The Real Estate Blog with a Twist
Reconsidering the American Dream
Following the Great Recession, the American dream of homeownership was progressively sliding downward. Now, the dream is back and continues on an upward climb. Figures show that from 2015 to 2016, the number of non-homeowners (mostly renters) looking to purchase...
Buy a Street, Charge a Toll
Sometimes we have to pass along articles just for the entertainment value, but at least this article is real estate-based. Fox News reported that an entire street in San Francisco has been sold at a tax auction for a mere $90,000. Sounds like a good investment,...
3 Ways to Make Money with Real Estate
Owning income-producing real estate can be a lucrative investment. But have you ever stopped to think about how and where your money is actually made? One of the big advantages of owning income-producing real estate is that it allows an investor to receive a return...
Yellen’s Prediction a Little “Off”
I have great news! All of you out there who are worried about another economic downturn can rest easy. Janet Yellen said there’s no reason to worry about another financial crisis, so it must be true. If only it were that easy! How old does she think I am? I just...
Biggest Little Cup Fundraiser & Golf Tournament
What’s Better—Owning or Renting?
I have been having this discussion with my 25-year-old daughter, Kayla, for about the last year. Should she buy a home or just keep renting? Tradition says, “Own your home and don’t throw money down the drain on rent.” You will have the pride of homeownership and...
How Does Your State Rank?
Are people fleeing your state or moving in? What is your overall tax burden compared to the other 49 states? What is your state’s economic outlook based on 15 variables that are highly influenced by your state legislature? Those questions, and a few more, are...
Give a Man a Fish…
A few weeks back, we talked about Takers and Producers. Below is another example of what good can happen when we take action to eliminate pure giveaways in our society… to stop the enablement of the Takers. Deep down, it is our human nature to want to work and be...
The Lawyer or Zillow: Who’s Right?
Back in the good old days, Real Estate Agents had all the power. They had information that no one else had, so you had no choice but to hire an agent if you wanted to buy or sell real estate. On the rare occasion I could get my hands on one of the MLS books that...
Who Really Sells Gas to 7-Eleven?
For years, I have been under the impression that the gas sold at 7-Eleven was owned by Venezuela. This assumption led me to believe that purchasing their gas would be supporting the previous dictatorship regime of Hugo Chavez, which led me to take my business...
Las Vegas Olympics: Worth a Trip to the ER?
9 events, 3 competitors, 1 concussion If you read my email a few weeks ago, I told you about how I hit my back against the wall playing racquetball and had to go to the emergency room for what I thought was a stroke! (No worries, it ended up being a concussion). ...
What is so Great About Income Producing Real Estate?
I learned this lesson the hard way beginning back in 2007. Actually, I didn’t really grasp it in its entirety until much later, but it was eventually learned and it was painful. Back in 2007, times were a little nuts. This was when real estate was flying and there...
Good News for the Economy
I can’t believe what I am reading lately. After 8 years of liberal policies, I guess I forgot what it’s like to see more conservative actions taken by the federal government. President Trump vowed to get rid of two regulations for every new regulation proposed. I...
Senior Assisted Living -Head of Business Development
We’re looking for a partner/business development consultant to help us build our senior assisted living business. This is not a very structured position and can partly be what you make it. We are really looking for a go-getter who wants to take charge and run this...
Don’t Open Unless You Want to Chuckle
I don’t normally send out YouTube videos to watch, but when I do, they are funny. This post is nothing but fun and will put a smile on your face. My friend Tom Baker sent me this video of a hilarious skit from Saturday Night Live about the use of Amazon’s “Alexa.”...
Where WIll They Live?
Home Price Increases: Are They Sustainable?
One of the best indicators of the sustainability of home prices is the ratio between income and home prices. If home prices rise faster and higher than homebuyers’ incomes, potential homebuyers can’t afford as much, which puts pressure on sellers to lower their price...
Our Special Event Gets Us All High
Steve and I got high with 12 of our friends last week, then we all visited the most top-of-the-line hangar in town and drove to lunch at ArrowCreek because we were starving. Okay, that may be one of the best titles I have ever used for an article! I bet it got you to...
“Comeback Cities” – Is Yours One of Them?
Realtor.com published an article about the 10 biggest comeback cities in the U.S., and Reno comes in at #10. It appears they have done their research, except for one thing, and that is what they say about Reno. I guess it only sells or is interesting if they put...
