Author: Brad Beckett

Come on, admit it; when you’re researching a property, have you ever wondered if someone was killed there or maybe even died at that address?  An online site called DiedInHouse.com will, for a small fee, generate a report using millions of records to determine if a death occurred at any valid US address.  Their reports can also contain information about that death as well as meth lab activity, fires and other data that may be available but unknown to potential buyers. According to an article on Forbes.com, the service was founded four years ago when its founder went searching for…

Fresh Flooring Trends to Improve Investment Properties By Will Hudson, Laminate and Vinyl Plank Flooring Merchant, The Home Depot Sleek, stylish flooring is an asset to any investment property. Luckily, recent innovations in flooring materials have increased the possibilities for luxurious yet affordable options. The following five trends are a great place to start when considering new flooring projects. LET’S GET DIGITAL Due to new digital printing advancements, flooring styles that previously required premium materials or substantial installation costs now are achievable with less effort and investment. These design technologies eliminate boundaries between flooring materials and produce customizable tiles and…

Recent data is showing that more and more new homes are being built as part of a homeowner’s association.  Using data from the Census Bureau, the NAHB’s Eye on Housing reports that 59.8% of all homes started in 2016 were built within a community or homeowner’s association.  In fact, since 2011 over 50% of all homes built fall into this category. The Census Bureau defines community or homeowner’s associations as “formal legal entities created to maintain common areas of a development and to enforce private deed restrictions; these organizations are usually created when the development is built, and membership…

A new partnership between Airbnb and a Florida developer could lead to landlords and tenants sharing the proceeds from short-term rentals.  The new project will be a 324-unit apartment building near Orlando that’s specially designed for homesharing.  According to FastCompany, tenants will be able to offer up their home on Airbnb for up to 180 days each year with the developer getting a percentage of the proceeds.  In addition, tenants get an app that allows for keyless entry into the apartments. “This partnership shows how landlords, developers and Airbnb can work together to create value for everyone and better serve…

The pest control & rodent removers over at Orkin recently reminded folks that Fall marks the start of rodent season when these unwanted pests seek food & shelter to survive the winter – that means coming in your properties!  In honor of the occasion they’ve put together their list of the “Top 50 Rattiest Cities” in America.  The cities were ranked by the number of rodent treatments (residential & commercial) that Orkin performed from October 2016 through the end of September this year.  Interestingly, for the 3rd year in a row Chicago has taken top spot. “Rats and mice begin…

We have had several posts about how blockchain technology, and in particular Bitcoin could be transformation agents in real estate.  Recently, CNBC’s Diana Olick recently reported that the cryptocurrency is now making its way into closings across the nation.  Just how much is one Bitcoin worth in dollars?  Click here to see the current price/exchange rate. “Our buyer has evolved, they’ve moved from mom-and-pops to young people who want to pay with various forms of payment,” said Ben Shaoul, president of Magnum Real Estate Group. “Cryptocurrency is something that has been asked of us — ‘Can you take cryptocurrency? Can…

If you’re fortunate enough to have $1 million when you retire, a lot of how long you can “survive” depends on what state you’re living in.  The folks over at howmuch.net recently crunched the numbers to show the disparity between U.S. states and their impact on drawing down (draining?) your retirement resources.  Mississippi and Arkansas top the list at 25 years while Hawaii and the District of Columbia come in at 13 & 14 years respectively.  Bottom line, it’s never too late to save for retirement and real estate is a great way to build wealth for those golden years.…

Autumn is fullly upon us and what better way to relish the season (before it gets cold) than with a list of the 13 Real Estate Trends from FortuneBuilders that you can use to take advantage of these most timely opportunities.  Happy Friday!! The “go-to” marketing move one week might be entirely different the next. A “life changing” new technology lasts about five minutes. For this reason, it is absolutely necessary to consistently educate yourself on what is most up and coming so that you are taking advantage of the most timely opportunities. Hat tip to FortuneBuilders.

The U.S. Government is reporting that privately owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,127,000.  This is 4.5% below August’s estimate of 1,183,000, but it is 6.1% higher than September 2016.  Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 829k; this is 4.6% below August’s rate of 869k. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 286k.   Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,215,000. This is 4.5% lower than July’s rate of 1,272,000 and is 4.3%…

We suppose it was bound to happen……Gizmodo is reporting that Amazon is now selling tiny houses among the millions of books, food, and all other consumer items you might need (or didn’t know you needed).  And they even offer free shipping! “…This is not a shed or a cabin. It’s a damn two-story house that you can order on Amazon. With 712 square feet downstairs and 396 square feet upstairs, it’s larger than many New York City apartments and modern-looking enough to offer some curb appeal. There’s space for a full bathroom and kitchen as well as three bedrooms and…