"Don't Vote Trump!" says a former Casino Executive.

I wish this had been published earlier.  I would have loved to present this a few weeks or even a month ago.

But a former Casino executive who managed Trump Plaza in Atlantic City while Harrah's was in a partnership with Trump claims that Trump is truly NOT fit to be US President.

I will let you read this for yourself.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2016/11/06/dont-vote-trump-former-harrahs-executive/93353464/

And, lastly, if Trump is elected, I will lose Million$ of dollar$ in Comississions because my Middle Eastern Businessman client has repeatedly stated that his investors don't trust Trump at all.

I get the feeling they know Trump better than those supporting/voting for him.


Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Why am I still worried about a Trump Presidency?

A few days ago, MSNBC ran a segment on this year's potential electoral college vote.  As it stands, Clinton already has enough electoral votes if she wins the General Election.

And, MSNBC said, that if Trump wins all the current 'swing states,' he still comes up short to Clinton by 272 to 266 votes.

This means, they said, that Trump has to "flip" (their word) one of the states that is solid in favor of Clinton in order to win the US Presidency.  (MSNBC doesn't think he would be able to do that.)

Well, if this is true, why am I still worried?

So, I did my own research on this topic; and I found that what MSNBC said is true.

So, even after researching this, and seeing that, that possibility isn't going to happen, why are other news organizations still saying that Trump may have an outside chance. Oh, my!

I even saw Karl Rove on FoxNews say that Trump has already lost the election.

Anyway, the reason I am rooting for Trump to lose is that I have a written a Purchase and Sales Agreement for a Las Vegas Resort Property. This 'offer,' currently in the Buyer's hands, is waiting for the US Presidential Election result before his board will allow him to authorize me to submit it to the Seller.

Yes.  The offer is a very large sale. (In the billions.)  Yes. The commission of said sale is very large. (In the millions.)  And, Yes.  That is the reason I am so worried about Trump winning.

If Clinton wins; I win.  If Trump wins; I lose.  It is as simple as that.

(With apologies, I am headed back to needlessly worrying about this.)

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Update! Las Vegas Resorts, Hospitality, Gaming & Restaurant Properties!

Are you interested in owning a Las Vegas Resort, Hospitality, Gaming or Restaurant Property?

If so, I can help!  Since the economic meltdown, the few that remain means they are pretty good investments.

And, if a 'major' Las Vegas Resort is within your acquisition criteria and financial capability, please click on the Las Vegas Casino Information button in the right hand column. There you will find an Agreement.  Please have your company's CEO or Authorized Signature fill this out completely, sign, scan and email back to me for further details on those properties that are available.

For less expensive Hotel-Motel, Gaming, Restaurants and Bars, please email me your contact information and acquisition criteria.  Once I have received this, I will be able to forward those opportunities as they arise.

I would also appreciate being able to add you -- if you qualify, to my investor client list. That way, when a specific property that I know you are interested in comes available, I would like to be able to send it to you quickly so you can better judge the property information and gauge the extent of your interest in acquiring it.  If not interested, just simply delete and wait for the next property to become available.

Lastly, if truly interested in becoming a gaming proprietor, you will need to apply for and be approved by the State of Nevada Gaming Control Board.  I can refer an attorney to you.

Please understand, that this will be required whether you are trying to acquire a resort casino or a small tavern/supper club property.  Being approved prior to making an offer, will speed up the purchase process since most Sellers will NOT have a close of escrow contingent upon you receiving gaming approval.

I appreciate your patience in this and hope to be able to bring you other Las Vegas Properties to you for your review in the next few months.

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Snake Oil Salesmen!

There are real estate agents in Las Vegas, NV that I truly don't want to work with. (Sorry about ending a sentence with a preposition.)

The reason is: I don't understand these agents obsession with wanting/having to double end every deal (List and Sell) that they have.  I love double ending deals, too.  But, if another agent has a qualified buyer, there's no skin off my nose to split the commission.

And, their mentality about this element is very, very annoying.

You call them to ask a question about one of their properties; and they never, ever take your call, return your call, nor even reply to an email.

(Now, I want to out these agents! I truly do.  Yet, in the future, I will have to have some form of transaction with them (hopefully, not) but they are here and don't seem to be going away anytime too soon.)

Recently, I was talking to a group of attorneys who own a building where the three are partners in the building where they also have their offices located.  One is moving on -- as in being kicked out of being an attorney (it happens); one is going on a mission (retiring); and the third wants another (better) location.

Anyway, I made a pitch for the listing and told them that I thought their building would sell at around $183 PSF!  Good price given the fact that the last ten years worth of real estate foreclosures really drove prices way down.

