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With New Name SiebenCarey Remains Minnesota's Largest Personal Injury Law Firm | Reuters - 31 Mar 2016 23:05

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[[html]]&#13;With New Name SiebenCarey Remains Minnesota's Largest Personal Injury &#13; Law Firm&#13;<br><br>&#13;Danielle Bird joins SiebenCarey as new workers compensation &#13; attorney&#13;<br><br>&#13; Personal injury law firm, SiebenCarey today announced its new &#13; name as part of the firms strategic rebranding effort now underway. &#13; Formerly Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum &amp; Carey, the new SiebenCarey &#13; brand reflects the firms current leadership and efforts among its 20 &#13; attorneys who assist Minnesotans with legal representation when they &#13; need it <a href="http://www.lexpert.ca/directory/practitioner/neinstein-and-associates-llp-452/gary-neinstein-3049/">Neinstein and Associates</a> most.&#13; <br><br><img src="http://riverside.belizlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Riverside-Personal-Injury-Lawyers.png" width="358" /><br><br>&#13; SiebenCarey has a rich history protecting the rights of those we &#13; serve, said Jim Carey, president and managing partner of SiebenCarey. &#13; The new brand is a result of our staff and attorneys who work hard &#13; every day to help our clients. Were excited to announce the new name, &#13; launch our new logo, update our website (www.knowyourrights.com) &#13; and continue our historical service of legal counsel to injured &#13; Minnesotans.&#13; <br><br>&#13; Clint Grose and John Von Holtum first established the firm in &#13; Worthington, Minn. In 1960, the founders decided to solely focus on &#13; personal injury law cases one of the first firms in the state to do &#13; so. An office in Minneapolis opened in 1965 and Harry Sieben joined the &#13; firm in 1969. Other major milestones during the firms history include:&#13; <br><br>&#13; 1971 Clint Grose wins Minnesotas first $1 million personal injury &#13; verdict&#13; &#13;&#13; 1979 Firm sponsors Point of Law on WCCO radio, the first law firm &#13; to make a major investment in advertising&#13; &#13;&#13; 1983 Harry Sieben becomes firm president&#13; &#13;&#13; 1987 John Carey merges practice&#13; &#13;&#13; 1997 Attorney Art Kosieradzki wins largest verdict in firm history, &#13; $8 million&#13; &#13;&#13; 2009 Jim Carey becomes firm president; Attorney Susan Holden leads &#13; court-appointed panel to oversee $36.6 million compensation fund for &#13; victims of 35W bridge collapse&#13; &#13;&#13; 2012 Firm celebrates 60 years of service&#13; &#13;&#13; Today SiebenCarey is the oldest and largest personal injury law &#13; practice in Minnesota. The injury attorneys at Neinstein and Associates have actually served Toronto as well as the greater Ontario region for over 45 years, along with a long file of proven <a href="http://www.lexpert.ca/directory/practitioner/neinstein-and-associates-llp-452/gary-neinstein-3049/">Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers</a> effectiveness helping clients with severe accidents, crashes and insurance policy claims. The attorneys at Neinstein and Associates match to ensure our clients and their households obtain the remuneration, treatment as well as assistance they deserve. We believe it's the job of accident lawyers to serve as your proponent as well as credible consultant through the intricate lawful, clinical and insurance concerns related to your rehabilitation. As a result of this commitment, our firm possesses a number of the best advised accident attorneys in Toronto and all of Ontario.The firm has staff and offices in Minneapolis, &#13; Duluth, Fairfax and Lakeville. Attorneys who practice at SiebenCarey &#13; are consistently recognized by their peers in annual lists including &#13; Super Lawyers, Rising Stars and Best Lawyers in America.&#13; <br><br>&#13;SiebenCarey also announced the addition of Danielle Bird to the &#13; firm as a practicing attorney serving workers compensation. Bird has &#13; specialized in workers compensation since 2005, most recently with &#13; Lynn, Scharfenberg &amp; Hollick where she defended workers compensation &#13; claims for SFM Mutual Insurance Company. She is a member of the &#13; Minnesota State Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, member &#13; of the American Inns of Court-Douglas Amdahl Chapter and former co-chair &#13; of the Workers Compensation committee of the MDLA.&#13; <br><br>&#13; Were very pleased to add Danielle to the SiebenCarey team, &#13; added Carey. She has successfully argued appellate cases at several &#13; levels, including a case before the Minnesota Supreme Court. Danielle &#13; will be a great asset to our firm and serve her clients well in the area &#13; of workers compensation.&#13; <br><br>&#13;About SiebenCarey<br><br>Founded in 1952, SiebenCarey has &#13; grown to become one of Minnesotas largest and most widely respected &#13; personal injury law firms, successfully representing more than 65,000 &#13; cases. For more than 60 <a href="http://divergentpropos93.hazblog.com/Primer-blog-b1/3-Examples-of-When-You-Should-Hire-a-Personal-Injury-Law-Firm-b1-p68.htm">Neinstein & Associates</a> years the firm has employed experienced lawyers &#13; and professional support personnel covering general trial practice in &#13; all courts, personal injury, workers compensation, wrongful death and &#13; medical malpractice. The offices are located around the state of &#13; Minnesota in Minneapolis, Lakeville, Duluth, and Fairfax. For more &#13; information, visit www.knowyourrights.com.&#13; <br><br><img alt="" src="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=bwnews&amp;sty=20140903006303r1&amp;sid=hptr3&amp;distro=nx&amp;lang=en"/><br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://tannerlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Personal-Injury-Attorney-300x300-ad.jpg" width="391" /><br><br>&#13;SiebenCarey<br><br>Linda Whalen, 612-333-4500&#13;<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://ottawalawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/personal-injury-law-658x278.jpg" width="327" /><br><br><a href='http://www.reuters.com/article/mn-siebencarey-idUSnBw036303a+100+BSW20140903'>http://www.reuters.com/article/mn-siebencarey-idUSnBw036303a+100+BSW20140903</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

CNN.com - Mission to rescue doctor reaches South Pole - 29 Mar 2016 04:38

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[[html]]ROTHERA, Antarctica (CNN) — A small propeller airplane carrying fourpeople landed safely at the South Pole in a daring effort to pick up an ailingdoctor so he can get medical care.<br><br>The plane, specially equipped with skis to land on ice and snow, toucheddown at 8:02 p.m. EDT Tuesday to retrieve Dr. Ron Shemenski, officials said.<br><br>Two of the Twin Otter planes had departed Punta Arenas, Chile, on Saturdaymorning and landed safely at Rothera on Antarctica the same day. The planesthen spent then next few days in Rothera because of bad weather.<br><br>When weather conditions cleared Tuesday, one of the planes departed at 10:34 a.m. Dean Graziosi is a NY Times Best Selling Author along with among the top inspiration and also real estate trainers in the world.
