IS A REAL ESTATE FUND INVESTMENT RIGHT FOR YOU?

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By Fuquan Bilal

Is investing in a real estate fund the right financial move for you? Who is it for? Who isn’t it for?

Real estate funds have been proving to be both attractive and profitable vehicles for many investors. For many sophisticated investors, family offices and even larger and broader funds and endowments, they are now one of the main staples in their portfolios. More recently they have become one of the most important and vital parts of a well diversified, sound and high performing financial plan.

Some people though, haven’t hit the gas pedal on these investments yet. Real estate funds may be a new concept. Or perhaps they just haven’t taken the time to dig in and really figure out the advantages and why others love them so much.

ALL ABOUT THE YIELD

I’ve met a lot of people over the years. Of those that do make alternative investments, the choice becomes really about the type of yield that gets them excited. The sophisticated, passive and strategic investors intelligently spread their risks. They may have some investments that ‘promise’ the chance of higher returns which are riskier. Others are more conservative and are happy with lower yields – and may choose a solid fund with a 7% to 9% return to help keep them in that target performance circle.

DIVERSIFICATION & STABILIZATION

Funds are frequently a stabilization and diversification play for strategic investors. They may have turnkey rentals, do some private lending and hold some notes. They know they can be very exposed with these investments. Funds give them much deeper and broader diversification, which in turn lower risk and keep cash flow consistent.

Let me explain. By investing in a fund, individuals may have 100, 500 or more assets collateralizing and protecting their investment. That’s versus the one or few assets that flippers, landlords or hard money lenders have. Would you rather put $150k or $500k into a single asset and cross your fingers as insurance that nothing goes wrong, or have a $5M or $25M or even larger pool of assets protecting that investment?

ARBITRAGE

The smartest investors know they aren’t going to be as successful as they could be by themselves. This not only applies to building a strong inhouse team, but looking at all options. Some are great at playing the arbitrage game. They may be great at raising capital at 6% returns. Then they just delegate that capital and invest in a fund for higher yields. The fund does all the hard work of sourcing and managing the assets. The arbitrage investor gets cash flow on a platter to pay out returns to their investors.

Is a fund investment a good fit for your portfolio? If the yields are right, the diversification is a good match, and passive investing is a priority, then this could be the piece of the puzzle you’ve been missing…

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find out more about investing in secured debt and real estate, go to NNG Capital Fund.

10 Things to Look for When Comparing Real Estate Syndications

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The increase in popularity of real estate investment syndications in the last few years has presented huge opportunities to investors looking to invest in commercial, multifamily, or industrial properties in a passive way.  As a review, syndications are a way to pool money from multiple investors to accomplish a common investment goal.  In real estate, this typically involves pooling equity to purchase a property with the intention of improving or holding it for appreciation and cash flow.

With opportunity, however, comes the need to know what to look for when comparing opportunities.  I have compiled 10 of the most important factors to look for in a syndication when evaluating them in order to make the most informed investments possible.

1)    Qualifications.  Check and see if the syndication deal requires you to be a sophisticated or accredited investor. Syndications structured under SEC Regulation D, exemption 506(c), require investors to be independently accredited via a CPA or 3rd party service.  This confirms an investor meets minimum net worth and/or income requirements in order to legally take part.  506(b) offerings, on the other hand, simply require an investor to be sophisticated which is simply a broad definition meaning an investor possesses sound financial education.

2)    Track Record. Syndications are passive, so it is extremely important that the sponsors have a proven track record and knowledge of the industries and areas they are choosing to invest in.  Good syndication sponsors will partner will experts when bringing new category deals to their investor pools.  Due diligence is key, and sponsors should be able to clearly articulate why they like a deal and what sort of risk mitigation exists.

3)    Preferred Returns.  Many stabilized properties are generating revenue via rents collected from tenants, and the sponsors of these syndications will structure a preferred return to investors.  This return represents an annual return on the principal amount invested by the investor (i.e. 8% returns on a $100,000 investment would represent $8000/year).  This return accrues at a predetermined rate, and must be paid before any sort of profit-sharing takes place upon the sale of the property.  Some deals will have a set preferred return pegged to an investor’s initial investment, while others will establish this return as a percentage of actual net cash flow received.

