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The Lynes’ Roar – December 2009

Author: admin / Category: Newsletter, The Lynes' Roar
Volume #2 Issue #12 2009

Julia and DanielMerry Christmas and Happy 2010 New Year, everyone.  We sincerely wish you a new year filled with great things to celebrate in the world, in your life and in you.  As the snow is falling clear and white, we are sending this issue out a bit early before some of you go on Christmas holidays.

We are so incredibly grateful that you have been staying connected with us by reading our newsletters.  The compliments we received from your e-mails have given us so much encouragement and strength to stay on track.  Thank you a million!  This year has been a bit of roller coaster for us: a brand new environment to live in and to invest, lots of learning curves, and many road blocks to overcome.  We are confident to say that we are now more equipped with strategies and an understanding of the marketplace than we had a year ago.  We are finally settling down in Southern Ontario after moving from Vancouver a year ago, replacing the rain with the snow!  We feel happy to discover a niche market for us to tap into besides commercial properties.  We have also discovered the emerging markets for us to focus on.  We regret that we haven’t bought a commercial property yet, but we would rather be poor than buy the wrong property.  We also missed a couple of deals because our private money base is currently too small to support larger investment properties.  Well, we now know that our new priority is to grow our pool of private investors.  We love the quote from a highly successful marketer, ‘it is not about how much you are receiving, it is about how strong you are becoming.’  Let’s all look forward to year 2010.  We are moving on!

Discovery Tour of Hamilton

Hamilton, Ontario (Canada) has long been called “Steeltown” with the associated stigma and perception of it being a hardcore blue-collar city due to the prevalence of the steel plants located on The Hammer's Skyline at Nightthe shores of Lake Ontario.  The ongoing development, advancement of transportation systems, growing student population and affordable real estate market in Hamilton make for great investment opportunities yielding strong rental returns.  It has been suggested that Hamilton is becoming a bio-tech town.  Average Price: $260,000; vacancy rate: 3.2%.  We feel fortunate to be able to invite Mary Flynn, a REIN member to give us a tour of Hamilton.  Mary was very gracious to show us her investment properties; identified a few hot spots for us to consider, and shared her priceless words of wisdom with us.  An incredible woman with a big heart.  Mary was born in Hamilton, lived in Hamilton, is investing in Hamilton and she knows her market.  To book a tour of Hamilton with Mary and pick her brain, call her at 416-259-8116.

Does Any Of This Interest You?

Here’s a for sale by owner deal, a residential property we have found:

Asking Price:  $319,500.

- Total Income:  $41,800 minus 29% expense = $29,820 NOI

- Down Payment 25%:  $79,875

- Financing: $239,625 Variable Interest Rate 2.25% 25 Year Amortization

- $1,045/month X 12 = $12,540/year

- Cash flow: $29,820 – $12,540 = $17,280/year

- COCR (Cash on Cash Return): 22%

- DCR (Debt Coverage Ratio): 2.38

- Cap Rate: 9.33%

In addition to cash flow, we gain multiple profits such as the following:

  • principal reduction as your tenants pay down your mortgage (the total principal paydown is $7,234 after Year 1)
  • appreciation of the property (the properties in the area have appreciated by 30% over the last 3 year period, let’s be conservative to use 3%, the value of the property then goes up by $9,585 after Year 1)
  • tax benefits from equity depreciation (building, mechanical systems, roofs, driveway, parking lot, …  your accountant can explain how this works).
  • the power of leverage by using the bank’s money (we put 25% down to gain access to 100% of the profits from 100% of the property when property value goes up)
  • equity investment (if we buy the property below market value, we obtained equity from day 1)

Based on the numbers shown, if we add up the cash flow, the principal paydown, the projected property appreciation: $17,280 + $7,234 + $9,585 = $34,099.  Then $34,099 / $79,875 = 43% ROI (return on investment in Year 1).  Does any of this interest you?

This deal has been posted to the Lynes’ Inner Circle, but we haven’t received a committed response yet.  Anyone interested to know more about this deal, please e-mail our acquisitions department.  Anyone interested to receive immediate e-mail notification of our potential deals, please sign up to the Lynes’ Inner Circle by e-mailing us.  Any referrals you can give us to help us grow our real estate community is forever appreciated.

Variable Rate Mortgages Can Save You Thousands!

We started paying attention to variable rates when we first heard Don Campbell talk about it at the A.C.R.E. workshop back in April of this year.  Don seems to prefer variable rate as he said 85% of the time you win by using variable rate.  His statement is based on the last 80 years track record.  To win 100% of the time, we presume you would have to lock in to fixed rate with perfect timing.  However, that would imply that you knew when the perfect timing was, and your bank doesn’t impose a penalty for locking in.  Mary Flynn also strategically uses variable rate mortgages for generating incredible COCR on her investments.  From 1990 to 2004, interest rates decreased to a low of 3.5% from a high of 12%.  Since 2004, rates moved higher to 6.25%, only to fall again the following year!  The fact is that the prime rate in Canada has maintained a 3% band for the past 9 years.  When inflation is low, we can maintain low interest rates; government encourage consumers to spend which, in turn, should stimulate the overall economy.  Julia is excited to see that she can save $30,000 interest even though she has to pay a few thousand dollar penalty.  Well, do your own homework and seek advise from qualified mortgage specialists.  Does a 4.25% five-year fixed rate look tantalizing?  How about the prevailing 2.25% variable rate?  Now is your opportunity to start contributing to your bottom line and not your bank’s.

Links for your research: mortgage rate history; Canadian mortgage trends:  fixed or variable?

“Our blessing to you all for abundant health and abundant wealth.  See you in 2010!”