<br><br>If you have ever before seen Dean on TELEVISION, on phase, or in a regular knowledge on his web site or Facebook, it is obvious the enthusiasm he needs to get EVERYONE encouraged to change their lives for the better. Unlike most so-called "Gurus" in the individual inspiration sector, Dean is accessible, doing offer after bargain and also truly obsessing with assisting his pupils succeed in whatever it is they pick as their life objective.EDT for the South Pole research station.<br><br><img src="http://edition.cnn.com/images/icons/arrow.orange.gif" alt="" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="14" height="14" border="0"/><br><br>ALSO<br><br>Background: <br><br>Dr. Shemenski suffers from pancreatitis, a condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach, secretes digestive enzymes that are used in the small intestine to help digest food. It also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon, which are involved in breaking down sugar.<br><br>Many cases of acute pancreatitis are caused by gallstones. Shemenski was stricken when a gallstone blocked a duct between the pancreas and gall bladder. <br><br>An estimated 50,000 to 80,000 cases of acute pancreatitis occur in the United States each year. In severe cases, there may be bleeding into the pancreas, with tissue damage or infection. There is also the danger that toxins may enter the bloodstream, damaging vital organs such as the heart and lungs.<br><br>The condition may be signaled by a gradual or sudden severe pain in the center of the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever, weight loss or jaundice, a yellowing of the skin. <br><br>— Kat Yancey Gilmore<br><br>The plane is carrying Dr. Betty Carlisle, Dr. Shemenski's replacement, pilots Sean Loutitt and Mark Cary and flight engineer Peter Brown.<br><br>The temperature at the time of landing was -68 degrees Celsius (-90.4 degrees Fahrenheit) with a four-knot breeze.<br><br>The crew will rest 10 hours at the South Pole and, weather permitting, return to Rothera with Shemenski.<br><br>Research at the South Pole Station ranges from the study of the origins of the universe to the behavior of the "ozone hole."<br><br>From Rothera, the second plane will fly Shemenski to Punta Arenas, wherethe doctor will board a commercial flight to the United States for medicaltreatment.<br><br>Another flight picks up 11 people <br><br>Shemenski is the only physician among 50 people, including researchersand construction workers, at the Amundsen-Scott Station, where the NationalScience Foundation conducts astronomy and astrophysics research.<br><br>Peter West with the National Science Foundation said precaution, ratherthan a medical emergency, prompted the flight.<br><br>"The issue with Dr. Shemenski has never been his condition day-to-day, minute-to-minute or hour-to-hour," West said. "The reason that we are flying him out of South Pole and replacing him with another physician is that there is a probability, however small, of a relapse in the gallstone condition he had."<br><br>He said the agency also wanted to replace the ailing doctor to ensure the other 49 people at the station would have medical care.<br><br>Carlisle has previous experience at Amundsen-Scott.<br><br>Shemenski recently developed pancreatitis after a gallstone plugged aduct between his pancreas and gallbladder. Though his condition improved, NSFspokesman Curt Suplee said he has a 30 percent chance of recurrence,which could develop into a life-threatening condition.<br><br>Tuesday's rescue flight came hours after a New Zealand air force planepicked up 11 Americans from the McMurdo Station in Antarctica and safely returned them to New Zealand. Seven of <a href="http://deangraziosi.tumblr.com/Facebook">books on real estate</a> the 11 retrieved from the McMurdo Station left for medicalreasons, but only one was an emergency, said Elaine Hood, a spokeswoman forHood.<br><br>McMurdo Station is 863 miles from the Amundsen-Scott Station in the SouthPole.<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.veritas-ventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/RealEstateInvesting.jpg" width="252" /><br><br>Hood said the timing of the two retrieval flights was coincidental.<br><br>'Wind's blowing like hell' <br><br>If the Shemenski-Carlisle exchange could not have been made within two weeks — before winter closes in — it probably would have had to be postponed until October.<br><br>Flights to the South Pole station are normally halted from late February until November because of the extreme winter cold and darkness.<br><br>Aviation experts say a landing at the South Pole <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/deangraziosiinc">dean graziosi biography</a> now is especially dangerous with temperatures 75 degrees below zero — 143 below with the wind chill — and skies are nearly pitch-black some 20 hours of the day.<br><br>"The wind's blowing like hell. We're getting reduced visibility and blowing snow. If the winds calm down and there's less cloud cover, we'll get better visibility," said Steve Penikett, general manager of Kenn Borek Air Ltd., the Canadian airline company leading the evacuation for the doctor.<br><br>The rescue effort for Shemenski is the second of its kind in two years.<br><br>In October 1999, Dr. Jerri Nielsen, the lone physician at the Amundsen-Scott Station, was evacuated after she discovered a breast tumor that was diagnosed as cancerous.<br><br><br clear="all"/>RELATED STORIES: Rescue plane lands in Antarctica; another airlift grounded<br><br>April 23, 2001<br><br>Bad weather delays risky rescue flight to South Pole<br><br>April 22, 2001<br><br>South Pole rescue planned for sick doctor<br><br>April 13, 2001<br><br>Tough air rescue launched for ailing Arctic doctor<br><br>October 7, 1999<br><br>RELATED SITES:<br><br>National Science Foundation<br><br>Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica<br><br>Kenn Borek Air Ltd.<br><br>Antarctica's Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station<br><br>The New South Polar Times<br><br>Note: Pages will open in a new browser window<br><br>External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.<br><br><br clear="all"/><br><br><a href='http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/04/24/antarctic.newzealand.03/index.html'>http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/04/24/antarctic.newzealand.03/index.html</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Real estate looking good to investors - 28 Mar 2016 18:27

