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Own A Vacation Home That Pays You

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Please review this important message from our sponsor.

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More than 700 Investors from Around the Nation, and World, United for the 3rd Annual LA GRAND Real Estate Expo

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By Lori Peebles

West Los Angeles — More than 700 investors from around the nation, and world, united for one day in Los Angeles at the IMAN Cultural Center to listen to the latest news in real estate investing on Saturday, October 22nd.

The 3rd Annual Los Angeles Grand Real Estate Expo offered a full day of complimentary education on a variety of real estate investing topics taught by some of nation’s top industry leaders. The expo was attended by investors from states across the nation, including Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and more.

The GRAND Expo also once again attracted an international audience with guests flying in from Mexico, England and Poland just to attend the one-day educational event.

The day was buzzing with excitement as hundreds of investors rushed to secure a seat to hear their favorite educators. Three breakout sessions gave expo guests the option of learning about a variety of subjects throughout the day.

One of the top highlights of the expo was when Rick Sharga, Executive Vice President of ATTOM Data Solutions, took the floor and dived deep into inflation’s impact on the current real estate market.

Sharga also shared insight into his predictions of what to expect in the 2023. His presentation was standing room only while dozens of guests patiently stood by the entire hour to hear him speak.

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Other top educators for this year’s GRAND expo, included: Shawn Tiberio, Christopher Meza, Rusty Tweed, Tony Watson, Cliff Gager, Merrill Chandler, David Tedder, Paul Finck, Abbas Mohammed, Amanda Brown, Aneissa Goss, Joe Arias, and others.

More than 50 companies exhibited their products and services to the community, including Frontier Communications, Zoho, Lending One, New York Life Insurance Company, Klaviss, Zinc Financial, Western International Securitas, Fair Trade Real Estate, WRENN, San Diego Creative Investors Association, Retran, Alt Lender Mortgage, AV Fund Group, Prime Equity Mortgage, Landlord Advocates, Payne Pest, Real Success, Retran, Number One Accountancy, plus many other premiere companies.

The three-series GRAND expo has already reached nearly 3,000 investors in person and has united more California investors under one roof than any other REI event in the state.

The event is sponsored by Los Angeles County Real Estate Investors Association, Sam’s Real Estate Club of Los Angeles, the Ventura County Real Estate Investors Association, plus Realty411 and REI Wealth magazines.

The principals of each organization, Lloyd Segal, Sam Sadat and Linda Pliagas, have been friends for over 20 years and have collaborated on numerous smaller projects prior to the start of the LA GRAND Expo series.

Their goal is to increase the attendance of next year’s expo and expand its international presence as a flagship global real estate investor conference.

To learn about participating in next year’s LA GRAND Expo, visit: https://LAGrandExpo.com or call Realty411’s office at: 805.693.1497.

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Why 2022 is Still a Good Time to Invest in Real Estate

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Despite Inflation, Despite Interest Rates, Despite a Recession

“I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”
—Warren Buffett

By Jeff Roth

Why to Not Worry About Inflation

Let’s take a look at inflation historically.

Yes the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is over 8%, and some say higher because they changed the way CPI is calculated over the years and does not include all items that may show inflation that consumers frequently need to buy.

However, real estate is one of the few assets that is performing well in this inflationary environment.

Values of properties have continued to go up higher than inflation. Buying investment real estate is using the power of inflation to your advantage because prices go higher with inflation because, sadly, the value of the dollar has gone down, and it takes more of those devalued dollars to buy the same house.

Even in 2022, prices are forecasted to go higher.

Rents have also increased greater than the rate of inflation in many places.

So, investing in real estate uses the power of inflation to your advantage.

What about high interest rates?

Why to Not Worry About Interest Rates

Yes, like inflation, interest rates are higher than we have seen in some time, and many would argue the rates were kept artificially low by the Federal Reserve.

So, historically speaking, how bad are interest rates?

Interest rates are elevated, but they still are not as high as they have been at some points in the nation’s history.

Also, if interest rates are lower than the rate of inflation (which they still are in many cases), then the effects of inflation mean you are paying back a long-term debt with dollars that are “worth less” over time because the value of the dollars you are paying the debt back with have been devalued.

Essentially, long-term debt, like mortgages, are an asset themselves in an inflationary environment.

Yet another reason to invest in 2022.

But what about a recession? Won’t that affect the housing market and real estate investments?

