Category Archives: Industrial

Ep. 89 Greg Williams: From College Football Player to Institutional Real Estate Investor

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g williamswebSuccessful real estate investing requires knowing the terrain. Investors need to play the field and work hard to find the right deals. Florida real estate markets are garnering a lot of interest from investors and asset classes across the board are becoming more competitive. An investor starting out in single family can become full-time institutional real estate investor with strategic planning and a strong capital base.

Greg Williams, Co-founder and Principle at Cardinal Point Management of Tampa is a true testament to this fact. Greg was introduced to real estate investing out of college. After 4 years of experience building in a variety of asset classes as part of investment firms, Greg set his sights on becoming an institutional real estate investor in the Florida real estate market, focusing on. Though he started small, Greg aspired for larger more diverse deals. Bringing a competitive spirit and strategic approach, Greg maneuvered Florida’s real state industry and has become a success story as a leading institutional real estate investor.

  • Cardinal Point Management
    • Drawn to Tampa’s diverse commercial opportunity
    • Began small, raising capital through family and friends
    • Full-service development, management and brokerage investment firm
  • 1st Institutional Lender Deal
    • Retail center, S. Tampa, 22k sqf, 95% occupancy
    • Purchased at $255/sqf on non-recourse loan through mortgage broker (Jermey Pino); 8.25-8.5% cap rate; $5.3 million total
    • Sold in March, 2016 for $10.6 million w/ 5.5% cap rate
  • Situational Lending
    • Focus on geography
    • Diverse portfolio
    • Knowledge of structuring deals in variety of asset classes
    • Eye on upcoming or forgotten markets
  • Office Market
    • Outperformed by other asset classes in FL
    • Discount on replacement cost
    • Cash-flow during hold period
    • Path to grow NOI (Net Operating Income)
  • Investor Tips
    • Focus on day-to-day
    • Build relationships, be transparent
    • Due Diligence
    • Greg attributes his success as an institutional real estate investor to adopting his father’s hands-on business approach and his self determination and team-building background from competitive sports

Greg can be contacted with inquiries on deals, opportunities or advice on transitioning to a becoming an institutional real estate investor by visiting the Cardinal Point Management website

 

Ep 87 Tom Blazejack: Miami Real Estate Market Overview

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business-portraits-009Things are happening in the Miami real estate market… Well things are always happening in the Miami real estate market, but BIG things are happening right now. Miami has long been the focal point for real estate investors due to the density and scale of development and the investment opportunity for a variety of asset classes. Real estate investors all over Florida have looked towards the Miami real estate market as a forecast for current and future conditions throughout the state.

Tom Blazejack, of Blazejack & Company knows all of the ins and outs of the Miami real estate market. In addition to nearly 40 years’ experience as a real estate appraiser and analyst, Tom is also a native of Miami. Tom’s extensive appraisal knowledge of commercial and residential properties and intimate knowledge of the Miami real estate market make his consultation highly sought after by investors. This episode, Tom gives us an overview of the Miami real estate market, including development highlights and what investors should expect.

Miami Real Estate Market

  • 2011 purchase of Miami Herald building for $236 million marks return of market
  • Foreign investment and cash-heavy market
    • Foreign investors seeking stable properties to invest cash
  • Development spikes
    • New deposit requirements for investors and developers insures accountability
    • Lenders alleviating construction loan costs for developers
    • Projects moving quicker
  • Land price increases
    • Miami seeing $200-300/sqf on new commercial developments but even as high as $3000 in some prime locations
    • Residential continues to increase… up to $3/sqf in best projects
  • Emerging Markets
    • Development spreading into surrounding Miami
      • Little Havana, Wynwood, Coral Gables all seeing new projects
  • Major Projects

To contact Tom with for an appraisal consultation or for further analysis of the Miami real estate market visit his website. He can also be emailed at tom@blazejack.com

Ep. 75 Garrett Kenny: Irish Builder Talks Foreign Investment in Florida & Hot Orlando Real Estate Sub-Markets

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Gary_editedIn a recent episode, we spoke with an investor who managed a Florida real estate portfolio from outside the country. This week’s episode features an investor who runs a foreign investment firm out of his home-base in Davenport, Florida.

Garrett Kenny started building his investment portfolio in Florida after being introduced to Orlando’s vacation markets in 1996. Since then, he has built his investment firm, Feltrim, into an international name for foreign investment in Florida real estate, handling all aspects of the investment process. This episode, Garrett discusses foreign investment in Florida and hot real estate sub-markets in Orlando.

