usctrojanman29_IHB
New member
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1249612168][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1248865762][quote author="Geotpf" date=1248841771][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1248828958]Unfortunately, I know someone who drank the kool-aid...my cousin and her husband. The bought a condotel unit over at the Trump Towers. They had to plunk down 20% as their deposit but can't close on the unit because no lender will finance them unless they put 40%+ down. The Trump Towers sold out in a matter of a month but to-date only about 30% of the units closed. They are caught between a rock and a hard place...either walk away from the 20% deposit ($120k+) or pony up another 20% and be cash flow negative each month and basically be down 30% from their contract price. I'm upside down on my 4plex in Vegas but at least it is generating positive cash flow before the tax benefit.</blockquote>
Wow, that sucks. Have they really been in this limbo for over a year (looks like Trump Hotel Las Vegas opened March 31st, 2008)? There's no recourse for them getting their deposit back?</blockquote>
Yeah, I think they were scheduled to close in April or May of 2008 but couldn't due to the issue of getting a loan. There is a class action lawsuit concerning the refund of those deposits but I'm not sure if they are involved...kinda a touchy subject.</blockquote>
Having just been there recently... it's interesting that Trump Tower is the cheapest of the 5-star hotels. They were charging $200 per night weekend rate.</blockquote>
Yeah, it's definitely a nice place and I'd probably stay there if my dad didnt own a home out in the suburbs out there (btw, he's got a 3-car car garage...I'll snap a picture for you of the home this weekend). The problem that my counsin and her husband had was they believed the hype and didn't crunch the numbers to analyze the investment. He was trying to use an average rental rate of $300+/night along with occupancy of 95% (which were the peak figures during the bubble days). Even at those lofty numbers, the investment would still be slightly cash flow negative. When I pulled in some more realistic numbers like $150/night and 75% occupancy the numbers looked SUPER FUGLY and indicated that the property was 50%+ overpriced. Well, my analysis fell on deaf ears. I bought a 4plex out in Vegas which I'm underwater on but at least I'm cash flow positive before taxes (when you take in the tax benefit it puts me that much more ahead cash flow wise) which allows me to wait out the downturn.
Wow, that sucks. Have they really been in this limbo for over a year (looks like Trump Hotel Las Vegas opened March 31st, 2008)? There's no recourse for them getting their deposit back?</blockquote>
Yeah, I think they were scheduled to close in April or May of 2008 but couldn't due to the issue of getting a loan. There is a class action lawsuit concerning the refund of those deposits but I'm not sure if they are involved...kinda a touchy subject.</blockquote>
Having just been there recently... it's interesting that Trump Tower is the cheapest of the 5-star hotels. They were charging $200 per night weekend rate.</blockquote>
Yeah, it's definitely a nice place and I'd probably stay there if my dad didnt own a home out in the suburbs out there (btw, he's got a 3-car car garage...I'll snap a picture for you of the home this weekend). The problem that my counsin and her husband had was they believed the hype and didn't crunch the numbers to analyze the investment. He was trying to use an average rental rate of $300+/night along with occupancy of 95% (which were the peak figures during the bubble days). Even at those lofty numbers, the investment would still be slightly cash flow negative. When I pulled in some more realistic numbers like $150/night and 75% occupancy the numbers looked SUPER FUGLY and indicated that the property was 50%+ overpriced. Well, my analysis fell on deaf ears. I bought a 4plex out in Vegas which I'm underwater on but at least I'm cash flow positive before taxes (when you take in the tax benefit it puts me that much more ahead cash flow wise) which allows me to wait out the downturn.