All Forum Posts by: Chris Martin

Another option: it looks like the county provides a commercial data service for registered users, but that service is $80/month. 

In the past (about 8-10 years ago) I have used getAcoder.com (now upwork.com) with successful results. 

I guess the other question is 'what are you looking for?' If, for instance, Lis Pendens filings, you can get those via a standard search on a date-range basis and cut/paste directly into a spreadsheet or whatever you are using for data repository (data base, flat file(s), etc.) There were 175 filings yesterday. Getting that data took me less than a minute. 

Look on this site for "Subject To" posts. A person can title to property "subject to" the existing mortgage. This process is similar to but different from "assuming" a debt obligation (mortgage or deed of trust). Quantitatively, very few deeds of trust are assumable. In general, almost all security instruments prohibit transfer of a property. Specifically, Section 19 of this very common deed of trust document describes the acceleration clause upon sale or transfer of any interest in the property.

If it exists, a mortgage or deed of trust will be recorded in public record at the county courthouse. So, yes, it is public information that a person has a mortgage. Just search your county records via the register of deeds. For Phoenix, just google phoenix arizona registry of deeds and click on Maricopa County Recorder and Elections Department, then select Search Recorded Documents under the "Recorder" tab. Then you can search for documents. 

Interesting that no one mentioned the ITC. It's still viable. 

I've only implemented solar in 500kW ground mount systems. For a real estate analogy, I guess my implementation is like the apartment version of solar. LOL! 

I think $1,000/month for rented farmland is unrealistic. For reference, per acre the USDA pegs the Mississippi average annual cash rent per acre from $22 (pastureland) to $169 (irrigated cropland). 

Another alternative (not in 30 days though) is subdivide/build/sell parcels or build and rent houses. 

Are you talking about RECs (Renewable Energy Credits) or ITCs (Investment Tax Credits)? Our solar farm generates NC SRECs (solar RECs) that go to our Interconnection Partner via our sell-all PPA (Power Purchase Agreement). While I am familiar with the REC generation side, I have not yet sold any RECs on behalf of our generator. In PJM territory, where I am looking to build a 250kW-500kW system, today's rate is $55 per REC (on PJM GATS bulletin board). Sun Tribe Trading is an example of one of the SREC aggregators. Unfortunately, I don't know about Colorado. 

On the ITC side, a project developer might try to find a tax equity partner. Under this agreement, the cash investor receives the majority of the tax benefits (ITC and accelerated depreciation) and cash from generation for (typically) five years. After that, the partnership terms "flip". The developer then receives the majority of the cash from generation and remaining tax benefits, if any. I've not done a solar project as a tax partner/equity flip because I wanted the ITC and depreciation for myself. The companies I talked to in 2017 regarding a tax equity flip had a minimum project size of 2MW, so our project was too small. If I did one, I'd probably have my attorney draft the Operating Agreement with the flip in mind, following guidelines like in this article. 

Anyway, I hope that helps.

Quote from @Alex Lee:

So I'm 80% sure I'm going to be doing a deeper dive into GA, but I have eyes on OK, TX, MD.

Lately I've been trying to glean info using google-fu and reaching out to agents in the area.

What resources are you guys using to research and find information?

For property related info, there is really no substitute for recorded county data. Many sites, like zillow, etc., use the county data so it really depends on what you are trying to accomplish in your "deeper dive." There are plenty of topics like Finding Our Market: A Census Data Dive on BP. 

Quote from @Connor Williams:

Circling back to buying a family members house.. 

can’t assume the property since I won’t be occupying it. 

So looking into subject to. 

I would be on title, she is completely off once it closes. Then she continues to make the mortgage payments? Can I set up auto pay and have it come out of my account/pay the mortgage with my checks to ensure it gets paid?

Any concerns with a subject to? The family member will continue to live in the house, I am essentially subsidizing the loan for her, saving her 7-900 a month and for me it’s a long term play getting it for a good price 

Sounds to me like you should look into a family trust. The trust would own the property, and you would set up trustee and beneficiaries just like any other trust. I have real estate in a Self-Directed IRA trust so don't have to worry about tax liability. Many states also have transfer tax exemptions regarding assets placed into trusts. That (tax topic) is beyond my expertise, but here is a link to what I think is applicable Washington Administrative Code: WAC 458-61A-211 (or WAC 458-61A-210). If unsure, seek legal and tax guidance from a professional. 

Quote from @Jeffrey Fung:

Look to local building permits as well. All of that is public and you can look at the velocity of permits. Building permits are actually a good leading indicator of the economy in general if you're up for aggregating all of them 

Luckily, the Federal Reserve of St. Louis aggregates at the national level. Below are monthly charts showing permits authorized for SFR (thousands of units) from 2000 (first chart) and way back to 1960 (second chart.)  

If you carry a phone with you, there are apps that keep track of your location. On a daily/weekly/monthly basis, you can find miles and locations driven. I have a google phone, so big brother is watching me all the time. The upside is I can find out where and when I traveled via timeline.google.com/maps (I don't get out much)

I guess another question is: why not have a car 100%, or as a lesser percentage, for business? Then there is no tracking milage or bills, etc. just the proration for personal use. Since 2003 my business provides me with vehicles (RAM trucks, maintenance van) and equipment that is titled to and paid for by the company. A lot easier all the way around IMO.