All Forum Posts by: Kathleen E.

We've brought together NWA Real Estate and industry leaders for your consideration. These are local authorities and professionals ~ experts in their field. Will you be the one to Stump the Chumps?

Bring all your questions, ideas, comments and crazy project Tuesday and see if you can Stump our Chumps! These are the folks who are making real estate happen in NWA and are ready to share their wisdom with you. Here's so potential questions for our Panel:

What's up with all the zoning changes in NWA? Enough? Too Much?

New design trends in addition to Little Houses

Predictions for the 2025 financial picture

Is Commercial investing viable for the small investor?

Wes Craiglow is Executive Director of NWA Urban Land Institute which brings together leaders in real estate and land use to collaborate on best practices, land use policy, capital development and sustainable development.

Steve Mansfield is an Executive Commercial Broker with Coldwell Banker in Rogers. From a Mortgage Security Trader, to commercial investor-developer Steve introduces "non-experts" to this multi-faceted segment of the market.

Jessica Hester is Principal Architect at Verdant Studios, a woman-owned design. She is a Realtor and Board Member of ULI, using technology and design to address affordability, urban planning and future trends housing.

Wes Fikes, owner of North Forty Realty, Property Management and Construction is a national syndicator and Founder of Passive Asset Investors dot com, a private capital fund. Wes enjoys a well-diversified residential and commercial portfolio.

Sorry everyone it should say Landlord Lunch instead of Main Meeting.

Is it time to bite the bullet and join the world of Automation? Can it really save time and $$? This month we'll answer your questions and hear from a property manager who has made it work!

Garrett learned the pros and cons of Automation by using it to streamline his Airbnb business. Needing to track everything from rentals, scheduling, leases, accounting and marketing - it was a big Ask! Tonight he'll share with us what he learned and how he adapted it to the long-term rental side of the business. He'll discuss:

• Can Automation benefit small-medium portfolios
• What Automation will do - and what's just hype
• Cost benefits and time savings
• How to shorten the learning curve
• How the industry is changing - making Automation easier to use

Speakers

Garrett Ham wears a lot of hats. He is co-owner of Weekender Management, an Airbnb property management company and an attorney who started his career in Wal-Mart Corporate Real Estate. An Army then Air Force JAG officer, Garrett invested in real estate with each duty assignment. He brings a lot to the table!

Can't find a Deal in NWA? Finding it hard to make the numbers work? Savvy Investors know a secret - Invest Regionally! Opportunities abound out there, people are looking for your investment and willing to make it easy.

The key - as always - is who you know and what they know about their market. Hear from Mitzi Taylor, Broker/owner in her home town of Pea Ridge; Lori Hawkins and her husband handle Madison County residential and land listings for Smith & Assoc with major focus on Huntsville; and Robert Smiley of McGraw Realty covers Siliam Springs as well as Eastern Oklahoma. They'll discuss:

• Opportunities in their Markets - they aren't as far as you think
• Economic and demographic data to start your due diligence
• Growth and development plans in their communities
• Why regional investing is a great strategy

Speakers

Mitzi Taylor is Broker/Owner of EXIT Taylor Real Estate with knowledge and expertise in NWA and SW MO. With an MBA under her belt, she has successfully worked with investors, builders/developers, buyers & sellers. Mitzi has done it all!

Lori Hawkins and her husband Stewart are realtor and broker professionals on the team of Smith and Associates Real Estate Services handling the residential and land listings for Madison County with focus in Huntsville / Hindsville areas.

Robert Smiley is an award-winning agent with McGraw Realty in Siloam. Living in a growing border community, Robert keeps tabs on both NWA and Oklahoma. He has hands-on experience helping buyers/sellers/investors with all their real estate needs.

As a Rookie, your job is to put as many tools into your toolbox as possible. Tonight we'll bring you little known tool and show you how it can save you time, $$ and Deals!

There will be times (a lot of times) when conventional financing won't work for the Deal you've found. As a solution-solver, this creative tool can save that Deal. Larry will discuss the pros and cons and Kathleen will explain how an escrow agent can assist with servicing the loan. They'll share:

• Benefits of a Contract for Deed
• When to use this tool

Speakers

Larry Kelly is a seasoned investor, broker, all around real estate guru and one of REI NWA's most valued resources. Known for his negotiating and problem-solving skills, Larry brings effective, tested creative tools to our members.