4)    Dividends.  Often confused with preferred returns, dividends differ in that they are the actual payments made during the hold period of a deal.  These are often paid out monthly or quarterly.  Certain value-add deals that require increasing occupancy or rehab work may delay paying dividends until cash flow of a property is sufficient to cover these payments.  Dividends are ultimately paid at the discretion of a sponsor, and can be interrupted due to unexpected expenses or vacancies that arise during the course of the holding period.

5)    Taxes.  Good sponsors will actively work to reduce the amount of taxable income received from real estate deals.  Dividends are tax reported on a K-1, which has the advantage of reducing the amount of taxable income due to the depreciation of the property.  Good sponsors will perform cost segmentation studies, where they bring on a 3rd party to accelerate depreciation, further mitigating taxable obligation on dividends paid out.

6)    Reporting Periods.  Many sponsors elect to provide progress reports on the status and management of the property during the course of the investment.  Some provide extremely detailed tenant by tenant accounting, and others simply provide a cash flow or overview of the property.  It is helpful to ask a sponsor for previous reports to see what kind of reports they typically provide.  Most of the time these are provided at the same interval as the dividends being paid (monthly or quarterly).

7)    Profit Split.  A common feature in syndication deals is for the net profits upon sale to be split with a portion going to the sponsors and the balance to the investors.  These profits are what is left over after closing costs and fees are paid, preferred returns are paid, and original investor principal is returned.  The percent of profits that get split among investors can vary significantly on a deal, based on risk, sponsor involvement, and overall return structure.

8)    Sponsor Fees.  Syndication sponsors get paid through three main ways, and investors should be aware of these when evaluating deals.  Sponsors may derive compensation from one or more of these categories.

a.     Upfront Fees.  These fees are built into the amount of money raised and help compensate sponsors for time and money invested to get the deal secured and put together.  There is no formal terminology, but this money is commonly called sponsor fees, acquisition fees, or due diligence fees.  These are separate from 3rd party fees from entities such as lenders, attorneys, title companies, and inspectors.

b.     Asset Management Fees.  During the hold, some sponsors will take compensation for management time and costs incurred to keep the property running successfully.  These are typically a percentage of rents collected or net cash flow that the syndication receives and are paid at the same time as dividends to investors.

c.     Profit Splits.   Typically, most of the value of a property is derived at the time of sale.  A successful syndicator is incentivized by a percentage of net profits to help close a deal out and maximize profits.  These will vary by deal, but should be high enough such that a sponsor is motivated to invest time and effort throughout the entire hold period to maximize returns.

9)    Exit Plan.  Syndications are illiquid and passive investments, meaning sponsors retain the final decision of when to sell the property.  A good sponsor will have an exit plan that has a projected hold period or range of years, contingent on market forces and occupancy being favorable for a property sale.  Most value-add deals will be shorter in length due to most of the value being created in early years.  Many stabilized property deals will be longer in order to take advantage of increasing rents, equity build up through debt payoff, and stabilized cash flow.

10) Voting Rights.  Most syndications are structured through an LLC.  The LLC buys and sells the property with the sponsors being Class B managers.  The Class A investors will be formally included in the company/operating agreement of the LLC that outlines their portion.  Some LLCs will give members voting rights as well, which can be used for large decisions such as changing management, restructuring returns, or dealing with death or transfer of existing members. It is important to understand the type of rights you have as an investor and what types of transferability, if any, your shares have.

These are just a sampling of the many differing components of a real estate syndication savvy investors should be educated on when evaluating opportunities.  Knowing how syndications are set up will allow you to make smart investment choices in the future.

Best regards to you and your investing,
Tom Wilson
CEO and Founder of
Wilson Investment Properties

MANHATTAN’S LOSS IS NEW JERSEY’S GAIN

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By Fuquan Bilal

Manhattan has fallen. For over a year the heart of the Big Apple has been battling a real estate correction. While it may not be fun for NYC homeowners, it makes other markets like New Jersey look really appealing to investors.

