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1000 Home Challenge: 198 Pond Rd Bridgton ME

1000 Home Challenge 198 Pond Rd Bridgton ME We're glad to have Linda Wigington,  the founder of the THC, The Thousand Home Challenge as our guest again this Tuesday night.  She'll be glad to answer all your questions. What is it?  How does it work?  How is it different from other programs?  Who developed it? Could my home possibly qualify? We'll use one of our own houses that's just starting the renovation process to see how it measures up: 198 Pond Road in Bridgton, Maine. We've got most of the demolition done and are starting to move walls around and change the floor plan......Continue Reading!

Open Forum: Q & A – Solar, Sacramento Test House

Open Forum: Q & A Solar, Sacramento Test House... I'm happy to be back after three weeks in Europe. We've got some interesting webinars in the works but this Tuesday I'd like to hear about any projects you may have or would like to. You're invited to take center stage and discuss your energy wise residential remodel.  Maybe you're considering a purchase for sale or lease or perhaps you've got an idea that would help us Save the Planet One Foreclosed House at a time! Bring your insights, comments or questions. Keep in mind a picture is worth a thousand words. You can use...Continue Reading!

In Depth Remodel Budget: 4554 E. Harvard Fresno CA

Remodel Budget 4554 E. Harvard Fresno CA This week I've asked our Rogelio Covarubias, our general contractor in Fresno, CA to take us through a line by line final budget for our next investor owned property. This interesting acquisition has a lot of potential but will required a good bit of work.  When completed, the nearly 2,000 sqft 5 bedroom 2.5 bath home will easily provide housing for two complete families, each needing to share only a spacious kitchen.  Given our experience with responses from Craig's List for 4 bedrooms, we believe we'll be inundated with renters with large or muliti-generational families. Click...Continue Reading!

Niche Condos Part 2: Return On Investment

Niche Condos Part 2 Return On Investment (ROI) Last week we reviewed 5 "Niche Condos" that seemed to offer better initial Return On Investment (ROI) than some in less than desirable locations. This week we'll do a quick review and then take an in depth look at Property Evaluation Schedules for each. These will include: Acquisition prices Property comps Estimated Phase 1 remodel costs Marketing and managing expense Flipping vs Renting ROI We'll discuss the various properties and as always provide both the Property Comparison Spreadsheet and Individual Property Evaluation Schedules to attendees.  We'll even be offering opportunities for those interested to invest in any of the condos being reviewed. Hope...Continue Reading!

Niche Condos: Special Value Part 1

Niche Condos Special Value? Part 1 With Dave Robinson River Cruising in Portugal we're taking the opportunity to continue our series on the investment condo market. A few weeks ago we found low cost condos seemed to offer a good initial Return On Investment (ROI) but the locations seem less than desirable. On the other side of the equation, condos in nice areas of town offer far less ROI's when factoring in higher purchase prices and Home Owner Association (HOA) fees. A little more digging and we discovered 5 condos in Fresno CA that have "niche market appeal." Some are located in better pockets of...Continue Reading!

Open Forum: Q & A

Open Forum: Q & A Calculating and Comparing Heating Fuels After tonight, for the next three Tuesdays I'll be joining my travel agent wife in and around Portugal but not to worry, Rob's got some excellent topics lined up. Since I may be out of the pocket for awhile I though tonight would be a good time for another in our Open Forum Series. This is an excellent opportunity to bring a project or idea your considering or are already working on to our energy wise renovating team. Or maybe you've run across an interesting green building article or website you'd like feedback on....Continue Reading!

Condos: Overlooked Cash Cows?

Condos... Overlooked Cash Cows? Last week we took an in depth look at several previously owned residential investments.  In working through the process we noted that at the moment Condos in many cases seem to be offering better than 100:1 returns as rentals! Previously not on our radar, GEE's giving these low cost buy in options a closer look.  Here's some of our findings: While investors are quick to pick up on single and even multi-family residences, condos may seem hardly worth the effort and therefore are remaining on MLS for extended periods. Owners often remodel these units for quicker turn around, thereby decreasing the...Continue Reading!

Picking The Best Green Investment Value

Residential Investing Picking The Best Green Value A couple of weeks back we took a look at a spreadsheet with 16 single family and multi family investment properties in Fresno CA. This week we'll be featuring a few of the best as we discuss how to identify the greatest value for those just getting started to the experienced green investor looking to pad their portfolio. Obvious considerations are: Location Market Age Condition Improvements Neighborhood Some other important factors include: Financing: Cash vs. financed investing Bid price: Properties with zero to a dozen offers Configuration: How does the number of beds and bath really pencil out? Previous remodeling:  Are permits important? What are indicators of poor...Continue Reading!

Floor Plan Reconfiguration Tips and Tricks

Floor Plans Reconfiguration Tips and Tricks When buying a previously owned home as a primary residence or an investment property slight or even major floor plan changes can add attractiveness, convenience and value. This is particularly true when remodeling older homes, which may have dated floor-plans not to mention unusual and even unpermited additions. This week will be looking at just such a property located at 198 Pond Road Bridgton ME.  A joint venture investment, we're determined to take a 100+ year old floor-plan, including more recent somewhat unfortunate remodeling, to a whole new level of Green Livability. As always we've found no one of...Continue Reading!

Fresno In Top 7 Rising Real Estate Markets

Fresno Real Estate 7th Metro Area In Nation As previously discussed housing markets are on the rise. In some areas around the nation this means there's good money to be made in flipping even when adding extra value by some of all of  well planned and executed Energy Package. Other areas lend themselves more towards buying and holding for the purpose of leasing.  Fresno is an example of such a market where rental values are are high in comparison to the relatively low purchase price of investment properties. According to a national survey 6 of the 7 metro areas with the fastest rising list...Continue Reading!