I just received an email announcing the first cut of Moniker’s auction list for the October 2007 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Conference. This is the first cut of more than 3,000 domains included in the auctions. From past experience, I believe there will be somewhere around 300 domain names in the live auction, and several hundred names in the silent auction. As always, there are some high profile names in this list. As we get closer to the event and the final list is distributed, I will give my opinion of some great names at low reserves.

WallStreet.com
Taxes.com
StockQuotes.com
Computer.com
Photographers.com
Ethanol.com
Estate.com
Elections.com
Kuwait.com
Copiers.com
ScienceFiction.com
SportingGoods.com
MartialArts.com
Cowboys.com
CrosswordPuzzles.com
GasPrices.com
Debit.com
Podiatrists.com
MiniatureGolf.com
Communication.com
House.net
Technology.org
Manufacture.com
Newlyweds.com
Promotion.com
Dentists.net
PensionPlan.com
Math.net
AutoFinancing.com
Pesos.com
VoiceRecognitionSoftware.com
CaribbeanVacations.com
Invest.net
ChocolateCandy.com
SchoolTeacher.com
TuxedoRental.com
AIDS.net
StMaartenRealEstate.com
EuropeanVacations.com
LibertyBell.com
MortgageRates.org
CysticFibrosis.org
Cholesterol.net
Scores.mobi
CertifiedPublicAccountants.com
HomeMortgageRates.com
SpaghettiSauce.com
Cotton.com
Audit.net
AirlineTickets.org
Lotto.info
Software.info
FreeMovies.net
HomeBudget.com
PrimeInterestRate.com
DiscountAirFares.net
News.mobi
Free.mobi
Email.mobi
PDA.mobi
Cash.mobi
Buy.mobi
Podcast.mobi

Back in the 1980s when the US economy was facing tough times and the dollar was weak against Asian currency, the Japanese swooped in and purchased a tremendous amount of New York City real estate. They realized that they could buy valuable real estate at a fraction of the real value. Once the dollar rebounded in the 1990s and US investors like Donald Trump began buying it back, many Japanese real estate investors made a fortune. With the recent currency woes facing the US dollar against the Euro and Canadian dollar, I believe we may see the same thing happen to domain name assets. Foreign investors now have the advantage of stronger currencies against the the US dollar, and they can afford to go on a domain spending spree.People may counter this theory by saying that because PPC payouts are made in US dollars it wouldn’t be a good deal for foreign investors to buy domain names. Do these people think that when the Mitsubishi Estate Company of Japan bought the Rockefeller Building in New York City, rent was paid to them in Yen? I am sure rent was paid in US dollars, and they were happy to buy this US property jewel at a discount.While the Euro is strongest against the US dollar, I don’t believe Europeans will be the most active buyers. There are too many European extensions that are popular (.uk and .de for example), so they may not take full advantage of the discounted US prices.I believe the spending spree will start north of the border in Canada. Some of the most prolific domain investment companies reside in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since Canada is so close to the US and .com names are certainly common in Canada, I predict the Canadians will be the biggest buyers of domain names while the dollar is weak. For the first time in 31 years, the Canadian dollar is on par with the US dollar, and it has grown 62% since 2002. Canadians are proud that their economy seems to be outperforming the economy of their US counterparts. What better way to show their economic advantage than buying property? Instead of just a real estate boom, I foresee a virtual real estate boom, and our friends north of the border could be leading that charge.