My long-time friend, Don Signer, has set up a web page and started a blog. The first entry makes me sad. Don is the owner of Signer Buick-Cadillac in Newark, Ca. The only Buick-Cadillac sales point ever in the Fremont, Newark, and Union City area. I was manager of a bank in Fremont when I first met Don. I think it was 1982 or 83. Don, with a partner, was opening up a new Buick dealership in Fremont. It was a time when foreign-made cars sold strongly and American-made cars did not. (Some things never change.) Don was frequently required to answer questions about the wisdom of opening a Buick dealership. He had been raised in a family that sold G.M. cars. He believed in the brand. He stayed true to his beliefs. His business succeeded. He bought out his partner. He moved to a new, larger location for his dealership. He also added Cadillac to the Buick line of cars. 

Don succeeded. He made a living. He became part of the Fremont community. He became active in the Chamber of Commerce. He has been president of his Rotary Club. His roots are planted in our community. Fast-forward to the present. We all know that G.M. has had its share of problems. G.M.’s problems have caused problems with many other business and individuals across our nation. G.M. decided that Signer Buick-Cadillac could no longer be a G.M. dealer. 

Whether it’s loss of a house due to foreclosure, loss of a job due to a business trying to cut expenses, or the total loss of a business, itself, our economy has been unkind to many in the last few years. The City of Newark, Ca. will suffer the loss of sales tax that was generated by Signer Buick-Cadillac. The employees who have lost their jobs will no longer have the salary that was paid by the dealership to spend in Fremont, Newark and Union City.

Check out Don’s site at www.DonSigner.com.

So…how does this relate to real estate in Fremont, Newark, Union City or any other nearby towns…Pleasanton…Livermore…San Ramon…Danville…Milpitas…and others? Don is a homeowner. Many of his employees are homeowners. It is naive to think that, among all those who are directly affected by the closing of Signer Buick-Cadillac that no one will have personal financial difficulties due to their job loss. Maybe someone will sell their house that they can no longer afford. Maybe someone else will be subject to a short sale, or worse, a foreclosure.

My best wishes go out to Don and to all of his employees.