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Why Zoning Due Diligence is Mission-Critical for Industrial and Logistics Properties

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By Alan Hall

Defined by tight delivery windows, 24/7 operations, and increasingly sophisticated tenant demands, zoning due diligence has become one of the most consequential components of a successful acquisition or development of an industrial or logistics property. Yet it remains among the most underestimated.

Stakeholders often assume that if a property “looks industrial,” zoning will support industrial operations. As many buyers and lenders discover the hard way, this assumption can derail closings, delay occupancy, and expose owners and tenants to long-term operational and financial risks.

“Industrial assets tend to look deceptively simple,” said Alan Hall, vice president of Zoning Solutions at LightBox. “But zoning determines whether a facility can actually operate as intended, expand over time, or even survive a tenant change. That risk is easy to overlook until it’s too late.”

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Industrial and logistics properties carry unique zoning hazards that differ materially from typical commercial assets. Heavy truck circulation, outdoor storage requirements, specialized operating hours, and rapidly evolving design standards all collide with local zoning codes that were often drafted decades ago with vastly different industrial profiles in mind. This mismatch creates fertile ground for surprises, many of which can only be identified through meticulous, expert zoning analysis.

“Industrial assets are attractive because the economic value proposition feels straightforward,” said Carl Groner of Palisades Property Trust. “But the zoning issues tied to use, access, and entitlement are often far more complex than they appear. What looks like a simple box can contain constraints that limit current operations or eliminate future value-added potential.”

The risks become most apparent in a handful of recurring scenarios. Below are two of the most common and consequential zoning pitfalls, along with examples of how they can derail a transaction or impair an asset’s long-term performance.

Non-Conforming Use: The Silent Deal-Killer

Among the zoning risks that catch industrial buyers off guard, non-conforming use is both the most common and the most dangerous, often hiding behind years of uninterrupted operations and assumed compliance.

A surprising number of warehouses, manufacturing plants, and logistics hubs operate legally only because they pre-date current zoning regulations. These uses may be “grandfathered,” but they often lack replacement rights meaning the right to rebuild or resume operations after a change in use, operational modification, vacancy, or casualty.

Consider this scenario:

A buyer acquires a distribution center operating as a legal non-conforming use. The tenant intends to modernize the facility with improved dock configurations, expanded trailer parking, and upgraded mechanical systems. Following closing, the tenant applies for building permits only to discover that even minor modifications trigger zoning compliance requirements. Suddenly, the municipality determines that the use is not permitted under current zoning and cannot be expanded or altered.

The consequences cascade quickly:

  • Operating restrictions may limit hours, truck intensity, or sub-uses essential for tenant viability.
  • Lender concerns emerge when the use cannot be legally confirmed, reducing collateral certainty.
  • Asset value falls sharply because future leasing is constrained by entitlement risk.
  • Insurance complications arise if the structure cannot be rebuilt in its current configuration following a casualty loss.

What initially appeared to be a straightforward acquisition becomes a distressed asset scenario—all because the underlying zoning status was not fully vetted prior to closing.

Truck Circulation and Access Requirements: Geometry Meets Regulation

A second area where zoning problems routinely surface involves truck circulation and access standards. Municipalities increasingly impose turning-radius standards, access spacing from intersections, and designated truck routes.
These requirements can render an otherwise attractive industrial property functionally obsolete, especially for modern logistics tenants who rely on high-volume, fast-turnaround truck activity.

Scenario to consider

Imagine a cross-dock facility on a site constrained by public roads and adjacent development. During due diligence, everything appears operationally sound—ample pavement, multiple ingress points, and a history of industrial use. But a zoning compliance review uncovers that the existing truck entrances fail to meet current spacing requirements from the nearest intersection. Under today’s code, the site would be required to relocate its primary truck access point dozens or even hundreds of feet, an impossible reconfiguration given the surrounding built environment.

The fallout can be substantial:

  • Loss of truck access may render the facility unusable for Class A logistics operations.
  • Retrofits if even feasible, can require costly easements, road widening, or signalization improvements.
  • Municipal approvals may trigger a formal site-plan amendment, reopening issues such as screening, landscaping, and parking requirements.
  • Tenant agreements tied to throughput capability may be breached, exposing ownership to claims or vacancy risk.

Truck-related zoning issues often hide in plain sight. Without a dedicated zoning expert, buyers may not recognize that minor-seeming dimensional standards or access regulations can completely undermine the operational viability of the facility.

Why Experienced Zoning Providers Are Essential

“Zoning diligence for industrial assets isn’t a box-checking exercise,” Hall noted. “It’s about understanding how real-world operations intersect with codes that were often written for a very different era of industrial use.”

Experienced zoning analysts know where problems typically hide: sub-use restrictions, outdoor storage limitations, overlay districts, parking ratios, and unverified Certificates of Occupancy, to name just a few. They also understand how jurisdictions apply their codes in practice, which can be as important as what the code says on paper.

Goner noted that experienced zoning providers play a critical role in identifying and managing these risks early in the transaction process. At Palisades Property Trust, that work is handled through LightBox’s PZR zoning due diligence platform.

“PZR is best in class at clearly characterizing complex zoning issues,” Groner said. “That clarity allows us to sidestep pitfalls early in the process and move forward with confidence, even when a site presents regulatory challenges.”

In a capital environment where speed matters and entitlement risk is difficult to price, the cost of overlooking zoning issues far outweighs the investment in a thorough review. Industrial investors, developers, lenders, and corporate occupiers have learned that the most profitable deals are often the ones with the fewest surprises—and zoning-related surprises are among the costliest.

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Zoning Due Diligence Protects Industrial Asset Value

As industrial and logistics facilities evolve to meet modern supply-chain demands, zoning risk is rising in parallel. A property may appear to be an ideal acquisition target, but without expert zoning due diligence, buyers cannot be confident they can legally operate, expand, or re-lease the asset.

The message for the market is clear: zoning is no longer a procedural step in diligence. It is a strategic discipline that protects value, enables operations, and determines whether industrial assets can adapt over time.

Alan Hall, Senior Account Executive at LightBox PZR.

Alan Brings over 20 years of commercial due diligence experience and a wealth of experience in sales leadership roles in the commercial real estate industry. Alan led national sales for Old Republic Commercial Due Diligence Services, a nationwide provider of all third-party Due Diligence Services. Prior to that he managed the central U.S. as a Qualified Intermediary for OREXCO 1031, Old Republic National Title’s IRC § 1031 Exchange company.

