Message to All Realtors: Stop Using Your Personal Facebook Account For Your Business

A common mistake I see real estate agents make when it comes to using Facebook is to use their personal page as a way to promote their real estate business.  What's even worse is when agents make a poor attempt in combining a personal page into a business page. If you have an extensive list of friends or clients already linked to your personal account, I can at least see the logic behind simply posting real estate news, links, or photos from your personal Facebook account that you know people will see.

But if you're one of those Realtors who combines your actual name with a business or service'Joe Heath Chicago Realty Company'it's time to convert over to an actual Facebook Business Page.  First of all, not only is using a false name against Facebook's Terms of Service, but following this format also gives users the perception that you are completely out of touch when it comes to using social media for professional purposes. Business pages are nothing new to the social media world. In fact, LinkedIn recently re-launched their version of Company Pages and Facebook Pages have been around long enough that it's now almost common for users to follow just as many large or small business pages than friends, colleagues, or clients.

In addition, Facebook has made extremely easy and convenient to update and manage your business pages. Of course there's always the opportunity to log into your personal account and proceed to click the tiny drop-down arrow next to 'Home' to use Facebook as your business page; but along with that, users now have the ease of  updating, posting, and checking their business pages using the new Pages Manager iPhone App.

There's no excuse for misusing social media. It's a free tool that's useful, engaging, and will certainly drive business and exposure, as long as it's used correctly. So do yourself and your followers a favor and distinguish how you want to use social media and proceed using it the right way.

Joe Heath is a graduate of Indiana University and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Drexel University. After working as a Market Research Associate and writing published Market Snapshots for Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, Joe now works as a Web Marketing/SEO Specialist and is a managing partner at Real Estate Web Creation, LLC.

Government Approves New Jersey Emergency Aid For Hurricane ' Irene??

Yes you read that right; hurricane Irene. Even as Hurricane Sandy makes its way across the New Jersey coast, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, (HUD), is announcing the approval of a $15 million dollar emergency aid package to help repair the damage caused by Irene.

Emergency aid ' for Irene??? Image by Jerry Angelica Photography

The funding is from HUD's Community Development Block Grant Program. Here is an example of a constructive way to put our tax dollars to use. But perhaps we'll get a double 'bang-for-the-buck' by using Irene's money to re-repair everything after hurricane Sandy finishes what Irene started in 2011.

It must be agonizing for victims of these storms, when they have to wait a year for funding to help repair and rebuild. My heart really goes out to many who've just finished rebuilding after Irene, and now have to face the prospect of the 'storm of the century' just 14 months later. The irony of 'emergency' government aid that takes a year to get approved is that Sandy's damage will perhaps be repaired with Irene's money.

In order to receive approval, the state of New Jersey had to submit a disaster recovery plan to HUD. In response to the approved plan, New Jersey should receive $15,598,506 for repairs or reconstruction in areas which have 'unmet needs in housing, business and infrastructure'' that were not covered by private funding sources.

Hurricane Irene is regarded as one of the top ten worst storms since 1980, and did significant damage to the entire northeastern corridor, virtually the same area of impact as hurricane Sandy. Sandy however, has a much larger impact area than Irene. This storm could prove to be much worse than even Irene. Total insured losses from Irene totaled roughly $5.5 billion, with an estimated total economic impact of some $10 billion dollars. If Sandy lives up to predictions, it is likely to cost much more than Irene.

Sales of Luxury Homes Increase in San Francisco

Sales of luxury homes have increased substantially in San Francisco according to the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Reports. The report found luxury home sales in San Francisco increased by 42% during the third quarter of this year compared to a year ago, based on Multiple Listing Service data for homes sold for more than $2 million during this period.

Image by Photo Dean via flickr.com

There were a total of 74 homes sold for more than $2 million in San Francisco between July and September compared to 52 sales for the same period last year. However sales have eased slightly since the second quarter of this year when they reached their highest level since before the recession. Sales of luxury properties in excess of $3 million also increased, reaching a total of 29 transactions compared to 23 during the same period in 2011.

Rick Turley, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the Bay Area says 'Luxury home sales in San Francisco remain very strong as we go through the fall selling season. We were encouraged by the number of transactions, in particular the robust sales in the high-end of the luxury market.'

The median sales price of a multimillion dollar home has eased by 4.3% compared to a year ago to reach $2,629,573 in the third-quarter. This is below levels achieved in the second quarter when the median sale price was $3,006,212. The most expensive property sold during the third quarter was a four-bedroom 7200 ft.² property in the Gold Coast section of in Pacific Heights for $17 million. Homes are taking an average of 73.8 days to sell, up from 61 days on the previous quarter and 58 days a year ago. Sellers are achieving 99% of their asking price on average, down from 101% in the previous quarter, but up from 98% a year ago.

