Where Tony has failed in Downtown Las Vegas, Developers need to succeed!

I have said several times that a corporate town is doomed for failure.

Unfortunately for Tony Hsieh, it happened sooner than even I expected.  Recent news stories have told the tale of Tony stepping down from the Downtown Redevelopment Project and the subsequent layoffs of about 10% of their staff.

One of the proponents of the project was a former professor who moved to Las Vegas a few years ago to be a part of this development.

Thus, in an open letter to the Las Vegas Weekly, the former professor states that the lack of a plan was the point of undoing to the project's failure.  Apparently, there was no "North Star" to help guide the progress.

Which now is verifying everything I had been hearing about the project.  I have continually stated that more developers were needed to help this project along.  More residential, more office and retail has to go in, in order to bring the correct demographic to Downtown Las Vegas to make this viable.

Since Tony had no direction and the City kept saying to my sources he didn't have a plan, I am NOT surprised at this failure.

IF Tony had brought in developers from the beginning and encouraged their input, things could be different.

With the development of new projects, the city may have had more to Downtown than hotel casinos.  I am talking the return of high paying jobs that are the major component of most "Hub" cities such as Phoenix, Los Angles, San Diego, San Francisco, etc.

Without these high paying jobs, Downtown Project's lack of vision was going to end up a train-wreck -- which is what has happened.

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

David Howes Sells NW Las Vegas Office Building!

That's right! I closed escrow on a small +/-3,300 SF office building with a non-denominational Christian church as the tenant.

Many potential buyer/clients had asked me to find them a steal, yet only one buyer actually took the plunge and made an offer which was countered and we were in escrow for roughly 30 days.

We closed escrow or on the sale this past week and the Buyer is now the proud owner of a building that will garner enormous equity in the next two to three years. That's my prediction!  He will double his investment by the time the church lease has expired.

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

Las Vegas Adult/Topless Club Available For Sale!

The Owner of a well located Adult Cabaret Licensed property in Las Vegas has asked me to find a Buyer for his Club.

The Real Estate and Business is available for the Reduced Price of $10 Million. And, this price is the Sales Price. It is Not Negotiable! No financials will be available to any Buyer who wants to verify the business cash flow; and/or argue that the property is worth less than the asking price. NOR, will the price be adjusted because as a buyer you want an appraisal that MAY or MAY NOT justify the Selling Price. If you want a Fully Licensed  "Adult Cabaret" Club with "Full Alcohol" AND "Restricted Gaming," this is the location regardless of the Selling Price.  The local authorities are NOT giving out any more combination licenses.

The purchase price includes: the +/-2.04 acres surrounding the +/-17,000 SF Free Standing building, a double sided billboard sign, and a small .6 acre+/- leaseable car sales lot (which this small +/-3,200 SF building could be demolished to create additional parking for the club!)

The Topless Club was remodeled a few years ago and has been well maintained. Per code, the Owner updated the club with fire sprinklers, a new sound system and Slot Gaming!

So, as you all know, this is NOT for everyone.

As a specialty use in the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) world, only a few will be able to own and operate a club where women dance in scantily outfits (G-String bottoms only) and men can drink and gamble. Oh! And you can smoke cigars while the Ladies entertain you!

This is the perfect setting for a young man visiting Sin City!

This Adult Topless Club is located in the right location, near the major Resort Hotel Casino Cooridor. It is the very best located Adult Club in Las Vegas and one of the best for Topless Adult Entertainment.

IF Interested but the Real Estate Acquisition Price is a little high for your budget, the Owner would sell the  Business at $1.5 Million and Lease the Real Estate at $25,000 per month on a Five Year Lease.

For more information, Email me your contact information, your financial capability for full disclosure of the property.

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

Downtown Las Vegas needs more Developers!

What I don't understand is why commercial and residential developers are avoiding Downtown Las Vegas like it is a plague. There are only flippers coming to my listings and telling me how overpriced they are. Then, I find out that these very same "investors" are flipping other under paid for properties to Tony's Downtown Redevelopment Project. It's as if they are stealing the owner's equity right from under their noses.

So, my question is: Why haven't developers been searching for properties in Downtown?

Tony has bought quite a few. And, I have Sold four Downtown properties to Tony. And, I have several more available For Sale but for some reason, Tony has slowed down his buying spree. And since he has slowed down, now is the opportunity for Developers to move in.

And, Yes! Properties will cost slightly more than the Developer would usually pay. BUT, without competition, Tony's (unpublished) plan will fail.