THE FALL OF MANHATTAN

Manhattan’s real estate market has been beaten up, beat down and stomped on over the last year. We’re already seeing the beginning of what could be a much deeper decline.

Overbuilding, overpricing, and often a complete lack of product-market fit has left some developers with 1,000 plus empty units they can’t sell. Even despite offering upgrades and paying years of condo dues on behalf of buyers.

Retail units are going vacant, inventory in general is rising, and higher property taxes are adding to the crunch. According to Zillow, the median home price in Manhattan is now over $1.5M. That represents a price per square foot of almost $1,500. Almost 10% of properties are in negative equity positions again, and over 13% of sellers cut their asking prices again last month. Rents are averaging $3,395 per month.

Zillow says home prices have fallen over 5% in the last 12 months and will keep declining through 2019. One recent condo sale shows a 24% cut from asking price.

That makes it very hard to justify investing for both the professional and retail home buyer. Although there may be new sales records set by the most skilled developers, such as the recent $238M condo purchase, these will be the exception and mostly born out of wealthy execs and family offices looking to hide money in the safety of real estate during the new recession.

NJ: IT’S GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER

While it might feel like King Kong has been unleashed on the Manhattan real estate market, it’s quite a different story across the water in New Jersey.

Obviously, all real estate is local, and NJ has many submarkets. Yet, most places you look you’ll find quite stark contrasts to what’s going on in Manhattan, NY.

Clifton, NJ is still in great proximity to Manhattan for all the fun and business you want. Yet, the median home sales price here is just $341,100. Median price per square foot is only $238. The average rent is $2,100 a month. Zillow forecasts home values in Clifton to rise another almost 6% in 2019.

Then there is Trenton, NJ. Trenton boasts an average price per square foot of just $51. The median list price is just $69,950. Rents average $1,200 a month, providing a far superior price to rent ratio than you’ll ever dream of finding in Manhattan.

Investing in distressed markets presents a great opportunity, though there is a time for it. The numbers still have to make sense and be profitable within your strategy. Where will you be investing this year?

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find out more about investing in secured debt and real estate, go to http://nngcapitalfund.com/

ARBITRAGE: THE INTELLIGENT STRATEGY FOR MAKING MORE, WHILE DOING LESS

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By Fuquan Bilal

Arbitrage is both a very basic concept and a high level strategy deployed by sophisticated investors and entrepreneurs. It’s used for efficiently creating great profits, with a lot less hassle and stress. So, how does it work? Who is using it? How can you apply it?

Who Uses Arbitrage to Supersize their Potential & Paychecks?

  • Google with its ad services
  • Governments at all levels, with taxes and funding
  • The biggest financial institutions and brokers
  • Banks and funds
  • Amazon and Walmart
  • The Concept

According to the dictionary definition, arbitrage is:

“The simultaneous buying and selling of securities, currency, or commodities in different markets or in derivative forms in order to take advantage of differing prices for the same asset.”

The Cracks in the Market

Those leveraging arbitrage are those that see the gaps in the market. Gaps in the supply and demand chain.

Today so many have fallen into the temptation to try and do it all. Most just don’t do it very well. At least not nearly as efficiently or profitably as they could. They stunt their potential and under serve by trying to do too much, without being experts or having the time or hiring pros in all the different areas and roles involved.

What’s Better…

Know what you’re best at. What you love. Outsource the rest to someone you can trust.

Maybe you are great at finding assets, rehabbing, or selling houses. That’s great. Let someone else pick up the other parts. You’ll enjoy what you are doing more. You’ll do a lot better at what you are focusing on. You can go a lot bigger.

Financial Arbitrage

In this space it means, you raise the money, and you put it to work with someone like us. For example; you may be great at raising money at 4%, we might pay out double that. You get the difference. All with NONE of the work. Network, meet investors, collect checks, put it to work, get checks back. Done.

