What We Are Thankful For in 2022
What the JCORE Team is Thankful for in 2022.
Teams are central to accomplishing your goals, and this is no different in real estate. The JCORE team has been working together for the past few years and as we reflect on 2022, we wanted to share a few things we are thankful for this season.
Tom Groves
This year, I am thankful for so much growth professionally and personally. My daughter got engaged in September, my wife and I have attended the Pay it Forward conference in Denver (we’re looking forward to the next one), and our team has bought and sold properties in Texas and Pennsylvania. I thank God for such an amazing opportunity to work with JCORE and and great people across our country!
Noel Walton
This year, I am thankful for, The support of my family, the abundance of amazing relationships I’ve made in this business and the ability to make a difference in the lives of Veterans along the way.
James May
This year, I am thankful for my family and the great year we had together. We are really enjoying being back in the U.S and starting a new life here in Florida
Myles Spetsios
This year, I am thankful for my wife who works hard as an interventionist teacher and is a great life partner. I’m thankful for my in-laws and nieces who had us over for Thanksgiving and cooked a wonderful meal. I’m thankful for my job that allows me the honor to serve my country
I’m thankful for my dogs that are super adorable and always brighten my day
Joey Arora
This year, I am thankful for the opportunity to work on financial freedom with a great team of fellow veterans. The chance to grow and work together in a virtual environment has been a joy in my life. I have enjoyed working in the commercial space and the chance to visit India with my family this year.
We also want to give a thank you to all the investors who have trusted us with their capital in 2022. This journey happens because of you! To join our investor club visit: https://join.jcoreinvestments.com/investorclub
-Thank you from the JCORE Team!
Want to Learn more about JCORE:
We have created a system for you to invest directly into cash-flowing, hard assets that don’t require you to manage tenants or deal with any of the headaches that come from owning Single Family Homes. This gives you the freedom to use your time as you wish while we grow your wealth through these amazing assets!
If you are looking to secure your financial future, we would love to connect with you and explore partnership opportunities!
To Learn More about the many benefits of investing in Multifamily Apartments, Download our Free Passive Investor Guide today!
You can set up a complimentary discovery call to join our investor network with one of our team members here!
What is a Real Estate Syndication
What is a Real Estate Syndication?
The concept of a real estate syndication is not difficult to grasp especially if you’ve ever played poker.
In a syndication, you’re throwing money into a “pot” with others with the difference being in poker, you’re trying to win the entire pot.
In a syndication, you’re able to split the pot with the other players (investors) in a deal including the dealer (syndicator).
This “pot” of money is used to purchase property (apartment buildings, hotels, self-storage facilities, etc.) and hold for an extended period of time.
By “joining forces” with other investors, this type of investing becomes a team sport where everyone wins.
Basics of Real Estate Syndication
So when I get the question, “James, how does a real estate syndication work?”, I typically will compare it to traveling on an airplane.
There are several groups of people involved such as:
- pilots
- passengers
- flight attendants
- mechanics
- luggage and ground crew
Using this analogy, the deal sponsor of a syndication are the pilots and you and I (passive investors) represent the passengers.
Even though both groups are traveling to the same destination, each have considerably different roles during the process.
If surprises occur such as unexpected weather conditions or engine problems, it’s the pilots who are responsible for the flight.
They’re the ones who will monitor and update the passengers during the flight:
(“Good afternoon, this is your captain speaking. We’ve hit an area of turbulence but should be through it shortly….”).
And it’s the passengers job to sit back and allow the pilots to make the decisions on what’s best to flying the plane.
Make Sense?
“90% of millionaires become so through owning real estate.” – Andrew Carnegie
Hopefully you now get a gist of what’s involved during this process as real estate syndication deals works much the same way.
There’s several groups of people that all share a vision and want to improve a particular asset such as:
- Sponsor (general partner)
- Passive investors (limited partners)
- Brokers
- Property management
However, each person’s role within the project is different.
Let’s take a look at the two main groups involved:
#1 General Partner (GPs)
They’re also known as the sponsor group and typically:
- find the deal(s)
- get it under contract
- arrange inspections
- evaluate the numbers
- obtain financing
- keep it leased
- manage the property
#2 Limited Partner (LPs)
This group is made up of those that choose to invest passively with limited risk.
Remember, they have no active responsibilities in managing the asset.
How can you profit from a Real Estate Syndication?
Now that you understand the basic operation of how a syndication works, let’s discuss how you can profit from investing in this type of deal.
Profit in any type of real estate opportunities, regardless of a syndication or not, comes from:
- rental income
- appreciation
Profit is generated when the operating costs of the property are LESS than the rents collected.
This is known as the NOI or net operating income which represents the cash flow distributed to the limited partners via distributions (monthly or quarterly).
Investors will receive an additional benefit as typically a property’s value usually appreciates over time. Because of this, the investors can net higher rents and earn larger profits when the property is sold.
Syndication example
In order to drive this concept home, let’s use an example.
Let’s say that you’ve been researching about the syndication process via blogs and other forums and decide to jump in and invest.
A group buys a 350-unit apartment complex in Charlotte, NC for the purchase price of $50 million.
Everything you need to know is outlined in the Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) which you read BEFORE investing.
