Why Now Is The Time To Buy Scottish Real Estate

Scotland’s decision to stay in the United Kingdom will drive growth in the local property market. Both sellers and buyers had been sitting on the fence for the past 18 months, but look set to return in large numbers.
As a result, local realtors expect a marked increase in activity, especially at the upper end of the market, which has traditionally been fuelled by wealthy incomers from England and abroad.
All forecasts point to a rise in local housing values across the next few months, followed by another one in 2015 and by further rises in the next five years. This means now could be a very good time to bag a Scottish home, before the price tag goes significantly up—so here is a selection of great Scottish properties currently available for sale.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/carlapassino/2014/09/19/scotland-no-vote-why-now-is-the-time-to-buy-scottish-real-estate

Is now a good time to invest in China?

It takes money to make money

The rich get richer -- and own more stocks, the Federal Reserve reported today in its triennial report, the Survey of Consumer Finances.

The lengthy report charts the changes in family finances from 2010 to 2013 and not surprisingly most American families did not experience a sea change in their fortunes.

Stock ownership rates did not increase as values rose, according to the report. The number of Americans who own retirement accounts also fell over the past few years, down to 49.2 percent in 2013 from 50.4 percent in 2010. The The median value of the accounts jumped 25 percent during that time.

Here's a few more of the central bank's findings about investing:

• Rates of direct stock ownership fell 1.3 percent from 15.1 percent to 13.8 percent over the time period, though the median value of the stock market gained 26 percent.
• Combining indirect stock ownership rates -- for instance owning stocks in mutual funds -- with the number of people who own stocks directly, paints a similar picture. Direct and indirect holdings of stock fell from a peak of 53.2 percent in 2007 to 48.8 percent in 2013.
• Proving the adage that it takes money to make money, overall stock ownership rates increased 3.9 percent for the top 10 percent of income earners. For the bottom half of earners, the three years between 2010 and 2013 saw already low levels of stock ownership further eroded.

A survey released by Bankrate in April found that Americans are still unsure about the stock market, despite historically low yields on savings accounts and certificates of deposit. Only 22 percent of those polled said they were pushed toward the stock market as a result of low interest rates.

Do you own more stocks or mutual funds now than in 2010?

Source: http://www.bankrate.com/financing/investing/it-takes-money-to-make-money

Top 5 Reasons To Be An Investor Right Now

So I ran across this great article on Realtor.com last month. It was geared towards homeowners and explaining why NOW is the best time to a home. But after reading the article I came to the following – OMG – these are compelling reasons for INVESTORS to get into wholesaling and rehabbing investments deals – NOW! Here is the article that I read and see for you self why you should be actively real estate investing:

Five Compelling Reasons to Buy a House Right Now

“Buying a house is a highly individual decision—and a local one—but current trends are creating a favorable situation for many would-be homeowners. Interest rates are low, employment is rising, home prices—in most markets—are still well below their peaks, and rents are through the roof. Every family and each individual has various factors affecting the ability and the decision to buy a home. If you live in a market where studio apartments are $2,400 per month—while nearby condos sell for $300,000—it might make sense to buy a house instead.

1. Interest Rates Are Still Low

Mortgage interest rates are still low—for now.
A 30-year-fixed-rate loan now averages 4.16%, according to Freddie Mac, but many economists believe we will see 5% rates next year. As interest rates increase, so do your monthly payments.
A $300,000 house at 4.16% with 20% down would have a monthly payment of $1,168. With a 5% interest rate, that payment increases to $1,288.

2. There’s More Inventory

As more houses enter the for sale market, prices stabilize.
“Inventories are at their highest level in over a year, and price gains have slowed to much more welcoming levels,” said Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of REALTORS®.
The upside is consumers now have more choices, if they are looking at existing homes.
New homes are another story: Yun says new construction needs to double its current production to meet market demand.

3. Home Prices Are Going Up

Home prices are rising.
The median price of an existing home was $223,300 in June, or 4.3% higher than June 2013. That’s the 28th consecutive month of year-over-year price gains, and economists expect that trend to continue. However, we are still at least 20% off the peak prices of 2006.
“Attempting to buy a home when the market is at its lowest point—or to sell at the peak—is tricky,” said Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist for realtor.com®.
He compares it to trying to time the stock market.
“You might get lucky one or two times, but overall, timing the market does not work,” Smoke added. “It all points to purchasing power, and that’s a reflection of price and interest rates, which will both be higher in the future.”

4. Rents Are Sky-High

If you live in a big city, then you know rent is astronomical. In San Francisco, many people are spending 42% of their monthly income to pay the rent. Nationwide, rents are rising at a 4% annual clip.
It’s not unusual to see adults rooming together in expensive cities like New York, San Francisco and Chicago, but everyone needs his or her own space at some point.
Buying a home would lock in your monthly payment and stabilize your finances with a fixed-rate mortgage. This is, of course, assuming you don’t live the San Francisco area, where the average price of a home is $1 million.

5. Employment on the Rise

Perhaps nothing is as important to the financial stability you need to buy a home as steady employment. The U.S. economy is finally adding jobs—about 200,000 new jobs per month.
The next generation of home buyers—the Millennials—has been particularly affected by the nation’s job slump. Saddled with student loans and tight lending restrictions, many in this generation have been living with their parents to save money until the economy picks up.
If your employment prospects look good these days and the other four factors check out, then it may indeed be the right time for you to buy a home of your own.”

Source: http://www.reiclub.com/realestateblog/top-5-reasons-to-be-an-investor-right-now

Remember Your Investment Horizon

When the markets start acting crazy, remembering your investment horizon puts everything back into perspective. Fears in Europe, the economy, unemployment, and a few hundred other data sets all add to the daily swings of the market. But you can lower your risk to these issues by building your portfolio around a strict investment time horizon.

So are we heading for a repeat of last year? Or are the recent headlines another gut check for every investor out there? More importantly, should it really matter?

All that noise breeds a shortsighted view of your money. What is different today that affects your investment risk? The answer should be “Nothing” if your portfolio is built around your investment horizon.

Focus On The Plan

When you invest, there’s a plan of attack. It should be based on your goals over the next few months, years, and decades. Your plan stretches from tomorrow till your final retirement years. Breaking those goals down – from groceries next week to college for the kids, then your retirement and beyond – gives you an investment time horizon. This timeline tells you how long you’ll hold each investment.