Find out about our latest fund and how you can participate and use arbitrage to make more while doing less, and enjoying it a whole lot more.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find out more about investing in secured debt and real estate, go to NNG Capital Fund

Land Trusts – Holding Beneficial Interest

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By Jay Butler

Land Trusts, sometimes referred to as Florida or Illinois ‘type’ trusts because of their favorable state laws and years of case history, are designed to hold title to real property and real property assets including real estate options, contracts and mortgages. Land Trusts are most commonly used to transfer title of income-producing property without invoking a due-on-sale clause with their lender. Public Law 97, also known as the Garn – St. Garmain Act, prohibits financial institutions from invoking a due-on-sale clause upon transferring title so long as, among other things, the beneficial interest holder is the same the day after the transfer as it was the day before the transfer and there is no transfer in the rights of occupancy in the property.

Both residential and commercial real estate investors alike have made the mistake of listing themselves as the beneficial interest holder in their land trust agreement. Even though the beneficial interest holder of a land trust agreement is not filed anywhere in the public domain, should the property held in the land trust face an inside lawsuit, or should the individual listed as the beneficial interest holder of the land trust face an outside lawsuit, all the assets of both the land trust and the individual are at risk to seizure by a judgement creditor.

Although land trusts provide an excellent veil of anonymity, it is still a form of an intervivos trust and thus not an asset protection vehicle. Intervivos means ‘among or between the living’ hence the term ‘living trust’. Land Trust assets are considered personal property to the beneficiary, which is not subject to seizure by judgement creditors in some states. However, existing court precedence has held that,“If a settlor has the right to revoke a trust, all of the assets are treated as owned by the settlor and is ignored for creditor purposes, just as it is ignored for tax purposes.” Meaning, while land trusts can provide you with an excellent veil of anonymity in the public domain, they are not a shield of protection as is an entity.

Land Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. While generally created as revocable, if a judge were to call you into a debtor’s examination, requiring you to provide ownership information under penalty of perjury (wherein you may not plead your 5th amendment rights), you must disclose all of your assets or risk being held in contempt of court. If the beneficial interest holder of the land trust is an entity, you stand measurably improved chances of protection as such structures provide outstanding asset protection under scrutiny.

It is therefore of paramount importance to assign the beneficial interest of the land trust (at least 24 hours after transferring title) to another ‘person’, such as a Limited Liability Company. With recent state supreme court rulings in Colorado,California and Florida rendering most single-member Limited Liability Companies (LLC) useless as tits on a bull, we recommend that when possible you form any such single-member limited liability companies in states like Nevada, Wyoming or Delaware whose respective state statutes offer the same charging order protection to single-member LLC’s afforded to multi-member LLC’s.

Placing the beneficial interest holdings of a land trust into an entity isolates individual liability from an inside law suit to the LLC and protects LLC assets from a judgement creditor in the event of an outside law suit to the individual. Factoring equity value, cash flow and overall risk of each property should aid in determining just how many entities require forming to hold the beneficial interest to your land trusts. We suggest holding beneficial interest to your land trusts in either a Nevada, Wyoming or Delaware Limited Liability Company or (Family) Limited Partnership.

In 2011, Nevada enacted legislation NRS 78.746 which extends Nevada “C” Corporations the same charging order protection afforded to Limited Liability Companies and Limited Partnerships. In addition to a few other minor restrictions, such “C” Corporations must have at least 2 and no more than 99 shareholders. Wyoming is considering adding this favorable concept into its legislation but, at the time of this article, has not yet done so. Meaning, you can also have a Nevada “C” Corporation act as the beneficial interest holder to your land trust as it too affords ‘charging order protection’ just like a Limited Liability Company and Limited Partnership.

In-so-far-as taxes are concerned, a Land Trust is a private agreement amongst the involved parties and requires no financial reporting, however the entity which acts as beneficial interest holder is required to file a tax return annually either in the form a 1065 (Partnership), 1120 (“C” Corporation) or 1120-S (“S” Corporation).

For states which require beneficial interest holders of a Land Trust to be disclosed, Personal Property Trusts can be used as an effective vehicle “between” the property (held in the Land Trust) and the ultimate property owner (ie. Corp, LLC or LP). This use of ‘layering trusts’ can be a very effective tool in dissuading would-be creditors from attacking you, all without creating unreasonable costs or sacrifices in time and energy during your real estate transactions.