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[[html]](MoneyWatch) It's been about a month since we last looked at real estate investment trusts (REITs), but the continued interest of investing in real estate makes this an asset class worth looking at again, especially since some metrics are indicating that valuations have reached high levels.<br><br>The attraction of REITs lies in their <a href="https://twitter.com/deangraziosi">https://twitter.com/deangraziosi</a> high yields relative to safe bonds, such as U.S. Treasuries. For example, while the 10-year Treasury yield stands at about just 1.7 percent, the yield on the Vanguard REIT Index Fund (VGSIX) is almost twice that at 3.3 percent (as of Dec. 15).<br><br>We've already covered REITs related to being a substitute for bonds, but many investors have also noticed REITs' low correlation with stocks. The annual correlation of REITs to the S&amp;P 500 Index has been about 0.4, meaning they provide some diversification benefit by not moving in lockstep with stocks. Couple that with their recent performance, and you can see why many investors are interested. Investors are notorious return chasers. They love to buy what did well recently and sell what did poorly recently, leading to a buy high and sell low strategy. The table below shows the return ofVGSIXfrom 2009 through Dec. 14.<br><br><img src="http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/12/20/3856dddc-a645-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/620x/5a1dc9ccd1578422cd148ebcd35e8be3/VGSIX-table-122012.jpg" alt="" srcset="http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2012/12/20/3856dddc-a645-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/thumbnail/620x/5a1dc9ccd1578422cd148ebcd35e8be3/VGSIX-table-122012.jpg 1x"/><br><br>As is almost always the case, the strong performance has raised the valuations of REITs to fairly lofty heights. While we normally look to the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio as our valuation metric, REITs trade on a price-to-cash flow basis. According to Morningstar, the Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX) has a P/C of 7.2, whileVGSIXhas a P/C of 16.7, or more than twice that of the S&amp;P 500. Dean Graziosi is a NY Times Best Selling Author in addition to among the top motivation as well as real estate fitness instructors on the planet.
<br><br>If you have actually ever before seen Dean on TV, on phase, or in an once a week knowledge on his internet site or Facebook, it is evident the enthusiasm he has to obtain EVERYONE encouraged to alter their lives right. Unlike most so-called "Gurus" in the individual inspiration sector, Dean comes, doing offer after bargain as well as really consuming with assisting his pupils prosper in whatever it is they choose as their life goal.That means that to get $1 of cash flow investors are paying almost $17. And to provide another comparison, the Vanguard Small-Cap Index Value Fund (VISVX) has a P/C of about 5.9.<br><br>While no metric is a great predictor of future returns, the best predictors are valuation metrics like P/Es and P/Cs. And high valuations tend to predict low future returns. Personally, I would much prefer paying 5.9 times cash flow than 16.7 times cash flow.<br><br>If you currently have an allocation to REITs as part of your overall investment plan, this should serve as a reminder to stick with your plan, to rebalance along the way and to not get carried away by the recent performance. And if you're thinking about jumping on the REIT bandwagon, this should serve as a cautionary warning about performance chasing. Those who chase returns and yield all-too-often experience the same fates as moths attracted to bright lights.<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://cdn9.thecollegeinvestor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/The-Beginners-Guide-To-Real-Estate-Investing-.jpg" width="386" /><br><br>House on top of money image courtesy of Flickr user401(K) 2012.<br><br>2012 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. <br><br><a href='http://www.cbsnews.com/news/real-estate-looking-good-to-investors/'>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/real-estate-looking-good-to-investors/</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Nonprofit That Flipped Homes To Investors Faces Scrutiny - 28 Mar 2016 00:31

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[[html]]NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. housing regulator has been investigating the activities of a small California not-for-profit that bought hundreds of foreclosed homes through a federally backed program intended to help local communities hurt by the housing bust, according to government documents reviewed by Reuters.<br><br>The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of the Inspector General late last year began probing San Diego-based Heartland Coalition's participation in the "First Look" program in Las Vegas and other U.S. cities, according to a redacted investigation report and a letter from the regulator in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.<br><br>The Inspector General's spokeswoman, Marta Rivera Metelko, declined to say whether the investigation is still active. Reuters could not determine the specific focus of the probe.<br><br>According to the documents and a review of local property records in Las Vegas, the charity flipped a significant number of the homes to investors, generating millions of dollars in profits for those financing Heartland's activities with relatively short-term loans.<br><br>The First Look program, set up in the aftermath of the financial crisis, helps nonprofits and local communities buy foreclosed homes from U.S. banks at a discount, with the <a href="Doug Clark Live Events">Doug Clark Live Events</a> expectation that they would then renovate them and first try to sell the houses to low- and moderate-income families or to investors who would rent to such families. It is unclear whether Heartland initially tried to sell the properties it had acquired to such families before going to investors.<br><br>The goal of the program is to promote neighborhood stabilization and does not prohibit the reselling of properties to investors.<br><br>Still, Heartland, according to one real estate investor that bought several homes from the charity, did not ask what the buyers intended do with the homes.