Building Personal Power: From Inner Agency to Outward Influence

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You shape the outcome, but others decide on your credibility and trust. They are the ones who determine if you have power.

By Dan J. Harkey

Summary

Personal power isn’t a title, a job description, or a corner office. It’s the capacity to shape outcomes—starting with yourself and extending to teams, organizations, and broader networks. Some of it is intrinsic (self-awareness, competence, emotional regulation). Some of it is socially conferred (credibility, reputation, trust). The two reinforce each other: inner agency builds consistent behavior; consistent behavior earns external confidence; external confidence increases your scope for action, which, in turn, strengthens your inner agency.

Below is a practical, field-tested playbook for building personal power that holds up in demanding environments—such as boardrooms, negotiations, investor pitches, and high-stakes projects.

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1) Embrace Self-Awareness: The Cornerstone of Personal Agency

Power without self-knowledge becomes volatile. Power with self-knowledge becomes reliable.

Do this:

  • Values Audit (30 minutes): Write down your top five values (e.g., truth, stewardship, independence, excellence, service). For each, identify one behavior that demonstrates it weekly. If you can’t name the behavior, it’s not yet a value; it’s a wish.
  • Strengths & Gaps Map: Identify 3 “edge strengths” (these are the skills or traits that you excel at, better than 80% of your peers) and 2 “rate limiters” (these are the skills or traits that are holding you back, capping your impact).  Design one experiment per limiter over the next 30 days (e.g., “Run one high-stakes meeting with a written agenda and time boxes to counteract rambling.”).
  • Trigger Journal: For two weeks, note moments when you were annoyed, defensive, or overly eager.  Ask: What was threatened—status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness, or fairness?  Labeling triggers reduces their power.

Why it works: Self-awareness converts reactivity into choice.  People feel safer following those who are consistent under pressure.

2) Build Irrefutable Competence: That Compels Respect

Personal power grows fastest when you can consistently solve complex problems.  Confidence might get you into the room; competence keeps you there.

Do this:

  • Deliberate Practice: Pick one “needle-moving” capability (e.g., complex deal structuring, regulatory navigation, risk assessment, persuasive writing).  Block 5 hours weekly for deep practice: case reps, scenario drills, post-mortems.
  • Skill Stacking: Combine adjacent skills that multiply influence—e.g., financial modeling + narrative writing + negotiation.  Power often emerges at the intersection of disciplines.
  • Portfolio of Evidence: Document wins: before/after metrics, testimonials, decision memos, decks, and artifacts.  Quiet competence is good; visible competence is power.

Why it works: Decision-makers tend to gravitate towards those who reduce uncertainty.  Expertise shortens arguments and tilts the table in your favor.

3) Use Emotional Intelligence as a Force Multiplier

Influence is emotional before it’s logical.  Emotional intelligence (EQ) amplifies your technical value.

Do this:

  • Name → Normalize → Neutralize: When tension rises, name the emotion (“There’s frustration in the room”), normalize it (“It makes sense given the deadlines”), then neutralize it (“Let’s break the decision into two steps.”).
  • Active Listening Protocol: Ask one clarifying question, paraphrase the other party’s core concern, and only then propose options.  People support what they feel heard in.
  • After-Action Reviews: After negotiations or meetings, debrief: What did I notice (signals)?  How did I behave (impact)?  What will I change next time?  EQ compounds through feedback loops.

Why it works: Trust doesn’t just flow to the most intelligent person; it flows to the person who makes others feel understood while steering toward results.

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4) Command Presence and Communicate with Precision

Presence is not theatrics; it’s the discipline of being clear, calm, and consequential.

Do this:

  • BLUF Your Messages (Bottom Line Up Front): Start with the conclusion, then support.  Busy people reward clarity with their attention—and attention is a valuable currency.
  • The 3×3 Rule: For essential communications, aim for three key points, each supported by three facts/examples.  It’s memorable without being simplistic.
  • Nonverbal Hygiene: Open posture, measured pace, strategic pausing, and direct eye contact (more while listening than while speaking).  Presence is often felt before it is understood.

Why it works: In high-stakes contexts, people equate brevity and structure with mastery.  You signal reliability when you never waste a moment.

5) Grow Your Social Capital: Power Flows Through Networks

You don’t “have” power in isolation; you access power through relationships.  Networks provide information, resources, and reputational transfer.

Do this:

  • Map Strong & Weak Ties – Strong ties mobilize quickly; weak ties expand opportunities.  Maintain both.  A quarterly check-in with weak ties (share an insight, a relevant article, or a congratulatory note) pays outsized returns.
  • 5-Minute Favors: Make intros, annotate an article with insights, or review a draft.  For instance, you could introduce a colleague to someone in your network, share your thoughts on an industry article, or provide feedback on a project draft.  Compounding generosity builds a bankable reputation.
  • Mentor Matrix: Identify one mentor for strategy (someone who can guide you in your career path), one for craft (someone who can help you improve your skills), and one for character (someone who can advise you on personal and professional development).  Different mentors cover different blind spots.

Why it works: Social capital is an option—the right call to the right person at the right time.  People lend you their credibility when you’ve invested in them first.

6) Control Your Narrative: Reputation by Design, Not Default

You will be known for something; decide what it will be.  Narrative is how others summarize you when you’re not in the room.

Do this:

  • Positioning Statement (25 words): “I help [who] achieve [outcome] by [method], especially when [constraint/pressure].” Use it across intros, bios, and profiles.
  • Proof-of-Work Cadence: Publish brief, high-signal insights (monthly), share case lessons (quarterly), and give talks or guest sessions (semi-annually).  Consistency beats volume.
  • Crisis Playbook: When things go sideways, respond within 24 hours, state what you know and what you’re doing, and set a specific update checkpoint.  Silence invites speculation; clarity builds trust.

Why it works: Humans think in stories.  A coherent, consistent narrative makes you legible—and legibility is power.

7) Practice Decisiveness and Own the Outcomes

Decisiveness isn’t impulsive; it’s disciplined choice under uncertainty.

Do this:

  • The 70% Rule: Make most decisions when you have ~70% of the information.  Waiting for perfect information is often more costly than making a decision and iterating on it.
  • Pre-Mortems & Post-Mortems: Before starting, list potential ways the plan might fail and consider mitigating them in advance.  After execution, analyze what actually happened.  This habit boosts hit rate and credibility.
  • Single-Threaded Ownership: For every decision, identify a single accountable owner (possibly yourself).  Distributed accountability is disguised non-accountability.

Why it works: People follow leaders who make decisions and then learn from them—accountability compounds into trust and authority.

8) Manage Energy and Boundaries: Power Requires Fuel

Sustained influence demands stamina.  If you’re depleted, your judgment and presence degrade.

Do this:

  • Calendar as Strategy: Color-code deep work, meetings, and recovery.  Protect two 90-minute blocks of deep work per day for high-cognition tasks.
  • Keystone Habits: Sleep regularity, strength training twice weekly, walking meetings for ideation, and no-phone first 30 minutes of the day.
  • Boundaries Script: “I can’t do X by Friday, but I can do Y by Tuesday with the same quality.” Boundaries increase respect when paired with alternatives.

Why it works: Energy is the rate limiter of power.  The best strategy dies in a tired body.

9) Lead With Ethics: Trust Is the Ultimate Power Multiplier

Power built on fear is brittle; power built on trust is anti-fragile.

Do this:

  • Fairness First: In negotiations and team decisions, explain your reasoning and acknowledge tradeoffs.  Even “no” can build trust if it’s transparent.
  • No-Surprise Rule: Stakeholders should never be shocked by bad news.  Early warnings and frequent updates convert risk into manageable work.
  • Credit Assignment: Publicly attribute wins to contributors; absorb blame as the leader.  Your reputation will precede you.

Why it works: Ethical consistency lowers perceived risk in working with you.  People share information and opportunities when they feel safe and trust is established.

10) Make It Measurable: Metrics That Matter for Power

What gets measured compounds.

Leading Indicators:

  • Opportunity Flow: Number of unsolicited asks for advice, intros, or collaboration per month.
  • Influence Radius: Count of cross-functional projects or rooms where your input is sought.
  • Response Latency: Average time you take to respond to critical stakeholders (signals reliability).

Lagging Indicators:

  • Outcome Hit-Rate: Percentage of projects that meet or beat their defined success criteria.
  • Network Depth: Number of relationships where you can ask for (and receive) meaningful help within 48 hours.
  • Reputation Poll: Twice a year, ask 5–7 colleagues: “What three words describe me professionally?” Track drift toward your desired narrative.

A 30/60/90-Day Power-Building Plan

Days 1–30: Foundation & Focus

  • Complete your Values Audit, Strengths & Gaps Map, and Positioning Statement.
  • Select one craft capability to deepen (e.g., negotiation, expert writing, domain analysis).  Block 5 hours/week for deliberate practice.
  • Start Trigger Journal and run two Active Listening reps in real meetings.
  • Publish one proof-of-work post or memo and reconnect with five weak ties using 5-minute favors.

Days 31–60: Credibility & Communication

  • Lead two meetings using BLUF and the 3×3 Rule; solicit feedback on clarity and pace.
  • Run one pre-mortem for a key initiative; define single-threaded ownership and decision thresholds.
  • Host a learning roundtable (60 minutes) to share a case study and invite debate—teaches, positions you as a resource, and expands network density.
  • Update profiles and bios with your positioning statement and recent artifacts.

