Blog
WE SECURE VACANT PROPERTY
D.A.W.G.S. (Door And Window Guard Systems) manufactures and rents attractive steel panels (Door and Window Guards) used to cover door and window openings on vacant buildings. Our vacant property security solutions eliminate break-ins and many of the other problems associated with vacant property.
Property investors, property managers, housing authorities rehabbers and real estate professionals trust D.A.W.G.S. to keep their vacant properties secure.
Mortgage rate forecast for 2020: Experts predict low rates will last
If you’re looking to buy an investment property in the new year, there’s good news: Today’s low mortgage rates are expected to continue into 2020. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate started 2019 at 4.68 percent and steadily declined before closing out the year at 3.93 percent. In 2020, rates are expected to remain mostly stable, not straying too much higher or lower from the 4 percent mark. Here are responses from a range of experts predicting what will happen to mortgage rates in 2020.
Expect mortgage rates to remain low
Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst, predicts mortgage rates will stay relatively stable around 4 percent in 2020. “The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage will hopscotch back and forth over the 4 percent mark for much of 2020, remaining low enough to facilitate home buying and providing ample refinancing opportunities on those trips below 4 percent,” he says. Inflation is something borrowers should watch for, especially toward the end of 2020, McBride says. Core inflation, as measured by the Fed’s PCE Index, will top out at 2.2 percent, he predicts, which will likely keep the Fed muted on rate hikes. “Rates will trend higher toward the back half of the year as inflation readings move above 2 percent.” Since the end of June 2019, interest rates for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage have stayed south of the 4 percent mark. They hit their lowest point on Sept. 4, dropping to 3.74 percent, according to Bankrate data. These historically low rates have helped homeowners save money by refinancing and made it easier for folks to afford to buy a house.
Read Full Article [Source: www.bankrate.com]
Top 10 Features of a Profitable Rental Property
Top 10 Features Of A Profitable Rental Property
1. Neighborhood. The neighborhood in which you buy will determine the types of tenants you attract and your vacancy rate. If you buy near a university, the chances are that students will dominate your pool of potential tenants and you will struggle to fill vacancies every summer. Also be aware that some towns attempt to discourage rental conversions by imposing exorbitant permit fees and piling on the red tape.
2. Property Taxes. Property taxes are likely to vary widely across your target area, and you want to be aware of how much you will be losing to them. High property taxes are not always a bad thing in a great neighborhood that attracts long-term tenants, but there are lousy places with high taxes, too. The municipality’s assessment office will have all the tax information on file, or you can talk to homeowners in the community. It is also wise to find out if property tax increases are likely in the near future. A town in financial distress may hike taxes far beyond what a landlord can realistically charge in rent.
3. Schools. If you’re dealing with family-sized homes, consider the quality of the local schools. Although you will be mostly concerned about the monthly cash flow, the overall value of your rental property comes into play when you eventually sell it. If there are no good schools nearby, it can affect the value of your investment.
4. Crime. No one wants to live next door to a hot spot for criminal activity. The local police or public library should have accurate crime statistics for neighborhoods. Check the rates for vandalism, serious crimes, and petty crimes, and note if criminal activity is moving up or down. You might also want to ask about the frequency of a police presence in your neighborhood.
5. Job Market. Locations with growing employment opportunities attract more tenants. To find out how an area rates for job availability, check with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or go to a local library. If you see an announcement about a major company moving to the area, you can be sure that workers in search of a place to live will flock to the area. This may cause house prices to go up or down, depending on the type of business moving in. You can assume that if you would like that company in your backyard, your renters will as well.
6. Amenities. Tour the neighborhood and check out the parks, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, public transportation links, and all the other perks that attract renters. City Hall may have promotional literature that will give you an idea of where the best blend of public amenities and private property can be found.
7. Future Development. The municipal planning department will have information on new development that is coming or has been zoned into the area. If there is a lot of construction going on, it is probably a good growth area. Watch out for new developments that could hurt the price of surrounding properties. Additional new housing could also compete with your property.
8. Number of Listings and Vacancies. If a neighborhood has an unusually high number of listings, it can either signal a seasonal cycle or a neighborhood in decline. You need to find out which it is. In either case, high vacancy rates force landlords to lower rents to attract tenants. Low vacancy rates allow landlords to raise rental rates.
