Good news for Investors: More Than 95 Percent of Renters Planning to Move in 2010 -> http://bit.ly/7Qnr47 
Get to the Good Stuff Already
Posted by: bgreen
Isn’t there a scientific name or phrase for the realization that something (generally a television show or movie, and occasionally a song) that you thought was entertaining or slap your knee hilarious as a child, translates into something that is bad….and I mean really bad (”extremely cheezy” is a popular adverb-adjective combo in this context) and absolutely nothing like the memory you have of that particular show/movie? Well, if not, there should definitely be one, because it seems to be occurring to me on an ever increasing rate. For instance, recently, I was kicking back after a good meal with my special lady friend, and we were surfing the Comcast Premium Digital Package (Yeah….it’s HD) for a movie to watch. That night Starz was playing a movie I remember watching on a perpetual loop as a boy: Walt Disney’s Air Bud. The heartfelt story about about a (like…totally real life) Golden Retriever named Buddy who leads his shy, bullied owner’s middle school basketball team to an inspiring, come from behind, championship game victory……I know, how could this ever fall into a category like “extremely cheezy”? (more…)
Test Drive: Zilpy.com – Rental Comps
Posted by: Ryan Hinricher
Last year while searching for rental comparable search engine, I came across Zilpy. The site is a web based, free online rental facts site, which allows you to see rental comps for a particular neighborhood, street, or specific address. Zilpy also offers heat maps, city stats, and neighborhood demographics.
The site offer investors a Comparative Market Analysis similar to what a Realtor would give you on a potential purchase. I’ve found this very useful when analyzing investment properties to resell to other investors. What’s interesting is the fact that few sites exist which do what Zilpy does. The site seems to be the first of its kind to offer nationwide rental comps for 1-4 unit residential homes. I’ve seen a few sites which do this for multi-family but noe that offer this on 1-4 units. (more…)
I’m Freezing My Ass Off!!
Posted by: bgreen
For those of you who live in San Diego or Orange County or Scottsdale or St. Barts or anywhere else that never has to endure sub zero temperatures, the threat of a 1/4 inch of snow and the imminent, absurd, cattle like stampeeding of suburbians to the grocery to stock up on milk & bread, let me send a big fat frozen up-yours from those of us who live in actual reality. (more…)
Avoid These 3 Bad(Human) Neighborhoods
Posted by: Ryan Hinricher
Due to a radically differently marketplace, the act of buying a property has changed nearly entirely. In today’s marketplace you have more to worry about than pre-bust era where everyone and their dog was jumping into real estate investment. Back then you biggest concern was finding ill-informed real estate agents who had their license for only a few months, weeks, or days.
Today we have a new set of fears; bad neighborhoods. I don’t mean the kind of neighborhood where you can’t drive at night due to high crime, I mean the human capital kind. Most of the agents who just didn’t know what they were doing have dried up. Today’s real estate vendors have found ways to remain in business either by evolving with the market or doing business in unscrupulous ways, crookedly preying on people who are think this is the BEST time to buy. It may, in fact, be the BEST time to buy, but that doesn’t mean that every deal, seller, or lender is being honest. (more…)
Naughty or Nice (Real Estate)
Posted by: Ryan Hinricher
Being the holidays I thought about assembling a quick list of real estate experiences this year and labeling them appropriately. I’m sure I missed plenty so your comments are welcome. Let me know where you stand on this list:
Naughty: Hating on(publicly), competitors, customers, vendors, or people in the elevator.
Nice: Evangelizing and thanking competitors, customers, vendors, and people in the elevator. (more…)
Hot Air Balloonist/Investor Says “Do it!”
Posted by: Ryan Hinricher
Patsi from Boise, ID
Investing experience: New investor (more…)
Lessons from Conferencing
Posted by: Ryan Hinricher
Every time I go to a real estate conference I seem to learn more in a couple days than my prior 3 months of work, reading, blogging, tweeting, facebooking, and other social media. Why? Because at conference you meet people. You are almost forced into an uncomfortable (at least for an introvert) setting where you must shake hands and give your escalator pitch. In addition to the people, conferences offer you a tremendous amount of learning through interesting presentations, demos, and conversations from real estate thought leaders.
However going to a conference requires you having a strategy or mission. These events can quickly turn in to you blowing time by standing in the corner or chilling in the vendor area and being sold. (more…)
Always Have A Back-Up Plan
Posted by: bgreen
As I watched in horror this evening, the Darth Vaders of college football, the perpetual underhanders at the University of Alabama, win the Citi Bowl Championship Series National Championship. Blaaaah! As a University of Tennessee fan this, of course, ranks about as high on my wish list as clubbed feet or death by paper cut. I digress. The catch here is the University of Texas Longhorns, who were Alabama’s opponent, lost their all-american, Mr. Everything, all-star, 3 year starter, Colt McCoy to a shoulder injury on the 2nd drive of the game. McCoy is a 2 time Heisman Trophy finalist and holds the NCAA record for wins by a starting quarterback. When he left the game, Texas had to replace him with true freshman Garrett Gilbert and well…….I’ve taken more snaps for Texas this year than Garrett Gilbert. Needless to say, this squeezed Texas’ chances for victory tightly between slim and none. (more…)
Good Advice for the New Year
Posted by: Mark Lancaster
Cartoonist: Mark Lancaster