You learn that the bank financing the deal requires a 30% down payment ($15M). Of this amount, the sponsors cover $1.5M and then they raise money from limited partners (LPs) for the remaining $13.5 million of the required equity.
A syndication is now formed (Limited Liability Company or LLC) between the general partners and limited partners and the apartment complex is purchased.
The projected hold time for this project was initially set forth at 5 years. During this time period, the business plan including “forced appreciation” as it was a value-add deal.
Improvements to the property were made such as:
- upgraded fixtures
- new flooring
- granite countertops
- stainless steel appliances
- new cabinets
- new signage
- update fitness center
- rehab existing pool
- parking lot upgrades
- painting (interior and exterior)
- new landscaping
- internet and wifi update
During this time period improvements were being made, the rents were gradually raised to the same amounts being charged by other local apartments with the same amenities.
Due to the increased rental income, the syndication sends the passive investors a share of the profits from the rental properties every quarter. (Profit #1 rental income)
After five years, a buyer is found and the complex is sold for $15 million ($65M) over the original sales price.
At this time, the limited partners get back their initial investment plus a share of the $15 million profit from the sale. (Profit #2 appreciation)
Remember, during this five year hold period, all of the passive investors received distributions on a quarterly basis from the profit made with the rental income.
What’s the Investing Process?
The next logical question you’re probably asking yourself is, “How do I invest?”
Here are the steps for getting into the syndication game.
- The sponsor sends out a “deal offering” email that an investment is open.
- Review the offering memorandum (property description) and make an investment decision.
- Submit the amount you want to invest to the sponsor.
- The sponsor holds an investor webinar, where you can get more information and ask questions.
- The sponsor confirms your spot in the limited partnership and sends you the PPM (private Placement memorandum)
- Fund the deal via wire or check.
- The sponsor confirms that your funds have been received.
- You’ll receive a notification once the deal closes and what to expect next.
Multi-family prices will not come down significantly.
Multi-family prices will not come down significantly
We know that Commercial Real Estate Investments have some of the best advantages for returns when compared with Residential Real Estate. In this new post-COVID higher interest rate market, our strategies for buying apartments is changing. Here is what we see, and what we are doing.
If you think we are on the precipice of another 2008, keep waiting, I’ll keep buying. It makes for good rhetoric, but this is not going to happen.
Here is why;
- More demand than supply, this is still increasing in the areas we buy in.
- Rents are still going up-they will not fall. Look at the historical MF Rent charts for the last 50 years. Rents don’t do down. Ever.
- Increase in rents continue to drive NOI and values.
- Sellers have been “price anchored” by 2021. They think their properties are worth a lot, and they won’t take significantly less.
- Single Family housing is more expensive now. Rates are making housing MORE unaffordable. We are seeing, and will continue to see, a shift in the total economy. The American dream is dying. The house and white picket fence? Not anymore. Now its the 2 bedroom with a community pool in a pet-friendly complex.
Multifamily prices have come down a bit, this is true, but are a far cry from the bloodbath of 2008.
Our Strategy – Focus on debt, not the purchase price.
This is how you are going to get ahead in this cycle and be looking smart in the next 5-10 years.
Here are the tactics;
1) Lots of great debt was placed over the last 3 years. Take advantage of it. Assumption loans used to be the red-headed stepchild, now they are the prom queen. If you have to pay more to assume a loan of 3.63% with a 7-10 year fixed term, pay it. Run your underwriting taking into account your new debt will now be 5.5%-6.5%, and over 8% for bridge!
2) Get the seller involved. Sellers want a high price, so get them on the equity side of your deal. Offer them a piece of the new deal, or maybe a promissory note, or pref equity. Every dollar they finance to you is a dollar you don’t have to raise, a % of equity not given away, and bump in IRR for your investors.
3) Shy away from the heavy lifts. Cash is king, and they need lots of it. Big remodels don’t work with assumptions typically. Grab the operational play, bump those rents, pay down the loan, and ride the inflation wave.
4) Inflation is your friend, not the enemy. For every dollar your rent rises, your long term fixed debt becomes easier to pay off. In fact, the “powers that be” know this, and because inflation benefits the wealthy land and business owners, it will always just be a political talking point. Remember-they will never stop inflation. Grab as much good debt as you safely can, and manage your costs.
What This Means For You
We have created a system for you to invest directly into cash-flowing, hard assets that don’t require you to manage tenants or deal with any of the headaches that come from owning Single Family Homes. This gives you the freedom to use your time as you wish while we grow your wealth through these amazing assets!
If you are looking to secure your financial future, we would love to connect with you and explore partnership opportunities!
To Learn More about the many benefits of investing in Multifamily Apartments, Download our Free Passive Investor Guide today!
You can set up a complimentary discovery call to join our investor network with one of our team members here!
What is Value Add Real Estate Investing and How You Can Make It Work For You
We know that Commercial Real Estate Investments have some of the best advantages for returns when compared with Residential Real Estate. What strategies allow us to achieve great returns for our investors?
When it comes to Commercial Multifamily real estate investing, there are three main strategies:
#1 – Core Investments
The Core Strategy is for those looking for a conservative return with minimal risk. Regarding multifamily properties, a core real estate example would be Class A properties. These are newer properties in upscale neighborhoods with high quality luxury amenities. Typically, core properties have higher rents with a lower vacancy rate.