The San Francisco Luxury Market Report is produced quarterly by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a specialist in high-end real estate sales. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage serves San Francisco with five offices and can be reached on 9 to 5-275-3085. It is the largest residential real estate brokerage in Northern California and service markets from Monterey to Tahoe with more than 62 office locations and 3,600 sales associates.

Illinois Waves 'Bye Bye' to More Industry Professionals

A sign of the times or not, the 121 years of Whitehead Inc. Realtors in Rockford, Illinois ending is just bad news. Owners of that areas biggest real estate firm, Dee and Stan Premo (at left), have notified their agents of the firm's closing next month.

When the real estate bubble burst in 2007, not so many people truly realized what was about to happen. Certainly the 43 agents of Whitehead Realtors just figured there were some tough times ahead. Maybe they were like everyone else in America, they figured; 'Obama and the government will fix it, we'll come back quickly.' But, like most Americans, the soon to be displaced agents there in Illinois were probably wrong to place such confidence.

Whitehead, the most prominent agency to survive the bubble bursting, has been a leading seller of real estate there for decades. For much of the 1990's in fact, no other Realtor even came close to equaling their expertise. But come next month, all that fades into history. I quote from their 'About' page, ironically you will note:

'Established in 1891, through depressions, recessions and expansion eras, Whitehead Realtors has become one of the most successful real estate firms in our market by providing unsurpassed service to its clients. The people of this firm have been major contributors to the growth and amenities of this area. Their caliber of service has established Whitehead as Rock River Valley's 'most recommended real estate firm.'

Still more irony exists in the fact that this year Whitehead agents have sold more properties than at any time since the 2007 crash. Regardless, it seems Whitehead's situation is not unique save the company's longstanding reputation. Looking at the worst hit markets, like California, the agent and broker population in America is logically declining. The chart below from First Tuesday Journal Online tells a bit of the story.

California is seeing careers change

The logical, yet sad fact that the real estate market can no longer support as many professionals is interestingly a mirrored and domino effect of America's manufacturing situation. No jobs, equals no jobs, this is the core issuance anyone can take away from announcements like this. Illinois' housing market is not even the worst in the US. All one has to do is protract what is happening in California onto other markets in order to feel not just Dee and Stan Premo's pain, or that of their agents, but the industry's.

We wish all those agents well.

Survey: Generations X and Y are Responsible, Savvy Homebuyers

More than three-quarters of Gen X and Y Americans surveyed believe that increased media coverage about the housing crisis has resulted in them becoming more knowledgeable homebuyers, according to a national Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate survey of 18-35-year-old Americans.

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

The X and Y'ers overwhelmingly believe ' by 75 percent ' that owning a home is a key indicator of success. And they are taking second jobs and moving in with their parents to help them save for a house.

'Every generation faces defining economic events that alter their collective perspective,' said Sherry Chris, president and CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. ''The Greatest Generation' was shaped by the Great Depression and Baby Boomers were impacted by the oil crises throughout the 1970s. Gen X and Gen Y experienced their 'coming of age' moment during the largest housing market downturn in American history. As such, these generations believe that the details, risks and rewards of home buying are integral to their planning.'

Other findings from the survey include:

• About 71 percent of the respondents don't feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to homeownership. They are motivated to adjust their lifestyle to save for a home by eating out less, getting a second job, and moving back in with their parents.
• Some 69 percent of the Gen X and Y'ers believe the housing downturn in recent years has made them become more knowledgeable and motivated to do research in the areas of interest rates, home prices in desired neighborhoods, and the ability to secure a loan.
• Three-fourths believe owning a home is a sign of success.
• About 69 percent believe you're ready to buy when you can also maintain your lifestyle. And 61 percent believe being ready means having secure employment.

'Many people have misconceptions about the priorities, the work ethic and the grit of Generations X and Y', said Chris. 'Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate sees a group of people who are wise, proactive and are taking a strategic approach to their future. For example, over the last few years high rental statistics have been attributed to an apparent decreased interest in homeownership. Our findings indicate this is not true for Gen X and Gen Y.

International Agency Listing: World Property Images

As a new feature of RealtyBizNews editorial we wish to present you selected properties from around the world. Images being a near perfect medium for gaining visibility on or offline, the world has a lot to offer via the web. Below you'll finds some interesting real estate offerings from; Switzerland, Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Zurich Mountain coming Winter this year.

Zürichberg ' Wohnadresse

Translated from German Zürichberg is Zurich Mountain (above), one of the most exclusive and desirable addresses in Switzerland's capital city. The image below from MOBIMO reflects a bit of the stylish and crisp architectural flair of these residences with privileges. The reader can find more information a wonderful images via this link. Alternatively you can contact: Mobimo Management AG, Seestrasse 59 8700 Küsnacht: Tel. +41 44 397 11 01 or verkauf@mobimo.ch

1184 Sq. Ft in Buenos Aires $2,735 per month

Palermo: Arenales St. & Sanchez de Bustamante St.

