ELLIE'S BLOG ON FORBES MAGAZINE
June 8, 2020
Biggest Risks When Investing In A Syndication And How To Avoid Them
Many investors are now putting their money into real estate, especially multifamily properties. There are a number of good reasons to do this. Prices for multifamily properties have skyrocketed over the past several years, and because of their limited availability and the fact that downsizing retired baby boomers are keeping vacancy rates low, prices will continue to rise.
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April 6, 2020
How An Economic Crisis Can Impact Real Estate Investing
The top story on all news feeds over the past several weeks has been about the coronavirus. While the concern about the virus is deepening, it is impacting the economy in many different ways. For example, I personally pulled all of my money out of the stock market before the first crash, as I saw how the international concern would negatively impact the stock market. The market has since seen its worst drop in value since the Great Recession of 2008.
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February 3, 2020
The Three Most Common Mistakes Passive Real Estate Investors Make
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The multifamily real estate market is booming, and many new passive investors want to get in on the potentially lucrative investments that multifamily properties offer.
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November 22, 2019
Angel Investing Versus Real Estate Investing: Which Strategy Would Win?
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I’m often asked what my preference is when comparing angel investing to real estate investing, since I participate in both investment avenues. I invest in multifamily properties across the U.S., and I like to diversify and invest in local and foreign technology startups. Both real estate and angel investing have their pros and cons, so let’s take a closer look at each before revealing which one is my preference.
August 7, 2019
Investment Showdown: Stocks Versus Multifamily Properties
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There is no question that many people have built their wealth over time using multifamily real estate investments. Likewise, many people have amassed significant amounts of money by investing in the stock market. So in a strategic showdown, which investment takes the prize — multifamily real estate investments or the stock market?
May 16, 2019
Five Reasons To Invest In Multifamily Properties Instead Of The Stock Market
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When speaking with passive investors about participating in one of my syndication deals, I am often asked, “Is a multifamily investment better than buying stocks?” I’ll be honest: There is no easy answer to that question.
February 26, 2019
The Biggest Misconception About Investing In A Real Estate Syndication
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Many passive investors turn to real estate syndications when investing in multifamily properties. The reasons may vary, but they all come down to the fact that passive investors don’t have the experience, time and necessary funds to purchase multifamily properties on their own.
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November 19, 2018
Three Important Questions To Ask Your Syndicator Before You Invest
When you choose to invest alongside a syndicator, it is crucial that the deal’s numbers make sense, meaning the returns should match your investment criteria. Some investors aim for minimum 15% internal rate of return (IRR) and some are satisfied with 13% IRR. However, it is key not only to invest in the right deal, but also with the right syndicator. After all, the syndicator is the one who handles your money.
May 18, 2020
Seven Proven Tactics To Maximize Rent Collections During A Crisis
COVID-19 has taught me a great deal about real estate investing. Though I was part of the real estate scene back in 2008, nothing had prepared me for the current crisis. Like many investors, I too was concerned about collecting rents from my tenants. Not only have some of my tenants lost their jobs, but because I put an agency debt on the property, according to the CARES Act, I am not able to evict tenants, regardless of whether they have lost their jobs or not. Though nationwide only 69% of tenants paid their April rents on time, my company was able to collect over 96% of rents during April and May.
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March 16, 2020
Why And How To Raise Capital Before You Have A DealIs Everyone Really Making Money in Real Estate Now?
When you look at the prices of multifamily properties, you’ll find that they’ve skyrocketed over the past several years. In fact, there are often bidding wars that drive up the prices due to a limited availability of properties along with the desire for new investors to jump on the multifamily bandwagon. Will the good times ever end?
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January 15, 2020
What The Market Is Telling Us About The Upcoming Recession
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Will there be a recession anytime soon? Many economists say yes, and many investors assume that there will be a recession in the coming year.
October 4, 2019
Why Do Investors Keep Overpaying On Properties, Even At This Stage Of The Cycle
I recently met with an acquaintance who owns thousands of doors across the United States. As we were chatting, he told me that he recently sold a property at $3 million above what they thought they would get for the property. Yes, $3 million. I couldn’t imagine who would overpay so much, especially in a mature market.
July 24, 2019
Why Assuming The Worst Is Best When Buying Real Estate
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Let’s start by saying that I am an optimist by nature. I see the glass three-quarters full, not half, and I am passionate about real estate and its role in growing my wealth. That being said, I often speak with investors about their real estate investments, and often hear how optimistic they are about the multifamily real estate market and how they don’t see any reason to doubt that the prosperity and price appreciation will continue.
April 18, 2019
Why Passive Investors Should Not Focus On Fees Syndicators Charge: A Perspective
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First, a disclosure: I am a syndicator, which means that I buy properties with other investors and together we pay for the down payment. Since I spend months looking for deals, analyzing them with my team, negotiating with the seller, signing the loan, organizing the syndication deal and managing the asset, I’m being compensated by collecting fees from my investors, as well as splitting the equity with them.
January 29, 2019
The Crucial Real Estate Deal Component Most Investors Miss
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If you’re like most real estate investors, you probably receive deal packages from real estate syndicators, also known as sponsors, on a regular basis. Often, these packages contain executive summaries that position the deals as excellent investment opportunities. This should come as no surprise, as the job of the real estate sponsor is to screen out the bad and average deals and only focus on deals that present true opportunity...
April 27, 2020
How To Create Generational Wealth With Apartment Syndication
There’s a famous Chinese proverb that says, “Wealth never survives three generations.” America has its own version, which says, “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.” But while 70% of wealthy families will end up losing their wealth by the second generation and 90% will lose it by the third, there are ways to avoid that from happening.
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February 24, 2020
Why And How To Raise Capital Before You Have A Deal
While finding the right deal in the right market is critical to achieving success as a syndicator, the ability to raise capital is equally, if not more, important. I've found that having capital from investors in place before you have a deal in hand is the best way to ensure success.
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December 30, 2019
The Misconception About Starting Small Before 'Graduating' To Large Multifamily Properties
I’ve met many investors who believe that the smart way to enter the multifamily market is to start small and then “graduate” to buying larger multifamily properties. From my experience, that is a misconception that should be addressed because it prevents those investors from enjoying the many benefits associated with larger multifamily assets.
September 3, 2019
How $100,000 Can Buy You 100 Apartments
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When most people think of owning multifamily properties, they believe that the cost would be prohibitive. After all, you can find solid apartment building in many markets, such as Texas, Florida and Georgia for $70,000–$150,000 per unit. So how could it be possible to own 100 apartments for just $100,000?
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June 24, 2019
Should You Shy Away From The 'Best' Class A Apartment Buildings?
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When it comes to multifamily properties, some investors stick with Class A properties and see them as the best asset classes in the multifamily sector. After all, they are usually fully leased with top tenants, fetch market-leading rents, require little if any repairs or renovations and have a stable monthly income.
March 26, 2019
Should Investors Wait For The Next Real Estate Crash To Make A Move?
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There are many investors who decide to wait until the market crashes before purchasing real estate. After all, some investors reason, if the market is down, then prices are probably at their lowest point, and any investment is sure to show gains. The problem is, that philosophy just doesn’t work for multiple reasons.
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January 3, 2019
How Investors Can Ensure Their Opportunity Zone Investment Is A Smart Deal
While the term “Opportunity Zones” may sound familiar now, it’s a relatively new term, and plenty of investors still know little about what they are and how to use them to their benefit. Whether you're considering your first property investment or your thousandth, it's smart to understand what they are, and whether this is the right program for you...