9. Average Rents. Rental income will be your bread-and-butter, so you need to know what the average rent in the area is. Make sure any property you consider will bear enough rent to cover your mortgage payment, taxes, and other expenses. Research the area well enough to gauge where it will be headed in the next five years. If you can afford the area now but taxes are expected to increase, an affordable property today may mean bankruptcy later.
10. Natural Disasters. Insurance is another expense that you will have to subtract from your returns, so you need to know just how much it’s going to cost you. If an area is prone to earthquakes or flooding, coverage costs can eat away at your rental income.
Read Full Article [Source: www.investopedia.com]
Top 10 Real Estate Markets for 2020
The Urban Land Institute’s annual look at the year ahead cited Austin, Texas, as the top U.S. real estate market for 2020.
“Austin is number one, rising from sixth place a year ago to first in overall real estate prospects and from fourth to first place in local expectation of investor demand in 2020,” according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate report. The analysis considered many salient features: Its slogan “Keep Austin Weird”, its deep pool of talent, unique and popular lifestyle, and ambitious commitment to business and real estate expansion.”
The report also noted Austin’s negatives: “Traffic is an ongoing issue,” the report said. “Housing affordability pressures are rising. These could be exacerbated since Austin has the highest projected population growth rate for the coming five years among the 80 markets we analyze.”
Below are the top 10 Real Estate Markets for 2020:
- Austin, Texas
- Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
- Nashville, Tennesse
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Boston
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Orlando, Florida
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
Read Full Article [Source: www.housingwire.com]
DAWGS Cold Weather Checklist for Vacant Property
As the temperatures drop, it is important to take steps to protect your vacant properties from cold weather ice and snow damage. DAWGS had put together a Cold Weather Vacant Property:
- Confirm with your property insurer – they may have specific cold weather requirements to ensure your building is properly covered.
- Drain down the water system to prevent pipes from bursting.
- Check gutters for blockages such as trapped water or ice if unchecked, they can cause drain pipes to shatter.
- Clear and clean the property to prevent pest infestations.
- Ensure the property is safe and secure, undertake a comprehensive risk assessment to assess potential risks and vulnerabilities.
- Inspect the premises for mold which can pose a serious health risk if left untreated.
- Check for any damage to the roof as this will help prevent associated water, ice or snow damage.
- Switch off your utilities such as gas and electrics. This will reduce the risk of gas leaks, and deter potential squatters
- Schedule property inspections and patrols will give you the peace of mind that your property is being checked up on regularly.
The Future of Real Estate: 4 Trends of 2020
What is the future of real estate? There will be some shifts in the industry that real estate organizations need to prepare for. The future of real estate is facing trends of urbanizations, changing demographics, and new real estate technology trends. Looking forward to 2020, there will be some economic and social shifts, a wider range of opportunities, larger risk and return, and new drivers of value that you need to look at if you’re invested in the real estate industry. The PwC Real Estate 2020: Building the Future report highlights the main predictions regarding the environment of future real estate investing. Let’s take a look at some of the most evident real estate trends mentioned in the report so you know what to expect.
2020 Trends Shaping the Future of Real Estate
1) Expansion in Cities
The future of real estate is looking very bright as the industry is seeing a trend of urbanizing cities and economic growth. Cities across the world are working on building themselves to be centers of wealth creation. As construction activity is booming for 2020 and beyond, expect to see more contribution to the future of real estate from growing cities across Asia (most fast-paced region), Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Overall, total construction output globally is projected to reach a whopping $15 trillion by 2025.
As entirely new cities emerge in nations across the world, migration will rise. China is expected to experience the largest migration (1.5 million new residents a month for the next ten years). Even developed cities are witnessing population increases. London will welcome 2 million new residents by 2031. There will also be major US developments (like the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in New York) which will catalyze city expansions in 2020.
Now just because a lot of cities are building and experiencing growth, that doesn’t mean they will all succeed. Some might not witness the high level of migration they expect. And some might have such a large increase in population, they’ll fail because their economy wasn’t equipped to support them with enough jobs. As 2020 projects fierce competition between these emerging real estate markets, you need to keep an eye out for the ones which truly thrive. The future of real estate is in the cities that come out on top as leading centers for the investment community.