Knowing this, you can manage risk easier by matching your portfolio against your time horizon. As you look across your timeline, the investments should go from low risk to higher risk the further you go out.

A basic investment horizon can be broken down into three buckets: short, medium, and long-term. As the years go on, each time horizon naturally shortens. Here’s the basic investment guidelines for each bucket:

• The next 3 years – You shouldn’t take on risk with these short-term investments. Stick with savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs.
• The next 4 - 10 years – You can take on risk, but not too much risk in the medium term. Stick to a conservative mix of bonds and stocks for this investment horizon.
• Beyond 10 years – You can take more risk over the long-term. Stocks can make up a bulk of these investments with a small portion in bonds.

Understanding your investment time horizon lets you overlook the short-term risks of the market. The next time the S&P 500 drops 20% (and your knee jerk reaction is to sell) you can rest assured that your short-term investments are protected, while your mid to long-term allocation can handle the change. When you put it altogether, it means less day-to-day worry.

Your Investment Horizon Will Change

Every year, you’re another year older and your investment horizon changes. Life changes. That’s why you do regular rebalancing and annual reviews. Each rebalance automatically adjusts your portfolio to the risks of time. As your timeline shortens those investments become less risky because your portfolio slowly moves from growth to preservation of wealth.

Take Advantage of the Drops

For those in the early stages of their timeline or who can stomach more risk, your cash holdings have a dual purpose. It’s insurance for when things go south but it’s a growth engine too. Having cash on hand is a comforting thing. But when you have a job, income, and the bills are paid that cash has better uses.

When the market falls again (and it will) in the short-term, take advantage of it. Put that cash to good use. You take advantage of products when they go on sale. Why wouldn’t you do it with stocks and bonds? Use that buying opportunity to boost returns and compound your long-term growth. Until then, focus on your time horizon.

Source: http://novelinvestor.com/investing/remember-your-investment-horizon

How to Measure Risk

Investing in stocks is a risky business. There are some risks you have some control over and other that you can only guard against. Thoughtful investment securities selections that meet your goals and risk profile keep individual stock and bond risks at an acceptable level.

However, other risks inherent to investing you have no control over. Most of these risks affect the market or the economy and require investors to adjust portfolios or ride out the storm.

There are two ways to measure risk. One is by using modern portfolio theory and the capital asset pricing model and the second is to look at the various risk factors which affect a business.

Capital Asset Pricing Model

We will not discuss in detail this theory of asset pricing as it requires you to have a working knowledge of first or second year university level statistics and finance. Since this is an introductory article, readers who are interested to learn more about the CAPM and Modern portfolio theory are encouraged to attend a course in finance or seek advice from a qualified advisor.

Basically, the CAPM makes some major assumptions about investors and their preferences. In order to use the CAPM to find the proper discount rate, one must know three things: a stock's beta, the nominal risk free rate, and the expected return on the market. Stock's with betas greater than one are more risky than the market and betas of less than one are less risky. For example, a stock with a beta of 1.5 is expected to gain 1.5% when the market rises 1%.

Modern portfolio theory is also where the main ideas about diversification come from. We will look at this concept in more detail later. For now, we can define a diversified portfolio as containing securities which have little or no correlation to other securities in a portfolio or the market. These securities are then placed in a portfolio in such a way as to minimize the volatility of the portfolio.

You may be scratching your head by now but this is essentially the basic concept of diversification and minimizing risk. There are a lot of disadvantages and advantages to using the CAPM and MPT. One assumption of the CAPM I will mention is that there are two types of risk. Market risk and firm specific risk. The CAPM assumes that investors only get a premium return for taking on market risk because the firm specific risk can be entirely eliminated through diversification. Thus, beta only measures market or nondiversifiable risk.

Second Way to Measure Risk

The second way to measure risk is to start by taking a nominal risk free rate. How do you do this? Well you take the yield that is currently offered on US Government bonds that match your investment horizon. For example, if you plan to invest for 5 years, you should use the yield on 5yr U.S. bonds. Now add to this the premium for risk and voila-you have your required return or discount rate. You may be asking, what makes up the risk premium? Well, remember from lesson one there are five things: financial, business, liquidity, foreign exchange, and political risk.

Financial Risk:

Financial risk involves a company's capital structure. What is their debt/equity? What is their current ratio? etc. We will look into how to assess financial risk in greater detail later in lessons on accounting and financial statements analysis.

Business Risk:

This involves the economics of the firm you are looking at. Ask yourself, how will this company look ten years from now? Do they have barriers to entry? (ie patents, economies of scale etc. more on this in the economics lessons).

Liquidity Risk:

It has been shown through various studies that firms which are private or thinly traded are sold at a significant discount to their value compared with similar firms with active markets. Firm's which can be easily bought or sold with little transaction costs are called liquid or marketable. The lack of liquidity can occur if the stock you are researching is not widely followed. It can also happen if you plan to liquidate a large block of stock. Your transaction could bring down the price significantly.

Foreign Exchange/Political Risk:

This involves firms which derive significant portions of their sales overseas. For example, many exporters to Asia have been affected by weaker demand for their goods. Foreign Exchange/Political risk can also happen because the company you are looking into is heavily restricted by the government. Finally, different countries have different accounting rules so you should be aware of this when investing in foreign stocks.

When investing in foreign stocks, you also run the risk of the U.S. appreciating. To adjust for this, you should restate your foreign returns to U.S. returns.

Source: http://www.everythingaboutinvestment.com/2012/01/how-to-measure-risk.html

Real Estate Still UK's Largest Investment Asset Class

As a result of budgetary changes in March 2014, more pensioners are investing in residential property as part of their pension pot than ever before.
Drawn to the asset by the fact that real estate has shown to be the best performing asset over the past 30 years, pensioners are exercising their freedom to choose investments that will generate the healthiest income in later retirement.
With life expectancy in the UK at an all-time high and rising annually, pension pots have been running out prematurely and not providing the income expected which has made retirement financially difficult for some.