Whether owning, renting or holding for long-term growth, be sure to mitigate unnecessary liabilities for your business by assigning the beneficial interest holdings of your land trust to an entity. 

 

STRATTON EQUITIES’ HARD MONEY MEET AND GREET ON MAY 22

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Loan Officers, Real Estate Agents, Developers and Investors are invited to the Son Cubano Restaurant in West New York in May to learn more about Stratton Equities

April 17,2019- Parsippany NJ – New Jersey based Mortgage Lender, Stratton Equities, is making noise with their launch event; The Stratton Equities’ Spring Meet and Greet on Wednesday, May 22. To RSVP or learn more information about the Spring Meet and Greet follow the link here: https://strattonequitiesspring2019.splashthat.com/

Stratton Equities is a leading Nationwide direct Hard Money Lender that offers the most diverse array of programs in Today’s industry. Providing loans such as Hard Money, Private Money, Fix and Flip, Stated Income, Commercial, and more.

The Parsippany, NJ, flagship location is home to Founder, serial entrepreneur Michael Mikhail, and hungry Loan Officers that close their first loans in an unheard of previously – 4-6 weeks- and now they are ready to make a splash in the fast growing Mortgage lending industry with their upcoming Meet and Greet event.

After their soft launch in mid-2017, Stratton Equities focused on building their foundation of providing the most innovative programs at the lowest rates.

In early 2019, Stratton Equities became listed in the Scotsman Guide and focused their efforts on expanding outreach with the creation of their Seasonal Meet and Greets.

The focus of each event is to connect Loan Officers, Real Estate Agents, Developers and Investors– face to face- with curated one on one meetings during an entertaining affair focused on showcasing the high quality and luxury lifestyle that Stratton Equities possesses.

On Wednesday, May 22, The Stratton Equities’ Spring Meet and Greet will commence at Son Cubano Restaurant in West New York, in partnership with Remax Realtor Carlie Carreira and Media Partner, Realty 411.

Attendees can enjoy signature themed cocktails, the New York City skyline, and tasty appetizers, while they network with top influential members in the industry.

All guests will be able to take home a Stratton Equities’ VIP Gift Bag filled with products from their sponsors: Simplicity Title, Design + Build Enterpríses, United Real Estate New Jersey, Nationwide Property & Appraisal Services.

To find out more about Stratton Equities, please visit www.strattonequities.com

For more information about the event and to RSVP, please visit https://strattonequitiesspring2019.splashthat.com/

All press or media inquiries should email, Jordan Elizabeth Gelber at [email protected]

Another Reader Retires Five Years After Buying 1st Rental

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Hello, Realty411 readers! I hope everyone is doing fantastic and ready to step into Spring. It’s my hope that you’re expanding your education and forging ahead with your investment goals.

I, for one, am moving right along with my mission of providing complimentary and quality resources to investors around the world, which can help them realize their financial goals.

Recently, Bobby S., one of our long-term followers in the Bay Area, reached out to share with me that he was turning in his resignation at the technology company where he worked. He is only 55 years young so he’s definitely retiring early, which is what most people dream of doing.

The reason he specifically called was to thank me for organizing an out-of-state investing bus tour five years ago, which helped him buy his first long-distance rental. That experience also sparked an interest in him to want to help others learn to invest as well.

Soon, he began to tell his colleagues about his positive investing experience, and he began to seek more properties out for himself, and later also for his friends and associates.

After a number of years, our loyal investor/reader evolved into an educated authority on investing in out-of-state rentals. He now also hosts his own events and has a loyal following of investors. What an amazing experience to know that Realty411 was the instrument which shaped Bobby’s early retirement. Not only did we teach him about passive cash flow, but now he is multiplying that message by sharing it.

What a joy to know that Realty411 is changing LIVES! I changed the course of my life with real estate, and now it’s your turn too. Please call us anytime if we can assist you, or if you have any questions: (805) 693-1497. I hope to see you soon at our next live event!

