The real estate market in Altadena, CA is red hot. Homes for sale in Altadena command high prices and never stay on the market very long. Why? Both realtors and residents will answer that by stating: Altadena is a very special place to live, work and relax.

Altadena is charming community located directly north of Pasadena at the base of the Angeles National Forest San Gabriel Mountains. Altadena is an unincorporated and 14 miles northeast from Downtown Los Angeles. This warm, Mediterranean climate has hot and dry summers that average highs of 91 degrees. The winters are essentially warm and windy with the lowest average temperature of 44 degrees. Altadena averages 21 inches of rainfall annually.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census – Altadena had a population of 42,777 people. With 8.71 square miles to share there were 4,909.6 people per square mile. This is average for Los Angeles County. The population was more diverse compared to other areas of the county with the dominate ethnicity being White at 52.8%, followed by 26.9% Latino, 23.7% Black, 5.4% Asian and 0.7% American Indian.

The population of Altadena is well educated in comparison to the rest of the county with 45.6% of residents aged 25 and up with a four year degree and 87.9% with a high school diploma. In regards to the male population: 57.8% were married, 32.9% had never been married, 7.1% had been divorced and 2.1% were widowed. The female population had53.9% who were married, 24.4% had never been married, 12.4% were divorced and 9.4% were widowed. The average age of Altadena was 37, which is an older average age compared to the rest of Los Angeles County. 9.8% of the people in population were veterans and 20.8% of residents were born in a foreign country. The average commute to work was 27.5 minutes. Altadena has a Walk Score of 48 out of 100 meaning that it is a car dependent city.

The average household size was 2.8 people, which was 9% higher than the national average. Approximately 74.6% of residents owned their homes. This was 10% higher than the national average. 25.4% of the population rented from a house, apartment or condominium. The 2010 Census declared there being 15,518 households with a median household income of $83,917. This is high compared to Los Angeles County.

Altadena real estate isn’t cheap, however. The median price of homes for sale in Altadena is $780,000. This is 226% higher than the national average. However, the average home value is $731,400. The price per square foot is $485. The current housing market “temperature” is neutral. Last year the home values increased by 8.1% and Zillow predicts they will rise only 1.9% within the next year. The average monthly rent is $2,921. This is 53% higher than the national average. The current housing market health is 6.9/10. This is healthy score given by Zillow in comparison to other housing markets across the country.

According to Area Vibes, Altadena has a livability score of 77 – extremely livable. This is higher than the national average of 70. This comfortable, safe community will continue to flourish and grow and produce beautiful homes by its affluent residents. If looking to buy or sell real estate in Altadena, make certain you perform your due diligence and find an experienced realtor who specializes in the area.

About Los Angeles and Miami

Popular as LA, Los Angeles is a sprawling city in Southern California famed as the center of the nation’s film and television industry. Meaning “The Angels” in Spanish, Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the country after New York City, the most populous city in the state of California and the county seat of Los Angeles County. The inhabitants of the city are referred to as Angelenos. It has been ranked sixth in the Global Cities Index and 9th Global Economic Power Index.

Luscious beaches, stunning architecture and enchanting greenery are some of the features of the most vibrant city of state of Florida, Miami. It is the principal, central, and most populous city of the Miami metropolitan area, and the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States after Washington, D.C. Miami has been classified as an Alpha−World City in the World Cities Study Group’s inventory. In 2010, Miami ranked seventh in the United States in terms of finance, commerce, culture, entertainment, fashion, education, and other sectors. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Miami “America’s Cleanest City”. Miami is nicknamed the “Capital of Latin America” and is the second largest U.S. city with a Spanish-speaking majority.

Tourist Attractions

Both the sprawling cities of Los Angeles and Miami boasts of so many tourist attractions that almost everybody can find something to savor.

