There is a transfer of wealth occurring at a pace and rate that has never occurred in history. The most successful and asset rich generations, THE BOOMERS, (our parents and their parents) are now retiring and selling or bequeathing their real estate and other assets to their heirs or the open market.

The vast majority of multi family, commercial and cash flowing properties (at least here on the Oregon & California Coasts) are being sold by owners in the mid sixties to late seventies. I've yet to sell a property this year that was transferring from someone my age, to someone older. In fact, all dozen or so transactions to date have been the complete opposite: An experienced investor selling to those looking to grow or expand their property portfolio.

I have been in and around this industry coming up on two full decades, twenty years this coming April. The majority of the assets I have helped investors procure this year were acquired within the past 1-2-3 decades. Most of the owners did not acquire the bulk of their current real estate portfolios until they were in their 30's-40's or 50's. They are now cashing in on the assets that that they procured when they were my age or my the majority of my clients' ages now.

Statistically one's mid 30's to late 50's are the prime earning years. Those with the foresight to invest those earnings at their peak, have income and assets that can support them during their twilight years.

Many of us are increasingly fiscally responsible for our parents well being. My parents were successful in life and employment but not as long term investors. My siblings and I will likely have to make up for some of the savings gap between cost of living, inflation and inadequate social safety nets and programs for elders.

Already many Generation X'ers (1965-1980) and san (1981-1996) have either taken on the financial burdens of their parents in the form of medical, food or housing OR have began managing or inheriting the businesses and portfolios established.

A meaningful percentage of listings are estate or trust sales, some of which have no physical use or interest to the heirs.

The challenge for those of us on this site that are not inheriting meaningful assets are hoping to leave a stronger financial legacy. The greater challenge for those of us that have both the responsibility of taking care of the previous generation as well as the goat to contribute to the next have a small window to execute on the acquisition of assets that can perform beyond their primary earning years.

If a millennial wants to be in the position of their heirs inheriting or selling meaningful financial assets that can contribute to their quality of life or sustenance, the best time to invest is sooner rather than later.

Imagine if I had invested in the early 2000's, yes even just before the 2008 crash, fast forward two decades and it likely would have still been a positive investment.* (I did in fact own several properties between 2005-2008, I sold my first home in Tamarac Florida months before the crash, today that property is worth considerably more than I purchased or sold it for.)

The point is, investing has a large part to do with duration. Over time, assets appreciate, and fiat currency declines in purchasing power.

The six figure income I was making in 2004 does not have the same purchasing power as today.

Likewise, money invested five, ten or twenty years ago, is capital that had more value than it does today or in the future. Isn't that always the investment objective?

Prime real estate investment, or any cash flowing asset is therefore essential to successful investing for those that are looking to leverage their financial and time capital.

Many of these assets are not coming available for acquisition, and a dramatic percentage have been managed to their necessity and not their potential. Away from our permanent home on the Oregon Coast, we have made four successful real estate investments in four years, all of which were acquired from Boomer owners and our value add was to bring the property up to a current 2020's condition.

The assets served the owners intentions, market and relative returns, but the asset might no longer fit into the investment plans or portfolio or the liquidation is part of the next chapter of their financial legacy.

Some creative ways to reach boomer assets prior to public offering:

- Friends and Family: The prime assets for acquisition are real estate, business and hard assets like art, jewelry and collector cars, cards etc. This is probably the primary source of how assets are acquired or transferred.

- Attorney and CPA relationships: Easier said than done, but good attorneys and great CPA's have the direct relationships with owners. They trust their trusted advisors, much like investors often trust the advice of a good RE Broker for lending or other support services.

- Real Estate Brokers/Agents: A good broker is ingrained into the fabric of the community. They know about things before the market and as of today I have the inside track as the commercial and business broker on a major distillery, iconic local restaurant, boutique hotel and real estate owners that are open to join venture development. This isn't to toot my own horn, I am a fairly new and medium volume broker (at present), but I have trusted clients (mostly boomers!) with valuable assets coming to market.

'Other' Asset Classes to consider:

- Short term rentals: STR's are often a neglected usage for many Boomers or properties that are dated. One of the highest revenue usages, also one of the most demanding on time.

- Self or Commercial storage: Self storage is obviously a hot asset class and difficult to acquire, however often the business has been operated by the same owner(s) the same way, for sometime, a new brand, management and facility refresh can likely yield greater returns.

- Developable land: Vacant land is the most speculative real estate investment class, good evidence of that is the duration the current owner(s) have had title and that nothing was ever created or erected. There are many areas (like the OR Coast) that in previous generations had limited upside potential and as a result valuations remained relatively flat until utility was provided or added. The nice thing about land, as a mentor would say, 'is that they ain't making any more of it,' especially coastal or beach land. The eventual graduation for a seasoned investor is often development. Also, many land owners of significant duration have a very low base, and limited buyer pool, that can offer creative financing solutions such as seller carried transactions.

What are you seeing with your seller(s), client(s) or investor(s)? Are the majority of seller(s) older or are the buyer(s) younger? Or boomers that are upgrading?

Cheers.