HOW TO USE FUND INVESTING TO OVER-COLLATERALIZE YOUR CAPITAL

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Is it time to rethink the way you think about funds and invest in them?

There are all types of funds. Some are far better and safer than others. Some see all the gains eaten up in fees and admin costs. Others generously pass on great gains to participating investors, even though their upfront estimates may have been modest. There’s a good chance that there is a place in your portfolio for some type of fund. Yet, most just don’t get the real advantages. They only see passive income and some stability in yields in the case of real estate funds. There are other advantages though, which more sophisticated investors are aware of.

THE OTHER ROI

“What’s my return?”

That’s the most common question novice investors ask when shopping and comparing investment options. “How much are you promising me?” That’s like shopping mortgage interest rates on your home loan. If you’ve financed a few homes, you know that the rate and terms you can get at the closing table may be WAY different.

What experienced and intelligent investors prioritize is another kind of ROI. The Return OF Investment.

It doesn’t matter if you’re promised the chance of 100x returns, if the chances you’ll lose everything are pretty close to 100% too. That’s the case with a lot of investments. Especially in the tech and startup world.

If you lose your capital you have nothing to reinvest. It is far better to make nothing in terms of returns on your investment, and just walk away with your capital back to try something else. A little icing on the cake, in yield, to cover inflation and lost opportunity costs on top of that would be nice too though.

So, what the most sophisticated investors look at is how likely they are to get their capital back in the worst case scenario. Think bank loans, mortgage lenders and even VC funds and Warren Buffett. What is this asset worth? If it completely fails to perform and the borrower or tenant goes broke, how can I get all my money back, and then have the chance to potentially sell it for a whole lot more? You think banks really did bad in the 2008 crisis? Probably not near as poorly as you think.

HOW TO OVER-COLLATERALIZE YOUR INVESTMENTS

So, how do you make sure that the risk-reward balance is so skewed in your favor when investing that you can’t lose?

Well, you can invest in mortgage notes and demand great spreads. You can buy properties for pennies on the dollar. Or you can choose great fund investments.

Over the past decade we’ve only seen problems ramping up. Virtually a whole industry of novices have popped up, overpaying for assets, without any plan for sustainability. Many are already seeing their assets dive into negative equity territory. It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. Though a massive opportunity for others.

Here’s what’s cool about funds. Not only do the best have the ability to still buy assets in bulk, off market for pennies on the dollar, they can over-collateralize your investment with all of the assets in a fund. Let’s say you put $100,000 into a $1M fund. Well your capital technically has 10x the protection of your investment. Inside that fund there can be hundreds of assets too. So, you are never counting on a single asset to perform. In fact, even if 30% of them totally flop, you’ll still be fine.

In our diversified hybrid fund we’ve also built in multiple strategies and plays that are working for you at the same time. Redevelopments, buy and hold income properties, mortgages notes, etc. if one niche slows down, the others are speeding up. It’s a great way to not only ensure your return OF capital, but a return on your investment too.

Is your capital safe? Is your portfolio future proofed?

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Find out more about investing in secured debt and real estate, go to NNG Capital Fund

Real Estate Investors, If You Could Buy Single Family Homes With No Mortgage For 20 Cents On The Dollar, How Many Would You Buy?

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By Ted Thomas

Here’s the secrets of a little known but highly lucrative business of purchasing tax defaulted properties at auction for 10-20 cents on the dollar.

For many, the question is, what’s the difference between a tax lien certificate and a tax defaulted property (tax deed)? Before you begin investing, it is vital that you understand how a tax deed works, once you know you can purchase tax-defaulted real estate for pennies on the dollar but it’s only profitable if you know what you are getting when you bid.

What is Tax Defaulted Property (Tax Deeds)?

In a very basic sense, every piece of land in the United States is owned by the federal government. The government allows you the right to own the property as long as you pay taxes on it.

Many years ago, the U.S. Congress enacted laws that allowed individual states to handle governmental duties and obligations at the local level. The states further designated counties to handle the property taxation part of those duties and obligations. When you pay property taxes to the treasurer or assessor’s office, those funds are used to pay for public schools, police and fire departments, and any number of other civic services. The local government that manages and operates these services is primarily funded by property taxes.

