Category: DC Real Estate Investing

I stopped by the Bankruptcy Court in Greenbelt earlier this week and made a short little video.

Lots of people in our business have no idea what goes on in these courts and all the opportunity it gives for those of us willing to do just a little extra work reviewing some of these files.

If you have a good grasp on property values but are struggling to find property that you might be able to buy – at a discount – this next June WREIA meeting is for you.

Over 17,000. That’s a big number.

But, there is one more item that actually got my attention.

It was the fact that this number was an INCREASE (+2.02%) over the previous year.

In fact, this was the first increase since 2010. Most of us remember that tough period from 2008-2010. People refer to it as the Great Recession.

This increase is a reversal of a trend. Small reversal, yes. But it is something to keep an eye on – and if the trend continues, or even gets larger, there could be an opportunity for those of us looking in this little nook of our business.

My point is this – as a well rounded real estate entrepreneur – are you looking for properties in the Bankruptcy Courts?

This is another skill set that you can take with you anywhere across the country. In fact, if you are looking for property outside of the DC area this process might be perfect for you.

I’ve had a lot of discussions with people over the last couple of years. Most people are getting frustrated that they can’t find property.

Are you looking at Bankruptcies?

In 2017 there were over 17,000 reasons you should be. And that’s only in Maryland!

If you are interested in the process of bankruptcy – join us on June 18th as we explore the many ways you can find properties that very few people know about. Long before other people know about them too.

Next Monday, June 18th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then, come join us at WREIA – Monday, June 18th. It will be a great meeting to finally start the summer season, get you motivated, and get some momentum for the rest of 2018.

Join us as we talk about Finding Property In the Bankruptcy Courts.

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: Walt Disney

Walt Disney created what has become one of the most lucrative businesses of all time.

The Disney company brought in over 55 BILLION dollars in 2016.

But did you know it started as a result of a bankruptcy?

Most people don’t know that Walt Disney moved from Kansas City to Hollywood in 1923 after he declared bankruptcy with his previous company – Laugh-O-Gram Studios.

Walt had his tail between his legs and was a little embarrassed in the early 1920’s.

He had learned a few lessons from his earlier business and was ready to put that knowledge into action.

And that is how bankruptcy is supposed to be used. It gives people a chance to start over.

Fail. Get back up and go again.

It doesn’t get much more American than that. Entrepreneurship at its very core.

Forward to 2018, nearly a century later. Nestled inside the bankruptcy process is a way for us, as real estate investors, to help people through the process.

If you are interested in the process of bankruptcy – join us on June 18th as we explore the many ways you can find properties that very few people know about. Long before other people know about them too.

Monday, June 18th at Washington REIA.

For $1,200 a month, Patricia Torres and her family were renting a bedroom, a share of time in the bathroom, one vegetable drawer and one shelf in the fridge, and two cupboards over the stove. They rented not so much a home as a fraction of one.

Karen Calderon had even less: a single room in a homeless shelter where she was not allowed so much as a hot plate to cook for her family.

Adrian Caratowsa had a studio he’d remade as his own, repainting the walls and wallpapering over the kitchen cabinets. But every day for five years, he walked out into a neighborhood he found depressing.

For each, San Francisco’s housing crisis had meant living without essential elements of home. A large affordable housing development rising downtown promised what they did not have: 95 complete homes, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with privacy, a sense of peace, a place to cook.

More at CNBC

“Real estate” finds people in a lot of interesting situations.  A very blue collar individual may find themselves “partners” on a real estate project with a very successful surgeon.

Rich doctor puts up the money.  Blue collar carpenter puts in the sweat equity.  They both split the profits.

Now would next statistic surprise you?

If you’re a doctor in a high risk specialty the odds of facing a lawsuit at some point in your career is 99%.

Do you want to be “partners” with someone who will very likely face a lawsuit?

In fact, some specialty doctors have a 19% chance of being sued – THIS YEAR!  Do you want to have your property or your profits tied up in litigation?

Still interested in “partnering” with the rich doctor?

I recently saw an online quiz.  No, not the kind that tells you what super-hero you would be.  This quiz had you answer questions about how high of a risk you were for being sued.

You would be surprised how many things we do as real estate investors that puts us into a high risk category.

For instance – tenants.

We were told to add 2 points – for every tenant.

Luckily, there is insurance that helps protect you from high risk situations, but let’s leave the rest of the conversation for tomorrow evening at WREIA.

