Health Benefits of a Tropical Vacation

David (Dave) Leonti, a Kirkland real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty, likes to spend time around the water. Dave Leonti especially enjoys traveling to tropical places, tasting the fresh air, and running along the beach.

Traveling to a tropical region can pay off with more than just peace of mind. These trips can often pay off with real, measurable health benefits.

The reduction of stress levels that comes with an island trip can help travelers lead longer, healthier lives. Stress reduction reduces the risk of many diseases, thanks to decreases in blood pressure and cholesterol, and can even diminish the chances of a heart attack.

The sun exposure that comes from a tropical vacation can kick-start the immune system. Sun exposure encourages the production of vitamin D, which defends against infection.

Those having trouble sleeping might also benefit from a vacation. Exposure to sunshine improves serotonin levels, which in turn encourages melatonin production. Melatonin encourages a more natural circadian rhythm, which allows for deeper sleep and further improvements to heart health.

The 70 Percent Rule of House Flipping

David “Dave” Leonti, a real estate broker and house-flipper based in Kirkland, Washington, divides his time between leading Casa Dolce Homes as owner and working with homebuyers and sellers at Keller Williams Realty. Using a combination of his own experience and timeline software, Dave Leonti keeps track of ways to maximize profits in house-flipping.

Among house-flippers, there is a basic guideline that dictates how much investors should purchase properties for. Known as the 70 percent rule, this guideline prevents investors from overpaying, particularly when they are new to house-flipping. The guideline is not a hard-and-fast rule; in fact, many experienced flippers prefer doing the calculations themselves when looking at potential deals.

Still, the guideline is helpful for investors who are struggling to figure out whether a property is worth purchasing. According to this rule, investors should pay 70 percent of the home’s after-repair value, minus the cost of repairs. For instance, if investors believe they can get $150,000 for a home after it’s fully repaired for $25,000, the maximum price they should pay for the property is $80,000. This is determined by getting 70 percent of $150,000, which is $105,000, and subtracting the estimated repair costs of $25,000.

It’s believed that this rule works because it leaves at least 30 percent of the after-repair value to cover unexpected expenses and still allow profits associated with a building sale .However, the numbers used when completing 70-percent calculations must be accurate. Otherwise, investors may still end up overpaying for a property or losing out on a profitable opportunity.

Smart Remodeling Practices for Home Resale

Kirkland, Washington-based real estate broker David (“Dave”) Leonti efficiently matches buyers and sellers of in-demand properties. Capitalizing on a background in construction, Dave Leonti also acquires and renovates homes that can be resold at a profit.

Remodeling for resale is as much an art as a science, with successful projects reflecting not only the needs of the building and its prospective tenants, but also the expectations of buyers in specific markets. The key to achieving this cost effectively is to seek out properties that are for sale well below market value. This can often be accomplished through providing cash up front and closing the purchase with minimal hassle.

Another key to a successful rehab project involves setting budget and timeframe parameters that accurately reflect the sales value that can be obtained. Make sure that upgrades are appropriate to the local market and add the type of value that buyers really notice. At the same time, don’t shirk on quality. There are situations where the property cannot be readily sold and is managed for an extended period of time. Having things work properly can limit expenses and save tenants from frustration over the long run.

The 70 Percent Rule for Flipping Homes

Real estate broker Dave Leonti is associated with Keller Williams Realty in Kirkland, Washington. In addition, Dave (David) Leonti serves as project manager and owner of Casa Dolce Homes, where he manages construction and remodeling projects, develops budgets and timelines, and resells homes in a short time frame. This process, commonly known as flipping homes, can be a lucrative investment strategy if certain guidelines are followed.

Experts in real estate investments advise new investors to adhere to the 70 percent rule when evaluating a property. The 70 percent rule applies to distressed properties that are intended to be resold at a profit. To utilize the rule, investors take the estimated after repair value (ARV) and multiply it by .70. Then, estimated repair costs are subtracted, giving investors the base price that they should pay for a distressed property.

In order for helpful numbers to result, investors should make sure they use accurate and conservative estimates of ARV and repair costs. The numbers generated from the 70 percent rule need to be considered in conjunction with current, local market conditions.

Experienced investors often utilize more complex equations to determine the maximum purchase price for a distressed property. These equations factor in other costs such as additional repair margin, the costs of temporary ownership (taxes, maintenance, insurance, and utilities), and the costs associated with financing and closing.

Water Sports, Snow Sports, and Hiking Destinations in the Seattle Area

A Washington state real estate professional based in the Seattle suburbs of Kirkland and Sammamish, David “Dave” Leonti is a broker with Keller Williams Realty and, on the side, runs a house-flipping business. In his free time, Dave Leonti is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the region’s many options for water sports, snow sports, and hiking.

Water sports: Accessible via a short tram ride from downtown Seattle, Lake Union offers people opportunities to canoe and kayak while enjoying views of the Emerald City’s skyline. On the seacoast, many visitors to Alki Beach take to the water in rented kayaks or paddleboards.

Snow sports: Adventurous skiers have access to challenging runs at Crystal Mountain Resort’s Silver King Peak. From Silver King, skiers can see Mount Rainier, which, during the winter, offers excellent snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Hiking: Also a hiking destination, Mount Rainier maintains trails for hikers of all levels. Another spot favored by Seattle hikers is Mount Si, a 3,150-foot peak located less than 45 minutes from downtown.

Ways to Reduce Remodeling Costs

A real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty, Dave Leonti divides his work between finding properties that fit buyers’ criteria and remodeling and flipping homes. Possessing more than two decades of experience in the construction industry, Dave Leonti is skilled at creating a realistic budget and timeline for home remodels.

It doesn’t take much for a home remodel to exceed a budget. Fortunately, there are several ways to reduce remodeling costs; the following are a few examples:

- Use light tubes: Light tubes easily slip between roof rafters and are a great option for increasing natural lighting within the costly process of installing windows. These items help sunshine travel from the roof into a small living space, such as a hallway, thus brightening them up.

- Buy supplies: In many cases, contractors offer to purchase supplies for remodels. However, these supplies may come from a single source and not be the most cost-effective. Instead, homeowners can purchase supplies on their own and search for the best deals available.

- Keep drain lines: Rerouting plumbing is extremely costly and may add several thousands of dollars to remodeling costs. For this reason, it is best if homeowners plan a remodel around their existing plumbing.

- Get imitations: Homeowners should strive to get the highest-quality supplies possible, but that doesn’t always mean they need authentic supplies. For example, hardwood floors made from real wood cost around six times as much as engineered wood flooring. If remodeling costs are high, look for imitations that offer lower prices.

How to Pick the Best Spot for a Beach Run

Based in the state of Washington, Dave Leonti is a real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty. In his free time, Dave Leonti enjoys running on the beach. 

Because of the work leg muscles and tendons have to perform to remain stable on sand, running on a beach is 1.6 times harder than running on hard surfaces such as pavement. This extra work makes running on the beach a great workout to burn calories.

For a good run on the beach, pick the right shoreline. The beach should be at least a mile long, not shortened by a jetty or river mouth. The beach should also be as flat as possible. 

Running on slanted surfaces burdens the feet and can lead to injury. Make sure the surface of the beach is clean, not littered with rocks, broken bottles, or broken seashells, which can cause injuries. 

Wet sand from a receding tide is the best for beginning runners since the sand is firm and steady. Running on dry, soft sand is more difficult. 

When your feet sink in dry sand after each step, pushing off for the next step is fatiguing. Your calves will have to work much harder to propel you forward. For this reason, experienced beach runners opt for dry sand.