This in turn helps to mitigate risk generating a lower cap rate in exchange for the decreased amount of problems with the property.
#2 – Opportunistic
Unlike the core real estate strategy, using opportunistic strategies are the riskiest of all. These investors are looking for the potential highest returns in “opportunity” which is usually property that is bought low with the hopes of selling high for a quick profit.
These projects often initially have minimal to no cash flow with a larger potential later once the property has been rehabbed.
An example of this type of investment in the multifamily space would be new construction of an apartment building. Usually large amounts of capital are needed due to high construction costs which in turn will hopefully attract tenants that can pay an above average rent.
The key to success in this area is using a highly successful team with experience in:
- land development
- repositioning buildings from one use to another
- ground up developments
#3 – Value-Add Real Estate
Most of the syndication deals we’re invested in reside in the value add class which consist of Class B and Class C property.
Most are familiar with fix and flips as this would be a type of value add in the single-family home space. This is where someone finds and purchases a home that needs some TLC, rehabs it then sells to a new owner for a profit.
So this person is rewarded for taking on a high risk hoping to improve a home to the point where it’s sold to someone at a cost that will at least cover the home’s price and rehab cost.
The value-add component is similar to the fix and flip model when it comes to the multifamily space except on a much larger scale.
Instead of renovating one unit, we’re talking about multiple units depending on how large the apartment complex is.
What Are the Risks In Value Add?
As you can imagine, when purchasing a property that needs improving, its condition could be lacking in several areas.
Depending on how run-down the property is, the amount of construction could be quite high which would significantly add to the risk of the project. Usually the more involved renovations (major overhauls) needed, the higher the risk.
Other risks can involve the tenants.
Typically rents can be increased after the rehab has been completed. Occasionally this can cause some to move out and also make it difficult acquiring new tenants which contributes to the overall risk of the project.
Value-Add Examples – Physical Improvements
Value-add real estate is typically a B or C class property that has outdated appliances, peeling paint, distressed landscaping and more. Many times updates need to be made to both the exterior and interior of the buildings.
Here’s a few capital improvements that can be performed.
Interior updates
Common value add interior updates include:
- upgraded fixtures
- new flooring/carpet
- granite countertops
- stainless steel appliances
- new cabinets
- painting units
- new lighting
Exterior updates
Adding value to the exterior of the buildings along with some of the shared spaces include:
- new signage
- update fitness center
- new pool or rehab existing one
- parking lot
- painting
- update clubhouse
- new landscaping
- covered parking
- playground update
- shared spaces (BBQ pit, picnic area, etc.)
3 Reasons Value-Add Investing Can Work For You
#1 Rent bumps
One of the major reasons why a value add play can work has to do with increasing rents.
Many times the property has below average rents which sets it up nicely for the sponsors to justify the increase. Once they make interior and exterior improvements, the net operating income (NOI) will increase which can greatly increase the building’s value (an example of this is below).
#2 Additional income streams
We all love extra conveniences, right? Your tenants will too when it comes to making their lives easier. And they’ll also be willing to pay more for these such as:
- covered parking
- high-speed internet
- cable/satellite
- Amazon package lock boxes
- washer/dryer
#3 Analysis of existing operations
On occasion, the property’s different revenue streams and expenses can be placed in incorrect categories on the profit and loss statement making it tough to find opportunities for value add (poor management).
A good sponsor team will be able to find creative ways to create extra income if some of the expenses found can be passed along to tenants.
Also, the Net Operating Income (NOI) can be increased if some of these expenses can be somehow reduced.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that every commercial real estate strategy has both risks and benefits. Higher risks have the potential to produce higher than average returns, but when making the decision to invest passively, be sure you know the team’s track record and experience with that specific strategy.
What This Means For You
We have created a system for you to invest directly into cash-flowing, hard assets that don’t require you to manage tenants or deal with any of the headaches that come from owning Single Family Homes. This gives you the freedom to use your time as you wish while we grow your wealth through these amazing assets!
If you are looking to secure your financial future, we would love to connect with you and explore partnership opportunities!
To Learn More about the many benefits of investing in Multifamily Apartments, Download our Free Passive Investor Guide today!
You can set up a complimentary discovery call to join our investor network with one of our team members here!
What is the Capital Stack?
A Commercial Real Estate Investment’s ‘Capital Stack’ is arguably one of the most important concepts an investor needs to analyze the equity, debt, and risk return profile of a project. Ultimately, as with any investment, commercial real estate comes with some downside risk. Investors who understand the Capital Stack can assess risk and repayment, where they fall in the pecking order of cash flow, and whether or not that investment is worth the assumed risk.
Let’s Dive In!
The Capital Stack is the structure of all capital that is invested into a company. At a high level, this means that the capital stack includes both equity and debt invested. More specifically, though, this means all types of both equity and debt.
- Tiers of financing sources – such as equity and debt
- Order in which investors are paid back through income and profit distributions over the entire holding period.
- Repayment rights in the event of a default
Layers of the Capital Stack
- Capital Stacks prioritize different capital types by seniority, with the least senior on the top and the most senior on the bottom. Equity positions are registered first, with debt positions below.