Okay, if you don't know Buenos Aires then the address above won't make too much sense. But, if you want to rent a penthouse in the city then Buenos Aires Habitat is the best place online to find one. The image above shows off just how upscale and luxurious this Argentine city can be. For those how have never been, we can tell you there's no more refined city in Latin America. For more information on this or the many other Buenos Aires listings, you can contact Buenos Aires Habitat via: info@buenosaireshabitat.com, or Tel. Buenos Aires: +(54-11) 4815-8662 / 4816-6405 / 4813-7949.

This Mullumbimby is amazing as is the company photography

Mythical Mullumbimby

The next listing actually deserves an entire spread and in depth article. I quote directly from the Luxury Real Estate Australia listing:

'This home and environs comprise an unrepeatable labour of love in one of the most strategic and spectacular sites in the northern rivers. Unhindered private views from Cape Byron, to Mt Chincogan to Mt Warning. Close enough to hear the surf at Byron but far enough away for total peace and privacy. The land is arable and suited for macadamias or coffee. The architect designed home is unique and splendid with a wealth of exquisite detail and design.'

And then some. Mt Warning in the background, a 17 meter lap pool, and I'll let your curiosity direct you to see more. Contact Brian Grant at +61 0408 899 555 if just outside Brisbane is your next home away from home.

Jason Soprovich knows his Hollywood property presentation

Eagle Harbor ' Vancouver

Every day as an editor and author is a discovery. Today I found a real estate broker who knows his online business where showing properties is concerned. Jason Soprovich clearly understands people need to connect with things they may want to buy, especially online. The most difficult thing in the world is showing a property without the feeling, the tone, the sense the buyer can get from standing in the living room. But to get a lead into the living room? Ah, that is the rub now isn't it?

As you can tell from the picture (full screen when you visit) 5535 Parthenon Place in West Vancouver, is extraordinary. Though the price is on request, it's clear this ultra bachelor pad will go for millions. To contact Jason, call him on his cell at +1.604.817.8812, or mail him at jason@jasonsoprovich.com. Be sure and see the other fantastic properties whether or not you intend moving to Vancouver.

Tokyo Midtown Residences ' view from the Ritz Carlton

Tokyo Midtown Residences

If I were a billionaire. Funny I never thought of it, but an appreciation of all things Japanese would seem to have led any writer to focus on a pad in Tokyo? Or not somehow. Whatever the reason, not taking a look at one of the world's most fascinating and hopping places, has to be some sort of sin. And if you are going to fork over the hard earned cash for a place, then there's no place better in Japan's capital then these luxury residences. Available for long term rental, these fabulous apartments are the only 5 star luxury pads at the wonderful Ritz Carlton. For more info you can reach out directly via phone: +81-3-5772-9923, or visit the website via the link. We leave you with an image of your swimming pool at the Ritz.

Pool at the Ritz in Tokyo

Foxtons UK: A Tale of Agency Paradise Lost & Found

Shining the agency spotlight on the UK we quickly found Foxtons this morning, a brick and mortar traditional company have fast forwarded themselves into digital gurus. Not many would ever expect a UK real estate company being more modern than 99 percent of their American counterparts. But read on, Foxtons could be a lot better.

If nothing else, Foxtons can get some PR miles out of SM

A Sign of Real Estate Times

Let's kick off this agency review with a bit of history. Foxtons was founded back in 1981 as a two person estate agency. Not a year later the firm sprang forward with a 'zero commission' offer that pretty well shook up the market, as you might imagine. Expansions and openings go on until 1995 when Foxtons establishes their 'lettings' magazine that helps Londoners connect on rentals. Then in 2001 the company opens their state-of-the-art headquarters followed by the fist so called 'café-style offices' and their 'Urban Grafitti Mini' subsequently. Today Foxtons simply has to be considered one of the most forward thinking and innovative property companies in the world.

Fast forwarding to today's news and the opening this month of yet another Foxtons office, Shepherds Bush, makes for number 37 and 5 new ones this year alone. Talk about confidence in the market. For that news, let's turn to Foxtons Chris Constantinou, Area Director for Foxtons West London:

'We have been looking after customers in Shepherds Bush for a long time now from our neighbouring offices in Notting Hill and Chiswick, which opened 31 and 20 years ago respectively. This has helped us to build a strong knowledge of the area, however, now seems an ideal time to focus on the local market in even more depth and serve the local community through an office on their doorstep.'

Are They Too Busy, Or What?

As the thinking suggests, Foxtons is obviously both proactive and reactive to market conditions surrounding their business. But let's look at just how digital the company is. Their 'neighborhood' approach to lettings, the cafe offices, and their award winning website are all signs of a company understanding what it takes to not only brand, but to serve 21st century customers. But there is a 'but' here.

