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Ep. 114 Kurt Westfield: Apartment Investor Tough Lessons Lead to New Strategy

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multifamily investing and finding a strategy as an apartment investorAs real estate investors, sometimes what we think is a good investment strategy does not turn out quite as expected. While a single family investor may be able to stick to a strategy and adopt minimal changes, this is not usually the case for the apartment investor.

Your investment strategy should suit the deal you are making. It may become necessary to change your strategy in order to make a deal work.

While this may mean an extra headache in the short-term, a change in strategy could mean the difference between a successful investment and a failure.

Just ask Apartment Investor Kurt Westfiled

Kurt Westfield is the founder of WC Companies, an umbrella brand for his multi-service real estate investment firms.Listeners will remember Kurt’s last episode with us when he discussed his transition from single family investor to apartment investor.

This episode, we catch up with Kurt following his transition to apartment investor. He discusses how he found out early on in his career the importance of finding a winning strategy.

Apartment Investor: Finding a New Strategy

The Deal

  • 14 unit apartment building
  • In foreclosure
  • Expedited due diligence (7 days)
  • Intended to be 12 month, light fix-and-flip with capital expenses at $80-100k

The Issues

  • Tenants trashed complex
  • Property had suffered from neglect

Changing Strategy

  • Evicted all current tenants
  • Rehabbed entire property, inside and out
  • Structured leasing as condo-apartment type w/ one model unit completed while construction was ongoing
  • Created brand identity
  • Started community engagement activities

The Results

  • 3 1/2 year project, cap expenses at $400k
  • Property raised market rent 60% in area
  • Identified potential of revitalizing fringe market properties
  • Focused on developing branded communities rather than street addresses

Kurt is still an active apartment investor, looking for multifamily deals in Tampa and Jacksonville up to 50 units. To contact Kurt with a potential deal, email him at kurt@wccompanies.com.

For any other questions or to find out more about services offered by WC Companies, visit their website.

Ep. 113 Elysia Stobbe: Diversifying Risk with Geography and Asset Class

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investor mortgages, diversifying riskNo Risk, No Reward

No matter the size or experience of the investor, this is a widely-held belief. However, it is not simply about risk, but rather smart risks.

Diversifying risk is a key strategy for real estate investors looking to expand their bottom line.

Increasing the Bottom Line

We are pleased to welcome back to the show, Elysia Stobbe, NMLS# 146751. Listeners will remember Elysia from Episode 108, in which she discussed updates to SFR investor mortgages.

In addition to being a branch manager with NFM Lending, Elysia is a successful investor with over 30 property deals under her belt, doing deals in and around Jacksonville, FL. She is also a published author. Her best selling book, How to Get Approved for the Best Mortgage Without Sticking a Fork in Your Eye helps single family investors in obtaining secure, prime mortgages.

This episode of Landlord Tales, Elysia discusses her transition to multifamily investing and diversifying risk with geography and asset class. Through expanding focus into the multifamily asset class and remaining open-mined about market areas, Elysia learned that diversifying risk is a great way to increase returns.

Diversifying Risk

  • Multifamily offers greater cashflow potential than single family while minimizing tenant turnover risk
  • Multifamily cap rates typically 2-4% higher than single family
  • Remain open-minded about potential market areas
  • Distressed properties can be made rentable

Finding Deals

  • Networking with wholesalers is great way to find distressed multifamily properties
    • Craigslist; Bandit signs – WeBuyUglyHouses, iBuyHomes
  • Realtors
  • Property Managers
  • Real Estate Investment Associations (REIAs)

Resources & Links

To catch up on past shows, visit our archives page!

 

 

Ep. 112 Courtney Barnard: Legislative Update for Multifamily-Residential Property Owners

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multifamily-residential property legislative updateWe’ve been hearing a lot about Florida’s single family property markets, but what about multifamily-residential property?

Though multifamily-residential may not share the same spotlight that single family is getting, apartment investing makes up a big economic portion of Florida’s real estate market and there are some big legislative changes coming to multifamily residential property that investors need to be aware of.

We are glad to have Courtney Barnard back on the show. Courtney serves as the Government Affairs Director for the Florida Apartment Association (FAA). Courtney appeared previously, in episode 42, where she discussed then-current legislative updates to multifamily-residential property.

This time, she discusses some key changes coming with the 2016 legislative updates. This episode, Courtney also gives us a Florida multifamily market overview in addition to sharing important legislative updates for multifamily-residential property owners.