The One Investment That Can’t Be Hacked, Deleted, or Bankrupted 🔒

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Heyyy Friend! Happy Day!

My friend and trusted land banking expert, Marcella Silva, is putting together an informational webinar on the one investment that never goes out of style — and I’d love for you to be there.

It’s called “The Basis of All Wealth,” and I’m hosting it on July 16th at 11am Pacific.

Here’s why I think this matters right now:

Most portfolios today are built on things that only exist as numbers on a screen. Stocks. Apps. Crypto. They can crash overnight, get hacked, or simply disappear.

But land?

Land is the ultimate “un-hackable” asset. Everything — every building, every road, every community, every data center — needs it. And they aren’t making any more of it.

In this session, we’re going back to basics:

• Why land is the ultimate inflation-proof asset

• How to position yourself in the path of tremendous growth where you own the asset everyone needs

• Why strategic land banking means owning a real asset that has No Tenants, No Toilets, and No Termites

• How investors are using Self-Directed IRAs and 1031 Exchanges to make their money work even harder

July 16th | 11am Pacific Time

👉 Save your seat here: https://dirtisgold.com/events/

Register even if you can’t attend live — the replay will go straight to your inbox.

See you there! ✨

Download Today

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Since 2007, Realty411.com has assisted top companies expand their visibility and grow their business. Contact us for a complimentary marketing session: CLICK HERE.

Transform Your Money Mindset to Unlock Financial Freedom and Success

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By Beth Harris

For busy professionals and parents managing bills, savings, and big family decisions, the hardest financial success challenges often start long before a spreadsheet. Negative money beliefs like “I’m just not good with money,” “more income will fix everything,” or “saving means missing out” can steer everyday choices off course and quietly undermine long-term financial goals. When those stories run the show, even solid plans get replaced by avoidance, quick comfort spending, or perfectionism that stalls action. A money mindset transformation begins by recognizing these patterns clearly and consistently.

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Understanding Money Biases and Beliefs

Your money mindset is shaped by two forces working together: cognitive biases and emotional money beliefs. Biases like immediate gratification, overconfidence, loss aversion, and reacting too strongly to headlines can steer choices even when you “know better.” One clue is how common overconfidence is, since as many as 80% of drivers consider themselves to be above average.

This matters because you can’t out-budget a brain that keeps rewriting the rules under stress. When you spot the pattern in real time, you can pause, choose a smaller next step, and stay consistent.

Imagine a bonus arrives and you plan to save it. A sale triggers instant reward, news sparks panic, and a recent loss makes “playing it safe” feel urgent, so the plan disappears. With this foundation, career moves can become a practical lever for lasting financial confidence.

Use a Career Reset to Raise Income and Rebuild Confidence

Once you’ve named the beliefs and biases shaping your money decisions, you can choose a change that proves a new story about what you’re capable of. A job or career shift can be a powerful mindset reset because it forces you to match your income with your values and long-term goals, rather than staying in a role that quietly reinforces scarcity or self-doubt. When you map roles that better fit where you want to go, you start seeing earning power as something you can build, not something you’re simply “given.” That shift often brings more than a bigger paycheck: it rebuilds confidence, expands your sense of opportunity, and makes investing in yourself feel practical instead of indulgent.

Education can be part of that reset, especially when online degree programs make it easier to keep earning while you study full-time or manage family responsibilities. For example, an accredited online MBA can strengthen leadership, strategic planning, financial management, and data-driven decision-making, skills that translate across many business environments and can support a higher-earning path. With that career direction in view, the next step is to turn your new mindset into small, repeatable actions you can practice day by day.

Weekly Money-Confidence Rituals That Stick

These habits turn a fresh money mindset into repeatable proof you can trust yourself with finances. When you practice them daily or weekly, confidence grows from evidence, not willpower.

Two-Minute Money Self-Talk Scan
● What it is: Practice being aware of your self-talk when you feel money stress.
● How often: Daily
● Why it helps: You catch scarcity scripts before they drive impulsive choices.

Weekly “Win and Lesson” Money Log
● What it is: Write one win and one lesson from your money week.
● How often: Weekly
● Why it helps: It trains progress focus instead of perfectionism.

24-Hour Pause for Unplanned Buys
● What it is: Delay non-urgent purchases and add them to a wish list.
● How often: As needed
● Why it helps: It creates space for values based decisions.

Automatic “Pay-Yourself-First” Transfer
● What it is: Schedule a small transfer to savings right after payday.
● How often: Every payday
● Why it helps: Consistency builds identity as a saver.

Spending Guardrails You Can Repeat
● What it is: Use self-control strategies like cash limits for flexible categories.
● How often: Weekly
● Why it helps: Guardrails reduce decision fatigue and prevent drift.

Apply the Earn-More/Save-More Playbook This Month

Mindset shifts stick faster when you can point to real-world wins: a little more income, a little less waste, and a clear plan for what the difference is for. Use the steps below to create quick momentum without relying on willpower.

1. Run a 30-minute “money leak audit”: Pull the last 30 days of spending and highlight anything that didn’t support your real priorities, subscriptions, delivery, impulse buys, bank fees. Choose one leak to pause for 30 days and redirect that exact amount to a specific goal. This works because it turns “spending guilt” into a clean experiment, which pairs well with the weekly ritual of dropping shame and focusing on behavior you can repeat.

2. Build a one-page “default budget” you can follow on autopilot: Set three numbers: (1) bills you must pay, (2) a weekly spending limit for flexible categories, and (3) a minimum automatic transfer to savings or debt. Then simplify categories to 5–7 buckets so you can review in 10 minutes each week. Autopilot reduces decision fatigue, which helps you manage money emotions before they become “I blew it, so why try?” spirals.

3. Create a side-income sprint with a tiny offer and a deadline: Pick one skill you already use at work or home (writing, organizing, tutoring, basic design, handy tasks) and package it into a simple, fixed-scope offer you can deliver in 2–4 hours. Set a goal to land one paying client in 14 days by sending 10 tailored messages to your network and posting one clear “here’s what I do + price + availability” note. Small, fast wins build tolerance for discomfort, the same muscle you’re strengthening in your confidence rituals.

