I take them. With anyone who asks. Why? First, there’s a bit of altruism at work. I’ve made a ton of mistakes in this business and I am happy to share my experiences with people so they don’t make them, too. Second, I genuinely like talking to people about real estate (and lots of other … Continue reading “My policy on meetings”
Category: Uncategorized
Late post today
Sorry for the late post today. I’m up to my eyeballs in work and my kid just barfed all over the place. On the plus side: Jon and I just opened escrow on a great new deal. More info later when I can share more.
2241 Branden is for sale
I am so bummed to part with this one that I’ve been putting off listing it. It’s the property in our portfolio that is best suited for a family to take down and hold for a long time. Wish it could have been my family, but I don’t have the dough! Anyway, here are the … Continue reading “2241 Branden is for sale”
How long should the contingency periods be?
As we’ve discussed before, when you write an offer on an apartment building in Southern California using the standard purchase agreement, what you’re really doing is handing the owner a proposed purchase contract filled out with the terms upon which you are prepared to buy the property. Theoretically, the owner could just sign the offer … Continue reading “How long should the contingency periods be?”
Down with CEQA
The NY Times had a great piece yesterday on the legislature’s attempt to reform California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). When then-Governor Ronald Reagan signed CEQA in the 1970’s, it may have been a good law. Now it’s an abomination that allows anyone who believes any project will negatively impact the environment to sue to halt … Continue reading “Down with CEQA”
Collaborative sleuthing?
I’d like to try an experiment which will 100% definitely fail if you (my readers) don’t get involved. So, basically, I’m putting myself out here publicly and I’m going to have egg on my face if no one feels motivated to help. Here’s the experiment: I’ve posted a listing below. I would like us, as … Continue reading “Collaborative sleuthing?”
Why being a broker is sometimes harder than being a buyer
As regular readers know, I do two kinds of deals: Deals with investors, where I am generally given discretion to make all decisions relating to buying, renovating, and managing the property in question; and Deals I broker, where I am simply an expert intermediary (hopefully) helping my client to deploy capital into the multifamily space. … Continue reading “Why being a broker is sometimes harder than being a buyer”
The dispensary ban
When Lucy and I arrived in LA in 2007, we had never heard of a medical marijuana dispensary. They don’t exist in London, where we used to live. I distinctly remember thinking “19 year old Moses would have thought these were pretty cool.” Now, in what may be a symptom of growing up (or getting … Continue reading “The dispensary ban”
Today’s agenda
Here’s what’s happening today: Meeting a potential client for coffee in the morning Finding out if a second appraisal hits for some clients for whom I’m brokering a fourplex deal; either it hits and I get paid all the work I’ve done on the deal over the past month or it doesn’t and I get … Continue reading “Today’s agenda”
Ways into the apartment business
I met with a reader of this blog last week (hi Christina!) to discuss how she could get started in the apartment business. I spent a bunch of time blabbering to her and then realized that some of what I had said might interest those of you who are also considering making a career in … Continue reading “Ways into the apartment business”