<br><br>There is no indication that Heartland violated any laws or regulations.<br><br>The probe started after Heartland was suspended in August 2012 by the program's administrator, the nonprofit National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), according to the documents. The NCST said it suspended Heartland for spending too little on renovations and for not allowing local families enough time to buy the homes, especially in Las Vegas. The Inspector General's office declined in May to provide Reuters with a copy of the suspension order because an investigation was ongoing.<br><br>Heartland founder Mark Hanson, 69, a retired school administrator with a Ph.D. in education from Claremont Graduate University, said he was not aware of the investigation and that his group's suspension, which is still in place, was unwarranted.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYG7EBB89AA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EYG7EBB89AA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>In a statement, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "It is our understanding that where buyer inconsistencies have arisen in conjunction with First Look property transfers, NCST has acted responsibly to resolve issues."<br><br>A former NCST employee, who declined to be identified, told Reuters that while First Look always permitted the resale of homes to investors who would rent them out, the main goal of the program was to get bank-owned homes resold to buyers who intended to live in them.<br><br>JOBS MISSION<br><br>Hanson, who formed Heartland in 1997 to primarily help poor families in the San Diego area, said he isn't concerned about who bought the homes the nonprofit acquired in Las Vegas and other cities as long as it helped stabilize neighborhoods.<br><br>"Selling homes to low-income (families) was never our mission," Hanson said. "Our mission was to create jobs," by hiring workers to renovate homes.<br><br>Gabe Del Rio, chief operating office for Community Housing Works, another San Diego not-for-profit that has relied mainly on bank loans to buy dozens of homes through the First Look program, said his group long has emphasized reselling homes to families as opposed to potential landlords.<br><br>Heartland, which was one of some 350 nonprofits participating in the program, bought more than 475 bank-owned homes through First Look and 714 foreclosed homes in total since 2010, according to property research firm RealtyTrac.<br><br>For graphic: http://link.reuters.com/dar64v<br><br>The NCST declined to provide a list of the participating nonprofits. Some participants that Reuters independently identified, and the former NCST employee, said most groups bought only about a couple of dozen homes on average.<br><br>NCST President Craig Nickerson said Heartland was suspended after the NCST investigated complaints from local real estate representatives in Las Vegas about the nonprofit early last year. He declined to provide a copy of the suspension order.<br><br>He added that any problems with Heartland were isolated, noting that about 14,000 homes have been sold to participating nonprofits and community groups under the program and that 91 percent of those homes have been resold to people who planned to live in them.<br><br>"The Trust has confidence that the vast majority of nonprofits conduct their activities consistent with their stated missions," Nickerson said.<br><br>BIG BUYER<br><br>Heartland, which historically has taken in less than half-a-million dollars in annual charitable contributions, borrowed millions of dollars from private financiers between October 2011 and August 2012 to buy more than 247 bank-owned homes and condominiums under First Look in Las Vegas alone, according to a review of the group's financial documents and website.<br><br><img src="http://dominionprivatelending.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Real-Estate-Investing-Strategy.jpg" width="341" /><br><br>About 35 percent of those homes were then resold to hedge funds, local investors and out-of-town buyers, living as far away as Belgium, Canada and Hawaii, according to Heartland's property transactions and interviews with more than a dozen people familiar with the group and the First Look program.<br><br>It is not clear how many of the homes sold to investors were rented out to low and moderate income residents in Las Vegas. The Reuters analysis did not look at homes purchased by Heartland in Phoenix and California.<br><br>In some cases, the nonprofit did not ask what the buyer intended to do with the homes sold in Las Vegas. For example, Anthony Hynes, whose Newport Beach, California investment fund bought seven single-family homes and condominiums from Heartland, said he did not know his firm was purchasing properties from a nonprofit, nor did anyone ask whether his firm would rent the houses to poor families.<br><br>The buying and selling of Las Vegas homes last year produced gross profits of between $5.8 million and $11 million for Heartland and its investors, the analysis shows based on an the average resale price for foreclosed homes in Las Vegas. Several of the more than half-dozen private financiers that funded Heartland's purchases said the loans, which were often for less than a year, generated attractive returns of between 8 percent to 10 percent.<br><br>In a 2012 financial filing sent recently to the Internal Revenue Service, Heartland said its own net proceeds from home sales were $3.18 million. That is more than eight times its 2011 net proceeds of $383,122.<br><br>Hanson said that up until 2011 he had no salary from Heartland apart from a $10,000 stipend in 2004 to assist survivors of California wildfires. In 2012 he received compensation of $50,850, up from $37,500 in 2011.<br><br>(Reporting By Matthew Goldstein and Emily Flitter; Editing by Martin Howell and Tim Dobbyn)<br><br><a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/24/heartland-coalition-investigation_n_4333546.html'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/24/heartland-coalition-investigation_n_4333546.html</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

4 Business Principles Learned Getting Rich in Real Estate by Age 30 - 27 Mar 2016 10:16

