Opinion

Jan

29
2004

People should be let to live, work where they like

Editor's note: This article first appeared on PLANetizen.

Participants in an Internet e-mail discussion list recently engaged in a heated debate on the impact of libertarian principles on urban planning in the United States. Here we present an edited version of the original e-mail debate, which centered on the "The Lone Mountain Compact," which appears at the end of this perspective.  more...

Jan

28
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Mother Teresa trumps Rush Limbaugh' (Jan. 16)

Dear Editor:

That lady is homeless because she most likely embraces a left-wing ideology. If only she knew "how to fish."

Bruno Skopinich
Fidelity N. Mortgage
Grants Pass, Ore.

Dear Editor:  more...

Mr. Inman, you are on the list

After a change of plans on a recent business trip to Los Angeles, I purchased a one-way ticket to Las Vegas to visit my parents. My ticket was tagged SS, special security, which put me in an airport security line that requires a complete body and luggage search, including an electronic scent detector, which, according to the Homeland Security officer, spotted TNT on my Sony Vaio.

Though the computer was checked twice more without a trace of TNT, the HS officer asked for my driver's license and began filling out a form on me.  more...

Jan

27
2004

E and Pru: Reading the tea leaves

A single event can spark an insight into where we have been or where we are going. The news that Prudential is purchasing eRealty did that for us.

For one, a traditional off-line franchise acquiring a pure Internet-inspired company shows convincingly that the marriage of bricks and clicks is real, necessary and inevitable. Prudential acquires the innovation, technology and risk-taking of an online company, and eRealty gets the depth, judgment and experience of a traditional real estate company.  more...

Jan

23
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Economic think tank bets housing market will crash' (Jan. 19)

Dear Editor:

History teaches us about economic cycles that come and go with regularity. It takes years to occur and come on s-l-o-w-l-y, step by step, and you know why business is less. The so called "housing bubble" is only a sign of low interest rates and overwhelming demand that you expect to diminish in time with the return of higher interest rates.  more...

Jan

22
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Economic think tank bets housing market will crash' (Jan. 19)

Dear Editor:

There is no housing bubble because we say so!

It's a very good thing we are correct in this matter.

If we were wrong there would be a dramatic decrease in home values. We would witness a huge drop off in mortgage refinancing and new home purchases. There would be a slowing of the economy, resulting in many upsets in upcoming elections.  more...

Jan

21
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Real estate tax break fuels housing frenzy' (Jan. 20)

Dear Editor:

Julie's Brosterman's comments regarding the housing bubble are tinted by the rose-colored glasses of living in Southern California. As with New Yorkers, L.A.-area residents sometimes forget that the rest of the country doesn't always look the same as it does out their front doors.  more...

Jan

20
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'New HOMS biz model for MSN traffic' (Jan. 20)

Dear Editor:

I really wish Allan Dalton would stop being such a crybaby. Allan, if the MSN deal is a good one you will make money, as Realtors flock in droves to pay you twice for the added exposure. Heck, the new VOW rules, if adopted by an MLS, can prohibit brokers from advertising next to anything but their own listings. You should be happy you have been afforded this special license to print money.  more...

New HOMS biz model for MSN traffic

Late last week Inman News published a guest perspective that raised some issues relating to Homestore's recently announced agreement with MSN. I would like to respond to these concerns and clarify some details that seem to have been misunderstood.  more...

Jan

16
2004

Letters to the Editor

Re: 'Best of luck, Homestore' (Jan. 15)

Dear Editor:

"Hate" is the operative word here, because its seems (Dirk) Knudsen does hate us – at least today.

While most brokers are celebrating the MSN deal and recognize the added value to their listings with this relationship, Knudsen's first comments are in regards to the alleged illegality of our content distribution deal.  more...