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Corporate Office Trust gains 1.1 million square feet

By Inman News, Tuesday, December 27, 2005.

Corporate Office Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust, has bought 21 properties totaling 1,107,000 square feet in Woodlawn, Md. and Hunt Valley, Md.  more...

Reality TV show gives homes, sells leads

By Janis Mara, Tuesday, December 27, 2005.

In a unique marriage of video and digital media, a new company is offering a home-makeover-type reality TV show coupled with lead generation for real estate and mortgage professionals.

The show, "Home Team," which launched in September, buys and refurbishes homes for needy but deserving people with the help of their friends and families, then surprises them with the results.  more...

Feldman Mall Properties purchases major Florida lease

By Inman News, Tuesday, December 27, 2005.

Feldman Mall Properties, a real estate investment trust focusing on enclosed regional shopping malls, has purchased a leasehold interest on 103,000 square feet of retail space at the Tallahassee Mall in Tallahassee, Fla.

 

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Ensuring home's proper ventilation

By Paul Bianchina, Monday, December 26, 2005.

Q: I have a small apartment in my basement that I rent out. The renter cooks with high heat and a lot of oil, and now there is a strong smell coming up from the apartment, and everything is covered with grease. We are cleaning up, and now I want to install a range hood. What is the minimum CFM you would recommend for this, and will it take care of the grease problem?--Diane S.

A: Opinions vary somewhat on how many cubic feet per minute (CFM) is required for spot ventilation devices such as a range hood, but 100 to 150 CFM is the airflow number most commonly used.  more...

America closes doors to architectural expression

By Arrol Gellner, Monday, December 26, 2005.

Suppose a developer wanted to advertise the name of his/her subdivision by building a sign 500 feet long on a prominent hillside that was visible for miles. Suppose each letter was going to be 50 feet high and built out of telephone poles, pipes and sheet metal. And suppose the whole thing was going to be lit up by 10,000 or so unshaded 40-watt bulbs, so it couldn't be overlooked even at night.

A design review board's nightmare? Not really. In 1923, a pair of developers named S.H.  more...

5 negotiation tactics for real estate deals

By Robert Bruss, Monday, December 26, 2005.

According to recent information from the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of Home Builders, and other reliable sources, the volume of home sales has declined slightly in the last few months compared to a year ago. But home sales prices in most communities have held steady.

As the home sales market adjusts to slightly higher mortgage interest rates, if you are a home buyer, seller, or real estate agent, your negotiation skills will become more important than during the recent "bull market" for home sales.  more...

Inside capital gains tax law for real estate

By Robert Bruss, Monday, December 26, 2005.

DEAR BOB: I am confused about your recent answer to a home seller who wants to add her mother to the title. You said the mother would be eligible for an Internal Revenue Code 121 principal residence sale tax exemption up to $250,000 after only 24 months of ownership and occupancy. How can she qualify with less than 60 months of ownership? – Donald M.

DEAR DONALD: Internal Revenue Code 121 is very generous to principal residence sellers. After as little as 24 months of both ownership and occupancy, a home seller can qualify for up to $250,000 tax-free capital gains.  more...

Don't let market change blindside your real estate business

By Bernice Ross, Monday, December 26, 2005.

Market changes can blindside your business if you're not paying attention. How can you prosper when the way you have been doing business doesn't fit the market shift?

The last two columns looked at how to prosper in a down market. If you have been in a red-hot seller's market that will eventually become a buyer's market, you will probably have six to 18 months of a flat or transitional market that precedes the major downturn. The strategies for prospering in flat market are very different from those required in a seller's markets or a buyer's market.  more...

Real estate falling out of favor with investors

By Inman News, Monday, December 26, 2005.

Real estate falling out of favor with investors

Energy ranks as top investment choice

 

A growing number of investors expect home values to decrease in the coming year, while inflation and unemployment is generally expected to grow, according to a " more...

Illinois officials issue rule limiting predatory lending law

By Inman News, Monday, December 26, 2005.

An Illinois law taking effect Jan. 1 to limit predatory lending has spurred concerns that new home loans could be halted in Chicago's Cook County after the new year due to confusion regarding the scope of the rules, the Chicago Tribune reported.

But in an effort to alleviate widespread concerns in the lending industry and avoid the potential nightmare of canceled closings--or worse, no new mortgages offered in Cook County after Jan.  more...

Real estate search engine co-founder has roots in online travel

By Inman News, Monday, December 26, 2005.

Pete Flint co-founded Trulia.com with Sami Inkinen in 2004 while they were studying for their MBAs at Stanford University. Trulia is a real estate search engine that aims to help consumers find real estate information across the Web and allow them to connect directly with sales agents and brokers.

Flint and Inkinen say they worked closely with real estate agents and brokers to understand their needs as well as leading computer scientists to build the service.  more...

Can hot tub land homeowner in hot water?

By Robert Griswold, Thursday, December 22, 2005.

Question: I have a home that I am going to rent out that has a hot tub spa in the back yard. I can see how this will be a great feature for my renter, but I am concerned about safety for tenants with children. Also, I am worried about my liability for any other health problems that may arise from the tenant's use of the spa. What is my responsibility to a tenant regarding the use of this amenity? I appreciate any advice you may give me.  more...

No pro-ration if spouse doesn't meet home occupancy test

By Robert Bruss, Thursday, December 22, 2005.

DEAR BOB: Regarding the capital gain $250,000 exclusion on the sale of a primary residence under Internal Revenue Code 121, I am aware there is a partial exclusion if the seller doesn't quite meet the 24-month occupancy test. However, I have owned and lived in my home for several years, but my spouse has only lived here one year. Is his exclusion pro-rated? – Mary DiG.

DEAR MARY: No.  more...

StartPoint Realty founder well versed in Web leads

By Inman News, Thursday, December 22, 2005.

Jeffrey Bastress is president of StartPoint Realty, a new concept in real estate lead generation and converting online consumers into clients. StartPoint affiliates are top-ranked Realtors, loan officers and closing attorneys from different firms.  more...

Housing still a sweet spot for developers in '06

By Inman News, Thursday, December 22, 2005.

Gruen Gruen + Associates, a research and consulting firm specializing in urban economic, market and land use/public policy analysis, makes the following predictions for the economy and real estate industry in 2006:

1. In 2006, the U.S. economy will be more buoyant than the contentious political mood of the country, with Gross Domestic Product growing between 3.4 and 3.8 percent. Local growth rates will vary above and below this positive nationwide output.

2.  more...

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