I Thought I Had a Stroke
I recently had to visit the emergency room here in Reno. I was lightheaded, I had a foggy brain and I thought I might have had a stroke. I had met with some investors at 10:00 that morning, and, during the meeting, I couldn’t remember the name of our fund Guardian....
Dao vs. United Airlines vs. US Government
All right, I tried to stay out of this mess and not comment on the United Airlines debacle, but now I can’t help myself after reading this in the WSJ today: Lawmakers Put Heat on Airlines House members tell United and rivals to treat fliers better or face new...
Your Credit Score is Getting an Overhaul
This doesn’t happen often, but the three big credit bureaus have agreed to change the rules as to how your credit score is, well…scored. Like any other large established business, they are slow to change. But, they are finally making some improvements that will...
Compounding Money While You Sleep
Have you ever looked at a compounding chart? I was fortunate enough to be handed a compounding chart when I was 20 years old by a stock broker at Dean Witter. It really opened my eyes. Below is a compounding chart that I made for my youngest child when he was 9...
The Underworld of Seller Financing
Did you know that there is an underworld of seller financing alive and strong out there? Chances are, you probably haven’t given it much thought. We are familiar with this concept because it is one of the worlds we do business in. Now, you might be wondering why I...
If I Can Survive 25 Missions, I Get to Go Home
What do you get when you take six friends and go for a ride in a B-17 Bomber? A whole lot of fun and a mini history lesson! We had the fortunate opportunity to go fly in one of just two B-17 Bombers that have been restored and are allowed to fly around with people in...
Take Responsibility
Are we becoming a nation of people who never want to take responsibility for anything? The newest attempt at a law here in Nevada is to seal eviction records for 60 days. Here is the write up from the NVAR: AB107 would provide that eviction records, from the affidavit...
InvestX: Shortcuts to Savvy Investing
Do You Own Any Rental Homes?
If you do, you might want to keep an eye on Portland, OR. Let’s say you need to (or just want to) raise your rent. Not so fast, you big, bad, filthy rich landlord. In Portland, they are going to charge you $2,900 to $4,500 for raising the rent on your rental...
Warren Buffett’s Million Dollar Bet
Just over 9 years ago, Mr. Warren Buffett made a $1M bet with the asset manager from Protégé Partners that his chosen index fund could outperform their chosen group of hedge funds over 10 years. Come December 31st of this year, it looks like Buffett will win his bet....
There is Change in the Air for 2017
This year, 2017, is going to be a different type of year for Hughes Private Capital and the funds we manage. 2016 was a busy, pivotal year and we are extremely excited about what we have built for 2017 and beyond. There are a few changes we want to update you on....
Can a Law Make a Dishonest Person Honest?
Every time we hand our Offering Memorandum to an investor, we say, “This tells you how you are going to lose all your money.” In 60 pages of boring, nauseating, repetitive statements, it basically explains how everything can go bad. Do you really think investors need...
Do You Trust the Mass Media?
For the most part, 68% of Americans don’t trust the mass media, as shown by a new Gallup poll. Does that really come as a surprise to any of you? If it does, you should try listening to multiple sources on the same stories and see how differently they are reported....
Protectionism and its Unintended Consequences
“It’s the economy, stupid.” Some of you may remember that phrase, coined by James Carville for Bill Clinton’s campaign. Well, in all my brilliance, I am coining a new one: “It’s the free market, stupid.” Tom Henderson has done it again with a great article...
The Secret to Protecting Your Portfolio from Market Volatility
By Guest Writer, Craig Martin Your real goal for your investment portfolio can be easily thwarted by public predictions of the future. Here is what leading predictions in November were telling us before voters elected Donald Trump as our president: “As the historic...
I was Nervous to Be at Sea
Two weeks ago, my wife, Tanja, and I set sail on a Carnival Cruise out of Galveston, Texas headed for three Caribbean islands. This was our second cruise ever, lasting 7 days -- twice as long as our first one. I am not normally a nervous traveler, and the ship...
Is It Our Right or a Privilege?
This article by Tom Henderson is so spot on, so I wanted to share it with you today. This is the part that scares me about the government: both sides seem to have forgotten about the importance of free markets. The government is not here to help, they are here to...
