Looking Ahead at CRE Trends

Every day, commercial real estate trends are evolving and changing. It can be tough to keep up with all of the changes, but it’s essential to stay informed so you can make the most advantageous choices for your business. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most anticipated CRE trends for the coming year.

Brick and Mortar Retail Sales

Retailers are working to offer online shopping, in-store pick-up, and two-day shipping options to accommodate ecommerce. However, this is that retailers must figure out ways to entice consumers back into brick and mortar stores. An example of this would be Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, which will allow Amazon to compete in the retail food market.

Another major shift in this area is that millennial consumers move towards shared services, including co-working spaces. This creates an opportunity for retailers to invest in brick-and-mortar stores once again. Retailers are also looking at ways to make shopping more convenient by offering mobile payment options and more in-store product demonstrations.

Multifamily Living

The multifamily living trend continues to grow as more and more people choose to rent instead of buy. This is partly because many millennials are still unable to afford a home. Additionally, many people are moving to larger metropolitan areas where the cost of living is higher.

As a result, developers are building more multifamily complexes, and investors are putting more money into this type of property. The demand for multifamily living is expected to grow in the coming year, so it’s a trend that businesses should keep an eye on.

Digital Technology

The use of digital technology is increasing throughout the commercial real estate industry. The development of artificial intelligence and wearable technology will allow businesses to be more efficient than ever before, which means that CRE trends in this area are an essential factor for business owners and investors alike.

One example would be intelligent offices, which use digital technologies such as wearables and robots to operate more efficiently. Another example would be the use of drones to conduct inspections. Finally, remote working is on the rise, which means that digital technology will also play a role in how people work remotely.

Whether you’re looking for commercial real estate for your business or seeking to invest in CRE trends, it’s essential to keep up with new and upcoming changes. By staying informed, you can make the most profitable decisions for your company.

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities In Los Angeles

Finding a volunteer opportunity in LA is easy if you know where to look. In the spirit of giving back, the following list offers chances for all ages and interests to help out those less fortunate during the holidays. This blog post will help to guide you toward volunteer opportunities in LA. Whether an individual is looking for a specific type of volunteer experience or is simply looking to meet some new people, there’s no shortage of ways to lend their time and energy to a great cause.

1.NO KID HUNGRY CALIFORNIA

Headquartered at the historic Los Angeles Theatre, NO KID HUNGRY boasts over 8,000 volunteer hours from local families in 2016 alone. Some of their holiday volunteer opportunities include helping to package and distribute monthly food boxes, sorting and organizing holiday food drives, and assisting with administrative projects such as data entry. NO KID HUNGRY also partners with non-profit organizations for their holiday volunteer opportunities. If you want to serve alongside families, the organization offers a family service event (FSA) program with pre-screening in December.

2.ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM

During the holidays, the holidays can be the most difficult for families who cannot afford everything their hearts desire. This is where Adopt-A-Family steps in to ensure that no family goes without gifts during the holidays. Adopt-A-Family is a social welfare program that provides Christmas gifts and food baskets to needy single-parent families.

3.YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL

With over 1.9 million students in California, there are bound to be many different public schools that need some help during the holidays. Luckily, your school may also benefit from a little holiday cheer. Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a large school district that runs the Los Angeles public schools. Providing a wide range of volunteer opportunities, LAUSD offers everything from tutoring students to organizing holiday toy drives to working at various community events.

There’s no doubt that the holidays can be a difficult time of year for those who are less fortunate. Fortunately, there are many volunteer opportunities in LA that work year-round to ensure that orphans and other people in need get the help they need.

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.

Insights from Jack Nourafshan, President of Reliable Properties

Based in Los Angeles, California, Jack Nourafhshan is a seasoned commercial real estate professional. As president of Reliable Properties, a real estate acquisition, development, and management company, Jack brings over 40 years of experience to his organization.

Jack Nourafshan completed his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota before earning an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at California Polytechnic State University. After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Jack continued his education, going on to earn his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. It was there that Jack found his love for real estate. He began taking real estate courses and devoured all that he could about the real estate industry in Los Angeles. The knowledge he gained and the passion that he found while studying propelled him to create Reliable Properties, where he serves as President today.

Jack Nourafshan’s formal education helped shape his passion for entrepreneurship. There is nothing Jack enjoys more than sharing his expertise and experience with young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs. He understands the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships as well as an honorable reputation. Above all else, Jack places value on patience and helps those around him in any way that he can.

