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Frame it and Forget About It

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JELD-WEN Windows and Doors When you are investing in properties to rent or to sell, you want to frame it and forget about it. Investors know that replacements and repairs can dramatically influence the potential ROI of an asset. Enter JELD-WEN® doors and windows to help get it right. Beautiful and durable. That is the simplest way to describe JELD-WEN’s doors and windows. An extensive range of interior and exterior doors, as well as wood and vinyl windows that bring beauty and security to the spaces that touch lives. JELD-WEN ensures that building professionals have access to products that can be trusted to perform. Think about it: Doors and windows are the workhorses of any home. Each morning, back doors everywhere are opened to start the day by letting out the beloved family dog, while curtains are pushed to the sides, letting in the sunshine as the coffee brews. A gaze out the window can be an invitation to go, or an invitation to stay. Opening the door to run a routine errand or embark on a major adventure holds as much promise as closing that same door to settle in for a home-cooked meal, game night with friends or a quiet night reading a book with the window cracked just enough to let in some fresh air. With the importance of doors and windows to everyday life, you want quality products and materials that will last. And you want to be able to trust a manufacturer that has proven to last. For nearly 65 years, JELD-WEN has stood the test of time by consistently delivering trustworthy quality and striving to enhance living experiences through innovative, aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient products. “We’ve grown from 15 employees and one millwork plant that was purchased at an auction in 1960 to manufacturing facilities in 16 countries across North America and Europe,” explained John Marchionda, chief operating officer, Windows, N.A. “We are makers, first and foremost. Makers of high-quality products. Makers of a lasting impression on people and the planet.” Don’t just take their word for it — their reputation for quality is widely recognized. For the past two years, JELD-WEN tops the windows and doors company in the construction industry category on Newsweek’s “Most Trustworthy Companies in America” list. 3 Pro “Need to Knows” “Repair or replace” is the most important question Determining how best to tackle a problematic door or window is an important undertaking. When it comes to windows, consider lower-cost fixes that can extend the life of existing windows when facing one of these problems:  » Cracked or broken glass  » Minor water leakage  » Stuck sash  » Broken muntins or mullions  » Missing or damaged drip cap  » Damaged exterior window casing Replacement can be the best option with the following issues:  » Foggy glass  » Structural issues  » Major water leakage  » Broken faux muntins or mullions Of course, it can be advantageous to consider the investment and operational upside of new windows — as well as the opportunity for a fresh look. When it comes to exterior doors, start by asking some basic questions:  » Is the door dented, scratched or weathered?  » Are the edges of the door panel cracked?  » Does the door let in drafts? Is it missing a weatherstrip?  » Is the door hanging unevenly on the hinges?  » Is it often a hassle to close and lock the door? It is possible to infuse new life into a struggling door. If it is scratched or weathered, fresh paint can do the trick, with the potential to add a bold statement to the home’s design. If you notice a draft, try installing a new threshold or weatherstrip. Even a sagging door can often be resurrected by simply adjusting the hinges or rehanging it. When it comes to door replacement, bigger issues such as structural damage, termites, rot, warping or significant weathering may signal it’s time to replace. The upside is, research from Zonda’s Cost vs Value report suggests that when you sell a property, you are likely to recoup most of what you spent on a new door. Knowing it is an investment with a measurable return can help in the decision-making. Expenses can be determined with the range of choices available with a new exterior door. Consider different sizes, architectural styles, aesthetic options and slab materials. Customization allows for a variety of glass openings, glass designs, stains and paint colors. Sustainability is a priority Whether your audience consists of renters or homebuyers, it is noteworthy that millennials are one of the most environmentally focused group of those seeking housing. From the National Association of Homebuilders to Green Builder, studies show sustainability is a priority and people will pay for eco-friendly options, including energy efficiency and healthy homes. As an investor, it pays to address these priorities. There are many ways to make homes more sustainable, efficient and healthy. Here’s how JELD-WEN can help:  » Offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified doors and windows, a sustainable choice that’s mindful of resource consumption, and they are built in the closest available facility and with locally sourced materials whenever possible.  » The solid foam used within JELD-WEN’s fiberglass and steel doors creates an effective barrier between the indoor climate and the outside elements, providing superior energy efficiency. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), fiberglass entry doors can offer more than five times the insulating value of solid wood.  » AuraLast® pine, a patented wood product exclusive to JELD-WEN, uses a water-based treatment process, which produces up to 96% fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the manufacturing process than traditional treated wood. It also resists rot and termite damage.  » All Low-E performance glass from JELD-WEN uses industry-leading laminate glass technology that blocks up to 95% of harmful UV rays. This layer of protection can help protect furniture from sun damage over time and lower heating and cooling costs. JELD-WEN has been an ENERGY STAR® Partner since 1998. According to the DOE,