The Art of the Craft: Local Innovations in Wine, Whiskey & Brew
A Fascinating Set of Maps
This blog is more for fun than anything. Here are 18 maps showing different ways the world breaks down. If you ever wondered in what countries people drive on the left side of the road, where to get Big Macs, who uses the metric system, or even how many countries...
Make Us Proud, Tesla
I would like to share an article with you that appeared in Bloomberg recently about flipping the switch on the world’s biggest factory to date, the Tesla gigafactory. The building’s location was so affectionately referred to as the “scrubland outside of Reno, NV.” ...
How Does Yale Invest its $25.6 BILLION Endowment?
Can you guess the answer? They invest in alternative, or non-traditional, investments! In fact, 87.5% of their investments are categorized as non-traditional according to Yale’s 2015 report. Wouldn’t you think just the opposite? I don’t know much about endowments,...
The Good Old Days
Please Don’t Let the Facts get in the Way
How Idiotic Can You Get?
Whoville to Rent to Ownville
Executive Assistant for Client Relations – Full-Time Salaried Position
We are seeking a person full-time to focus on assisting our CEO and coordinating events to attract new investors for our four investment funds. This job would consist of: Assisting our CEO who co-manages our four investment funds and is responsible for raising capital...
Wealth Inequality: Another Perspective
Can You Sell Part of a Loan?
The Time Value of Time?
Follow-Up to Losing $400K
A few weeks ago, I sent out an article sharing how Verne Harnish lost $400,000 on a wire scam. Literally-- POOF -- $400,000 of his hard earned money was gone. Here is a link to that previous article in case you missed it: Defrauded out of $400,000 I wanted to share...
Firsts vs. Seconds – Which is the Champ?
Would You Like to See a Trick?
Which 10% Is Better?
Why Do Women Make Less Than Men?
A Glimmer of Hope in a Sea of Regulations
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was recently ruled as having an illegal structure by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. The court wrote in its decision: “Indeed, other than the President, the Director of the CFPB is the single most powerful official...
Defrauded out of $400,000
Hamburgers Pay for Real Estate
Which is a Better Investment?
We compared financing packages the other day for a senior assisted living property we are considering buying. Here are our options: How do we choose? They both have fixed interest rates for 15 years, and both are due in 15 years. The interest rates are slightly...
What do Cuba and Obamacare Have in Common?
Collection Records Are Highly Predictive of Resident Behavior
A Democracy Cannot Exist As a Permanent Form of Government
If I Have Any More Fun at Work, I Think They Will Make Me Call it a Vacation.
A 13.6% Return Without Risk?
The Biggest Thief of Them All
The Rare Occurrence of Government and Businesses Working Together
Volatility Robs Your Portfolio
Real Estate Wins for Long-Term Investing
A Text From Our Son Overseas
20,642 New Regulations Added in the Last 7 Years
Surviving Brexit’s Storm, Is it Possible?
Nude Selfies Required for Collateral
Robots Must Pay Social Security
Who Profits the Most from New Homes
Whistleblower Retains Reward; Penalty Reversed
How I Lost $250,000 So Maybe You Don’t Have To
Why Laws Are Rarely For Workers, But Always For Politicians
Innovation and Risk Go Hand in Hand
Buffett: “There Is No Housing Bubble”
What’s the Difference Between 7% Rate of Return and a 12%?
The Top 3 Due Diligence Items to Know Before Investing in Alternative Investments
Maybe There is Some Hope
Would You Like to Invest in Our East Coast Yacht Club?
Almost 1 in 3 American’s Has a Criminal Record?
Get a Piece of Professional Athletes’ Paychecks
College… Is it Worth it?
Save Today Johnny, Not Tomorrow
America’s Hunters and Gun Control
Where Did All the Babies Go?
Are We Over Our Hangover From 2009?
So Much Money, What Shall I Do With It?
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
92% of Homes Now Have Equity
Is Harry Right?
I am no expert on the stock market. In fact, I don’t have a dollar in it as of today. I lost faith in it over 5 years ago -- but that is not why I am sending this out. I am sharing it as a purely informational piece, so you can do with it whatever you like. I get...
94% of Young Renters Want to Buy, But Can They?
It Has Been Over a Year in the Making…
Conundrums
In Case of Rate Envy
A Story to Brighten Your Day
What happened to personal responsibility?
Shut Them Down
