Brendan has written 62 article(s) for the BiggerPockets Blog.
Commercial Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | July 18, 2009Nine years ago, my employer (a software company in Burlington, Mass.) was nearing the end of the 10-year lease term for its headquarters building. This was just about the time that the software industry was beginning to decline, for two reasons: all of the Y2K bugs had been resolved, and investor money was no longer [...]
Commentary by Brendan O'Brien | July 11, 2009Recently the Detroit News ran a series on Michigan’s extraordinary net out-migration problem. Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving into a place from other equivalent places, and the number of people moving out. In this case, it refers to movement from state to state within the US. 109,000 more people [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | July 4, 2009Image via Wikipedia I don’t want a bumper sticker that reads “Proud to be an American,” although I am proud of what my country has accomplished. I didn’t earn my citizenship – I was given it as a gift at birth. The best gift I have ever received. What I feel is gratitude. Think of [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | June 28, 2009When landlords sit down with prospective tenants, they typically say something like this: “You’re signing a one-year lease. This is a contract for you to pay $9000 in 12 monthly installments for the use of the apartment. In other words, it’s a one-year commitment. You are responsible for the entire amount, even if you leave [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | June 20, 2009I have grape vines, apple trees, blueberry bushes and strawberries in my backyard garden, but my favorites are the strawberries. They are so easy to manage! They don’t require weeding, pruning, or spraying. They don’t get wiped out by high winds. They spread naturally without need for additional planting (put in 25 strawberry plants one [...]
Commentary by Brendan O'Brien | June 14, 2009Image by The Library of Congress via Flickr A few years back, my good friend Matt had a job offer to work at a company in Caribou, Maine. Caribou fits its name pretty well – it is the northernmost city in Maine, and actual caribou (that is, reindeer) used to live around there. Caribou got [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | June 7, 2009My recent article on Tata Group’s innovative $8,000 housing units got me inspired to think of new ways to solve my problems. Right now I’ve got four big ones – four vacant units I really want to fill. I’ve got three risky ideas that might help me fill them. And I really, really need your [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | May 30, 2009Image via Wikipedia Remember the company that created the $2,000 new car? Tata Group of India has unveiled its newest brilliant innovation – the $8,000 new home. The bad news is, Tata won’t be bringing its $8,000 homes to the United States any time soon. Shubh Griha, the company’s new housing development, is located in [...]
Landlord Tenant by Brendan O'Brien | May 22, 2009Image by joeltelling via Flickr Occasionally, I hear from landlords who have absolutely no problem marketing their rental units. They put a sign out front, get a couple of calls and rent to the first likely prospect. Then the tenant stays for three or four years before the next perfect tenant comes along. What is [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | May 15, 2009Image by turtlemom4bacon via Flickr I had heard that the real estate market was doing better in Orlando than in other parts of Florida. Cruising down International Drive, the city looked prosperous. There was a lot of activity and very few empty storefronts. But after looking at some numbers, I’m starting to wonder. The Sunshine [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | May 9, 2009Image via Wikipedia Last week, as you’ll remember, I visited Walt Disney World with my family and was highly impressed with the professionalism of the whole Disney organization. Professionalism, to me, means caring competence. A professional knows how to do his job and wants to do it as well as possible. Professionalism is a means [...]
Commentary by Brendan O'Brien | May 2, 2009Yup, I’m here at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, writing to you from a dark hotel room. It’s dark because my wife and kids, who are normally early risers, are still recovering from yesterday’s marathon of fun. My eight-year-old son and five-year-old daughter, in particular, are loving this – Gianna told me as we [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | April 25, 2009Image by rajeshvj via Flickr In Nicholas Pileggi’s brilliant book “Casino,” a budding casino developer considers taking an investment from powerful union interests. But before he pulls the trigger, the developer’s mentor takes him aside with a warning. “Don’t do this,” the developer is told. “Don’t get into bed with these people. They will wind [...]
Landlord Tenant by Brendan O'Brien | April 18, 2009Image by TheTruthAbout… via Flickr So you’ve got five residential tenants. Joe consistently pays late. Christine got in a fight with her boyfriend and kept everybody awake on Christmas Eve. Alex leaves his trash out in the halls. Richard calls you around the clock to complain – about the other tenants, but also about the [...]
Real Estate by Brendan O'Brien | April 11, 2009I am getting really sick of people complaining about the economy. I’ve been complaining about it way too much myself! So today, let’s think positive and put five good ideas into your real estate toolbox. When you show a rental apartment, do your best to schedule multiple appointments (for the same place, of course) at [...]
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Michigan: On a Collision Course with Reality
by Brendan O'Brien | July 11, 2009Recently the Detroit News ran a series on Michigan’s extraordinary net out-migration problem. Net migration is the difference between the number of people moving into a place from other equivalent places, and the number of people moving out. In this case, it refers to movement from state to state within the US. 109,000 more people [...]