Every year hundreds of thousands of property owners neglect to pay property taxes for various reasons. So what happens then??

The remedy for local government is to confiscate that property and resell it at a tax defaulted property auction for only the back taxes with no mortgage. The majority of these auctions use a public oral bid system. To quality as a bidder is simple; you just need to register before bidding. The starting bid is the amount due to the local government for back taxes plus penalties and interest. If you win, in most instances, you must immediately pay for your purchase.

It doesn’t matter where you live; county governments in all 50 states are authorized to hold auctions to recover delinquent back taxes. Some states offer tax lien certificates, other states offer tax defaulted property auctions (tax deeds) which are used to collect the past due property taxes owed. The difference? A tax lien certificate entitles you to collect the amount of tax you paid plus the interest penalties; a tax deed purchased at auction allows you to become the owner of the property for the price you bid at auction the mortgage is extinguished, that is deleted by law.

The secret to becoming a successful investor in tax defaulted property (tax deed) real estate is to know the who, what, when, where, why, and how these tax auctions take place.

Golden Rule #1

Know what you’re buying. This includes the size of the parcel, how many buildings are on it, zoning, restrictions, easements, the annual amount of property taxes, the appraisal value, previous sale prices, and current condition.

Taxes are usually assessed at 1 to 1.5 percent of the property’s value. So a piece of real estate valued at $100,000 will be assessed somewhere around $1,000 in taxes each year. Three years of back taxes would equal $3,000 and the local county will probably ask for a minimum bid at the tax defaulted property auction of $3,500 -the county will add late payment penalties to the back taxes.

The next question that must be answered is where and when are the auctions taking place? Normally auctions are conducted at county offices, but not always. Regardless of the location, it will be announced in advance of the auction. Some counties hold one big annual event while others schedule tax defaulted property auctions monthly, annually in the United State of America there’s over 5,000 tax defaulted auctions.

Secondly, you must know how the bidding process works. Rules vary from state to state, taxing district to taxing district. Some counties use an online bidding process which is becoming more and more popular, but the majority still hold live auctions you may attend in person.

At the auction, each parcel number is announced in turn; then the auctioneer asks for opening bids. It works much like any other auction; the bidding goes up until there are no more bids. The person who wins with the highest bid is awarded a Treasurers Tax Deed from the county treasurer. Make note there’s dozens of unique bidding processes, this is only one.

Real Estate For 20 Cents On The Dollar

There’s big money to be made buying tax defaulted property at auction Tax defaulted property (tax deed) auctions allow you to buy low and resell for a quick profit. Do your research, and you’re bound to find success!

Ted Thomas is famous for showing newcomers and investors how to earn 6 figure incomes within 1 year of completing his training program. Conservative investors love tax lien certificates because they are predictable, certain and secure and sold by local government. Tax defaulted properties are sold at oral big auctions and online. Starting bid, only the back taxes…. More information at TedThomas.com

Why Sponsorship Marketing is a Win-Win

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By LAURA ALAMERY

Many of you will immediately associate sponsorship with sports; your name on the team jersey, a display ad printed in the game programs, your logo emblazoned on a prominent banner waving in the wind. You may be pleasantly surprised to learn that sponsorship marketing is far from being exclusive to the sporting world and humanitarian causes. And, it may just be the answer to integrating your brand into the local community; creating a loyal following of believers in your product or services.

Sponsorship vs. Advertising: What’s the difference?

Sponsorship marketing is one of the most effective and affordable ways for a growing business to gain plenty of exposure. By showing your support for (or alliance with) small and local businesses, sponsorship allows you to get your message out in front of a highly desirable audience; your community, your industry niche. Sponsorship marketing also provides the opportunity of an ongoing relationship, giving you more time to really nurture potential customers and gain their loyalty (and referrals).

Advertising, on the other hand, is a huge expense (especially for a startup business). One simple placement in a popular industry magazine – or several 30 second radio spots a month on your local station – can run into the hundreds of dollars. Your return on investment (ROI) is minimal, because the few seconds you’ve got anyone’s attention is not likely to convert to sales. And, the trial and error you’ll experience while finding what works for your company – and doesn’t – can be painful and time consuming.

