<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179285266969855624</id><updated>2011-04-21T14:56:09.379-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Bank First</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5179285266969855624/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Earl E. Bird III</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00155071734545450750</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>2</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179285266969855624.post-5420237171610307231</id><published>2009-02-26T08:23:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-02-26T08:28:24.314-08:00</updated><title type='text'>About REITS:  Investing in Real Estate Through the Sale of Liquid Securities</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-weight:bold;"&gt;About REITs:  Real Estate Investment Trusts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were created in the 60s so that all investors would have access to income-producing real estate through the purchase and sale of liquid securities.  Before REITs were created access to investment returns of commercial real estate equity was only available to institutions and wealthy individuals.&lt;br /&gt;For over half a century, REITs have become an important part of the United States economy and investment markets.  United States REITs have grown from ninety billion dollars to over three hundred billion dollars in the past decade and they have gained popularity all over the world.&lt;br /&gt;During their early years, mortgage Real Estate Investment Trust dominated the industry, providing debt financing for commercial or residential properties through investments in mortgages and mortgage-backed securities.   Interest in equity REITs which own and manage commercial properties was limited because of the requirements that ownership and management of assets remain separate.  This restriction was lifted with the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 which allowed REITs to both own and manage properties.  Now, more than 90% of publicly traded United States REITs are equity REITs that own and manage commercial real estate.  Most of their income is derived from rents owned by companies across the nation.&lt;br /&gt;There are certain guidelines and standards in place that must be followed in order for a company to qualify as a REIT in the US.  The Internal Revenue Code requires at least seventy five percent of total assets be invested in real estate which realize at least seventy five percent of its gross income from rents from real property or interest from mortgages.  They must also distribute at least ninety percent of taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5179285266969855624-5420237171610307231?l=bankfirst.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/feeds/5420237171610307231/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/2009/02/about-reits-real-estate-investement.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5179285266969855624/posts/default/5420237171610307231'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5179285266969855624/posts/default/5420237171610307231'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/2009/02/about-reits-real-estate-investement.html' title='About REITS:  Investing in Real Estate Through the Sale of Liquid Securities'/><author><name>Earl E. Bird III</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00155071734545450750</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179285266969855624.post-2396605214922117097</id><published>2009-02-26T08:13:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2009-02-26T08:13:29.886-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Watch Your Money Grow With REITs</title><content type='html'>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Real Estate Investment Trust  – Building Your Bank Account&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;Have you ever wished that you  could just make the right investments to the point where you could sit  back and watch them grow? Perhaps you are not doing the right things  with your money.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;Many people who are looking  for a long-term way to see constant increases on their investments choose  to look into the REIT market as a way of seeing their money go further. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;REITs are real estate investment  trusts. In many cases, investors purchase REITs then sit back and let  the monthly dividend check come in. From time to time they are able  to purchase more shares and then watch larger divided checks come in. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;The reason many people like  REITs is that for the most part they are long-term investment options  that are strong and stable. Since they are based on real estate holdings,  and property always has value, they are a wise investment choice.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;In the short term, this is  a nice way to see a little money grow in your account from month to  month. In the long term, if you play things right, it could end up meaning  a lot of money down the road to the point where you have enough to live  off of. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;Having enough to live off of  doesn’t happen over night. So, you need to start investing now to  allow that little bundle of money time to grow into a major nest egg.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;Begin by getting to know REITs.  You should always have a good grounding on any type of investment that  you are thinking of putting your money into. After all this is your  hard earned cash you are putting into someone else's hands. Make sure  you know what they are going to do with it and that you are confident  they are going to take good care of it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;While you could search all  over for the information you need, it's easier to do one stop shopping  at REITBuyer.com. They are an investing real estate broker that also  has a website that is meant to be the place to get all the information  you need on the REIT market. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;If you have never worked with  REITs before, you can begin with the basic education on what REITs are  and how they work. Then you can progress into the research section that  will help you find REITs in your area of interest and find out how they  have been doing as well as any analysis of those REITs and what they  should be doing for the future. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;When you're ready to make a  purchase, you can also use the REITBuyer.com website to buy and sell  your REITs and keep track of your portfolio.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"&gt;Many people want financial  freedom to happen overnight. It doesn't. It takes time, smart investments  and smart decisions throughout the lifetime of those investments. But  the important thing is to get started because the sooner you do the  sooner those long term investments can get to work for you.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5179285266969855624-2396605214922117097?l=bankfirst.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/feeds/2396605214922117097/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/2009/02/watch-your-money-grow-with-reits.html#comment-form' title='5 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5179285266969855624/posts/default/2396605214922117097'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5179285266969855624/posts/default/2396605214922117097'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bankfirst.blogspot.com/2009/02/watch-your-money-grow-with-reits.html' title='Watch Your Money Grow With REITs'/><author><name>Earl E. Bird III</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/00155071734545450750</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>5</thr:total></entry></feed>