In Los Angeles, The Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios Hollywood, California Science Center, The Nethercutt Collection, Staples Center, Griffith Park, Santa Monica Bay, Battleship USS Iowa BB-61, Petersen Automotive Museum, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, The Broad, The Grove, Runyon Canyon Park, Dodger Stadium, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, Venice Canals Walkway, Bradbury Building, Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, Hollywood Bowl Museum, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), The Grammy Museum and Union Station are some of the top points of interests you can explore.

In Miami, you can discover some of the most enriching spots such as American Airlines Arena, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Zoological Wildlife Foundation, Wynwood Walls, Metromover, Zoo Miami, Dolphin Mall, Wynwood, Marlins Park, Wynwood Art Walk, Bayside Marketplace, Bayfront Park, Perez Art Museum Miami, Miami Trolley, Coconut Grove, Miami Children’s Museum, Jungle Island, Little Havana, The Falls Shopping Center, Deering Estate, Monkey Jungle, Calle Ocho, Freedom Tower and Tropical Park.

Best Time to Visit

The best times to visit Los Angeles is from March to May or from September to November, when the air is more breathable and the crowds are less oppressive. Average temperatures during these times remain in the 60s or 70s, which makes walking around and visiting outdoor attractions much more comfortable.

The best time to visit Miami is between March and May when the sun shines with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s during the day. Aside from the gorgeous weather, a spring visit allows you to sidestep the peak winter rates.

Major Airport

Los Angeles International Airport (IATA: LAX) and Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA) are the major airports serving respectively. Flights to Los Angles and Flights to Miami can be found throughout the year.

Choosing Among Cheap Moving Companies in Los Angeles

The economic recession has hit working American families the hardest. Those who have lived and established themselves in urban centers like Los Angeles are among those who are being pushed to make difficult choices such as moving from one town to another of moving to a different state in search of new employment opportunities. This is the reason why families in California who are relocating on a tight budget are looking for cheap moving companies in Los Angeles.

If you and your family are among those who are making that decision to relocate from Los Angeles to areas where the cost of living may be slightly lower then it may be best for you to hire one of the many cheap moving companies in Los Angeles. They will be able to provide you good service, making sure that your coming get to its destination on time without necessarily getting a huge chunk of your budget.

It is also best to consider hiring the services of these cheap companies in Los Angeles specifically if you do not have really expensive stuff. If you have just the basics like clothes, books and kitchenware then moving your stuff need not get expensive insurance coverage as well. Unless you have antiques as part of your furnishings then that's the time to consider one of those moving companies that will put a high premium on insurance or perhaps it may be good to consider commercial movers rather than residential movers.

Hiring cheap moving companies in Angeles does not necessarily compromise the quality of service that you will be getting. If you are relocating on a tight budget then it might also be good to consider hiring the services of those who are just starting to make a name in the business. Many of the cheap moving companies in Los Angeles are new moving companies. They are offering low moving rates along with good service so that they can break into the market and establish their name. You will be getting low cost moving services in exchange for having the moving company referred to any of your friends and family members who might also be relocating soon.

Often, the cost of moving is determined by the volume of stuff that needs to be transported and the distance of your destination from the source. Even the cheap moving in Los Angeles will have to charge you a bit more especially if they will have to carry your belongings over several flights of stairs especially if you are moving to or from a high rise apartment building,

The search for cheap moving in Angeles starts with research. Ask around and find out if any of your friends were able to recently hire the services of certain companies. You can also browse the web or look through the yellow pages for contact numbers and office addresses of cheap moving companies in Los Angeles. Call each of them and ask for a quote or an estimation of what their services will cover and how much it will cost.

The concept of advertising with media outside of the home gained a good degree of notoriety Sunday in The Los Angeles Times with a major article by staff writer Alana Semuels.

The 1,000-word article, “Now showing very near you…”, makes a strong case for digital signage networks and advertising as well as other out-of-home media. In the article, Semuels identifies digital video recorders as a major culprit in diluting the frequency with which traditional television commercials are viewed. As a result, advertisers are hungry for an effective substitute, and out-of-home ads appear to be the solution.

