The Real Estate Espresso Podcast

Cindy Hook is based in Arizona where she invests in mobile home parks in about a dozen states across the US. On today's show we are talking about the strategy for acquiring and repositioning mobile home parks. To connect with Cindy and to learn more, visit sonoscapital.com, or you can email her directly at cindy@sonoscapital.com ----------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

On today's show we're talking about asset allocation. The inspiration for today's show came from the dramatic volatility in the stock market that we've experienced over the last few days. This is nothing new of course. I was in my early 20s and managing my family's assets when black Monday happened in October of 1987. That lesson has repeated itself a few times since then. When I was in the tech industry I had a very large percentage of my assets tied up in shares of technology companies through the 1990s until the balloon burst in the year 2000. I believe that all investors should be dividing their assets into one of four buckets and doing so consciously. All investors should divide their portfolio into 1.        a safety bucket 2.       A cash flow bucket 3.        A growth bucket 4.       A more speculative risk bucket Nothing controversial so far. This is all motherhood and apple pie. The big challenge for many investors is to determine which category to place any of their investments. ------------ **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

On today’s show we are looking closely at yesterday’s Fed interest rate announcement. The Fed cut the benchmark lending rate by 0.25% as widely predicted and as I predicted only a few days ago on this show. As real estate investors we care deeply about what happens to interest rates. The cost of capital is one of the most significant variables when it comes to owning real estate assets.  This week’s rate announcement was about as confusing as ever with numerous mixed messages. The outlook for future rate setting policy could not be more unclear. It’s as if the narrative and the data are disconnected.  --------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

As 2024 draws rapidly to a close, we’re going to be running a retrospective on the year. This is where we want to hear from you the listener to the show. Tell me about your year in review. What went well? What problems did you face? Were you able to overcome them? How did you overcome them? I want to hear from you at victor@victorjm.com General Reflection What were your key achievements of 2024? What major challenges did you face, and how were they addressed? How does 2024 compare to previous years in terms of progress and growth? 2. Goals and Objectives Did you meet the goals set at the beginning of the year? Why or why not? Were your objectives aligned with your long-term vision and strategy? Which initiatives were most effective in driving results? 3. Successes What strategies or actions led to your successes this year? Which projects or initiatives exceeded expectations, and why? What can you learn from what went well to replicate success in the future? 4. Challenges and Lessons Learned What were the most significant obstacles encountered? How effective were you in adapting to unforeseen circumstances? What lessons did you learn that can improve future planning or execution? 5. Collaboration and Communication How well did teams collaborate across departments? Were communication channels effective in ensuring alignment and efficiency? What could be improved to foster better teamwork and information flow?

On today’s show we are taking a look at gifts for Christmas. You might be wondering which books would make a great gift for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit. So on today’s show I’m going to share 10 books from my reading list that I think would make for a gift this holiday season.  -------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Today is another AMA episode (Ask Me Anything). Today’s question comes from Ramon who writes:  "Your podcast continues to be informative and entertaining all these years later. Thanks for all you do to for the real estate community. I have another AMA for you. It’s not the exactly real estate related, so I completely understand if it’s not appropriate for the show. Here goes, in your journey in becoming a business focused media influencer, how have you thought about building your company’s brand vs your personal brand? For instance, if you are on a podcast or at a conference and asked “how people can find out more information about you”, how do you make the decision whether to give your personal website versus business website versus both?" --------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Ladislas Maurice is traveling the world, continually. On today's show we are talking about how he invests globally as he travels. You can connect with him at thewanderinginvestor.com ---------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

Whitney Sewell is based in Virginia. He's one of the few hosts of a daily podcast with over 2,000 episodes. He is also a principal with Life Bridge Capital where he invests in multi family apartments. His projects are concentrated in Idaho and in Colorado Springs, two locations where our company has a major presence. We're discussing investment thesis and keeping it predictable (and boring). To connect with Whitney visit whitneysewell.com or lifebridgecapital.com ----------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

On today’s show we are doing another in our monthly beginner series. The real estate espresso podcast is unlike other podcasts in that most others are focused on a more entry level audience.  Our listeners are sophisticated. Many of you own large portfolios of apartments. But you also have people in your life who are interested in learning more, but maybe don’t have access to high quality information. The idea of sending your spouse to a $199 weekend bootcamp for beginners where they are going to be abused by sleazy sales people sounds unthinkable. So where do they go. Look no further. We are going to dedicate a couple of shows a month to topics that will accelerate the learning for less experienced investors, and might give the most sophisticated investors a new way of explaining a concept that is otherwise complex to describe. On today’s show we are talking about where to buy properties. When investors are just starting out, one of the constraints is usually access to capital. They want to get in a deal so badly that they will invest in the wrong deal, because that’s all they can afford. They don’t have the capital to buy what they really want, so they buy what’s cheap.  As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. It’s tempting to think that an inexpensive property is a better deal. After all, the ratio of rent to purchase price is better than a more expensive property.  We’re talking about what we can learn from the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts when it comes to real estate.    -------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)  

In 2022 we acquired the last remaining piece of the Norris Ranch from Steve Norris, the son of Mr. Norris. The project was called Norris Ranch when we acquired it. But it turns out that there were numerous properties called Norris Ranch and it was becoming difficult to distinguish them. The city asked us to come up with a new name. I’ll have more to say about that later in today’s show.  Yesterday our project came before the city’s planning commission. I’ll give you the punch line up front. The project was approved at planning commission and recommended for first reading next month in front of city council. The application is for a concept plan which includes a zoning overlay across the property which designates the future zoning. These areas will still need to be further developed with individual site plans. We're excited to get this project started! ---------------- **Real Estate Espresso Podcast:** Spotify: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/3GvtwRmTq4r3es8cbw8jW0?si=c75ea506a6694ef1)   iTunes: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-real-estate-espresso-podcast/id1340482613)   Website: [www.victorjm.com](http://www.victorjm.com)   LinkedIn: [Victor Menasce](http://www.linkedin.com/in/vmenasce)   YouTube: [The Real Estate Espresso Podcast](http://www.youtube.com/@victorjmenasce6734)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/realestateespresso](http://www.facebook.com/realestateespresso)   Email: [podcast@victorjm.com](mailto:podcast@victorjm.com)  **Y Street Capital:** Website: [www.ystreetcapital.com](http://www.ystreetcapital.com)   Facebook: [www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital](https://www.facebook.com/YStreetCapital)   Instagram: [@ystreetcapital](http://www.instagram.com/ystreetcapital)