How Property Managers and Multi-Family Employees Can Help Eliminate Human Trafficking

Be honest, have you ever considered your role in your community when it comes to helping to uncover and end human trafficking? I had to ask myself the same question, because until I began working for my company, I was unaware of the extent of this issue, and how professionals in the Real Estate Industry have the ability to change it.

Image by Ira Gelb via flickr.com

Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Although human trafficking has been going on for thousands of years, it was only made a federal crime in the United States in 2000 with the Passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The most common cases involve commercial sex trafficking, and labor trafficking.

It may be something that you think could never occur on your property or maybe something you, like many Americans may not want to think about. If there has any been illegal activity on your multifamily property, there's a good chance that those involved may have been involved due to human trafficking. In an interview with the Rent Rite Directory's Joe Killinger, Laura DeMoss of Mosaic Family Services notes that 'Apartment managers and maintenance people are in a fantastic position to be able to uncover [these] cases.'

On-site staff of multifamily properties can be a huge help to Law Enforcement, if they know what to look for. Most cases are uncovered because someone did not have a good feeling about a situation that they had witnessed, and sought help. Law enforcement officials are trained to be somewhat suspicious, but as everyday citizens, we also need to be on the lookout for these types of situations. Bill Bernstein, Deputy Director of Mosaic Family Services reminds property managers and owners 'If you see something that looks suspicious, or that you feel uneasy about'.give somebody a call.'

It is estimated that approximately 700,000 to 2 million people are trafficked around the globe every year (Safe Horizon.com). There is such a range in the statistics because trafficking can be difficult to spot, and is an extremely covert and underground activity. If a person is in possession of drugs, the drugs themselves imply illegal activity, and are easier to find, confiscate, and convict.

Possession of a human being is a much harder area to prosecute. It is easier to move people from state to state, or country to country, which is why human trafficking has been named the fastest growing criminal industry (UN Refugee Agency). It is less risky to traffic a person than it is to traffic drugs, at which point human traffickers may then force their victims to commit crimes for them.

You can watch the interview in full below:

Human trafficking can happen to anyone, of any gender, nationality, age, and can happen anywhere. Here are some red flags to look out for:

• Too many people living in one apartment unit
• Abnormal amount of traffic to and from an apartment unit
• Locks on doors and windows to keep people in, instead of out
• Closely supervised tenants (restricted in movement)
• People who are always with others who must speak for them, but do not appear to know each other very well
• People who do not have access to their own personal documents
• People who are not allowed to drive themselves anywhere
• People who are picked up every day in large vehicles and who return at the same time every night
• People who show signs of abuse, malnourishment or fearfulness

Detective Ric Clark of the Balch Springs Police Department notes that just asking the right questions and getting to know someone can help provide vital information (note: not during the application process). In the cases of labor trafficking he has witnessed, he says asking about where someone is from, their accents, their families, their jobs and sparking conversation can be a good starting off point. Please be advised that many victims of trafficking often do not consider themselves victims, or are terrified for the safety of themselves or their families, so you may not get a yes or no answer from them, if directly asked.

Victims of trafficking are constantly being monitored by their traffickers, so if it appears as though someone else feels the need to stop the conversation you are having with a potential victim, it could be an indication that something is not right.  If you have any concerns or believe that human trafficking is occurring, you can reach out to the National Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888. If there is someone you believe may be a victim of human trafficking, but does not speak English or is unable to read, Jacob Haynes has created a series of comics that can be used to illustrate Human Trafficking to overcome any language barriers (see link below).

In a phone interview with Detective Manny Reyes from the Fort Worth Police Department, he noted that most instances of sex trafficking that he has uncovered, occur in apartment communities that are not gated, or have easy access. Most commonly, the issue is brought to the police department by a member of the leasing staff, managers, maintenance crew, or even a neighbor. Heavy traffic in and out of certain apartment complex units can be a clear indication. Detective Reyes says that the length of time people are in and out of the apartment can be an indication of what may be taking place. A shorter stay (60-90 seconds) is more likely a drug deal, while a lot of men spending 15-45 minutes in the units may be cause for a closer look for sex trafficking.

Real estate professionals can do their bit to end the misery of trafficking victims © silent_47 ' Fotolia.com

Please remember to keep an eye out for these types of situations, even if it may be difficult to imagine happening in your community. This type of crime can be reduced if people in positions with responsibilities to their communities know what to look for, and make sure to follow up.

Please contact Ryan Cauley at 1-855-733-2289 (www.therrd.com) for more information on our services.