Semuels elaborates on a major theme of several of my recent columns, namely every day more TV viewers are skipping past commercials with their DVRs, making in-store, out-of-home advertising all the more appealing. (Two of my earlier columns discussing the impact of DVRs on TV viewing, include: “Digital Signage Payoff: What Is A Challenge For TV May Be A Boon For Digital Signage Networks” and “Digital Signage Market Poised to Skyrocket.”)

According to the LA Times story, about 20 percent of U.S. households now have digital video recorders. The ease with which viewers in these homes can skip past the commercials has a growing number of advertisers interested in out-of-home ads on flat panel displays near the point of sale where they can influence shoppers making purchasing decisions. And, if they can’t influence a particular buying decision, at least they can elevate brand awareness.

Quoting San Francisco-based Premier Retail Networks, which has 200,000 screens in 6,500 stores nationwide, the article points out 42 percent of shoppers remember a brand they see on in-store screens, twice number for television commercials.

It’s no wonder then that a recent forecast from PQ Media Research indicates that spending on out-of-home advertising will grow 27.7 percent this year. The statistics, part of the company’s “PQ Media Alternative Out-of-Home Media Forecast 2007-2011” report show the category to be among the fastest growing segments in the media industry.

Last year, media spending on out-of-home advertising reached $1.69 billion, up 27 percent from the 2005. In fact, spending on out-of-home advertising has grown at double-digit rates every year from 2001-2006 with a compounded annual growth rate of 22.6 percent, according to the PQ Media report.

In discussing the reasons for the growth, Patrick Quinn, president and CEO of PQ Media said: “Unlike its mass media peers, alternative out-of-home advertising is impervious to channel or web surfing and is immune to audience fragmentation.”

PQ Media identified several factors driving the growth of out-of-home advertising, including:

• advertiser perception that out-of-home ads provide high engagement, targeting options, proximity to point-of-sale, measurable impact and cost effectiveness;
• data indicating exposure to and recall of these media are growing;
• research suggesting the vast majority of consumers view alternative out-of-home media as favorable and educational;
• new technology enabling companies to launch digital advertising platforms that generate higher revenues than the conventional formats they replace.

PQ Media divides out-of-home advertising into three categories: video advertising networks and screens; digital billboards and displays; and ambient advertising. The research firm has found video advertising networks is the largest category, accounting for 60 percent of all out-of-home ad spending. Spending on this category grew 28 percent in 2006 to $1.01 billion with double-digit growth in four markets: in-theater, in-office, in-store and in-transit, according to the company.

High-profile news articles, like the one from the LA Times, draw the public’s attention to this market. More importantly, this sort of coverage helps busy ad professionals focused on traditional media segments to notice the out-of-home advertising market. As these ad pros have their own “Ah-Hah” moments thanks to these sorts of articles, it won’t take too much effort to back up the perception that out-of-home advertising is a growing, important new segment. Research, such as that from PQ Media, makes it easy for out-of-home advertising to be taken seriously -and more importantly for ad buyers to consider it as a new part of their media mix. As they do, out-of-home advertising and digital signage are likely to enjoy even wider acceptance and use.

Scarlett Johansson inadvertently made herself the unofficial STD testing Los Angeles spokesperson when she offered her opinion on how frequently people should be checked for HIV. In an interview, Scarlett spoke of how she considered it ‘disgusting’ and ‘irresponsible’ that people neglect to get checked for STDs.

For a short time, the actress and top-earning Hollywood star brought the media spotlight onto the social issue of regular STD testing. Los Angeles resident, Johansson told an interviewer that she gets tested for HIV every six months. Furthermore, she stated how she thinks poorly of people who don’t try or care to know about their sexual health, saying that to get a regular STD test “is part of being a decent human”.