2) Demographic Shifts Trigger Real Estate Demand
Ending 2020, the world’s population of middle-class consumers will have increased by 1 billion. Developing countries have the largest share of younger populations. The aging population in advanced economies will have a bigger effect on the future of real estate. For example, the Bank of International Settlements analyzed these economies and found that house prices in the US are going to be deflating (about 80 basis points per annum in real estate prices over the next 40 years). What does an aging population mean for the future of real estate investing? New sectors in the real estate market will emerge to gain investor interest.
While the future of the real estate market will indeed be dominated by the main sectors of office, industrial, retail, and residential, there will be some changes. The older population will require more nursing homes so healthcare and retirement will become significant subsectors in the market. A projected global increase in population to 9.3 billion will demand more affordable housing. The growing population means larger food consumption; this will spark more investor interest in the agriculture subsector. The future of residential real estate? The shifts in demographic trends will definitely lead to some changes in consumer demands and real estate development. So expect the US housing market 2020 and other developed economies to start adding new and different types of property to their real estate inventories.
3) A Greener Future for Real Estate
Population growth and urbanization bring along with them the necessity for more eco-friendly real estate development. It’s projected that by 2050, the world will need 50 percent more energy, 40 percent more water, and 35 percent more food to sustain the population. This means new properties will be designed with a “green” strategy in mind. As we’re already seeing buildings starting to include renewable energy technologies and waste reduction, the future of real estate marketing is looking more and more green as this is what people will be looking at. But if this trend of economical efficiency outpaces current buildings’ abilities to go green, they could drastically drop in value. So this trend also plays a role in the future of real estate appraising.
4) Real Estate Technology Trends in 2020
With so many industries taking their business online, it’s only natural to think about the way tech will affect the future of real estate in 2020 and beyond. We’ve already seen a growing use of data analytics in the industry. This makes sense. Real estate is all about the numbers, especially when it comes to investment properties. Real estate professionals need to be looking at a lot of data to maintain their assets. Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are a necessity if you want to be competitive in the industry.
Looking at the global real estate industry, we’ve seen a boost in demand for blockchain applications in some of the more rapidly developing regions like China, Singapore, and Southeast Asia. But will this be a serious trend shaping the future of real estate? A lot of players in the industry are hesitant to participate in this trend because of blockchain’s connection to cryptocurrency, which has been extremely volatile ever since it gained market attention in 2017.
But blockchain and cryptocurrency aren’t the same thing. Blockchain is simply the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. And this technology can be designed to support any type of transaction. Think of it as a web-based real estate market. The future of real estate agents will revolve around this technology, actively selling and buying properties using blockchain. But this can also negatively affect the future of real estate brokers. As technology continues to simplify real estate transactions, reliance on agents for property searches may reduce. The Western housing markets haven’t picked up this trend as quickly, but after seeing the development in Asian markets, expect to keep hearing about this trend.
Read Full Article [Source: www.mashvisor.com]
No One Home: Counties With the Most Vacancies
According to a report from ATTOM Data Solutions, over 1.5 million (1,530,563) U.S. single-family homes and condos are vacant, representing 1.6% of all homes. In total, the U.S. Census Bureau found that 17,019,726 homes were vacant in 2018. Compiling data from the Census Bureau’s most recent Community Survey, Stacker found which counties in every state have the highest concentration of vacant homes.
Counties with notably high percentage of vacant homes included Ashtabula County, located northeast of Cleveland. According to Stacker, 23.3% of total homes are vacant in this country, and Ohio holds one of the highest rates of zombie homes in the country, with a total of around 891 in the state. Around half of these vacant homes are in the Cleveland-Elyria metro area, with 431 homes. Additionally, the top two zip codes nationwide with the highest number of zombie properties (with at least 100 properties in pre-foreclosure) are Cleveland zip codes 44105 (57) and 44108 (54).
Some of the highest vacancy rates can be found in New Jersey. In Cape May County, New Jersey, 60.6% of total homes are unoccupied, however, nearly all are homes for seasonal or recreational use, as about half of the county’s residential real estate is vacation homes. New Jersey does still have some of the highest rates of zombie homes in the country, according to ATTOM Data Solutions. There are 463 zombie homes in New Jersey, and the 1,566 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area.
