5/6/12: Catching the Wave – Where Tropical Profits are a Breeze
One of the secrets to making a lot of money is to catch a profitable wave. Sounds interesting, but how does it work?
Well, a financial wave happens when a variety of forces converge to move people or their money in a particular direction. That movement can have a substantial impact on any given asset class or geographic region – and the effect can be much more pronounced when the asset class or region is very limited in size. That’s why we’ve been intrigued over the years by the tiny country of Belize.
In this episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show, we’re on location at a beautiful beachfront resort in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Yes, it’s a rough life on the road as radio talk show hosts, but someone has to do it.
Sipping coconut juice behind the microphones while the tropical breezes blow:
- Your light and breezy host, Robert Helms
- Your coconut co-host, Russell Gray
- Special guest, top producing international real estate broker, John Turley
As part of the preparation for our upcoming field trips to Belize, we headed to San Pedro Town in Ambergris Caye, Belize. Yes, it’s THAT San Pedro – the one Madonna sings about in La Isla Bonita.
When you’re here, you understand why Madonna fell in love with San Pedro…and why we stopped here during our recent Summit at Sea™, then came back just a few weeks later for this trip, and are now going back for Memorial Day, again in June and staying into July. Yeah, it’s an addiction.
But for John Turley, formerly from the Rocky Mountain state of Colorado, his visit turned into a 7 year (and counting) transplantation. And in those 7 years, big John has become the #1 real estate agent in the entire country of Belize and the #2 international property (non-US) agent in the RE/MAX system. In case you didn’t know it, RE/MAX is the #1 (as in top selling) real estate brokerage in the world. So John Turley is not just #1 in his cubicle. He’s #1 for the #1 company in the world. Hey, nothing but the best for our listeners.
So NOW you can see that we have a LOT to talk about. Like, why did John decide to leave his life in the USA, uproot his family and start all over again in some dinky third world country? Hint: it’s beautiful, peaceful, friendly and insanely profitable. But listen in and let John tell you himself.
What’s important to note is that John is just like MILLIONS of other people in the US, Canada and around the world who are looking for a change. And as that wave of people continues to discover enchanting Belize, many are grabbing homes and filling hotels. Hmmmm….does that sound like real estate investment opportunity?
John explains how tourism is UP over the several years. What?!? We thought there was a global recession and everyone was hunkered down waiting for the storm to clear.
Some are. But it seems that others have decided that financial and political storms bring big waves, so it might be fun (and profitable) to go ride one (figuratively speaking, of course).
John reports that the interests of the people who come through his office have changed significantly in the last several years. It used to be that people came to Belize because it’s beautiful, quiet, affordable and friendly. After all, Belize is the ONLY English speaking country in Latin America, and it’s government and currency are stable. Did we mention that it’s breathtakingly beautiful?
But today, according to John, MANY people are coming into his office because they are concerned about the direction of the United States. Now, you may or may not be concerned, but apparently lots of folks are. So much so, they come to Belize not to vacation, but to establish a second home that could be easily converted into a primary residence. Kind of a Plan B (like Belize).
There are lots of other interesting tidbits in this interview, and your job (should you choose to accept it) is to listen as Big John Turley shares his perspectives on what’s driving this very popular real estate market – and how you can catch the wave of interest that is building about Belize.
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4/22/12: The Hidden Beauty of Blue Chip Real Estate Investing
There’s nothing more alluring to a couple of real estate guys than a low cut price and nice perky rents. But is there more to consider when picking a property for a long term relationship? Our guest for this episode thinks so.
On location in sunny Orlando Florida for this edition of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show:
- Your perky host, Robert Helms
- Your low cut co-host, Russell Gray
- Our blue chip guest, Ryan Hinricher
This is a fun time to be a residential income property real estate investor – especially single family homes. Prices are low. Rents are strong. Interest rates are ridiculous. Competition for great properties, while starting to pick up, is still very low. Investors are in the game, but homeowners are mostly running scared. Perfect!
But (and it’s a big one), as Ryan explains, just because properties are cheap doesn’t mean they’re easy.
Now Ryan is a big brain. He got a fancy education and went to work in the banking industry as an analyst. That means he knows how to crunch numbers to recognize trends, cut through the hype and see what an area or an investment is really doing.
After seeing lots of folks caught up in the pre-recession hot market hype, we think it’s important to look below the surface. Back then, investors bought anything they could simply expecting prices to continue to rise. Easy equity! Today, investors are obsessing about cash flow. There’s nothing wrong with that, but Ryan says there’s a bigger picture. Just like every property in a hot appreciation market didn’t stand up to well to a shift in the market, is it possible that every pro forma pretty isn’t as sweet as it first appears?
Drawing upon his Wall Street background, Ryan favors a “blue chip” approach. Why? Because, he says, in addition to a great rent to price ratio (high rents, low price), there are other very important, but sometimes hidden considerations like turnover, maintenance and long term residual value that all affect your real world bottom line.
