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Can whistleblowing rental manager be fired?

By Janet Portman, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Q: I am a tenant and also the manager for our apartment building. I've just been fired from the manager's job, and given a termination notice, too. Here's what happened: The owner has been refurbishing rental units as they come vacant, having our maintenance crew rip up old floors and repaint. The building is old and I'm certain that the guys are dealing with lead paint and asbestos floor tiles. The owner told me to shut up about it, and for a while I did. But my conscience got the better of me, and I called the local health department, who sent an inspector over.  more...

Lesser of two evils: short sale or tenant?

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Q: I bought a house about four years ago, and relocated for work last year. My old house has been on the market for almost a year. I thought about renting it, but I really don't want to deal with tenants from a long distance. The place is almost fully remodeled, and people have been viewing it, but my Realtor says I need to lower the price and try for a short sale. The one thing I haven't tried is putting in stainless steel kitchen appliances -- the appliances currently in there are newer, but they are black. Should I invest my last few thousand dollars in upgrading the appliances to stainless steel, or should I attempt a short sale?

A: Contrary to popular belief, everyone doesn't love stainless steel appliances. In fact, some folks actively dislike them. Buyers generally want updated appliances; if yours are up-to-date, they are not likely the thing that is stopping your home from selling.  more...

The hard truth about the hard sell

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

The hard sell doesn't work with me and it hasn't for a long time. These days I am feeling harassed as the articles I write on the Internet attract salespeople of all stripes. The relentless sales pitches clog my e-mail accounts, tie up my cell phone and pollute my Twitter stream.

Last week I had to block a vendor who is following me on Twitter. He started pitching his product to me a couple of times a day and managed to get on my last nerve.  more...

Breaking down Boston MLS walls

By Inman News, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

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Everything's Going to Be Alright

By Joel Burslem, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

"The anxiety we feel about rising prices, plummeting home values and a weak dollar is real. But perhaps we should take comfort in the fact that, historically, recessions are relatively short and they're usually followed by long periods of prosperity."

From a Brief History of Recessions by Harvard Business Publishing.  more...

Senate prepares for bailout vote

By Inman News, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

The U.S. Senate is planning to vote today on a modified version of the $700 billion financial bailout plan that was struck down by the U.S. House of Representatives Monday in a 228-205 vote.

The Senate version of the legislation, which will require 60 votes to pass rather than a simple majority, proposes to raise the FDIC and National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund deposit insurance limits from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor per bank.  more...

Get ready for real estate consolidation

By Inman News, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Last week, it was announced that Brookfield Residential Property Services, based in Toronto, Canada, would purchase GMAC Home Services LLC, which operates one of the largest real estate brokerage companies in the United States (see Inman News article). Brookfield owns the Royal LePage, La Capitale, Johnston & Daniel, and Centract real estate brands.

Like the banking sector, other industries are expected to consolidate in response to tough economic times. And experts say this is just the beginning of a major marrying of unlikely bedfellows in the real estate industry.  more...

'I will NOT reduce my fee'

By Inman News, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

Editor's note: The following is a reader comment made on the Sept. 26 Inman News column, "Premium service deserves premium pay."

"I will NOT reduce my fee. In fact, I will not even negotiate fees. My fee is my fee. I know the value that I bring to a transaction and if a consumer is smart enough to understand that experience costs, they don't even ask.  more...

Home construction spending falls 28%

By Inman News, Wednesday, October 1, 2008.

The August rate of spending on residential construction projects dropped 27.9 percent compared to August 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.  more...

Charting the 'No' votes

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Wednesday, October 1, 2008.
The New York Times displays, with maps and charts, the source of the "no" votes in the U.S. House of Representatives over the $700 billion plan, which has been referred to as a "rescue" or "bailout" plan, depending on who you talk to. The House voted down the legislation in a 228-205 vote Monday (see Inman News article).  more...