Finding Deals In Foreclosure Land

Finding Deals In Foreclosure Land

Posted on by Jim Klein

Foreclosure pricing has set the tone in the residential market. While we remain in Foreclosure Land, everyone wants a bargain. This way of thinking bleeds to what was once the “normal functioning” market. Many are anticipating the same will happen in the commercial area. But whether in good markets or bad, the same thing holds true. It’s hard finding deals and it takes ingenuity to make them work. Now more than ever, a tenant is the critical ingredient in almost every purchase.
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Foreclosure Land

Foreclosure Land

Posted on by Jim Klein

It’s late in the Summer and temperatures are hitting 100 degrees. A few people are setting up large beach umbrellas in a tall tree planter. Others are unfolding beach chairs. Someone is dragging a large cooler full of beverages and food for the day. It’s not an unemployed broker’s beach paradise, but the west steps of the County Courthouse in Norwalk – the largest property auction of our lifetime. On an average day $30 Million of Trust Deeds are sold. The daily street auction is unsanctioned by the government and there is no institutional oversight. Day after day, it is the lender’s clearinghouse of foreclosed mortgages where clever real estate buyers stuff their portfolios full of cheap property. It’s a feeding frenzy of real estate bargains that may never be repeated.

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Back to Local Markets

Back to Local Markets

Posted on by Jim Klein

WHERE THE ACTION IS

Perhaps I should qualify. Where there is action, it’s on the local level. Now that plentiful financing has been squeezed from the market, there is no more room for mega projects, program development, or new concepts. It’s back to basics and that means individual businesses and landlords dealing with their own unique decisions. Loans are available through SBA programs but limited to business expansions. Local banks that were not burned by sub-prime also have resources for conservative lending. The land side is virtually dead for development except under the most risk averse situations. There is however considerable activity in securing tenants for build-to-suit, but locating sites is still a challenge.

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Industrial Property Recession

Industrial Property Recession

Posted on by Jim Klein

Industrial property in Los Angeles is suffering for three major reasons. Poor business conditions, an unfavorable societal environment, and a credit freeze. As these trends continue, business will be conducted under recessionary circumstances.  Meanwhile, new attention will be drawn to overcoming the current malaise by innovations in financing, industries, investors, and deal structures. Until then, it’s simple. Owners will drop their prices.

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At the Edge and Stagnation of Valuation

At the Edge and Stagnation of Valuation

Posted on by Jim Klein

The business of real estate is close to an end. Developing, investing and lending have all halted except for the most secure or distressed situations. An enormous swath of the industry is mothballed like an auto plant in the summer. Just like autoworkers, real estate practitioners are wondering if production will re-open. Lending divisions, development companies, land developers, and acquisition departments are closed until further notice. The biggest fallout is people we have all known for many years that are deciding what to do for the future.

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