Could Multi-Family Units Be the Next Buy

There was a recent article published by Corelogic within their new MarketPulse Newsletter., and republished by DS News Titled: Housing May Turn the Corner in 2012. Within both of these articles, the discussion is about the housing market and how the Spring buying season of real estate will signal either a positive or negative turn in the marketplace.  All predictions are that this Spring will be a hot buying season, and that the housing market will be trending upward thereafter.  What do you think?

After reading these articles, my mind was wandering...could this be the time to consider multi-family units?  The housing market is still depressed, and though single family residences may still be the right buy at the moment, I feel that as investors we should start considering multi-family units.  Let's think about this, as people begin to see the SFR marketplace heat up, they will want to sell their condos, or leave apartments and go into single family homes.  Therefore, the demand for housing will increase, and the demand for multi-family units will decrease, thereby lowing prices!  I will be looking into hot multi-family units, with the intent to purchase within the year, how about you?  Any thoughts?

Scott

How to Stay Positive and Keep Your Motivation

A Realty Times article recently came out and described some positive ways to keep and remain positive as the year progresses:

Real Estate Marketing Strategies: Stop Being so Hard on Yourself

by Dr. Maya Bailey

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20120118_marketing.htm

"Here are some tips on how to change your motivational strategy.

1. Awareness - Start becoming aware of the words you say to yourself every day in order to get up to speed. Do they have a positive or negative tone? Do they build you up or tear you down?
2. Observe – Observe your energy when you hear these words. Does your energy increase or decrease? If you have an inner tyrant, do you also have an inner rebel?
3. Intervene - when you become aware of how often and you are being hard on yourself, it's time to intervene. The best way to break into your own thoughts is to use the "Stop Technique."'

So how are you staying positive, and how are you staying on track to make 2012 a wonderful and productive year?

Scott

A Quick Land Update From Meyers

California Market Watch, January 17, 2012

Major Land Deals in Northern California

Through the second half of 2011, residential land transactions totaling $165M occurred in the Northern California region. The land transactions were primarily for paper lots, with the majority of activity taking place in Santa Clara County.  As was the case for much of the past year, homebuilders remain attracted to core markets in or around employment nodes.  With strong employment opportunities focused on high-tech jobs, Santa Clara County will continue to be one of the core markets of interest for developers and homebuilders in the near term.

                                                                                                                                                                                          

·         Homebuilders’ purchase of residential land focused on paper lots in Santa Clara County.  As finished lots become increasingly scarce throughout the region, paper lots will be the norm for land deals.  California remains one of the toughest places to get lots mapped and entitled, leading to a competitive bidding process for lots with any entitlements.  Even paper lots in core markets have been trading at prices as high as $350,000/lot.  One such transaction occurred in the third quarter of 2011 with Tri-Pointe’s $13.5M purchase of the Cadwallader project in San Jose. 

·         Employment remains a key driver of land purchase decisions.  The Bay Area employment outlook is one of the best in California.  With Santa Clara County experiencing a sharp drop in unemployment over the past year, it will continue to attract a sizable portion of the land transaction market in the near term.  A variety of residential product types have transacted in the past couple of quarters, from mixed-use and attached products to traditional single family detached lots.

·         The multi-family market continues to be at the forefront of the real estate industry.  With homebuilders continuing to struggle against foreclosures and short sales, the multi-family segment now accounts for a larger portion of the market, representing about 60% of the permit activity in the region for 2011.  Renter demand continues to be fueled by the uneasy housing market conditions, tight homebuyer credit, as well as by the booming technology industry.  These factors, along with the preference of generation Y consumers to live in centrally-located areas, will continue to focus demand on the multi-family market.  As a result, existing rental properties and multi-family land will see competitive offers and high transaction values.

Further details on land transactions, as well as other economic and housing data, is available by subscribing to Real Estate Trends, a quarterly newsletter published by Meyers LLC and Elliot D. Pollack & Company covering Southern California, Bay Area and Phoenix.

Jeff Meyers, Principal

jmeyers@meyersllc.com

The New Year: 2012

The new year is officially underway and off to a great start.  It is common tradition to set new years' resolutions, but all to often they are broken by the first quarter, or earlier, into the new year!  So the challenge is always, how to maintain the promise that we make to ourselves.  So how will you keep your promise this year?

I find that having an accountability partner is one of the best ways.  The partner that you choose should have the following:

1). Similar goals to yourself,

2). Positive attitude,  &

3). Willingness to help.

Now, in order to find this type of accountability partner, and to retain them as well, You have to be the same.  So without further a-due, I am posting my new years resolution to increase my title insurance business.  I am asking for my followers to hold me accountable, because you are loyal, have a constant urge to better yourself, and you are reliable.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION:  TO PERFORM AT MY FULL POTENTIAL

Here are 3 tips to help you be at the top of your game:

1. Cultivate a positive mindset, no matter what:

Did you know that your success depends on your mindset, not on the economy? Here are some things you can do that make sure that you are thinking positively.

Focus on all the positive things in your life. Was your house warm when you woke up? Did your car start? Appreciating even the small things can change your entire outlook. Search for motivational resources that keep you uplifted.

Don't overwhelm yourself with the news. Remember, your clients don't care if you are well-informed about world affairs or even national affairs, but they do want to know that you are well-informed about real estate in your community -- so focus on that.

Avoid toxic people. What does that mean? Be on guard for people who want to share their negativity with you. Avoid them like the plague. If you are caught in an elevator with a toxic person you could always set up in boundary and say to yourself "that may be true to you, but it's not true for me."

2. Pump up your lead generation. This is a two-step process.

One, you need to release old self-limiting beliefs that stop you from picking up the phone, such as:

• "If I call people, I'm bothering them"
• "If I call people I might appear too salesy"
• "If I call people I might be rejected"

Two, you need to install updated empowered beliefs such as:

• "I have a valuable service to offer people and people are happy to hear from me"
• "There is no such thing as a rejection; it's either a match for it's not a match"

3. Clear your self-limiting beliefs:

The latest brain research shows that what you say consciously only accounts for 2% of your brain activity.

The other 98% is run by your subconscious mind, by beliefs that were installed in you at a younger age and may or may not be helping you now.

Here's how you can check whether your mind is helping you or hurting you:

• Do you get caught up in unproductive patterns?
• Do you procrastinate?
• Is your income inconsistent?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, then most likely you have counter intentions to your success.

Here are a few anti-success beliefs:

1. I have to be perfect to be okay.
2. I have to be hard on myself to succeed.
3. To succeed, I have to work long hard hours, struggle and sacrifice.

If any of these sound familiar to you, then you need to change them to pro-success beliefs, such as:

1. I am perfectly imperfect, just like everyone else.
2. I motivate myself in positive and encouraging way.
3. To succeed, I just need to work smarter not harder.

If you can focus on the positive, make lead generation a regular habit and clear away the beliefs that are holding you back, then nothing can stop you. Implement each of these tips into action and watch this year become your best year yet.

Realty Times
Published: January 12, 2012
by Dr. Maya Bailey