Press Release | Local Real Estate Professional Discusses Technology for Entrepreneurs

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Local Real Estate Professional Discusses 

Technology for Entrepreneurs

NAPA, CALIF. — May 15, 2013 — Burt M. Polson, CCIM, commercial real estate advisor at Strong & Hayden Commercial Real Estate, was quoted in the May/June issue of Commercial Investment Real Estate, the magazine of the CCIM Institute. Please read his comments in “Tools to Go Solo,” which is available by following this link. To read the entire issue, follow this link visit. 

CCIMs have earned an internationally recognized professional designation that signifies their expertise in commercial investment real estate. Do you want to get this expert’s take on the local commercial real estate market? Contact Burt M. Polson, CCIM, at 707-254-8000

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About the CCIM Institute 

Since 1969, the Chicago-based CCIM Institute has conferred the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation to commercial real estate and allied professionals through an extensive curriculum of 200 classroom hours and professional experiential requirements. Currently, there are more than 9,000 CCIMs in 1,000 markets in the U.S. and 31 additional countries. Another 7,000 practitioners are pursuing the designation, making the institute the governing body of one of the largest commercial real estate networks in the world. An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®, the CCIM Institute’s recognized curriculum, powerful technology tools, and networking programs impact and influence the way CCIM members do business. Visit www.ccim.com, www.stdbonline.com, and www.ccimredex.com for more information.

5 Steps to Analyzing a Commercial Property Investment-Part 3

Building the stone arch at Greystone Cellars (c.1889)

Property of Napa County Historical Society

In my previous articles we discussed the characteristics of investors in commercial real estate and the use of the CAP rate. In my final article of the series we are going to discuss the five steps in analyzing a commercial property investment.

1.  Know yourself - as we discussed, only you know your temperament style. Are you a risk taker or do you like a steady and conservative sure thing? Are you okay with a hands-on investment that you would find in an apartment complex or do you only want to collect rent checks like you would in what we call an absolute triple-net leased investment? You need to know what you want your personal financial portfolio to look like, your goals for equity growth, cash flow requirements

What Makes a Good Commercial Real Estate Investment?-Part 2

In my last post we discussed the different type of real estate investors and what it takes to start investing in commercial real estate.  In this post we will look at the most basic tool used in analyzing a commercial real investment - the CAP rate (short for capitalization rate).

What Makes a Good Commercial Real Estate Investment?-Part 1

You have $500,000 cash, experience in residential rental real estate and a desire to purchase your first commercial investment property.   Or, you are tired of the minuscule returns from the bank and investment institutions and don't have the temperament for the stock market.  You hear other investors who makes a smart move only to make multi-millions of dollars on a commercial real estate investment and you want a part of the action.  You are ready to venture into the realm of commercial real estate investing.

Taxing Changes | Learn how new laws could affect commercial real estate decisions

by Shelly B. LaGroue, CPA, and C. William Barnhill, CCIM

In the wee hours of Jan. 1, 2013, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and the tax changes that resulted will drastically alter the way commercial real estate professionals plan for major transactions. Additionally, tax provisions written into the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2013, will affect some taxpayers’ real estate decisions. This synopsis focuses on the impact of ATRA and the Affordable Care Act on real estate-related tax issues.

Tax Rates

For most taxpayers, ATRA makes permanent the

The secret is in the demographics

Have you ever ask yourself, "Why doesn't Napa have an Apple store or a Costco?" One hurdle could be insufficient evidence of market demand. Another hurdle, called "barriers to entry" could be the fact that in Napa we have a lack of available development land and available space to lease. There are many reasons why a retailer or restaurant may not be in Napa. It is difficult to overcome a shortage of land for development, but an in-depth analysis of market demand starts with demographics.

Most national retailers use detailed and proprietary site analyses to establish their site

The Smoking...Gun - Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

What is illegal in the United States, but legal in California and many cities?  Prescribed by a doctor, but also obtained illegally?  Sold in retail outlets, but also obtained by other means?  Moreover, could force a seizure of your commercial real estate?

 

In 1996 California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act allowing for the use of marijuana for medical purposes and in 2004 the law was expanded and further clarified.  The purpose of the law is to provide patients

Dude, Where's My Car? Parking in today's shopping centers

Have you recently driven to a shopping center and said to yourself, "Parking at this shopping center is ridiculous, how did they ever get city approval for this!" Not to name names of shopping centers, but there are several in the Napa Valley with inadequate parking.