Florida Multifamily-Residential Property Overview

  • Jacksonville – largest apartment growth (new construction)
  • Sarasota/Bradenton – decline in growth
  • Over 96% occupancy statewide
  • New construction focused on Class A and Class Super A – $145k/unit costs
  • Lack of affordable multifamily developments

Legislative Updates

  • HVAC Maintenance
    • House Bill 535, July 2016
    • Apartment investors with 100 unit or more buildings
    • HVAC repairs can now be made by on-site building maintenance and not HVAC contractor
    • Bill Info
  • Non-Residential Property Tax Exemptions
    • 10% cap on non-residential property tax increases set to expire in 2018
    • No cap could hurt a lot of investors and small-business owners
    • Joint resolution to be put forth to reinstate cap permanently
  • Fire Sprinklers in Building
    • Florida administration code-change from National Fire Protection Standard
    • Takes effect Dec. 31st, 2016
    • High-rises over 75 feet required to have sprinklers in residences and common areas
    • Previously, buildings built before 1994 were exempt
    • Condos + Co-ops can vote to opt out, but apartment investors must comply UNLESS: balconies/secondary entrances are attached to every unit

Florida Apartment Association

The FAA has been in place for 45 years. With 11 regional chapters and over 5,000 apartment communities, the FAA offers members access to great benefits:

To find out more resources offered by the FAA and for other updates from Courtney, visit www.faahq.org.

Ep. 111 Todd Hutcheson: Getting Into Real Estate with Limited Cash

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getting into real estate with limited cashWould-be investors always want to know ways of getting into real estate with limited cash. Regular people interested in real estate investing may be put off by the idea that real estate investing relies on huge cash reserves or access to capital. They may wonder how they are able to become an investor on a limited budget.

Enter Todd Hutcheson

A native Floridian, Todd has been an active investor in Florida real estate since 2001. His firm, ibuyhomes.com, is a nationally ranked wholesaling platform connecting buyers and sellers close on deals all over central Florida. Todd lends his wealth of experience to several investor resources, like real estate investors associations (REIAs). He is a current board member and president-elect of the Central Florida REIA.

He is helping people discover that getting into real estate with limited cash is doable through strategic marketing, networking and continuing education.

Getting Into Real Estate with Limited Cash

Wholesaling Done Different

  • Marketing-based strategy
  • Find motivated seller, put houses under contract, assign contract to investor
  • Get paid on assignment
  • Close in 8-10 from signed contract
  • 100% cash-buyers

Investor Advantage

  • Wholesaling helps investors find unlisted properties
  • Some investors don’t have marketing prowess and need help finding deals

Minimizing Risks with Wholesaling

  • Reliable tool of cash-buyers to lessen risks
  • Investors with proven track record of deals more likely to close

Marketing & Finding Deals

  • 60% of leads through ibuyhomes.com
  • 30% of leads from new investors
  • 10% of leads from selective direct-mailings

Central Florida Recap

  • Hot market
  • Lower-middle class neighborhoods seeing high price indexes
    • Pine Hills & Deltona
    • $120-130k for SFRs, $850-1050 for rents
  • Buy-and-hold investors may see tightening, wholesalers not affected as much
  • Out-of-state and foreign investors wanting to buy
  • I-4 corridor is key barometer for state markets

Other FL Markets

  • Cape Coral
  • Gainesville – strong multifamily development rise

Resources and Tips

Contact

Want to know more about getting into real estate with limited cash? Email Todd: todd@ibuyhomes.com

Visit www.ibuyhomes.com or call (407) 617-4289 for any other questions

Central Florida investors, visit CFRI‘s website for events and news.

 

Ep. 110 Andrew Cohan: Investing in Vacation Properties through Branded Hotels

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investing in vacation propertiesFlorida, the dream destination. A vacationer’s paradise; the land of perennial sun and fun.

Florida has long been a favorite of vacationers. It has also been a favorite of those investing in vacation properties. Investing in vacation properties is a major market for Florida real estate investors.

We have discussed investing in vacation properties before. In ep. 39, we discussed investing in vacation properties using Airbnb, with Greg Bugay. This episode, however, focuses on the hotel market in Florida.

 

Who better to discuss that than Andrew Cohan?

Andrew Cohan is Managing Director for Horwath HTL, serving mainly Florida and the Caribbean. He is an expert on health and wellness resort properties and lends his expertise to determining optimum market demand for these types of properties.

This episode, Andrew discusses investing in vacation properties through branded hotels.

