Tuesday, March 29, 2011

"Flip This House" Las Vegas Style


I have been an avid fan of “Flip This House” since it debuted several years ago on A&E. I have watched as Than Merrill, Rudy Martinez, and the rest of the gang flipped foreclosures for profit in cities across the U.S. And sometimes, I’ve wondered to myself, where do they find these guys? Some of the decisions that I watch being made on the show are questionable at best, and the outcomes often seem a little...hmm, shall we say, overly optimistic? Many times, when they tally the expenses at the end of the show, there seem to be quite a few fees that are left out of the equation in order to make it look like the flips turned a profit, or perhaps a larger profit than they actually did.

As the marketing director for Team Plantone of Wynn Realty, I work for a house flipper here in Las Vegas that I would bet puts up numbers that can rival any of the stars on “Flip This House.” I have worked with Glenn Plantone for the last four years, and have watched him grow his team and refine his methods to best serve his investor clients. Last year, Glenn successfully flipped 31 properties in Las Vegas, mostly foreclosures and short sales, and this year he is on track to double or triple that figure.

Glenn actually has a very unique method for acquiring, flipping and reselling properties. Glenn starts by acquiring the properties either through short sales, at the foreclosure auction, or post-foreclosure through bank-owned REOs. Once the properties have been purchased, like the flipper on “Flip This House”, Glenn rehabs the properties to better than new condition. At this point, the similarities end. Most flippers, including those on the show “Flip This House”, liquidate their renovated properties to traditional owner-occupant buyers. Glenn takes the system a step further; by first, placing long term renters or lease option tenants in the rehabbed property; and second, selling the property as a turn-key investment property to his investor clients.

Since Las Vegas has led the nation in foreclosures for the last several years, there are many displaced families looking for rental housing. Glenn’s method provides these families with quality, affordable housing. Simultaneously, Las Vegas continues to be a hot spot for investors looking to capitalize on historically low home prices and high rates of cash flow return. Glenn’s method provides them with turn-key investment properties that couldn’t be easier to own...they are already renovated, professionally managed, and have a cash-flowing tenant in place by the time Glenn offers them for sale to his investors.

I have really enjoyed working with Team Plantone over the last several years and watching a true flipping professional in action. Maybe the “Flip This House” producers will take notice some day. After all, Glenn is posting numbers that should make him the number one buying agent in all of Las Vegas this quarter. Until then, we’ll continue to do our thing...flipping houses, Las Vegas style.

If you are interested in purchasing one of Glenn’s turn-key flips or, if you are interested in investing with Glenn, please contact him for more information.

Glenn Plantone
Wynn Realty
(702) 656-3264
gsplantone@gmail.com

www.glennplantone.com or www.vegasforeclosures.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 17, 2011

New Loan Program Makes It Possible for Non-U.S. Citizens to Borrow for Second Homes in the U.S.


We recently received a notice from our lending partner that they have expanded their Foreign National Loan Program to include non-resident and non-U.S. citizens borrowing for second homes in the United States. This is great news for our Canadian clients (and other Foreign Nationals) who are looking to purchase a vacation home or first investment home here in Las Vegas.

We have sold a lot of properties lately to Canadian clients who are taking advantage, not only of the historically low prices and available foreclosures in Las Vegas, but also of the unprecedented strength of the Canadian dollar at the current time. This “perfect storm” of buying opportunity will not last forever. If you are a Canadian looking to purchase a great second home for yourself, for income, or both, now is the time to buy. We specialize in helping out of town investors understand all their options in the Las Vegas real estate market and we offer the best buying opportunities possible by taking advantage of Las Vegas foreclosures, REOs and traditionally listed properties.

Michael Lembo, loan officer at iMortgage, has outlined the following major qualifications for the Foreign National Loan:
Maximum Loan Amount of $417,000
30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage
30% Down Payment Required from Borrower’s Own Funds and 6 Month’s Reserve in a US Bank Before Closing
700 Minimum Credit Score with at Least 4 Trade Lines
36/45 DTI
Single Family Homes or Condos Allowed
Must Not Own Any Additional U.S. Property

If you would like more information on this loan product, or to discuss the current purchasing opportunities in the Las Vegas real estate market, please contact Glenn Plantone of Wynn Realty.

Glenn Plantone
Wynn Realty
(702) 656-3264
gsplantone@gmail.com

www.glennplantone.com or www.vegasforeclosures.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Free Night at MGM Signature for Real Estate Investors


There has not been a better time to purchase investment real estate in Las Vegas in the last quarter of a century. Over the last few years, home prices plummeted to those seen 20 years ago in 1991. But prices have now stabilized, and investors are finding that rents did not fall nearly as much as purchase prices. This means that investors are now able to purchase Las Vegas investment properties with extremely strong cash flow.

As the fourth busiest buyers’ agent in Las Vegas this year (and on my way to being the busiest agent in all of Las Vegas this year), I have purchased two suites at the MGM Signature Hotel Condos to accommodate my clients when they come to town to look at real estate. If you are a serious investor looking to explore the possibilities of the Las Vegas market, I would love to have you as my guest for a complimentary night’s stay at the MGM Signature Hotel Condo. We will spend the day touring properties in the valley that meet your investment criteria and you can spend the night enjoying all the amenities that the MGM Signature has to offer.

I have created a niche by catering to investors looking to purchase turn-key investment real estate in Las Vegas. I do this by acquiring properties at wholesale prices (purchasing them as REOs, short sales, or at the foreclosure auction), I then completely rehab the properties to like new condition and then place a long term lease option tenant in the property. This means that my investor buyers are able to purchase a property that has been completely rehabbed, already has a tenant in place with strong, positive cash flow, and is professionally managed and ready to go. This strategy makes it possible for out of town, out of state, and even international buyers to easily and profitably purchase Las Vegas real estate.

If you are interested in learning more about Las Vegas investment real estate and staying as my guest at the MGM Signature Hotel Condo, please contact me for more details. Of course, certain restrictions and conditions apply to the MGM free night offer. Call for more details.

Glenn Plantone
Wynn Realty
(702) 656-3264
gsplantone@gmail.com

www.glennplantone.com or www.vegasforeclosures.blogspot.com