Re: McDonalds Coffee Lady

Remember the lady who sued McDonalds because her coffee was too hot?

This was back in 1992. Stella Liebeck ordered a cup’o’joe to go. She was sitting in her nephew’s car, pulled over so she could add sugar to her coffee.

When she tried to remove the lid, the coffee spilled on her legs causing third degree burns over six percent of her body.

Ms. Liebeck sued McDonalds for $20,000 in damages.

She won.

She was awarded $200,000. That amount was reduced to $160,000 because she was found to be 20% at fault.

The real kicker was she was also awarded $2.7 MILLION in punitive damages.

Raise your hand if you think McDonalds wishes it would have just paid the $20k?

But that was 1992. People can’t file these frivolous lawsuits any more, right?

Wrong.

The truth is, people can sue you for just about anything in 2018.

And in our world of real estate, the numbers can be big. You better believe eventually, some how, some way, someone is coming after your money.

But what can you do?

Can, or should, you defend yourself?

What are your chances of “winning” even if you do hire an attorney?

What can you do to prepare yourself for when it does happen?

I can’t give you legal advice. I’m not an attorney. But our next WREIA guest speaker is – and he is bringing some good “from the trenches” stories next Monday.

Our WREIA speaker this month is going to give you real-life examples of mistakes that he sees new and old investors making over and over and over again. Those preventable mistakes are usually what brings people to his practice looking for legal help.

This is a great time to learn from other peoples mistakes. It could save you some serious headaches and sleepless nights down the road. Not to mention – it could save you a small fortune in legal bills.

Join me on May 14th as we talk about real estate law.

Join us and learn:

• Case Studies – Including…. Real Estate Partnerships Gone Wrong
• Financing “Loopholes” or Traps?
• Money Problems In MD Transactions
• Beware of these “legal speed bumps”
• Contractors – Buckle Up or Go Broke
• When financing goes bad – a few stories you can learn from and avoid
  and more

Bring your questions for the Q&A section. Our speaker is a local attorney and long-time WREIA Member with extensive experience working with investors across the DC area.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then, come join us at WREIA – Monday, May 14th. It will be a great meeting to finally start the spring season, get you motivated, and get some momentum for the rest of 2018.

Join us as we talk about Real Estate Legal Problems and Lawsuits.

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: Robert Louis Stevenson

Have you ever been sitting at a breakfast with a group of good friends, and one of them is having some serious “real life” problems?

Next thing you know, the hothead (every group has a hothead) pipes up and almost screams “You should sue his #$$!!!”

That is usually not the best advice to give someone.

You know you have found a good attorney when they tell you to do everything you can to avoid a lawsuit. No one really wins when things go that far.

Most of the time, a simple conversation will go a long, long way.

Robert Louis Stevenson (famous writer of Treasure Island and Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde) summed up our May WREIA topic best when he said

“Compromise is the best and cheapest lawyer.”

He’s right.

If you haven’t had a legal problem in this business you haven’t been doing it long enough.

The older, experienced, gray-haired folks at WREIA will also tell you Mr. Stevenson is 100% correct.

At some point, you will have a problem. We all have.

At the beginning of a problem let’s reflect on words from the Dalai Lama:
“When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways – either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.”

But before we get too sappy, sometimes, we need to go beyond finding our inner strength and find a strong lawyer.

But where is the line?
When is it time to end the conversation and get representation?

At no point have I ever felt good walking out of a courthouse. (Except years ago when I was searching tax records for property owners – but we do that online now.)

For instance – something as simple as a speeding ticket. If you go to court to ask for a little leniency from the judge – it is NERVE WRACKING. The judge is in there sending people to Jail minutes before your name is called. Feels a little silly to step up and ask for the fine to be reduced, but yeah, I did that.

The easiest advice I can give you is this – don’t get caught in a bad situation to begin with. Good communication and good contracts go a LONG way in our world.

Our WREIA speaker this month is going to give you real-life examples of mistakes that he sees new and old investors making over and over and over again. Those preventable mistakes are usually what brings people to his practice looking for legal help.

This is a great time to learn from other peoples mistakes. It could save you some serious headaches and sleepless nights down the road. Not to mention – it could save you a small fortune in legal bills.

Join me on May 14th as we talk about real estate law.