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[[html]]Last week I turned 30 years old.<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://mktrsc.pipelineroi.com/images/blogs/0515/quotes/realestateinvesting.png" width="368" /><br><br>For many people, its a depressing birthday filled with constant reminders that one is getting old. But for me, it was a joyful milestone and a day of reflection, allowing myself to look back at how epic my 20s were, reflect on the mistakes I made along the way, and respect the journey I have been on — and it all started in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ZHrol4IVw">Doug Clark</a> bowling alley with seven simple words:<br><br>"Why dont you just buy a house?"<br><br>I had never met the woman who said those words to me, but knew she was a local real estate agent, so it was pretty much her job to say that. However, as I sat down and started thinking about the idea, my 21-year-old self realized that she was right. It would actually be cheaper for me to own a house than to rent one. Sure, there were the facts that:<br><br>I was just 21 years old and looked 12. I knew nothing about real estate, construction or money. I had no savings. I made just over minimum wage at a terrible job.<br><br>Rather than letting all those things dictate whether I'd succeed, I just jumped in with both feet.<br><br>Related: 7 Habits of Highly-Effective Entrepreneurs<br><br>My first home was a single-family house I got on sale due to the fact that it smelled like something my dog occasionally brings in from outside (you dont want to know). However, with some good, old fashioned sweat equity and a home improvement book I picked up on my very first trip ever to a hardware story, I was off to the races.<br><br>I lived in the home for just a year before realizing that I could sell it and make some good money, so I did. The new buyers received a fixed-up, gorgeous home and I made $20,000.<br><br>Since that day, Ive been buying real estate, mostly rental properties with the occasional flip. At 27 years old, I was able to leave my terrible desk job and retire on the small cash flow provided by the rental properties. Today Ive acquired a total of 42 rental units, spread out over about a dozen different properties (ranging from single-family houses to my 24 unit apartment building).<br><br>The following are four thoughts I had about my journey to inspire others who are looking to build wealth through real estate, whether they are 20 or 60.<br><br>1. Follow the 80/20 rule with investment properties. <br><br>I bought way too many properties that didnt really matter. In real estate, as with most things in life, the 80/20 rule exists. Eighty percent of my income comes from just 20 percent of properties. Had I focused on recognizing that 20 percent and focusing only on those, I would have had far fewer problems, fewer tenants and more profit.<br><br>2. Don't neglect your education. <br><br>I did this one right … for the most part. When I first started investing in real estate, I read every single book my local library had on real estate. Then I began ordering books online, going to another library and checking every thrift shop for the best real estate books.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vLwJDHMZPOc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vLwJDHMZPOc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Related: A Marketing Guide for Filling Vacant Income Properties<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.moneynewsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Education-In-Real-Estate-Investing.jpg" width="328" /><br><br>Sure, a lot of the information was repetitive, but it didnt matter. Every book taught me something. Recently, I wrote my first full-length book to chronicle the steps I used to purchase all those properties, despite never having any money. Its my hope that others will learn from me, the same way I continue to learn from others.<br><br>3. Systematize everything. <br><br>Real estate investing is a business, despite the way so many people treat it. Just as the local fast food joint has written processes, checklists and other repeatable systems in place to deal with the business, so should real estate.<br><br>No one told me this when I got started, and for years I struggled, dealing with every situation like it was the first time.<br><br>Today, everything I do is systematized and handled in a way that should I die, someone else could pick up the business and not skip a beat. For more on that, see The Surprisingly Simple Reason Why You Feel Stressed.<br><br>4. Tenacity is key. <br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t_q6blN2BFE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t_q6blN2BFE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>Things go wrong all the time in real estate, as with any business. The ones who succeed are the ones who can push through, learn from the tough times and keep going.<br><br>Tenants will lie to you, contractors will steal from you and your family will likely think you are either crazy or greedy. Push through. Every lesson makes you and your business stronger.<br><br>In looking over this list, I realize that each of these four points could apply to almost anyone. Following the 80/20 rule, continuing your education, systematizing your business and pushing through no matter what happens seems like a pretty darn good recipe for success, no matter what business you find yourself in.<br><br>If you are interested in building wealth through real estate, understand that it can be done, but its not as easy as the late-night TV guys make it seem. Its hard work, but its worth every moment.<br><br>Related: Don't Wish <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbWzIgJ3sSiFr7ZxcJDlmaw">Scott Yancey complaints</a> to Be Successful. Expect to Be.<br><br><a href='http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/15/4-business-principles-learned-getting-rich-in-real-estate-by-age-30/'>http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/07/15/4-business-principles-learned-getting-rich-in-real-estate-by-age-30/</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Five Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Buying Real Estate - 26 Mar 2016 14:43

