We have been smothered and suffocated in the past 5 months since the economic “melt down”. Do you feel tired and sad from a constant ring of red ink? Are you angry that a very few profited from unethical practices? Have you felt yourself wondering how you will be affected in the long run and feeling the pinch in the short run? ENOUGH!

It is natural to want to protect you and your family from outside forces which at present seem to be knocking at our door. We watch the news to find our bearings but this ever darkening chant from CNN and the other news channels leave us feeling weak and powerless. The only thing we truly can control is how we react to this never ending chant of doom. Only we can decide to go on with our lives and enjoy what freedoms we have and assets we control.

There are and will always be opportunities for all of us to succeed where others fail. These opportunities are here today if we wish to identify them. If we can compliment these windows of opportunity with a realistic view of where we are at this very moment, life can be wonderful and full of promise. How do we accomplish this challenge of optimism in a very challenging period of our history?

First, take a look at what you truly have. Your health is precious and no amount of money can supplant the gift of relative good health. That gift is priceless and we need to acknowledge such an important aspect of our lives. Next take an honest look at your finances. In many cases the difference between your portfolio in September and your current situation is monies you may not have ever spent. We all have a tendency to over-protect and under-appreciate what we actually possess in the way of financial clout. Most folks I know, including me have seen about a 30% drop in total funds, if invested in the stock market. That leaves 70%! I know that can ring hollow, but we must still appreciate what we have and understand that in many cases, all we have lost were funds that artificially increased by the frenzied stock market. If we are mad at Wall Street for their actions, we should also accept the fact that much of what we had was due to those financial transactions.

The same goes for housing. We are fortunate to be in a market that is more conservative when compared to the Wild West and Southeast. Those areas had huge swings from 20% per year appreciation to in some areas losses of 50% in home values. In the Midwest, we never experienced those highs and are thankfully not seeing those types of depreciation. Overall, the Milwaukee-Metro market has adjusted downward by 14% on average. It is true there are many unsold homes currently on the market, but if one wishes to pay attention to the market one can sell their home when the time comes at a respectable price!

There will be a window of opportunity in the next couple of months. Are you ready to take advantage of the Federal Government’s bail out which will come to the housing sector? I believe the government will do all they can to jump start the housing industry by offering discounted interest rates and tax credits to would-be buyers. This may be for a limited time so opportunity may present itself for those wishing to sell. That means you need to be ready for this opportunity in real time! The home should be ready to show when these incentives arrive, which may be in March of this year. If you wait too long, the market may see a huge increase in inventory as the word gets out that purchasers are reacting positively to the government incentives. Be first and you may find you seized on positive as opposed to expecting negative. If you have thoughts of selling your home, begin the process of thinning out the home from some of your treasures and take care of any problem areas both structurally and cosmetically. Don’t wait to hear about the good news, expect it. The worst thing that can happen is that your home will be in better condition and you will be proud to have your family and friends enjoy the upgrades you’ve made in your preparation.

In summary, the market will come back. It may be sooner than you think. Look at where you are today as a gift, not a burden. We are all in this together as Americans, not as victims of a weak economy. We control how we perceive the news we hear and all of us can help to change our situations by looking at reality as opposed to focusing on fear. Begin today by counting your blessings and you’ll find that others will notice the difference in you immediately!