The government’s rules give more leeway to funds and businesses looking to invest in distressed areas nationwide. The government released its long-awaited and latest set of Opportunity Zone regulations Wednesday, hoping to provide investors who have been on the fence with the clarity needed to begin developing projects in distressed areas nationwide. Under the law, […]
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Oregon was such a nice place. Rent Control is going to ruin it.
Today, the Oregon State House passed SB 608, a bill that creates a new statewide rent control law. The measure now goes to Governor Kate Brown’s desk, where she is likely to sign the bill into law. The liberal legislators in Oregon don’t understand basic economics and this legislation will only exacerbate the situation they […]

Could Opportunity Zones Be Right For You?
Last week, I spent a day sharing my experiences working in Opportunity Zones with more than 400 of my closest friends. Gathered at a conference in Las Vegas organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the State Department of Business and Industry, the group was […]

What we can learn about branding from Chip & Joanna Gaines
I recently visited Magnolia Market in Waco Texas, the home & lifestyle store that supports multiple lifestyle brands by Chip & Joanna Gaines of HGTV’s Fixer Upper show, among many ventures. Chip and Joanna are beloved lifestyle entrepreneurs, with a home improvement empire that includes the Market, Magnolia Homes, books, the Hearth & Hand line […]

Urban Population Reaches Parity with the Suburbs
New research from the Urban Land Institute shows that the population of urban neighborhoods in many metropolitan areas is growing as quickly or nearly as quickly as that of suburban neighborhoods, reflecting ongoing consumer demand – particularly among younger households — for living environments that are convenient to jobs, transit, and urban amenities, and which are highly […]

What We Can Learn from Solo, The First Star Wars Failure
For science fiction movie fans, Star Wars is a franchise that seemed like it could never fail. But Solo: A Star Wars Story has shown that the historic franchise can produce a flop, and provides several lessons that developers and apartment owners can learn from. Solo: A Star Wars Story has “only” garnered $210 million at the domestic box […]

10 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Own Management Firm
Every management company owner has a different story about why he or she decided to start a business. Some knew from the outset that they would eventually work for themselves. Others come up with ideas while working for someone else and decide to take the entrepreneurial leap. Every owner will agree on one thing – owning your […]

Amazon Letter: High Standards Lead To Innovation
When Bezos started Amazon on “Day 1,” the Seattle startup was mostly selling books online and building out its infrastructure. On that first day, he wrote a letter to early shareholders on his aspirations for the company, one he continues to attach to his annual letter today. It was Day 1 for both Amazon and the […]

Opportunity Zones: A Tax Incentive for Existing Capital Gains Deferral
Investing in Opportunity Zones allows real estate investors to defer or eliminate short-term and/or long-term gains on the sale of real property or other similar investments. An important tax incentive provision for real estate investors, developers and professionals were included in the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted in December 2017. A […]

What McDonald’s Teaches Us About A Smooth-Running Operation
I recently watched the movie The Founder on Netflix, starring Michael Keaton. The Founder is a compelling story about American inspiration, ambition and greed. Love it or hate it, McDonald’s is one of America’s most recognized brand names and greatest success stories. Its success is partly because of its ability to streamline its operations and give […]