Successful investing in real estate takes knowledge, guts and a leap of faith.  How much more is required to invest in long distance multifamily? What are the key indicators Reed looks for to be successful in long distance multifamily? His engineer training provided the basic analytic skills to establish minimum requirements for his  investments.  Here are the starting requirements he has established that must be in place in order to proceed: Metropolitan Statistical Area MSA must have a minimum of at least 350,000.  This establishes basic population that ensures there are people that need housing. Population growth: a positive trend for the past ten years Employment opportunities of at least three major employers.  Jobs for your tenants so they can pay your rent. Moderate CAP rates.  Ideally they are 8 or greater.  If CAP rates are compressed, it makes it very difficult to purchase a property with leverage. Rents as a percentage of average income.  If rents are 25 - 30% of average income, then there is typically room to increase the rents.  If rents approach 40 - 45% of average monthly income, the opportunity to increase rents is significantly reduced. Once you have your parameters set, Reed suggests you analyze at least fifty deals to gain the experience and local knowledge needed to recognize a deal when it presents itself. For more go to: http://www.rsnpropertygroup.com/ Listen to Investing in the U.S.  An Aussie’s Guide to US Real Estate  

Reducing taxable income through interest expenses and depreciation are the cornerstone to a Real Estate Investors tax return.  What happens if President Trump and the Republican Congress pass, “A Better Way” tax reforms?   Does a simpler tax code eliminate depreciation? What about repair regulations, cost segregation and the 1031 exchange? All of these are possible in the Republican Congress attempt at tax reform.   Jonathan McGuire, a real estate consultant at Aldrich Advisors, discusses all of these at length and provides examples of how the proposed changes compare to what the current tax consequences.   While the goal is to simplify tax reporting and collection, the pain of change may scare you at first glance.  The changes make the consequences more directly related to the transaction and eliminate many current record keeping exercises to calculate taxes owed. On a scale of one to ten, Jonathan believes that as much as sixty percent of the proposed changes will become part of the tax code.  The only certainty in life are death, taxes and change.   For more, email Jonathan at: jmcguire@aldrichadvisors.com https://aldrichadvisors.com/  

The new year brings a new opportunity to dominate your marketplace.    Rod Santomassimo with the Massimo Group is a CCIM, former Commercial Real Estate Broker, author of multiple books.  He works as a consultant to Commercial Real Estate Professionals to help increase their results. In order to produce consistent results, here are some suggestions Rod teaches to his clients. Before you set a goal, it is important to know where you have been successful first.  Who are your current and past clients.  What were the exact circumstances that helped you make the sale.  Also, what were circumstances of your failures.   Knowing this first is key to understanding who your ideal prospects should be going forward for your greatest results. In order to dominate your marketplace, you need to have a funnel full of opportunity.  If you have not created a presence in your market, this is where you start.  It takes a lot of work, but the reward is pipe full of opportunity and consistent results.   To fill your pipe, you need a marketing plan of action.  Rod suggests that brokers be very disciplined about establishing their presence.  This can only be done with regular communication with prospects.   Providing valuable information regularly to prospects will help develop rapport and trust with prospects and top of mind.  Meeting in person, leaving behind content with your brand and contact information and regularly communicating via email, or other digital platform. Regular activity will develop top of mind position over your competition. For more information go: http://www.massimo-group.com/ rod@massimo-group.com  

Let me tell you about my boss!  That’s not what the book titled, Why Leadership Sucks by Miles Anthony Smith is about.  Instead, the author shares experience and stories of what he has learned in over fifteen years as a manager leading multiple companies and nonprofits and the challenges leaders face. In light of the new year, I welcomed the opportunity to talk with Miles Anthony Smith about the challenges leaders face and what they can do to become better leaders. Most Real Estate professionals are able to go it alone and survive.  In order to push past the limitations of doing it all by yourself, you have to find help.  If you have no experience, nor clarity on the task or process you are expecting help with, prepare to be disappointed. Small business is full of owners who are excellent at sales, but have no clue how to lead others. My experience working for others has shown me that there are two types of Leaders: those with titles and threats to get what they want from others those who inspire and have true followers willing to do what must be done Leading others is not easy.  In order to be a great leader, one must invest time, and thought, to develop skills.  Skills that include analysis and communication.  If the job description is not clear it’s a pretty good bet that you will not get what you need, and end up with two frustrated people, you and those you are trying to lead.   Trust is a key ingredient for a successful leader.   For more goto: http://www.milesanthonysmith.com/blog