Yet, when I was done with my presentation, one of the attorney partners boldly stated that I had used the wrong comparable sales!

Say what?

He said another broker (actually the other broker is an agent) had told them that he could sell their building at $215 PSF.

I was like, really?  The partner attorney said that the broker (the other agent) had better comps.

I reiterated that I had used the best comparable sales within their zip code and all the zip codes around them.

I asked which comp specially did he use to use as in like to like properties?  The partner attorney said the address.  I was stunned.  Apparently, the other broker (agent), had used an ambulatory building (an urgent care facility) as the best like property to their subject basic office building.

Now, the finishes in the subject property are upgraded; there is marble flooring in the entry -- and along the carpeted halls; there is wood trim everywhere with an upgraded reception desk, too.

But, since the ambulatory building sold six months ago to an investment group buying the property as a NNN investment, sure, the price PSF is going to be higher, but: IT'S NOT A COMP!

It's not a like for like property.  It is a completely different building and use.  And, the zoning is heavy retail.  (They are in a Professional Office Park.)

And, I reiterated all of this to the group in the hopes of dis-swaying them, yet I got the feeling they were NOT impressed.  They had been SOLD by the other agent.

Anyway, long story short -- I didn't get the listing.

After returning to my office, I was re-telling my adventure to one of my two agents.  After, the retelling, she stated: Snake Oil Sales Men!  She knows the agent to whom I am referring to.

I could only agree.  Yet, I told her, there are three attorneys and if something goes wrong during the listing, at least I won't be the one facing 3 angry lawyers with the capability to sue.

God, I want to disclose this company's name.  No, I better not.

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Finally a Women Says What I Said Last Year: Women Should Invest More!

Almost a year ago, I wrote a blog about the major discrepancy between the genders.  It was about the gender gap when it comes to investing in Commercial Real Estate (CRE).

Well, now a female CEO has spoken up about women investing in general; and I was glad to read it.

Here's what I wrote October 27, 2015.

"Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and women seem to dislike each other.  I don't know if it's a full blown cat fight, or just a "thing" where one woman wore a dress better than the other.

But, since I have been working in CRE, women do NOT tend to be the one out searching for the better CRE deal.

And, I don't understand why.  Women tend to be the smarter of the two sexes.  Women tend to be more conservative with money.  Women will be more likely to want a more secured future.  All of these tend to point them to CRE.

BUT! owning a CRE property tends to be men.  And, unfortunately, it doesn't have to be that way."

And, now Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest, says, Women should be investing more.

(You may have to copy and paste in your browser)
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/26/the-single-biggest-mistake-ive-seen-women-make-at-work-sallie-krawcheck-commentary.html

I wonder just how many women would be brave enough to call me to see if there are any properties within their investment range to acquire here in Las Vegas, NV.

Hint: There was one small office building listed for $299,000.

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Trump's hateful rhetoric has caused an American client investor to stand down on investing!

Wow!

I couldn't believe what the investor was saying to me.  I did take a slight beating on LinkedIn with Trump supporters spewing condescending comments about the post I put up about foreign investors withholding investment in the US until after the US General Election.

However, this morning, when my telephone rang and I noticed it was from one of my American clients/investors -- who owns several neighborhood retail properties in Las Vegas, NV -- I was happy he was finally responding to the property information I had sent him last week.  I was hoping he was instructing me to draft an offer.

Unfortunately, his first words were like a needle popping a balloon: 'he is not going to buy or sell until after the election.'

His reason: Trump is being too hateful and alienating too many people.  He thinks that if Trump wins, it is going to send the markets into a spiral down fall.  He says he is hoping for the best.

Sigh!

So, to you LinkedIn members who think that we don't need foreign investors, guess what, the American investors -- from my point of view -- are wary of Trump, too!

So, I began to wonder: If the polls are showing a close presidential race, just who exactly is supporting Trump.  Well, CNN had an answer.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/23/news/economy/white-working-class-economy/index.html

The problem with this story is that non-college educated whites want something that is never ever going to come back ever again.

High paying jobs are now in the Asian rim.  A white male working at +/-$20 an hour is never going to happen in the US ever again.

And it wasn't the government that sent those jobs oversea.  So, stop blaming the government for you losing your job.  Because, it was your actions that resulted in you being unemployed. Yes. The non-college educated, white male who wouldn't work for less an hour.

The government didn't order your former company or its CEO to move your job.  The CEO found workers that would work for far much less than you.  And, that was in the Asian Rim.

So, supporting a hateful rhetoric spewing man -- who also has products manufactured in the Asian Rim -- is NOT going to be able to bring those jobs back.