Foreign Investing in Florida

  • Most foreign investors can expect to average 6% annual ROI
  • Easy to find financing options, but many do cash deals
    • Usually require more up-front from investor for financing
    • 4-4.5% interest rates
    • Some foreign investors use local banks and mortgage brokers
    • Some financing may be available through institutions in home countries
  • Brazil and China emerging as dominant foreign investors in Florida markets
  • Foreign investors expanding portfolios in Florida real estate

Orlando

  • 62 million visitors to Orlando area in 2014
  • Diverse investment opportunity
    • Vacation rentals, commercial and industrial markets
    • Top 3 vacation rental areas – Championsgate, Davenport, and Kissimmee
    • Medical + Technology – Lake Nona
    • Long-term investing in 30 mi. radius of Disney
  • Other hot sub-markets
    • Distressed and repossessed homes
    • “Class A” properties – Windermere, Winter Park

Tips on Foreign Investment

  • Having a local knowledge of your desired market is key
    • Find out about the area before investing
  • Location, Location, Location
    • Finding the right location for your investment is important

To find out more about Garrett and Feltrim’s services or about investing in Orlando real estate, visit the firm’s website

Garrett recently published a book, Buying and Owning Property in Central Florida available on Author House and Amazon

 

Ep. 71 Elise Batsel – 7 Things Landlords Should Know About Commercial Leases

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11058_bioimageWhen transitioning from residential or simply starting your investment portfolio in commercial real estate, it is important to remember one thing: commercial leases are not the same as residential. Commercial leases are subjected to a much higher percentage of risk if not properly structured.

Elise Batsel has made it her business to ensure landlords are protected in any commercial lease issue from the ground up. As counsel with the Tampa firm Phelps Dunbar, LLP, Elise specializes in commercial real estate land-use and zoning. Elise represents developers and institutional lenders in acquisitions, dispositions, financing and transactions as well as all aspects of commercial leases. In this episode, Elise discusses seven hot-topics all landlords and owner/operators should know about commercial leases.

  1. Commercial vs. Residential Leases
    1. Commercial properties have different costs and expenses that can be transferred to tenants: common area maintenance expenses (CAMs)
    2. CAMs may include: utilities, landscaping, management fees and other costs associated with owning and operating commercial properties
  2. CAM and Triple Net Leases
    1. Triple Net Lease – For landlords and tenants who want stability; does not account for unanticipated expenses or for properties without a familiar investment history
    2. CAM lease – Serves as umbrella to protect landlord/owner from future costs and expenses incurred from property management; specifies expenses and tenant liabilities
  3. Tax Implications
    1. Though not frequently addressed in lease, tax implications are a major tenant-landlord discussion that could be beneficial for both parties
    2. Leases can stipulate landlord ownership over tenant-improvements with proper recompense for tenant
  4. Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
    1. Commercial real estate considered public accommodations and subject to more ADA compliance regulations
    2. Represents huge liability for landlords not in compliance
  5. Sub-letting and Tenant-Assigned Leases
    1. Landlords can address sub-leasing and assigning terms in commercial leases
    2. Landlords entitled to portion of income from tenant leases
  6. D-I-Y Leases
    1. Do not attempt to draft generic commercial leases if self-managing property
    2. There are many changing facets to follow when drafting commercial leases
    3. If drafting your own lease, have attorney or specialist review
  7. Protection Against Bad Tenants
    1. Always ensure strong deposit from tenant
    2. Small-Claims Court
    3. Write effective demand letter to tenant

For any commercial lease, zoning or land-use issues and questions, Elise can be contacted by phone at 813-472-7564 or through email at elise.batsel@phelps.com

For even more information on commercial leases as well as landlord and tenant relationships, Elise suggests the following articles: Tenant’s Checklist of Silent Lease Issues  and Model Landlord’s Checklist of Silent Lease Issues – S.H. Spencer Compton, Esq. & Joshua Stein, Esq.

 

 

 

Ep. 60 – Mark Fleming: What Does the Fed Rate Hike Mean to Real Estate Investors

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about-markWinter is coming… And so are national interest rate increases.

The Federal Reserve has recently announced a new national interest rate hike, the first since 2006. Real estate investors are very anxious about the announced rate hike. Many investors are wary that the rate hike may be instituted prematurely in an economy that is not capable of facilitating the effects on real estate markets.

Mark Fleming, Ph. D. serves as the Chief Economist for First American Financial Corporation. With over 20 years’ experience in mortgage and property information, Mark analyzes and forecasts national mortgage and real estate markets. This episode, Mark lends his expertise to our discussion on the new rate hike‘s effect on current real estate markets at a national level, and tells us why investors shouldn’t be so worried.