Foxtons landing page ' cutting edge but unsocial

Real estate brokers in the United States, for the most part that is, are absolutely clueless about how to take advantage of the Internet. As we have seen time and time again, cities across the US are underrepresented by property companies at the local level. Apparently, the UK's poster child for 'local' buying, selling, and renting, has been too busy to care too. Aside the near perfect website above, and I do mean perfect, Foxtons does not even seem to have noticed the web. Before I go on, it's only fair the reader knows just how superb Foxtons has been at making tools, visitors to their site can even search properties by 'drawing' the desired area on the map search. Or, they can search by tube, school, and so on, someone spent a lot on this aspect.

Drawing your neighborhood to find a home.

Now the bad news. Foxtons evidently sees investing in Internet and social media branding or marketing as futile. They joined Facebook back in 2011, but have since done zero engagement. As for Twitter, I can find people who hate Foxtons, but not the agency that spends money driving around London in Mini Coopers. To be honest, I am not exactly sure what to think on this one. Even the most ditsy American out of  the trunk of his or her car operator is on Twitter?

Having landlord and tenant portals, online payments, even a convenient magazine app for iPad, Foxton not taking advantage of the power their agency possesses is almost criminal. Our readers can download Area at iTunes here, but for a company that has led in many ways the London letting and even sale market, being so far behind technically seems ludicrous.

You can apply for a job at Foxtons online (and they have many openings), you can find out the value of your home, you can even see advanced statistics about your particular area (image below), but if you want to interact with Foxtons, they are not listening unless you happen to visit them at their website (or at the office).

I won't even go into the mobile aspect of real estate marketing here. While I so hate to offer up negatives for a company that clearly understands branding and innovation, Foxtons actually disappointed me. Google London rentals, and there Foxtons is in the SERPs. So how come Foxtons Security is the only profile I find on G+? Didn't the company's SEO guru explain how Google ranks G+ in the new algorithm changes?

Paradise and Revenue Lost ' Never to Be Regained

Anyhow, for those agents out there wondering about my scathing reviews of American real estate companies, Foxtons is an international example of wasted potential. Two years ago such companies may have been justified in skepticism of social media and even mobile engagement efficacy, but not today. Companies can now prove out ROI for such marketing channels, and it's only a matter of time before social makes or breaks competitors. Looking at Foxtons as a case, their ignoring the social channels is tantamount to ignoring billboards, or radio, or TV. The company may as well buy more Mini Coopers and pray. If you don't believe me, ask Google.

In concluding, Foxtons has done a fantastic job creating a true value proposition both on the ground and with their cutting edge website. I have never actually run across a better site. However, the lost opportunity costs this company is currently seeing could probably fund many more office or even international expansion. The thing about 'not knowing' is that lost revenues could be anything. Foxtons is this year's Large Lettings Agency in the UK according to just about everyone. Imagine how much more they could do'

Hint. 

FHA Delinquencies Surge To Record Levels In 3rd Quarter 2012

For the first 20 years of it's existence the Federal Housing Administration, created in 1934, enjoyed a delinquency rate of 0.2%. As of September 2012, the delinquency rate has surged to a record 17.3%. Compare that to less than 2% for privately insured mortgage company, MGIC.

According to the October 2012 issue of FHA Watch, were the FHA to abide by the GAAP Standards required by law for privately owned businesses, FHA would have a negative net worth of -$28.3 BILLION dollars! FHA's capital shortfall would be an astounding $67 BILLION dollars, based on a 4% capitalization rate.

When FHA began it's existence in 1934, it reduced down payments from 50% all the way down to 'only' 20% along with a 20 year mortgage. As a result, FHA enjoyed years of stable, predictable results. But in the late 1950's congress began allowing FHA to accept a 95% LTV with a 30 year term, and borrowers had to pay only 5% down for the first time ever. It also made it easier to buy a home than it had ever been before, by lowering mortgage payments. This move set off a boom in new home sales, but the unintended consequence was a soaring delinquency and foreclosure rate, which had virtually doubled to 2% by the mid-1960's.

Home ownership is today, essentially equal to it's historical peak in 1979, at about 65.5% of households. Home ownership rates have been trending downward since 2006, yet FHA's foreclosure starts have again spiked at crisis levels, more than six times the rate for Fannie Mae.

The report goes into a lot more detail about statistics and the underlying problems that are the primary causes of the poor results being realized at FHA. One that really sticks out to me is that FHA delinquencies and foreclosures have gone steadily up since 1976.

FHA is the backbone of the US housing market, and has been highly successful in it's mission to help first time buyers obtain home financing. It is also the keystone of the housing market, since FHA insures about 80% of all new home mortgages. In the report, American Enterprise Institute Fellow, Edward Pinto, makes a number of recommendations for changes that could help FHA continue to successfully fulfill it's mission as the foundation of the housing market. The solvency and stability of FHA is also an important factor for our national economic health.

