Leading Indicators from the Trenches
I'm lucky to live in a nice middle class neighborhood with great neighbors. The neighborhood, like most in Florida, has been stricken with foreclosures, however we only have one house in foreclosure on my street. One of the neighbors across the back alley is a residential appraiser. No doubt business has been really tough for appraisers, but for the past couple of weeks his business has improved. He's had to work late to keep up with demand. Granted most of the work has been foreclosures, but we've got to digest those properties to turn the residential housing market corner.
As the residential market improves ever so slightly the rest of the market should follow. I’m not trying to predict a major market increase in residential real estate, but an uptick in the appraisal industry does mean that the residential market is trying to get traction with increased activity.
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Sep.20.2009. 14:50
"The Essential REIT" by Ralph Block - Final Issue
I was sad to read the final issue of "The Essential REIT" by Ralph Block. My fascination with REITs started around 2001 at a Borders bookstore in Ocoee, FL. I stumbled upon Ralph's book and read several chapters before purchasing it. In my excitement with the industry, I gave that copy to my brother and he never returned it. Nevertheless, I began to feel empowered with opportunity to own real estate without having lots of money. I was like; "you know here's a way to invest like the wealthy without being wealthy."
After doing some of my own research, I bought a couple of REITs using commission saving DRIP plans and proceeds from many eBay auctions. Several years later I created this site. My personal investment journey in REITland has been interesting and frustrating. I don't know where the journey will take me, but it's a journey that I would've never embarked with out some inspiration from Mr. Block!
You can read Ralph Bock's last issue of "The Essential REIT" at REITCafe.com.
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Comments (0) Sep.02.2009. 21:19
Externally Managed REITs
What's the deal with the new bread of externally managed REITs? Seems like an externally managed REIT wouldn't have enough time to focus on the needs of the company. I may be traditional or old school, but the idea of outsourcing management of a company seems odd and nothing more than an asset tax shelter.
Just take a look at Government Properties Income Trust. I had to dig around on SEC.gov to find their website. I guess a search engine optimized site wasn't part of the management packaged that HRPT signed with Reit Management & Research LLC to manage Government Properties.
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Comments (0) Sep.01.2009. 22:25
Seeking more info on Government Properties Income Trust 
So Government Properties Income Trust recently completed an IPO, which I would describe as successful. The IPO didn't go dramatically up or down which is a success in this market. However, I'm having trouble find much information about this new entity which was basically an equity spin-off from HRPT.
Why don't they have a website?
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Comments (0) Aug.31.2009. 23:20
Investors Real Estate Dividends Goes Up Half a Cent
IRET or Investors Real Estate annouced today an increase in their quartery divident from 17.05 cents per quarter to 17.10 cents per quarter. The increase might be just half of a penny, but at least they managed to stay focused on dividend.Share It: Bookmark It:
Comments (0) Aug.26.2009. 22:03
Hersha is Selling for Profits
The news from Hersha Hospitality on Thursday that they sold two hotel properties for a net benefit to their balance sheet is impressive. The company sold property for net proceeds of $1.75 million and the other sale was a 55% interest in a property netting $2.5 million.
So for all those investors negative on hotels, I say, “wow that hurts.” To me it seems like hotel REITs are indeed able to squeeze some money from their limited resources to reinforce the balance sheet.
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Comments (0) Aug.02.2009. 01:03
Analysts Have a Consensus which Might Mean They are Wrong
The REIT world is buzzing this evening with more downgrades and a tough market for the REIT industry. Wow. Really? I hadn't realized that yet. I'm not going to fan the flames by posting a link to all of these reports as they are easy to find. However, I do believe that when "everyone" thinks they have the answer it's a good time to consider the opposite thinking.
Good luck out there.
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Comments (0) Jul.28.2009. 00:20