Hot Keys: What's a Mouse For?

A friend of mine recently interviewed with a boutique investment bank and a section of the interview included a 1 hour financial modeling exercise. How well prepared are you to build, format, and forecast the income statement of a public company? Do you know the keyboard shortcuts necessary to complete this task in under an hour?During my internship this summer, the full-time analysts explained

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Foreclosures Open Up New Market

(NewsUSA) - To some, the current real estate market looks dismal. A weak labor market, rising mortgage rates and high energy prices have caused many American homeowners to lose their properties. To others, the real estate markets looks ripe for investment.

Deer Park Development Corporation, a company with over 30 years of experience in the real estate market, has developed a new approach for investors hoping to purchase and resell foreclosed properties for profit. Foreclosed houses sell at lower prices, helping investors buy properties with less money upfront. In the past, housing prices reflected overinflation -; as the market evens out, the mortgage crisis might actually help stabilize home prices.

Marty O'Malley, CEO of Deer Park Development Corporation, noted that the current real estate market represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the astute buyer. "With one in every 360 homes in foreclosure nationwide, the opportunity to buy distressed property at significant discounts to their original appraisals is extensive," said O'Malley. "In Clark County, Nev., one in every eighty homes is in foreclosure, and on top of those statistics, one in every two homes is underwater, meaning that it's not worth the amount of money owed on it."

With this amount of inventory on the market, there are situations out there that present themselves as profitable ventures. Not all of the foreclosures are money-making deals, but with experience, professional investors know when and what to buy, so they can make successful ventures.

Being an individual investor in the real estate market can be a dangerous proposition for the inexperienced. But investors, in tying themselves to a group of experienced real estate players, can use experts' hard-earned knowledge to turn a profit in the down real estate market.

"Allowing individual investors to participate in ownership through direct partnership creates a risk-free vehicle for foreclosure players to work with," said O'Malley,

For additional information, visit Deer Park Development Corporation's Web site at deerparkdevelopmentcorp.com or contact Capital Group Advisors at 954-297-0706.

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Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not because of the food, but because of what the holiday represents – a time to express selfless gratitude. In a year naturally filled with anxiety in the custom home building industry, I have personally witnessed many selfless acts performed to help those less fortunate. This past May, 4 local custom builders, John Wieland Homes, I’On Build, J.D Smith and Structures Building Company, their trade partners and suppliers all contributed time, money and sweaty labor to build 4 houses during a 1 week building blitz for Habitat for Humanity. Contributions for our home alone totaled more than $50,000, all during unprecedented economic times when many builders were uncertain of their own personal future. I specifically think of many superintendents I personally know and respect who are now out of work, trying to support their own families during this holiday season. Of course I also think of the mother of our Habitat home, Latoya Palmer and her daughters Dekaliah and Courtney, and their first Thanksgiving dinner in their beautiful new home. Finally, I am grateful for my tremendous staff, not only for their work on this project, but their willingness to work untold hours, day after day, late into the night when necessary, all for the ultimate benefit of our company and clients. I have many things to be thankful for this year!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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How do the Financial Statements Flow Together?

Understanding how the three core financial statements interplay is fundamental to your success in investment banking interviews. Below is a brief description of the three statements and how they connect to one another. Following the explanation you will find a few sample interview questions.Income StatementNet income--the bottom line--flows from the Income Statement to Retained Earnings on the

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The "Model" Home - The Way All Homes Were Intended to be Used

I'll never forget, after returning from his Builder 20 weekend in 2006, Steve announced to us that we were going to build a "green" model home. Though we weren't really sure of all the details, we were really excited as everything came together. Our main purpose was to have a place where we could meet our clients to work out the details for their own custom home. All of this was created in an effort to simplify the complex custom building process for our clients. Our model was such a great asset to us, but it doesn't stop there. . .

She was also known for her open door, to the local school board, planning meetings, book clubs, Habitat for Humanity planning and dreaming meetings and much more, but it still doesn't stop there. . .

If walls could talk, she would also tell of the:


Constant laughter she observed through the constant teasing, practical jokes and belly laughs that come from people who genuinely enjoy each others company. Great memories of birthday celebrations, Christmas dinner when everyone discovered that Amy was secretly a phenomenal cook and southern home cooked breakfasts around the dining room table. Even the serious and honest deep conversations often surfaced since we were among family.



Makes you think for a moment how much more we can "model" our own home in the same way. . . a place to knock out the business of life, reach out beyond ourselves into our community and most importantly, a place to invest in and love our family who lives within our four walls.

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Welcome to the Structures Family!

We are so excited to welcome Alan and Kathryn Murray into the Structures family! This week they purchased our model home located in I'On before it was even listed or officially on the market! What a great "challenge" of quickly moving our model home over to 32 Perseverance Street in I'On which is currently staged and on the market. Give us a call and let's schedule a visit if you're looking to buy, build a custom home or just looking around!

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Is Your Home Making You Sick?

(NewsUSA) - Americans tend to view their homes as safe havens. What few people realize is that the air in their home can be more polluted than outdoor air, leading to health problems.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, people spend almost 90 percent of their time indoors. Due to extended exposure, indoor pollution might cause more health problems than outdoor pollution.

What causes indoor pollution? Common, synthetic materials, like paints, plastics and household cleaners, all leak chemical emissions. Sensitive people can react to anything from wax to furniture polish. Building materials, outdoor pollution, dust and other substances can create allergy symptoms.

Mold, one leading cause of indoor allergies, can grow inside and outside the home in any household component. Once it develops, mold proves impossible to completely remove, making it an especially serious threat. Mold can grow wherever water flows. Water intrusion can lead to mold growth within 24 hours.

The Mayo Clinic estimated that over 40 million Americans suffered from chronic sinus infections and that 96 percent of those cases were caused by molds. According to the Centers for Disease Control, indoor allergens can lead to infections and respiratory problems.

A Certified Environmental Home Inspector (CEHI) from Environmental Safeguard Professionals (www.espusa.net), a company that performs EcoCheck Inspection to address environmental issues in residential buildings, asks Americans to look for the following signs of poor indoor air health:

- Have you had problems with floods or leaks? Even the smallest damp area allows mold to grow. Mold can also hide in ceilings, walls and attics.

- Have you or any of your family members suffered from unexplained respiratory problems, chronic headaches, coughing or congestion?

- Is your home well ventilated? Poor ventilation helps mold grow. To prevent mold growth, keep air moving and humidity levels between 40 and 60 percent.

If you suspect mold, call a professional to inspect your home. A CEHI can identify the types of mold in your home and determine the best way to remove it.

For more information, visit www.espusa.net

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Overcoming Toubled Times

This is a question someone left on an earlier post. We love seeing your questions and comments; we're happy to help answer any questions our readers have.From Anonymous:I would love to hear your thoughts on how to survive if looking for a finance job now... let's face it... if you are beginning the journey in i banking right now... there are a ton of more qualified people to take your spot. What

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The Company You Keep

Our NAHB Builder 20 club recently held it's bi-annual meeting at Payne & Payne Builders in Cleveland, OH. Builder 20 is a group of approximately 20 professional custom home builders from non-competing markets. We meet twice a year in one of our member's cities, to share ideas and improve our businesses. We discuss business operations in depth, share financial information, systems and construction methods.

I'm fortunate to have been accepted into this group, which is one of the founding Builder 20 groups started in 1995. Today there approximately 50 such groups around the country. Without hesitation, I can say our group is comprised of the best builders in the country, personally and professionally. Many have been named Builder of the Year in their territory, and a handful in the country. Joining this network is the single best decision I have made for our company.

We were all equally impressed with the operation of Payne & Payne, a family owned building business started by the father, Mike Payne Sr. and taken over by his three sons, Mike Jr., Dave and Eric. It was nice to see this dynamic at play, and I have to admit I couldn't help but think of positioning my company to be taken over by my children. They may have something different to say about that!

Many thanks to the Builder 20 fraternity and especially the Paynes for being such gracious hosts this fall. We look forward to hosting you all in Charleston this spring!

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