Cherif Medawar

How To Invest In Commercial Real Estate In Your 30’s

If you’re looking for a new way to invest your money, commercial real estate may be the answer. Commercial property includes everything from office buildings and apartment complexes to warehouses and retail space. If you’re considering investing in real estate in your 30 Here are some tips for investing in commercial real estate. Know your goals: Before you begin investing, it’s important to understand what your financial goals are. Are you looking for passive income or do you want to use real estate as a way to build wealth? Knowing what you want out of your investment will help guide how and where you invest your money. Do your research: Once you know what type of property interests you most, it’s time to do some research. Learn about the market and other investors in the area so that you can make an informed decision about what type of property would be best for you. You may also want to talk with a broker who can help guide you through the process of buying or selling a building or piece of land. The more knowledge and experience he or she has with commercial real estate, the better off you will be when making decisions about which properties are worth pursuing: Learn from your mistake: If you’ve already made investments in property that haven’t worked out, don’t be discouraged. You’re bound to make mistakes as you’re learning about investing. The key is to learn from your mistakes so that you don’t repeat them again. For example, if you lost money on an apartment complex because it was poorly managed, don’t make the same mistake by buying another apartment complex without knowing who is managing it or how well they manage the property. Choose a niche market or geographical area: where you have experience or expertise and stick with it until you become an expert at it. For example, if you’re a plumber who knows how to fix plumbing problems in apartments, then focus on buying apartments with lots of plumbing problems (a sign of poor management). Or if you’re an accountant who knows how to manage finances for small businesses, then focus on buying small businesses with lots of financial problems (another sign of poor management). Types of Investment Strategies Investing in commercial real estate is a great way to build wealth and passive income. The benefits of real estate investing are cash flow and appreciation. As a young real estate investor, building wealth through real estate is appreciation and cash flow. Cash Flow – Commercial properties have tenants that pay rent on a monthly basis. The cash flow from your investment property will be used to pay off your mortgage balance and any other expenses related to owning the property such as property management fees and maintenance costs. This is one of the primary reasons why many people choose to invest in commercial real estate instead of residential properties because they can rely on consistent income each month after paying their expenses. Appreciation refers to the increase in value of a property over time as its market price rises due to changes in supply and demand. In other words, if there’s more demand than supply for a specific type of commercial property (or any property), it will tend to increase in value over time because people are willing to pay more for it than they were before — essentially bidding up prices until everyone agrees on a fair price point based on what buyers are willing. Types of commercial real estate investments Commercial real estate investing is a great way to build wealth and passive income. If you’re looking for a new way to invest your money, commercial real estate could be just the solution you’ve been searching for. There are many different types of commercial real estate investments, including: Office buildings Retail properties Industrial warehouse properties Multi-family housing units Apartments Parking Garages Gas station Building Self-storage investment Mobile Homes But before you jump in headfirst, there are some things you need to know. Here are some tips on how to invest in commercial real estate in your 30s: You don’t need a lot of money upfront Buy a property that needs work Make sure you have enough cash flow after repairs Never go into debt when buying commercial real estate Don’t use all of your savings to buy your first piece of commercial property Get professional advice about how much you should spend on repairs and renovations Be prepared for unexpected costs like insurance premiums and tax bills Don’t forget about taxes when calculating your return on investment (ROI) Don’t expect too much from your first property – results don’t come overnight! Final Thought Ready to dive into commercially investing? The suggestions and recommendations in this article can provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to get started. With the right amount of research, preparation, and attention to detail, investing in commercial real estate can add a source of steady income for life to your financial portfolio.  Learn the Steps to Invest in Commercial Real Estate Like a PRO by becoming a part of Cherif Medawar’s Commercial Real Estate Mastermind

Cash Flow vs. Appreciation: Which one should you choose?

