Dear Friends, 

They are some of the most ridiculous laws you’ve ever seen.  They’re also still on the books of many states.  Crazy laws are just one of the fun trivia I’ve include in my latest Success In Life!  free consumer newsletter (and there are more for you to laugh about inside!).  But before you check them out…

Have you heard of the term Short Sale?  A short sale occurs when a home is sold for less than is owed on the mortgage(s).  This can be a great deal for a buyer and the saving grace for a seller.  I have included a complete description of a short sale in this edition of my newsletter.  Whether you are a buyer looking for a good deal or a seller who is upside down in equity a short sale may be the answer, but be patient.  I am a Short Sale Specialist so if you are thinking of buying a short sale or selling short please give me a call right away, I am here to help

I would like to take this moment to thank all my amazing clients.  Because of all of the great things we have been able to accomplish together I have decided to take my business to the next level.  I am now an independent Broker and have started a new real estate firm, “The Property Place, Inc”.  You will hear more about my new adventure in the months to come.  Thank you for your warm friendship and support of my business!

I also want to take a moment to thank my previous Broker for everything they have done for me; Glenn Mitchel Realtors is an amazing company with more than 50 years of local service through three generations of family members.  They have built their business on the “Golden Rule”, just as I plan to do.  THANK YOU.

Finally, I want you to know that you may call me for any reason.  And please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help in buying or selling.

I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals.  Enjoy your issue!

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-6 (PDF).

Warmest regards,

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE# 01050798
(619) 279-4258
(800) 375-1212
Email
HomeSellerSDRE.com

P.S.   Do you know of someone who will be interviewing for a job anytime soon?  Be sure to share the article on Page 3…it just might clinch the job for them!

Dear Friends,

Between jetlag, backaches and sore muscles to getting downright ill, traveling by air can be risky business.  That’s why I’ve highlighted a number of proven tips for staying healthy when flying your favorite airline.   It’s all detailed right here in my latest Success In Life!  Free personal newsletter.  But before you dig into this issue…

Here is the BEST news in the world of real estate: 

First-time home buyers have an amazing opportunity RIGHT NOW.  The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has some special loans that allow a first-time home buyer to obtain financing with only 3.5% down (you can even get a gift for most of that).  You are also allowed to request up to 6% of the closing costs back from the seller.  The current rates on these loans range from 4.75% to 5.75%.  To make it even better the IRS will give you an $8,000 tax credit this year; even if you close escrow after you filed your tax return (this is a first… when has the IRS ever given you anything… better take it while you can).  As with any deal there are some conditions, restrictions and a limited time frame… but this is amazing!  It means you can buy a home with little or no money out of your pocket and, most likely, pay less than you are currently paying for rent. 

NOW YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY YOUR FIRST HOME IN SAN DIEGO

Finally, I want you to know that you may call me for any reason.  And please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help in buying or selling.

I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals.  Enjoy your issue!

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-5 (PDF)

Warmest regards,

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE # 01050798
(619) 279-4258
(800) 375-1212
Email
HomeSellerSDRE.com

P.S.   Do you suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?  Go to page 3 right now for quick-tips to ease the pain…

Dear Friends,

It’s true. The original Coke was actually green!  That’s just one of the strange yet entertaining tidbits of trivia you’ll find in my latest Success in Life!  Free personal newsletter.  Plus, there’s more in store for you today.  But first…

Here’s what’s new in the world of real estate:  Interest rates are dirt cheap… Rates have dropped to all time lows and financing is beginning to ease up.  It will probably be quite a while for the easy doc loans to come back, but full doc loans are available right now.  We have even seen some easing on non-owner occupied loans for investors.  With the super low rate loans and rock bottom prices, I urge everyone to take a second look at real estate now… it may never be this reasonable to own real estate again in our lifetimes.  If you want to talk about it or investigate it just call me, no pressure, no hassles and no sales, just good reliable information… I love to talk shop!

This month I wanted to acknowledge all the thoughtful comments I have received from friends, family and new clients about my newsletter.  I sincerely appreciate all the positive feedback, constructive comments and suggestions.  One of the great ideas was to host the newsletters on line so everyone can go back and reference them or re-read them, so that is what I have done.  You can find them at HomeSellerSDRE.com.  Thanks again for taking the time to read Success in Life! and thank you for your comments.