At Reliable Properties, aside from specializing in new construction, Jack helps his team with the repositioning and renovating of old or damaged properties such as shopping centers, office buildings, retail stores, office buildings, and residential properties. Jack and his peers set themselves apart from their competitors by having a hands-on approach. Indeed, the company is highly involved with every aspect of the development process- from project inception and acquisition to administration, construction, marketing, and management of every project.

Since founding the company in 1975, Jack Nourafshan’s real estate firm has long been considered one of the most dedicated organizations in Los Angeles to revitalizing urban communities.

Outside of real estate, Jack Nourafshan supports a number of businesses and nonprofits throughout Los Angeles. These organizations include Cedar Sinai Hospital as well as the Mayo Clinic, which performs groundbreaking cancer research.

In 2019 Jack was asked to travel to Egypt, where he had the opportunity to meet their President while honoring the Israel and Egypt Peace Treaty. Jack attended as an American delegate and presented the golf metal to the country of Egypt. In his spare time, Jack loves to stay active and spend as much time as he can with his family, explore California, and travel.

To see more from Jack Nourafshan, visit his LinkedIn and Twitter.

Our Interview With Jack Nourafshan

Question: What’s the most important thing we should know about you?
Jack Nourafshan: Most important thing: very focused, High integrity to Successfully accomplish objectives set. Very efficient, very organized. Does research well and works well with teamwork and can properly work with different complex other people’s personalities.

Question: Name the most impactful lesson you learned from failure.
Jack Nourafshan: There have not been many failures. However, when decisions were made with emotions above logic and sound due diligence, it is bound to result in questionable conclusions.

Question: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Jack Nourafshan: Balancing life between successful work objectives, accomplished children, and happy family relationships. Taking good care of the health of myself, my family, and my employees. Including exercises and satisfactory, warm relationship with friends and persons who I work and relate with. Prayers and thankfulness for what I have so far and achieved so far are of immense value to me.

Question: What did you waste the most time on when you were first starting your career?
Jack Nourafshan: The wasted time when started my career was to go in many directions and wanting to do more than I could successfully handle. Therefore I decided to focus on a few things that I am good at.

Question: Name a tool you use for work that you can’t live without.
Jack Nourafshan: Softwares that are focused and targeted to the industry. But not be so dependent on it that without it, can still progress forward, even at a slower speed.

Question: What is your favorite hobby and why?
Jack Nourafshan: My favorite hobby is reading on many subjects to learn, do sports and spend time with my family and friends.

Question: What excites you the most about your industry right now?
Jack Nourafshan: The most exciting thing about our industry is to make sure changes taking place are properly handled so the risk will be minimized and under control.

Question: What concerns you most about your industry right now?
Jack Nourafshan: My greatest concern about the industry is how much amazon and other online platforms will impact any further retail sales. We have been aware of it for over a decade and have strategized to have minimal impact.

Question: What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
Jack Nourafshan: The greatest risk taken was to purchase a large fully vacant property. However, we turned it successfully to fully occupied.

Question: Name one small habit that positively impacts your productivity.
Jack Nourafshan: When I have many items come to me at the same time and it feels overwhelming, I take a short walk, breath deep several times, eat a healthy snack, thank God for what I have accomplished so far. Then I take one issue, in order of importance, at a time and one by one resolve each thing until I’ve accomplished everything that needed to be done.

Question: What tips do you have for getting a seat at the table?
Jack Nourafshan: Depends on how important it is. Usually, I talk to people who are already in and see if their objectives are worth my efforts and my skills desired by the group. If yes to both, I will press forward strongly. If not will, I do not waste any time on it.

Question: What book has made the biggest impact on your life?
Jack Nourafshan: Bible

Question: Do you value intelligence or common sense more? Why?
Jack Nourafshan: I value intelligence more since it incorporates research and analysis. Common sense can be a moving target.

Question: What would you consider to be the perfect day?
Jack Nourafshan: A perfect day is when all objectives set for the day are accomplished and I go home with a smile, to be greeted with a hug and smile by my wife and children.

How to Protect Yourself from Another Housing Bubble

Buying a house is a long-term investment. It is not usually the case when one has to deal with a housing bubble. A housing bubble can be devastating and frustrating since one’s home loses its value. A house is an investment because it should appreciate with time.

