S.E.C. Real Estate Observer

Last edition, I wrote about being positive, communication with your lenders and partners, brainstorming at S.E.C. meetings and with your acquaintances, figuring out what works in a recession and upgrading your skills. This edition, I want to concentrate on personal development, focus, and time management.

As we all know, it’s hard to fly like Superman not only when your cape is on fire, but when you have a portfolio filled with Debt laden properties that are ready to hit the proverbial lender graveyard. Historically, Debt has undermined many great fortunes. Among our founding fathers, Jefferson, Adams and Franklin, (and most of the other founding fathers) experienced the continual and unrelenting anxiety associated with maddening Debt.

Over the last several months, we have seen some of the most dramatic economic changes in many years. First the housing market fell apart. Then the big Wall Street firms started to drop like flies. The lenders, banks, and insurance companies all started having trouble. Now the auto manufacturers are going under. What’s next? I certainly don’t claim to know, but looking at our history might give us some direction — and some reason for optimism.

In Part I of this article, “Pricing Real Estate The Key For Results,” the term “Cap Rate” to structure an income property value was noted as well as the ability to utilize “creative formulas” to structure a property; acquisition should there be a question as to the price/value of the property. First an overview as to what is the “makeup of a Cap Rate” will be presented, and will then be followed by a sample illustration of two “creative formulas” that I personally had the ability to apply to a successful transaction [...]

In one way or another, we have encountered and/or studied something about counseling. We have then been told how important, in fact crucial, counseling is to a successful real estate practice. But alas, the most important ingredient to effective counseling is often glossed over, underrated or just plain forgotten - LISTENING. But what has THAT got to do with counseling?! [...]

I had negotiated a price of $295,000 on 4+ acres of unimproved commercial land in southern California. The buyers were willing to pay $52,000 cash down and wanted the sellers to carry the $243,000 balance on a note secured by a first deed of trust with payments of $2,478.49 or more per month including 8.5% interest with the entire balance due and payable in ten years from close of escrow [...]

In my opinion, the problem is that there is no logic in our economy - nothing to hang any facts on. I feel this to be the main problem. [...]

This article was published with Michael Soon Lee’s permission. We appreciate his contribution to the S.E.C. Observer.
Over 60% of all homebuyers in America today are minorities according to the National Association of REALTORS®. There are over one million people from overseas coming into the United States every year and they all want to show friends [...]

January 15, 2020
As one of the elder statesmen of the Society, I am most pleased to welcome so many current and former S.E.C.’s and their families to this unique and special occasion. The Society celebrates its sixth decade in existence and has honored that milestone in the form of this fabulously, imaginative architectural facility coupled [...]

Photo Credits:
Fort Worth Business Press
(July 10, 2006);
Copyright © 2006
by Fort Worth Business Press.
by Jenny Eure
Fort Worth Business Press
July 10, 2006
Real estate guru Bill Stonaker is a warrior. The Vietnam vet recently battled cancer. Now, he is fighting for his right to develop a $300-million-dollar property northwest of Fort Worth.
Bill Stonaker goes 100 miles per hour, [...]