The report also helps to highlight the lack of truthful accounting practices in government agencies. Given that the FHA does not have to utilize the same accounting standards as private companies, it's much easier for FHA to fool themselves, the congress and the US taxpayers into believing that operations are in better financial shape than they really are. If we are ever going to get control over federal budget deficits, and reign in unnecessary, wasteful spending, we can start by making FHA and other agencies stick to sensible accounting rules.

As it is at present, the housing market can't survive without FHA mortgage insurance. On the other hand, rising delinquency and foreclosure rates could lead to the death of FHA if we don't get them under control soon.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Donna S. Robinson is a residential market analyst, investor and author located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults and read her blog at www.RealtyBizConsulting.com

Re/Max Classic Agents Receive Fiver Star Awards

Brett Furman

Re/Max real estate professionals Joe Dono and Brett Furman have received Five Star Awards, for their quality services to local clients.
This award is given to real estate agents in more than forty five markets in the United States and Canada. In addition both agents were featured in a special advertising section in the Philadelphia Magazine.

Realtors receiving this award are evaluated by consumers on their customer service, integrity, market knowledge, their negation skills and their skill in being able to help customers find their perfect home. They are also evaluated on overall customer satisfaction.
Joe Dono commented on this award saying 'I am humbled and excited to receive recognition of this award.  Both agents can be reached on 610-687-2900.

Re/Max Classic has been a family owned and operated business for the last 22 years and has outstanding support staff that is able to assist their agents, enabling them to focus upon the business of providing excellent customer service to clients.

Re/Max was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Linger, who still lead the Denver-based global franchiser today. The company is recognized as being one of the leading real estate franchises in the industry. In addition the company has raised more than $100 million for Children's Miracle network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen and for the Cure®.

Fendi Casa in the Sky: Flamboyance via Fluffy PR

This morning I thought I should touch on a subject everyone reading RealtyBizNews might identify with ' SPAM. In an effort to save electricity and life force too, the following report on the so called Fendi Casa in the Sky, and Hundred Stories PR which represents developments in NY, is a cautionary tale, as you shall see.

The Setai in New York City ' courtesy hotel Facebook

First the good news. Even though I have requested to be removed multiple times from Hundred Stories PR's mailing list, I received yet another invitation to attend an event in New York City at the Residences at 400 Fifth Avenue's Fendi Casa penthouse shindig. The first Fendi Casa show home located at the prestigious 400 Fifth Avenue address, it only seems appropriate that the parties of the first par throw a gala to announce the most luxurious (so far) high fashion high rise affair.

A bathroom view from 400 Fifth ' Courtesy their website

Another offering from the Residences at 400 Fifth Avenue (one view above), there's little doubt this latest luxury living wonder will be just that, as I am sure last evening's celebration sponsored by Luxury Living, Douglas Elleman Development Marketing, and Bizzi & Partners was. Situated two blocks from the world famous Empire State Building, 400 Fifth Avenue is a spectacular address. But, while sharing 'Manhattan views, hors d'oeuvres and cocktails' with the developers would have been wonderful, there is a blotch ' a big PR one.

For a couple or three years now Hundred Stories PR has emailed me at both my personal and corporate addresses, and from just about every conceivable real estate angle you can think of. But one, two, or even three account execs hitting me up in one day is not so problematic, that is until. On multiple occasions, and by 'multiple' I mean more than three, I have asked Hundred Stories PR to remove both my accounts from their mailing lists. There are multiple reasons why I asked, not the least of which is I feel most of the PR agency's announcements are useless. Of course that is my opinion only. SPAMMING contemporaries, or anyone for the matter, is just plain bad relations ' I know, we run an online PR agency.

View of the Setai from the Empire State Building . courtesy their Facebook

Okay, I know you are thinking 'big deal', some Manhattan PR flakes SPAM a blogger, slash news guy, slash tech geek, slash whoever. That's not the point, arrogance and indifference is the point. Not so long ago I actually contacted the founder of Hundred Stories, out of frustration with her account execs (nearly all of them I might add). I wonder if you can guess what Robin Dolch's (image below right) reaction was when I explained having been SPAMMED over and over again?`

She mailed me a hyped up release the very next day.

Now, you may think my methods here excessive, but I assure you I have thought about how to proceed many times. First off, I would hate for anyone to be so infringed upon. Sure, in the PR and marketing world mistakes happen. An editor at Forbes gets on his ear over an untimely instant message, a misunderstanding with some web celebrity arises, our perceptions even ' they can confuse us as to even reality sometimes. I know my ideas of 'who' people actually are have been askew at times.

Repeatedly aggravating the very people who help your efforts? This is a sort of madness. Then looking at Twitter and instagrams (left) of the event, I cannot help but suggest replacing the Russian Standard with Danska if top drawer alcoholics ever attend real estate wingdings.

