Warren Buffett´s US Housing Outlook 2010
March 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Buffets Predictions for US Housing…
Investors and property agents were jumping for joy last week when billionaire Warren Buffett predicted that U.S. residential problems will be largely behind us within a year or so.
On page 11 of his annual letter to shareholders, the great man opined that the US housing industry was currently in a shambles for two reasons.
The first, and most obvious, was that during the prolonged boom, housing starts ran at about 2 million annually, while household formation amounted to about 1.2 million annually.
After a few years of such large imbalances, the USA unsurprisingly ended up with far too many houses.
Jokingly, Buffet offered three ways to adjust the imbalance:
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1. Blow up a lot of houses, a tactic similar to the destruction of autos that occurred with the “cash-for-clunkers” program.
2. Speed up household formations by, say, encouraging teenagers to cohabitate, a program not likely to suffer from a lack of volunteers.
3. Reduce new housing starts to a number far below the rate of household formations.
Housing Starts Now at Record Lows
With housing starts at 554,000 last year, the lowest since records began in 1959, Americans are well on their way to correcting this imbalance. As Buffett stated, “our country has wisely selected the third option, which means that within a year or so residential housing problems should largely be behind us, the exceptions being only high-value houses and those in certain localities where overbuilding was particularly egregious”.
His second reason for the current distress in the US Housing market was due to the large gap in mortgage availability and interest rates offered to people who purchase site built homes vs factory built homes. This is a particular bugbear for Mr Buffett as his company owns an big factory home builder called Clayton Homes .
Far be it from me to read too much into the latest message from the worlds´ most celebrated investor, but I can imagine that he must constantly be toning down his messages to the general public due to his unique influence on the markets. If he came right out and said “you know what folks, 2010 is a pretty good time to purchase undervalued real estate because the market is well on its way to correcting imbalances during the boom years” there would probably be stampedes of investors trying to snap up available inventory all over the country.
If there were stampedes of investors all of a sudden, no doubt some of them would be pounding on the big doors of the beautiful clubhouse in Mosaic at Mall of Millenia . At the moment, properties in this resort start at just €44,000 ($60,900) have 97% occupancy and we have 7 units with double digit net yields.
It is probably worth mentioning that we mean real double digit net yields. Perhaps unsurprisingly, and no doubt in their excitement to promote a new product, some agents forget to include all the monthly costs before advertising how great the rental returns are.
No matter where you buy in the USA, you will get your real net yield when you subtract HOA fees, real estate tax, rental management fees and home insurance from your average monthly income. Anything else is misleading. In a lot of states (but not Florida), you´ll have to account for state tax as well.
What if Mr. Buffett´s prediction is right?
Let´s assume for a moment that his prediction of a US housing recovery sometime in 2011 is correct and let´s also bear in mind that people who have betted against him in the past haven´t done so well.
Is it better to wait until 2011 and start investing in property once prices start recovering? Or might it be worth using some money sitting in a (very) low interest savings account to purchase well priced high quality properties while they are still available?
It´s been a crazy 18 months in the real estate business, but as the Sage of Omaha himself said “Look at market fluctuations as your friend rather than your enemy; profit from folly rather than participate in it”.
Translation: These fluctuations caused a flood of motivated sellers to appear. They won´t stay so motivated indefinately.
Next Level Realty Launches and Sets Mission to Destroy RE/MAX and Keller Williams
February 28, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Next Level Realty Launches and Sets Mission to
Destroy RE/MAX and Keller Williams in New England
Company Takes Aggressive Moves to Provide Real Estate Professionals Better Benefits
Boston, Mass. – January 25, 2010 – Next Level Realty is on the hunt for the best real estate professionals in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Connecticut, Virgina, Florida and New Hampshire and they’re willing to beat RE/MAX and Keller Williams to have the best team.
“We are the best place for real estate agents, teams and brokers in the New England region,” said Adam Bailey with Next Level Realty . “RE/MAX and Keller Williams simply can’t touch our entire package. Agents will net much higher commissions and have better technology platforms that will save them time and money in their business structure.”
Next Level Realty is stepping up its commission paid to real estate professionals in excess of the area average. Agents at Next Level Realty now average a net of 94 percent of their commissions after all fees. They also receive a higher than industry average recruiting bonus that is paid quarterly.
However the innovative company is also taking the competition once step further by offering its agents and brokers 6% profit sharing in the company.
“Our team will be the best in the area and they deserve to share in the profits of the company,” Bailey said. “But we will only take the best Realtors, teams and brokers in the area from our competition.”
Along with simply the best compensation in the Boston area, Next Level Realty also takes its technology to the next level for its professional team.
The company creates a custom Wordpress Platform website with an IDX feed for all of its agents that they own as their own proprietary asset. Also it uses technology to help agents save time working on the go without being constantly in the office. The results are agents have more time, money and energy by being virtually connected to the office at all times.
“Our competition truly can’t compete with us on the compensation structure or use of technology,” Bailey said. “The office on every corner is a dying breed and Next Level Realty will be there with a better system to pick up the pieces of all those failed offices and bring structure to the NEW real estate world.”
A 2004 Boston Business Journal honoree as a Top 25 Firm in the Real Estate Business, Next Level Realty is changing its business model away from former partnerships with Landmark Realty and Realty Direct. Instead, the company is creating a new type of real estate company that truly uses cost savings and innovation to drive the business. It will also compete in the residential, commercial, mortgage and insurance business delivering a one stop real estate destination for its clients.
