This Great House 2

Podcast 479: 2023 Housing Affordability Outlook

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 02:00:00 -0400

As recession fears continue into the new year, so do housing affordability concerns. Is relief on the horizon? Dr. Clare Losey, assistant research economist at the Texas Real Estate Research Center, shares her insights in the Red Zone.

Podcast 478: 2023 economic forecast

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Creating an economic forecast is no easy task, as many state, national, and global variables are at play. The Texas Real Estate Research Center's research team put their heads together to make some educated guesses for 2023. Some of them join us in the Red Zone to share their thoughts.

Podcast 477: When disaster strikes

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0400

The frequency and intensity of natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires are expected to increase this decade. Wesley Miller, author of the Center's newest blog series, joins us in the Red Zone to discuss the financial hardships a natural disaster leaves in its wake.

Podcast 476: Lines in the sand: moving water boundaries

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Water has served as a natural boundary for land for all of human history. But what happens when riverbanks move or shorelines change? Well, it depends. TRERC Research Attorney Rusty Adams explains on the latest Red Zone podcast.

Podcast 475: Texas land market cooldown

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0300

Texas rural land activity boomed immediately during the pandemic. However, the market is beginning to normalize. What is driving this land market cooldown? TRERC researchers Dr. Charles Gilliland and Dr. Lynn Krebs share their insights on today's podcast. Take a listen.

Podcast 474: Almost home: interest rates and housing affordability

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0300

Home-price appreciation, elevated inflation, and a potential recession have been weighing on the minds of Americans these past few months. How has the current economic environment affected Texas housing affordability? TRERC's Dr. Clare Losey explains in the latest Red Zone podcast.

Podcast 473: Texas jobs outlook

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0300

Texas' labor market was devastated when the pandemic shut down the economy, causing the state to lose around 1.4 million jobs in only two months. Texas has since recovered all jobs lost, and the job market has remained steady despite recent rapid inflation. What's in store for the rest of the year? Tune in to find out.

Podcast 472: What's in store along the border?

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 02:00:00 -0300

From supply-chain disruptions and travel restrictions to high inflation and decreased home affordability, the Texas-Mexico border saw its fair share of challenges in 2021. However, the border economies did improve amid employment growth and increased construction values. What happened along the border last year, and what's ahead for 2022? Tune in to find out.

Podcast 471: Through the roof: inflation and housing affordability

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Already elevated home price appreciation accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, inflation hit its highest rate in decades. How has inflation further eroded housing affordability, and what's in store for Texas homebuyers? Dr. Clare Losey shares her insights on today's podcast. Take a listen.

Podcast 470: For rent: success in property management

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 02:00:00 -0400

Renting out a home can be a lucrative investment, but residential property management is often complicated. Pete Neubig of the National Association of Residential Property Managers shares his secrets for success in leasing on today's podcast. Take a listen.

Podcast 469: Population changes in 2021: Census Bureau estimates

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 02:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Census Bureau has rolled out the results of its latest population surveys for 2020-21. What population trends have been seen in Texas during the pandemic, and how could these trends affect the housing and labor markets? Center Lead Data Analyst Joshua Roberson shares his insights. Take a listen.

Podcast 468: Closing the book on 2021

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 02:00:00 -0400

As we say goodbye to 2021, it’s a good time to look to the year ahead. What will Texas' economy and real estate markets look like in 2022? TRERC Research Economist Dr. Luis Torres shares his thoughts on the last podcast of the year.

Podcast 467: Stubborn slow-down

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 02:00:00 -0400

Housing affordability has been an issue for years but has worsened as demand remains elevated and supply stays constrained. When will Texas' home-price boom ease? Center Lead Data Analyst Joshua Roberson shares his insights on the latest Red Zone Podcast.

Podcast 466: Third quarter 2021 preliminary review

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0300

While economic conditions in Texas generally improved in third quarter 2021, new COVID-19 cases remained elevated, prolonging uncertainty surrounding the end of the pandemic. Research Economist Dr. Jim Gaines joins us on our latest podcast to discuss the preliminary results of the quarter and the outlook for the fourth quarter and beyond.

Podcast 465: A rising tide: South Padre Island's economy

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0300

Places that rely heavily on tourism, such as South Padre Island, were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic (and weather) cools, how is the island recovering? Darla Lapeyre, executive director of the local economic development corporation, shares her insights on today's podcast.

Podcast 464: Pivoting: Texas' licensee boom

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0300

More people than ever hold a Texas real estate license. In addition, licensees have had to adapt to new post-pandemic business practices. TREC's Chelsea Buchholtz and Scott Kesner join us in the Red Zone to discuss Texas' new licensee boom.

Podcast 463: Decennial population update

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0300

The Census Bureau has recently rolled out its latest redistricting estimates from 2020. What population trends have been seen in Texas over the past decade, and how could these trends affect the housing market? Center Senior Data Analyst Joshua Roberson shares his insights. Take a listen.

Podcast 462: Obtaining a Texas real estate license

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0300

Seeking a career in buying or selling real estate? In Texas, you'll need to be licensed. Kerri Lewis, member of the State Bar of Texas and former general counsel for TREC, explains what it takes to get a real estate license in the Lone Star State.

Podcast 461: Texas border update

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0300

The economies along the Texas-Mexico border are on the path to recovery. However, depleted supply and accelerating home prices threaten housing affordability and are major headwinds to the border’s housing market. Dr. Luis Torres joins us today to take a closer look at the border economies.

Podcast 460: Second quarter 2021 economic review

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0300

The economy made significant improvements in second quarter 2021 as the country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Research Economist Dr. Jim Gaines reflects on the last quarter and looks to the future of the economic recovery on today's podcast. Take a listen.

Want Your Security Deposit Back? Ask These 6 Questions

Fri, 19 Feb 2016 11:44:00 -0400

Filed under: How To, MyNextMove, Inside Look

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By Laura Agadoni

When you've just landed a new apartment in Boston, MA, a security deposit is kind of like the pile of work on your desk at 5 p.m. on a Friday. You could push it aside for now, but you'll still have to deal with it on Monday (or when it's time to move out). But until that time comes, it's easy to be distracted with decorating, meeting the neighbors, and celebrating your new place.

However, it's important to be proactive so you can help ensure you'll get back every penny you deserve - and you can't just assume the security deposit will let you "live out the last month," either. That concept exists only in tenants' minds and isn't really a thing (ever) ... unless your landlord has agreed to it.

Here are six important questions to ask before you sign the lease that can help save you some dough.

1. Does your landlord want the place returned spotless?

Your landlord might be the white-glove type that meticulously checks for cleanliness, and not just by putting on a white glove and inspecting for dust. They might expect a sparkling-clean oven, microwave, and fridge (and freshly spackled and touched-up walls). Find out by asking your landlord what they expect at move-out time. If you're a bit of a slob, you might want to pay a cleaning service to scour your place before you move out. That way, you control how much you spend instead of leaving a mess for the landlord to clean ... and to charge you for. Don't leave dilapidated furniture behind. If the landlord has to discard it, expect to pay for any charges incurred.

2. What is normal wear and tear?

If you've lived in a place for several years, it won't look as good as the day you moved in. The carpet will show wear, the paint will fade or show smudges, and there might be small nicks here and there on the walls. These things are just normal wear and tear - stuff that happens over time in any home or apartment. The landlord shouldn't charge you for that. In other words, the landlord can't remodel the place on your dime. But if the wear and tear is excessive and outright damage has occurred (wine or vomit stains on the carpet, the unmistakable odor of cat pee, a child's "artwork" painted directly on the walls, broken doors or holes in walls from who knows what), that's on you and will come out of your security deposit.

3. What's the charge for repainting?

Were the walls in your rental just painted, but you already know that you simply cannot live with those "builder beige" tones without losing your mind? You might not have to cover the walls in floor-to-ceiling artwork. If you wish to paint the walls a soothing aqua chiffon or maybe a lovely hyacinth, you first need permission from the landlord. If you get the A-OK, you'll either need to paint the walls back to beige before you move out or let the landlord take a repainting fee from your security deposit. Unless you know how to prep walls for painting like a pro and can be certain you won't get paint on trim, baseboards, or anywhere else it shouldn't be, let your landlord do it. Once you know upfront how much they'll charge you for the privilege of painting, those beige walls might start to look kind of nice.

4. Who is responsible for lawn maintenance?

Lawn maintenance is a tricky area for renters and a subject that should be spelled out explicitly in the lease. If it isn't, generally speaking, when you rent a multifamily unit, the landlord is responsible for lawn care. If you rent a single-family home, you are probably responsible for the upkeep of the grounds. But there's upkeep and then there's upkeep. What you consider kept up might not be what the landlord has in mind. Find out, for example, how often you need to mow the lawn and whether you need to water it, trim bushes and shrubs, and keep weeds under control. If there is any doubt, maintain the property of the house you're renting as you would your own house.

If the landlord needs to spend money to get the grounds in the same shape as when you moved in, that will come out of your security deposit. Keep in mind that maintaining is one thing, but making the yard your own is another. Get permission before you plant a flower or vegetable garden, and know that any bushes or trees you plant should stay with the house when you move.