Trump maybe a businessman; he maybe a billionaire (I'll believe that when I see his disclosed tax returns.); He may even be a nice guy (away from the cameras); but I know he is not going to be able to do any of the things he is promising you.

So, I realize there is only a choice between two evils: Crooked Donald or Crooked Hillary.

I am going to choose Hillary.

(And the reason is: no investor has said to me that they weren't going to invest (buy/sell) real estate in the US if Hillary is elected President.)

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

An editorial explanation on why Trump should have been disqualified to run for US President

I understand that half of you support Trump; and the other half supports Clinton.

But, when one political party's candidate for US President gets nominated to run for President and they act and say all the wrong things, without any care for anyone, I question the reason why they are even running.

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/sep/18/fake-charm-real-harm-dont-let-fraudulent-trump-foo/

Trump seems like a personable guy. But, since he has gone on this belligerent tangent about immigrants, Muslims, and wants to build a "Beautiful Wall' that in reality will never be built, I've lost respect for him. I don't even want to meet him. His bullying and invalidation of others turns me off. And, that makes me question his business acumen.

I hate bullies and anonymous internet trolls, that attack a personable opinion.

If you support Trump, that's great. If you support Clinton, that's great, too.

For me, I can't wait until this US General Election is over with.

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

The Disillusion that Non-College Educated, Older, White Male Americans have about the 2016 US Presidential Election

"Make America Great Again!"

Nice slogan.  But, the problem with this slogan is: that type of America is history -- Gone Forever!  Those good paying labor intensive jobs will never return to the US.  And, people like the subject of this article don't understand that.  Those well paying labor jobs are never, ever going to happen ever again.  Not in my life time, I believe.

Even the subject's children are all college educated and working in "other" industries, yet this older white American -- at 66 years of age -- wants a return to his labor intensive construction job he had for so many years.

Yet, since the subject can't wrap his head around the fact that an old white man is never going to be working at a labor intensive job where he would receive the high salary he was accustomed to receiving, he is left with just his disillusion that they will magically re-appear if Trump gets elected.

What is so sad about this is that he truly believes that a businessman is going to have any ability to make those jobs re-appear when the businessman was one of the people responsible for causing the subject to lose their job in the first place.

These non-college educated older white men are forgetting that Trump is one of the businessmen that told these non-college educated white men that they were fired!  Why?  Because Trump doesn't want to pay the salary this man believes he should be earning for his labor.

Yet, the subject believes Trump is going to get them hired again.

Excuse me while I LMAO!

Anyway, here's the story:

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/trumps-base-is-blue-collar-his-voters-looking-for-a-return-to-better-times/

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Poker Pro faces Felony Charges about Casino Debt

Years ago, when I first met the Retired Casino Owner/Manager who I am very good friends with today, he said to me at lunch one day that most Poker Professionals lose money playing poker.

I was astonished because of how they are portrayed on TV.  You win a million dollars, you should be set for a long time.

But, he continued by saying that a poker player needs to win 51% ALL of the time to make any money.  And, he said that like 90% never, ever win anything if they win anything at all.

So, even though this Professional Poker Player had won millions of $$$'s in tournaments through the years, he has lost millions of $$$'s more.

Which means, he loses more than he ever wins, thus his inability to repay the markers.

So, when I saw this article today, I wasn't surprised that this poker player is being charged with writing bad checks.

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/sep/09/poker-pro-faces-2-felonies-over-215k-in-casino-deb/

And, as it states in the article, when a casino issues you credit, under Nevada Law, you are technically writing a check to the casino even though it is referred to as a "Marker."

The casino issues the marker as if you have the amount of the marker in your bank account.  Fortunately, they will give you a set time to repay them -- if you lose.  (If you win, all is forgiven.)

Unfortunately, for this Professional Poker Player, he understood this when he signed the marker,  But, he truly didn't have the money to pay them back.  So, the Wynn Resort -- using the Nevada bad check writing law -- is charging him with writing a bad check.

Everyone understands that the House never loses, correct?

With that in mind, my advise to you who think you have a system to win at any casino: Don't sign for a marker unless you know that you have the ability to wire the money to the casino when you lose.

Oh, I have a better system for beating the house in Nevada: and it is a better way of "winning."
Buy a NNN income property.

Then, the checks issued to you have your name on them as the payee; and the tenant is the one paying you money on a monthly basis.

Now, that's a sure fire way of a Win! Win!

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Now, This Is What I Have Been Talking About!

As this link shows, 100% of Professional Athletes will experience unemployment in their future.

