Bank Owned

Structurally sound, good roof, needs substantial interior work.

MLS #1095754

Call Ben at 262-424-0144

Koltwood Apartments is the top of the market in New London, a growing, charming city of 7,000+ located at the confluence of the Wolf & Embarrass Rivers, within an easy commute of the Appleton Metropolitan Market Area. Located along the Embarrass River, the site is low-density with lots of green space and a nature area running to the river.

Click Here for a Printable Copy of the info Sheet for the Great Property

For more details contact -

Kevin Gleason at 414-870-5363

Everybody knows the bad news:

Stocks have plummeted; investors have lost 40-60% of their portfolio value.  Billions in bailout money is hemorrhaging into failing banks and Wall Street.  

Where can you find a safe place to invest what’s left of your equity?  It’s right here, under your nose.  You drive by it every day and never give it a second glance.  Yet all the time it has been creating wealth for its owners. It moves up and down but always on an upward trajectory.  

What is it?  It’s INVESTMENT REAL ESTATE!  

Use to be back in the day, it seemed like a pretty good deal to buy an apartment building and hold it for 10-20 years and then retire off it   But then the stock market got interesting with the high tech boom of the nineties and led many to believe that you could get rich overnight.  For a while it seemed to those clever (or just plain lucky) Wall Street investors that hitching their wagons to a rapidly spiking market was easy and would never end.  

The Stock Market:  everything went up!  …… and then it all went down!

All the time real estate kept consistently increasing in value and making owners rich.

Now while the most recent crop of stock players has lost nearly half their equity in less than a year, those who stayed with investment real estate are for the most part, doing just fine.  Anyone who bit off way more than they could chew, who flew way too high, too close to the sun, and borrowed like there was no tomorrow, their properties are in foreclosure.  But for the vast majority of real estate investors, it is business as usual.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a huge real estate crisis and values have fallen, but only a fraction as much as Wall Street (at least in Wisconsin).  It’s single family homes for the most part that have been affected. Many of those people who lost their homes or can no longer qualify for a mortgage are where?  They’re in apartments, paying rent to their landlord!

Here we are again, the aftermath of another stock market bubble bursting. And investment real estate is still going. So before you give what’s left of your nest-egg back to the Wall Street geniuses, give me a call & let me show you how apartment investing can work for you.

Maybe it’s Time to Get into Investment Real Estate!

Kevin Gleason – (414) 870-5363

by Kevin Gleason

Residential single-family real estate is reeling. The sub-prime crisis has hit and it has hit hard. Homeowners struggle to keep the largest single source of wealth they possess, their home, from dropping into the abyss. The broad brush of public opinion that paints all investment vehicles black covers single family homes, stocks, bonds, hedge funds and to some extent commercial real estate in one fell swoop. Of course, each has its own unique characteristics, challenges and nuance.

For investment real estate there has not been the spectacular fallout that has impacted other investment types. By and large, retail properties are still retaining tenants while working harder to attract new ones. Rents are flat and will stay that way for the foreseeable future. The slowing economy puts pressure on American’s pocket books, they buy less, and retailers struggle, but most will tough it out. According to the Small Business Times, August 27, 2008, retail vacancies for Waukesha County are 7.7%, Northern Milwaukee/Ozaukee Counties 9% and Southern Milwaukee County 9.5%. This places these markets a bit on the high side for unrented space, but not too bad compared to more volatile national markets.

Office vacancies are high in most markets as well. The downtown Milwaukee office market has a 13% vacancy. Brookfield 18%. Western Waukesha County 14%. Northern suburbs 12.3%. Wauwatosa/West Allis 18%. These are big numbers for a market that should stabilize at 6-7%.

The real stellar performer in the midst of this mess are apartments. As more people lose their homes they become renters. Others who can no longer qualify for a mortgage will stay in the rental market. Demand for quality, professionally managed apartments has gotten better. Throughout the Milwaukee metropolitan market, vacancy rates for apartment properties ranges from 2.6% to a high of 6.4%, great numbers even in a flourishing economy. Owners of apartments may not be able to increase their rents for several years, and they may lose slightly more through rent defaults than normal, but they will pay their taxes, their mortgage and continue to build wealth even in the worst of times.

Historically real estate outperforms the Dow over time in real returns.

Apartments are the kings of real

estate wealth building!

Since most of us experience apartment life at some point in our lives, it’s easy to understand what it takes to make an apartment appealing to renters. Maybe more importantly, managing apartments is straightforward; not requiring special skills or education. They provide people with decent places to live, and over time, they can make their owners rich.