Several times I have reported about Hundred Stories client efforts. This one in the Catskills comes to mind first. I really liked what the developer was doing there. You see, I fed the PR monster. Yet she decided to literally bite the hand. Or, maybe it was an oversight! I paste below a portion of one of the mails I sent to Cassandra Carpio, now a director at Hundred Stories: 

'Casandra,

Please remove both the emails of mine above from Hundred Stories PR's mailing lists. Just so you know, I get hammered sometimes by editors and writers just for sending a once in a while release. If any of my friends in media got three in one day from my people, they would blacklist me forever. And they're my pals'.'

There is more to the story, but I'll save it for a fresh instance of SPAM.

Let me leave off by saying this, tolerance is absolutely the best quality any human being can exhibit. Doing any kindness, then having your face slapped' Well, I know you understand. In the last 10 years writing online I developed a bit of a reputation as what some people call 'a loose cannon' ' it is well earned, I guess. I say what I think, which to me seems like another decent human quality ' it is after all truthful. I am reminded of a quote from Abraham Lincoln somehow:

'Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.'

The truth about 400 Fifth Avenue, commonly known as The Setai, is that the 631 foot tall skyscraper is 64th tallest building in New York City ' a bit like our tree up there, the character of which is pretty easy to see. It is also a rejuvenated landmark invigorated by some of the world's most talented developers and workers. The development is something readers will like to hear about, even if they cannot afford the $1.4 million it would cost to buy 779 square feet (PDF) of apartment. Elite Traveler listed The Setai as one of the top 101 suites in the world.

As for the perception of such lofty places, shadows can shimmer and be misinterpreted, now can't they? An apology for an inexcusable breach of netiquette will tell the truth of a Manhattan PR company.

Housing Recovery ' Trick Or Treat?

With Halloween 2012 fast approaching, the news of a housing recovery is beginning to permeate the media. But the real question is whether this is a yummy treat we will enjoy in the days ahead, or just a trick designed to fool us into giving candy to those in disguise.

Image by paparutzi via flickr.com

The housing market has many moving parts, and the various parts benefit from good housing news in various ways.

For example, the National Association of Realtors are known for their ability to spin a positive report for housing from virtually any data, no matter how negative it may appear.

Witness the 2008 housing crisis. NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun states in May of 2008 in Realtor Magazine, that 'the housing market would begin to recover later in the year'. Of course we all know that by the end of 2008 the housing market was well on it's way to a slump and foreclosure crisis that would surpass even the great depression of the 1930's, and lead to a banking crisis which we are still working through today.

I'd say that Yun's 2008 prediction was a 'trick' not a 'treat', and was clearly an attempt to put a happy face on a very depressed housing market that was to get much worse as the months went by.

Just a year or so earlier, Yun had replaced former NAR Chief Economist David Lereah, who wrote a now infamous book entitled 'Why The Real Estate Boom Will Never Bust' in 2007. The book proved to be a big 'trick' that ultimately destroyed Lereah's credibility as an expert on the housing market.

By now, most observers of the NAR put little stock in their ability to accurately predict anything beyond a continuing recovery in housing, no matter what else is actually happening. They believe that good housing news is always in the best interest of their membership, in spite of the fact that the NAR's missteps before and during the housing crisis have done significant damage to the credibility of their members and the real estate profession in general.

Down on the trading floor at the NYSE, home builder stocks improve significantly when news of an imminent housing recovery makes the major media outlets. Good news on home sales virtually always results in a stock price bounce for home builders and other public companies that benefit from an improved housing market.

Wall street has now moved from creating mortgage backed securities, CDO's, derivatives and other financial instruments that nearly brought down the entire economy, to also buying up billions of dollars worth of foreclosed homes. What was once a business that belonged to 'mom and pop' investors, small businesses and entrepreneurs has become the latest 'trick or treat' project for big investment companies.

Using funding from the likes of Citibank and other housing savvy players, with access to billions of dollars, Wall Street is out to buy up as many of these properties as possible, so that the income stream from rents can be securitized into a new form of housing investment. This is the ultimate 'treat' for the entities that have already 'tricked' the housing market. They certainly have a vested interest in the good news of a housing recovery. A public perception that housing prices are going up will play right into their investment strategy, in allowing them to buy at 20 cents on the dollar while they sell at 80 cents or higher.

Ultimately, the folks who have the power to influence the news about a housing recovery, are also the ones most likely to profit from that good news.

Real Estate Investors Websites Releases Video Pages for Direct Response Marketing

RealEstateInvestorsWebsites.net has just released video landing pages, or squeeze pages for targeted direct response marketing.  They are a real estate investing company that also builds real estate investor websites.

