Category Archives: Property Class

Ep. 140 Courtney Barnard: Top 3 Legislative Issues Affecting Multifamily Investors for 2018

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While investors prefer real estate over other assets and securities due to its relative stability, it’s not without fluctuations of its own. Real estate is affected by a number of external forces, from the economy to local, state and federal legislation. What sets fluctuations in real estate apart from other investment classes is it’s general predictability; hardly anything happens out of nowhere in real estate. Most factors affecting real estate can be accurately tracked and anticipated. Investors who can keep ahead of these changes are able to mitigate much more risk in their investment.

Legislation is one of the most important factors affecting real estate investors. It affects everyone down to the local level and is able to affect every facet of real estate investing from financing to construction. With so much to keep track of, staying on top of current legislation may seem intimidating, but there are tools and resources available to assist you. For Florida multifamily investors, that’s our guest for this week!

legislative updates affecting multifamily investorsCourtney Barnard is a returning guest to the show and we’re so glad to have her back. Courtney is the Government Affairs Director for the Florida Apartment Association (FAA), the statewide chapter of the National Apartment Association (NAA).

The NAA/FAA serves as the primary advocate for residential multifamily investors and apartment owners. Not only does it represent apartment owners in front of lawmakers, it also provides education and support for investors. As Government Affairs Director, it’s Courtney’s job to track all national and statewide legislation affecting multifamily residential real estate and relay it to investors. Each year, Courtney provides an annual legislative update on key legislation that directly affects the residential multifamily industry.

Find out the Top 3 Legislative Issues affecting multifamily investors in 2018!

 

Ep. 138 John McNellis: Retail and Multifamily Investors Won’t Want to Miss This Development Outlook

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Where is retail heading?

development outlookThis is a question we’ve gotten a lot lately from our listeners and investors. With the rise of online shopping through Ecommerce options like Amazon, we’ve been seeing some rapid tightening in retail development across the board. With big-box retail winding down and shopping center investments getting tight, many investors and developers are wondering what comes next.

Our guest this week is an expert on spotting development trends and cycles. John McNellis is a developer, speaker and author. Founder and President of Mcnellis Partners development firm, John has been developing a variety of real estate for over 30 years. Although retail and multifamily have been his primary asset classes, John has development experience in several asset classes.

This episode, John joins us to discuss the development outlook for retail and offers advice for investors looking to make the transition to development.

Development Outlook

  • Retail markets challenged throughout the U.S.
    • Over-building of retail
    • Influx of online shopping
  • Retail going through downsizing cycle
  • Industrial market seeing benefits from Ecommerce boom

Approaching Development

  • Residential: best to start with land and build up
  • Retail: finding a good tenant for anchor is best strategy
  • Risk-management is key to long-term success
  • Rule of thumb: look for investments that earn 2% above cap rate
  • Don’t build on spec

Transitioning to Development

  • Find an experienced partner when transitioning to large or mid-size multifamily developments
  • For first-time developers, find a broker in your area that specializes in the asset class you want to develop
  • Approach the public with a project before taking it to city officials

Investment/Development Advice

  • Development follows job growth
  • Urban Land Institute (ULI) is a great resource for developers

Resources

 

 

 

Ep. 137 Ken Rosen: These Buying Strategies Can Help You Choose the Right Investment Property

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There’s no doubt we’re seeing a tightening market. In Florida, especially in the Tampa Bay market, we’re seeing demand outpacing construction; leading to higher prices in asset classes across the board. For investors, this means choosing the right investment property for your portfolio may take a little more work. That’s not to say a great investment isn’t waiting out there for you, it may just require a little creativity.

real estate buying strategiesKen Rosen knows a thing or two about creativity. As one of the leading innovators of South Florida real estate investing, Ken was a pioneer of condo conversions, reinvigorating the area’s multifamily market. Mr. Rosen has continued to be a driving force in South Florida real estate, working with a variety of asset classes before focusing mainly on office investing.

With over 30 years of investing experience and insight and over $500 million in transactions, Ken has earned a respected reputation among investors. He remains an active investor, mentor and educator as well as a best-selling author.

This episode, Ken provides his insight into where the market is at, where it’s heading, and how the right buying strategies can help you make the right investment.

“One good real estate investment is worth a lifetime of labor”

Buying Strategies for Smart Investments

  • Properties with long-term owners of high return opportunities
    • Under-market rates
    • Room to increase rents
  • Account for inflation when writing multi-year leases
    • Office, Flex, Industrial
  • Look for “B” buildings in “A” locations

Investment Properties to Watch

  • Self-storage
  • Multifamily

Resources

Check out Ken’s best-selling book, “Investing in Income Properties: The BIG SIX Formula for Achieving Wealth in Real Estate” for even more insight into Ken’s buying strategies.