Call Kevin Gleason @ 414-870-5363 to answer any questions you may have about investing in real estate or to discuss our apartment listings.

Copyright © 2008 Gohlke & Associates, LLC - All rights reserved

Back in July we put up a post with this same title and at the time we noted the poor performance of Wall Street year-to-date. We were comparing investment opportunities between stocks and real estate to make a case for the latter. Events since then have provided all the more reason to consider shifting some investment dollars into real estate.

We know that overall real estate certainly hasn’t been looking real good either. But just like there are strategies that can make money in a bear market, there are parallel strategies to make money in today’s real estate market … and “right here, right now” we know that 20% to 25% annualized returns are reasonable … and with wholesale opportunities, ROI calcs could toast your calculator!

We continue to believe that the investment brokers of the world give us good advice when they tell us that the stock market is “where we need to be” (even in this market!).  We think a more global approach is more prudent these days. But regardless of your posture about investing in stocks and bonds, with the opportunities in today’s real estate market (some people we know say its a once in 50 year opportunity!) we think it also is another very important place “where we need to be” (we and you too!). Look around our website, give us a call or send us an email.

You’ve heard of a 50 year flood?

This is a 50 year real estate opportunity!

Copyright © 2008 Gohlke & Associates, LLC - All rights reserved

An important footnote: Many people have substantial funds in IRA accounts and are not aware that in some cases these funds can be put to use in real estate investments.  If you’d like to learn more about how IRA funds can often be invested in real estate, click here to learn about an exciting book offer that can teach you about this little know IRA investment option.

Recent History of Changes in Federal Tax Laws - President George W. Bush signed a series of tax cuts into law. The largest was the “Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001”. It was estimated that it would save taxpayers $1.3 trillion over ten years, making it the third largest tax cut since World War II. The top four tax rates dropped from 28% to 25%; 31% to 28%; 36% to 33%; and 39.6% to 35% respectively.

The “Jobs and Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act of 2003” accelerated the tax rate cuts that had been enacted in 2001, and temporarily reduced the federal tax rate on capital gains and dividends to 15%. Two tax bills signed in 2005 and 2006 extended through 2010 the favorable rates on capital gains.

Because it seems likely that the capital gains rate will go up no later than the end of 2010, now is a good time to review long term real estate investment strategies with your tax professional. It’s also important to remember that 1031 exchanges (also called Starker exchanges) do not avoid taxes, they only defer them into the future. So it’s even more important to review strategies if you are considering an exchange in the near future.

 If you’d like to learn more about the history of income taxes in our country since 1791, here is the link an interesting article - http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0005921.html.

Some information above from Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. “A History of Income Taxes in the United States”

Our rock solid analytical tools and methods are second to none!

Distressed Property Inspection and Cost Estimator - with 350+ inspection points, you can be sure we know what needs attention and how much it will cost. Partner with us or purchase and rehab on your own - we can give you confidence in the financial reward potential of your properties.

Investment Property Analyzer – a scenario based analytical tool that illustrates a property’s financial dynamics, helping to determine its viability and optimum purchase price and terms; great for both income and rehab properties

Appreciation Calendar – property value change from any year to any other year (1995 to present)

Investment Property Values to Interest Rates Chart – How the present interest rates affect the value of properties you want to buy or sell

Real Estate Investment Counseling – unique counseling for our buyer clients not provided by many other realtors or offered on a fee basis as an independant, professional unbiased third party in decision making.

My name is Kevin Gleason. I have been a commercial real estate broker since 1986. Over that time I have sold numerous commercial properties, encompassing apartments, shopping centers, office buildings and single-tenant net-leased properties. The clients and customers I have served have two things in common:

 They have all built wealth through investing in real estate and not one of them did it over night.

 Typically they started out with a small property, say a four family apartment. After a few years, as the property appreciated, they refinanced and pulled cash out and used it to buy another. Thus began a pattern of investing that over ten to twenty years built a portfolio of properties worth millions.

 Some were hands-on and on a part-time basis or with a spouse or partner managed the properties themselves. This for the most part consisted of renting apartments to qualified tenants, providing those tenants with a quality residence, and collecting rent checks every month. Simple bookkeeping, consisting of bill paying and record keeping took a couple hours a month. On occasion they might paint an apartment or cut the grass or plant flowers. They could enhance the attractiveness of their property in whatever way they chose, and the benefit was attracting better tenants, increasing the rent more often, and controlling to a large extent their wealth creation.