Homeowners that went through the 2007 financial crisis understand the negative impact of a housing bubble. It results in prices sinking and leading to higher mortgages compared to the value of the house. As home prices keep rising in the U.S, it is essential to think of the ways one can protect themselves from a housing bubble. Let’s delve into the key factors to pay attention to regarding protecting existing and future homes from a housing bubble:

Growth of the economy

Home prices may increase to an extent they are out of reach to many potential homeowners. In such situations, when the economy is growing, it is usually a good sign, and one does not need to worry about the housing bubble. The problem comes in when the economy is not growing yet the housing prices keep going up. It is a clear indication of a housing bubble, which can negatively affect a homeowner.

A growing economy means that there will be an increase in jobs and salaries to cater to the increased prices of housing. In such instances, one may not need to worry about how they will take care of their mortgage since they will handle the gap created. On the other hand, if the economy is not growing yet, housing prices are rising, homeowners may opt to sell their houses to protect themselves from the housing bubble.

Buying a house without plans to move

Individuals buy homes for different reasons. Some people buy their dream homes to live there for the rest of their lives, while others are just house flippers. If a homeowner does not have plans to move from their house for the next decade, they should not worry about the housing bubble popping. On the other hand, house flippers may find it challenging to get back their returns during a housing bubble. Therefore, one must purchase a house to live in for a long time to avoid the housing bubble getting the best of their investment.

Most homeowners usually purchase a house for investment. With that in mind, they can benefit during a housing bubble by getting equity from the home when prices rise. Conversely, equity comes in handy when the value of houses declines. The equity received can assist in other financial matters or in buying a cheaper place.

This article was originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s blog.

How to Teach Children About Philanthropy

Many children are taught from a young age about the importance of giving back to society. This is because, in many cases, parents want their child to grow up with a sense of responsibility and care for others. We must teach our children about philanthropy so they can develop empathy and understanding for those who may be less fortunate than them. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can teach your child about philanthropy and give you some ideas on how to get started!

1) Parents should be role models for their children

– Parents are the most influential figures in a child’s life. If they see that their parents care about making a difference, then this will have a positive impact on them too.

2) Philanthropy can start at home

– You don’t have to be rich to give back. At the end of every month, you could try having a “charity night” where your family sits down and chooses which charities they want to donate money to.

3) Make giving fun

– A lot of us get caught up with the idea that we need to wait until a special event or occasion arises before we can give back. But in reality, if you make helping others part of your routine and do it regularly, then this is still philanthropy!

4) Teach them about the different types of giving

– Giving back doesn’t always have to be financial. You can also give your time and teach children that helping others is a great way of making a difference. Charities, for instance, could use some extra help with their administrative work. Instead of watching TV on Saturday mornings, why not spend some time working for a good cause?

5) Play games that will help teach the value of philanthropy

– There are plenty of board and card games out there that can easily incorporate a lesson on giving back. One example would be by playing Monopoly, but instead of just trying to bankrupt your opponents, you’re also aiming to raise as much money for charity too!

6) Don’t underestimate the power of teaching your child to give

– Teaching children about philanthropy is a great opportunity for parents to teach their kids how lucky they are. We must make them aware of this so they can learn not to take things for granted — especially when it comes to all the opportunities and privileges in life, which many others would love to have.

7) Teach children to be grateful

– It’s important that we teach our kids about gratitude and how it can help them appreciate what they have. We must also make sure they know that many people in the world don’t feel as fortunate, which is why giving back will benefit everyone!

Giving back is a great way for your child to learn about the different ways they can make a difference. If you teach them at an early age, then this will help shape their values and attitudes towards society for years to come!

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.

Effective Ways to Grow Your Real Estate Business

It’s no secret that the real estate industry is a competitive one. You need to be aware of many aspects of this business if you want to get ahead of your competition and grow your business. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss four effective ways for growing your real estate company from the ground up!

1. Network More

Real estate, more than any other business, is all about who you know. It doesn’t matter how hard you work or how good your marketing is if you don’t have a strong network to back it up. To grow your company as quickly as possible, it’s essential that you start building those relationships with other agents and investors as soon as you can. You never know when you might need to call in a favor or for an introduction.

2. Offer More Services

Many agents stop marketing themselves once they get their first sale, but opportunities are always happening within the industry. For example, if your last transaction was a short sale, you could take on distressed property deals. If you sold a vacant house, you could begin marketing to real estate investors.

3. Improve Time Management

Time is money, so you must always maximize your time by learning new business skills and improving upon past ones. Managing your time wisely will allow you to accomplish more tasks in a shorter amount of time, and it’ll also free up some needed space for networking, marketing, and taking on new opportunities that come your way.

