Real Estate

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    WSJ.com: Commercial Real Estate

  • Mortgage Bankers Sell Building at a Loss

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:06 pm
    The Mortgage Bankers Association sold its 10-story headquarters building in Washington, D.C., for $41.3 million, well below the $79 million it paid in 2007.

  • Mortgage Bankers Sell Building at a Loss

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:06 pm
    The Mortgage Bankers Association sold its 10-story headquarters building in Washington, D.C., for $41.3 million, well below the $79 million it paid in 2007.

  • Connecticut, Starwood Hit Bump

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm
    Connecticut pulled off a coup when Starwood Hotels agreed to relocate its headquarters there. But now there are questions being raised over how the state sealed the deal.

  • Connecticut, Starwood Hit Bump

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm
    Connecticut pulled off a coup when Starwood Hotels agreed to relocate its headquarters there. But now there are questions being raised over how the state sealed the deal.

  • China Prepares to Salvage CCTV Tower

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:33 pm
    Beijing is preparing to rebuild a Rem Koolhaas skyscraper in the complex housing the national broadcaster, a year after fire gutted the structure.
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    WSJ.com: Real Estate

  • Mortgage Bankers Sell Building at a Loss

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:06 pm
    The Mortgage Bankers Association sold its 10-story headquarters building in Washington, D.C., for $41.3 million, well below the $79 million it paid in 2007.

  • Connecticut, Starwood Hit Bump

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pm
    Connecticut pulled off a coup when Starwood Hotels agreed to relocate its headquarters there. But now there are questions being raised over how the state sealed the deal.

  • China Prepares to Salvage CCTV Tower

    8 Feb 2010 | 4:33 pm
    Beijing is preparing to rebuild a Rem Koolhaas skyscraper in the complex housing the national broadcaster, a year after fire gutted the structure.

  • Home Builders See Daylight

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:42 am
    Fewer write-downs and cancellations along with improved order rates are putting some lift into the depressed home construction market.

  • Lenders Seize Sillerman Resort

    4 Feb 2010 | 6:45 pm
    Lenders holding the $180 million mortgage on entertainment mogul Robert Sillerman's luxury resort in Anguilla have taken over the half-built project.
 
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    Wash Post Real Estate

  • Murray Hill, just south of Beltway, offers convenience and comforts

    Ann Cameron Siegal
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    It's easy to drive past Murray Hill as you navigate Indian Head Highway, Route 210. But this conveniently located community of ramblers and split-levels in Prince George's County is worth a look.

  • Cash-in refinancing could help homeowners save

    Kenneth Harney
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Thinking of cashing out some equity when you refinance your mortgage? Sure, that used to be what millions of homeowners did when they needed extra money.

  • An infrared sauna: Luxury at a price you can relax with

    Barbara Ruben Special to The Washington Post
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Lyme disease left Kathy Fowler's hands so stiff that she couldn't type. She couldn't remember simple directions. Intravenous antibiotics helped, but Fowler, a health reporter for WJLA (Channel 7), wanted to explore alternative treatments as well.

  • housing counsel

    Housing Counsel
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Housing Counsel, by Benny L. Kass, can be found this week at http://washingtonpost.com/realestate. He discusses how owners can secure a tax-deferred exchange of a second home. His column will return to the print edition.

  • MURRAY HILL

    Murray Hill
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    BOUNDARIES: Indian Head Highway to the west, Livingston Road to the north, Hart Road to the east and E. Barrett Road to the south
 
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    Smartbrief: International Council of Shopping Centers

  • Obama delivers $3.8 trillion budget to Congress

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    The deficit would hit $1.6 trillion this year before beginning to decline in 2011 under a budget President Barack Obama deliv -More- 

  • Unibail-Rodamco buys Simon shopping center venture for $981M

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    European property company Unibail-Rodamco is acquiring a shopping center venture between Simon Property Group and Ivanhoe Cam -More- Retail clothing store opportunities are leaking out of ZIP Code 92704. Do you know what's happening in your market? Get a free ESRI Retail MarketPlace Profile report from Business Analyst Online to understand supply and demand, and review the number of businesses by industry sector such as clothing, shoes, furniture, electronics, and more.

  • Simon denies reports of negotiations with General Growth

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Simon Property Group denies reports that it is in negotiations with General Growth Properties.  -More- 

  • G-7 can't reach accord on financial regulation:

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    Leaders at a Group of Seven meeting failed to reach an accord on financial regulation, French Finance Minister Christine Laga -More- Can You Grow a Business Without Adding More Staff? "Automating the processing of vendor invoices allowed us to acquire properties w/o more staff," says CFO Tom Rutherford of LBA Realty. Read Study or Attend Webinar to see how Inland Real Estate Group and Maguire Properties automated AP.

  • Source: Only Liberty's London operations to exist as REIT

    7 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    More news about U.K.-based Liberty International's possible plans: According to a source, the company will keep its shopping  -More- 
 
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    msnbc.com: Real estate

  • Mortgage rates edge up slightly

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages rose slightly this week, inching above 5 percent, Freddie Mac said Thursday. Freddie Mac - Mortgage - Loan - Macintosh - Apple

  • NYT: No help in sight, more homeowners walk away

    2 Feb 2010 | 9:25 pm
    By June, about 5.1 million people are projected own a home whose value is below 75 percent of what is owed, prompting many to walk away from their mortgages. Mortgage - New York Times - Foreclosure - United States - Loan

  • Modest increase seen in home sales activity

    2 Feb 2010 | 8:09 am
    The number of people preparing to buy a home rose slightly in December, a sign that home sales could be stabilizing heading into the spring home buying season. Shrubs - Plants - Home - Gardening - Roses

  • Duplicity in mother-of-all mortgage walkaways

    31 Jan 2010 | 9:46 am
    Tishman Speyer Properties walks away from 11,232 Manhattan apartments because it can't pay its mortgage. That's good business. Tishman Speyer Properties - Business - United States - Financial Services - Mortgages

  • Some see hints of bottom in housing

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:47 am
    Although evidence is mixed and tentative, some analysts see evidence that hard-hit housing markets in California, Arizona and elsewhere are showing signs of healing. California - Arizona - United States - Business and Economy - Housing
 
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    Bubble Meter

  • Housing bubble poetry

    James
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:50 am
    Now we know what Prof. Karl Case (of S&P/Case-Shiller) is doing with his free time since he retired.Hat tip: Greg Mankiw.

  • January 2010 employment data

    James
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:10 am
    The official unemployment rate declined in January. It's still too early to tell for sure, but so far it looks like we're seeing the declining unemployment that occurs after a typical recession, rather than the "jobless recovery" of the previous two recessions. (The typical pattern after a recession is for the unemployment rate to decline. That pattern was broken by the previous two recessions when the unemployment rate rose for quite a while after the recession had ended.)Payroll numbers suggest we lost 20,000 jobs in January. That's far better than the pace a year ago, but we need…

  • The danger of walking away

    James
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:01 am
    Apparently, thirty states—including Virginia—are recourse states. CNN Money has an interesting article about banks pursuing people who have lost their homes. If you walk away from your home, you better be poor:Sometimes lenders go after borrowers walking away from their homes if they have other assets, according to Florida real estate attorney Larry Tolchinsky."Banks are pulling credit reports to see if it's a strategic default," he said. "If you're behind on all your other payments, you're okay. But if you're not, they'll come after you."And:What can be scary is that the judgments don't…

  • Dean Baker's take on walking away

    James
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:25 am
    Economist Dean Baker, one of the first people to publicly warn of the housing bubble, disagrees with me on ethics:Walking away from an underwater mortgage is one way in which normal homeowners may be able to both help themselves and the economy.The logic is straightforward. As many as 20 million people owe more than the current value of their homes. In most cases they have little hope of ever accruing equity in their home. There continues to be an enormous glut of housing. Nationwide, vacancy rates are at record highs. Rents are actually falling for the first time since we have reliable…

  • FHA to encourage flipping

    James
    2 Feb 2010 | 3:51 am
    The Federal Housing Administration is behaving more and more like the financial institutions that got us into this mess:Starting today home "Flippers" are now welcome at the FHA.That's right, with a glut of foreclosures plaguing the nation's neighborhoods, the FHA is temporarily removing restrictions on investors who buy and sell homes within 90 days.It's just for one year, but Flippers are no longer persona non-grata with the government."FHA borrowers, because of the restrictions we are now lifting, have often been shut out from buying affordable properties," FHA Commissioner David Stevens…
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    Paper Economy - A US Real Estate Bubble Blog

  • Economic Jolt: Job Openings and Labor Turnover December 2009

    SoldAtTheTop
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am
    Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their latest monthly read of job availability and turnover (JOLT) showing that, on a year-over-year basis, private non-farm job “openings” declined 24.82%, job “hires” declined 9.44%, job “layoffs and discharges” decreased 12.85% and job quits declined dropping 16.68%.Job “openings” (click chart below for larger version), the reports most leading “demand side” indicator, has now declined on a year-over-year basis for 28 consecutive months.Sliding down that slope of the Beveridge curve, the decline in the job vacancy rate is…

  • Making His Case: The Poet

    SoldAtTheTop
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:55 pm
    Karl Case may be retired from teaching but he’s still very engaged in housing affairs as witnessed by his recent appearance on News Hour as well as this interesting poem he penned reciting his perspective on the housing bubble and its ongoing unwind.

  • Liquidate, Liquidate, Liquidate!

    SoldAtTheTop
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am
    At the onset of the Great Depression, then treasury secretary Andrew Mellon became a very unpopular public servant by advising president Hoover to “liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate farmers, liquidate real estate… it will purge the rottenness out of the system. High costs of living and high living will come down. People will work harder, live a more moral life. Values will be adjusted, and enterprising people will pick up from less competent people.”Popular interpretation, particularly among Keynesians and other conventional economists, will have you believe that Mellon’s…

  • The Seven Faces of Malaise

    SoldAtTheTop
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:24 pm
    The following is a run-down of seven of the most important trends currently playing out for individuals and households.Any durable recovery must include an easing of all of these measures though some may lead while others lag.Total Unemployment represents the broadest measure of unemployment and includes the “traditional” unemployment measure combined with all “marginally attached” and otherwise “underutilized” workers (including discouraged workers).Persons unemployed for 27 or more weeks represents the total of all long term unemployed individuals who have yet to exhaust their…

  • On The Stamp: Food Stamp Participation November 2009

    SoldAtTheTop
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:06 pm
    As a logical consequence of the prolonged economic downturn it appears that participation in the federal food stamp program is on the rise.In fact, household participation has been climbing so steadily that it has far surpassed the last peak set as a result of the immediate fallout following hurricane Katrina.The latest data released by the Department of Agriculture shows that, on a year-over-year basis, household participation has increased 25.45% while individual participation, as a ratio of the overall population, has increased 21.79%.The November results confirm that participation is…
 
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    Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate

  • Economy - Monday (Investor's Business Daily)

    8 Feb 2010 | 3:45 pm
    Investor's Business Daily - The Treasury will auction $81 bil of notes and bonds in its quarterly refunding this week, the same as in the prior auction. Gov't officials said they've already raised enough to fund a budget deficit set to expand 14% this year. The Treasury's decision to stop increasing the size of its debt auctions could moderate the rise in bond yields, bolstering the economy as the Federal Reserve removes emergency stimulus. The narrower yield curve may cap mortgage rates as the Fed's $1.25 tril in mortgage-bond purchases is set to expire on March 31.

  • Forget the Mortgage, I'm Paying My Credit Card Bill (U.S. News & World Report)

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:04 pm
    U.S. News & World Report - Amid high unemployment and sliding home prices, a growing number of struggling consumers are doing what was once considered unthinkable: paying their credit card bills instead of their mortgages. A recent study developed by TransUnion found the percentage of Americans who were current on their credit cards but behind on their mortgage increased to 6.6 percent in the third quarter of 2009, up from 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2008. Meanwhile, the share of consumers making mortgage payments on time but behind on their credit cards moved in the opposite…

  • Beazer Homes posts a $48 million profit for Q1 (AP)

    5 Feb 2010 | 10:50 am
    AP - Homebuyers spurred by low interest rates and government incentives helped lift Beazer Homes USA Inc.'s sales in the last three months of 2009, but the builder only turned a profit because of a hefty tax gain.

  • Rising Fortunes Are Building China's Housing Market (Investor's Business Daily)

    4 Feb 2010 | 3:17 pm
    Investor's Business Daily - China's young and red-hot housing market got caught up in the recession along with the rest of the world. But its downturn became neither as severe nor as prolonged as in the U.S.

  • Mortgage investors try to regroup after meltdown (AP)

    4 Feb 2010 | 1:22 pm
    AP - The financial wizards who concocted the complicated mortgage-linked investments that nearly brought down the world economy are trying to come back from the dead.
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    Go Beyond MLS

  • More Spam From LeapFish???

    Vlad Zablotskyy
    27 Jan 2010 | 1:00 pm
    UPDATE Feb. 5, 2010: It appears LeapFish is no longer showing the link in the footer of their website to their “directory” I wrote about bellow: This change must have been implemented today as Bing.com’s cached page of LeapFish from yesterday February 4, 2010 still has the link: LeapFish has also implemented robots.txt file on their website disallowing web crawlers from indexing the directory: Few days ago I tried to to get attention of Google’s Anti-Spam Czar – Matt Cutts via his FriendFeed account. I wanted Matt to comment about LeapFish’s latest…

  • Should I Cross-link My Websites?

    Vlad Zablotskyy
    27 Jan 2010 | 8:55 am
    This is something many web-masters struggle with. You create a new website that is going to knock every one socks off, but now you need Google and other search engines to notice it. The quickest way is to slap a few links on other websites you have that may already rank well and are well indexed by the search engines. But is it good idea? As Matt Cutts of Google explains in the video bellow, it all depends. If you have few minutes it is well worth watching: Similar Posts: Google Is Testing New Ad Formats More Spam From LeapFish??? Google Custom Search Insted Of Default Search Function on…

  • CEO Of LeapFish Removes Rebuttal To Click Fraud Bombshell

    Vlad Zablotskyy
    21 Jan 2010 | 8:04 am
    About a year ago TechCrunch, world’s leading technology blog, wrote about threats of click fraud LeapFish employee used to intimidate potential clients into advertising on a newly launched meta search aggregator. The CEO of LeapFish, Ben Behrouzi, fired back with an emotional response, in which he seems to be “calling out” TechCrunch’s Robin Wauters for being “irresponsible and distasteful”. The original post appeared on February 4, 2009 at www.benbehrouzi.org – what seams to be personal blog of the CEO of LeapFish. The rebuttal was taken down some…

  • Google Local Ads: Post to Your Place Page

    Vlad Zablotskyy
    19 Jan 2010 | 9:14 am
    If you are using Google Local Business Center, you may have already noticed a new feature which allows you to post messages (limited to 160 characters) to you place page: Each message will expire in 30 days from the time it is published. If you decide to include a specific link inside the message, it will be converted into an HTML (click-able) link on your listing page see example bellow of first message from The Chocolate Belles: You can see Chocolate Belles live listing here. This new feature offers you an additional options to promote specific events, services or products via Google Local…

  • 20+ WordPress Plugins I Use And Recommend

    Vlad Zablotskyy
    18 Jan 2010 | 8:38 pm
    I may have inspired Andy Beal to start using TweetMeme plugin on Marketing Piligrim, but he certainly inspired me more. Every time I come across a great plugin I promise myself to give credit to the plugin’s author as well as share with my readers how a particular plugin helped. Of course day passes by, then another and after a few days my desire to write about particular plugin slowly withers out. “It just a plugin”, I tell myself -”some one has already written about it anyway.” The truth is however that many of the plugins I use on my blogs make my life so much…
 
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    Housing Doom

  • Plot Thickens @ RBA Jubilee — Asian Creditor Cenbanks Dominating?

    John M.
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:10 am
    The reason given out for keeping the meeting venue a secret is security concerns. Even with the participation of US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, the Asian central banks are expected to steal the thunder at the meeting. The Asian bankers are uniting under the leadership of the governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia, Zeti Akhtar Aziz. – Blog of India1 How about that Tracy Porter Guy!  Oh well, while everyone was being distracted over the weekend, the big story in the world was happening at a secret location near Sydney, Australia with almost no media coverage. …

  • IndyMac and the FDIC: Be Prepared To Feel Burned

    twist
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    What a sweetheart deal for One West Bank courtesy the American taxpayer: I'm feeling burned.  Do I have any company?

  • “Well unrelease it,” Togneri said: Strange Gyres in Paradis as Canada Nearly Transparent

    John M.
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:44 am
    The document was an annual report on [minister Christian Paradis'] Public Works' massive real-estate portfolio, which contained factual information on high vacancy rates and weak returns on investment. Such reports had never been made public before. // The department's real-estate branch had consented to the full release, and the Access to Information office at Public Works had determined after extensive consultation that there was no legal basis to withhold any of the report. [however ...] – Canadian Press1 This rather creepy straw-in-the-wind showed up as front page news…

  • Crack of Doom: First in War, First in Peace & Durn’d Near First in the Alphabet

    John M.
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:30 am
    WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Sunday that the U.S. wasn't in danger of losing its triple-A bond rating, in the wake of a warning from Moody's Investors Services about the U.S.'s treasury-bond rating. – WSJ1 Meet the Treasury Department's secret weapon … Long as you keep up that membership on the limo, Tim, you're golden  ————– [1]: "Geithner: U.S. Won't Lose Triple-A Bond Rating", Judith Burns, Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2010.

  • Geithner’s “Mortgage Mods A Success” Claim Is Ludicrous

    twist
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:01 pm
    How in the world can Timothy Geithner make these claims with a straight face? In an interview yesterday with Jake Tapper, Geithner was reminded of this quote from President Obama a year ago: "Under this plan, lenders who participate will be required to reduce those payments to no more than 31 percent of a borrower's income. And this will enable as many as 3 to 4 million homeowners to modify the terms of their mortgages to avoid foreclosure." Here's how the the interview went after that: TAPPER: If a year ago I had told you that today I'd be sitting here, and only 66,000…
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    TRANSPARENT REAL ESTATE

  • My Early Days on the RE.net

    Pat Kitano
    1 Feb 2010 | 12:32 am
    Todd Carpenter did a nice job chronicling the birth of real estate social media at http://realtynex.us/2010/01/29/a-six-year-history-of-the-re-net/.This is my contribution to these early days that I sent to Todd for his article:I met Larry Cragun at Inman 2006, who proudly proclaimed he was a real estate blogger. That got me started on blogging (my first blog article), and I've always called him my blog godfather. Teresa Boardman showed me enough of the ropes to blogging to be christened "blogmother" (Teresa, I still feel bad about the Weenie crisis that got you unfairly labeled as some sort…

  • Ten Real Estate Predictions for 2010

    Pat Kitano
    3 Jan 2010 | 10:02 am
    Here are ten 2010 predictions for real estate. I listed 10 predictions for media in 2010 at my social media blog Media Transparent.1) Curation is the new marketingAt Media Transparent, I called this "Curation is the new Syndication". Positioning yourself as the community conduit curating local real estate news to your client base is the new marketing. Mass media used to rule syndication, now anybody can curate and present content across a panoply of social media platforms. Curating breaking news is key to readership – it’s the reason why people follow CNN, Marketwatch or engadget.

  • Society's new intimacy - it's surprising to me

    Pat Kitano
    22 Dec 2009 | 12:05 am
    One of 2009's biggest trends was real estate industry adoption ofsocial media marketing. What I find striking is the intimacy of thesocial interchange:(Conversing about a chain restaurant on the opposite coast... it is just like a cafe conversation...) The real estate industry, one of the most socially networked societies in part for the purpose of building business, is becoming a bellwether for how people interact in a new society. The new intimacy surprises the same people whose first impressions of Twitter was "why are they telling me their daily life stuff?". In fact, it's now the norm to…

  • Be a part of the Mortgage Revolution

    Pat Kitano
    7 Dec 2009 | 11:43 am
    We're looking forward to being a part of the Mortgage Revolution... register now - Atlanta January 10-12 ...

  • Attend HomeGain's Ask the Experts next Tuesday December 8

    Pat Kitano
    4 Dec 2009 | 11:39 pm
    We'll be discussing strategies for community engagement. December 8 9:00am PST... thanks to Louis, Jessica and HomeGain for the opportunity for a high level discussion... ...
 
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    InfoCentral

  • Preparing and Staging a House For Sale

    David Shumaker
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:33 am
    Banish the clutter! Trim the bushes! Hide your Star Wars collection! Take down the family pictures! When selling your house (or representing those who are) it pays to take a look at the message the home is sending to prospective purchasers. What things can you do to prepare a house for sale? Check out our newly updated Field Guide for tips, hints, thoughts and ideas on sprucing up, cleaning out, decorating, staging, creating a great first impression and making a house appealing to buyers. Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!

  • Top Field Guides for January

    David Shumaker
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:21 am
    The list of the 10 most used Information Central Field Guides for January 2010 was released recently. They are: 1. Field Guide to Short Sales 2. Field Guide to Preparing & Staging a House for Sale 3. Field Guide to Opening a Real Estate Brokerage 4. Field Guide to Errors & Omissions Insurance 5. Field Guide to Quick Real Estate Statistics 6. Field Guide to 1031 Exchanges 7. Field Guide to Real Estate Transfer Taxes 8. Field Guide to Do-Not-Call, Do-Not-Fax, and Do-Not-E-Mail Laws 9. Field Guide to Real Estate Office Policy Manuals 10. Field Guide to Foreclosures Have an idea for a new…

  • Apple Tablet: if it’s coming, are you ready?

    David Shumaker
    25 Jan 2010 | 3:56 pm
    While there’s no guarantee that Apple will launch a tablet computer on Wednesday, Jan. 27, the web has been a-buzzing for over a month with rumor and speculation. If you haven’t kept up,  Gizmodo or CNET have recaps for you on the latest gossip. But unless you’re in the market for a new small computer or are in love with all things Mac, why should you care? Well, for one, Apple tends to drive the competition to keep up. Already Amazon has announced that it’s opening an apps store for its e-reader, the Kindle. Similar to the way the iPhone changed the smart phone…

  • Oak Park REALTOR® Opened Builders Library

    rcarlson
    22 Jan 2010 | 6:56 pm
    This Month in Real Estate History – January 2010: In 1911 an innovation was introduced to help Chicago-area home builders.  It was the “Home Builders Library,” established by REALTOR® George R. Hemingway of Oak Park, Illinois.  Hemingway was a  prominent  home builder as well as the uncle of then 11 year-old Ernest Hemingway, who would become one of America’s most famous writers. George Hemingway said the library “was established for the benefit of persons who have an inclination toward building a home of their own, but do not know just how to go about it.” …

  • Upgrading from XP to Windows 7

    David Shumaker
    21 Jan 2010 | 11:29 am
    Didn’t get that new Windows 7 laptop you were hoping for at Christmas? Still have a pretty robust machine running XP? Well, if you plan on sticking with your existing hardware for awhile but want to get out of XP, you can upgrade (somewhat painfully) to Windows 7. When Windows 7 launched last fall, it sounded to me like upgrading from XP would be an all day process that might or might not be worth it. I wanted the modern OS, but didn’t want to risk losing my existing files. After watching this video from CNET (and buying another backup disk), I took the plunge. It wasn’t so…
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    Death and Taxes Blog

  • A Little Advice For Young Attorneys

    1 Feb 2010 | 7:14 am
    I was recently asked by a 3rd year law student for some advice on how to succeed upon graduation. Basically, what I told her can be summed up in three words: "find your niche." I realize that this isn't a revolutionary idea, but I think too many young attorneys don't realize the importance of marketing yourself. What unique thing do YOU as a young attorney bring to the table? It can't just be intelligence and hard work -- most attorneys have those qualities. So how do you find your niche? The easiest way is through your existing connections. If you're married to a doctor, and hang out with…

  • Property Schedules in Trusts

    27 Jan 2010 | 8:53 am
    Here's a question I get a fair amount: "Should we list all of our property on a schedule attached to our living trusts?" I see trusts (usually older ones) with schedules attached, but my answer is typically "no." Property changes -- we buy a new house, switch our investment accounts from one custodian to another, and change our life insurance policies. To my mind, the schedule can raise confusion -- why does it list Schwab account #12345678 when no records for this account can be found? A better solution is to make a list of your property, including how it's titled (or who the beneficiaries…

  • Movement in the Cook County Probate Court

    26 Jan 2010 | 12:39 pm
    Attention Cook County probate practitioners: Judge James W. Kennedy of the Cook County Probate Court has retired, effective as of last Friday the 22nd of January. To replace him, Judge Mary Ellen Coghlan has moved over into deceased estates from guardianship, leaving the following judges for deceased estate matters: Calendar #2: Judge Budzinski (Chief Judge of the Probate Division), Room 1803 Calendar #8: Judge Coleman, Room 1804 Calendar #7: Judge Coghlan, Room 1802 Calendar #11: Judge Malak, Room 1801

  • The Ethicist on Switching Guardians

    24 Jan 2010 | 11:25 am
    "The Ethicist" column in today's New York Times magazine addresses the issue of whether to tell your friends that you are removing them as guardians of your children under your Will. The column is here. I'm not an ethicist (insert attorney joke here), but I agree with Randy Cohen that there is no need to tell the friends about the switch. Especially when you are switching to family members (most people understand that blood is thicker than water). Maybe I feel this way because my wife and I did something similar. We named our friends as guardians of our daughter, but then switched to my…

  • Trust-Administration Agreements

    19 Jan 2010 | 11:48 am
    Setting up a trust can be a pretty effective way of avoiding expensive and public court proceedings (which are necessary in a probate situation). But sometimes problems arise with a trust, problems where a court proceeding may be needed. Settlements are always a possibility, but there's been some confusion in the past about how you work out a settlement, especially when not all parties are of age (or even born). Due to an amendment to the Illinois Trusts and Trustees Act, there may be a new solution. Lyman Welch and Susan Bart describe the amendment in this Illinois Bar Journal article (it's…
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    Real Estate Investing For Real | A BiggerPockets Investment Property Blog

  • Foreclosure Alternatives are Gaining Steam

    Florence Foote
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:01 am
    Nationwide, 1 in 4 mortgages were underwater by the end of 2009.  Recent research suggests when a negative equity hits 25% (i.e., the borrower owes 25% more than the market value), borrowers tend to walk away from their mortgage, even if they are perfectly capable of making the payments. These two trends, taken together, can spell disaster for real estate values. It does not take a genius to figure out that when foreclosures become increasingly common, there is a kind of “contagion” effect of cascading foreclosures, because every additional property thrown onto the market negatively…

  • Learn by Doing, Exercise 2 for Real Estate Investors – How to Sell

    Ryan Moeller
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    It is important to learn and stay sharp as a real estate investor.  Learning theory is great, but applying by doing is the best way to learn and retain.  Here is the 2nd of a series of exercises that new and existing real estate investors must do to hone their craft.  Hopefully you had tremendous success during the Buy Right exercise.  Your second exercise is to Sell an item on Craigslist for more than an item is worth and fast, with favorable terms. Sell an item on Craigslist – The goal here is to get people to fight over your item and bid up the price and get better terms –…

  • Improve Your Productivity: 4 Great Ways to Clone Yourself While Real Estate Investing

    John Fedro
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 am
    Congratulations!  You are pursuing a career in the lucrative world of real estate investing.  The sky’s the limit.  Isn’t it? We are all bound by the same 24 hours in each day.  Our current unique lifestyle is a result how each one of us has used this precious time. Here are a few tactics, out of many, that will help you to multiply your efforts every day. 1. Don’t sweat the small stuff: A properly worded agreement which rewards your renters for not calling you throughout the month can free up hours per week.  Close your eyes and imagine your tenants fixing their own clogged…

  • Fed Leaving Door Open to Extend Mortgage Backed Security Purchases

    Ryan Hinricher
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:02 am
    I’ve been curious lately about the end of the Mortgage Backed Security (MBS) purchases by the Federal Reserve in March.  The Fed is planning to end the program in less than 60 days on March 31st.  Currently they stand at about 94% having purchased 1.17 trillion of the 1.25 trillion allocated to purchase these securities. So while they’ve nearly fulfilled the entire program, I did some digging and found there’s starting to be some chatter about them extending the program.  We, of course, can recall to the first-time buyer credit extension being announced just as the initial credit was…

  • Those Greedy SOBs!

    Richard Warren
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    When you’re driving on the highway, have you ever noticed that anyone who drives slower than you is a moron and those who drive faster are maniacs? It’s human nature to think that there is something wrong with those who don’t act the way we think they should. It’s certainly true in real estate. Today I saw an online status update from a friend who is a short sale specialist. She was lamenting a deal lost to a “greedy” lien holder. To be fair, she is very intelligent, hard working, and a good person – she was merely venting some frustration. However, “greed”…
 
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    GeekEstate Blog

  • Every SEOs Dream, the ability to watch, pause and record actual user sessions

    Matthew Swanson
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:52 am
    Yep, that’s right. Something right out of the Jetsons. Ok, so maybe not something Cogswell could have dreamed up, but if you’re an web analytics junkie like me, you’re going to love this tool from Clicktale for tracking user behavior on your web site. There are plenty of great tools out there for analytics: Google Analytics, StatCounter, etc. If you’re not tracking your stats for your site(s) today, then you definitely need to be looking at your web analytics. If you’re new to analytics and aren’t even sure what’s important or where to start, then…

  • Nikon Releases New CoolPix Digital Cameras

    Michael Price
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:04 am
    Nikon USA recently announced a new line up of CoolPix cameras. Advances in technology and ease of use in digital cameras could have you taking better listing photos right out of the box. Some of the new point and shoot cameras now include the one feature most important to real estate professionals, wide angle. I think the best of the new line up for real estate are the P100 and L110. The P100 sports a 10.3 megapixel with an impressive 26x optical wide angle zoom lens made with Nikkor ED glass. A new backside illuminated CMOS sensor promises higher quality images overall. Built in HDR (high…

  • Real Estate RainCamp™

    Brad Andersohn
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:02 pm
    What the heck is a RainCamp™? Isn’t it really a TechCamp?  Is RainCamp™ anything like REBarCamp?  Maybe you heard this is an event for ActiveRain only?  What makes RainCamp™ different, and why would you want to attend?  Do I have to pay a fee to attend a RainCamp™?  What’s the true value and benefit of going to RainCamp? Hopefully, this will help explain and answer some of these questions: “Real Estate RainCamp™ is a full day Conference/Seminar that is packed with valuable content, presentations, and some of the most useful and applicable ideas, tools, and…

  • Google Map Buddy – Big City Maps

    Tony Kawaguchi
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:42 pm
    Google Map Buddy I saw this on Lifehacker last week, a great Google Map tool for real estate. Google Map buddy allows you to easily print out wall-sized satellite views of  a neighborhood for your listing, or make a full-page street map of the neighborhood for a buyer.  I can think of a few real estate applications for this tool. Maybe use it to keep track of your company’s listings? From the maker’s website: * Capture Google Maps images offline and store them on your hard drive * Print out maps of entire cities at zoom levels that would take hours to put together If you have…

  • Social Media’s “Top 10″ Human Aggregators!

    TheRECoach
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:16 am
    You might remember just a few short weeks ago I wrote a post, here on GEB, coining the phrase “Human Aggregators”, entitled “Kiss Your RSS Good-Bye”. It was about how, using an application like Tweetdeck (Though Hootsuite and others would work as well), you could essentially reduce your time commitment on reading, recommending, and even commenting on Real Estate related blogs simply by placing your ”trust” in the hands of the finest Blog Readers in Cyberspace! I built a simple column in my Tweetdeck called, of course “Human Aggregators”. In…
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    MLBroadcast.Com Blog

  • Good Bye 2009

    19 Jan 2010 | 4:31 pm
    Like so many others, 2009 wasn't a very good year for me. If you know me very well, you've got a pretty good idea of the endless stream of life challenges the year brought right up until the very end. I'm glad it's over and I'm beginning to feel rejuvenated in a way that brings a clarity of purpose I've never had before. Bottom line. Life is short, make what you can of every new day and realize that the sun's set upon it is the only horizon that matters.I am going to be working hard to put ideas into action with regard to MLBroadcast and I have just joined Zillow.Com as a blog editor for…

  • Carnival Real Estate #171

    11 Jan 2010 | 8:45 am
    This week's CORE brought 24 submissions that ran the usual gamut of self-promotion wrapped up in the absurdly obvious to insightful posts with fresh perspectives and topics. The following are the 3 picks I've selected from the submissions. There were some great hyper-local topics as well. I'll get them all posted to the CORE site soon.#3. 10 Myths About Reverse Mortgages - James StaineI would imagine the average person's knowledge of reverse mortgages starts and ends at a 30 second commercial with a geriatric t.v. personality. James Staine of the Oregon Mortgage blog does a great job of…

  • Carnival of Real Estate

    7 Jan 2010 | 5:36 am
    I'll be hosting Monday's CORE. Be sure to submit your best posts!Copyright 2008, Michael A. Price

  • Carnival of Real Estate #165

    9 Nov 2009 | 10:24 am
    This week's edition of CORE had 17 submissions. Here are my picks.Honorable Mention - Matt Swanson - GeekEstate BlogHow To Eliminate The Guesswork From Site DesignWhile I personally think there are many more intracacies and nuances of establishing a winning web presence, Matthew does a great job of exposing readers to some fantastic analytic tools and links to other posts that, when combined, create a tremendous resource for understanding what does and doesn't work in your real estate web presence.Honorable Mention - Erion Shehaj - ErionShehaj.comThe Ray Kroc PrincipleIf you've never had a…

  • UPDATED: Podcast: Paul Chaney Discusses His Upcoming Social Media Book, The Digital Handshake

    19 Aug 2009 | 8:02 pm
    In the latest episode of Mike's Mic, Paul Chaney takes time to discuss his forthcoming book, The Digital Handshake. The book covers proven strategies geared toward small businesses interested in exploring how social media can be used productively and proactively. With the shelves stuffed full of tomes on how to become an expert in the still nascent world of social media, I asked Paul why his would stand out. If the book stands up to his answers, I think it will do very well. As always, I will be doing a follow up book report once the final version is released. If you're a real estate…
 
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    Mortgage News Daily

  • HR 4581 Creates Inspector General Under FHFA to Oversee GSEs. Is this Progress?

    Joe Murin
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:28 am
    Posted To: Voice of HousingRecently US Representative Judy Biggert, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations committee, introduced H.R. 4581 in conjunction with H.R. 4450. The congresswoman’s proposal would create an Inspector General under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for the purpose of overseeing and reporting to congress on the actions of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Rep. Biggert created the bill to “improve transparency and accountability” within the GSEs. The new IG will report on…

  • MBS LUNCH: 3 Year Treasury Auction Results

    Matthew Graham
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:27 am
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryThe Treasury has successfully auctioned $40 billion 3-year notes. The high yield was 1.377%, which was 1.6 basis points lower than the 1pm "When Issued" yield. The bid to cover ratio, a measure of auction demand, was 2.83 bids submitted for every one accepted by the Treasury. The 3 year note has seen an average bid to cover of 3.01 in the last 4 auctions Issued date Feb. 16, 2010 Maturity date Feb. 15, 2013 CUSIP number 912828MN7 YIELDS High 1.377 pct Median 1.307 pct Low 1.200 pct PRICE/ACCEPTANCES Price 99.994122 Accepted at high 26.75 pct Bid-to-cover…

  • Cost of a Loan Repurchase; Budget Deficit; Financial Sector Peformance; MBA Headquarters; ResCap Earnings

    C.M. "Corky" Watts, CMB
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:26 am
    Posted To: The Garrett Watts ReportWe asked you last week what your losses averaged on repurchases, and we got quite a few responses. Here is one: “A performing repurchase due to underwriting errors that can be refinanced into a new loan will cost about $10,000. A Non-performing repurchase that was originated in the last 12 months costs about 30 points to sell to a scratch and dent desk. A Non-performing repurchase that was originated over 12 months ago will cost 50 points as the value has most likely dropped 20% since original purchase on top of the 30 point discount in the scratch and…

  • MBS ALERT: Reprice for Worse Possible

    Matthew Graham
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:04 am
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryHigh yield 1.377 pct, awards 26.75 pct of bids at high Bid-to-cover ratio 2.83, non-comp bids $156.7 mln Primary dealers take $15.42 bln of 3-year notes sale, indirect $20.37 bln We're down 6 ticks since the auction so far, and falling. Reprice risk is high at the moment...(read more)Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.

  • MBS MORNING: Choppy Price Action Ahead of Auction

    Adam Quinones
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:22 am
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryThis morning I reminded that we are still operating in a trader's market. Technical price patterns and highly trafficked pivot points have a heavy influence over the directionality of stocks and bonds. These effects are expanded when data is minimal and the market is waiting around for more concrete headline news about Greece and Spain. The chart below paints a clear picture of the extent to which the market is dominated by professional traders and dealers. The S&P has rallied back to pre-sovereign debt panic levels, but further progress has stalled as the…
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    Homes101 Real Estate News

  • Real Estate Outlook: Positive Movement

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    It's a fairly rare event, but now and then most of the important economic directional signs go positive, and this is one of those weeks.

  • Prepare to Avoid Buying Panic

    8 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    When you buy anything in a panic, you create lots of room for regret. Buy real estate in a panic and you may lose more than you gain.

  • Washington Report: New Budget

    7 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Real estate took some whacks in the new 3.8 trillion dollar Obama budget presented to Congress last week, but there were some helpful proposals for housing as well.

  • Housing Affected by Demographic Trends

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    The Urban Land Institute predicts there will be two major changes beginning in this new decade in our country that will affect the housing market.

  • Investor Report: Financing Opportunities

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pm
    You've probably heard that the Obama administration's budget sent to Congress last week emphasizes helping small businesses around the country, but you may not know that it also includes lots more potential financing opportunities for purchasers, owners and rehabbers of commercial real estate.
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    Talk to CJ

  • Real Estate Appraisals Now Lagging in Many San Jose Neighborhoods

    CJ Brasiel
    6 Feb 2010 | 7:49 pm
    Investors are back in the market, and they’re paying all-cash, mostly for property under $500,000. The effect of this is to freeze out first-time home-buyers who have to get a loan. Banks are still chary about providing loans. About the only loans left for first-time buyers are FHA loans.  So, while the first-time buyer is [...]

  • Oooh…oooh that smell……Can’t ya smell that smell?

    Karen Negrete
    30 Jan 2010 | 8:38 am
    Ever walk into somebody’s house and immediately wish that one of those oxygen masks would fall from the ceiling like they have in airplanes so you wouldn’t have to inhale the wall of odors that smacked you in the proboscis?  (For those unfamiliar with W.C. Fields, that means “nose”) Now image that you’re looking to buy [...]