Real Estate Out-Performs Other Asset Classes Year-on-Year

However, since the changes increasing numbers of savers have been seeking alternative forms of investment to fund their retirement. Property investment has provided many retirees with a secure source of regular income and has removed the risk of funds running out during retirement.
Residential property has proven to be an asset that out-performs every other asset class consistently year-on-year. Property also grows in value over time and as such, makes the perfect investment to hold on to for as long as possible. An asset like residential property will provide a much stronger, more secure income over the course of retirement.
British pensioners have also been increasingly turning towards equity release which allows them to raise funds on their property without moving home, freeing up capital to re-invest in residential property and increase their income during retirement.

Property Prices Driven by Owner-Occupier Market

A key attraction of residential property to long-term investors is that the income stream from housing is linked to wage growth and can offer investors an even better hedge to their liabilities than commercial property which is more closely linked to the slower growing retail price growth (RPI) and other property market indicators.
There are also more bargains to be had with residential investments as they are generally sold at a discount to vacant possession value. This represents the amount that would be achieved if the property were sold vacant on the open market to an owner-occupier.
In other words, residential property prices are driven by the owner-occupier market and do not correlate to demand from residential property investors. If at the point of purchase the property is let on an assured short-hold tenancy, the value of the asset will be discounted.

More Value for Money with Residential Property Investment

Reduced affordability in the UK has also impacted the residential property investment sector as increasing numbers of pensioners purchase properties specifically to rent out to their offspring or assist in the purchase of their first home to get them on the property ladder.
Although there has been widespread criticism, it is much easier to raise mortgage finance on a property that is not going to be owner-occupied. Loan to Value (LTV) is also at a higher level for buy-to-let mortgages with lower deposits payable.
This makes the market a very cost-effective way of providing homes to younger family members while generating an income and increasing capital values for an existing pension pot.

Source: http://www.ipinglobal.com/ipin-live/407289/real-estate-still-uks-largest-investment-asset-class

Even the Wealthy are Broke

Upper-middle income Americans aren’t saving much money says a report from the Federal Reserve. Only 45% of upper-middle-income Americans reported saving any money in 2012. This doesn’t come as such a surprise to anyone paying attention to the personal savings rate in America. The rate, while somewhat improved since 2005, is below its historical mean by 3.1 percentage points at only 5.3%.



 

Another sad statistic from the Fed report shows that 68.6% of Americans feel as though their financial well-being is about the same, worse, or much worse than in 2008. For those with cloudy memories, 2008 was the year the economy went belly-up. Again, for anyone paying attention to consumer sentiment, this isn’t so surprising. While sentiment has improved greatly from the days of deep recession, a quick look at the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey shows readings still below historical mean. That’s not the picture of a strong recovery.

 Source: http://www.youngresearch.com/researchandanalysis/personal-finance/even-wealthy-broke

Why does Warren Buffett avoid technology stocks?

• Warren Buffett prefers to invest in companies which operate in fairly stable and certain environments. Technology sector is the last place to look for certainty.
• He values certainty of returns more than the potentially huge but risky returns.
• He believes predicting the economics of the fast paced technology sector is far beyond his competency, probably a strong reason for his avoidance of the sector.

Warren Buffett has often been in the news for avoiding investments in the technology sector, which has been viewed by many investors as a highly lucrative sector. The Oracle of Omaha has his reasons for this approach. We look into reasons for his avoidance of the hot stocks.

Warren Buffett has historically preferred investments in sectors or companies which are unlikely to experience major changes. In his 1996 letter to shareholders he stated,

“We are searching for operations that we believe are virtually certain to possess enormous competitive strength ten or twenty years from now.  A fast-changing industry environment may offer the chance for huge wins, but it precludes the certainty we seek.”

Warren Buffett loves to have certain but stable returns over potentially huge but risky returns.  In the same letter he also states:

“Obviously many companies in high-tech businesses or embryonic industries will grow much faster in percentage terms than will the inevitables.  But I would rather be certain of a good result than hopeful of a great one.”

It shouldn’t be assumed that Mr. Buffett despises change. He is only averse to change when evaluating as an investor. In his own words:

“Charlie and I welcome change: Fresh ideas, new products, innovative processes and the like cause our country's standard of living to rise, and that's clearly good.  As investors, however, our reaction to a fermenting industry is much like our attitude toward space exploration:  We applaud the endeavor but prefer to skip the ride.”

In his 1999 letter to Shareholder’s Mr. Buffett highlights the fact that he and his partner Charlie prefer to operate within their level of competence and identifying a durable competitive advantage in the technology space is beyond their combined expertise. In Buffett’s words,

“Our problem -- which we can't solve by studying up -- is that we have no insights into which participants in the tech field possess a truly durable competitive advantage. Our lack of tech insights, we should add, does not distress us. After all, there are a great many business areas in which Charlie and I have no special capital-allocation expertise.  If we have a strength, it is in recognizing when we are operating well within our circle of competence and when we are approaching the perimeter. Predicting the long-term economics of companies that operate in fast-changing industries is simply far beyond our perimeter.”

Has Warren Buffett’s stay out of the technology sector impacted the returns of his investments? Well let’s look at the numbers over the last two decades.  The chart below compares the 20 year CAGR of the S&P 500, Berkshire Hathway’s (NYSE:BRK.A) book value per share and Berkshire Hathway’s Market value per share.

20 year CAGR in S&P 500 and Berkshire Hathaway share price and book value

Berkshire’s book value per share has grown at a CAGR of 14.6% over the last 20 years (1993-2013) while the Market price per share has grown at a CAGR of 12.7%. This growth has solidly beaten the S&P 500’s 20 year CAGR of 7.1%. It is clearly seen that Buffett’s decision to stay away from the technology world hasn’t hindered the performance of his investments. And what is the secret of the Oracle of Omaha?

Warren Buffett has this great quality which investors often call ‘Discipline.’ It is clearly evident in his avoidance of the technology sector, even during the boom of late 1990’s, when every other person was investing to set up a business which had something to do with internet. Though in hindsight Buffett had the last laugh, non-entry into what appeared to be a highly lucrative sector is a proof of the Oracle’s discipline. There are notable exceptions in the technology world, where stocks like Apple & Google have created tremendous value and returns for shareholders. Apple stock price has grown at a 10 year CAGR of 36.7% while Google stock has grown at a 10 year CAGR of 27%. While critics could view these as Buffett’s big misses, we view it as a proof of his disciplined approach to investing. Sticking to your rules is hard to do and that is something every wannabe successful investor needs to learn from the Oracle of Omaha.

