Boulder County Real Estate Investors (BCREI) Previous Meetings 2006:

December 5:

Presenters: Jim Admire and Kate Merrill

GOOD BOOKKEEPING = INFORMED BUSINESS CHOICES
or . . .Everything you need to know about a bookkeeping system but didn’t want to ask!

Introduction (10 minutes)

Content (45 minutes)

Summary (5 minutes)

Questions & Answers (30 minutes)

Jim Admire has been a real estate investor for 17 years. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science for Business with a concentration in Accounting. He has worked for numerous financial institutions including several on Wall St. His background in real estate, computers, and finance gives him a unique perspective on the bookkeeping needs of real estate investors. Jim’s bookkeeping practice specializes in these needs using Quickbooks software to help investors maximize depreciation and minimize accounting costs.

Katherine (Kate) R. Merrill has been running her own bookkeeping and consulting business for over 25 years. She moved to Denver in 1981 where she has built her business solely from referrals. Her education includes focused college classes and seminars in automated accounting, accounting theory and computer fundamentals. She holds a degree in the “school of hard knocks” and is considered a paraprofessional in the accounting industry.

Training to become a staff bookkeeper in the accounting field, Kate discovered a recurring challenge for most individuals and small businesses:
• they didn’t like maintaining their records
• they didn’t understand what records to maintain, they didn’t know how to maintain their records and, therefore
• they didn’t maintain their records

Most individuals and small business do want to know the status of their finances and do want to be prepared and avoid surprises. Kate has successfully created a business helping individuals and small businesses:

  1. face the need to dedicate some resources (time and money) to establishing a workable system to maintain the necessary record keeping which answers to the government, management/owners and personal needs
  2. identify what needs to be maintained (dependent on individual situations and desires)
  3. help establish and maintain (with some fun included!) a system that produces the desired outcomes.

In 2000, Kate was introduced to the real estate investing industry. She began educational courses in 2005, purchasing her first single family residence as a fix and flip in the fall of that year. She is active in numerous real estate investing groups including CAREI. Her current focus is lease option purchases/sales and wholesale. She is looking to invest in multi-unit properties in the future.

 

Christmas Party, Friday, December 8 @ 7:00 p.m.:

 

November 7:

“How to Fund Those Incredible Deals You Find” with Tom Green

Real estate opportunities are everywhere in our Colorado market!  How do you make sure that “deal of the decade” you just found doesn’t slip away because you don’t have the money you need at your fingertips? 

Come! 

Learn:

Learn how you can CLOSE MORE DEALS and MAKE MORE MONEY with hard money loans. 

October 3:

"Not So Big Concepts for Remodeling" - Melissa Kyer, Architect

  1. Introduction
  2. Quality not Quantity
  3. Not So Big Concepts for Remodeling
  4. Rethink how existing rooms are used
  5. Room orientation & placement
  6. Shared spaces/double duty rooms
  7. Simple Forms/Color
  8. Does it really have to be that big?
  9. Outdoor rooms
  10. Benefits of Not So Big
  11. Reduce construction costs
  12. Reduce finite natural material usage
  13. Reduce site disturbances
  14. Improves daylighting
  15. Less electrical costs
  16. Conditioned spaces are smaller
  17. Reduces duct runs/smaller equipment
  18. Practical application of Not So Big for sustainability and energy efficiency
  19. Mechanical
  20. Electrical
  21. Plumbing
  22. Natural Ventilation
  23. Insulation
  24. Solar Opportunities
  25. Passive
  26. Active
  27. Conclusion

Melissa Kyer is an award-winning architect and remodeler who is passionate about the role good design can play in building sustainable communities. In 2000 Kyer founded SunQuest Architecture, Inc., a firm dedicated to making green materials, sustainable design and smart growth strategies affordable and available to the middle class. Melissa has built her career by maximizing our city’s most important resource: its space. As a specialist in “not-so-big” home design and remodeling, Melissa recognizes that while you need room to grow, that room doesn’t have to come at the expense of good design and the intelligent use of our natural resources. Kyer is a founder and the sitting President of the newly formed residential neighborhood association in North West Denver, a member of the City of Denver's Housing Task Force subcommittee on green building, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA). Ms. Kyer grew up in Parker, Colorado and resides in North West Denver with her husband and three cats. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University.