That is why I have been so vocal about young athletes acquiring a CRE NNN property early in their careers so that they will have an income producing asset to fall back on for monthly income once the lay-off or employment termination comes.

http://schoolvideonews.com/Broadcast-Journalism/Pro-Athletes-and-Sports-Broadcasting

The author is a former professional athlete, so I think he knows.

Contacting David Howes about Las vegas CRE is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Inexpensive Commercial Properties For Sale in Las Vegas!

Recently, my email Inbox is receiving inquiries about Las Vegas Commercial Properties.  And, being the Full Service Real Estate Broker I think I am, I try my best to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.

I even have had a few telephone calls asking the same.

Anyway, just to give 'other' blog followers updated information; It is true: there are a variety of small commercial properties in Las Vegas that are under $500,000 that are For Sale!  They consist of Multi-Family (in the 3-4 unit range), Retail, Offices and Industrial locations that are For Sale in the Las Vegas metro area.

Now, most are Listed For Sale in the $200,000 to $300,000 range; Most are smaller than you'd think (less than 5,000 SF); and all are pretty well located on or near very busy, high traffic streets.

So, if you have been hesitant about contacting me in the past because you feel you may not qualify; or feel that buying in Las Vegas is so far away, please rest assured that most can be managed by a local property management company by a broker I know very, very well. (She's very, very good.)

And, the listing price is just that: a Listing Price.  It does NOT mean that it is Non Negotiable!  There is some wiggle room to get to a selling price.

If you need to qualify for a loan, I can help you there, too.  A lender will need to see your financials. In order to qualify for a loan, financials are required to verify your ability to buy/finance a purchase.

So, you may ask: WHY? would I give David Howes a call to buy in Las Vegas, NV?
My answer: I can get you an income property that can provide you with a monthly income.  It may NOT be thousands of dollars a month in rent; but it will be a start of building a real estate portfolio.

And, earning a few grand a month, does help with monthly bills and helps you build equity for the future.

So,...

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Smart People Will Listen to You!

Yesterday, my younger brother, Tom, called to say 'Hello!'

I found out that Tom had to have surgery on the shoulder that he thought he dislocated back in February this year when he slipped and fell on some ice.

As it turned out, he actually tore his rota-tor cup and the doctor finally ordered surgery. (I hate insurance companies.)

Anyway, being out of work for awhile, he was bored and thought he'd give me a call.

I updated him on how bad sales of CRE properties are going in Las Vegas; and how many, many potential buyers are ignoring my advice.  They are still waiting for the market to turn as far as I can tell.

Then, he said something that surprised me!

He said, "Don't worry.  The smart people will listen to you, forget about the rest."

Huh?!  I immediately thought: Have I been dealing with dumb people who I thought were smart?! -- You know the ones who won't take my advice and buy the 8% Cap Rate properties that are available here in Las Vegas? But, will buy a 5% Cap Rate property in another state?

I just thought that they knew something more about Las Vegas than I did.

Anyway, he went on to say, that "the buyers will eventually come around.  They most likely want a steal and they only view Las Vegas as deals."  Okay, good point, Tom.

The problem with that theory is that a 5% Cap Rate is a high purchase price that is more in favor of the Seller.  Anyway...

We then got into how he has been using his down time to fix up his rental property -- surgically repaired shoulder and all -- Blah, blah, blah.  The usual stuff you go through when you are a landlord, too.

But, if you are smart.  And, truly are interested in a Las Vegas CRE Property, my contact information is...

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Real Estate Mortgage Payoff - Part II

About a week ago, I posted that I wanted to pay-off my equity line turned second mortgage.
And, I want to do it by negotiating a smaller payoff deal.  Since Shellpoint Mortgage acquired my loan at a discount, I wanted to share in that discount.

They originally sent me a full pay off timetable.  But, since they seem to NOT understand what I am asking, I made a counter offer.  Since, they have not responded.

Anyway, I had to emailed them through their website since their telemarketers are NOT knowledgeable about the loan business; and they truly have no authority when it comes to real mortgage questions.

Anyway, my counter was met with the response that their Loan Services Personnel are NOT allowed to contact debtors directly.

Say, what?!

All I want to do is to write a check -- or set up a wire transfer -- for a final payment that we can negotiate fairly.  I know that there is an acceptable amount to both parties other than the full loan amount that I owe.

I think it's only fair since they acquired my loan at a discount -- most likely 25% of the loan amount owed.

How do I know I can do this?

Well, you see -- most of my clients are in the real estate investment business.  They acquire a lot of their property from said lenders who have "bad loans." My clients buy these loans and then foreclose on the property.  And, they buy these loans at a discount.

And, since late 2008, this has been happening all over the US.

