2019 has started with a Big Bang!

Years ago, when I first started working in real estate, I worked at Sitren Mortgage in Victorville, CA.

Now, the owner of that company was Mike Sitren.

He was a Brooklyn born Jewish man who took me under his wing and taught me just about everything I know about Real Estate.

His passing at the young age of 63 was heartfelt to me.  He left us too soon.

Anyway, I have always tried to maintain the premise that Mike taught.

Be honest to everyone.  He would at times, when 'things' were starting to go sideways say: "It's Real Estate."

And, since the start of the new year, "things" have gone from slow to lightening speed in what seems like a heartbeat.

Almost like when the universe was created with a Big Bang!

I am NOT complaining.

I still have 12 SFR's available that meed to be sold.

If interested in SFR residential real estate rental income...

Contact David Howes at: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8
AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes
Have a nice day!

Snow Day in Las Vegas!

It is a very rare sight to see.

But when it does, it is a sight to behold!

Snow falling in Las Vegas, NV!

Nothing like seeing snow falling in your backyard!

Brrr!!!  Not going in the pool today!

With the high today of 41 degrees, I think I'll stay indoors.

And, if interested in any Las Vegas CRE property, you can...

...Contact David Howes by: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 0 1 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a Stay Warm Day!

But I don't sell SFRs!

A little while ago, an Owner/Seller ("Client") asked me to help him sell his rented houses.

Well, I am NOT a Realtor and I am NOT a member of the local MLS.

But, that didn't deter him from insisting I try to get him +$2.1 Million for his 12 rented homes.

Well, if it's a portfolio, I will give it a try.

Here are the 11 SFRs and 1 Condo For Sale.  They are all 100% Occupied!

1189 BALZAR                        $160,000

1392 HART                             $165,000

1913 WILD JAN                     $195,000

2060 LA SALLE                     $139,000

2160 CLANCY                       $167,000

4019 ASANTE COVE            $205,000

4420 SHALIMAR                   $145,000

4562 BABY BIRD                  $220,000

4604 VAN BUREN                 $207,000

4608 VAN BUREN                 $216,000

5151 PARADISE VALLEY    $188,000

7078 BURCOT                       $125,000

Anyway, that's the list of properties.
To buy them all at once, it is: $2,132,000.

If interested:

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Truth from another Point of View!

Recently, an agent tried to get me to sign an agreement to pay his firm 2.5% of a sale purchase agreement.

Okay, normally, when you purchase a property, the Seller pays a "marketing fee" and that fee is usually split between the procuring broker and the listing broker.

In this transaction, I am the listing broker.

It has to do with five multi-family properties I have listed.

The agent sent me a form to sign that would have held me and my company liable for commission even though there was no buyer mentioned in the form.

Now, having the experience I have in my near 28 year real estate career, I have only run across this scenario once before.

It's a backhanded way of stealing commission from a broker.

You see, if I signed this form, this agent could in turn claim a commission if I sold the property to a buyer NOT affiliated with the agent -- even without this agent involved -- the form states that I would owe them part of the commission.

Not going to happen.

I work too hard for the little money I earn.

Anyway, the agent called me.  I politely took the call.  And, he began to invalidate and bully me because of my steadfast refusal to believe his truth from another point of view!

His bullying included insults for not seeing this his way of trying to earn a procuring commission by stealing.

I told him that this call was over and I hung up.  I even blocked his number.

Anyway, who needs this attitude.

This guy is an idiot!  Fortunately, I am smarter than the average bear to NOT be stupid in signing  away a commission to an agent who comes across as sleazy.

I proceeded to persuade another buyer to make an offer.

We'll see what happens.

=)


To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

He has $60 Billion in the bank!

So, I wished this to be true!

Unfortunately, as a skeptic of agents (or Buyers) or even investment advisers who attempt to persuade me that they, or their clients, are wealthy, I do what I can do to verify -- or, dispel -- such claims.

Recently, I asked this contact at a resort casino/hotel whether or not, they would sell one of their large Resort properties, which is rumored to be for sale -- was true or not.

It is true.

Great! Because, I was working with a middle eastern businessman/hotelier who had an interest in acquiring a Las Vegas resort.

But, Don's racist presidency killed any chance of them moving forward to invest at that time.

