Identifying opportunities

Economic Trend: US Economic Outlook: For 2017 and Beyond; https://www.thebalance.com/us-economic-outlook-3305669

·      The article states that there are multiple economic trends of 2017 and more importantly that we are completely out and recovered from the financial crisis of 2009.

·      The article indicates that 2017 should be a great year and that we are also reaching full employment. Furthermore, we see that interest rates are relatively good and the U.S dollar is strong

·      At the very end of the article it states to be aware because they predict that when times get good only means that we are at the end of the cycle. Therefore, they predict another recession to occur within a couple of years

·      There is definitely an opportunity at hand, the opportunity is to recognize that there might be economic struggles coming and looking ways to make smart investments will ensure growth.

Economic Trend: Tight inventory spurs prices; http://www.kiplinger.com/article/business/T019-C000-S003-housing-market-forecast-housing-starts-home-sales.html

·      This article talks about how the housing demand has increased yet the supply is not there.

·      There has been a steady decrease in home mortgage rates and an increase in income and therefore it has been an encouraging market to buy a house. Furthermore, many people have put a hold on selling their homes and opted into just remolding their current homes instead.

·      All of this has is now holding off builders to expand the supply and banks do not want to finance construction

·      The opportunity is that there is a demand in real-estate and houses for new families. This means it might be a great time to get involved in flipping houses before time runs out.

Regulatory Changes: Limits on Carbon Emissions by Power Plants: https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2016/04/10-regulations-that-give-small-business-owners-the.html

·      This article talks about the negative impact on small businesses due to the new standards of coal emissions by the EPA

·      I believe that the opportunity is there for business to help assist small business reduce the amount of carbon emissions and help guide them to cleaner energy.

·      The opportunity exists because the EPA wants to reduce the amount of pollution

·      This opportunity is easy to exploit and the customers involved will be all business associated with decreasing carbon emissions.

Regulatory Changes: EPA’s Expansion of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction; https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/washingtonbureau/2016/04/10-regulations-that-give-small-business-owners-the.html

·      This article discusses the negative impacts that the EPA’s new standards will have on small businesses associated with complying to new regulation of the Clean Water Act.

·      I believe that the opportunity exists for lobbying against the tight regulation against small businesses when the EPA should be focusing on large companies instead of attacking small businesses.

·      The opportunity exists because the EPA is overstepping and trying to get small businesses to spend thousands of dollars to comply to the new regulation standards

·      This opportunity is easy to exploit