Getting tested twice a year might seem exceptionally frequent to some people. Could being motivated to get tested so often indicate that the safe sex practices in Hollywood are otherwise lax or inadequate? Knowing the reputation for fast-and-loose living that Hollywood has, Scarlett was quick to point out that she is far from promiscuous, saying “[people] are mistaken for thinking I’m sexually available in some way.”

Lifestyles and speculation aside, Johansson has raised the profile and reduced the stigma of STD testing in Los Angeles and beyond. The actress’s comments motivated the British press to print statistics from the National AIDS Trust, which stated that there were as many as seven thousand new cases of HIV diagnosed in the UK in 2006. “Diseases will continue to spread unless we stop stigmatizing” said a spokesperson, adding that responsible behavior is the proper use of condoms and getting an STD test whenever you put yourself at risk.

L.A. Charities and Projects

Back on this side of the Atlantic, citizens can now find free STD testing in Los Angeles County.

APLA (which stands for Aids Project Los Angeles) is a disease prevention and advocacy service whose statistics show that there are between 42,400 – 46,600 people living with the knowledge and burden of a positive HIV test in LA.

This alarming figure is taken from the “Program of HIV Epidemiology and STD testing” by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, an official study conducted two years ago, in 2008. Worryingly, the same study suggests that there is a significant portion of the local population (about 15,000) that does not know that they are carrying the virus.

Both APLA and the UK’s National AIDS Trust agree that the issue of undiagnosed carrier is partly because of the shame, reluctance, apathy and stigma surrounding getting an STD test. In Los Angeles, APLA launched the ‘What you don’t know CAN kill you’ in 1991 to try to encourage testing uptake.

American Testing

Looking further back, a 1985 country-wide poll placed 72% of American in favor of obligatory STD testing, which sounds encouraging. However, the same survey also suggested that half of our nation agree with quarantine for HIV carriers. Still more alarming is that 15 percent of Americans consider it a good idea to tattoo people who have the disease.

Despite the controversies and hearsay, when high-profile celebrities like Scarlett Johansson speak out on the issue, it helps the cause of activists and charities that are battling to raise awareness and stem the spread of HIV and other diseases.

Pasadena’s serene nature, imaginative homes, stunning business district, and colorful nightlife earn it the reputation of being one of the most popular cities for tourists and Angelinos. Pasadena resides just outside of Los Angeles to the northeast. This mini metropolis has its own museums and community parades making it safe and educational for families. Pasadena is Los Angeles County’s fourth largest city, coming into establishment over one hundred years ago. Pasadena offers a big city experience in conjunction with a wholesome environment, which can make it more appealing than Los Angeles.

Because it is an older city, neighborhoods are populated with magnificent turn of the century mansions and large classic Spanish Revival homes, California Craftsman bungalows and Victorians. There are many gorgeous neighborhoods in Pasadena that are well known and no matter.

Pasadena is located to the east of Los Angeles. Pasadena sits above South Pasadena and San Marino and is south of La Canada Flintridge and Altadena. Eagle Rock is just west of Pasadena while Sierra Madre borders along the east. Pasadena is connected to the Metro Gold Line, which can take people all over Los Angeles. Owning a car is easy because of the large parking lots and numerous parking meters throughout Pasadena.

Pasadena has many aesthetically pleasing areas to explore. Old Town Pasadena is decorated with modern promenades and large boulevards. Pasadena is the home of the Rose Bowl where many championship games are held. On weekend mornings one can find Los Angeles locals exercising around the Bowl. Once a month the Rose Bowl becomes a large-scale flea market where consumers and buyers can haggle over unique items. On New Years Day the Rose Parade dances around the streets of Pasadena. There are also a series of historic Beaux Arts bridges that add to the artistic ambiance of the city.