Days 61–90: Scale & Solidify

  • Seek a cross-functional project where your skills intersect with a new group; aim to become the go-to for one specific problem type.
  • Publish a quarterly case lesson (what went right/wrong, numbers, and takeaways).
  • Conduct a mini reputation poll with five trusted peers or clients; compare the three words they use to your target narrative; adjust behaviors accordingly.
  • Identify and formalize your Mentor Matrix: one strategy mentor, one craft mentor, one character mentor.  Set a monthly cadence with each.

Field Tactics for High-Stakes Moments

  • When the room is tense, slow your speech by 10–15% and lower your volume slightly, then ask a clarifying question.  Calm is contagious.
  • When you’re challenged: Thank the challenger, reflect their point accurately, and add a “Yes, and…” bridge: “Yes, and here’s the constraint we’re operating under…”
  • When time is short: State the decision, the single riskiest assumption, and the next check-in time.  This triage preserves momentum and credibility.
  • When you made a mistake: Own it in one sentence, state the remedy in two, and name the safeguard in one.  Then move forward.

Common Pitfalls (and Fixes)

  • Performative Confidence: Swagger without substance erodes power fast.  Fix: Anchor confidence in artifacts—results, models, memos, and measurable wins.
  • Overreliance on Title: Formal authority is a loan; personal power is equity.  Fix: Behave in ways you want attributed to you—especially when no one is watching.
  • Networking Without Value: Collecting Contacts Is Not Capital.  Fix: Lead with valuable insights, introductions, and thoughtful questions.
  • Decision Paralysis: Waiting for certainty is often a hidden “no.” Fix: Decide at 70%, set a review checkpoint, and be explicit about what would change your mind.
  • Inconsistent Narrative: Mixed Signals Confuse Stakeholders.  Fix: Choose a positioning statement and reinforce it in how you show up, what you share, and what you decline.

The Compounding Effect of Personal Power

Think of personal power as a flywheel:

·         Self-awareness produces calm and integrity.

·         Competence produces results that others rely on.

·         EQ and presence attract trust and attention.

·         Networks and narratives expand your reach.

·         Decisiveness and accountability cement your reputation.

Each turn of the flywheel reduces friction for the next turn.  Over months, this has become a visible influence.  Over the years, it becomes gravitational pull—opportunities find you, decisions tilt your way, and your voice shapes the agenda.

The most reliable way to build personal power is to start inside, prove it outside, and keep the loop spinning with consistency, generosity, and courage.

Here’s a one-page checklist summary of the article for quick reference:

✅ Personal Power Builder: One-Page Checklist

1.  Self-Awareness

  • Complete Values Audit (Top 5 values + behaviors)
  • Map Strengths & Gaps (3 edge strengths, two limiters)
  • Keep a Trigger Journal for 2 weeks

2.  Competence

  • Block 5 hrs/week for deliberate practice
  • Stack adjacent skills for leverage
  • Build a Portfolio of Evidence (wins, metrics, artifacts)

3.  Emotional Intelligence

  • Use Name → Normalize → Neutralize in tense moments
  • Apply Active Listening Protocol (clarify → paraphrase → propose)
  • Run After-Action Reviews after key interactions

Dan Harkey
Educator & Private Money Real Estate Lending Consultant
[email protected] 949 533 8315
www.danharkey.com

AB-130: The New California Law that States That a Homeowner Association Fee Violation Cannot be More than $100?

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By Dan Harkey

Abusive HOA practices: Some homeowner associations harass their property owners with continuous fee assessments for every little thing. The propensity is irritating and makes property owners feel like another big brother is watching and harassing them. The practice is abusive and creates a bureaucratic infrastructure that supports itself on the backs of homeowners.

Summary

Abusive HOA practices: Some homeowner associations harass their property owners with continuous fee assessments for every little thing. The propensity is irritating and makes property owners feel like another big brother is watching and harassing them. The practice is abusive and creates a bureaucratic infrastructure that supports itself on the backs of homeowners.

It may now be a better strategy to merely pay a $100 fine to keep them off your back.  And smile all the way to the refrigerator for a cold beer or glass of wine.

The new California Law, which caps most homeowner association (HOA) fines at $100, is Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130), effective 1 July 2025.

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Language of the new Law:

SEC. 3.

 Section 5850 of the Civil Code is amended to read:

5850.

 (a) If an association adopts or has adopted a policy imposing any monetary penalty, including any fee, on any association Member for a violation of the governing documents, including any monetary penalty relating to the activities of a guest or tenant of the Member, the board shall adopt and distribute to each Member, in the annual policy statement prepared pursuant to Section 5310, a schedule of the monetary penalties that may be assessed for those violations, which shall be in accordance with authorization for Member discipline contained in the governing documents.  Monetary penalties shall be reasonable.

(b) Any new or revised monetary penalty that is adopted after complying with subdivision (a) may be included in a supplement that is delivered to the members individually, pursuant to Section 4040.

(c) A monetary penalty for a violation of the governing documents shall not exceed the lesser of the following:

(1) The monetary penalty stated in the schedule of financial penalties or supplement that is in effect at the time of the violation.

(2) One hundred dollars ($100) per violation.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the board may impose a penalty stated in the schedule of monetary penalties or supplement that is in effect at the time of the violation that is greater than one hundred dollars ($100) per violation, if the violation may result in an adverse health or safety Impact on the common area or another association Member’s property.

(2) Before imposing a penalty on a violation pursuant to this subdivision, the board shall make a written finding specifying the adverse health or safety Impact in a board meeting open to the members.

(e) A late charge or interest shall not be charged to a Member for a monetary penalty.

(f) An association shall provide a copy of the most recently distributed schedule of monetary penalties, along with any applicable supplements to that schedule, to any Member upon request.

SEC. 4.

 Section 5855 of the Civil Code is amended to read:

5855.

 (a) When the board is to meet to consider or impose discipline upon a Member, or to impose a monetary charge as a means of reimbursing the association for costs incurred by the association in the repair of damage to the common area and facilities caused by a Member or the Member’s guest or tenant, the board shall notify the Member in writing, by either personal delivery or individual delivery pursuant to Section 4040, at least 10 days before the meeting.

(b) The notification shall contain, at a minimum, the date, time, and place of the meeting, the nature of the alleged violation for which a Member may be disciplined or the nature of the damage to the common area and facilities for which a monetary charge may be imposed, and a statement that the Member has a right to attend and may address the board at the meeting.  The board shall meet in executive session upon the request of a Member.

(c) A Member shall have the opportunity to cure the violation before the meeting.  The board shall not impose discipline in either of the following circumstances:

(1) The Member cures the violation before the meeting.

(2) If curing the violation would take longer than the time between the notice provided pursuant to subdivision (a) and the meeting, the Member provides a financial commitment to remedy the violation.

(d) If the board and the Member are not in agreement after the meeting, a Member shall have the opportunity to request internal dispute resolution pursuant to Section 5910.

(e) If the board and the Member are in agreement after the meeting, the board shall draft a written resolution.  The written resolution, signed by the board and the Member of the dispute pursuant to procedures not in conflict with the Law or governing documents, binds the association and is judicially enforceable.

(f) If the board imposes discipline on a Member or imposes a monetary charge on the Member for damage to the common area and facilities, the board shall provide the Member with a written notification of the decision, by either personal delivery or individual delivery pursuant to Section 4040, within 14 days following the action.

(g) A disciplinary action or the imposition of a monetary charge for damage to the common area shall not be effective against a Member unless the board fulfills the requirements of this section.

 Key provisions of AB-130:

$100 fine cap: For most violations of the HOA’s rules, the association cannot fine a homeowner more than $100 per violation.  This is a significant reduction from previous practices, where daily fines could quickly escalate into thousands of dollars.

  • No interest or late fees: The Law explicitly prohibits HOAs from charging late fees or interest in monetary penalties, which in the past could cause a financial hardship for residents.
  • Health and safety exception: HOAs can still issue fines above the $100 cap if the violation poses an adverse public health or safety risk.  However, the board must first make a written finding detailing the specific health or safety Impact at a public meeting.
  • Right to cure: Before a fine can be imposed, the homeowner must be given the opportunity to correct the violation.  If the issue is fixed within the specified timeframe, the HOA cannot impose a penalty.  The Law also requires homeowners to receive at least 10 days’ advance notice before a disciplinary hearing.
  • Written decision: After a disciplinary hearing, the HOA board must issue a written decision to the homeowner within 14 days. 

Context of the Law:

AB 130 was enacted to address and curb what lawmakers and housing advocates described as excessive and punitive HOA fines that contribute to the state’s housing affordability crisis.  The goal was to rebalance power between homeowners and HOA boards, focusing on compliance with regulations rather than using hefty fines as a form of revenue or harassment. 

What violations allow fines over $100?

Under California’s Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130), an HOA can fine a homeowner more than the $100 cap only if the violation creates an “adverse health or safety Impact.”

The board must first issue a written finding detailing the specific risk at an open meeting before imposing a higher fine.  While the Law does not provide an exhaustive list of qualifying violations, legal experts and related HOA sources have provided examples.  These are generally conditions that expose residents to a risk of harm or negatively Impact the well-being and safety of the community.