For questions or investment opportunities, call Ken directly at (305) 469-6708 or email krosen@kendar.com

 

 

 

Ep. 136 Brian Willis & Gerry Tierney: Learn How Transit & Technology Changes Will Affect Your Property!

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automated transitTechnology is rapidly changing the way we look at the future. Innovations like automated transit are quickly nearing practical realities. In Tampa Bay, we’re seeing advancements in automated transit already, with the area being positioned as a proving ground for automated systems. Automation and other technologies will bring major changes to existing infrastructure.

No industry will be affected by these impending technologies more than real estate. From multifamily to retail, emerging technologies like automated transit will require an entire rethinking of real estate design and development. Urban planners, architects and developers need to consider these effects and start planning accordingly.

This episode, we discuss these changes on a local and national level. We look at what game-changing technologies are emerging and what urban planners and developers are doing to address these changes now.

Meet Our Guests

Tampa Bay sustainable transitBrian Willis is real estate attorney with Shumaker Loop & Kendrick. He is a leading advocate for integrated and sustainable transit in Tampa. Brian brings on-the-ground knowledge of the cutting-edge technologies here in Florida and how Tampa Bay is taking steps to integrate them into current real estate design and development.

 

real estate designGerry Tierney is an Associate Principal at Perkins + Will. Based out of San Fransisco, Gerry is a leading force for automated transit and mobility and adapting real estate design to suit these changing needs. He serves as the Co-Director of Smart Mobility Lab and has Collaborated with both UCLA – Berkeley and MIT in sustainability research.

Technologies Impacting Real Estate

  • Automated transit / autonomous vehicles
    • Autonomy integrating in public transit by 2020s
    • Subscription-based autonomous car ownership coming down the line

Future-proofing Current Real Estate Design

Urban planners, architects and developers needs to consider how current layout and designs will play into emerging technologies.

  • Adaptive Use
    • Big-box retail stores
    • Shopping malls
    • Existing parking structures
      • Vertical Parking vs. Horizontal
      • In-fill
      • Mechanized parking
  • Urban Design & Planning
    • Current developments built to accommodate automated transit
    • Changes to grid structure and street layouts
    • Rethinking asset classes
      • Industrial
      • Office
      • Multifamily
      • Retail

Resources

  • Contact Gerry at gerry.tierney@perkinswill.com or (415) 546-2933
  • Contact Brian at (813) 221-7165 or on Twitter @BrianWillisTPA

 

 

Ep. 135 Alex Rios: These Hot Design Trends Can Increase the Value of Your Multifamily Property!

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Whether you invest in multifamily or other commercial properties, if you’re investing for cashflow, you’re going to want your property to attract tenants. The design and function of a property goes a long way in enticing potential tenants. Updating your property with latest design trends and practical features can also increase the value of your investment.

 

multifamily design trendsThis episode, we talk with Alex Rios. As President of Rios Architecture, Alex has worked on many projects in many asset classes, including office, commercial, medical and multifamily. Lately, he has been actively involved with several multifamily projects around Tampa Bay, including several McKinley developments.

Alex knows that, for cash-flowing investment properties to attract tenants, they need to feature things that people will want. If you want to increase your property value and attract desirable tenants, staying up-to-date with current design trends is important.

Here are some of the hot design trends that can increase the value of your investment property!

  • Apartment investors looking for ways to make their property stand out to tenants
  • Tight multifamily market has led investors to look at value-add opportunities

Hot Design Trends

  • ‘Sophisticated’ look
    • Invest in palette, not singular items
  • Colors catering to relaxing environments
    • Light blues
    • Light greens
    • Accent colors
  • Floor materials
    • Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) mimics look and quality of wood, durable
  • Amenities need to cater to what your desired tenants want
    • Urban lifestyle trends very strong market
    • Digital/online age demands accessible internet
    • Pet accommodations
    • Encourage social interaction
    • Home office flexibility
    • Accessibility and walkability are important features

Investing for the Future

  • Plan for changes with new technology
    • Electric cars
    • Automated transit
  • Manage your construction costs
    • Account for high labor demand
    • Costs for new development materials

Contact Alex

By email: alex_rios@riosarchitecture.com

Website: riosarchitecture.com

Ep. 134 Jason Ellison and Josh Diggs: Solving Tenant Issues – Commercial Evictions to Residential Fair Housing

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The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is unique, to say the least. Whether you invest in residential or commercial real estate, you must maintain a balanced relationship with your tenants.

If you do own tenant-occupied properties, you know that maintaining a balanced relationship is easier said than done at times. When dealing with tenants, there are defined rules and regulations for what you can and cannot do as a landlord; However when it comes to peoples’ homes or businesses, disagreements over a lease can quickly become a tricky situation.  Solving tenant issues can be one of the most important things a landlord can do to retain tenants and stay out of legal hot water.