Screenshot of a sample website from www.realestateinvestorswebsites.net

This means that real estate investors can now actively engage with those visitors to their websites that are looking to sell or buy. Their aim is to attract leads through advanced onsite search engine optimization, targeting the local market. As soon as visitors land on the website they receive a welcome from a video speaking model. This gives personalized, helpful information, commanding their instant attention, adding credibility to the website and helping to convert more visitors to prospects.

The marketing process is carried out by inbuilt auto responders, sending out well-timed personalized information. The aim of these email messages is to convert more prospects into closed deals. Each website is fully customizable, and comes with a simple virtual back office that can be used by anyone with only a basic knowledge of computers. These websites can be ordered and ready for business in just one hour.

Rightmove Stats for October Show Boosted Price Index

Statistics from Rightmove in the UK show home pricing up there. RightMove lists over 90 percent of all the homes for sale in the United Kingdom.

For the month of October the average seller asking price jumped some 3.5% (+£8,310). This was the largest increase in the last eight months according to the report. Reversing a price lull after London 2012, the October figures may indicate the market is not so negative as previously believed. However, Rightmove research goes on to suggest just a few segments are responsible for the trend.

Also, despite the positive news there is little reason to assume buyers will actually pay the higher price.

Data courtesy RightMove

Miles Shipside, director and housing market analyst at Rightmove, had this to add:

'This month's jump of more than £8,000 in asking prices is partly an anticipated bounce after the Olympic-induced activity doldrums, though with all regions seeing increases it also provides evidence of some life in the market. The prospect of a few active selling weeks before the winter slowdown means estate agents are keen to attract fresh stock to try and land more buyers. However, this stock-building could backfire if they agree to over-ambitious pricing to please a seller, as it could curb a potential buyer's enthusiasm to arrange a viewing if the over-priced alarm bell starts ringing.'

As a snapshot, the London areas of Kensington and Chelsea saw nearly 10% increase in monthly prices according to the research. Meanwhile Camden's yearly increase in prices totaled some 14.7%. Again, prices do not necessarily indicate ultimate sales realizations, but the anticipation of a higher price is indicative.

Rightmove's House Price Index is the most up-to-date monthly sample of asking prices in the UK. It monitors changes in prices annually and monthly to provide an overall comprehensive view of the market in England and in Wales. Overall, this news from Rightmove is highly positive as an indicator of potential, at least.

For those interested, the Rightmove study can be reviewed via this PDF.

Need Floor Plans for a Real Estate Listing? No Problem, Just Use the Magic Plan App

Have you ever had a home buyer request floor plans for a home or condo they're interesting in purchasing and you either don't have access to the plans or they simply don't exist? It seems to happen all the time to real estate agents in larger markets who specialize in high-rise condominiums or rentals. In buildings like Chicago's John Hancock Center, for example, nearly every floor has a different and unique layout due to its tapering figure, and many residential skyscrapers around the country fall into this exact same category.

However, with the ever-growing use of mobile applications, coming up with a floor plan for your clients and looking like a super star real estate agent has never been easier. The Magic Plan app, appropriately named because of the lack of need for any measuring tools, gives users an easy and effective way to assemble an accurate and precise floor plan for any room in the house within seconds.

Available for the iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPod Touch, and your iPad, Magic Plan works by allowing users to hold up their phone and pinpoint each corner of a particular space using the camera on your mobile device. Furniture or objects being in the way doesn't matter, so Magic Plan is perfect for an empty house or even a real estate listing that's currently owner occupied.

Once you're finished snapping photos of your room's corners, Magic Plan will automatically create a perfectly recognizable floor plan that can be downloaded as a DXF, PDF, JPEG, and even in HTML for viewing on the internet. In addition, once you've created a floor plan for each room in your home or real estate listing, Magic Plan easily allows you to piece together each of the plans to create one larger floor plan of the entire home or condo for sale.

Because of the video tutorials the app comes with, mastering all of Magic Plan's capabilities couldn't be easier. Sensopia's Magic Plan mobile application was voted #1 iPhone Utility in 64 countries worldwide and the #1 iPad Utility in 78 countries, so there's no denying its functionality and convenience for a variety of household and real estate business purposes.

For more information on the Magic Plan app for your iPhone, iPod, or iPad, visit Sensopia's website, or simply download Magic Plan today to get started making your own custom floor plans.

Joe Heath is a graduate of Indiana University and also holds a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Drexel University. After working as a Market Research Associate and writing published Market Snapshots for Hanley Wood Market Intelligence, Joe now works as a Web Marketing/SEO Specialist and is a managing partner at Real Estate Web Creation, LLC.

 

Hammerson Move Provides UK Property Brightness

In UK real estate moves last week Hammerson acquired four shopping centers in a deal estimated to be worth £254 million. This signals the firms emergence as the country's biggest retail landlord. The announcement the company acquired a Hermes and partners investment, Junction Fund, is a key move given it is the largest this year for Hammerson.

