Recent Posts

1

Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) / Re: Ideas to spend some wealth and free myself from frugality

« Last post by berkel on March 04, 2021, 11:12:32 AM »

I was going to suggest a car, but you've got that covered.  Great choice!

My wife and I are in our late 40s and approaching financial independence.  We have had a traditional path through staying employed and saving diligently.  My wife missed a couple of years working, since our son had many medical issues when he was born (6 months in the NICU, long story).  No real side hustles, although I've started blogging as a hobby for now.

We max out our 401ks, contribute to our Roths through the back door, and invest in an after tax brokerage account and Fundrise.  We aren't as thrifty as we could be, and enjoy driving new cars (Audi Q7 for her and a BMW m340xi for me).  We also splurge on family vacations with our family, renting a home on Cape Cod MA for a week on or near the ocean.  We've also taken family vacations to Disney and would like to go to the Caribbean once things get a little more normal. Maybe even some time with just the wife and I now that our kids are older!  We put a lot on hold when our kids were young and due to the health complications.

I do like some electronics and will splurge on a new OLED tv soon too, but also planning on more time in Retirement for hobbies like learning French, guitar, mountain biking, trying to workout, etc.  These activities don't require too much money, but could definitely spend too much on a mountain bike. 

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Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by mspringer on March 02, 2021, 01:15:57 PM »

I find it sneaky that I did not get some email from Realtyshares indicating there was an update. Instead, when I was checking to see if there were some tax documents I needed, I saw there was a more recent notification near the end of February on a pdf file. I think they turned off the email setting to notify people. It said:

"IRM has been able to obtain the original Franchise Growth loan documents from a storage location
in California. The files are safely in our offices in Dallas and are being reviewed by the legal team.
Upon first glance, the documents appear to be in perfect condition and properly labeled. We expect
the transaction for the sale of all portfolio properties to continue and hope to share more information
with you shortly.
The sale of the Franchise Growth notes is being done on a case by case basis, and updates with
expected returns will be sent to investors in each project, individually, as they become available"


Congratulations realtyshares. You found the loan docs.....Go GME!

I just checked and same for me.  Not a very official looking update but appears to be positive news.  Fingers crossed.

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Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by rs_thoughts on March 01, 2021, 08:27:39 PM »

I find it sneaky that I did not get some email from Realtyshares indicating there was an update. Instead, when I was checking to see if there were some tax documents I needed, I saw there was a more recent notification near the end of February on a pdf file. I think they turned off the email setting to notify people. It said:

"IRM has been able to obtain the original Franchise Growth loan documents from a storage location
in California. The files are safely in our offices in Dallas and are being reviewed by the legal team.
Upon first glance, the documents appear to be in perfect condition and properly labeled. We expect
the transaction for the sale of all portfolio properties to continue and hope to share more information
with you shortly.
The sale of the Franchise Growth notes is being done on a case by case basis, and updates with
expected returns will be sent to investors in each project, individually, as they become available"


Congratulations realtyshares. You found the loan docs.....Go GME!

4

Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by techOnFIRE on February 07, 2021, 06:22:13 PM »

The missing loan documents are a surprise to IRM.  SURPRISE!  Makes you wonder why they didn't gather up the physical loan documents when they bought out RS.  So much for them doing due diligence on the RS portfolio and sounds like the are as incompetent as RS employees.  I'm surprised they haven't tried to pass the storage fees onto us too.  Maybe Barry Weiss from StorageWars is holding the wet-ink paper.

In better news, another of my RS holdings paid out +100% last week so I did the only logical thing possible - invest in $GME!   

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Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by sdnerd on February 05, 2021, 07:55:01 AM »

Has anyone received or seen any updates in re: to the FG properties?

Feels like it's been a few months of radio silence.

Ironic because we just got one today saying they are working with a company who may buy into some, but not all, of the FQ investments.  I wonder if we ask for an update on this board, if we are more likely to get one, as it seems that's the only time I see it?

Yeah, I received the updates shortly after posting that comment. Either great timing, or someone is monitoring for the forum - which would also be great (and hello and appreciate the updates if you are).

After all the ..."interesting developments"... the wrinkle about the missing loan docs or unpaid storage fees doesn't really surprise me at this point. Fortunately it at least sounds like the documents "should" exist. I'd rather hear they have to pay (what should be small) storage fee backpayments vs. something like the RealtyShares office dog ate all the paperwork on the way out the door.

Here's the update I received for the FG properties for those who didn't get one:

"
IRM currently classifies this investment as a Tier 3 asset. Interest payments from
this investment have not been distributed in accordance with the original
business plan.