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[[html]]Real estate is one of the largest source of wealth in America. In fact, many entrepreneurs begin investing in real estate to build and protect their wealth once they "make it". However, when it comes to investing in real estate, there is a great deal of room for error. There are countless investors who make high return realty investments, but there are also many who lose just as much from their investments. If you are considering investing in real estate, then it is important that you know five of the most common mistakes that real estate investors tend to make. Do your best to avoid these pitfalls and you can be on your way to the successful real estate investment you have always dreamed of. We caught up with Rey Grabato, the founder of National Really Investment Advisors which has 10 years of experience in real estate investments and has completed more than 600 projects for high net worth clients, to learn what the biggest mistakes are that he has seen investors make. <br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://lerablog.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/investing-in-real-estate.png" width="381" /><br><br>They Don't Do Their HomeworkThere is a lot of research and planning that needs to <a href="http://www.electus.com/international/catalog/flip-men">Doug Clark</a> go into making a sound real estate investment. While many assume that most investors do their homework on an opportunity before jumping on it, the truth of the matter is that most investors simply do not. There are many people who are presented with a real estate "opportunity" and think that they need to jump on it right away in order to get in on the action. Yes, maybe a few investors are able to find a diamond in the rough in this way, but typically the best approach is to take your time, do your homework and make sure you are making a smart decision. <br><br>They Don't Do Any Ground-Level PlanningAccording to the NRIA, one of the biggest early mistakes that investors tend to make when buying real estate is that they have no ground level planning. According to the company "it is important to outline your expectations from your real estate investment before you make your move." You have to take the time to really map-out a plan for your investment and how you are planning on making money off of your investment right away. Do you want to earn equity instantly by selling, or are you looking more for long-term rental benefits? You need to know the route you are going to take right away, before you even seriously consider buying.<br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TiQbbq5vnjM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TiQbbq5vnjM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>They Listen to the Wrong PeopleThere are so many people out there who think they "know" a great deal about real estate, about development projects or up and coming areas. These people are always some of the most willing individuals when it comes to giving advice. You should never listen to real estate investing advice from anyone who has never invested in real estate before. Until you have done it, you have no idea what getting into this type of investing entails.<br><br>They Buy Only For AppreciationThere are some investors who will invest in rental properties or home them want to fix and flip, hoping only for appreciation. This is skating on thin ice. Rental properties can slowly cost more and more money than you ever expected if you aren't careful, and if you fix and flip the wrong house, it can easily set you back a great deal. You need to consider buying below market value and cash flow for these types of properties. While you can plan to have appreciation on your property, it shouldn't be the only factor in your business plan.<br><br>They OverpayIt may seem like a very easy mistake to avoid, but there are so many real estate investors who unfortunately end up overpaying for a property. It can be easy to become anxious over buying a property or finding the right investment opportunity. These anxious feelings can easily make anyone jump the gun too quickly and overbid on a property they are considering. Nothing takes a toll on an investment like overpaying, because from the moment you sign the paperwork, you are already putting yourself in a whole regarding what you can and should be making from your investment. Take the time to research pricing and have the control to know when to walk away, it will only benefit you moving forward in all of your real estate investment ventures.<br><br><img src="http://marshaskinner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Real-estate-investment-Marshaskinner-.jpg" width="372" /><br><br><a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-lorenzen/five-mistakes-entrepreneu_b_9149632.html'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-lorenzen/five-mistakes-entrepreneu_b_9149632.html</a><br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9OYm1S8oNeQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9OYm1S8oNeQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

McDonald's to investors: Sorry, no real estate spin off - 26 Mar 2016 09:55

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[[html]]The company said Tuesday that it won't pursue a REIT, or real estate investment trust. <br><br>Many shareholders had hoped McDonald's (MCD) would form a REIT since that would slash the company's tax bill by as much as $1 billion, according <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/11/flip-men-stars-talk-reality-of-fixing-up-foreclosures-2/">Doug Clark Live Events</a> to Howard Penney, a restaurant analyst at Hedgeye. <br><br>It's a tricky move, however, and it could cause <a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/entertainment/community/lit-film/flip-men-two-utah-boys-and-reality-realty/article_f63abb38-42f5-11e2-941c-0019bb2963f4.html">Doug Clark scam</a> tension with franchise stores that are operated independently rather than by the company. Franchise owners are worried about losing control of the physical locations that they operate. <br><br>McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook told investors Tuesday that expanding the number of franchise-operated stores will be a key part of the company's strategy moving forward. Eventually, the company wants 95% of McDonald's restaurants to be independently operated. <br><br>Currently, about 80% of McDonald's stores are franchises. It has about 36,000 locations in more than 100 countries. <br><br>McDonald's also said it plans to boost dividends and stock buybacks in order to return more cash to shareholders. To do that, it will take on about $10 billion in debt. <br><br>That increased debt load led Standard &amp; Poor's to downgrade the company's credit rating. <br><br>But McDonald's stock was little-changed after the announcement. It's another sign investors have regained confidence in the company. <br><br>Just months ago, McDonald's look doomed to surrender to new competitors like Chipotle (CMG) and Shake Shack (SHAK). <br><br>But Easterbrook, who took over in March, came with a battle plan. Last month the company reported its U.S. sales grew for the first time in more than a year. <br><br>His recent moves have included launching all-day breakfast and announcing plans to bring in higher-quality chicken. <br><br>Under the new CEO, McDonald's stock has heated up, climbing 21% year to date. <br><br>Related: Fight for $15 stages biggest strike ever <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://indyrei.