Oh, well, I will find someone else.

Anyway, another investment company I have worked with in the past referred me to a third investment company who claimed they had a buyer for a Las Vegas Resort Property.

Ok.  Prove it to me.

After assembling the Buyer pays me paperwork, a get a confirmation letter and a bank statement from this investment company which they claim is the buyer's true net worth.
Well, I give it to my retired gaming business partner friend.  He says, it looks good, but why don't you call the bank to see if it is real?

Oh!  Good idea!

I proceed to email the two forms to the bank, hoping beyond hope that what I was given is real.
Two days later, I get the bank's reply.

Thank you for your e-mail of 2 February regarding the Bank Confirmation Letter and Statement. After checking with our department concerned, I would like to confirm you that the letters you attached on the e-mails are not genuine or issued by our bank.

Son of a B**h!

I hope you know how I felt.

There are too many persons in the world who want to be involved in a fraud.  I am so glad to have done what I did to prevent me from damaging my reputation by a want to be criminal trying to pose as a high wealth individual.

All I can say is good riddance to this agent/investment adviser. Never again.

Lastly, I don't need anyone to waste my time, I am perfectly capable of doing that on my own.

At this point, I can honestly say, Lesson was learned and I am glad to have followed the advice to check the information myself.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

SOLD!!! ...okay, it's just in escrow.

Finally, after nearly 12 months of haranguing, negotiating and cajoling, I was finally able to open escrow on the four Downtown Properties I listed early last year.

Now, I didn't get the owner as much as I thought I would.  But, the Buyer, from California, understands the operation of low-income motels and apartments.

AND, while I was in Downtown Las Vegas, I stop by another owner's property to check on the condition the property condition is in.

(Yes.  He bought these low income motels and is dead set on converting them into studio apartments.)

Okay, I can still help!

BTW: I also have listed five multi-family plex properties for sale as a portfolio in Downtown Las Vegas, too!

These will only set you back $1.5 Million!

But, they Gross in rent $14,000 per month.

Send me an email for details!

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

"Just hope he's cool with Mexicans"

While texting a manager at one of my listings, to set up a showing, the manager texted me back that the manager: "Just hope he's (the Buyer) cool with Mexicans."

At first I was surprised by this remark.

Then, after thinking about it for a while; and, being constantly being reminded about the Twitter Washington stand off with high school white kids and the Indian Vietnam Veteran, I realized what he meant.

As a Real Estate Broker, I learned early in my real estate career, and in life, that you need to treat everyone with respect and admiration.

If you are one political party, don't let a political discussion with any client get in the way at all.

Yet, since I haven't ever been discriminated against, to me discriminating or invalidating some one isn't something I care to do. (At least I don't think I ever have been discriminated against.)

I value my time, effort and knowledge to the point that discriminating against anyone, to me, is to lose money.

The first Real Estate Broker I learned real estate from once said, the only thing you should care about as a real estate professional is how much money your client can qualify for.

To me, I look at people/clients I deal with NOT as what their skin color is; but, rather, how much worth do they have for me to provide them with my services.

Even though I am NOT a Realtor, I still value the Realtor HUD commitment.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Rain, Rain, Go Away! Wait, we need the rain....

Rain in Las Vegas is a rare occasion.

Yet, recently, Nathan Tannenbaum, of Channel 8, reported that Las Vegas has had more rain this year than Portland, OR.

Ok!

Since we've had a lot of rain recently, I'll go with it.

But, that's not the only thing that is raining.

Since it is very early in the process, I can only tease you until the paperwork is signed, sealed and delivered.

Stay tuned!

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Dancing! Dancing! Dancing!

Yes!

I seem to do a lot of dancing.

Not any particular form of dancing.  It's more as if I do a lot of dancing around.

I suppose I could call it the Soft Shoe, or Jazz, or (since I live and work in Las Vegas) Line Dancing? If that's a real form of dancing.

Anyway, it's definitely NOT ballroom dancing -- though I do dance at my desk while marketing Las Vegas properties!

The latest is all of the activity I've had on the three motels and the studio apartment portfolio I have listed.

Since the Seller has given me his 2017 PLS, more potential Buyers have shown an interest in this portfolio.

Yet, I get the feeling that even though the Seller's selling price is in the Buyer's favor, they want an even better price.