 

About the Author: Elizabeth Whited is the Operations Coordinator at the Rent Rite Directory. She has written educational articles for multifamily magazines and Real Estate websites to help Property Managers and Owners improve their properties, in an effort to reduce crime in their communities. The Rent Rite Directory educates Property Managers and Owners at Crime Watch Meetings, and Crime Free Association Conferences, and works closely with law enforcement nationwide. For more information, visit www.therrd.com. 

Convert Site Visitors Into Quality Sales Leads With Call-To-Action Buttons

When starting a real estate website, one of the first goals agents will try to accomplish is generating a high volume of traffic. The more visitors you have, the more likely those visitors will translate into sales leads, right?

Well, as many real estate agents with a website may have discovered, attracting a high volume of traffic is only the first step in building an online presence that will start producing the kind of results you need out of your site.

Call to action buttons are vital to your site's success © Denys Rudyi ' Fotolia.com

Once you achieve that coveted high Page Rank and start seeing a larger volume in site visits and unique visitors, your next priority should be to convert those visitors into quality sales leads. And what's the best way to do that? The answer, believe it or not, is actually easier than you may have originally expected.

Call-to-action buttons are one of the most important aspects of any website; and a real estate website is certainly no different. The idea behind call-to-action buttons is to basically direct the flow of your real estate website by using attractive color schemes and graphics, all while persuading possible home buyers to take action by clicking on a web page or home listing.

Some attractive and useful ways to use call-to-action buttons on a real estate website can be seen on the detailed listing pages at The Snyder Group's real estate website in Jupiter, Florida. When clicking on a home listing, notice that just below the property information are several call-to-action buttons that prompt viewers to schedule a showing, request information, print the listing, or even bookmark the listing'should they want to come back to view it at a later time.

Snyder Group's call to action buttons

While viewing each and every listing, at no time do potential home buyers have to wonder how to get in touch with an agent or wonder how to request more information about a property. In addition, at the bottom of the listing page are other 'Similar Property' call-to-actions that allow home buyers to easily keep searching real estate in a continuous motion without clicking the 'Back' button or trying to manually navigate the website themselves.

Similarly, the listing pages on the Hartanov Team's website out in California have a very practical call-to-action button that is designed to entice viewers to use the Hartanov Team to sell their home. Because a large percentage of homebuyers searching real estate already own a home, why not try to reel those clients in as both home buyers AND home sellers?

The Hartanov Team's site is designed to entice homeowners to sell as well as buy

Again, the idea behind call-to-action buttons on your real estate website is to help users navigate the site, but more importantly, encourage and remind users to take action'ultimately improving the conversion rate of website visitors to registered sales leads. It's these subtle, yet crucial aspects of a website that go a long way in making sure home buyers out there contact YOU and not the competition.

How are you using call-to-action buttons on your real estate website? Comment and give us some examples of what you see working on your real estate site!

What It Means to Own A Piece Of Real Estate

In times past, a certain stereotype was attached to owning real estate. It was an indication that property owners had earned their place in society. They could manage organizations, supervise projects and command the attention of residents.

© Ilike ' Fotolia.com

With the prestigious ranking that accompanied real estate ownership, came recognition by all classes of people. So, to gain prestige, loyalty and respect, people did whatever was necessary to own lands and buildings. For them, the status earned was worth the effort.

Today, not much has change with regards to real estate ownership. It's still a mark of accomplishment and achievement for many people. Because owning real estate has its privilege, it is a global effort for citizens and residents of most countries to achieve this status. Below are some of the benefits of owning lands and buildings.

Living Opportunity

The privilege to build on a piece of property that is owned by the individual eliminates the need to pay another person's mortgage. Instead, property owners can focus on contributing to their own future. Owning property also allows the owners to select their desired location. Even if they choose not to build right away, the land will be available whenever they are ready.

Investment Opportunity

One option of real estate ownership is having the opportunity to invest in business. People usually purchase land depending on their future goals and aspirations. If they choose to invest in a business, they will purchase commercial properties as opposed to residential. The location is often based on zoning regulations. Therefore, the purchase should reflect the purpose the business will serve.

Collateral

It is very seldom that the average person can walk into a bank or other lending institution and obtain a loan without proof of collateral. This serves as the surety that the borrowers will be capable of repaying the loan. If, for any reason, they default on the loan, the collateral then belongs to the bank. Real estate is very valuable as collateral. Therefore, it can almost guarantee borrowing power to lenders.

Security and Peace of Mind

Like most ownerships, real estate is a form of security. It may help to decrease the worries and concerns about retirement. There is no need to worry about how funeral expenses and other future debts will be paid. The peace of mind that comes with owning real estate is worth making the investment.