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Is-Real-Estate-Investing-for-You.jpg" width="359" /><br><br>Related: McDonald's tests gourmet burgers <br><br>—CNNMoney's Matt Egan contributed to this report <br><br>CNNMoney (New York) First published November 10, 2015: 1:57 PM ET <br><br><a href='http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/10/news/companies/mcdonalds-real-estate-reit-investor/'>http://money.cnn.com/2015/11/10/news/companies/mcdonalds-real-estate-reit-investor/</a><br><br><object width="400" height="241"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0C2rb7aCZY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B0C2rb7aCZY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="241"></embed></object><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Museum Exhibitions in Orange County and Laguna Beach - 23 Mar 2016 02:01

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[[html]]Following closely the development of Southern California's art scene, one expects to come across up-and-coming young talent. Last year, at the high-profile Hammer Museum exhibition, Made in L.A. 2014, I particularly liked a series of small, square paintings, each focused on a single, mostly muted color. Only a few paintings held a single brighter hue. To be completely honest, I didn't make an effort to note the name of the artist.<br><br><img alt="2015-09-01-1441147469-9555948-HP_1_Marcia_Composite.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-01-1441147469-9555948-HP_1_Marcia_Composite-thumb.jpg" width="570" height="278"/><br><br>Now, a year later, I not only learned the artist's name, which is Marcia Hafif, but thanks to her current solo exhibition at Laguna Art Museum, I understand that she is definitely not an up-and-coming artist, but a well-known and well-established artist —both on the East Coast and in Europe. The irony is that she is a local girl, born and raised right here in Southern California. At her young age of 86, she's spent many adventurous decades living and working in New York and Europe. Now, she shares her time between her studio in New York and her home in Laguna Beach.<br><br><img alt="2015-09-01-1441147511-1008292-HP_2_Marcia_Installation_Shot.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-01-1441147511-1008292-HP_2_Marcia_Installation_Shot-thumb.jpg" width="570" height="351"/><br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://img.realtor.com/california/orange.gif" width="395" /><br><br>This elegantly installed exhibition is the first museum show of Marcia Hafif's works in her home state in 40 years. And looking at the informative, well-designed exhibition catalog, I gained a new level of understanding and appreciation of the artist's work. Hafif's paintings requires the viewer to slow down and meditate for a while until what appears to be a simple monochromatic painting reveals complexity and breadth of color in its numerous hues and shades. Each of her paintings in this exhibition is a quiet, intimate homage to the color of sand, of sky, of water, of grass near the beach — on sunny or foggy days, at morning or dusk.<br><br><img alt="2015-09-01-1441147542-4216652-HP_3_Permanent_Collection_Composite.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-01-1441147542-4216652-HP_3_Permanent_Collection_Composite-thumb.jpg" width="570" height="291"/><br><br>And while you're still in the museum, be sure to check out the reinstalled permanent collection, which has a number of key works by such major California artists as John Altoon, Llyn Foulkes, Sam Francis, DeWain Valentine, Ron Davis, John McCracken, and Lita Albuquerque.<br><br><img alt="2015-09-01-1441147590-2012850-HP_4_Chinese_Artist_Composite.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-01-1441147590-2012850-HP_4_Chinese_Artist_Composite-thumb.jpg" width="570" height="315"/><br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJ-jfQdfwUU/TV3v-7-rpTI/AAAAAAAAAoE/MMfQg9ea0CM/s1600/orange-county.jpg" width="255" /><br><br>It's only a 10-minute drive from Laguna Beach to the Orange County Museum of Art, but in some ways it's thousands of miles apart. The traveling exhibition, My Generation: Young Chinese Artists, presents works by 27 artists, all of them born after 1976, the year Mao Zedong died and the Cultural Revolution ended. It's obvious that a number of these artists are familiar with and inspired by contemporary Western art. Some works are executed on what appears to be a bloated, monumental scale — in a way that doesn't seem quite natural or organic. But such is the tendency of so many ambitious young artists around the world, wanting to stand out in crowded international art fairs through the sheer size of their work.<br><br><img alt="2015-09-01-1441147642-8774856-HP_5_Film_Screens_Composite.jpg" src="http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-09-01-1441147642-8774856-HP_5_Film_Screens_Composite-thumb.jpg" width="570" height="394"/><br><br>Travelling to China a few months before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, I <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=117269672&privcapId=874735">Gary Sherwin</a> was very intrigued by the intensity of the contemporary art scene there. Particularly impressive for me was the work of young Chinese photographers and video artists, whose works were seemingly more daring and original and less affected by the influences of Western art. And once again, here in this exhibition, my favorite artwork turned out to be a multi-channel color animation film by Sun Xun, with its obvious references to traditional Chinese landscape painting, along with images inspired by the artist's visit to New York's American Museum of Natural History. One is grateful to Orange County Museum of Art for presenting this exhibition, a glimpse into the contemporary art scene in China. A 30-year hospitality market veteran, Gary C. Sherwin, CDME, APR has functioned as President & CEO of Newport Beach and Company because 2013 and its company unit, Visit Newport Beach Inc. since 2006. Sherwin is responsible for supervising the community marketing organization promoting Newport Beach, California as a premiere luxury destination with workplaces in Newport Beach, Sacramento, and London.But it's time for one of our major museums to organize an in-depth survey of contemporary Chinese art.