Examples of health and safety violations:

Safety hazards: Violations that create unsafe conditions in common areas, such as:

  • Use glass containers in areas near pools or other hazardous locations.
    • Parking illegally in a fire lane or in a way that blocks visibility for drivers.
    • Setting off fireworks.
    • Not properly securing aggressive or dangerous pets.
    • Hazardous construction or maintenance on a property.
  • Public nuisance and property damage: Actions that cause damage or threaten the structural integrity of a property:
    • Severe hoarding that leads to insect or rodent infestations.
    • Improperly disposing of hazardous materials.
    • Performing unpermitted or dangerous work, such as with plumbing or electrical lines.
  • Air quality issues: Some HOAs may classify secondhand smoke as a health risk, potentially allowing for higher fines.  This is especially the case for secondhand marijuana smoke that infiltrates another unit.
  • Excessive noise: While a single loud party may only warrant a $100 fine, a violation that significantly disrupts sleep and well-being, particularly in high-density buildings, may be deemed a health issue.
  • Short-term rentals: Some HOAs may impose higher fines on unapproved short-term rentals, mainly if they are found to disrupt community security. 

What is required for higher fines:

 To enforce a fine higher than $100 for a health or safety violation, the HOA board must follow strict procedures: 

 ·       Hold an open meeting for homeowners.

·       Make a written finding that the violation poses a specific, adverse health or safety risk.

·       Include a copy of this finding in the disciplinary hearing notice sent to the homeowner. 

What other enforcement options can HOAs use besides fines?

In addition to fines, California HOAs can employ several other enforcement options, including suspending a homeowner’s privileges, pursuing legal action to enforce compliance, and engaging in alternative dispute resolution (ADR).  These options are typically outlined in the association’s governing documents, such as the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs).

 Suspension of privileges:

An HOA may have the power to suspend a homeowner’s rights to use specific standard amenities for violations, provided that due process requirements are met and permitted by the governing documents.

 Examples of suspendable privileges:

  • Use of standard facilities like pools, gyms, or clubhouses.
    • Access to community meeting facilities for non-association functions.
    • Special services, such as valet or guest parking.
  • Limitations: Under California Law, an HOA cannot suspend an owner’s right to:
    • Attend board meetings (except for executive sessions).
    • Vote in elections (as of 1 January 2020).
    • Access basic utilities like water, electricity, or gas. 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):

For many disputes, California Law requires an HOA to engage in ADR before filing a lawsuit.  If a Member requests it, the HOA must participate in a “meet and confer” to resolve the issue.

 Mandatory ADR: Civil Code §5930 requires ADR for most enforcement actions in the superior court.

  • IDR (“meet and confer “): An internal dispute resolution process where the Member and HOA board meet in good faith to resolve the issue.  If the owner requests IDR, the association must participate.
  • Mediation: If IDR fails, the parties can agree to mediation with a neutral third party. 

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Legal action:

For severe or persistent violations, an HOA can seek legal remedies to force compliance.

Injunctive relief: The HOA can file a civil action in court to obtain an injunction, a court order that requires the homeowner to correct a violation.

  • Litigation for compliance: The association can file a lawsuit to enforce its governing documents legally.  If the HOA prevails, the court may order the homeowner to comply and pay the association’s legal fees and costs.
  • Foreclosure: While fines cannot be used for nonjudicial foreclosure, if a homeowner fails to pay assessments, the HOA can place a lien on the property and pursue a judicial foreclosure. 

Self-help remedies:

In some cases, the HOA’s governing documents may grant the board the authority to take direct action to correct a violation on the owner’s property.

For an unapproved modification that violates architectural rules, the board might be able to enter the property and remedy the violation itself.

  • Caution: This option is high-risk and carries significant legal exposure; therefore, it is rarely used and should only be considered after consulting with legal counsel. 

Dan Harkey
Educator & Private Money Real Estate Lending Consultant
[email protected] 949 533 8315
www.danharkey.com

How to Launch a Small Business in the Sharing Economy

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By Beth Harris

The sharing economy isn’t some far-off trend — it’s already reshaping how people work, live, and start businesses. If you’re stepping into the small business world through platforms like Airbnb, Turo, TaskRabbit, or even launching your own micro-rental concept, you’re not just joining a movement — you’re helping define its next chapter. The barrier to entry is low, but the need for clarity, preparation, and adaptability is higher than it looks. Here’s what you need to know before diving in.

What is the Sharing Economy?

At its core, the sharing economy is a collaborative peer-to-peer model where individuals use technology to share access to goods and services, often through decentralized platforms. It’s less about ownership and more about access. You don’t need to build a hotel chain to run a lodging business — you just need a spare room and a compelling listing. The model thrives on underused assets and builds efficiency by connecting people directly. It also shifts power away from traditional institutions and into the hands of agile entrepreneurs — like you.

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Types of Businesses You Could Start

This is where things get interesting. The sharing economy covers everything from transportation and housing to tools, equipment, expertise, and time. Think beyond the usual suspects like Uber or Airbnb. There are examples of sharing economy business models that include renting out camera gear, launching pop-up coworking spaces, offering freelance kitchen space for home bakers, or hosting educational micro-events in your home or studio. What you already own — a vehicle, skills, space, or time — could be a business foundation. The challenge isn’t finding the right opportunity. It’s picking one that fits your lifestyle and risk tolerance.

Writing a Business Plan

Just because the model feels informal doesn’t mean your business should be. A solid plan turns a casual side hustle into a strategy. Whether you’re building something part-time or chasing full independence, how to write your business plan matters more than ever. It should define your offer, your audience, your operating costs, your growth path, and — crucially — how you’ll stand out in a market that’s growing noisier by the week. Don’t write a plan for investors. Write it for yourself, so you know what you’re actually building and why it’s worth your time.

Creating a Brand

Branding in the sharing economy isn’t about logos or taglines — it’s about trust. That means consistency, clarity, and repeatability. You’re not just selling a service; you’re convincing someone to choose you over an app’s default option. A clear brand builds familiarity, and it can anchor everything from your profile name to your visual design, tone of voice, and customer experience. The key? Don’t fake scale. Instead, craft a brand that feels human, present, and easy to remember. You’re not trying to out-corporate the corporations.

Researching the Competition

Before you launch, ask this: who’s already solving the problem you’re targeting, and how are they doing it differently? Don’t guess. Learn. How to perform competitor analysis doesn’t mean you obsess over what others are doing. It means you understand pricing baselines, value gaps, and customer pain points you might be able to solve more clearly or affordably. Use reviews, listings, social comments, and comparison sites to see how people talk about what’s missing — then position yourself as the answer. You don’t need to be the biggest. You just need to be the one that feels like a better fit.

Choosing the Right Business Formation

When it’s time to go from idea to legal entity, things can get confusing fast. But formalizing your business is what protects your personal finances and gives you credibility with customers and platforms. You don’t need a lawyer or a mountain of paperwork. Services now let you get a new formation plan for your LLC without needing to become a legal expert. They walk you through basic decisions — like whether an LLC fits your risk profile — and let you focus on building, not interpreting compliance documents. For small business owners in the sharing economy, speed matters. But so does structure.

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Accepting Payments Smoothly

Getting paid shouldn’t be a pain. But in the sharing economy, your payment setup often determines whether you’re seen as credible or amateur. Choosing how to accept credit card payments securely and efficiently is more than just a technical decision — it’s part of your brand experience. Whether you’re using Stripe, Square, PayPal, or a marketplace’s native toolset, make sure transactions are fast, mobile-friendly, and frictionless. No one wants to deal with clunky invoicing or ask how to pay. Make it obvious. Make it easy. And test it yourself before anyone else does.

Starting a business in the sharing economy feels simple on the surface — list a service, find a customer, get paid. But surviving (and thriving) means treating your side hustle with the seriousness of a real venture.

Unlock the secrets to real estate success with REI Wealth Magazine and transform your investment strategies today!

Beth Harris

As the founder of businesstipscenter.com, Beth Harris knows a thing or two about making smart business decisions. She founded her company with the goal of providing entrepreneurs with an all-access platform full of business resources and tips. Beth understands that every day brings new opportunities to make the best decisions possible for your business. That’s why she’s dedicated to making it happen.

Rising Property Taxes and Insurance: A Growing Concern for Homeowners

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By Rick Tobin

Property tax and homeowners insurance payments have risen so much in many U.S. regions that the monthly property tax and homeowners payments can both be as high as an average mortgage payment. It’s truly a pity that the monthly PITI (Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance) payments have reached unaffordable levels for so many homeowners across the nation.

An analysis by Lending Tree that was published and updated in May 2025 found the median property taxes across the nation rose by an average of 10.4% between 2021 and 2023.

Whether or not a homeowner owns their property with or without a mortgage, they must continue to pay at least their property tax payments or risk losing the residential or commercial property to a future foreclosure tax sale.

By comparison, the decision to hold a homeowners or landlord insurance property on a free and clear property is solely up to the property owner who is willing to take the risk associated with fires, floods, and other damaging events. Many landlords today with free-and-clear properties may also have negative cash flow, so they stop paying for insurance.

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Property Tax Trends

Let’s take a closer look at what was gathered, analyzed, and shared by both Lending Tree and the Tax Foundation as it relates to property tax and homeownership trends through 2023:

● U.S. homeowners paid a median property tax payment of $2,969 annually, or about $247 per month.

● Homeowners without a mortgage can select insurance policies with lower coverage limit amounts because they don’t have to also protect a mortgage lender on the same policy. As a result, the annual premium amounts are usually lower for homes with no mortgage debt.

● Homeowners without a mortgage for their free-and-clear properties paid a median of $2,474 in annual property taxes, while those with a mortgage paid almost $869 more per year at a median of $3,343.

● More than 40% of U.S. homes today are now owned without a mortgage. Some of these homeowners choose not to obtain any insurance for their properties to keep expenses low. In theory, this may make sense until a future firestorm or horrific flooding situation damages their property so severely that they must tear it down.