Cash flow vs. appreciation

With real estate being such a popular investment choice, a lot of people wonder whether they should choose cash flow or appreciation when building their next portfolio. With so many factors in play and having experienced both sides. When it comes to investing in real estate, there are two main ways to make money: cash flow and capital appreciation. Cash flow is the amount of money coming in. Appreciation is the increase in the value of an asset. Cash flow is the money you get from your rental property each month. Appreciation is the increase in the value of your property over time. It’s important to understand the difference between these two concepts because they are two very different things. Cash Flow Cash flow is the amount of money you can expect to receive from your investment. Cash flow is typically calculated on an annual basis, but it can also be calculated on a monthly basis. When you’re thinking about cash flow, you should take into account interest rates, fees, and property taxes because these will affect how much money you have left after paying for your mortgage each month. In addition, it’s important to consider other expenses like maintenance and repairs so that you don’t run out of money before reaching retirement age. Appreciation Appreciation refers to the increase in value of your property over time. Appreciation increases your net worth by increasing the amount of equity in your home. For example, if you purchase a home for $200,000 with a 20 percent down payment ($40,000) and sell it 10 years later for $300,000 — then there has been a 100 percent appreciation on your property. Cash flow from rental property Cash flow from a rental property is the amount of money you receive from renting out a property. It’s typically expressed as a monthly figure and is one of the key performance indicators for real estate investors. Cash flow can be calculated in several ways, but it’s often calculated using the following formula: Cash Flow = Net Income – Mortgage Payment Cash flow is important because it shows how much money an investor is bringing in each month. It also helps investors see how much money they’re paying out each month to cover mortgage payments and other expenses. Investors who want to know if they’re making money on their rental properties need to calculate cash flow regularly so they can see trends over time. When it comes to calculating cash flow from rental properties, there are two primary ways to do it: the income method and the expense method. Both methods use identical formulas but reach different results by using different sets of figures. So which one should you use? It depends on what kind of information you want to get from your numbers. How to calculate cash flow Cash flow is the money that comes into and goes out of a business. Cash flow can be calculated in two ways: Cash inflow: The amount of cash you receive from customers for goods or services that you sell. Cash outflow: The amount of cash you spend on labor, inventory, equipment, and other items to run your business. You can calculate cash flow by subtracting your cash outflows from your cash inflows. For example, if you invested $10,000 and had revenue of $6,000 during the first month, then your cash flow would be -$4,000 ($6,000 – $10,000). Advantages of investing for cash flow Investing for cash flow is an investment strategy that focuses on owning assets that pay a steady stream of income. Cash flow investments can be highly profitable and provide the investor with a steady stream of income over time. There are many advantages to investing for cash flow; some are listed below: Tax advantages: Investments that produce cash flow are typically taxed at lower rates than capital gains. This can be particularly beneficial if you have a high income and are in a high tax bracket. Flexibility: Cash flow investments often allow you to access your money without triggering taxes or penalties. For example, if you invest in real estate and need to sell it for some reason, you can borrow against the property to finance the sale without paying taxes on any gain until you sell it. Security: Cash flow investments tend to be more stable than other types of investments because they don’t involve speculation or relying on someone else’s success (such as an investor) or failure (as might happen with a start-up company). Diversification: Cash flow investments complement other types of assets because they provide income while others provide growth potential. Real estate is an excellent example of an asset that produces both dividends (cash flow) and appreciation (growth). Appreciation in real estate Appreciation in real estate is the rise in value of property over time. Appreciation is not the same as price, which is simply what someone is willing to pay for a property at a specific point in time. Appreciation is usually measured by comparing the sales price of similar properties that have sold recently with the asking price of a property currently on the market. Appreciation can be calculated in two ways: by comparing the current market value of a property with its original purchase price, or by comparing current rents with original purchase prices. Appreciation can be divided into two categories: capital gain and income yield. Capital gain refers to the difference between what you paid for your home and what you could get if you sold it today; this is considered appreciation because it represents an increase in value. Income yield is the amount of money generated by your investment in real estate, which can include rent from tenants or profits from selling your property at a later date (after it has been appreciated). There are several factors that influence real estate appreciation, including: Location Property type (house, condo or apartment) Condition of the building (newer or older) Why some investors focus on appreciation Appreciation is the … Read more

Hedge Fund vs. Private Equity Fund: What’s the Difference?

