Foreign Investment in US Real Estate
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Foreign Investment in US Real Estate
Foreign investors see the United States as a stable and secure place to invest in real estate (Zimmerman, 2008). Foreigners easily can purchase real property in the United States unlike some countries that make it difficult for foreigners to own real estate (Gudelis, 2008). The weakening of the U.S. dollar and lower real property prices due to foreclosures make these investments even more attractive for foreign investors (Gudelis, 2008). Though real property can be easy to purchase for foreigners there are reporting requirements and tax consequences that must be considered if penalties... continue reading >>Sharing experiences
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As a landlord, I have bought several properties with the intent to rent them out and to further develop the properties. Over the years I have always done my own work and occassionally hired people to help me with repairs and rehab projects.
One of my favorite rehabs was a home we purchased as a foreclosure property. This property is flat and has a house sitting on a large lot. The house was older 3 bedroom and had only one 12x14 bathroom. Because of the layout of the house, it was easy to see that the... continue reading >>
You must plan on Success
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You must plan on success otherwise you are planning to fail
Planning is an important part of any businesses success. Businesses need an overall strategic plan to guide the overall direction of the company. A business needs to be able to forecast cash flows. Businesses need to market to new and existing clients. The Strategic Plan Understanding a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) can help especially smaller company’s find advantages and quickly change directions if they need to. All four eliminates of the SWOT analysis are needed in order to make... continue reading >>Tracking Marketing efforts
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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Do you track your various marketing efforts? When you get a call or email, do you know where the leads come from? Do you sometimes wonder if you are getting any business from an ad or website? Do you note in your accounting records the source of sales leads? Does it matter to your business how business is generated?
Tracking the source of LeadsIf you are keeping track of your numbers and sources you will have valuable information for planning and selling. Selling is very much a... continue reading >>
Great deals are out there
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I have a real estate agent that knows what I am looking for in property. Three years ago he found me a large lot with small home in a desirable part of Des Moines. The house currently on the lot was nothing special, but with some rehabbing I was able to turn a 12 x 14 bath that was underutilized into a small master bath and a guest bath. The kitchen needed updating and the home had a carport that was hard to use.
The property was an REO that my real estate agent called to say... continue reading >>
Expanding Real Estate Investments
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I'm looking to expand my real estate investing. Currently I have a number of single family homes that I bought as rental properties. These have been very successful producing great cash flow and significant tax advantages. I manage the properties myself and perform all maintenance.
I have built up some cash and I am looking at other strategies to complement my buy and hold strategy. I have equity built up in several of the rentals that could also be pulled out.
Concerns
Financing is getting quite tight from traditional sources. Recently I was told that because... continue reading >>
Commercial Real Estate Delinquencies Up
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Commercial real estate delinquencies up 7% over last year
The economy is proving to be tough on businesses as well. MSNBC reports that the Federal Reserve is investigating small and large banks holding commercial real estate loans. Apparently commercial delinquencies are up 7% from last year and the Federal Reserve is reviewing bank holding to be sure that they are holding sufficient reserves and that these notes are valued properly.
High levels of unemployment have made it difficult for families to purchase goods and services. Today it was announced that those currently receiving unemployment help is at 9.7%... continue reading >>
Adding Value to Networking
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Adding Value to Your Networking Activities As a CPA, I have found that it is important to get out and meet with people. These meeting offer opportunities to become known and to better know other business owners. A onetime meeting might lead to a business relationship, but it is far more likely that meeting regularly in a single group and getting to know individuals outside of these groups will lead to a referral. 1)Learn how to give referrals to those you meet. Getting to know the people you meet with provides greater opportunities to give and receive referrals. I like... continue reading >>Why is a Budget Important
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Are you running your business without a budget? If so, what are you doing to manage and control your business? A well defined budget can be an excellent tool for the financial planning and control of a business.
Planning aspect
Nearly every business activity has a cost. Understanding how these costs behave and impact a business can help the company achieve their short and ong term goals. Part of the planning process is looking at where a company wants to be, what resources will be needed and how much it will cost.
A budget combines... continue reading >>
Taxman using the Social networking sites