September 5:

Increasing Your Appraisal Value - Jay Smith, Appraiser

"Make Your Money On The Buy Side” - Ellen Allen, Owner Boulder Assist-2-Sell

  1. Locating the Right Properties

  2. Determining the Spread and Realistic After Repair Value

  3. HUD Offers – The “Magic” Formula

  4. Keeping Down Holding Costs

  5. Remodels that Please Both Buyer and Appraiser

  6. Selecting Your Selling/Exit Strategy

August 1:

Investing in Nationwide Markets - Signil Wealth Consulting Group

Signil Wealth Consulting Group is a turn-key real estate consulting, acquisition and market research company that follows the same real estate investment principles that guide corporations such as Starbucks, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. By tracking the economic conditions of over 12,000 cities nationwide covering over 90% of the US population, our real estate decisions are based on true supply and demand fundamentals. Our clients only invest in strong growth markets and follow a four phased approach to building their wealth though real estate. Buying decisions become strategic portfolio investments and not speculative acquisitions. In a nutshell, if it is happening in the U.S., Signil knows about it.

July 11 (note this is NOT the first Tuesday):

The New Foreclosure Protection Act – Ross Hair (First 15 minutes)

Ross Hair will speak on the new Foreclosure Protection Act for 15 minutes at the beginning of the meeting. Ross is the founder of eRealEstate Colorado, LLC and is offering mentoring for learning and working with the Foreclosure Protection Act. CHANGE THE WAY YOU BUY HOUSES IN FORECLOSURE OR YOU MAY SPEND THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IN JAIL. On 30 May 2006 the Colorado Foreclosure Protection Act was signed into law by the Governor. The Act seeks to regulate the conduct of investors and how they contract with home owners facing foreclosure. The Act prohibits certain acts or omissions by an investor, contravention of which carries a fine of up to $25,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both. You have a very simple choice – adapt your business to the new laws or risk going to jail. The stakes are extremely high. Unlike other seminars that you may attend, this one is designed to keep you out of jail.

Finding “Deals” with Environmental “Issues” – Larry Woods

Some buyers avoid any property that has anything resembling an environmental “issue” like a wetland, or a stream, which they have heard harbors Preble’s meadow jumping mice or other endangered species. That makes some of those properties have very attractive prices. On the other hand, some of the “cures” are outrageously expensive. How can you tell? Is it really going to be that expensive? Can it be “cured?” It is true that sometimes the smart thing to do is keep looking, but there are other times when the problems can be fixed for a reasonable price – and even times when the “issue” is a positive benefit that nobody else has capitalized on.

Two common environmental “issues” found in residential areas are old storage tanks for gasoline or heating oil and, more spectacularly, Meth Labs. Both these can be either minor or major headaches and either small or large expenses depending on how much they are messed up and how far the mess goes. You may not want to move forward on some offers, but there is a good chance that a good price for the property will more than offset the cost of cleaning up the mess. The trick is to do good due diligence. Handled carefully and within the regulations, even these kinds of trouble need not stop a project; and can increase your profit margins.

Woods Environmental, Inc, a Louisville, CO company, brings a high level of education and experience to environmental “issues.” Founder, Larry Woods has over twenty five years’ experience in researching and solving environmental problems around the US. He is a PhD soil ecologist and was the program manager for ecology programs at Rocky Flats, and has been a research scientist for the US Department of Agriculture. With him are a group of experts on vegetation, reclamation, botany, endangered species and contamination studies and remediation.

June 6:

John P. Deckys

"The American Business Cycle, Interest Rates, and The Federal Reserve." 

You will learn key indicators in the American Business Cycle that foreshadow the raising or lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve. 

What does this mean to you?  Consider this:

If you have 5 properties financed at $200,000 each, equaling a total of $1,000,000 financed, a 1% increase in rates is a $10,000 a year cost to your cash flow!  That's enough savings to help you purchase another property!

Properly financing and re-financing your real estate portfolio to meet changing market conditions is a critical element in creating asset wealth in your real estate portfolio. 

*Prepare yourself for what's coming by NOT missing this event! 

Biography

John P. Deckys brings years of financial world experience as a successful entrepreneur, mortgage and credit expert, seasoned real estate investor and public speaker.

John holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola University of Chicago with additional concentrations in accounting and finance. John leverages years of practical experience in real estate to help guide his clients. His background includes real estate negotiation, acquisition, management, trend analysis, financing strategies and portfolio development. Additionally, John’s work in commodities trading, portfolio management and institutional arbitrage has given him over 18 years of monitoring the Federal Reserve and the financial markets. Currently, John owns and operates a branch mortgage firm specializing in wholesale residential mortgages in 47 states, is a real estate investor, runs an educational business and is a frequent speaker at various professional organizations and educational institutions.

