Pandemic could mean opportunity for real estate investors

Article | April 9, 2020

It’s a specifically challenging time for the commercial real estate industry. The conventional wisdom has been that as businesses move to a more remote business model, they may question their space needs in the future. The ramifications of that pose a hurdle across all aspects of the industry, from rent forgiveness to managing lender relations to capital market ramifications and the effect on commercial mortgage backed securities. From the landlord perspective, the consensus a week into April has been that about 80% of office tenants have paid their rents for March. Most landlords have been ahead of the game and are maintaining open communication. That hopefully isn’t anything new. Deals have obviously slowed down but this period is different than perhaps pending recessions of the past. There is a lot of cooperation. There are obviously opportunists who may be seeking an advantage, trying to get out of leases etc; however, level heads are able to mitigate those situations by maintaining composure and transparency.

Article | April 9, 2020

Outside of luxury listings, virtual tours have always been something of a solution looking for a problem. Sure, they look cool, and they definitely impress homeowners, but even a brand-new agent with the ink barely dry on their real estate license could tell you that they never really did much to, you know … actually sell houses. Of course, today the reality on the ground is that technologies like virtual tours for real estate are offering a viable alternative to showings to help agents keep their business afloat. After all, when people are scared to leave their homes, virtual tours offer a seemingly perfect solution. That’s why we decided to give you some actionable, real-world strategies to incorporate virtual tours in your showing arsenal. We’ll go over the tech behind the tours, get insight from some top-producing brokers already using them, and finally give you some creative and affordable ways to use them yourself.

HOME AND DESIGN

Article | April 9, 2020

Considering a remodeling project? Before getting started, establish a list of return on investment (ROI) goals, because not all home improvements are created equal. Some add value to the home that can be recouped when selling, while others may be nice to have but are unlikely to raise the home's asking price. Anyone who wants to focus on home improvements that will pay for themselves when selling the home should know which projects to avoid. Read on to learn about three home improvement projects with a strong return on investment. Upgraded Landscaping For homeowners looking for a better price when they sell, it's hard to go wrong with landscaping. This is one of the few home improvements that typically yields a positive return when selling the home. On average, homeowners can recoup 150% of what they spend updating a home's landscaping. Since curb appeal is a huge factor in selling a home, choose improvements that can be seen from the road for the best return. Resodding or reseeding a lawn is a project that typically provides good returns. In an arid climate like Nevada, consider landscaping with native plants, xeriscaping, and other eco-friendly desert landscaping options to reduce water usage and maintenance requirements. Adding new trees to the landscaping can pay off now and at the time of sale. Trees provide shade and natural cooling, which can take a chunk out of power bills. When selling, trees add between $1,000 and $10,000 to the selling price of a home. Creating a Dazzling Entryway Continue the strong first impression by creating a welcoming space in the entryway of the home. Upgrading to manufactured stone veneer has a return on investment of around 96%. The improvement is relatively simple but makes the front door and the surrounding area more dramatic. Even small improvements can have a big impact. Upgrade to a metal door or one with small windows that let in additional light. Find upgraded house numbers that are visually appealing and easy to see. This often costs less than $100 but can improve the look and feel of the entry area and practically pay for itself when it's time to sell. Minor Kitchen Remodeling The kitchen is the heart of the home. This is the room that is one of the top choices for home improvement projects. However, contrary to what one might expect, huge kitchen overhauls don't always yield a high ROI. In fact, less costly improvements typically have a better payoff. Small projects that can dramatically improve a kitchen include: Repainting Refacing the cabinets and adding updated hardware Replacing countertops Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances Choosing more energy-efficient appliances is an upgrade that can start repaying itself right away. Other improvements are likely to increase the price of the home when it sells. However, on average, kitchen remodeling projects only bring in 77% of their cost when it's time to sell. Because of this, homeowners should focus on upgrades that improve their quality of life and what they are likely to get back for their investment. Some common mistakes can reduce what a homeowner will get back from a kitchen remodeling project. Investing large amounts of money on items that will need to be replaced again in a few years is unlikely to provide a positive return. Choosing items that are too high-end can cause them to clash with the look and feel of the rest of the home, which could turn buyers off. Improve Daily Life and ROI With These Home Improvement Projects Most home improvement projects do not pay for themselves in full when selling the home. Rather, they are changes that make the home worth more to the owner now, that have the bonus of a price increase when you sell the home. The right home improvement project can make any house feel like a new construction home. Homeowners should look to areas that will give them the most mileage when picking updates for their homes. For instance, old kitchen cabinets can make the room feel dull and uninviting. Refacing with a bright new finish can make the kitchen feel like a brand-new room. Adding low-maintenance shrubs to the front yard adds visual interest that can be enjoyed right away. Projects that require special permits could raise questions during a home inspection and potentially reduce the home's value—but properly permitted additions may let homeowners list a home with an extra bedroom or bathroom. Choose the updates that will provide the most meaningful benefits, both now and at the time of sale. By making the home inviting and attractive, sellers are more likely to be able to name their dream price.

Article | April 9, 2020

As most of us have adjusted to the new reality brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19), developers and lenders are forced to look at the resulting economic shut down on ongoing real estate projects. When this virus first started making the news late last year, few people anticipated that it would turn into a global pandemic that would virtually shut down world economic markets. In the real estate world, when this did happen, it was easy to predict that the deals that had not yet been signed, would come to a stop and/or be terminated, and that deals that had been signed would be paused and extended. But what about deals in progress and under construction? Supply chains have not only been disrupted, but in many cases, have been stopped altogether. This could cause many borrowers to miss important benchmarks under construction loan agreements. It could also cause developers to miss delivery dates under leases and contracts. Will lenders declare loan defaults for missed benchmarks? Will tenants and buyers?