Impacting the Next Generation

People who purchase real estate and use it well are also impacting the next generation. This is why many investors also invest in training their children to carry on the family business. It is a legacy that could be passed on for years to come. Many modern companies that now benefit society have started in this manner.

Contributing to Society

Good citizens know and understand the benefits of making contributions to their communities. They view their real estate wealth as a blessing and wish to share it with others. They believe that the more they give, the more returns they will receive.

 

Author's Bio: Olivia Wilson is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and social media enthusiast. Follow her on Google+

The Move to Real Estate Marketing with Internet Providers

Realistically, it is difficult to get anything done without the Internet. People are using the Internet for everything. This is how people communicate. This is how people shop. This is the main reason that some real estate marketing professionals can't move quickly enough into real estate with Internet providers.

© Lucian Milasan ' Fotolia.com

Traditional Marketing

There was a time when real estate agents had to spend a lot of time just trying to figure out how to reach customers. People that wanted to buy a house had to contact the agents and go house hunting. It's good for agents in a way because potential home buyers really had to depend on their agents. This is how they saw all the houses that were available.

As time went on the real estate world changed in many ways. It was just like all the other areas of business that had to rely heavily on the Internet for customers. This would continue to become a big part of business as real estate agents began to rely on a different method of luring customers.

The Internet Emerges with a Victory

People have turned to real estate marketing because this is the best way to get a view of multiple houses. Agents know that the Internet is a saving grace because it saves time. It actually gives buyers that are in the market for a home chance to look at many different homes. A real estate agent doesn't have to be present for someone to look at the homes. A person can look at a lot of different homes regardless of the time of day. If they have an ISP they have access to unlimited potential on a lot of different homes all over the world.

Real Estate Worldwide

Some people may be moving. They may live in one state or country, but they may have the desire to move somewhere else. This really puts some people in a bind when they don't have an Internet provider. If they have the ability to get online, however, people can use the Internet to view homes worldwide. A home in Spain or Italy can be viewed by a potential home buyer in Alabama or North Carolina. This is something that has become very valuable in the world of real estate marketing.

Real Estate Marketing and Portable Devices

The thing that has really helped more people with real estate marketing is the wireless network. More people are hopping on the wireless networks with portable devices like the iPad and their smart phones. This has given more people that ability to get online while they are away from home. Potential home buyers have the chance to check out a lot of different properties regardless of where they are.

Portable devices can be rather useful for people that travel frequently. It can be easy find a home or commercial piece of property. People can use phones anywhere that they are. This can be quite useful for checking out multiple properties when you ride.

Author's Bio: Tim Robinson is a freelance writer, professional blogger, and social media enthusiast. You can follow him on Google+

Re/Max Real Estate Agents Group in Costa Rica Opens Fourth Office

The largest group of affiliated real estate agents from Costa Rica has just opened its fourth office, a new Re/Max Ocean Village. in Playas del Coco. The group specializing in property on the North Pacific Gold Coast, includes Re/Max Ocean Surf Realty, Re/Max Tres Amigos, Re/Max Prestige Properties and Re/Max Ocean Village, and offers Costa Rica real estate, vacation rental and relocation services through its existing three offices in Tamarindo, Hermosa and Panama.

The latest office to be opened by Re/Max Ocean Group is located in the landmark Pacifico project's commercial center and will specialize in luxury condos and lots in the popular Papagayo area. The group opened its fourth office in Playas del Coco as they saw this move as an opportunity for their team to cover the entire Gold Coast, from the Four Seasons at the Papagayo Peninsula to the J.W. Marriott at Hacienda Pinilla.

'We were actively seeking a safe place to embark on a new adventure. Like many of our clients, we wanted beautiful beaches, good weather, friendly locals, stable political conditions and sound investment opportunities,' reads the official statement from the Costa Rica real estate group. 'We arrived in Costa Rica after having toured several other countries, and knew immediately we'd found our new home. Now, with our four Costa Rica real estate offices, we get to spend our time helping others do the same.'

The four Re/Max offices are conveniently placed in areas with high tourist traffic, with visitors coming mostly from North America and Europe. The group hopes to attract those traveling for business or pleasure to either rent property on the Gold Coast or inspire them to buy and relocate here.

Real Estate Market Indices Show Home Prices Still on Uptrend

National home prices in the US are still on an uptrend, registering the sixth consecutive month of growth in September 2012, as shown by data released by the indices analyzing the country's major metropolitan areas, S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price. The report also shows that home prices in Q3 were up 3.6 percent compared to the same period in 2011. The September price increase was of 0.3% compared to August 2012 and 2.2% up from the previous quarter.