This live discussion and recording is about solving these common tenant issues. We discussed the landlord/tenant relationship, as well as covering common pitfalls relating to things like evictions and fair housing. One our guests deals in commercial real estate litigation. The other is an owner of multi-family properties.

They are as follows:

commercial lease disputesJason Ellison is an attorney and founding partner of Ellison | Lazenby Law Firm. Jason is a real estate attorney and specializes in contract preparation and dispute resolution. He is highly experienced in landlord/tenant disputes, including evictions.

 

 

dealing with tenantsJosh Diggs is a veteran investor and co-founder/owner of Palm Companies. He is well versed in tenant/landlord relationships and will provide on-the-ground insight into property management issues.Through their property management arm, Palm Communities, Josh has on-the-ground experience managing multifamily properties and dealing with tenants.

 

Check out “Ep. 134: Dealing with Tenants – From Evictions to Fair Housing”!

Join our Tampa Cashflow Meetup!

In an effort to bring you even more talk on Florida’s real estate industry Invest Florida Show has started a monthly event series. Every month we host a different speaker at our downtown Tampa meeting rooms to discuss a different feature of the state’s dynamic real estate market.

You can meet the Invest Florida hosts, get exclusive expert insight and even network with other real estate investors. To find out event information or to join our Meetup, click here.

 

 

Ep. 133 Greg Ruthven: The I-4 Corridor is a Hot Market for Industrial Investors!

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Florida’s I-4 corridor has long been a focus of industrial investors and developers. Connecting Tampa, Orlando and the east coast, the I-4 corridor serves as major transit artery. With recent arrivals of big names, like Amazon and Walmart committing to massive industrial developments, interest in the market has only been growing among industrial investors.

central florida industrial investorsGreg Ruthven is one man who knows what makes the I-4 corridor such a prime market for industrial development.

The Ruthvens, a family-owned and operated business started by Greg’s father, are one of the largest developers and owners of industrial real estate in and around the I-4 corridor. They currently hold 85 warehouse and industrial properties, totaling over 3 million square feet.

This episode, Greg tells us why he loves Central Florida and why the area is such a hot market for industrial investors.

Industrial Investors Love the I-4 Corridor

  • I-4 is major transit artery
  • Central Florida has a lot of available open land to accommodate large developments
  • 10 million people live within 100 miles of Lakeland, FL

Florida Industrial Market is on the Rise

  • Shift towards E-commerce is driving logistics and distribution demand
  • Major companies are consuming warehouse and distribution space
    • Amazon
    • Walmart
    • Major companies drive industrial demand, attracting smaller companies

About The Ruthvens

The Ruthvens have been building and leasing warehouse and industrial space in Central Florida since 1957. Based in Lakeland, the Ruthvens have deep roots in the community and specialize in a commitment to individual warehouse space needs. They build, lease and sell industrial space ranging anywhere from 1,000-150,000 SF.

To learn more about The Ruthvens and their services, visit their website.

“If you need warehouse space, you call the Ruthvens” – (863) 686-3173

 

 

 

Ep. 130 Matt Robinson: What You Didn’t Know About the Florida Panhandle Real Estate Market!

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We’ve covered just about every Florida real estate market on this show. From Naples to Jacksonville, we’ve covered all of Florida’s major markets at least once; except for one. The Florida panhandle real estate market has been one market that we haven’t really touched on.

We’d like to thank our guest this week for helping us change that:

Florida panhandle real estate marketMatt Robinson is a veteran real estate investor and a panhandle native. He is the founder of the Professional Investment Guild, which provides real estate networking and education to area investors. With nearly 15 years investing experience and homegrown insight, Matt is the perfect person to talk about what the Florida panhandle real estate market has to offer.

How much do you know about Florida’s panhandle?

Due to it’s virtual separation from the rest of the state, its often overlooked by investors looking for a potential market. However, the Florida panhandle real estate market has a lot to offer investors.

The panhandle has beautiful coastlines for vacationing and Pensacola is a major economic generator in the area. Plus, the various large-scale military bases throughout the panhandle offer a stable rental market.

If you’ve been wondering about the Florida panhandle real estate market, you won’t want to miss this episode!

  • Strong military rental market:
    • Eglin Airforce Base (USAF)
    • Pensacola NAS (Navy)
    • Hurlburt Field (USAF)
    • Whiting Field NAS (Navy)
  • Economic growth around $1 billion Navy Federal Credit Union Pensacola campus
  • Investments seeing similar appreciation with Sunbelt, but home prices remain low
  • Low inventory and increased demand having an upward pressure on rental rates

Want to learn more about investing in panhandle real estate?