Advertising is about quantity. Sponsorship is about quality.

Putting Sponsorship Marketing to Work

Whether online or onsite, this method for getting out your message and building brand recognition is superior to many others. Don’t miss the many types of marketing available to sponsors:

  1. Reaching a Target Audience: Remember, with sponsorship marketing your ideal prospect is essentially already in place, and you have their attention. Make good use of it! Sponsoring the right company means you skip about 20 different task levels in narrowing down the right consumers for your products and services!
  1. Standing above competition: Customers take many things into consideration when choosing to spend their money. While the cost and quality of your services (or products) are key factors, your commitment to the economic development of their local community will definitely influence their decision.

  1. Extensive brand exposure: In most cases, sponsorship marketing involves more than just writing a check. You will be given varied ways to introduce yourself to an attentive audience – in person or online, or both. From speaking at group meetings, to brand placement on coveted group web pages; from vendor table opportunities to guest posting. It’s a class act.
  1. Business collateral is a must: Here’s a chance to display your logo and message (banners, table runners) at events and distribute your cards, brochures, giveaways like cups or pens, etc. This goes so much further than wasting hundreds of dollars a year with a neighborhood newspaper ad; thrown into driveways, only to be rained on, run over and tossed in the trash.
  1. Be generous and tasteful: Go the extra mile and have your gift or donation for drawings branded with your logo. Use subtle yet creative ways to make sure the recipient knows (as well as the audience) that it’s your company providing the gift. Thoughtful, useful items may be kept for many years.

Sponsorship marketing is an excellent means of making the most of your valuable time and hard earned dollars. It is a mutually beneficial strategy to achieving meaningful business goals. Hence, the win-win.

Laura’s Story…

I was born and raised in beautiful Vicenza, Italy – only 40 miles from lovely Venice on the Adriatic Sea. I used to hang out at the top of this hill as a teenager, where I could see the whole city stretched out before me.

Laura Alamery investor

In 1985 I relocated to United States, moving to Honolulu in 1987 where I became a college student at Hawaii Pacific University; just 4 miles from the beaches of Waikiki. I began developing a keen interest in real estate, so I started reading everything I could find – watching late night infomercials and buying courses by Dave Del Dotto, Robert Allen and Carlton Sheets.

My Real Estate Career Begins

That same year I became a real estate agent, to help pay for my college studies. I joined Dolman and Associates in Honolulu, and right away I was inspired by some of the top agents on the island. I began following their lead and in my first year in the industry, I became a multi-million dollar producer!

In 1991, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and moved to Missouri that same year. Once on ‘the mainland,’ my real estate career really took off. I started to purchase properties with no money down, using creative financing.

I continued my education by earning an MBA in Finance, still working part-time in real estate. Then I began a new career as an assistant controller in metal commodities, planning to climb the corporate ladder and keep real estate as a side business.

From Part-Time to Full-Time

By the mid-1990s I had already acquired a sizable portfolio (over 20 properties) consisting mostly of multi-families for rental income – and I was barely 30 years old! I was making more money in part-time real estate (less than 10 hours a week) than my full-time corporate job, so in 1996 I decided to flip the switch and devote myself entirely to real estate. Once I was able to immerse myself full-time into real estate investing, my career skyrocketed.

In 1997, I began sharing my knowledge of real estate investing, proven strategies and creative financing techniques by hosting real estate seminars. And, given the widespread use of the Internet, I decided to also share my practical knowledge and experience as well via online mentoring and coaching. In 2010, I opened The REI Lab, Inc. – the culmination of various companies I had started and closed in the past.

The Next Chapter Unfolds

With a love for laid back lifestyle and great weather (I really missed being near the water), I decided to relocate once more in May of 2015. This time the move was to Broward County, Florida; midpoint between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Laura Alamery Miami investor

The Miami-Dade area is full of opportunities, and 59% of the real estate transactions here in 2016 were cash – more than twice the national average according to the National Association of Realtors!