Why to Not Worry About a Recession

Home prices have gone up four of the last six recessions.
Part of the reason for this is the lack of housing supply to meet demand.

In fact, a recent study by Freddie Mac states there is a 3.8 million shortage of housing units to meet demand that would need to be built in the coming years in the U.S. https://www.yahoo.com/news/more-housing-coming-national-shortage-035900543.html

This new supply of housing units will need to be built while there is a shortage of skilled trade workers and lingering supply chain issues making material availability and costs unpredictable.

A good exercise, as an investor, is to ask where else can you invest your resources besides real estate and what returns you can expect.

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What Are The Investment Alternatives?

There are many alternatives to investing in real estate. Let’s see how they are performing.

Wage Growth- Surely, with all the job shortages reported, there has to be strong wage growth. Actually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from Sept.13, 2022, real average hourly earnings are down 2.8%, seasonally-adjusted, from August 2021 to August 2022. Did you get a 9% pay increase this year to stay ahead of inflation? If so, you are doing better than most. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.nr0.htm

Stock Market Performance- Year-to-date total returns for the S&P Index is down 17.12% according to MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/index/spx

Bitcoin- Digital gold is down 57.76% year-to-date according to MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/cryptocurrency/btcusd

Gold- The original safe haven investment is down 6.82% year-to-date according to MarketWatch. https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/future/gold

Small Business Performance- According to an article from April 2022 entitled “41 Small Business Statistics: Everyone Should Know,” only 40% of small businesses are profitable. https://www.smallbizgenius.net/by-the-numbers/small-business-statistics/#gref

So, if there really are no great alternatives to real estate investing in 2022 for the average investor, what is the cost for waiting and giving in to the media’s negative drumbeat about inflation, interest rates and a recession?

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What Are The Opportunity Costs For Waiting To Invest in Real Estate?

There are always costs for not making a decision or making a different decision with your resources.

Let’s take a look at the lost wealth over the next 5 years in lost equity if you wait or fail to invest in 2022.

According to Keeping Current Matters and the Home Price Expectation Survey, you would lose out on $102,787 from appreciation alone.

Additionally, you have three more opportunity costs for not investing in real estate in 2022:

1. Interest rates may very well continue to increase.

2. The money you have to invest will lose purchasing power from inflation.

3. The tax benefits from owning real estate will not be realized.

So, the question is, why wait?

Why Wait to Buy Real Estate?

Real estate appreciation and rent increases are greater than the rate of inflation.

Interest rates are still below the rate of inflation and below historical highs.

Home prices have gone up during four of the last six recessions.

All other investment alternatives are losing value in 2022 on average.

Waiting to invest will cost you future projected appreciation, interest rates may continue to increase, the money you have to invest will continue to lose purchasing power, and the tax benefits from owning real estate will not be realized.

Why wait to buy real estate?

To your success!

Jeff Roth
Contributor

Jeff is the founder of Arbor Advising. Arbor Advising is a consultancy based in Ann Arbor, Michigan that is passionate about helping people reach their financial goals with real estate and real estate investing in Michigan with an established record of success in various market conditions. Jeff believes in the value of education and is a contributor to many local and national real estate publications and organizations. Reach out for a confidential consultation to review your specific goals and objectives and join the many satisfied clients that work with Arbor Advising.

You can connect with him at:
www.arboradvising.com
[email protected]
https://twitter.com/ArborAdvising
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083113851229
https://www.linkedin.com/company/arbor-advising/?viewAsMember=true
https://www.instagram.com/arboradvising/

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Increasing Mortgage Rates are Only Part of the Problem

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By Stephanie Mojica

Future and current homeowners have been mesmerized by countless media reports about increasing mortgage rates and decreasing home sales prices. However, the 20-year high in mortgage rates is not the biggest problem facing the real estate market, according to REALTOR.com.

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Many residential properties are staying on the market significantly longer because the combination of increased mortgage rates and home prices is too much for the average buyer to bear. As a result, a number of potential buyers are waiting for housing prices to drop, per FOX Business.

As of October 27, 2022, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 7.08%. The average at the same time last year was 3.14%. The current rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.36%, compared to 2.37% in 2021.

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Some real estate investors are panicking over these changes in market conditions, Fortune.com noted. This may be justified, as home prices fell 27% between 2006 and 2012 — and experts expect even more significant reductions in the years to come. Prices have plunged 8.2% in San Francisco, for example.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

How To Become A Mortgage Loan Officer

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Submitted by Stratton Equities

One of the best jobs you can go for these days if you want to work hard, make a lot of money, and change the world around you is to become a mortgage loan officer. There are so many opportunities out there in the real estate world to make a living, but one of the most fulfilling and lucrative is to become a mortgage loan officer for a private money lending firm.

