Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Buying Low and Selling High in the California Land Market

Our headline is common knowledge on how to be profitable in any trading business from stocks, bonds, real estate and even pawn shops. We think it is not common enough in real estate. The recently burst real estate bubble was the highest percentage wise drop in value the last twenty years. Nobody knows where the top or the bottom of any market will be, but the clear signs are when demand outstrips supply. Essentially when it is a sellers market it is not conducive for long term profits for the buyer, especially when there are ten or more offers on the same property. We recall back in 2006 when one fairly modest home had thirty offers within the first week. Housing wasn’t necessarily scarce, but loans were too abundant. It is easy to see the bubble after it pops, but how can you buy at the lower end of the market? When it is the right time to buy? Most people shop for consumer goods when there is a sale. The merchant has too much inventory and they need to make room for new products. You can look at it the same way in buying land or a home.

Ideal ways to buy low priced California land is via a probate sale, bankruptcy, foreclosure, or even short sales. Many of these types of sales are found on the MLS (multiple listing services) as it is the main way for lenders, banks, courts, lawyers and brokers to broadly promote the property. By law government agencies and licensed professionals must market property to the widest public. You can also locate these court filings at your local court house. They are all within the public record. It will take some research and time, but it can be fruitful. The time and effort to research and buy at these court ordered sales maybe too time consuming, so you can look for firms that resell these properties. We at vacantlanddeals.com also buy land via probate and bankruptcy sales. We buy as low as possible, and resell at low retail costs. We currently have a number of properties that are priced at the low end of the market on our website www.vacantlanddeals.com The land prices today are some of the lowest prices in the last fifteen years. Real Estate is very cyclical, so be prudent and buy at the low end of the cycle.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

First Solar’s AVSolarRanchOne to begin Construction near Lancaster, Ca. Albeit some Objections


Excerpts from Patric Hedlund The Mountain Enterprise

Forbes Magazine has named First Solar the fastest growing technology company for two years running. First Solar is an $11 billion corporation, and it has a large operation proposed in Antelope Valley’s Fairmount Butte. They have a $215 federal incentive to commence building AVSolarRanchOne by September 1. It will be a 230 megawatt system on 2100 acres and employ 300 during the construction faze.

According to the Mountain Enterprise news reports as of August 1st First Solar’s AV RanchOne has received final discretionary permits which allow them to mobilize for construction. Mobilization primarily consists of bringing temporary facilities and infrastructure onto the site (temporary construction offices and utilities) to support the start of construction. With this permitting approval, they are released to begin mobilization at any time. They expect to commence construction activities by the September decline.

Yet, there is resistance and obstruction from residences and government agencies. The resistance from local residents in Antelope Valley is primarily that they have not been fully informed. There was even a threat to file a restraining order to stop construction, but that was tabled. There is similar objection in Tehachapi, Ca to the Alta Wind Energy Center in Tehachapi, Ca. as there will be thousands of wind towers going up in the next year. There are approximately 2000 residents in Fairmount Butt area which is about 15 mile west of Lancaster, Ca. yet they have a voice to in this large solar facility construction. Additionally, there is a proposal by Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit to introduce a two percent franchise fee for First Solar installation planned in Riverside County and that motion is pending. It could produce revenues of $3.5 million a year for Riverside County. There are indications from First Solar that they would not agree to pay that fee.

Most Californian’s would agree that alternative energy is essential for the State’s future growth and energy needs, but nobody wants a facility in their neighborhood. We think the project will prevail despite objections, and potential additional government taxes. This will invariably increase vacant land property values in the long term, as solar site assume a large amount of property. Buying low in this current market and holding long term for future growth is still a sound business and personal investment. Go to vacantlanddeals.com for land opportunities.