Finally, I want you to know that you may call me for any reason.  And please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help in buying or selling.

I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals.  Enjoy your issue!

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-4 (PDF)

Warmest regards, 

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE # 01050798
(619) 279-4258
(800) 375-1212
Email
HomeSellerSDRE.com

P.S.   Do you know the sinking feeling of having your car break-down at a busy intersection?  In this issue I’ve given you a helpful 10-step checklist for keeping your car in tip-top shape.  Check it out…

Dear Friends,

Here’s good news for golfers and anyone who works or plays outside: Placing a folded sheet of fabric softener in your back pocket can help keep bees away.  That’s just one small tip you’ll learn today in my Success In Life! consumer newsletter. You’ll also find quick ways to boost your energy, important safety information, home energy tips, helpful consumer tips, and fun trivia, jokes and tidbits… and much more.  But first…

Here’s what’s new in the world of real estate:  The time to buy is now!  The market is HOT!  I know it may not feel like it when you look at the value of your existing home, but I am seeing an amazing transformation in this real estate market.  It is now at the point where investors can make a healthy return on their cash by buying and renting properties out.  They are not depending on appreciation, but only on the “cash on cash” return.  Their returns are dwarfing anything they can get in the “crazy” stock market and they are 100% in control of their own destiny.  It does not get any better than that.  So… toss out the negative news and start looking for a way to buy now.  I can even show you how to use your IRA to invest in real estate.  Take charge and control your own destiny while the real estate market is HOT!

I have included a special new insert:  “Extraordinary Service Providers”.  This new insert includes some great local companies who love to help people, just like I do.  They are small, local businesses that provide extraordinary products and services to their customers. 

Today while I was writing this, I had to wait 4 ½ hours for a service tech to show up to fix my washer and dryer (typical story, they will show up between 1:00 and 5:00).  I spent over 20 minutes on the phone trying to find out if they were really going to show up? This type of service was completely disrespectful to my time and very poor.  You will never get service like that from one of these Extraordinary Service Providers; they really care about their customers and about doing the best possible job for them.  They are the type of companies that you can feel comfortable referring a family member, neighbor or friend to.  By the way, if someone knows of an extraordinary appliance repair company please call or email me with a phone number (619) 279-4258, thanks.

Finally, I want you to know, that you may call me for any reason.  And please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help in buying or selling.

I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals.  Enjoy your issue!

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-3 (PDF)

Warmest regards,

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE # 01050798
(619) 279-4258
(800) 375-1212
Email
HomeSellerSDRE.com

P.S.   Did you know that failure to clean the coil of your thermostat may be costing you money? It’s true.  I’ve given you a quick-fix on Page 3.  Check it out…

Dear Friends

The possibilities look promising.  Research has confirmed there’s ONE “thing” we all can do to help increase our life-spans up to 19%!  That “thing” is waiting for you to discover in my latest Success in Life! Free consumer newsletter.  Plus I’ve got lots more in store for you.  But first…

Here’s what’s new in the world of real estate:  The real estate market activity for single family homes (condos not included) during this September was leaps and bounds ahead of last year with an 87.6% increase in sales from the same month in 2007, according to the California Association of Realtors.  In San Diego the median prices were 33.4% lower than September 2007, but this is substantially less than the decrease for California, statewide, which was 40.9%.  These are good signs for San Diego and the real estate recovery in general.  In addition, the foreclosures are starting to be eaten up by investors.  The reason for this is that purchase prices have substantially decreased, at the same time rental rates have increased and vacancy factors have decreased.  For the first time in over 15 years an investor can purchase a single family rental property that returns positive cash flow and a good return on investment, even without appreciation.  Imagine the return they will see when they factor in future appreciation!

Potential buyers shouldn’t wait!  Get out of the stock market and into real estate.  With a strong buyers market, combined with nearly all-time low mortgage rates, now’s the time to get a great deal on your dream home or invest in a rental property.  In addition, there has never been a better time to “move-up” or buy your first home.  Right now you can get more home for the buck than ever before.  Even if you take a ‘hair cut’ on your existing home sale, you should be able to make it all up and them some on your new purchase.  There are many OPPORTUNITIES in this market, TAKE ADVANTAGE before it is too late!