  • Why Rainy Days are Best Days when looking for a Home to Buy

    CJ Brasiel
    25 Jan 2010 | 9:43 am
    In the past two weeks San Jose, California has been experiencing almost continuous rain.  I have been out almost everyday previewing or showing homes.  It would be nice to stay in the office and hang out on Twitter but the reality is, these are some of the best days to learn about houses and neighborhoods.  [...]

  • Beautiful Cambrian Park Home for Sale San Jose, California

    CJ Brasiel
    23 Jan 2010 | 8:36 am
    Cambrian Park Home For Sale Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood IDX Search $899,000 Single Family Home For Sale Main Features 6 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Partial Bathroom Interior: 2274 sqft Lot: 9,625 sqft Location 14906 Conway Avenue San Jose, CA CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Reatly (408) 406-6035 CJ@CJBRealEstate.com http://www.CJBRealEstate.com Listed by: CJ Brasiel Fireside Realty Our recent listings Cambrian Park Home For Sale Extra Large Lot R-2, 4BR/2BA, Downtown San Jose Subscribe to [...]

  • Waiver on 90-day flipping rule will help FHA buyers find a home.

    CJ Brasiel
    18 Jan 2010 | 10:33 am
    It is not uncommon over the last two years to find a statement on the multiple listing service that reads “no FHA loans 90 day rule applies”. Which basically meant that an investor had purchased a home, most likely and REO (foreclosed home), completed repairs, new carpet, paint and then placed in back on [...]
 
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    The Cash Flow Mercenary

  • Michigan Real Estate Investing TV: Forced Saving Makes You Rich

    Dennis Fassett
    19 Jan 2010 | 6:35 am
    This is a follow up to the post I did yesterday on the necessity of having rental properties if you have a day job and don’t get all the Federal and State income taxes back that you pay. I buy another cash flow property with my windfall. Think about what doing the same thing over the course of several years could do for your retirement – and your legacy?

  • How to Buy Your FIRST Apartment Building: Feb 6, 2010

    Dennis Fassett
    18 Jan 2010 | 12:57 pm
    Due to the tidal wave of chaos and uncertainty that’s building right now in commercial real estate, I believe that 2010 is the year to buy Apartment Buildings! Because of this I’m teaching a half-day FREE seminar on How to Buy Your FIRST Apartment Building. Saturday, February 6, 2010. 8:30 am to 1:00pm. There’s a catch though – in order to be admitted free I’m asking for your help with something that’s very important to me. Medical care for pregnant mothers. I’m doing this seminar to raise money for a charity that I personally work with and have…

  • Michigan Real Estate Investing TV: When Vendors Go Bad

    Dennis Fassett
    18 Jan 2010 | 10:34 am
    Stop me if you have heard this one before: you spend time looking for a good service provider. You go through two or three before you find someone that’s great, then you give them all of your business. Then something strange happens – their prices start to go up, they get more difficult to get a hold of, and they stop meeting deadlines. What do you do when that happens?

  • Michigan Real Estate Investing TV: 2010 is for PLANNING?!?

    Dennis Fassett
    18 Jan 2010 | 10:33 am
    I was listening to one of the talking heads over the weekend on one of the paid programming financial shows. His advice to everyone in 2010? Do nothing. Use the year for “planning”. In this time of unprecedented opportunity, all that’s all this guy can come up with?

  • Michigan Real Estate Investing TV: The Power of Experience

    Dennis Fassett
    18 Jan 2010 | 10:30 am
    As a follow up, during my long sit down on Friday we talked about various aspects of commercial real estate. He asked about what I had done, then suggested a course of action that blew me away.
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    1000Watt Consulting

  • Knuckleheads beware: Real estate is changing

    Brian Boero
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:19 am
    In real estate, stupid scales. Excellence lives in small pockets. That’s how it’s always been. And it will be this way until, someday soon, a rising tide of technology and consumer frustration reaches flood stage, breaches the levee, and sweeps forty years of toxic sediment out to sea. Smile, it’s Thursday! This is a happy post. Really. It’s just that I’ve come to believe that change in our industry – throttled for years by industry intransigence, backwards incentives and extended periods of economic inebriation – is likely to come in a manner more…

  • Apple’s iPad means big changes ahead for real estate

    Joel Burslem
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:05 pm
    I’ve had a week to mull over the announcement of the iPad and I’ve come to this conclusion. The iPad is 26 years coming. Those who blast the iPad as just a large iPhone, I think are missing the point. Fraser Speirs puts it best – they’re most likely in “Future Shock“. Let’s take a step backwards… (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) When it launched in 1984, the Macintosh was meant to be “the computer for the rest of us“. Its mouse-based GUI redefined what it meant to use a desktop computer. It presented a revolutionary new paradigm which, once…

  • Cloud CMA and the downfall of crappy real estate software

    Brian Boero
    28 Jan 2010 | 1:01 pm
    Real estate pros have been fed really crappy software for a long time – applications that are complex, sclerotic manifestations of design processes sealed off from the needs of users. Thankfully, that’s starting to change. Cloud CMA, which launched at Real Estate Connect NYC two weeks ago, is one of a growing number of apps driving that shift. The application – which, as the name suggests, is a Web-based CMA and property report tool – evidences a deep mindfulness of end-users. Greg Robertson and Dan Woolley at W&R Studios, the brains behind CloudCMA, have raised the bar on…

  • The Secret Recipe for Email Success

    Joel Burslem
    26 Jan 2010 | 9:46 pm
    Every morning I look forward to my inbox. If that sounds counter-intuitive, I promise you it’s true. And it’s largely due to one email I’m eager to open: Groupon. Groupon is a raging success. The company, founded in late 2008, operates on a simple premise. One email sent daily. One deal, every day featuring the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in your town. That deal gets triggered only when a certain threshold of buyers is reached and it is usually extremely tempting – $25 for $50 worth of organic groceries, for example, was one of the recent offers. The company…

  • Introducing 1000watt Spotlight: A real estate e-newsletter for curious (and busy) minds

    Brian Boero
    25 Jan 2010 | 3:57 pm
    You want to keep up with all the new technologies, big ideas and interesting people swirling around real estate these days but, well, it’s hard. We get it. That’s why we’ve launched 1000watt Spotlight – a simple e-newsletter that highlights one of three things every week: A new technology or Web-based service, and suggestions on how you can use it A big idea, and how it may affect your business An interesting person, and what you can learn from them Concise. Clear. Actionable. Your weekly shot of inspiration, administered by email only. Sign up right here, right now:…
 
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    Zillow Blog - Real Estate Market Stats, Celebrity Real Estate, and Zillow News

  • Scarlett Johansson’s Hollywood Hills Home Listed for $4,950,000

    Diane Tuman
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:54 am
    Ooh, this has to hurt: Actress Scarlett Johansson purchased this Hollywood Hills home in 2007, paying $7 million and now she has listed it for sale for $4,950,000 — a price reduction of $2,050,000 (see percentage of Hollywood Hills homes sold for a loss). This gated Spanish Villa was built in 1931 and just underwent a complete restoration, including some green upgrades such as solar power. A gourmet period-style kitchen includes “Big Chill” appliances (retro, baby). Rooms flow in and out to terraces, patios and cascading gardens. Johansson has starred in films such as…

  • Academy Award® Winners and Their Homes

    Diane Tuman
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am
    For actors and actresses of the big screen, it’s nail-biting time as nominees for the 82nd annual Academy Awards® were just announced and winners will be selected on Sunday, March 7, in Los Angeles’ Kodak Theatre. As a salute to Hollywood’s best, here is some celebrity real estate we’ve posted that includes past winners of Academy Awards®: Nicolas Cage (Best Actor, “Leaving Las Vegas,” 1995) Mr. Cage has been faced with some financial troubles in the past couple of years, losing three homes to foreclosure — two in New Orleans and one in Las Vegas.

  • Dallas RainCamp - Internet Marketing Class For Professionals

    Sara Bonert
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:45 am
    Dallas, TX RainCamp What is RainCamp?  It is a full-day seminar for real estate professionals packed with ideas easily implemented in your strategies for social media, networking, blogging or overall business plan.  Zillow is proud to partner with ActiveRain to bring this event around the country to teach professionals about growing their online business in today’s modern-day real estate market. If you are in Dallas on Tuesday, Feb 16, you should definitely register to attend the Dallas RainCamp. I recently attended the New York RainCamp, which was a packed house of more than 500…

  • How Do I Do a Short Sale on My House?

    Rachel Rosen
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:48 pm
    From Yakima, WA, in the Buying Foreclosures section of Home Buying Advice, within Zillow Advice, misssassy1146 asks: “How do I short sale my house?” Having been through a short sale myself, my opinions are very biased. That being said, I’ll share my personal experience, which I found to be very similar to the many short sale blog posts I encountered as I searched for help myself. How to start the process of short selling your house: 1.)  List your home for sale with an agent. Do not do a short sale by owner, as there is no money to be saved. Start gathering paperwork…

  • Bernie Madoff’s Penthouse Has a Buyer

    Diane Tuman
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:23 am
    It looks like Bernie Madoff’s penthouse apartment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side has gone into contract for an undisclosed price, according to Curbed (via the Wall Street Journal). While the apartment at 133 E 64th St, New York, NY, 10065 still shows a $8.9 million price tag, it was originally listed at $9.9 million last fall. Of Madoff’s three real estate holdings that were seized by U.S. Marshalls for resale with proceeds going to victims of Madoff’s spectacular Ponzi scheme,  Madoff’s Montauk beach house sold first for $9.4 million. Now that the Manhattan…
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    Trulia Blog - Real Estate Blog

  • New Video: Trulia Local Ads

    Rudy, Social Media Guru
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am
    Please join us for our 1st Trulia Local Ads webinar this Thursday February 11 at 10am PT / 1pm EST. Space is limited so please register today. Related PostsLock up your local market! Introducing Trulia Local AdsShine your spotlight everywhereTrulia Voices Video Comments on the Rise?Trulia Introduces our New Partner Program for Trulia ProAdd a Video Comment On the Trulia Blog

  • Trulia CEO Pete Flint on CBS News: Homes - Where America Stands

    Rudy, Social Media Guru
    2 Feb 2010 | 4:59 pm
    Watch CBS News Videos Online According to CBS: American retailers report that home sales are up, but sellers aren’t getting the amounts they used to. Ben Tracy reports on the housing market for the CBS News series “Where America Stands.” Trulia CEO Pete Flint says- The #1 cause for Foreclosure is unemployment. Related PostsTrulia on CBS 5 NewsTrulia CEO Pete Flint Gets 4Realz with Dustin LutherThank You Voices Community…Trulia’s CEO Pete Flint on CNET Video | Despite Timing, Real Estate Sites ThrivePete Flint and Sami Inkinen Named to Inman’s List of 100 Most…

  • Listen to Trulia’s Real Estate of the Union Industry Call

    Rudy, Social Media Guru
    26 Jan 2010 | 10:07 pm
    Trulia hosted a “Real Estate State of the Union” conference call today that revealed results from a recent survey on consumer sentiment with regard to how President Obama has handled the housing crisis in his first year in office. Also discussed are the most important next steps he can take to solve the housing crisis in 2010 and whether Americans believe homeownership is still a part of the “America Dream”. The discussion was hosted by Pete Flint, CEO of Trulia, Jonathan Miller, President and CEO of Miller Samuel, and Howard Glaser, Principal of The Glaser Group. Key data points and…

  • Trulia, President Obama and the Real Estate of the Union

    Rudy, Social Media Guru
    25 Jan 2010 | 9:54 am
    photo credit: hiddedevries On Tuesday January 26th 2010, Trulia’s CEO Pete Flint will be hosting an industry call discussing how President Obama did in his first year in regards to turning around the housing crisis. Pete will be joined by real estate experts and pundits Jonathan Miller, President and CEO of Miller Samuel and Howard Glaser, Principal of The Glaser Group. We’ll share some results from a recent study that asked consumers to grade  how President Obama did in his first year and what steps they thought President Obama should take in 2010 to improve the housing crisis.

  • Lock up your local market! Introducing Trulia Local Ads

    Stephen, Agent Marketing
    13 Jan 2010 | 6:23 am
    Today we’re excited to announce our new hyper-local advertising platform, Trulia Local Ads. Local Ads completely open up the ad market on Trulia, making it affordable for real estate professionals and businesses of all sizes to own a slice of their local market. What does a slice of your local market look like? It’s an easy way of directly targeting audiences at the city or even ZIP code level, reaching the local customers who matter to you most. We understand that your local market may be a crowded space. Local Ads make it simple to outshine the competition by grabbing the attention of…
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    Real Estate Investing For Real | A BiggerPockets Investment Property Blog

  • Foreclosure Alternatives are Gaining Steam

    Florence Foote
    9 Feb 2010 | 4:01 am
    Nationwide, 1 in 4 mortgages were underwater by the end of 2009.  Recent research suggests when a negative equity hits 25% (i.e., the borrower owes 25% more than the market value), borrowers tend to walk away from their mortgage, even if they are perfectly capable of making the payments. These two trends, taken together, can spell disaster for real estate values. It does not take a genius to figure out that when foreclosures become increasingly common, there is a kind of “contagion” effect of cascading foreclosures, because every additional property thrown onto the market negatively…

  • Learn by Doing, Exercise 2 for Real Estate Investors – How to Sell

    Ryan Moeller
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    It is important to learn and stay sharp as a real estate investor.  Learning theory is great, but applying by doing is the best way to learn and retain.  Here is the 2nd of a series of exercises that new and existing real estate investors must do to hone their craft.  Hopefully you had tremendous success during the Buy Right exercise.  Your second exercise is to Sell an item on Craigslist for more than an item is worth and fast, with favorable terms. Sell an item on Craigslist – The goal here is to get people to fight over your item and bid up the price and get better terms –…

  • Improve Your Productivity: 4 Great Ways to Clone Yourself While Real Estate Investing

    John Fedro
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:44 am
    Congratulations!  You are pursuing a career in the lucrative world of real estate investing.  The sky’s the limit.  Isn’t it? We are all bound by the same 24 hours in each day.  Our current unique lifestyle is a result how each one of us has used this precious time. Here are a few tactics, out of many, that will help you to multiply your efforts every day. 1. Don’t sweat the small stuff: A properly worded agreement which rewards your renters for not calling you throughout the month can free up hours per week.  Close your eyes and imagine your tenants fixing their own clogged…

  • Fed Leaving Door Open to Extend Mortgage Backed Security Purchases

    Ryan Hinricher
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:02 am
    I’ve been curious lately about the end of the Mortgage Backed Security (MBS) purchases by the Federal Reserve in March.  The Fed is planning to end the program in less than 60 days on March 31st.  Currently they stand at about 94% having purchased 1.17 trillion of the 1.25 trillion allocated to purchase these securities. So while they’ve nearly fulfilled the entire program, I did some digging and found there’s starting to be some chatter about them extending the program.  We, of course, can recall to the first-time buyer credit extension being announced just as the initial credit was…

  • Those Greedy SOBs!

    Richard Warren
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am
    When you’re driving on the highway, have you ever noticed that anyone who drives slower than you is a moron and those who drive faster are maniacs? It’s human nature to think that there is something wrong with those who don’t act the way we think they should. It’s certainly true in real estate. Today I saw an online status update from a friend who is a short sale specialist. She was lamenting a deal lost to a “greedy” lien holder. To be fair, she is very intelligent, hard working, and a good person – she was merely venting some frustration. However, “greed”…
 
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    The Real Estate Bloggers

  • Mortgage Loan Fraud With Treasury Notes

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
    It is amazing how inventive people are when they are committing mortgage fraud. A Duluth, Georgia man attempted to purchase a home with a counterfeit Treasury Bond. Seriously. He presented a $225,000 note for payment on a home. One of the 1.6 Billion Dollars worth of Treasury Notes he printed at his house. Yes, you read that correctly, 1.6 billion with a b, worth of counterfeiting. The old line if you are going to steal, steal big, comes to mind. I am just wondering how many of these he got into circulation before he got busted. On Feb. 1, Gwinnett County sheriff’s investigators were…

  • Mortgage Banker Association Takes 30 Million Dollar Loss on Real Estate

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:41 am
    This is rich. The Mortgage Bankers Association, MBA, bought a trophy building at the top of the market in Washington, DC in 2007 for 79 million dollars. A ten story beauty we are told, right down the road from the White House. Well, they just sold it for 41.3 million dollars in early 2010. Not counting the 7 million they paid in cash, they are still down 30 million dollars in a little over 2 years. I wonder what the association members think of that. And to make matters worse, or even more ironic, they are not letting people know how they are going to make up the 30 million dollars they will…

  • Commercial Large Project Lending Improves

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am
    I found some good news for the commercial real estate market, lending is improving for large projects. The drought in lending in these markets as property valuations plummeted has been disconcerting to say the least, down right terrifying if you are looking to roll over a commercial real estate loan. But as banks start to see the bottom, they are much better able to analyze the risks involved with new loans. And what a surprise, they can make prudent decisions to lend money. This is not to say the banks are in good shape. Bad loans made over the past 3 years are going to cost them…

  • Indiana University Basketball Announcer Todd Leary Arrested on Real Estate Fraud

    Tom Royce
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:11 am
    As the real estate markets falter, the scams that came out of the boom are coming to light and are catching some people that you would not expect. The newest one, former Indiana University basketball player and current announcer Todd Leary was arrested. The charges were that he took title insurance escrow funds totaling 1.3 million dollars. Leary is the more famous person rounded up in this scam. His boss, Joseph Garretson, plead guilty earlier in the week for stealing 2.7 million. Leary has been relieved of his duties as color commentator for Indiana University basketball. The charges…

  • A Rant on Congress, The President, and Commercial Real Estate

    Tom Royce
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    Can I be blunt. Our government is nuts. On one hand it is sending signals to the New York Times that they are worried about commercial real estate, yet at the same time they are following a White House that recommends a 1.9 trillion dollar tax increase on businesses and the wealthy and wants to punish banks with an additional tax increase. Morons. I understand that they ran on helping the little guy, but let’s face it, the problems we face in commercial real estate are big boy problems. If there is no money to invest in labor, you need smaller offices, and smaller factories, and…
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    Sellsius real estate marketing blog

  • Twitter Search Widget: Looking for a House on Twitter

    Joseph Ferrara (2)
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:03 am
    To make a Twitter search widget read this post. Related Post: How to Find a Clients on Twitter: AKS Method Technorati Tags: twitter, twitter search widget, cool tools

  • Curbed Hiring Interns (Please RT)

    Joseph Ferrara (2)
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:26 pm
    New York City blog buds at Curbed are looking for interns: Are you an eager, perhaps college-age person who happens to read and enjoy Curbed on a daily basis? (Note: enjoyment not required.) If so, this opportunity may be for you. We’re looking for interns with journalism in their blood to join our merry band ASAP. Responsibilities may include (a) attending long, boring meetings from which you may be required to file entertaining and witty reports; (b) dashing from Curbed HQ to the scene of breaking news with camera in hand; and (c) undertaking onerous, occasionally terrible research…

  • Shark Tank Nubrella: Hands Free Umbrella Will Not Invert in Wind

    Joseph Ferrara (2)
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:55 pm
    Nubrella, a hands free umbrella which will not invert in the wind, made its TV appearance on Shark Tank, a show where folks present new products hoping to get an investment from one of the sharks, which include Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary,  Barbara Corcoran (my favorite), Kevin Harrington, and Daymond John. I was impressed with the new hands free umbrella, Nubrella.  Given that folks are on cell phones all the time and need two hands to tweet or text message, the Nubrella is a great product.  Also great for the disabled. Every shark turned the Nubrella down, except for Daymond…

  • Suffolk Passes Law Requiring Co-op Boards to Give Reasons for Buyer Rejection

    Joseph Ferrara (2)
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:09 pm
    It has long been the law in New York that co-op boards could reject potential buyers without disclosing the reason.  This is very frustrating to buyers and sellers… and real estate agents. As a lawyer,  I had a way to get the Board to disclose the reason for the rejection– by claiming discrimination to the NYC Commission of Human Rights– this forced the co-op board to appear and disclose the reasons.  It is a clever tactic (given you sense discrimination by asking the buyer to tell you what questions they were asked during the interview). Some time later, New York tried…

  • How to Control Birds (and Bird Poop): Bird-B-Gone

    Joseph Ferrara (2)
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:56 am
    Does your home, boat, or business property have problems with birds and their little droppings? Too many birds can lower property values…. crap.   Cleaning bird poop is also a pain… and has health risks.  There might be a solution. Bird-B-Gone products supposedly get rid of birds without terminating them. According to the website: Bird•B•Gone products carry the longest industry guarantees, and are made in the United States. Our products are humane and safe for birds and the environment. We provide first-rate customer service and support, and measure our success by the…
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    Rain City Guide

  • Predatory Short Sale Negotiators

    Jillayne Schlicke
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:55 pm
    I received a call the other day from a consumer who was in the process of purchasing a short sale home.  The homeowner has defaulted on her mortgage and the trustee sale auction has been postponed a few times now that this buyer’s firm offer has finally reached the lender’s loss mitigation decision-maker.  Once the offer was accepted by the seller, the homebuyer was surprised to learn that there’s a third party involved, a “Short Sale Negotiator” who is charging an additional $9,000 fee on top of the real estate commissions paid to both the agent for the seller…

  • Photo: Weekend Funnies

    Tim
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:04 pm
    Weekend funnies:   I picked up my kids from school and they spotted this hilarious scene.   They took the photo from inside the car, so it’s grainy.   “Dad, loooook !…..it’s just like the Ikea TV commercial!”  The occupants of the car were actually smiling and waving at each car passing by.  A complete hoot.   Maybe they just purchased a home and are furnishing the bedroom.

  • The Financing Contingency: Does it disfavor mortgage brokers?

    Craig
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am
    As always, this is not legal advice. For legal advice, consult a lawyer, not a blog. First and foremost, let me admit my own ignorance up front as to exactly how a buyer works with a mortgage broker. Hopefully, someone with such knowledge and experience will clarify any errors below that result from my ignorance. Indeed, this post is for my own education as much as anything else. In its current iteration, the financing contingency (NWMLS Form 22A) specifically defines “lender” as “the party funding the loan.” Thus, by its very terms, the term lender does not include a…

  • Friday’s Rates

    Rhonda Porter
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:17 am
    Fellow Mortgage Blogger, Dan Green, does a great job on his recent interview about what to expect with mortgage rates in the near future.  I highly recommend you watch this five minute video. Conforming Mortgage Rates (loan amounts up to $417,000 for 1-unit properties). The conforming rate quote below is based on owner occupied with a mid-low credit score of 740 or higher, “full doc” purchase with a sales price of $500,000 and a loan amount of $400,000 single family dwelling (non condo). This scenario includes reserves (taxes & insurance) not being waived. Rates quoted are…

  • Loan Originators: Stop Your Crying…Let’s Love the Good Faith Estimate

    Rhonda Porter
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    Okay, I admit…I’ve been groaning, sniveling and bitching along with many other mortgage originators about HUD’s 2010 Good Faith Estimate.   The document has it’s faults and was created pretty much because of the faults of loan originators who used the GFE as a tool for bait and switch.   We’ve had a month to mourn the loss of the old good faith estimate, which was an asset in how I explained scenarios to my clients…it’s gone.  Get over it. I’m hearing from consumers that many mortgage originators are refusing to issue Good Faith Estimates…
 
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    Square Feet

  • The Good Old Days Are Back

    squarefeet
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:24 am
    A 612-unit apartment complex in Granite Bay has changed hands for $54M. The property went from hitting the market to sold in 48 days. Part of the reason why this was possible is the agency debt available for apartment purchases. The best part of the deal was the due diligence. According to John Adair, a principal with [...]

  • Investors Wary of Writing Blank Checks

    squarefeet
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:13 am
    Private money was flowing into REITs by the billions last year (about $20B). But when it comes to handing money over to “blind pools”, the money has been timid. Blind pools are essentially funds offering nothing more than a business plan. Despite having great track records, Ziman (Arden Realty) and Callahan (Trizec Properties) may have some [...]

  • Green Street Advisors: CRE Prices Up 10%

    squarefeet
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:56 am
    According to the Green Street Advisors Commercial Property Price Index (original name), prices are up 1% in January, and now up 10% off the bottom reached in May of 2009. The GSA’s index is based on prices for transactions which have not yet closed yet, as opposed to Moody’s which reflects closed transactions. This is also [...]

  • Banks Increasing CRE Lending; Bond Spreads To Widen

    squarefeet
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    Sentiment at the Mortgage Bankers Association meeting last week in Vegas showed improvement. More banks are not only willing to lend, but their threshold for risk and size is also increasing. That readiness to restart was reflected in a separate survey of 60 banks and other lenders at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s annual conference in Las [...]

  • Surprise Surprise: More Store Closings

    squarefeet
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:29 am
    More store closings are expected. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Given the percentage of sales retailers ring up during the holiday season, it was obvious it would have been wise to get through the holiday season and then put the wheels of closure back in action. Bloomberg has a pretty cool little multimedia [...]
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    Real Estate Market Conditions

  • ZipRealty Home Inventory by Metro, January 2010

    ziprealty
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:34 pm
    Download Price Reduction January 2010 FINAL Click on image below for a larger view.

  • The Number of "For Sale" Homes Increased 2.9 Percent in January 2010

    ziprealty
    4 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am
    January marked the first time in 18 months that more homes were listed "for sale" compared to the previous month, with an additional 15,000 homes, or a 2.9% increase, listed for sale compared to December according to the January Housing Inventory Index, a survey of Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listed homes in 27 major U.S.housing markets Other highlights from ZipRealty's January Housing Inventory Index include: The number of home listings year-over-year remains down 22.3%, with 163,000 fewer homes on the market. The combined number of MLS-listed single family homes and condos…

  • New Jersey Home Buyers Now to Receive a Rebate from ZipRealty

    ziprealty
    19 Jan 2010 | 3:31 pm
    For home buyers in New Jersey, today is an exciting day. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a bill sponsored by state Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr., Paul D. Moriarty and Joseph Vas  that allows New Jersey home buyers across the state to receive a cash rebate, once they close on their home, from real estate brokerages, including ZipRealty. With people being asked to cough up higher down payments and meet more stringent lending standards than ever to purchase a house these days, the ability to get a check after closing – or even cover those closing costs with a rebate…

  • Sonoma County – Housing Update for December 2009

    ziprealty
    9 Jan 2010 | 6:00 pm
    County: SonomaYear to Year Comparison MonthDec-2008Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price96.2%97.6%1%Sold Homes459438-5%Asking Price Per Home $ 379,077 $ 420,475 11%Sold Price Per Home $ 364,582 $ 410,323 13%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 219 $ 240 9%MLS Days On Market Per Home9991-8%     Month to Month Comparison MonthNov-2009Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price97.3%97.6%0%Sold Homes4294382%Asking Price Per Home $ 441,697 $ 420,475 -5%Sold Price Per Home $ 429,936 $ 410,323 -5%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 253 $ 240 -5%MLS Days On Market Per Home9891-7%Talk…

  • Solano County – Housing Market Update for December 2009

    ziprealty
    9 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pm
    County: SolanoYear to Year Comparison MonthDec-2008Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price96.0%100.4%5%Sold Homes585497-15%Asking Price Per Home $ 241,544 $ 229,804 -5%Sold Price Per Home $ 231,905 $ 230,715 -1%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 137 $ 135 -1%MLS Days On Market Per Home8061-24%     Month to Month Comparison MonthNov-2009Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price100.8%100.4%0%Sold Homes45049710%Asking Price Per Home $ 232,541 $ 229,804 -1%Sold Price Per Home $ 234,374 $ 230,715 -2%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 137 $ 135 -1%MLS Days On Market Per…
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    The Real Estate Tomato

  • A Frenzied 5 Creative Ways to Use A Real Estate Blog to Demolish Your Market Competition

    Jim Cronin
    2 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pm
    Today’s offering is a guest post from Tomato client and real estate blogging guru, Ben Roberts of Exit Pro Realty and TheExitPro.com. Thanks for the effort, Ben! — Readers of The Real Estate Tomato come in one of three flavors... They've got a RET blog and are always reading and improving their skills. They don't have a RET blog and are considering making the investment in their online presence. They stumble upon the Tomato and are in awe of the fresh ideas within these juicy posts... leading them inevitably to numbers 2 or 1. I can say this of course, because I'm a guest…

  • Simple Marketing Tip: Engage The Audience You Create To Avoid The Headache of Lost Opportunity.

    Jim Cronin
    11 Jan 2010 | 2:51 pm
    I believe I have developed TMJ. For the last month I have had frequent headaches and a persistent clicking in my right ear.  The sensation varies from an annoying pop to a painful snap.  I have been doing light research on the issue since it began, and am now really ready to find remedy.  What does this have to do with Real Estate Blogging? Other than the fact that I can't be the only blogger out there suffering from TMJ and any solution I find will be much appreciated, I'm sure... the following post is a documentation of how I used the internet for research, found a potential…

  • Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp: January 4th From 9am - 4pm PST

    Jim Cronin
    9 Dec 2009 | 4:28 pm
    We're Back!Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. Our first event was such a success, we decided to parlay the momentum into the launch of another. January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees! It's Free! What Is Virtual BarCamp?How Do I Register?Who Is Speaking (To be determined)How Can I Sponsor? In an effort to always improve, we have made some changes to the event format: There will be 4 Webinar Rooms (previously there were just 3 rooms).Presentations will be 45 minutes in length (previously they were 30 mins).Total number of…

  • Real Estate Brokerage Websites - I Don’t Think We Are In Kansas Anymore

    Jim Cronin
    8 Dec 2009 | 11:56 am
    Beth Butler, former Broker for EWM Realtors in Miami, FL wants to get into the head of real estate brokers around the country.  She wants to share her expertise in managing an incredibly successful real estate company blogsite with those that need to see the light.  The playing field has changed, and many need a coach.  Beth is that Coach. Real Estate Brokerage Websites - I Don’t Think We Are In Kansas Anymore By Beth Butler Just like in the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy tiptoes out of her house to find she is in an altogether different place than she left, so it is with the…

  • New To Real Estate Blogging? 6 Simple Steps to Get You Started.

    Jim Cronin
    3 Dec 2009 | 4:41 pm
    For the entire month of December I will be writing articles as contributions to what I call the Rewrite Project.  Instead of writing on new topics, I am going to be digging through the advice archives and rewriting the "oldies but goodies".  Why?  Why not?  But it is also an exercise to show you that you can never step in the same river twice, and finding relevant blog content to publish is as easy as looking in the rear-view mirror. The next article in my series of rewrites is the dismantling and recreation of “New To Business Blogs? The 6 Steps To Getting…
 
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    HomeGain Blog

  • Green Home Trends

    Howard Sobel
    5 Feb 2010 | 2:22 pm
    The key to mainstreaming green homes is to make sure that consumers understand the value of green upgrades — how cost-effective energy efficiency can be in the long run. Consumers want homes that are environmentally friendly and home values should reflect the increased savings. Better Homes and Gardens Recent poll results of 2,342 people who plan to [...]

  • Agent Success Newsletter - January/February 2010 Issue

    Jessica Gopalakrishnan
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:41 am
    HomeGain rolled out its January/February 2010 newsletter for real estate agents, called “Agent Success Newsletter“. The digital real estate newsletter included: Feature Story: The 2009 Top Performing AgentEvaluator Agents by Highest Home Sales Volume and Highest Dollar were announced last month by region, nationwide and by state. We were pleased to also recognize two Rookie Agents of the [...]

  • Will Mortgage Underwriters Be Using Mapquest Soon?

    Brian Brady
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    Transportation costs may soon become a recognized expense for mortgage applications if the Natural Resources Defense Council study holds up. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the study showed that higher transportation costs resulted in a higher foreclosure rate: The draft report looked at trends associated with 40,000 mortgages in San Francisco, Chicago and Jacksonville, [...]

  • And Then There Was Staging…

    Stephanie Decker
    1 Feb 2010 | 11:07 am
    This is my first contribution to HomeGain and thought what a better place to start then at the beginning – the importance of home staging and why it is such a hot industry in the real estate market. In 2009 HomeGain released its national survey results for the top Return on Investment (ROI) for home sellers. [...]

  • Welcome New Guest Blogger, Stephanie Decker of Staged Homes

    Jessica Gopalakrishnan
    30 Jan 2010 | 11:00 am
    We’d like to welcome Stephanie Decker of Staged Homes, LLC in Mill Valley, CA to our team of HomeGain Guest Bloggers! Stephanie will be our designated home staging expert, blogging about ways to help Realtors work through home staging issues and work effectively with home sellers. With more than 20 years in the Interior Design industry, [...]
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    Shelter Offshore

  • How to Plan to Live in Australia

    rhiannon@shelteroffshore.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:23 pm
    Australia is still one of the favourite choices with those seeking a new, better, happier and more enjoyable life abroad – so here’s how to make the move work for you – from planning to visas, from the practicalities of the move to the euphoria you will feel 6 months after when you’re living the Australian way of life!

  • Happier Days Living Abroad: The 5 Countries That Should be on Top of Your List

    rhiannon@shelteroffshore.com
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:25 pm
    Where in the world could you find a happier life – what makes people feel happy in their life, why do expatriates move abroad in search of happiness and which 5 nations are likely to give you the feel good factor that perhaps you’re seeking?

  • Seek Investment Alternatives to Your Traditional Pension or Potentially Face Poverty in Retirement

    rhiannon@shelteroffshore.com
    7 Feb 2010 | 11:35 pm
    Staying onshore or going offshore are no longer the only options you should be considering if you want to safely invest your wealth and protect it against a globally vulnerable economy

  • Think Twice Before Using a Fixer or Runners When You Move Abroad

    rhiannon@shelteroffshore.com
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm
    Why latching on to the local who offers you so much help when you first move abroad could prove to be the biggest mistake you as an expatriate ever make!

  • Where to Live Abroad Cheaply in Retirement Review Part 2

    rhiannon@shelteroffshore.com
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:26 pm
    In the second and final part of our research into GlobalPost’s cheap places to retire abroad, we’re going to be looking at South Africa, Panama, Malaysia, Argentina and Bulgaria to see if they achieve the right balance between cost of living and standard of living
 
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    MyTechOpinion.com

  • 10 Tips for Getting Reacquainted with Facebook’s New Layout

    MyTechOpinion
    7 Feb 2010 | 8:17 pm
    Facebook celebrated it’s 6th birthday in style…by launching a redesign of the home page.  I was excited to be included in the initial 80 million accounts that were updated with the design on February 4thThis new layout is being rolled out to the remaining Facebook users now (Reggie’s still waiting). I have to say I’ve been a bit annoyed with some of the recent minor changes made by Facebook, but when it comes to this new overhaul…I’m a fan! Most notably, are the cleaner home page appearance and the removal of the bottom “start” bar. The search bar is now prominently…

  • dsIDXPress: Search Engine Friendly IDX

    MyTechOpinion
    26 Jan 2010 | 6:35 am
    If you’re not already aware of Diverse Solutions….you should be. These guys have some serious cool factor and have been driving innovation with their dsSearchAgent Pro IDX for years now.  Recently they unleashed a beta of a long awaited “indexable” IDX plug-in for WordPress.  And today they’ve ripped off that BETA label! What does this mean for you? It means your real estate blog can now have the functionality of a highly custom site with search engine friendly IDX data. dsIDXPress is released with special introductory pricing of $99.95 setup and $29.95 a month. That is an…

  • Realtor.com Launches New iPhone App & Makes Mobile Home Search Useful

    MyTechOpinion
    12 Jan 2010 | 5:36 pm
    I know the 12 Days of iPhone Apps are over, but I couldn’t help but share a brand new app that launches today! Realtor.com is making their 4 million listings accessible via the iPhone. In addition, they are providing agents and consumers with a rich set of features to make the most of their mobile experience. Agents that already utilize Realtor.com to post their listings will be able to sync with their account via the app. Branding and contact information is carried over so that interested buyers can easily reach out to the agent, or even add the agent to their iPhone address book. In fact,…

  • 12 Days of iPhone Apps – Day 12: Qik

    MyTechOpinion
    24 Dec 2009 | 10:50 am
    About Qik: A few weeks back we were excited to hear Ustream was approved for the iTunes app store. At the time, it seemed obvious Qik would follow suite and make a move for approval. Well it’s happened; Qik (version 4.40)streaming video service has been officially approved by the app store and is now ready to download. This smooth application lets you to stream videos right from your iPhone.  If you don’t already have a Qik account, simply create one after downloading the application and you’re ready to start shooting video in public or private mode. If you choose private you’ll…

  • 12 Days of iPhone Apps – Day 11: Yelp

    MyTechOpinion
    22 Dec 2009 | 10:45 am
    On the 11th day of iPhone apps, MyTechOpinion blogged to you… If it’s local info you request, Augmented or not, Yelp is the best! About Yelp: Search for and receive reviews for local business and service providers while on the go. View nearby restaurants, stores, banks, etc. based on your location. Obtain a quick rating, reviews, contact info and directions. Filter your results via distance from, affordability, and what’s actually open. You can also bookmark your favorites and/or email them to friends. View the feed of real-time results for local reviews, quick tips, and added photos.
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    Matrix

  • [Three Cents Worth #139] Manhattan Inventory Changes Are Wildly Consistent

    Jonathan Miller
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:46 pm
    It’s time to share my Three Cents Worth on Curbed, at the intersection of neighborhood and real estate. Three Cents Worth: Manhattan Inventory Changes Are Wildly Consistent After releasing that Manhattan phonebook yesterday I was still in 10-year trend mode, so I was curious how consistent inventory was in 2009 given the limited activity in the first half of the year versus the second half of the year. I looked at the month-over-month change in listing inventory in Manhattan. I have inventory captured on a quarterly basis back more than a decade but I didn’t get the idea to capture…

  • [10 Stories] 2000-2009 Manhattan Townhouse Report Available For Download

    Jonathan Miller
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:50 am
    [click to open report] The 2000-2009 Manhattan Townhouse Report that I author for Prudential Douglas Elliman was released today. Dottie Herman, the President/CEO of Prudential Douglas Elliman is pushing hard to make information more accessible to the public. Approximately 2,500 Manhattan residential townhouse transactions were analyzed over this ten year period. 1, 2 and 3-5 (delivered vacant) family houses comprised the data set. An excerpt …The 2009 median sales price of a Manhattan townhouseÑdefined as a 1-5 family residence that can be delivered vacantÑfell 31.9% from the record…

  • [The PhoneBook] 2000-2009 Manhattan Market Report Available For Download

    Jonathan Miller
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:40 am
    [click to open report] The 2000-2009 Manhattan Market Report that I author for Prudential Douglas Elliman was released today. (I have been light on posts and podcasts in January – releasing 9 market reports in a month may have something to do with it.) I have always referred to this report “The Phonebook” for its 61 pages of data largess. This report is downloaded more than all other quarterly studies we produce, combined. Dottie Herman, the President/CEO of Prudential Douglas Elliman whose name adorns the report is a big believer in historical information as a companion to…

  • [Furman Center] Peeling Back The Lis Pendens

    Jonathan Miller
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:47 pm
    The Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy at New York University released a fascinating report on New York foreclosures called: Foreclosed Properties in NYC: A Look at the Last 15 Years. Here’s a key characteristic of foreclosures in New York state: 54% of properties that received an LP in 2007 had not, by the end of June 2009, been sold or completed the foreclosure process, and had not received an additional LP. What’s a lis pendens? Recording a lis pendens alerts a potential purchaser or lender that the propertys title is in question, which makes the property less…

  • [Taxing Patience] Rowayton Cowboy Evicted

    Jonathan Miller
    2 Feb 2010 | 8:19 pm
    [click to open story] Scott Merrell, also known as the Rowayton Cowboy, was arrested Tuesday as he protested his eviction from his home. The city seized the multimillion-dollar home at Wilson Point after Merrell did not pay more than $110,000 in property taxes. The home was sold at auction more than a year ago because of the tax situation. Merrell has repeatedly claimed the city overvalued his home and that he should not have to pay. ‘Rowayton Cowboy’ faces Tuesday eviction [Stamford Advocate] Police Take Rowayton Cowboy Into Custody [NBC Connecticut] The Rowayton Cowboy, Scott…
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    The Real Estate Bloggers

  • Mortgage Loan Fraud With Treasury Notes

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am
    It is amazing how inventive people are when they are committing mortgage fraud. A Duluth, Georgia man attempted to purchase a home with a counterfeit Treasury Bond. Seriously. He presented a $225,000 note for payment on a home. One of the 1.6 Billion Dollars worth of Treasury Notes he printed at his house. Yes, you read that correctly, 1.6 billion with a b, worth of counterfeiting. The old line if you are going to steal, steal big, comes to mind. I am just wondering how many of these he got into circulation before he got busted. On Feb. 1, Gwinnett County sheriff’s investigators were…

  • Mortgage Banker Association Takes 30 Million Dollar Loss on Real Estate

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:41 am
    This is rich. The Mortgage Bankers Association, MBA, bought a trophy building at the top of the market in Washington, DC in 2007 for 79 million dollars. A ten story beauty we are told, right down the road from the White House. Well, they just sold it for 41.3 million dollars in early 2010. Not counting the 7 million they paid in cash, they are still down 30 million dollars in a little over 2 years. I wonder what the association members think of that. And to make matters worse, or even more ironic, they are not letting people know how they are going to make up the 30 million dollars they will…

  • Commercial Large Project Lending Improves

    Tom Royce
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am
    I found some good news for the commercial real estate market, lending is improving for large projects. The drought in lending in these markets as property valuations plummeted has been disconcerting to say the least, down right terrifying if you are looking to roll over a commercial real estate loan. But as banks start to see the bottom, they are much better able to analyze the risks involved with new loans. And what a surprise, they can make prudent decisions to lend money. This is not to say the banks are in good shape. Bad loans made over the past 3 years are going to cost them…

  • Indiana University Basketball Announcer Todd Leary Arrested on Real Estate Fraud

    Tom Royce
    7 Feb 2010 | 6:11 am
    As the real estate markets falter, the scams that came out of the boom are coming to light and are catching some people that you would not expect. The newest one, former Indiana University basketball player and current announcer Todd Leary was arrested. The charges were that he took title insurance escrow funds totaling 1.3 million dollars. Leary is the more famous person rounded up in this scam. His boss, Joseph Garretson, plead guilty earlier in the week for stealing 2.7 million. Leary has been relieved of his duties as color commentator for Indiana University basketball. The charges…

  • A Rant on Congress, The President, and Commercial Real Estate

    Tom Royce
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    Can I be blunt. Our government is nuts. On one hand it is sending signals to the New York Times that they are worried about commercial real estate, yet at the same time they are following a White House that recommends a 1.9 trillion dollar tax increase on businesses and the wealthy and wants to punish banks with an additional tax increase. Morons. I understand that they ran on helping the little guy, but let’s face it, the problems we face in commercial real estate are big boy problems. If there is no money to invest in labor, you need smaller offices, and smaller factories, and…
 
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    360Digest

  • Alec Baldwin calls the Real Estate Agency

    Marlow Harris
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:30 am

  • Owner will carry contract on this unique property

    Marlow Harris
    1 Feb 2010 | 1:07 pm
    A quick four-hour drive east of Seattle, a very unique property for sale on 57 acres. $3.9M with $300K down, balance at 7% interest only with a balloon in 3 years. Must submit offer with $10,000 earnest money deposit into escrow subject to inspection. There are no tours so, luckily, there are photos.