5. What about pets?

Pets can cause damage. Cats might ruin the carpet by using it as a scratching post, and dogs sometimes dig holes in the yard. Landlords know this, which is why some don't allow pets. The ones who do might charge a pet deposit (if your state allows it). If you paid a pet deposit, the landlord uses it, not the security deposit, to pay for any pet-related damage. If you weren't charged a separate pet deposit, the landlord can use the security deposit to repair any pet damage.

6. What if something breaks?

If you spot a problem, tell your landlord right away, whether you caused it and need to pay for it through your security deposit or whether the repair is one the landlord pays for. Either way, if you neglect to tell the landlord and said problem later turns into a disaster, you could be on the hook for the excessive damage. For example, if you spot water coming in from a leaky roof, the landlord needs to fix it right away, and they will pay for it. But if you don't report the dripping water and a mold problem eventually develops, those mold-removal costs could very well be on you.

Bottom line

The closer you can get to having your place look just the way it did when you moved in (take photos!), the more likely you'll be to get your full security deposit back. But if the landlord does keep some or all of your security deposit, they almost always need to present you with an itemized receipt detailing the reasons. How long landlords have to get this done varies by state, so familiarize yourself with your state's laws. If you don't get your security deposit back or a written explanation as to why not, write to your landlord and ask for your security deposit. If that doesn't work, you may want to take your landlord to small claims court. You'll probably get your deposit back that way. In some states, landlords must also pay you a penalty fee in such cases.

Do you have a tip for getting back a security deposit? Let us know in the comments!

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10 Insanely Clever Home Hacks Every Renter Needs To Know

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:18:00 -0400

Filed under: How To

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By Michelle Hainer

Apartment living can be tight, but these little tweaks can go a long way toward making your place feel more spacious.

Apartment life can come with many perks, like a doorman, pool, and fitness center. Unfortunately, loads of space isn't often one of them: Even the roomiest New York, NY apartments have their limits. With a little bit of creativity, however, you can make your 500 square feet (or less) seem like a palace.

Here are 10 DIY hacks to maximize your living quarters:

1. Turn to trunks

Vintage suitcases displayed in a corner can pull double duty as storage for sheets and towels if you don't have a linen closet, says Lisa Zaslow, founder and CEO of Gotham Organizers in New York, NY. A large decorative trunk that doubles as a coffee table can hide a home office too. Store file bins, a box for supplies, and a wireless printer inside, and just pop the top when you're ready to work. When you're entertaining, the trunk can be used as a bench for additional seating (just make sure it's sturdy!).

2. Rethink hanging storage pockets

We've all seen those over-the-door organizers that have a million pockets for shoes. But don't limit their use to footwear. If you rent a townhouse with a garage, use these hanging organizers on the door for holding cleaning bottles or scrub brushes. In smaller rentals, sneak in extra storage by adding a hanging organized on a closet door for stashing small canned foods or spice jars. Cut to size, they can be used on bathroom cabinet doors: They are the perfect size to corral hair dryers, brushes, or curling irons.

3. Maximize your sofa space

"Pull your couch 12 inches from the wall and use the space behind it to store suitcases, sports equipment, holiday decorations, and other infrequently used items that are hogging limited closet space," says Zaslow. You can also take it a step further and build a slim "table" that covers the stored items behind your sofa, really camouflaging them from full view. An added bonus? You can put drinks on it when there's no room on your coffee table.

4. Get creative with magnets

For starters, magnetic knife racks can be used beyond knife storage. "In the kitchen, [a magnetic knife rack] can hold measuring cups and spoons," says Zaslow. "In the bathroom, it keeps tweezers, nail clippers, scissors, and bobby pins and barrettes handy. In a home office, it works to hold pens, scissors, clips. In a kid's room, it can hold small cars and trucks." For more magnificent magnet tricks, use a single magnet to attach a small item that's easily misplaced (like tweezers) to the inside of your medicine cabinet.

5. Hang temporary curtains

Landlords usually discourage tenants from hanging curtains, since the rod holders need to be secured into the wall with anchors, and the holes left behind can be unsightly. Circumvent this problem by using large adhesive hooks and setting the rod into the hook. Just make sure your curtains are somewhat lightweight (think sheers or linen panels).

6. Invest in binder clips

That's right, binder clips. These gems have unlimited uses. When clipped to the edge of a desk, they can keep computer cords in place. In the fridge, they can keep bottles in a perfect pyramid. Or they can be used to secure your duvet corner to the duvet cover. The list goes on.

7. Use tension rods to increase your storage space

Apartments can be limited when it comes to cabinet space, so it's important to make use of every square inch. Pick up some tension rods and get to work. Stick one horizontally in your under-the-sink cabinet to hang cleaner bottles from, freeing up the bottom of the cabinet. Alternatively, put a few vertically in a cabinet to keep baking sheets and cutting boards organized. They can also be used in a closet to create a small hanging section (just don't overload it with clothes, or it'll fall!).

8. Eliminate wasted space in the kitchen

Attach hooks with adhesive backs to the wall between your cabinets and countertops or on the bottom of your cabinets to hold mugs, utensils, and gadgets, says Zaslow. (Bonus: They won't cause damage when you remove them.) Or place a cutting board over an unused stove burner or two to extend your counter space.

9. Use a shelf as a table

If you don't have floor space for a nightstand in your bedroom but need a spot to rest a glass of water or reading lamp on, install a small floating shelf as your nightstand. Not only are these relatively inexpensive at home improvement stores, but they also are surprisingly easy to hang - usually just two screws. Floating shelves can also be used couch-side as an end table.

10. Perfect your paper product storage

Paper towels and toilet paper take up a surprising amount of room when you store them under a sink. Use a wall-mounted wine rack to hold paper towels (pro tip: These can also store rolled-up towels) or a hanging closet organizer for both paper towels and TP.

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Calculating Cap Rate

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:55:29 -0400

via Wholesale Investment Properties - Feed http://www.thischeaphouse.com

Calculating Cap Rate

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:55:13 -0400

Calculating Cap Rate

Fri, 08 Jan 2016 14:54:10 -0400

The post Calculating Cap Rate is republished from This Great House

The start of the new year 2016 has been the roughest one on record for the stock market. Huge losses and investors are in a full panic. So where do you put your money that it will be safe and constantly give you good returns? Investment property or rental properties! It is a great way to build long term wealth as well as collect rent every month where someone is actually paying the note for you and hopefully if you did your calculations right, you make a nice spread. But how do you make sure before you purchase an investment property that you will make money on it? The answer is - "cap rate".There is more to buying a rental property for an investment than just looking at the purchase price, how much the note is and how much you can rent it for. The savvy real estate investor takes a few other factors into consideration before pulling the trigger. The math involved isn't that hard, but we have seen in the past newer investors skip this step and not make money like they should and be disappointed on dismal returns on their investment properties.So what is cap rate and how do you calculate it? It really is quite simple. Cap rate is the measurement of how much a property produces compared to how much it costs.I actually came across a great article that explains it probably better than I can from BiggerPockets.com written by Che Chiu Wong. Here is a little from the article -

Buying cash flow properties is one of the greatest ways to build wealth. To do this right, you have to buy smart. Run your numbers, that’s what we say. But how do I exactly do that? This is what we are going to explore. A good way to do this is to determine the Capitalization Rate of the property (Cap Rate in short).Capitalization Rate is a crucial indicator for real estate investing because it measures the rate of return on your investment, i.e. how much you get for your money’s worth. However, surprisingly, this concept is often misunderstood within the investment circle. If you ask 10 people what the Cap Rate is for a particular property, nine out of the 10 people will give you a different answer. The last one will ask, “What is cap rate again?”Jokes aside, the aim of this article is to clearly define what Cap Rate is all about, how and when you will use Cap Rate to analyze your deal, and why different people calculate Cap Rates differently. Learning to calculate and understand Cap Rate is a powerful tool for your real estate investing career.
What is Cap Rate?
In plain English, Cap Rate can be described as such:If you purchase an investment property ALL IN CASH, for each $100 you put in, how much is your profit per year after you have paid your expenses?The keywords are: “cash,” “profit per year,” and “after expenses.”CASH: It assumes cash, i.e. we don’t consider how a mortgage may change our return.PROFIT PER YEAR: It assumes there is regular income generated from this property.AFTER EXPENSES: It assumes there are expenses being associated with this property.Often, Cap Rate is represented in percentages. For example, instead of saying Property A’s Cap Rate is $7.50 per $100 invested, we will just say Cap Rate is 7.5%. It means the same thing
How is Cap Rate Used?
Cap Rate is mostly used to compare income-producing properties. It gives a unified gauge for you to compare, even if the properties are somewhat different.For example,
Scenario 1
Property A: 2 units, rent = $2000/mo, selling for $250,000 Property B: 3 units, rent = $2500/mo, selling for $300,000It is quite difficult to determine which one is a better deal. Looking from a purchase price per unit standpoint, Property B seems cheaper ($100,000 vs. $125,000), whereas looking from a rent per purchase price standpoint, Property A looks better (8 per thousand vs. 7.667 per thousand). We don’t know what the associated expenses are for each property, further clouding our judgment.