Low and High Property Tax Regions

Depending on the price paid and the tax assessment percentage rate for the subject property’s county region, annual property taxes paid can vary from $1,000 to $100,000+ per year.

Between 2021 and 2023, property taxes increased in each of the 50 largest metro regions. The three metropolitan regions with the lowest annual property tax payment increases were as follows:

1. Pittsburgh, PA: +4.4%
2. Philadelphia, PA: +8.2%
3. Milwaukee, WI: +8.3%

Conversely, the three metropolitan regions with the highest annual property tax increases were located here:

1. Tampa, FL: +23.3%
2. Indianapolis, IN: +19.8%
3. Dallas, TX: +19.0%

This same Lending Tree study found that among the 50 largest metropolitan areas, Birmingham, Alabama, had the lowest median annual property taxes at $1,091 per year. Memphis, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky had the second and third lowest annual property tax payments out of the 50 largest metro regions at $1,856 and $1,912, respectively. Amazingly, Birmingham’s annual property tax payments were 41.2% lower than the #2 lowest annual property tax region in Memphis.

Among the 10 metros with the highest annual property taxes, four are located in California and two are in Texas. Out of the large 50 metros, these three regions have the highest annual median property taxes:

1. New York, NY: $9,937
2. San Jose, CA: $9,554
3. San Francisco, CA: $8,156

Birmingham, Alabama and Phoenix, Arizona pay the smallest percentage of their home value in property taxes out of the 50 largest metropolitan regions at an effective tax rate of just 0.48%. Both Las Vegas and Denver pay slightly higher amounts at 0.50%.

Surprisingly, Buffalo, New York (2.11%), Chicago (2.08%), and Cleveland (1.74%) had the three highest effective tax percentage rates out of the top 50 metropolitan regions.

Property Taxes by County

Within each state, counties can assess different property tax percentage rates and special assessments that can increase or decrease the property taxes paid by each homeowner. Sometimes, counties or county equivalents can run out of cash and file for bankruptcy. If so, they may increase the property tax percentage rates owed to help cover their annual budgets for schools, roads, and other expenses.

Lowest Property Taxes

In 2023, the lowest annual property tax bills in the nation were found in 11 counties, or county equivalents (parishes, boroughs, etc.), with median property taxes of less than $250 per year, according to the Tax Foundation.

These counties, or county equivalents, had property tax amounts at $250 per year or less, as follows:

● Alabama: Lamar and Choctaw counties
● Alaska: Northwest Arctic Borough, the Kusilvak Census Area, and the Copper River Census Area
● Louisiana: Allen, Avoyelles, Madison, Tensas, and West Carroll parishes
● South Dakota: Oglala Lakota County

In many regions of Alaska, there are actually $0 property tax payments due each year. As such, these areas in Alaska would officially have the lowest property tax rates and payments in America.

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Highest Property Taxes

Now, let’s review the 16 counties with the highest median property tax payments in the nation that all have annual tax bills exceeding $10,000 per year:

● California: Marin County
● New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union counties
● New York: Nassau, New York, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester counties
● Virginia: Falls Church City

Additionally, two counties in New Jersey (Hudson and Middlesex), three counties in California (San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara) and the Western Connecticut Planning Region in Connecticut have annual median property taxes above $9,000 and slightly below $10,000.

Reasons for Increasing Property Taxes

Property taxes are the primary tool for financing local governments. For example, property taxes comprised 27.4% of total state and local tax collections in the U.S., which was more than any other tax revenue source.

Property taxes collected are then used to fund schools, police departments, fire and emergency medical services, roads, and other services. As a percentage of local tax collections in regions like counties, property taxes accounted for more than 70% of local tax collections in fiscal year 2022.

Rapidly increasing salaries, underfunded pension needs, and overall county budget increases for county employees are also reasons why property taxes are going higher to cover these budget deficits.

Because home prices have reached all-time record highs in many U.S. regions, the corresponding property tax assessments have risen as well because they are based on the home purchase price or latest assessed value.

Skyrocketing Insurance Costs

Sadly, insurance costs are seemingly increasing at an even faster pace across the nation than property taxes and monthly mortgage payments.

It’s not uncommon these days for homeowners or landlords to pay $500, $1,000, $2,000, or $5,000+ per month (not year) to have sufficient insurance coverage that protects them and their mortgage lender.

As I’ve shared in past articles like The Drying Disaster-Relief Insurance Pools, a large number of insurance companies and government agencies that back insurers may be technically insolvent after several decades’ worth of costly and deadly firestorms, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural or manmade events.

California’s own “insurer of last resort” named the FAIR Plan had upwards of $336 billion of property exposure a year ago with just a cash surplus between $300 and $700 million, as per the California Assembly Insurance Oversight Committee.

This FAIR Plan budget analysis took place well before the absolutely horrific firestorms that hit my former neighborhood of Pacific Palisades and Altadena near Pasadena, which I shared back in January 2025 one week after the firestorms hit these beautiful regions as I shared in my Steps to Recover from the Pacific Palisades Firestorm article.

There are 10 times more California homes in low-fire risk zip code regions than homes in high-fire risk regions that currently have much more expensive California FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan insurance, according to CBS News Los Angeles.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) & Local Responsibility Areas (LRA)

On March 24, 2025, OSFM (Office of the State Fire Marshal) issued the 2025 Recommended Local Responsibility Area (LRA) FHSZ maps for California.

FHSZ Classification

Properties are designated as Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on:
● Terrain and topography
● Vegetation and fuel conditions
● Fire history and frequency
● Climate and weather patterns

As a result of the issuance of this map, a large number of homeowners in California are losing their insurance and have no other option to choose from than the usually more expensive FAIR Plan.

Just recently, the California FAIR Plan proposed the raising of home insurance rates by an average of 35.8% starting next spring in 2026, according to this article by the San Francisco Chronicle. If this hike request is approved by the state, it would be the largest payment increase in at least seven years.

However, approximately half of California FAIR Plan customers might experience annual rate increases of 40% to 50%, while other customers could see their rates jump by more than 300%.

The Lock-In Effect

I’ve written about the lock-in effect over the years as it primarily relates to homeowners who didn’t want to sell or refinance their record low mortgage rates.

It’s not just homeowners who hold near record low 30-year fixed mortgage rates who are not motivated to sell their homes whether or not they can afford the monthly payments. Rather, a large number of homeowners today aren’t selling their homes because of factors such as fear of higher future property taxes if they acquire a more expensive home.

Many homeowners also don’t want to pay higher insurance and/or lose their low fixed rate mortgage that might be somewhere between 3% and 5%. Other homeowners are afraid to make any claims on their insurance policies even if completely justified because they don’t want to risk losing their insurance or seeing their annual premium payments double or triple.

As a result, the lock-in effect also applies to a combination of mortgage rate, insurance, and property tax swings that may be almost impossible for the average homeowner to afford if they decided to sell their home.

It’s somewhat akin to a deer-in-the-headlights type of frozen reaction for many homeowners where they don’t know what to do and the safest decision may be to sit tight and do nothing. Yet, the same holds true for potential buyers who are currently renting. Can they afford these rising mortgage, tax, and insurance payments?

At some point, home prices will be affected, for better or worse, when the number of sellers exceeds buyers or the number of buyers exceeds available home listings.

Rick Tobin

Rick Tobin has worked in the real estate, financial, investment, and writing fields for the past 30+ years. He’s held eight (8) different real estate, securities, and mortgage brokerage licenses to date and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. He provides creative residential and commercial mortgage solutions for clients across the nation. He’s also written college textbooks and real estate licensing courses in most states for the two largest real estate publishers in the nation; the oldest real estate school in California; and the first online real estate school in California. Please visit his website at Realloans.com for financing options and his new investment group at So-Cal Real Estate Investors for more details. 

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Understanding the Tax Treatment of Cryptocurrency

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By Robert P. Russo, CPA PC

The tax treatment of cryptocurrency, particularly for activities like “staking,” has become a critical topic for investors. The IRS continues to clarify its position on digital assets, with new rules and reporting requirements taking effect in 2025. Here’s an updated look at what you need to know.

What is Staking?

Staking is a way for cryptocurrency holders to earn rewards by participating in the security and operation of a blockchain network. It’s a key function of blockchains that use a “proof-of-stake” consensus mechanism. Instead of using powerful computers to solve complex puzzles (the “proof-of-work” method used by Bitcoin), proof-of-stake networks rely on users who “lock up” or “stake” a certain amount of their cryptocurrency.

By staking your crypto, you are essentially helping to validate and verify new transactions and create new blocks on the blockchain. In return for your participation and for keeping your crypto locked, the network rewards you with additional units of that cryptocurrency. This is similar to earning interest in a traditional savings account, but with the added risks and volatility of the crypto market.

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How Staking Rewards Are Taxed

According to the IRS, cryptocurrency is treated as property, not currency. This means that when you receive staking rewards, they are considered a form of income.

  • When to Report Income: You must include the fair market value of staking rewards in your gross income in the year you gain “dominion and control” over them. This generally means when you can sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of the rewards.
  • Calculating Fair Market Value: The amount of income you report is based on the fair market value of the cryptocurrency on the date you received it.
  • Filing Requirements: This income is typically reported on Form 1040, Schedule 1.

New for 2025: Broker Reporting and Form 1099-DA

Beginning January 1, 2025, there are significant changes to how cryptocurrency transactions are reported to the IRS.