  • Cut off your nose to spite your face

    Marlow Harris
    27 Jan 2010 | 2:19 pm
    Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

  • “Real Estate” is in bad shape these days

    Marlow Harris
    26 Jan 2010 | 10:14 am
    "Real Estate" is in bad shape these days, originally uploaded by Frank Synopsis. Here’s a photo submitted from my friend “Frank Synopsis”. Thanks for the pep talk, Frank!

  • Build me a real estate app

    Marlow Harris
    30 Dec 2009 | 12:38 am
    Ok, now there’s no excuse. Take this free course and learn to build iPhone web apps from Creative Techs. We need an iPhone app that will also open the Supra keyboxes, so we’re not carrying around a bunch of different devices. I can’t believe that in 2010 we can’t get one device to listen to music, make phone calls, take pictures and open a $&#^!! keybox!
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    A Bird's Eye View

  • Glimpsing into a Real Estate Agent’s Crystal Ball

    Kim Moldofsky
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:52 pm
    We asked the agents to look into their crystal balls and predict the year ahead in real estate. We pretty much heard the same thing, the same depressing news.

  • At Least I Made Enough Money To Hire Carpet Cleaners

    Kim Tracy Prince
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am
    I held my first yard sale last month, after the great decluttering project.  A veteran yard sale holder, I had the whole process down to a science.  I rose at dawn (I’ve always wanted to write “I rose at dawn”), poured a travel mug of coffee, and drove around the neighborhood posting signs with arrows leading the way to my house.  Back at home I gradually moved the car-sized pile of goods out to the driveway.  Our garage door [...]

  • Ready, Set, Show Part II: Advice from a mom who’s been there

    Kim Moldofsky
    31 Jan 2010 | 8:27 pm
    I know people manage to keep their houses clean and well-staged with kids underfoot, but it seems like an impossible task to me.

  • Philly Theater is Amazing

    Anne M Rubin
    29 Jan 2010 | 10:44 am
    Philadelphia is known for many things but I don’t think that most people across the country think of us as a theater town. It is difficult to get noticed that way being, literally, at the heals of  New York City. But Philadelphia is filled with more theater companies than I can count. The assortment is amazing, from National Touring Companies, to small local theater companies. We are also home to The Walnut Street Theatre. Founded in 1809, it is America’s [...]

  • Have You Heard of Fredericksburg, Virginia? You Should.

    Sarah Stelmok
    27 Jan 2010 | 10:30 am
    Fredericksburg, Virginia, is “America’s Most Historic City,” so why has no one heard of it? Sure, there will be the few Revolutionary War and Civil War history buffs whom will recognize the name.  But, for the most part, no one has heard of this 10-square mile city on the Rappahannock River that helped build this country into what it is today.  Okay, maybe that’s taking it a little too far, but Fredericksburg really has been very influential in the [...]
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    AgentGenius - Real Estate News & Opinion Magazine

  • Alternatives to the Apple iPad for Tablet Computing

    Lani Rosales
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:05 pm
    We’ve said poo poo to the iPad With the release of the Apple iPad tablet, I didn’t have much nice to say other than “it’s a tablet.” Some have speed read and missed that we have been talking about tablet computing as the next step for quite a while and we have said repeatedly that in the third generation, we believe the iPad will be a game changer, but in its current state (which has no flash, and no multi-tasking, so you can’t have your email open and use a web browser at the same time), it is absolutely useless outside of being a great e-reader. So what…

  • America’s 60 Most Generous Donors Named- Four From Real Estate Industry

    Lani Rosales
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:04 pm
    Slate’s 2009 Most Generous list released Slate.com today released its annual Slate 60 list outlining the top 60 largest philanthropic donations in America in 2009 and compared to previous years, donations are (as everyone would suspect) down considerably and the top donor isn’t Oprah or Bill Gates. We decided to analyze the list this year to see how generous leaders in the real estate sector despite the crumbling industry and was surprised to see that several people linked to the real estate industry made the list with their philanthropic efforts. Four made the list this year, two…

  • Can You Digg it? What is Digg and How Does it Work?

    Chelsea Stark
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm
    Social news sites Social news sites haven’t been quite as in the spotlight since Twitter and Facebook seemed to have sucked up more of our time and attention, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a valuable resource for both sharing your information and learning about a topic. Easily the most popular social news site is Digg, which was partially propelled to success thanks to the personality of its founder, Kevin Rose. Figures from 2008, according to ReadWriteWeb, showed Digg receiving 230 million page views a month, and I’ll go ahead and assume that traffic is still…

  • Success Simplified – The FIX or Fire It Method

    Ken Brand
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:07 am
    Wise Words “What ever is happening to YOU now, YOU either created it, YOU allow it or YOU promote it.” ~Unknown Reread that.  It’s stark truth and reality for 97% of what is going on with our real estate careers.  Success and challenges alike. Setting things right is simple…take personal responsibility and embrace The Fix It or Fire It Method. Fix It or Fire It Current Listing Inventory Not Selling?  Fix It or Fire It? Fix how the property shows compared to the competition.  Sellers won’t help themselves?  Fire them. Adjust the price to a competitive level.

  • Short Sales: Is It Strategic Default or Harsh Reality?

    Melissa Zavala
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Determine the Source of the Hardship There has been a lot of information in the news lately about strategic default. Strategic default is the decision of a borrower to stop making payments (to default) on a debt despite having the financial ability to continue making those payments. Whatever your opinion might be about participating in a strategic default, it would be difficult to deny that it’s pretty darn stinky to see your property value decline significantly—especially if you have made a large down payment! Many individuals question whether strategic default is ethical. Certainly…
 
 
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    About.com Real Estate Business

  • Facebook Ads Update

    8 Feb 2010 | 12:40 pm
    OK, it's not a commission, and it's not even immediate business, but it's a possible! I've been reporting here about my Facebook PPC ads that have been running a couple of months. I've gathered a few new Facebook Friends through the ads, and hope to build a group of friends that might result in business. The first direct remark that gives me hope came today, and here's the text: "Anyway, [name withheld] and I will probable retire to Taos in the next few years, you might have a client." It was on the end of a nice message attached to the acceptance of my friend request. It's more than I've…

  • Following a Herd Just Results in Knee-deep...

    7 Feb 2010 | 2:11 am
    It's always fun to watch what the real estate community does with a new technology development or service. With email, it's way past new, and there are still millions of spammy "how to make your kitchen smell good for showings" type drip mail going out every day. What the hey, it's free right? Now it's Twitter and "auto-follow" tools. If someone mentions "real estate" in a Tweet, they don't realize that they're about to be attacked. Here's a Tweet in my morning's search: "Marketing on twitter! I wish they'd be sensible about it. ! I got followed by a real estate co in LA just becoz I put Real…

  • Rise in Jingle Mail May Be Coming

    3 Feb 2010 | 1:26 am
    In this post about "strategic default," I linked to an article about an Arizona professor's contention that homeowners should not feel guilty about walking away from severely under water mortgages. A new article from the New York Times predicts a rise in jingle mail, considering there are about to be more than 5 million homeowners at least 25% under water with their mortgages. The government hasn't figured out a way to attack this problem. The professor in Arizona seemed to think that if enough people walk away, banks may become much more willing to write down mortgages to true value. We…

  • DSCR - Debt Service Coverage Ratio Calculations

    2 Feb 2010 | 1:31 am
    While there are a number of websites that show how to calculate the DSCR, or Debt Service Coverage Ratio, used by lenders to make commercial mortgage decisions, it's not going to be the direction a buyer wants to take in evaluating a property for purchase. While we need to use DSCR when looking at an apartment or multifamily project, we're more likely to want to see what we may be able to borrow to buy it, rather than what the DSCR is for the current mortgage. In this DSCR calculation example, I'll show you how to do it both ways, but with more emphasis on how to determine, with a minimum…

  • Arizona Prof Says OK to Walk On Your Mortgage

    31 Jan 2010 | 1:16 am
    It's an interesting article about "strategic default," walking away from an underwater home mortgage even if you can pay the payments. This Arizona law professor believes that homeowners are being treated differently than businesses, in that a corporation's board usually encourages walking away from unprofitable loans as a valid business strategy for their shareholders. He also believes that, if more homeowners would walk away, banks would begin to be more cooperative in writing down balances to erase some or all of their negative equity. If his paper is correct, banks apparently do it…
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    The Phoenix Real Estate Guy

  • Phoenix Historic Homes: Upcoming Tours / Open houses

    Jay Thompson
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am
    I’m a big fan of historic homes. They just don’t build them the same these days – the different styles, the colors, just the “attitude” of a historic home isn’t like the typical stucco and tile roofs you see throughout Phoenix suburbia.Two of my favorite Phoenix historic homes areas are having neighborhood tours this month. These aren’t just home tours, they are neighborhood events. I’ve attended the Willo festival before and it was a blast. The Brentwood / Coronado tour is new:The 2010 Willo Home TourWhat: 22nd Annual Willo Historic Home Tour and Street FestivalWhen: Sunday,…

  • The Loan Package Dissected

    Bill Risser
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm
    So you get the call from your agent that the title company has received the loan documents and needs to set up an appointment. Lucky you!  If you are a first time home buyer, everyone tells you to "get ready to sign your life away" or "man is your wrist going to tired from all that signing" or "be prepared for a hour of misery" and so on and so on.  My goal with this post is to "dissect the loan package", and take away as much anxiety as I can.  I have over 6000 loan signings under my belt, and the average person may do 10 in a…

  • Real Estate 101: Representation

    Jay Thompson
    3 Feb 2010 | 3:45 pm
    Jay’s Note: “Real Estate 101” is a new series where we’ll explore the basics of real estate buying, selling and investing. Definitions, explanations and of course opinions. If you’ve been here long, you already know many of my series fail miserably. This one should stick though as the material is endless. And it’s not just for those who don’t know a lot about the real estate process, there should be information aplenty for just about everyone. It would be silly to commit to a rigorous posting schedule, as that would just be setting myself up for failure. I betcha we’ll get 2…

  • Gilbert Police Officer Killed. RIP Lt. Eric Shuhandler

    Jay Thompson
    29 Jan 2010 | 2:31 pm
    Stories like this make me physically ill. That it happened just a couple of miles from my home in Gilbert doesn’t help.Gilbert Police lieutenant Eric Shuhandler was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop last night at the corner of Val Vista and Baseline in Gilbert.Shulander was a 16 year veteran of the Gilbert police force and is survived by his ex-wife and their two daughters, 10 and 12. (East Valley Tribune article)What those poor kids are going through today is unimaginable.Thankfully, the two animals that murdered Lt. Shuhandler were apprehended after a 50 mile high speed chase…

  • Oh the Irony! Adventures in Blogging

    Jay Thompson
    27 Jan 2010 | 11:07 am
    I don’t know if this is ironic, funny or pathetic. Probably a combination of all of the above.Today I get this via email (name/email changed to protect the “innocent”):On Wed, Jan 27, 2010 at 9:06 AM, “Joe” <”joe”@gmail.com> wrote:Subject: please removeThis comment comes up very high on google searches of my name and I am hoping that you would be so kind as to remove it. I am not sure why I would have used my last name – not a good move on my part.http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/housing-panic-keith-vs-the-hound/#comment-39500Thanks much, ”Joe”My first thought…
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    BloodhoundBlog

  • I have never seen a better commercial for residential real estate in Metropolitan Phoenix — where it’s sunny and 66 degrees today…

    Greg Swann
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:20 am
    The only thing that might improve it would be the sound of the howling winds…

  • Agents of Change

    Glenn Kelman
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:32 am
    Don Stewart posed an interesting question this morning about whether real estate is changing top-down from the broker or bottoms-up from the agent. In a post about how Redfin sees the real estate industry changing, Don suggested we had focused too much on the laws, the brokers, the MLS data sharing rules and the system by which sellers pay buyer’s agents: I think that many agents are becoming more client focused, less afraid of discussing value for money, and are happy to be judged by their performance. They are not just trying to grab commissions, they want to build a professional…

  • Can’t Find A Nut? Search In A Nut House

    Brian Brady
    6 Feb 2010 | 6:28 pm
    Mortgage squirrels, searching for some nuts, during what I believe could be a long winter, might consider this idea: There should be a lot of listings hitting the market when the shadow inventory eventually gets released.  Banks are not very attentive sellers inasmuch as they care less about condition and price than expediency.  Rather than pump money into property improvements or work with HOA’s to get the financial statements in order, they reduce the price until a cash buyer comes along.  Zillow showed us that REOs tend to sell for 3/4 of the market price. Equity sellers might be…

  • “I can’t for the life of me figure out why our house isn’t selling. Maybe we need more orange…”

    Greg Swann
    6 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am

  • Deflationary Or Inflationary? Laying Economists End To End

    Jeff Brown
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:35 am
    The last half of the title came to me as I recalled one of Johnny Carson’s most memorable lines. He was talking about how economists are supposed to be the smartest kids in the room, but at the same time can’t agree with each other what day it is. He said, “If we laid all the economists end to end around the world…it would be a good idea.” (Insert rimshot here.) There are two basic schools of economic theory — Those who believe economies can be centrally controlled, engineered if you will — And those who believe economies should be as free as…
 
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    Blown Mortgage

  • Loan Modification Horror Stories, What Are The Lessons?

    Andrew
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:37 am
    HAMP’s loan modification program seems to be finally speeding up its conversion rate from trial loan modifications to converted modifications. However, the 4 million troubled homeowners targeted by the program are not even close to receiving the help they need. The debate continues on exactly how much responsibility the Government has towards troubled homeowners. Should they simply shoulder their responsibility, lose their home and start from scratch? One, obviously upset, commentator had this to say about the issue: How many people seeking home loan modifications used their home as their…

  • How To Spot A Loan Modification Scam Before You Are A Victim Of It.

    Andrew
    6 Feb 2010 | 6:14 pm
    The media has been rife with horror stories of scam artists preying on one of the most vulnerable sectors of our population, troubled homeowners and their families. However, many homeowners just haven’t got the message so we shall revise a few of the signs that can help us spot a loan modification scammer. These leeches of society will ask for exorbitant fees from homeowners too worried or clueless to see they are paying a thief for something they could do for free. It must be said beforehand that, as in so many other industries, the many pay for the sins of the few, and that most loan…

  • Forensic Loan Auditing: How To Get Leverage On Your Loan Modification

    Andrew
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:02 pm
    Forensic Loan Auditing is a fancy way of describing a thorough revision of the documents you signed when applying for your loan. This includes the accuracy of the math in the interest rates and payments schedule, the legality of the terms of the loan and any proof that you were misled in some way. Why is Forensic Loan Auditing useful? Forensic Loan Auditing is useful because if your mortgage did not comply with the Federal Guidelines for lenders at the time of signing there is a chance your mortgage was illegal, or at the very least non-complying. This can cause your mortgage to be void and…

  • Loan Modifications Are Going To Be Simpler, What Do You Need Now?

    Andrew
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:19 pm
    HAMP, the Government’s Loan Modification Program is changing their tune about the paperwork required to apply for a loan modification. Homeowners applying for a loan modification must now include their paperwork before even entering the trial stage. Previously troubled homeowners could apply for a loan modification trial by simply providing proof of income over the phone. The problems arose when some troubled homeowners either took too long to send the paperwork or could not prove the claims they had made. The Treasury and many servicers claim that this is the cause that the conversion of…

  • HAMP Loan Modifications and “In-house” Modifications, What Is The Difference?

    Andrew
    31 Jan 2010 | 12:56 pm
    A loan modification is a loan modification, right? If it helps you avoid a foreclosure on your home it is good news, right? Not necessarily. It is a little more complicated than all that. HAMP is a Government sponsored loan modification program. This might not give you much peace of mind but the truth is that mortgagees that are part of this program must follow certain requirements in order to receive the incentives the Government offers for loss mitigation actions, another name for loan modifications. These requirements have been recently (Nov. 23rd 2009) updated and include: 1)     …
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    Rofo Blog

  • 3 Ways to Justify Rent Decreases

    jmiller
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:58 pm
    Besides claiming that you are a young, growing, and cash strapped business that the landlord should help out of the goodness of his heart, I always found a few methods helpful. 1. The first one was to discuss the other spaces you are looking at using the real financial terms with the broker and or the landlord. Once they realize you might go elsewhere, they usually will attempt to cut to the chase and put their best foot forward. 2. The next technique is to attempt to phase your growth into the space. For example if the space is 2,500 square feet, you begin with the justification that you…

  • Rofo Commercial and Office Space Need Feeds

    jmiller
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:10 pm
    I’m sure most people are already using something like Google Reader to track their favorite blog feeds.  If you’re not the I suggest you give it a try, especially if you read a few blogs.  We’re hoping that the Rofo Space Need Feed gives you one more reason to start tracking feeds. When businesses are searching for commercial space they come to Rofo and post exactly what kind of commercial space they are looking for.  Then landlords and brokers make proposals and the tenant accepts what they like. The Rofo Space Need Feed tracks all these space needs and allows you to subscribe to…

  • Top 25 Commercial and Office Lease Terms to Understand

    jmiller
    4 Feb 2010 | 2:38 pm
    Rent Types: 1. NNN: Tenant is responsible for Property Tax, Insurance, Common Area, Maintenance, Utilities, and Janitorial 2. Industrial Gross: Tenant pays Utilities and Janitorial 3. Modified Gross: Tenant pays for Janitorial 4. Full Service: Tenant is only responsible for increases over the Base Year Expenses Rent and Build out Issues 5. Escalations: The amount of your rent increases year to year. The most common increase types of CPI (Consumer Price Index) or a percentage (3-5%) 6. Tenant Improvements (TI’s): The interior improvements within the space that is spent prior to your…

  • Rofo Success Story: Bill finds the Perfect Commercial Space in San Jose

    jmiller
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:39 pm
    Bill from LazarsEarlyMusic.com, one of the largest dealers of Baroque era musical instruments, sits down with Rofo to talk about his quest for the perfect San Jose and Santa Clara area office space.  He eventually found it with the help of Rofo and commercial real estate broker, Jana Gluckman, from Ritchie Commercial. Bill also gives some great tips about looking for office space and finding the right broker. He also chose to buy his new commercial space instead of leasing and talks about that decision.  Bill’s been operating Lazar’s Early Music for 15 years after leaving the…

  • 10 Important Factors To Consider When Leasing Your Space

    jmiller
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:22 pm
    You mean to tell me it’s not just Location, Location, Location? Below we will reflect on how most companies make the decision about where to locate the office. Location, Location, Location: Not only a real estate adage, but a fact of life. The location of the office is usually described as the either the biggest benefit or biggest negative. Commute Patterns: Take a preliminary survey of your companies thoughts on their current commutes and use Rofo’s tool to determine how the new office location might effect their commute pattern. Amenities: What restaurants and coffee shops are available…
 
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    Future of Real Estate Marketing

  • Tip Tuesday: 5 Things Agents Must Do to Generate Leads Online – Farming Using Twitter

    Katie Lance
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:42 am
    Lead generation using social media and other ‘non-traditional’ sources continues to be a hot topic among agents and brokers.  There is a HUGE opportunity for Realtors to start ‘Farming’ online. If I was an agent, there are a few things I would do ASAP to kick-start my lead generation using Twitter: 1.    Take your Twitter campaign seriously. If you were to start a direct mail farming campaign today – how long would it take you to see results? 1 year? 2 years? The same is true for social media. You must be committed to the process to see results. Still not convinced Twitter can…

  • Friday Fun: Top 3 Things Realtors Will Learn from Super Bowl Sunday Marketing

    Katie Lance
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Super Bowl Sunday is an ‘All American’ pastime. Whether you gather to watch the game or gather to watch the ads – either way, advertisers know that a lot of people are watching. It’s estimated that last year over 93M people tuned in. However, this year, a lot of big names like Pepsi are scaling way back and spending more of their money and time on social media. Pepsi has started a social-media campaign to promote its ‘Pepsi Refresh’ initiative. Pepsi plans to give away $20M in grant money to fund projects in six categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet,…

  • Competition for iPad? Meet JooJoo: the iPad alternative with Flash

    Katie Lance
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:48 am
    It seems like whenever Apple announces the latest and greatest product -  there are always  other companies who see if they can do better. The last couple weeks, there has been a ton of industry buzz about the iPad – what it is and what it isn’t – and specifically, how it could impact Realtors. One of the biggest buzz items has been the lack of flash on the 1st generation iPad. Just announced yesterday, the JooJoo tablet computer will begin shipping to pre-orders later this month. With all the hype behind the Apple iPad tablet, the timing could be perfect for Fusion Garage…

  • Tip Tuesday: 5 Things Every Realtor Must do to Be Successful on Facebook

    Katie Lance
    2 Feb 2010 | 3:43 pm
    This Tuesday I am talking about one of my favorite subjects: Facebook. With an audience of over 350M people – Facebook is the top social media source that Realtors must be engaged in. 5 Things Every Realtor Must do to Be Successful on Facebook: 1.    Post good content daily. This is the #1 one thing that I see agents NOT doing. They spend time calling or emailing clients, but they drop the ball on their Facebook page. You should be posting 2-3 times a day. A good formula for Realtors on Facebook is: 2 parts personal and 1 part business. Corcoran does a great job of this – they post…

  • Friday Fun – A little Apple iPad humor

    Katie Lance
    29 Jan 2010 | 1:43 pm
    This week every major tech blog has been buzzing about the iPad. Thank you to all the FOREM members who posted comments here as well as on our Facebook page. It was really exciting to see all the online chatter going on across the nation, as people waited to hear about ‘the big announcement.’ Whether the iPad will be a ‘game changer’ or not – especially for the real estate industry – is still up in the air. In the meantime, I thought I’d add a little humor to the conversation. Enjoy! Written by: Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News Ad: Win more…
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    Tracy's LA Real Estate

  • Great Morning Scenes from Los Angeles

    Tracy
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:51 am
    Here are some shots from the hike we took yesterday from Fern Dell to the Griffith Park Observatory. It's about 3 miles round-trip with a 500 foot elevation gain. Take Fern Dell off Los Feliz Blvd, park on the street, take the trail from the right side of the street through a lush fern planted canyon, up the trail to some superb views of the city and of the stunning Observatory. A great way to start the day! See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from tracyslarealestate’s posterous

  • Another Scam Alert

    Tracy
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:21 am
    A client of mine just sent me an official-looking letter from Title Concepts Plus advising them of the need to file a homestead exemption to protect their recently purchased home from creditors. What is a declaration of homestead? According to the San Diego County Public Law Library, A homestead declaration is a written statement, made under penalty of perjury that claims a particular “dwelling” (for example, a house, condominium, boat, mobilehome, etc.) as the owner’s principal place of residence. This guide uses the word “home” to signify a person’s principal…

  • Beautiful Weather Report for Eagle Rock

    Tracy
    7 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am
    It’s a wonderfully clear and glorious morning here in 90041. Sent from my iPhone Posted via email from tracyslarealestate’s posterous

  • Eagle Rock Brewery is open with no reservations!

    Tracy
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:40 pm
    Open 4 till 10 tonight, hooray! Sent from my iPhone Posted via email from tracyslarealestate’s posterous

  • Seen on Pasadena/LA Broker’s Caravan Feb 4 2010

    Tracy
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am
    One in the occasional series on interesting listings I've seen on caravan –these aren't my listings but I'd be happy to represent you on the purchase of one!   Eagle Rock Secret: Mont Eagle hill has amazing views! This is 1327 N Avenue 46, listed for $429,000.   More on staging, but this listing is a real hidden treasure as well, the address is 8576 Huntington Drive, San Gabriel, but this 4-bedroom Colonial pool home is tucked away far from Huntington on a private drive and is on 3/4 acre! Plus it goes to San Marino schools! For $1,695,000, this one is a deal. See and…
 
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    Real Central VA

  • Sellers, Proof-Read your Realtor’s Ad-Copy!

    Jim
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:28 pm
    Or else, you might find them advertising a room to grow marijuana. See the listing for yourself. I wonder how long it will take before this part of the ad is edited. 4 Bdrm 4 bath 4,400 sq./ft. hillside home on 4 plus acres, 7 min. from Middleton. Master suite with whirlpool and deck. Fieldstone fireplace, wraparound porch, storm/wine cellar, spectacular room to grow marijuana, open floor plan, elevator and handicap accessible with in-law suite. 2 1/2 car garage with lower level shop. Separate 40′ x 60′ commercial grade shop with loft, office and 3/4 bath. Perfect for toys or…

  • More Charlottesville Real Estate Data than You Might Have Wanted

    Jim
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:52 pm
    Edit: Bumped to the top because I really don’t want anyone to miss this analysis. This is going to be a developing post as I read through Barry Merchant’s presentation from this morning. Barry Merchant’s VHDA presentation at Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (PDF) Here is a podcast of Mr. Merchant’s presentation. Additionally, Here is an advance copy of the Nest Report, what we believe to be the best, most “comprehensive and transparent analysis of the residential real estate market in Charlottesville, Albemarle and surrounding counties, prepared…

  • Nest’s Growth is Good

    Jim
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:11 pm
    We’re growing quality, not necessarily quantity. CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (Feb. 8, 2010) – Charlottesville-based Nest Realty Group today announced its acquisition of Summit Realty Company. The move combines two of Charlottesville’s most successful real estate firms and expands the 1-year-old Nest Realty team to 14 full-time real estate professionals. It also paves the way for Nest to expand its services from a primary focus on residential real estate into commercial real estate and leasing. … In addition to a strong focus on technology and innovation, Nest Realty agents are held to…

  • Talkin’ about Raising the Bar

    Jim
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:24 am
    Within the real estate industry. If you’re curious or interested in the ongoing conversation about raising the standards of professionalism within the real estate industry, tune in to Blog Talk Radio tomorrow to hear the first in what promises to be a brilliant series of conversations (myself excluded). Raise the Bar on Blog Talk Radio. Tuesday 9 February at 2pm EST. From ethics to contract-writing to putting photos in the MLS, there are no real (enforced or enforceable) standards of professionalism in the real estate profession. (One of the many ways that Nest Real Estate Group is…

  • Charlottesville and Albemarle Governments Clash. Again.

    Jim
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:59 am
    For anyone interested in a prime example of the City of Charlottesville’s and County of Albemarle’s occasionally dysfunctional relationship, Rachana Dixit and Brandon Shulleeta have great story in today’s Daily Progress. When explaining the City/County relationship to relocating buyers, I often describe the governments as being akin to estranged husbands and wives who are sharing custody of the kids. Or as brothers and sisters who occasionally poke each other in the eye, just to see what will happen. I know these explanations trivialize the importance of the…
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    Bucking The Real Estate Trend-Waynesville and Maggie Valley Real Estate

  • Video of the Maggie Valley Landslide Press Conference 02/08/10 at Town of Maggie Valley.

    Susie Blackmon
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:12 am
    Rick Wooten, Engineer, speaks during the major portion of this video of part of the Maggie Valley Landslide Press Conference 02/08/10 at Town of Maggie Valley. Related articles by Zemanta Press Conference Today at Town of Maggie Valley Concerning Landslide. (buckingtherealestatetrend.com) Video Stories from WSPA and WLOS Reporting the Maggie Valley Landslide aka Maggie Valley Mudslide. (buckingtherealestatetrend.com) Wild Acres Neighborhood in Maggie Valley is a Mountain Winter Wonderland. (buckingtherealestatetrend.com)

  • Maggie Valley Mudslide, Landslide Updates. Enter… Ghost Town Retaining Wall Issues.

    Susie Blackmon
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:10 am
    Anger emerging over Maggie Valley landslide – VIDEO. Rich Cove Road residents in Maggie Valley on WLOS – VIDEO. Ghost Town retaining wall – slide issues article in Citizen-Times 02/09/10. Related articles by Zemanta Video Stories from WLOS Reporting the Maggie Valley Landslide aka Maggie Valley Mudslide. | Bucking The Real Estate Trend-Waynesville and Maggie Valley Real Estate (susieblackmon.com) Video Stories from WSPA and WLOS Reporting the Maggie Valley Landslide aka Maggie Valley Mudslide. (buckingtherealestatetrend.com) Press Conference Today at Town of Maggie Valley…

  • Wild Acres Neighborhood in Maggie Valley is a Mountain Winter Wonderland.

    Susie Blackmon
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:49 am
    Had an errand to run yesterday in the Wild Acres neighborhood in Maggie Valley, and noticed it was strikingly beautiful with an abundance of snow. The Wild Acres subdivision has 15 homes for sale in the MLS as of 02/08/10 at an average listing price of $251,727. These 15 listings have been on the market an average of 220 days. View some of the Wild Acres listings here. There have been 3 sales recorded in the last year in Wild Acres (02/08/09 – 02/08/10), at an average selling price of $205,000. (Low selling $ of the 3 sales was $120,000; high selling $ was $285,000. One sale was a…

  • Beautiful Maggie Valley Fall Farm Land Photo by Photographer Beverly Slone.

    Susie Blackmon
    8 Feb 2010 | 1:51 pm
    Another beautiful photo from Beverly Slone (Talsi1 on Flickr) taken from Highway 19 here in Maggie Valley which she shared on the Maggie Valley Photo Group on Flickr. She has many beautiful pictures on Flickr, if you want to see more. Considering all the brown and white in Maggie Valley (and all of Haywood County) this winter, I loved how Beverly’s stunning photograph refreshed my memory of how colorful it can be here in Maggie Valley! (Photo credit: Beverly Slone ~ © All rights reserved.) About Maggie Valley Photos If you want to share photos that have anything to do with Maggie…

  • Press Conference Today at Town of Maggie Valley Concerning Landslide.

    Susie Blackmon
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:50 am
    Good coverage today at the Town of Maggie Valley’s press conference concerning the Rich Cove Road landslide issues. The weather forecast indicating more rain and snow this week is causing much concern over further slides. Recent video stories about the landslide 02/05/10 on Rich Cove Road in Maggie Valley. Recent photos and articles about the landslide. © Susie Blackmon Related articles by Zemanta Slushie Friday Morning in Maggie Valley = Wet Real Estate. (buckingtherealestatetrend.com) BIG Snow in Maggie Valley NC December 18-19 2009 (buckingtherealestatetrend.com) YouTube Video of…
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    The Wealth Building Guy

  • Open House in Kitchener Waterloo this weekend

    Benjamin Bach
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:42 am
    If you’re looking for a new home, or just want some decorating tips, check out these Keller Williams Golden Triangle Realty open houses this weekend:   232900 ~ A7-175 David Bergey DriveKitchenerSat Feb 6th 2-4pm and SunFeb 7th 2-4pm Great location! Backs onto forest and all amenities close by! Come buy this well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with new hardwood and walkout basement! MLS 250000 ~ 123 Rolling MeadowsKitchenerSat Feb 6th 2-4pm Gorgeous single detached family home, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and rec room.  MLS 289900 ~ 58 Brubacher StreetKitchenerSunFeb 7th 2-4pm…

  • Property Management for KW investment property

    Benjamin Bach
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:19 am
    A big part of our client base lives outside of Kitchener Waterloo – other parts of Ontario, Canada, and even people living in other countries.  They are able to live   where they love, but invest where the numbers make sense because they employ quality property management companies. Even a lot of our clients who live in the KW area use property management to take care of their rental properties; it’s just easier, and can be very affordable (depending on who you deal with) Here’s a bit of info for you: Contant me “Benjamin AT BenjaminBach.com” for a referral to a great…

  • A profile of Eastbridge in Kitchener Waterloo, Ontario

    Benjamin Bach
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:08 am
    One of my favorite neighbourhoods in Kitchener Waterloo is Eastbridge. Located in the North East part of the city, there are parks, trails, beautiful homes (ranging from condos, semis and towns to luxury homes worth more than $1 million), shopping (Conestoga mall is close by), close to restaurants like Wildcraft, Ben Thahn, The Keg and more. It’s also close to the expressway, which means 401 access to Toronto is convenient to access.  Friends (and clients) of ours live there, and I asked Darryl and Robin why they chose to buy a home in Eastbridge, as opposed to any of the other areas…

  • Why we invest in Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate

    Benjamin Bach
    4 Feb 2010 | 3:45 am
    Yesterday I had the chance to sit down with two of our clients, Dr Robin Walsh and Darryl Kraemer to discuss why they invest in Real Estate, as opposed to any of the other investment vehicles available, like stocks, mutual funds, commodities, gold etc.  Press play to hear what they had to say: Darryl and Robin have a great portfolio of single family residential (including condo units) & student rental properties in Kitchener Waterloo, Ontario -all tenanted & performing well.  If you’re interested in starting to invest and building a diversified property portfolio like…

  • What to put in an offer when you’re buying investment real estate

    Benjamin Bach
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:17 am
    A friend of mine asked me this morning what clauses we usually put in an offer, when we’re helping our clients buy and sell an investment property in Ontario.  While every purchase and sale will have unique features demanding custom clauses – often a few Schedules worth of them – most of the time, we use the same base of conditions and clauses when our clients are buying a rental property. Conditions: Real estate agreements are either ‘firm’ or ‘conditional.’  A firm offer is one where the are no additional conditions on the part of the buyer, and conversely, a…
 
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    Ann Arbor Real Estate

  • Mature-Market Home buyers look beyond stainless

    Eric
    27 Jan 2010 | 5:47 am
    Mature-Market Home buyers look beyond stainlessPost from: Ann Arbor Real Estate | Ann Arbor's #1 Source for Real Estate Information! I don’t like to admit it, but I’m getting older. I’m well on my way to fifty, the new thirty, and my needs are changing. I’ve noticed that my similarly aged clients wants and needs are shifting as well.  when I first got into this business, 16 years ago many of us we flocking to McMansions in the ‘burbs and now those who can are seeking Ranch Style homes or homes with first floor master bedrooms.  An article just published in RIS…

  • Keep your 2010 Resolutions…

    Eric
    2 Jan 2010 | 7:27 am
    Keep your 2010 Resolutions…Post from: Ann Arbor Real Estate | Ann Arbor's #1 Source for Real Estate Information! The Holidays have come and gone and you’ve zeroed in on a goal, a resolution. You’ve resolved  to eat healthier, save more, spend less, exercise more or whatever.  To accomplish goals and gain some momentum  make small changes.  For example, if you are going to save more, begin saving a little, consistently. Sudden changes that are too big are often unsustainable. Automate the financial ones, human beings are consistently inconsistent so automate  the…

  • What Happens To Housing’s ‘Turnaround’ When Uncle Sam Backs Out?

