Select articles from "Houston Real Estate Experts" newsletter

My e-mail newsletter, "Houston Real Estate Experts", serves local realty investors by providing news and educational articles. Some of the articles from recent issues are archived here. To receive the complete current newsletters, please order your own FREE subscription.

The articles are protected by US copyright law. Please follow the reprint policies if you want to use this material.

from May 2009 issue:

I formed a company! Now what? - by Michael Plaks
"...if your tenant made her check out to your personal name - still deposit it into your business account..."

Protesting Property Taxes - by Charles Lammert
"...Should you disagree with the appraiser, your next step is to go before the Appraisal Review Board (ARB)..."

How To Invest in a Down Market - part 2 - by Dennis Arocho
"...if the buyer does not want to sell the house when the 10 years arrive, the option could have a provision..."

from March 2009 issue:

IRS helping investors: 2009 Homebuyer credit - by Michael Plaks
"...there is no tax credit for buying an investment property. But think not about buying - think about selling!"

How To Invest in a Down Market - part 1 - by Dennis Arocho
"...what other ways of investing can I get 50% equity within weeks of purchase, without needing repairs?.."

The Hidden "Gotcha" - by Stephen Ruback
"...The most susceptible areas for water intrusion in a house are the joints between the roof covering and any..."

from December 2008 issue:

Property taxes - December or January? - by Michael Plaks
"If you rely on the old "bunching" strategy, the new law can make it unnecessary or even harmful. To know..."

Corporations and LLCs: Charging Orders and the Differences in Protection - by Darius Barazandeh
"...if the creditor seizes your stock shares they can vote to dissolve or end the corporation. As a result..."

Rehabbing for Beginners - Part 3 of 3 - by Shaun Sharry
"In the living rooms / family rooms see that a nicer 52-inch ceiling fan is installed. Match it to the..."

from November 2008 issue:

Critical Thoughts about Critical Times - by Michael Plaks
"Before you take the plunge, I suggest you ask yourself these questions: 1. Was this route available before?.."

Hurricane Damage is Obvious, or is it? - by Andy Davies
"The problem lies in the fact that the source of the odor isn't necessarily visible. In fact, it is probably..."

Rehabbing for Beginners - Part 2 of 3 - by Shaun Sharry
"Using plastic is cost effective up front but can be disastrous in the long run. They make nicer quality at..."

from August 2008 issue:

LLC? LP? Corporation? - What should I choose? - by Michael Plaks
"For those of you who are lazy to read the entire article, let me give you the rules of thumb right away, so you..."

Rehabbing for Beginners - Part 1 of 3 - by Shaun Sharry
"We will start with the exterior. This is the first impression that a prospective buyer/renter gets of your property..."

The 7 Step Partnership Acid Test - How to Choose the Correct Partner - by Joe Moughon
"Probe prior partnerships. You will be amazed at how many potential partners have had prior partnerships. How..."

from May 2008 issue:

HEEELP!!! I received a letter from the IRS! - by Michael Plaks
"Proposed changes, also known as Notice CP2000. This very common letter merely suggests that your tax return..."

If it's not in the seed, it won't be in the harvest - by Kevin Smith
"Once we know what we want to accomplish, the next step is to write it down in a certain way called a scope of work..."

Differences between Real Estate Flipping and Real Estate Investing - by Terry Wygal
"...one of the first distinctions between real estate flipping and real estate investing is the buyer's exit strategy..."

Would You Build Your House Out Of Gingerbread? - by Stephen Ruback
"There are two primary ways we get the water out. The AC condenses lots of the water out of the air and hopefully..."

from February 2008 issue:

It Is 1099 Time - Turn'm In to the IRS! - by Michael Plaks
"What if you missed the February 29 deadline? Well, there is another possibility. Since it's 21st century, you can..."

The Fastest and Easiest Way to Get Started in Real Estate - by Terry Wygal
"Quite simply: a real estate bird-dog goes out and finds properties for other real estate investors, points them out..."

Finally — IRS Guidance on Exchanging Vacation Homes - by Alan Hall
"For a vacation home to qualify as relinquished property, it must meet the following criteria: it is owned by..."

from January 2008 issue:

Can I Deduct This on My Tax Return? - by Michael Plaks
"So, what qualifies as a deductible business expense? My highly scientific 4-part test is simply this: ..."

2008 is Out of The Gate! - by Terry Wygal
"Here are a few rules for this year: Buy lower than before - add a few months to the holding cost you have..."

Either a Lender or a Borrower Be - by Quincy Long
"The smallest IRA participating in this loan was for $1,827.00! Each IRA made 2% up front and 12% interest on..."

Is There Time for a Quickie Inspection? - Part 3 - by Kevin Smith
"In some cases, such as townhouses, you will find this piece of equipment on the roof. In single-family residential..."

from December 2007 issue:

December Tax Planning - Not Too Late! - by Michael Plaks
"Remember that any bill you pay after December 31st will not help your 2007 taxes. This is true for any kind of..."

Why Do Wholesalers Take the "Whole" Profit? - by Steven Kaufman
"I know why you stand by your 70% LTV (loan-to-value) and support you for having some rules to play by. Too many..."

Remodeling Tips for Quick Sale - by Shaun Sharry
"Clean the entryway and front door and make sure the walks are swept and neat. If possible, paint the front door..."

Is There Time for a Quickie Inspection? - Part 2 - by Kevin Smith
"Look for signs of abrasive damage caused by tree limbs whether the branches are still there or not. Some folks..."

from October 2007 issue:

IRS Revives the Dreaded "Random Audits" Program - by Michael Plaks
"Most of the tax returns are audited for a reason. Good reason or bad reason - is a different story, but..."

Is There Time for a Quickie Inspection? - Part 1 - by Kevin Smith
"Look closely at the three most expensive repairs that you will make in a rehab situation. They are the foundation..."

Skills for Maximum Success in Flipping Real Estate - by Terry Wygal
"The most critical skill you'll need to have, and probably one of the easiest to develop, is the ability to analyze deals..."

Are You Financially Fit? - by Steven Kaufman
"Risk and reward have a direct relationship. Lenders operate by this principle to such an extreme that..."

from September 2007 issue:

IRS October 15 deadline: procrastinator's guide - by Michael Plaks
"How much trouble is it to miss October 15th? Well, the first question to answer is: did you..."

Careful Where You Get Your News - by Matt Carreras
"So, how can I be optimistic in the midst of all of this? Well, here are a few reasons why..."

Harris Flood Map Revision and Its Implications - by John Atkinson
"An owner receives a letter from the mortgage company demanding the purchase of flood insurance within 45 days..."

How To Improve Credit Scores & Repair Damaged Credit - by Teri Treadway
"Lenders use the actual middle credit score (not the average) when qualifying borrowers and like to see a score of..."

The Bomb in Your Home Needs Your Attention! - by Stephen Ruback
"Typical water heater tanks are claimed to withstand as much as 150 psi. A significant portion of that pressure..."

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