Brick x Brick Podcast

The Case for Investing in Atlantic City Real Estate

"You're investing where? Atlantic City?!"

"Yes!" we reply emphatically. "And here's why..."

Beaches, restaurants, nightlife, casinos, a 4-mile long Boardwalk, a university, access to NYC and Philly, a robust tourism district, the Orange Loop, unmet demand, a Qualified Opportunity Zone, and... a reputation. Both good and bad.

Today, in just an hour, we attempt to distill over a century of Atlantic City's history into a cohesive investment thesis. We are bullish on Atlantic City, and this is why...

We're not the only ones, either. Check out some of Atlantic City's recent press below:

1. Atlantic City Housing Market Heats Up as Investors Look Beyond Casinos (WSJ - Paywall)
2. In Atlantic City, Developers Envision Attractions Beyond the Boardwalk (NJMonthly)
3. Developer wants to give Atlantic City downtown new identity (TheDailyJournal)
4. Orange Loop developers say best is yet to come in Atlantic City neighborhood (Press of AC - Paywall)
5. Cranes fly in shipping containers for new Atlantic City downtown development (NJ.com)

What is a Qualified Opportunity Zone Investment?

Opportunity Zones - what are they?

This relative newcomer to the real estate investment landscape offers favorable tax treatment of capital gains while catalyzing investment in underserved areas.

OZs are spread across the country, including certain areas close to where you may already be considering an investment.

From capital gains deferrals to adjusted basis, the benefits to Opportunity Zone investments can be substantial when properly utilized.

Often compared to 1031 exchanges, we'll dive into a brief comparison of the two on today's episode.

References:

Opportunity Zone Map (from HUD): https://opportunityzones.hud.gov/resources/map

Opportunity Zone FAQ (from the IRS): https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

Top 3 Investments in our Careers as Real Estate Investors

Real estate investors often chase one thing: profits.

But, long-term, is your sole barometer of success financial? 

We would argue NO! We are chasing growth -- whether it's financial, professional, or personal.

With that in mind, let's see how our top 3 investments shake out...

Buying a 104-unit Apartment Building from afar during a Pandemic w/DXE Properties

Ryan and John are once again joined by Josh Eitington and Donato Settanni of DXE Properties for a part two on their conversation about multifamily real estate investing.

In this episode, the group dives deeper into the logistics of purchasing large assets from out-of-state and what it takes to bring a deal to fruition -- even during a pandemic.

One such deal is a 104-unit apartment complex in Augusta, GA, which was acquired in April 2020 and is slated for a significant turnaround.

DXE Properties focuses on value-add opportunities throughout the southeastern United States. Today, we peel back the curtain for a look into the firm's early days and to gain an understanding of what drives Josh and Donato.

To learn more about DXE Properties, connect with them directly on their website:

https://www.dxeproperties.com/

Acquiring 100s of Apartments through Syndication with Josh Eitingon and Donato Settanni of DXE Properties

"Honey, I'm quitting my job and starting a business investing in real estate with Josh!"

 

"Go to sleep. We'll chat in the morning."

 

And, with that, DXE Properties was born. Josh Eitingon and Donato Settanni left behind their cushy gigs to pursue their dreams as full-time real estate investors. A few [long] years later, they have hundreds of doors to their names and are adding more by the day.

DXE Properties focuses on value-add opportunities throughout the southeastern United States. Today, we peel back the curtain for a look into the firm's early days and to gain an understanding of what drives Josh and Donato.

 

To learn more about DXE Properties, connect with them directly on their website:

https://www.dxeproperties.com/

Understanding Property Insurance with Brandon Liebeskind

We are back with another new guest: Brandon Liebeskind of Liebeskind Insurance (https://liebeskindinsurance.com/).

In the first half of a back-to-back with Brandon, we discuss the basics -- and nuances -- of Property Insurance.

Tune in to understand:

• How carriers evaluate your insurance risk
• What considerations you should give to your coverage
• The types of exclusions your policy may carry
• How much coverage to obtain
• The origins of flood coverage
• How to read and evaluate your policies

Thanks again to Brandon for lending his expertise!

Building a Title Agency w/Victor Liu

We're back at it again with Victor Liu of Clear Skies Title Agency!

In this episode, we'll take a break from the nuts and bolts of real estate investing with a discussion on entrepreneurship.

How does a data search company turn into a thriving title agency with 27 employees?

We'll follow Victor's journey as an entrepreneur to learn how he managed to build a career (and a few businesses) without ever holding down a full-time job as an employee.

You'll get to peak behind the curtain to understand how a title agency is structured as a business, and what the future may hold for the industry at large.

Understanding Title Insurance with Victor Liu

BREAKING NEWS: We'd like to introduce to you the first ever guest on the Brick x Brick Podcast -- Victor Liu from Clear Skies Title Agency in Cranford, NJ!

After a brief introduction to Victor, we dive into the history of title insurance and an inside look into how the industry functions.

Topics include:

• the difference between a "deed" and "title"
• how the title insurance industry aids in helping to keep title insurance affordable
• what happens in the event of a title claim
• do people purchase real estate without title insurance?
• how do title searches work?
• who handles real estate closings in NJ?

Trivia: Can you guess which prominent historical figure is credited with laying the groundwork for the concept of title insurance?

Real Estate Law 101 - Basics

What is real estate law?

What is property ownership?

What is a purchase contract?

And why does it matter?!

This is the first in a series of real estate law focused episodes. Our aim is to answer questions you face as a real estate investor and to provide some of the legal context behind these topics.

Real estate law is confusing, and understanding the lengthy history of property law sheds some light on why.

What topics have you encountered pertaining to property law or contract law that impacted your real estate investing?

*Our content should not be construed as legal advice. We always advise you to retain your own legal counsel. We hope that our discussion helps to better inform you for those conversations.*

Top 3 Successes & Failures as Entrepreneurs

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are thankful for the ups and downs of entrepreneurship (and of life). This week, John and Ryan channel their inner BuzzFeed with the "Top 3" successes and failures as entrepreneurs and real estate investors.

Care to share yours? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or via email (john@libertyhudson.com and ryan@libertyhudson.com).