IT’S A NUMBERS GAME!

Commercial

05/26/2015    Volume 15, V

The one thing I think Most would agree is that the one constant thing in this universe is change. Now don’t fret, it’s a good thing; well, most of time anyway. What if we were still watching black & white TV’S, and listening to eight tracks? Ayah! You kind of like the change now. I Thought so.

Well get ready here it comes again, and it’s not only changing names, but the way it does business. HUD-1 your best days are behind you; Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB);

August 1, 2015 you’re batting…

The final settlement disclosure is generally a routine exercise for lenders and title agents, but the new rule puts more responsibility on lenders for the precise timing and accuracy of the statement, which must be given to the borrower three days before closing. The new format of the closing disclosure is also very different than the current form, and automated systems have to be updated in the new format.

The new format of the closing disclosure is also very different than the current form, and automated systems have to be updated in the new format.

At issue is a final rule issued by the CFPB in November 2013 that merges the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and Truth in Lending Act disclosures requirement into a single document.

Lenders said the adjustment to the new form is difficult. For example, the new closing document lists fees under certain categories but the industry doesn’t have standard definitions for many fees and charges.

“The trouble is that you can have a finance charge that has different names,” Andreano said. “In some cases, the same names may be used to refer to different types of fees, while in other cases different names refer to the same fee. The technology guys are wondering how to deal with that.”

Another problem comes down to the format of the new document. The current HUD-1 settlement sheet has dedicated lines for certain fees and other data, with each line numbered. But the CFPB’s new closure document does not have numbered lines — and it’s causing big problems.

“The problem is how do you set up the systems and how to ensure compliance if you don’t have any way to keep track of the line numbers,” said Rod Alba, senior regulatory counsel of the American Bankers Association.

A spokesman for the CFPB said the agency removed the line numbers from the document after extensive testing with consumers showed it confused many borrowers.

“The testing found consumers were better able to understand the information on the new forms without the line numbers,” the spokesman said.

Michael Gould

(205)902-2283

E21 Realty

100 Concourse Pkwy E Bldg #135

Hoover, Al.35244

www.michaelgouldgroup.com

Twitter-@lmgllc6

“Don’t go into court without a lawyer, or a real estate deal without a REALTOR”

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

Published 4/30/15    volume 15, number IV

So you’re ready to start your business, but don’t know exactly where to start. You have a great idea; but now it becomes “A Numbers Game”.

In the Commercial world, it all about “Numbers”, price-per sq. ft. zoning, building classification, tenet allowances, etc.

You have got to decide whether to lease or buy. I could make an argument for both. But as always it comes down to your cash on hand or your access to capital; we’ll talk about that another time.

Decide how you are going to structure your business; sole-proprietor. LLc, etc. Basically how you’re going to pay your “Uncle”.

I was presented a question about three top priorities of starting a business; (after money of course), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Business Lawyer, and a Bank that only does business in

The state of your business; you will have to ask your attorney about the last one. Oh Yea! You need a good Commercial Real Estate Agent; I can help you with that.

Someone wrote: “Plan Your Work, and Work your Plan “– A.G. GASTON.

“Don’t go into court without a lawyer; don’t go into a real estate deal without a Realtor”- Michael Gould

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

Ellicott’s Stone Baldwin County

I was looking for the coordinates of Mt. Everest, and how it connected Nepal to Tibet in China. I then decided to locate Birmingham’s Global Position Satellite (GPS), and I came across this interesting fact.

Curious minds ENJOY!

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ellicott Stone

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The south side of the stone. It reads: Dominio De S.M. Carlos IV, Lat. 31, 1799.


Nearest city

Bucks, Alabama

Coordinates

30°59′52.11″N88°01′21.06″WCoordinates: 30°59′52.11″N 88°01′21.06″W

Area

less than one acre

Built

1799

Governing body

Local

NRHP Reference #

73000359[1]

Added to NRHP

April 11, 1973

Ellicott’s Stone, also known as the Ellicott Stone, is a boundary marker in northern Mobile County, Alabama. It was placed on April 10, 1799 by a joint U.S.–Spanish survey party headed by Andrew Ellicott.[2][3] It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 11 April 1973.[1]

It is the only known stone monument set by Ellicott when he surveyed the 31st parallel north latitude, which served as the boundary line between the Mississippi Territory in the United States and Spanish West Florida.[3]The boundary line extended along the 31st parallel from the Mississippi River east to the Chattahoochee River, as set forth in the 1795 Pinckney Treaty, formally known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo.[4][5] Ellicott’s Stone is the initial point for all United States Public Land surveys in the southern region of Alabama and Mississippi. It is the point of intersection of what is known today as the St. Stephens meridian and the St. Stephens baseline.[3]

Contents

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Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization (CACAO) www.cacaoonline.org

On June 13th CACAO will host their 4th Annual Caribbean festival in Linn Park.

