homeowners. If an investor can bring in new people to buy or rent any of these homes, that is more money in their pocket directly. This means more capital for things like parks in the neighborhoods, group activities, pools, etc. From the right perspective, those HOA groups should want investors in there to help increase their capital. CAPITOL HILL EVENT Given all of the information provided here, it comes as a shock to some to hear that Congress still does not see the problem at hand. As a member of the Government Relations Committee, Quest Trust Company spoke to Congress on Sept. 21, 2022, at the recent Day on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. When we met with Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California and her staff, their team expressed they felt no need to act on any of these topics. This might be a reflection of a short-term desire to help their campaign. Needless to say, the meeting did not prove successful, and opposing stances remained. However, Quest representatives also had the chance to meet with Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and his staff, finding they were much more receptive to the information. As we spoke about problems that could arise in the near future, Brown’s staff asked our opinion on possible solutions, providing a unique opportunity to work with staff members that are trying to be proactive in their community. As Self-Directed IRA investors, we can help improve neighborhoods by increasing property values for everyone, driving up business for small business owners, and keeping the money in our communities where it belongs. It is clear that the harm stems from the giant hedge funds that are buying up properties in bulk, and it isn’t fair to put “the little guy” in the same category. It’s crucial that each one of us does what we can to protect our investing freedoms and our wealth, so consider how you can get involved in making a difference. • Derreck Long, senior IRA Specialist CISP at Quest Trust Company, served in the military from 2010 to 2014. He then attended Northern Arizona University, where he received a degree in global marketing. After graduating college, Long worked with the FBI but quickly started looking for additional ways to make money. He discovered note investing and has been a private lender ever since. Long has experience with a large range of notes, ranging from equity appreciation tosecond-lien notes to the traditional first lien, and more. Long is a member of Think Realty’s Government Relations Committee, where he researches tax code, new bills, and law changes at the congressional level.
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