  • Form 1099-DA: Crypto brokers and exchanges are now required to issue a new form, Form 1099-DA, to report digital asset sales and exchanges to both you and the IRS. For transactions in 2025, this form will report the gross proceeds from your sales.
  • Cost Basis Reporting: While brokers will report gross proceeds for 2025, they are not yet required to report your cost basis (the original value of your crypto plus any fees). This is scheduled to begin in 2026. Therefore, for your 2025 tax return, you will need to rely on your own records to calculate capital gains and losses.
  • Wallet-Level Accounting: The IRS now requires investors to track cost basis on a wallet-by-wallet basis, rather than using a universal accounting method.

Capital Gains and Losses

After you receive staking rewards and report them as income, any subsequent sale or exchange of that cryptocurrency is a separate taxable event.

  • Capital Gains: If you sell your staking rewards for more than their fair market value on the day you received them, you will realize a capital gain.
  • Short-Term vs. Long-Term: The tax rate on your capital gains depends on how long you held the asset before selling.
    • Short-Term: If you held the crypto for one year or less, your gain is taxed at your ordinary income tax rate.
    • Long-Term: If you held the crypto for more than one year, your gain is taxed at the lower long-term capital gains tax rates (0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your income).
  • Form 8949 and Schedule D: You will need to use Form 8949 and Schedule D to report your capital gains and losses.

*Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional tax advice. Book an appointment to discuss your specific situation.

MEET ROBERT P. RUSSO, CPA PC

As the founder and principal of Russo CPA, P.C, Bob pleasantly surprises clients (plus the IRS and lawyers) with his proactive, caring, and interested approach. Bob’s authentic passion for both numbers and people is why his accounting firm is sought after by everyone from solopreneurs to CFOs. And it’s what energizes his fast-growing team of top CPAs who follow his lead by providing impeccable service to clients – without the CPA geek speak.

The only thing geeky about Bob is his favorite reading material: the latest tax regulations, codes, and rulings (so he can secure every possible tax advantage for his clients). You might mistake Bob for the charismatic entrepreneur and CFO behind an internet travel startup or a visionary real estate developer. That’s because he held those roles during his 30-year career as an accountant, which began at a high-profile accounting firm. While CPAs aren’t required to have “field” experience, the best ones do. But Bob doesn’t define success by his own achievements, it’s what he achieves for his clients. Because of his entrepreneurial past, Bob relates so well to his clients. In addition to serious tax savings most firms would miss, he empowers his clients with real-world accounting and financial insights to increase business.

Bob is even results-driven outside of work, whether it’s finishing the 2012 NYC Iron Man or volunteering for 12 years as President of a kids’ soccer league. While his bottom-line results are always impressive, what matters to Bob are the people who benefit from them.

When he’s not immersed in accounting, Bob is with his family, cooking up elaborate 18-course meals or globetrotting.

Robert P Russo CPA PC
Certified Public Accountants
231 W. 29th Street (bet 7th & 8th Ave)
Suite 500
New York, NY 10001
O: 212-279-9800
C: 917-207-9278
F:866-396-2310
www.robertprussocpa.com 

THE IRA ADVANTAGE

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Article by Mark Robbins, J.D.

Copyright October 1, 2025, All Rights Reserved

When it comes right down to it, why would you make a down payment of 40%, 50% or even more on the purchase of real estate with your IRA money or other retirement funds, when you can buy the same property with a down payment of 20% or 25% of conventional funds?

In addition to the higher down payment requirements, the interest rates are higher for ‘non-recourse’ loans. The IRS requires the investor to use these specialty loans when buying real estate with funds that haven’t been taxed except in the case of a Roth IRA or some 401k’s. Most, if not all investors, ask these same questions. The main reasons are quite simple once you know and understand the facts involved in the transaction.

First and foremost, IRA money, is money you can set aside to invest in just about any type of investment you want to invest in. You can deduct the amount you put into your retirement account from the regular income you report to the IRS. This can be as much as $7000 if you’re under 50 years of age or $8000 if you’re over 50. If you’re self-employed you can put aside a lot more than that depending on your annual income. Whatever amount you decide to put into an IRA or 401K or other retirement account vehicle like a pension plan, you can deduct that amount from the income you earn on an annual basis. This will reduce the taxes you have to pay when it comes time to file your tax return. I’m sure that most of you reading here already know this? It is common knowledge.

Real estate is very tangible. You can see it, feel it, touch it and even stand on it. In general, real estate is a solid investment that stands the test of time. It goes up and down in value but in the long run, it almost always goes up in value. That goes for the income the rental property generates along with the value of the real estate itself.

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Before I get into the real tangible advantages of IRA investing in real estate, you should also keep in mind that it’s much easier to qualify for this type of loan than a conventional loan. The main qualifier for a ‘non-recourse’ loan is having a property that has a good enough rental income to exceed the monthly expenses by a minimum of 20-25%. However, with a conventional mortgage, more often than not, you have to show prior years’ tax returns, proof of your income, your assets and have a good credit score to get an acceptable interest rate. Therefore, this just makes investing your IRA in real estate that much more attractive.

Now to the main advantage(s) of this investment being more interesting and providing the strongest reasons for investing your retirement dollars in real estate than other risk related investments.

There are two types of tax categories when owning real estate in one’s self-directed IRA account. If you own the property in your Roth IRA account, you will not have to pay any taxes on the income the property generates or the capital gain profits you derive from the property when you sell it. If you own real estate in a Solo 401K, your income from the property and/or your capital gains when you sell it flow back to your account tax deferred until such time that you decide to withdraw the funds for personal use in retirement.

Most investors have self-directed IRA’s, not Roth IRA’s or 401K’s. Those investors with 401K’s usually cannot use them until they leave the company they work for. The exception to this is those investors who are self-employed and set up their own 401K called a Solo 401K or some other form of self-directed pension plan.

Since the majority of investors use their self-directed IRA’s to start their own portfolio of real estate investments. The tax advantages work according to the ownership percentage your IRA has based on what amount it took to buy the property. Simply put, let’s assume for example, that you buy a single-family rental property for $500,000? You put down 50% of the purchase price, i.e. $250,000 and you finance the other 50% with a ‘non-recourse’ loan of $250,000. The IRS requires that you not personally guarantee the money you borrow if you’re buying an investment property with your IRA money as was previously mentioned. That’s a primary rule of thumb. Hence, the requirement that the mortgage be a non-recourse mortgage, means the mortgage lienholder has no recourse against the IRA investor should the investor default on making the monthly payment(s) for any reason. The lender can only seize the property, nothing else.

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That said, in our example, your IRA owns 50% of the property that you purchased with the IRA funds. The 50% of the purchase price that the IRA borrowed represents the same percentage of the profits, if there are any after deducting expenses, that will be subject to taxes. Therefore, whatever monthly profit the property derives from the rental income will be taxed under the category known as ‘Unrealized Business Income Tax’ commonly referred to as UBIT, as follows:

1. The first $1000 of profit, after deducting all monthly expenses is tax deferred and goes back to the IRA, 2. The remaining 50% of the profit, after deducting all expenses, goes back into the IRA tax deferred, 3. The remaining 50% balance of the profit will be taxed at the Trust rate of 37%. For this example, if we assume a monthly profit of $2500 after deducting all expenses, the first $1000 goes to the IRA tax deferred (only for the first month of ownership), the remaining $1500 of profit is divided up with $750 going back to the IRA tax deferred and the remaining $750 of profit gets taxed at the Trust rate of 37%. That amounts to $277.50 in tax. Therefore, on a profit of $2500, you’re out of pocket $277.50 which is a net tax of 11% of your $2500 net profit.

If this was a conventional investment with no retirement account involved, your $2500 profit would be taxed as ordinary income. Whatever your ordinary income tax rate is after deducting your monthly expenses would be what you would pay in taxes. Hence, assuming an ordinary income tax rate of 25%, your tax on $2500 of profit (after expenses, of course) would be $625 or about 3 times more than if you used your IRA to make the same investment.

When it comes to selling the property you bought with your IRA, the second form of tax advantage that applies to any long-term capital gains when the property has been held for more than one year by your IRA is called ‘Unrealized Debt Financing’ (UDFI). The same formula described above that correlates to the percentage of ownership by the IRA versus the percentage of financing that remains owing is how the IRS quantifies what the tax on those gains will be. Simply stated, assuming a capital gain of $100,000 is realized in the sale of the IRA owned property and, also assuming the property still owes 20% of the original debt incurred when it was purchased, then 20% of the gain will be taxed at the long-term capital gain rate based on one’s taxable income rate. Based on those rates for 2025, most individual’s income tax bracket for income if married and filing jointly according to the world-wide web is between $96,701 and $600,050, the long term capital gain rate is 15%. That 15% rate also holds true for those who are single earning between $48,351 and $533,400 as well as those married earning between $48,351 and $300,000 filing separately. The capital gain rate jumps up to 20% on gains if your earnings exceed these numbers. Hence, for purposes of our example of a capital gain of $100,000 for the sale of the IRA owned property, 80% of that gain would go back to the IRA account tax deferred; only 20% of that gain, or $20,000, would be taxed at the capital gain rate of 15%. This would result in a tax of $3000 on a long-term capital gain of $100,000 for your IRA owned property.

Now if you experienced a capital gain of $100,000 on a property purchased with conventional funds, you would end up paying 15% of the total gain you realized. That would be $15,000 on a gain of $100,000. That’s 5 times higher than the tax you’d pay if the property is owned by the IRA, you see the math! There would not be any deduction for the percentage of ownership by an IRA. You bought it with conventional funds so you pay whatever the tax rate is. The gains are even more exponentially greater if you own the property in a Roth IRA where you don’t have any taxable requirements!