A new Hammerson development ' retail space

The CEO of Hammerson, David Atkins, elaborated on the move further:

These moves by Hammerson appear to be part of a bigger trend in UK real estate to move investments into a more targeted space. Regional shopping and office space in and around London, being two areas Hammerson and others seem focused on. The so called Junction Fund is made up of shopping parks in Bristol, Glasgow, and Telford as well as retail giants like H&M, Gap and a few others.

The acquisition also speaks of undeveloped land as part of the deal, specifically the Oldbury Shopping Park Development. There, Hammerson has bought into roughly 16 acres of potential across the way from Oldbury town centre. That move along spell a ray of hope for industries tied to real estate development, namely the jobs sector.

For more information on this recent Hammerson investment, please visit the link provided or check out the firm's Facebook profile for images.

NAR: Home Sales Down in September, But Prices On The Rise

The number of existing-home sales went down a bit from August to September, but inventory continues to tighten and the national median price has increased for the seventh month in a row, according to the National Association of Realtors.

© Andy Dean ' Fotolia.com

The total sales of single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums decreased by 1.7 percent to 4.75 million in September from 4.83 million in August. The increase from September 2011 to September this year was 11 percent. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 24 percent of the sales in September.

'Despite occasional month-to-month setbacks, we're experiencing a genuine recovery,' said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. 'More people are attempting to buy homes than are able to qualify for mortgages, and recent price increases are not deterring buyer interest. Rather, inventory shortages are limiting sales, notably in parts of the West.'

The total number of houses available for sale fell 3.3 percent from August to September and is 20 percent lower than September 2011.

'The shrinkage in housing supply is supporting ongoing price growth, a pattern that could accelerate unless home builders robustly ramp up production,' Yun said.

Industry representatives predict 2013 to bring a recovery in the housing market.

'Now that the summer buying season is behind us, we can clearly see that the market made a significant rebound, and 2012 is definitely the year of the housing recovery,' said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX, LLC.  'Although we still face some serious obstacles in tight lending and shrinking inventory, we believe that the housing market will continue to recover into 2013.'

The inventory of pre-owned homes on the market in North Texas has dropped almost 40 percent in the last two years, according to The Dallas Morning News. In some of those areas, the supply is at the lowest level in more than a decade.

Meanwhile, in the Portland area the number of homes on the market has gone down 26 percent over the past year, according to The Oregonian.

'You don't get to call your folks or think on it overnight,' said Nick Krautter of Keller Williams Realty, told The Oregonian. 'You have to move now. There's definitely a sense of urgency that's back in the market.'

What You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Home

As much as a home is a basic need and looks obvious to purchase one, sometimes it can be an uphill task to  rent or buy one. It is possible you can save your entire life to buy a home after retirement only to be frustrated when you realize you bought the wrong house; too small, unnecessarily expensive and in a location which is not conducive.

© Szasz-Fabian Erika ' Fotolia.com

The infrastructure; electricity and roads may be poor. The same case applies to renting a house. Sometimes you can even be conned by wayward and selfish agents. Therefore, it is worth taking your time before actually committing to buy a house. You can even engage the services of specialists such as engineers and architects to advise you on the kind of a house you should buy. Lawyers on their part will assist you in reading and interpreting the legal documents.

There are few tips one can consider in buying a house:

Be Flexible

It is important that as you look for a house, you be willing to change and accommodate other people offers. Do not be fixed, be willing to negotiate and make counter offers. It is through these negotiations that you get to know the other party better, get more information about the facility you would like to buy. It is also through this kind of information exchange that you get to question the seller their rationale behind their pricing. Being flexible is therefore good.

Prices

Do not just accept any price offers from home sellers. Carry out you own survey for the market price. It is important that you get the best price deal. Apart from the actual price, check for any other hidden costs. These include tax arrears which may end up adding to the cost of the house. It is also important that you consider other costs like the power and water costs associated with buying the house in such a place. Transport is also another cost which has a direct bearing on you income. Try to buy a house where the transport cost is minimal.

Do Not be Desperate

Fraudsters are all over. They know very well that out there, there are clients who will do anything to get a house. They now decide to prey on your desperate situation. Always, whenever an agent approaches you to sell you a house, insist on verifying their authenticity. Establish where they are located together with their contact information. On top, insist on seeing the house and even inspecting it. Verifying its legal documents is also very important.

Furnish the House

After getting a home to the place of your choice, it may not necessarily be in the condition you would like it to be. You can make it into what you want. You can better the environment around it by planting trees and flowers around the pavements of the house. You can also do some bit of painting. You can even cement the compound if it is earth. This will make it more beautiful.

 

Author's Bio: Jeff Hall is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and social media enthusiast. His blog Homeownersinsurance.org focuses on insurance. You can follow him on Google+