- When it comes to properties that are unable to generate enough cash to pay all investors or lenders, capital listed on the bottom of the stack will be paid first and any leftover cash then flows to the capital that holds the next lowest position.
- Should issues arise and the property goes into default, claims to assets are processed in order of seniority in the capital stack with the lower placed capital retaining foreclosure rights superior to those higher up in the stack.
- In most cases, higher risk capital sits at the top of the stack, while lower-risk sit below, and the lowest at the bottom. In a similar vein, higher return potential typically sits at the top of the capital stack, with expected returns that decrease as you go down the stack.
Here is a run-down of primary sources of Capital most commonly seen in the ‘Capital Stack’:
Common Equity
Common equity sits on top of the capital stack and offers the highest potential reward in exchange for the highest level of risk. People who invest in the common equity of a project own a piece of the property and receive a share of the recurring cash flow and percentage of profits when the property is sold. However, funds are distributed to common equity investors only after the debt has been serviced and the investors at the lower levels of the capital stack have been paid.
Preferred Equity
Similar to the way that a first position mortgage has priority over a second position mortgage, preferred equity holders have priority over holders of common equity. Investors with preferred equity have the first right to receive a pro rata share of the monthly cash flow, along with a percentage of the profits when the property is sold, before the common equity holders are paid. Although preferred equity has priority to common equity, the rights of a preferred equity investor are lower than those of the debt holders.
Mezzanine Debt
Mezzanine debt is similar to a second position lender, and is usually unsecured by the real property. The rights of mezzanine debt holders are subordinate to senior debt holders, but hold priority over preferred equity and common equity investors. Because holders of mezzanine debt are not paid until payment has been made to senior debt holders, the interest rate paid to mezzanine debt holders is usually higher than senior debt. Sometimes mezzanine debt holders will also receive a small percentage of the profits when the property is sold, or an interest rate ‘kicker’ if the project performs better than expected.
Senior Debt
Senior debt sits at the bottom of the capital stack and serves as the foundation for financing a real estate investment. Because the real property typically serves as collateral for senior debt holders, investing in senior debt comes with the lowest level of risk. Holders of senior debt receive periodic interest payments before all other investors higher up in the capital stack are paid, and are first in line to have any outstanding debt repaid when the property is sold. Interest rates paid on senior debt are usually lower than rates paid on mezzanine debt, and may be viewed as having bond-like characteristics for investors seeking a truly passive income stream.
We at The Joint Chiefs of Real Estate have created a system for you to invest directly into cash-flowing, hard assets that don’t require you to manage tenants or deal with any of the headaches that come from owning Single Family Homes. This gives you the freedom to use your time as you wish while we grow your wealth through these amazing assets!
If you are looking to secure your financial future, we would love to connect with you and explore partnership opportunities!
To Learn More about the many benefits of investing in Multifamily Apartments, Download our Free Passive Investor Guide today!
You can set up a complimentary discovery call with one of our team members here!
Build a Multifamily Real Estate Investment company during a Pandemic!
All of our lives have been forever changed since the COVID-19 Pandemic hit the U.S. in 2020. The economy experienced major shifts that made everyone uncertain about the future that still affect us today.
Although fear gripped the world, The Joint Chiefs of Real Estate (JCORE Partners) a multifamily real estate investment company, was formed in the midst of this uncertainty. Our goal is to provide opportunities for investors looking to reach a state of financial peace through any economic event while working to make a difference in the lives of military veterans struggling with homelessness and PTSD.
In this post, I’ll explain more about why these causes are so important and why investing alongside us can not only set a successful course for your financial future, but make a difference in saving the lives of our U.S. Military Veterans!
Our Story of Military Investing
After my wife and I spent several years investing in Single-Family Homes while I was on Active Duty in the Army, we realized that we were limited in Residential Real Estate investing. In 2019, we learned more about the scalability of Commercial Real Estate, specifically Multifamily Apartment Buildings and made the decision to pivot into that industry.
After spending the time, money and energy to receive the right education and mentorship to dive into the industry, I met Myles Spetsios, an Air Force Captain in early 2020. After a meeting over coffee, we discovered we shared the same goals and vision and we each possessed skills that were varied, but complementary. This began the journey to the formation of JCORE, which was completed with the addition of James May, a Marine Corps Veteran and Foreign Service Officer and Tom Groves, a 26-year Navy Veteran.
We faced many challenges during this time, as there was so much uncertainty in the Real Estate Industry due to the pandemic. We were all working remotely from various locations in the country but we molded as a team, sharing a common vision to acquire Apartment Complexes with the partnership of Passive Investors, providing them high yield returns through these tax-advantaged assets. Additionally, we set goals to give back from our own proceeds toward causes directly serving homeless Veterans and those struggling with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Despite the challenges, we learned many great lessons on how to start a real estate syndication company and we closed on three acquisitions from 2020- 2021 – totaling 250 units! We are working tirelessly to become one of the top real estate syndication companies in the industry, creating wealth for Investors like you.
What This Means For You
We have created a system for you to invest directly into cash-flowing, hard assets that don’t require you to manage tenants or deal with any of the headaches that come from owning Single Family Homes. This gives you the freedom to use your time as you wish while we grow your wealth through these amazing assets!