4. Ask for more at your main income source (without making it awkward): Draft a one-page “value recap” with 3–5 measurable outcomes you’ve delivered, then propose either a raise, additional hours, or a new responsibility with a pay bump. If a raise isn’t possible, ask for something concrete that still improves cash flow like a stipend, overtime access, or schedule changes that enable a side gig. Treat this as practice in replacing limiting beliefs with evidence: you’re not “bad with money,” you’re building earning power.

5. Set one financial goal and break it into milestones you can hit weekly: Choose a goal that matters this month, $500 starter emergency fund, $300 toward a trip, an extra debt payment, and convert it into 4 weekly targets and 2–3 “if-then” rules. A planning approach like breaking down larger goals keeps the goal from feeling vague or overwhelming, which reduces panic spending and makes progress visible.

6. Add a “shared scoreboard” check-in if money is a household topic: If you share bills or goals, agree on one shared view of accounts, balances, and targets, then do a 15-minute weekly review: what changed, what’s coming up, what one action will help. The stat that families tracking finances together report stronger goal follow-through is less about the tool and more about reducing misunderstandings and keeping priorities aligned.

Money Mindset Questions People Ask Most

Q: What does the “money mindset” actually change in my day-to-day finances?
A: It changes the choices you make when you feel stressed, bored, or behind. A helpful mental state can make it easier to follow a plan you already know is smart. Start small by deciding one default rule, like “I wait 24 hours before nonessential purchases.”

Q: How do I shift my mindset if I’m living paycheck to paycheck?
A: Focus on control, not perfection: one bill paid on time, one fee avoided, one small buffer built. Pick a tiny weekly target you can repeat, even if it is $5 saved or one call to negotiate a bill. Consistency builds confidence faster than big promises.

Q: Why do I feel like “I blew it” after one bad spending day?
A: That all-or-nothing feeling is common and it is a cue to reset, not quit. Write a one-sentence recovery plan: “I pause extras for 3 days and transfer $10 to my goal.” Then treat the slip as data about triggers, not a character flaw.

Q: When should I prioritize debt payoff versus savings?
A: Many people do best with both: a small emergency cushion plus steady debt payments. A starter buffer helps you avoid new debt when life happens. Choose one number for each, automate it, and adjust after two pay cycles.

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Build a Long-Term Financial Success Mindset With One Trackable Step

It’s easy to know what to do with money and still feel stuck because old stories, fear, or guilt keep steering the wheel. The way forward is a long-term financial success mindset built on reflection on money beliefs and practical application of mindset principles in daily choices. When that approach is practiced consistently, it becomes easier to sustain money mindset changes, recover faster from setbacks, and keep motivation for financial growth rooted in progress rather than perfection. Change the belief, then prove it with small actions repeated. Choose one step to take now and track it for 30 days with a simple weekly check-in. That steady rhythm builds resilience, stability, and more confident decision-making over time.

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.

Finding Balance When Moving Near Family Without Losing Yourself

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By Gwen Payne

For mid-career professionals and busy parents weighing relocating near family, the pull is real: stronger support networks, easier childcare, and a steadier work-life balance. The tension is just as real, because changing zip codes can also change family dynamics, expectations, and the space that maintaining personal independence requires. The emotional challenges of moving often show up as guilt, pressure to be available, or worry about losing momentum in work and friendships. With the right approach, it’s possible to stay close, stay capable, and stay in charge of daily life.

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Plan Your Move Near Family Without Losing Autonomy

This process helps you move closer to family while keeping your routines, privacy, and decision-making intact. It matters because proximity can bring real support, but only if expectations are clear and your day-to-day life still works for you.

  1. Define your “independence needs” in writing
    Start with a short list of non-negotiables like alone time, work hours, financial boundaries, and how often you want visits. Add your support goals too, such as occasional childcare help or shared dinners. Writing this down turns vague worries into clear requirements you can act on.
  2. Choose a neighborhood based on friction, not just distance
    Pick an area that keeps your daily life easy: commute time, school or daycare options, errands, and access to your own friends and activities. Aim for “close enough to help, far enough to breathe” by considering travel time and traffic at the hours you will actually visit. This protects independence because convenience affects how often people drop in.
  3. Compare housing options with boundaries built in
    Review layouts and setups that naturally support privacy, like separate entrances, a guest room with a door, or enough space for remote work. If you are considering living very close or on the same property, confirm how you will handle keys, parking, and quiet hours. The right home reduces daily negotiation and prevents small issues from becoming ongoing tension.
  4. Set expectations early using simple, repeatable scripts
    Have one calm conversation before you move and cover three topics: how often you will see each other, what help you can and cannot provide, and how you will handle last-minute requests. Use clear language like, “We love being nearby, and we will usually plan visits 2 to 3 days ahead.” Consistent wording lowers guilt and keeps discussions from becoming personal.
  5. Create a 30-day trial plan and adjust together
    Agree on a light first-month routine: one or two standing touchpoints, an emergency definition, and one protected family-free block each week. At the end of the month, review what felt supportive versus draining, then tighten or loosen the plan. A short trial period makes it easier to change course without drama.

Turn the Move Into a Career Reset With Research-Backed Insight

Once you’ve set up the logistics and boundaries that protect your autonomy, you can use the move itself as a clean break to realign work with the life you want near family. Changing careers during relocation can be a genuine reset: it’s a chance to choose roles that better match your personal priorities while still supporting flexibility, growth, and independence. That matters because many adults are navigating real constraints, caregiving demands, limited local options, and the simple fact that where you live can narrow what’s realistic.

At the same time, studies suggest that as burnout and dissatisfaction rise, many employers are leaning more on external hiring instead of developing the talent they already have, widening skills gaps and reducing growth opportunities for both workers and organizations. In that environment, your best path forward is often the one you intentionally map for yourself using evidence-based guidance about common barriers and how to work around them; resources like career help at University of Phoenix can help you ground a pivot in what adult workers typically face.

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Build a New Rhythm: Habits That Boost Life and Work

A move closer to family can be a powerful career reset and a personal reset, if you put a simple rhythm in place early. Use the habits below to protect your focus, grow your network, and stay grounded while everything is still in motion.