key difference between hedge fund and private equity fund

Investors are often confused between the similarities and differences of hedge fund and private equity funds. In modern financial markets, many institutional investors allocate a substantial portion of their portfolios to alternative investments. It is often the case that hedge funds and private equity funds are included in the same alternative investment allocation. A hedge fund is an investment vehicle that uses both types of investments to achieve its goals. A private equity fund is a professionally managed investment partnership that pools money from other investors and invests in, or lends money to companies that the managers believe have growth potential. Through due diligence and research, Real Estate Fund Managers invest in specific segments of a company in hopes of adding value through operational improvements and restructure. Hedge funds A hedge fund is an investment fund that pools capital from accredited investors or institutional investors and invests in a variety of assets, often with complex portfolio-construction and risk-management techniques. It is administered by a professional investment management firm, and often structured as a limited partnership, limited liability company, or similar vehicle. Hedge funds are generally distinct from mutual funds, as their use of leverage is not capped by regulators, and distinct from private equity funds, as the majority of hedge funds invest in relatively liquid assets. Hedge funds can be classified according to certain criteria; for example: Investment strategy (directional/non-directional) Investment objective (absolute return/relative return) Net asset value (single-manager vehicles/funds of hedge funds) Investor type (institutional/high net worth) Hedge funds are an alternative asset class. That means they don’t trade on public exchanges like stocks and bonds do. Instead, hedge funds are usually private investment vehicles that sell shares only to accredited investors (people with a net worth greater than $1 million or annual income of more than $200,000 for individuals and $300,000 annual income for a couple). The value of hedge fund shares can be based on the value of the securities owned, plus or minus any cash or other assets held by the fund, minus any liabilities it has. Since many Real Estate Fund Managers use leverage (borrowed money) to amplify their returns, this can mean that just a small decline in asset values can wipe out the entire value of shareholders’ equity in the fund. Private Equity Fund Private equity funds are a type of investment vehicle that pools together money from various institutions and investors in order to invest in the private equity of startup or operating companies through a variety of loosely-affiliated investment strategies including leveraged buyout, venture capital, and growth capital. Typically, a private equity fund has a fixed life of 10 years, with the possibility of two 1 year extensions. Private equity funds are often classified by their stage of development (early-stage venture capital or growth capital), their geographical location (regional, national/multi-national), or their stage of maturity (opportunistic, value-added, distressed debt). Private Equity Fund Structure Private equity funds are organized as partnerships and structured in two parts: the Limited Partnership (or “LP”) and the General Partner (or “GP”). The LP is composed primarily of institutional investors and accredited investors who provide the bulk of the capital for the fund. The GP is composed of professional fund managers who make investment decisions on behalf of the LP. GP’s typically receive management fees as well as performance compensation through carried interest. There are many different types of funds that exist within private equity; some focus on acquiring certain types of companies while others focus on certain industries or regions. There are even funds that specialize in certain stages of financing (e.g., early-stage venture capital). Some funds will invest across multiple asset classes such as real estate, commodities, etc., which can make them more diversified than other types of funds. Key Difference between Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund Hedge funds and private equity funds are two of the most significant investment vehicles available to investors. These funds differ from each other in many aspects. Some of the key differences between hedge fund and private equity fund include: Investment Strategy – The major difference between a hedge fund and a private equity fund is their investment strategy. A hedge fund invests in liquid assets, while a private equity fund invests in illiquid assets. Hedge funds invest in stocks, bonds, derivatives, currencies, etc. Private equity funds generally invest in private companies, real estate or infrastructure projects. Fund Size – Hedge funds are smaller than private equity funds. The typical hedge fund manages around US$100 million to US$300 million in assets under management (AUM). On the other hand, the typical private equity firm manages around US$2 billion to US$20 billion AUM. Moreover, large hedge funds can also manage more than $10 billion AUM as well. However, it is comparatively easier for a small hedge fund to raise capital than a small private equity firm. Investment Targets – The main difference between hedge funds and private equity is what they invest in. Hedge funds generally invest in financial instruments that can be bought and sold quickly on public stock exchanges, while private equity firms tend to focus on acquiring entire companies or large portions of specific businesses through leveraged buyouts (LBOs). Investment Risk – The private equity fund takes on more investment risk compared to the hedge funds. The investment of the private equity fund is highly illiquid. But the hedge funds can easily liquidate their investments. So, the hedge funds take low risk compared to the private equity fund. Lock-up and Liquidity – A hedge fund normally does not have a lock-up period or waiting period for investors to redeem their investments. However, a private equity fund has a lock-up period ranging from three to five years which is called an “illiquidity premium” or “time premium”. In other words, investors cannot redeem their investments during the lockup period. Similarities between Hedge Fund and Private Equity Fund Both hedge funds and private equity funds are types of alternative investments. A typical investor in a private equity fund is … Read more