What is needed is: more residential, more restaurants and retail, and store front office.

I have property in all categories. Industrial is NOT zoned for this area.

What is NOT needed is more festivals. There are already enough being held in this area.

So, Developers! Let's get together and figure out what is best to do for ALL concerned. Let's get some major development going and then we can all make money.

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

CRE: Commercial Real Estate 101

One of the "things" about selling Commercial Real Estate (CRE) is that I get to talk to a lot of different people from different walks of life from around the world.

Some of these people come with a lot of baggage; they are wounded internally and sometimes it takes me months before I realize the extent of their troubled life. Others present themselves as if they are an open book. And they talk and talk and usually have very little to say.

But, the client that I like is the one who is more of an explorer. They are on an adventure rather than they just wandered into CRE investing. They know that CRE will payoff in time and they want to start slow and small -- price wise -- which is good most of the time.

They tend to ask for your help as you go along and they fear that they might embarrass themselves for NOT knowing simple information? It's at those moments you need to remind them: There is never a stupid question! Especially when it comes to CRE investing.

So, in order to resolve the anxiety any novice CRE investor may have, I would like to invite you to read the following information that is absolutely necessary for calculating the annual income from a marketed CRE Net Leased Investment Property that you may be considering acquiring for the annual income.

A lot of you are truly lay people. And, whether you are a famous celebrity or you are just exploring this as a novice investor, this might sound foreign to you.  Just rest assured that just because CRE is a new area for you, it still is something you can get involved in -- even if to spruce up your usually normal day.

So, let's begin:

Now net income is also known as passive income. It's the type of income you earn monthly or quarterly as a dividend or investment. The good thing about this is: You pay a smaller amount in Income Tax on this  money. ***Please check with you Tax Professional to verify this!!***

As you will figure out, the main goal of CRE is to allow you as an Investor, to earn a usually stable predetermine (estimated) annual net income (the rent you receive) from a Net Leased Property that is being marketed either by a Sales Price or a Cap Rate.

Usually, the marketing entity for the property will only disclose what the Listing or Asking Price is; and they will state that, that List or Asking Price is at a certain Percentage of Return on the Investment (ROI); or, as it is better known as: Capitalization Rate (Cap Rate).

Now, from just these two disclosures, you will be able to get an idea of just what the (estimated) annual income should be and whether or not the acquisition of this net leased property will "fit" your investment income needs -- or not.

The formula goes like this:

Sales Price times Cap Rate equals Annual Income.  (SP x CR = AI)

For example: $315,000 x 9.5% = $30,000.00+/-. I don't know about you, but I could use an extra $30,000 per year.  This could help pay for a parent's care or supplement a child's college fund.

And once you have the estimated Annual Investment Income from the Asking or Sales Price plus the additional disclosed Cap Rate, you can figure out your Purchase/Sales Price by dividing the Annual Income by a Cap Rate you desire to acquire the property at; OR by a Sales Price you deem as a fair market value.

You take the Annual Income you figured by the formula, and divide by the Sales Price you feel is a fair price or by the Cap Rate that you want as an ROI.

Either way, you can figure out from just two disclosed items the third item in such as you can for the Physics Traveling Formula: Rate times Time equals Distance (RxT=D).

So, this is just a basic formula.  The Actual Annual Income should be disclosed in the current owners Financial Statements kept for this particular investment property.  AND, during due diligence it is absolutely necessary to review those statements carefully when considering the acquisition of a Net Leased Property.  And, most Sellers will NOT disclose actual financials unless there is an accepted offer and escrow has been opened.

So, hopefully, this will help most of you who are not that experienced in acquiring income producing properties.  And, hopefully, you will be at ease when considering the next step in actually making a purchase move in that direction.

Now, take a look at the property information buttons in the right column.  Click on one and try the formula out to see if you can calculate an offer price or acquire the property at a higher Cap Rate!

Contacting David Howes is easy -- either by email: david AT davidhowes DOT net OR call me at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND you can Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

Las Vegas Resort Hotel Casinos For Sale II

A couple of years ago, I blogged that there were a few Resort Hotel Casino Properties For Sale. Now, I want to update you on this: There are Three For Sale and they are true Resort Hotel Casino Properties.

So, IF you have the prerequisite amount of money or financial capacity -- which means you are capable of paying $250 Million or more for a Resort Casino Hotel property -- send me an email with the proof of capacity. I will then reply with a Non-Circumvent, Confidentiality and Commission Agreement for your company's Authorized Officer's signature.