    Eric
    22 Dec 2009 | 12:08 pm
    What Happens To Housing’s ‘Turnaround’ When Uncle Sam Backs Out?Post from: Ann Arbor Real Estate | Ann Arbor's #1 Source for Real Estate Information! Charles Hugh Smith of DailyFinance asks, “What Happens To Housing’s ‘Turnaround’ When Uncle Sam Backs Out?”  This provocative article looks at the housing crisis and the stabilization measures now being taken and asks hard questions but offers few answers. Think of crisis management as a green house.  As long as plants are not exposed to the elements, there is little chance of knowing, with any…

  • “See, I told you insulation is sexy”, Obama says.

    Eric
    15 Dec 2009 | 1:04 pm
    “See, I told you insulation is sexy”, Obama says.Post from: Ann Arbor Real Estate | Ann Arbor's #1 Source for Real Estate Information! With the onset of winter in North America and the need to save dollars and create jobs, President Obama in a Virginia Home Depot pushes energy-efficiency as a part of his overall economic stimulation package. Check out Jim Puzzanghera’s story here: Search for homes here

  • Ann Arbor Board of Realtors November Housing Statistics

    Eric
    14 Dec 2009 | 3:09 pm
    Ann Arbor Board of Realtors November Housing StatisticsPost from: Ann Arbor Real Estate | Ann Arbor's #1 Source for Real Estate Information! Based on information from the Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS® Multiple Listing Service for the period October 10, 2009 through November 11, 2009 November brought a significant increase in residential real estate sales activity, as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of the tax credit that was scheduled to expire at the end of the month. While the tax credit has now been expanded and extended to April 30, 2010, the earlier deadline helped to…
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    L.A. Land

  • Money Links: The Goldman/Greece connection; businesses face soaring tax bills; skill versus luck at the billionaire level

    Tom Petruno
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:35 am
    --- Did Goldman help Greece hide its debt troubles? Germany’s Spiegel magazine contends that Goldman Sachs designed a big “cross-currency swap” debt deal in 2002 that didn’t show up in the country’s official borrowing statistics.--- Businesses face soaring state unemployment-insurance taxes: The extra money is needed to replenish depleted state insurance trust funds. The irony: The cash some companies will shell out might otherwise have been used to boost hiring.--- Morningstar buys data-digger Footnoted.org: The Footnoted site has won kudos for its work unearthing what investors…

  • Consumer Confidential: Happy Meals, cellphone fees, bank lobbying

    David Lazarus
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:22 am
    Here's your tantric Tuesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: --Who says we can't compete in a global economy? Our friends at Coca-Cola say their quarterly profit jumped 55%, thanks primarily to strong overseas sales. Meanwhile, the McFolk at McDonald's say their global sales rose 2.6% last month, thanks mostly to hearty appetites for Happy Meals and other fare in Asia and Britain. Here in the U.S., President Obama announced a new initiative to combat childhood obesity. Our next export, perhaps? --Nobody likes those nasty fees that cellphone companies inflict if you…

  • Pushed by international sales, McDonald's and Coca-Cola post upbeat numbers

    Tiffany Hsu
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:12 am
    Two of the world’s largest food and beverage companies – McDonald’s Corp. and the Coca-Cola Co. – said Tuesday that they have countries other than the U.S. to thank for their recent strong performance. McDonald’s, the fast-food industry’s leader, said sales in stores open at least 13 months jumped 2.6% in January, pushed along by 4.3% leaps in Europe and the Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions. Though the company still outpaced its competition in the U.S., McDonald’s said, sales in this country fell 0.7%. But additions such as the breakfast Dollar Menu, the…

  • Department of Justice digs into food corruption and antitrust concerns

    P.J. Huffstutter
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:11 am
    When it comes to the food sector, the Department of Justice -- particularly its antitrust division -- has become very hungry. Last month Monsanto Co., the world’s largest seed developer, disclosed that the DOJ has requested information about its herbicide-friendly soybean seeds business as part of a probe into anticompetitive practices. The DOJ also filed an antitrust lawsuit in Milwaukee against Dean Foods Co., the country’s leading distributor of dairy products, in an effort to dissolve a 2009 deal it made to buy a Midwestern competitor. The deal allegedly left many…

  • Markets surge on hopes Europe will aid Greece

    Tom Petruno
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:08 am
    Vague promises of European support for Greece sparked a big turnaround in battered financial markets Tuesday.The Dow Jones industrial average was up 190 points, or 1.9%, to 10,097 at about 10 a.m. PST. The blue-chip index on Monday had fallen 104 points to a three-month low of 9,908, in part on fears that European government-debt woes would fuel another global financial crisis.The euro currency, beaten down in recent weeks, has soared to $1.379 from $1.365 on Monday.The action in stocks and the euro looked like a “short squeeze,” meaning that traders who had bet on continuing declines in…
 
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    Lanser on Real Estate

  • Yorba Linda home tops most-viewed list

    KELLI HART, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:27 am
    The folks at Realtor.com compiled a list of the top 10 most popular homes for sale in Orange County from their Web site (reflecting last week). City Address Price Yorba Linda 19641 Ridgewood $587,000 Huntington Beach 19852 Estuary $549,000 Irvine 60 Cape Cod $700,000 Irvine 6 Indiana $655,000 San Clemente 10 Via Tesoro $699,900 Irvine 37 Boulder Creek Way $680,000 Rancho Santa Margarita 3 Via Silla $545,000 Brea 655 Candlewood Street $525,000 Irvine 28 Teak Bridge $719,000 Newport Beach 2319 Tustin Avenue $749,000 These are the listings that online home shoppers check out the most in O.C. The…

  • Would you relocate to Texas?

    Jon Lansner
    9 Feb 2010 | 12:01 am
    The good people at United Van Lines were kind enough to run a count of their moves to and from Orange County in 2009 — and the results had a cowboy attitude and a BBQ taste! Town Price Index Income Rank Sherman $90,000 93% $57,900 11 San Angelo $114,000 86% $52,400 37 Wichita Falls $105,000 83% $52,800 59 Fort Worth $133,000 82% $65,900 65 Amarillo $116,000 82% $55,300 66 Victoria $126,000 81% $53,700 72 Beaumont $115,000 79% $54,300 86 Killeen $132,000 79% $54,000 92 Tyler $139,000 77% $55,300 107 Waco $119,000 76% $51,700 111 Odessa $118,000 76% $49,000 115 Abilene $115,000 75%…

  • Really? Real estate fees in the spotlight

    Jon Lansner
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:50 pm
    Real estate news and views from around the globe that make you go, “Really?” Canada’s competition czar targets real estate fees (Reuters) Cut foreclosures by slicing real estate fees (San Francisco Chronicle) Virginia city debates eliminating stormwater utility fee? (WTVR) Hawaiian lawmakers target higher real estate tax (Pacific Business News) Real-estate tax reform in Philly? It’s no laughing matter (Philadelphia Daily News) Really? Real estate fees in the spotlight is a post from: Lansner on Real Estate

  • Does sales burst confirm housing bottom?

    Jon Lansner
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:15 pm
    My latest column for The Register discussed “6 signs of a housing bottom” as seen in year-end, ZIP-by-ZIP Orange County pricing and sales data from DataQuick. You can read the COLUMN HERE! One stat that caught my eye was that sales momentum was broader than I’d thought “as year-over-year gains were found in 72 of Orange County’s 83 ZIP codes. So the excitement wasn’t just bargain hunters fishing at the low end of the housing pond.” What do you think? Does 72 of 83 ZIPs with 2009 sales gains confirm the bottom? For sure! Only one piece of the puzzle!

  • 1-in-4 U.S. construction workers jobless

    Jon Lansner
    8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm
    The U.S. construction industry’s unemployment rate hit 24.7% in January as another 75,000 American construction workers lost their jobs. The Associated General Contractors of America noted that excluding construction job losses, American employment rose in January for the second time in three months. Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist: “Unlike the rest of the economy, the construction industry continues to shed jobs at virtually the same rate in January as it has for the past twelve months. The stimulus appears to be the only bright spot for an industry…
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    Rainmaker Properties

  • Twitter Updates of the Week for 2010-02-07

    Alex H. Wang
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:27 am
    Google provides new ways to view your home. But is it really a good thing?http://bit.ly/bXJCov # Rethinking Real Estate: A new approach to "Median" home prices; check sales data. http://bit.ly/cLmnsL # Planning for a Super Bowl Party? Tips on recipes, home decor, parties on a budget, entertainment for kids & more! http://bit.ly/aC5Jbq # Got a full house? This SF listing shares the same street as the home of the Tanner family from Full House! http://bit.ly/aXeaUl # Enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to our blog!

  • Twitter Updates of the Week for 2010-01-31

    Alex H. Wang
    31 Jan 2010 | 1:27 am
    San Jose Mercury News: U.S. Home Sales drop 16.7% in the month of December. What will 2010 bring? http://bit.ly/6LucEN # [Saavy Real Estate] Part 4/4: Wrapping up: Want to know the best way to calculate just how much HOME you can afford? http://bit.ly/aXHn4A # Home prices rise again in November. That's a good thing right? http://bit.ly/asa2f8 # New home sales fall 7.6% in December. Capping off tough year in the Real Estate industry. http://bit.ly/bFc1oK # Uh oh: SF Bay Area bridge operators approve $1 hike in tolls for six bridges. Which ones? http://bit.ly/9xhHB9 # Free E-Waste…

  • Twitter Updates of the Week for 2010-01-24

    Alex H. Wang
    24 Jan 2010 | 1:27 am
    Forbes: Where do Americans pay the most property taxes? (Hint: 4 counties are in the SF Bay Area) http://bit.ly/5knhv8 # SF Bay Area storm of the year? Here are some reminders on safe driving in the rain this week! Drive safe everyone! http://bit.ly/7plTKt # [Saavy Real Estate] Part 1/4: All you need to know on buying that first home… Special thanks to Yahoo! http://bit.ly/7plTKt # [Saavy Real Estate] Part 2/4: Age old questions… Buying vs. Renting? http://bit.ly/5k8FY9 # Home construction down in Q4; Wholesale prices slightly up… http://bit.ly/5optA5 # California…

  • Twitter Updates of the Week for 2010-01-17

    Alex H. Wang
    17 Jan 2010 | 1:27 am
    California Builder KB Home posts first quarterly profit since 2007. Outlooks still remain cloudy. http://bit.ly/6ocorb # Enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to our blog!

  • Twitter Updates of the Week for 2010-01-10

    Alex H. Wang
    10 Jan 2010 | 1:27 am
    Berkeley Condos shares crazy green features: Gate of old Volvos; Fence from street signs, solar panels & more! http://bit.ly/87TRn3 # Forbes.com: When’s the best time in the year to sell a home? http://bit.ly/8HtuiU # MarketWatch: Pending home sales drop; buyers take their time after U.S. housing credit extended. http://bit.ly/7DhGmO # Yahoo Finance: 10 Things you won’t be buying in 2010. http://bit.ly/8WjtXd # A Govn’t Tax Break for Renters? One Washington Post columnist makes an argument. http://bit.ly/71Xh8p # Enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to our…
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    Ubertor Real Estate Blog

  • Learn to Maximize Your Ubertor Website: Live Ubertor Tour, February 9th, 2010

    Uber Bryan
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:04 pm
    Get expert advice from an Ubertor specialist on how to use the basics of the system. This is a great start for all new Ubertor users eager to learn how to begin maximizing their website for the most return. This is a live guided tour of Ubertor’s control panel – so if you’re on the fences about Ubertor’s software, click in and join the tour. See how easy it is to get a website up and running. Join in 2 easy steps (Live Tour is FREE): 1. Register for the Live Tour on February 9th, 2010 @ 10:00 AM PST Simply click on this LINK at the time of the LIVE TOUR and JOIN! 2.  Use your…

  • Arizona Association of Realtors Hot on Video

    Stephen Jagger
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am
    The Arizona Association of Realtors “REALTOR® Magazine” has 2 articles in it this month all about online video. Myself and Ubertor have been quoted in both as well as Ubertor client Ian Watt. Their first article “12 Ways to Incorporate Video into Your Business” references Ubertor’s video syndication functionality that helps agents get their videos onto YouTube, Viddler and our own CombustionVideo. http://www.aaronline.com/AZR/2010/Feb/Video.aspx Their second article “Should You Be Vlogging?” opens with a couple quotes from me about the use of online…

  • Sociable! Book Launch Party – A Big Success

    Stephen Jagger
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:42 am
    The Launch Party for my new book Sociable! was a huge success. We had over 500 people come out to celebrate the launch of Sociable! Thanks to all who attended, our sponsors and well-wishers for their support. For those who missed the event, you can see the pictures of the launch party here. http://www.facebook.com/SociableBook Don’t have a copy of Sociable ? You can pick up your copy here: 1. Amazon.com 2. Hager Books – 2176 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver, BC – 604-263-9412 3. Bulk Purchases – http://www.sociablebook.com/BuyTheBook.ubr Realtor Ian Watt and Stephen Jagger…

  • Beautiful New Website for Shaun Kimmins

    Stephen Jagger
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:22 am
    The team at Kuni Design has done it again. This time for Shaun Kimmins. Take a moment to check out all of the custom work that has been done to this website, including custom maps and look and feel. It is another great example of how customized Ubertor websites can get.

  • Google Olympic Map

    Stephen Jagger
    2 Feb 2010 | 9:11 am
    Vancouver Sun 2010 Olympics reporter Jeff Lee’s comprehensive listing of Olympic venues, hospitality events, pavilions, sponsor houses, road restrictions, Flag Walk & more for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Could be a great addition to your website: View Olympicreporter’s 2010 Winter Games in a larger map
 
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    Appraisal Scoop

  • Appraisal Institute Analysis Shows Two-Thirds of Failed Banks Cited for Appraisal Problems

    Brian Davis
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:12 am
    An analysis conducted by the Appraisal Institute of failed banks shows that nearly two-thirds had been previously cited by federal bank examiners or had ongoing appraisal administration problems, highlighting a significant weakness in many struggling financial institutions.   For a copy of the analysis, visit www.appraisalinstitute.org/newsadvocacy/downloads/key_documents/FDIC_MaterialLossReview_Appraisal.pdf.Source: Appraisal Institute

  • Humor: YouTube Rant on AMCs, Cuomo, the HVCC, and MORE!

    Brian Davis
    4 Feb 2010 | 1:42 am

  • 6 Reasons Appraisers Are Worth Their Salt

    Brian Davis
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:37 am
    Placing a Value on Your Services - a Guest Post by Michael W. Armetrout of AM Appraisals As every appraisal firm manager knows, gauging the direction of the current business environment can be a difficult task. Some may see every new trend as a time to reinvent themselves while others may simply lay low through fluctuating periods.  One thing is for sure, the constant wave of financial fiascos and regulatory changes have made it nearly impossible to figure out what is on the horizon for our industry. Whether you subscribe to a “glass half full” or a “half empty” approach to the…

  • First American Introduces Appraiser-Validated Price Opinions - Identify "High Risk" BPOs

    Brian Davis
    2 Feb 2010 | 2:22 pm
    First American Valuation and Property Solutions, a member of The First American Corporation family of companies, has announced a new valuation service, the Appraiser-Validated Price Opinion. Appraiser-Validated Price Opinions, the company says, are expert opinions that provide a second level of review for broker price opinion (BPO) users, without the need to build in-house review functions. While this is not an appraisal, a licensed appraiser confirms the specific set of values determined by a local Realtor by looking at comparable sales and verifying accuracy. If discrepancies are found, the…

  • Download the Realtor.com iPhone Real Estate App

    Brian Davis
    2 Feb 2010 | 6:52 am
    Not only can you instantly access over 4 million homes for sale with the touch of a button, whether you aredriving or walking through a neighborhood, you can also see: Homes for sale nearby your current location with your GPS enabled iPhone Open house times, dates and locations Homes for sale on a map, even the neighborhood you're standing in, instantly Multiple photos, property details and pricing on nearly any home for sale More homes for sale than any other real estate site in America Information you can trust - because it's the official listing site of the National Association of…
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    Condo Blog

  • Condodomain Version IV

    Anthony Longo
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:24 pm
    Today we released version 4.0 of our website and version 3 on all of our city blogs (Condo Loft Blogs). We have over 30 feature upgrades on this version and is by far the best condo website to date! Our new main website features a new home page with more hyper-local daily content from our [...]

  • New Jersey Lifts Real Estate Rebate Ban

    Anthony Longo
    25 Jan 2010 | 7:20 am
    Lots of news lately regarding New Jersey lifting it current ban on real estate rebates.  Below is todays latest news from NorthJersey.com. New Jersey real estate agents are now allowed to offer buyers rebates on their commissions, opening the door to real estate companies that use the refunds. A law allowing rebates was signed by former Gov. [...]

  • New Jersey Real Estate Commission Rebate to Follow?

    Anthony Longo
    16 Dec 2009 | 7:47 am
    via @HobokenRealEstateNews – The Real Deal put out another article following new legislation that hopefully will lift the real estate commission rebate ban in the state of New Jersey! “The New Jersey State Legislature is toying with a new bill that would allow brokers to cede a portion of their commission to clients in order to [...]

  • New York City MLS – Will this finally open up competition in Manhattan and allow for discount brokers?

    Anthony Longo
    7 Dec 2009 | 8:29 am
    Inman News by way of The Real Deal in New York  published an interesting article regarding the all new MLS in New York City.  As you may  know, New York City has long operated without an official MLS system.  Power brokerages like Corcoran, Prudential Douglass Elliman, Halstead and Brown Harris Stevens have continued to grab [...]

  • Biggest News Since DOJ Win over NAR Anti-trust Lawsuit

    Anthony Longo
    17 Nov 2009 | 6:26 am
    Today’s headlines on Inman news announced in my opinion the biggest win since the victory we had over the NAR in the DOJ vs. NAR anti-trust lawsuit. This week out in San Diego for the annual NAR conference, they made an official statement noting that indexing of MLS listings WILL BE ALLOWED.   As you may know [...]
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    Reverse Mortgage Daily

  • Reverse Mortgage Rates – February 9, 2010

    admin
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:36 am
    The FED did not publish yesterday, so Expected Rates for reverse mortgages will not change on Tuesday the 9th. However, the WSJ was published so LIBOR loans closing or disclosed today will have updated note rates. The rates as of 2/2/10 are: Reverse Mortgage Rate Updates are brought to you by Jerry Wagner & Ibis Reverse Mortgage Software – The Industry Standard Since 1995. This is not just a slogan — six of the top 10 reverse mortgage originators plus NRMLA and the AARP use Ibis Software for their websites, retail and wholesale businesses. Technorati Tags: Reverse…

  • Virtual Bank Returns to Reverse Mortgage Business

    admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:47 am
    RMD has learned that VirtualBank Seniors Lending Group is getting back into the reverse mortgage business after it was shut down in late 2007.  Al Rodriguez is heading up the business as President and Dennis Loxton will be the National Sales Manager for wholesale. Virtual Bank is accepting new broker applications effective immediately and plans to formally open for business nationwide in early March. Prior to shutting down, Virtual Bank offered a creative suite of products like the Mega Life, Life Plan, and Prime Life which were designed for borrowers who didn’t quite fit into the HECM…

  • WSJ: Reverse Mortgage Through FHA or Family?

    admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    Over the weekend the Wall Street Journal published the Case for Being Your Mom’s Banker where they discuss whether a reverse mortgage or a private mortgage between family is a better decision to help out your parents. In respect to reverse mortgages, WSJ contributor Kelly Green writes: But there are significant drawbacks. The fees can run as much as 7% of the home’s value, compared to roughly 3% for a conventional loan. Lenders typically won’t allow homeowners to borrow against all of their equity. And in the end, the lender gets the home, an asset many parents would prefer…

  • HUD Updates RESPA Frequently Asked Questions Document

    admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am
    The US Department of Housing and Urban Development updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). The updates address a range of topics ranging from Appraisal Management Companies to requiring verification of documents as a condition of issuing the new Good Faith Estimate.   Below are a couple of the new questions answered in the updated FAQ: Q: If a mortgage broker provides the initial GFE and the lender accepts the loan, can the lender issue a new initial GFE? A: No. The lender is bound by the charges and terms…

  • Reverse Mortgage Lender Achieves Diamond Certification

    admin
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:44 am
    Golden Gateway Financial recently announced that it achieved Diamond Certification from American Ratings Corporation.  The certification process rates companies by customer satisfaction research, credentials and business practices. American Ratings Corporation interviewed a random sampling of the Oakland, CA based reverse mortgage lenders customers and polled them regarding their willingness to do business with the company again. A customer satisfaction survey score of 90 or greater on a 100-point scale is required for certification. Additionally, American Ratings Corporation verified…
 
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    Wallingford Wired

  • Wallingford PZC Approves CT’s First Sonic Drive-In

    The Harriman Team
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:59 pm
    Wallingford PZC Approves CT’s First Sonic Drive-InThe meeting at Wallingford’s Town Hall tonight was approaching the 2 hour mark. Many questions were posed by the commission to the applicants, some seemingly more than once. Residents spoke their minds about the proposal, both for and against it, and even though every question was answered and every concern addressed, the final decision of the Planning and Zoning Commission was still in doubt. Finally, at about 9:00 PM, the vote was taken. The first Sonic Drive-In in Connecticut was approved unanimously.But, not without some…

  • Mortgage Rate Update 2/5/10

    The Harriman Team
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:27 pm
    The biggest influence on mortgage rates this week came from outside the US. Concerns about the possible default of sovereign debt in smaller nations caused investors to seek the relative safety of US fixed income securities. This week’s economic data was roughly balanced in terms of positive and negative surprises. The added demand for safer investments helped mortgage rates move lower during the week.The recession has impacted countries in different ways. Some of the hardest hit have been smaller European nations, such as Greece and Spain. As members of the European Union, they must…

  • Just Listed: 25 Laura Rd, Hamden CT

    The Harriman Team
    27 Jan 2010 | 3:57 pm
    Spectacular custom ranch home on 17+ acres. Home offers spacious rooms including living room with bay window, kitchen with island open to family room, master bedroom with bath and 2 walk-in closets, large sunroom, 31×24 rec room (perfect for home theater), newer furnace and central air. Home great for in-law set up.For more info or to schedule an appointment to see this awesome property, please call Pat at (203) 672-4499! To see other homes listed by The Harriman Team, please go to our web site! Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne HarrimanJust Listed: 25 Laura Rd, Hamden CT

  • Mortgage Rate Update 1/22/10

    The Harriman Team
    23 Jan 2010 | 5:37 pm
    While the economic data released this week had little impact, mortgage rates were heavily influenced by two big stories. One was an announcement that China will take steps to slow its economic growth and the other was President Obama’s proposed new restrictions on the activities of financial institutions. Both measures are expected to lead to slower economic growth in the US, which hurt the stock market but helped fixed income markets. As a result, mortgage rates ended a little lower.During the week, China released a report showing that its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an 8.7%…

  • VIDEO: Housing Affordability for the 2010 Market

    The Harriman Team
    20 Jan 2010 | 5:07 pm
    Chris Raveis, Managing Partner, William Raveis NY, MA & Affiliates, presents an analysis of housing affordability for the 2010 market:If you have specific questions about our local housing market, please give The Harriman Team a call today at (203)-672-4499. Post from: Wallingford Wired©2009 by Pat & Wayne HarrimanVIDEO: Housing Affordability for the 2010 Market
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    Blogging In The Rain

  • The Top Top Three Tips to Become A Blog Originator and Build your Brand Identity Online

    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision)
    8 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    The Top Three Tips to Become a Blog Originator and Build Your Brand Identity Online   Is blogging dead?  This is the question that seems to resurface every time a micro-blogging platform gains more visibility, new features, and higher traction.  To me it is like a comparison between a quick bite to eat and a great home cooked meal or an elegant dinner with fireside dining.  Sometimes I need information and conversation that is quick and fast, other times I might want to opine and banter back and forth soaking up the prose along the way and digesting an idea to let it…

  • Week of 01/18/10- 01/23/10 Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies

    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision)
    31 Jan 2010 | 6:26 pm
    Week of 01/18/10- 01/23/10 Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies    Developing Perusasive Content for List Building An article from Website Magazine on the different ways to strengthen your content in order to build your contact database.  The article breaks down persuasive content into three categories:  logical content, credible content, and emotional content and cites general examples of what type of content satisfies these categories.  After reading the article I would keep…

  • Week of 01/10/10- 01/18/10 Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies

    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision)
    20 Jan 2010 | 9:22 am
    Week of 01/10/10- 01/18/10 Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies     What's Motivating the Social Relationship Between Consumers and Companies? A new chart from Marketing Sherpa exploring how consumers interact with companies who use social media.  The report follows Max Connectors (people with more than 500 social connections), Daily Users and All Respondents.  The reason most consumers friend/follow companies is because they want to learn about special sales followed closely by…

  • Five Tips to Create Emotional Value in Your Real Estate Blog Posts

    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision)
    14 Jan 2010 | 1:34 pm
    How do bloggers maintain loyal readership and gain new followers?  Most bloggers discover over time that the way to do this is to blog consistently and satisfy your readers by giving them what they want.  In business, this is information, given freely and regularly, about products and services.  Timely news, how to's, and real life real estate stories are all blog fan favorites, but they need to be intermingled with a special seasoning to make an impact.   That special seasoning is emotion.  PPC Advertising, online marketing, and sales all use emotional triggers…

  • 01/01/10-01/09/10- Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies

    Rebecca Levinson, Real Estate Marketing Consultant (Real Skillz-Clear Marketing for Your Real Estate Vision)
    12 Jan 2010 | 6:27 pm
    01/01/10-01/09/10- Real Skillz Freebie Picks- Free Online Reads and Real Estate Marketing Resources for Real Estate Agents and Real Estate Companies     Clear Hyperlinks Increase Conversions A blog post from Todd Follansbee on how not to confuse your visitors with hyperlinks and how to make sure sure your hyperlinks are getting the most mileage.  Take his hyperlink text quiz and make sure to check out the tips under "Make Text Hyperlinks Do More". The first one is discusses "Call to Action".  "Call to Action" are my three favorite words in marketing. Good marketing does…
 
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    Anne Marie Malfi - Virtually Assisting You

  • Enhancing your image w/ one of your greatest sources & becoming their most valuable resource

    Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals)
    5 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am
    With so many tools, websites and vehicles available to us to extend our reach and communicate with the general public, I think too often we forget about one of our most valuable resources - our past clients - when it comes to growing our business.  They are one of our greatest resources for new business and in this post I would like to share some thoughts and ideas for enhancing your image and becoming one of their greatest and most valuable resources.  Does this scenario apply to you?  You're at the closing table with your client, the keys are handed to them, maybe you have a…

  • The Power of Active Rain – Connections are made every day!

    Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals)
    28 Jan 2010 | 3:08 pm
    Lisa Udy asked in her blog post entitled The Power of Active Rain Contest that we put together a blog post to share the benefits and the Power of Active Rain.   It's funny because I didn't have to think long or hard on this oneat all and have been in the process of sharing this post with all of you to illustrate Lisa's point exactly and here's how I harness the Power of Active Rain. Since joining Active Rain in August of 2008 my business has more than doubled and it has not only brought me new clients but friendships that go beyond what I could have ever imagined. These…

  • Measuring your marketing plan – What’s involved and What are your results? Knowing this will ensure you have a great 2010!

    Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals)
    12 Jan 2010 | 2:01 pm
    So many of us have Marketing Plans but are we effectively measuring the results and using that data to further grow our business and opportunities? This picture illustrates what a solid marketing plan should involve: Knowing which specific areas of your marketing strategies are working will without a doubt save you money and time as you will be spending your money and time on the areas that are working and more focused on providing to the customers that are connecting with you in those areas.If you can't answer the following questions than you have no way of knowing what in your marketing…

  • What does complaining get us? Isn’t it better to simply work harder and smarter?

    Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals)
    6 Jan 2010 | 9:02 am
    Think about the energy it takes to fret, complain and worry about problems. Have you ever encountered someone that complained about everything under the sun?  Did you purposely seek them out to have another conversation or interaction with them?  Probably not - you probably thought "what a downer" and "I hope I don't have to talk to them again." I've often noticed that I'm drawn to people who don't complain but instead are proactive and look for ways to fix a problem or create a solution.  I also think they are highly successful and productive because they are always looking…

  • The most important gift we can give to our family, clients and ourselves and you can’t buy it in a store…

    Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals)
    8 Dec 2009 | 8:55 am
      If you've ever watched The Grinch you might remember the valuable lesson he learned in realizing that the most precious gift you can give doesn't come from a store: He stood puzzling and puzzling.  How could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  And he puzzled and puzzled then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  Maybe Christmas he thought doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. Whatever holiday you celebrate, I believe we can all give those special people in our lives a very precious gift…
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    Buy Owner Blog

  • Featured City: Naples, FL

    Alicia
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    As part of a special feature at the Buy Owner Blog, we’ll be highlighting cities throughout the nation, profiling their attractions and conveniences, as well as pointing out some currently for-sale homes in the area! Today’s City: Naples, Florida! Naples is one of the largest cities flanking the outskirts of Florida’s booming southwest city, Fort Lauderdale. Surrounded by sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, this large city offers a quaint downtown area of shops and dining, modern and massive golf courses and prime real estate. Though Naples is located near large cities, nature comes…

  • How to Help Preapprove a Buyer

    Alicia
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    One of the scariest parts of selling your home FSBO is not having a hand to hold during the monotonous, yet critical, areas of finances and legal issues. Though common advice states that you should consider every offer you receive, which is true, you should not eagerly accept a bid before you know if that buyer can actually obtain a mortgage loan large enough to pay for the house. If the buyer is not yet preapproved or prequalified, the sale of your home could go on for months without any progress. The first step is to find out if the buyer is preapproved, meaning he or she has been approved…

  • What 55-Plus Buyers Are Looking for

    Shanna
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Retirement. The very word conjures up images of sunshine and golf courses and backyard lanais. But is that what today’s retired population is looking for? According to a recent article in the news-press.com, a National Association of Home Builders survey revealed that today’s 55-plus crowd has a new set of preferences, and they’re not what you’d think. WHAT THEY WANT: In-unit washer/dryer sets Lots of storage space An entrance without steps Private patios and/or porches Main-level master bedrooms Bigger bathrooms Convenience features: user-friendly thermostats, garage…

  • Heat Your Garage

    Alicia
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    Looking for a way to make your home more comfortable in these cold winter months? Looking to expand the amount of home space that is available for using in the winter? Instead of adding onto your home, and spending a hefty amount of money, create a heated garage! Lots of options are available on how you could implement this renovation, but first let’s discuss the perks of having a heated garage: • It will add heated space to your home; space that everyone can enjoy no matter what time of year it is. • You could finish it and expand the total square feet of finished space in the home,…

  • Right Pricing Still Sells Houses

    Shanna
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am
    Turns out, at least according to a recent NAR survey, it’s not the tax credit that’s motivating buyers—not primarily anyway. It’s more wanting to own a home and finding good pricing. from “Cheaper Prices–More Than Tax Credit,” U.S. News & World Report: “But in a recent NAR survey, only 6 percent of first-time home buyers—who made their purchase during the 12 months ending last June—cited the tax credit as the primary reason behind their decision.” The article goes on to say: “The tax credit was the fourth-leading…
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    Tina Fountain

  • 960 Ector Chase Kennesaw, Georgia 30152

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:14 am
    Just Listed - Barrett Greene Subdivision 960 Ector Chase Kennesaw, Georgia 30152 FMLS # 4015700 960 Ector Chase is a 5 bedroom 4.5 bathroom versatile floorplan located in the Barrett Greene Subdivision. Upgrades can be seen in almost every room ...

  • Atlanta Botanical Gardens Orchid Daze

    8 Feb 2010 | 1:45 pm
    As we Atlantans try to make it through what has proved to be a colder winter than Southerners typically like to bear, we can now see the light at the end of the chilly tunnel as Spring festivals and events begin to be announced. One of the first ones...

  • 5172 Cherokee Rose Lane Kennesaw, Ga 30152

    22 Jan 2010 | 2:19 pm
    Just Listed - Hedgerose Subdivision 5172 Cherokee Rose Lane Kennesaw, Ga 30152 FMLS# 4011340 Absolutely breathtaking executive home. Master on main, 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths with custom millwork throughout. Fabulous two story great room with cof...

  • Homestead Tax Exemption Deadlines for Metro Atlanta

    22 Jan 2010 | 1:29 pm
    The deadlines to file for metro Atlanta Counties Homestead Tax Exemptions are fast approaching, and by filing you could be eligible for a $2000 tax savings. You must have owned your home on January 1, 2010 to qualify, and you have to file with your c...

  • 600 Willow Knoll Drive Marietta, Georgia 30067 - Atlanta Country Club

    5 Jan 2010 | 10:21 am
    Just Listed - Atlanta Country Club 600 Willow Knoll Drive Marietta, Georgia 30067 FMLS # 4002505 This beautiful three-sided brick executive home in the exclusive Atlanta Country Club community has 4 Bedrooms and 3.5 Baths and has been impecca...
 
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    Office Search Toronto

  • Everchanging Wallnado

    Chris Fyvie - 416-992-9869
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:51 am
    Original article via Yanko Design That’s another name for this product that I just made up! I mean the name, that is, this concept was designed by the incomparable Amirko, and it’s real name is “Change It!” Ohh scoop it! It’s one big wall of turn-triangles. Each of these triangles has different colors on them – white – black – and a slightly unique rainbow shade. As you can see in the first picture here, when the color is on full blast, it makes a mural all it’s own. What combination of madness can be made? Choose your own adventure! For now it’s the colors as explained…

  • Cushman Lepage Commercial Real Estate Listings Toronto

    Chris Fyvie - 416-992-9869
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:05 am
    OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA. Want a survey or availability report somewhere else in Toronto? Are these space too big? Call us at 416-992-9869 or E-mail Me!

  • Landlord Commercial Real Estate Listings across Downtown

    Chris Fyvie - 416-992-9869
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am
    A few Landlord’s real estate listings across downtown Toronto. For floor plans, pictures, pricing or to book a tour contact us here.

  • Commercial Real Estate Midtown Toronto

    Chris Fyvie - 416-992-9869
    7 Feb 2010 | 9:11 am
    Our services are paid for by your new or existing Landlord so contact us here so we can help you lease your new office space. Address Available Space (sf) Asking Net Rental Rate (psf) Asking Estimated Additional Rent (psf) Asking Gross Rental Rate (psf) Asking Monthly Rate Asking Annual Rate 1 Eglinton Avenue E 2,154 $14.00 $19.60 $33.60 $6,031.20 $72,374.40 1 St Clair Avenue E 1,540 $12.00 $19.63 $31.63 $4,059.18 $48,710.20 1 St Clair Avenue E 2,012 $12.00 $19.63 $31.63 $5,303.30 $63,639.56 1 St Clair Avenue W 2,825 $15.50 $17.00 $32.50 $7,651.04 $91,812.50 100 Sheppard Avenue E 1,419 $14.00…

  • Landlord Listings – Downtown West Office Space

    Chris Fyvie - 416-992-9869
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:01 am
    Here are some listings from a few Landlord’s in the Downtown West.  For a price list, floor plans or pictures of any of these spaces contact us here.
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    OfficeFinder Blog

  • A Good Time To Buy?

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:44 am
    It is a good time to buy office space if you have the cash. With the markets as depressed as they are, prices have dropped significantly on office building purchases. Reading the news, you will see many stories of lost office buildings or office buildings sold at a loss stories. Check out our Lease vs Buy section to find out if it would be a good decision for you. One way to get into an office building purchase is to take advantage of the SBA’s 7(a) Loan Program: “This is SBA’s primary and most flexible loan program, with financing guaranteed for a variety of general business…

  • Three to Four Year Office Market Recovery?

    5 Feb 2010 | 8:39 am
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- The outlook for jobs became a bit less bleak with January's unexpected decline in the unemployment rate, which fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent as more people said they had jobs.Still, Friday's unemployment report showed just how deep the job crisis remains. The government now estimates 8.4 million jobs vanished in the Great Recession, and economists think the nation would be lucky to get back 1.5 million of them this year. And they say it will take at least three to four years for the job market to return to anything like normal. <End> Not particurally good news…

  • Mortgage Banker vs Fed Reports - Conflicting Message?