  • Federal Reserve Rate Hikes
    • First rate hike in 9 yrs
      • 2006 – +5% increase
      • 2007 -’08 to Present – 0%
      • End of Year (2015) – .25% increase
      • 2016 – +1% increase
    • Instituted to correlate with expected income/wage growth
    • Long-term, fixed-rate loans not affected
    • Good for housing markets
      • House-price appreciation seeing “asset inflation”, especially in Florida
      • 5-6% nationally, higher in FL markets (South Florida)
      • Out-pacing current wage growth, causing increase in housing rates
      • Rate hike should slow appreciation growth rate
  • 2016 and Beyond
    • Rate hike est. 5% increase
    • House-appreciation (Nationally) projected to slow to 3-4%
    • Income growth est. 3-4% increase
    • Commercial real estate to benefit from economic growth
    • Multi-family to benefit from strong millennial rental market

Interested in contacting First American Financial or want to learn more from Mark on the new rate hike and other economic info? Check out the company website and visit the Economic Center

Ep. 59 Jay Smith: 6 Hot Spots for Inspecting Properties

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thumb2_JayJay Smith, CEO of A Snoop Inspections, is a veteran in his field of property inspection. Jay possesses over 30 years in property inspection experience as well as hands-on knowledge of building construction. Jay has an invaluable insight into the key concepts of inspecting properties.

Property inspections can cause even the most seasoned real estate investor to shudder. Not only do inspections have the potential to turn up devastating issues for investors close to finalizing a deal, under-qualified inspectors may cost an investor thousands of dollars in corrective aggravation. Recent changes to insurance policies and coverage in Florida have led to increased concern over property inspections and their impact on real estate investment. Commercial investors need to be especially careful as there are many more aspects to commercial property inspection as opposed to residential. This episode will cover six hot spots or areas of focus for any investor to cover when inspecting properties.

  1. Electrical
    1. Out-dated wiring methods may preclude properties from meeting current insurance requirements
      1. Aluminum wiring dating mid 1960s-1970s a prevalent issue; Cloth wiring; Knob-and-tube wiring
      2. No safety outlets by water areas source of concern
  2. Roofs
    1. Major area of concern when inspecting properties. Damage can be detrimental to property and repairs costly.
      1. Look for flat roofs or areas where water pools
      2. Leaks cause major damage
      3. A/C units on roofs – water damage from condensation, impede accessible roof maintenance. New FL building codes require roof-units be on raised platforms
  3. Insurance Changes

    1. Changes to FL insurance coverage a important concern for new buyers
      1. Standards for coverage have changed over recent years
      2. Require more detailed inspections, won’t insure certain construction methods/materials
      3. Insurance coeerage under previous owner will not extend to new buyer
  4. Sinkholes
    1. Costly and potentially dangerous inspection issue
      1. Look for long, horizontal cracks in and around structure
      2. $2000 geo-technical survey
  5. Mold
    1. Serious issue in FL
      1. Difficult to asses severity or extent of infestation
      2. Especially an issue in vacant or untended properties
  6. Inspector Due Diligence
    1. In FL especially, determine certifications of inspectors prior to selecting
      1. FL requires Home Inspector license only
      2. International Association of Home Inspectors – largest H.I. association in U.S.
      3. For specific issues, contact specialists (i.e. mold inspector, master electrician, professional roofer)

To contact Jay for information on inspecting properties or to inquire about his own property inspection services, visit his website: www.a-snoop.com or call (813) 345-2600

 

 

 

 

Ep. 57 Albert Berriz – McKinley Bullish on I-4 Corridor for Multi-Family

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00f4451Florida real estate investors should be familiar with the name McKinley. With over 55 million square feet of commercial and residential real estate in 34 states, McKinley, Inc. is 37th largest real estate investment and management firm in the nation.

Albert Berriz, CEO, Co-owner & Co-Managing Member of McKinley talks with us this week about the firm’s special interest in Florida. The Interstate 4 Corridor, connecting Tampa, Lakeland, Orlando and Daytona Beach is favorite of McKinley for it’s unique position as a major economic engine for Florida. The firm owns and manages 55 multi-family communities along the I-4 corridor. Albert discusses the firm’s attraction to the corridor as a region of of immense population growth.