In conclusion, Warren Buffett side stepped the tech boom for the following reasons: Buffett was uncomfortable investing in companies operating in rapidly changing environments; He could never find the competitive edge in any technology companies that he felt was durable; and as he admitted, forecasting the long term business economics of internet companies was beyond his competency.

We at Amigobulls live in the exciting world of technology stocks. While we salute the Oracle of Omaha for his discipline and wisdom, we will continue to make our humble attempts to apply his principles in the technology sector and pick value stocks from this sector. We invite our readers to let us know their experiences with technology stocks. Happy investing with Amigobulls.

Source: http://amigobulls.com/articles/why-does-warren-buffett-avoid-technology-stocks

The Importance of Being a Genuine Person In Real Estate

Real Estate investing is a numbers game. For anyone that has ever thought about purchasing just one property, all it takes is a few quick calculations and you’ll begin to see the dollar signs $$$.

It’s pretty simple math too. I don’t know anyone that doesn’t enjoy cashing checks each month and really feeling their investments pay off. Just like with any investment vehicle, you need to weigh the risk and the more money you invest the higher the potential return!

People ask me all the time “How do you find such great deals? I also want to buy similar properties.” For this I ask “What are you looking to achieve and what is your end goal?” I mean, if all you want is a check each month there are many other investment opportunities that can provide just that. So many see Real Estate investing as an easy alternative to other financial products, for anyone who thinks this, I give a word of caution.

Warning!

Yes, it is simple math. Yes, you can make a lot of money.

Yes, it is the best thing I have ever done in my life and so rewarding AND I have made a lot of money. I emphatically ask: Do you like people? Not just people, but strangers? Are you committed to developing long term relationships? Do you enjoy being fully responsible (well mostly) for the conditions in which another family will be living? Would you get yourself out of bed at 2am to go fix someone else’s broken toilet only to find that they caused the problem and not even get a “Thank you”?

I have met so many investors that got into Real Estate only looking at the numbers and completely ignoring the people factor. Folks, people are responsible for making those numbers work. They pay each month so we can feel good about cashing the checks. Many of the great deals I find come from those same investors that didn’t think about building relationships with their tenants and where only focused on the figures. They couldn’t stand the interpersonal aspect side of the business. They provided little communication and where unresponsive to maintenance issues because they just didn’t care about the tenants, only the “return.”

When you have a property and accept a tenant you are assisting those individuals to provide for their basic need; shelter. Now don’t get me wrong, this IS a business and if they stop paying, you need to be firm and find the best solution for all parties. You’ll need to check your emotions at the door for some of the similar heart wrenching personal issues I have dealt with over the years, but even at those times you can only do so much.

In Conclusion

I have learned that the majority of people respect themselves and are prideful of their residence, even if they don’t own it, they pay up every month as long as you keep your end of the bargain. Part of that agreement is being able to communicate with them, at times help them out, and even sparing a few moments to share a laugh.

In Real Estate, you’re not required to be friends however, you are rewarded if you’re friendly! Above all, YOU MUST LIKE PEOPLE to build a sound and sustainable investment portfolio. A property is just a building, the people pay the rent.

Are you a people person? Do you focus on building trust and relationships?

I’d like to hear your comments below and thanks for reading!

Source: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/08/22/importance-genuine-person-real-estate

How To Flip Houses Like Steve Covey

Steven Covey is a well known self-improvement guru famous for writing “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. He gave us seven simple principles that we can use to achieve success in life and business. Is it possible to apply his principles to house flipping?

His seven core habits are applicable to house flipping but one of these habits particularly stands out; “begin with the end in mind”. 

How The Begin With The End In Mind Habit Applies

It’s common knowledge that making a profit on house flipping is not easy but when you know exactly what it is you want to accomplish, you eventually end up having a laser-like focus that eventually concludes with you making a profit.

Numbers can break or make your house flips. Knowing how to do the math is not the hard part; the hard part is determining the correct numbers to use. In order for you to be able to accomplish this, you need to do a fair amount of research and assistance from your house flipping team.

The moment you learn how to flip houses with the end in mind, you will start making profits.

Is What You Pay For The House Important The Most Important Number In House Flipping?

While this is a very important number, what you pay for the house is not the most important number. Rehab costs are also not the most important.

The most important number is the After Repair Value (ARV) which drives all the other numbers. The After Repair Value is “the end” you should have in mind and you should use it to drive everything you do in house flipping.

Almost all the projections that you will make during the house flipping process will be based on the ARV. If the ARV is right, then every other single projection will also be right and your profit margin will be great.

Here’s How You Begin With The End In Mind In House Flipping

1. Find A Great Real Estate Agent

A great and qualified real estate agent can do a comprehensive market analysis and give you a more accurate ARV. Since we have already established that ARV is the most important number, you need to find a real estate agent that is good at their job.

A good real estate agent will look at properties in the area that have already been sold and not the ones that are for sale. This is because properties that have already been sold will help them determine how much your property can sell for.

2. Communicate Your Plans To Your Agent

Communication is important because it ensures everyone is rowing in the same direction. Finding a good agent is not good enough if you do not communicate effectively with them. They have to be 100% with you on the same page. Your house flipping team has to also be on the same page with you.

Don’t sit behind a computer and send out emails or communicate via phone alone. Get out there and talk to your house flipping team.

Other Tips On ARV

It Doesn’t Hurt To Get A Third Opinion

It doesn’t hurt to get a second or even third opinion from another agent. You can never be too careful when determining ARV.

Hire A Paid Appraiser

You might think this is another added expense but it doesn’t compare to the cost that you will incur when you gauge all your projection off a wrong ARV.

Research

Make Google your best friend and use it to double check after repair values. It’s not advisable to determine your final ARV off internet information but you can use it to double check. In addition, you can conduct a comparative market analysis.

Conclusion

Be wary of the broker who tries to inflate the ARV just to get your business. This is why it is important to get a second opinion from another expert broker. If you begin your house flipping process with the end in mind, you will be setting yourself up for success. If you use the above tips, you will have a highly successful house flipping career.