Anyway, I saw this article about home owners equity and how people are NOT taking equity out of their homes (smart) and thought it interesting.  (It's been ten years since I did that and now wish I hadn't.)

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/owners-could-pull-another-260-billion-out-of-their-homes--heres-why-they-arent.html

Hopefully, Shellpoint will get their heads out of their derrieres and give me a call.

Please enjoy!


Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call him at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Update on Las Vegas Resorts! Wrote an Offer for a Strip Resort Corridor Property!

For those interested in pursuing a Las Vegas Resort, Hospitality, Gaming or Restaurant Property, you will want to continue reading.

This past Friday, (October 14, 2016) I submitted a Purchase and Sale Agreement to a Buyer for a Las Vegas Resort Property.

Now, I want to be careful because I don't want to give anything away.

But, if a 'major' Las Vegas Resort is within your acquisition criteria, click on the Las Vegas Casino Information button in the right hand column.

There you will find the Non-Circumvent, Confidentiality and Commission Agreement.  Please print this form, fill out completely, have your company's signatory sign, then scan and email the signed form back to me for further details on properties that are available.

You will also have to send me your complete contact information so I can better get a hold of who you are, your company's acquisition ability and to be able to discuss the property details with you.   Just so you know, there are several layers of gaming type licenses in and around Las Vegas -- and the entire state of Nevada.

So, contact me directly, and I will be able to start a dialog with you about the various properties that i will send to you so you can read the details firsthand to better judge for yourself the extent of your interest in acquiring Las Vegas Gaming properties. If what I send you is of no interest, just simply delete and wait for the next.

Hopefully, the above mentioned PSA will be quickly signed by the Buyer; then executed by the Seller.  Once this phase is complete, we open escrow.

I appreciate your patience in this and hope to be able to bring you other Las Vegas Properties to you for your review in the next few months.

For more Information about any Las Vegas Commercial Investment Real Estate Property, contact David Howes at: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR 702-501-9388!

Las Vegas Commercial Real Estate Resort Investment Property Do's and Don'ts!

For some reason, quite a few "investors" ask me about financials for certain 'well located' Resort, Hotel, Motel and Gaming Properties.

Looking at and analyzing the financial statement would be the normal way of processing whether or not a 'well located' property is worth a specific sales price.

However, these well located properties suffer from the fact the Owners do know all about the situation of the prominent location of these properties.  Since most of the 'Buyers' are unaware, it is important to know -- before even asking -- that the most important features of these properties are: the H-1 zoning, the fact that they lie within the Clark County Gaming Overlay; and that there is a future upside IF certain elements of the surrounding properties do ever evolve into a massive development.   So, what is the current owner to do?  Well, that answer is easy: they hold out for their price.

Unfortunately, these well intended Buyers come along and 'think' they are smarter than the Sellers; and they try in vain to overtly explain why the property isn't worth, for example, $10 Million an acre.  (This is an approximate measure of value that the land under the resort hotel, motel that Sellers use as a gage to establishing the sales value of a property.)

The problem with this is that there are some Buyers who will -- because of a sense of desire -- overpay for a property -- thus set an unrealistic bar for us Real Estate Brokers.

Yeah!  It is great for our bank accounts.  However, it sends an unrealistic value ripple effect through the neighboring properties.

When this happens, the Owners/Sellers now think that their property is worth that or more simply because their properties are NOT vacant, better maintained, even though NOT as 'well located.'

I don't want anyone to figure out "who" I am talking about.  Let's just say his intention is good; his execution is bad.

So, when I know of a property for sale at $1 Million an acre, lets say, that is the price set by the well intended 'Seller" because of the fact that a similar property down the street sold for close to that amount.

And because of this established price, any financial information I have will NOT reflect the Sellers Selling value adequately.  And, I do know that the financials only show a Cap Rate; and, I feel like an idiot for taking a listing at that high of a price.  But, since the Seller has bought and Sold properties through me over the years, I want to service them as best I can.

You understand, right?

So, out of state Buyers, please pay attention, when you review marketing information I send you, just remember that the financials have played little in establishing the selling price of a Resort Hotel, Motel, and/or Gaming asset -- especially along the "Strip."

So, 'Do' ask me questions about Las Vegas Commercial Real Estate!  I will answer them as honestly and as effectively as I can; but, please 'Don't' come to Las Vegas thinking you are going to acquire a 'well located' property below market value.

There are certain 'things' about Resort properties that I know that make that property worth more than the financials reveal.

Are we on the  same page?

For more Information about Las Vegas Commercial Investment Real Estate Property, contact David Howes at: david@davidhowes.net OR 702-501-9388!