  1. Design a “Week 1” work-from-home setup: Pick one spot as your default workspace, set a start/stop time, and run a quick test day before you commit to a full week. Write down your top three work requirements, quiet, calls, reliable internet, and solve those first so you’re not constantly improvising. If family is nearby, set an “office hours” boundary from day one (for example, no drop-ins during your core meeting block).
  2. Use a transition schedule, not a perfect schedule: For the first 4–6 weeks, plan in “minimums” that keep life running: 3 priority work tasks per day, 2 admin blocks per week (mail, registrations, appointments), and 1 recovery block that’s non-negotiable. This supports the career pivot work you mapped earlier because it keeps your energy going to the skills and connections that matter, not to endless errands. If a day blows up, you still complete your minimums and move on without needing to “catch up” all weekend.
  3. Choose one skill lane and learn in tiny reps: Re-read the career barriers you identified (time limits, location limits, caregiving demands) and pick one skill that directly reduces them, like a remote-friendly skill, a certification, or stronger communication habits. Commit to 20 minutes, three times a week, and keep a running “proof list” (projects, metrics, before/after examples) for your resume or portfolio. The fact that the professional development market size is valued at USD 56.89 billion is a good reminder that ongoing learning isn’t extra, it’s part of how people stay competitive.
  4. Build local networking opportunities with a two-list plan: Create two lists: “career people” (your industry, hiring managers, peers) and “life people” (neighbors, hobby groups, parents, community members). Each week, aim for one coffee chat or meetup from either list, plus one follow-up message to someone you already met. Keep it low-pressure by using a simple ask: “I’m new to the area, what’s one organization or event that’s helped you meet good people?”
  5. Join one community engagement commitment with a role: Pick a recurring activity that makes you useful, a committee, a volunteer shift, a class helper, because roles create repeat interactions and faster belonging. Research on sense of belonging connects it with well-being, and the practical takeaway is simple: show up consistently where people know your name. Start with a 60–90 day trial so you can quit guilt-free if it’s not a fit.
  6. Set “closeness rules” before you need them: Decide what you can offer family (one dinner a week, a Saturday errand run, a standing call) and what you can’t (unplanned weekday visits, last-minute childcare during work hours). Put your default in writing, text is fine, so it feels like a shared plan, not a personal rejection. This keeps your independence intact and prevents small favors from quietly becoming a second job.

Real Questions About Moving Near Family

Q: How do I stay close to family without losing personal space?
A: Choose distance on purpose: your own place if possible, or at least a private room and a “do not disturb” signal. Set visiting windows you can sustain, like one weekly meal plus a short weekend check-in. When you protect solitude early, closeness feels optional instead of consuming.

Q: What if my career takes a hit after the move?
A: Keep your job story simple and forward-looking: you moved for family and you are building stability to do your best work. Update your LinkedIn location, schedule two networking chats per month, and pick one skill to build in small weekly reps. Momentum comes from consistency, not a perfect plan.

Q: How do I handle caregiving without it becoming my full-time job?
A: Start with a caregiving menu: what you can do, what you cannot do, and what requires notice. The reality that 60% of family caregivers are employed is a reminder that boundaries are normal, not selfish. Ask the family to agree on backup options before a crisis hits.

Q: When should I talk about expectations with relatives?
A: Do it before you arrive or during your first week, while everything still feels “new.” Use specifics like time blocks, holidays, money, and childcare so nobody relies on assumptions. Put the basics in a shared text thread so the plan is easy to revisit.

Q: How can I tell if I’m making the right choice when doubts pop up?
A: Doubt is a data point, not a verdict, so write down what exactly you fear: loneliness, work disruption, or family pressure. Run a 90-day experiment with clear measures like income, stress, and relationship quality, then reassess. It also helps to remember moving for family-related reasons is the second most common motivation so you are not alone in weighing this.

Balancing Family Closeness With Independence, Work, and Long-Term Growth

Moving closer to family often brings a real tension: craving support and connection without losing personal space, work-life harmony, or the identity built where life is now. The steadier path is a positive mindset during change, paired with long-term adjustment strategies that protect boundaries while embracing family connections in a way that fits real life. When that approach leads, day-to-day decisions feel clearer, sustaining independence becomes normal, and ongoing personal and career growth stays in motion instead of on hold. Closeness works best when it’s chosen, bounded, and designed to support your whole life.

Gwen Payne

Gwen Payne is a stay-at-home mom with an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, she has mastered raising her two daughters while side hustling to success through small ventures based on her passions – from dog walking to writing to E- commerce. With Invisiblemoms.com, she hopes to show other stay-at-home parents how they can achieve their business-owning dreams.

America’s Top 10 Real Estate News

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A look at America’s most interesting real estate news. 

America’s Top 10 Real Estate News

Trump Hits Brakes On Housing Legislation
A historic housing law designed to increase supply and reduce housing costs overwhelmingly passed Congress last month, but President Donald Trump’s last-minute delay in signing it raised concerns about the proposal’s future. With significant bipartisan support, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act was approved by the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32. The strong legislative majorities left the president in a difficult position, and the bill is currently awaiting his signature to officially become law. 

NAR Predicts $1 Million US Home Prices 
The National Association of Realtors expects median home prices to increase 4% in 2026 and interest rates to be about 6.5%. They also predict that the national median home price will rise from the current $430,000 to $1 million within 25 years. 

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Best Place To Buy a Home? Try Oklahoma
According to a report from Niche.com, the best city to buy a home is McCord, Oklahoma. Located in a rural area in northeastern Oklahoma, McCord has fewer than 2,000 people with a median home value of $202,400—less than half the national median of $430,000. A typical rent there is $629 per month—also less than half the national average of $1,413. McCord also scored well for education and family life. 

The Hidden Costs Of Delaying Homeownership 
A recent Lombardo Homes report examining the hidden costs of delaying homeownership found that 77% of Americans believe waiting to buy a home has financial consequences, while 76% say renting prevents long-term wealth building. Among renters delaying a home purchase, the top reasons are high home prices (84%), lack of savings for a down payment (67%), and rising interest rates (61%). The financial pressure appears to be growing as well: 81% say their housing costs have increased over the past three years, with 26% reporting increases of $300 or more per month.