Since the last update, IRM has been privately negotiating with a large, national,
franchise-focused real estate investment group based in Texas, about possibly
acquiring the notes directly from investors. This 3rd party group is aware of the
Franchise Growth portfolio and is conducting its own due diligence on each
asset. If a deal was to materialize, it would be on an asset-by-asset basis, not as
a portfolio. This means that different investors will likely see different levels of
returns/losses depending on the status of the individual asset they are invested
in.

IRM will consider offers for each asset that we believe best serve investors’
interests. The payment amount would have to reflect a positive net to investors
compared to the alternative time and cost of foreclosing, and then selling each
asset in the open market. IRM will evaluate each offer based on the most recent
broker opinion of value for each asset, versus the time and legal expenses of
foreclosing and accounting for possible back-taxes, fines, and mechanic’s liens
on certain assets.

The negotiations have now advanced materially, and the parties are currently in
the final stages of drafting up a purchase and sale agreement. However, a
difficulty has surfaced in obtaining the original, wet-ink, loan notes drafted
originally by RealtyShares. Since RealtyShares ceased operations, the original
loan documents have been moved to storage, and in some cases, it appears that
the storage fees have not been paid. IRM has staff in different locations around
the country currently looking into storage facilities in an effort to locate the
required files, and IRM may have to pay outstanding RealtyShares bills in order
to obtain those documents.

We continue to work in an effort to obtain the original loan documents and
execute the best possible transaction on behalf of investors. We feel confident
that this deal can be executed in the coming months, but IRM can’t guarantee
that outcome just yet. We will continue to update all investors in this portfolio as
additional information becomes available.

**Disclaimer: All information and financial statements above are presented on an as-is basis, as provided
to our team members, and have not been independently verified by IRM. IIRR Management Services,
LLC (IRM) has taken over the Asset Management and Fund Admin functions of this investment from
RealtyShares in June 2019.
"

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Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by mspringer on February 05, 2021, 07:18:54 AM »

I hope you guys have some luck, regarding the American Family Care deal in Florida my update said it's a tier 3 asset and they seem to have lost the original loan documents.  They are trying to find them in storage, but the fees haven't been paid.  So they may have lost the original loan documents required to do the deal with the other company?  Awesome.

It's also awesome that my Karma is down to -27, that's a lot of bad karma!!

I'm in the Church's Chicken in Orlando, FL and received the same wording.  I guess I am naïve as to assume documents like that are not that easy for everyone to lose.

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Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by berkel on February 05, 2021, 05:12:02 AM »

I hope you guys have some luck, regarding the American Family Care deal in Florida my update said it's a tier 3 asset and they seem to have lost the original loan documents.  They are trying to find them in storage, but the fees haven't been paid.  So they may have lost the original loan documents required to do the deal with the other company?  Awesome.

It's also awesome that my Karma is down to -27, that's a lot of bad karma!!

8

Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by mspringer on February 05, 2021, 04:37:12 AM »

Has anyone received or seen any updates in re: to the FG properties?

Feels like it's been a few months of radio silence.

Ironic because we just got one today saying they are working with a company who may buy into some, but not all, of the FQ investments.  I wonder if we ask for an update on this board, if we are more likely to get one, as it seems that's the only time I see it?

9

Real Estate Crowdfunding / Re: Thoughts On RealtyShares Closing Its Doors To New Investors

« Last post by sdnerd on February 04, 2021, 10:00:35 AM »

Has anyone received or seen any updates in re: to the FG properties?

Feels like it's been a few months of radio silence.

10

Family Finances / SLAT Trust - Risk/Reward

« Last post by Irish247 on January 31, 2021, 10:36:21 AM »

Has anyone used a SLAT trust before? I'm considering shifting some security holdings into a SLAT, and thinking of the pros and cons.

They are getting phased out in the next 5 years, but I'm thinking of locking up a couple of them for my wife and I. We would each gift each other a significant amount of stock and assets to ensure protection and to take advantage of the tax free limits.

from fidelity below:

A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) is one of many types of irrevocable trusts utilized for transferring wealth outside of an estate.
SLATs provide an opportunity to take advantage of the current federal exclusion before it sunsets, or expires, on December 31, 2025.
A properly structured SLAT provides the donor limited, indirect access to the trust assets.


I'm planning on opening a slat for my wife, and her to I. I would shift the assets to each of us in there, and then likely still have access if needed from the non-donor.  I also may use the SLAT to purchase additional life insurance just to keep in the wings, for some legacy planning.

Has anyone used this before, or is using it? Any downsides?