Wow. What does all that mean?
Well, turnover is obvious and the bane of any of income property investor. Turning a tenant costs money, so longer tenancies are more profitable.
As for maintenance, again it’s pretty obvious. If your tenant takes good care of your property, it costs you less to repair and maintain it. Duh.
Then the $64,000 (or more) question is: how can I get tenants who will stay longer and take better care of my property? (Remember: if you want to get great answers, you have to ask great questions).
Ryan says better properties attract better tenants. Brilliant! But (oh no, not again) higher class properties typically cost more than the floozy properties, which means at first glance, a blue chip property may not be as sexy as her low class little sister. However, if you’re going for a long term relationship and not a one month stand, then a longer term tenant who takes care of the property may end up being much more satisfying.
So what is “long term residual value”?
Ryan says a blue chip single family property offers investors something that other types of real estate, including lower end single family properties, don’t: a variety of attractive exit strategies.
What? After all this talk about long term relationship and now we’re talking about breaking up? Hey, we didn’t say you were marrying the property.
So, if after a long enjoyable affair with your blue chip property, you decide you’re ready to move on, Ryan posits that a better property will appeal to home buyers. (Remember them? It’s a currently endangered species of people who actually want to own the home they live and can qualify for a loan to purchase it.)
Just ask anyone who’s tried to sell a property. The more prospective buyers you have, the better. So having something that homebuyers as well as investors are interested in, means more options (and a better price) when you and your blue chip property are ready to go your separate ways, whether it’s via a conventional sale, a lease option, a wrap or whatever. The more people lined up to buy your property, the better. And Ryan says a blue chip property is more desirable to a retail buyer. Makes sense.
But we’ve blabbed on enough about this episode. You really want to hear it yourself. So listen in as Ryan Hinricher reveals the hidden beauty of blue chip real estate investing!
Listen:
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4/8/12: Choosing the Right Market – An Engineer’s Perspective
Is there a scientific way to approach market selection? Something the average real estate investor can do – or at least understand?
To find out we went deep into the heart of Silicon Valley where we rustled up a left-brained engineer turned real estate investor.
In the laboratory for this electric episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show:
- Your right-brained host, Robert Helms
- Your hair-brained co-host, Russell Gray
- Special guest, our mad scientist of market methodology, Tom Wilson
What you do when you’re an “A” student with a 30 year career as an engineer and corporate manager, and you take a critical look at your financial future and see a nuclear meltdown?
For Tom Wilson, he called upon his engineering background and managerial experience to design a better outcome.
Now we talk a lot about how a market “feels”, and going with your gut, and using the Force to guide you in your investing. But guys like Tom just sit there with their arms crossed over their lab coat and slide-rule waiting for the formula. In Tom’s case, he actually did a thorough analysis and designed a formula to real estate fortune.
But did it work?
Well, Tom’s no Donald Trump or even a Ken McElroy, but in the 10 years since he walked away from the corporate life of Silicon Valley, Tom’s done multi-millions of dollars in deals and has managed to accumulate 230 rental units. Not too shabby for a propeller head.
So we sit Tom down and interrogate, er…interview him. How did he do it? What did he learn along the way? Will he loan us some money?
Tom introduces us to the concept of a “sensitivity analysis” (and you thought engineers were all cold, clinical and calculating). So we reach for our Kleenex and are all set to get in touch with our inner investor. Then Tom explains what a “sensitivity analysis” is and it isn’t what we think.
We find out that there are a number of factors (“variables”) which all affect outcomes in any experiment. In this case, we’re talking the financial performance and risk of real estate investing.
Now some of those factors are more important than others. Some are WAY more important. And wouldn’t you just like to know exactly what those super important factors are? Of course you would. But you’ll have to listen to Tom, because we wouldn’t do the topic justice – and goodness knows, you deserve justice.
But enough about Tom’s engineering background. You’ll learn all about that when you listen to the episode. And when you order his free report (details at the end of the episode), which is replete with charts and graphs, you’ll really get into the deepest recesses of his analytical mind. Ooh Ahh.
For now, let’s talk about Tom’s managerial experience. After all, to build a portfolio this big, you need to have a team. This is where Tom’s success as a high tech manager kicks in.
He tells us about the character qualities he values most in himself and what he looks for in others. He says he makes it a point to surround himself with people smarter than himself. So both of those people work with him now. 
He shares some valuable tidbits of managerial wisdom and a dose of real world reality. Let’s face it. If people are involved, there’s going to be some brain damage.
Tom says he believes having patience and tenacity are essential to success. It reminds us of a concept from Midas Touch by Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump: FOCUS – Follow One Course Until Successful. We agree. For guys like Tom, he’s smart enough to plan his work and work his plan. Other guys (like us) are just too dumb to quit.