Florida Is #1 Search Site For International Buyers
According to a recent Realtor.com report, three Florida metro areas were among the top five US housing markets searched by foreign buyers in the first quarter of 2026. With 10.3% of all international views on Realtor.com, Miami condos and homes continued to be the top US market for foreign online home-shopping activity. Tampa came in fifth at 2.8%, and Orlando came in fourth at 3%.

Seniors Own 34% Of US Homes
Older Americans make up about 18% of the US population, but they own about 34% of the US housing stock. How that wealth is transferred to their heirs can make a difference of thousands of dollars in what is actually passed on after their death. 

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Florida To Gain Over Two Million People 
Despite a small slowdown in the state’s economy, Florida continues to draw new residents at a strong rate. The Sunshine State is expected to grow by almost 2.3 million people between 2026 and 2035, according to Florida TaxWatch’s recent quarterly prediction.

Glass House from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – 40th Anniversary
It’s the 40th anniversary of the premiere of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Architectural Digest and TopTenRealEstateDeals.com have the details about the movie’s home, its glass car pavilion, and the red Ferrari that crashed through it. The iconic steel-and-glass home was listed in 2009 for $2.3 million but did not sell. In 2014, the price was cut to $1.25 million, and it finally sold to its current owner for $1.06 million.  

US Home Sales Surge In May
According to the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales increased 3.2% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 4.17 million. It was one of the largest monthly increases in the last three years as more first-time homebuyers entered the market. Sales of previously owned homes increased in the Northeast, Midwest, and South compared to April, but were unchanged in the West.

Many Florida Homeowners Face Big Tax Crush
According to the National Association of Realtors, many homeowners in Florida will face a large tax bill when they sell their homes. According to its report, 17.9% of Florida homeowners, and 15% of all U.S. homeowners, would have home sale profits that exceed the federal capital gains exclusion criteria of $250,000 for a single taxpayer and $500,000 for a married couple. The limits were set in 1997, but U.S. median home sales prices have gone up about 178% since 1997.

For more US real estate news, celebrity homes and celebrity home video tours, visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

Studio KHORA Explores the Future of Contemporary Architecture in Palm Springs

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Press Release by AB Newswire www.abnewswire.com

Studio KHORA examines how contemporary architecture is evolving beyond Desert Modernism through innovative, sustainable, and site-responsive design in Palm Springs.

Beyond Desert Modernism

Palm Springs has long been associated with architectural certainty.

The clean line.

The glass wall.

The horizon framed with precision.

Glass House, a contemporary architecture concept by Studio KHORA for Palm Springs

What became known as the Palm Springs School of Architecture emerged from a dialogue between modernism and the desert, transforming climate, landscape, and light into architectural language.

Yet every architectural language eventually encounters its own repetition.

The question is no longer how to preserve an idea.

The question is how to continue it.

This challenge increasingly defines the work of Palm Springs Architects today. The most compelling Contemporary Architecture does not imitate the desert. It interprets it. Landscape is not a backdrop but an active participant in the experience of space.

For Studio KHORA, the desert remains a site of inquiry.

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The Glass House, envisioned for Palm Springs, explores a relationship between transparency, light, and environment. Rather than separating architecture from landscape, the design imagines the desert itself as part of the architecture. Sustainable systems, environmental responsiveness, and spatial openness are conceived as integral components of the project rather than additions to it.

The role of Palm Springs Architects is therefore changing.

Architecture no longer seeks merely to occupy the desert.

It seeks to enter into dialogue with it.

At Studio KHORA, Contemporary Houses are conceived through this dialogue, creating residences that are innovative, sustainable, and deeply connected to place.

For those seeking distinction, architecture begins where repetition ends.

For more information on this press release visit:

Studio KHORA Explores the Future of Contemporary Architecture in Palm Springs

Media Contact:

Company Name: Studio KHORA

Contact Person: Penna

Email: [email protected]

Country: United States

Website: https://www.studiokhora.com/

Southern California’s Historic Housing Boom: Canyon Lake & Long Beach Spotlights

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By Rick Tobin

Did you know that approximately 25 million people, or 63% of California’s 40 million residents, live in the 10 counties located in Southern California (San Luis Obispo, Kern, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial)?

San Bernardino County is the largest county in the nation by land size that spans over 20,100 square miles. Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the nation, with more than 10 million residents.

There are few places more beautiful in the entire world than the Southern California region. It’s been said that the three most important factors that cause home prices to rise are due to “location, location, and location.” California’s historic price boom over the past 55+ years is more proof why as it will be shared next with more details.

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The Extreme Dollar & California Home Seesaw Ride

As the dollar’s purchasing power falls, home values tend to rise. Most of the dollar’s decline in value took place during the 55-year time period that followed President Nixon’s removal of the dollar from the gold standard starting in 1971.

The purchasing power of the dollar has fallen by -87% between 1971 and 2026. $100 in 1971 fell to an equivalent purchasing power in these years: 1981 ($45), 1991 ($30), 2001 ($23), 2011 ($18), 2021 ($15), and 2026 ($13). What you could purchase for $100 in 1971 is now similar to what you can buy for $13 in 2026.

Because real estate is an exceptional hedge against inflation and an imploding dollar somewhat like an inverse seesaw, California median home prices increased by a whopping +3,361% during the same time period between 1971 and 2026.

By Q2 2026, the statewide California median single-family home price reached $930,260, as per various sources like CAR (California Association of Realtors) and NBC. When compared to the historical statewide median price of $26,880 in 1971, California home prices rose a staggering +3,361% higher, while representing a home price increase of about $903,380.

To put these numbers into better perspective, if you adjust 1971’s home prices for cumulative national inflation over the same time period, which is roughly 833%, a comparable home would’ve cost somewhere between $250,000 and $270,000 today. Yet, the actual appreciation of California home prices far outpaces general inflation at a pace of 2,528% higher (3,361% – 833%) between 1971 and 2026.

As such, California truly is the “Golden State” in more ways than one.

California’s Safer Gated Communities

California and Florida were the two states that created the master-planned home communities behind gates starting with the Temple Terrace, Florida community, which was America’s first master-planned golf course community built in 1925. Shortly thereafter, Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County followed in 1927 here in Southern California.

Gated golf course communities were later truly perfected in Riverside County, California out in the Greater Palm Springs or Coachella Valley region starting with the opening of the Thunderbird County Club in Rancho Mirage in 1951.

