Ep. 155 Rick Melero: Flexible Investment Strategies Can Help You Keep Ahead of the Real Estate Cycle

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You don’t need to be an expert to know that the current real estate market cycle is winding down. As popular asset classes and sub-markets become more competitive, you may be finding your current investment strategies are not earning the returns you’d like. As we continue to feel the effects of a contracting market, you may be wondering what you can do as an investor to increase your earnings and ensure a successful strategy that can adapt with a changing cycle.

The good news is that real estate is a robust and varied industry. There’s more than one way you can earn money through real estate investing and there are creative, flexible investment strategies that you can develop to keep a strong portfolio even through market downturns.

Our guest this week discusses the power of flexible investment strategies as well and offers up a market overview for Florida’s I-4 corridor. We learn that, with an open mind and a will to adapt, there are still tons of opportunities open to investors!

You don’t want to miss this episode on building flexible investment strategies to keep you ahead of the real estate cycle!

About Our Guest:

real estate investment strategiesRick Melero is the Co-Founder and Principal of HIS Capital Group, a comprehensive real estate investment and lending group. Rick has assisted in the acquisition and restructuring of over $500 million in assets internationally.

Rick has worn many hats as a real estate investor. Early on, he realized there was a lot more to real estate investing than just wholesaling and single-family flips. Since then he’s gained experience across a variety of asset types and developed a unique insight into developing successful strategies.

 

Ep. 154 Frank Rygiel: These Construction Market Factors Are Affecting Your Real Estate Project

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So you’ve got all the fine details of your next real estate project or development squared away; from the planning stages to financing you’ve worked it all out. Now comes the easy part – building it…right?


While breaking ground on a development (commercial or residential) signals a final stage of the project for many investors, it does not mean your due diligence should end. In fact, there are several important things to consider when you actually start developing your property. You need to be aware of current construction market factors that could affect your project in a variety of ways. Neglecting these factors could mean the difference between a successful investment and a hard lesson learned.

Construction is a lot like real estate itself in that you need to understand that it does go through market cycles. The construction market is affected by both global and local factors that you need to track.

Construction Market Factors Affecting Your Real Estate Project

  • Increase in demand > construction labor supply
    • Shortage in skilled labor
  • Material escalations
    • Commodities price hikes via tariffs: 25% on imported steel, 10% on imported aluminum (with certain exemptions)
    • Domestic producers can’t keep up with demand
    • Seeing price hikes in metal and lumber across the board; concrete and masonry are more market-driven

About our Guest

construction market factorsFrank Rygiel is the Vice President and General Manager of Walbridge Construction‘s Florida division. Walbridge has been involved in Florida’s construction market for over 30 years. With offices in Tampa and Orlando they are active in and around the I-4 corridor and throughout the rest of the state.

As an active industry leader, Frank has managed numerous large-scale commercial projects in various asset classes. His experience spans a range of developments including educational facilities, corporate campuses, hospitals, aviation facilities and high-rises.

Contact Frank

frygiel@walbridge.com