NBC San Diego is reporting that assembly member Chris Ward has proposed a new legislation that would create a new tax on house flippers. This law would propose a 25% tax on home sales that were owned for less than one year. I find it amazing how lawmakers will bend over backwards to find any …
In an attempt to encourage development of low and medium income housing, local governments will often turn to tax abatements. Since 1971, New York City has had a tax abatement called 421-A that exemplifies both the good and the bad for of this strategy. In general, the tax abatement freezes the taxes on a piece …
It is fun to read old academic articles relating to housing. At least I enjoy it from time to time. This one is especially fun, because I sort of studied at USC under one of the authors several decades after he published this paper in 1993. If you want to read the paper yourself, it …
1: Only move when you have to: Moving a company is a very exciting time in a company’s life cycle. It means that you made it, that you are expanding and that business is good. However, you probably know by now that businesses tend to be cyclical. The average lease is for a number of …
Most cities can be divided into cities that promote cash flow real estate investment or they are appreciation focused. In general, appreciation focused markets are not very affordable, are highly desirable and are more famous internationally. Meanwhile, cash flow markets tend to be more stable, less growth focused cities. There are investment strategies for each …
Over the last several months I have heard several people ponder whether Covid 19 will be the death of cities. On its face, I think this is a laughable idea, as cities have existed through much worse pandemics and even plagues. The black plague killed 50% of Europe but the cities eventually came back. However, …
I was asked to explain how I value out a property. The method I am going to show is for desk jockeys doing a quick valuation, maybe on a prospective flip or just to get an idea of what their Single Family Residence might be worth. A professional, with access to the Local MLS, public …
This is my new project, and soon it will be filled with my thoughts on Real Estate, housing, community investing and everything in between. But while I am putting my thoughts to paper, go have a cup of coffee, cause coffee makes everything better.