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An “Extreme” Solution to Pressing Housing Questions

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Toni Moss & AmeriCatalyst Present the 2024 Climate & Housing Conference Toni Moss, CEO of AmeriCatalyst LLC, never intended to produce conferences. An expert on global mortgage markets, Moss spent much of the 1990s in Europe working as the Director of Corporate Development for Bouwfonds, a division of the Dutch government that was created to rebuild Holland after World War II. Moss’s background in corporate intelligence, scenario planning and due diligence served her well in this position and, during her experiences across 23 countries during that time, she saw how mortgage markets were heading toward trouble by the early 2000s and tried to do something about it. In 2002, she launched the annual Eurocatalyst (now AmeriCatalyst) conference to discuss the impact of globalization on the mortgage and real estate industries. Last held in 2020, this year AmeriCatalyst is coming back with a new event, AmeriCatalyst’s “GOING TO EXTREMES: The Climate, Housing, and Finance Leadership Summit.” REI INK sat down with Moss to discuss the conference, climate change, real estate, and the surprising ways they all fit together. There are a lot of conferences in the real estate space. What makes AmeriCatalyst conferences unique? My focus is on the actual purpose of the event and not its profit, and, as a result, these events are known for being quite intellectually challenging and unconventional. I apply some “quirky” things to the format to make the event valuable from a business perspective, fun from a personal perspective, and entirely unique to the industry. The seating is cabaret-style, to build community. I use music to editorialize each session, which is often very funny. I use clever (and snarky) session titles with double entendres and everyone knows to read between the lines of my programs because the more they look, the more there is to see. I keep these events to a smaller audience of invite-only attendees numbering no more than 300 because I want the smartest minds in the room together. Each year, every session is a chapter in the bigger “story” of the conference so that by the end of the event, you have a very clear view of the “big picture” issues that are driving the market and can anticipate what will happen next. By the way, this will be the first year in our history that an AmeriCatalyst event has ever been open to media coverage.  What are examples of past themes at your events? In 2010, I added an entire day onto the main AmeriCatalyst event and called it “Renting, the Future.” The day was focused on the emergence of the unknown and amorphous collection of individuals and companies buying single family homes and renting them out. Single-family rental (SFR) was not even a defined industry sector at the time because most people thought that it was a short-term trade on house price appreciation and not a long-term trend. But in calling it “Renting, the Future” I was making an editorial statement that renting literally is the future because homeownership would increasingly become out of the reach of the average American – and it certainly has. In 2011, the event was themed “Convergence” in reference to the convergence of the housing-finance side of the industry and the real estate sector. I predicted real estate agencies would become mortgage lenders due, in large part, to the emergence of Single Family Rental (SFR). I also wanted to show the similarities between the mortgage industry and SFR on the servicing and property management side. In 2013, I themed the event “Rorschach” because I noticed an interesting trend of people dismissing conventional facts and paying more attention to what they wanted to see rather than what really was. In retrospect, other than 2002, which was the earliest event on record naming the crisis of 2007/2008, perhaps the most profound theme was our last event in 2020. It was themed “ENTROPY: Surviving the New Abnormal”. In early February of 2020, the market was doing quite well; I came along and called its condition an advanced state of entropy. At that time, I wrote, “The housing industry suffers from a pathologically short attention span. We predict that almost 40% of today’s companies in the housing ecosystem will not survive over the next five years”. At the time I had written that, the party was going strong. Covid hit three days later. This year’s event is titled, “Going to Extremes.” How did you decide on that? The ravages of extreme climate now impact every single region of the US, accelerating the frequency and severity of catastrophic weather events and leading to a very volatile and unpredictable future. Belief in climate change is inconsequential at this point; extreme climate is here and now — not five or ten years away — and it is affecting practical elements of our lives (and portfolios). We must analyze the issue and prepare for how it will change our lives and our investments in the near future. Think about this for a minute: we live in a world where the greatest change is the pace of change. We expect social, political, and technological change, but none of us grew up anticipating environmental change. Our climate is changing far faster than at any other time in human history, and these changes are permanent. Yet, we have built our entire housing and finance infrastructure under the assumption that the climate is stable. Contrast that against a property and casualty insurance policy, which is an annual product. See the duration mismatch? By assuming stability in the future, we have embedded all of our greatest vulnerabilities into the very foundation of the housing ecosphere. Now, we’re seeing insurance companies pull out of Florida, California and Louisiana; some are even considering leaving Texas due to hail damage and flooding. The entire housing-finance system is built upon insurance as the greatest risk-transfer mechanism, but we can no longer count on that. This is the proverbial canary in the coal mine. Are we headed toward an uninsurable future?

