Nov. 15, 2005 Edition

NARHRI: Stop The Surprises

Web site updates will help keep members informed By John Grant John Grant The National Association of Responsible Home Rebuilders and Investors (NARHRI), the only national voice for the home rehabbing and real estate investing industry, is making its state legislative report available to all visitors to its web site from October 2005 through the end of the year. Beginning in 2006, only members of NARHRI will be able to access the report, which will be updated for members on a weekly basis. NARHRI's state legislative report is the first of its kind for the industry, and could not come at a more critical time. As legislation is introduced throughout the 50 state legislatures, NARHRI is updated on a daily basis concerning bills important to the real estate investing industry. NARHRI reviews the legislation, inserts comments regarding industry activity on the bills, and generates a weekly report for its members. This report ensures that the industry should never be caught off guard again by "surprise" legislation at the state level. NARHRI's state legislative report, generated by the tracking service of Kimball Sherman and Ellis, is the perfect tool in order to protect the industry, however, it is important to stress that it is not a solution to the battle the real estate investing industry faces in the states. NARHRI hopes that this report will generate awareness throughout the industry for the need to unify with one national voice and combat onerous state and federal legislation through a united front. Tracking the legislation throughout the country is essential, but it is also vital that NARHRI have the funding to utilize our state lobbyists, much like we did in North Carolina this year. NARHRI is committed to becoming a one-stop, full-service association for the industry. In addition to  efforts on the state and federal legislative fronts, NARHRI plans to embark on an aggressive public relations campaign in 2006 aimed at improving the overall image of the industry and exposing the flaws in legislation detrimental to the industry. NARHRI is continuing an aggressive membership recruitment drive into 2006, and is seeking the support from everyone in the industry so that it may respond instantly with a lobbyist on the ground in states where harmful legislation is under consideration. Already for 2006, NARHRI expects the industry will need to work in the following states: Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and North Carolina. This is only a sampling since most states will not begin to introduce their new legislation until 2006. For more information about becoming a member of NARHRI, and to view the state legislative report, please visit www.narhri.org. …John Grant is the executive director of NARHRI.  He can be reached at (202) 378-2308.

Franchisee Spotlight: Laura And Peter Pesoli

HomeVestors franchisees quick to help real estate veterans By Jacy Cochran Peter and Laura Pesoli Every day is a little bit different for Laura and Peter Pesoli, owners of Market Properties LP in Austin, TX. And that's what they like best about their work. Prior to joining HomeVestors, Laura and Peter were employed as licensed realtors listing sales, representing buyers and leasing properties. They have more than 20 years of experience rehabbing, renovating and renting homes and managing a small apartment complex, so becoming an HVA franchisee was a natural transition for these real estate pros. In their first few months in business, the Pesolis set up shop in their house. Laura admits that even though the home office was the most practical decision at the time, she was glad to finally have an office away from home because it felt more official. In their first year, Laura and Peter bought 20 houses, followed by 20 their second year, 30 their third year, and 40 their fourth. Out of those purchases, about half were rehabbed and the rest were sold wholesale. Meanwhile, they've retained 21 homes as rental properties. No longer rookies to the franchise system, Laura and Peter say they are continuously learning and refining their business as they embark on their fifth year with HVA. "We pay close attention to the numbers for the business, as much as we do for buying property," Laura said. "We also try to remember that each market year holds a little different exit strategy for the houses we buy." Laura appreciates the wisdom shared by fellow franchisees and carefully considers how each piece of advice can be applied to Market Properties. "Even the stressful moments are rewarding, because we enjoy coming up with solutions," Laura says. "And if we ever have questions, a wealth of knowledge from other franchisees is just a phone call away." Being flexible is also important to Laura and Peter, so that they can adapt to market changes every year. Most importantly, the Pesolis use integrity as the foundation for Market Properties, and they hold themselves to the highest level of ethical standards. The future is bright for Market Properties, and the Pesolis are ready to explore the possibilities in their next five years of business. …Jacy Cochran is an account executive for BizCom Associates, which provides public relations for HomeVestors of America.