Read The Full Article HereSo that will give you a good explanation of how Cap Rate works. Brett Lee goes on to explain more on how to calculate more for calculating the cap rate -

Most investing decisions come down to math. Property evaluation is too complex without it. If you really understand the benefits and limitations of the most common investment equations, you’ll make better decisions, reduce your work load and be able to act quickly.
The best way to look at a cap rate is as a return on the value of a property. A 10% cap rate will give you 10% return on the value of the property over a single year after costs have been deducted.
How Cap Rates Work
For many investors, cap rates are the magic bullet. It’s the first thing they turn to when making decisions because it takes into account costs and income. While cap rates do give you a lot of information and help you compare properties, they also leave out a lot of information. Let’s get to the math so we can better understand how it works and how to avoid common mistakes.
Cap Rate = Net Operating Income/Value
NOI is the gross yearly income from a property minus the expenses (does not including mortgage payments, income taxes or depreciation).
Gross income:
Total of all rents and other income the property produces in a year
Costs include:
Vacancy loss (how much rent will you lose in an average year due to vacancies)Routine maintenance (yard work, painting, etc.)Property management feesProperty taxesAdvertisingUtilities that you pay for
Example
Property is valued at $250,000
Rental income = $18,000 a year
Vacancy loss averages 2% for your area = $18,000*.02 = $360 a year
All expected maintenance = $1,200 a year
No property manager, advertising or utility bills for this property
Property taxes = $3,000 a year
Cap rate = ($18,000 – $360 – $1,200 – $3,000)/$250,000 = 0.054 or 5.4% cap rate
How to Interpret Your Cap Rate
Cap rates are different everywhere you go. Because value (price) is part of the equation, cap rates are based on supply and demand in your local area. In the U.S. most real estate falls in the 5%-10% range. It is possible to do better, but it usually requires creative thinking.
Cap rates have three important uses.
The cap rate can help you understand if a property is priced too high or low for an area. All you have to do is compare the cap rate from the property you are looking at to the average cap rate for the area. An above average cap rate for an area can be an indication of problems with the property.
If you decide you won’t do a deal unless you get a certain cap rate, then you can use it to decide what price to offer.
If you know the average NOI (cash flow) for this deal is going to be $30,000 a year and you will only do a deal with a cap rate of 8% or higher, then you should bid $30,000/.08 = $375,000 or less.
If you know what cap rates are common in the area and and you know the asking price, you can get an idea of the Net Operating Expenses assuming cap rates were used to price the property.
If the average cap rate in the area is 6% and the asking price is $300,000, then 0.06*$300,000 = $18,000 in expenses for the year.
Continue Reading The Article Here

So there you have it. It's a lot of reading, but once you get a grasp on it, it's not that hard to do and very useful information on helping you decide on whether or not. If you still aren't sure how to do it, join a REIA and attend some meetings and ask some other investors that have been around awhile. You can also do more searches on the internet and find all kinds of information about the subject.

Top 10 Real Estate Markets In 2016

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:54:20 -0400

via Wholesale Investment Properties - Feed http://www.thischeaphouse.com

Top 10 Real Estate Markets In 2016

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:31:15 -0400

Top 10 Real Estate Markets In 2016

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 11:11:08 -0400

The article Top 10 Real Estate Markets In 2016 Find more on: http://thischeaphouse.com

Well, it's already the end of 2015. Seems like the year just started. But as this year comes to a close it is time to start thinking about your investment strategies for the coming year of 2016.According to Realtor.com, 2016 is going to be another great year for the real estate market in the Atlanta area. In fact, Atlanta made the top 5! Atlanta has been a hot market and continues to be a hot market. Some of the factors for this is a steady and growing job market, as well as the cost of living lower than some other areas of the country including the prices of homes.This is great news for investors. Of course this is great news for investors that fix and flip for a retail sale, but also for the buy and hold investors. Not all of the people moving to Atlanta will find a home right away, or even be able to afford a home when they first move here because they need to sell their property somewhere else in the country. This means they will end up renting until they are able or find that perfect home in the area that they want.Here is a snippet from the article - Smoke and his team took past trends and seasonal variations of housing and economic data for the 100 largest markets in the country and stuck them into a time machine—oops, we mean a statistical model that predicts future values for home sales and prices. Then they identified the markets whose forecasted growth was equal to or better than the U.S. average. The resulting top 10 list is of the real estate markets that look the most bullish for the coming year. Get ready for a few surprises!Many of the markets that have consistently made our “hot list” because of high demand from buyers and quick sales didn’t make the cut for 2016, because they are predicted to see slower price appreciation and even declining sales. Notably, they include the greater metro areas of San Francisco, Denver, and Dallas.In addition, each of the markets on the list is in high demand, with 60% more listing page views than the U.S. overall and inventory that sells 16 days faster than the U.S. average. Surging demand in each market can be attributed to growing household formation, a prosperous job market, and low unemployment rates as well as large populations of key demographics. Older millennials (25 to 34 years old), younger Gen Xers (35 to 44 years old), and retirees (65 to 74 years old) will be driving home sales in 2016.Read the full article here: http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-10-real-estate-markets-to-watch-in-2016Of course being able to profit from this trend isn't as easy as just looking at the homes that are listed on the MLS to find fix and flip properties or to turn into rentals. Most of the homes listed are at the high end of retail, which means there is no room for a retail flip. Investors need a place to turn to find properties. We are the solution! If you are looking for a constant stream of great off market properties here in the Atlanta area be sure and check out our site of available investment properties at ThisCheapHouse.com.

Why It’s A Good Idea To Buy Real Estate From Wholesalers

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:18:12 -0400

Why It’s A Good Idea To Buy Real Estate From Wholesalers

Mon, 23 Nov 2015 14:09:18 -0400

The following article Why It’s A Good Idea To Buy Real Estate From Wholesalers was originally seen on This Great House

Yes it’s true! Even though we are one of the largest and best Atlanta area wholesaling companies, we still will occasionally buy properties from other wholesalers. You may wonder why we would consider buying from another wholesaler? Because a deal is a deal no matter where the deal originates. Many direct wholesalers spend considerable money on marketing techniques which can allow them to pick up off-market deals that a smaller investor would not have access too. Because this is our primary business we completely understand that a wholesaler is in business to make a reasonable profit for the deal that they may have spent $1000’s in acquiring such deal. Let me give you an example of one of my favorite purchases from an area wholesaler. I now refer to this deal as my “free” house.Back in 2011 I received a flyer from a small local wholesaler advertising a very basic 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home in Lithonia, Georgia. The flyer reflected a house that had obviously been vacant for several months or maybe even years. Weeds had grown up almost completely hiding the house, the gutters had small trees growing from them and the inside had obviously been somewhat vandalized. The list price of this subject deal was an amazing low price of only $17,000 cash. Now many investor buyers would have immediately starting trying to negotiate a lower purchase price. On the other hand we immediately agreed to a full price offer to lock up the deal and directly headed out to the subject property. Now it is true the house needed considerable work but we quickly recognized the overall potential of the deal so we moved forward with providing non-refundable earnest money and moved the deal to closing. A valuable lesson with this scenario is when you see a potential deal, move quickly and don’t try to low ball the wholesaler if it’s a deal.I remember actually telling this particular wholesaler that I hoped he made a significant profit on the deal as I was so pleased with my numbers. Turns out the wholesale did make a $10,000 profit on the deal which is very significant, especially for this priced house. Was I upset at their significant pay day? Heck no, I loved my deal! Many times we receive low offers on our subject deals that provide us no profit and these potential buyers end up losing great deals. I have actually gone back to these buyers on occasions and have asked the question, “did you not like the deal at our list price” and most times the answer is well yes it was a great deal at your list price! So if such a great deal why try to get the deal at an even lower price resulting in not succeeding in buying? Remember RE investing purchases should not be an emotional decision based upon one winner and one loser in the transaction, but should be determine strictly on the numbers. If the numbers work for your individual strategy, pull the trigger and move the deal forward!Now back to this particular deal, we ended up spending $13,000 to renovate the property back to rent ready condition. You see even though the yard was so overgrown that it was hard to see the house, we knew this was not a significant cost. So now we own a 3/2 home in a nice family neighborhood at a cost base of only $30,000. Now to make this deal even sweeter, this particular house was purchased by our self-directed Roth IRA so all future profits are tax free! Since this purchase, the house has been rented at a below market rent rate of $750/mth so the proceeds have now completely paid back our initial $30,000 investment. Thus the reason I refer to this as my “free” house! In addition with recent market appreciation our little free house now has a market value of $60,000 and I am confident that within the next 5 years our little free house will be worth $100,000! How many of these type deals do you need to be financially free? This example is how you truly create wealth investing in real estate. So remember when you see one of our deals that makes sense, take action. Negotiate if you wish, but realize don’t lose a potential $100,000 free house just to save a couple $1000’s. That’s just bad business!If we can help you with similar types of strategies give us a call, we are here to help you succeed!Now go buy some houses you will be glad you did!Click Here To Check Out Our Off Market Atlanta Wholesale Properties Here.

