Technology, laws and globalization are all changing how money moves into and around markets. In the last quarter of the 20th century, creative financing largely consisted of assumable loans, owner carry back financing and equity sharing. Fourteen years into the new millennium, there are alternative funding methods which didn’t even exist in the 20th century. […]
Commercial real estate can be a leading indicator of broader economic trends…especially employment, which is very important to real estate investors. Because when businesses are optimistic, they lease space to house more people and accommodate growth. Likewise, when businesses are pessimistic, they don’t add space, renew leases or accept rental increases (important if you’re the
10/4/14: Tracking Trends in Commercial Real Estate and the Broader Economy Read More »
The world’s economy is growing ever more global. Is yours? Governments, corporations and wealthy investors have been investing globally for decades. Even Mom & Pop paper asset investors practice international diversification through foreign stocks, bonds and currencies. But real estate investors tend to be very geographically focused. Many only invest in the particular area they
9/28/14: Your International Economic Plan Read More »
The ability to own private property is the foundation for building wealth with real estate…or anything else for that matter. But what is “ownership” without control? And what happens when society’s needs and desires slam up against individual rights? Conflict. Sometimes it’s just heated debate and angry rhetoric. Often, it ends up in litigation with
8/17/14: Property Rights – The Foundation of Prosperity Read More »
Money is such an interesting topic. It really is the lifeblood of human society. It’s the repository of human production and the means by which value is exchanged. Money does in fact make the world go ’round. For real estate investors, and really any other investor, business owner or laborer, productivity, cash flows and net
7/13/14: The Future of Money – Currency, Metals and Crypto-Currency Read More »
Making a piece of property more valuable doesn’t always involve fresh paint, carpet, or landscaping. Sometimes there isn’t even a building involved! In a world where change is the only constant, creative changes of use can be one of the most powerful, profitable ways to make a property more appealing to the next buyer or
6/29/14: Change the Use to Force the Equity Read More »
As market mariners, we’re always watching the financial waves to know which way the wind is blowing and whether a swell is headed our way. After discovering the painful price of myopia in 2008, we’re not only diligently watching the horizon, but we spend a lot more time talking to smart people from a variety
1/12/14: Booms, Busts and Bubbles – Watching Market Cycles Read More »
“Dodd only knows. Dodd makes his plans. The information’s unavailable to the mortal man.” – Slip Sliding Away by Paul Simon…slightly modified by The Real Estate Guys™ 😉 “And quite Frankly, my dear, Dodd doesn’t give a damn.” – Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind…again, slightly modified by yours truly. Yes, we’re old media
12/22/13: Who Moved the Door? How Dodd-Frank Affects Your Exit Strategy Read More »
John Denver once sang, “Life on the road is kinda laid back.” Not for us. But thank God we’re real estate guys. For you youngsters, this is a reference to a classic John Denver tune, Thank God I’m a Country Boy. You know…John Denver? Rocky Mountain High? Blond hair, little boy haircut, high voice? No?
11/24/13: Follow the Money – Clues Where the Economy is Headed Read More »
The dollar has been on a steady decline since Nixon took it off the gold standard in 1971. Since then, the dollar has lost a staggering 80% of its purchasing power. Ouch. The flip side of a falling dollar is that it takes more of them to buy anything that’s real. That’s why that gallon
10/20/13: Real Asset Investing – Using Hard Assets to Hedge Against a Falling Dollar Read More »