But what are the steps you will have to take to even become a loan officer?

Like most careers that deal with highly valuable assets and specified levels of management and service, to become a loan officer, you need to get your license. The NMLS, or Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System, offers a variety of mortgage licenses but the one in particular that applies to loan officers most is the Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) license.

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How to get licensed as a Mortgage Loan Officer/Originator

Getting an NMLS license will certify that as a loan officer, you are now able to legally serve as a mortgage loan originator. Additionally, it informs your prospective clients and employers, that you are knowledgeable of all the laws and regulations that come with mortgage lending.

More specifically, obtaining an NMLS license means that you have completed a class that teaches you all the requirements for serving as a mortgage loan officer, and that you have passed the SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator Test.

You must complete both tasks to be properly qualified to apply for the NMLS license. Once you have your NMLS license, you can easily apply for most private lending and conventional mortgage lender positions.

Although the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS) License covers across the country, you will still need to apply for an individual license per state you are looking to lend in.

Applying to Become a Mortgage Loan Officer with a Private Lender

Believe it or not, the next step in becoming a mortgage loan officer is finding a position at a private lending firm that suits your needs and interests. The NMLS license qualifies loan officers for all private lending and conventional lending mortgage companies. This will allow you to apply for all loan officer positions, however, you will still need the individual license per state.

After applying at your desired location, the interview process shouldn’t be too surprising or different from any other high-level interview process as they will mainly ask you questions and test you on your skillset, knowledge, and ambitions.

Once you’ve secured the position, the best private lending firms will provide thorough training, management, and support.

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Working at a Private Lending Mortgage Company

Through training new loan officers, a private lender prepares their sales team to help guide them to mastering some of the nuances required as a loan officer, that cannot be taught purely through an academic mindset.

You must be ready and focused as a loan officer and this level of training throughout the first few months of the job will help get you to that point.

As important as it is to get certified by the NMLS, there is only so much you can learn by studying laws, memorizing loan options, and practicing unique scenarios. The real test of grit is to see how well you work in a real-world setting.

To be successful as a loan officer you need to be sharp-minded at all hours, diligent in the details, dedicated to working hard, and affirmative in your tone, actions, and decisions. Furthermore, be intuitive enough to understand what is a good deal and how to thread the needle if plans don’t go as expected.

The work will be hard but the rewards are great. On average a mortgage loan officer at a private lending mortgage company can make an average of $150,000-$250,000 a year.

Securing Your Position as a Mortgage Loan Officer

To secure your career as a successful loan officer at a private lending institution, there are a couple more things you can do to ensure your success.

Firstly, there is the option to get certified by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and/or the American Bankers Association (ABA). This step is optional and not required for the position of loan officer, but getting this certificate can help boost your credentials, entice more clients to come your way, acquire yourself more deals and negotiations from borrowers, and specialize your skill set such that you are even more knowledgeable and prepared as a loan officer.

Lastly, you must renew your NMLS license every year. This is to ensure that whoever is still practicing they are aware of certain changes in the law, whether it be on the nationwide level or statewide. Additionally, renewing your license frequently keeps you fresh and sharp-minded as you are regularly checked on how well and how prepared you are at the job.

These are all the principal steps one takes when seeking to become a loan officer. The process is fairly intuitive for this type of position while also being thoroughly detailed in ensuring that only the best and most prepared are the ones handling multi-million dollar real estate investment deals.

Become a Mortgage Loan Officer/Originator with Stratton Equities! We’re Hiring!

If you are a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator that is new to the industry and is having a difficult time finding business, we have the solution.

Stratton Equities provides our loan officers with daily direct organic leads, that are from people that call into or apply to our offices looking for a mortgage. Not the other way around. We have a time-tested model that includes a state-of-the-art CRM and lead generation, amazing hands-on training, and the widest range of mortgage loan programs in the industry.

We have niche products that specialize in different types of loans such as Hard Money, No-DOC Loans, Soft Money Loan Programs, Non-QM Loans, Conventional, Fix & Flip, Commercial and more.

Benefits of working with Stratton Equities:

Direct Organic Leads
Hands-on Training & Support
Largest library of niche loan products – say “YES!” more!