Great Time For Investment Rental Properties

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:26:26 -0400

Great Time For Investment Rental Properties

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:26:21 -0400

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Great Time For Investment Rental Properties

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 12:49:43 -0400

The following blog post Great Time For Investment Rental Properties is courtesy of This Great House Blog

It is a great time to be a land lord and also to be expanding your rental property portfolio. Rents are on the rise nation wide and there seems to be a shift from home ownership to renters.Investing in rental properties has always been a fantastic way to create wealth, especially generational wealth for your family. Even when you take into account the crash of '07-'09, investors that had rental homes really only saw losses on paper. In many cases these properties are back to what they were valued at before the crash, if not higher, depending on what part of the country the property is in.Because of this, it can be argued that buying investment properties for rentals is safer than buying properties for fix and flip for a retail sale. There are investors that warn of another bubble, and if it happens while you are in the middle of a fix and flip, then you could suffer some great losses. While on the other hand, if you own rentals, you just keep renting the properties out and collect rent. Historically, the housing market always comes back, and when it does, that is when you can liquidate an investment property if you should so desire.We found this great article and interview of Barry Sternlicht, CEO of Starwood Capital from CNBC and though we would share it. And if you are an investor looking for rentals in and around Atlanta check out our site, ThisCheapHouse.com for investment properties that are deeply discounted.

This is the next big property investment

Rent hikes are dogging tenants, but big money investors say the season of love for residential, multi-family rental properties is only getting started."Property is in a sweet spot, slow (economic) growth is good for us," Barry Sternlicht, chairman and chief executive of Starwood Capital, told CNBC in an exclusive interview. "It doesn't induce new supply and rents are going up, particularly in the U.S."Starwood Capital's lyrics match its tune, with the company making big bets on multi-family properties -- or properties designed to house multiple families in separate units, such as apartment buildings, duplexes and townhomes. In late October, Starwood teamed up with the Milestone Apartments REIT to buy the Landmark Apartment Trust in an all-cash $1.9 billion deal, giving the partners control of 78 apartment developments in eight U.S. states. Starwood will take 63 of the developments and Milestone the remaining 15.Read the full article here: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/02/starwood-capital-ceo-this-is-the-next-big-property-investment.html

Real Estate News And Investing Tips

Mon, 02 Nov 2015 11:42:27 -0400

The following post Real Estate News And Investing Tips was first published on This Great House Wholesale Properties Blog

Welcome to our website - and thanks for stopping by!If you are a real estate investor, seasoned or newbie, hopefully you have been to our site already and have signed up for our "Email Alerts" list to be notified of when we have new available properties in Georgia. If not, go ahead and sign up - it's free and we have some of the best off-market investment properties available throughout the North GA area!On to the headline of this post - RE News and Investing Tips.... We are going to start posting recent news for the world of Real Estate investing as well as tips to help you make money - or more money with your RE business, as well as tips on how to possibly make your business run more smoothly.RE News - The real estate market can be fast paced as far as what markets are trending, and also very different from one part of the country compared to another. As many seasoned investors know, it can even change from one street to the next! We will not only bring you news about what is happening in the North GA market, but news for other markets around the county, maybe even news from around the world. Thanks to today's technology and along with the internet, today's savvy real estate investor is no longer bound to investing only in their "back yard", and are able to make their portfolio more diverse by investing in other areas of the country.RE Tips - There is not one real estate investor in the world that knows everything there is to know about RE investing. The best real estate investors are always learning better ways to find more deals and capitalize on the deals that they currently have. We will be posting about our investing strategies as well as things that have made our business more successful and tips on how to make more money on each real estate transaction. We will also post articles from other investors that we find interesting and that can be helpful in your endeavor as an investor.So make sure and bookmark our site, or subscribe to this RSS Feed - http://www.ThisCheapHouse.com/Feed/News with your favorite rss reader so that you can stay up to date on the latest trends in the wonderful world of real estate investing!

Flipping Houses For Cash In Atlanta

Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:15:40 -0400

Atlanta Georgia Wholesale Real Estate Investment Properties

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 15:24:14 -0300

The 5 Biggest, Best Homeowner Tax Breaks

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:51:00 -0400

Filed under: Advice, How To, Planning

Cassandra Hubbart, AOLLeaving off deductions you're eligible for, such as mortgage interest and property taxes, is leaving money on the table.

Homeownership can pay off big time if you itemize your deductions. Use these five tax breaks to cut what you owe Uncle Sam:

1. Home Office

Do you work at home? Collect a tax break either by using the simplified method explained below or doing some complicated calculations to claim your exact home office expenses.

When you opt for the simplified method, you get $5 per square foot and can claim up to 300 square feet of office. (That's a $1,500 deduction!)

The Fine Print:

You can't deduct a home office just because you head in there after dinner to read AOL and answer emails from co-workers.
You have to use your home office "substantially and regularly to conduct business."
Your home office doesn't have to be in your home. A studio, garage, or barn can count as a home office.

Where You Claim it:
Form 8829

Where You Read About it:
Publication 587 Business Use of Your Home

2. Energy-Efficient Upgrades

Energy-efficiency home upgrades you made in 2014 can potentially cut your tax bill by up to $500, thanks to the residential energy tax credit.

This tax credit lets you offset federal taxes dollar-for-dollar. You may be able to claim up to 10 percent of what you spent in 2014 on such items as insulation, a new roof, windows, doors or high-efficiency furnaces or air conditioners.

The Fine Print:

There's a $500 lifetime cap (meaning you have to subtract any energy tax credit you used in prior years).

Where You Claim it:
Form 1040, Form 5695

Where You Read About it:
Form 5695 Instructions

3. Mortgage Interest Deduction

This is the mother lode of tax deductions. You typically can deduct the interest you pay on your home loan of up to $1 million (married filing jointly). You have to use your mortgage to buy, build or improve your home.

Using a home equity line or mortgage for something else, like paying college tuition? It's generally OK to deduct the interest on loans up to $100,000 (married filing jointly) as long as your home secures the loan.

The Fine Print:

An RV, boat or trailer counts as a home if you can sleep and cook in it and it has toilet facilities (if you're not sure what "toilet facilities" means, watching a couple episodes of the TV show "Buying Alaska" will enlighten and entertain you).
Second home loans count toward the $1 million loan limit.

Where You Claim it:
Schedule A

Where You Read About it:
Publication 936 Home Mortgage Interest

4. Property Tax Deduction

The property taxes you paid to the state, the county, the city, the school district and every other government entity that reached into your pockets last year are usually deductible on your federal tax return.

If your mortgage lender paid your property taxes, look on your annual escrow statement to see the exact amount paid.

The Fine Print:

You can't deduct assessments (one-time charges for things like streets, sidewalks and sewer lines).
Keep a record of the assessments you paid. When you sell your home, you can generally use the cost of those assessments to reduce any tax you owe on your sale profit.

Where You Claim it:
Schedule A

Where You Read About it:
Publication 530 Tax Information for Homeowners

5. Private Mortgage Insurance

Did you put down less than 20 percent when you bought your home? If you did, your lender probably forced you to buy private mortgage insurance. Those monthly premiums are tax deductible, if you can clear a few hurdles. (See The Fine Print below.)

If you have a Veterans Affairs, Federal Housing Administration or Rural Housing Service loan, you likely paid upfront mortgage insurance premiums at the closing table (they might have called it a guarantee fee). The deduction for those is pretty complicated.

You get to deduct a part of that upfront premium each year. To figure out how much to deduct, you first check to see which is shorter:

The length of your mortgage
84 months (seven years)

If your mortgage lasts more than seven years, you divide the cost of that upfront mortgage premium by 84 months and then multiply by the number of months you paid it (so 12 months for a full year) to get your deductible amount.

If you mortgage lasts seven years or less, you divide by the number of months it lasts and multiply by the number of months you paid it.

The Fine Print:

You have to have gotten your mortgage in 2007 or later.
When adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 (married filing jointly) you start losing the private mortgage insurance deduction and it disappears completely when your adjusted gross income is more than $109,000.

Where You Claim it:
Schedule A

Where You Read About it:
Publication 530 Tax Information for Homeowners

What About Everything Else?

What about all the other home-related expenses you paid, but can't deduct, like your new deck or the pipes you replaced? Hang on to those invoices and receipts by scanning them (receipts fade over time) and storing them in a file or online.

When you sell your home and you're figuring out if you owe federal tax on the profits, you may be able to subtract the cost of the improvements you made from your home's selling price.

Tax laws are complicated and the devil is in the details. This article contains general information, so it may, or may not, apply to your situation. A tax professional or tax software can tell you how the tax rules apply in your circumstances.

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DIY Effort Makes Industrial Loft Unique

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:33:00 -0400

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

By Mitchell Parker
Photos by Ryan Patrick Kelly Photographs

After living for six years in his downtown Edmonton loft in the Canadian province of Alberta, this homeowner was ready for a change. He liked the industrial nature of the space -- soaring ceilings, raw redbrick walls, exposed ducting and conduit -- but didn't like its low-grade cabinetry. Plus, he was flat-out tired of his furniture.

While he didn't mind getting his hands dirty doing some of the work of refreshing the space, he knew he needed professional help when it came to the layout and choosing colors and furniture styles. He found designer Brenda Brix of AMR Design while searching for local professionals on Houzz and enlisted her help through a design consultation. She wrote up a detailed plan, and he implemented it himself, finding materials and furnishings and even teaching himself how to build and modify pieces.

For example, he bought mirror tiles and antiqued them. He took a basic pine cabinet from Ikea and distressed it. He even located his own stainless steel and installed it himself as a backsplash. "I wanted to add personal touches and cool things that people would come in and we could talk about them for five minutes," he says.

