2/6/11: Ask The Guys – Who, What, Where, When, Why and How

There’s no such thing as a stupid question.

Well okay, there actually are some pretty stupid questions, but that’s why we take questions by email and not call in.  That way we can filter out the bad ones and just bring you the really good ones!  We really aren’t qualified to advise you on what color to do dye your hair or what style of nose ring to purchase.  But if you have a real estate related question, we’re your Guys!

In the studio to provide powerful pontifications in response to several of the great questions we receive each week:

• Your host and hero, Robert Helms
• His trusty sidekick, Russell Gray
• Wise sage of all things real estate, The Godfather of Real Estate, Bob Helms

For this episode of Ask the Guys we reached into the email grab bag and pulled out some gems:

From a listener in Australia (who understandably thinks we’re amazing), who just bought two properties (good job!), and wants to know should he buy more – in his wife’s name with “negative gearing”.  Hmmmm…. you need to be careful about anything negative when your spouse is involved – and what type of gear you use with your wife…well, that’s really none of our business.

For our next question, Simon says he put in a deposit on a pre-construction property, but undisclosed costs have made him nervous.  Now Simon says he wants out of the deal and his deposit back.  But what does the contract say?

From Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, Kevin and his siblings have inherited dad’s duplex and are debating what to do.  One sibling says keep it, the other two want out.  What’s a brother to do?

Rasean has aspirations to become a real estate syndicator (what a good idea!) and is trying to track down the bible of syndication, written by our friend Sam Freshman.  Hint: The Real Estate Guys™ have a Recommended Reading bookstore on our website under our RESOURCES tab.

And Martin, who lives in Smallville, wants to know if he should invest in his own backyard or seek super returns in Metropolis.  So we ducked into the nearest phone booth (hard to find these days!) and fired up our x-ray vision to look for the answer.

If YOU have a question for The Real Estate Guys™, just click on Ask the Guys to send us your query.  Then, Walter in the mail room will throw it in the mail bin, where we’ll dive in later to pluck questions for some future show.  Maybe we’ll pull yours out, so keep those cards and letters coming!

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6/27/10: Cashing In on the Changing Retail Market

Retail real estate across the country has been mauled by the recent bear market. Many large retail centers are vacant and dilapidated, while many more are under performing.  What’s next for retail?  More importantly, what’s the opportunity?  To find out, The Real Estate Guys™ call on a big deal hunter who has over 30 years and billions of dollars of experience!

On safari in the studio for this broadcast:

• Driving the jeep in his khaki’s and bush jacket, host Robert Helms
• Pushing the jeep in his leopard skin loin cloth, co-host Russell Gray
• Riding shotgun and snacking on frikkadels, the Godfather of Real Estate, Bob Helms
• Big deal hunter, special guest Tom Morris

When you enter the jungle of real estate investing to hunt for opportunity, you never know what challenges will cross your path.  Many obstacles and dangers can be avoided.  Others must be met head on.  Of course, when you’re hunting, your objective is to locate the prey and subdue it.  In other words, there’s risk involved.

Shooting fish in a barrel or hunting rabbits is one level of risk…and one level of reward.  Going after the big opportunities often entails a higher level of risk and requires a higher level of skill and experience.  That’s why most investors are well-advised to start small.  It’s also a really good idea to be mentored by more experienced hunters before taking on the big game.

So you can imagine how excited we were when we first met Tom Morris.  He’s been hunting big time real estate opportunity for over 30 years and after billions of dollars of deals, he’s telling us that now is one of the greatest times ever to be a real estate investor. Really?  Okay, we’re listening!

Although he’s very experienced in all types of real estate, Tom’s love is retail.  We’re talking BIG TIME retail – as in shopping malls and retail centers with hundreds of thousands of square feet (on the small side)!  Tom’s been involved in mall projects with millions of square feet and hundreds of retail tenants in a single project.  Wow!  THAT’S big game.  Of course, if a big deal turns on you it can devour you very quickly, so you better know what you’re doing!  Fortunately, Tom tells us there are many things you can do to mitigate risk.

We start quizzing Tom about the state of retail in the wake of the Great Recession. What are the problems?  What are the causes?  Where are the opportunities?  We were SHOCKED to hear how BIG the discounts are on distressed retail assets.  It’s AMAZING how, with relatively little money, you can acquire assets with HUGE UPSIDE potential. (Sorry for all the caps.  We’re just EXCITED!).

BUT…(and it’s a big but), you better have a plan.  And you better have connections.  And you better be able to think outside the big box.  If you do, then there’s BIG money to be made!

Tom shares with us some of the creative strategies he’s currently employing to acquire and re-hab distressed retail properties.  Even if you don’t have plans to be a mall mogul, the principles Tom employs are applicable to other types of real estate.  Besides, any time someone with 30 years and billions of dollars of experience wants to share their wisdom, we think it’s a really smart idea to listen. Our attentiveness is rewarded when Tom reveals the single most important component of his success and the #1 investment of his career.

Not everyone is able to chit chat with a big time investor.  Tom doesn’t do seminars, write books or sell boot camps.  He’s just out in the real world doing the real thing.  That’s why you have The Real Estate Guys™!  Our mission is to hunt down big brains, powerful ideas and great resources that help you succeed.  Your job is to listen, learn and take action.  Plus, we really appreciate it when you tell all your friends about The Real Estate Guys™.  Enjoy!

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