Crucial Factors and Calculations to Consider for Best Results in Real Estate Investing

retail courses

If you are investing in real estate you must understand the relationship between price and value. I want to share with you what calculations I do to figure out that difference and how I apply the strategy: My buy and sell strategies My buy and hold structures The business models I offer my investors Under the “price” consideration I calculate: How much money will I have to pay to purchase the property How much money and effort will it cost me to rehab the property, including other fees to reposition it and get it to perform to its highest & best use How much time will it take to get it to a level where it can be resold or rented Then, I compare each of the options to alternative assets and opportunities Under the “value” consideration I calculate: After spending all of the above to get the property to its highest & best use, how much income will that property bring in each year and over how many years? What would be the incremental effort, and ongoing cash expenses required to keep the property performing (Monthly operating expenses and periodic capital reinvestments)? At what price would I be able to re-sell it once I finish the repositioning vs. what value would the property have if I held on to it for income over a period of 5 years, 10 years or longer? Then, I try to compare the long-term value of that property vs. the price (based on time, money and effort) that I would pay, and I compare that to other income producing assets. If I am buying to resell (flip) the property, then here are the factors I would consider that combine the price and value calculations: How much time, effort and money will it take to: Find a property below market price and purchase it Improve the property to increase its value Resell the property (closing costs etc.) The next step is to figure out: What is my expected average profit on each deal (percentage wise: i.e. 20% annualized)? How long would it take me to find the next deal (down time with no returns between deals, cost of the money)? How much would my yearly returns be after all the time, effort and money spent on all the deals I could do in one year? How would that compare to other business models that would require a better balance between my resources (time, money and effort) at that particular time in the market and in my life? After doing all these calculations, and after many years of experience in the real estate business and profit sharing through my various real estate funds and educational companies, I have created the safest and most profitable business model for students/investors. If you wish to flip properties with no investment of your time or effort— and down time on your money, then my business model is a perfect fit. Your money will produce returns from day one when you acquire the properties. It is a “done for you” model to buy and hold, as well as flip with cash flow of 9% per year, and an approximate upside of an additional 30% +/-. Right here right now I have a business model that produces for my students/investors a hands-off, hassle free, secured return of approximately 40% per year. That is true “TURNKEY”. Watch my next blog for details to go to www.SFIFundDirect.com Sincerely, Cherif Medawar CEO SFIFund Direct www.SFIFundDirect.com      

How to Make 40%+ Per Year in Real Estate Safely and with Little Effort?

