All of my clients want to earn a reasonable rate of return on their passive real estate investments but more and more they also want to do something good if they can at the same time. Enter Social Investing. While real estate is not the norm in social investing there are several commercial real estate investments that provide safe, secure long term yield while at the same time doing something to help other people and/or the environment. Here are a few of the investments my clients are considering when investing in commercial real estate in a socially and environmentally conscious way:

Green and LEED certified buildings
Historic Preservation and Rehabilitation
Community Investments such as non-profit tenanted buildings and conservation easements
Buildings with solar features, gray water systems and/or green roofs
EnergyStar certified buildings

Contact TMO for assistance in planning your next social investment in real estate. email or 1.866.539.1777

Here is some general info about Social Investing.

Social Investing Definitions:

• Socially responsible investing, also known as socially-conscious or ethical investing, describes an investment strategy which seeks to maximize both financial return and social good. Source

• Limiting one's investment alternatives to securities of firms whose products or actions are considered socially acceptable Source

• Social investing is the deliberate effort to invest money in financial securities that reflect your personal social attitudes while avoiding financial securities that support things you disagree with. It can also reflect religious, political or environmental beliefs as well. Social investing stems from the philosophy that financial support of something is the same as endorsing it. Source

Contact TMO for assistance in planning your next social investment in real estate. email or 1.866.539.1777

Most Relevant Sites on Social Investing and Social Investments:

1. What Is Social Investing? Discusses Identification, Significance, Geography, Effects and Considerations of Social Investing. http://www.ehow.com/about_4614985_what-social-investing.html

2. Social Investing Business Ethics. The Magazine of corporate responsibility http://business-ethics.com/

3. Socially responsible investing (wikipedia) Wikipedia information about Social Investing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socially_responsible_investing

4. Social Investment Forum The Social Investment Forum (SIF) is the US membership association for professionals, firms, institutions and organizations engaged in socially responsible and sustainable investing. SIF and its members advance investment practices that consider environmental, social and corporate governance criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact. http://www.socialinvest.org/

Contact TMO for assistance in planning your next social investment in real estate. email or 1.866.539.1777

I recently devoured Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur by James Randel and I have to say I rate it as the best commercial real estate book available today. Although, he does not get into the technical aspects of investment real estate, his stories and points, are the most realistic of any other commercial real estate book in my library (and yes, my commercial real estate library is quite large). My clients and partners who are multi-millionaires through real estate investment, play the game very similarly to the way Mr. Randel outlines. They add value in their purchase, operation and sale of investment real estate to create a disproportionate return on equity invested and share of the upside. In other words, they are earning north of 30% annual return on every dollar in the investment; while mitigating and managing risk a the same time.

If you are looking for ways to get into the real estate game, this is a good primer. He discusses finding and adding value to deals, how to work with lenders and attorneys, the basics of ownership and contracts; and touches on brokerage and development among other interesting real estate topics. As compared to other similar books written by experienced investors, this one is somewhat low on ego (still high on non-real estate people's ego scale) and even has a chapter devoted to his mistakes where he lost millions.

Overall this is a great conceptual read full of seasoned advice and fun stories. He touches on some technical aspects of financial analysis such as Net Present Value and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis and how investors use the techniques. But readers should turn elsewhere for detailed methods and how to of such techniques. The CCIM Institute has several classes devoted to the nuts and bolts of investment and market analysis, which I highly recommend.

To learn how you can earn 20% annual returns on you dollars, simply contact me and we can discuss your needs and objectives.

Thomas Morgan, CCIM 1-866-539-1777