The Real Estate Espresso Podcast

I had a conversation with George Ross earlier this week where we talked about the outcome of the election. George offered his perspective on the election outcome and what it might mean for real estate investors. 

On today’s show we’re talking about the tax changes that could affect real estate investors following the US election. The 2017 changes to the tax code brought a number of new initiatives that were very beneficial to real estate investors. Top of the list were three changes. 1) Bonus Depreciation 2) Opportunity Zones 3) Step up in basis Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad advisor on accounting is Tom Wheel...

Today is another AMA Episode. Ramon from Los Angeles asks, I have several investment properties with reasonably low debt, <50% LTV, >1.6x DCR. With interest rates so low and the potential for inflation caused by central bank currency printing, I am considering refinancing a few properties to increase their debt, 70% LTV, 1.2x DCR.  In addition to letting this potential inflation help wi...

The world is filled with news articles that don’t make sense. I get bent out of shape when I read an article that is downright ignorant. When I say ignorant, I mean lacking in basic education. The worst part is that these articles are getting wide circulation and feeding mis-information on a large scale. On today’s show we’re talking about one such article about the condo market published earlier...

On today’s show we’re going to take a brief detour from the world of real estate investing to unpack one of the largest technology announcements to come out this year. Unless you are involved deeply in the guts of the high tech industry, you may have a hard time understanding the significance of the latest Apple announcement. Prior to moving into the world of real estate investing, I was a micropr...

On today’s show we’re talking about a single word. The problem with this single word is that it’s ambiguous. We often think that we know the language and what it means. But the truth is unless you’re really clear on exactly what you mean, very simple words can lead you down a dead end path. Today’s show is focused on a simple word that has four letters. When projects run into difficulty, the culpr...

On today's show we're talking about goal setting for 2021. This is an exercise that needs to start now, not on December 31. Marc and Nicky are repeat guests on the show. They're having a one day virtual business goal setting workshop on November 28.  You can connect with them at ecircleacademy.com/appointment

Ali Boone is CEO at Hipster Investments where they specialize in turnkey investments. On today's show we're talking about Ali's new book, " NOT Your-How To Guide to Real Estate Investing". Connect with Ali and get a copy of her new book at https://www.hipsterinvestments.com/espressobook

Ramon from Los Angeles asks, I am in contract to purchase a 6-unit value-add multifamily property in a rapidly gentrifying area of Los Angeles. It is a rare true off-market deal that is well priced (at least pre-covid). With 5 of the 6 units vacant I can immediately renovate most of the units. I own other property in the area and posted test ads so I feel like I have a good sense of the current re...

Today is another AMA episode (Ask Me Anything). Kara asks, I’ve been approached by a borrower to lend funds to purchase a property. I’m not interested in taking risks, so I figure if I limit the loan amount to 80% of the property value, and secure the loan in first lien position I’m going to be safe. I don’t have the time or systems to fully qualify the borrower. The property is a fixer upper whic...

On today’s show we’re taking a fresh look at the impact of the pandemic on business activity. Conditions on the ground are evolving rapidly and it’s been some time since we’ve looked at the implications. We have major parts of Europe back in a full lockdown situation. I have two cousins in Milan who both contracted the disease in the past 10 days. One is doing well, the other one is struggling. Si...

On today’s show we’re talking about the dilemma of choosing suppliers and choosing specific products. There is a world of choice and prices vary widely. It comes down to making a value determination whenever you’re choosing a particular product. The importance of that choice depends on who you are and what you’re going to do with it. If I’m going to play a game of basketball, I’m going to make a d...

On today’s show we’re talking about the morning after. We have a nation where nearly half the population is elated, and nearly half the nation is disappointed and maybe downright angry. If you’re a real estate investor, or a real estate developer, you’re probably wondering what the future holds. You might be wondering if Joe Biden will make good on his election promise to increase taxes on busines...

All the way from Kansas City, Bob Fraser has taken the entrepreneurial journey through several industries. Over the past 8 years he has specialized in real estate Notes as a business. On today's show we're talking about the strategies that are working in today's market.  You can connect with Bob at aspenfunds.us.

Gray Robinson is a recovering lawyer (or perhaps a relapsing lawyer). On today's show we're talking about burnout and how to manage the stress of a demanding role. This is a must-listen episode for any professional, entrepreneur, or business owner. Gray can be reached at lawyerlifeline.net.

Yesterday Zillow announced their Q3 financial results. This is a company that has been one of the few that benefited from the market conditions in 2020. The company has grown to 5,000+ employees. They had a record quarter in Q3. On their earnings call the company shared a perspective on the overall balance of supply / demand that many investors don’t often pay attention to. The pandemic has turned...

On today’s show we’re talking about the impact of the election. Let’s ask a simple question. As a landlord, do you screen your tenants based on political party affiliation? I already know the answer. Of course you don’t. That would be just as illegal as discriminating on the basis of gender, or skin color or religious beliefs. You can’t paint an entire state a single color. California has a reputa...

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued new regulations today that affect real estate investors and exempt offerings. The full news release can be found at https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2020-276

On today's show, I'm going on record to predict the outcome of the US election. Check it out. 

Today’s question comes from Richard in Ottawa, Canada. Rich asks, With materials costing more and labour being harder to get, wouldn’t it make sense that high end/newer homes property values will go up over the next 12-18 months? Doesn’t less supply = higher demand? Rich this is a great question. Supply and demand are independent variables. Less supply doesn’t actually mean higher demand. We’re co...

Our book this month is called “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek. Simon shot to fame in the wake of his first TED Talk in 2010 entitled “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”. His second TED Talk in 2014 was called “Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe”. It’s no surprise this our book this month is also on leadership. The foreword was written by Lieutenant General George Flynn of the US Marine Corps. Th...

Adrian Panozzo has scaled his business over the span of ten years using the BRRR (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) strategy by concentrating on a smaller multi-family properties. During this time he was a full time police officer in Toronto.  His investment market of Hamilton Ontario has a history as an industrial city with steel production, transportation and logistics at the core of...

Risk Management is one of those topics that seems dry and esoteric to some. It’s a subset of project management. But risk is one of those things that is ever-present, depending on how you plan your projects. On today’s show we’re going to look at a deep dive on one specific risk that actually came true. But before we talk about that specific story, let’s define what we mean by a risk. A risk is so...

On today’s show we are talking about the fall in prices. There is a wide range of opinion on where real estate prices are heading in the next 12 months. Prices have continued to rise during the pandemic despite massive job losses, economic contraction, and falling revenues. The long predicted fall in prices is now just starting to become visible. My family lived in NYC for about 25 years. My aunt...

The day of reckoning for residential tenants is coming and it’s just around the corner. Governments all over are left scrambling trying to handle the expiration of the moratorium on evictions. But just as the day of reckoning is looming for tenants who are behind on their rent, some politicians are working behind the scenes to protect tenants who have been impacted by the pandemic. Still others ar...