Source: http://houseflippingschool.com/flip-houses-like-steve-covey

Live in a multimillion-dollar home for $2,500

The Starres in front of their $1.3 million dollar
Showhome in Carlsbad, Calif.

The Starres aren't movie stars, but they live like it -- for a fraction of the cost.

As home managers, Calvenn and Crystena Starre rent a $1.3 million home in Carlsbad, Calif., for just $2,500 a month -- about a third of what it would cost normally.
They're "hired" by Showhomes, a Nashville company that helps sell high-end homes. It preps the homes to look "lived in"... by finding people to actually live in them, at a very discounted rate.
Currently, there are 200 home managers, who reside in the home until it's sold (it usually takes about three to six months). They watch for any maintenance issues and make the home look desirable (food in the fridge, clothes in the closet) for prospective buyers.
But not everyone can get the gig -- Showhomes' acceptance rate is about 40%. Residents must undergo online background checks, including criminal and rental histories. They're typically white-collar professionals who are in a city temporarily, newly divorced or, in the Starre's case, a family of five looking for a quick and easy rental.


With Showhomes, the Starres didn't need to make a long-term commitment -- they could leave their furniture in storage until they figured out where they wanted to live long term.
But what was a temporary move became a way of life. Over the past two years, they've lived in five different Showhomes -- ranging from $900,000 to $1.3 million in value -- all in the San Diego area. The amenities have included everything from tennis courts to pools.
"It's a way to live in a really inexpensive way," said Matt Kelton, chief operating officer of Showhomes, which has 58 franchises in 18 states.
But it's not all a walk in the park. Showhomes has a number of restrictions for home managers.
"You can't be a smoker, you can't have a bunch of pets, no religious items -- things that can deter [a buyer] one way or another," added Kelton.
Personal items like family photos, sports teams and political paraphernalia are also prohibited. And then there's the prospective buyers who could be surveying their home at a moment's notice.
"We give up certain parts of our lives [for] the reduced rent," said Calvenn.

They also have to move every time a place sells, with just about a month's notice, and maintain a spotless home in the meantime.
"You have to keep it clean and model home-ish," said Crystena Starre, a stay-at-home mom to her three kids. "We got to teach the kids, 'We need to put things away.'"
For homeowners, Showhomes is piece of mind that costs just .5% to 1.25% of the list price (this can vary and decreases the longer a home stays on the market).
Radiologist Bernie Schupbach first worked with Showhomes in Fox Valley, Ill., when he put his home on the market six years ago.
"I was living probably 20 miles away, and it was hard to get down to check on it," explained Schupbach. "There was always ongoing concern of a water pipe breaking or animal infestation or vandalism in the interim between visits."
Schupbach didn't have to worry about finding and vetting renters -- or about the state of his home before it sold.
"We only communicated with [the home managers] if there was a problem," said Schupbach.


Schupbach's home was on the market for several years during the recession. It ultimately sold for around $500,000, and he had such a good experience that he employed Showhomes to stage his new home for buyers (which is the other half of the company's business).
And while Kelton says one man was a home manager for 15 years, moving from home to home, the majority do it for a much shorter period of time because of the "nomadic lifestyle" it requires.
As for the Starres, the wealth of knowledge they've acquired from living in different San Diego neighborhoods has helped them narrow down where they want to put down roots. They soon plan to purchase their own home.

 Source: http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/11/smallbusiness/showhomes-rent/index.html

What I Learned Raising Over $30 Million in Private Capital: Types of Money

A week ago, I had the opportunity to present about Raising Capital at the AAPL – American Association of Private Lenders event in Philadelphia, and although some of you missed it, why not cover some of the highlights?

Sure, it’s not the same as being there, especially since I had my securities attorney and another large private capital fundraiser answer questions on a panel at the end.

But, we covered some key components, such as: Types of Money, Money Myths, Mistakes Raising Capital, Tips on the Best Ways to Raise Money, Investor Relations, and the new Jobs Act, especially 506(c) and its implications.

Today, I’m going to cover Types of Money and why they’re so important.

If you can demonstrate to people where they can free up money or save money on this like taxes, it could be a huge help to them. Also, if you have an investment vehicle to put capital in, then you’ll probably raise more money too.

The reason that this is so important is that if you can demonstrate to people where they can free up money, or save money on things like taxes, and if you have a vehicle to put it in, then you’ll probably raise more money.

The concept of the four types of money really comes from Robert Kiyosaki: There’s Your Money, the Banks Money (OPM or Private Money), there’s the Tax Man’s Money, and there’s the House’s Money.

He also goes on to teach that there are three different asset classes that one can invest in: Businesses, Real Estate, and Paper Assets, with pros and cons to each class.

Businesses

Pro: This is the asset class that offers the highest of all returns on investments.

We once had a guy, who wanted to buy PPR, and his whole model was to purchase start-ups, add value, and in 3 years flip the business for a profit. We only have to look at Instagram or Microsoft to see how profitable investing in a business can be. If you really think about it, many tax laws were written to favor business owners.

Con: Businesses are the toughest asset class to own, develop, and maintain.

Real Estate

Pro: Real estate is the easiest of asset classes to leverage. It’s easier to borrow money for real estate than it is for a business or paper assets.

Con: For the smaller investor, real estate can be far more capital intensive than investing in paper assets. For example, I can invest $25 in Lending Club, a paper asset in the form of an unsecured note, but it’s hard to invest $25 dollars in a piece of real estate.

Paper Assets

Pro: Paper assets are the easiest of all asset classes to get in and out of. An example for me is that I can sell a note in less than 30 minutes. I’m not so sure that I could sell a piece of real estate that quickly. I could also trade a stock option in seconds or minutes.

Con: You probably have the least financial control. There are definitely fewer tax advantages, and they can also be highly volatile.

As Doug Andrew, author of “Missed fortune 101,” says, “These markets are like a person with a yo-yo going up stairs. Over the long term they go up (stairs), but there are ups and downs along the way (yo-yo).” And, Andrews advises his readers to protect themselves from the ups and downs of the markets.

Many people say that they’re diversified in one mutual fund or maybe in several mutual funds, but to me, if you’re only investing in one asset class, then you really aren’t diversifying.

I find to be truly diversified; you need to be investing in more than one asset class. An example of this would be Donald Trump, who invests in Real Estate and Business, or Warren Buffet, who diversifies between Paper Assets and his Business.