Once this Agreement is executed, I will then supply you the detailed information on the Resort Hotel Casino Property that "fits" your financial capacity and investment criteria.

The form can be down loaded from the column in the right under Las Vegas Casino Information.

Contacting David Howes is easy -- You can reach me at: davidATdavidhowesDOTnet OR call me at: 70 25 01 93 88 AND Follow David on Twitter: @DavidAHowes

8% or Higher Cap Rates In Las Vegas? Sorry, Cap Rates are actually Going Down!

Last June 2014, I wrote this blog because I was being called by "out of state" investors wanting to acquire Las Vegas CRE at an 8% Cap Rate or better -- as one investor told me.

Well, it's been a year now and the Cap rates have actually 'Gone Down!'

This means, that the prices of CRE in Las Vegas are getting higher -- and other investors are buying these properties.

So, once again, I feel I have to re-address the issue:

For several years months now, I have been working with a couple of Buyers who are still searching the Las Vegas Valley for an 8% Cap Rate.

Unfortunately, for them, they are ALL gone.

The 8% Cap Rates went away about two a years ago when Owners began to realize they were getting multiple offers for their property and/or they no longer "needed" to sell.

But, Not all properties are in such a rosie position.  Several Owners that I know are still struggling to make their loan payments and are still upside down at the end of the month.

But, when you come to Las Vegas expecting a steal, and you find out that a 7.5% Cap Rate is the best you are going to do, then, you shouldn't be wasting my RE Broker's time.

Walgreen's across the US are going for +/-5.5% Cap Rate.  Here in Las Vegas you might be the high bidder at a 6.75% Cap Rate.  But, IF you think an 8% Cap Rate should do, you will be out of luck.  There are no Walgreen's in Las Vegas selling for an 8% Cap Rate.  AND, you are foolish to be thinking that for any property in Las Vegas right now.

IF you are truly interested in acquiring a Las Vegas NNN investment, then contact me and we'll start the search.  But, 7 or 7.5% is going to be the the best sales price.

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

"There's nothing around it! The tenant is going to fail!"

Sigh!
Two weeks ago, I had a California Buyer who made an offer for a property with a fast food restaurant that was located just off I-215 on Jones Blvd.
It sits in an area between where there are a lot of office warehouse buildings and well built up neighborhood of SFRs.
And, there is a lot of vacant land in this area and most of it is owned by McCarran International Airport.
Now, Jones to and from the I-215 is a very, very busy street as it is the easiest way for workers who live in the neighborhood to the south to travel to work either on the 'Strip,' or to a business that is located near the 'Strip.'
The Buyer and Seller agree on a sales price. We open escrow. Then, -- not more than one hour AFTER opening escrow -- the Buyer calls me to demand I cancel escrow!  What?! Huh?! Ok.
It took me a week, but I finally found out that "a friend" of the Buyer had told him he had "looked" at an aerial map of the area and he determined that there was "nothing around the property but vacant land" so that meant to the friend "that the fast food restaurant was going to fail."
Apparently, this "friend" knows nothing to very little about Las Vegas.  BUT, his influence was great over the Buyer.
Since canceling Escrow, the property -- which had a lot of interest in it has SOLD to a Real Estate Broker, who flipped the property to another California investor.  The Broker acquired the property for $5.3 Million.  And, an hour after he closed escrow buying the property, he closes his second escrow to the investors for $5.8 Million.  Today, as I write this, is a Thursday two weeks before Christmas and I am still baffled that someone with little or no knowledge of a city or town in another state could have so much influence over a Buyer.
Even after I went over all of the "friends" objections with the Buyer, he wasn't going to go against his "friend."
Yes! This is absolutely absurd!
You see, the reason the fast food restaurant was placed there in the first place was because there is a severe lack of fast food in this area.  There are numerous businesses in this area that their employees had to -- and still do -- go OUT of the area to eat lunch, etc.  In other words, there is plenty of "Rooftops" and "Traffic" to support this fast food restaurant.
And, with McCarran International Airport owning most of the land, and with the recent economic meltdown developers have been hesitant to lease the land and build more buildings.  (This will iron out eventually.)
But a national fast food chain will be able to survive here because it is the only fast food in the area.
So, "friends" please keep your big, uneducated opinions to yourself.  Otherwise, you will cost your Buyer friend an opportunity to make money from a well placed National Credit Tenant NNN investment.

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