Monday, March 18, 2013

Investing? Stocks or Real Estate? Who really knows?

In the past few months, I have watched Real Estate stocks going slightly up and it makes me wonder:  Where are these stocks really heading?

To me, investing in stocks has always been a losing proposition. I once had a substantial amount of money in mutual funds, bonds, stocks, etc. And, since that was about the time the economy took a dive, I lost basically 50% of the value.  I tried to wait for it to return, but, it only seemed to get to about 80% of the pre-crash value when I had to cash out for business operational purposes.

And, since, I really have never had an understand of how to invest in stocks, (I also did the e trade thing, too), I am very gun shy at going back into stocks again. To me, stocks have always had a reputation of being volatile. Their up and down value change -- even in good economic times -- makes this investment strategy too uneasy for me to stomach.

So, since my family's experience in Real Estate ownership goes all the way back to the Pilgrims, I feel more comfortable having my money invested in Real Estate. I will just say that real estate ownership has been well within my comfort zone for a long, long time.

And, since 2/3rd's of all US billionaires have made their billions in real estate, that's another reason why I feel the most comfortable in this industry.

So, when I read that Wall Street is buying stocks in Real Estate Companies, I got a little unnerved that Wall Street might screw the Real Estate market again. (The de-regulating of Wall Street was a bad idea!)

Also, recently, I have been researching various properties to acquire. A Local Realtor told me that residential investors are just buying up vacant Las Vegas SFR properties.  He said, these home investors are just buying them and they plan to just sit on them. He said they weren't even going to fix them up. They are going to wait for the Las Vegas Real Estate market to turn, then they plan to sell then as fixer uppers. Hmmm!

So, should you as an investor acquire stocks? OR, acquire a well located real estate property that is leased by a top national credit tenant in the form of a net leased income property that actually pays you cash once a month?

To be honest. either way you could lose.

Now, I consider myself an educated person. And even though I may be educated, stocks are still more like a 90/10 risk to me. (There is a 90% chance I will lose my money.)  Real Estate traditionally grows by +/-3% a year.

And since I know so much more about Real Estate than stocks, I know that I could earn a very good monthly income from real estate rather than a paper equity from stocks. So, to me even IF Real Estate was only a 50/50 risk, it is more inline and acceptable to me.  Especially, IF you own the real estate Free and Clear.

And, Real Estate has always had that tangible asset about it that you can touch and feel it to know it is real.

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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

UPDATE! Las Vegas Resort Casino Back on Market!

With Boyd Gaming selling their 87 acre Echelon parcel -- which I believe they could have gotten a lot more money for -- there are only two large Resort parcels remaining that has the ability to develop and/or build on to their sites.

So, those of you who are qualified and interested, one of the two Las Vegas Resort Casino Properties is developed and may be available later this year with a potential selling priced of +/- $500 Million-- according to my Resort contact. The other is H-2 Resort property that could be acquire at +/-$4 Million an acre.

So, IF you are qualified and interested in pursuing either Resort opportunity, you must sign the Non Circumvent, Confidentiality and Commission Agreement that is located at the Las Vegas Casino Information button in the right column.

Property details will NOT be offered to you unless you have signed the above form.

Also, IF these are too pricey for your company, there is a smaller local 'casino' property quietly available that will run you +/-$5 Million. Even though it is +/- 5,500 SF, it still has the "Unrestricted Gaming" entitlement  because of the grandfather clause. However, you will still need to provide qualifying information to move forward.

AND, lastly, there are still several "tavern" sports bar properties available that are NNN Investment properties!  Click on the PT's button to the right for details!

I appreciate you patience in this and hope to be able to bring you other Resort Properties in the next few months.

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

Friday, March 8, 2013

Real Estate Brokers who Claim Federal Loan Programs as Unsuccessful should NOT be working in Real Estate!

First off: I do NOT work in the Residential side of Real Estate.

Second: RE Brokers who do NOT understand the benefits of said Federal Loan Programs should NOT be in Real Estate!

There, I said it.

Lately, I have been annoyed by local Brokers/Agents who claim the 2008 economic collapse was from the unsuccessful Federal Loan Programs such as: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA Loans.

I am amazed at how uninformed said RE Brokers/Agents are of these programs that have and still do benefit their industry successfully over the years.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938 because there was no national standard for banks to lend. Each bank had their own loan guidelines; and they portfolio-ed ALL their loans from initial payment to the last. FDR realized that there was a need to free up this financial restriction on the banks so that they would have more money to make more loans to more borrowers, thus enabling the banks to make more money for their depositors and the bank itself.

So, IF the bank wrote a loan up to the Fannie Mas guidelines and once funded, the bank could then sell the loan to Fannie Mae. This would pay the bank off for the loan at a profit and the bank could make more loans.

AND, Fannie Mae would earn the interest from the loan by holding it over time so that allowed Fannie Mae to be (one of) the most profitable agencies of the Federal Government through the years. And, because banks were re-leaved of the portfolio part, IF the borrower did defaulted, it was then Fannie Mae's responsibility to foreclose. This aspect helped the Banks PR-wise because during the depression, it was the banks that were the bad guys! If a borrower defaulted, the local bank had the unfortunate duty to take property away from those borrowers - who were most likely depositors, too.

So, once the loan was Fannie Mae's responsibility, the bank was off the hook.

Freddie Mac, which was started in 1968, works with mortgage lenders to help people get lower housing costs and better access to home financing. Hmm! This sounds as if this benefits the bank or financial institution that funds the loan, and it helps the residential real estate industry, too, doesn't it? So, if there is a default, the Federal Government takes the risk. (Pst! Through the years, during 'normal' real estate times, Freddie Mac also made the Federal Government a profit! But, Pst! Don't tell anyone this. Especially a real estate agent broker! It's a secret.)

As for FHA, this loan is a mortgage loan that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). Essentially, the federal government insures loans for FHA-approved lenders in order to reduce their risk of loss if a borrower defaults on their mortgage payments that are part of their portfolio. It also provided easier guidelines so that the bank or financial institution could make money funding the loan and IF there was a default, HUD guaranteed the loan for the lender. (Pst! This program also made the Federal Government and the lenders a profit! And, it helped RE agents/brokers make more money because the borrower could save money by putting a smaller amount of money down. But, please don't tell anyone this. It's a secret, too!)

Lastly, VA Loans are just as they sound. When WWII soldiers came home, there was a great appetite from these veteran soldiers to start a family and buy real estate. Since they had spent the previous years fighting tyranny in Europe, the Federal Government passed this loan program as part of the VA Benefits that allowed veterans to buy houses at "0" Down and their closing costs were limited. Hmm? This loan program was so successful, it was the primary reason for the successful boom that continued well into the late 1970's.

And, as you can see, these Federal Loan Programs essentially helped create the real estate industry.

So, IF you hear a RE Broker or Agent complaining about Federal Loan programs as unsuccessful; OR, that these loan programs caused the economic collapse in 2008, my suggestion to you is: find another, more informed broker or agent to help you buy or sell your real estate property. I strongly suggest this because a broker or agent who doesn't understand these programs that have not only benefited home buyers and sellers, but have helped brokers and agents alike make money through the years, they really and truly should NOT be working in real estate.

Well, that's my two cents! I am glad to help you understand loan programs that help all in the real estate industry. Now, let's put the blame for the 2008 economic collapse where it belongs: Wall Street!

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