Christopher Shank NMLS 2562885 In the previous two articles, we started by discussing the reasons thatpeople get into real estate investing. We also touched a bit on some of the strategies investors employ to grow their empires. We’ve also gone over several real-world examples of successful real estate investors to not only demonstrate the varied…

Christopher Shank NMLS 2562885 I tell you what- the weather forecast for this summer definitely held up; La Nina has driven some pretty interesting storms and hot weather our way. Also hot this summer- the housing market! In the world of real estate, summers are traditionally the moving season of the year, and it makes…

Christopher Shank NMLS 2562885 Oscar Wilde once said that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. The full quote isn’t terribly flattering on the whole, but the guy did have a point. We learn best by observing others and then modifying those actions to best suit our particularities. When I became a Marine, I initially…

Christopher Shank NMLS 2562885 “The secret to becoming wealthy is hard work.” Said one of the wisest men that I have known. “No, really?” I replied, dryly. “Tell me more”.  Well, it turns out that my sarcasm was a bit premature. Clearing his throat, the wise man continued. “The secret to becoming wealthy is hard work. Personally,…

Chris Shank NMLS 2562885 | 31 May 2024 Look, we all know that guy. The one who has “a few properties” that he rents out. The guy who calls himself an investor and drives a fancy car and is quick to credit his success to “smart investing in real estate”. Whether or not you admit it, most…

Back in high school, I was friends with a guy who liked to brag that he came from “old money”. Jake was an ultra-prep; at the age of sixteen, he drove to a private school in his own Porsche, wore tailored polos and sported real RayBans. My friends and I loved to visit his house not just…

I don’t know about you, but I am a huge advocate of win/win/win scenarios. To that end, I want to share a win/win/win that I witnessed recently, and simultaneously use it as a means to illustrate the importance of the Realtor/Loan Officer relationship. (For the sake of privacy, the real names of the parties involved…

I became a first-time homebuyer back in October of 2022, and my Loan Officer gave me the best housewarming gift ever- a 0% down loan. According to data released in 2022 by the National Association of Realtors, the average first-time homebuyer pays around 6% of their home’s value as a down payment. According to data from Redfin, the average Clarksville house…