Finally, I want you to know that you may call me for any reason.  Also please let me know if a friend, family member or neighbor needs a caring, competent real estate professional to help in buying or selling real estate.

I truly appreciate your friendship and referrals.  Enjoy your issue!

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-2 (PDF)

Warmest Regards,

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE# 01050798
(800) 375-1212
(619) 279-4258
Email
HomeSellerSDRE.com

P.S.   Is your cost of auto insurance getting out of control?   Then check out page 3 of my newsletter where I’ll give you 5 tips for saving BIG on your auto premiums. Check it out…

Dear Friends

My name is Ronald Brookshire and I’m a REALTOR specializing in listing and selling homes in Alpine, buying and selling San Diego real estate investments, as well as teaching first-time home buyers how to get into their first home. I started in real estate in 1989 as an agent for Glenn Mitchel REALTORS, fresh out of college with a degree in Business Administration. Over all of those years I have not experienced a more exciting time frame in the business than right now; I truly believe that right now is one of the best time that I have seen in the past 20 years to buy real estate in San Diego.

At the same time that I am excited about the real estate market, I am also equally excited about something new and very valuable I’ll be sending you Free each month. It’s my Success In Life! consumer newsletter, packed with insider tips for healthy, wealthy and fun living. I promise, my newsletter will be different than anything you’ve ever seen, and will stimulate your knowledge, imagination…and even tap your “funny bone” for years to come.

You’ll learn fun and interesting trivia such as how many times a person laughs daily, as well as have an opportunity to participate in a trivia contest that awards a FREE $250 reduction in any real estate services that I provide (buying or selling) and two FREE movie tickets every month. You can play my trivia game by referencing page 4 of my newsletter each month.

It’s just my way of sharing helpful tips and information to my friends and clients.

So please keep an eye out for your next issue, arriving in just a few weeks. I look forward to having you as a new friend, entertaining you each month, and serving you in the future.

In the meantime, here’s how you can reach me:  Toll Free (800) 375-1212, Direct (619) 279-4258, Email.

To read Success In Life click here:  Success In Life IV-1 (PDF)

Best Regards,

Ronald Brookshire
Real Estate Broker
DRE #: 01050798

P.S. Did you know there are valuable Free Consumer Resources for helping you save thousands and minimize hassles and hardship when selling or buying a home? It’s true – you can find they right on my website. Check them out at HomeSellerSDRE.com…

A Self-Directed IRA gives you the opportunity to take control of your future by self directing your investments into vehicles that you have control of; in other words – “in your hands not your brokers”. More specifically, you can invest your IRA into real estate investments that you decide on, that you can touch, feel and manage. Pensco Trust Company can provide you the tools and structure to make this a reality.

If the possibility of self-directing your IRA into real estate makes sense to you, then give me a call TODAY at (619) 279-4258. Take control of your nest egg NOW!

Self-Directed IRAs: An Introduction

What is a “self-directed IRA” and why are more and more investors and advisors becoming interested in them? A self-directed IRA is a descriptive term rather than a brand or specific product name. The name refers to IRAs that are able to invest in investments including but not restricted to market-traded investments such as stocks, bond and mutual funds. Although these publicly-traded investment vehicles have been the traditional investment for retirement accounts, and still remain attractive and logical choices for many, investors are increasingly becoming interested in the myriad of other investments that they can hold – tax-deferred- within their IRAs, permitting a greater diversification of assets. As investors become aware of all the allowable investment options, they become better able to manage their financial plans and meet their personalized investment goals.

Although market-traded investments are thought of as “traditional”, in fact, American investors on average have a greater percentage of their net worth invested in real estate (including their homes and investment properties) and private equity (their businesses) than they do in market-traded investments. As a result, many people are more familiar with these types of investments and are subsequently very interested to use their existing knowledge and experience to invest in them within their retirement accounts and take full advantage of tax-deferred compounded growth. As many investors know, a greater diversity of investments can mean less short-term volatility and greater long-term returns, and what they are now realizing, is that diversification among different types of market-traded assets doesn’t really constitute true diversification. Potential returns aside, being able to ’self-direct’ the assets in their retirement accounts allows investors to better customize their retirement holdings and gives them more flexibility in meeting both short- and long-term needs.

