Recently, there was a post by an Affton leader informing us that many businesses will not come to Affton due to the average income and average age of the citizens in our community. That post happened a couple of weeks ago and is still on my mind.
My question is, which typically comes first, the buyer or the seller? Said differently, should the business bring residents or the residents bring the business?
Here is what I believe to be true when referencing Affton with that question. Because of where and how Affton is situated geographically, (i.e surrounded by numerous towns with younger, richer families, located off I-55, and ten minutes from the arch), I truly believe that "If you build it, they will come".
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If Affton were to be a little town in the middle of nowhere, I would then hold the dynamics of the town responsible for being able to help a business thrive, but Affton is the perfect scenario.
I started my two businesses with the mentality of 'The only way I am going to survive is to provide a quality product with outstanding service. I will need to be there for my customers and simply, just make them happy.' I never once thought about if I would even have buyers as I knew Affton was a great home for my business.
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We've also all heard the term 'buy low, sell high'. Investors are missing the boat here. Right now, Affton is the ugly house in the neighborhood, everyone around us is looking pretty. The most basic fundamentals of investing will teach you there is no better place to be as an investor in this situation than the one owning the ugly house. Affton will need to do some cosmetic updates (paint, brighten and whiten), add new supports (businesses) and eventually we see our investments climb quickly and substantially. In my opinion, you get in now because eventually Affton will start the upward trend and the ship will sail.
I bought a couple investment properties with that mentality. I remember thinking "I shouldn't buy in Webster, Kirkwood, Shrewsbury, because that boat has already left the dock. Those prices are too high. Stay here, invest in Affton and watch this community grow into what those towns have become and look to double/triple the value of my investments."
The bottom line is businesses and investors would be wise to jump in now, as this community is sitting on the bottom with nowhere to go but up. Affton, I am confident that if you build it, they will come.
Make the day count!