Personally, John lives in Colorado with his wife, Christy, and three very active children ages 9, 7 and 4. He enjoys all things Colorado and is very active mentoring our youth. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Monarch High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), currently serves on the FBLA Scholarship Committee and has been an FBLA State Competition judge. He, through Monarch High School in Louisville, has started the first High School Real Estate Club in Boulder County. He also guest lectures at high schools and colleges on a variety of life and business-related topics.

Oh, by the way... John's business is by referral only. If you know anyone buying, selling, or refinancing a home, call me with their name and number. I'm always ready to help them!

May 2:

Speaker #1 - Keenan Tompkins on Hardwood Flooring:

Keenan Tompkins was born and raised in the Chicago-area and recently relocated to Boulder, CO.  He is the owner and operator of Cornerstone Contracting and has over 13 years experience in installing and finishing hard-wood flooring.  Keenan has installed numerous commercial and residential projects throughout the Chicago and Boulder/Denver areas.

With over 13 years in hardwood installation and refinishing, as well as personal investment project experience, Keenan Tompkins will be speaking about hardwood flooring.  He will discuss options in hardwood flooring including solid wood, engineered and laminate floors.  He will also share techniques in floor refinishing and the variances in wood types and finishes.  Other topics will include the repair or installation of sub-flooring and the pros and cons with pre-finished wood verses on-site finished wood.  Mr. Tompkins will also speak about the impact wood flooring has on investment projects. 

Speaker #2 - Michael Kass on Pre-Construction

The 12 Crucial Factors for Success in the Preconstruction Market
 
The preconstruction market in real estate is one of the most exciting and high yield vehicles for investment.  However, you must understand the fundamentals in order to avoid the risks.   This talk will help you identify the major factors where due diligence is necessary.
 
1. Location- we want our investments to be in emerging markets at the bottom half of an upward curve, including internationally.
2. Developer- we want to make sure they have integrity, deep pockets, marketing experience, and are well connected
3. Projected return on Investment
4. Financing terms
5. Release Phase- what is the best stage to buy in
6. Risk assessment
7 Developer Incentives - getting back cash to make mortgage payments
8. Time Frames
9. Exit Strategies- knowing EXACTLY how and when we will exit the project
10. Amenities
11. Pricing- determining if pricing meets supply and demand
12. Assessing land investment vs. structure investment 
 
Using these tools, you will find yourself choosing exceptionally high yield/low risk investments in a niche which is intimidating to the beginner, yet highly profitable for those who understand the game. 

Michael Kass is the president of Dharma Investment Group, an investment house specializing in pre-development real estate in emerging markets, both nationally and offshore.  His specialty is in bringing high yield opportunities to his investors while his company shoulders the majority of the risk. 
 
Michael leads mentoring groups regarding how to do due diligence in the pre-construction niche, and then leads investors through the process.  Having bought 15 million in property in the last 8 months alone , Michael uses his extensive network and diligence to find inside edges for his investors in a rapidly changing market. His current opportunities are in Tennessee, Utah, CA, the Carolinas, and British West Indies. 

April 4:

"Getting Started in Commercial Real Estate Investing" -- a panel.

Agenda

a. Each Panel member presents a 10-15 minutes on their area of expertise

b. Q and A from BCREI members

Panel Members:

Retail and Office Investments - Commercial Broker – Sean Mitchell Colorado Group

• Sean Mitchell is a Commercial Realtor with the Colorado Group in Boulder. Sean has over 5 years of Commercial Real Estate Investment experience and has been involved in the marketing, sale, purchase, and management of over $150M in diversified commercial real estate. Sean holds an MBA in Finance/Real Estate from the University of Colorado and has worked both as a broker and in investment management as well as high tech marketing and sales. His experiences are focused primarily in office and retail investments as well as land development. Sean provides brokerage services and advice in investment acquisition and disposition as well as landlord and tenant lease representation.

• Discussion Overview (15 minutes): o Why invest in retail/office properties? o Investment strategies and rules of thumb for evaluating properties. o Trends in Colorado office/retail investment properties. o Case study of investment example.

MultiFamily Investment Property – Miles King and Gary Weihe

• Miles King, CCIM, GRI, CRS, Broker Associate. Active in selling and listing properties in Boulder County for over 34 years. Personally has ownership interest in 20 properties, including single-family and multi-family residential and commercial buildings. Expert on multi-family investment property sales. • Gary Weihe, Ph.D., Broker Associate and assistant to Miles King. Personally active in multi-family investments for 3 years. 15+ years of corporate expertise in technical marketing. Analytical background based on doctorate in chemistry.