To those who joined us for the party on Sunday, my sincere thanks. Who knew Bingo could be so much fun 🙂 Thanks to board member Janet Hamm for getting us all engaged in Great food, great friends, great fun and no rain, just a wonderful evening.

For those who missed it here is a quick rundown of activities that were announced for June to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Caribbean American Heritage Month.

On May 30th the Birmingham Museum of Art will host a workshop where kids 5 and up will get to work with their parents to make Caribbean carnival costumes. We are fortunate enough to have Maureena Watson who runs the Atlanta children’s carnival as teacher for the workshop; I am including a link very excited because after 4 years of hard work, we are being recognized by the Birmingham community:

http://www.artsbma.org/event/caribbean-costume-making-workshop/

On June 7th St. John’s AME Church downtown Birmingham will host a service and reception in honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month. I need as many people as possible to attend because I would like volunteers to wear their national colors and carry the flags of the various Caribbean countries. This will be a really fun event.

On June 13th CACAO will host their 4th Annual Caribbean festival in Linn Park. We are expecting a great turnout; great food, music, dance contests and just a great time. We could use some volunteers here also, so if you haven’t yet paid your dues, remember, we pay for all these events so your help would be greatly appreciated. We will also be drawing for the winner of the two tickets to the Father’s Day concert in Atlanta during the festival.

On June 20th our sister group in Huntsville is hosting a Caribbean gala. As you know they regularly attend our dinner in December, so this is our opportunity to round out Caribbean American Heritage Month by joining with them. I will share the flyer when I receive it.

Lots of exciting things planned to celebrate our unique Caribbean culture, time for you to stop sitting on the fence and get involved. CACAO is growing, come grow with us.

Pauline Ford-Caesar

President,

Central Alabama Caribbean American Organization (CACAO) www.cacaoonline.org

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

Publish 4/20/15 vol. 15; issue 3
SHOULD YOU BUY LAND?

AS far back as we can remember, people have been trying to control land, through one means or another. Using words like foreclosure, prescriptive rights, eminent domain etc.
Land is the basis of all wealth, the heritage of the wise, the thrifty and prudent. It’s the poor person’s joy and comfort, the rich person’s prize, the right hand of capital and the silent partner to thousands of successful people.

Land is the solace of the widow, the comfort of old age, and the cornerstone of security against misfortune and want. It’s handed down through generations, as a possession of great value. The value of land is growing through countless days. Though it may seem dormant, the value of land increases, never falling, never ceasing. Time is an aid and the ever increasing population adds to its gain. Land has the ability to defy fire and the elements–for they cannot destroy it.

While all other things wither and decay, land alone survives. As centuries pass land becomes younger, always increasing in strength. All oils and minerals come from land. It is the producer of food, building materials and the home to every living thing on this planet. Land serves as a foundation for homes, factories, banks and stores.

Although land has not been produced for millions of years, it’s so common that thousands of people, unthinking, and unknowingly pass it by.
“Don’t go into court without a lawyer; don’t go into a real estate deal without a REALTOR”

Michael Gould
http://www.michaelgouldgroup.com

IT’S A NUMBERS GAME

It’s a Numbers Game

“Don’t go into court without a lawyer. Don’t go into a real estate deal without a REALTOR”

 

So you want to get started in investing in real estate, but don’t know where to start, well as the title states, it’s a Numbers Game.

Start your research with terms of the business. Understanding the definition of this and any other business sets a firm foundation in conversation now and in the future.

 

Understand what you want out of the investment; I know you want to make lots of money, but

have in mind a minimum return on your  investment (ROI). That is the per annum percentage rate.

Understand CAP rates and learn the formula. This will help in ascertaining you’re (ROI).

 

Don’t forget business structure will determine tax liability, I know how you feel about “UNCLE SAM”

But he’s got to eat too.

 

HAPPY INVESTING…Let me know if I can help…

 

 

www.michaelgouldgroup.com          

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