Category: Real Estate

Every time my friend Johnny Karloff looks at something written about Borovets, he’s freaking out. “Look at those fools. What is it with them to write the same crap over and over again? Borovets is the oldest Bulgarian ski resort, right? So what? When you go skiing, you want a vintage 1948 chairlift hanging from…

John, Doug, and Ben were all neighbors in a typical working-class neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had all grown up together, best friends since childhood. John had always been taught to be careful with his money., saving for the proverbial rainy day. If she didn’t have enough money to pay for something in cash, she…

The state of Florida appears, at least on the surface, to be experiencing a real estate collapse. Rampant real estate speculation, development and the subprime debacle are blamed for the glut of homes for sale that has left the market upside down and many homeowners under water and facing the possibility of foreclosure. With many…

As a property manager in Charlotte for nine years, I have seen many rental houses come and go; some rented quickly and some didn’t. Most of the houses weren’t perfect, but almost all of the houses that were rented quickly had one thing in common: they were very clean. And you might be surprised how…

While investing in Non-Performing Real Estate Notes, or NPNs for short, can be a great way to earn above-average guaranteed returns compared to the roller coaster stock market or 1% on a CD. Although like all investments, there is no guarantee that you will make money. In reality, if you are not careful, you may…

I can remember when the mobile phone first came out and think that I could never see myself using one. Now everyone has at least one and couldn’t do without it. The humble mobile phone has become a powerhouse of modern technology with built-in digital cameras, music capabilities, and even GPS navigation aids. What would…

If you are planning to renovate or build a new house, you will probably need some handrails. Most handrails come in either wood or metal, both of which have advantages and disadvantages. Let’s start by explaining why so many builders and homeowners choose wood handrails. Wood handrails are the least expensive and easiest to install….

After completing a course in 1031 tax-free exchanges in the early 1970s, the first agreement drawn up on this “revolutionary” means of doing business was a “NON-qualified 1031 tax-free exchange” using “pure boot.” This was not “like property”. A builder had been building houses like crazy and suddenly the market turned south and no one…

If you are a real estate investor, you have wholesaled properties or have heard of others who do. In real estate, what exactly is a “wholesaler”? Here are the basics: a property is bought at a very low price no repairs or rehabilitations are made to the property it is being resold to an investor…

I’ve been reading long, gas-filled recorded documents like Declarations of Easements and Restrictive Agreements for so long that my eyes instinctively roll back in disgust as I recognize the familiar stack of paper. These instruments are particularly prevalent in shopping centers and industrial and office parks, and in mixed-use projects that incorporate a variety of…