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Mar

4
2009

Inman 10-point real estate reform list: Love it? Hate it? Tell us why ...

By Daniel Rothamel, the Real Estate Zebra, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.
Last week, the editorial team at Inman News published a list of 10 real estate industry reforms.  The list generated some good discussion, and we know that there are a lot of people out there who still have something to say, but might not have had the chance.  more...

TIC owners squabble over improvements

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Q: We have a two-unit Victorian and are converting the units to condominiums.

My tenancy-in-common partner, who lives in the unit above me, is installing a new heating system and is running ductwork in the small attic space. There is old insulation that was blown in decades ago, and his contractor says it should be removed so new insulation and electrical work can be done.  more...

Manhattan apartment prices hit record high

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

The median and average sales price for Manhattan apartments set a new record in 2008, climbing 11 percent to $955,000, while the number of sales slipped 23.3 percent from its record level in 2007.

The annual Manhattan Market Report, prepared by real estate appraisal and research firm Miller Samuel Inc. on behalf of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate and released this week, also reveals that for-sale inventory at the close of 2008 grew 40.9 percent compared to end-of-year 2007.  more...

Exploring the 'fairness' of housing rescue

By Tom Kelly, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

The discussions with industry officials in the hallways at the recent National Association of Home Builders gathering in Las Vegas echoed the conversations at the National Association of Realtors' annual convention in Orlando. They now have become a common consumer topic: Where does "fair" fit in the various economic stimulus plans?

Should banks receive money before the long line of consumers hurting from house payments? Should consumers who knowingly borrowed too much be bailed out at all? How do you determine clear greed from genuine desperation?  more...

The victims of 'spamvertising' Premium Content

By Kris Berg, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/63056612@N00/155554663/" target=blank>freezelight</a>.

If someone in the grocery store were to suddenly shout "Webmaster!" across the dairy aisle, I would whip around so quickly my head would disengage. That is because my name is "Webmaster." But I go by many names. I am also called "Info," "Homes," and occasionally, "Hey there."

"Hey there. Hope you are doing well. In these times of recession, SEO is one of the most economical and targeted way (sic) of marketing," read the e-mail. Good point. Then why are you wasting time in my inbox? Get out there and optimize!  more...

Vanno.com scoring reputations

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Vanno.com has launched an index that claims to measure the reputations of more than 5,800 companies by capturing "trends in gossip, news, opinion and personal insight about companies and brands" and converting them into a score.

The index, called ReputationCheck, can be embedded into blog posts and Web site side bars.  more...

Lenders keep finding more fraud

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Federally regulated banks filed 62,084 reports of suspected mortgage fraud through mid-summer 2008 -- a 44 percent increase from previous year and nearly 10 times the 6,401 reports filed just five years ago.

Because mortgage fraud can take months or years to detect, the trend doesn't necessarily reflect the prevalence of fraud in newly originated loans, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said in releasing a report analyzing fraud trends through June, 2008.  more...

Code name 'Waterfall': Move's play for ActiveRain Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/billtex48/772002589/" target=blank>(Bill and Mavis) - B&M Photography</a>.

When Move Inc. executives met with ActiveRain Corp.'s founders two years ago at an industry conference in New York City, they walked away thinking the real estate blogging and social networking site might be worth as much as $50 million in two years.

But in the weeks that followed, negotiations between the companies fell apart, and ActiveRain ended up suing its former suitor. The lawsuit claimed that for four months, ActiveRain was barred from shopping for other partners -- even as Realtor.com operator Move Inc. was working to build its own competing site.  more...