John Souerbry

"Real Estate Consultant Serving Investors and Estates"

I'm a:	Real Estate Professional
Company:	John A. Souerbry & Associates
Location:	Palo Alto 94306
Web sites:	My Web Site and Blog

19 Answers
5 First Answers
3 Useful Answers

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About Me

Hi -
I specialize in working with investors and estates.
INVESTORS -
Whether you are a new real estate investor or you already own a portfolio of income properties, I work with you to maximize your return on investment, analyze potential deals, and create strategies for short and long term profit. I also provide brokerage services to help you find, buy and sell investment properties profitabily, including commercial, industrial, mixed use, multi-family, single family homes, condos, lots and land.
ESTATES -
For estates, I can help you prepare property that will be left to your heirs or can help with disposition of property that you may be inheriting. I work with attorneys and tax advisors to maximize the benefits of real estate investment for you and your heirs.
I can also help you with property management procedures, systems, and support.
Associates in Palo Alto and San Diego, California and Tampa/Sarasota, Florida.
Consulting and advisory services offered for properties nation-wide, brokerage services available in California and Florida.
Member, Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors

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John Souerbry's Answers (19)

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Asked Mon Jul 21 2008, 17:57 by Katie - 95032 - Home Buying - 7 answers

John Souerbry answered:

The title policy protects you in the event that LLC doesn't actually own the property, which is a separate issue from what I described in my earlier response to your question. The issue I described relates to being able to close the deal, specifically: ensuring that the person who is representing the LLC has the actual authority to represent the LLC. If that person does not, two things could happen. 1) At the last minute the other "members" (owners) of the LLC could find out about it and cancel your deal (if they actually object to it); 2) The other members could later go to court to have the sale voided since the member who acted as seller did not have legal authority to do the transaction. If this happens you could lose the property and might have a difficult time getting your money back. That's why I recommend getting a statement up front confirming the seller has the authority to act for the LLC.
John - Tue Jul 22 2008, 12:52

Katie - Most investors place their properties in LLC's for liability protection and estate planning, so don't let it bother you. One thing to watch out for, though: make sure the person accepting your offer is authorized to act for the LLC. An LLC is owned by one person or one or more people or corporations (called "members" in LLC language). It's rare, but sometimes one member will try to sell the LLC's property without the approval of the other members. To reduce the risk of your deal falling out because of this type of situation, ask the seller to provide LLC documents or a written statement certifying that they are authorized to close the deal without the approval of others. Certifying that the person is the "president" or "managing member" isn't enough, they must be specifically authorized to sell the property. If other members exist, they should sign whatever document you are given.
Best of luck with your purchase!
John - Mon Jul 21 2008, 20:46

We are considering buying a house built on a flag lot. The properly is located at the end of a quite street

Asked Mon Jul 14 2008, 08:05 by Grace - Campbell - Home Buying - 1 answer

John Souerbry answered:

Grace, The good news about about a flag lot is that they are usually tucked away in a quiet place. The concerns with owning one are that unless they are on a hill, they typically have no view and the value of the home will be more greatly influenced by the homes around it than would a non-flag lot. Since a flag lot has no real "curb", it has no opportunity for "curb appeal." Another thing to consider is that if a neighbor shares a driveway with you, costs for maintaining the driveway should be shared. Even if there is a "common road maintenance agreement" that passes with title to the neighbor's property, getting them to share the costs can be a pain.
Best of luck!
John - Mon Jul 14 2008, 09:04

We are looking for some real estate investment opportunities in Cambrian area, with price range

Asked Sun Jul 13 2008, 23:57 by Mark Gong - Cambrian Park - Home Buying - 2 answers

John Souerbry answered:

Hi Mark - There a a number of properties available in that area, but what type of project do you have in mind? Undeveloped lot, tear down, or remodel? We work exclusively with investors to find and develop real estate opportunties, large or small, starting with a specific profit strategy and detailed budget for each project. Visit my web site to request a no-cost consultation. - Mon Jul 14 2008, 00:42

Seek advices on investment properties

Asked Sun Jun 15 2008, 21:40 by John - 94087 - Home Buying - 3 answers

John Souerbry answered:

As a rule of thumb, I advise against investing in single family homes of any type if you are looking to make money on monthly cash flow. In most markets houses, condos, townhouses usually make less of a return on equity than a 12 month CD, without the safety of principal. The profit from this type of property comes from either flipping (changing the property to dramatically increase value and then selling it) or holding it for a long time (appreciation). Single family properties in vacation markets (eg Hawaii beachfront) are a special case. Apartments, mixed use properties, office buidlings and land leases tend to provide better monthly income while also appreciating. If you have a lot of cash to put down and intend to hold on to the property for 10+ years, you may consider single family, otherwise, I recommend you look into multifamily and commercial properties. Check out our web site for more info.
John - Sun Jun 15 2008, 23:30

How do I find a real estate agent in the SF Bay Area (South Bay) to help me find rentals?

Asked Wed Jun 11 2008, 17:15 by Adam Maenhout - Mountain View - Home Buying - 3 answers

John Souerbry answered:

If you are an investor looking for rental properties, check out the web site below. We work exclusively with investors and help you build a profitable rental portfolio that meets your specific goals.
John
John A. Souerbry & Associates - Wed Jun 11 2008, 20:44

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