Miami Hotel Market

Investing in Vacation Properties through Branded Hotels

  • REITs
  • Condo-hotel units

Investing in Condo-hotel Units

  • Not a conventional, cap rate-type of investment
  • Unit investors typically earn about 40 percent back on investment
  • Owner, manager and developer of resort may be 3 separate entities
    • Investors need to know that circumstances may change over the investment’s life-time

Condo-hotel Draw for Developers

  • Quick exit, high return opportunity
  • Don’t have to worry about property management
    • Brand managers or non-brand managers

If you are looking to find out more about investing in vacation properties through branded hotels, you have more questions about acquiring a condo-hotel unit or you are a developer looking to transition to hotel/hospitality, you can contact Andrew directly by phone or email:

(305) 606-2898

acohan@horwathhtl.com

Ep. 109 Dennis Cisterna: A Tool for Rent Research

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rent researchRent research can be tough. Rent research can be a pain

Rent research may not be most’s idea of a good time, but it is necessary for single and small multifamily real estate investors. In order to determine investment value and potential for rental income, comprehensive rent research must be done on a property. Usually, this requires an extensive effort on an investor’s part in due diligence and market research.

Dennis Cisterna may have the answer to many investors’ prayers. In addition to his veteran experience in real estate investing and lending, Dennis serves as Chief Revenue Officer RentRange Data Services and Investability Real Estate, Inc. Each of these services serve as a helpful tool for investors conducting rent research on potential properties.

This episode, Dennis discusses these tools for rent research and lends his expert knowledge to Florida market overviews. Find out why there isn’t a better time to become a real estate investor in Florida!

Tools for Rent Research

  • RentRange
    • Analytical tool help investors understand SFR market points
    • Automated rent estimates on +10,000,000 properties
    • Premier SFR analytics tool
    • Business oriented – geared toward property managers, lenders, banks, etc.
  • Investability
    • Online search and acquisition platform (operates as brokerage firm)
    • Totally free to use
    • Offers 3rd party investment services
    • One-stop-shop for SFR and small multifamily investors

Florida Markets

  • Hot markets: Miami, Ft. Myers/Cape Coral, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville
  • Strong rental markets statewide
  • Miami: 15% rent increase and 5% vacancy
  • Tampa/St. Pete: 10% rent increase and 8% vacancy

Dennis has been kind enough to draw up a Florida-centric market analysis for our listeners. Check it out here! Invest Florida Show – Florida Market Analysis

Investors can visit RentRange and Investability to find out the full extent of services each platform offers. Each platform has an excellent sales and support staff to assist clients with any questions/concerns.

Ep. 108 Elysia Stobbe: Post Election Update & 3 Changes w/ SFR Investor Mortgages

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investor mortgagesElection years always have the potential to inject uncertainty into investment and securities markets… this year has been particularly interesting and it should be fair to say that the result of this election ties an enormous “?” to the end of 2016. Market uncertainty has been reflected in recent rate rises for investor mortgages.

Elysia Stobbe, NMLS# 146751 is not deterred by uncertainty. Elysia is not only a mortgage expert with NFM Lending, but with over 30 properties in her personal portfolio, she is also an experienced investor. She has shared her expert advice on numerous radio and television broadcasts and has authored a book on getting the best investor mortgages. She has been following changes to investor mortgages closely and is finding flexibility and continued promise for real estate investing.

3 Changes to Investor Mortgages

  • .5% hike in mortgage rates driven 10 year treasury bonds post-election
    • e.g. $300k loan sees monthly increase of $90
  • Fannie Mae (FNMA) loan-to-value down-payment requirement 25% up from 20%
  • Multi-property SFR (up to 4 units) investors can hold up to 10 mortgages if purpose is to purchase investment properties

Other News

  • Cash-out options have been increased for investment properties
    • Shows improved confidence in property equities
  • Return of bank statement programs to bank portfolio loans
  • Recent rise of investor rehab loans
    • Investors can save cash while making properties rent-ready

Finding Financing

  • Lot loans
  • Mortgage brokers/bankers
  • Community banks
    • While they may not be offer as much community banks generally offer better terms than national banks
  • Big banks
  • Alt. options: seller-financing; hard-money

Contacts & Resources

Ep. 107 Reed Goossens: Advancing Your Career With a Mentor

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advancing your career with a mentorAdvancing your career as a real estate investor takes time… and learning from experience. As many investors have figured out, mentors provide key resources that could you, as an investor, in advancing your career. By tapping into a mentor’s experience and knowledge, you can take that next vital step in advancing your career.

Listeners will remember Reed Goossens from ep. 103 when he talked syndication on multifamily deals.

This episode, Reed talks to us about what pushed him to setting his sights on greater investment goals and how finding a mentor inspired him to take on larger deals and ultimately advance his career. His company, RSN Property Group, has been successfully investing in commercial multifamily since 2011. His mentor has also since become his business partner.

