The Real Estate Espresso Podcast

On today’s show we’re talking about what to do when subcontractors are too busy. The front end of a project contains the most uncertainty. This is when you are perpetually in waiting mode. Waiting for engineering drawings, waiting for permits, waiting for lenders, waiting for inspectors, waiting for quotes, waiting, waiting, waiting.  The process that was supposed to take only a few months. J...

On today’s show we are talking about the importance of checking an often overlooked item when purchasing a property.  The question is, does the structure have all the required permits? Did it ever get a building permit? Were all the permits ever closed out? When you consider making improvements or additions to your home, it can be tempting to try and skirt the permit process. In some cities a...

As real estate investors we are very familiar with the difference between good debt and bad debt. Good debt is debt that is used to purchase income producing assets. Bad debt is merely for consumption. That’s the debt that is used to buy everything from your car to your home renovation.  A recent story in the Wall Street Journal illustrates how bad things have become, with bad debt. Families...

Al Williamson is based in Sacramento California where he has focused on medium term rentals. This strategy is filling a gap in the market between short term rentals, hotel rooms, and long term rentals. Very smart approach. Check it out. 

Pete Barrow is based in Indianapolis Indiana where he maintains a high volume business in wholesaling and redeveloping single family homes. Some real nuggets in this conversation. 

The Fed lowered interest rates for the first time in a decade citing lower global economic activity.

Ray Dalio is the founder and co-chairman of Bridgewater Associates, which, over the last forty years, has become the largest and best performing hedge fund in the world. Dalio has appeared on the  Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world as well as the Bloomberg Markets list of the 50 most influential people. The first part of the book reads like a biography. It outlines...

Today’s show is inspired by a conversation that I had with an investor about a project that they were undertaking.   The situation should never have happened and that is the purpose of today’s episode. The construction budget was based on a quote from a contractor, but unfortunately it was riddled with problems and the investor didn’t see it. As soon as I looked at the numbers, it was obvious...

Jonathan from Arlington Virginia asks, The Fed signals of an imminent rate cut made me eager to consider how I can take advantage of reduced rates through additional real estate purchases and other business acquisitions. Then, the announcement from Deutsche Bank that 18,000 employees will be let go stunned me. The two seem eerily (albeit tangentially) connected - I can’t ignore the timing. Should...

Today we're coming to you live from the Village of Montefollonico in Tuscany. This medieval village dates back to the year 1202. The richness of history here is incredible. If you haven't visited, I highly recommend it.

Our guest today is from Team Malizia (team-malizia.com), one of the IMOCA 60 racing boats scheduled to compete in the Vendee Globe single handed round the world sailing race in 2020. 

My guest today is the skipper of Initiatives Coeur. You can find out more at https://www.initiatives-coeur.fr

On today’s show we are coming to you live on location in Italy. We are about an hour outside Rome at a seaside town called Santa Marinella. I come to Italy regularly and in the past decade, not much has changed. In this idyllic seaside town there are numerous properties for sale, many of which have been on the market for two years or more. In fact, they’re still talking about the financial crisis...

On today’s show we’re talking about several bids that were out of whack. You’ve sent the drawings over to three subcontractors and the numbers comes back with a wide variation. One of the bids is quite low and seems attractive. The other two are from subcontractors that you know better, but the numbers are much higher. What do you do? Do you take the low bid? You go back to your tried and true sub...

Apple is in the product business. But before they can manufacture a product, they need to design it. There was a time when Apple Computer used to rely upon components supplied by outside companies to incorporate into their products. The Mac first used a microprocessor based on the Power Architecture developed by Motorola and IBM. Then in 2005, Apple announced the decision to switch from the Power...

On today show we're talking about the incremental changes that if taken slowly enough can lull a docile population into submission. Opposition happens slowly at first and then all of a sudden. The current crisis in Hong Kong is a case in point.  The handover of Hong Kong, occurred at midnight on 1 July 1997, when the United Kingdom ended administration for the colony of Hong Ko...

On today’s show we are talking about the importance of digital marketing. Regardless what business you believe you’re in, today’s market requires an expertise in digital marketing. As real estate investors we are marketing products digitally as well. Whether it’s a vacant apartment, an empty pad in the mobile home park, lockers and eight self storage facility, or even listing a multi family apartm...

We're talking about market cycles this weekend. Love what Marco has to say, To connect with Marco, go to NoradaRealEstate.com or listen to the Passive Real Estate Investing Podcast. 

Today's show is coming to you live on location from the French Island of Groix. If you've ever wanted to know about what owning a piece a paradise off the Atlantic coast of France, this show is for you.

On today’s show we are talking about a growing trend in retirement or pre-retirement living. A number of people are selling the family homestead and opting for life on the high seas. I’m not talking the billionaire mega-yachts. I’m also not talking about slumming it on a 25 foot wooden boat either. There is a large spectrum of options in the middle and I personally know of many people who have mad...

On today’s show we are talking about something that is rarely talked about. Entrepreneurship has been put up on a pedestal and it cool to be an entrepreneur. Today’s show is about the inner struggle of being an entrepreneur. It’s about handling the negative self talk that can surface when things don’t go as planned in your business. It’s when an employee or partner doesn’t fulfill their commitment...

On today’s show we are talking about erosion. But not the usual form of erosion that happens when it rains. I’m talking about the factors that erode your business. When we encounter erosion, the natural reaction is one of dismay of disappointment. This shouldn’t be happening.  So what could erode your business?  These are the small things that you hardly notice. These are the inefficienc...

This question is about Killeen Texas, just North of Austin Texas. 

When governments print money, where does it all go?  Imagine if you went to Las Vegas to play a game of blackjack, but there was one player at the table who had a very special ability. That one player could print more cards at will. the game would not seem very fair now would it? If the player got found out they might justify that special ability as having a benefit to the game. It’s really j...

Brett is a specialist in a tax deferral mechanism called the Deferred Sales Trust. For US investors, this is one of the most important episodes so far this year. Check it out.