    2 Feb 2010 | 5:13 pm
    So we have 2 apparently conflicting reports on the same day.  The Fed survey tells us loans are not loosening for commercial properties and then the Mortgage Bankers tell us that they increased in the 4th Quarter of 2009 over 2008. What's going on?It seems pretty apparent what is happening, but it could be a confusing to some trying to figure it out. Basically, originations immediately after the crash in 2008 would have come to a standstill, 4th Q 2008 originations would be nil for commercial properties. Everyone was on hold.  Even a very low number of originations in 4th Q 2009 would be an…

  • MBA reports increase in 4Q Commercial Loan Originations

    2 Feb 2010 | 5:05 pm
    The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported on Tuesday that commercial mortgage originations were at a higher level during the last quarter of 2009 than in either the previous quarter or in the 4th quarter of 2008, but multifamily originations continued to lag. The data was part of the MBA's Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Bankers Originations. Source: MND News Wire

  • Fed Reports a Pause in Credit Tightening... Except for Commercial Real Estate

    2 Feb 2010 | 4:56 pm
    Most large banks have stopped tightening standards on a number of loan types, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve. But the central bank’s latest loan officer survey says that while it may not be getting tougherfor consumers to borrow, it’s not getting any easier yet either because financial institutions have yet to unwind the considerable contraction that has built up over the past two years. Market observers continue to lament the lack of financing available in the commercial sector, particularly with an estimated 1 in 5 commercial mortgages maturing over the next two…
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    Loan Classroom

  • Calculate Mortgage Rates

    Matt Isleib
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:41 am
    Looking for a great site to calculate mortgage rates? If you go to my website www.EversleyCapital.com and go to the calculators tab on the page you can get a wide range of choices. You can use a standard mortgage calculator to figure out payments based on the calculated mortgage rate as well interest only mortgage calculators, ... Read More

  • Connecticut FHA Mortgages

    Matt Isleib
    2 Feb 2010 | 7:12 am
    It should come as no surprise that FHA is tightening the belt where mortgages are concerned. Homeowners in Connecticut and across the country will soon see higher fees for an FHA mortgage and they will also see much stricter guidelines. Presently an FHA mortgage is the only option if you do not have a large down ... Read More

  • Connecticut Jumbo Mortgages

    Matt Isleib
    29 Jan 2010 | 8:36 am
    Some good news for the folks Connecticut who apply for a jumbo mortgage in Fairfield County, Hartford County, Middlesex County and Tolland County. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have extended the conforming jumbo mortgage program through all of 2010. Homeowners and potential ones have had the pleasure in these counties of having some really great ... Read More

  • Ct Mortgage Rates

    Matt Isleib
    28 Jan 2010 | 3:26 pm
    Today mortgage rates in Connecticut and the rest of the US for that matter are still under 5 percent. In fact for those that qualify today we are 4.75 percent for a 30 year fixed mortgage and paying ‘zero’ points. The question is how long will rates be here? Mortgage rates are well off their fresh ... Read More

  • Connecticut Mortgages

    Matt Isleib
    27 Jan 2010 | 6:26 am
    Starting the New Year for mortgage applicants in Connecticut and all of the U.S. will bring some change. The way borrowers will review their loan quotes via the GFE (good faith estimate) has been radically changed. What borrowers and lenders have known and grown accustomed to is a single page GFE that line itemized all the ... Read More
 
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    Vero Beach Real Estate

  • RIOMAR Homes For Sale | Vero Beach Real Estate

    starfish
    6 Feb 2010 | 4:29 pm
    Find RIOMAR Homes For Sale and RIOMAR Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Vero Beach Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Florida. Vero Beach Real Estate Paul Kitchen and Starfish Real Estate provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Vero Beach, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including RIOMAR, school districts and the Vero Beach Real Estate market in this beautiful Indian River County town. Paul Kitchen…

  • Vero Beach Real Estate Sales (January 18 – January 25, 2010)

    starfish
    28 Jan 2010 | 12:41 pm
    Vero Beach Real Estate Paul Kitchen and Starfish Real Estate provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Vero Beach, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including VERO BEACH, school districts and the Vero Beach Real Estate market in this beautiful Indian River County town. Paul Kitchen Broker-Owner Starfish Real Estate 40 Royal Palm Pointe Vero Beach, FL 32960 (772) 539-8420 (772) 539-8360 fax (800) 793-7304 toll free Vero Beach Real Estate Vero Beach Real Estate Blog

  • SHORES Homes For Sale | Vero Beach Real Estate

    starfish
    10 Jan 2010 | 6:05 pm
    Find SHORES Homes For Sale and SHORES Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Vero Beach Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Florida. Vero Beach Real Estate Paul Kitchen and Starfish Real Estate provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Vero Beach, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including SHORES, school districts and the Vero Beach Real Estate market in this beautiful Indian River County town. Paul Kitchen…

  • SILVER SANDS Homes For Sale | Vero Beach Real Estate

    starfish
    10 Jan 2010 | 6:02 pm
    Find SILVER SANDS Homes For Sale and SILVER SANDS Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Vero Beach Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Florida. Vero Beach Real Estate Paul Kitchen and Starfish Real Estate provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Vero Beach, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including SILVER SANDS, school districts and the Vero Beach Real Estate market in this beautiful Indian River County…

  • VERO ISLES Homes For Sale | Vero Beach Real Estate

    starfish
    10 Jan 2010 | 5:54 pm
    Find VERO ISLES Homes For Sale and VERO ISLES Home Values. We also have information on mortgages, insurance, movers and other Vero Beach Real Estate Services for anyone looking to sell or buy a home in beautiful INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Florida. Vero Beach Real Estate Paul Kitchen and Starfish Real Estate provide clients, family and close friends with professional, honest and dependable service. A resident of Vero Beach, Paul is extremely familiar with the local neighborhoods including VERO ISLES, school districts and the Vero Beach Real Estate market in this beautiful Indian River County town.
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    Oh My Apartment

  • Saving Money: 3 Proven Tips for Sticking to a Budget

    Staff Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:57 am
    The first step to saving money is to create a budget and stick to it. This isn’t new advice; it’s proven to work, but many people don’t create one. Many people take the time to create a budget, but then forget it and resume their spending habits. Why is sticking to a budget so hard for so many? The answer for many is that they just don’t know how to. Here are 3 proven tips to help you use the budget you create: 1. Use More Cash One problem you may be having with sticking to a budget is that it’s all on paper, making it not seem real. It’s almost an…

  • Getting Rid of Clutter: Donating Old Clothes

    Staff Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:55 am
    Getting rid of clutter is a necessary but unpleasant job. While doing so will keep your home clean and reduce your stress level, it is rarely a task many people look forward to. Decluttering your home, though, is oftentimes as simple as purging your closet and donating your old clothes. Emptying your closet will provide you with more space and contributing your old clothes to a charity will leave you feeling cheerful to have helped someone in need. Pick a Donation Date Contact local charities and schedule a reasonable pick-up date and time for your donations. Scheduling this before you begin…

  • How to Detect a Gas Leak

    Staff Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:53 am
    Knowing how to detect a gas leak can be very important. Gas leaks in a home are potentially deadly and need to resolved immediately. Gas leaks can occur inside from an appliance that uses gas or they can happen outside if a gas line is damaged while digging. How to Know When You Have a Gas Leak Remember that gas does not have a color or a smell of its own. The smell of rotten eggs is something that has been added to it to help let you know when there is a leak. Carbon Monoxide detectors and natural gas detectors can be used to detect a gas leak as well. An alarm will sound to let you know…

  • 5 Tips for Packing Kitchen Appliances and Cooking Utentils

    Staff Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:49 am
    Kitchen appliances are fragile items to pack and move. If not done properly, they can get damaged and you’ll have to spend money to replace them. You can avoid this hassle by packing them the right way so that both your kitchen appliances and cooking utensils arrive intact at your final destination. Use these 5 tips to help you pack your kitchen items safely for transport: 1. Bubble Wrap Whether you use bubble wrap depends on how much money you have to spend on the move. There are alternatives to using bubble wrap (described below), but they are handy if you can afford it. Wrap your…

  • 4 Common Problems when Starting a Container Garden

    Staff Writer
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:46 am
    A container garden is a great option for apartment renters who don’t have access to a yard for growing plants and flowers. With the right containers and the knowledge of the common problems to avoid, you gain great satisfaction and reward in growing a garden to meet your needs. Here are 4 common problems you need to know about: 1. Higher Electric Bills If you plan on growing your container garden indoors, one problem that you’ll run into is a monetary one: a higher electric bill. It may take the use of artificial lighting to get your plants growing to their full potential if you…
 
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    Missouri Living at it's BEST

  • Stone County Missouri and the Table Rock Lake area Real Estate Market Report for January 2010.

    Steve Mattison (Souvenir Realty, Inc. )
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:23 pm
    According to the local MLS statistics, single family homes sales in Stone County MO last month more than doubled with a total of 7 single family homes closing escrow.  The highest priced one sold for $402,500 and the lowest priced one sold for $113,000.   That gave us a median price of $160,000 which is an improvement as well.  That is better than the news we expected for the Stone County and the Table Rock Lake area Real Estate Market.  So really, if you are thinking about buying a home here, you have great timing! Condo sales slowed with only 5 condos sold in…

  • Branson Missouri Real Estate Market Report for January 2010.

    Steve Mattison (Souvenir Realty, Inc. )
    3 Feb 2010 | 8:12 pm
    According to the local MLS, Branson single family homes sales last month totaled a whopping 11 homes sold.  The highest priced one sold for $$325,000 and the lowest priced one sold for $96,040 with a median price of about $135,000.  That is less than half the number of homes sold in December and lower in prices as well.  Condo sales were steady with the same number closing in January, 6, as closed in December.  The highest one sold for $367,750 and the lowest priced one sold for $38,000.  They had a higher median price of approximately $130,000, so at least there is…

  • More good news for Missouri Home Buyers in 2010.

    Steve Mattison (Souvenir Realty, Inc. )
    27 Jan 2010 | 2:27 pm
    Besides the First Time Homebuyer's Tax Credit and the Previous Homeowner's New Home Tax Credit, Missouri Home Buyers have another tax credit available.  Just to make it easy I will let you go there, but to sum it up, your  property taxes can get paid by the State this year! HOPE FOR MO HOMEBUYERS.  Now I HOPE that will make some of you see another reason to get 'er done before April 30th:)  Call me (417)350-9743Stephen Mattison, ABR e-Pro Souvenir Realty, Inc. Office: (417)357-8326 Cell: (417) 350-9743 E-mail Me! Website for Listings & more! My Blog…

  • Branson Missouri Real Estate Market Report for December 2009

    Steve Mattison (Souvenir Realty, Inc. )
    4 Jan 2010 | 9:40 am
    Branson Missouri Real Estate Market Report for December 2009 According to the local MLS, Branson single family homes sales last month total was 28.  The highest priced one sold for $489,900 and the lowest priced one sold for $44,500 with a median price of $180,000.  That is five less homes than November but slightly higher median price of $180,000 keeps it from being all bad news.  Condo sales were also down by the same proportion with 6 closing escrow in December.  The highest one sold for $132,500 and the lowest sold for $54,000.  They also had a lower median price…

  • Stone County Missouri Real Estate Market Report for December 2009

    Steve Mattison (Souvenir Realty, Inc. )
    4 Jan 2010 | 9:29 am
    Stone County Missouri Real Estate Market Report for December 2009   According to the local MLS statistics, single family homes sales in Stone County MO last month totaled 3 single family homes.  The highest priced one sold for $325,000 and the lowest priced one sold for $159,000.  The other one sold for $190,000 and that was a decrease in sales of 21 homes.  That is not the news we hoped for the Stone County and Table Rock Lake area Real Estate Market.  However, if you are thinking about buying, you have great timing! Condo sales more than doubled over the previous…
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    Nelson NZ Real Estate

  • Business Toolbox Released Today

    David Leggott
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:41 pm
    8th February 2010 Statistics NZ are on a roll – they have today……………… gone and released another fabulous application called Business Toolbox. This is fabulous news for businesses and should be a boon for business brokers allowing them and their clients to….as Statistics NZ put it….. Over on the right of the screen , our old friend table – [...]

  • Home Energy Audits Complusory – NZ next

    David Leggott
    6 Feb 2010 | 11:50 pm
    7th February 2010 Could the Australian proposal be the harbinger of things to come here in New Zealand? Under the heading “National Strategy on Energy Efficiency” on the Energy efficient buildings page of the Australian Governments Dept of Environment, Water, Heritage and The Arts website, is this published strategy aim; Providing information to the housing market by requiring [...]

  • New Zealand Community of the Year Award winner is

    David Leggott
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:51 pm
    6th February 2010 A Gala Awards Presentation was held on Wednesday night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Auckland, to celebrate the inaugural New Zealander of the Year Awards. Full credit must go to the individual winner, Ray Avery, who was named by Prime Minister John Key as the New Zealander of the Year. His inventions have [...]

  • Statistics NZ Interactive Boundary Maps App Just Released

    David Leggott
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:47 pm
    5th February 2010 Fantastic new resource for Real Estate persons, and also for buyers / investors who want to find out statistical information about a locality / suburb / town that they may not be familiar with. Statistics NZ have just released their new NZ Interactive Boundary Maps Application. Head on over to the main site and you’ll [...]

  • Nelson – is there something in the local water

    David Leggott
    4 Feb 2010 | 2:27 am
    4th Feb 2010 Today was an important day. Well especially for Nelsonian eight-year-old Amelia Abbott from Hampton St school it was……… Today her interpretation of what makes Kiwi land great was featured if you clicked on the GOOGLE.CO.NZ page. Guess its just further proof that the lifestyle here in Nelson breeds the best in folk………and that there are no [...]
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    Andy Tolbert

  • Is 99% Satisfaction Good Enough? (archive: July 2008)

    Andy Tolbert
    27 Jan 2010 | 7:19 am
    (archive: July 2008) Today I had a listing appointment with a client that was referred to me because of my skills in “Alternative Financing” and moving properties that nobody else has been able to sell. Anyway, as I printed the Mapquest to his house, there was an ad at the top of the printout that was for Genuine Hewlett-Packard Ink for your printer. It said: “1 out of every 4 refilled inkjet cartridges will fail. Trust HP inks for 99% quality” or something along those lines. Their point was the they only have a 1% failure rate as compared to 25% failure rate among…

  • What happens if you list a short sale too low?

    Andy Tolbert
    6 Jan 2010 | 10:05 am
    Anyone that’s been in the field at all over the last year has seen it: a home that is in a $120,000 neighborhood is all of a sudden listed as a short sale for $75,000. I just saw that very situation first hand in a neighborhood that I own a rental property, in fact it’s the first home I ever bought and Tim & I lived there for 3 years before turning it into a rental, so over the years I’ve tracked the values in there VERY closely, it’s kind of my temperature gauge for the real estate market. After I got over my initial anger over how someone could POSSIBLY list a…

  • FORBES list of most declining value cities… Good News or Bad News?

    Andy Tolbert
    23 Dec 2009 | 8:15 am
    Recently Forbes Magazine/Forbes.com released their lists of which cities had been hardest hit by home price declines, measured from peak to now (See the full report by CLICKING HERE) They have it broken into Regions like Midwest, South, Etc. but judging from the 9 cities listed in the South category, Florida was the only state included in the category! Of course on the surface this list shows everything that is wrong with our market right now… the top city, Merced California, had a 62.11% decrease from THEIR peak in the 2nd quarter of 2006 (that was the other interesting feature of the…

  • What can an FBI Profiler Teach You About Real Estate?

    Andy Tolbert
    9 Dec 2009 | 10:42 am
    While Tim & I were in France we had a lot of time to relax and do NOTHING at all. This wasn’t a glamorous sight-seeing trip, it was Thanksgiving with the side of the family that just happens to live very far away! Anyway, just like everyone’s Thanksgiving there’s a certain point where the TV gets turned on, only there nothing’s in English! So Tim’s Mom had the DVD’s of the CBS show “Criminal Minds” about a team of FBI agents that help catch criminals by profiling them. I had never watched the show and got kind of caught up in it. Not…

  • The 3 Foot Giant… How Tall Are You?

    Andy Tolbert
    10 Nov 2009 | 12:53 pm
    I just got back from a full morning of appointments and was all ready to write to you about the USDA/Rural Housing loan programs and how buyers can get ZERO down financing with NO M.I. But first I checked my email… offer on listing (print), closing confirmation for Friday (put in calendar, 1pm), email from my friend Nick: Hmmmmm…. he usually has some great insight to share for my business… let’s take a look! What I found was quite amazing, so I’m covering USDA next week, this week, I want you to meet Sean Stephenson. Author, Motivational Speaker, Therapist, and…
 
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    BostonKayakGuy...John Prescott's The MetWest Scene

  • BostonKayakGuy: NEEDHAM REAL ESTATE – SURE AND STEADY in 2009!

    bostonkayakguy
    2 Feb 2010 | 12:09 am
    Boston's metrowest suburbs weathered a blustery real estate market in 2009. Wellesley had a volatile ride throughout the first 3 quarters before ending the year with moderate damage to the high-end, while Natick and Needham finished up the year in shipshape condition ready to sail into 2010...

  • NATICK – Great Space and Value, OPEN HOUSE, 1/31, 2:00-3:30

    bostonkayakguy
    30 Jan 2010 | 2:21 pm
    14 Dwight Ave, Natick $369,000 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, central air, and more! John Prescott, Vice President Century 21 Commonwealth 508-523-9252 Tagged: Boston, boston globe, Finance, Framingham, holliston, John Prescott, john prescott top metrowest real estate agent, john prescott top natick real estate agent, john prescott top needham real estate agent, john prescott top wellesley real estate agent, John [...]

  • 12 Edgewood, NATICK, First OH, 1/24, 1:30-3:30

    bostonkayakguy
    19 Jan 2010 | 4:29 pm
    Beautifully updated house! Marvelous kitchen, new carpet, paint...and priced right! Head on over to 12 Edgewood, Natick if you're looking for a great home!

  • 14 Dwight Ave, NATICK – Home for Sale

    bostonkayakguy
    17 Jan 2010 | 6:50 am
    Looking for value? Looking for space? This home at 14 Dwight Ave is listed at a terrific price point!

  • Lanie (American Girl Today) Author at Natick Collection

    bostonkayakguy
    16 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Jane Kurtz will be at the American Girl store at the Natick Collection on Sunday, January 17th. The author of American Girl’s ‘ Girl of the Year 2010′  books will be signing books and meeting with fans as part of her book tour. Meet Ms. Kurtz in person and have your favorite books signed. Free and open [...]
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    Hawaii Real Estate Reporter

  • Oahu Home Sales and Prices – Year End Update for 2009

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    20 Jan 2010 | 6:49 pm
    Hawaii Single family Home and Condo Price Trends 2009 While the number of home sales steadily increased through 2009, the year still ended with single-family home sales down slightly, 1.7% compared to 2008. Condominium sales were down further, 9.5%. Median price for both single-family and condominiums bottomed out during the first half of 2009 but closed the year at $580,000 for single-family homes and $320,000 for condominiums, down 7.2% and 6.2% respectively from 2008. Click to Download the Oahu Real Estate Report – 2009 Year End Oahu 10 Year Graph of Condo Prices December 2009 Oahu…

  • August 2009 Hawaii Housing Stats – Looking Good!

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    2 Sep 2009 | 7:36 pm
    The Honolulu Board of Realtors released its statistics wrap-up regarding Hawaii Housing in August 2009. These stats continue to show upward price pressure. Click here to Download August 2009 HBR Stats Number of Sales. Sales for SFH dropped for the first time this year from 265 in July to 247 in August. However, Condo sales jumped again, from 327 in July to 351 in August. This is the highest number of Condo sales this year, and higher than August 2008. Median prices down. This has been expected for the last few months. Remember, median prices don’t mean very much. They are measuring what has…

  • July 2009 Video Discussion: Has Real Estate Hit The bottom Yet?

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    29 Jul 2009 | 5:21 pm
    Bill Chee and Howard Dicus discuss current Hawaii real estate market conditions for July 2009. Have we hit the bottom? Click on the video to listen to the discussion: Post from: Hawaii Real Estate Reporter July 2009 Video Discussion: Has Real Estate Hit The bottom Yet?

  • Hawaii Ranked 15th for Highest Number of Foreclosure Filings

    melissav
    15 Jun 2009 | 11:30 pm
    Due to a steady rise in Hawaiian foreclosure filings as stated by a June 11th honoluluadvertiser.com posting, Hawaii ranked 15th among the 50 states for the highest number of foreclosure filings per household last month. These numbers come from a recent RealtyTrac report, ranking the states based upon foreclosure filings. There were 816 foreclosure filings within Hawaii. This marks the second time that Hawaii has been among the 20 top states for foreclosure filings since RealtyTrac’s creation in January of 2005. The reason for Hawaii’s ranking in recent months is believed to be that the…

  • Mortgage rates have risen above 5%, Probably Won’t Go That Low Again

    melissav
    5 Jun 2009 | 7:45 pm
    According to a May 29th, 2009 article posted by CNNMoney.com, Both mortgage and interest rates have risen above 5% and will remain there for sometime. This past week mortgage rates peaked at 5.45%, which is the highest recorded rate for this year. The reason for the increase in rates has been linked to the great deal of debt that the United States government has been issuing in the form of treasuries or bonds. Recently the supply of treasury bills has begun to increase with little response from buyers. This has led to a direct hit on mortgage rates, pushing them well above the 5% mark. The…
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    Hawaii Real Estate reporter

  • Oahu Home Sales and Prices – Year End Update for 2009

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    20 Jan 2010 | 6:49 pm
    Hawaii Single family Home and Condo Price Trends 2009 While the number of home sales steadily increased through 2009, the year still ended with single-family home sales down slightly, 1.7% compared to 2008. Condominium sales were down further, 9.5%. Median price for both single-family and condominiums bottomed out during the first half of 2009 but closed the year at $580,000 for single-family homes and $320,000 for condominiums, down 7.2% and 6.2% respectively from 2008. Click to Download the Oahu Real Estate Report – 2009 Year End Oahu 10 Year Graph of Condo Prices December 2009 Oahu…

  • August 2009 Hawaii Housing Stats – Looking Good!

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    2 Sep 2009 | 7:36 pm
    The Honolulu Board of Realtors released its statistics wrap-up regarding Hawaii Housing in August 2009. These stats continue to show upward price pressure. Click here to Download August 2009 HBR Stats Number of Sales. Sales for SFH dropped for the first time this year from 265 in July to 247 in August. However, Condo sales jumped again, from 327 in July to 351 in August. This is the highest number of Condo sales this year, and higher than August 2008. Median prices down. This has been expected for the last few months. Remember, median prices don’t mean very much. They are measuring what has…

  • July 2009 Video Discussion: Has Real Estate Hit The bottom Yet?

    Hawaii Real Estate reporter
    29 Jul 2009 | 5:21 pm
    Bill Chee and Howard Dicus discuss current Hawaii real estate market conditions for July 2009. Have we hit the bottom? Click on the video to listen to the discussion: Post from: Hawaii Real Estate Reporter July 2009 Video Discussion: Has Real Estate Hit The bottom Yet?

  • Hawaii Ranked 15th for Highest Number of Foreclosure Filings

    melissav
    15 Jun 2009 | 11:30 pm
    Due to a steady rise in Hawaiian foreclosure filings as stated by a June 11th honoluluadvertiser.com posting, Hawaii ranked 15th among the 50 states for the highest number of foreclosure filings per household last month. These numbers come from a recent RealtyTrac report, ranking the states based upon foreclosure filings. There were 816 foreclosure filings within Hawaii. This marks the second time that Hawaii has been among the 20 top states for foreclosure filings since RealtyTrac’s creation in January of 2005. The reason for Hawaii’s ranking in recent months is believed to be that the…

  • Mortgage rates have risen above 5%, Probably Won’t Go That Low Again

    melissav
    5 Jun 2009 | 7:45 pm
    According to a May 29th, 2009 article posted by CNNMoney.com, Both mortgage and interest rates have risen above 5% and will remain there for sometime. This past week mortgage rates peaked at 5.45%, which is the highest recorded rate for this year. The reason for the increase in rates has been linked to the great deal of debt that the United States government has been issuing in the form of treasuries or bonds. Recently the supply of treasury bills has begun to increase with little response from buyers. This has led to a direct hit on mortgage rates, pushing them well above the 5% mark. The…
 
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    Realty Times

  • Market Conditions

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    The National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index shows that there has been a market swing, driven by response to the home buyer tax credit.

  • Realtor Association Expands Anti-Discrimination Policy

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    At the recent annual governance meeting of the National Association of Realtors held in San Diego, the Board of Directors adopted a recommendation to expand its existing support of equal opportunity to include its application with respect to sexual orientation. The exact wording of the motion was: "That existing NAR policy on equal housing opportunity be amended to include opposition to discrimination based on sexual orientation."

  • Prepare to Avoid Buying Panic

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    When you buy real estate in a panic, you may lose more than you gain. PJ Wade shares tips on removing the panic from buying in even a fast-paced market.

  • Real Estate Outlook: Positive Movement

    8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm
    It's a fairly rare event, but now and then most of the important economic directional signs go positive, and this is one of those weeks
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    craigmische.com : lakefront real estate in Alexandria, MN

  • Price Changes Changing in Alexandria, MN

    Craig Mische
    5 Feb 2010 | 12:27 pm
    If you have talked to me anytime between now and last summer or if you visit this site frequently, you will have heard my thoughts about end of declining real estate prices in the Alexandria Lakes Area. Part of my opinion was backed by pending or closed sales and some of it was less concrete such as increases in web-site traffic resulting from organic searches (for example: lake carlos real estate for sale). Or, increases in inquiries from people that at some point in our verbal or email conversations would tell me "we are kind of waiting to see if prices decline more".The real estate sales…

  • Two on Lake Ida Since 2005

    Craig Mische
    1 Feb 2010 | 10:20 am
    Betsy Ross Road is at the northwest side of Lake Ida and there is a bare lot that is over an acre that has been for sale since September of 2005. Over the years there have been price changes, in both directions, and last week the price was lowered and the new list price is also a new low in regards to the ask price.A few miles south of this lot is another 1 acre plus lot that has shared access to Ida. Its address is Ida View Court and is owned by a local bank. Prior to the bank taking possession it had been for sale in the MLS since 2005 with a starting price of $168,900.

  • Irene, Rachel, Latoka and Vermont

    Craig Mische
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:04 am
    Two bare lots on Lake Irene have lower ask prices. Lots in this development have sold in the $180k's. On Rachel Lake a cottage with a private setting and level lakeshore has been lowered in price to $159,900. A Lake Vermont property that was on the market in 2008 but had been off the market since January 1st, 2009 is back on the market. The list price previously was $363k and is now listed at $288k. A Lake Latoka home that I mentioned on January 13th has an accepted Purchase Agreement. I suspect that I'll be reporting another accepted Purchase Agreement (Lake Le Homme Dieu) by the end of the…

  • Le Homme Dieu, Andrew and Lobster

    Craig Mische
    26 Jan 2010 | 6:12 am
    The Wharf has had it's doors closed for years with many different tales floating around what was going to happen to the formerly popular spot. It now is on the market in Alexandria's MLS. A 3 bedroom/3 bath home with 150 feet of frontage on Lake Andrew has an accepted Purchase Agreement. Lobster Lake (Beauty Point) has a new listing in the MLS. And finally, the biggest news and opportunity is a $100,000 price reduction on a Lake Le Homme Dieu home.

  • Southeast Lake Carlos

    Craig Mische
    26 Jan 2010 | 4:02 am
    If you are reading this in Minnesota or another frozen state, I hope this video shot last summer along the shores of southeast Lake Carlos helps transport yourself out of the cold weather for a moment. Note: I have the video set to playback in HD so if you end up with a disrupted playback just look in the lower right hand corned for 720p and change it to 360p or 480p.
 
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    WSJ.com Video - Real Estate

  • Let the Home Savings Flow

    5 Feb 2010 | 10:56 am
    Homeowners looking to go 'green' may think that means installing pricey solar panels or wind turbines. But new, efficient showers, faucets and toilets can save thousands of gallons of water a year -- and the cost savings add up. Amy Hoak reports.

  • Say Goodbye to the McMansion

    29 Jan 2010 | 11:32 am
    Times have changed, and the square footage of new American homes is dropping. Super-sized homes are out, and efficiency and versatility are in. MarketWatch's Amy Hoak reports on the latest building trends.

  • Gay Retirement Community Stalled

    27 Jan 2010 | 5:33 pm
    Fountaingrove Lodge was supposed to be a haven for gay retirees. But now in the face of local opposition to the project, plans for the upscale Santa Rosa retirement community are on hold. Nick Burns reports.

  • Report Suggests Unsteady Housing Recovery

    26 Jan 2010 | 3:08 pm
    Dave Blitzer Chairmen of the Index Committee at S&P speaks to Kelsey Hubbard about the latest S&P Case-Shiller home-price indexes.

  • News Hub: Who Controls Stuy Town?

    26 Jan 2010 | 6:29 am
    When complex deals like the one for Stuyvesant Town fall apart, who is in control? The News Hub panel discusses what they call "the $4 billion question."
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    WSJ.com: Developments

  • FHA Loan Defaults Surpass 9%

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am
    Officials at the Federal Housing Administration take every opportunity they can to assure the public that the agency is weathering the housing downturn just fine. But the latest batch of numbers show that defaults on loans backed by the government insurer show no signs of slowing. Loan defaults crossed the 9% mark in December, ending the year at 9.12%, up from 6.82% one year earlier and 8.94% at the end of November.  Through 2009, the agency had insured 5.8 million loans worth $752.6 billion, or a 24% increase from one year ago. FHA officials say that the loans that are being originated this…

  • Talking ‘Aboot’ Canada’s Housing Bubble

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:03 am
    In the U.S. we’re still mucking around at the bottom of the crash (or the false bottom), but in Canada recovery has been so rapid that some there are worrying about (aboot?) a bubble. WSJ reporter Phred Dvorak wrote yesterday about rising home prices in the country. One index that tracks Canada’s six biggest cities posted its seventh straight monthly gain, Ms. Dvorak writes, and prices in November are now back to prerecession peak. Citing a report from the Canadian Real Estate Association, the Globe and Mail said Monday that house prices will hit a record C$337,500, on average, in…

  • Pay Borrowers to Pay Their Mortgage?

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am
    How do you get borrowers to avoid walking away from homes that are deeply underwater without encouraging more to follow by writing down principal balances? One idea: Pay them to keep paying their mortgage. The novel approach is being touted by Loan Value Group LLC, a firm selling their idea—and ready-made application—to mortgage investors nervous about the risk of strategic default, where borrowers walk away from their homes even though they can afford to pay their mortgages.  The firm says it’s signed up an undisclosed mortgage investor to test a pilot program with a few hundred…

  • Mortgage Bankers Mum on How They Fixed Their Own Mortgage Woes

    6 Feb 2010 | 2:54 pm
    Is the Mortgage Bankers Association embarrassed by the way it resolved its own mortgage mess? In any case, officials of the trade group are refusing to provide details on that question. Surely, many Americans could sympathize with the MBA’s plight. Like them, it made a bad bet on real estate at the peak of the bubble and then watched the value of that property fall far below the loan balance, a predicament known as being “under water.” Unlike most of those other distressed borrowers, however, the MBA seems to have found a way out of its real estate nightmare. On Friday, CoStar Group…

  • 4Kids Entertainment CEO Purchases Madoff Penthouse

    6 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm
    Toy magnate Alfred R. Kahn has bought Bernard Madoff’s Manhattan penthouse, according to a person familiar with the deal. Mr. Kahn is the chairman and chief executive of 4Kids Entertainment, the New York company behind such hits as Cabbage Patch Kids and Pokemon. Pending board approval, he would own the 4,000-square-foot penthouse cooperative unit. The duplex apartment was originally listed for $9.9 million; the price was later cut by $1 million. The apartment is one of three Madoff properties the government seized and is selling to help reimburse victims of his fraud. Mr. Kahn…
 
 
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    Real Estate Q&A

  • Seller's Responsibility After the Closing

    By JAY ROMANO
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am
    About a month ago we bought a one-bedroom co-op in Brooklyn. During our walk-through before the closing, the seller told us that all the appliances were in good working condition. A couple of weeks after we moved in, the refrigerator stopped working. A repairman told us that it would make more sense to buy a new one than repair the old one. Would the seller be responsible for replacing the refrigerator?

  • Outwaiting a Picky Board

    By JAY ROMANO
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    At what point does the board become liable for having such an overzealous policy?

  • When Maintenance Is Long in Arrears

    By JAY ROMANO
    5 Feb 2010 | 9:28 am
    Can a co-op refuse to entertain any application for a new shareholder to buy an apartment until the arrears and penalties are paid?

  • Co-op Buyer Looks for a 'Bridge'

    By JAY ROMANO
    29 Jan 2010 | 8:47 am
    I own a co-op in Forest Hills. I am waiting to buy a bigger unit - now owned by the sponsor - when it becomes available. I don't want to sell my place until this larger one is for sale. My mortgage broker told me that banks no longer give bridge loans. I thought of offering to pay rent for the new apartment until I sell mine. Is this possible?

  • When Apartments Make You Sick

    By JAY ROMANO
    29 Jan 2010 | 8:44 am
    Six months ago I bought a co-op apartment in Bayside, Queens. I am susceptible to mold, so before closing I had the apartment inspected by a specialist who didn't find any mold. Days after the closing I felt sick in the apartment and brought this to the attention of management. I never received a response. Is the co-op responsible for correcting the problem?
 
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    Housing News

  • Canadian Real Estate Association forecasts record home sales in 2010

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:31 am
    The Canadian Real Estate Association now says 2010 will be a record year for home sales.

  • Stocks Higher After Budget Talk, Data

    9 Feb 2010 | 7:16 am
    Home Buyers: Pending home sales index shows signs of stabilization. Geithner Testifies: The Treasury Secretary is on the Hill to talk about the 2011 budget.

  • Maui home sales up 48% from 2009

    9 Feb 2010 | 3:14 am
    Maui's housing market experienced dramatic swings in sales of single-family homes and condominiums in January compared with the same month a year earlier.

  • ICBC to curb property loans

    8 Feb 2010 | 11:02 pm
    The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China vows it will not issue new loans to developers who seek to speculate on rising property prices through "hoarding land" or "putting off home sales" and may also call back earlier credit to such borrowers.

  • Why house short sales take such a long time

    8 Feb 2010 | 6:38 pm
    Anyone trying to sell their home today knows it's a challenge. Now couple that will trying to sell your home on a short sale.
 
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    HUD Press Releases

  • HUD FY2011 Budget Focuses on Fiscal Discipline, Investing in People and Places

    1 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today unveiled the Department's fiscal year 2011 budget proposal, following President Barack Obama's presentation of his Administration-wide budget. The HUD budget focuses on fiscal discipline, creating jobs and builds on the administration's first year accomplishments by proposing reform in HUD's housing and community development programs to make them more streamlined, efficient, and accountable.

  • HUD Secretary Donovan Names Rick Garcia as HUD's Rocky Mountain Regional

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    DENVER - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced President Barack Obama's selection of Denver City Councilman Rick Garcia to serve as HUD Regional Director for the six states in HUD's Rocky Mountain Region which includes Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Utah.

  • HUD Selects Three Innovating Housing Authorities to Elite Program to Enhance Federal Rental Assistance Programs

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Assistant Secretary Sandra B. Henriquez today announced the three public housing agencies that will participate in HUD's Moving To Work Program (MTW). MTW allows housing agencies to design and test innovative housing strategies that assist lower income families living in public housing or who are assisted through HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program.

  • HUD Secretary Donovan Names Mary McBride as HUD's Northwest Regional Director

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    SEATTLE - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced President Barack Obama's selection of Mary McBride to serve as HUD Regional Director for the four states in HUD's Northwest Region including Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska.

  • HUD Secretary Donovan Names Edward Jennings, Jr. as HUD's Southeast Regional Director

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:00 am
    ATLANTA - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced President Barack Obama's selection of Edward L. Jennings, Jr. to serve as HUD Regional Director for the eight states in HUD's Southeast Region including Tennessee, Kentucky North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.
 
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    What's New on HUDclips

  • Federal Registers

    3 Feb 2010 | 4:14 am
    FR-5383-N-01 Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Multifamily Tenant Characteristics Family Reporting FR-5383-N-02 Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Public Housing Contracting With Resident- Owned Businesses  

  • Federal Registers

    2 Feb 2010 | 4:19 am
    FR-5379-N-01 Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Ginnie Mae Multiclass Securities Program Documents (Forms and Electronic Data Submissions) FR-5300-N-12 Announcement of Funding Awards for the Section 4 Capacity Building for Community Development and Affordable Housing Program Fiscal Year 2009 FR-5389-N-01 Mortgage and Loan Insurance Programs Under the National Housing Act-Debenture Interest Rates  

  • PIH Notice 2010-03

    31 Jan 2010 | 11:45 pm
    Guidance - Verification of Social Security Numbers (SSNs), Social Security (SS) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

  • Federal Registers

    28 Jan 2010 | 10:00 pm
    FR-5334-P-01 24 CFR Part 242 - Federal Housing Administration (FHA): Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program - Refinancing Hospital Loans; Proposed Rule FR-5380-N-01 Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; FHAInsured Mortgage Loan Servicing Property Physical Inspection/ Preservation FR-5375-N-04 Federal Property Suitable as Facilities To Assist the Homeless  

  • Mortgagee Letter 2010-05

    27 Jan 2010 | 11:00 pm
    Announcement of the FHA Nonprofit Data Management System
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    HousingWire

  • December Drop Brings IAS Index Back to 2004 Levels

    AUSTIN KILGORE
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:09 am
    Integrated Asset Services’ (IAS) monthly IAS360 House Price Index declined 0.7% from November to December, the Denver-based default management and residential collateral valuations firm said, adding prices are at mid-2004 levels. That’s a bigger drop than the month-over-month declines the index experienced in November (0.3%), October (0.5%) and September (0.6%). The index is a county-level measure of median sales price of single-family residences in five US Census Bureau regions, nine Census divisions and 360 counties. After five months of declines, the index is now 5.3% below its 2008…

  • Democrat Attorneys General Push for Consumer Financial Protection Agency

    AUSTIN KILGORE
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:36 am
    The Democrat attorneys general from Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa and Ohio are calling for the passage of legislation to create the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), in order to protect borrowers from the predatory lending practices they say helped lead to the extensive retraction in the economy. In a conference call with reporters, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said the current network of federal regulatory agencies did not have consumer interests in mind before the near collapse of the financial markets because the agencies primary focuses were not on consumer…

  • Silent Second Lien Risk to RMBS Getting Louder

    DIANA GOLOBAY
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am
    Second liens, commonly made in the form of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), are so far a silent hazard to first lien bond holders in residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), as many of these investors may not even know if a second lien is tied to their collateral investment. And as the press continues to focus on subprime fall-out, strategic default and option ARM resets, experts warn that these “silent second” HELOCs may become a much louder problem, according to converging data from a consumer credit agency and securities research. They say that investor claims on the…

  • Pay Borrowers to Pay Their Mortgage?

    DIANA GOLOBAY
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:25 am
    How do you get borrowers to avoid walking away from homes that are deeply underwater without encouraging more to follow by writing down principal balances? One idea: Pay them to keep paying their mortgage. The novel approach is being touted by Loan Value Group LLC, a firm selling their idea—and ready-made application—to mortgage investors nervous about the risk of strategic default, where borrowers walk away from their homes even though they can afford to pay their mortgages.  The firm says it’s signed up an undisclosed mortgage investor to test a pilot program with a few hundred…

  • Federal Reserve hopes clear exit strategy will boost market confidence

    DIANA GOLOBAY
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:03 am
    When you’ve flooded the economy with trillions of dollars, mopping up is no easy task. That’s the reality the Federal Reserve is confronting as it starts to explain how it will undo the aggressive growth-supporting steps that were put in place when the economy was in its deep dive — and begins to be clearer about when that may happen. But it is a fraught exercise. Federal Reserve leaders and private economists expect the jobless rate to remain high for years, despite a dip in the unemployment rate to 9.7 percent in January, and the Fed could make the situation worse if it…
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    Housing Market

  • The Future of Housing Demand: 4 Key Demographic Trends

    Demographic shifts and changing values will increase demand for pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use communities in both urban and suburban settings, according to John McIlwain of the Urban Land Institute. "The age of suburbanization and growing homeownership is over," McIlwain said in a recent report, "Housing in America: The Next Decade." "The coming decades will be the time of the great reurbanization as 24/7 central cities grow and suburbs around the country are redeveloped with new or revived walkable suburban town centers." This transition will be fueled by the…

  • Home Prices Stabilize Further, But More Drops May Be in Store

    Although home prices continued to stabilize in November, real estate experts believe we have another 5 or 10 percent of declines in store before values finally hit bottom. Home prices in 20 major cities declined 5.3 percent in November 2009 from a year earlier, a significant improvement over the 13.3 annual drop posted in July, according to the most recent S&P/Case-Shiller home price report. The figures, released Tuesday, represent the third month in a row of single-digit declines following 20 consecutive months of double-digit drops. But a number of factors—including the effects of…

  • Home Sales Tank: What it Means for You

    Existing home sales plunged in December, falling nearly 17 percent from November in their largest month-over-month drop since record-keeping began. Meanwhile, December's inventory represented a 7.2-month supply of unsold homes, notably higher than the 6.5-month supply recorded in November, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday. Although the monthly decline was larger than expected, the figures are much less jarring when compared with December 2008. Existing home sales remain 15 percent higher than a year earlier, while raw unsold inventory fell 11 percent from December 2008 to…

  • New FHA Requirements: Party On!