Oh, well.  I suppose I should be appreciative the amount of calories that dancing burns off!

Back to more dancing.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

It's a tear down!

To the average tourist, walking into a Las Vegas Resort Casino is usually a wonder.

How did they build this?  It's amazing how such structures are even conceived.  Etc, etc.

Yet, when a bank forecloses on a property; OR, an owner tries to cut cost by ignoring simple maintenance issues because the owners are (desperately) trying to maximize their capital investment, they will do the usual paint and carpet to try and hide the simple problems that slowly erode the property to the extend that this erosion effects the property's mechanical systems and so forth to the point of decay thus effecting the buildings structural integrity.

Okay, this just means that the lack pf preventive maintenance has eroded the property and thus are no longer able to supply comfort to the tourist staying at the properties.

Such is the case at two well known Las Vegas Resorts.

Yet, the companies that own these properties currently, want top dollar for them.

Recently, I had the privilege to meet with a long time, very experienced casino-hotel operator who has his own opinion about both properties.

His reaction after viewing the properties was surprising, yet not surprising.  He referred to both as, "It's a tear down!"

He stated that the only value they have left is in the land.

And, after touring the properties, I am in agreement.

What is that old saying?  If you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig? That applies here.

Sure, the owners want as much as possible to be rid of these problem properties they have continued to throw money at.  But from the very beginning, the fact they they continued to throw money at them was in reality wasting money. (They should have known better.)

If you want to know which properties I am referring to, email me your contact information, I will send you my Non Circumvent, Confidentiality Agreement, then we will continue this discussion.

Happy Holidays!

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Las Vegas Resort Properties For Sale!

It is a notch in your belt.
It is something you will talk about forever.

Selling a Las Vegas Resort is considered a pinnacle of a real estate career.

But, most will never accomplish this for one reason.
They don't understand the Las Vegas market.

In order to acquire a Las Vegas Resort, Buyers MUST compensate the real estate broker.

It's simply because the Seller, which in a normal real estate transaction usually does, won't when it comes to such a big ticket item.

So, just FYI: when it comes to a sale of a Las Vegas Resort, the Buyer must compensate the broker.

Why?

Because the Seller's corporate attorneys will handle the paperwork - thus handle the entire transaction.

They do this because it is big money to their firms and to them.
They don't want an outsider (a Broker) interfering in their transaction.

It's a sad state for us Brokers, but that's the way it is.

If you want my help in acquiring a Nevada Resort, Casino or Hotel Casino, email me for my 'retainer' form. Once received, fill it out, sign it, email it back then will I proceed to help you acquire a casino type of property.

If you are a qualified Buyer...

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Where Nevada Ranks in Best-Worst States for Women

At least Nevada isn't Louisiana! OR, Arkansas! Or Mississippi!

But at 44 out of 50, that's still horrible.

Maybe Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and incoming Senator Jacky Rosen can have some effective change on this.

44. Nevada
Total score: 44.22
Ranking for women’s economic and social well-being: 39th
Ranking for women’s health and safety: 50th

Nevada scored poorly in two categories relating to women’s quality of life. It came in third from the bottom for women without insurance, and it’s tied with three other states for having the highest rate of women killed by homicides.

For your own perusal of the story, click this link. Best Worst States for Women

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Look! A Four Property Portfolio Available at a 9% Cap Rate!

DON'T LOOK AWAY!

If you do, this four property portfolio will be gone!

The Owner is willing to sell at a 9% Cap Rate!

Three Motels that have been renovated; AND, a 42 unit Studio Apartment Building that needs renovation.

Altogether, there are 139 units for sale at $12 Million!

OR, on a Cap Rate basis, that's a 9.1% Cap Rate!

And based on the 2017 PLS, this portfolio is worth +/-$14 Million!

In this market, that's what is called a STEAL!

30 Units

15 Units

52 Units

42 Units

If you are a qualified Buyer, and you want to take advantage of this Steal of a Deal...

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 0 1 9 3 8 8
AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes
Have a nice day!

The Alpine Motel Apartments!

Alright, it's a misnomer.

It's actually 42 Studio Apartments of which 34 have a Kitchenette (or Kitchen Area).

Plus each unit has a full tub shower bath!

AND, it could be yours for the reasonable price of $2.8 Million.