4. Dedicate Yourself to Your Craft

While it’s important to branch out and explore new business opportunities, you should also be dedicating a fair amount of time to improving your current skill set. The more work you put into yourself, the more money you’ll make. You can’t expect to get far in real estate if you’re only working for 5 hours per week.

In conclusion, there are many ways for agents to grow their real estate businesses. However, none of these strategies will work unless you put in the necessary time and effort. The only way you’ll be able to make this happen is if you set specific goals for yourself each week or month. This way, your business will constantly be growing, and you’ll be more productive than ever!

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.

Pros and Cons of Investing in Hotel Real Estate

Investing in hotel real estate can be lucrative, but it is not without its drawbacks. The following list of pros and cons will help you decide whether or not to invest in hotel real estate.

Pros

Higher returns

The most obvious benefit of investing in hotel real estate is higher returns. The term hotel can be misleading in terms of rates as these investments may not yield a lot more than other properties, but if you look at the return on investment, then hotel real estate always comes out ahead. The reason for that is because investing in any type of property has income tax benefits.

Buy and hold for high resale value.

The hotel real estate market is a stable market, with slow but steady growth. Holding onto your property as long as possible will give you the highest gains in this type of investment. There is also minimal risk involved because hotels are a basic need for many people, so there is always a steady market to sell the property.

Hotel staff is available and willing to help at any time

The management of your hotel real estate can be done remotely in most cases. You will have constant contact with your property manager, who can guide you through the profit-making process and can help you find tenants and take care of any problems that may arise.

2) Cons

Low returns on investment

The main drawback of investing in hotel real estate is the low returns it yields. For example, if you invest $1 million and bring in a 5% return each year, after 20 years, your property is worth just over $2 million. Investing that same amount of money in stocks might yield 10-20 times that amount.

High capital needs

Investing in hotel real estate requires a lot of capital, and you will have to be ready for it because the process is much more complex than that of investment property or commercial property. You will need to consider taxes, insurance costs, and any other type of fee associated with bringing your investment up to code before you can start generating returns on the investment.

Consult a real estate agent and a financial advisor before deciding if hotel real estate is a suitable investment for you to make an informed decision. Make sure to consider all aspects of the investment, including taxes and insurance costs, in your budget. You will also need to decide how long you plan on holding onto the property and decide how to handle it best when that time comes.

When you are planning a budget, always factor in return on investment, even if it is low. Your long-term gains will not show until you sell the property years down the road.

Investing in hotel real estate can be a significant investment, as long as you do your research and understand all costs associated with your decision. It can be a lucrative investment in the long term if handled properly, so always make sure to look at both the pros and cons when making this type of investment.

Simple Ways to Become More Philanthropic

1. Ask your friends and family about volunteering opportunities in your community. What organizations in your area accept volunteers? What kind of work could you do for them? Can you donate items or spend a day with senior citizens or hospital patients? Taking the time to ask these types of questions can open up new avenues to help make a difference.

2. Start small and think local. You’ll often have more impact working alongside other people in your area compared to looking for ways to get involved on a larger scale online or beyond where you live.

3. Volunteer with your kids. If you have children, it might be a wonderful way to teach them the value of giving back while exposing them to new things and helping develop their sense of responsibility. Talk with your kids about the variety of ways they can participate in service projects and help them find one that suits their capabilities. Some ideas include helping with a neighborhood clean-up, collecting food or clothing donations for community shelters and other organizations, joining projects at schools or churches, etc.

4. Research charities near you to find the best fit. Finding an organization that resonates with you is essential as it can help provide a better understanding of the work they do and how your efforts can help make a real difference. Whether you work with one organization over time or spread out your efforts to different charities, start by looking locally and then branching out online to research national organizations that exist around your interests.

5. Think about what you already enjoy doing. Do you love spending time outside, working on crafts, or reading at the library? How can you do these things and also help others? Thinking along these lines will help you discover a way to serve others that you truly enjoy, so you’ll keep going back to do it again and again.

When it comes to giving back, the possibilities are endless. Find ways that you enjoy helping others and think outside of the box about what you can do that works best for you and your unique situation. Everyone has the potential to make a difference-it just takes a little bit of time and creativity.

A Simple Guide to CRE

Commercial real estate (CRE) is seen as a highly lucrative investment opportunity for investors around the world. However, investing in commercial real estate does not always translate into a guaranteed profit. It involves investing your money on a property with the expectation of making a return at some point in time.