Did you know the popular Ford Thunderbird car was named after this country club because the Ford Chairman at the time named Ernest Breech was a golf club member? Thunderbird Country Club was also the credited birthplace of another form of transportation called the motorized golf cart.

Famous celebrity residents and members at Thunderbird included Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Clark Gable, Gerald and Betty Ford, and Perry Como.

Later, gated communities were built all across Coachella Valley that were designed around golf courses, tennis courts, and small lakes.

Both celebrities and non-celebrities began to truly appreciate the privacy and feelings of safety that gated communities offered them.

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California’s Very Few Gated Cities

Most gated communities are just very large HOAs (Homeowners Association) or POAs (Property Owners Association filled with homes and vacant lots) instead of actual separately gated cities. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

Technically, there may only be three gated cities in California as follows:

1. Canyon Lake (Riverside County): It’s the largest gated California city, right between Lake Elsinore and Menifee, with their own beautiful lake, golf course, fire department, and soon-to-be brand-new police department that’s scheduled to open up for business in August 2026, following their ribbon-cutting event on Friday, July 31st at 4 pm PST at the Canyon Lake Towne Center.

2. Hidden Hills (Los Angeles County): An entirely gated, incorporated city in the Santa Monica Mountains that’s best known for horse trails, lack of streetlights, and celebrity residents.

3. Rolling Hills (Los Angeles County): It’s located on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula, just north of Long Beach and San Pedro. Every single property there is zoned as a ranch with mandatory horse trails.

Other regions often mistaken as “gated cities” include Coto de Caza in Orange County, which is technically a Census-Designated Place (CDP) rather than an incorporated gated city, and Bradbury Estates in Los Angeles County that’s partially gated.

Because many coastal Southern California homes are priced in the millions, a larger number of residents are moving to the Inland Empire (Western Riverside County, especially) instead of packing up and moving out of state hundreds or thousands of miles away from family and friends. To learn more details, this is a very interesting 8-minute video: Why Everyone is Moving to the Inland Empire.

So-Cal City Spotlight: Canyon Lake (“A Bit of Paradise”)

Source: Canyon Lake Insider

Let’s first learn why Canyon Lake is attracting so many new residents and businesses from the President and CEO of the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce named Johnny Pineda:

“Canyon Lake continues to stand out as one of Southern California’s most desirable communities because it offers far more than beautiful homes, it offers an exceptional lifestyle. Buyers are drawn to its private lake, resort-style amenities, strong sense of community, and convenient access to surrounding employment centers, making it an attractive place to live, invest, and raise a family.

For business owners, Canyon Lake provides a loyal, engaged customer base and a Chamber of Commerce committed to fostering economic growth through meaningful partnerships and community involvement. It’s a community where quality of life and long-term value go hand in hand.”

The Origins and Evolution of Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake was first established back in 1968. The original architect for Canyon Lake designed it after my old hometown of Huntington Harbour.

Lots could be purchased as low as $5,000 to $10,000 as my family knows firsthand because my father purchased a $5,000 lot so that we could pull our ski boat from Huntington Beach to Canyon Lake and water ski there.

Let’s take a closer look at how this region grew in size over the past 58 years:

* Late 1960s to 1970s (Development): The Kaiser Land Development Company began developing and marketing the area as a country estate and recreational destination. Vacant lots started to sell at prices between $14,000 to $25,000 during the 1970s and beyond.

* 1980s to 1990s (Growth): As both the I-15 highway corridor and Inland Empire expanded, Canyon Lake transformed from a vacation destination into a primary commuter hub. By the mid-to-late 1980s, single-family homes were selling somewhere within the $130,000 to $230,000 price range.

* The 2000s Boom & Crash: Home values really started to appreciate in Canyon Lake just like most of the rest of California between 2002 and 2006 or 2007 near the previous housing market peak. The median home price broke the $300,000 mark by 2003 and later peaked near $425,000 in 2005. Subsequent to the housing bust meltdown following 2008, prices fell nearly 50% back into the $200,000 price range by 2009 to 2011. California home prices fell -41.7% from peak-to-trough between 2008 and 2012, so Canyon Lake’s losses were worse than median statewide losses.

* 2012 – 2019 (Recovery): The housing market began to stabilize before later shooting skyward throughout the 2010s years. By 2018, the Canyon Lake median home sales price reached almost $414,000.

* 2020 – 2026 (Pandemic & Record Low Rate Surge): Home prices began to really increase as more coastal Southern California residents, who could no longer afford multi-million dollar fixer uppers by the beach, discovered Canyon Lake and moved out here in large numbers. Canyon Lake median home prices fluctuated between $750,000 and to more than $900,000. Some new home listing prices today for large waterfront homes are in the $4 to $5 million dollar price range.

Canyon Lake effectively offers affordable waterfront living in Riverside County that’s within a 1-hour to 1.5-hour driving distance for residents to places like Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, and to the Palm Springs region east of Canyon Lake.

Canyon Lake was just ranked #2 on the 8 Best Lake Towns in the U.S. for Retirees list in June 2026 by Travel and Leisure.

The adjacent Canyon Hills master-planned community, which first broke ground in 2001, is another very nice community that has almost the same number of 11,000 to 12,000 residents as Canyon Lake.

While being more affordable than Canyon Lake and located in the city of Lake Elsinore (largest freshwater lake in Southern California), most of the Canyon Hills homes are newer and development continues onward to this day. Canyon Hills has also been the fastest-growing home development community in Riverside County over the past 25 years.

On the other side of Canyon Lake is the city of Menifee with upwards of 125,000 residents, which was just ranked as the only “boom town” located in Southern California by SmartAsset because of their +29% growth rate over the past five years.

Thanks to the old real estate theory known as the principle of progression, the higher-priced waterfront homes in Canyon Lake are helping the adjacent home values in Canyon Hills and Menifee move higher due to being so close to this prime location with multi-million dollar homes.

For more details about the latest real estate trends in these three booming regions, please follow my Facebook page entitled Real Estate Insights for Canyon Lake, Menifee, and Lake Elsinore.

So-Cal City Spotlight: Long Beach (“Aquatic Capital of America”)

Could Long Beach be considered as the most “affordable unaffordable beach city” in Southern California? How can this seemingly contradictory “affordable unaffordable” oxymoron be true at the exact same time?