And, because the net income is $20,930 PER MONTH!, that's a 9% Cap Rate to you!
The property does need renovating. But at $2.8 Million, there is room to make changes.

Interested?

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

How much are your fees?

Yesterday, I saw a posting from a lender blog that stated For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is a good source for originating new loans.

Now, in their blog the author was stating that FSBO's are cost sensitive; and, they are a good market for loan originators to solicit business from because they can refer you potential buyers for you to qualify.

Okay.  This is NOT an original idea.  Twenty plus years ago when I was still working real estate by doing homes and loans, I did this.

As a loan originator, I'd approach a FSBO with the slant that I will qualify ALL of their potential Buyers that needed financing for free!  I worked this angle for a few years -- until I realized that all of the potential Buyers they were referring were NOT qualified to borrow anything -- let alone money to buy a house.

Now, years before, when I first started out in the real estate business working for Mike Sitren, he once told me that, "if a seller, buyer or agent is worried about their cost in fees, they're seeking a kick-back.

Huh?

I was surprised to hear this given I had been to several real estate brokerages and heard this a lot.
One brokerage sales manager even sat me down in his office and point blank told me that unless I paid him 1/2 point per loan, I'd never get any loans from his office.  (Illegal? Yes!)  But, he didn't care.

So, when I recently heard a seller tell me that my fee must be obtained from the Buyer, I keep thinking this thought in mind.

Since the world knows the seller pays the marketing fees for selling their property when they are selling, it is just surprising to learn that a recently listed for sale Las Vegas Resort casino owner told me that I would have to get my fee from the buyer. 

You know what crossed my mind upon hearing that line.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

The incredible shrinkage of Las Vegas M-1 Land!

For about two maybe three weeks now, I have been conversing with a Las Vegas Land Owner (Client).

During this time, this Client has educated me on some particulars about being a Las Vegas Industrial (M-1) Land Owner.

This very intelligent man owns a large trucking company located in Las Vegas.  During the housing boom of the last 30 years, the Client was one of the largest supplier of trucks to developers so that they could haul/transport building materials, equipment, dirt and debris in and around the Las Vegas Valley as they moved dirt and built real estate.

To see the Client on the street, you'd think him a poor, old man.  That's the way he likes it.

Anyway, he has a decision to make and it's about two of his "yard space" parcels he owns in the southwest of Las Vegas.

He wants to sell his property to a neighbor -- who is even a larger land owner in Las Vegas than my Client -- but he knows this other Owner is trying to low-ball him.  And, this other Owner has already bought, or is buying up, the properties around my Client to kind of force Client to sell to the other Owner at the other Owner's price.

My Client knows that the other Owner has plans for a very, very large rail served warehouse, marshaling yard in the area. 

Now, with the limit of M-1 Land in this area, my client is willing to sell to the other Owner; it's the price that's the sticky situation.

My Client just doesn't want to be taken; NOR, does he want to stop the development.

You see his dilemma?

This is why we met yesterday for lunch: to strategize a selling procedure in which we hope will be beneficial to all parties.

Hopefully, in the next 7 to 10 days, we will have a sale.

In the meantime, if you have any Las Vegas CRE related questions, contact me.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Underwriting says the property won't pencil out!

The headline of today's post is a lie!

It's what California investors have been telling me about one of my Downtown Las Vegas listings that's for sale at $2.8 Million. That's the Owner's selling price.  And, I agreed he shouldn't sell it for any less.

But, a lot of the California Investors that have approached me on this studio apartment building just want to steal.

They are retreating from California because the prices are way, way too high there.  So, they are crawling into Las Vegas trying their best to steal a property.

Now, some have been doing this for years and years.

Others, are new to this market.

But, when I tell them about the benefits to buying at a 9.9% Cap Rate and that area rents are slowly increasing, they take the information under advisement and then -- a few days later -- they give me the phony excuse.

The Alpine Motel Apartments Downtown Las Vegas, NV

(And the parking lot is part of this parcel.)

Yes, the property needs remodeling.  Paint and carpet has a cost but NOT a $1 Million dollars worth of cost.  Besides, the already renovated 27 unit apartment property one parcel north SOLD for +/-$87,000 per unit six months ago!

These investors seem to like wasting my time.