One thing’s for sure: it’s very cool being radio talk show hosts because we get to hang out with lots of people smarter than us…like Tom Wilson. And it’s our privilege to go find these big brains and bring the interviews back to you. You’ll enjoy this one!
LISTEN:
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4/1/12: Nobody’s Fool – A Conversation with Donald Trump
Not only is he the ultimate real estate guy, Donald Trump is a bigger than life icon of business, success and celebrity. Never shy to share his thoughts on business, economics or politics, one thing is for sure: Donald Trump is nobody’s fool.
And since he’s seen his share of ups and downs in real estate, for our April Fool’s edition of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show, we thought it would be fun to find out what The Donald thinks about the state of the real estate market today – and where the opportunities are.
Joining in on the conversation for this epic episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show:
- Your fun, but never foolish host, Robert Helms
- Your foolish co-host, Russell Gray
- A man so experienced he’s hard to fool, The Godfather of Real Estate Bob Helms
- A man you’d be foolish not to listen to, Donald Trump
It’s hard to imagine that anyone who’s interested in business or real estate hasn’t heard of Donald Trump. He started out as (and continues to be) a New York City real estate developer and has built a diverse and respected business empire around a brand that has become a household name. Even the GOP presidential hopefuls have sought out his advice and endorsement. He is clearly one of the most influential businessmen of our time.
Our continuing mission to bring you great ideas, perspectives, information and resources, and we’re proud and excited to bring you this exclusive interview with Mr. Trump. We asked him if he thinks this is a good time to buy real estate, where he sees the economy headed and what it takes to bounce back from tough times. So listen in and find out what he has to say!
Listen Now:
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3/25/12: Finding a Golden Real Estate Agent and Developing Your Midas Touch
The right real estate agents are worth their weight in gold. Part of developing your Midas Touch is learning how to find great agents and work effectively with them.
And speaking of Midas Touch, best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki calls in to share some thoughts about his new book by the same name. He wrote it with some guy named Donald Trump. We hear he’s a pretty successful real estate guy and businessman. So you can bet there are some nuggets of gold in this episode!
The golden voices featured into today’s enriching episode:
- Your host, the golden boy of real estate radio, Robert Helms
- A man who’s nickname for this episode is the Goldfather of Real Estate, Bob Helms
- Special guest, our 2012 Summit at Sea™ featured faculty member and co-author of The Midas Touch, Robert Kiyosaki
As Mr. Kiyosaki reminds us deep into the broadcast, “You can’t do a good deal with a bad partner.” We think we can safely add to that, “or a bad real estate agent.”
The very term “agent” means that the real estate agent you choose represents YOU. Sometimes we act like they’re just checkout clerks at the grocery store (with all due respect to checkout clerks at the grocery store). But a real estate agent isn’t just processing a transaction. He (or she) is representing YOU in the marketplace…your agent, your mouthpiece.
Long time listeners will remember all our rants our reputation and that good deals go to people who have great relationships. Now if you’re agent in a market is a schmuck, guess what the effect is on YOUR reputation in that market? Of course, when you stop and think about it, it’s “Duh!’. That’s why we do these shows. So we all stop and think about these things.
Now that we’ve covered the obvious, the bigger discussion is about HOW you find a great agent and work effectively with them. Since this isn’t a transcript of the show, but an enticement to get you to listen, we won’t belabor the details in this blog. But considering The Goldfather has been investing since 1957 and brokering since 1980, you can be sure he knows a little bit about the topic. And of course, Robert worked side by side with Bob for nearly 20 years before hanging up his license and becoming a hot shot radio talk show host.
Half way through the show, we take a call from our very good friend, Robert Kiyosaki. We’re just days away from hanging together with several dozen (actually over 200!) investors and faculty for our 10th annual Investor Summit at Sea™. But don’t worry about a sales pitch because the Summit is SOLD OUT. Don’t cry. There’s always next year. But be sure to get on the Advance Notice list, or you might miss the boat next year.
Mr K (as we call him, since we have our own Robert in the house) tells us about his latest book, The Midas Touch. And he shares some interesting personal insights into Donald Trump, now that they’ve written two books together.
Kiyosaki and Trump are also speaking together at live events promoted by the National Achievers Congress. We’re obviously bug fans of Robert, but we’ve also seen Mr. Trump speak live a few occasions and he’s been great. Much of TV (and radio) is scripted, edited and produced for brevity, so it’s a real treat to hear icons of success like Trump and Kiyosaki (did we mention Tony Robbins is also speaking?) live and raw. Plus, there’s just something about getting out and away from the computer, phone and other noise of our daily routines to soak in knowledge and networking at a live event.
To learn more about the upcoming National Achievers Congress, visit SeeTrumpLive.com. We’ll be there. We hope you are too!
For now, enjoy this week’s episode of The Real Estate Guys™ radio show!
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