There are other contributors to this ambiance like the Norton Simon Museum. When the city of Pasadena was first founded, this museum was named the Pasadena Art Institute. Over time it became the Norton Simon, but it did not forget its mission of showcasing traditional and contemporary art. The Norton Simon holds original pieces created by Rodin, Picasso and Van Gogh. Pasadena also celebrates performance art. The city is furnished with outdoor stages, playhouses and pavilions that are a source of musical and theatrical entertainment. Pasadena is the home to structural artifacts like The Gamble House, built in 1908. This mansion is a blend of Craftsman and Japanese style homes that are open for tours.

The area deemed “Old Town Pasadena” is the city’s main business district. Old Town Pasadena is full of fashionable boutiques, shops and commercial retailers. Most of the cafes and restaurants have large patios because of the consistently fair weather. This weather allows for a lively night scene. Bars and restaurants sprout to life; comedy clubs roar with laughter, and the streets of Old Town sport aspiring musicians performing their art. Pasadena is a great city in which to have fun, be safe and enjoy life.

If you’re a homeowner looking to sell your Pasadena home, it is best to perform your due diligence and hire an experienced Pasadena real estate agent to represent you. This is equally true for those looking to invest in home ownership in Pasadena. An experienced agent who understands that city and all the special neighborhoods will make sure your interests are protected and that you are well represented in the transaction.

The Griffith Observatory- It all started with a wonderful man, Griffith J. Griffith.

An exquisite building that allures the beauty of the stars to the Earth, sits on Mount Hollywood and is fully owned and managed by the City of Los Angeles. The unique appearance of the Griffith bservatory has made it a popular landmark and one among the top destinations of Los Angeles. It is named after Colonel Griffith J. Griffith who very generously donated the money for the observatory.

This observatory features various space-related exhibits, star shows in the planetarium and very often is also a hosting place to several exclusive events. It is placed in the Griffith Park and the stunning view of Los Angeles from here has been used in many a number of films.

The observatory also highlights 60 space-related exhibits worked out to dazzle your imagination; the best part being the largest astronomically accurate image ever produced called “The Big Picture” which apparently encloses a million galaxies.

In the Hall of the Eye and Hall of the Sky Exhibits, there is a live display of how human nature observes the sky and the objects in the sky such as the planets, moon, comet, sun and many more.

The Samuel Oschin Planetarium is the main attraction of the Griffith observatory. A 20-30 minutes experience inside the planetarium will give you a feeling as to being so close to the sky.

The Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theatre offers a free show running a 23 minutes documentary on the history and mission of the Observatory. The depth of Space and Edge of Space Exhibits is where they show us the Milky Way Galaxy, the Planets, Our Earth and Solar System, Pieces of the Sky and much more.

The view of the Los Angeles city from the outside terrace is the best experience here and you will definitely not want to miss this.

You can approach the observatory through the Vermont or Fern Dell entrances. Parking at the Observatory is very limited and the busiest times are usually on weekends.

Since 1935, when it was first opened, admission has been free, in accordance with Griffith’s will. Overall the visit to Griffith Observatory must be a part of your travel plan to the Los Angeles city. This will help you better understand about the planets, our solar system and even beyond. Being an excellent entertainment for kids and for adults, the trip will be totally worth it.

For visitors to the city, the best choice would be to hire a cab with the Los Angeles car rentals. Such vehicles will be allowed to pass through at all times, even when the parking lot is full, to drop you off at the driveway in front of the building. There are also many car rentals near Griffith Observatory, LA which can help you get back to the city after your round in the Observatory.

From LA’s earliest days, people have wanted to live in the storied neighborhoods of NELA. In a densely populated area where residents are always in the process of coming and going, there are always homes for sale in Echo Park at any given time. Since the early 1920’s, the real estate here has been in demand and that is how it is today. Why? Let’s take a closer look and see what the numbers say.

This is an eclectic city located in Central Los Angeles about ten minutes from Downtown. At the center of the city is the renowned Echo Park Lake in Elysian Park, which is the site of special events like the Lotus Festival. It is northwest of Chinatown and Downtown, northeast of Westlake and south east of Silver Lake.