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REI INK Celebrates its 50th Issue

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A Remarkable Journey During Remarkable Times By Robert Rakowski Welcome to the 50th issue of REI INK. These last four and a half years have been quite the journey; a journey through the struggles of being the “new kid in town”, the COVID pandemic, inflation, an out-of-control and uncertain economy, but mostly a terrific journey of forming professional and personal relationships with absolutely wonderful people and companies. It took an absolute DREAM team to reach this milestone. For anybody who thinks that publishing a top-shelf magazine for 50 consecutive months is an easy task or simply a minor accomplishment, I would love to chat with you over an adult beverage. During this timeframe, we also sent out over 600 newsletters, created the REI-Referral Network, and launched the Highest-and-Best platform. Look at our 50 covers. That is one heck of an impressive collage, basically a “who’s who” of the real estate industry. You do not get that quality of cover stories month after month by accident. You get them by delivering results and earning the respect of the industry leaders. And interestingly, our 50th cover story is on REI Nation. I was initially introduced to the Clothier family in 2010 when I first began cutting my teeth in the publishing industry. Here we are 13 years later, and they are on the cover of REI INK. REI Nation has a great story and a great history. Thank you to everybody who has supported us along this journey. Happy investing!

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NPLA Announces 2023 Strategic Initiatives

New Partnerships, Mentoring Programs & Events in 2023 and Beyond By Carole VanSickle Ellis The National Private Lenders Association (NPLA) hosted its seventh official membership meeting in Key Biscayne, Florida. The event, which was the best-attended in the association’s history, was also the site of a major change for the private-lending industry. NPLA founding member, executive director, and general counsel Jon Hornik announced during the association’s member meeting that Monday, March 27, 2023, would be the first National Private Lenders Conference, thereby repurposing the previous 21-year-old Pitbull Conference. “We are essential for this space,” Hornik said proudly. “The private lending industry is still in the fledgling period. We must define ourselves and our imaging. If we fail, we will become just another asset class that makes no sense and creates risk. If we succeed, we will all thrive.” Hornik said the NPLA has high hopes for the new venture, including attracting more institutional participants into the space, improving networking opportunities at the conference, and creating events and spaces that will foster the interactions and mindsets that will enable conference participants to collaborate and do deals together. Evolving for 2023 & Beyond Hornik said one of the most exciting things about the new Conference is its three pillars. “We are growing based on the foundation of the previous 20 years,” he explained. Now, our three pillars of networking, education, and entertainment will help us evolve even further.” Attendees at the event will see all three pillars in action already. Hornik noted that networking is of primary importance in the private lending industry despite a history of concerns that discussion and shared data could result in competitors gaining a competitive edge. The NPLA believes collaboration in the industry is the key to lasting growth and permanence. “Meaningful discussions between competitors create collaborations that create friendships,” he said. The education angle, already prioritized at Pitbull events, will remain a central part of theconference. “It is important to always educate each other,” Hornik observed. “Bring the best and the brightest together, as we have here, and you will leave smarter than you came.” When it comes to the third pillar, entertainment, Hornik noted that the best industry-related entertainment “crosses over” both educational and networking elements. He looked back fondly on his years attending the Pitbull Conference, noting, “Almost every meaningful relationship I have [in this space] came from the Pitbull Conference.” Hornik added, “Now, we are looking forward to the next 20 years.” If you are interested in becoming a member of NPLA, visit NPLAOnline.com. Learn more about the National Private Lenders Conference at NPLAConference.com Side Bar New Partnerships, New Opportunities The NPLA leadership spoke about their hopes for the future of the National Private Lenders Conference and NPLA membership. Amy Kame, NPLA’s managing director, noted that NPLA membership retention remains at nearly 100%, and 2023 has brought four new strategic partnerships forward to benefit NPLA members. John Burns Real Estate Consulting The firm will provide access to content, data, and reports in exchange for NPLA members’ participation in anonymous industry-specific surveys. This will include access to quarterly reports on the fix-and-flip space and single-family rental trends. REI INK magazine REI INK is a nationally published, monthly digital and print magazine serving full-time individual and institutional real estate investors and industry professionals. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital  This long-term partnership plays an integral role in NPLA’s dedication to charitable giving and community outreach. The association will host a charity poker tournament to benefit St. Jude at its June meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  NPLA Mentorship Program In 2023, NPLA will debut a mentorship program focused on connecting mentors and mentees for 12-month mentorships. .