• Discussion Overview (15 minutes): o Why invest in multifamily properties? o Metrics and approaches useful in evaluating properties. o Trends in Boulder multi-family investment properties. o Case study of investment example.

Commercial Lenders – Jerry Kuker and Art Wardlaw

• Jerry Kuker and Art Wardlaw are commercial lenders specializing in small balance commercial properties. Typical properties include, mutli-family units 5+, small retail and small commercial office space. Actively involved in residential lending and investing over the past 3 years, Art and Jerry have now turned their focus to helping investors understand the commercial financing process better. Along with their lending experiences, Jerry brings a high tech, analytical background from 10 years in the IT industry, while Art brings an extensive construction management and development background. They will focus on the differences between residential and commercial property lending.

• Discussion Overview (15 minutes): Residential vs Commercial Financing Small vs. Large Commercial Property Types and Tier Structures Banks vs Brokers LTV/DTI/DSCR/NCF/Cap Rate Lock out/Pre-Pays/Amortz and Terms Appraisal Differences Creative Financing – Owner Carry etc.

March 7:

Learn some of the most important and little known skills you can have when buying and selling real estate on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Howard Sweeney will show you exactly how to deal with reluctant buyers and/or sellers. Using these skills will significantly improve your business.

Lafayette, CO resident and entrepreneur Howard Sweeney has joined the SalesPartners Worldwide team as the Regional Development Director. Joining this franchise system, Mr. Sweeney brings his 35 years of entrepreneurial experience specializing in business development; sales; marketing; E-business strategy; and business analysis to the SalesPartners Worldwide team and small-medium businesses throughout Colorado.

Prior to joining SalesPartners Worldwide, Howard Sweeney worked in marketing, business development, sales, telecommunications and technology with clients including LodgeNet Entertainment, IBM, Dupont, Chevron, Coors, CSG Systems, Continental Airlines, as well as a host of both small-medium businesses around the world. Mr. Sweeney has helped many of these small-medium businesses quadruple both their sales and profitability, successfully launch new products, and dominate existing competitors quickly and effectively.

February 7:

John Decky's will be speaking on understanding/ utilizing credit. He will be elaborating beyond what he shared when last speaking, as he had so much great information that we were only able to get through part of it.

John P. Deckys is …
a mortgage expert, seasoned real estate investor and public speaker and has more than 17 years of experience working in virtually every aspect of the financial markets.

John’s business expertise lies in financial strategies, business development, people and process management, and designing and implementing operational solutions. While working for both large financial corporations and small businesses he has gained expertise in the following capacities: defining, designing and implementing financing strategies for individual clients based on market trends and the client’s goals and risk aversion level, people and project management, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) development and implementation, small business planning, small business development, small business start up, small business management, and small business accounting, budgeting and taxation. Additionally John has done commodities trading, portfolio management, and institutional arbitrage on the trading floors of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, trend analysis, real estate acquisition and management, negotiating and public speaking. Over the past five years, John has owned and operated a net branch mortgage firm specializing in residential mortgage financing.

John’s net branch mortgage company is with America's Mortgage and is a full service true wholesale lender. John’s has access to virtually all major mortgage investors throughout the United States. As a true wholesale lender with extensive investor affiliations, he offers the most aggressive products and pricing in the country and can lend in 47 states.

John P. Deckys has bachelor's degree in economics from Loyola University of Chicago with additional concentrations in accounting and finance, and has more than 17 years of experience working in virtually every aspect of the financial markets.

As a mortgage expert his expertise lies in defining, designing and implementing financial strategies for individual clients based on market trends and the client's goals and risk aversion level.

As a seasoned real estate investor John buys about 1 property a month and has extensive knowledge in creative financing strategies and the acquisition of wholesale and retail properties for buy and hold or fix and flip.

John is currently writing a book on credit, credit repair and credit manipulation and does frequent public speaking engagements on credit, mortgages, home buying, investing and wealth accumulation, and personal and professional development.

John lives in Louisville, Colorado with his wife, Christy, and three very active children ages 8, 6 and 3. He enjoys all things Colorado and is a volunteer at the Boulder Homeless Shelter, Crestview Church, and is an Advisory Board Member of the Monarch High School Future Business Leaders of America Association.