Ending 2008 on a high note ... And starting next year in a better tax position

If you want to do a better job of tax planning but you typically don't focus on taxes until the April 15 frenzy, you're not alone. As 2008 comes to a close, there are some tax strategies you can implement now that may make your life much calmer come tax time. This article focuses on tips for saving tax dollars on your business and personal income tax returns.
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Build a better foundation -- Business structures for real estate ventures

Combining resources to invest in real estate or develop projects can have some obvious benefits - such as pooling financial strengths and experience. The question is how best to structure such joint ventures. This article looks at some of the most popular options, such as partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). A sidebar covers 10 important issues to consider when drawing up a governing agreement.
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Landing a land loan

In the current skittish lending climate, obtaining a loan to invest in land can be a challenge. Far fewer lenders are willing to finance land purchases because of the inherent risk of funding a non-income-producing asset. And those that do fund land deals generally apply more stringent lending standards than on other types of property. If you're looking to buy some land, this article is a must-read because it provides some insights into what lenders are looking for.
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Building projects go high-tech with BIM

At last - there's a high-tech tool that's making it easier to design and manage construction projects. It's called building information modeling (BIM), and it uses digital information to create accurate project models and refine construction schedules. This brief article discusses the BIM concept - a method for organizing, storing and maintaining information about the physical characteristics of a building - and why it might benefit building owners.
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Ask the Advisor -- What are REOs and what can they do for me?

Some investors are finding a gold mine in real estate owned (REO) properties - foreclosed properties that banks fail to auction off. Because banks are quite motivated to sell these properties, they can make good investment opportunities. This article will help you do your homework so you can make such investments pay off.
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This publication is distributed with the understanding that the author, publisher and distributor are not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice or opinions on specific facts or matters, and, accordingly, assume no liability whatsoever in connection with its use. ©2008 REAso08