Our fan base couldn’t get enough of two hot topics featured in last year’s weekly MacRo Blog posts!
It
was April 22, 2010 that the first official blog post was announced on the website for MacRo, Ltd. Hard to believe that was over six and one-half years ago, but you know what time does when you’re having fun!
That first article was entitled Mid-Maryland Land & Commercial Real Estate Talk On The Web: A VOID Or Black Hole? In it yours truly offered up the idea “to bring discussion, opinion and education to the hot topics of the day” and issues that are happening in the local land and commercial real estate market, as well as outside political and other matters that directly and indirectly influence the market.
Since that time, we have posted over 360 articles on various topics which have totaled well over 400,000 words about real estate and government in Frederick and its surrounding jurisdictions – an on-going novel of sorts.
Your feedback has been tremendous, and the readership (unique hits, as they call it) has grown exponentially … a 12% increase over 2015 alone. Our posts have been pushed through our weekly email newsletters to our subscribers, as well as through any number of social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+, to name a few.
Sometimes our readers can’t get enough of our strategic tips on buying, selling, managing and/or leasing real estate. Posts that summarize unique CRE transactions – both big and small – often grab attention.
But more often than not our readers devour topics that include local politics and words which bring “a bit” of controversy to that arena.
2016 was without a doubt one of those years that politics ruled the day for our subscribers.
Not only did you find our posts interesting, but you were also ENGAGED! A couple of our posts made it to the floor of the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis which thrilled many and ENRAGED others — Really? you ask … YES — enraged is a fair description.
The topic: The proposed Downtown Frederick Hotel and Conference Center.
Five out of the nine most visited posts on the MacRo Report Blog covered much of the behind the scenes financial analyses and political maneuvering that took place by those who favor and those staunchly opposed to the project. Is the matter settled? Not a chance, so expect more on this issue in 2017!
Here are the 5 posts that raised more than a few eyebrows:
- Looking Under The Hood Of The Proposed Frederick Downtown Hotel Conference Center Deal (January 27, 2016)
- Does The Elephant Reside At The Holiday Inn? (February 03, 2016)
- Downtown Hotel And Conference Center Delegation Opposition: What’s Up With That? … And What’s Next? (Guest Blogger: Linda Norris-Waldt on February 24, 2016)
- Spinning with Mr. Hough (February 10, 2016)
- Claims Of Unfairness Are Just Not Fair (August 24, 2016)
Two other very popular posts were about my last minute “tongue-in-cheek” campaign to run for President of the United States. Seems the popularity of the posts were inversely related to the great unpopularity of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — Go Figure! While my unsuccessful plan was to wage a stealth come from behind victory using only social media to promote my campaign, it was fun … I thank all those that spread the word … and as for those who have told me that they actually voted for me, well, I don’t believe you!
- A Surreal Idea: Why Not Me For President? (October 12, 2016)
- Presidential Hopeful Names The Right Team To Lead The Nation Forward! (October 19, 2016)
To round out the year of favorites posts, a bit of opining on Frederick County’s President of the County Council Bud Otis caused a bit of a ruckus in This Bud’s For Who? (May 25, 2016), especially when the council’s leader chose to leave the ranks of the Republican Party.
And the last year began with yours truly’s take on the economic outlook for the then coming year in A 2016 Economic Perspective For Frederick County, Maryland (January 13, 2016). The conclusion of many local and regional forecasters was that 2016 may be “As Good As It Gets!”
And for many of us in the CRE business, it was a very good year.
Was that prediction true?
Well, tune in next week as the MacRo Report Blog summarizes what those economists are saying now!
Rocky Mackintosh, President, MacRo, Ltd., a Land and Commercial Real Estate firm based in Frederick, Maryland. He has been an active member of the Frederick, Maryland community for over four decades. He has served as chairman of the board of Frederick Memorial Hospital and as a member of the Frederick County Charter Board from 2010 to 2012. He currently serves as chairman of the board of Frederick Mutual Insurance Company. Established in 1843, it is one of the longest enduring businesses in Frederick County.