  • I-4 Corridor
    • Tampa/St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Daytona Beach
    • 3/5 of Florida Residents centralized around I-4
    • 6.5 million residents (6th largest population concentration by geographic area in U.S.)
  • Economic Growth
    • 1.3 times over growth rate of South Florida
    • Panama Canal to introduce Port of Tampa to new markets
    • All Aboard Florida rail project to provide high-speed transit between Orlando and South Florida
      • Tourism/Entertainment
        • Theme Parks in Orlando and Tampa
        • Coastal attractions

For any investor seeking to improve their success in the real estate market, Albert believes that a mentor is an invaluable resource for investors. The expertise and understanding of a seasoned investor can provide knowledge and guidance to make actionable investment decisions.

Albert cites Colin Powell as a distinct influence on his development as a leader. Despite his focus in military and politics as opposed to business, Gen. Powell established himself as a true leader in his field and exhibits the qualities of leadership that can be applied to any individual.

Check out Colin Powell’s literature on leadership on Amazon

To find out more about Mckinley’s properties in Florida visit their website

 

 

Ep. 55 – Brian Bandell: Update on the South Florida Real Estate Market

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3657aafSouth Florida has always been in a class apart from the rest of the state in terms of real estate development. The South Florida real estate market has lead the state in real estate investment and growth. Despite it’s ups and downs the South Florida real estate market has historically been a market indicator in terms of development and investment activity. South Florida’s unique positioning and heavy influence of foreign investment makes this market an interesting and dynamic one.

Brian Bandell is a senior journalist with the South Florida Business Journal covering real estate, transportation and logistics. For over a decade, Brian has served the South Florida business community. With an expert ear for news, Brian gives us a brief, but detailed overview of the South Florida real estate market and what is in store for future developments in the area.

  •  $7.5 billion in construction starts in Miami and South Florida
    • Condominium/Multi-family
    • Retail
  • Developers/Developments
  • South Florida economy driven by tourism and foreign investment
    • Heavily dependent on international markets
    • Strengthening of USD may adversely affect South Florida investments
  • Miami moving towards transit city
    • Metrorail connects major points in Miami
    • Metromover connects Downtown Miami
    • Trirail connects Miami to West Palm Beac
    • All Aboard Florida rail project will connect Miami to Orlando
  • Issues
    • Commuting is still difficult in South Florida for those who don’t live near transit stations or commute by car
    • Development in South Florida does not represent demographics
      1. Developments are for high-end/luxury spaces
      2. Middle-income bracket job growth not suited to high-end developments
    • Rapid rent increases
      1. Multi-family rent increases: 8.8% in Miami-Dade, 7.1% in Broward and 5.8% in Palm Beach
      2. Weekly wage increase: 2%

To find out more about Brian’s work with the South Florida Business Journal visit their website

In addition to his journalistic successes, Brian is also a published author of fiction! Look for his books on Amazon

 

Ep. 46 Steven McCraney – Talks Industrial Property and Why He is Bullish on the Central Florida Market

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Steven McCraney, President and CEO of McCraney Property Company, lives his life by the Helen Keller quote: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”    The West Palm Beach developer is an avid outdoors-man and mountain climber, scaling notable peaks such as, Mt Elbrus in Russia, Mt Rainier in Washington and Mt Aconcagua in Argentina.  He has now turned his attention to the I-4 corridor and intends to build that area between Orlando and Tampa in to the next great industrial powerhouse.  He has multiple projects in various areas of the corridor, but most recently, he is teaming with Northwest Mutual on a $30 million development of 603,000 square feet of warehouse space in Davenport, near US 27 and I-4.

Steven  has developed, owned and managed over 3,000,000 industrial properties all over Florida. This episode, Steven discusses the merits of the industrial property market as well as his philosophy to approaching the market. This show is a must listen for stakeholders in Central Florida!

  • Industrial Property Market is New Retail
    • Rise of online-shopping leading to emphasis on warehouse/storage space
    • Companies expanding warehouse/distribution centers
  • Central Florida new ‘Hot Market’
    • I-4 undergoing expansion project
    • I-4 corridor (Tampa-Orlando-Space Coast) anticipating boom
    • Amazon, Walmart developing large-scale distribution centers along corridor
  • Other FL Markets
    • Daytona, Space Coast growing
    • South Florida good sellers’ market
    • Lakeland
  • Tips for Success
    • Treat clients as customers, not tenants
    • Strive for class “A” properties and class “A” clients
    • Anticipate change
    • Keep close working relationship with financiers (banks, lenders, investors)
    • Never be afraid to take the next step!

For more information on Steven’s company or to check out current projects visit his website.