If you are looking to secure your financial future, we would love to connect with you and explore partnership opportunities!
To Learn More about the many benefits of investing in Multifamily Apartments, Download our Free Passive Investor Guide today!
You can set up a complimentary discovery call with one of our team members here!
10 Reasons to Invest in Multifamily

1. Attractive, Risk-Adjusted Returns and Relatively Low Volatility
Multifamily is less impacted by cyclical downturns than other property types. It was the first sector to recover from the 2008 recession and has achieved superior returns through the recovery and expansion phases. The 2010-2016 average return was 12.1%, based on data from the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF). In 2016 and 2017, the annual investment returns reflect the maturity of the sector, yet the income components remain healthy at 4.5%.

Over the past 25 years, multifamily investment has had the highest average returns of any commercial real estate asset class. The 9.8% average annual return is slightly ahead of industrial, and more than 100 basis points greater than office.
Multifamily can be considered a “defensive play”. Using standard deviation as a measure of volatility over the 25-year period, retail and multifamily had the lowest levels of volatility in return performance.
2. HEALTHY DEMAND AND FAVORABLE DEMOGRAPHIC OUTLOOK
Demand for multifamily housing has been robust in the past several years. From mid-2012 through Q2 2017, net absorption—the measure of demand—totaled 948,445 units or about 189,689 per year (based on the 62 major markets tracked by CBRE Econometric Advisors). This total represents a healthy 7.3% increase to total multifamily demand over the five-year period. The high level of demand is due to a combination of cyclical and secular trends.
3. FAVORABLE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
The U.S. has a relatively landlord-friendly regulatory environment. While many governmental regulations exist, especially at the local and state level that protect apartment renters’ health, safety and tenure rights, most multifamily properties are owned and operated without restrictions on rents. There are some exceptions, including metros with rent control (principally city laws limiting rent increases). New York City is one of these metros, and the laws can be complicated. In cities where there are no rent controls, market dynamics and operator skill dictate rents.
With respect to “social” housing, the U.S. has a lower level of subsidized/low-income inventory than many other countries. These properties require additional expertise on the regulatory environment, but represent only a small portion of the total inventory (estimated 5% to 10%).
4. HIGH DEGREE OF TRANSPARENCY
Transparency in the commercial real estate industry, including multifamily, has been rising steadily over the past few decades, and the U.S. has one of the more transparent markets in the world. This transparency allows investors to understand pricing, market conditions, development activity, property ownership trends and other key elements of the industry with relative ease.
Many professional associations, such as the NMHC and National Apartment Association (NAA), regularly host conferences and events with experts discussing key trends and risks in the industry. Industry groups with a broader spectrum, such as the Urban Land Institute, Pension Real Estate Association and Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), also host educational and networking events, publish news briefs and trends reports, produce podcasts and webinars, and speak with media.
Public information sources such as the U.S Census Bureau and local and state governmental agencies regularly produce housing, demographic and socio-economic statistics that provide insight into demand drivers. CBRE is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm and provides research and data analysis on multifamily trends, property types, specific properties, market statistics, sales transactions and more.
5. LIQUIDITY
U.S. multifamily assets have a high degree of liquidity (generally defined as the ability to sell or finance assets at the seller’s chosen timing). While there is no good single measure of liquidity, investment volumes provide some sense of liquidity in the marketplace.
The multifamily sector represented more than $1 trillion or 27% of all commercial real estate sales based on the dollar value of all sales over the past 16 years. Over the recovery and expansion years of the current real estate cycle (2010- 2016), investment in multifamily assets totaled $680 billion or 29% of all real estate investment, slightly below office at $700 billion. Multifamily also represented a larger market share in this period than in the 2001-2009 period where the sector attracted 24% of all investment.
One of the principal factors behind the multifamily sector’s high degree of liquidity is the large and diverse pool of investors. Not only is this broad-based capital attracted to primary markets, it is also interested in secondary and tertiary markets. For example, in 2016, the top-10 metropolitan areas for multifamily investment were Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Atlanta, Denver, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Another way to consider liquidity is to review the ranges of capitalization rates. Lower and less volatile cap rates suggest greater liquidity, as does a smaller cap rate range between the peaks and troughs of the cycles. From 2004 through Q2 2017, cap rates for multifamily acquisitions averaged 6.3%—nearly a point lower than the office-industrial-retail average, according to RCA. Cap rates can vary significantly by asset class.
6. PREFERENTIAL MORTGAGE MARKET AND ABUNDANT FINANCING SOURCES
Loan terms, leverage and pricing are more favorable for multifamily than other property types. The availability of debt capital is important for investment in any commercial real estate sector. Leverage is used for most transactions, with acquisition financing usually in the 50%-to-75% loan- to-value (LTV) range.
The largest sources of capital for financing acquisitions of all property types in the U.S. are banks, life insurance companies and CMBS or conduit lenders. The multifamily sector also benefits from U.S. government-backed lending programs not available for other property sectors. specifically, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration are major sources of debt capital for existing assets. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) because they are backed by the U.S. government.
The GSE share of multifamily mortgages has risen dramatically over the past two decades, and the availability of capital from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provides a unique financing advantage. These capital sources increase investment and financing liquidity—important during economic downturns—and help the multifamily sector sustain premium pricing.