Cities have regulations regarding the use of a property called zoning designations. Each zoning designation has their own requirement for parking. For example, in Napa the requirement for a site used for retail is one parking space for every 250 square feet of space. A restaurant is one space for every

The Reverse 1031 Exchange Explained

In a typical 1031 Exchange, a property is sold and then replacement property is acquired. On occasion however, it may be advantageous to do the opposite; acquire property first and then sell. This is called a Reverse Exchange. In theory, it sounds simple however acquiring replacement property first in a 1031 Exchange presents a few difficulties.

First of all, funds will need to be available for the down payment on the acquisition property (keep in mind nothing has been sold yet). Second, the properties involved in an exchange cannot be owned at the same time. To properly structure a reverse 

A 92 Year-old Solution For Real Estate Investors Facing Higher Taxes In 2013

Compliments of Bill Angove, Asset Preservation, Inc.

The familiar adage, “It’s not how much you make, but how much you keep” rings truer than ever for real estate investors in 2013. Not only have capital gain taxes increased significantly for high earners, but many investors below the top tax bracket face an additional 3.8% surtax on passive investment income like capital gains. Fortunately, IRC Section 1031, a provision which has been in the tax code since 1921, provides critically needed tax relief.

Under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the top capital gain tax rate has been permanently increased to 20% (up from 15%) for

FOR LEASE | 2,140 to 34,819 +/- sf Office, Retail, Medical | 241-255 Georgia St., Vallejo

Not In My Backyard: It's All in the Zoning

Many of us have said this, or been accused of being a NIMBY by someone else. Who decides what can or can’t be built in the lot next to your house or business? Do you have any say so in the matter? What gets approved is all a matter of zoning, the guidelines of which are established by each municipality, which determines what the best use of land is for that particular area. 

A zoning ordinance is a land use restriction used by municipalities to control the type of use on a piece of

Closing Costs, Credits and 1031 Exchanges

One of the most frequently asked questions from clients planning a 1031 Exchange is, “Can I use my exchange funds to pay for closing costs without being taxed”? Although surprisingly little guidance is available in the tax code, there are some rules of thumb that will help clients and their tax advisors determine how best to structure a 1031 Exchange without paying unnecessary capital gains taxes.

Closing Costs

Closing costs, for purposes of this article, are defined as all costs associated with the closing of a property that is required to complete the transaction. Such costs are required to be disclosed to all sellers and

Top Ten Issues Affecting The Real Estate Industry

Commercial Connections NAR Newsletter | Q3 2012

The Counselors of Real Estate®, an invitation-only professional association of top leaders in more than 50 specialties within the real estate industry(and which is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®) developed the following list of critical issues that will affect the real estate industry over the next 10 – 30 years. Members of CRE®s External Affairs Committee regularly issue alerts about important topics. Many of the issues have strong interrelationships and are common across industries.Through a series of objective white papers to be developed over the next few years, the organization seeks to

Apartment Market Dynamics Look Strong for Next Two Years

Written by Mark Heschmeyer of The CoStar Group

Although Moderating from Previous Blistering Pace, Leasing and Sales of Multifamily Leads All Other CRE Property Types

Apartment markets continued to improve across all areas of the country for the seventh quarter in a row, though the pace of improvement moderated, according to the National Multi Housing Council's (NMHC) Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions. Still, the NMHC said the outlook is for continued strength in the multifamily sector for the next two years.

What is an SBA Loan?

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has created a program of government-guaranteed loans designed to help give small businesses that may not otherwise qualify for credit get the funds they need. SBA loans make it possible to qualify businesses more easily and provide them with more flexible terms than conventional loan options, letting you preserve working capital for other expenses. 

New Listing | FOR LEASE | 3666 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo | 2,400 sf Office or Retail

New Listing | For Sale | Restaurant and Grocery Store | 3385 Old California Way, Napa

Foreclosure Neglect Creates Challenges for Cities

With the rise in foreclosed homes, maintenance is becoming more and more of an issue.  Some homeowners are neglecting their properties, and others are even intentionally damaging their homes because they are in jeopardy of foreclosure.  Banks also are largely responsible for property neglect, and the issue is becoming more apparent throughout the country.

Joe Caione, who works for Smith Property Management LLC, noted how the company has been dealing with many homes that are in bad shape.  “We’ve had homes where they stopped up the drains, turned the

New Listing | For Sale | Five-Tenant Retail or Office Investment | 3471 Broadway Street, American Canyon