real estate

Right here, right now I have a business model that produces hands-off, hassle free, secured return of approximately 40% per year for my students/investors. Let me tell you more: If you are a novice or an experienced investor, you are better off buying a few properties in cash that are already rehabbed and rented bringing in 9% net profit per year. That is a 9% cap rate per year on the cash you invested. (This will save you the time, money and effort to hunt down deals, rehab them and rent them or re-sell them. Immediately you will start making money 9% per year on your cash invested. There’s nothing of greater vale for an investor than to start earning cash flow immediately after you close on the purchase of the rented properties that have a reliable management company in place. Earn from Day 1.) Next, immediately thereafter, place these rented properties online For Sale at 8% cap rate, which makes the selling price higher and ensures a nice back to back upside profit for you. (The reason another investor would pay more and receive a lower net return, a cap rate of 8% per year on each property, is because you will allow them to buy one property at a time, through financing, whereby they get referred to a local bank that offers 80% financing at an interest rate of less than 5% fixed for 30 years.  This makes them able to hold on to the property for long term, and all they have to invest is 20% of the purchase price as down payment. Their cash on cash return becomes approximately 14% power year for the next 30 years). This is Virtual Flipping. When you buy the property, you get the cash flow of 9% per year— and whenever it sells you get an upside profit of an additional amount within a few weeks to a few months. The upside annualized gain is approximately 40%+ which makes your yearly return over 30% per year. This gives you the power to buy other income producing properties immediately back to back to reinvest your money. (You don’t even need to market to find sellers, or negotiate with anyone. You don’t even have to deal with contractors to rehab the property, and deal with delays and frustrations. You simply buy income producing properties 5 at a time in cash producing 9% cash per year. Let my company, the real estate hedge fund that I manage, keeps them posted online and we resell them for you at a profit so you can come in and buy again.) Let me show you the numbers: You invest in cash say $100,000 on a property netting $9,000 online through my real estate hedge fund’s website (That is 9% cap – $9,000 divided by .09 = $100,000) These are sold in packages of 5 properties. My real estate fund keeps it posted for sale on the website and we promote the properties for sale individually to investors who pay slightly more because they wish to finance the properties one at a time. A few weeks or months later, we contact you with a buyer who would be paying $112,500 for that same property producing the same income of $9,000 a year – The returns are 8% annualized which is $9,000 divided by .08 – $112,500. (Remember that this new investor buying the property will finance it and we refer them to the local banks in Ohio that like our business model and offer a 5% or less interest rate fixed for 30 years. This makes the return for the new long term hold investor over 14% cash on cash after they place only 20% down) You get $12,500 gross profit, minus the closing costs in and out and minus a 1% posting fee and 1% commission fee. Your net profit would be between $8,500 to $9,000 within less than 4 months – you can easily make over 40% per year on your investment doing these transactions online hassle free and secured since all purchases and sales are handled by the title companies. To recap, all you need to do is go to, www.SFIFundDirect.com,  and click to buy no more than 5 properties in cash. The title company will contact you and finalize all through phone and email. We keep your property posted online and you keep getting the monthly rent deposits made by the management company until we contact you to sign a resale order. You resale for more money and sign on the dotted line again through the title company to cash out all your money and upside profits. Virtual Flipping. In our experience, it has never taken them more than 4 months to resell any property through financing. Everyone wins in this business model: You, the short-term investor, who seek cash flow right away from the rental income at 9% while holding the property and an upside profit when you flip it of another 30%+ for a total of 40%+ (All with lower risk, less time, no effort and no hassles). You, as a long-term investor, who seeks cash flow forever and invests only 20% cash down payment, then finances the property at a low fixed rate for 30 years to get a cash on cash return of 14% plus per year. My Real Estate Hedge Fund that seeks to buy, rehab, and rent properties to deploy the massive amount of capital that we need to invest and put to work— safely, ethically and profitably into a cash machine. This machine gives us cash flow when we hold the properties and some profits when we resell them in packages to short term and/or long term investors. All the numbers are posted on the real estate hedge fund website – All properties are at or around $100k each. They are all located in Ohio, which is a solid and steady rental market. This makes the strategy of a long-term hold a defensive and profitable … Read more

What Would a Balanced Real Estate Portfolio Look like?

hotel real estate investment

As a real estate hedge fund manager for a decade now, I use an approach I developed years ago involving 5 parts to a balanced real estate portfolio: safety, solvency, liquidity, reserves and leadership. Safety Different asset types such as some multiple units and some single units Different locations such as different cities or states with high demand and steady growth in population as well as scarcity of potential new competition of new buildings Different strategies such as buying to rehab and resell for immediate profits and some to buy and hold for long term Diversified asset type of income such as from multiple units small tenants like apartment buildings or high income from less units such as single tenant retail buildings with corporate guarantees Solvency: Low to no debt obligation (low LTV) If debt, then well-structured in both the low amount owed and the terms over time (non-recourse) High reliable Income against all expenses (high DSCR) Great insurance covering business interruption and asset protection structure Liquidity: Locations that make it easy to resell if needed (based on demand) Credit lines against properties to access cash through borrowing at low rates in case of a cash crunch Reserves: Having cash reserves equal to one-year payments on the side in case market drops in various locations simultaneously and resale gets delayed Having a reserve of back up investors interested to be involved in transactions at reasonable terms in case of a cash crunch Leadership: Having the right team members in place (intelligent, ethical, energetic and committed) Providing the right incentives and rewards as well as feedback and penalties Supervising the progress of each project and property and getting the proper accurate reporting as frequently as needed Maintaining financial controls at all times In my real estate funds Welcome to MIGSIF and Secured Fixed Income Fund we buy, fix and sell higher end residential properties in California, mainly the Bay area, where demand is higher. We also buy and hold in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico where cash flow is more reliable due to cruise ship business and the historic zone. Wishing you all the best in your investments.   Cherif Medawar (407) 608-5448

