Home

Intercepting the credit-default spiral

By Lou Barnes, Friday, January 9, 2009.

The Fed's purchases of agency MBS (mortgage-back securities) have succeeded in capping mortgage rates near 5 percent with the lowest fees (1 percent origination easily buys high-fours).  more...

Reconstructing the listing presentation

By Bernice Ross, Friday, January 9, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lumaxart/2136953043/" target=blank>lumaxart</a>.

Are you still working with an old, outdated listing presentation from the 20th century? If so, there's no better time than now to make the shift from doing listing presentations to doing "listening consultations."

Recently I was conducting a new agent training class. During the lunch break, the parent company did a webinar featuring four very successful new agents. Here's what one of the new agents advised the listeners on the call:  more...

Overwhelmed by kitchen floor options?

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, January 9, 2009.

The floor in your kitchen has to wear a lot of hats. It has to be able to withstand the rigors of lots of foot traffic. It needs to be water-resistant and be able to stand up to repeated cleanings. It has to be able to withstand grease, spills, drips and other indignities -- and it has to look good doing it!  more...

Downturn forces industry changes

By Matt Carter, Friday, January 9, 2009.

NEW YORK -- The financial crisis and housing downturn are proving to be a catalyst for change in real estate brokerage, title insurance and lending that could accelerate if the downturn is prolonged.

For the most part, regulators and lawmakers should let the industry shake itself out rather than impose new conditions from above, a panel of experts said Thursday ...  more...

Upside down on home? Don't panic yet

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Friday, January 9, 2009.

Q: I got an interest-only loan on my house three years ago, and while I still have two more years on this loan, my house is upside down on what I paid for it versus what I could sell it for today. Is there any help for people like me with a bad loan?

A: First things first. There is no such thing as a "bad loan"; there are just improper uses of loans.

I have never met a loan I couldn't envision a legitimate, proper use for. Don't believe the hype that says if you don't have a 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage your sky is necessarily falling.  more...

Experts predict major change for MLSs

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Friday, January 9, 2009.

NEW YORK -- The idea of a national multiple listing service has moved out of the realm of science fiction and into the realm of serious discussion.

"I think it's only the political constraints and the human constraints that keep that from happening," said David Charron, president and CEO for Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, the largest multiple listing service in the United States. MRIS serves about 55,000 real estate professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region.  more...

Shocking conditions in college-town rental

By Janet Portman, Friday, January 9, 2009.

Q: My son just graduated from college and moved into a basement apartment in the college town. Last week while visiting, I came across pipes in his pantry that were wrapped with deteriorating asbestos -- powder and dust was all around and on the shelf. My son called the owner and it took her two weeks to get someone there to look at it. In addition, the oven coil does not work, the oven is filthy, the bathroom stinks, and the landlady won't do anything.  more...

Coldwell Banker listings reach smartphones

By Inman News, Friday, January 9, 2009.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC this week announced that iPhone and BlackBerry users can now search the company's property listings in 28 countries at coldwellbanker.com.  more...

Jan

8
2009

Connect NYC '09 energizes and enlightens

By , Thursday, January 8, 2009.

There is little doubt that the real estate industry professionals attending Inman Connect NYC '09 have gotten their year started on the right foot.  The conference kicked-off yesterday with information packed workshops about Blogging, Internet Marketing, and Video.  The afternoon was highlighted with an address by Inman News Publisher Brad Inman, and a series of very informative panels and presentations.  Attendees ended day one informed, enlighte  more...

BH&G Real Estate courts luxury

By Inman News, Thursday, January 8, 2009.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC today announced the launch of Premier Selection, a brand extension that aims to connect real estate sales professionals with buyers and sellers of high-end properties.  more...

Best loan rates come at a price

By Ilyce Glink, Thursday, January 8, 2009.

Q: I read your recent article, "Cancel refi, lock in lower rate," and felt compelled to comment.

My husband and I run a small brokerage in Portland. While we always try to get the best deal for our clients, they too have some responsibility when it comes to locking in a rate.

Pulling files from lenders after locking them damages the broker's file delivery rating with the lender. Doing so too frequently will result in termination of the brokerage agreement with that lender.  more...

Don't delete that blog -- tweak it

By Matt Carter, Thursday, January 8, 2009.
Jay Thompson, The Phoenix Real Estate Guy

When it comes to generating leads and landing new clients, many brokers and agents have their doubts about whether a blog is the best use of their time.

Two prominent advocates of blogging as an effective tool for realtors -- Dustin Luther and Jay Thompson -- say that if you're not getting results, you might reconsider how you're going about blogging rather than give up on it altogether.

Speaking at the Inman News Real Estate Connect conference in New York, Luther and Thompson offered advice on how to make sure that the time you spend blogging pays off in results results.  more...

Three Things The Real Estate Industry Needs to Do in 2009

By , Thursday, January 8, 2009.
Gary Vaynerchuk of WineLibrary.tv spoke at Real Estate Connect earlier today in New York City and offered the following advice.  more...

Listings to get walkability ratings

By Inman News, Thursday, January 8, 2009.

Real estate Web sites with more than 80 million online listings -- inlcuding Zillow.com, ZipRealty.com and Postlets.com -- will provide a "Walk Score" with each property using an application that automatically scores the walkability of each home's surrounding neighborhood.

In announcing the partnership with real estate Web sites, Seattle-based "civic software" developer Front Seat said the company hopes a property's Walk Score will rank right up with the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in a home in importance.  more...

Craig: on change, democracy and technology

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Thursday, January 8, 2009.

NEW YORK -- Craigslist founder Craig Newmark sees light at the end of this economic downturn, with technology and teamwork serving as sparks for a recovery.

"Our system of representative democracy, with its flaws, works OK. What's different now is the Internet makes this grassroots democracy possible on a large scale," said Newmark, an avid supporter of President-elect Obama, during an appearance Wednesday at the Real Estate Connect conference in New York City.  more...

123456789…next ›last »