Industrial living room by Edmonton interior designers and decorators AMR Design

Brix's plan divided up the long, narrow space without interior walls into a TV room with a sectional near the farthest window, a reading area with a single chaise in the middle and a conversation grouping with four chairs, seen here in the foreground. The sleeping area is to the right (not shown), separated by bookshelves.

Each chair in the conversation area is from a different supplier, because Brix and the homeowner felt that four of the same club chair would have made the space feel too heavy. (Red chair: Costco; leather chair with metal: Wayfair; metal chair with sheepskin: Restoration Hardware)

Breaking up the three walls of brick with artwork also kept things from feeling too heavy. The homeowner made the bus stop-style signs himself on canvas. "It brings a little script into the space and flows with the brick, so it feels like you're outside," says Brix.

BEFORE: The low-grade kitchen cabinets and lack of a backsplash played a big part in the homeowner's decision for a new look.

Industrial kitchen by Edmonton interior designers and decorators AMR Design

AFTER: The homeowner removed the cabinets and countertop himself and found a contractor to weld the sink and integrated countertop from stainless steel. He then had the steel cut for the counter-to-ceiling backsplash and enlisted the help of his neighbor to install it.

He created the live-edge floating shelf from a piece of wood he picked out at a local supplier and attached it himself. He bought the range hood from Costco and took it to a local powder-coating shop.

The stairs lead to a home office.

Drum shades from Ikea replaced a wineglass rack that had hung over the island. While the loft gets a good amount of light from three large windows, during the winter it gets dark by 4 p.m., so Brix suggested bringing in more light fixtures, like the chandelier that now hangs over the dining table to the left of the kitchen.

Industrial dining room by Edmonton interior designers and decorators AMR Design

The homeowner bought the mirror tiles at a hardware store, then used a chemical to remove the paint on the back of each one. He then bought some gold and silver spray paint and sprayed that on the backs and mounted them to create an antique mirror. "It was way more work than I thought it would be," he says.

Industrial home bar by Edmonton interior designers and decorators AMR Design

A chaise lounge provides an intimate spot for reading. For the liquor cabinet, the homeowner had looked at retail stores for something distressed or whitewashed but thought he'd like to try distressing one on his own.

So he bought a plain pine cabinet from Ikea and went to the local Benjamin Moore paint store, where an employee gave him some guidelines on what to do. Before assembling the cabinet, he applied two coats of white paint as a base, then did a little sanding on each piece. He then played with brown and green colors in a couple of layers and sanded the pieces until he was happy with what he saw.

Chaise: Costco

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How to Raise a Property Listing From the Dead

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 13:44:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Selling, Planning

ShutterstockHas the listing on your for-sale home gone dead?

In my past life as a real estate developer, I've had listings that died on the vine. Buyers stayed away in droves; weeks passed with nary a phone call or whiff of interest. Even in a good market, some properties are a beast to move. Maybe your house is one.

That's why I asked "Million Dollar Listing" stars Ryan Serhant (New York) and Chris Leavitt (Miami) how to raise properties from the dead. The Bravo brokers offered this advice.

Serhant, who moves top-end properties in Manhattan, says massaging the sales price is the best way to revive a listing.

APRyan Serhant: "It's always about pricing."

"It's always about pricing," Serhant says.

Sellers mistakenly think that lowering a price from optimistic to realistic is a sign of desperation that turns buyers off. In fact, Serhant says, adjusting pie-in-the-sky prices to match the all-important neighborhood comps, signals that a seller finally is serious about moving his property.

"Wherever the market price is, that's where your property is," Serhant says.

In rapid-fire Manhattanese, Serhant offered these additional home-selling tips:

If it's filled with knickknacks, declutter.
If it's green, paint it white.
If it smells like cat, Febreze it.
If it doesn't look like "House Beautiful," stage it.

APChris Leavitt: "Positive thinking" is the key.

Leavitt, who holds the record for the largest condominium sale in Florida's history -- $34 million for a Miami Beach triplex -- says raising a property from the dead is all about changing the energy that agents, sellers, and even the property gives off.

"Make sure your agent is really excited about your property, not burned out," Leavitt says.
Your frame of mind also affects the way buyers feel about your property.

"Positive thinking: My house is selling!" is the key, Leavitt says, reminding me of the "American Beauty" scene where real estate agent Annette Bening self-talks, "I will sell this house today."

"This stuff really works," Leavitt says.

More tips from Leavitt:

Get rid of dried flowers, which put dead, negative energy into the house.
Don't over-stage the house -- table settings for meals you're not eating -- which signals desperation.
Never attend a showing: Your nerves are catching.

And like Serhant, he cautions: "Price your house in line with comps, or you'll seem too attached to the home, which discourages buyers."

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Never Rake Leaves Again!

Mon, 06 Oct 2014 02:57:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

The Associated PressInstead of raking, Communities across America are asking residents to mulch leaves in place.

Here's the easiest promise you'll ever make: I'll never rake leaves again. Raking leaves wastes energy -- yours and your community's, which spends lots of tax dollars collecting and disposing of leaves each fall.

Instead of raking, U.S. communities are asking residents to mulch leaves in place -- taking a couple of passes over fallen leaves with their regular lawnmower or with a special mulching mower. Once the leaves are pulverized, they'll decompose, sink into and nourish your lawn.

Homeowners also can collect the shredded leaves in mower grass catchers, then scatter them around trees and flower beds as mulch, or add them to their compost pile.

Westchester County, New York, estimates that it spends up to $4 million each year carting away 60,000 tons of raked leaves. So the New York suburb has instituted its "Love 'Em and Leave 'Em" initiative to reduce organic yard waste.

Not convinced that shredding leaves is right for you? Here are four reasons to give up raking. (Like you needed more than one).

Mowing leaves is easier than raking, bagging or blowing them to the curb.
Pulverized leaves decompose and nourish your lawn, reducing needs for fertilizer.
Transporting raked leaves contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Shredding leaves saves tax money by reducing municipal leaf collection and disposal.

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'Right-Sizing': Can We Really Live in a Smaller House?

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:42:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

Shutterstock"Right-sizing" is all about how you live in a house and maybe how much time you are willing to spend cleaning it.

Holland & Nick Brown were on a quest for a Net Zero Nest, remodeling a house (on a mainstream budget) into a home that is energy- and water-efficient. See the finished project here.

Part of our Net Zero Nest journey is to figure out how much space our family really needs. Our new house is about 1,950 square feet -- 800 square feet smaller than our previous home and 450 square feet smaller than the average American single family home. With growing kids, this may seem a little counter-intuitive. Our kids take up more space these days, so why would we want to get by with less?

That's why we like the term "right-sizing." For us, it's all about how you live in a house and maybe how much time you are willing to spend cleaning it. In our previous home, we used the downstairs master as a guest suite, because it was really far from the kids' rooms. That meant that despite our square footage, we all basically shared one upstairs bathroom. And when we didn't have guests, that downstairs space was largely unused. We also had a large formal living room that we rarely spent time in. It was lovely, but a space our casual-leaning family can do without.

Holland & Nick BrownWe will definitely miss our storage.

Our new house has smarter space for us. In a smaller footprint, we can create a true master suite that offers privacy without feeling like an isolation chamber. We can also give both our kids an adjacent bath, a definite upgrade. And we can create an office with a separate entrance, something that will help us work in peace and allow our kids space to work on group projects with their friends.

Nick calls this room the "slash" room, as in office/homework/den/guest room. Through careful design, we hope to make it a true multipurpose space that is part of our daily lives. That way we maximize our use of space and our square-foot efficiency.

One exciting aspect of a smaller house is that it will be cheaper to operate and maintain over time. Even without our planned energy upgrades, a smaller house costs less to heat and cool, offers lower property taxes, and has lower maintenance costs.

And as our kids grow up and move out, it won't be too big for two people to enjoy. In fact, our architects are already planning for what our daughter's bedroom will be once she is gone (sorry, honey). While we always want her to have a space to come home to, we can use her room as a true guest room, a study, or even a man cave down the line.

Our new home is also one story, so we can hopefully age in place when the time comes. And we weren't kidding about the cleaning. We can clean our new home in half the time, which we thoroughly appreciate.

Abby BarnesTake pictures of your children's art (here turned into a collage) instead of keeping originals.

As for the biggest challenge? Storage! We will definitely miss our storage. While we have a bigger garage now, our open floorplan maximizes living space. In creating a great room, we are removing walls, which means less space for closets and displaying personal items.

We are having to purge and it isn't easy. We have already sold some furnishings, but now we are sorting through the little things like games, kids' art, stuffed animals, sports gear, books, souvenirs, and all the other things a family accumulates over time.

Figuring out what we really need and want to keep requires discipline and a lot of compromise. A favorite suggestion so far is from our friend Abby Barnes of Paper and Cake: Take pictures of your children's art instead of keeping the originals. She made us some photo collages that are definite keepsakes.

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Got a Lead Paint Problem? Beware of Bad Advice Too

Thu, 02 Oct 2014 02:03:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

aaronvandorn/Flickr"Secret shoppers" found hardware stores and painting contractors that downplayed the dangers of lead paint exposure.