I like to think that I’ve been able to create synergy by investing in a business like PPR with OPM (Other People’s Money) from a Private Offering, while also using the Bank’s Money or Private Lenders to do my Real Estate deals.

I also like to think that I’m using as many Tax Strategies as possible to free up more of my money, by maintaining my RE license to take advantage of more passive losses through depreciation (not capped at $25K), and by setting up an ESOT (Employee Stock Ownership Trust) at PPR to save tax on our business revenue.

I do this, while also using my own money to personally invest in re-performing notes, which actually create synergy amongst all three asset classes.

It’s really hard to beat buying a note at a discount, with a high yield, that’s backed by real estate, with a homeowner occupant, who has a vested interest in paying their loan because they need a place to live.

And last, I like to think I’m able to take some of the House’s Money off the table by putting some money in a more protected, tax sheltered vehicles like IRA accounts and Insurance Contracts.

Many people tend to put all their money back into their business or their real estate investments, etc. But, I’m a firm believer that houses were meant to store people and not cash.

There are always market downturns, lawsuits, and bankruptcies out there, but there are also safer buckets that can be utilized to take some of the House’s Money off the table.

Source: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/08/14/learned-raising-30-million-private-capital-part-types-money

Wall Street Thinks You're Overpaid

Wall Street money managers are worried about two things: that they won’t get paid enough and that ordinary Americans will get paid too much.

The fight over who gets what from the bonus pool is an unseemly annual rite at Wall Street firms. Last year the average bonus paid to securities industries employees in New York City was $164,000, the most since the financial crisis, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

In contrast, concern over rising pay for the rest of America is a monthly, not annual, ritual. Today the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that average hourly earnings in July were flat, vs. an expected 0.2 percent increase. They’re up only 2 percent over the past year. However, hawks pointed out that the Employment Cost Index—which covers both wages and benefits—rose a more-than-expected 0.7 percent in the second quarter, its biggest rise since 2008.

“Wages are trending up, and once wage inflation takes hold, it continues for four to five  years,” says Torsten Slok, chief international economist at Deutsche Bank. Slok notes that a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business finds an increased share of companies—around 15 percent—are “planning to raise wages up significantly in recent months.” He says in a chartbook for clients: “A broad-based pickup in wages in the pipeline.”

For Wall Street, the risk is that higher wage growth will lead to more inflation, which will push up interest rates, which will push down stock prices. The rate-setters of the Federal Reserve think that unemployment can fall to 5.4 percent before inflation starts to be a problem. Slok says inflation could come much sooner, citing academic studies that put the inflationary threshold anywhere from 6 percent unemployment all the way up to 7.2 percent.

The July jobless rate was 6.2 percent, by the way. So if you believe the most hawkish of those studies that Slok cites, the unemployment rate would have to go up a full percentage point before enough people would be out of work to keep a damper on inflation.

Economists such as Slok aren’t being hard-hearted—they’re just reflecting the concerns of their employers and clients.

Inflation hawks can even make a case that they’re standing up for the little guy, not Wall Street bigs. If higher wages really do cause inflation to spike, the cost of living would jump. And to fight inflation, the Federal Reserve might accidentally cause a recession, throwing people out of work.

Still, not everyone on Wall Street has been worrying about incipient inflation from higher pay. Economists at Morgan Stanley described the mixed signals on pay as a “wage gain rollercoaster,” while JPMorgan Chase’s Michael Feroli described “another gutterball for wage growth.” He said the report vindicates Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s wait-and-see approach to raising interest rates.

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-08-01/wall-streeters-worry-that-theyre-paid-too-little-and-youre-paid-too-much

3 Reasons To Love Investing In Real Estate.

There are many reasons to invest in real estate. I’ve been investing in cash flow properties for about 10 years now and wanted to share my personal 3 Reasons Why I Love Investing in Real Estate:

1. Invest Locally

Every time you buy a single family home, duplex or apartment complex -  you are investing in your local area. You are improving your local city and neighborhoods one house at a time and providing housing solutions for the people in your local market.

2. Cash Flow

Cash flow is my personal favorite reason for investing in rental homes and apartments. Investing in hard assets that produce income is a huge benefit of buying and holding investment property. Your tenants pay your mortgages and your cash left over after all your expenses is your net cash flow.

Imagine making $300 per month in net cash flow and not having to work much to produce it.  If you invest in 15 houses, you could create $4,500 of monthly cash flow while enjoying all the other benefits of single-family homes.

3. Multiple Exit Strategies

A number of exit strategies can produce great results.  You can be a landlord and enjoy rental income; you can use lease options as your exit strategy; you can sell with seller financing and enjoy income from your note, or you can sell the house outright to a new buyer (flip it).

I can personally say that it’s been very rewarding and profitable investing in various types of rental real estate deals. I think the flexibility that it affords me to be home with my kids is the best reason of them all- for me!

How about you? What are your top reasons for investing in real estate?

Source: http://www.reiclub.com/realestateblog/3-reasons-to-love-investing-in-real-estate

4 Ways Income Investors May Get it Wrong

For decades, there has been a grand debate afoot in the investing world between “total return” and “income” investors. The truly educated don't worry about it much because they realize there isn't a lot to it. Your goal should be to avoid an extremist or absolutist position on the matter.

Income investing

The basic idea behind income investing is that you only spend the income from your investments. Seems like a great idea, right? It's easy to know when you have enough to retire—when the income from your investments replaces the income from your job (or at least your living expenses). Plus, you know you'll never run out of money if you're only spending the income.

Unfortunately, if you become an extremist in this camp, you may get burned by several issues. There are really 4 ways that income investors get it wrong when compared to a "total return" investor.

1. Income investors are likely to underspend

Safe withdrawal rate studies, such as the Trinity Study, have demonstrated it is quite safe (although not perfectly safe) for you to spend about 4% of a traditional portfolio each year and expect your portfolio to keep up with inflation throughout a 30-year retirement.

However, these days most traditional investments have a yield much less than 4%. The Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund yields just 1.8% and the Total Bond Market Fund is only slightly higher at 2.1%. CDs, "high-yield" savings accounts, short-term bond funds and most muni and Treasury bond funds are even worse. Even value stocks and REITs have yields much less than that.