Let’s take a closer look at the amazing city of Long Beach:

The Top 4 Most Unaffordable Housing Regions in the World

The Top 4 Least Affordable Housing Regions in the World (home price-to-household income ratio) are all located in California:

1. San Jose
2. Los Angeles
3. Long Beach (2nd largest city in Los Angeles County after the City of Los Angeles and 7th largest in the state)
4. San Diego
Source: Remitly

The Top 7 largest California cities are: 1. Los Angeles, 2. San Diego, 3. San Jose, 4. San Francisco, 5. Fresno, 6. Sacramento, and 7. Long Beach.

The most densely-populated area in America is in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan region, with more than 13 million residents.

Long Beach’s Household Income

While Long Beach is one of the most beautiful regions in the world with a very diverse economy, their home prices are somewhat reasonable as compared with nearby coastal regions in Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Palos Verdes.

This is partly because the median household income range in Long Beach is somewhere within the $87,000 to $91,000 range for one, two, or more worker occupants in the same household.

This is a core reason why Long Beach was listed as the #3 most unaffordable housing regions in the entire world on a home price-to-household income ratio basis.

Long Beach and San Pedro (both described as the Port of Los Angeles) are the shipping port capitals here in America. In early 2026, Long Beach processed more shipped goods than any other port in North America.

Long Beach will host at least 11 different sporting events in 2028 when the Los Angeles Olympics takes place. As a result, new construction continues onward at a rapid pace with venues such as the Long Beach Amphitheater (largest waterfront venue on the West Coast with an 11,000 person capacity) that just opened in June 2026, which is right adjacent to the historic Queen Mary ship.

Quality of Life, Prime Locations, and Massive Home Price Gains

Southern California residents benefit from living in one of the most scenic locations on the planet, right adjacent to the world’s largest body of water called the Pacific Ocean. Yet, they also can grab their snow skis or snowboards and drive up to Big Bear Mountain in San Bernardino County on the same day when they surfed a wave earlier in the morning by the Huntington Beach Pier.

Some of the most amazing golf courses in the nation are located in Southern California, especially in the Newport Coast at Pelican Hills, Torrey Pines in La Jolla, Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Canyon Lake Golf & Country Club, or at more than 100 different golf courses in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta, etc.).

I’m not sure that any other home region in America had a better +3,361% home price gain between 1971 and 2026 than Southern California. Even if there were a region with a more impressive home price percentage gain, it’s highly doubtful that their year-round climate and quality of life were better than in Southern California.

To learn more details about the benefits of living and investing in Southern California, please join my So-Cal Real Estate Club where we primarily meet in Canyon Lake, Long Beach, and online.

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.

Rick 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, join his investment group at So-Cal Real Estate Investors, and follow his new So-Cal Real Estate TV channel for more details.

Rick Tobin
Realloans (Real Estate Loans)
https://realloans.com/
Phone or Text: (760) 485 – 2422
NMLS 1934868
Equal Housing Opportunity / Equal Housing Lender
To quickly apply online: Loan Application
For our real estate course: Learn Real Estate

Please follow our new real estate channel (watch on television, computers, and phones): So-Cal Real Estate TV

Our Facebook business pages: Realloans, Inside Los Angeles, Inside Pacific Palisades, Inside Long Beach, Inside Huntington Beach, Inside Orange County, Inside La Jolla, Inside San Diego, Inside Lake Elsinore, Inside Temecula Valley, Inside Coachella Valley, and So-Cal Real Estate Investors.

Here are some of my articles: The Fall of 2025 and Rise of New Opportunities, The Intersection of Declining Home Sales and Creative Marketing, Are Lower Rates on the Horizon?, Weather Extremes, Homes, and Insurance Risks, The California Gold Rush Boom, and Are You Focused on Commercial Real Estate?

Please join my So-Cal Real Estate Investors group that meets at Canyon Lake Golf & Country Club, Shoreline Yacht Club in Long Beach, and online: So-Cal Real Estate Investors.

A Secret the Wealthiest Families Have Used for Generations 

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360 Engineering is Part of the Team Bringing New Courthouse to the City of Westminster

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Under the leadership of Anderson Hallas Architects, the design approach will place sustainability at the forefront of the new facility

Submitted by Paul Suter

Westminster, CO (June 2026) – 360 Engineering, a full-service mechanical engineering firm working on projects of all sizes in Colorado and across the U.S., is proud to announce that it is part of a team delivering a new 32,743 square foot courthouse to the City of Westminster. The new facility, which is being designed under the leadership of Anderson Hallas Architects with FCI Constructors serving as the construction manager and general contractor, will replace the existing structure which is more than 60 years old and is no longer suited for modern courthouse operations.

The new courthouse is being built on the same site as the existing courthouse while the existing courthouse remains in full operation.

“We greatly appreciate our partnership with Anderson Hallas Architects as their team will place sustainability at the forefront of the design approach while achieving a LEED Gold certification,” said Lexie Zimmerman, PE, Director of Operations for 360 Engineering.

The contractual goal is LEED Silver, and through thoughtful design, equipment prioritization, and an effective partnership with FCI Constructors the project will achieve a LEED Gold designation along with achieving a stretch goal of net zero with the building and site mounted photovoltaics.

Once the design phase began, under the lead of Anderson Hallas Architects, 360 Engineering evaluated multiple mechanical system options to meet the building’s sustainability, operational, budgetary, and maintenance goals. Following the evaluation, the city selected the multi-zone heat pump rooftop unit system. This system offers the lowest first cost, reduced indoor space requirements, simplified maintenance, and lower building noise levels. In addition, it enables an all-electric building design with no reliance on natural gas.

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After the major mechanical system was selected, the mechanical and plumbing systems were designed to serve the courtrooms, jury selection areas, holding cells, and administrative spaces throughout the facility. 360 Engineering worked closely with the construction team to ensure a smooth, efficient construction process, including an early long-lead procurement of mechanical systems to streamline the construction schedule.

More information regarding 360 Engineering is available at www. 360eng.com

MARK…. MY WORDS – A PRIVATE MONEY MORTGAGE BROKER’S DIARY OF DIFFICULT DEALS (Part 1)

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By Mark Robbins, J.D.