Matt started the Professional Investors Guild in 2013 to help real estate investors network and learn more about current market trends. You can visit their website to find out membership information. Or, you can check their scheduled meetings.

You can contact Matt directly through email at matt@professionalinvestorsguild.com.

Tampa Bay investors:

Join us at our downtown office space every month for real estate networking and educational seminars! You can meet the hosts and past guests, network with real estate professionals and learn important investment tips from expert speakers.

For more information, join our Meetup!

 

Ep. 126 Mark Holmes: What Multifamily Investors Need to Know About the Rental Boom

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multifamily investorsThe national housing market is undergoing a major shift and multifamily investors are taking notice. Through economic and generational factors, the housing market is seeing a lessening demand for single family home purchases. Instead of buying a home, young professionals are opting to rent.

Mark Holmes may know this growing trend better than anyone. As a certified property appraiser with Value Tech Realty, Mark travels the United States appraising multifamily properties. As an appraiser, he understands this rental boom from a valuation perspective. As an active single family investor and passive multifamily investor, he understands what it means from an investor’s standpoint.

This episode, Mark gives us a recap of the the national multifamily market as well as the Florida multifamily market. We discuss the recent rental boom and what it means for multifamily investors.

National Multifamily Overview

  • 63% home ownership, down from 69% (2004)
  • 37% renters: 15 million shift
  • Financial recession brought on behavioral shift
  • Job growth jump-started multifamily development

Florida Multifamily Overview

  • Landlord friendly
  • 3% job growth
  • Statewide rent growth: 4%
  • I-4 Corridor rent growth: 6%

Florida Multifamily Markets

  • Tampa
    • 4000 MF units online, last 12 mo.
    • 65% absorption rate
    • 3.7% rent growth
    • Class A: 4.5% cap rates; Class B: 6%
  • Orlando
    • 5,500 MF units online, last 12 mo.
    • 57% absorption
    • 4.8% rent growth
  • Melbourne
    • 8% rent growth in last 12 mo.
  • Miami/SFL
    • 3,500 units online last 12 mo., 3,300 coming
    • Nearly 100% absorption
    • 3.3% rent growth
    • 4.45% cap rates
    • 49% of income goes to rent

What It Means for Multifamily Investors

  • Capital looking to invest in multifamily is out there
  • Class A property growth concessions trickling down to B + Cs
  • Most buyer interest is in multifamily
  • Interest rate increases mean cap rate increases
  • Major market cap rates seeing downward trend

Contact Mark

Looking for property appraisals? Contact Value Tech Realty through their website. For single family and multifamily investors looking to work with Mark on a deal, contact him through email at mark1holmes1@gmail.com.

Ep. 125 Gregory Radford – 5 Tips for Earning Hassle-Free Cashflow Out of Your Single Family Rental

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single family rental investingSingle family investors know that keeping up with rental properties and tenants can be a hassle. In addition to dealing with property management, investors must also manage tenants. While a single family rental is a great way for many to earn cashflow, it can be tough to stay organized.

Our guest this week, Gregory Radford knows a thing or two about organization. A decorated military veteran, Greg became a de facto single family rental investor while still serving in the Army. After renting out his home he had purchased using his V.A. loan, he had his Eureka moment. He saw the investment potential of the V.A. loan and leveraged that into becoming a successful single family investor.

Combining the organizational skills and discipline he learned in the Army with his loquacious attitude, Greg created a strategy for earning hassle-free cashflow through single family rental investments. Starting Radford Homes with his wife, Greg is an active single family rental investor in Polk County.

V.A. Loans

  • Federal loan program for military vets to put money down on a home
  • V.A. loans can be reused as many times as the loan limit allows
    • Homes must be inhabited for 12 months
    • Loan limits vary by state/county
    • Polk County: $424k

5 Tips for Hassle-Free Cashflow

  • Niche Marketing
    • Strategic, intentional marketing
  • Custom Rental Applications
    • Send pre-scripted correspondence to potential tenants with explicit application instructions.
    • Tenants who fail to follow instructions are disregarded
  • Tenant Screening
    • Active listening
    • Asking ope-ended questions during tenant interviews
    • Find out about prior residences
    • Check social media
  • Open House for Rentals
    • Controlled open houses
    • Open houses 2x/mo. cuts down on scheduling showings and creates urgency among potential tenants
  • Cash-Free Payments
    • Requiring proof of bank account assures tenant’s financial credibility
    • All payments sent through electronic funds transfer or cashier’s check

Investor Resources

  • Gary Keller – “Hold”
    • single family rental investing
  • Gary Raulston – “Real Estate Principals: A Value Approach”
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics – monthly reports

Contact Greg

  • On social media @Radford Homes
  • By phone: (863)410-0877
  • Greg is currently looking to expand into multifamily investing in Polk County