Multifamily’s strong market performance, active investment arena and the availability of agency GSE for financing acquisitions and refinancing assets (during both favorable and unfavorable phases of the market) have contributed to the sector’s ability to obtain more favorable loan pricing and terms than other property types. Current loan underwriting metrics reflect the preferential loan underwriting characteristics that multifamily mortgages received in Q2 2017 compared with other major property types.
Multifamily borrowers have obtained higher LTV ratios and lower debt-service-coverage ratios. The average mortgage rate was lower than all other property types combined by 30 bps. Multifamily’s preferential treatment is not limited to 2017. Historically, multifamily debt capital has been more favorably priced than other commercial property assets.
7. DIVERSIFIED CREDIT RISK
In commercial real estate, there is always risk that leases will not be renewed or easily back-filled when space is vacated. In addition to revenue loss from vacancies, there are costs to release and physically prepare available space for new tenants. Multifamily shares this risk in the aggregate, but the sector is very different in that each individual lease only represents a very small portion of overall income of the asset.
Because multifamily assets have a large volume of leases, it also means that credit is well diversified across many leases and lease holders. Diversified credit mitigates risk and gives the sector a distinct advantage over office, industrial and retail assets, each with much smaller numbers of tenants.
8. SHORT-TERM LEASES ALLOW IMMEDIATE ADJUSTMENT TO MARKET CONDITIONS
Short-term leases—typically one year vs. five or more years for office, industrial and retail—means that leasing activity is a constant part of multifamily operations. Short-term leases and the steady leasing/renewal activity provide a financial cushion for operations which generally results in higher occupancy. In other sectors, the loss of an individual tenant can seriously disrupt cash flow and create more risk for owners.
The short-term lease structure, relative to other property types, provides an advantage with respect to both market conditions and inflation. In periods of high rent growth, the short-term leases provide owners the ability to adjust rents upward quickly. More importantly, if the U.S. moves into a period of higher inflation, short-term leases provide owners with the ability to make upward adjustments to over the increased costs of operations.
9. RELATIVELY LOW CAPITAL EXPENDITURES CAN BE MORE ACCURATELY FORECASTED.
Multifamily investments tend to provide elevated net cashflow. While multifamily properties require ongoing maintenance and, occasionally, major capital improvements, the amount of capital expenditures (“cap ex”) needed to maintain them is typically lower than the cap ex investment required for other commercial real estate assets.
Similarly, apartment unit turnover requires only minimal investment in contrast to what can be unpredictable and significant tenant improvement expenses needed to attract and retain office, industrial or retail tenants. Annual unit turnover costs are predictable within a tight range and do not result in dramatic swings in cash flows for multifamily owners and investors.
10. THIRD-PARTY LEASING AND MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
In the U.S., it is common to outsource property management and leasing for all types of commercial real estate, including multifamily assets. Management and leasing are almost always handled by the same organization in the multifamily sector.
The NMHC reported that the 50 largest multifamily management companies in the U.S. managed 3.2 million units. Many management companies also own assets, and these units are included in the count. The largest 50 firms each managed at least 30,000 units; the top five are each responsible for more than 100,000 units. Additionally, many of the larger firms have a broad geographic coverage and operate in all or most major metropolitan areas across the U.S.
Revenue management systems are used by nearly all major management companies. These sophisticated software programs are like those used in the airline and travel industries and help determine optimal rent pricing based on market conditions, property occupancy, availability of units by size and other market and property-level criteria. Revenue management systems greatly assist in obtaining the best pricing for new leases and renewals, enhancing revenue for the owner.
Multifamily Market is on fire!!!
We were outbid again on a phenomenal asset in the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Area. It fits perfectly into our wheelhouse on every angle so we were prepared to push hard to get it.

Our initial underwriting put us at $12MM – in line with the guidance we were receiving. After some further research, we felt comfortable pushing to $12.2MM, maybe even $12.3MM if we had to. Not bad to have a few $100K to play with if need be. Our lender even mentioned we could still get 70% LTV at $12.5MM. While our returns began to take a hit at that point, it settled out in the 8% COC and 13% IRR. While that may seem a little low, you have to remember that we’re talking a home run asset in a home run market so you’re going to have to give a little with the expectation that the team and the market will allow you to outperform in the long run. Long story short the word on the street says this deal went north of $15MM before the dust settled. WOW!
With yet another crazy price in the books, we went to go back to double check our data. Are we being too conservative, are we missing opportunities with too much of a rearview mirror? We don’t think so. We think our pricing was spot on and takes into account the upside in the market. On the flip side, I also don’t think that 4-5% returns are market either (which is what the deal would have penciled at $15MM).
We’ve been tracking the market pretty closely the past few months given all the money that’s flooded into our space and have made a couple interesting observations.
First, beginning in March of this year, rental rates literally took off on a tear. We’ve been seeing healthy rental rate increases across the board for the past decade, but something happened in March to really amp that trajectory significantly. Traditionally leasing season gets underway in a serious manner around that time for southern states, but usually doesn’t get it’s stride until May or June up north. However, this trajectory was pretty consistent across all of our markets regardless of geographic location – and it’s not a small deviation, it’s massive!