It is split in to four districts.

• Angelino Heights – This area is known for the beautiful Victorian homes that are preserved by the city’s ordinances.

• Elysian Heights – This area is historically known for being the home of famous counter-culture artists, filmmakers, architects and political radicals.

• Historic Filipino town – This section is located in the southwest section.

• Victor Heights – A lovely area scattered with Bungalows and Stucco homes that share breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the Civic Center.

Throughout the four districts, the most common types of homes are Bungalows, Cottages, Victorians and Stuccos. According to the 2000 U.S. Census there were 40,455 people in there. Spread over 2.4 square miles there were approximately 16,868 people per square mile. This makes Echo Park one of the highest density areas in Los Angeles County. The median household income was $37,708, which is low for Los Angeles County. The average household size was 3.0, which is average for the county.

This city has a high Walk Score of 83/100. This means that most errands can be accomplished on foot within the city. This city’s transit score is 62. This city has good transit and provides its residents with many public transportation options. These include the Metro Red and Metro Purple Line, numerous bus routes and ride sharing options from Relay Rides. This city received a bike score of 49 because of the steep hills and minimal bike lanes.

According to Zillow, the average home value in Echo Park is $795,100. This value has increased 14.4% since last year and Zillow estimates it will continue to rise 4.3% to $829,000 over the next year. The average price of homes that are currently listed is $742,450. The median list price per square foot is $618, which is higher than the Los Angeles average of $451. The average rental price is $2,967 a month. Zillow has given the Market Health a score of 8.2/10, which is very healthy in comparison to other markets across the country. This is based on a series of metrics including how fast the homes are selling compared to the past rate. Echo Park’s prime location and thrilling culture will be sure to keep the housing market rolling for many years to come.

What do Hulu, True Car and Snap Chat have in common?

These companies have invaded Southern California to comprise what is currently known as Silicon Beach! It’s not really a specific beach or even a location; it’s a movement of startup companies that could have settled in Silicon Valley, but prefers the Southern California lifestyle. And the rising prices of homes in Northern California kept many entrepreneurs looking for other great destinations on the West Coast.

Over 500 tech startup companies have opened offices in the Los Angeles area including well-known companies like Google, Yahoo, You Tube, BuzzFeed and MySpace. Their presence expands from El Segundo to Beverly Hills and Hollywood, and the size plus the diversity of Los Angeles provides a much better laboratory for startups to test new products than Silicon Valley in Northern California. With a population of more than 18 million, Los Angeles has a representative sampling of the United States or perhaps even the world.

These companies are attracting the best and brightest to their employment ranks, and most are also attracted to the beaches, great weather and the presence of the entertainment industry.

As more young professionals move to Los Angeles, the look of the city has changed with a growing number of upscale restaurants, farmers markets and chic retail boutiques. In LA, there’s a neighborhood for everyone’s taste; young professionals are attracted to the funky, upscale vibe in Venice while those families with kids, and concerned with schools, gravitate towards Mar Vista or Culver City. Playa Vista is a planned community with its own schools, library, fitness club, farmers market and restaurants. It attracts a lot of New Yorkers because of the ability of residents to walk everywhere.

If you’re relocating to Los Angeles, the wide variety of architectural styles of homes will attract you. Spanish is popular, showcasing beautiful tiles and mosaics. Craftsman homes were some of the earliest built in Los Angeles, and many home buyers are remodeling them to their original luster. Ranch style, mid Century and Colonial are all here, waiting to be purchased. Angelinos favor the open, indoor/outdoor look taking advantage of all the sunny days which are perfect for entertaining. To many, the outdoor BBQ space is just as precious for entertaining as their indoor kitchen and dining area.

If you like socializing with the best and the brightest in an upscale, fun atmosphere, consider relocating to Silicon Beach.

