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Tenant suffers damages in plumbing remodel

By Janet Portman, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Q: When we moved in, our landlord gave us a one-page, yearlong lease that had just the basics (apartment number, rent, move-in date). It also had a paragraph saying that we agreed to abide by the "House Rules," which could be changed at any time. The rules covered who could park in the lot; use of the laundry and other facilities; fees for late rent; and charges for replacing lost keys.  more...

Employer willing to buy out tenant's lease

By Robert Griswold, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Q: I have a tenant who recently signed a two-year lease for my rental home. She just contacted me indicating that she has been approached by her employer about transferring to another city for a promotion with the company. She wanted me to voluntarily let her out of the lease, but I declined, as the rental market here is not that strong and it took me three months to rent the house.  more...

Real estate leads: a long-tail tale

By Teresa Boardman, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

The spam and the phone calls just keep coming from those companies that promise to put my blog on page one of Google. I am on page one, and in the number one positions for the keywords that they are trying to sell me, and it isn't as wonderful as it sounds. It makes me look smart but doesn't pay the bills.  more...

Get rid of 'buyer's block'

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Q: I have always wanted to own my own home. I have been saving money for five years toward a down payment and I have worked hard to maintain excellent credit, with the idea that I would buy a home when I got married. I got married last year, and my husband and I together can well afford to buy a nice home in our area. Part of the time, we're excited about buying because it seems like prices are really good right now. The other part of the time, though, we watch the news and it seems like the whole world is falling apart. Now we're sort of stuck -- we're not sure what to do.  more...

IPhone real estate app showdown Premium Content

By Joel Burslem, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

The real estate application category on the iPhone really seems to be filling out. When the upgraded version of the software launched in July, Puluwai was the only real estate specific search tool (see 5 Apps Every Real Estate Agent Should Have on Their iPhone).

But that’s now changing and it looks like there is an epic battle brewing for screen space on my phone.

Trulia iPhone application  more...

Frontdoor signs deal with Relocation.com

By Inman News, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Frontdoor.com, an online real estate listing service powered by HGTV, has added content from Relocation.com that aims to help consumers make more efficient moves.

Free moving quotes and news and advice from relocation experts, providing everything from packing tips to planning tools to money-saving tips for their upcoming move, are available at www.frontdoor.com/move.  more...

Study sets benchmarks for customer service

By Matt Carter, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

A first of its kind ranking of customer satisfaction with national real estate brokerages not only gives Keller Williams and Prudential something to crow about, but creates industry benchmarks local brokers can use to distinguish themselves from the competition.  more...

Social media can do wonders for RE biz

By Inman News, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Many real estate professionals look at social media and wonder, "It looks great, but how can I really use it in my business?" Benn Rosales from Agent Genius offers a few possible answers. Rosales shares great ideas about how real estate professionals can utilize social media and traditional marketing, like yard signs and customer giveaways, to enhance their marketing efforts. The comments also have great input on executing ideas like these.  more...

Theft of escrow funds nets 12 years in prison

By Inman News, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

The former owner of an Ohio title insurance agency has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $7 million in restitution for allegedly stealing escrow funds from hundreds of individuals and businesses.

Steve Clayton, the former owner of Equity Land Title Insurance Inc., allegedly used a check kiting scheme from 1995 to 2002 to pay previously closed real estate transactions for which he had already spent the funds.  more...

Real estate marketing and an orange gorilla Premium Content

By Pooja Kumar, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.
<a href="http://www.inman.com/video/inman-tv/2008/08/22/homegain-factory-tour">Click here to view video</a>.
Related Podcast/Video: 
Homegain Factory Tour

Editor's note: In these Factory Tour segments, we want to give our readers a behind-the-screen look inside the office environments at real estate technology companies that are pushing industry innovation. You might only know some of these companies through their Web sites or online tools.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Almost a decade ago, HomeGain set up shop in a renovated warehouse across the street from the headquarters of animation film company Pixar.  more...

Mortgage applications up slightly

By Inman News, Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Mortgage applications nudged up slightly during the week ending Aug. 22 as a small increase in refinance applications was all but cancelled out by a reduction in applications for purchase loans, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.  more...