Posted on July 3, 2008 @ 11:51 pm - Written by BawldGuy
This is a real simple one people. Flippers with at least 2-3 years experience will see themselves here, and nod their heads. They know exactly what’s what when it comes to what they do and what their real estate investor buddies do.
Ya see, even if the flipper does well, he’s paying ordinary income tax rates on his profits. And if not? He’ll get caught soon enough. Seen it too many times. Most flippers though, earn their profits fairly, pay their taxes, then move on to the next one.
‘Course they gotta take out money for themselves before the movin’ on part actually, you know, moves on. After ’bout the third or fourth one, it becomes fairly clear exactly what’s what.
Here’s the dirty little secret flippers won’t bring up while chowin’ down on the BBQ this weekend.
They very rarely retire well at all. They hit 50 or so, then realize the sun is setting quickly their chances for a stellar retirement. It’s not a good feeling. I’ve consulted with several 50-something flippers in the last couple years. It ain’t been pretty.
They’ve discovered all flippin’s got ‘em is a bigger paycheck, higher taxes, harder work, and more liabilities. And they can’t stop, or it’s back to whatever job they hated before they started flippin’ real estate. They’ve built themselves a prison with no doors. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on June 27, 2008 @ 11:10 pm - Written by BawldGuy
There are plenty of things you can do, not the least of which is to recognize the sea change happening in real time before our eyes. I’m worried for your future. You should be too. And no, I don’t think your properties are gonna put you in the poor house, ‘cuz they’re not. This market correction will end, and at some point your properties will not only regain their value, but go higher.
The Problem?
If your real estate investment world begins and ends at San Diego’s borders, you have a big problem. If they don’t, takin’ your equities Outa Dodge will easily mean $1 Million in additional capital growth for most of you in the next decade. And that figure’s a relatively safe one. Talk about the tortoise and the hare. And for the record? It’s only in the fable that the tortoise wins. Where we’ll take you, the hares don’t stop and lollygag. All things being equal, those leaving San Diego with their real estate investment equity/capital will race past those who stay in town.
It’s a no-brainer. Those who leave now, will be working towards another $5,000 a month retirement income in the next 10 years or so, give or take. This isn’t a game. This is your retirement, and I’m serious as a heart attack about this subject. It’s what I do.
Do not invest in San Diego income property now, or keep what you have longer than it takes to sell/tax defer (1031 exchange) your way out. I’ve been tellin’ folks to buy SD property since Carter was in office. I don’t say these things lightly, as I understand the gravity of decisions based upon one’s future retirement income. But it’s the right thing to do. That makes it an easy call.
I’ll be in town this weekend, available by phone and email. I’m pretty good about gettin’ back to folks quickly. So Contact the Hairless One and let’s see what it’s gonna take to get your retirement back in high gear. Oh, and by the way, for clients doing tax deferred exchanges with Brown and Brown, the selling costs will be reduced by $10,000 or more 90% of the time.
Really — wouldn’t kid ya ’bout that.
Now for some kinda sorta on-topic weekend music. (Just go with it, OK?) Have a good one.
Posted on June 20, 2008 @ 10:36 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Man, the hucksters are out in force. Been gettin’ emails and phone calls from folks wantin’ me to help them retire in the next 2-4 years through ‘fantastic’ cash flow opportunities in such and such a region. What? Huh? First, let’s ask ourselves a few quick questions.
If we at Brown and Brown could get clients to retirement that quickly, don’t ya think we’d of been braggin’ about it before now? Ya think? Do these magic cash flow properties exist? Well, on paper they do. After that? A whole lotta ‘what the heck is goin’ on here’ is what’s after that.
Seriously, didn’t Grandma tell you about the whole ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not’ thing? I’ve literally had over half a dozen conversations this month in which I’ve been questioned about why I won’t fess up about these properties with ATM-like qualities. Wow. What new seminar, Invest In Our Magic Property And Retire Next Tuesday did I miss?
Posted on June 16, 2008 @ 9:15 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Alas, the pics for this post are random at best, and totally discombobulating at worst. I’m just sayin’.
Wanna know something helpful about this real estate market correction? There are folks, who after observing several diverse markets have concluded something’s up. Up you say? Is my property gonna start goin’ up? Not so fast rose colored glasses breath.
Something is up alright. As regular readers know, this ain’t my first time in the theatre. I’ve seen this movie, and its sequels. I know the ending. Don’t know when it’s comin’ or how it arrives, but I do know the ending. Oh, get to the punch line? Sure.
The ending is when those seeing this sequel, thinking it’s the first time in history real estate has taken a powder, begin to think the ‘arrow on the chart’ only heads downward. Of course, it’s the same folks who thought a few years ago the ‘arrow’ only went up. Go figure.
Before continuing, let me warn you in plain English. Any serious attempt to time a market is foolish at the least, and courting tragic and unintended consequences at the worst.
Posted on June 11, 2008 @ 11:15 pm - Written by BawldGuy
Some of today’s post comes via inspiration from conversations I have sometimes with one of my Starbucks buddies. Our conversations are wide ranging, which at times becomes the catalyst for some serious thought when it comes to real estate investors and investing.
‘Course, since random is the theme today, pictures shall be congruently random also.
Gray Bomb
Though I’ve written here often on what drives my decisions to recommend one property/region over others, it still boils down to the same basics it always has. Jobs, job creation, commerce, etc. The continued migration of large population segments from the north, most of the midwest, and the northeast towards sunbelt regions is still strong and will continue to be. No surprise there.
The phrase Gray Bomb though, will begin to have more and more meaning and impact upon real estate as time does its thing. Boomers are now pretty much graying right in front of us. I know, ‘cuz I are one. Though there’s absolutely no gray on my head. (Thanks Schick) They’re making life decisions regarding their retirements, which are impacting the economy in general, and real estate markets specifically to an ever growing degree.
This isn’t new of course, but it’s beginning to become a much more important factor in how Brown and Brown views data these days. When shrapnel from Gray Grenades land in concentrated bunches, it’s news the real estate investor should follow with real interest. Read the rest of this entry »