    Facing a tricky balancing act of keeping the housing market alive while protecting its eroding balance sheet, the Federal Housing Administration's new policy changes help ensure that most American home buyers still have access to government-backed mortgages with just 3.5 percent down. The steps—which include increasing fees and boosting minimum down payment requirements for borrowers with very low credit scores—are intended to rebuild and insulate the agency's capital cushion, which has eroded alongside falling home prices. But while the FHA insists they will help strengthen its…

  • Strategic Defaults and the Foreclosure Crisis

    Nearly a year after the Obama administration unveiled its ambitious housing rescue program, foreclosure tallies continue to break records. Foreclosure filings were reported on more than 2.8 million properties in 2009, up 21 percent from the previous year and 120 percent from 2007, according to RealtyTrac. With nearly 10 percent of mortgages now delinquent--which is also a new record--even more homeowners appear headed for foreclosure this year. "A massive supply of delinquent loans continues to loom over the housing market," RealtyTrac CEO James J. Saccacio said in a statement.
 
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    Planetizen - Urban Planning, Design and Development Network

  • Americans Buying Less, Doing More

    Rebecca Sanborn Stone
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Americans are starting to value experiences over things, according to a new poll. Nearly half of Americans report spending less time purchasing non-essential goods, while many are spending more time on friends, family, and hobbies. read more

  • New High-Speed Rail in China

    Tim Halbur
    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    A new 350kph train connecting Zhengzhou and Xi'an debuted Saturday, cutting a 6 hour train ride down to less than 2 hours. read more

  • Complaints Grow Over Increasing "Ugliness" of Paris

    Tim Halbur
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:00 am
    A press conference was held in Paris to draw attention to the problem of "increasingly large and unsympathetic buildings" cropping up around the City of Lights. read more

  • Florida Amendment Could Shake Up Local Planning

    Nate Berg
    9 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am
    Florida voters are facing an amendment this November that could dramatically reshape the way local planning occurs. read more

  • The State of Happiness

    Rebecca Sanborn Stone
    9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    A new study ranks the U.S. states by residents' happiness. From Louisiana (#1) to New York (#51), the happiest people tend to live in sunny, outdoorsy states with strong quality of life measures. read more
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    Business Insider: Housing Crisis

  • Lumber Futures Spike Before Housing's Last Gasp

    The Pragmatic Capitalist
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:50 am
    (This guest post originally appeared at the author's blog) Lumber futures have surged nearly 60% since the beginning of October despite mixed signals in recent housing data (read Mike Farrell’s must read housing comments here).  Random Lengths recently reported the continuing substantial weakness in housing as lumber production declined 23% vs 2008: U.S. lumber production through November totaled 21.205 billion board feet, down 23.0% from the January-November 2008 figure, according to the Western Wood Products Association. Through the first 11 months last year, production in the…

  • The Fed Makes Screaming Invitation To Housing Bubble Speculators By Promising To Restart Mortgage Support If Rates Rise

    Vincent Fernando
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:22 am
    The Federal Reserve's $1.25 trillion mortgage-backed security buying program is slated to end on March 31st. But Federal Reserve president William Dudley just made it clear that it would likely be restarted if the mortgage market started showing signs of weakness whereby mortgage rates rose too much. A screaming invitation to Housing Bubble 2.0 punters: WaPo: In interviews with the Nightly Business Report and the Associated Press, Dudley said the time is right to end the program because the economy is growing and because expanding the purchases would make it harder for the Fed to unwind its…

  • Hey Taxpayers! Get Ready To Bail Out The FHA

    John Carney
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:08 am
      John Carney, Managing Editor, Business Insider Sorry Folks, The FHA Is Still Going To Melt Down (3 min) FHA's default rate has been climbing for months, but the agency insists that it will not run out of cash Taxpayers will be stuck with the tab, if FHA is wrong The FHA is working on improving its finances (but how?) FHA's assertion: Loans backed in 2009 are much, much better than the loans in 2007 and 2008 The FHA probably insured more than 2 million single-family mortgages in FY 2009, compared with 1.2 million in FY 2008 The FHA also thinks that a good part of the growth last year…

  • Is Congress Really So Corrupt That Wall Street Calls The Shots?

    John Carney
    4 Feb 2010 | 8:17 am
      John Carney, Managing Editor, Business Insider (3 min) Your Questions (3 min) Is Congress really so corrupt that Wall Street calls the shots? Yes The Capitol Hill to investment banking and lobbying system The three types of people interested in the financial system Is it outrageous that a company like AIG is paying millions in bonuses? Of course it is Bankrupt without government support We're not liquidating AIG, so we're stuck with this Produced By: Kamelia Angelova & William Wei BONUS: Watch FHA Is In Denial And Running Out Of Cash > More Video: Click HERE >Join the…

  • 20 Reasons Why The U.S. Economy Is Dying And Is Simply Not Going To Recover

    Michael Snyder
    4 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am
    (This post originally appeared at the author's blog.) Even though the U.S. financial system nearly experienced a total meltdown in late 2008, the truth is that most Americans simply have no idea what is happening to the U.S. economy.  Most people seem to think that the nasty little recession that we have just been through is almost over and that we will be experiencing another time of economic growth and prosperity very shortly. But this time around that is not the case.  The reality is that we are being sucked into an economic black hole from which the U.S.
 
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    Housing Crisis

  • New Home Building’s Ten Most Critical Factors–And What to Do

    jmcmanus
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:51 am
    Winter’s insufferably long days have started to relent to the point where it’s no longer necessarily pitch dark both when you arrive and go home from work. Still, whatever the geography, cold, difficult days and nights lay ahead, even if optimism attaches itself to cautiousness in an increasing number of pronouncements of publically traded home building company leaders in their quarterly and fiscal year financial reports to analysts. This, the first formal week of what’s long been known as spring selling season, here’s how we’d oversimply characterize the 10…

  • Home Building M&A in 2010? Don’t Count it Out

    jmcmanus
    1 Feb 2010 | 12:06 pm
    Just a little visibility for home builders would be so welcome right now. However, it looks as if clarity about what exactly to anticipate next among home buyers and sellers is on hold. So, we’re looking at 2010 as another pre-visibility year. It’s another year where we see cash and balance sheet management action plans (a.k.a. savings wherever possible and sales at almost any cost) playing to greater emphasis than revenue generation. It’s not the inflection-point year we might have hoped for, but that doesn’t mean operators get more time just to practice their…

  • For new home builder, Joseph Carl Homes, the moment to rise from Phoenix’s ashes is now

    jmcmanus
    28 Jan 2010 | 1:43 pm
    When Joseph “Carl” Mulac  grand opens his CantaMia active adult community in the Estrella master plan in Goodyear (Phoenix market), Az., Feb. 10, home building’s spring selling season officially begins. Mulac–whose youthful appearance belies his three decades of experience in home building management–is a veteran of large enterprise companies, most recently as the Phoenix division president of the now no-longer TOUSA’s Engle Homes. But to him, he is one thing. “I’ve worked for several of the nationals, but I think of myself as a home…

  • Home Builders to Suppliers: You’re Part of the Problem if You’re not Part of the Solution

    jmcmanus
    27 Jan 2010 | 12:22 pm
    With so much of focus going to housing demand stimulus policy that has been playing havoc with monthly new home sales trends, it takes readers to bring the conversation back to earth. Here’s what one production home builder wrote to us about his experience last week in Las Vegas at the International Builders Show: “Still lots of folks WAY out of touch on the supplier side.   Expensive stuff catering to a market that might never return, green touches that buyers won’t pay for, the cattle call financing section was off the rails…..builders don’t need someone to talk to them…

  • Six Secrets from Behind the Headlines at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas

    jmcmanus
    25 Jan 2010 | 11:32 am
    Everybody talks these days about “take-aways” when there’s an industry event of  significance. Last week, we hunkered down in the trenches, mostly behind the scenes of the NAHB International Builders Show in Las Vegas with our industry friends–home builders–and tried to learn which way their fates and fortunes are headed: up, down, or sideways. You have heard and seen in other reports that the sentiment among attendees was positive although attendance at last week’s International Home Builders Show was middling at best. File them under wishful…
 
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    WSJ.com: Developments

  • FHA Loan Defaults Surpass 9%

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:10 am
    Officials at the Federal Housing Administration take every opportunity they can to assure the public that the agency is weathering the housing downturn just fine. But the latest batch of numbers show that defaults on loans backed by the government insurer show no signs of slowing. Loan defaults crossed the 9% mark in December, ending the year at 9.12%, up from 6.82% one year earlier and 8.94% at the end of November.  Through 2009, the agency had insured 5.8 million loans worth $752.6 billion, or a 24% increase from one year ago. FHA officials say that the loans that are being originated this…

  • Talking ‘Aboot’ Canada’s Housing Bubble

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:03 am
    In the U.S. we’re still mucking around at the bottom of the crash (or the false bottom), but in Canada recovery has been so rapid that some there are worrying about (aboot?) a bubble. WSJ reporter Phred Dvorak wrote yesterday about rising home prices in the country. One index that tracks Canada’s six biggest cities posted its seventh straight monthly gain, Ms. Dvorak writes, and prices in November are now back to prerecession peak. Citing a report from the Canadian Real Estate Association, the Globe and Mail said Monday that house prices will hit a record C$337,500, on average, in…

  • Pay Borrowers to Pay Their Mortgage?

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:13 am
    How do you get borrowers to avoid walking away from homes that are deeply underwater without encouraging more to follow by writing down principal balances? One idea: Pay them to keep paying their mortgage. The novel approach is being touted by Loan Value Group LLC, a firm selling their idea—and ready-made application—to mortgage investors nervous about the risk of strategic default, where borrowers walk away from their homes even though they can afford to pay their mortgages.  The firm says it’s signed up an undisclosed mortgage investor to test a pilot program with a few hundred…

  • Mortgage Bankers Mum on How They Fixed Their Own Mortgage Woes

    6 Feb 2010 | 2:54 pm
    Is the Mortgage Bankers Association embarrassed by the way it resolved its own mortgage mess? In any case, officials of the trade group are refusing to provide details on that question. Surely, many Americans could sympathize with the MBA’s plight. Like them, it made a bad bet on real estate at the peak of the bubble and then watched the value of that property fall far below the loan balance, a predicament known as being “under water.” Unlike most of those other distressed borrowers, however, the MBA seems to have found a way out of its real estate nightmare. On Friday, CoStar Group…

  • 4Kids Entertainment CEO Purchases Madoff Penthouse

    6 Feb 2010 | 12:16 pm
    Toy magnate Alfred R. Kahn has bought Bernard Madoff’s Manhattan penthouse, according to a person familiar with the deal. Mr. Kahn is the chairman and chief executive of 4Kids Entertainment, the New York company behind such hits as Cabbage Patch Kids and Pokemon. Pending board approval, he would own the 4,000-square-foot penthouse cooperative unit. The duplex apartment was originally listed for $9.9 million; the price was later cut by $1 million. The apartment is one of three Madoff properties the government seized and is selling to help reimburse victims of his fraud. Mr. Kahn…
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    InvestorCentric

  • Ben Bernanke's Exit Strategy Dilemma

    The Capital Spectator
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:56 am
    The newly reappointed Fed Chairman Bernanke faces a dilemma of whether to keep interest rates low and risk inflation following the massive influx of money into the financial system or to increase interest rates and risk ending the economic recovery. Strong political pressure to create jobs and the currently tame inflation projections will favor the former as the likely choice. See the following post from The Capital SpectatorFed Chairman Ben Bernanke will be chatting up the central bank’s exit strategy later this week when he testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on…

  • Job Market May Be Near Turning Point

    NuWire Investor
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:51 am
    John Lounsbury from The Street lays out the status of the jobs market which has moved closer to a crossover from job losses to job growth. However the extent of jobs lost since the peak in 2007 may be closer to 11 to 12 million when you take into account the average of 1.5 million jobs that would have been created under "average" economic conditions. See the following post from The StreetThe employment situation is clearly bad, but also improving.The widely ballyhooed adjustment to past non-farms payroll numbers of 930,000 additional non-farm payroll jobs lost is much ado about nothing. This…

  • Many Baby Boomers Finding Stocks Too Risky

    The Mess That Greenspan Made
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:53 am
    With many baby boomers having lost significant wealth in the stock market during recent crashes, many are losing faith in stocks and switching to other investment vehicles. However, with lifespans increasing, there is concern that low yield investments like certificates of deposits or bonds may not provide enough growth for an ideal retirement. See the following post from The Mess That Greenspan MadeThe newspapers are full of stories about how baby boomers who have squirreled money away are rethinking their investment approach, evidence coming from last year's net outflows from stock funds…

  • Gold's Next Bull Run May Be Just Around The Corner

    NuWire Investor
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:49 am
    With gold falling recently, there may have been a fall in enthusiasm for gold but the fundamentals are still in place. With the Fed's policies unchanged and the threat of some nations defaulting on their debt, the possibility of a strong bull market may be just around the corner. See the following post from Expected ReturnsAfter a 15% correction in gold and a 40% correction in many miners, most latecomers to the gold bull market now know that investing in gold is not easy! These are the kind of corrections that really test the conviction of gold bugs; I wonder how many will still be around…

  • China's Trade Practices: A Barrier To Job Growth

    NuWire Investor
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:56 am
    Peter Morici discusses one of the barriers to job growth, which is the enormous trade deficit with China due to huge tariffs, administrative barriers, and undervalued currency. Without taking action against China's trade practices, unemployment will remain high. See the following post from The StreetPresident Obama is seeking to double U.S. exports and create 2 million jobs over the next five years. The new Commerce Department program to accomplish this goal is simply inadequate.The Commerce Department initiative merely consists of redoubling existing efforts and not addressing the…
 
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    The Housing Chronicles Blog, Copyright (c) 2007-2010 Patrick S. Duffy

  • Strategic defaulters beware: banks coming after those with deficiency judgments

    4 Feb 2010 | 4:51 pm
    Well this is interesting. Although we've been hearing over the last couple of years that lenders are too swamped with defaults to consider pursuing borrowers who can't re-pay the mortgages, that is now changing. In those states in which loans are recourse -- meaning they can come after you personally even after the mortgage lien has been released -- borrowers who walk away or complete a short sale are finding out that banks aren't happy until the entire amount borrowed has been paid.And for those who think walking away through a strategic default is about the same as using a coupon in a…

  • New realities for Baby Boomers

    4 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am
    Question: what happens when you're a Baby Boomer, your home equity evaporates and the value of your retirement savings plunges?Answer: You work longer!Such are the findings from a survey conducted by pollster Harris Interactive retirement community builder Del Webb/Pulte. From a BigBuilderOnline.com story:The study, which polled Boomers in two specific age groups--those turning 50 this year, and those turning 64--found that the average anticipated retirement age has been extended by about four years. Whereas a majority of 50-year-olds polled in 1996 said they planned to retire at 63, those…

  • New home architecture as a competitive edge

    29 Jan 2010 | 2:29 pm
    With steeply discounted foreclosures taking a huge bite out of the potential demand for new homes over the past couple of years, the nation’s home builders initially reacted with a combination of incentives and price cuts to stay competitive.Yet as the recession has worn on, the building industry has managed to find another trump card up its sleeve that will stay with us even as the economy rebounds:compelling architecture.Ranging from the practical and sustainable to the purely aesthetic, new home design is here to stay as a primary means for builders to stay competitive. At the most…

  • BofA breaks logjam, signs up for piggyback loan modification program

    27 Jan 2010 | 10:44 am
    Here's hoping that lenders are just as much as lemmings as other businesses and join Bank of America in signing up for modifying 'piggy-back' loans as part of President Obama's $75 billion foreclosure prevention program. This is a big step in preventing foreclosures, as these lenders have traditionally been stuck in second place behind first mortgages and didn't want to take huge losses on short sales. From BuilderOnline.com:Mortgage companies are finally starting to sign up for a long-delayed piece of the Obama administration's $75 billion foreclosure-prevention program. The administration…

  • U.S. new home sales fall by 7.6% in December

    27 Jan 2010 | 10:36 am
    Not surprisingly, new home sales fell by 7.6% during December 2009 to a seasonally adjusted rate of 342,000. The entire fourth quarter of the year is generally a very slow time for home sales of all types, which were likely boosted for the existing home market by tax credits. From the L.A. Times:The seasonally adjusted annual sales rate for single-family homes in the U.S. was 342,000, down from a revised November rate of 370,000 and 8.6% below the December 2008 estimate of 374,000. The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2009 was $221,300. The median is the point at which half…
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    House Keys: Buying, selling, insuring your property | Sun-Sentinel Blogs

  • Ethics complaint against PSC member resurfaces

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:01 am
    Should an ethics complaint about Public Service Commissioner Lisa Edgar that was dismissed last year get a second look? Doc Tomkiel, a St. Petersburg resident, thinks so in light of a possible inconsistency in Edgar's story. Tallahassee businessman Steve Stewart filed a complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics last year alleging that Edgar improperly communicated with a Florida Power & Light attorney through her chief advisor during a fuel hearing. After a brief investigation, the commission dismissed the case in September because Edgar and her chief advisor said the conversations were…

  • Did some FPL leaders mislead regulators? FPL Group investigates

    8 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm
    FPL Group has launched an independent probe into allegations that the company misled regulators. In a letter to employees today, FPL Group Chairman Lew Hay said the company is committed to taking claims of wrong-doing seriously. The Public Service Commission received two letters today from people who say they're FPL employees. PSC Chairman Nancy Argenziano called for the agency and the Attorney General's office to investigate and if possible, provide the employees with immunity. "My position is if we have been lied to and/or given fraudulent information, then we have to know about that," she…

  • Sale of bonds considered good sign for FPL

    5 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am
    Florida Power & Light announced this week that it sold $500 million of 30-year first mortgage bonds. BMO Capital Markets Analyst Michael Worms said the bonds – priced to yield 5.7 percent when they're due in 2040 – are a good sign for the economy and FPL. In addition, the utility earned an estimated profit on shareholders' investment of about 10.1 percent -- close to what regulators approved percent regulators approved. "This was gobbled up pretty quickly by investors," Worms said. Leaders of the company had expressed a concern that the cost of borrowing money – and therefore, the cost…

  • Ask a real estate professional: Will the FHA start financing 'flipped' homes?

    5 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am
    Louis Spagnuolo of WCS Lending in Boca Raton answers questions from readers. To ask a question that Louis may answer next week, click here. Q: My wife and I have bought homes and fixed them up for years and would like to start again because we feel the market has hit bottom. We were told that there are no longer financing options for our buyers because these transactions are considered “flips” Are there any loan options out there for this? -- Terry A: As of Feb. 1, the Federal Housing Administration has revised its longstanding anti-flipping rule and will once again be providing mortgage…

  • FPL reflects on what went wrong with proposed rate hike

    4 Feb 2010 | 12:30 pm
    Some FPL employees and others are mulling what went wrong with the utility's request for a $1.27 billion rate increase. The Public Service Commission approved about 6 percent of the increase last month, prompting FPL to halt major projects and hold a company-wide employee meeting on the subject. Some say the recession – combined with the sheer size of the request – is to blame. J.R. Kelly , the state's advocate for utility customers, said his office and others presented enough compelling evidence to prove the increase wasn’t needed. But the utility's push for the rate hike outside of…
 
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    Latest News (RSS)

  • Ricky Martin Foundation/Habitat for Humanity Haiti Recovery Fund

    22 Jan 2010 | 8:55 am
    Ricky Martin traveled to Port-au-Prince on January 19 with Habitat for Humanity International’s chief executive officer, Jonathan Reckford, to visit one of the earthquake-ravaged neighborhoods in the capital city. Martin was moved by the massive devastation caused by the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck last week, and just as he did following the December 2004 Asian tsunami, Martin traveled as quickly as possible to the affected region.  Read More...

  • Addressing housing needs in Haiti after major earthquake

    15 Jan 2010 | 12:35 pm
    Habitat for Humanity International is assessing the impact on affordable housing and response options in Haiti after a major earthquake struck near Port-au-Prince on Tuesday.  Read More...

  • Meet your Legislators at Habitat on the Hill - MN

    6 Jan 2010 | 12:02 pm
    State Legislators may know the good work that Habitat for Humanity affiliates accomplish across the state. However, many may not know how State funding supports our work. Join the first ever Habitat on the Hill – Minnesota and visit your Legislator at the State Capitol during this advocacy event. We will remind Legislators that success starts at home, update them on our work to build those homes and ask our Legislators to continue their support.  Read More...

  • Find solutions to fight poverty at our Three Day Retreat

    5 Jan 2010 | 12:18 pm
    Looking to understand the realities of living in substandard housing or of being homeless in the Twin Cities? Feeling called to fight poverty and wondering “What can I do?” Want to do something meaningful this spring and get-away from the usual routine? Then this Habitat Immersion Retreat is for you. Read More...

  • Third time is the charm for generous donor

    5 Jan 2010 | 7:10 am
    In Larry Hossfeld’s nineteen plus years of volunteering generosity and compassion are two traits he has embodied throughout. Right before Christmas in 2007, Larry made the largest individual donation of that year in the form of a renovated, move-in ready house. Again in December of 2008, he contributed another home to Habitat located just half a mile from his first donation.  Read More...
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    msnbc.com: Real estate

  • Mortgage rates edge up slightly

    4 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    Rates on 30-year fixed mortgages rose slightly this week, inching above 5 percent, Freddie Mac said Thursday. Freddie Mac - Mortgage - Loan - Macintosh - Apple

  • NYT: No help in sight, more homeowners walk away

    2 Feb 2010 | 9:25 pm
    By June, about 5.1 million people are projected own a home whose value is below 75 percent of what is owed, prompting many to walk away from their mortgages. Mortgage - New York Times - Foreclosure - United States - Loan

  • Modest increase seen in home sales activity

    2 Feb 2010 | 8:09 am
    The number of people preparing to buy a home rose slightly in December, a sign that home sales could be stabilizing heading into the spring home buying season. Shrubs - Plants - Home - Gardening - Roses

  • Duplicity in mother-of-all mortgage walkaways

    31 Jan 2010 | 9:46 am
    Tishman Speyer Properties walks away from 11,232 Manhattan apartments because it can't pay its mortgage. That's good business. Tishman Speyer Properties - Business - United States - Financial Services - Mortgages

  • Some see hints of bottom in housing

    29 Jan 2010 | 4:47 am
    Although evidence is mixed and tentative, some analysts see evidence that hard-hit housing markets in California, Arizona and elsewhere are showing signs of healing. California - Arizona - United States - Business and Economy - Housing
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    National Mortgage News Headlines

  • White House Wants to use SBA for Commercial RE

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm
    President Obama wants to expand Small Business Administration guarantees to commercial real estate loans, a move that may bolster the struggling market.

  • SPS Wins Thornburg Servicing, P-Mac Comes in Second

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm
    Select Portfolio Services, Salt Lake City, has agreed to pay roughly 77 basis points for an $11 billion package of jumbo servicing rights belonging to the bankrupt Thornburg Mortgage.

  • Wells Testing NPL Waters with POA Loans

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm
    Wells Fargo & Co. is actively marketing a $416 million portfolio of nonperforming payment option ARMs — legacy loans it inherited when it bought Wachovia Corp. last year.

  • UBS AG Seeing Benefits from Covered Bonds

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm
    The now-profitable UBS AG still faces at least a couple of challenges that date back to its involvement in the U.S. subprime mortgage space, but is seeing some funding diversification benefits from a new Swiss residential mortgage covered bond program.

  • Preliminary: 4Q Residential Fundings Rose 75%

    9 Feb 2010 | 1:48 pm
    Mortgage bankers funded roughly $475 billion of one- to four-family loans in the fourth quarter, a 75% spike in originations compared to the same period a year earlier, according to preliminary survey results compiled by National Mortgage News.
 
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    The Housing Helix

  • [Special Report] 2000-2009 Manhattan Market Report

    jmiller@millersamuel.com (Jonathan Miller)
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:05 am
    Here is a brief recap of the 2000-2009 Manhattan Market Market Report my appraisal firm Miller Samuel prepares for Prudential Douglas Elliman. Its 92,000 data points in 53 markets crammed into 61 pages of phonebook-like data bliss. 2000-2009 Manhattan Market Report [Miller Samuel]

  • [Special Report] 2000-2009 Manhattan Townhouse Report

    jmiller@millersamuel.com (Jonathan Miller)
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:56 am
    Here is a brief recap of the 2000-2009 Manhattan Townhouse Market Report my appraisal firm Miller Samuel prepares for Prudential Douglas Elliman. Its a ten year look at a niche high end market that comprises 2% of all Manhattan residential sales. 2000-2009 Manhattan Townhouse Report [Miller Samuel]

  • [Special Reports] 4Q 2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Overview and 2000-2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Report

    jmiller@millersamuel.com (Jonathan Miller)
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:41 am
    Here is a brief recap of the 4Q 2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Overview and 2000-2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Report my appraisal firm Miller Samuel prepares for Prudential Douglas Elliman. Its a grains of sand datafest. 4Q 2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Overview [Miller Samuel] 2000-2009 Hamptons/North Fork Market Report [Miller Samuel]

  • [Special Report] 4Q 2009 Long Island Market Overview

    jmiller@millersamuel.com (Jonathan Miller)
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:28 am
    Here is a brief recap of the 4Q 2009 Long Island Market Overview my appraisal firm Miller Samuel prepares for Prudential Douglas Elliman. I am a bit tardy getting this recap to podcast from this quarter. 4Q 2009 Long Island Market Overview [Miller Samuel]

  • [Interview] Barry Ritholtz, Bailout Nation, Fusion IQ, The Big Picture Blog

    jmiller@millersamuel.com (Jonathan Miller)
    25 Jan 2010 | 5:14 pm
    Barry Ritholtz of Fusion IQ, the The Big Picture blog and author of the must-read Bailout Nation had previously sat down with me last June so I was long overdue in inviting him back. He is a terrific speaker and is always guilty of providing nothing less than clear cut commentary on the economic world around us. Plus he likes it when I call him irreverent. This time we talk strategic non-foreclosure, existing home sales, interest rates, going to zero and the dumbest smart people in the room.
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    WestchesterCribs

  • Pick your agent wisely, oh home buyer

    Jaime Tineo
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:19 am
    If you’re like most home buyers, there’s an 87% chance that you started looking for a home on the web, according the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). And according to the National Association of My Personal Experience, there’s a high probability that you’re working with multiple real estate agents.  Most home buyers don’t realize that every Realtor® who is a member of the WPMLS has access to all the homes for sale in Westchester County and even Putnam and Bronx County. As a home buyer myself, I realized that the main reason buyers hop from Realtor® to…

  • Negotiating the purchase of a home in Westchester County: The Levers

    Jaime Tineo
    17 Jan 2010 | 8:50 am
    When negotiating to purchase a home, understanding what your ‘levers’ are can be a significant advantage to winning a the deal. Most people believe that price is the only bargaining chip when purchasing a home.  Although this may be true in most cases, it does not hold true for every case.  There are “levers” that you can adjust in order to make the best and most attractive offer to the seller.  In a seller’s market you often hear the expression “Highest and Best” when there’s a bidding war on a home.  The truth is that most people only pay…

  • Updated Closing Cost Calculator for Sellers in Westchester County

    Jaime Tineo
    11 Jan 2010 | 10:00 am
    I recently released a calculator for sellers to calculate their closing costs when selling their home.  I did not realize it was going to be so popular.  In fact, I have already received some suggestions on how to make it better. Hey, I listen. What the customer wants, the customer gets.  I’ve enhanced the calculator (with the help of my developer, AKA, my brother) to calculate other expenses that some people may not be aware of until they’re at the closing table.  The new calculator now calculates the mansion tax charged to homes sold over $1 million.  In addition, for some…

  • Buying a home in Westchester County: schedule of events

    Jaime Tineo
    3 Jan 2010 | 10:00 am
    I’ve written various posts on this topic before, but it’s so important I thought I would write another one. I’m a huge believer in the term “managing expectations”.  Being in the business of providing a service, too often we tend to assume that the client is educated or informed on the process of buying a home. Just because we’ve been around the block a couple of times does not mean the client knows their way through the intricacies of buying a home.  Educating the client up front eliminates frustrations and especially surprises in the future.  When…

  • What is PMI and how you can rid of it!

    Jaime Tineo
    20 Dec 2009 | 10:00 am
    PMI stands for Private Mortgage Insurance.  When someone takes out a mortgage for more than 80% of the home’s value an additional premium, or penalty depending on how you look at it, must be paid to protect the lenders against default.  (a contributing factor why banks would rather foreclose than modify a loan–buyers were paying the insurance in case this happened–but this is a whole other topic).  The introduction of PMI is, in truth a double-edge sword: it gives people who normally could not come up with the large down payment, especially in Westchester County where the…
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    Alter NOW

  • From Shipping Containers to Cool Student Housing

    Matt Ward
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:51 pm
    Olgga Architects took an inventive approach to creating student housing in Le Havre, France, by building a 100-unit complex using recycled shipping containers.  The result is stylish student housing that is portable, affordable, durable and eco-friendly. Called the “Crou”, the 2,841-meter (30,700 SF) pyramidal structure stacks the shipping containers on top of each other. The complex has individual rooms for students with areas for living, studying and sleeping.  Another plus is that the Crou puts surplus containers to use instead of letting them rust in a landfill.

  • Middle East Investors See Good Deals Globally

    Tom Silva
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:02 pm
    Capital is flowing out of the Middle East and being invested in real estate across the globe, according to Nicholas Maclean, Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis, Middle East. “The outflow of capital from the Middle East to be invested into real estate properties worldwide has been higher than the influx of global capital into real estate properties in the Middle East.  The UAE, in particular, has been looking to diversify its investments and part of the reason has been the lack of transparency within this region.” Europe and the Far East have received the lion’s share of…

  • Washington, D.C., Office Market Showing Signs of Stabilization

    Matt Ward
    3 Feb 2010 | 4:53 pm
    Washington, D.C. office leasing is on the upswing for the first time in a year.  Not surprisingly for the District, the rise in leasing activity is driven primarily by expanding federal agencies. A study by CB Richard Ellis of fourth quarter leasing activity showed that the private sector is again leasing space they had subleased in late 2008 and early 2009, a sign that they might be on the verge of rehiring laid-off employees.  According to the report, the amount of vacant space shrank 715,384 SF during the fourth quarter.  That is a major change from the third quarter, when vacant space…

  • 2010 to be Marked by M&A in Outsourcing

    Jacob Cherian
    2 Feb 2010 | 3:41 pm
    India is expected to grow at 7.5 percent this year, up from 6 percent in 2008 — a rate that is the envy of most of the world.  To buoy its economic prospects, the Indian Government has raised more than $100 billion over the last four quarters to finance a stimulus package, pushing the country’s debt to 50 percent of the total GDP.  One place that’s feeling the optimism is India’s IT industry.  As 2010 gets underway, recruiting will reach a peak with spikes in salary hitting pre-recession levels, according to advisory firm Gartner’s India regional VP, Partha…

  • Hedge Fund Honcho’s Bet Pays Off Big

    James I. Clark III
    1 Feb 2010 | 2:35 pm
    David Tepper’s shrewd bet that the nation would avoid a second Great Depression inspired him to buy bank shares at rock-bottom rates, a move that has earned his Appaloosa Management hedge fund an estimated $7 billion worth of profit during 2009.  Last winter, Tepper invested heavily in Bank of America stocks selling for $3 a share, as well as Citigroup, Inc. preferred stock, then priced at a bargain-basement $1 per share. Tepper, a philanthropist who funded the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, made a gamble that is paying off in a big way - surprising skeptics…
 
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    iNET Property - Colorado Real Estate Blog

  • Upgrading Your Home - A Math Lesson

    Rich Barnhart
    12 Jan 2010 | 9:30 pm
    Have you been thinking about upgrading your house, but find yourself procrastinating or wondering if the real estate market has yet to find a bottom? If you are fortunate enough to have the income and resources necessary to sell your current home and upgrade to your dream home, then now is the time. In many parts of the country, we’ve already seen the bottom of the market and if you haven’t seen it in your market, then it is probably closer than you think. Even if I’m wrong and values continue to drop (they will in some markets), if you wait for the absolute bottom, you’ll miss it and…

  • Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program - HAFA?

    Rich Barnhart
    10 Dec 2009 | 7:30 am
    Another Government AcronymWhen this program was first announced last May it was referred to as the Foreclosure Alternatives Program (FAP), an easy name to understand and a concept that we have all been anxiously awaiting. When the details were finally released last week it was no surprise that the program was 7 months late, provides no real incentives for banks to participate and has absolutely no “teeth”. What is surprising is that the government has chosen to make this program part of its already questionable Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and they have created a totally…

  • Be Thankful Denver

    Rich Barnhart
    25 Nov 2009 | 5:01 am
    Happy Thanksgiving!As I write my blog this morning I can’t help but think about how thankful we should be for our real estate market in Denver. Other parts of the country are still trying to find the bottom of their markets and in some areas foreclosure rates continue to rise. So, if you’re someone who has watched the value of your Denver area property diminish over the past few years, be thankful that you live in a place where there is a light at the end of the tunnel.Good Housing NewsI’ll be honest, we are far from being out of the woods on this nationwide housing crisis, but there is…

  • Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended, Includes Current Homeowners!

    Rich Barnhart
    5 Nov 2009 | 3:10 pm
    In a long awaited move, the Senate and House voted in favor of extending the first-time homebuyer tax credit. President Obama is expected to sign the bill tomorrow. The amount of the tax credit to first time home buyers remains the same at $8,000. However, the bill includes some interesting amendments that are beneficial to first time homebuyers and current homeowners. All amendments and updates to the current bill become effective immediately when President Obama signs the bill. Here are some highlights of the new bill:First Time Homebuyer UpdatesTax credit remains the same at $8,000Property…

  • Last Chance to be Heard - Extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit!

    Rich Barnhart
    30 Oct 2009 | 10:15 am
    OK, I've blogged about the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit before and I have asked Congress nicely to extend it on several occasions. But, one more time is not going to hurt and it just might make a difference. I'm not going to rant about it; I'll just ask that you reach out to Congress and be heard. This is not just about getting money in the hands of first time homebuyers, but more about the housing recovery and our economy. Whether you are buying, selling or not even involved in the real estate market right now, this is important for you and for your country. We need the stimulus, we need…
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    NHC Open House Blog

  • Guest Blogger Bill Kelly: Whither Weatherization?

    8 Feb 2010 | 7:22 am
    The appropriation of $5 billion in the stimulus bill for the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), about 20 times what had usually been appropriated, held promise that significant resources might finally be made available for energy conservation retrofitting of affordable multifamily housing. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Stephen Chu devoted considerable energy early in 2009 to make that happen, announcing memorandums of understanding last spring.In May 2009, DOE issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking…

  • President's FY 2011 Budget Combines Economic Discipline With Support for Affordable Housing in Communities Nationwide

    5 Feb 2010 | 6:05 am
    Budget Focuses on HUD’s Key Strategic Goals, Including Strengthening the Nation’s Housing Market, and Meeting the Needs of Low- to Moderate-Income Families, Individuals, and the HomelessThis week, the Obama Administration released its FY 2011 budget proposal, which combines economic discipline with vital support for affordable housing in communities nationwide. Specifically, priorities outlined in the proposal support the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) key goals, including strengthening the housing market, meeting affordable rental housing needs, improving…

  • Live at the Forum: Communities at Risk and Living Cities' Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative

    4 Feb 2010 | 6:12 am
    Next Tuesday, February 9, the Center for Housing Policy will host a Live at the Forum online event focused on Living Cities' Foreclosure Mitigation Initiative, as well as their new report, Communities at Risk: How the Foreclosure Crisis is Damaging Urban Areas and What is Being Done About It. The report's authors, George McCarthy, Matt Pacenza, and Kevin McQueen, will be the featured presenters.Hear About the Initiative: The two-part event begins at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) with a 30-minute conference call, where major findings from the report and initiative will be presented. The call-in…

  • GOOD Compares Transit Systems in Five Major U.S. Cities

    3 Feb 2010 | 2:04 pm
    Cities with access to good public transit have the added bonus of less congestion and a reduced impact on the environment, contributing to a greener way of life for residents. However, such places must continue to invest in transportation infrastructure to adequately address riders' needs. To emphasize this, GOOD collaborated with Oliver Munday to illustrate how transit systems in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco and Massachusetts are serving riders.Click the image below to view the full-size graphic on GOOD's Web site.