If you're only going to be spending the yield on these investments, you're going to be spending much less than 4% per year. That means you will need to do one of 3 things: have a higher savings rate, work longer, or spend less in retirement. Since you are spending less, you are also likely to leave a lot more money behind at death.

In short, you'll spend less than you could have if you were willing to spend some principal.

2. Income investors may not hold the best portfolio

An income investor is far more likely than a total return investor to chase yield, since every little bit of extra yield increases his or her lifestyle. However, there are many investments with a high yield whose total return may not be what you would hope. The classic example is junk bonds, and the junkiest of junk bonds these days are peer-to-peer loans.

A portfolio of peer-to-peer loans may yield 20%, while only having a total return of 10% due to a high rate of default. If you're spending 20%, that portfolio isn't going to last long. That doesn't mean there isn't room for higher yielding investments in your portfolio, but you want to make sure you are holding a diversified portfolio with excellent long-term, risk-adjusted returns. Such a portfolio almost surely will include some assets that have a low-yield.

Never forget that a yield of 8% is not the same as a total return of 8%. While it feels good to have an 8% dividend in hand, if the investment actually lost 25% in value, you’re not making much progress financially.

Investment real estate is a particularly attractive asset class for income investors because a significant portion of the return comes from income, often 5% to 7% of a 7% to 10% return. This yield is much higher than anything available in the "paper market" outside of low-quality bonds.

While income property can form a significant portion of your portfolio, a portfolio of 100% real estate doesn't pass the sniff test when it comes to diversification. In addition, real estate possesses significant downsides as an asset class including significant maintenance and transaction costs, aspects of a second job, and an inefficient market requiring expertise and experience to get solid returns.

3. Income investors may pay too much in taxes

As a general rule, income tends not to be very tax efficient. There are exceptions, of course, as muni bonds are usually federal, and sometimes state, income tax free and some of the income from real estate can be shielded by depreciation, especially early on in the life of a property.

Bond dividends, REIT dividends, and CD interest is taxed at your regular marginal tax rates instead of the lower dividend and capital gains rates available with stocks. To make matters worse, you have to pay those taxes even if you didn't really want to spend that income yet. There is no way to defer the income until you actually want it in the future.

However, a total return investor can often "declare his own dividend" by selling some of his investment—for instance, a few shares of stock. The tax bill on that money (which spends just as well as CD interest) may be very low when you consider the ability to sell high-basis shares, harvest tax losses, and take advantage of the lower long-term capital gains rates, especially in the lower brackets.

4. Income investors may get burned by inflation

 
Higher yielding investments, such as CDs and bonds, tend not to keep up with inflation nearly as well as traditional lower yielding investments such as stocks.

If you focus too much just on income, you may forget that your real opponent in the investing game is your personal rate of inflation. If your income is steady, or only increasing slowly, and your expenses are increasing at a moderate rate, it won't take long before you will be faced with an unsavory choice: cut your lifestyle or sell your investments.

A total return investor spending 4% of his portfolio each year has an inflation adjustment built in to his plan. An income investor needs not only to make sure his investment income is greater than his spending, but also needs to make sure it will stay that way as the years go by.

The solution

 
Rather than focusing only on your investment yield, first build a reasonable, diversified, low-cost portfolio without considering the yield. Then, when it comes time to spend from that portfolio, use a combination of income and tax-efficient selling of assets to fund your retirement-spending needs.

Avoid an extreme position on income in order to develop a successful investing plan.

 

Source: http://www.hcplive.com/physicians-money-digest/personal-finance/Dahle-4-Ways-Income-Investors-May-Get-it-Wrong

The Power of Your Network in Real Estate

I was chatting with Chris Winterhalter, a successful apartment building investor and active participant in the Bigger Pockets forums.

He talked about some of the advances he made in his investing career, and many of them were tied to people he met. In fact, he met his current business partner at a real estate investing conference. That partner owned a commercial construction company and wanted to expand into apartment buildings. Chris was a wholesaler/flipper and wanted to get into apartments. A perfect match.

This conversation made me reflect on what networking has accomplished in my career but also made me think about what I could be better.

We Can Accomplish More with Others, Then We Can Accomplish on Our Own!

I had an apartment building under contract, due diligence was completed, the appraisal was completed and we were 14 days away from closing.

Everything looked good. Until I got a call from the loan underwriter who informed me that the local bank I was working with changed their mind about the deal. “The loan committee didn’t like the area the building was in”, was all he said.

Wow, really ?!? Two weeks before closing?

Fortunately I had been working with 4 other lenders, got them to present me with term sheets, and picked the best one. The second best one looked pretty good at this point! Sure enough, that bank jumped on it, we transferred the appraisal and they closed on it in 23 days.

I would have been stuck had I not been networking with other brokers.

The Power of Your Network

While I get the majority of deal flow from commercial real estate brokers, occasionally I get one from someone in my network.

One time I got a smaller building through a wholesaler from whom I had previously bought houses to flip. He knew another wholesaler who had this build under contract and was looking to sell the contract. The deal didn’t work out, but it looked promising for a while.

I do better when I have mentors. They give me confidence I didn’t have before. They might say “buying a 100 unit isn’t so bad. So you need to raise $1M, so what? It’s not that hard, I know you can do it!” Even if they don’t directly help, they’re confidence in me lets me expand my own comfort zone so that I, too, start believing I can do it.

I can Improve with My Networking

My friend Jonathan is my model in what it means to be a good networker: he’s constantly introducing people to each other.

He spends time with people, he calls them regularly. He asks you what you’re looking for and then keeps his eyes for something that could help you. He doesn’t ask “what’s in it for me?” but “what can I do to help you?”

I’m outgoing enough, but I’m not intentional enough with networking. I need to be more like Jonathan and find ways I can help others in my sphere of influence each and every day.

The lesson here is that we need to be more intentional with our networking. Put it on your list each week. Make that phone call, schedule that lunch, follow up with conversations, attend that investment meeting. Then figure out how you can help people achieve what they’re striving for.

What do you do to network with others? What can you do better?

Be sure to leave your comments below!

