August 1981 6 months into the new Administration, events are beginning to cloud any clear view of the future as pressure groups clamor for legislative relief. Major influences on the Single Family House portfolio involve several key areas: Taxes, Financing, and Regulation. In turn, these interact within the overall Economy, and are affected by the flow of capital and shifts in population both Nationally and Internationally. Let’s take a closer look at each of them to see if we can devise a course of action.

Continue reading “It’s Time To Take Stock”

July 1981 In a recent issue of a widely read tax newsletter, the writer tells a tale of a couple who attend a well known investment seminar, and then make every mistake in the book. Reading this fictitious account of rampant buying, selling, and refinancing, reassured me that our program was sound from a tax standpoint.

Continue reading “Are You On The Road To Disaster?”

June 1981 The Prime Rate is once more rising – and long term financing is still too high to sustain any market rebound in the housing business. As a result, the entire nation is facing a serious housing shortage. This will be translated into rising prices and higher rents everywhere in existing housing. For the first time in history, the price of an existing house exceeded that of a new house on the average by almost $2,000.

Continue reading “Mortgage Money Costs Are Creating Changes – And Opportunities!”

May 1981 I have just returned from a thirty day road trip during which I attended and spoke at three national conventions, and taught three seminars. Although all the meetings were located in the West (California and Nevada), they were attended by investors and brokers from across the country.

Continue reading “May 1981 Commonwealth Letters Vol. 3 No. 8”

April 1981 Except for newsletter editors, that doesn’t mean much to anyone else. The man (or woman) on the street doesn’t mind paying a few pennies more for a stamp now and then, but what does a postal rate increase signify? For one thing, that despite Reagan’s anti-inflation stance, the U.S. Government is increasing the costs of vital services by 20%. You may note that this issue is being sent to you early. We’re going to take extra measures to forestall the effects of this increase by getting in one more mailing. Others will have to compensate the best they can or raise prices.

Continue reading “Postage Rates Are Going Up.”

March 1981 To buy houses in markets like San Diego where the average price of a house sold is now over one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, and a smaller eighty thousand dollar house will rent for only five to six hundred dollars per month?

Continue reading “Does It Still Pay…….”

February 1981 In the euphoria that accompanies Single Family House Investment yields, it is easy to forget there can be massive equity losses when property is lost through defaulted loans. Over the long term, we can make a persuasive case for highly leveraged houses as a hedge against inflation. For the beginning investor with limited means, there is no swifter or more certain route to wealth than a leveraged single family house portfolio. Nevertheless, with leverage comes risk of loss. It behooves us to consider the downside possibilities that a Reagan economic stability policy could bring about as it affects US.

Continue reading “How Vulnerable Are You To Long Term Depression?”

January 1981 There is currently a book on the best seller list titled “Crisis Investing”. (I would have given two inches of height to have thought of that title.) The author, Douglas Casey, is, to say the least, negative about real estate investments in the United States.

Continue reading “Happy New Year! Or Will It Be?”

October 1980 Our family of subscribers now is international with both Canada and Australia being added to our readership. While we continue to enjoy an extraordinary degree of loyalty as reflected in a high re-subscription rate, we are seeing more and more of the investing public among first-time subscribers. Single family houses appear to be gaining in popularity with all segments of those seeking an economic hedge against the uncertainties of the coming years. As the only investment newsletter being published specifically for the single family house investor, we are enjoying our position as THE definitive investment guide in our specialty.

Continue reading “The Commonwealth Letters Start Their Third Year With This Issue!”

September 1980 Who cares? Reviewing the results of the economy directly following the past few presidential elections, you find that no matter who wins, the economy prospers. This may be a relatively short term phenomenon, witness 1973, but will probably carry us through next year.

Continue reading “Who Is Going To Win The Election?”