Many investors ask, “Why haven’t I heard of this before?”, often followed by “Is this legal?” The answer to the second question is a resounding ‘Yes’. The rules governing what an IRA can invest in are exclusive—not inclusive—and have been in effect since IRAs were created in 1974. That is, the rules only specify where someone cannot invest. Therefore, there is an almost unlimited array of possible investments that fall well within the permissible boundaries. There are only three investments not allowed within IRAs: collectibles, life insurance, and capital stock in an S corporation. The reason investors may not have heard about the opportunity is that most people hold their IRAs with financial institutions whose business models revolve around market-traded investments and not in investments like real estate, private equity and other “alternative” options. It is often not their primary focus to educate their clients about all of the available options, although this mindset is starting to change with financial planner and advisors.

So how do investments work in a self-directed IRA? It’s easy, once the investor identifies an IRA custodian who handles self-directed IRAs–not all do. A little due diligence is recommended before choosing a custodian. As there are additional rules and regulations involved with self-directed investments, investors are advised to work with an established custodian who has knowledge and experience regarding self-directed investments. While there are only a few types of assets that are disallowed (see the three listed above), there are many ways for a novice to create what is called a ‘prohibited transaction’ by involving inappropriate parties. An experienced custodian generally will attempt to guide clients to avoid any accidental misdeeds through education and referrals to professionals with appropriate expertise when required. This may not be the time to shop for the low cost provider alone! Once the account with the custodian is set up and assets are transferred to the new IRA, the investor instructs the custodian to make purchases on behalf of the IRA. Any assets that are held in the IRA are owned by the IRA, not by the investor. So, for example, all fees involved with an investment (like property maintenance for real estate) must come out of the IRA and cannot be paid by the IRA owner.

What other types of investments are available in an IRA? Here are just a few of the most common investments that can be bought inside an IRA:

• Notes secured by real estate, i.e., ‘mortgages’ or ‘trust deeds’
• Unsecured or ‘promissory’ notes, i.e., loans to an individual or business
• Real estate (real property): commercial, multi-family, vacation (as investment only), raw land, foreclosure properties, etc.
• Tax liens
• Franchises
• Private equity, i.e. ownership in privately held C Corps, Limited Partnerships (LPs), or Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) including capitalizing business start-ups

Self-directed investing allows people to be creative and “invest in what they know”. Depending on the investor’s own area of expertise, other more unique investments have included:

• Boat slips
• Racehorses
• Fishing rights
• Interests in film, musical or theatrical productions
• Foreign real estate
• Agriculture, e.g., livestock
• Even:an underwater cemetery!

Opportunities for investors to capitalize on the power of their own unique knowledge and ’skill sets’ are definitely out there. The largest obstacle thus far has been making the public aware of their options. Luckily, investors are realizing that self-directed IRAs are an enormous source of investment capital, especially rollover IRAs which tend to be larger than contributory IRAs. Currently, collective IRA assets are valued at $4.2 trillion total and growing at $200 billion per year, particularly due to the increased number of pension plan rollovers into IRAs as “baby boomers” retire. Both IRA investors wanting to expand their opportunities for IRA wealth potential and entrepreneurs seeking new venues for capital should not overlook the tremendous opportunity to grow wealth with IRA assets.

The foregoing is a general discussion. It is not intended as, and may not be relied upon as, tax, legal, investment or other advice. Readers desiring such advice should consult their own advisors.

For over 18 years, PENSCO Trust has provided premier service in the custody and administration of IRAs and retirement accounts invested in non-traded assets, such as real estate and private placements. Give me a call TODAY at (619) 279-4258. Take control of your nest egg NOW!

Here is what is happening:  Purchase prices have substantially decreased, at the same time rental rates have increased and vacancy factors have declined.  The market is now ripe for investors to make a healthy return on their cash by buying and renting their properties out.

Smart investors are not depending on appreciation, but only on the “cash on cash” return. Their returns are dwarfing anything they can get in the “crazy” stock market, without the volatility and they are 100% in control of their own destiny.  It does not get any better than that. 

We have not seen this in over 15 years.  So… toss out the negative news and start looking for a way to buy now. I can even show you how to use your IRA to invest in real estate (check it out here - Self Directed IRA). Take charge and control your own destiny while the real estate market is HOT!