A Common Mistake Investors Make

One of the biggest mistakes people make when investing in commercial real estate is taking their eye off the bigger picture and focusing too much on short-term gains. If looking for guaranteed returns, then it’s best to avoid private equity investments and choose instead to invest your funds into public markets like stocks or bonds..

Types of Commercial Real Estate

The major types are industrial, logistics, office, and retail.

Industrial uses the largest amount of commercial real estate. Offices are the next in line followed by retail and logistics. Industrial space is used for manufacturing industries that require constant production while offices are used for business activities such as sales, marketing, and accounting. Retail stores provide goods that customers will want to buy while logistics facilities provide transport services to localities and countries.

Each Geographic Area is Unique

A geographical area’s supply and demand can be primarily influenced by several factors, including economic condition, population density, or natural resource availability.

Every location has different things to offer its residents. Understanding the unique benefits that a given region offers will help you make an informed decision about investing in it.

Factors to consider include:

* Productivity

* Value chain strength

* Demographics

* Unemployment rates

* GDP growth

The primary goal for investors is to find markets with strong supply and demand while also generating a positive return on investment. The role of the investor in this equation is that they can assess the strengths and weaknesses of each market. This allows them to determine which markets will give them the best return on capital or offer an edge over others who may be considering investing in that specific area as well.

Conclusion

Commercial Real Estate is an important asset that can be used to make money and increase ROI. However, to be successful, it’s necessary to know exactly how to invest in commercial real estate. Do your research, and build a team of experienced professionals who can help you begin your commercial real estate journey.

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.

5 of The Best Nonprofits Helping the Elderly in Los Angeles

The elderly population in Los Angeles has been steadily increasing for the last decade. The city’s Department of Aging reports that the number of people aged 65 and older will more than double by 2030, from one million to two million. This demographic shift has huge implications for those who care about aging well and living with dignity. Fortunately, there are many nonprofits devoted to helping seniors stay independent and healthy as they age!

Here are five organizations working hard to make LA a better place for all seniors – particularly those without resources or family nearby.

1) Jewish Home & Family Services – Job Training for Seniors

Located in south-central Los Angeles, Jewish Home & Family Services provides occupational therapy and job training to seniors. “We teach them job skills so they can have dignity for the rest of their lives,” says Diana Rios, Executive Director at Jewish Home & Family Services. The organization will soon be moving into a new facility that includes a job training center where seniors will gain valuable skills for hospitality, construction, and healthcare jobs.

2) SilverLining – Free Movies For Seniors

Offering free programs on social services and other topics since 2005, this nonprofit has proven itself as a community center for seniors. It also offers a library of digitized films and books, free rides via its RideShare program, and free concerts in the summer months. In 2014, SilverLining launched its Media Arts Center to help seniors who have trouble navigating digital technology use computers to become more internet-savvy. The nonprofit’s most recent effort is the Silver Screen series, a free movie night for seniors age 60 and over. The film lineup includes classics like A Fish Called Wanda and new releases like The Intern. SilverLining also offers on-site blood pressure screenings to help the community stay healthy.

3) PACE of Los Angeles County – Energy Assistance Programs

A nonprofit network of more than 40 centers across LA County, PACE is committed to helping people age 50 and older stay in their homes. Two of the organization’s programs help seniors cut back on heating costs. The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides grants for low-income senior homeowners who need to make home repairs to improve energy efficiency. PACE also provides emergency services, such as furnace and water heater repairs. The program serves over 60,000 people each year. PACE’s Assistive Technology Program helps residents with disabilities by providing free computer devices and games that can help them maintain their independence at home.

4) North Hollywood Interfaith Center – Meals on Wheels

Started in 1966 to assist immigrant families, this nonprofit now provides home care and other services for seniors across Los Angeles. In addition to offering various cultural programs, such as holiday celebrations, free legal advice, and computer training classes, the organization helps seniors avoid eviction by providing temporary financial assistance via its HomeSave program. This service matches clients with volunteers who serve as personal financial advisors. Staff members also offer information about SSI, Medicare, and Medi-Cal programs to help people with low or no income access needed services.

5) Strive – Senior Employment Opportunities

Founded in 2014 to provide job training for seniors, this nonprofit offers several programs that connect older people with employment opportunities. Its Healthy Aging Initiative seeks to combat the skills gap that many seniors face when they attempt to enter a new job market, and it supports adults over age 55 looking for careers in health care. It also offers an online resource hub to help people find paid work opportunities through its Employment Toolbox site. Strive also partners with local businesses to help older adults gain experience through unpaid internships.

Originally published on Jack Nourafshan’s website.