Four years after the EPA implemented strict guidelines for lead paint removal from houses built before 1978, an alarming number of hardware stores and painting contractors reportedly are pooh-poohing the dangers of lead paint exposure -- like brain, kidney, digestive and fertility disorders -- and downplaying precautions that contractors should take to keep you safe.

That's what Angie's List's "secret shoppers" found when they asked 200 randomly selected contractors and hardware stores around the country about the best way to strip paint and renovate a child's room in a 1920s house.

Here's some sage advice the shoppers collected.

"It's just a bunch of B.S., really."
"Lead only harms you if you eat it."
"Just close the door and wear a mask."
"The whole lead thing is very overblown unless your kids are chewing or gnawing on the windowsills."

According to Angie's List, nearly 20 percent of contractors and hardware stores gave "poor advice," including dry-scraping old paint or removing it with a heat gun, two no-no's when it comes to removing lead paint.

Hardware stores were the worst offenders, Angie's List says, giving dangerous advice 47 percent of the time.

Any contractor who removes lead paint is supposed to have an EPA certification that shows they understand safety precautions associated with lead paint removal. However, even certified contractors can scrimp on costly precautions that will protect your family and neighbors from lead paint exposure.

"You have to be an educated consumer in this process, and understand the risks of lead paint and how it affects your family," says Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.

So, if your house was built before 1978 (when most paint contained lead) it's a good idea to backstop your contractor by knowing some EPA basics of lead paint removal.

1. Minimize dust by misting surfaces with water before sanding or scraping.
2. Only use sanding and grinding machines with protective shrouds that are attached to a HEPA vacuum.
3. Never use an open flame torch or high temperature heat gun (above 1,100 degrees) to remove lead paint.
4. Cover indoor work areas and 5 feet beyond with protective sheeting.
5. Cover exterior work areas with protective sheeting extending 10 feet from the work surface.
6. Keep children away from work areas.
7. Thoroughly clean work areas after painting.

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Reese Witherspoon's Home Becomes a Design Inspiration

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 20:45:00 -0300

Filed under: Celebrity Homes, How To, Home, Planning

By Erika Riggs

Where do you find ideas for your home? For one couple, inspiration came from A-lister Reese Witherspoon's living room in her former home in Ojai, California.

Celeb interior designer Kathryn Ireland decorated the actress' ranch, which was featured in magazine spreads in "House Beautiful" and "Elle Decor." Orlando Soria, an interior designer and West Coast creative director for Homepolish, wanted to give the clients the same feeling of Witherspoon's Spanish Revival-style home, but in a way that would work for their two small children.

"I wanted the space to feel sophisticated and grand while being approachable and cozy," Soria explained.

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How to Design a Music Studio in Your Own Home

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 10:17:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

By Eric Reinholdt

Most musicians will admit to sharing a single core skill necessary for mastering their instrument: control. When it comes to designing spaces for practicing, performing, recording or just jamming, control is equally important to acousticians and architects. We aim to control the sound entering and exiting the studio, the heat and humidity inside and, of course, the acoustics.

While a home music room may not have the demands of a professional recording studio, many spaces can benefit from the sound isolation and acoustic treatment applied to rooms designed for playing music. I've designed spaces for music at all scales, from auditorium halls to private listening rooms, and have learned a few basic sound concepts that can dramatically improve the aural environment of any space.

Planning

Understanding the use of the space is the first priority. A practice space for your garage band and a space used for vocal recording or listening to chamber music will have some obvious differences.

The location of the studio space will greatly affect the degree to which you'll need to isolate it from the rest of your home. Imagine how the sound isolation requirements for a practice room located next to the nursery versus one in the garage might differ. No amount of acoustical caulk is going to make the former practical. Sensibly locating the music room is step one.

See more of this music barn

Spaces

Isolating listening and recording spaces from outside noises -- coming from the street, your neighbors and even mechanical equipment -- is a high priority. So is the actual size of the recording equipment. So interior, lower-level, windowless locations are good starting points, but true recording studios are so nuanced that an experienced professional should be involved from the outset to be sure your goals are being met.

More informal performance and practice spaces are usually more concerned with containing the sound transmitted from them to adjacent spaces, as well as with sound fidelity and instrument housing - and some instruments can be quite large. For these spaces, isolation construction strategies and controlling how the sound behaves in the space are more important.

Room Shape

The next part of planning is defining the actual proportions of the space. There's much debate in the acoustical design community regarding the ideal proportions, and the math gets complicated quickly.

For the casual audiophile, it's generally accepted that the Greek golden mean proportions of 1:1.6:2.6 (height by width by length) will yield an acoustically pleasant room. As an example, if we begin with a typical 8-foot ceiling height as a starting point, we should aim for a room that's roughly 13 feet by 21 feet.

The space shown here makes use of a clever device that can alter the shape of the room and its acoustics. The pivoting panels seen at the rear wall of the stage area can be used to fine-tune the geometry and control the way sound is reflected around the room.

Eclectic Home Theater by Fort Lauderdale Architects & Building Designers tuthill architecture

A few other guidelines:

Larger volumes are always better than smaller ones.
Avoid completely regularized forms. Perfect cubes and long, narrow spaces with parallel walls are poor acoustical performers.
Irregular shapes and surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings, bookcases) as well as convex forms allow sound to be diffused in a space, which is desirable.
Avoid concave surfaces, which tend to focus sound.
Avoid room dimensions that are direct multiples of one another (1:2:3) - for example, a 16-foot by 24-foot room with 8-foot ceilings - because they will amplify resonating frequencies, making for an acoustically muddy and noisy space.
Avoid parallel walls and flat ceilings. These are generally considered a bad thing in acoustical design because parallel walls turn a space into a tennis match of sorts, bouncing sound waves back and forth between the wall surfaces and causing echo and flutter. This is one reason performance halls are shaped the way they are with splayed walls, floors and ceilings.If you're repurposing an existing space with less-than-ideal room proportions, don't worry, absorption strategies can help to overcome this shortcoming (more on this later).

Contemporary Basement by Toronto Interior Designers & Decorators Biondi Decor

Sound Check

When sound waves strike a surface, three things happen:

1. Some of the sound is reflected back into the room.
2. Some of it is absorbed by the material.
3. Some of it is transmitted through the material. These are the three main things we control when designing a space for music.

Reflection

Hard surfaces reflect and disperse the sound energy in a space; soft surfaces absorb it. Much of contemporary architecture is defined by hard lines and surfaces, like concrete, hardwood and drywall.

These are all highly reflective surfaces. The bouncing of sound is known as reverberation. For a live recording environment, a certain amount of it can be desirable. But reflection generally needs to be controlled. This is especially true for smaller music rooms so it doesn't render the sonic nuances of the music unperceivable.

We control reflection primarily in two ways: through diffusion and absorption. Ideally, a music room has surfaces that diffuse or break up the sound waves and scatter them about. Rough surfaces (like the exposed framing seen here), brickwork, rough stone, wood slats and fixed or pivoting panels all aid diffusion. But too much reflection will make music sound muddy in a room. To counteract this most rooms need some means of absorbing or deadening sound waves.

Contemporary Home Theater by West Chester Home Media Design & Installation Media Rooms Inc

Absorption

To reduce the sound energy in a space, we use absorption. Rugs, drapery, couches and wall hangings all help to absorb sound, especially at higher frequencies, which are usually perceived as unpleasant.

Absorption in a room controls reverberation and reduces ambient noise. In spaces without a lot of furniture or drapes and many hard surfaces, special acoustic absorbers (foam, acoustical plaster) can be used to deaden a room.

You've probably seen egg-crate acoustic foam absorbers. Obviously, absorbers can look strange in the home environment. But there are creative ways to cover them, as with this colored fabric applied to a special acoustically absorptive surface. There are also acoustically porous plaster finishes available, which look no different than standard drywall but absorb rather than reflect sound energy.

Absorption shouldn't be confused with our next control point: isolation. Adding absorbers in your garage won't keep the sound from being transmitted to your neighbors; it will only improve the way the space inside sounds.

Transmission and isolation

To keep the peace with your neighbors, you'll need to focus on isolation. Because sound is transmitted by vibration, it makes sense that to minimize sound transfer between spaces, we should minimize their points of contact. In standard wall construction, walls that separate spaces typically share framing members -- the studs. To truly isolate a space acoustically, you want to keep the perimeter framing of each space independent from the adjacent spaces as well as from the surrounding structure. This includes the floor and ceiling.

Many acoustical designers refer to sound isolation in construction as decoupling. The goal of it is to keep the sound waves from touching the structure of a home and allowing it to vibrate.

There are various means of decoupling:

Use floating walls that are framed independently and isolated from the surrounding structure with special padded isolation clips and hangers
Isolate the mounting of materials using resilient channels and wall clips to hang drywall
Isolate the vibrations induced by building systems like plumbing pipes, electrical appliances and mechanical equipment
Add an air space between walls to create a sound-isolating medium
Seal all the joints, including electrical outlets, studs, drywall doors, windows and trim
Use specialty acoustical products like membranes, mass-loaded vinyl, underlayments and acoustical insulation
Use special insulated duct treatments and grilles to minimize air noise

Think of your room as being like a fish tank: Any openings, even small ones, that aren't sealed will leak. It's these leaks that can undermine all of your hard (and expensive) soundproofing efforts.