If I had $2.8 Million, I would have acquired the property already.  But, I'm short in that area.

And, no I'm NOT going to play the lottery even if it's more than $1 Billion.

Too many dumb people play just to make one dumb person rich.

So, I will continue on with my marketing.
There is a buyer out their looking for a fixer upper who doesn't mind earning +/-$21,000 per month!

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Unemployment is DOWN! Under employment is UP!

Unemployment is at such a low, low number.
This is great news!

But, as my PhD in Economics uncle once said while bragging, 'The economy is doing great! More people are back to work and off unemployment lines.'

To which my Mom replied to her brother, 'That is great news! Now, if only they had found equal work to what they were doing before they were laid off!'

Such is the case today.

Unemployment is down.  Workers have run the fixed time that they can collect unemployment. (Which is six months.)
But, have those people truly found work?

OR, did their unemployment time just run out on them.  And, since they are no longer collecting unemployment checks, have they truly found a job?

You see, historically once your unemployment runs it's course, the government considers you have have been re-employed -- whether you truly are or not.

But, in truth, most probably did find a new job.  They probably did become re-employed.
But, that new job most probably came with a drastic pay cut.

To go from earning $40,000 per year to earning $16,000 may be considered re-employment, but that doesn't cover the bills.

If these former unemployment collecting workers did find work, it was that they had to settle for a job that pays much, much less then what they were earning.

That's IF they actually did find work!

So, until I see a more comprehensive study on this matter, I'll keep my excitement for the re-employed to myself -- for now.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

LAND! HO!

Since I live and work in the Southern Nevada Desert, this doesn't make much sense.

But, my ancestral line runs smack through east coast whalers who captained the ships on those long ago whale hunts.

But, as I live and breath dusty desert air, I do find myself helping land owners to sell their land.

This one particular parcel is actually two parcels that are very close to each other.

A 7.89 Acre parcel and a 5 Gross Acre parcel.  Each has water, power and telephone service to their sites.  Each is on Septic Tanks.

Anyway, the Seller's asking price was $12.18 PSF.  We immediately received an offer at $13 PSF.

I strongly suggested to the Seller "Take It!"

He did.

The property details are it is M-1 Land with outside storage.  Most of the land in this area is ground leased to contractors.  These particular parcels generate more than $10,000 per month in gross rent.

The Owner is a local business man who owns a large local trucking company.

I think he's done well for himself through the years.

Still, you blog readers can do the same if you give yourself time and effort.

You just need to begin.

And, you begin by contacting me to see where your starting point is.

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!

Sports Loving Investors! A Las Vegas Sports Bar For Sale at +/-6% Cap Rate!

With Football back in full swing, I'm hoping for a tremendous Football Season!

Okay, I'm a Patriots Fan and they forgot to show up against Detroit!
(I guess they wanted Matt Patricia to win so badly, they gave him the game?!)

Ouch!
Sorry, Lions fans!

With that said, there are fabulous opportunities for the right Sports Loving enthusiast to acquire a perfect Net Leased Investment Property where local Las Vegans go to wet their whistles and make friendly wagers on the games right inside of the bar!

That's right!  These Sports Bars are now licensed to have a sports wagering kiosk that can accept wagers on the game right at the bar location without having to go to a major resort to place a bet at a sports book!

And, these are located in these particular sports bars because of the credibility of the Tenant which is a National Credit Tenant who -- at this particular location -- is on the hook for at least 13 more years with a Corporate Guarantee!

So, if you are interested in a long term Net Lease Investment, this is the property to acquire!

Not only does this property have 13 years remaining on the initial lease term, the tenant is paying a 2.5% increase per year (which doesn't happen anymore for this tenant), and for the options, the rent increase is 3%!

AND, for a long, long time, I have blogged about these types of properties because I feel that these NET LEASED INVESTMENTS! are the best to have and hold long term.

The Tenant at this location pays for the building maintenance, the building's Real Estate Taxes, and Insurance on top of their  $202,000+/- annual rent!

So, if you have been searching for a long term single tenant NNN Investment, this is for you!

Don't wait!  Email me right away so you do NOT swing and miss on this too good of an investment opportunity!

To Contact David Howes try: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR; 7 0 2 5 01 9 3 8 8 AND Please #Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes Have a nice day!