  • Two Case Studies: Developing Green Housing and Infrastructure

    2 Feb 2010 | 10:05 am
    The Home Depot Foundation is one of many organizations working to foster green design and innovation to make homes healthier and more affordable for families across the U.S. In 2007, the Foundation made a long-term commitment to building strong and healthy communities through its Affordable Housing Built Responsibly grant program – pledging to invest $400 million to build and rehabilitate100,000 affordable homes and to plant and restore three million trees in ten years. Thus far, the organization has contributed to the development of 27,000 homes nationwide and helped plant some 500,000…
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    The Official Real"ad"tor Awards

  • Little Miss Crabby Pants

    danaseverson
    19 Jan 2010 | 6:11 pm
    Whoa Anna … looks like someone has their crabby pants on. Let’s just step back, take a deep breath and try to put on a happy face. Look, I’m not sure if you’re just not pleased with your chosen profession or the market is starting to feel like a little over-weight pool boy pulling your fingernails out with a dull needle-noose pliers, one at a time? Either way, it appears that career change may be in order. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to tell you what to do. I mean, you look like you could hold me down by the neck with a triple-leg lock tummy fold…

  • World Wide Wonders

    danaseverson
    31 Dec 2009 | 2:51 pm
    I couldn’t think of a better way to kick-off 2010 than kicking off a new chapter in the Real”ad”tor Awards story. So, starting in 2010, we will now be taking website submissions. Yep, you’ve asked, and now you’ll receive. And, to be honest with you, I think the real talent is online anyway. WAIT … THAT WASN’T ME TYPING, SERIOUSLY. Anywho, to wet your palate (just a bit) before the new year and let you know just where we’re going to set the bar, I thought I’d bring you a little teaser. It’s my pleasure to introduce none other than…

  • Fame Comes at a Price

    danaseverson
    31 Dec 2009 | 1:56 pm
    Sometimes it’s hard to be a gangsta. Reference Wanted: Lunatic stark raving mad fans that are willing to run naked in public forums, paint their faces with Real”ad”tor pride, scream puns at the top of their lungs and beat the crap out of the arch rival fans. If this sounds like you, click here : : : : : : : : : : :

  • Merry Chri … I Mean, Happy Holidays From Glen

    danaseverson
    22 Dec 2009 | 2:54 pm
    You know what they say, you can’t improve upon perfection. So, rather than us muck up some holiday-esque greeting by alienating certain religions and over-emphasizing our love for Santa’s little helpers, we thought we’d take a ride on Mr. Kitto’s coattails. In fact, we’re just so dang pleased with his message, that we’re just going to let him say it. Glen, the stage is yours. Yeah … what he said. See you all on the flip side of this holiday thing. BTW: Glen will be under the mistletoe at noon on the 24th for anyone interested in little tongue…

  • An Agent By Any Other Name …

    danaseverson
    17 Dec 2009 | 2:25 pm
    If there is anything that I hope you can take away from this blog, it’s this: if your name is Steve, you’re done. As in, screwed, washed up, finished. But wait Steve, you’re not alone. In fact, if your name is Ted, Mary, Crawford, Joboo, Jimbo, Jane, Brian, T-bone, Jason … or whatever — you’re toast. Just pack up your pencils, aluminum signs and mortgage calculator and call it a day. However, I repeat, HOWEVER. If you were so fortunate, so blessed, so fortuitous to be named John Albee … well then, you are in luck my friend. Because — John Albee is the ONLY name you…
 
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    Patrick Stewart Properties Blog

  • Homes pride of Racquet Club Estates in Palm Springs

    Dennis
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:01 am
    Special to the Palm Springs Sun Palm Springs is home to 25 unique neighborhoods organized through the city’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement — and the Racquet Club Estates neighborhood is an example of one area particularly known for its array of stunning mid-century modern homes. Indeed, the neighborhood is home to a host of modern jewels designed by the well-known development companies Alexander and Meiselman — as well as to seven spectacular steel homes designed by famed local architect Donald Wexler, and the Albert Frey-designed Vista Del Monte Elementary School. In fact, if…

  • Coachella Valley Real Estate: Home Sales Are Increasing

    Dennis
    14 Jan 2010 | 9:22 am
    Coachella Valley is growing everyday; it is actually one of the fastest expanding areas in California. The Coachella Valley is growing by 53 people a day. This high population growth is also helping home sales. Many people are seeing the greatness of living within Coachella Valley. Although there might not be a beach like many other California cities there is gorgeous weather, with many more sunny days. Another pay off of living within the Coachella Valley is not sitting in traffic for hours to commute to and from work. These things alone could intrigue people to move to this beautiful…

  • When to Renovate or Repair Your Home

    Dennis
    13 Jan 2010 | 11:31 am
    When you renovate your home, you are essentially removing an old feature and replacing it with a completely new one. For example, replacing your old windows in your home with completely new ones would be considered a renovation. In contrast, a repair simply fixes your existing home feature. So the question remains; when do you renovate and when do you repair your home? Often, home renovations are seen as the easy way to go, however they do not always prove as cost effective as home repairs. Newer products typically don’t last as long as their older counterparts since few things are made…

  • New Park being Built in Palm Springs

    Dennis
    13 Jan 2010 | 11:25 am
    Great News! We are getting a brand new park in Palm Springs, and it’s 100 percent funded by federal stimulus funds. The park is located on the southwest corner of Gene Autry Trail between Vista Chino and Via Escuela. The initial ground breaking ceremony was delayed due to rain; however plans to continue construction on schedule are still in effect. The park will include bocce ball courts, benches and drinking fountains as well as beautiful walkways and shade structures. What’s more, new sustainable landscaping will line the streets and medians which will help enhance the natural beauty of…

  • Palm Springs Realtors See Increase in Home Sales

    Dennis
    13 Jan 2010 | 9:35 am
    Seems like the real estate trends are moving upwards again. In the Palm Springs area real estate agents are seeing that people are actually getting comfortable with making offers, and not just looking. Over the past few years the real estate market has really taken a hit, but more recently the market seems to be getting better. People are more serious when it comes to looking at houses, as now there is a better market and buyers don’t want to pass up on great opportunities. Agents are seeing people making commitments and making more offers. Agents are also noticing that some buyers are…
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    Lakeland Real Estate Gate Arty and the Group

  • 90 Day FHA Rule is Waived

    19 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm
    HUD has taken a major step to stabilize the real estate market by waiving the “90 day flip rule” effective February 1st, 2010. Currently, FHA prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. Originally the 90 day rule was put in place to protect FHA borrowers against predatory practices of "flipping" where properties are quickly resold at INFLATED prices to unsuspecting borrowers. This act will give FHA borrowers access to a broader array of recently foreclosed properties. The policy change will permit buyers to use FHA-insured financing to…

  • Home Price Reductions

    12 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Trulia.com has reported that 21% of the existing housing inventory has had a least one price reduction during its time on the market. The good news is that figure has decreased 2 straight months now. The South leads the nation with 20% of homes seeing price reductions. The luxury home market has been affected the most. Luxury homes are defined as homes listed over $2 million (by Trulia). The average price cut on these homes is 15%. In comparison, homes under $2 million, have been reduced an average of 10%.  While luxury homes make up just 2% of the total listings currently, they…

  • Growing Number of Foreclosures

    11 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm
    Statistics from Lender Processing Services indicate that as of November 30th 2009, one in every 7.5 homeowners either fell into delinquency or foreclosure. The total number of delinquencies reached a record high of 9.97%, a 5.46% increase from the previous month and a 21.29% increase from November 2008. Loans falling into more severe delinquent categories reached 5.01% through November, compared to 1.52% of loans improved toward a current status.  That's compared to November’s mortgage monitor report, when 4.02% of current mortgages through December 2008 fell into delinquency by…

  • Vacancies Increase in 2009

    7 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm
    The apartment vacancy rate ended the year at 8%, the highest level since 1980. This according to Reis Inc., a New York research firm that tracks vacancies and rents in the top 79 U.S. markets. Rents fell 3% last year, according to Reis. Led by major metropolitan cities that experienced brisk growth until the recession.  Effective rents -- which include concessions such as one month of free rent -- fell 5.6% in New York last year, the worst since Reis began tracking the data in 1990.  Very few markets have been spared. During the fourth quarter, vacancies increased in 52…

  • Improving Energy Efficiency

    6 Jan 2010 | 9:00 pm
    The government is expected to unveil a new program in the next couple of months that if approved may reimburse homeowners for up to half the cost of making their homes more efficient.  Homeowners will get the most return for the money in simple upgrades like caulking the windows, putting insulation in the attic, and changing the light bulbs - not new windows, refrigerators or dishwashers. A complete energy retrofit - which could include caulking and insulation as well as new windows, appliances and boiler, could slice a home's energy consumption in half, according to Lane Burt,…
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    Cool Austin Texas Real Estate Blog

  • Is Congress Working to Create Yet Another Potential Hurdle to Real Estate Recovery?

    Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC)
    6 Feb 2010 | 6:17 pm
    To preface this post, I should probably state that it's not strictly political in nature.  For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that I don't often write about politics, and I don't strictly define myself as a Democrat OR a Republican.  However, I do think and hope there's a bit of self-preservation in all of us.  Call it instinct.  This issue I will write about here has the potential to further damage our industry, so I felt compelled to air it for discussion/action.  My ideas are my own, and I don't claim any level of economic expertise other than my…

  • Are You Going to Raincamp Dallas? I hope to see you there on February 16th!

    Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC)
    3 Feb 2010 | 10:23 pm
    Not long ago, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear that Raincamp is coming to Dallas, which is a mere three hour drive for me.  Since it's also my hometown (born and raised there), I have a free place to stay.  It's called "Mom's House".  It comes with all the luxuries of a five-star hotel with none of the cost.  :) I'm really looking forward to this event as an opportunity to learn and hang out with my friends, some of whom I have yet to meet in person.   I had a chance to meet Brad Andersohn about 15 months ago in Houston, but I haven't ever met Bob Stewart or Jon Washburn "live"…

  • Beat Candace!

    Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC)
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:31 pm
    Help my friend Mike Mueller to pass celebrity Candace Cameron and help a lot of people with a very simple concept.  Make sure you watch the video - it's powerful.Via Mike Mueller (Tech and Social Media Consultant): No hiding the fact that one of my favorite charities right now is Skip1.org.  You may have seen one of my tweets about them, or a Facebook post. The fact is that I love the concept.  Skip something small and insignificant in your life, donate what you would have spent on that item, and make a very significant difference in the lives of others. 100% of the donations go…

  • Great Week for My New Venture: 210 Consulting

    Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC)
    30 Jan 2010 | 7:58 pm
    I recently started a consulting business with my friend Jeremy Blanton to serve as a resource for those who want to learn more about using social media tools, and how to use them to bring in more tangible business.  So far, we've had a couple of webinars and we are planning for two more soon.  Attendance was solid at the initial sessions, and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, with a handful of attendees signing up for further individual coaching.   Thankfully for our students, my own learning curve with our new software hasn't been very steep, which has made…

  • Listen to Our Conversation with Sean Cranbury, Host of Books on the Radio

    Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC)
    27 Jan 2010 | 10:17 pm
    Yesterday, on our online radio show, Social Media Edge, I was very pleased to get a chance to meet Sean Cranbury, who is the host of Books on the Radio  Sean is a 20+ year veteran of the book business, and I was excited to speak with him about Publishing 3.0, which is a fascinating trend.     In a nutshell, Publishing 3.0 is the brainchild of Richard Nash and he will soon be launching a new project called Cursor which has the potential to make traditional publishing obsolete, in my humble opinion.  Rather than give away all of the details here, I would recommend…
 
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    Tom Tousignant

  • Do this if you don’t have a 740 or Better Credit Score

    Tom Tousignant
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:46 am
    You need to get your credit score to at least 740 in today’s economy. If your credit score is not a 740 or higher, you will pay more for things like home loans, auto loans, credit cards, insurance. The extra costs of all these things will make it very difficult to have extra money left over.  A lower credit score is like a stealth tax that takes away your ability to save more, spend less, and possibly, even earn more. The main reasons people have lower than a 740 credit score: High balances on credit cards Late payments Collection accounts from old medical claims Collection accounts…

  • What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : February 8, 2010

    Tom Tousignant
    8 Feb 2010 | 5:47 am
    Mortgage markets improved last week on domestic jobs data and international banking concerns. The news triggered buying in the bond market and, as a result, conventional, FHA and VA mortgage rates in North Carolina improved for the 4th consecutive week. Mortgage rates are now at a 6-week low but probably shouldn’t be.  It underscores just how important global events can be to U.S. mortgage markets. For example, corporate earnings continue to improve and key elements of the economy are strengthening.  Even the Federal Reserve acknowledges this.  In most circumstances, that would be a…

  • 7 Ways To Protect Your Credit Score For Better Mortgage Rates

    Tom Tousignant
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:48 am
    As mortgage lenders tighten approval standards   in South Carolina and nationwide, the importance of a good credit score is rising.  Credit scores not only make the difference between a mortgage approval and mortgage turn-down, but they also play a large role in determining your actual mortgage note rate. In the 3-minute piece, the NBC Today Show talks about 7 ways that homebuyers ruin their credit — often by accident.  Some of the highlighted mistakes include: Closing open credit cards Making appliance buys on credit prior to closing Asking creditors to lower credit…

  • Credit Cards’ Ugly History

    Tom Tousignant
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:53 am
    Credit Card interest can eat your financial lunch, if you let it.  The average interest rate on credit cards over 12%, and there is almost $1 Trillion in outstanding credit card balances. Some quick math yields over $120 Billion spent annually on credit card interest.  Since Interest on Credit Cards are not tax deductible, Americans have to earn $180 Billion each year just to pay off credit cards. It’s OK to use credit cards, but they have to be paid off in full each month.  Carrying balances, paying late charges or over-limit fees make credit cards even more of a financial cancer…

  • Improve your credit score – too much credit?

    Tom Tousignant
    4 Feb 2010 | 5:26 am
    When you got a copy of your credit report (www.annualcreditreport.com) last week, I asked you to count your tradelines.  If you didn’t get your credit report yet, read this post first on how & why.  If you have been using credit for more than 10 years and have no late payments, you are at a place where you likely want to start using less credit. The people I see with 800+ credit scores will have  a very good, long credit history, with never a late payment, collection account, or bad debt, and they will have very few active accounts. Pick 2 credit cards to keep open –…
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    thePrivateMarket.com

  • FHA 90 Day Flipping Rule Waiver

    Paul Barrow
    16 Jan 2010 | 2:45 am
    FHA Flip Rule Waived for 1 Year! This will be music to investor’s ears everywhere!  We no longer have to wait and plan to hold for 91 days to contract and sell fix and flip projects to first-time home buyers.   This will translate to lower holding costs, more projects, and higher quality inventory for buyers.  Some investors may choose to pass along the savings to buyers, many will likely choose to retain better margins on properties in this competitive environment.  Thank You FHA and HUD! 90 Day Flip Rule “Section 203.37a(b)(2) of the FHA regulations, 24 CFR, is hereby…

  • A Tale of Two Title Companies

    Paul Barrow
    2 Dec 2009 | 1:33 pm
    One of the Craziest, Weirdest Wholesale Deals Ever This is a wild story, even for seasoned real estate investors. It’s a bit long, so you might want to get comfortable, grab a cup of coffee or a beer (depending on the time of day). Read it and weep. And then cheer at the end. One of the biggest challenges in the business of real estate investing is finding title companies and escrow officers that understand our business. I just finished working one of the craziest wholesale transactions of my career, and the difference between the level of service offered by the big brand name title company…

  • Real Estate Investor Abbreviations and Jargon

    Paul Barrow
    21 Oct 2009 | 10:43 am
    ARV – CAP RATE – HUD – MLS – NNN – REO – OWC – ETC… Real estate investors, brokers and agents are as guilty as any other industry practitioners at using jargon and abbreviations that seem commonplace to us, but are often confusing to our clients and customers. As a reminder to slow down and explain these important terms and concepts, especially to new clients, here is a list of the most common jargon and simple explanations: ARV – After-Repaired Value. The estimated resale or new appraisal value of a property after remodeling or repairs…

  • Sewer Line Inspection and Repair Tips

    Paul Barrow
    7 Oct 2009 | 10:21 am
    Camera Sewer Scope Critical for Denver Realtors and Buyers Old House Sewer Pipe Problems:  When Don Nichols visited our real estate office recently, I asked him about his Denver sewer line inspection company. Specifically I wanted to know how it relates Realtors who are buyer agents shopping for older houses in the central Denver area with aging sewer infrastructure. Here is a recap of the questions answered in the short video below offering tips and advice to Realtors, real estate investors, home buyers and home owners about the importance of understanding sewer inspections and repair…

  • Is Leasing to Medical Marijuana Tenants Legal?

    Paul Barrow
    5 Oct 2009 | 12:50 pm
    Amendment 20 Economic Impact in Denver Medical marijuana might seem like an odd topic for a real estate blog, but bear with me and I will explain. There are three interesting social trends happening in Denver in 2009, two have been publicly and proudly announced, and one is a little more underground, but buzzing: A Growth Industry: Solar and “green” movement Exercise and “health” movement Medical Marijuana “growth” movement Growing the Green Movement Seems from the headlines that Denver Colorado is becoming quite enlightened!  New “green” service and construction…
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    REALTOR.com® Blogs

  • Do I Need to Specify My Insurance Company? Ask a REALTOR®

    Scott B. Strauss
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    Why is there an entry on the REALTOR® forms specifying which title company to use for title insurance?-Don Title Insurance is something that every property needs unless a buyer is paying cash. In the past, different parties to a sale might suggest and/or handle getting the title insurance for the new buyer: closing attorney, mortgage company, etc. Some real estate companies have relationships with certain title insurance companies and they quite often recommend one company over another. Sometimes the title insurance company might pay a “finders fee” to the real estate company, and if…

  • Tips for Moving with Pets

    Scott B. Strauss
    9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am
    When you move, there is a lot of documentation you’ll need to change in order for people to find you. You will need to fill out a change of address form at the post office, so your mail can find you, head to the DMV to update your driver’s license, and update the information for your subscriptions and bills.But what about your pet’s papers? You will want to be sure your pet’s identification tags are updated, and that you get all the necessary records from your current veterinarian.Kay Kammeyer gives us the top 10 tips you should keep in mind when making the move…

  • Save Energy and Get A Tax Credit

    Scott B. Strauss
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 pm
    Tax season is quickly coming upon us and most have heard about the first-time homebuyers tax credit. There are other tax credits to benefit from as well.A great way to save money, and energy, is with a tax credit for making energy-efficient improvements to existing homes. If you’ve been thinking about hauling off your old clunky kitchen appliances for a brand new shiny one, now is a great time to do it. Many new models on the market are environmentally conscious and energy efficient. And as a bonus, you just may qualify for a tax credit.Maggie Finegan blogs about this and some other…

  • How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale

    Scott B. Strauss
    8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market, one of the best ways your house can leave a great impression on potential buyers is being clean and clutter-free. Garage sales are a great way to accomplish this.You can remove clutter from your house, save yourself from packing items you no longer need or want, and there is also a little extra crash involved.Sally Ponchak has some great tips for holding a successful yard sale, but she also warns that you should be sure you’re ready to have that sale before you put in the necessary time and effort.“The first step will…

  • Doing Your Research on Real Estate “Bargains”

    Scott B. Strauss
    8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    As the old saying goes, “if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.” And this adage is very applicable when it comes to the real estate market. Especially in this economy when bargains and deals are certainly more plentiful now than in the past, as it is a buyer’s market.But if you are in the market for a new home, and you find a deal that seems almost too good, be sure to do your research first.Lee Dworshak blogs about being careful when you find a deal on a house that appears too good to be true.“What looks like a real estate bargain is not always a…
 
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    LoopNet Commercial Real Estate Blog

  • Pricing a Commercial Listing in Today's Market

    Guest Blogger
    5 Feb 2010 | 8:51 am
    In 2005, I wrote an article entitled “the Art of Pricing a Deal.” At that time, I stated the risks of overpricing a commercial property were that it ultimately led to a lower sales price and a loss of valuable time. Today, I have heard several theories that a property listing should be priced at 25-30% above its value, as a buyer wants to feel like he or she is receiving a steep discount. I think it’s time to dust off my old article, as properly pricing a commercial property listing is even more relevant today.In the last two years, the average selling price of my commercial property…

  • LoopNet Offers the First Commercial Real Estate Search App for iPhone Users

    Michele - Marketing Team
    12 Jan 2010 | 9:29 am
    Want to be able to search for commercial property anytime anywhere? There's an app for that!Download the FREE LoopNet iPhone App today.(iTunes required) We're ecstatic to be the first to offer CRE professionals easy access to all 745,000 commercial listings on LoopNet.com from anywhere at any time - with technology that suits their busy on-the-go lifestyles. The LoopNet iPhone App was just approved and is now available in the iPhone App Store making it the first Commercial Real Estate Search Application.With just a tap you can now explore properties in your immediate area, filter through…

  • LoopNet Community Involvement... what a year!

    Briana- Marketing Team
    11 Jan 2010 | 4:59 pm
    2009 marked LoopNet’s highest Community Involvement participation output to date! In fact, LoopNet employees logged more than 1,042 hours of service, benefiting more than 40 organizations through donationsand volunteer efforts Here are some of our accomplishments for 2009: Raised nearly $10,000 for the San Francisco and LA Regional Food Banks. Donated 100 toys to children of The Edgewood Center of SF for the Annual Holiday Toy Driveadopted 3 families for the Christmas holiday. Cooked 515 pounds of homemade goodies (mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, cookies, & macaroni and cheese) to feed…

  • LoopNet Success Story

    Briana- Marketing Team
    21 Dec 2009 | 4:47 pm
    When Joe DeCollibus, with Miami Provisions, set out to lease a warehouse in Florida, he came to LoopNet to find the right property. By taking advantage of the numerous tools that LoopNet provided, Joe was able to save timeresearching and evaluating potential opportunities.Setting up a Saved Search & New Listing Email Alert allowed Joe to easily stay updated on newly added listings that matched his search criteria - there was no need to log in and conduct a new search everyday. He was also able to research the local demographics for each listinggiving him additional information to make a…

  • Oh, CRE: a holiday parody of the song "O Christmas Tree"

    Justin - Product Team
    21 Dec 2009 | 8:47 am
    Boy has it been a tough year. Let's hope 2010 is a lot better. Until then, check out this video and have a little laugh:
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    Web Real Estate Marketing

  • Not the best way to interact on Facebook

    Peter Toner
    1 Feb 2010 | 10:24 am
    Just what are Facebook'ers thinking with Smiles? There are lots of valid ways for Facebook friends to communicate with each other, but are smile, gift and cute animal requests going to help you stand out from the crowd? It sure is cute, but I feel somewhat deluged - I just recently received five within a few hours of each other and two were from the same person within a couple of minutes!?! These applications make it seemingly very easy to participate in social media, but let me be blunt - It's too impersonal to make a meaningful interaction. Let's face it if you have over…

  • Goodbye MS Office | Hello Google

    Drew Burks
    29 Jan 2010 | 10:25 am
    I have been set FREE! So Can You! Everyday real estate agents ask me questions like: What is the best phone for Realtors to use? What is the best contact mgmt system? What is the best email to use? So I thought I would share a quick story with you … For the past year I have been anxiously waiting to get my iPhone; and of course transition to all MAC computers.  (but that is for another time.)  Last week my cell phone just stopped working the way it should, programs were freezing and the real problem was that my phone was no longer sending emails Rather than call Sprint for…

  • Thank you Facebook Realtor Fans!

    Peter Toner
    28 Jan 2010 | 8:04 pm
    Thank you Facebook Fans – all 3,284 of them!   Social media has become woven into the fabric of our lives enabling all of us to hear and be heard – Drew and Peter really appreciate the support and contributions from our fellow real estate agents on Facebook! With you input WebRealEstateTools on Facebook is turning into a vibrant community that we are thrilled and totally excited to be part of. But here's the thing – with so many Fans we couldn't help but notice the lack of Facebook Profile photos, what's up with that? This graphic is from the Fan Badge at…

  • 4 Critical Components to online success

    Drew Burks
    28 Jan 2010 | 7:56 am
    Do you want a website or a strong online presence? If you knew there were only 4 components to achieving online success, would you take action consistently? We find that almost every Realtor we speak with wants to do more business online, yet most are not willing to do what it takes!    So we are going to assume that you answered YES to our question above and we are going to break it down for you.  There are 4 critically important steps that you must focus on if you want to succeed with your online real estate marketing.   1.  Setting up a solid…

  • One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make

    Peter Toner
    26 Jan 2010 | 3:27 pm
    Realtors, you might never guess this one either … and it's so blatantly obvious to those of us "in the know". How many of you create your posts and pages in Microsoft Word? Do NOT, repeat DO NOT compose your blog post in Microsoft Word and then just copy it directly into the WordPress editing box. That's it – the one biggest mistake, or cardinal sin blog writers can make, period! Why is this vitally important? Search engines get confused by all the gobbledegook (I thought that was only a Brit expression?) that gets inserted into your text markup. Want to see what…
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    DanoSongs.com Free Music Downloads

  • Free Music Download of New Dark Emo Pop Rock Song

    dano@danosongs.com (Dan-O (DanoSongs.com))
    8 Feb 2010 | 9:12 pm
    New Creative Commons Song Hello. I finished a new track this week that has kind of a dark emo sound but is also still a bit pop rock style. There are some spacious arpeggio guitar riffs, electronic spheres and a chime like chorus. I call it “Today then Tomorrow”. Free Royalty Free Download: Today then Tomorrow.mp3 - Creative Commons Music License I hope you enjoy the song and find it useful as background music for YouTube videos, as an instrumental music bed for a new song, just for listening, or whatever else you need. Presentations, Podcasts, Band If you missed my Web 2.0 Social…

  • New! Funky Upbeat Acoustic Rock Song for Free Royalty Free Use

    dano@danosongs.com (Dan-O (DanoSongs.com))
    28 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am
    Hey, this week I did a funky back beat style acoustic rock tune called “Imagine Magneta”. It uses a bass called “The Stick”, has some nice upbeat intricate acoustic strumming and plucky rock drums. Imagine Magneta Mp3 - Creative Commons Music License Next Tuesday, February 2 I will be the speaking to the Danbury Area Computer Society about social networking! More information This week, after seeing Avatar, I have been thinking more and more about the importance of imagination and how it literally shapes our lives, changes the world and becomes reality. That is allot of…

  • Hard Rock Techno Funk Free Royalty Free Creative Commons Music

    dano@danosongs.com (Dan-O (DanoSongs.com))
    17 Jan 2010 | 7:15 am
    This week’s creative commons music MP3 is a hard rock techno funk track brought to you by; Freedom. of speech thought religion expression assembly choice association Cellular Faith MP3 - Creative Commons Music License - More I could not have done it without you: Thank You! Freedom by The unnamed Dan-O Home Donate License iTunes Blogs Games Banners Photos T-Shirts Search Ringtones About

  • New Acoustic Modern Rock Instrumental Song Free Royalty Free Creative Commons Music

    dano@danosongs.com (Dan-O (DanoSongs.com))
    30 Dec 2009 | 7:08 am
    Fly Me to the Moon by Jody McNary Happy New Year! This week’s free royalty free song is an acoustic modern rock instrumental called “Climb to Elara” for you to use under the creative commons music license. Climb to Elara MP3 - Creative Commons Music Licensed - More I composed this using several different acoustic and electric guitar tracks. Its a jamming upbeat tune with choruses that have quirky sweeping guitar effects. I hope you enjoy the song. Peace! Dan-O Home Donate License iTunes Blogs Games Banners Photos T-Shirts Search Ringtones About

  • Acoustic Guitar Free Royalty Free Creative Commons Music

    dano@danosongs.com (Dan-O (DanoSongs.com))
    30 Nov 2009 | 7:53 am
    I got a request for the instrumental version of my song with vocals called “Everything Begins”. You can listen to it and download the sheet music lyrics with chords on my home page. Its a great song for guitar beginners to learn. This is done with solo acoustic guitars soft finger picking, a second guitar with full chord strums. It has a bit of organ, piano, bass and percussion in the background. It’s different that the original version but it is just as mellow and a little sad - I hope it still captures the mood of a love song. You can definitely use this as background…
 
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    Panama City Florida Real Estate Blog

  • Panama City Real Estate | Market summary for January 2010

    Jennifer Mackay
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:24 am
    The latest Panama City real estate market summaries have been posted and available for download. While sales and prices were slightly higher than last January, over all sales slipped slightly since last month. This is however, expected as January sales are usually more sluggish than the rest of the year. As we near the opening day of the new airport and begin to come into the height of the vacation season, we expect to see significant increases in sales and prices for all property types. We are already experiencing higher than average volumes of visitors to the Panama City real estate…

  • Panama City Real Estate | FHA Loan information

    Jennifer Mackay
    31 Jan 2010 | 3:30 pm
    We’ve been getting quite a few calls regarding FHA loans lately.  To further assist our value FHA customers,  I’ve updated the home buying financial pages and have added additional FHA Loan information and FAQ. Additional FHA information can be found on the US. Department of Housing and urban development website. For a list of local lenders, contact me directly. Owners, put my technology to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation Home value report. Buyers, when you’re ready to purchase a…

  • Panama City Real Estate | Home buying articles

    Jennifer Mackay
    31 Jan 2010 | 6:34 am
    As promised, this year my team and I will be adding many new services and features to my already extensive website. As the Panama City Real Estate website continues to be the Premier website for Panama City Florida real estate and since first time home buyers are exceedingly prevalent in today’s economy I’ve written a new article target at those just entering the home buying market: Why get Pre-Approved before shopping for a new home. No matter where you live or what real estate market you are interested, today’s real estate market and economic conditions are not what they…

  • Panama City Real Estate – Best deals, New Team info and more…

    Jennifer Mackay
    28 Jan 2010 | 6:52 am
    The Panama City Real Estate team and I have been quite busy this week so let me fill everyone in on what’s been happening. First off, you’ve already read about the several new agents who have joined the team.  What you have not read is we’ve added a new Administrator to the team as well: Corrie Leavins Corrie has been with us just under a month and has already learned quite a bit and picked up on her responsibilities very quickly.  If you have questions or need assistance Corrie is the “go to” girl for the team. Another new item is a team picture coming soon. …

  • Panama City Real Estate | Welcomes Natalie McQueen

    Jennifer Mackay
    26 Jan 2010 | 11:39 am
    I am pleased to announce another new agent joining the Panama City Real Estate Team – Natalie McQueen… Natalie, a former resident of San Antonio, Texas comes to us with years of retail management and military experience. Her enthusiasm and wit are an added bonus to the Panama City Real Estate Team and we look forward to having her work with our many new customers.  Read more about Natalie McQueen… Owners, put my team to work for you.  If you are interested in selling your home, commercial property or condo, contact me today (850) 774-6582 for a free no obligation property…
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    St. John's Real Estate Blog

  • 4 Simple Ways to make your home irressistible

    Stephen Winters
    8 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    There are dozens of ways to make your property more enticing to potential buyers.  For example, you can invest in  getting your home professionally “staged”, which involves making it look a little like a model home.  Or, you can do a major renovation to improve your home‘s look and value. But what if you don’t have a lot of time and are on a limited budget? What can you do today to make your home irresistible to buyers tomorrow?  Here are some ideas: 1. Paint It doesn’t cost much to paint key areas of your home, like the foyer, kitchen or master bedroom.  Yet the impression it…

  • Newfoundland Real Estate January

    Stephen Winters
    4 Feb 2010 | 10:09 am
    Well the first month of the year has past.  Personally I find January the slowest month of the year for real estate,  but this year was a little different.  Inventory levels of homes for sale in St. John’s and surrounding areas seem to be very low.  On the flip side there are lots of buyers.   I’ve been involved in a few multiple offer situations so far this year and have heard from other Realtor’s that they too have been involved in multiple offers.  As well, I’ve seen a fair number of homes sold within 24 to 48 hours from being listed on MLS.  Based on…

  • Newfoundland MLS Trends for 4th Quarter 2009

    Stephen Winters
    28 Jan 2010 | 11:07 am
    CMHC just released their latest Housing Market Information statistics for the Newfoundland real estate market today.  Here is a basic breakdown from the report: MLS® Residential Sales Increase During Fourth Quarter MLS® sales increased 7.5% to 1,293 compared to 2008’s fourth quarter sales of 1,203. October, November and December MLS® sales were 473, 421 and 399, respectively. Fourth quarter average MLS® residential house price climbed 10% to $212,992 compared to $193,529 during the fourth quarter of 2008 – the only consistent price growth market in Canada since 2008. Sellers…

  • 2009 Urban Housing Starts in Newfoundland and Labrador

    Stephen Winters
    11 Jan 2010 | 6:51 am
    ST. JOHN’S, January 11, 2010 – Urban housing starts posted consistent results during the month of December, according to preliminary released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). December’s housing starts totaled 201 throughout the St. John’s area versus 202 starts in December of 2008. An additional 22 starts were recorded in other urban areas across the province, for a total of 223 provincial starts compared to 226 the previous December. For 2009, urban housing starts totaled 1,703 in the St. John’s area and 2,022 provincially. “The local residential…

  • Little Change in Investment Properties Vacancy rates in St. John’s Metro

    Stephen Winters
    21 Dec 2009 | 4:18 am
    According to the results of the fall 2009 rental market survey released today by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the vacancy rate in the St. John’s census metropolitan area (CMA) was 0.9 per cent in October compared to a similar 0.8 per cent vacancy rate in  2008. The average two bedroom monthly rent increased to $677. “Solid economic activity and positive employment growth within the St. John’s area sustained rental market demand, resulting in low vacancies and higher rents throughout 2009,” said Chris Janes, senior market  analyst with CMHC in Newfoundland and…
 
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    Miami Beach Real Estate Blog ~ Giving You The Low Down On The High End of Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour & Miami Beach Real Estate

  • Sunny Isles Beach Luxury Oceanfront Condo Market Index 1Q 2010

    AshtonColeman
    25 Jan 2010 | 8:07 pm
    Edition #5 of the 2010 Sunny Isles Condo Index I’ll be reviewing & comparing the luxury oceanfront market from the 1Q 2009 Sunny Isles Condo Index to today’s updated 1Q 2010 Sunny Isles Condo Index including premier oceanfront towers such as Turnberry Ocean Colony, Acqualina, JADE Beach, Trump Palace, Trump Royale, Ocean 4, Sayan, Ocean One, Two [...]

  • Top 10 Real Estate Condo Deals from 2010 – Sunny Isles to South Beach

    AshtonColeman
    10 Jan 2010 | 7:03 pm
    Happy New Year friends and this will be post #1 of 2010. Here’s a shocking new thought for 2010… Just because it sold for that price in 2008 & 2009, does it mean you can buy it for that price today? It seems to be happening again and again as inventory decreases.. Will there be [...]

  • 2009 Trophy Sales from Sunny Isles to South Beach

    AshtonColeman
    20 Dec 2009 | 11:16 am
    2009 Trophy Property Sales from South Beach to Sunny Isles Beach. Amazing to see 199 (733 for sale today) luxury condo sales over $1M for the YTD MLS (Multiple Listing Service) records covering the Miami Dade oceanfront communities of Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour, Surfside, Miami Beach & South Beach. Over $4M there were 11 sales, [...]

  • Miami As Most Desirable Travel Destination

    AshtonColeman
    11 Dec 2009 | 6:30 pm
    New studies by Yahoo Travel show that Miami is the number one tourist destination and the number one holiday destination in the world. The study focused on consumer interest and activity and found that Miami came in second only to Las Vegas as a tourist destination. Cancun was number three, and Miami beat out Orlando and [...]

  • DECK THE BEACHFRONT CONDOS AND HOMES — IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME!

    LisaCanfield
    4 Dec 2009 | 1:54 pm
    If you’re dreaming of a White Christmas, okay. Maybe a Miami Beach holiday isn’t exactly your thing. But if you’re looking for a holiday packed with fun, excitement and things to do – with the added bonus of gorgeous, sunny weather – the Miami Beach area has everything you’re looking for, and more. [...]
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    Real Estate Investing Blog

  • The LLC-IRA for Real Estate Investing

    William Bronchick, Esq.
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:00 pm
    By now I am sure you’ve heard that it is legal, permissible, and profitable to invest in real estate using your self-directed IRA, SEP, or Roth IRA. If you’ve been using this technique, you know the drawbacks – delays in funding, fees from your custodian, potential lawsuits against your IRA. Well, there’s a solution… the LLC-IRA. Instead [...]Thanks for reading The LLC-IRA for Real Estate Investing by Marco Santarelli. For more articles like this, please visit the Real Estate Investment Blog where it was originally published.

  • FHA’s Gone Nuts!

    Cory Boatright
    1 Feb 2010 | 12:46 pm
    The FHA has gone crazy, making sweeping new changes in several policies. You’ve got to keep these in mind when clients consider FHA loans.  Here are some of the most extreme changes: Raised up-front costs for insurance TRIPLE down-payment requirements Cut seller concessions by HALF! The government hopes the new policies will help the organization better handle risk. And [...]Thanks for reading FHA’s Gone Nuts! by Marco Santarelli. For more articles like this, please visit the Real Estate Investment Blog where it was originally published.

  • Ben Bernanke: “Dumbass of the Decade?”

    Brad Rundbaken
    22 Jan 2010 | 1:00 pm
    Ben Bernanke, "Time Magazine’s Man of the Year". How about “Dumbass of the Decade?” You just can’t make this stuff up! This choice by Time Magazine displays the collusion between the government and the main stream media. Bernanke as "Person of the Year" is almost as bad as President Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. I believe in [...]Thanks for reading Ben Bernanke: “Dumbass of the Decade?” by Marco Santarelli. For more articles like this, please visit the Real Estate Investment Blog where it was originally published.

  • No Money Down Technique: Owner Financing

    Marco Santarelli
    20 Jan 2010 | 5:00 am
    Owner financing is the most common way to buy a property with "no money down".  Instead of getting cash at closing, the seller agrees to finance all or some part of the purchase price. What this means is the owner of the property will act as a bank and lend the buyer all or part [...]Thanks for reading No Money Down Technique: Owner Financing by Marco Santarelli. For more articles like this, please visit the Real Estate Investment Blog where it was originally published.

  • How To Improve Your FICO Credit Score

    Marco Santarelli
    13 Jan 2010 | 10:03 am
    Improving your FICO® credit score may take time and often there is no quick fix. FICO scores reflect credit payment patterns over time with more of an emphasis on recently reported information than older information. Below are some general tips to follow that may increase your FICO credit score: Focus on the negative factors provided with [...]Thanks for reading How To Improve Your FICO Credit Score by Marco Santarelli. For more articles like this, please visit the Real Estate Investment Blog where it was originally published.
 
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    Talk Charlotte Real Estate Blog

  • Tall Tale in Myers Park Neighborhood

    Mike Gibbons
    9 Feb 2010 | 5:30 am
    Myers Park may have some of the tallest and most beautiful structures in Charlotte – but if you ask the Myers Park Homeowner’s Association – they’d better be of the “natural” kind. TREES that is! Charlotte’s Myers Park is venerated, beloved…treasured by all Charlotteans. It would be hard to argue there is a more beautiful cadre of tree-lined avenues in this city or for that matter any city in the southeast. That’s the good news… The bad news is our beloved “forest” of old growth oaks is under siege first by canker worms…

  • hungary? These kids are!

    Donna Johnston
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:09 am
    Every year my kids amaze me on how enthusiastic they are about sleeping in a box and fasting for 30 hours. It is usually cold and raining yet that just energizes them. My kids have a huge heart and soul and Haiti has been especially on their minds. This event is so unique because it is planned and ran by the youth and volunteers. This year, St. John Episcopal Church is building its box city for the 30 Hour Famine on Saturday, Feb. 27th, 2010. The youth have to raise at least $360 to participate and hundreds do. This is not just for St. Johns but any youth (grades 6-12) that want to help raise…

  • Charlotte’s Best On Us! LaVecchia’s Seafood and Steaks

    Mike Gibbons
    3 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Here’s another in a series of TalkCharlotte partnerships – Charlotte’s Best On Us! This time we offered a trip to Neptune’s galley….better know as LaVecchia’s Seafood and Steaks. THIS IS Charlotte’s acknowledged expert in seafood! Click here to view the embedded video. From opening day LaVecchia’s has been a favorite of Charlotte’s locals – uptown workers would happily return to  uptown on the weekend to enjoy the freshest seafood and some would just stay enjoying the lively bar scene. LaVecchia’s is that rare place where a…

  • Charlotte’s Best On Us! Zebra Restaurant and Wine Bar

    Mike Gibbons
    1 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am
    Charlotte’s restaurant scene is vibrant and delicious and I think too often under-appreciated by Charlotteans! Here’s another in a series Charlotte’s best restaurants! A while back we partnered with Southpark’s “instant classic” Zebra Restaurant & Wine Bar. hint: The Beef Tenderlion Tips With Portobellos And Onions, Risotto And Asparagus ($12.50) is melt in your mouth joy! Full disclosure this was one of the TalkCharlotte team’s first partnerships so of course we had to try it out - the coupon for a free entree was welcomed and we thoroughly…

  • Sharpen Your Number 2 Pencil: Charlotte NC is the Place to Buy a Home

    Mike Gibbons
    30 Jan 2010 | 12:19 pm
    It’s official things are picking up in Charlotte, NC. It could be the best time in years to buy a home in Charlotte! Rhonda and I wrote three home purchase contracts just last week and as Rhonda said “I think people are just tired of waiting, home prices are fair and interest rates are low – there is a lot of pent up demand.” Charlotte Ranks Second (No.2) Among Best Places to Buy Now Forbes magazine recently named Charlotte one of the best places to buy a home, second only to Boston, Massachusetts. To determine which cities had the best buys, Forbes computed the…
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    Lake Ridge VA Real Estate News

  • Speechless Sunday: Mother Nature Was In A Bad Mood Yesterday, She Let Virginia Have It Big Time!