If you go back to the beginning of this article you can now better understand why, in the long term, it makes greater sense to invest your IRA in real estate if you have the necessary capital for the down payment, versus investing with conventional funds that don’t provide any tax relief despite the higher down payment requirements and/or the higher interest rates. Moreover, you are still able to deduct expenses with the IRA owned property which makes the gains less, and in turn, reduces the tax to be paid.

Of course, there are no guarantees when it comes to investing. One can lose money in real estate just as they do in the stock market or other investment vehicles, but real estate doesn’t disappear like stocks for example and, if nothing else, it can be used to create income by renting it out which cannot be done with stocks or bonds. However, that’s not what with this article is about or was meant to discuss. Every investment has its advantages and disadvantages. This article was meant simply to provide you, the investor, with the knowledge to invest wisely in real estate. Using one’s IRA to do so is an excellent option especially when you consider the way the gains are treated by the IRS tax code.

As you can surmise from what has been discussed here, the general formula for understanding how the IRS treats the gains from IRA owned property is this. The percentage of property ownership by the IRA is the same percentage of profits that go back into the IRA tax deferred. Only the percentage of ownership attributable to the borrowed or mortgage amount is what is taxed when it comes to determining the gains for the IRA. This is the advantage you don’t have with any other investment! I hope this explanation of the tax treatment for IRA owned properties helps you to better realize the benefits of holding real estate in your respective retirement accounts!*

*FOOTNOTE: Please note that the investor(s) should always consult their respective tax specialist about taxes in general. I am not an accountant, however, I have been facilitating non-recourse loans for real estate investors since they were first introduced to the public in 2004 by North American Saving Bank based in Kansas City, Missouri. My experience has given me a great deal of knowledge and understanding about this subject.

Meet Mark Robbins

Mark Robbins has pioneered non-recourse financing for IRA investors since leveraged financing became available to the public through a small bank in the Midwest in 2004. Since that time only a few select banks even offer these loans. He has established and maintained relationships with these lenders over the past twenty years.

Mark has obtained non-recourse loans, per IRS regulations, for numerous real estate investors in more than 30 states including Hawaii. Mark is a preferred provider for many of the IRA servicing companies including the Equity Trust Company, uDirect IRA, the Provident Trust Group, Entrust and many other IRA custodial and administrative providers for clients who require non-recourse financing for their IRA funded real estate investments.

Mark graduated from New York University in Bronx, New York with a B.A. in History and Western State College of Law in Fullerton, California with a Juris Doctorate (J.D.). Mark is an entrepreneur and has operated several different businesses over the past forty years including a division of a major commodities investment firm, his own hi-tech executive search company and presently a commercial real estate mortgage brokerage company known as Lending Resources Group Inc. that he founded in 2007.

He has been a real estate investor and developer having designed and built four homes since 1982. He became a mortgage banker in 2002 with Bank of America and went on to work for CTX Mortgage, a division of the home building company, Centex Corp., in Dallas. Mark was recruited to start an in-house mortgage division for a popular townhome development company in San Francisco in 2006. That firm dissolved in the wake of the financial crisis in 2007=2008. During his tenure in mortgage banking, Mark has generated more than $120 million in residential and commercial mortgages for homeowners and investors nationwide.

If you have any questions about how to invest your IRA in real estate, please contact Mark at 415-309-1803 or by email: [email protected]. You can also reference his website at: www.lendingresourcesgroup.com.

September’s Top 10 Celebrity Real Estate News: Sylvester Stallone, Sabrina Carpenter & Jennifer Lopez

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From TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

Sabrina Carpenter Heads To Manhattan
Sabrina Carpenter has released her new album Man’s Best Friend, and she will be both the host and a performer for the third episode of the new season of Saturday Night Live. And to celebrate, Sabrina recently purchased a $10.5 million duplex apartment in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood. The 2,910-square-foot apartment has four private terraces with an additional 973 square feet of outdoor space. Building amenities include a theater, wine cellar, a hot tub, a 75-foot lap pool, a theater, and a wine cellar. Clive Davis and Nicole Kidman have also been owners at Tribeca.  

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Tour Sylvester Stallone’s Palm Beach Home
Sylvester Stallone showed off his recently renovated Palm Beach home, memorabilia from his many films, and his art collection in an interview for the September/October edition of Veranda magazine. Stallone was one of Southern California’s busiest home buyers and sellers, including a home in Beverly Hills he sold to Adele for $58 million, a Pacific Palisades home designed by Paul Williams, an equestrian compound in Hidden Hills, and his La Quinta golf home. He was one of the first of the Hollywood celebrities to leave California for Florida in late 2020, when he paid $35.4 million for a waterfront home in Palm Beach. 

Staff Sgt. Addie Zinone, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Try Again
The Beverly Hills mansion that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck bought after their marriage to be their forever home has returned to the market for $52 million. Initially listed at $68 million with very little interest from prospective buyers, the now-divorced couple paid almost $61 million for the home in 2023. The 38,000-square-foot home has every feature anyone could imagine, including 24 bathrooms and indoor basketball and pickleball courts. 

Richard Gere’s Connecticut Home Demolished
The New Cannan, Connecticut home that Richard Gere sold to a real estate developer in 2024 for $10.75 million has been demolished. Richard bought the 8,800-square-foot home in 2022 from singer Paul Simon for $10.85 million. The 32-acre property will be subdivided for construction of nine homes. 

White House/Pete Souza, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

George Clooney’s Kentucky Home
George Clooney grew up in Augusta, Kentucky, about an hour from where his father, Nick Clooney, worked as a news anchor in Cincinnati. George’s parents continue to reside in Augusta, and rumors suggest that he and his wife, Amal Clooney, also own a nearby home. George has also owned an Italian villa on Lake Como since 2002 that is now worth about $100 million.

Johnny Carson’s Malibu Home Lists $110 Million
The over-the-top Malibu beach home where Johnny Carson lived from 1984 until his death in 2005 is for sale. Carson bought the 7,100-square-foot home with 300 feet of oceanfront for $9.5 million. The asking price is $110 million. 

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MLB Hall of Famer Greg Maddux’s San Diego Home
MLB Hall of Famer and longtime pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves, Greg Maddux has listed his San Diego home for $3.675 million. The four-bedroom home in the popular Sunset Cliffs neighborhood is located just one block from the beach, with beautiful ocean views.

Marilyn Monroe Home Saved from Demo
Marilyn Monroe purchased only one house during her 36-year lifetime when she bought a home in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood in early 1962—just a few months before her overdose death from sleeping pills. She paid $75,000 for the partially furnished home; her mortgage payments were only $320 a month. The current owners bought the home in 2023 for $8.35 million and planned to tear it down to expand their own next-door home. A judge has denied the current owners’ plan to demolish the home.

Sam Shaw, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ricky Martin’s Old Mansion Gets Fast Price Cut
Ricky Martin’s former Beverly Hills mansion recently came on the market for $75 million, and the price was quickly slashed to $49.95 million. Built in 1956, the 9,200-square-foot home on 2.37 acres has undergone a multi-year renovation. It was also once home to Michael Caine and to Doris Day’s family.

Alex Trebek’s Home Demolished & Replaced With Modern Farmhouse
Alex Trebek didn’t move around much. He was married to Jean Trebeck for 30 years, hosted Jeopardy! for 37 years, and lived almost 30 years in the same Studio City home. That Studio City home was sold for $8 million in 2022 and was then demolished and replaced with a 20,000-square-foot modern-style farmhouse. It is going on the market for $42 million.   

For more celebrity home news and celebrity home video tours, visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

From Speculation to Strategy How Smart Investors Build Real Estate Wealth Excerpt from Dirt Rich

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By Jose Berlanga

Every successful real estate investor starts somewhere, and it’s often with more questions than answers, more uncertainty than confidence. In my own journey, I discovered that the true game-changers are not flashy deals or quick wins, but the overlooked opportunities hiding in forgotten neighborhoods and undervalued parcels of land. What begins as speculation can, with vision and preparation, evolve into strategic wealth-building. At the heart of it all lies one timeless truth: the money is made when you buy.

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Hidden gems and untapped opportunities often go unnoticed. Initially, I navigated real estate transactions with tentative and uncertain steps, guided by a desire to profit without fully understanding how. Through the years, I developed a strategy focused on transforming old neighborhoods and capitalizing on great locations that had been forgotten. In my early real estate days, I built homes, a story detailed in my previous book. The essence of this tale lies in the properties I stumbled upon, which redefined 37 entire neighborhoods and transformed my finances. I realized that land itself, the soil beneath our feet, held immense value and potential. While I didn’t fully grasp the rapid increase in property values at the time, hindsight revealed the power of land appreciation. Imagine acquiring properties with the right vision, Imagine acquiring properties with the right vision, letting time pass, and watching them appreciate with minimal effort. Land speculation, especially in certain neighborhoods, offers the highest probability of rapid returns.

It’s a testament to the power of land, which is a silent yet potent force capable of elevating you to financial magnificence. Land is the core of superlative returns, and its potential for doubling or tripling your investment is unmatched in the real estate world. Power of Strategic Selection Ultimately, the primary goal of our business is selecting the right property. The question is, how? This decision shapes your strategy and objectives as an investor. Understanding your purpose for the land and estimating the time for the investment to reach its development potential is critical.

