Realty411 Magazine The Future of Real Estate is Here | Page 70

available.” By buying condos and homes en masse, the First 100 Homes team instantly gentrifies a neighborhood or development; other investors, Gifford says, soon follow suit. “We love waterfront property,” Gifford tells me, “because they’re not making any more.” He’s got a good point and I laugh. First 100 Homes has a keen eye for where to buy and when. What are some of the metrics that Gifford considers before zeroing in on a market? “Location. Demand. Transportation,” Gifford lists out. He says the company focuses on buying and selling proper- ties that have the features buyers and renters want. Though they have many properties in the Las Vegas market, Gifford is not a betting man when it comes to real estate. They’ve zeroed in on the Las Vegas for many reasons. There are many upscale housing units available on the cheap and further, the city is rich in students and gainfully employed hospitality professionals who always usually want to rent, not buy. While First 100 Homes has taken over Las Vegas, they are now focusing on Florida and North Caro- lina. Wilmington, North Carolina, for example, is an appealing market for First 100 Homes as it has it all; hospitals, universities, waterfront property and a transient population. “Half-backs”, as Gifford calls them, “are a big part of the population there”. Half-backs are defined as renters who winter in Florida and come ‘half-back’ to summer in North Carolina. Sustainability matters to the First100Homes.com team. Gifford selects his properties like a seasoned military general who knows his soldiers and his battlegrounds well. First 100 Homes has an airtight strategy that works. Through purchasing HOA liens, the properties Gifford selects are the kinds of properties renters want to rent and buyers want to buy. Most of the properties they deal with were built after 1990 and have very little wear and tear; they Lisa Hoegler Builds Her California Dream Team, pg. 65 humidity and an ocean view, though. These days, in addition to investing, this multi-faceted business woman has just launched the newest chapter of the National Real Estate Investors Association right here in the South Bay, called the LA South REIA. After years of experience in this business, like any good coach, Hoegler is eager to share what she’s learned to help others be successful too. “I can’t think of a better way to show appreciation to all of the supporters, mentors, colleagues and friends who have helped me get where I am today than to pay it forward.” W hen asked what key advice she offers to the members of LA South REIA (or “All-Stars” as she calls them), Hoegler recommends that investors think of themselves as athletes, and as with any sport, they should dedicate hours to train for success. She stresses that long-term wealth building through real estate or any other type of investing should not be perceived as a get-rich-quick scheme and reminds her group that “no one makes it to the pros overnight.” Beyond that, she says the rest comes down to education and networking, which coincidentally, is the mission of the LA South REIA. Though Hoegler is the first to acknowledge that quality real estate education is both more available and accessible than it was when she began, she believes that education at the REIA goes beyond the nuts-and-bolts of a singular strategy to connecting-the-dots needed for a turnkey business. In her experience, this is the biggest hurdle that investors fail to overcome. While her goal is still to feature speakers sharing Realty411Guide.com often come fully applianced right down to the washer and dryer. “Our properties are largely in gated communities,” Gifford ex- plains. Gated communities are inherently attractive to the kinds of renters that investors want and, for investors, gated proper- ties are generally less of a hassle, “property owners in gated communities don’t have to deal with nuisances such as graffiti and vandalism, for one.” The opportunity to buy properties in such good condition, Gifford says, is the unique result of the 2008 real estate crisis, “it never happened in the REO business before. “Now is the time to buy property,” Gifford declares. He continues, “Warren Buffet has named single family homes as the best new asset class for investors.” As First 100 Homes plans to buy and sell thousands of homes in the next year, investors may be interested in buying a few from them. Whether an investor wants to flip or hold, First 100 Homes makes things easy. For new investors, a First 100 Homes property is an opportunity to get into investment quickly and painlessly; for seasoned in- vestors, high returns and a discount as much as 25% over other properties in a given market are a big draw. For investors interested in learning more about First 100 Homes, their website has everything from profit calculators to current listings. The team typically gives one monthly-guided tour of their available properties in Las Vegas; it is not uncom- mon for an investor to see as many as 12 properties in one day. First 100 Homes forges long-lasting relationships with their cli- ents, Gifford tells me, “a typical client buys four properties with us a year.” Like Jobs did with Apple Computer, Gifford has, in many ways, simplified and streamlined real estate investment. As do all Vermont craftsmen, Gifford takes pride in his work. His investment deals are well crafted. the timely and relevant real estate topics, Hoegler hopes that meeting features like “app-of-the-month” or the LA South Tech Squad, a sub-group dedicated to staying current on new real estate- related software and technologies, will complement the traditional REIA education. A life-long learner herself, Hoegler admits that education will only get you so far. Relating again to sports she says, “Book learning is the equivalent of running drills, hitting the gym, and memorizing the plays. It’s the foundation of your skills, but not much more.” According to Hoegler, investors need the support of great coaches, trainers, teammates, and cheerleaders to get in the game and score some points. Whether it’s an extra set of eyes to glance at a contract, walk a property, or fund a deal, the resources are there to help — if you know who they are. Building your own investing “dream team” can begin by networking at groups like LA South REIA. It has been a mere 3 months since Hoegler launched the LA South REIA, but Hoegler is already focused on 2014. Though she has successfully rolled out exclusive National REIA member discounts including a 2% rebate at The Home Depot and a substantial discount program through Sherwin- Williams, Hoegler is most excited about announcing her upcoming involvement in advocating for investor rights and supporting pro- investor legislation in California, a role this experienced coach should shine at. And she is only getting started… Lisa Hoegler invites new and veteran investors to join her the second Tuesday of each month in Torrance at the LA South REIA Main Event meeting. You can find out more information by emailing [email protected] or by visiting www. LASouthREI.com. Guests are welcome. PAGE 70 • 2014 reWEALTHmag.com