Second, the spreads and rates for debt have gone to yet another record low level. Bridge debt, the more risky debt for value-add deals, which even a month ago was 4.5%, is now in the low 3% range. Lenders are practically climbing over themselves to sign up multifamily debt. While occupancy, rental rates, and collections continue to make new highs as the economy improves, we suppose it’s not too hard to understand some of the enthusiasm. This is interesting, though, considering we’re about to, hopefully, see an expiration to the eviction moratorium and potentially millions of evictions from people who have chosen not to pay rent for the past months (or year). Maybe the market has already priced in this potential downside?
In the DFW market, the average effective rent growth was 1.9% for the quarter. Yes, that’s the quarter, not the year. While Class A and B took the lions share of that rent growth, that’s still an amazing statistic. Lease concessions drove much of that increase as properties phased out previous leasing concessions that were no longer needed as demand came roaring back. We’ve seen the same in our properties as rental rates and collections reach all time highs. With new construction moderated by the inflationary situation for raw materials, this continues to bode well for stabilized assets.
All this to say, it is somewhat understandable why some buyers are throwing caution to the wind just to get their hands on a deal – especially in Dallas. And while it can be frustrating and the old FOMO (fear of missing out) can set in, we have to remind ourselves that this is a long game and these are times when it’s easy to make mistakes. We’ll continue to push forward and do the best we can to adjust our expectations (within reason) to the current market conditions, but don’t expect us to throw caution to the wind just to put another notch on the deal belt!
If you would like to learn more about Multifamily Real Estate and how to invest, please email me directly at James@jcoreinvestments.com
Why we like the Texas market
With COVID-19 cases continuing to fall and vaccination rates rising, things are beginning to feel a bit more normal. The economy is growing, and the outlook remains positive as the health crisis abates. Here’s a quick look at current conditions and our latest projections for business activity in Texas.

Texas has recovered more than one million of the nearly 1.5 million jobs lost in March and April of last year due to the pandemic. The state added 13,000 jobs in April (on a seasonally-adjusted basis) as strong gains in a few industry groups, such as leisure and hospitality and professional and business services, were partly offset by losses in construction, manufacturing, mining and logging—which in Texas is essentially oil and gas activity—and several others. The state’s unemployment rate has improved significantly, but is still above the national level. The bottom line is that while we’re moving in the right direction overall, there are still a few bumps in the road.
One issue is worker shortages, which were already a significant problem before the pandemic. Competition for knowledge workers and other skilled occupations is intense, industries such as restaurants and hospitality are having difficulty coaxing employees back, and school and childcare challenges restrain the entry of many (particularly females). Supply chain challenges also remain. The pandemic disrupted the entire global manufacturing and distribution complex, and it is quite a process to restore the relatively smooth functioning that typically supports production processes. This situation results in both cost escalation and bottlenecks that inhibit or even interrupt activity.
Our most recent forecast indicates an estimated 1.6 million net new jobs are projected to be added to the Texas economy by 2025, representing a 2.39% annual rate of growth over the period. This expansion is somewhat front loaded, as the state continues to regain the activity lost during the downturn and returns to long-term patterns. Services industries will drive job gains, with wholesale and retail trade businesses also forecast to see notable hiring. Real gross project is projected to gain $424.4 billion over the next five years, and output in all major industry groups is forecast to expand, with the mining and services segments leading the way. In particular, the energy sector is expected to continue its strong comeback.
I expect Texas to reach pre-pandemic employment levels in the next year or two. The state’s combination of natural resources, a large and growing population, and expansion in emerging industries position it well for expansion. While there are challenges ahead, such as providing the requisite education and training for future jobs and assuring the provision of essential infrastructure, Texas has the potential to remain a growth leader for the foreseeable future. Stay safe.
If you would like to learn more about Multifamily Real Estate and how to invest, please email me directly at James@jcoreinvestments.com
Do you need an Limited Liability Company (LLC)?
It really depends on your personal situation and comfort level.
First off, what is an LLC? An LLC stands for Limited Liability Company and is an entity that separates business owners and their assets from their business. When a person operates a business (rental properties) without separating themselves from the business, they essentially put themselves in a situation of unlimited liability.
If anything goes wrong (tenant gets hurt or you are sued personally) the business owner’s personal assets could be targeted in a lawsuit to award damages to the Plaintiff. But by creating a LLC, the business owner protect themselves from the threat of lawsuits, debts, and other damages.
Back to the question do you need an LLC, my recommendation is you first need to review your own situation and decide on your personal liability. For my family, there are two reasons on why we decided to created several LLC’s. The first reason is obviously “Liability” and second and even more important is “Inheritance” for my family.
I’ll start with inheritance first since it is the foundation of how my wife and I structured our business entities. My wife and I do not own anything in our name except for our personal checking accounts for day-to-day purchases. Seriously nothing!! Instead, everything that we technically own is actually legally owned by our family revocable trust that in turn owns all our assets in LLC companies. For example, our family trust owns a Holding LLC that was formed in WY and that holding LLC then owns LLC’s that were formed in the state of where our rental property is located. Side note, the reason for the Wyoming holding companies is when forming/file your LLC with WY, the member and mangers names of that LLC are never on public record. That’s ultimate privacy on the ownership of your assets.