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National Private Lenders Conference Makes Waves

The Rebranded Conference Made a Splash in Key Biscayne, Florida By Carole VanSickle Ellis Last month, a private-lending industry tradition went through an exciting evolution, making waves at one of the biggest conferences for private lenders in the country. On March 27, 2023, the first Pitbull Conference of 2023 started out with the announcement that new ownership would be renaming and repurposing the 21-year-old event. The Pitbull conference will move forward as the National Private Lenders Conference, and will continue to have three events yearly, with the second two of 2023 being hosted in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Austin, Texas, respectively.  Jon Hornik, CEO of the National Private Lenders Conference and a founding member of the National Private Lenders Association (NPLA) as well as its executive director and general counsel, said of the change, “We are moving [the Pitbull Conference] forward with a new name, The National Private Lenders Conference, as of Monday, March 27, 2023. With this change, we hope to attract more institutional participants into this space as well as increasing collaboration and growth among our members and within the industry.” Amy Kame, who serves as managing director for the National Private Lenders Association (NPLA), said the association is excited to bring its mission of supporting, protecting, and growing the private lending industry to bear in the National Private Lenders Conference. “What we’re trying to do is bring the foundation from NPLA to the conference.” “This organization is about how to go to the next level,” said NPLA founding member and Advisory Council member, Chip Cummings, CEO at Northwind Financial and the author of nine best-selling books. “I learn every day from this organization. The mindpower here can solve any problem in this industry.” Cory Nemoto, a principal at KÉCŌ Capital, LLC and NPLA founding member attending the event, added that his company gives much of the credit for its pandemic survival to NPLA education, networking, and communications. KÉCŌ Capital was founded shortly before the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic. “We would not have made it through without the NPLA,” Nemoto said. “We faced many trials as an industry, and one thing that is consistent is our friends and colleagues in NPLA have been there through it all.” New Educational Elements and Networking Opportunities Jeff Tennyson, an NPLA founding member and president and CEO of Lima One, said, “Private lenders have an important, noble purpose of ultimately helping build communities, and we look forward to continuing to work with the National Private Lenders Conference to grow and build our industry, provide new ideas, and bring in the NPLA’s insights, best practices, and legislative ‘heft’ to help put a spotlight on laws that affect private lenders, real estate investors, and the end users of housing.” The conference featured presentations from John Burns Real Estate Consulting chief demographer Chris Porter and a keynote from Harry Markopolos, the forensic accounting and financial fraud investigator who uncovered evidence of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scheme as nearly a decade before Madoff was revealed as a fraud. The agenda also featured panel discussions on advancing your lending platform, key indicators to watch in a changing real estate market, and how inflation, interest rates, and global volatility impact the private lending industry. The event also featured multiple exhibit halls and breakout networking opportunities. The National Private Lenders Conference this March featured a number of new elements, including more than four hours of designated networking time spread across two days. “That way, no one has to feel pressure to skip the education in order to get in the networking,” Hornik explained. “We are so proud to be here, in this space, providing this education and these opportunities for private lenders around the country,” he concluded. “We are meeting in strong markets where we will attract local talent as well as national attendance, and we are excited to bring this mission to the conference and the industry.” Learn more about the National Private Lenders Conference at NPLAConference.com. If you are interested in joining NPLA, visit NPLAOnline.com.