This means larger openings, like doors and windows, need special care. For the best sound isolation, an airlock consisting of two back-to-back doors is ideal. The door bottoms should have self-actuating bottom gaskets that seal when closed. For windows, you'll want insulated units with at least one of the panes made of laminated glass.

Resonance in Construction

Most residential walls are constructed using 2-by-4 studs with ½-inch drywall as a finished surface. Think of a wall as a giant speaker. It will have a frequency at which it resonates - acousticians call this the room mode. For a recording environment, resonating walls can muddy the sound of the room. This is especially true of small rooms, because there's less room for the sound to dissipate.

By simply varying the thickness of standard materials on the walls, we can decrease the chance that resonating materials will be a problem. For example, alternating ½-inchdrywall on one side and ⅝-inch on the other will ensure that the resonant frequencies aren't the same.

Contemporary Home Office by San Francisco Kitchen & Bath Remodelers Aaron Gordon Construction, Inc.

Retrofitting

So, now you know a lot about how sound moves and how you can control and contain it, which is great information if you're designing from the ground up, but many of us don't have that luxury.

Converting an existing space can essentially be done in two ways. The first is by adding acoustical treatments to an existing room. You can modify the absorption and diffusion fairly easily in this way; even altering the room shape is possible with freestanding panels or objects. This option is most appropriate for renters, because it's less permanent. However, it's also less successful, because acoustically isolating a space is a difficult and more intrusive process.

See how to cut noise pollution at home

The second way is by designing your studio to be a room within a room. If you have the room and a plan to stay put long-term, this is the better solution. The more you're able to isolate your studio from the surrounding structure, the better. If you're able to construct floating walls, use a gasketed door, double the layers of Sheetrock and add some absorptive materials, you're well on your way to creating a dramaticallyimproved acoustical environment.

For a garage space, consider adjustable features, like large swinging or sliding doors, which can help to both contain transmitted sound and act as diffusers. Add coverings or drapes to any existing windows to help minimize unwanted reflections and increase absorption.

Open framing in a garage is actually acoustically quite nice, but an uninsulated garage can make for some tense neighborly relations. By adopting the room-within-a-room approach, you'll greatly reduce the amount of sound transmitted to the outdoors in a garage space. This interior room lining can be constructed using relatively inexpensive off-the-shelf materials if the concepts discussed are followed. Isolate first, then balance absorption and reflection.

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'Professional Tenants' and How Not to Fall Victim to Them

Sat, 30 Aug 2014 09:23:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Renting, Planning

ShutterstockThe Professional Tenant can leave the landlord with a worthless judgment for thousands in unpaid rent -- and a trashed apartment.

I am an attorney who has practiced in landlord tenant law for over 15 years in Massachusetts, one, if not the most, tenant-friendly states in the country. I've seen the good, bad and the ugly when it comes to tenant shenanigans. I've written all about it on my Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog. Most tenants are problem-free, yet there is a certain type who make even an experienced landlord cringe with fear: The Professional Tenant.

Let me give you the profile of what I mean by a typical Professional Tenant. (This is a generalization based on my professional experience.)

They have history of litigation, evictions and/or delinquency with prior landlords.
They have a surprising (and dangerous) knowledge of local landlord-tenant law.
They often have a background in real estate, engineering, contracting or law.
They have marginal to poor credit, with a prior history of collections, judgments or bankruptcies.
They have gaps in rental history.
They have non-existent or incomplete prior landlord references.

Now the above may sound simply like a poor rental applicant, and maybe that's true. But the Professional Tenant will make a landlord's life miserable and cost them thousands in lost rent and legal fees. Here's what a Professional Tenant will do to a landlord.

The Professional Tenant's Scheme

Shortly after moving in, the Professional Tenant will start to complain about small issues with the rental property. Some will complain to the local board of health to have the landlord cited for

Professional rental screening techniques, experience and common sense instincts will help a landlord avoid a Professional Tenant.

code violations. Often the tenant has caused these very code violations -- bathroom mold is a common situation. (Most state Sanitary Codes can trip up even the most conscientious landlord.) Based on the code violations, the Professional Tenant will stop paying rent, claiming that they are "withholding rent" due to bad property conditions. Under Massachusetts law, for example, a tenant can legally withhold rent for even the most innocuous code violations and there is no rent escrow requirement. The Professional Tenant will also assert that the landlord violated the local last-month-rent and security-deposit law, and ask for their deposit back, trying to set up the landlord for a hefty legal claim. In Massachusetts, tenants can win triple damages for deposit law violations.

In the meantime, months may pass before the landlord will realize that they are being set up. The landlord will have repaired the minor code issues, only to have the tenant call the board of health again and again. The landlord is forced to start eviction proceedings, only to be met with a slew of counterclaims and defenses from the Professional Tenant. The Professional Tenant will then send the landlord a myriad of document requests and interrogatories which will often delay the eviction hearing. Months and thousands of dollars in attorneys' fees later, the landlord finally gets his day in court. And the Professional Tenant doesn't show up, leaving the landlord with a worthless judgment for thousands in unpaid rent -- and a trashed apartment.

How Can Landlords Avoid the Professional Tenant?

Professional rental screening techniques, experience and common sense instincts will help a landlord avoid a Professional Tenant. My advice to landlords is to make screening the most important thing you do as a landlord, and do the following:

Invest in good credit history checks.
Follow up with landlord references for all applicants. Call the past landlords and talk to them!
Check and verify employment information.
Check prior bankruptcies and court dockets.
Personally interview all tenants and size them up!
If someone seems fishy, they probably are. Trust your instincts!

Do you have your own story about dealing with a Professional Tenant? If you do, please share them in the comments!

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4 Natural Ways to Kill Weeds

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 05:47:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

Weeds are the worst. They compete with my flowers and shrubs for nutrients, water and sunlight. And since weeds are native and superbly adapted to my little slice of heaven, they usually win the war with my exotic perennials, which were propagated God-knows-where.

I could spray the intruders with herbicides, and continue to pollute the watershed and kill the honeybees, vital pollinators whose populations are shrinking.

Or I can get rid of weeds naturally, using my brawn and brain to defeat these plants, whose only real crime is growing where I don't want them:

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How to Donate to Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

ShutterstockIf the item you want to donate doesn't fit in your car, Habitat for Humanity ReStores will pick it up for free!

The following post is by BrightNest:

So you're ready for a new couch. What do you do with the old one? Instead of leaving it curbside with a handwritten "Free" sign or tossing it in a dumpster, give Habitat for Humanity's ReStore a call.

Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell gently used furniture, decor, building materials and appliances at a fraction of the price. All of the proceeds are used to build homes by Habitat for Humanity.

You can drop off just about anything home related, from hammers to lamps and even still-working refrigerators. And, if the item you want to donate doesn't fit in your car, ReStores will pick it up for free! To find a ReStore in your area, visit Habitat.org.

Appliances: All appliances must be in 100 percent working order, clean, and have all knobs present to be suitable for pickup. Appliances should be 15 years old or less. However, nonworking appliances can be dropped off at a ReStore for recycling.

Building Materials: Unused and leftover building materials can be donated. This can include insulation, lumber, plywood, roofing and sheetrock.

Cabinetry: Full kitchen cabinet sets are preferred, and the cabinets must be whole. ReStore cannot take individual cabinet components (such as cabinet doors). Please do not disassemble cabinetry.

Furniture: All furniture must be free of stains, rips, pet fur and other significant blemishes. ReStore will accept children's furniture such as small tables or chairs, but not cribs. They also cannot accept office furniture or incomplete bedframes.

Flooring: Flooring is accepted, including carpet, granite, hardwood, laminate, marble, tile and vinyl. The minimum donation of flooring materials is typically 100 feet squared.

Hardware: Hardware is accepted! These items include doorknobs, hinges, bolts, screws and nails. Please make sure these items are boxed or are in a container (if applicable) prior to the donation.

Heating & Cooling: Heating and cooling items like AC units, furnaces and swamp coolers are accepted, but they must be in working order.

Plumbing & Fixtures: ReStore will accept all copper, PVC & ABS fittings, as well as bathtubs, heaters, sinks and toilets. All materials must be clean and free of mildew and mold.

Note that your local Restore may have more detailed guidelines. We recommend giving your local branch a call if you're unsure about an item.

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BrightNest

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How to Push a Millennial Out of the Nest

Wed, 30 Jul 2014 04:21:00 -0300

Filed under: Advice, How To, Planning, Financing

ShutterstockAccording to research, 14 percent of Millennials have moved back in with their parents.

By Michael Corbett

Moving out of your parent's house. Leaving the nest. For most of us, it was a rite of passage. We went to college, and then proudly headed out into the world to make our own way, while our parents turned our old room into another guest bedroom.

However, for a significant percentage of young adults, that rite of passage is now all about returning to the roost, rather than flying solo. According to Gallup research, 14 percent of Millennials, the age group of 24-34 year-olds, have moved back in with their parents. The homeownership rate for those under age 35 was 36.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014, down from a historical high of 43.1 percent at the end of 2005, according to Census data. According to numerous economic reports on

If you can sense that your boomerang kid is riding out his or her free meal ticket under your roof as long as they can, help them visualize when that ride will end

Millennials, this is attributed to a weak job market, high cost of living, significant college debt, and other factors.