 Other investors hire a management company to perform those tasks for a fee based on the total collected rent. The more rental income the manager generates, the greater their fee. This arrangement provides an incentive for them to keep the property full.

 Either approach takes the investor to the same place - financial security, and over time, a valuable portfolio of real estate.

 This approach to becoming rich hasn’t changed since I started in this business. It goes on everyday, everywhere, and creates the same result. Slow and steady wins this race, and careful and responsible investing in real property will never let you down.

 Call me if you are thinking about embarking on the slow boat to wealth creation known as real estate investment. All you need is access to credit, a work ethic and the patience to see it through.

Kevin Gleason
Realty Dynamics
(414) 870-5363
kevin@realty-dynamics.com

Right now there is an unusual opportunity to purchase properties at sub-value prices. The depressed residential home market has created a greater inventory of distressed properties than usual. In addition to an increase in bank owned or REO properties, government owned inventories have increased also.

It is widely known that subprime lending practices in recent years have resulted in a dramatic increase of foreclosed properties. The resulting high REO inventories have encouraged aggressive pricing and greater flexibility in negotiations by loss mitigation departments of many mortgage lenders. But the increase in opportunity to purchase properties at sub-value prices is being fueled by other factors as well.

More conventional sellers are finding it very difficult to sell. High inventory levels have lengthened the average days to sell, and for some that can mean holding a property beyond a point that is practical or even affordable. When that point approaches or has past, owners may become highly motivated. Those who are selling because of a divorce, relocation or estate liquidation are more likely to find themselves in these circumstances. Homes they need to sell are more often not in the best marketable condition as owners selling for these reasons often have not had the interest, time or money to spruce up their property before putting them on the market.

Further adding to high inventories is the fact some would-be buyers are taking a “wait and see” attitude. Our aggressive low resale pricing strategy addresses this group of buyers. We have developed a complete system to find, evaluate and purchase properties and then either wholesale or rehab and resell them.

Our mission is simple: we are focused on creating the maximum annualized return on investment while minimizing risks. Our strategy has been developed with the understanding that the speed of execution influences return on investment far more than a few dollars saved in costs or added in final sell price.

If you’re looking to take advantage of the investment opportunities in today’s real estate market we invite you to learn more about our disciplined systems approach to capturing real estate profits. If you’re interested click here to send us an email.

Copyright © 2008 Gohlke & Associates, LLC - All rights reserved

We look at a lot of pre-foreclosure and REO properties every week - maybe 5; maybe even 10 or 12! We walk through them so we can help our buyers and investors when they call us with their inquires. We do it because we want to advice our clients as best we can on the condition of each property.

We list foreclosure properties too like more and more realtors these days. We’ve never failed to be amazed at how most foreclosed (REO) property listings have a single photo, the standard “As Is” phrase, a word about proof of funds and maybe an “allow 2 business days for response” - beyond that, not a word! It’s being sold “As Is”.

Four basement walls caving in? Roof that has leaked enough water to sink the Titanic, frozen/broken pipes, building leans 3 inches to the south!! - not to worry, no need to mention it!! - the property is being sole “As Is” !!

When we list an REO, we publish as many photos as we do for our regular listed properties and, we also include the “As Is” clause in our MLS listings. But we make note of any significant readily observable items - whether attractive selling features or easily observable defects - Huh! - we thought we learned in Real Estate 101 that the State of Wisconsin requires us to do that!

We applaud the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors (GMAR) for their recent web posting of a friendly reminder to all realtors that the “As Is” clause, does not mean they do not have to disclose readily observable “blatant adverse facts”. We think some of our peers need to step it up and uphold their obligations under Wisconsin law. We also think that foreclosed properties deserve the same “best effort” as we give to all of our other listings.

Thanks, GMAR, for reminding us all of Wis. Admin. Code RL24.07!

Click here to learn more about our Specialty REO Services

Copyright © 2008 Gohlke & Associates, LLC - All rights reserved

Are you in a position where you need to sell your house? Facing foreclosure, going through a divorce, transferring jobs, lost income or making mortgage payments on a vacant property?  Whatever your circumstances we may be able to help … you may not have to make another payment on that house you no longer want.

Call us in complete confidence - expect straight talk and honest information; not sale’s shmooze!!

We know that for many people facing the loss of a home can be a very tough problem.  Sometimes we can help!   Yes, we do buy houses too at times, but we think you’ll agree that we offer solutions, not high pressure or sugar coating when you’re confronted with a difficult situation!

Click here to get more information on selling your home fast