Pay: $158,086.00 – $294,677.00 per year
Benefits: 401(k), Dental insurance, Health insurance, Vision insurance

For more information on how to get started as a loan officer, visit Stratton Equities today. We offer the largest variety of loan options that can all be directly accessed by our borrowers. Our starting interest rate is the lowest out of any private money lender, and you can get your loan approved in as little as 24-48 hours.

Additionally, our average time frame in closing loans for our new loan officers is 4-6 weeks after training.

Apply Now at https://www.loanofficerscareers.com and email us at [email protected]

Funding Investors To Create More In-Demand Housing Inventory

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By Tim Houghten

We seem to be in one of the most interesting and exciting times for real estate investors in recent history. There appears to be both motivated sellers and motivated buyers creating an incredible intersection of opportunity. For many, the ability and scale at which they can take advantage of this phase of the market is all about access to smart leverage and funding for their deals.

We recently connected with Jared Reyes, Vice President of Sales at Center Street Lending to gain insight on their success, what funding is currently available, and how investors can position themselves to make the most of the landscape.

Center Street Lending

Center Street Lending (CSL) is a private lender specializing in Value-add Residential investment properties. The company is coming up on 13 years in business, during which they’ve originated over $3B in residential investment property loans.

Stephen Couig founded Center Street Lending after obtaining his MBA at Dartmouth, and stints with Morgan Stanley and Troon Golf, as well as operating his own residential development company.

He not only saw a big opportunity to fill the void in the business-purpose lending space, but he also aspired to help solve the lack of housing inventory.

As Vice President Jared Reyes says there was, and remains, a shortage of good housing. He adds that either enough hasn’t been built, or what is on the market needs improvement and upgrading.

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Investment Property Loans

Both directly, and through their network of mortgage brokers, Center Street Lending provides several types of loans for investors.

Programs include:

  • Fix and flip loans
  • Rental property loans
  • Bridge loans
  • Ground up construction loans
  • Long-term rental property loans

Bridge loans provide investors with fast capital when they need to quickly close on new acquisitions. These loans are available on SFRs, up to 4-unit properties, townhomes, and condos, including for foreign nationals.

Rental property loans are available for refinance or purchase, for short- and long-term rental operators.

Center Street’s Strength: Fix & Flip Loans

Center Street Lending’s portfolio Fix & Flip loan program offers up to 85% LTV on the purchase price, or 100% of rehab costs.

Flexible loan terms range from 6 to 18 months. Funding is available in at least 18 states across the US.

Loan amounts start at $100k, with closings in as little as 10 -14 business days.

Center Street’s Strength: Ground Up Construction

One of the programs CSL is most known for is funding ground up construction projects.

Whether it’s helping newer investors get started in real estate or those already doing several projects a month, Center Street Lending sees themselves as a catalyst for starting and growing real-estate investment businesses.

Their construction loans fund non-owner occupied 2-4 unit builds, townhomes, PUDs, and condos. Flexible terms range from 9 to 18 months, with loan amounts up to $10M.

Financing goes up to 80% Loan-To-Cost (LTC). The team at Center Street pride themselves on fast, no-hassle draws on funds.

Tips For Real Estate Investors

While the market may be strong and moving swiftly, Center Street wants to work with solid borrowers with good projects. In today’s market, those flipping houses and building new inventory are facing more challenges than ever before. Center Street’s loan / project journey, which consists of loan origination, servicing, and fund control gives investors more transparency to navigate through supply chain delays, permit delays, and labor shortages.

To stay ahead, to continue to be successful, and to maintain access to the best funding to scale, CSL recommends:

  • Be detailed in costs management
  • Build in contingencies for volatility
  • Be smart about the project at hand
  • Show the work / show the experience

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What’s Different About Center Street Lending? Smarter Loans for Residential Investors

Center Street Lending stands out from traditional lending with some more creative loan programs specifically designed for investors, especially those interested in value-add construction projects.

CSL focuses on relationships with their borrowers as they continue to grow their businesses. The team is built with experienced and knowledgeable members who can communicate with borrowers about their complex needs.

Something that is different than most is that they do everything in house; that means the ability to underwrite and fund loans in house. Another key bonus is CSL’s ability to retain the servicing on their loans so that investors continue to have the same point of contact — one who cares about the long-term relationship.

For those interested in running their deal scenarios by Center Street Lending, please contact them to find out more.

Connect with Center Street Lending (CSL) today at (949) 449-2594

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.