Blog

The City of Manhattan has had a very busy and productive year. I had the opportunity to attend the State of the City Address Power Lunch with Ron Fehr, Manhattan City Manager, on February 11, 2020. This meeting was well attended and very informative. How many Manhattanites have been concerned with the conditions of the streets in Manhattan? I know I have been. My car could nearly fit into some of those poth ... Read more

Neighborhood news is Foundation Realty's newest video blog. Tune in to hear Terry Robinson as he interviews Brad Claussen about code services in Manhattan KS! ... Read more

Neighborhood news is Foundation Realty's newest video blog. Tune in to hear Sarah Pfannenstiel, owner of Black Dog Properties, and David Renberg, broker of Foundation Realty discuss the local rental market, and what to expect in the area. ... Read more

For my blog in March, I wanted to cover common ratios used to evaluate investment properties. After my last post, I had several questions, so I thought I would break these down. First, it is worth covering the four benefits to owning real estate. The first is the most obvious, cash. People pay you cash above and beyond your expenses (hopefully!) to live in the property you own. The second is principal ... Read more

  Today’s highlight is brought to you by David Renberg, listing courtesy of Foundation Realty. 1014 Bluemont is an exceptionally close to campus investment property. It is a converted tri-plex with all modern plumbing and electrical, as well as modern mechanical units. All three units are on separate HVAC. There are three: two bed, one bath units. The top two units are rented together for $1,52 ... Read more

Understanding what happens with your loan is important in choosing the right lender. Click the play button below to watch our explainer video on what happens to your loan. It is important to know the types of loans so you can get the best one for you! Foundation Realty is proud to work with great local lenders. [fvplayer src="https://www.foundationks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Foundation-Realty-Getting ... Read more

Today's highlight is brought to you by David Renberg, listing courtesy of Landmark Real Estate. 1020 Houston has some real potential. It is made up of 10, 1-bed, 1-bath apartments. Gross lease is $4,800. Pros: This property cash-flows. With a projected 8% cap rate, this property yields high returns. Cons: The property is outside the ideal proximity to campus. Because of the age, original design, ... Read more

As the price of materials and labor rises, along with buyers’ expectations for the finer amenities in new homes, builders are tempted to sacrifice quality and cut costs on the structure of a newly constructed home.  Unfortunately, builders know that buyers typically do not think to ask how their new house was constructed.  The assumption realtors and buyers make is that inspections are performed ... Read more

Some would say that the weather has been the worst they have seen in years. It can be alarming to turn on the news and hear about cities being flooded and homes being destroyed by heavy rain and tropical storms. As a homeowner, it is important to understand what is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. For example, do you know the difference between water damage and flood damage? Does your policy ... Read more

VA loans are a largely misunderstood loan product. Operating a real estate firm in the Manhattan area, I encounter VA loans frequently. VA loans are commonly referred to as a military ‘benefit,’ but oftentimes they do nothing but burden the borrower for years to come. Before we talk about the pros and cons, let’s first clarify what a VA loan is. A VA loan is a loan guaranteed by the US Department o ... Read more

When buying a new home, consumers are often confronted with an added monthly expense of special assessments that are connected to the title of their home. In most major cities where there is a lot of new development, special assessments are quite common, and in fact, are quite popular. Understanding how special assessments are either an advantage or disadvantage for you is the topic of this article. Firs ... Read more

Investment Blog

25 Jun 2015

Today's listing is a great investment close to the KSU fieldhouse. Listed at $210 with a full basement, this property is a nice investment. The good: This property is in a great location, and is sound from all angles. No major deferred maintenence with lots of space to rent The bad: This property is not yet rented for next year. This means that you may have to take a hit year one just to get it occu ... Read more

Today’s highlight is a single family home VERY close to campus (courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty Group 1). It has 4 bedrooms, will undoubtedly have no vacancy if managed correctly. It is currently a single family home, but I am calculating to convert it into a 2-unit property in order to capitalize on rents. Rents are calculated at $1,800 with $15,000 in up-front remodel costs. Click here to vi ... Read more