During this process, you will make choices that reflect the potential and characteristics of your goals. Let me illustrate this with the beginnings of my own real estate career. In the mid-1990s, my brother and I started a real estate venture with a clear purpose, which is essential for making all the pieces fit together. Our objective was to build houses at the lowest possible cost, providing a rare opportunity for consumers to purchase new homes near downtown areas at an affordable price. This involved speculative aspects: finding land cheap enough to build inexpensive houses while ensuring they remained desirable for buyers. Easier said than done! At that time, inner-city neighborhoods were rundown, contrasting with the beautifully designed suburban communities. Yet, a new opportunity seemed feasible.

What now seems like an obvious choice—to invest in early twentieth-century inner-loop neighborhoods—didn’t make much sense then. Remarkably, you could acquire lots for just a dollar or so per square foot. You had to have vision, as it seemed likely that your investment might stagnate indefinitely without appreciation. That was a significant risk. Some properties we purchased in various pockets and subdivisions took longer than others to gain traction. While we made some smart acquisitions, others weren’t immediately profitable. For example, we acquired several properties in an area known as the First Ward, which had stunning downtown skyline views, but it took over ten years to see any real appreciation. This illustrates that real estate involves time, risk, and potential for error. You need to be prepared for that. Just as you might strike oil on your first try, you could also face long periods without progress. However, the advantage with land is that you’re unlikely to lose your principal, especially as you gain experience and secure the right tenants.

Consider a property bought at land value for $100,000 with a $25,000 down payment. A tenant covers the property’s expenses, ensuring positive cash flow. Now, envision the area’s potential unfolds, and your dollar-per-square-foot investment grows to four dollars per square foot. Your $100,000 investment is now worth $400,000. With an initial $25,000 down payment, your investment has increased thirteenfold. Even if the value only doubles to two dollars per square foot, your $25,000 equity grows to $125,000—a fivefold increase. This is the power of leverage in land investment. These transformations in land speculation are not everyday occurrences, but they have a significant financial impact when they happen. I share this not just as a success story but as a real possibility.

Fast forward, and the properties I acquired cheaply now represent substantial value increases, currently worth $100 or more per square foot. This demonstrates the power of recognizing trends and capitalizing on societal changes. If I had known the extent of these returns, I would have held on to more properties instead of developing them for modest returns. Investors who waited patiently profited far more than we did as builders. Who could have known? In the future, we will discuss spotting and even creating trends to drive such transformations. This pattern has always existed; the key is recognizing potential pockets and aligning with a community’s metamorphosis.

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Let’s face it: within the realm of real estate, as with most investments, the timeless truth remains: “The money is made when you buy.” Success is determined upfront. Your investment’s outcome becomes more certain as you better understand what you’re buying. True wealth in real estate is created not by chance, but by deliberate choice, grounded in growing knowledge and strategic planning. This philosophy mirrors the ancient military strategies of Sun Tzu, who emphasized that the battle is won before it is fought. Similarly, in real estate, victory comes from thorough preparation and informed decisions.

Engaging in a transaction should only occur when success has been meticulously planned and the desired outcome is clear. Victory in real estate transactions lies in a series of intricate and carefully calculated steps aimed at achieving the projected win. Decisions driven by emotion and impulse, though sometimes guided by instinct, are insufficient for securing profit. I’ve made this mistake—relying on gut feelings instead of thorough evaluation. While I’ve had mixed results, relying on luck rather than facts is not a sustainable strategy.

Guessing lacks the detailed thought process and meticulous planning required for success. Beware of the enticing allure of cheap prices, reduced listings, or hot markets that can make every transaction seem like a home run. However, buying based on price alone isn’t wise. Instead, purchase because it makes sense and because the potential is evident through a thorough evaluation of the property’s fundamental economics. Soon, we’ll delve into what these fundamentals entail. While none of us can predict the future, the more I navigate the business world, the more I see history and commerce intertwine. Despite differences, past cycles offer 41 valuable lessons and data.

Business logic and philosophy evolve, but human behavior remains driven by fear and greed. Acting analytically, using common sense and information, can lead to wealth. Have you noticed that everyone buys property when the market is booming? This trend stems from our emotional nature rather than pragmatic analysis. The best deals often occur when the market is quiet—that’s when fortunes are made—yet few take advantage of this. We are emotional beings, prone to reactive decisions rather than proactive evaluations. I’ve made this mistake too, reacting to market trends instead of analyzing them, which led to failures.

A clear vision of your intentions, combined with working the numbers according to your specific objectives, is indispensable. When I started, I focused on whether a home’s final sales price would attract buyers. This valuation was key to my exit strategy. Numbers tell a story and become the blueprint for your goal and strategy, guiding you toward success. Becoming the architect of your results is the ultimate mission. A speculator’s goal is to narrow the gap between luck and certainty, reducing the margin of error. Opportunities in real estate are endless, but mastering this approach requires knowledge and skill, which I aim to share through this book. The main advice here is to conduct thorough research and make educated decisions. The key to success is to act based on data, not impulse.

Real estate wealth is not built on chance, it’s forged through deliberate strategy, clear vision, and disciplined preparation. While hot markets and bargain prices may easily tempt investors, lasting success comes from analyzing fundamentals, running the numbers, and buying with purpose. Just as Sun Tzu taught that battles are won before they are fought, real estate victories are secured long before the closing table. With patience, foresight, and informed decisions, overlooked land can become the foundation of extraordinary financial growth and long-term security.

DIRT RICH: EXPLORE THE WORLD OF LAND INVESTING AND DEVELOPMENT

Jose M. Berlanga

Berlanga Explores Land as the Foundation of Civilization and a Powerful Path to Wealth

In an era of rising interest in real estate, investment, and sustainability, Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development (September 16, 2025; $19.99) offers a fresh and powerful perspective on land, not just as an asset, but as the foundation of modern life.

Written by entrepreneur and investor Jose Berlanga, Dirt Rich draws on his decades of experience in land speculation and real estate development to illuminate the hidden blueprint behind the everyday, including the streets we drive, the neighborhoods we inhabit, the cities we build. With both practical insights and personal storytelling, Berlanga reveals how understanding land can unlock not only financial freedom but a deeper connection to the world around us.

“Have you ever wondered how your city came to be? From its industries and layout to its flow and function, nothing was accidental,” Berlanga writes. “This book reveals the hidden blueprint behind the everyday and how understanding it can empower you to shape your own corner of the world.”

Part entrepreneurial memoir, part field guide, and part cultural meditation, Dirt Rich is a timely and accessible read for aspiring investors, real estate professionals, and anyone curious about the forces that shape our environment. It challenges readers to see land not simply as dirt, but as opportunity, responsibility, and legacy.

Topics covered include:

  • How to evaluate, acquire, and develop land
  • The importance of due diligence and feasibility studies
  • Land use, urban planning, and community design
  • Real Estate tax Strategies, new design, construction and investment trends
  • Investing with purpose and vision in a rapidly changing world

“Land is not just a commodity. It is the raw material of civilization,” says Berlanga. “Dirt Rich is for anyone who wants to build something lasting, contribute to their community, and grow generational wealth.”

In a market filled with transactional advice, Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development stands out for its heart, humanity, and big-picture vision. It’s not just about making money. It’s about making meaning.

About the Author:

Jose M. Berlanga is a seasoned entrepreneur and real estate investor with over 35 years of experience in land development, residential construction, and strategic investing. A co-founder of Tricon Homes and a native on Mexico City, he combines backgrounds in business, economics, and philosophy to offer a thoughtful, visionary approach to building communities and wealth. Jose is the author of The Business of Home Building and now his latest book, Dirt Rich. He mentors aspiring developers through writing, workshops, and consulting, earning a reputation as a trust voice in real estate and leadership.

Title:                Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development

Author:           Jose M. Berlanga

Publisher:       Writers of the West

Price:               $19.99

On Sale:          September 16, 2025

ISBN:               9798280221468 (Softcover)

Land – The Investor’s Greatest Secret

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By Jose Berlanga

Every real estate venture begins with the same indispensable ingredient: land. Long before walls are raised or businesses open their doors, the ground beneath it all is fixed, finite, and full of potential. Land is the foundation; it’s the permanent fixture on which every possibility rests. While buildings deteriorate, markets fluctuate, and styles fade, land endures. Its permanence, scarcity, and resilience make it one of the most powerful wealth-building assets available to investors.

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At the very core of every real estate venture lies the piece of land on which it is built. Whether it’s a residential property, a commercial complex, or an industrial facility, every project begins with the acquisition of land. Land is the starting point, the foundation that holds the potential for endless possibilities. While improvements and structures may come and go, the land remains a permanent fixture, undeterred by the ravages of time. Unlike buildings or structures, land is unique and irreplaceable. Each parcel of land possesses distinct characteristics, from its location and topography to its surrounding environment.

This uniqueness contributes to its scarcity and, in turn, adds to its value. The law of supply and demand comes into play, especially in urban areas where available space is limited, driving up its desirability and potential for appreciation. Investing in land also offers certain tax advantages. Property taxes on land are typically lower than those levied on developed properties because taxes on improvements are separate and added to the taxes on the land they occupy. In some areas, there are even strategies to further minimize or eliminate property taxes altogether, which we will discuss later.

Additionally, the appreciation of land often outpaces the taxes, making it a financially viable investment in the long run. Land is often considered a long-term investment asset. While buildings may depreciate over time and become obsolete, land retains its value and, unlike structures, tends to appreciate with increasing demand and urban expansion. Savvy investors recognize the potential of land as a valuable asset that can serve as a stable and profitable long-term investment. The real estate market is subject to fluctuations and economic downturns, which can affect property values and investor confidence. However, land is less susceptible to such market volatility. Its intrinsic value remains more constant, less influenced by shifts in trends or economic cycles. This stability offers investors a sense of security and a reliable investment option.