Kathleen Everitt is Executive Director of REI NWA and Co-Founder of Investor Escrow Services. Seeing the growth of seller-financed Deals, she and her partner founded an escrow company to service Contract for Deed transactions.

Whether it's Neighborhood info or structural safety, who better than a cop for safety tips - They've seen it all. And if he's also an investor, you know this will be solid information from a hands-on Pro.

While safety tips about maintenance and structural issues are important, having a relationship with local law enforcement can be a way to keep track of neighborhood activity as well as the best means of protecting your asset. Anthony will share his experience and discuss:

• Building a relationship with local law enforcement
• Monitoring the neighborhood
• Less common structural issues to look for
• Maintenance tasks to save your $$ and your asset
• Crazy stuff he's seen

Speakers

Anthony Pellouso is a retired cop, investor, entrepreneur and the new owner of Arkansas Security & Alarm. His rei journey began in 2019 with wholesaling and quickly expanding to house flipping, buy & hold and now security systems - right up his alley.

Interest Rates are Coming Down - What's Happening with your Adjustable Rate? It's been a tough couple of years, but things are beginning to change. Those changes will affect your ARM loans and finally - for the better!

Our Panel of Pros this month will give us some insight as to how the ARM adjustment process works and a preview of how each bank is handling the adjustment of their ARM loans. You'll hear:

• How interest rates affect ARM adjustments
• Individual borrower considerations vs corporate policy
• Is it time to refi or wait for downward adjustments
• Crystal Ball for future adjustments

Speakers

Andrew Brink is Market President of the new NWA branch of Armor Bank charged with growing that banking franchise. For Andrew, that means a focus on real estate investing using his skills to provide tailored and innovative solutions for NWA investors.

Sam Harris is President of Armstrong Bank, a community bank with locations in the NWA & Ft Smith area. Incredibly knowledgeable about the investor market, Sam has been a solid partner to many of our members for their residential and commercial projects.

Attention Rookies: Here's what you need to know BEFORE you touch any dirt! For many investors, septic design is a mystery. Tonight we'll show the elegance of a well designed system.

Land prices are moving many builders to outlying areas where septic is the norm. Knowing why and how the system works can lead you to better decisions and lower costs. Piper is an experienced Pro who will share:

• What goes into a design
• Why you need a Permit from the Health Department
• The Why and How of a Perc Test
• Red Flags to look for
• Problems that can be prohibitive - and costly

Piper Satterfield is Septic System Design Specialist for BBB Septic. A 25 year veteran of wastewater industry with 17 years at the Arkansas Health Department approving designs, Piper knows builders, how they think and what they need. Now with BBB (Jon stole her), she can help you too!

It's Still a Seller's Market, but Deals are being made. This month we're bringing you a successful investor who will share how he does it - and how You Can, Too!

After a few years of trial and error, Darrel has settled on 3 strategies for finding Deals in any market: Networking, On Market research (MLS) and Foreclosures. He'll share with us:

• How he got started
• Using technology to minimize labor & maximize results
• Leveraging relationships through networks
• Making foreclosures work for you
• What he sees in today's market - and tomorrow's

Darrel Donohew is an experienced Investor/Builder, a Realtor and an Army Veteran. His primary strategy of buy-and-hold has garnered a portfolio of single- and multi-family properties. Darrel finds building new ensures low/no maintenance for many years. He has become great mentor and joint venture partner.

Attention Rookies: Here's what you need to know BEFORE you touch any dirt! For many investors, septic design is a mystery. Tonight we'll show the elegance of a well designed system.

Land prices are moving many builders to outlying areas where septic is the norm. Knowing why and how the system works can lead you to better decisions and lower costs. Piper is an experienced Pro who will share:

• What goes into a design
• Why you need a Permit from the Health Department
• The Why and How of a Perc Test
• Red Flags to look for
• Problems that can be prohibitive - and costly

Speakers

Piper Satterfield is Septic System Design Specialist for BBB Septic. A 25 year veteran of wastewater industry with 17 years at the Arkansas Health Department approving designs, Piper knows builders, how they think and what they need. Now with BBB (Jon stole her), she can help you too!