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Aug

24
2007

I thought it was a pyramid ...

By Glenn Roberts, Jr., Friday, August 24, 2007.
Google Maps features three-dimensional rendering of buildings for some city areas. An Inman News staffer noticed the feature in a San Francisco map search. The renderings indicate building shape and height, though the dimensions aren't exacting. San Francisco's Coit Tower...  more...

This week on InmanTV

By Joel Burslem, Friday, August 24, 2007.
In case you missed it - this week on InmanTV: What’s Craig Up to These Days Craig Newmark is a customer service rep and founder of craigslist. He started craigslist in 1995 and it quickly grew to become the most...  more...

RealEstate.com exiting lead-subscription business

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Friday, August 24, 2007.

RealEstate.com today announced a phase-out of its subscription-based lead-generation business for agents.

While the company will continue to offer services to existing clients, it will not add new subscribers, said Bret Violette, RealEstate.com president.  more...

Texas-based Coldwell Banker firm expands to six states

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Coldwell Banker United, Realtors, based in College Station, Texas, today announced an acquisition that expands the company's operations to Florida.

The acquisition of Coldwell Banker JME Realty gives Coldwell Banker United, Realtors a total of 77 offices and about 2,450 agents in six states, including Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

According to a Real Trends Top 500 list, Coldwell Banker United, Realtors in 2006 ranked eighth nationally in transaction s  more...

Laramar Group acquires 228-unit apartment complex

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

The Laramar Group, a real estate investment and management company, has announced the acquisition of Bay Park at Clearwater Apartments, a 228-unit property at 101 S. Old Coachman Road in Clearwater, Fla. The site was formerly a condominium conversion project that will now offer mid-range rental housing. The purchase price was not announced.

Laramar announced that it will upgrade the property with $2.4 million of improvements, including an Internet cafe, upgraded entertainment center and other improvements.  more...

Westcore Properties sells $30.7 million shopping center

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Westcore Properties has sold the five-building Poway Crossings Shopping Center at 12622-13224 Poway Road in Poway, Calif., for $30.7 million to Poway Crossings Investors LLC, an affiliate of Greenstreet Real Estate Partners.

The Westcore entities selling the 114,811 square feet of retail space on a 10.1-acre lot are Westcore Poway Plaza LLC and Westcore Poway LAF LLC. The center is anchored by LA Fitness, Rite Aid and K-5 Board Shop.

Westcore Properties and Poway Crossings Investors were represented in the negotiations by Pete Bethea of Burnham Real Estate Services.

Triple Net lands 10-story office building in Fort Worth

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Triple Net Properties LLC announced the purchase of a 10-story, multitenant office building in Fort Worth, Texas, on behalf of tenant-in-common investors.

The building was 94 percent leased at the time of sale, and includes an on-site deli, banking facilities, pass-card security system, and a five-story, 552-space garage.  more...

New-home sales down 10% in July

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

The rate of new single-family home sales dropped about 10.2 percent in July and the median sales price rose 0.59 percent compared to the same month last year, the U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today.  more...

What to do when everyone's gone fishin'

By Alison Rogers, Friday, August 24, 2007.

August doldrums here. I have a closing scheduled for next week and every little thing that has to be done I am doing with the utmost, nearly slavish, care, because I have so much time on my hands. Scheduling the walk-through? Why, I did that today, with my pings to both my dear client and the listing broker getting answered instantly. Guess that's a nice reminder that no one else is too busy either.

When I left my corporate job two years ago, my best friend, an established freelancer, said, "Call me when you clean the bathroom."  more...

Overnight real estate rates hit flat spot

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Long-term mortgage interest rates were mostly unchanged Thursday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield dipped to 4.64 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average held at 6.17 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate edged up to 5.79 percent. The 1-year adjustable gained to 5.57 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield was down to 4.94 percent.

Rates and bonds are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  more...

Brokerage rolls out REO search for consumers

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Friday, August 24, 2007.

A California real estate brokerage company has added a new feature that allows consumers to view bank-owned foreclosure properties that are currently on the market.

CataList Homes today announced the launch of the bank-owned property-search feature for California and will roll out the same feature for Northern California within a few days, said CataList co-founder Michael Davin.  more...

What's Craig up to these days?

By Inman News, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Craig Newmark is a customer service rep and founder of craigslist. He started craigslist in 1995 and it quickly grew to become the most influential classifieds site on the Internet. Since then, he has maintained an obsessive commitment to customer service to the craigslist community. He sits down with InmanTV to share some of his new community efforts, involving Mideast peace and new forms of media, "participatory journalism" and blogging.  more...

When wildfires strike will your home be ready?

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, August 24, 2007.

It seems that hardly a day goes by without reports of a devastating wildfire burning somewhere around us. From rural acreage to crowded suburbs, living anywhere on the edge of a potential wildfire zone can put you, your home and your family at risk. To minimize the dangers from a hot, fast-moving wildfire, there are several practical, straightforward things you can do to protect your home.

ESTABLISH A DEFENSIBLE SPACE  more...

My living trust became nearly worthless

By Robert Bruss, Friday, August 24, 2007.

Nobody, including me, likes to think about death. But it is inevitable, as I was reminded during a recent hospitalization for major surgery. Thankfully, because of the excellent surgeons, nurses and my friends, I came through the experience successfully.

After I recovered, I learned from the doctors I had been very close to death.  more...