Contrary to the common notion that real estate investment necessitates immediate development, owning land opens up various profit-making opportunities without the need for extensive construction or renovations. Strategic land acquisition can result in substantial profits through land flipping or holding for appreciation. Land stands as a headache-free asset, offering investors and developers a stable, low-maintenance option. Its uniqueness, limited supply, and long-term investment potential make it an attractive choice for maximizing returns and unlocking the true value of this timeless asset. Here’s the thing: while it’s true that all real estate appreciates, land appreciates faster than all other real estate components. Improvements—such as buildings or structures—are integral to most investment models, but they do not hold the same level of unique importance as land itself. Improvements can always be replaced, removed, updated, or remodeled, but land cannot. The scarcity of the surface where these improvements sit is unparalleled. No piece of land can be replaced or replicated in exactly the same location, as each one possesses its own unique characteristics.

It’s safe to say that in every real estate investment, the portion that experiences the bulk of appreciation percentagewise is the land. While we tend to think of entire properties—houses, apartments, commercial or office buildings—as appreciating, it’s primarily the land that drives this appreciation, especially due to location.

For example, a house built in a thriving, up-and-coming inner-city neighborhood will appreciate exponentially faster than the same structure built in a remote area with low economic growth. Now let’s discuss what improvements represent. Improvements require constant upkeep and maintenance. You regularly need to spend money just to keep them in good shape. I’m not suggesting that improvements are a burden or that they aren’t a great investment—because they are. The point is that they require more active involvement than land itself. Their value and function revolve around the importance of the land they sit on. And unless you reinvest a portion of the income generated by improvements, those improvements will depreciate due to wear and tear.

This is why improvements are considered depreciable assets in both accounting and taxation. One of the most attractive aspects of land ownership is the minimal maintenance it requires. The list of perks of owning land is long: you don’t have to worry about theft, break-ins, damage, termites, foundation problems, or structural issues. There’s no need for roof replacements, new air conditioning units, plumbing repairs, electrical upgrades, or replacing hardware. You won’t get calls from tenants needing urgent repairs, nor do you need to worry about flooding, natural disasters, or casualty insurance.

Land doesn’t suffer from deterioration, doesn’t need new coats of paint or insulation upgrades, and won’t go out of style or feel outdated. Unlike structures, which inevitably experience wear and tear, land requires none of this. Landowners are spared the headaches of ongoing repairs and maintenance that often plague property owners. And there are even ways to generate income without any of these hassles by leasing land for various purposes. To make my point clear, under certain circumstances and in some particular cases, once you understand the business, you can even buy land without actually ever stepping foot on it.

I have purchased tons of properties and constantly continue doing so without visiting them, seeing them or even driving by them. There is simply no need because there are no structures of value to inspect. Looking at them on a map and understanding the location is enough. Additionally, land itself may provide other valuable assets, such as water rights, mineral rights, and outdoor space. Land offers flexibility for future uses, allowing you to capitalize on potential changes down the road. Leasing land has become more popular than ever for activities such as farming, commercial ground leases, storage, recreational purposes, and more—all of which can generate profits without the headaches associated with traditional property management.

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Land is the most tangible asset—one that will never disappear or evaporate like a bad stock pick or a company that went out of business. There are even innovative ways to profit from land while helping the planet through “green leasing programs,” using farmland for windmills, water conservation, solar panels, and capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Land gives you options, and as populations grow, demand increases. This simple statement alone can make you money, as the money supply increases and wealth grows, but land remains constant.

At its core, real estate wealth is not about bricks, beams, or blueprints. It’s about the ground they stand on. Improvements may bring short-term value, but they also bring expense and eventual decline. Land, by contrast, requires little, depreciates not at all, and steadily grows in worth as populations and demand rise. For those seeking lasting wealth, the true treasure is not in what’s built, but in the land itself, fixed, finite, and forever valuable.

DIRT RICH: EXPLORE THE WORLD OF LAND INVESTING AND DEVELOPMENT

Jose M. Berlanga

Berlanga Explores Land as the Foundation of Civilization and a Powerful Path to Wealth

In an era of rising interest in real estate, investment, and sustainability, Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development (September 16, 2025; $19.99) offers a fresh and powerful perspective on land, not just as an asset, but as the foundation of modern life.

Written by entrepreneur and investor Jose Berlanga, Dirt Rich draws on his decades of experience in land speculation and real estate development to illuminate the hidden blueprint behind the everyday, including the streets we drive, the neighborhoods we inhabit, the cities we build. With both practical insights and personal storytelling, Berlanga reveals how understanding land can unlock not only financial freedom but a deeper connection to the world around us.

“Have you ever wondered how your city came to be? From its industries and layout to its flow and function, nothing was accidental,” Berlanga writes. “This book reveals the hidden blueprint behind the everyday and how understanding it can empower you to shape your own corner of the world.”

Part entrepreneurial memoir, part field guide, and part cultural meditation, Dirt Rich is a timely and accessible read for aspiring investors, real estate professionals, and anyone curious about the forces that shape our environment. It challenges readers to see land not simply as dirt, but as opportunity, responsibility, and legacy.

Topics covered include:

  • How to evaluate, acquire, and develop land
  • The importance of due diligence and feasibility studies
  • Land use, urban planning, and community design
  • Real Estate tax Strategies, new design, construction and investment trends
  • Investing with purpose and vision in a rapidly changing world

“Land is not just a commodity. It is the raw material of civilization,” says Berlanga. “Dirt Rich is for anyone who wants to build something lasting, contribute to their community, and grow generational wealth.”

In a market filled with transactional advice, Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development stands out for its heart, humanity, and big-picture vision. It’s not just about making money. It’s about making meaning.

About the Author:

Jose M. Berlanga is a seasoned entrepreneur and real estate investor with over 35 years of experience in land development, residential construction, and strategic investing. A co-founder of Tricon Homes and a native on Mexico City, he combines backgrounds in business, economics, and philosophy to offer a thoughtful, visionary approach to building communities and wealth. Jose is the author of The Business of Home Building and now his latest book, Dirt Rich. He mentors aspiring developers through writing, workshops, and consulting, earning a reputation as a trust voice in real estate and leadership.

Title:                Dirt Rich: Explore the World of Land Investing and Development

Author:           Jose M. Berlanga

Publisher:       Writers of the West

Price:               $19.99

On Sale:          September 16, 2025

ISBN:               9798280221468 (Softcover)

Discover the Latest Insight, News and Investing Strategies at a Realty411 LIVE Event Near You

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Please review this important post. Thank you.

Network with Sophisticated Investors from Across the State and Nation at Realty411’s Next THREE Live Events in California

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce our new “Realty411’s Invest with Confidence Expo” Tour, which starts next month in Santa Clara, California — the heart of Silicon Valley.

Next, we will be hosting our event in beautiful Santa Barbara, known as the American Riviera. This area is great for a wonderful weekend escape. We have guests joining us from around the state and throughout the country.

We’ll be back in Southern California on December 6th to celebrate our latest magazine release in Pasadena. Our special holiday expo will have amazing insight and networking. We are planning ahead and preparing our readers for a prosperous New Year!

Guests who join us at our Invest with Confidence Expos will gain specialized knowledge and learn diverse investing subjects. We have reserved fantastic venues, perfect spaces to learn and grow in your knowledge of wealth-building, life-changing principles.

We have also secured complimentary parking at two events and discounted parking for our third expo in Pasadena. Our special one-day conferences will host fantastic speakers from around the country and locally as well.

These professionals are ready to share their valuable insight with our guests. So be sure to register today and join the fun! We hope YOU can attend one of our events or ALL three of them.

NEW Realty411 Events

Oct. 25th – Silicon Valley, CA
Nov. 15th – Santa Barbara, CA
Dec. 6th – Pasadena, CA

Some of the Awesome Educators Joining Us Include*:

Ken Letourneau – “The Tax Sale Master”
Presenting at all three events!

Merrill Chandler – Get Fundable
Speaking at all three events!

Michael Ryan – Mortgage Broker
Presenting at all three events!

Mark Chaw – Zoom Casa
Speaking in Santa Clara

Marcella Silva – Dirt is Gold
Presenting in Santa Clara

Kris Miller – Legacy Wealth Strategist
Speaking in Santa Clara

Ryan Chow, PharmD – Investor/Coach
Speaking in Santa Clara and Pasadena

Mark Robbins, JD – Lending Resources Group
Educator for Santa Clara Event

DaShunda Morris – Realtor and Pro Rehabber
Speaking in Pasadena

Barry Duron – AltLender Mortgage
Exhibitor in Santa Barbara & Pasadena

Devon Aguirre – PadSplit
Speaking in Pasadena

Amanda Hart – Easy Street Lending
Speaking in Santa Barbara

Trevor Flor, MBA, MSRE – Aimpoint Investments
Speaking in Santa Barbara

Michael Morrongiello – BAWB.info
Emcee/Host for Santa Clara Event

Rick Tobin – Real Loans
Exhibitor – Emcee
Santa Barbara – Pasadena

Dan Ringwald – SB REIA
Exhibitor – Emcee
Pasadena – Santa Barbara

Paul Wilkins – AIC
Approved Inheritance Cash
Exhibitor – Emcee
Santa Barbara – Pasadena

Dana Ehrlich– ENRG.realty
Exhibitor/Mentor in Pasadena

Scott Mednick – Twin Creeks Capital
Exhibitor and Emcee in Pasadena

PLUS, MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

*Please note our speaker schedule may change due to unforeseen circumstances.

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