Isn’t real estate supposedly one of the best categories of investment classes in the world? People always need a place to live right? Then why does it seem almost impossible to invest in real estate in California, which is known next to New York and Florida, as one of the top places in the world to invest in real estate, unless you have a few million dollars? It is because they are densely populated and in the case of Los Angeles have already risen dramatically not only in the last six years by 40% but have quadrupled, 400%, over the last 30 years. (S&P Index LA) Those are great returns for an asset that is considered to be safe and moderately growing. So what should a person do nowadays if they live and grew up in Los Angeles, and want to invest in real estate but don’t have a million dollars to invest? The solution is simple, invest out of state!

A lot of people think it is hard to invest in a state such as Texas. You have to manage the property, collect rent, and make the right investment decisions for the long term in a state that at this point in time you are only somewhat familiar with, right? Well allow me to explain to you why it is great for someone to think otherwise, and how a great agent can acquire property for you in another state in a deal which the tenants, the ones using the property space, are managing the property for you and even paying your property taxes! Not only that, but these are institutional companies who guarantee you the money you are promised for periods of up to 10-15+ years, per contract. This is only the beginning of me explaining how investing outside of your comfort zone with the proper advice can benefit you and your family.

How about the safety of these investments? I don’t want to lose my hard earned dollars. Neither do you. So why would you invest in anything outside of the Los Angeles, or the California region? A region that has proven itself for decades and showing promising signs of growth in certain areas. These are definitely valid points in the eyes of an avid investor, but maybe it’s time to reconsider. I already mentioned that property prices in Los Angeles are expensive, that being one of the main reasons to invest elsewhere.

Haven’t you noticed a lot of people who have been living in California are moving to the surrounding states where it is a lot cheaper to live and in places where new and old business industries are beginning to thrive? I personally know a few people who have moved away. Texas alone has added over 5 million people to its population in the last thirteen years according to Texas Department of State Health Services, and it is still growing. With that in mind, doesn’t it seem like a great deal to acquire a commercial property in a state where you can buy commercial real estate for around $150,000-$300,000 down? You couldn’t dream of that in Los Angeles unless you wanted to buy an old run down building.

Are you starting to understand how easy it can be to invest outside of your state, and why it is more lucrative? If you do, that’s great, if not here is another way to understand it in a situational scenario with numerical figures.

My friend Jack has $500,000 right now that he wants to invest.

This is what would happen if Jack invested in a Los Angeles Commercial Property from 2015-2020.

Let us say Jack doesn’t take out a Loan and buys a Fee Simple Commercial Estate.

$500,000 x 4% Interest Yearly = $20,000 Income / Year (Before Taxes) x 5 years = $100,000

Over this period of time the value of the property goes to $600,000 by 2020, and Jack sells his property to Jenner. That makes for a profit of $200,000 before Capital Gains, and Income Taxes.

Now, let us say Jack went outside his comfort zone and decided to get a property in Texas.

$500,000 x 8% = 40,000 Income / Year (Before Taxes) x 5 Years = $200,000

Over this period of time the value of the property goes up to $750,000 and Jack now shows Jenner how much easier it was to invest out of state because of the structure of this deal. He told Jenner that since Starbucks was managing his property and paying him on time without question every month, this made it much easier for him as an investment. Now, Jenner wants to buy this investment off Jack, because he sees the benefit and Starbucks wants to sign again for an additional 10 years with a rent increase!

Jack just made another $250,000, on the increase of the value of the property.

In total, Jack has now accumulated $450,000 before taxes over the last 5 years investing in Texas. Get it?! Do you understand the benefits and the financial rewards? Not to say you cannot have these structured deals in Los Angeles, but remember they offer half as much interest in a market that has already gone up 40% in the last six years.

Jack has made $450,000 investing in Texas vs. $200,000 investing in California with the same amount of money. That’s an extra 125% increase in profit, which will make you an even astonishingly larger amount of money on your next big investment!