Source:  http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/08/11/power-network-real-estate

10 Things to Look Out for When Buying an Older Home

Older homes possess an allure that cannot be found in a new home. The mesmerizing architecture of an older home and its distinctive character may appeal to you at first sight, but do not forget that not only are older homes reminiscent of the years gone by, but they also bear the brunt of time. Older homes need careful inspection and maintenance – a task which may not suit all buyers.

The first step to successfully buying an older home is to weigh your options and decide what features could potentially turn out to be deal-breakers. What do you look for in a house? What purpose would your house serve and what kind of furnishings do you intend to use? Answering questions like these will help clear up any confusion and give you strong points for or against buying any home.  Deal-breakers could vary from excess expenditure in repairs to the location of the house. Bear in mind that the level of commitment required to own an older home can be greater than owning a newer home and being a “renaissance man” may come in handy.

1. Careful inspection of the disclosure

Buying a home involves a lot of communication between the buyer and the realtor or seller. If you have a realtor to represent your interests, it does not mean that you have no part in the dealings or communication. A realtor would help narrow down prospects that best suit your requirement. However, careful research on your part is a must and could save you a lot of money and time.

To start off, you should be a well-informed buyer so be sure to ask lots of questions regarding the condition and history of the property. Understanding and inspecting previous repairs and replacements could help you come to a decision on whether the major concerns are manageable or feasible. Disclosure statements from sellers are an obligation and should be carefully inspected to make sure that you are completely aware of the issues and problems which could affect your purchase.

2. Cost of homeowners insurance

Insurance is essential to safeguard your home against damages that result from accidents. Additional policies could be added to insure the house against damages resulting from natural calamities. There are several forms of insurance which covers various levels of protection to suit the interests of the owner. Insurance agencies may be skeptical when it comes to insuring an old house and you may end up paying more than you expect. Have a candid conversation with your insurance agent about the home so you can be certain of the cost of insurance before buying the house and avoid any surprises down the road.

3. Foundation

Older homes are more likely to have problems when it comes to the foundation. A clear inspection of the basement will reveal possible cracks and shifts in the frame. Cracks are a bad sign and may indicate permanent, serious damage to the structural integrity of the home. Old houses are known for their strong foundation, but with time they may have suffered serious wear and tear. A thorough inspection should reveal serious troubles with the foundation – a definite deal-breaker.

4. Electrical wiring

Older homes may need updated wiring, especially considering the high demands of our electronics hungry society, and rewiring an entire house may turn out to be painfully expensive no matter how much you love the beautiful wood work and ornamental designs. The cost and effort of rewiring the house should be considered before you finalize the deal. If a house has three-pronged plugs, it hints at a modern grounding. Presence of other modern safety upgrades such as reset buttons on outlets could also mean upgraded wiring. However there are many problems that may go unseen and hence, do not forget to have a professional inspection done.

5. Plumbing

If the house has original plumbing, then depending on how old it is, there is a good chance that it’s outdated and will require work down the road. In case of previous repairs or replacement, the installations should be inspected. Leaks and clogging are a common problem with old houses. Just because the plumbing has been upgraded, it does not guarantee that it is functional or won’t pose future problems.

6. Heating and cooling systems

If you are accustomed to central air and an even temperature throughout your home, you may be in for a surprise. Replacing the HVAC in an older home can not only be expensive but it may also not deliver the immediate changes to heating and cooling that you are familiar with in newer homes. Older fixtures may also cost you a lot in terms of utility bills. Older homes can come with radiators which require fuel oil and may not be practical in the long run. It’s also a good idea to see a years’ worth of utility bills

Older homes may very well have a properly working furnace but make sure the person you choose to inspect your home before the sale has experience with older homes and heating and cooling systems.

7. Roof

If the roof has been previously worked upon, then it is a must to check for signs of leakage and make sure that any changes to the roof line have the proper structure under the roof. Moldy wood, drips and water stains are a clear indication of trouble. If the original roof is still in place, then there is a good chance that some work will be required before long – which translates to more time and expenses.

8. Windows.

Old homes come with old windows which may offer poor insulation. If a previous reconstruction has widened window frames, then the quality of the work must be assessed. Improper extensions and tampering might cause problems such as rigid windows and collapsing of the frame under severe circumstances. Also look for any leaks around the windows, both original and/or replacement windows.

Keep in mind that replacing all the windows in a 3,000 square foot home will cost in the 10s of thousands of dollars.

9. Extensive repair work

If the house requires extensive repair work, it is going to drain a lot of your money and time. The return on investment may or may not be worth the money (remember the movie “The Money Pit” ;). Is it really practical to take on such a huge responsibility? If you’re handy with tools and love working on projects, this may be a great opportunity for you but if you’re more like me, not the handiest guy in the world, this home that you love my be the end of you or at least your marriage J. You may feel an emotional connection to the house, but is it going to be worth the effort?

10. Compatibility between the house and your existing fixtures and appliances

Household items were different back in the day and definitely less demanding of the house. To ensure that you do not have to invest in a brand new set of furniture and appliances, make sure that your existing sets are compatible with the house in terms of size, proposed utility of appliances etc.

In spite of the hurdles and anomalies, older homes are often worth the effort. They are unique and elegant with a personality of their own that will add a lot to your pride of ownership!

Source: http://mlsmaps.com/mls-listings-info/index.php/10-things-to-look-out-for-when-buying-an-older-home

Indecision Costs

More money has been lost to indecision than was ever lost to making the wrong decision. The economy and the housing market have caused some people to take a “wait and see” position that could cost them in lost opportunities as well as almost certain higher costs in the future.
To illustrate what the opportunity cost might be, let’s compare what the value of the down payment two years from now would be if it was invested in a certificate of deposit, the stock market or used to purchase a home today.
A 3.5% down payment on a $175,000 home is $6,125.00. If it was invested in a CD that would earn 2%, a person would have $6,372 in two years. The earnings would be taxed as ordinary income tax rates. It wouldn’t earn much but it would be safe and secure.
The same amount would grow to $7,013 in the stock market if you picked the right stock or fund and it yielded 7%. The earnings would be taxed at the long term capital gains rate. The return could be greater but so is the risk involved.
If this person were to purchase a home today that appreciated 2% in value over the next two years, the equity in the home would grow to $18,769 due to value going up and the unpaid balance going down.

Source: http://www.newhopehomesforsale.org/indecision-costs

Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate