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The Real Estate Investor Guide

Things To Do In Tri-Cities, WA This Easter Weekend

Easter events around the Tri-Cities

 

Happy Presidents Day

Happy Presidents Day
“If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
“The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respected Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and privileges…”
“A government is like fire, a handy servant, but a dangerous master.”
George Washington

Presidents Day

Options + Expertise + Planning + Advice = RE Wealth Creation

Commercial Loan Options

Take Advantage of Today’s Rock Bottom Interest Rates

Take Advantage of Today’s Rock Bottom Interest Rates

If you are considering buying or refinancing your commercial real estate property, you should know that with interest rates at historic lows, now is a good time to do so. But because of the low rate environment of the recent years, it may be harder than ever to find the right loan for your needs.

One alternative is to spend weeks making contact with dozens of loan officers, filing dozens of applications and trying to wade through all the information yourself, hoping you do not miss important details in the chaos of paperwork. Another option is to plug yourself into a cookie cutter process of the lending department at a bank, and hope the result is a good one. The latter method saves you a lot of time, but since it explores a single option, you’ll never know whether you could have gotten the better deal.

That’s where we come in. We are commercial mortgage experts who know how to evaluate our clients’ unique circumstances and match them with the ideal commercial mortgage loan.

By combining professional expertise with access to many different lenders and hundreds of commercial and business loan products, we provide our clients an efficient and cost- effective method of identifying and analyzing the myriad of options available to them.

There’s no better time to buy or refinance than right now, and no better way to find the right commercial mortgage for you than by getting in touch with us today. Visit our Web site at www.losgatoslend.com email us at jhoannaj@losgatoslend.com or give me a call at (415) 902-0619

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Changes to Social Security in 2017

JANUARY 9, 2017
Get Ready to Pay $500 More in Social Security Taxes
Why an automatic change in a Social Security rule may sting in 2017…… Read More

 

How Interest Rates Affects the US Economy?

Consumers along with current and future real estate buyers might be in for a rough ride under the new high interest rate trend. The Federal Reserve overnight rate increase from .50% to .75% will affect the cost of borrowing funds from financial institutions, while deposits might only see a minuscule uptick in interest. As the Federal Reserve increases rates, banks are more likely to adjust rates on car loans, credit cards and mortgage loans and many other leverage products to accommodate for the future cost of funds and/or future increase in interest rates.

What that means to you? Well, you won’t be able to afford as much home in the future as you might have been able to do before November 2016. Credit card balances and car loans will no longer have low interest rates as have been offered by some of our local credit unions for some time now. So the bottom line is that as interest rates goes up our buying power goes down…

 

Thank you for supporting your local small business and community

“November 26th we celebrated our local businesses on Small Business Saturday. While the event is special day when we can show our support as a nation for local businesses and our community, the Shop Small Movement is a year-round camping to celebrate and support small businesses every day.

 

Small Business Saturday Is November 26,2016

Small Business Saturday is November 26th. Where will you Shop Small?

Multifamily Properties

 

Multifamily properties are still seeing occupancies in the high 90’s in most areas of the country. Although local banks would shy away from investment properties there are many loan options available to investors looking to enter the market with lenders nationwide. This is one of the many reason why commercial mortgage brokers are a great resource for debt and equity financing not available in the local community.

Los Gatos Multifamily Loans

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/38385-homeownership-rate-continues-to-hover-near-50-year-low?utm_content=10.28.16_ChatterWeeklyRoundup&utm_medium=email&utm_source=pardot&utm_campaign=alexchatter

Jhoanna R. Jones has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry with broad knowledge of commercial lending including SBA, USDA, CMBS, and commercial real estate.
Jhoanna R. Jones| jhoannaj@losgatoslend.com | (877) 387-6657 www.losgatoslen

Business Data Mining

Business Data Mining
We find it interesting that when we speak to business owners of small, medium and sometimes even large organizations, that they do not mine the data the business collects from business activities. Most may not even know what data or mining means and that could be where the problem begins for most organizations. However, when a business provides a sale or service to the community, data is created that can help the business forecast or plan what the next year’s sales might look like. Simple data like this can help the business plan inventory, staffing and many other items that affect the business balance sheet and profit and loss. Of course, this is just one of the many benefits of collecting and mining the data collected. Businesses can also use that data in the product development phase by producing the products and services customers buy the most. The marketing department can also benefit from company data by creating marketing strategies that align with the demographics of the customers they served. Regardless of how big or small your company is, your goal is to create profit, but this can not be accomplished if you do not begin by looking at who your customer is and what they do or do not buy from you. At the end of the day, only the businesses that understands and use technology will be standing.

Apartment Loan

Jhoanna R. Jones has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry with broad knowledge of commercial lending including SBA, USDA, CMBS, and commercial real estate.
Jhoanna R. Jones| jhoannaj@losgatoslend.com | (415) 902-0616

Hang In The Balance

As the banking industry continues to consolidate at the local and national level, access to commercial lending by small business owners and investors continues to deteriorate.  One of the major reasons why lending is being affected is regulation and its cost.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota, community banks with less than $50 million in assets will see profitability reduced by 14 to 45 basis points to account for new staff to handle the increase in regulation. Some may even become unprofitable and will have to go out of business or merge with other larger banks. Regulation is a necessary evil, but a balance must be struck between the regulated and regulators. Regulation has been instrumental in bringing light to systematic banking problems like Wells Fargo’s credit account fraud and Goldman Sachs mortgage bond fraud, just to name a few.  However, we must also recognize that regulation must be written in an un-ambiguous manner that is easy to understand by banks and the general public so that the cost of the regulation does not become untamable.

Over all, lending to small business owners and investors by banks large or small is around 20% to 40%. Less banks competing for the business of lending to small business and investors means less access to capital that is brought up to the market due to competition.  As we all know, competition in all industries bring down the cost of goods or services s as more businesses compete for the same dollar. But in the case of regulation, where the cost is almost fixed and trending is up, it discourages or creates a barrier to new entrants into the banking industry.  This limited choice of banks to small businesses means higher cost of borrowing money to expand and create jobs in the community.

We, and just like many other commercial lenders, banking experts and concern citizens, agree with Capgemini’s position and research paper that we all have to work together to create a viable and stable business environment for banks to survive0 and grow their business while protecting the general public of institutions that violate the trust we placed in them.

 

 

 

 

 

4 Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Small Business Taxes

With business and taxes, it’s what you keep, not what you bring in from sales that counts at the end of the day.  Business owners, more often than not, do not consult with experts in accounting or business law that can help them understand the pros and cons of each business structure, tax and legal implications and ways to keep the books in order. When in doubt, always ask an expert that can help you navigate the complex business world we live in.

Why succession plans should not be kept secret | Money Marketing

“According to Wikipedia succession planning is a process for identifying and developing internal people with the potential to fill key business leadership positions in the company. Succession planning increases the availability of experienced and capable employees that are prepared to assume these roles as they become available.”

Six Trends in U.S. Commercial Real Estate to Watch for in 2016 – Urban Land Magazine

We continue to see an increase in occupancy within all commercial real estate sectors. We believe the apartment market will continue to see high occupancy rates due to the current housing issues like lack of affordability and credit and inventory availability. The retail and office space on the other hand will continue to lag when compared to apartment units. Large anchor tenants like Macys and Sears are leaving the brick and mortar stores to focus more on their online retail and co-working spaces now offering cost effective office space to small business owners. We think that the opposite is bound to happen to the office and retail space and occupancy will fall much further than we have seen in the last few years. Instead, we believe the industrial market will pick up some of or most of anchor tenants as more of the Macys of the world will see the need for distribution centers around the country.  Despite all of this, the real estate market is in for a significant shift in the next 10 years due to the change from a service to knowledge based economy. As real estate investors we must stay on top of the trends in politics, economy and the social environment that affects our income producing properties.

Why You Should Be Investing Your Money In Real Estate

The way you invest your profits is key to your future success. Real estate investing should be a key part of your portfolio. Here’s why.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.entrepreneur.com

Commercial real estate can help you diversify and reduce risks while you enjoy the income that your real estate investments produce.  We advocate for commercial real estate investing to be part of your overall investment strategy. Your CPA, investment or business advisor or Jhoanna R. Jones can help you determine the best properties and percentage of your total portfolio that should be vested in commercial real estate.

Three Things That Make A Great Real Estate Investment

You need to make some smart choices upfront when buying investment property. 

Pays a Fair Cash-on-Cash Return
you need to pro forma your deals and buy cash flow-positive properties that earn you decent returns – not those prize properties that are negative

Isn’t Too Risky an Investment
All real estate is extremely high risk
if you want to own real estate, consider simply taking fee simple title in your own name – or an entity you wholly own – to the properties you purchase. In addition, you must do the proper due diligence, analyze, test, review reports, etc., to make a lower risk real estate decision.

Doesn’t Require a Lot of Time or Managing
You can earn more but some properties just require way too much time and management to make them smart investments. Examples include vacation rentals, low quality properties in bad areas, college rentals, etc. Nice boring properties rented for as long as possible to decent credit profile tenants seem to take the least time to manage.

You need to do some hard work, research, read up, and make smart, educated decisions to acquire the best real estate investments!

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.forbes.com

There are many benefits available to individuals when investing in commercial real estate like tax write offs and separate and predictable income streams that are not offered by any other investment products on the market. When investing in commercial real estate, you have control of the property and property values. What else you could ask for when investing your hard earned money?

In business, nice guys finish first. Yes, really.

CEOs who score high on traits like integrity and compassion deliver better results for shareholders, says a new book.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: fortune.com

As a business owner, we must understand character is the most valuable competitive advantage in our community. When people trust you and your ability to stay true to your core values, your business gains more than sales. It gains future business deals that come from trust.  Overall, businesses and business individuals that maintain high degree of integrity maintain and deliver higher results that those that indulge in the short-term gains by cheating the system. 

5 Exit Plans for Your Small Business – YourVelocity.com

Exiting your business requires a lot of work, especially if you make sure you are getting the most out of the it. But what kind of exit plans are available?

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.yourvelocity.com

As business owners or real estate investors we never start with the end in mind. However, when buying real estate or buying a business, knowing the final destination should be the most important part of the decision making process. Understanding where you are heading can help you determine the best routes to take to get you to the finish line.

Four Tips to Help You Sail Through Real Estate Investments

Real estate industry is growing at a rapid pace and is generating over $9.2 billion with over 28 million investors. With over 36% real estate investors planning to buy more property next year, and returns going high, it is the perfect time to test this growing market. The USA is one of the best places for investment in real estate. The country also has a number of foreigners buying real estate to earn profit. However, not everyone is able to laugh all the way to the bank. There are several things one needs to take care of to be able to make the max out of an investment. At the end of the day, the purpose of any investment is to excrete profits. However, real estate is a risky business. Prices go up and down on a regular basis, and one has to take care of taxes as well. So how does one beat the market and earn big? Here are four tips that will help: 1- Know Exactly Why You’re Investing There are several reasons why one may decide to invest in real estate. While some people invest to sell, some invest to rent. This point is important because it will help you set your financial goals and plan accordingly. The ‘time versus money’ concept has to be considered as well. When it comes to real estate, if you have more time in your hand you can start with less money and vice versa. Also, your goals will help you decide what kind of investment you should opt for. Mysquareonecondo.ca’s CEO says, “There are several options to invest in real estate, from condos to big bungalows to empty plots. I’d say the right option depends on the investor’s requirements. If you want a regular income you can opt for condos and rent out the property. On the other hand, if you’re looking at a big gain you can buy a big property and put it on the market, but the latter usually takes time.” In addition to this you can also consider commercial and residential properties. While both options are good for business, the right one depends on your requirements, budget and time in hand. 2. Do Your Research You need to research well before you zero in on a property. One of the most important factors to consider is the city or state you’ll be investing in. Some of the best states are: – Texas (Austin is a favorite with an expected growth rate of 9%. San Antonio also comes close with 8% home appreciation rate.) – Florida (Tampa is a good option with an expected growth rate of 5% for the next three years. Miami is also a good option) – New York (If you can afford a place in NYC, you’ll have a good reason to rejoice. While the city is very expensive, the real estate market is soaring.) – Ontario (If you’re looking at investing in Canada, Ontario is one of the hottest states with houses in Barrie, Thunder Bay, and Hamilton expected to give a return of 8-9% in the next five years) – Alberta (Places to consider include Calgary and Edmonton with around 5% return) Also, remember that just because a city is doing well, it doesn’t mean you should invest in it right away. It should be remembered that specific areas will fetch you a high price that too for a specific property. In addition to this, you have to take care of the legal requirements as well, especially if you are a foreign investor or are buying on credit. Also, do not make the mistake of going for a property just because you like it, unless you plan to live there. You should think as an entrepreneur when investing and consider the option that gives you the highest returns. 3. Take Your Time It is important to take your time, both when you’re buying and when you’re selling. Do not buy the first property you like, look around and compare all the options that you have. However, also remember that there is no such things as a ‘perfect deal’, especially when you are selling the property. Mysquareonecondo.ca’s CEO says, “Haste makes waste! It is okay if your property sits on the market for a few months. At times it takes years before a property is sold, especially if it is very expensive. However, you should also see the market trend, if the market is expected to fall tomorrow, it’s better that you sell today.” 4. Know Your Facts and Figures At the end of the day, it is a financial decision and should be made with facts and figures in mind. Before closing a deal, make sure to have a look at maintenance records, tax bills, tax returns etc. some other figures that need to be calculated include: – Your Return On Investment (expected resale value) – Your Cash Flow (debt financing) – Your Net Income (profit after deducting expenses) All these figures are important and should be calculated prior to making a sale. In the same way, when you’re selling a property do not just compare the price to your buying price, also see how much you’ve invested in the property. At times, investment is a good option. Something as small as a paint job or an extra bathroom can increase your property’s worth by up to 15%. These simple tips will help you make a good profit from the real estate market. Remember, the trick lying in doing a good amount of research and taking your time before you make a decision.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.inc.com

More real estate investors are discovering that acquiring and improving commercial real estate properties takes time and research. The jackpot is in the ability to find the right property, the right financing and team to help you make the deal work and meet your investment goals.