These kids, as well as any adult children who have decided to move back in with mom and pop are lovingly referred to as "boomerang kids." Clearly the analogy is obvious. For Mom and Dad, who would love to have the "kids across the hall" become the 'kids across town,' here are seven pointers you might want to consider:

Start Charging Rent: Cut off the free ride. Yes, it sounds harsh, but you may be doing both you and your kid a favor. Managing money and a monthly budget is something that is not learned in school, and it is certainly not learned hanging out in your parent's converted attic for free. Give your boomerang kids a real estate reality check. If the free ride comes to a screeching halt and they are paying rent, they will probably want to do it in their own apartment, closer to (or with) their friends, near downtown or a closer drive to their office. Charge rent and enforce it. Once they start getting that first-of-the-month monetary wake up call, it might shock their system enough to have them consider alternative arrangements. If they're going to have a landlord no matter what, they're likely to consider a new, more independent situation.

Collect Monthly Payments: Here's another way to give them a foot out the door -- but still a leg up. Start charging them monthly payments now. Let them know that they will have to come up with the monthly equivalent to local rents each month for the next six months. At the end of the six months, you will give them back all the money when they move out. That does three things: You teach them budgeting skills, you incentivize them to move, and you give them a financial helping hand on move-out day.

Be z Strict Landlord: No parties, no loud music, no guests after 10 p.m. Keep the house rules strict. At some point, your kid is going to want to have a little independence, and some fun too. Living with a strict landlord may just be the incentive he or she needs to find a place of their own.

Set a Deadline ... and Stick to It: If you can sense that your boomerang kid is riding out his or her free meal ticket under your roof as long as they can, help them visualize when that ride will end. Create a deadline for them to move out and stick to it, no matter what. It's likely you never intended to have kids under your roof for more than two decades, so your children need to respect that...and they need to get on with their own lives. Even in a world where Millennials are underemployed compared to their Gen X, Y and Baby Boomer counterparts, there are still plenty of ways for them to make a living that enables them to live with a roommate or two or three...elsewhere.

Help Them Get Organized and Overcome the Mental Hurdle: After all the financial aspects are considered, one of the biggest hurdles to making a big move is mental: it just feels overwhelming. So many things to do, buy and organize before it can actually happen. Your child may just need the expertise of someone who's moved multiple times in their lives to talk them down off the "I'm too overwhelmed and can't do this" ledge. Map out all the necessities and then make a list of the "nice to haves down the road" so they can see what's an immediate need, and what can be done over the coming weeks and months.

Gift or Loan Them the Down Payment: Trulia's latest survey showed that 50 percent of Millennials surveyed plan go to their parents for help with the hefty down payment that's required to purchase a home in today's housing market. If you want your adult child up and out of your basement, consider giving them the financial head start now they need to form their own household and be independent.

Buy a Multi-Unit Investment Property: I am a huge proponent of purchasing multi-unit properties like a duplex, triplex or fourplex, because they are great investments. In the case of your "failure to launch" Millennial, slot them into one of the units of your new property and rent out the other unit(s). The rental income is likely to cover much of the costs of ownership, and you'll have a built-in property manager in the building to keep an eye on things. Plus, your boomerang kid is learning valuable management skills at the same time. It can be an investment property for you, and solve the "son or daughter is still in my basement" problem, all at the same time.

ALL: If you had an adult child living at home, what tactics worked to get them out of the nest?

ALL: You can get more information on my books here, follow me on Twitter@1MichaelCorbett and like me on Facebook.

Michael Corbett is Trulia's real estate and lifestyle expert. He hosts NBC's EXTRA's Mansions and Millionaires. In additional to his regular segments on ABC's The View and Fox News, he is a national best selling author with three critically acclaimed real estate books: Find It, Fix It, FLIP IT!; Ready, Set, SOLD! and Before You BUY!

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Cool Ways to Hide the Air Conditioner in Your Yard

Sun, 27 Jul 2014 06:16:00 -0300

Filed under: How To, Home, Planning

By Mariana Pickering

If you live in a hot climate, your air conditioner is probably your favorite major appliance. However, it can quickly become a major party crasher in the middle of your backyard summer barbecue. That same hulking, boxy piece of machinery that cools your house can be an eyesore in your garden. But don't sweat it. There are plenty of ways you can hide, mask, conceal and block your air conditioning unit so you won't even know it's there. Here's how to keep your cool.

Modern Spaces by Montreal Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Sasha Newman

First keep in mind how your air conditioner works and what keeps it happy and efficient. An A/C unit needs space to breathe. Because it works so hard to make the inside of your house cool, it needs to vent a bunch of generated heat. The reason that the metal casings of air conditioning units are perforated is to do just that. Keep this in mind when adding any sort of cover or obstruction near your machine. To be safe, check the manufacturer's recommended distances for any sort of enclosure.

Traditional Exterior by Plainfield General Contractors DJK Custom Homes

When designing your new house or retrofitting for a new system, remember that a happy air conditioner is one that doesn't have to work so hard. One way to ensure this is to use energy-efficient methods of home design that can reduce your reliance on air conditioning and keep as much cool air inside your home as possible.

Another way to design an efficient system is to make sure that your unit has a cool, shady spot in which to work. Place it on the side of the house with the most protection from the sun, so that it doesn't heat up too much. This will keep it running more efficiently (which is great for the wallet) and can help avoid noises and malfunctioning associated with overheating.

See how to design a home without an air conditioner

Traditional Landscape by Belmont Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers vdhdesign

Now on to the tips for minimizing visual impact.

Fence It In

One of the most common approaches is to simply hide the air conditioner from view. For ideas on fences and screens that could work for your garden, take cues from elements you already have in your garden to maintain an integrated look. You can also check out some of the great ideas on Houzz for fencing.

See more on how to choose the right fence

Build a Dedicated Structure

Keeping space for ventilation in mind, consider creating a dedicated structure to offer shade to a machine that may not be located in the best spot. Depending on your garden needs, this could even be incorporated with a place to store the lawnmower, hose, pool care supplies or other stuff. In this example a structure built on to the side of the house disguises the unit while also providing a spot for garden tools.

Traditional Garage And Shed by Royal Oak Architects & Building Designers Art | Harrison Interiors & Collection

Contemporary Spaces by Brisbane Garden & Landscape Supplies Award Gates and Screens

Another idea is to group your outdoor machinery into one accessible, well-ventilated structure. The example shown here is an enclosure for a pool pump, but it could easily be modified to fit the size needed for an air conditioner. Taking it a step further, you could even build a full-height equipment shed, capable of housing your unit, any pumps you have for your garden and whatever garden tools you need to store.

See more on adding a backyard shed

Contemporary Site And Landscape Plan by Winchester Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Redesign Your Backyard

If you're considering a garden makeover anyway (to prepare for all of the awesome summer barbecue parties you'll be having), this may be a good opportunity to design a system of utility spaces that are closed off from view. In this example a relatively small courtyard in Boston has been optimized for some garden storage solutions, as well as for a utility closet that houses the A/C unit, seen at the bottom left portion of the rendering.

Here's the built structure from the previous rendering. From the main sitting area, you would never guess that to the left of the firewood stash is an access door to the air conditioner. With the storage cleverly disguised as part of the courtyard boundary wall, the rest of the exterior space is open and ready for guests.

Contemporary Landscape by Winchester Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Traditional Landscape by Montreal Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Sasha Newman

Add Structural and Vegetation Screens

A custom cover or integrated patio furniture may be a little expensive for some; a plant screen is a good budget alternative. This simple trellis covers the air conditioner, leaving access to it from behind and adding a vertical element to the garden design. You could even integrate this with your veggie garden to allow climbing plants, like beans, to grow vertically. Some premade trellis systems, like this one, also have an access door from the front.

Asian Landscape by Oak Park Design-Build Firms Great Lakes Landscape Design

Guide the View and Distract

Savvy landscape designers will tell you that the key to a beautiful garden, even one with a large air conditioner in the corner, is to direct the eye to a beautiful framed view. In this garden the unit on the right behind the low fence is hardly noticeable, because our eyes are drawn down the path, while the matching fences become backgrounds to lush vegetation.

Your turn: How do you disguise your air conditioner? Tell us in the Comments.

Coming next: What to do about that air conditioning unit indoors.

See how to design a home without an air conditioner

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This Great House 2

Podcast 479: 2023 Housing Affordability Outlook

Podcast 478: 2023 economic forecast

Podcast 477: When disaster strikes

Podcast 476: Lines in the sand: moving water boundaries

Podcast 475: Texas land market cooldown

Podcast 474: Almost home: interest rates and housing affordability

Podcast 473: Texas jobs outlook

Podcast 472: What's in store along the border?

Podcast 471: Through the roof: inflation and housing affordability

Podcast 470: For rent: success in property management

Podcast 469: Population changes in 2021: Census Bureau estimates

Podcast 468: Closing the book on 2021

Podcast 467: Stubborn slow-down

Podcast 466: Third quarter 2021 preliminary review

Podcast 465: A rising tide: South Padre Island's economy

Podcast 464: Pivoting: Texas' licensee boom

Podcast 463: Decennial population update

Podcast 462: Obtaining a Texas real estate license

Podcast 461: Texas border update

Podcast 460: Second quarter 2021 economic review

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