July 2011

Who is Running Your Real Estate Business?

by Richard Warren | July 31, 2011

Thinking back to the early 1990s I recall my first foray into the real estate investment jungle. I had a very good working knowledge of a few areas of the business, primarily finance and home renovation. In the areas where I wasn’t as strong I sought out experts who were. I learned what I could [...]

2 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate

Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of July 23 – July 29

by Douglas Lazovick | July 30, 2011

A quick rundown of the important real estate news from the week of July 23 – July 29, by the numbers: 310% – Amount cheaper a 5-year ARM is than normal. Normally, you save .42% with an ARM, as opposed to a 30-year fixed. Currently, you save 1.3% going with an ARM as opposed to [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Interviews

Stephan Gietl of the mckafka Development Group on the South Florida Real Estate Market

by Ronald Sklar | July 29, 2011

Stephan Gietl met his business partner, Fernando Levy-Hara, while attending Harvard’s Advanced Management Development Program in Real Estate. They formed the mckafka Development Group and immediately ventured where lesser men fear to tread: overly built South Florida. In a few short years, the partners have built quite a lemonade stand, picking up distressed properties by [...]

0 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Investing

How to Spot a Wholesale Real Estate Pretender

by Marty Boardman | July 28, 2011

HOUSES WANTED: Experienced real estate investor with cash and credit seeking a wholesale-priced investment property in the Phoenix metro area. The home can NOT be currently listed on the multiple listing service because everyone knows that is where retail buyers go to find a house. If you require that I register on your fancy website [...]

79 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Investing

Including Principal Pay Down in Your Calculations

by Ken Corsini | July 27, 2011

With a big question mark surrounding what kind of appreciation investors will achieve in the coming years, most investors look at yearly cash on cash returns as the primary metric for evaluating investment property. I see a wide array of advertised returns from various investment property marketers, and it seems like everybody has slightly different [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Investing

Getting Clear on Property Management Expectations

by Andrew C. MacDonald | July 26, 2011

One of the first tasks landlords choose to outsource is property management. This is really the nitty gritty of being a landlord and if you don’t enjoy dealing with tenants or the day to day operation of your property, you might quickly look for some help from a property manager. Often times investors will just [...]

8 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Investing

Super Low Price? Double Digit Cap Rates? Hellllo Common Sense

by Jeff Brown | July 26, 2011

Before we get goin’ today, we all know there are exceptions to every rule. ‘Course, if we’re to believe so many out there, their portfolio is chalk full of those exemplary exceptions. Yeah, and the Padres and Chargers are gonna be champs this season. I realize this and empathize, as I’m not exempt myself. I [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate

Reading the Title Report Can Save You from a World of Trouble

by Melissa Zavala | July 25, 2011

I cannot underscore enough the importance of reviewing a preliminary title report when taking a short sale listing or at the beginning of the home buying process. A clear title is required in order to transfer the property. And, it’s not just mortgage liens that can appear on title; there are other kinds of liens that [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Landlord Tenant

How to Survive Termite Problems in a Rental Property

by Jason Hanson | July 24, 2011

I have a very easy and simple solution to dealing with properties that have termites: Don’t buy them. You think I’m kidding but I’m not. I come across far too many (new) investors who wanted their first deal so badly they didn’t’ get an inspection or they were too cheap to actually get a good [...]

5 comments Read the full article →

Landlord Tenant

6 Suggestions on How to Avoid Being Dominated by Your Tenants

by Peter Giardini | July 23, 2011

If I’ve said it once, I’ave said it a million times… the key to being a successful (read profitable) landlord is to select quality tenants and train them to be even better tenants. If you mess up in either department your life is going to be miserable and your profits are going to suffer. Guaranteed! [...]

3 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate

Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of July 16 – July 22

by Douglas Lazovick | July 22, 2011

A quick rundown of the important real estate news from the week of July 16 – July 22, by the numbers: 8.8 % – Increase in closing costs from 2010. According to a Bankrate survey, the average closing costs on a $200,000 purchase mortgage totaled $4,070, whereas the average closing cots in 2010 totaled $3,741. 4.77 [...]

1 comment Read the full article →

Real Estate Investing

Banks and the Games they Play with their REO Properties

by Marty Boardman | July 22, 2011

There is nothing special about 9430 W. Monroe Street. Although from the Realtor remarks section of the multiple listing service plano you would think this house was decked out like a Beverly Hills mansion: GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OWN THIS 3 BEDROOM HOME WITH NEW CARPET, NEW PAINT, PRIVATE FENCED POOL, VAULTED CEILINGS, INSIDE LAUNDRY, STORAGE [...]

27 comments Read the full article →

Commentary

A Bumpy Road Ahead for Real Estate

by Alan Noblitt | July 21, 2011

Despite all that has happened over the past four years, many real estate “experts”, economists, and politicians continue to believe that property values will soon start climbing. My opinion is that the opposite will happen — a slow decline over several years with occasional steeper drops. Very few markets will avoid this direct hit. Why [...]

7 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate

Using Seller Financing to Acquire Properties Still Works

by Ken Corsini | July 21, 2011

Last week I wrote an article which examined how offering terms on a property that you are selling can be a very powerful tool to get a property sold. I thought it would be worth a follow up blog to discuss the other side of the equation. For those investors looking to acquire investment properties, [...]

5 comments Read the full article →

Real Estate Interviews

Real Estate Investing Over the Decades: An Interview with Jeff Brown

by Joshua Dorkin | July 20, 2011

Jeff Brown aka BawldGuy is a real estate investor and retirement planning specialist. In our interview (34:42 minutes), we talk about his career through the decades, how investing, financing, and the real estate markets have changed over that period, and delve into real estate investing with an eye on retirement. Jeff is one of the [...]

12 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries