Mr. Howard Liggett

President and CEO, Distressed Real Estate Consulting Services, Inc.

Member of the Real Estate Council

Council Member Biography

Howard C. Liggett is the President and CEO of Distressed Real Estate Consulting Services, Inc. The Florida based company provides a broad range of real estate consulting expertise to institutional investors, equity and mortgage REITs, and alternative asset portfolios. Mr. Liggett also serves as Executive Director for the National Tax Lien Association. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the distressed property and real estate investment field. For twenty-one years, he served as Tax Administrator for Escambia County (Pensacola), Florida, where he orchestrated the sale of over $300 million in tax lien certificates. In 2003, he was appointed by the Jeb Bush administration to serve on the Florida Department of Revenue Property Tax Administration Tax Force for his expertise in establishing real estate development and tax policy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of West Florida and a Master of Science degree from Troy State University. (This is me - Update Profile)

Employment History

1997 - Unspecified: President and CEO, Distressed Real Estate Consulting Services, Inc.

GLG News^SM Analyses by Howard Liggett(?)

Opinions and analyses expressed in GLG News are solely those of the author. See the Terms of Use for details.

Tax Lien Certificates Offer Stability During Unstable Times

October 1, 2009

Analysis of:Tax Bills Put Pressure on Struggling Homeowners | www.nytimes.com

Present estimates of unpaid property taxes in the United States place the figure as high as $15 billion annually. The choices available to government officials for remedying this shortfall are limited. Counties and cities could increase the tax rate,borrow (maybe) the necessary capital,reduce services (again) or sell the tax debt to investors willing to take the risk they will be repaid. The first three options are distasteful to most property owners,particularly those who pay on time.

Foreign & Domestic Investors Positioning For Florida Distressed Real Estate Deluge

June 8, 2009

Analysis of:IS IT A GREAT TIME TO BUY PROPERTY IN FLORIDA NOW? | www.overseaspropertymall.com

South Florida's depressed real estate market is still about six months from rock bottom, but now bargain hunters are out in force. At a recent conference, real estate brokers and lawyers agreed the sharpest declines in value and the highest spikes in foreclosures will hit once most of Miami's new condo units are built in late 2008 and into 2009. Still, several brokers are noticing that distressed properties are starting to sell, and buyers - especially foreign buyers - are already eyeing the market to make sure they don't miss a feeding frenzy for cheap real estate. The trifecta of the housing glut, the subprime crisis and the weak dollar has made South Florida real estate attractive again - but for a very different reason than in 2005.

South Florida's Real Estate Armageddon Presents Huge Acquisition Opportunities

January 15, 2009

Analysis of:Nonresidential Construction Seen Falling 11% in 2009 | www.cnbc.com

South Florida's commercial and residential real estate markets suffered in 2008, and the New Year doesn't figure to offer much relief. Continued foreclosures and the weak economy will continue having an impact on prices and number of properties available with only aggressive sellers disposing of properties. Although home sales started picking up this past summer, the beleaguered housing market has been hammered by foreclosures and falling prices. Meanwhile, the sputtering economy has local businesses retrenching and cutting jobs, dealing a blow to the retail, office and industrial sectors. All this carnage creates an opportunity for those positioned to take advantage of the adjustment in prices, and higher expected returns.

Valuation Vendors Critical to the Home Sale Rebound

December 12, 2008

Analysis of:U.S. Eyes Plan to Lift Home Sales | online.wsj.com

As markets change,servicers and lenders need to choose a valuation company that can quickly and easily adapt. Questions to ask include: Does your valuation vendor use a quality evaluation logic that can be changed on the fly? The preferred valuation model would weigh more heavily on comps in an appreciating market and listings in a declining market.

Credit Default Swaps Are Dangerous Should the Waters Rise

December 5, 2008

Analysis of:N.Y. Approves ICE Credit-Default Swap Clearing Plan (Update 2) | www.bloomberg.com

Credit default swaps have been a major element in the ongoing financial crisis. That doesn't mean it's necessarily easy to understand just what the problem is with them. In an effort to gain clarity I have engaged in a self-directed study on the topic with the following analogy to report.

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