Advancing Your Career With a Mentor

  • Mentors provide guidance and access to experienced resources
  • Reed was fortunate to find Joe Fairless as his mentor. Joe has been on the show before and he offers educational resources, including a podcast, to investors of all levels of experience

Finding a Mentor

  • Network in niche markets
  • Find an experienced, hands-on investor willing to provide mentorship
  • Don’t fall prey to “gurus” make sure prospective mentors have a proven investment track record

Talk to Reed

As not only a new investor, but also new to the country, Reed knew how fortunate he was to have the guidance of a mentor while he established his career in real estate investing. Currently, Reed hosts Investing in the U.S. – An Aussie’s Guide to U.S. Real Estate, a podcast focused on providing foreign investors with necessary advice and knowledge to make it in U.S. real estate investing.

Check out the podcast by going to RSN Property Group’s website or any major streaming platform

 

 

 

 

 

Ep. 106 Larry Goins: Finding Ways to Make Money in a Rapidly Rising Market

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ways to make money in a rising marketReal estate investors have heard the news, they’ve seen the figures: by all accounts, real estate markets are tightening up.

In all the major asset classes, investors are reporting rapidly rising markets, which translates to increased competition for deals. Some investors are starting to wonder how far until they hit the ceiling and would-be investors are wondering how to make money in real estate if opportunity isn’t knocking.

Larry Goins stopped waiting for opportunity to come knocking a long time ago.

As a 30-year veteran of real estate investing, Larry has tried his hand at just about every asset class. Over the years, he has learned that opportunity may not always present itself, but it is always there waiting.

Larry has become a master of finding ways to make money in real estate through his many years of investing experience and he is helping others find the same.

Based out of South Carolina, Larry currently wholesales, buy-and-holds properties and offers seller financing in 12 different states, including Florida. In addition to his active investing lifestyle, Larry provides a remarkable resource for investors to learn the ins-and-outs of real estate investing. Through numerous books, seminars and his radio show, Larry gives investors the tools they need so that they can make money in a rapidly rising market.

Ways to Make Money in Real Estate

  • Seller Financing under Dodd Frank
    • Dodd Frank affects seller financing for consumers only – read Larry’s report here (past Invest Florida Episode on Dodd-Frank Seller Financing)
    • Residential Mortgage Loan Officers specialized in seller financing should review loan applications – view Larry’s RMLO Directory
  • Marketing & Finding Deals
    • HUD houses - HUDHomestore.com
    • Secondary markets
    • Craigslist
    • Direct-mailing
    • Agent/Broker networking
  • Resources & Links

To find out more about working with Larry on future deals or for other investment questions, visit larrygoins.com or call his office at (877) LARRYGO (527-7946)

Ep. 105 Kurt Westfield: A Journey from Single Family to Multifamily Investing

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multifamily investingMost real estate investors starting out will try their hand at single family investing first. Single family properties are familiar, small-scale and generally easy to tackle for first-time investors.

However, many investors will find they have a limited ceiling for growth with single family properties. Juggling dozens of single family properties while actively marketing for new investments no longer becomes practical. Apart from wholesaling, flipping and other similar single family markets, the next logical step for many investors is to make the move to multifamily investing.

Multifamily investing may be intimidating to some, but while it is a different ball-game than single family, the two do share a few commonalities and the overall benefit of multifamily investing outweighs the risk.

Just ask Kurt Westfield.

Kurt moved to Florida from New York and, in 2008, co-founded an investment partnership, WC Equity Group. They then entered into Tampa’s single family investment market.

After doing 102 single family deals in his first two years, Kurt new it was time to make a change if he wanted to scale his investment growth.

Kurt turned to multifamily investing and has since expanded to also offer lending, management and syndication services under his umbrella firm, WC Companies. In addition to Tampa, WC Equity Group also has properties in Jacksonville, FL and Cleveland, OH.

Check out Kurt’s story going from single family to multifamily investing and what he learned along the way!

Tools for Multifamily Investing

  • Market Timing
    • Understand where market could go, not where it is.
  • Fringe Markets
    • Areas on edge of of hot market’s outward growth, i.e. markets around South Tampa
    • Similar tenant quality to class-a markets, better price points
    • Gentrification/community redevelopment occurring
    • Value-add opportunity
  • Network
    • Working relationships with brokers
    • Like-minded investor base
    • Reliable team of contractors/sub-contractors
  • Responsiveness
    • Be prompt and responsive for potential investment deals. Assure potential investors of trust-worthiness.
  • Mentors/Inspiration

Kurt is always interested in working with bright, like-minded investors and brokers to expand his network in multifamily investing.

To contact Kurt with potential deals or to find out about the services his companies offer, visit www.wccompanies.com, click on any company tab and find the contact section.

Check out their Facebook Page!