Above is an example of the structure I use
I know this sounds complicated but the reason for this chain of ownerships through our trust and LLC’s is to avoid having to change individual ownership on our assets when life changing events happen. Why is this important you may ask? If I were to die then nothing changes on ownership of our assets but instead my wife becomes sole beneficiary of all our assets through our trust. If both my wife and I die, my kids become beneficiaries of the trust and all the assets easily pass to them. To better explain this, none of our rental property’s deeds or other assets would need to be changed/filed to move ownership to our kids if we died since everything is owned by our Trust. Also, the additional benefits is the trust has clear guidance that explains how to manage our assets if our kids are still minors. This is peace of mind for my wife and I to know that our kids are taken care of if we were to pass.
Now let’s talk about Liability. There are 2 ways to think about this when you are trying to protect your assets. One way is the asset itself – what if your tenant gets hurt on your property and they want to sue the property owner. If the property is in the owner’s name then that means all assets the owner has are up for grabs. If the property is owned by an LLC then only the assets that LLC owns are liable. The second way to think about Liability is if you are sued personally for any reason. Everything that you own under your name could now be awarded as compensation in the lawsuit. When your assets are owned by LLC’s, then you are better protected on not having to liquidate those assets owned by the LLC if you lost the lawsuit.
Going back to using a Holding LLC in WY, this is an added layer of protection because it is hard for the so called “ambulance chasing” lawyers to figure out how many assets you have. To the lawyer, if you look like you have no assets or those assets are owned by LLC’s they may not take the lawsuit since you are not an easy mark. Additional the LLC provide protection by the privacy since ownership is hard to identify.
Summary
I’ve probably convinced you for the need for LLC’s because of liability protection and inheritance but this does come at a cost. It is fairly easy and cheap to go online and create an LLC but I caution against doing that unless you fully understand what you are doing. If you do not create the LLC correctly than you might not actually have the liability protection you thought you did which defeats the purpose. I recommend instead that you discuss your personal situation with an asset protection lawyer who specialize in this even though it may be costly. The other cost to LLCs are the filing fee with the state you form the LLC in. Those cost can be different in each state and usually includes a yearly reoccurring cost. Also, you will need to pay for a registered agent in the state the LLC is formed. These costs can also range but they are a person or entity that is designated to receive mail for that LLC. Once the LLC is created there will be more fees to the county clerk to change the ownership of the deed of the rental property. Finally, with every new LLC you create the process of preparing taxes becomes more complicated. Even though the LLC may be a pass-through entity, and even if there is no money coming in or going out, you will still need to prepare K-1 that will be filed with your personal tax returns as part of your schedule C.
If you have any additional questions, please email me directly at James@jcoreinvestments.com
Why we love Dallas
Dallas Fort-Worth is one of the most resilient MSAs in the nation with a diverse economy, affordable living, and lower costs of doing business. The region is a top choice for multifamily investors due to its rapid population and job growth, leading the nation for several consecutive years. The graph below illustrates the demand for apartments in the DFW area - it's off the charts, literally!

Similarly, job losses in the DFW market have been less than any other major metro area in the country. All 12 of the nation’s largest metro areas had year-to-date job losses. Seven metros exceeded the national average of 7% - with New York and San Francisco leading the losses at over 11% each. Phoenix and Dallas were basically tied for the least job losses at 3.5% each - that's less than one-third the job losses or those two leaders and less than half the loss of the national average! Economic resiliency is key for investing in multifamily.

DFW is a leader in transportation and logistics. Dallas leads the job growth in the US. DFW has one of the most diverse economies in the country and it actually leads the country in net migration by adding over 1 million residents since 2010! I could go on and on but you get the point. We're not seeing any discounts in the Dallas market but there's a reason - the facts just don't justify it. With rates low and opportunities still in the market, we plan to continue moving forward.
Some Huge Personal News
If you’re reading this, I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with you over the past few years. And since we’re connected, it’s time to update you on some recent changes along with why I’m so excited about the future.
I’m beyond grateful for the support of my wife and family and the education and mentorship I’ve received from so many amazing people in my military career as well as in my Real Estate Investing ventures. This support has enabled me to achieve so many amazing milestones and set my family up for financial success for years to come.
It’s also a large part of the reason why I’ve formed a Real Estate Investing partnership with several other current and former military investors, the ‘JCORE (Joint Chiefs of Real Estate) Partners.’ We are dedicated to bringing you valuable investing education and passive investing opportunities.
As military members, we understand the demands of a busy work life, travel, family, and deployments. We acknowledge that not everyone has the time and knowledge to invest ‘hands on’ in Real Estate. Therefore, we have partnered to provide solutions through Apartment Syndications- a truly passive way to invest in Real Estate. We work to acquire, manage and operate large Apartments so that you can collect mailbox money and focus your attention on your career and family.
If you’re somebody who values your time and your financial future, then please visit our website at https://www.jcoreinvestments.com/ to access our FREE Multifamily Investing Masterclass Interviews and to schedule a call with me or one of my partners.
In spite of the challenges of 2020, we have seen tremendous success and our momentum is building! I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your connection, time and interest. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know if there is anything I can do for you personally or professionally.
Signing Off,
Noel