The Perfect City for a Real Estate Investor

Perfect City for a Real Estate Investor

Have you ever been to a place where you thought to yourself, “Wow this is a cool place! I like it here.” If so, have you asked yourself, why you had this impression? What was it that you liked so much about that particular city or town? Well, as a real estate investor and hedge fund manager, I have always paid attention to what I like and what other people find alluring in a specific city. In the past, I had the privilege to live in a variety of places around the world like Egypt, the Middle East, France, and Switzerland, throughout Europe, various cities in the U.S.(mainly California), Cancun, Mexico and also Old San Juan Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean. I have had many residences for over a decade now and have enjoyed the beauty and uniqueness of all these different places. But I have come to realize that there is a set of criteria, when met, any city becomes attractive to its locals and most of its visitors. Here is a short list I developed after 3 decades of travels, while always keeping an eye on the beauty of architecture and attitude of locals that impact the overall lifestyle in a particular location. To feel like a great place a city or a town must have: Order: Balance, symmetry, and a variety of forms and colors. Its layout must be organized in a way that flows well with nature even in its complexity. Visible life: The streets should be alive with activities, full of life, energy, and excitement. It must give you a sense that a lot is going on and you don’t want to miss out on something. You want people walking, talking, sitting in restaurants and cafes enjoying life; not just cars or people hustling and bustling for work. It has to be as much on display as possible. Compact: While you want space, you also want a decent density. Having the balancing, moderating influence of living close to other people in an uplifting surroundings. Tightly packed well-ordered cities, with lots of squares, plazas, and places where we can hang out. The art of the square is a having good size, symmetry, and height of buildings. Having great statues and maybe a water fountain in the center. You want to have a place that is private within the public space, surrounded by cool places to hang out. Orientation and Mystery: You want to get a bit lost in the back streets that are cozy and quaint. A place that is both cool and warm. Anonymous and mysterious yet personable and familiar. Where you get the sense of the old respected history and the new modern energy. You want to sense the newness of the place as well as some intimate old familiar surroundings. Scale: You don’t want it packed with commercial interest posted on high rises. You want a variety of places of worship, museums, culinary places, and shops. No more than 5 stories high buildings are always more welcoming. Sizes and spaces with a density that does not make you feel too small or too big. Local influence: You want to immediately feel that there is a uniqueness to the character and feel of the place. You want to see people and architecture that reflect the local customs, way of life, and history. Climate: An inviting climate that makes you feel you are at the right place, no matter the time. Safety: You want to feel that you can go venture on your own and discover without having to worry about your own security or well being. Friendly and happy: You want to feel that everyone around you is happy to see you there. Making you feel welcome, appreciated, and wanted. I like places where people take time to share their stories and carve time out of their schedules to involve you in what is happening in their surroundings. It is great to feel open and connected. Especially when look you in the eye, smile and greet you and each other which gives you a sense of warmth and welcome. Educational: You want to learn something new to be able to share with your friends back at home. Museums, local customs, etc. In the early 2000’s I found such a city— and it is called Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest historic zone under a U.S. flag. This area features all of the criteria I wrote above and more. It has hotels, museums, churches, restaurants, art galleries, and great shopping. This enchanting city is all nestled into some unique and colorful colonial buildings with narrow streets covered by blue stone-casts that were brought over as ballast on Spanish ships in the 1500 and 1600s. This area is very charming and I have worked hard and invested millions into the area to restore the beauty and integrity of its colonial buildings. My goal has been to make everyone enjoy the history and charm of this Old City. That city offers everyone, locals, tourists, first-time visitors (coming off the cruise ships) to returning guests an opportunity to connect with each other and with the historic architecture and the story that is very much part of nature in its design and creation. Come and visit Old San Juan, PR and you may just fall in love with itas I did back a decade and a half ago. Cherif Medawar Old San Juan, PR

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