You’ll need to prove you have the reputation, skills and ability to pull this off. Money is attracted to good management.
I think your best option is to approach your accountant to see if s/he has any clients that are interested in coming is a JV partners. That way you are leveraging off their trust and relationships, rather than forming your own.
Normally you would want to have a ‘Heads of Agreement’, or a ‘Shareholder’s Agreement’ with your brother that governs the agreed behaviour. A lawyer will be able to assist you to draft such an agreement.
I like the idea of using the rental manager. You may like them to keep a float in trust to pay expenses from, if that is a service they offer. That is, they could distribute the agreed portion over and above an agreed limit (say 2 months rent held back?).
Can I ask what structure the property is owned in?
My family and I came over to the USA for a one year family experience. That time is simply coming to an end. There is nothing more that ought to be read into the decision. Certainly there are no plans to prematurely wind up the Passive Income (USA Commercial Property) Fund.
I’m a little confused by the question, but here’s a stab at an answer:
1. Buying a business
This is not a tax deduction, but instead is the acquisition of an asset. The income from the business is assessable, and the costs of running the business would be a tax deduction.
2. Buying an investment
Same as #1 above. The purchase price paid is the cost of the asset. Rent would be the income, and interest and running costs would be the tax deduction.
3. On disposal
On disposal of the asset, the surplus of sale less cost is a capital gain. If the sale proceeds are less than the cost then there is a capital loss.
4. Annual Operating
In regards to operations, if there is more income (assessable income) than expenses (allowable deductions) then you will pay income tax at your marginal tax rate. If there is a loss (expenses > income) then that loss can be carried forward. You can only get a tax refund if you have paid tax in the first place.
Steve – moving to the states? where will you based and why? All the best with the move
Moving over to the USA for 12 to 18 months for a change of scenery and life experience. Will be based in Florida. Will be interesting to see what opportunities arise. I have already been sounded out to be part of a big US property speaking tour, but that’s not of particular interest right now.
We are just seeing how many tickets are left for Mega Conference and then will begin marketing this week.
My guess is that after the market updates we have less than 100 spots available.
FYI, Mega Conference will be in Melbourne on 20, 21 & 22nd May.
Another great line up of speakers this year, and I will be doing quite a lot of speaking as it will be my last public event before moving to the US for 12 to 18 months. I will be putting together an information page for release early next week.
If you really want a ticket and you’re reading this then email Romy ([email protected]) and see what she can arrange.
I’m in the process of selling my private US portfolio and bringing the money home.
I’ve made excellent growth returns, but the aggravation of dealing with rental management companies and the revolving cost of turning properties when tenants leave (or are evicted), has been a constant frustration.
Finding a good rental manager in the US is even more important than finding a good deal on paper.
I acknowledge your humility in making your latest post and greatly respect you for doing so.
Yes, there is considerable expense in getting six monthly US appraisals, but the cost is worth it for the accuracy and transparency.
We are working on getting an investor portal implemented where investors will be able to download all the appraisal reports, as well as other relevant financial information, pertaining to each property in the portfolio.
Steve,Once again, you know the difference between an Appraisal and a Valuation and basing FMV on each method would/could have a very different outcome. Your post below intermingles both terms once again. Anyway, if there are paid third party arms length valuations these would be easily made available if you wished to do so.
Good Golly! You’re like a dog with a bone on this. The definition I quoted, and the fact that I drew upon the varying names of the professional associations was a gentle nudge that in the real world of investing the terms can both have the same meaning, and my use of including them in the same paragraph was deliberate. It seems my attempts at being subtle have failed.
As for your account being deleted, you can unsubscribe but we don’t delete accounts.
Benny – is this an argument, or a discussion, we’re having? I’m confused!
Surely being a RE expert you are able to differentiate the difference between an Appraisal and a Valuation? You have consistently intermingled both terms as if they are one and the same.
Well, in my defence, here’s how dictionary.com defines appraisal:
“an assessment or estimation of the worth, value, or quality of a person or thing See also performance appraisal. 2. a valuation of property or goods.”
In truth an appraisal or a valuation can be something basic, like a broker’s price opinion, desk valuation by a banker, or frankly – anyone’s BBQ opinion. Or it could be something more structured and elaborate, like that given by a member of Australian Valuers Institute (who give valuations) or the American Society Of Appraisers (who give appraisals).
What’s not in dispute is this… the appraised value of the US properties in the Fund, as adopted by the Director’s, are based on the independent third party arm’s length valuations provided by Capright, who employ qualified and experienced appraisers.
If you feel my reply was defensive and condescending then I can only say it is a mirror of your posts.
On some occasions people join, ask a leading question, only to really post a later reply for what they really wanted to say. In your case, no previous history, no apparent real name, and clearly an agenda to sow doubt.
In any event, my focus and priority is to serve the 1,300 people who are investors in the Fund. I’m not perfect, but I try very hard to be ultra transparent and do things that other Fund managers would never do. Those who are investors in the Fund will testify that this is the case.
Now down to business…
Director’s Valuation
The value in the accounts for the Fund’s US properties are the ‘fair value’ (as per IAS). The Director’s are charged with the responsibility for trying to ascertain what that might be, and in our case, even though our PDS says we will get an independent valuation (or appraisal, if you prefer that term) at least every three years, to be above reproach, we do it every six months.
We engage an expert appraiser, who is experienced and qualified, to do this. The appraiser looks at the net operating income generated and applies an industry cap rate AND also looks at comparable sales.
As Director’s we then review and (and in all cases thus far) adopt their recommendation. I have to say that in my opinion, the values given are on the low side, which is normal as appraiser’s are a conservative lot, but so be it. Those investors still in the Fund at the end will get the benefit, if any, at the time of sale.
Your suggestion that The Redemption Price vs Buy In Price seems to be heavily waited to ‘adjustments’ which once indicates to me a significant discount to ‘true value’ implies the ‘true value’ in the accounts is incorrect. If so, then the in-house accounting team and the external auditors are all wrong. With respect, I will defer to those who know more, which has to be the trained accounting experts with access to the relevant information rather your accusation.
Accounting standards say we have to carry at fair value and in doing so we cannot include any sales costs. I personally think ignoring sales costs overvalues the property and also causes the provision for deferred income tax to be overstated (I have had this discussion at length with our auditors), but the rules are the rules.
However for redemption unit pricing we do adjust to add in sales costs (as is permitted under the Fund’s constitution when calculating the Redemption Unit Price), which can be as high as 10% of an asset’s value (6% sales commission, stamp duty, etc). If we didn’t make this adjustment then an investor could cash out before an asset is sold, get the gross value / higher price, and leave the sales costs to those who remain at the time of sale. This is not fair.
Now, what you (or I) consider to be a fair value, and what the accounting standards define it as, may differ. In any event, the accounts are audited to see if they are true and fair in accordance with accounting standards, so what we may think personally doesn’t count for much.
Final Comment
You stretch a long bow with your conclusion about estimates and assumptions which seldom represent actual results. That may be your opinion based on your experience, but it is not mine, especially when it comes to this Fund.
The numbers reported are not fictitious nor pulled from thin air. They are based on reliable data and opinions. But who is to truly know what a property is worth until it is sold? Up until that time, the best you can give is an informed opinion.
I thank your for your well wishes for the Fund. You can keep an eye on how it performs (and read the published financial reports if you’d like) at: http://www.passiveincomefund.com/performance/
– Steve
This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by Steve McKnight.