As many of you know, being self-employed is not an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. I have certainly worked for both small independent companies as well as large corporations throughout my various careers. I’ve worked for the Bank of America’s of the world as well as private real estate development companies and smaller private mortgage companies. I’ve seen both sides of the employment spectrum. Every experience has its own set of positives and negatives. I eventually decided it was best to pursue my career as a mortgage consultant on my own terms.

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It’s been a very challenging endeavor to navigate the world of real estate financing in the private sector as opposed to the more conservative world of conventional banking. I chose the commercial real estate marketplace for two main reasons. I enjoyed the variety of each unique transaction. Whether I was helping a client finance a small apartment building or purchase a retail shopping center, the challenge was never the same. Secondly, financing mortgages strictly for home purchases or refinances involved too much of the same thing repeatedly.

Lending Resources Group Incorporated was born in late 2007 and licensed by the State of California in May 2008, just before the “Crash,” now known as the Great Recession of 2008. It seems like my career path has been dictated by the ups and downs of our economy over the past four decades. Ever since I graduated from law school and sought a job in the financial industry, I have run the gauntlet of the financial markets’ highs and lows.

GAS STATIONS?

When I was starting out with my own corporation in 2008 under the name Lending Resources Group Inc., I needed to find a source of leads for people who needed my services. I found a company that sold leads, so I subscribed to its service.

One of those leads was an individual who owned Shell gas stations. He wanted to purchase two more stations that were up for sale. After three months, I found a lender that approved a $2 million loan to meet his request. Unfortunately, the client had a heart attack. The good news was that he survived; the bad news was that he had to turn the loan down because his doctor told him he needed to reduce the stress in his life and, therefore, shouldn’t buy any more gas stations. Ugh! What can you do? Absolutely nothing—you just move on.

I had another client approved for a loan to purchase a gas station in Los Angeles, but that came at the same time the stock market crashed and banks were hit very hard in September 2008. Many had to close. One of the banks that closed was the one that had approved this gas station loan. So there I was again, working hard but not earning much of a living due to the investor’s health problems as well as world-changing events.

Disappointing? Yes, but that’s life. Those events didn’t deter me from my goal of building a lasting commercial mortgage financing business. Now that I’m writing this, it’s been a challenging task to chronicle my early days of starting my own mortgage company. After all, that was nearly twenty years ago. I didn’t keep a diary of the deals I was working on. Suffice it to say, I took whatever came along and used my know-how to find solutions. My memory still serves me very well, allowing me to recollect some of the more memorable loan situations I faced.

I was barely scraping by, especially with the onset of the Great Recession. I was lucky in one respect. Since the banks were hit so hard by the economic downturn and because I had a sizable mortgage on my primary residence, they left me alone. This bought me the time I needed to build up my business and, in the interim, see what solutions the banks were going to develop, if any, to assist borrowers like myself. I eventually did receive a workout solution for my home mortgage. I was able to straighten out my financial affairs and stabilize our living situation while building my new business.

NON-RECOURSE LOANS

Business was hard to come by, considering we were in a recession just as I was trying to get my company off the launching pad. Somehow, I was eking out a living. I was very motivated to help people achieve their real estate financing goals. One steady stream of income I developed was specializing in helping investors obtain non-recourse loans (loans without a personal guarantee) when purchasing real estate with their IRAs, trusts, or Solo 401(k)s.

Back in 2004, three years before I started Lending Resources Group, I was introduced to the Founder and Chairman of Pensco Trust in San Francisco. Pensco was one of the largest IRA custodian companies in the U.S. It later became Pacific Premier Trust and moved to Denver when the Chairman retired. This was during the time I was working as a mortgage broker for CTX Mortgage, a division of the Centex homebuilding company based in Dallas, Texas.

The Chairman suggested I investigate this type of mortgage because no one in the U.S. was offering it at that time. Four months after that meeting, a small bank in the Midwest introduced a non-recourse mortgage loan program for people who wanted to invest their retirement funds in real estate and needed a mortgage to complete the financing. This allowed investors to purchase one-to-four-unit properties with their IRA retirement funds without personally guaranteeing the loans. This was required by the Internal Revenue Service because the retirement funds had not yet been taxed. The IRS did not want its tax interest in those funds involved in any transaction that required a personal guarantee. If the investor needed to access those funds in the future, the IRS would then receive its taxable share.

Prior to 2004, if someone wanted to invest retirement funds in real estate, they had to pay all cash. There was no such thing as a non-recourse mortgage for residential real estate investing before 2004. As a result of this new product, I slowly began to find clients, mostly through referrals and word of mouth, while working for CTX Mortgage and working hand in hand with Pensco. They were a great source of referrals for me. By the time I started my own mortgage company, I was becoming better known for being able to arrange these specialty loans. That has continued to this day. These loans have provided a helpful supplement to the main portion of my commercial mortgage business.

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BURBANK BUILDING – MONTH TO MONTH LEASES

Getting to the heart of what I have dealt with over the past twenty years is best described through some of the more unique situations I’ve had the opportunity to be part of.

In my constant search for business, I found another client who was having trouble refinancing his property, an office building. He needed to pay off his existing loan and obtain enough money to make much-needed renovations to the building. The property was located in Burbank, CA, and comprised thirty small office units. The client needed $3.5 million to pay off his current debt and obtain an additional $500,000 to make improvements. I remember searching high and low for a lender for this client but constantly running into rejections because the tenants were on month-to-month leases. No lender I found was willing to lend that much money without the assurance that the tenants would maintain longer-term leases.

The positives of this transaction included having a motivated client who wanted a new loan. He also had good credit and a solid income as a certified public accountant (CPA). Moreover, most of his tenants had been in the building for many years, and occupancy was consistently at 90%, even though the leases were only month to month.

In my dogged pursuit of a loan for this client, I found a reputable brokerage firm in Los Angeles that had connections with several private banks. These were the kinds of connections I couldn’t possibly have had, having been in the private money business for only three years at that point. The year was 2011, and coincidentally, I had to be in Burbank for a family celebration. I also scheduled a visit with my client to further strengthen our relationship.

The affiliate brokerage firm’s private bank ultimately provided the loan my client needed. We co-brokered the transaction. It turned out to be my first five-figure paycheck since starting the company. More importantly, it gave me the great satisfaction of overcoming a very challenging loan request and helping this client achieve his goal of refinancing his office building—something no one before me had been able to accomplish. It was a true feeling of accomplishment!

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.