New York, according to ATTOM, has the highest number of zombie properties, at 2,428, with many of these homes located in New York City. However, Jefferson County, located in northern New York state near the St. Lawrence River, holds the highest percentage of unoccupied homes. With 15,384 out of 60,041 homes, or 25.6%, of total homes unoccupied in Jefferson County. According to Stacker, the area has seen an exodus of residents, dampening demand and activity in its housing market. In 2017, Jefferson County suffered the second-most dramatic population decrease of 2.8% in the United States.
Article Source [www.dsnews.com]
The Top 10 Real Estate Markets for 2020
The Urban Land Institute’s annual look at the year ahead cited Austin, Texas, as the top U.S. real estate market for 2020.
“Austin is number one, rising from sixth place a year ago to first in overall real estate prospects and from fourth to first place in local expectation of investor demand in 2020,” according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate report issued by ULI and PwC on Thursday. “Our analysis considered many salient features: Its slogan (“Keep Austin Weird”), deep pool of talent, unique and popular lifestyle, and ambitious commitment to business and real estate expansion.”
The 107-page report also noted Austin’s negatives:
“Traffic is an ongoing issue,” the report said. “Housing affordability pressures are rising. These could be exacerbated since Austin has the highest projected population growth rate for the coming five years among the 80 markets we analyze.”
The capital of Texas was followed by the Raleigh/Durham metro area. Describing the attributes of the No. 2 city, the report said:
“This market’s concentration of educational institutions – Duke University, the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, and several smaller colleges – coupled with the Research Triangle Park, has branded the area as a technology mecca, and it now has more than 89,000 tech jobs, which, at 10.9% of the employment base, ranks third behind Silicon Valley and San Francisco in tech industry share.”
Nashville, Tennessee, was No. 3.
“The local mood is ebullient, with expectations strong for continued investment and development,” the report said. “News on the corporate location front – Alliance Bernstein’s headquarters, an Amazon operations center, and the expansion of dental products firm Smile Direct Club – has bolstered confidence and generated real estate activity associated with more than 8,000 new jobs linked to these firms.”
Charlotte, North Carolina, was No. 4.
“Charlotte is attracting technology and manufacturing firms, as it continues to diversify its economy beyond the banking sector that dominated over the past 20 years,” the report said. “Charlotte has focused on infrastructure, with its airport expansion and light-rail growth emblematic of its commitment in this crucial field.”
Boston, ranked No. 5, was the only northeast city to make it into the top 10.
“Boston enjoys strong structural advantages including its outstanding educational institutions, which act as a talent magnet, and its powerful tech industry, which accounts for 10 percent of Boston’s jobs base,” the report said. “This is an expensive area and has affordability and congestion issues to cope with.”
Rounding out the top 10: Dallas/Fort Worth was No. 6, followed by Orlando, Florida, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Here’s the full list of the top 10 markets for real estate in 2020:
- Austin, Texas
- Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
- Nashville, Tennesse
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Boston
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Orlando, Florida
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
Original Article: [www.hoursingwire.com]
Emerging Trends That Will Shape Real Estate In 2020
The Urban Land Institute and PwC have just released the real estate industry’s widely anticipated industry forecast, Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2020. The report indicates that while real estate economists are tempering their views on economic growth in the United States, they continue to forecast steady real estate markets and returns through 2021.
The outlook remains generally upbeat amid an escalation of the U.S.-China trade war, volatility in global financial markets and the inverted yield curve for U.S. Treasury bonds, which is among the most consistent recession indicators.
In spite of these headwinds, the forecast cites adaptability to change along with discipline as key factors in the industry’s ability to withstand an economic downturn and the possibility of softer real estate demand in the years ahead.
The report states, “Reinforcing the optimism about real estate’s ability to withstand a recession is satisfaction that the property sector’s discipline in this recovery means that ‘this time it won’t be our fault’ if the economy falters. Any warning signs are arising from causes that real estate has little control over.”
The findings suggest that a willingness to embrace change and rethink growth strategies is beneficial for cities as well as the industry. Austin, the capital of Texas, is ranked first out of 80 cities in the U.S. for overall real estate prospects for 2020, followed by Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina; Nashville; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Boston. Other favorites for 2020 include Dallas/Fort Worth, Orlando, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle and Tampa/St. Petersburg.