- Daniel & Julia

Daniel Lynes and Julia Lee

Existing Home Sales in USA Up Again

Author: admin / Category: US Real Estate

Existing-home sales rose for the third consecutive month with inventory easing and home prices declining less sharply in June, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

Existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 4.89 million units in June from a downwardly revised pace of 4.72 million in May, but are 0.2 percent lower than the 4.90 million-unit level in June 2008.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is hopeful about the gain.

via Existing-Home Sales Up Again.

The Lynes’ Roar – June, 2009

Author: Daniel / Category: Newsletter, The Lynes' Roar
Volume #2 Issue #6 2009

Julia and DanielWe are in a recession.  Maybe it will become a greater recession.  We don’t know.  But it is a time of credit contraction instead of credit expansion.  A $5 shirt?  A $10 pair of shorts?  That is a sign of deflation.  A few months ago, these same clothes may have had designer brands on them – Diesel or Polo Ralph Lauren, perhaps.  Excess capacity was created by excess credit.  That is what happens in an expansion.  Manufacturers borrow to increase capacity, so they can sell more products to credit-addled consumers.  Then the excess capacity dooms them.  They put out too many goods and too many services.  When demand falls along with incomes and housing, prices fall too.  A couple of our readers share that their line of credit (LOC) has been revoked by their bank, because they have not used it for many years.  If you are relying on your LOC as a contingency fund, be aware and be prepared.  Ideally, the purpose of a LOC is to buy income producing properties that create positive passive income every month.

Recap to Apartment Investing

Further to the last issue, we are so passionate about apartment investing that we can’t help to share a few more jewels with you.

PHYSICAL ANALYSIS: In-suite conditions must be livable, clean and functional with a good efficient layout. Common areas, roof, mechanicals; security is key as everyone wants to be safe while they are sleeping.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS: Check lease provisions. Ensure terms are properly enforced with background checks. Historical data should have three years of operating history; a major upturn just before being placed on the market should be a concern. Almost everyone lies about their utility costs, so ask for the utility bills.

TIMING VS LOCATION: If you buy the property right in the wrong location, you can still get hurt.  The physical location will help us read the demographics.

TIMING VS VALUE: If you buy cheap enough, if the market tanks I will still be okay?  Not really true.  If the market takes a dive, you could have a serious challenge getting your project to fill.

The key is that if you are cashflowing in a property you don’t have to sell even if the market is down.  Therefore, you have to buy right, at the right time, in the right location with the RIGHT TERMS.

The Passing of a Legend

With the passing of Michael Jackson, the undisputed King of Pop Music, we are reminded of our extreme mortality. Tomorrow is only a hope; today is a gift, called the present. Why don’t we live life to the fullest with a purpose? Michael was truly living his purpose even when he was only 5 years old.  Sadly, he passed away at 50 from a heart attack on June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles.  Our prayers are with his family in this sad time, for them.

Let Us Help You Help Us

We have been actively looking for 20+ unit apartment buildings in Southern Ontario.  If you have come across apartment owners who want to sell and you are not in the market to buy, please call us at 1-877-978-9788 or e-mail Daniel.  We will reward you according to the size of the deal, that we close.

If you want to share any of your insights, market knowledge and your resources, we would always appreciate it.

Master Your Invisible Power

We feel fortunate to have attended the world-famous seminar “The Millionaire Mind Intensive” by T. Harv Eker’s team.  To master the inner game of wealth, you should read Harv’s book: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of WealthEach of us has a personal money and success blueprint already engrained in our subconscious mind.  It is this blueprint that is running our financial life. Yet, we might not know how to reset it for success.  Our comfort zone is in direct proportion to our income zone.  We should have an active income as well as a passive stream of income: real estate, storage, Internet marketing, etc.  Millionaires are good money managers.  Yes, we are excited to start using an excellent and easy money management system.  You can too!

There was one exercise that made some people in the audience and Julia cry.  In the end, Julia was taught to let go of her pain from childhood experiences owing to her mother’s extreme dominating and abusive behaviors.  People who have to be right are usually the most miserable.  Research shows that 47% of all cancer is related to unresolved anger.  The seminar trainer, Doug Nelson, says it best:  “everyone does their best they can at times.  We don’t necessarily forget, but we do necessarily forgive”.

If you are ready to experience a life-changing journey yourself, please call or e-mail us as we have received some free tickets from the event.

Managing Your Credit Score

A credit score is a number that lenders use to help them decide “if I give this person a loan or credit card, how likely is it that I’ll be paid back on time?”  It essentially dictates your finances.  Most of us don’t know this number until we apply for a loan.  Julia has met a lady, who got declined for a mortgage because she had been paying everything in cash and had not established a credit history in her life.

FIND OUT WHERE YOU STAND: Request a copy of your report from the three major credit reporting agencies (CRAs):  Equifax, TransUnion, Experian.

FIGURE OUT THE FACTS: One late payment on your Visa can stay on your report for up to seven years.  If you find any discrepancies, you need to fill out a dispute form and send it back to the CRA by registered mail.  Fortunately, the law states any item not being verified as accurate must be removed from your report.

CLEAN UP: Set up a plan to eliminate existing debts.  Clearing up debt can take time. Remember that you have the right to add remarks to your file. Take the opportunity to defend yourself and point out the good areas of your report, such as highlighting a loan or a mortgage that was paid on schedule.

PROVE RELIABILITY: Taking out a loan that you don’t need and then paying it back in a short span of time can prove that you are a good credit risk.

TOO FEW OR TOO MANY: The ideal position is to have a few lines of credit, never more than you could afford to pay off on your income, and with none of them maxed out.  Cancel old cards that you never use.  Don’t ever max out one giant line of credit by putting your entire debt on it.  This is akin to killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

“Holding on to anger and resentment is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.”

- Unknown

Daniel Lynes and Julia Lee Lynes

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