some dry powder, also known as cash equity, squirreled away), will make out like bandits in a repositioning market.  Panic at the first clear reversal of fortune will have investors/owners/banks looking to be saved by someone with cash. 

BOTTOM LINE

Do dance while the sunshine is bright.  Remember to continuously consider moving chips off the table, it can be very fast with no time to get out of musical chair investing. 

Even if you were lucky to get out prior to 2008/1998/1986, remember you were lucky.  This time you may not be dealt the same cards…and the game itself may be unlike any you have played in the past!