Best Method to Secure Vacant Property: Steel Security Screens
Vacant Property Secured with DAWGS Security Screens
Properties become vacant for a variety of reasons. The home may be on the market and the previous owner has already vacated the property, a property may be going through renovations, it may be bank-owned as a result of foreclosure or it may simply be an abandoned “zombie property.” Whatever the reason for the vacancy, the risks associated with vacant property are numerous.
Vacant Property Security Risks
Vacant properties attract squatters, vandals and criminals as well as drive down property values. Theft of equipment, materials, furniture, appliances, and fixtures are costly problems. Abandoned, boarded-up properties are also at a greater risk for fire, vandalism, defacing, and other illegal activities.
Property owners are not just responsible for the losses and repairs resulting from break-ins, they can also be held liable for injuries that occur on the property or damage caused to neighboring properties.
Security Options for Vacant Property
Plywood board up is common method used to secure a vacant property. Calling an emergency board up service may be appropriate for quickly securing a property or business in the wake of a fire, hurricane, tornado or other natural disasters, but it is not the best solution to secure your vacant properties under non-emergency circumstances.
There are problems with board up — it is an eyesore that does little to improve the market perceptions of the neighborhood. In fact, a boarded-up property can stigmatize the entire neighborhood and reduce the market value of an entire neighborhood. Board up is also easy to bypass, simple to remove, leaves damage to the property and is non-reusable. Board up also contributes to neighborhood blight and can invite trouble by visibly announcing that “this property is vacant” to criminals.
Other options used to secure vacant properties include security personnel and guard dogs. There are inherent issues with these security methods as well. Security guards are costly, susceptible to human error and can be a liability if injured on the job. Guard dogs can be easily restrained or incapacitated, may damage the property and can cause harm to non-intruders. Some consider guard dogs to be in-humane.
Board up vs Steel – Trust the Experts to Secure a Vacant Property: Use DAWGS Security Screens
Unlike board up, the best vacant property security solution to limit your liability and protect your investment and other assets is DAWGS steel security screens. Door and Window Guard Systems
Board up lowers property values.
DAWGS) manufactures, installs and maintains impenetrable, attractive steel panels that keep your vacant properties secure and improve curb appeal.
Compared to plywood, DAWGS panels are equipped with a unique bracing system that does not cause any damage to the window or door frames. The bracing system holding the security screens in place is only accessible from the inside of the building. DAWGS window guards are also modular, this allows them to cover openings of practically any shape and size. DAWGS steel door panels are key-coded, providing managed access to the property so you control who can get in and out of the property.
Another benefit DAWGS steel security screens have over plywood board up is airflow. Air gets in while intruders stay out. DAWGS are reinforced with heavy-duty steel, sporting a unique single-piece construction that doesn’t crack under pressure. All DAWGS window screens come with aeration holes that let in fresh air and sunlight and are easy to insulate so you can heat your property all winter long.
Steel panels don’t just offer better protection against break-ins, increasingly, cities and states are passing eyesore laws that ban plywood as a vacant property security method. Ohio was the first state to ban the use of the material in early 2017. Since then other communities have followed suit with the trend expected to continue. City and state lawmakers are banning plywood board up as a means to keep vacant properties secure while fighting neighborhood blight.
Protect your investment, improve curb appeal, stop break-ins and crime with the strength of steel door and window security screens.
Understanding Uncertainty: Property Preservation and Maintenance in Flux
To all professionals managing the repair and maintenance of distressed properties—your cost of doing business may not be what you think it is. Xactware cost data indicated price volatility throughout many categories during 2018 and early 2019. These price fluctuations, some of which were quite sudden, rendered older and outdated pricing data sets too unreliable for making business decisions. Combined with the competitive pressures of the shrinking foreclosure market over the last ten years, using regularly updated and researched local pricing data is more critical than ever. Without proper safeguards, these dramatic shifts in costs can swing allowance thresholds and undermine profitability in ways that can seriously injure businesses over time.
Getting the numbers right. To illustrate the point, we’ll first look at retail labor rates by trade for drywallers. According to Xactware pricing trend data, 2018 average property preservation and maintenance retail labor rates rose by an average 4.3% across the board, with drywall installers showing a 10% increase. Combined with a 4% rise in the cost of drywall materials, it’s easy to see that if the average rates for all trades were applied to servicer’s charges, they would not have accounted for the particular spike seen in the drywall industry.
Read full article [Source www.dsnews.com]
CALL