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The Five Features Renters Crave

The Changing Landscape of Single-Family Rentals By Kori Covrigaru Zillow recently released its 2022 Housing Trends Report, and, boy, have renters evolved. Renters are going on fewer in-person tours, are more likely to have pets, care more about floor plans, and put a higher value on amenities than in previous years.  As the rental market continues to change, property managers and single-family rental investors need to know what renters are looking for in 2023. There are five key elements at play in today’s changing landscape of single-family rentals. Use these in your rental marketing strategy to ensure you’re ahead of the curve with your properties. Pet-Friendly Homes Renting to pet owners can be a great way to attract more renters and fill vacancies faster. When advertising your single-family rental, mention that pets are welcome along with any pet-friendly features in the house. This will increase your pool of potential tenants. Consider adding features such as pet doors or fenced yards, which will make it appealing for pet owners to rent your property. You should also have a policy regarding the pets allowed and any additional fees associated with renting to pet owners. Be sure to communicate this clearly, so there is no confusion when it comes time to sign the lease agreement. Finally, remember that your insurance provider may not cover some breeds, so do your research before accepting certain animals into your rental property. Pet-friendly homes are an excellent option for rental investors and offer an attractive amenity that can help increase occupancy and attract quality tenants. Smart Home Technology Smart home technology is increasing in popularity in single-family rental properties. It offers convenience and peace of mind for tenants and property managers. Tenants can use smart thermostats to adjust the temperature from their phones while also providing property managers with data on energy usage. The ability to control smart appliances remotely allows tenants to check if they left something running or shut off after use. Smart locks provide an extra layer of security for both parties and a way to grant access without having to meet up in person. Property managers can even monitor when someone enters or exits the premises through notifications sent directly to their phone. Smart home technology makes it easier for everyone involved in a rental property transaction. Tenants have more control over their environment and greater security; property managers have better insight into the unit’s usage and maintenance; and investors benefit from increased efficiency throughout the process. Safety Safety is always top of mind for families. Smart locks are an easy way to ensure that only the right people can access your property. You can program them with unique codes for each tenant and easily change them when tenants move out. Good lighting around the home’s exterior will also help deter unwanted visitors from entering your property after dark. Security systems provide peace of mind by monitoring activity 24/7 and alerting you if something suspicious occurs. Key Takeaway: Property managers and single-family rental investors should install smart locks, security systems, pet-friendly fencing, and smart home technology to keep their properties safe. Floor Plans Floor plans are an important tool for marketing single-family rental properties. They provide potential renters with a visual representation of the space they will live in and help them decide if it is right for them. Floor plans should include accurate measurements and any special features, such as fireplaces or balconies. Consider how tenants can make the most of the space when creating floor plans. For example, if they could easily convert an extra bedroom into a home office or playroom, highlight this feature on your floor plan to show its versatility. Don’t forget to include outdoor spaces like patios and decks so that tenants can get an idea of what their outdoor living experience would look like at your property. Floor plans also give tenants a better understanding of room size and layout before they commit to renting a property—which helps prevent misunderstandings down the line when move-in day arrives. Be sure to calculate each room’s size so that prospective tenants know exactly what they’re getting when signing up for your rental unit. Including detailed floor plans in your listing materials gives potential renters more confidence in their decision-making process by making it easier to envision themselves living in your property, ultimately helping you find great tenants faster. Floor plans are an essential part of rental marketing, providing a detailed overview of the property’s layout and features. With 3D virtual walkthroughs, you can now give potential tenants a better view of your single-family rental before they even step foot inside. Virtual 3D Walkthroughs Virtual 3D walkthroughs are an innovative way to showcase single-family rental properties. They allow potential renters to explore the property from the comfort of their own homes, without having to physically visit the property. This can be a great time-saver for renters and property managers. 3D virtual walkthroughs are becoming increasingly popular among single-family rentals because of their convenience and cost-effectiveness compared with traditional in-person viewings. Property managers now have access to powerful online tools that make showcasing their properties effortless. At the same time, tenants gain peace of mind knowing exactly what they’re getting into before signing on the dotted line. With the right combination of the features renters crave, you can create an attractive listing that will stand out from the competition and attract more qualified tenants. Are you a single-family rental property owner looking for an effective way to market your listings? PlanOmatic provides comprehensive photography, floor plans, and 3D walkthroughs that help showcase the beauty of your home. Our solutions will give potential tenants a detailed understanding of what they can expect from their future living space while making sure you maximize interest in your listing.  Contact us today to get started by visiting https://www.planomatic.com/.

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