NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Phil Kraus - Maus Warwick Matthews & Co. Office: (910) 791-0400 Cell: (910) 262-8900 pkraus@InvestWithPartners.com
InvestWithPartners.com Expanding Real Estate Opportunities to Average Investors - Commercial real estate partnerships no longer just for the elite few -
October 19, 2005 (WILMINGTON, NC)...Phil Kraus, a commercial real estate broker with Maus Warwick Matthews & Co. in Wilmington, recently launched InvestWithPartners.com, a Web site designed to help average investors pool resources to purchase properties with significant income potential.
The combination of low interest rates and the consistent growth performance makes real estate an appealing portfolio consideration for those wary about gambling too much on the peaks and valleys of the stock market. Many traditional real estate partnerships require large contributions from investors. However, Kraus is expanding partnership opportunities to include investments starting at just $10,000, although some of his partners choose to contribute $50,000, $100,000 or more.
"The boom in residential construction during the last few years has resulted in a huge need for new commercial developments to serve those communities," said Kraus. "Investing in real estate typically is an insider's game for those with an expert understanding of the market as well as the time and money to manage those investments. InvestWithPartners.com evens out the playing field to benefit investors at every level."
Using his expertise as a commercial real estate broker, Kraus identifies prospective properties and recruits partners to essentially buy shares of ownership in these private properties. Kraus handles the details associated with establishing and managing the partnerships as well as the marketing and sale of investment properties, so very little time or effort is required by investors. Many of the properties are divided and sold in smaller pieces, rented or redeveloped and sold with the goal of making a healthy profit for the partners. And unlike many real estate brokers, Kraus invests his own funds right along with other investors.
"I only ask people to invest in properties if I believe very strongly in them," said Kraus. "Investors know that I am sincere because I put my money where my mouth is - that is a true partnership."
RECENT PARTNERSHIP EXAMPLES 1. One of Kraus's partnerships purchased property that now is the site for the Wilmington Executive Center near the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The partnership purchased the land for $1.8 million and sold the property 18 months later for a 50 percent profit.
2. Kraus created another partnership to buy land in the Pine Valley Shopping center for $4.4 million. Since that time, the property has appreciated 50 percent and continues to realize an 8.8 percent cash return per year for investors.
More examples are highlighted on the Web site.
ABOUT PHIL KRAUS, SIOR Phil Kraus received his real estate brokers license in 1978 and has managed land and income property investments in Alaska, Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. After leading his own real estate operation for several years, Phil joined Maus Warwick Matthews & Co. in 1993. Since 1995, he has closed more than $97 million worth of properties, with nearly another $11 million slated for 2005 alone.
Phil is one of only a handful of real estate professionals certified with the prestigious SIOR designation by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. He also is a member of the North Carolina Association of Realtors, and the Wilmington Board of Realtors. Prior, Kraus Phil served in the United States Navy as a sonar technician aboard two nuclear submarines.
ARTICLES OFFERING MORE INFO ABOUT REAL ESTATE PARTNERSHIPS 1. "The Private Investment Pool - Commercial real estate pros help today's investors dive into this growing market" - Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine http://www.ciremagazine.com/article.php?article_id=789
2. "Get Rich Without Leaving Home - A limited partnership lets you be a real estate mogul and keep your day job. But do it right" - MONEY magazine http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/16/real_estate/real_estate_partnerships_0507/
3. "Partnerships? Who me? Yes, you. They can be very profitable" - Real Estate Investing Club Web site http://www.reiclub.com/articles/partnerships-real-estate-investing
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About the Author
Petri Darby, APR, is the president of darbyDarnit, a freelance writing and communications company in Spring, Texas, just outside Houston.