Join us and learn:

• Case Studies – Including…. Real Estate Partnerships Gone Wrong
• Financing “Loopholes” or Traps?
• Money Problems In MD Transactions
• Beware of these “legal speed bumps”
• Contractors – Buckle Up or Go Broke
• When financing goes bad – a few stories you can learn from and avoid
  and more
• Bring your questions for the Q&A section. Our speaker is a local attorney and long-time WREIA Member with extensive experience working with investors across the DC area.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then, come join us at WREIA – Monday, May 14th. It will be a great meeting to finally start the spring season, get you motivated, and get some momentum for the rest of 2018.

Join us as we talk about Real Estate Legal Problems and Lawsuits.

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: Readers Digest / Gratefulness

We have all been there. At the doctors’ office, sitting there in the waiting room.

Waiting.

Waiting for test results.

Maybe waiting for a test to be run.

Maybe a full-blown “procedure”.

Whatever it is, you’re waiting, and waiting……

Then, lucky you, they call your name and escort you to another room where – surprise – you wait some more.

Good thing for me they have magazines to read. Some offices are still nice enough to provide magazines for all of us who don’t care to spend even more time perusing Facebook or Instagram.

So there I was, when I look over at a well worn Readers Digest from Oct. 2016.

There it was – the headline “Are You A Mosquito Magnet?”

I had to laugh. My college friend Pete ALWAYS had a way with mosquitoes. We could all be hanging out enjoying ourselves and Pete would be smacking himself up and down like a lunatic.

What I discovered in this article, page 67, was that beer alters peoples body chemistry so much, the new scent is an attractant to some types of mosquitoes.

Lucky for Pete, I can clue him in on that little knowledge tidbit next time I see him.

Still waiting, I turned to the next article.

It was a 5-page article about Gratitude.

Gratitude has an effect – a healthy effect – on both the person who issues the thankfulness and the person who receives it. Big things in the givers life will improve, like blood pressure, better sleep, less depression and even less pain for people who have been injured.

Better yet – gratitude has a trickle-down effect. People who are thanked, tend to “pass it on” by being just a little nicer to the next person.

There was a lot of “science stuff” in the article but I enjoyed the real people stories the most.

One person profiled in this article (who wasn’t very pleased with himself and was disappointed in the direction his life was going) decided to write a thank you note every day – for a year.

It didn’t take long before as he says “The first effects are that you realize that you have a much better life than you thought.”

Now, I am the first to admit that I’m very grateful for my life. I like what I do and I enjoy the people I do business with – and surround myself with – on a daily basis.

A big part of my gratefulness is our WREIA membership. One of the things I like to do for our Members is organizing our quarterly “Members Only” meetings. It’s one of the ways I get to get a little closer to our members and spend a little more time in a smaller, more intimate setting. About the only thing better is talking over a “live” deal.

At these meetings, we get some great questions, sharing, and some time to network in a fairly casual way. It’s how I really enjoy spending time with people.

So let me remind you – I AM really grateful for you and all of our WREIA members and guests that join us every month.

Enough of the sappy stuff…. now back to business.

If you want details on our next WREIA Members Only Quarterly Event, it’s posted below.

Come on out and join us. I’ll be happy and grateful to see you this Saturday morning.

WREIA Members Only Event – April 28th

Starts at 8:30 AM

We posted information and registration for our WREIA Members Only Quarterly Networking Event in DC here.

A few details:
Where: Renovation Underway @ | 1620 E Street NE | Washington, DC 20002
When: Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM (EDT)

All active WREIA members are welcome to attend. You can also grab a new six month or annual membership at this link.

2018 is off to a busy start in our area!

I will be sharing my experiences developing this building and how you can take advantage of this changing landscape and the lessons I learned.

Join us on April 28th to see where some of the action is taking place in DC area.

I hope to see you Saturday morning. It’s a great opportunity to network, learn, and share some of your own knowledge as we walk a street in DC and point out the signs and opportunities you can watch for yourself.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

After our monthly WREIA meeting a few days ago we had 5 or so follow-up requests for more details on an investor package.

I put together a short video on these packages and how you can use them in your own business when you are trying to raise some private money for your deals.

Lastly – our WREIA “members only” quarterly meeting is April 28th.

We will be walking a street in DC where we have a current renovation underway.

The topic is going to be “Gentrification”.

You can find more details and grab a six month or annual WREIA membership (if you aren’t already a member) at this link.

All active WREIA members will be granted access to this special networking and learning event.

Join us April 28th in DC!

We’ve seen a slowdown at the top end of the housing market, says economist from CNBC.