    Peggy James- "Your Neighborhood Realtor" Serving Lake Ridge VA and Woodbridge VA (Exit 1st Choice Realty)
    7 Feb 2010 | 3:05 am
      If you need help with snow removal. Try posting  an ad on Craigslist in the Gigs Section. There is no cost to do this. We have done this before. TheGigs Section is found directly below the Jobs Section on Craigslist. Go to Labor and post you request. Here are today's postings of Homeowners and Contractors posts. It Should Be A Beautiful Day, with a lot of work ahead for all of us. Stay safe and good luck everyone. Have real estate questions? Call Peggy James today at 703-851-3085 or  contact me by email   Contact Peggy James or Erick Blackwelder  of…

  • When A Big Snow Storm Hits, Chances Are It Will Be Easier To Reach Your Busy Local Realtor.

    Peggy James- "Your Neighborhood Realtor" Serving Lake Ridge VA and Woodbridge VA (Exit 1st Choice Realty)
    6 Feb 2010 | 3:26 pm
    That's right folks. Normally you may play phone tag with you busy Realtor as they are in the field doing what they do best, helping people buy and sell real estate. However when a massive snow storm hits...nobody moves. Not even your Realtor.

  • How To Use Craigslist To Find Help With Snow Removal. Go To The Gigs Section!

    Peggy James- "Your Neighborhood Realtor" Serving Lake Ridge VA and Woodbridge VA (Exit 1st Choice Realty)
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:33 am
    Just thought I would pass this tip on to you just in case you need a hand with snow removal with the upcoming snow storm.Back in December when we needed additional help, our family turned to Craigslist for help. A group of guys came to help do my sister's long driveway. The cost $80.00! Local people who have skills(or this case the tools) post in on Craigslist. So check it out.This is the link to the Woodbridge Virginia Area Gigs Section  on Craigslist. You will find it on the middle of the page down near the bottom. The cost is FREE to post an ad Post that you can help Post if…

  • Happy Home Child Learning Center in Woodbridge, VA

    Peggy James- "Your Neighborhood Realtor" Serving Lake Ridge VA and Woodbridge VA (Exit 1st Choice Realty)
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:42 am
    I just had to share this post with you this morning. My favorite loan officer Markita Aldridge-Woods of Westar Mortgage has written a wonderful heartfelt post about Happy Home Child Learning Centerhere in Woodbridge Virginia.Via Markita Aldridge-Woods: "Your Woodbridge FHA/VA Lender" (WestStar Mortgage):Are you looking to purchase a new home in Woodbridge, VA? While considering a new home, you need to consider new travel routes, commuter routes, and a new daycare or school for your children. Well no worries, Happy Home Child Learning Center, named one of Northern Virginia's Top 50…

  • Find Woodbridge Virginia Active Homes For Sale...Photo's, Prices, Directions and More.

    Peggy James- "Your Neighborhood Realtor" Serving Lake Ridge VA and Woodbridge VA (Exit 1st Choice Realty)
    4 Feb 2010 | 4:09 am
    Note from Peggy: you do not have to be a member of Active Rain to comment. Please feel free to comment. Ask questions, share your experience on the topic
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    Bozeman Real Estate Blog: Montana Real Estate Blogs

  • 351 Majestic View Drive Montana Luxury Real Estate - Montana Horse Property

    www.TaunyaFagan.com Bozeman Montana Real Estate: Homes - Land - Ranches (Prudential Montana Real Estate)
    27 Jan 2010 | 9:39 am
    Gorgeous, custom Manhattan Montana Luxury Real Estate on 20 acres in the Churchill-Amsterdam area. Be wowed the minute you walk in to this rustic Montana beauty. Soaring ceilings, fir beams, massive stone fireplace, and a wall of glass to display the magnificent Bridger Mountain range. This Manhattan home contains 6792 +/- sq ft finished, with approximately 3396 +/- sq ft finished on the main floor with great room, dining area, kitchen, game room, combo laundry-mud room, luxury master wing, powder room, two guest suites with full baths and extra storage space. Enjoy the Chef's Kitchen replete…

  • Drive Your Own Montana Dog Sled Big Sky Montana

    www.TaunyaFagan.com Bozeman Montana Real Estate: Homes - Land - Ranches (Prudential Montana Real Estate)
    7 Jan 2010 | 11:28 am
    Have you ever imagined  driving a team of sled dogs? Spirit of the North sled dog trips at Big Sky, Montana's Moonlight Basin Resort allows you to do so... And, it's not as hard as you may think because the dogs know the trail; you just need to keep your balance, apply drag or brakes, and move your body like a skier. The Huskies used for these eight mile trips come from Montana's sled dog racer Jessie Royer's vast kennel of Alaska-Siberian mixed dogs (greyhound and other breeds mixed in). As we (five-year old boy included) helped hitch the teams up, these lean, work-loving canines began…

  • Montana Real Estate 2009 And Montana Realty Predictions 2010

    www.TaunyaFagan.com Bozeman Montana Real Estate: Homes - Land - Ranches (Prudential Montana Real Estate)
    18 Dec 2009 | 12:51 pm
    Bozeman Real Estate Prices, Values, Statistics 2008 Through 2009 Includes Southwest Montana Real Estate Market - Gallatin County Montana Real Estate Volume Earlier this year, Housing Predictor (a housing forecasting website) had ranked the 25 top US cities for home value appreciation in 2009. The Housing Predictor Montana Rankings had five Montana cities in the top 25 and two within the top 10 (you may recall that in January 2009, Billings ranked 3rd and Bozeman ranked 9th, placing both cities in the top 10 for appreciation in 2009: excellent rankings for any state). Apparently, based on US…

  • Cutting The Montana Christmas Tree

    www.TaunyaFagan.com Bozeman Montana Real Estate: Homes - Land - Ranches (Prudential Montana Real Estate)
    8 Dec 2009 | 8:16 am
    'Tis the time of year to harvest the Montana Christmas tree, with, of course, your $5 permit, which you may purchase at a Ranger District office of the Gallatin National Forest. You may also get your permit at some other Bozeman area businesses, including Murdoch's Ranch and Home Supply Company, the Gateway Exxon Station, Lee and Dad's Grocery Store, and Owenhouse-Ace Hardware Store. In ten degree, snowy weather, my husband, son, and I, in our 4x4, convoyed with some others up Bozeman's Hyalite Canyon Road, which has winter plowing. When heading up, don't forget your shovel (a grain…

  • Bozeman Airport Gallatin Field Expansion 2009

    www.TaunyaFagan.com Bozeman Montana Real Estate: Homes - Land - Ranches (Prudential Montana Real Estate)
    24 Nov 2009 | 2:22 pm
    Already in 2009, the number of people departing Bozeman Airport - Gallatin Field (BZN), Belgrade, Montana, has surpassed all previous records... ...so the present 28,000 sf, $30 million, Phase III expansion of the Gallatin Valley's airport, designed by Bozeman's Prugh and Lenon Architects, comes at the perfect time to accommodate the apt projection that Bozeman's yearly air traffic will continue increasing at the rate of 5 percent each year well into the next decade. Gallatin Field, services Bozeman, Belgrade, Big Sky, and a good portion of the southwest Montana region. Presently,…
 
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    blog.kw.com

  • Calculating the Real Cost of Mortgage Fraud

    Julie Lane, VP of Legal and Compliance
    2 Feb 2010 | 10:59 am
    Many believe mortgage fraud is partly to blame for the wave of foreclosures that are swamping many housing markets. And a quick scan at national headlines speaks to the depth of the issue. In early January alone, there were several high profile convictions: Six people in Boston were arraigned in a $2 million mortgage fraud scheme. A Naples, Fla. man was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay more than $11 million in restitution for setting up straw deals to obtain inflated mortgages. A Colorado man was sentenced to 31 years in prison after a mortgage fraud scheme. Two North…

  • How Four Little Words Changed My Career

    Mo Anderson, Vice Chairman
    24 Jan 2010 | 1:27 pm
    We have all experienced challenging times in the midst of our real estate journey. Mine came in August 1974 as I began my real estate career.  My year’s hard work had produced no closings and my real estate future looked dismal. I turned to God in deep discouragement and asked for a positive sign–just 3 valid transactions during the month of August. At the same time I enrolled in graduate school, preparing to return to the field of education. The month slowly passed day by day. Then August 27 and 28 brought great hope with the sale of my only listing plus a first-time-buyer.  My prayers…

  • 2010—The Year I Double My Profit Share

    Jay Papasan, VP of Publishing and Executive Editor
    15 Jan 2010 | 3:26 pm
    For the past few years, my wife, Wendy, and I have taken an annual goal setting retreat. It’s our chance to get on the same page on everything from our professional aspirations to our investment goals, from selecting a Kindergarten to redecorating our vintage 1970 bathroom.  These retreats also represent rare and valuable “spousal recharge” time away from the kids.  Needless to say, we were hooked. Last year we logged onto Priceline, booked a four-star room at a two-star price, called in the baby sitter and drove all of two miles away to the downtown Hilton. Who said a retreat has to…

  • 5 Steps to Making Google Part of Your Lead Gen Team

    Cary Sylvester, Executive Director of Technology
    8 Jan 2010 | 12:56 pm
    The most common question I’m asked is “Can you fix my website-it’s not working!”  Immediately, we run to a computer, pull up their website and voila, there it is…working as expected. So, what isn’t working?  It’s not generating leads – that’s the problem!  So, I stop and ask, who are you trying to reach with your website?  This is inevitably the time I get the blank stare and hear “well, leads.” If you want to “fix” your Website and reach your clients in 2010 and beyond, here are my five tips to make your Website work for you: 1. Determine who your audience is…
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    MortgageOutreach.org

  • Credit Cards Paid before Mortgages

    Paul M. J. Suchecki
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Historically, debtors have paid down their secured loans first to insure they have a place to stay, and a car to drive. That’s one reason why interest rates on these loans are lower. They are backed by tangible assets and the risk of default is traditionallly lower. A new TransUnion study shows that in the Great Recession that pattern has been reversed. Sean Reardon, the author of the survey, found that “increasingly more consumers are paying their credit cards before making mortgage payments.” The study was conducted on consumers with at least one credit card and one mortgage. It…

  • FTC Seeks Ban on Upfront Loan Modification Fees

    Paul M. J. Suchecki
    5 Feb 2010 | 5:43 pm
    Yesterday the Federal Trade Commission, in a unanimous 4-0 vote sought to protect distressed mortgage borrowers from one of the biggest sources of fraud in the loan modification business, charging homeowners upfront fees. Under the proposed rule, mortgage relief companies could only collect after providing services. “Homeowners facing foreclosure or struggling to make mortgage payments shouldn’t have to contend with fraudulent ‘companies’ that don’t provide what they promise,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. “The proposed rule would outlaw up-front fees so companies can’t…

  • Lock in Low Rates Now

    Paul M. J. Suchecki
    3 Feb 2010 | 2:59 pm
    If you’re paying more than 6% on your mortgage and can meet the criteria for refinancing, the time to lock in a new, lower, rate is today. Remember, unlike a loan modification, short fi, short sale, keys for cash, or foreclosure, a refinancing will keep your credit rating intact as you lower your mortgage payment. To make a refinancing worthwhile, between points and fees, borrowers need at least a 1 percentage point improvement between their current and new interest rate. Last week, according the Mortgage Bankers Association, the average rate on a 30-year fixed home loan eased to 5.01%…

  • Foreclosure Prevention Changes, Market Prospects

    Paul M. J. Suchecki
    1 Feb 2010 | 3:13 pm
    The US had a record 2.8 million foreclosures last year up 21% from 2008.  According to James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, the foreclosure marketplace, “As bad as the 2009 numbers are, they probably would have been worse if not for legislative and industry-related delays… trial loan modifications, state legislation extending the foreclosure process and an overwhelming volume of inventory clogging the foreclosure pipeline.” One big player in foreclosure prevention, the Obama Making Home Affordable plan, has had some success at initiating trial loan modifications,…

  • State of the Union

    Paul M. J. Suchecki
    29 Jan 2010 | 7:00 am
    In his state of the union address, President Obama had to show that he empathized with the economic difficulties facing ordinary Americans. He sought to deflect responsibility for the current mess by blaming it on the previous administration while acknowledging, “The worst of the storm has passed, but the devastation remains. One in 10 Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered.  Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard.  And for those who’d already known poverty, life has become that much harder.” A…
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    The Real Deal New York - Latest News

  • How to make a fortune in a down market

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:30 am
    From the February issue: While activity remains sluggish in the New York real estate market, there may be pockets of opportunities for profits over the next few years for those who invest wisely. Experts point to three areas for investors looking to lay the groundwork for a future fortune: office towers, land and multifamily buildings. First, a warning or two. Many of the properties sold will go to insiders rather than victors in a public auction process. With few assets available for cheap prices through public listings, "smart money will use alternative paths to get to core real estate,"…

  • Six companies are reportedly vying for a stake at 1 WTC. Who should get the deal?

    9 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am
    The Real Deal is looking for your feedback on market-related issues. Click here to see a story about the World Trade Center investment. Please comment below.If you have questions you'd like posted, please e-mail news@therealdeal.com.

  • 1 WTC stake draws interest from bigwigs

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am
    Six different high-profile property owners are angling for a stake in 1 World Trade Center, formerly called Freedom Tower, including Related Companies, Vornado Realty Trust, Boston Properties, the Durst Organization, Brookfield Properties and Hines Interests, according to the Observer. Stake in the 1,776-foot tower being constructed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would require a $100 million commitment -- at least -- from the interested parties. The Port Authority is eager to draw in interest from non-governmental agencies, according to Stephen Sigmund, a spokesperson for…

  • Number of burger joints on the rise

    9 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am
    New Yorkers will be able to enjoy a variety of burgers in 2010 with the opening of a number of burger restaurants in Manhattan. Elevation Burger, the Virginia-based chain specializing in an organic, grass-fed, free-range burger, has signed a lease for its first location at 103 West 14th Street in Union Square. The 1,900-square-foot restaurant will seat 50 to 60 guests. The restaurant, which will also have an outdoor café, is scheduled to open in May. Also in May, Stephen Hanson and B. R. Guest Restaurants’, Bill’s Bar & Burger is scheduled to open in Rockefeller Center. The company…

  • 75 Essex Street on the market for $18M

    9 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am
    The Lower East Side building that has housed the Eisner Brothers Store for the past 30 years is on the market for $18 million. The building at 75 Essex Street, listed by Lisa Bornstein of Bond New York, is being marketed as a potential condo conversion, “akin to Nolita’s Candle Building,” or for use as an office building, hotel, or museum. It will be delivered vacant with 19,300 square feet of air rights. Still, Eisner has some ideas of his own. In an interview with Bowery Boogie, he said the contract for whoever ends up taking the property off his hands will require the new owner to…
 
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    The Belt Team's Real Estate Blog

  • So What Did That Home End Up Selling For ? ? ?

    thebeltteam
    8 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am
    Do you ever wonder when you drive by a house with a For Sale sign what the owners are asking for their home? Or when you see a Sold sign finally go up on your neighbor’s house - do you wonder how much they got for their home? Feel free to call us & we will do our best to get that information for you. As soon settlement occurs, the information as to Sales Price and whether the Seller paid any “subsidies” (like closing cost assistance) becomes available to us. And we are happy to share that with you. In the meantime, for those of you who have been wondering about homes in…

  • Open Houses Canceled This Weekend

    thebeltteam
    6 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pm
    Well, despite the 2 foot snowstorm here in Virginia, The Belt Team was hard at work today. One contract ratified this morning on one of our listings. And another contract submitted for a buyer we are representing. That being said, we cannot control the roads. So our 3 open houses scheduled for Sunday have been canceled. Check back here next weekend for an open house update. Happy Sledding! (Check out our Vienna Blog for “Best Sledding Hills“).

  • Open This Weekend? We’re Not The Postal Service, But We’re Gonna Try!

    thebeltteam
    5 Feb 2010 | 7:56 am
    Today is Friday and that means it’s time for our Open House Theme Song of the Week. Sometimes you’ve just got to go with the cliche . . . We have 3 wonderful homes scheduled to be held open on Sunday (see below) . But check back here to see whether the snow changes our plans. In the meantime, enjoy Frank Sinatra “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!” Here’s where you will find The Belt Team this weekend: ~ Sunday, Feb 7th from 1PM to 4PM - 10240 Dunfries Road in Vienna - $889,000 ~ Sunday, Feb 7th from 2PM to 4PM - 201 Charles Street SE in Vienna - $1,295,000…

  • Just Listed in Vienna!

    thebeltteam
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:47 am
    Delightful colonial set among flowering trees on a breathtakingly beautiful cul-de-sac “acre” lot backing to parkland! Quality built with spacious rooms, hardwood floors on two levels, a sunsplashed updated kitchen & lots of other wonderful updates & upgrades! More info

  • Weekly Market Update - Vienna & Oakton - Buyer’s Market or Seller’s Market?

    thebeltteam
    3 Feb 2010 | 7:28 am
    There may be snow on the ground (AGAIN!), but Spring has already sprung in real estate. And it’s time for another weekly update on the Vienna Oakton real estate market! But first, we’ve had several readers contact us. They are wondering whether we are seeing a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market. Well, that’s one of the reasons we are reporting here each week on the number of months supply of listings - so that you can track the trends as we move from market to market. (Sometimes it happens as quickly as that!) Let me explain. A “balanced” market is…
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    Bank Foreclosures Sale Articles

  • Buy Bank Foreclosed Homes in Las Vegas, Optimists Say

    Peter Vernon
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:50 am
    Buy bank foreclosed homes in Las Vegas, optimists say, despite the proliferation of news about the city’s severe economic difficulties in recent months. According to speakers at the 2010 Preview Las Vegas event, Las Vegas will rise up again because of its low taxes, good weather, cheap real estate and tourist attractions. Rob Lang, director of the Mountain West Initiative at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Brookings Institution and chairman of the Nevada Vision Stakeholder Group, said that Nevada can actually use its vacant commercial and residential properties to attract investors…

  • Bank Homes Foreclosures in LA Still Affected Home Prices

    Donald Hanz
    9 Feb 2010 | 3:40 am
    Bank homes foreclosures in Los Angeles County still put a downward pressure on home prices, as shown in the drop in median prices of houses sold in January, despite a steady improvement in prices since April last year. Based on sales data from HomeData, the median home sales price in the county dropped to $342,000 in January from the $348,000 median in December 2009. The median sales price for condos also dropped to $305,000 from the median of $315,000 in December. The 8-percent drop in sales volume in January compared to December was normal, according to realtors, because buyers are still in…

  • House Foreclosures for Sale Cut Prices in Jackson, Tennessee

    Donald Hanz
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:25 am
    House foreclosures for sale in Jackson, Tennessee drove down home prices in the area in 2009, based on data from the Central West Tennessee Multiple Listing Service and local realtors. The average home price in the area dropped in 2009 to $123,057, compared to the average home price of $137,706 in 2005. Aside from the downward price pressure of cheap houses, the price decline was also driven by the sharp drop in sales of homes priced above $250,000. Total home sales last year also slowed down, compared to sales in 2008. Since 2005, sales have been on a decline. There were only 792 new and…

  • Foreclosure Homes for Sale in Las Vegas Absorbed by Market

    Peter Vernon
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:08 am
    Foreclosure homes for sale in Las Vegas this year will be absorbed by the market because of continued demand from real estate investors, according to Dennis Smith, head of Home Builders Research. Smith contended that the pace of Las Vegas foreclosures this year will not step up as fast as last year and that investors will push first time homebuyers away from the foreclosure market to the newly-constructed home market. He said that sales of pre-owned homes will rise slightly to about 45,000 units this year, compared to the 44,885 units sold last year, and then will slow down to about 44,000…

  • Illinois Foreclosures Pushed Down Median Price by 15 Percent

    Peter Vernon
    5 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am
    Illinois foreclosures pushed down the median home sales price statewide by 14.6 percent in 2009, based on data from the Illinois Association of Realtors. In Will County, the median price dropped by nine percent to $165,001 in 2009 from $181,250 in 2008. Total home sales, meanwhile, rose by 19 percent to 6,088 units from the previous year’s sales of 5,936 units. In Kendall County, the median sales price dropped by 15 percent to $170,000 in 2009 from $200,000 in 2008. Total home sales reached 1,424 units, marking a nine-percent rise from 2008 sales. Home foreclosures made a significant…
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    Real Estate Investing Blog For Real Estate Investors

  • Change Begins with Choice

    Tom Donnell
    9 Feb 2010 | 9:13 am
    Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish, we can start a new activity. Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year. We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence. The choices are…

  • Your Real Limits in Apartment and Commercial Real Estate Investing

    Darin Garman, CCIM
    8 Feb 2010 | 10:34 am
    Successful Investment Real Estate Strategies: Here are The Real Limits I was told years ago that the passing of time accelerates with each decade, it is something I never really paid much attention to, until I am getting close to hitting 40 and seeing how fast the time does go as you get older – it did not go this fast when I was 21 I will tell you that! This brings me to the point: limits. You know, I’ve often talked about self-imposed limits versus real limits, and how most people never, ever, ever get close to testing any real limits – especially when it comes to their…

  • Banks on Hiring Surge

    Phil Pustejovsky
    5 Feb 2010 | 10:21 am
    Banks across America are mounting a hiring surge right now. Why? They are gearing up for what lies ahead…more defaults, more short sales and more foreclosures. Collectively, the big 4, including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo and Citi have recently added over 17,000 new employees to their payroll to help manage the volume of loan modification and short sale requests as well as the disposal of foreclosures. And the most ambitious are those that have a large number of Alt-A (Interest Only and Option ARM) loans. Wachovia, for example, is loaded with these loan products. They were…

  • Investors, Did You See What the ULI Reported?

    Peter L. Mosca
    4 Feb 2010 | 9:18 am
    The Urban Land Institute recently released some important research as it relates to major changes in the U.S. housing market. What impact will, as the ULI notes, have on your investments or investment portfolio, if: 1) home appreciation slows considerably to about 1 percent to 2 percent annually, 2) the current U.S. homeownership rate, now at 67 percent (which is down from a record high of 69 percent), will fall further to about 62 percent. Here are four more demographic trends that could impact your future: 1. Aging baby boomers (ages 55 to 64 years old): They will keep working, and many…

  • Commercial Real Estate Investing – What If the What If Happens?

    Darin Garman, CCIM
    3 Feb 2010 | 9:56 am
    One of the things that I see happen, a lot, is people get trapped in the “what if” mode – especially when looking at investment real estate. There are literally hundreds of variables that go into analyzing a commercial real estate property. Many of these variables cannot simply be put into a spreadsheet or software program and pump out a “yes” or “no” answer as to whether to purchase a property, or not. What’s more, there is so much to think about that many get caught up in the dreaded “Analysis Paralysis” of just not being able to…
 
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    Corporate Real Estate

  • Winners and Losers

    The Editors
    9 Feb 2010 | 2:49 am
    There are many ways to be a winner, but only one way to be a loser: to fail & not look beyond the failure.    ~Kyle Rote, Jr

  • China, democracy, and social justice

    The Editors
    8 Feb 2010 | 3:43 am
    The last few months haven’t been kind to those who think that if we just bring China into the world economy Western-style political democracy and legal rights will follow. I think you have to be in deep, deep denial to continue to believe that political liberalization automatically will follow upon China’s economic development after recent events: China’s open refusal to follow through on pledges it made when it joined the World Trade Organization to open its economy to foreign goods (including foreign media) and to protect intellectual property, it’s insistence during the Copenhagen…

  • LoopNet Launches The First Mobile Commercial Real Estate Search Application For iPhone and iPod touch

    The Editors
    6 Feb 2010 | 2:50 pm
    SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 27, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- LoopNet, Inc. (Nasdaq: LOOP), which operates the largest online commercial real estate marketplace, released the first commercial real estate search application for iPhone and iPod touch users. Now available as a free download from iTunes, the LoopNet Commercial Real Estate Search Application allows users to search, locate and access all 745,000 available properties nationwide from their mobile devices. via satellite.tmcnet.com

  • The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace

    The Editors
    6 Feb 2010 | 1:10 pm
    New book from best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn: Based on a nationwide survey and confidential interviews with more than three thousand men, bestselling author of For Women Only, Shaunti Feldhahn, has written a startling and unprecedented exploration of how men in the workplace tend to think, which even the most astute women might otherwise miss. In The Male Factor: The Unwritten Rules, Misperceptions, and Secret Beliefs of Men in the Workplace, Feldhahn investigates and quantifies the private thoughts that men almost never publicly reveal or admit to, but that every woman will want to…

  • Executing the REO Deal

    The Editors
    2 Feb 2010 | 3:24 am
    From CIRE: Distressed assets create tremendous opportunity for the savvy commercial real estate practitioner, but quickly capturing profit in this new arena requires a well-defined path to success.  Executing the sale of these assets is a multidisciplinary process involving brokerage, property management, escrow, and sometimes construction expertise.  Real estate pros should be well versed in procuring buyers, problem solving with banks and tenants, and stabilizing the asset. More
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    Real Estate - ForeclosureDeals.com

  • FSBO Properties – How to Find Them Quickly and Efficiently

    By buying your home from among FSBO properties, you will have the opportunity to negotiate better discounts from the owners. Since the owners did not have to pay agents their usual six-percent commission to reach you, it is more likely that they will grant your request for further discounts. To ...

  • Relocation Services Providers Help Facilitate Short Sales

    The number of relocation services providers offering short sale programs to distressed homeowners is increasing across the county. These companies offer short sale services as part of their relocation package. Over the past years, the bigger relocation companies have been offering the complete package – from selling the house currently ...

  • Cheap Home Insurance Can Mean Limited Coverage

    Cheap home insurance can mean limited coverage for yourself, your family, your house and your other possessions, so before accepting a cheap insurance policy, examine first what it covers and know why your premiums are low. The adage too-good-to-be-true also applies in home insurance. An insurer cannot sell you a ...

  • Hire a Home Inspector that Complies with Checkup Standards

    Hire a home inspector that complies with maintenance checkup standards developed by reputable house inspection associations, such as the nonprofit International Association of Certified Home Inspectors Incorporated. If you hire any of the certified members of InterNACHI or other reputable national organizations, you will be getting service from someone trained ...

  • For Sale by Owner Sellers – Make Your Marketing Targeted

    You can sell your home as a for sale by owner more quickly if you target your marketing efforts to buyers that are able to close without contingencies. These are usually the retirees who have cashed out their retirement checks, first-time buyers who do not have to sell an old ...
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    duPont REGISTRY Luxury Real Estate Blog

  • Luxury marketing and rocket science

    Alex Beattie
    9 Feb 2010 | 11:01 am
    If you read anything on the internet, there’s high probability that the information appeared because someone ‘shared‘ it with someone. By ‘share,’ I don’t mean hitting a button that says ’share,’ and I don’t mean illegal transferring files (though it can mean that). It means: 1 part: crowdsourcing and 2 part: network effect. The wikipedia phenomenon. People committed to the spreading of an idea—a good one. Concomitancy is the only thing that matters in a luxury brokerage marketing strategy. Try to wangle the reader or your target market…

  • Staging Luxury Property | The Emotional Quotient

    Karen Crystal
    7 Feb 2010 | 1:16 pm
    A look through the eyes of the luxury buyer reveals an emotional core. By Karen Crystal Whether it’s a polite conversation, or a heated discussion, luxury real estate brokers are committed to the value of staging, and sometimes our view of this important marketing strategy may clash with that of our client. The million dollar question: is staging worth the investment? By staging your home, you are visually inviting buyers to become emotionally attached, thereby enabling them to imagine the lifestyle they’ll soon be enjoying. Visually inviting If a picture is worth a thousand…

  • 12 Questions to ask about your luxury site

    Alex Beattie
    6 Feb 2010 | 8:02 am
    How do you attract people to your luxury site? Do you pay someone with extraordinary design skills or do you make sure that there is content there? Do you think that the design of the site is important? Do you believe that your site is a first impression? Do you even think it’s necessary to have a website? What would you do differently if you could completely overhaul your luxury website? Does your website have a blog? Do you know what a blog is? If you do write on your website, do you write openly, honestly and candidly for your clients? Do you see any value in writing on a blog? Is…

  • A Wealth of Opportunity

    Sheri Norris
    5 Feb 2010 | 3:38 am
    Times have changed in the world of publishing, marketing and luxury advertising. It’s safe to say that we are all aware of the way marketing and advertising seems to work or ‘not work.’ This being said, there is still a need. Li Read writes: Real estate agents are consumers of marketing options This is true, indeed. In fact, it is our responsibility to create, develop and integrate useful platforms for the luxury agent’s brand identity. This has been the challenge for everyone whose occupation involves marketing and / or the marketing of real estate. It’s easy to…

  • Open opportunity

    Alex Beattie
    4 Feb 2010 | 1:51 pm
    Nobody said innovation was easy, but someone did say that necessity was its mother. Seth calls the people who spread the idea ‘sneezers.’ We need more of both in luxury real estate. We also need more quality. There are still remnants of the ‘bubble opportunists‘ all over the internet. It’s painful to see the burst shrapnel on any luxury agent’s sites. But it’s far more painful to find out that these bits and pieces laying around cyberspace are not completely discarded. There’s a huge opportunity for any agent who wants to work hard to create…
 
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    Team Ensor

  • Thank You to All Attendees of Brewing Hope’s Austin Pub Crawl!

    Shannon Ensor
    7 Feb 2010 | 10:35 am
    Team Ensor would like to thank everyone who came out to enjoy a beautiful Austin afternoon with friends and brews yesterday at the Brewing Hope event in Austin, TX.  We had a great time, and it was fun getting to meet all of you who participated! We look forward to the next Brewing Hope event here in Downtown Austin.  But for those of you who can’t wait that long, check out Brewing Hope events coming soon to cities all around America! We are very excited to have been able to sponsor the Brewing Hope event yesterday.  Team Ensor plans on sponsoring other events in the near future…

  • Barton Place Condos Nearing Completion!

    Shannon Ensor
    5 Feb 2010 | 11:41 am
    The parking lots are now open for Billy’s BBQ and Austin Java in South Austin, as the finishing touches are being put on the Barton Place condominiums. Construction of the Barton Place has made it somewhat tricky for patrons of Billy’s BBQ and Austin Java to enjoy the local fare, but now that parking has been restored, it’s time to get back down to Barton Springs Road and spend an afternoon or evening at the local establishments.

  • Bastrop Earns Spot on 2010 Distinctive Destinations List

    Shannon Ensor
    4 Feb 2010 | 12:12 pm
    The National Trust for Historic Preservation recently added Bastrop to its 2010 list of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.  It was chosen for several reasons.  Downtown preservation, annual events and its place in Texas history are just a few.  Mayor Terry Orr said in a statement that he is very proud and says that this proves that all of the restoration of downtown has been well worth the money and effort.  This should also add to Bastrop’s tourist and business appeal.  Bastrop is the only Texas city that made the list for 2010.  Previous Texas recipients are Galveston, Ft.

  • New Features for Searching Austin MLS Listings

    Joe
    2 Feb 2010 | 1:56 pm
    Two new features have just been added by Team Ensor to make life easier for future residents of Austin and their search for real estate that is listed on the Austin MLS. AustinMLS.teamensor.com is our latest & greatest offering to the public to better search Austin MLS listings.  Search for information on any listing in the Austin area, and find data that was otherwise inaccessible to the public through traditional search tools.  This is a very dynamic and comprehensive search tool that is very user-friendly. Austin MLS Blog is a new blog recently added that monitors new listings for…

  • Video of Teravista Home

    Shannon Ensor
    30 Jan 2010 | 4:38 pm
    Check out this home on the 17th hole of the Teravista Golf Course! Teravista Home Features Like many of the golf course homes in Teravista, both the interior and exterior of the home is required to be on a more ‘upgraded’ level from the builder than the other homes in the community. These upgrades include four-sides masonry, granite countertops and more. Although buyers can select these upgrades in any of the homes in Teravista, the golf course homes are automatically held to a higher set of upgrades. If you would like more information about homes for sale in Teravista or about…
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    The Tenant Advisor

  • Mixed signals, where do we go from here?

    CoyDavidson
    7 Feb 2010 | 12:56 am
    We all know what a challenging year 2009 was, but as we have moved into 2010 there is a steadily growing sense of optimism for both the Houston and National economy. Almost daily now we read a couple of news stories with positive economic news, but every third or fourth story we see tempers that enthusiasm a little with some negative economic trend that is reported or projected. Let’s take a quick rewind of some of the key economic news that has been reported since the first of the year. On January 17th in a story reported in the Houston chronicle, longtime Texas economist Ray Perryman…

  • Office Property of the Week: 1100 Louisiana

    CoyDavidson
    6 Feb 2010 | 8:09 am
    1100 Louisiana is a 55-story, 1.3-million-square-foot office building bounded by Louisiana, Dallas, Smith and Lamar streets in Houston’s Central Business District. Developed in 1980 by Hines The tower is clad in polished Spanish Rose granite with rose-colored windows. 1100 Louisiana is connected to the tunnel system, with its convenient 45,500 square feet of retail space and service centers, as well as passageways to stores and other office buildings and the 2,234-car parking facility adjacent to the building. The south and east curtain wall contains a series of large stepped bays at…

  • CRE Weekly Review: Jan 31-Feb 6

    CoyDavidson
    6 Feb 2010 | 1:14 am
    HOUSTON A Tale of Two KBR Campuses: Plan for Clinton Drive Stirs East End Interest The big boxes (slowly) get filled Griffin Partners breaks ground on retail center near JSC Anadarko Petroleum Corp purchases its Woodlands corporate headquarters building Obama, NASA and the Clear Lake Office Market Obama’s budget hits twofold in Houston Moon Mission Killed for NASA (Video) Beckman Coulter to shutter Webster facility Camden stalls eight projects Communication firm Rignet expands headquarters in Ashford II Houston Chronicle: Commercial Real Estate Transactions Quarterly Report: Uncertainty…

  • Office Space Markets Beginning to Show Signs of Stabilizing

    CoyDavidson
    5 Feb 2010 | 1:21 pm
    After a miserable year and a half, office leasing markets across most of North America began to show signs of hitting bottom and possibly recording growth before year-end. While both Canadian and U.S. vacancies rose during the quarter, the increases were relatively muted, but more importantly, positive absorption was recorded in both countries. With the U.S. economy posting robust growth in the fourth quarter and moving to a more upbeat labor market, many leasing markets are beginning to exhibit more normal leasing activity after a protracted period of inactivity. The beginning of 2010 is…

  • North American Industrial Markets Scale Back Losses

    CoyDavidson
    3 Feb 2010 | 5:48 pm
    U.S. industrial real estate markets finished the year on a weak note, but were a marked improvement compared with the prior three quarters. The backdrop for warehouse markets was still fairly dismal with most warehouse users looking to consolidate their space needs or hold their real estate needs steady at best, but the tone was more upbeat than earlier in the year. Rents however, fell again and continued an eight quarter long series of declines. Even though the economy registered robust growth in the fourth quarter and further expansion is expected in the coming quarters, U.S. warehouse…
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    Son Of A Broker

  • Monday Mortgage Minute February 8th – Toronto Interest Rates

    chris
    8 Feb 2010 | 6:26 pm
    We started off this morning with the lowering of the fixed 5 year special offered by mortgage lender Merix Financial leading all the lenders down. The “quickclose” special is now at 3.69% for a fixed 5 year rate. The only condition is that the mortgage must close by March 26th 2010. Other than that this is a mortgage with full privileges. Most other lenders have followed suit and are currently offering 3.89% for their standard rates. You can currently lock in your variable at 3.89%. If you are looking for a mortgage and need somebody to lead you through the confusion that is the…

  • Toronto Works For Haiti – Mortgage Services

    chris
    4 Feb 2010 | 6:18 am
    I have joined a group of Toronto volunteers who have committed themselves to offering their professional services in exchange for donations to the Haiti relief effort. www.TorontoWorksForHaiti.com Our group includes professionals and entrepreneurs offering a wide range of services all the way from Artists, to Japanese translation services, to Style Consultants and Social Media services. Click here to view the embedded video. I personal am committed to donating $200 from every mortgage that I arrange under this initiative to our goal of raising $5,000 by March 18th, 2010. Irrespective of the…

  • Monday Mortgage Minute – February 1st 2010

    chris
    2 Feb 2010 | 5:50 am
    Mortgage interest rates have remained pretty stable over the last week and there are no signs of any changes to come. It looks as though the trend is downwards as the majority of lenders have begun to adjust their fixed 5 year rates to match the most competitive rates in the market. Given the economic outlook variable rate mortgages may be a good choice. Chris Molder – Son Of A Broker 1 year fixed – 2.65% 3 year fixed – 3.50% 5 year fixed – 3.89% 3 year variable – Prime-.10% (2.15% effective rate) 5 year variable – Prime-.25% (2.00% effective rate) RATE SPECIALS 5 year fixed –…

  • Mortgage Insight From The Foutainhead?

    chris
    30 Jan 2010 | 4:41 pm
    I’ve recently picked up the classic novel The Foutainhead by Ayn Rand (1943). Reading it this afternoon I came across an unusually insightful quote by one of the lesser characters in the book; Kent Lansing. “When facing society, the person most concerned, the person who is to do the most and contribute the most, has the least to say. It’s taken for granted that they have no voice and reasons they could offer are rejected in advance as prejudiced – since no speech is ever considered , but only the speaker. It’s so much easier to pass judgment on a person than on…

  • Toronto Condo Chicks

    chris
    27 Jan 2010 | 4:29 pm
    You don’t need me to tell you that Toronto is currently experiencing an incredible real estate boom spurred on primarily by low mortgage interest rates and first time home buyers entering the market. If you are looking at buying in the near future, what you do need to hear from me is who can help you understand the mayhem that is the Toronto condo market? Enter The Condo Chicks! With such a hot market, changes develop very quickly and you need a real estate agent who is current with information and market trends. I have had the pleasure of working with the CondoChicks, Joy & Erica,…
 
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