“Agents selected for the Next Level Realty team can compare our innovative processes, technology and compensation to any other company and we will be the clear leader,” Bailey said. “We are the true innovators in the industry, but if they do find someone that can beat us, we will match the offer presented to us.”
Next Level Realty is also planning to license its product across the country, including the possibility of merger and acquisition opportunities with companies with a similar mission and vision.
For more information about Next Level Realty please call 617-799-7749 or visit their website at www.nextlevelrealty.com .
Media Contact:
Adam Bailey
Next Level Realty, Inc
Phone: 617-799-7749
Market Conditions in the City of Boston
February 2, 2010 by admin · 2 Comments
Market Conditions in the City of Boston
Foreclosures are down; sales of single-family homes are up. Mortgage rates are about as close to a record low as they have ever been, at a time when prices are on the rise.
Basically, these are the market conditions in Boston right now. Of course, as with everything else, there are exceptions to these rules.
Suburban residents are playing the “I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine” game. In other words, prospective buyers are telling prospective sellers, “If I can sell my house, I’ll buy your house.”
In order to be able to do this, sellers and buyers are doing a lot of interesting things. These include placing contingency clauses in home contracts, temporarily “floating” two mortgages—one on the house they are selling, and the other on the house they are buying—until such time as the for-sale house is purchased.
Just as with anything else, whether or not you can afford to buy a home anywhere in Boston or its suburbs is a personal decision that only you and your spouse or partner can make. High-end homes and/or homes in locations that you may have once believed were far beyond your reach have become more affordable, and, yes, interest rates are also down. But, you still must determine whether or not you can meet even reduced payments.
The same things that must always be considered when buying a home, no matter what the economic situation is, still hold. Your debt-to-income ratio, your credit score, and your employment situation, including the possibility that it could change, are all still factors in the decision.
Property taxes and municipal services, in some instances, will also play a role. Although you may not consider them a part of the mortgage, they are a part of the overall expense of owning a home.
Market conditions in Boston are continuing to fluctuate, just as they are in other parts of the country. Before making what is going to be one of the most important decisions you will ever make, you still need to consider all angles of buying a home.
If you do decide you are able to make that investment, there are Realtors available to help you find just the right house. Or, if you prefer to go the “for sale by owner” route, these are available, too, and you can find people who can help you navigate the home-buying process.
Falmouth Building Outfitted With ‘Most Efficient’ Solar Panels
January 6, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Woods Hole Landholdings in Falmouth has outfitted nearly 2,400 square feet of roof space with Sun Power panels. The 176 panels, provided by Beaumont Solar, are the most efficient solar panels commercially available on the global market, according to a statement.
The office building is the headquarters for the Woods Hole Group Inc., an international, environmental, scientific and engineering consulting organization and its affiliate, the Woods Hole Group Middle East, according to a statement.
“While the international community continues to fail in achieving a common basis for combating global climate change, Woods Hole Landholdings has moved forward locally to address our corporate responsibility to help the United States develop more sustainable energy,” said David Aubrey, owner of WHLH. “When our building was first constructed 10 years ago, we were not able at that time to finalize a renewable energy component, though we wanted to and incorporated such an eventuality into our building design.”
Using a grant from the stimulus bill provided by the federal government and a rebate from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, WHLH installed solar photovoltaics (PVs), arrays of cells containing a material that converts solar radiation into direct current electricity, which will provide 40 percent of the building’s electric power requirements. The cost of the system will be paid back within five years.
With state funding, WHLH is also upgrading its interior and exterior lighting, at a savings of nearly 50 percent in electricity use for lighting.
“Cape Cod has the second highest electricity rate in the nation after Hawaii,” said Beaumont Solar Company President and CEO Phil Cavallo. “The Beaumont Solar Co. has been developing renewable energy projects for the past four years, including installations in southeastern Massachusetts, and companies like WHLH understand both the environmental need and financial benefits of putting renewable energy to use.”
Mass. unveils new solar-rebate programs
December 29, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Massachusetts energy officials unveiled the heirs apparent to its wildly successful Commonwealth Solar rebate program, using a mix of ratepayer funds and stimulus money to pay for the incentives.
Dubbed Commonwealth Solar II and Commonweath Solar Stimulus, the programs aim to fill the gap in financial incentives left when the first, $68 million Commonwealth Solar program ran out of money in October — more than two years ahead of schedule.
At the time, solar installers told the Boston Business Journal they were concerned the lack of incentives would stop projects from moving forward.
Commonwealth Solar II will provide rebate incentives for small residential and commercial systems, with total allocations up to $4 million per year. This program will be funded through the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust, which managed the last Commonwealth Solar program and is funded by a surcharge on electricity bills.
For larger projects, state officials plan to tap $8 million in state energy plan funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide rebates to projects.
Both programs are expected to begin in late January.
“Commonwealth Solar has already played an important role in speeding the Bay State’s transition to a clean energy economy,” Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement. “I commend the more than 1,200 homeowners, businesses and municipalities who have taken advantage of this innovative program in the past two years, and encourage many more to partner with the commonwealth as we continue along the path toward a cleaner future.”
The state continues to work on a long-term incentive program based on renewable energy credits, which must be purchased by utilities and can be used to finance projects, rather than post-construction rebates. The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is developing regulations for such a scheme, and officials say they expect a program to launch in January.