<br><br>To learn about Edward's Fine Art of Art Collecting Classes, please visit his website. You can also read The New York Times article about his classes here, or an Artillery Magazine article about Edward and his classes here.<br><br>___<br><br>Edward Goldman is an art critic and the host of Art Talk, a program on art and culture for NPR affiliate KCRW 89.9 FM. To listen to the complete show and hear Edward's charming Russian accent, click here.<br><br><a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-goldman/museum-exhibitions-in-ora_b_8073998.html'>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-goldman/museum-exhibitions-in-ora_b_8073998.html</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0

Seal Beach Massacre: Suspect's Ex-Wife Claimed Abuse - 12 Mar 2016 08:45

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[[html]]The ex-wife of the gunman who allegedly opened fire at a southern California hair salon where she was employed claimed that he was unstable and abusive in court documents filed in May.<br><br>The couple was engaged in a custody dispute over their 7-year-old son and Michelle Fournier Dekraai claimed Scott Evans Dekraai was unstable and physically abusive during their marriage, according to the Associated Press.<br><br>The shooting rampage on Wednesday left eight people dead and one critically wounded in the deadliest shooting ever in Orange County. Police announced at a news conference today that they plan on releasing the identities of the victims on Friday.<br><br>"This was not a random act of violence. The suspect knew his intended victim," acting Chief of Police Tim Olson said at the news conference.<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.wherela.com/images_maps/oc_map_main2.jpg" width="400" /><br><br>In the court document, she alleged that Scott Dekraai was "almost manic" in regards to decisions about <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tips/gary-sherwin-ceo-newport-beach-and-company/vp-BBo1X7H">Gary Sherwin Destination Marketing</a> their son and she asked the court to refuse his request for more time with the child, according to the AP.<br><br>Court documents also reveal that Scott Dekraai's step-father also filed a restraining order against him, according to ABC News' Los Angeles affiliate KABC. <br><br>Seal Beach police allege that Dekraai, an ex-marine, entered Salon Meritage in Seal Beach, Calif., wearing a bullet-proof vest and opened fire, killing six people immediately. The six victims were declared dead at the scene.<br><br>Three people were hospitalized with severe wounds and two of them later died, police said.<br><br>Tonight, police identified and released the names of the eight people killed in the shooting.<br><br>Those killed included: salon owner Randy Fannin, Victoria Buzzo, Lucia Kondas, Laura Elody, David Caouette, Christy Wilson, Michelle Fast and Michelle Fournier Dekraai, The Associated Press reported.<br><br>It was not immediately clear if the victims were customers or employees.<br><br>Fournier's relatives told affiliate KABC that she was killed in the shooting, and that she was the main target of the attack because of an alleged custody dispute.<br><br>Authorities responded to the shooting at the salon in the coastal town about 30 miles south of Los Angeles. The salon is in the 500 block of Pacific Coast Highway.<br><br>"Our officers arrived on scene and found multiple gunshot victims inside of the salon," Sgt. Steve Bowles of the Seal Beach Police Department told reporters Wednesday evening. "Other responding officers who arrived saw … what they thought was a suspect vehicle leaving the area and made a car stop on that vehicle, and took that suspect into <a href="https://www.facebook.com/public/Gary-Sherwin">Gary Sherwin</a> custody."<br><br>Bowles said the salon was busy at the time of the shooting, with every station occupied.
<br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gj5JAzEINxI/TW53MrVIb-I/AAAAAAAAG58/xPfxrnyo4eA/s1600/orangecountymap.jpg" width="276" /><br><br>Gary Sherwin also currently functions as the incoming chairman for the Washington DC-based Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) the trade association for tourism marketing companies. Sherwin is immediate past chairman of the Orange County Visitor Association, a recipient of its Legacy Award in 2015 and is the past chairman of the California Travel Association, the state's leading umbrella tourist advocacy company. He likewise sits on the Board of Directors for the US Travel Association.He said it appeared that the victims were seeking shelter when they were shot. Some of the people inside managed to escape unharmed.<br><br>The 911 call came from outside of the business.<br><br>Dekraai was taken into custody a half-mile from the crime scene. Police said he was driving through a residential area in the direction of Huntington Beach, Calif.<br><br>"They had him by the shirt, and when they pulled the shirt up, they realized he had a bullet proof vest, they took that off and by that time they already had him handcuffed," said Tom Windham, who witnessed the arrest.<br><br>Police said Dekraai was cooperative at the time of the arrest and was taken to the Seal County Police Department.<br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.ocalmanac.com/images/Map_OCnorth.JPG" width="341" /><br><br>Police cordoned off the light blue bungalow in nearby Huntington Beach, Dekraai's home for the past two years. Neighbors told reporters they often saw him out in the yard playing catch with his son.<br><br>"Seal Beach is a small safe community. We don't experience these things," Bowles said.<br><br><a href='http://abcnews.go.com/US/seal-beach-massacre-suspects-wife-claimed-abuse/story?id=14726230'>http://abcnews.go.com/US/seal-beach-massacre-suspects-wife-claimed-abuse/story?id=14726230</a><br><br>[[/html]] - Comments: 0


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