Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Another Manic Monday for those in the financial markets

"JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY..." lyrics from The Bangles.
And last week wasn't just another manic Monday, as the markets were wild the entire week. During the past two months in the stock market, there have been 19 trading days with a 3% move. It had previously taken 6 years to see 19 days with a 3% move.
Bonds and home loan rates began the week with a strong rally on news that the world's largest Bond Fund, PIMCO, raised its stake in Mortgage-Backed Securities to its highest in over seven years. Also helping Bonds and home loan rates break above important technical levels were poor earning reports by companies like DuPont, Texas Instruments, Merck, Wachovia, and Boeing.
However, the gains were short lived as both Stocks and Bonds worsened on Friday after heavy selling took place in Asia and Europe. The waves of panic selling started in Japan due to weak earnings reported by Sony and Samsung, then spilled over into the UK as Britain's economy shrank for the first time since 1992, signaling a recession.
And while a strong sell-off in Stocks would typically cause money to flow into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, there is currently a bit of a departure from the normal "see-saw" trading you may typically see between Stocks and Bonds. This is occurring because securities must be liquidated to raise capital. In an effort to offset margin calls, all securities are being cashed in. Additionally, fear from individual investors, where people throw in the towel and want to get out of the market, is creating massive redemptions from fund managers. Despite the continued volatility and massive action of the last week, Bonds and home loan rates ended the week very close to where they began.

So what does this mean to you? Loans are available. You just need to qualify for them and have a real downpayment. Just as always in the income property and Apartment building market.

Banks are not foreclosing on apartment buildings. Apartment owners are enjoying a steady stream of cash flow and income from their investments.

Remember the old saw about not putting all your eggs in one basket. Hope your nest egg was not in the Wall Street basket.

Do you need a good dependable Real Estate investment?

Keith L.
www.REList.net

Monday, October 06, 2008

Rental Incomes... Still Strong

If you are invested in the rental properties in vital markets you are not feeling the pain that wall street is feeling today.

Rents are Strong. Tenants still are making the rent. The rent roll is still paying the mortgage and insurance and taxes and the management upkeep.

The rental housing providers I know are sill receiving the positive cash flows that their investments were providing prior to the 2008 drop in the stock market.

No wall street type will tell you to take your money out of his control and give it to anyone else to help you diversify. They do not know any other investment. But you, who have some real cash to invest and a future to protect, need to take a portion of your wealth and invest in Real Property. Rental Property. Income Property.

Today's Cap rates and Gross Rent Multipliers are looking better and better.

Residential property can beat almost any recession investment.

How much! How much to Wall Street? How much to income producing land?

Risk is a chance to loose some value. But Whole companies go down to ZERO. Never does an apartment building go to Zero. Real insurance policies (as apposed to swaps/derivatives etc.) insure that your building will get built back up if hit with a typical disaster of fire etc.

Professional portfolio managers (CFP's) charge a few points to manage your money. And people like me as your Real Estate Agent charge a reasonable percentage to manage your tenants and pay the bills for the performing asset. I bet as a percentage of value a property manager is much less expensive than a money manager. I'll check on that.

What type of property would you like to own? A big building with partners? Medium or small building on your own?

Sincerely Keith Lambert
310-391-0821
www.REList.net