This real estate market trend was confirmed by similar findings released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The agency's data pointed to a 4% increase in home prices in Q3 of 2012 from the third quarter of 2011. Their Home Price Index, which tracks home sales price information from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages, showed a 0.2% monthly prices increase from August to September and a 1.1% growth from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2011.

While home values have constantly increased, Andrew Leventis, principal economist for the FHFA, warns that most trends still show the recovery of the real estate market if far from complete.

 'The past year has seen consistent price increases, but a number of factors continue to affect the recovery in home prices, such as stagnant income growth, high unemployment levels, lingering uncertainty about the macroeconomy, and the large number of homes in the foreclosure pipeline,' Leventis said in a statement.

The recently released data also shows a significant variation over different regions in the country.  'Phoenix continues to lead the recovery with a 20.4 percent annual growth rate,' David Blitzer, who chairs the Index Committee for S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in a statement. 'Atlanta has finally reversed 26 months of annual declines. With a 0.1 percent annual rate as observed in September's housing data.' Home prices dropped in Chicago and New York in September (down by 0.6% and 0.1%), these being the only two metropolitan areas to also report annual declines of 1.5 percent, 2.3 percent respectively, Blitzer added.

The Ugly Truth About The So-Called Housing Recovery

Since 2008's market melt-down and the advent of record numbers of foreclosures along with the loss of 35% of market value of the underlying assets, the secondary mortgage market has been reeling to and fro like a drunk down at the local bar.

Image by osipovva via flickr.com

Private investment has fled the secondary market and mortgage backed securities, leaving the government and the Federal Reserve to fill in the massive sink hole left behind.

If I were an editorial cartoonist, I'd be drawing a picture of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, clinging with his left hand, to a house about to slide into a sink hole, while frantically throwing boulder-sized chunks of dollars into the enormous hole with his right hand. Unfortunately this would not be a funny cartoon because this is an economic hole that is way too deep for one man to fill, even if that one man happens to be the operator of the largest printing press in the world.

The Fed Chairman and the administration continue what has become an endless game of printing money to keep the mortgage market doing 'business as usual', and driving the Fed balance sheet to unprecedented levels in the process. All of this effort has resulted in 'good news' for housing, but at a cost that will come due at some point in the near future, unless we see a sudden, unexpected economic boom that can reverse the current trend of systemic unemployment and eroding incomes.

Those who make their living inside the housing industry cling to every scrap of 'good news' about the housing market, preferring to believe that things are getting better, just as they chose to believe in 2006 that home prices could never go bust. It makes folks feel better when they can ignore or deny a truth that they simply don't want to face. Those folks won't like this article a bit, and most probably won't be tweeting this one. But ignoring the messenger won't make the message go away.

Even in the face of the lowest mortgage rates in 50 years, home prices would still be trending downward if not for the large quantity of purchases being made by newly created, Wall Street funded investment companies who are buying up foreclosures in record numbers, by borrowing hundreds of millions from banks who are then selling foreclosed properties back to the investors. These same investors are also buying up new homes, and other available inventory. Some 35% of all home sales at present are associated with investment activity. I'd bet that's it's more like 40% or even more. Current tracking data does a poor job of identifying who the buyers really are, and how the property will be used.

The banks have not only attempted to avoid the reality of falling asset values by keeping shadow inventory off the market for years now, they're funding a new system of investment buying that has been helping increase home sales numbers and prices of late. The same banks that are foreclosing on home owners are also lending millions of dollars to the big companies who are buying up these foreclosures. It's a circular strategy that forecloses, then funds the buyers who'll buy them. It is increasing prices slightly, which is what the banks want. But the resulting shift from owners to non-owners will have an impact on the housing market and related industries for decades to come.

FHA delinquencies are approaching an unprecedented 20% of all FHA insured loans. This is going to lead to major problems with the Federal Housing Administration. A bailout is likely if FHA is to continue to exist. Government insured mortgages account for about 90% of today's mortgage market. Since 2008 FHA has virtually facilitated home mortgage loans, as few private lenders would make low down payment loans without the taxpayer-backed assurance that FHA provides. It's like a house built on stilts waiting for an inevitable earthquake.

And as if all this were not enough proof of housing's monumental struggle, home sales are highly dependent on the Federal Reserve to continue to manipulate interest rates to keep them low. Essentially the Fed is buying up most of the mortgage backed securities in order to force mortgage rates down and provide 'new' sources of funding for mortgage loans. The question is how long can the 'all-powerful' Fed keep these rates down? It's virtually impossible that they will stay low indefinitely, given the need to sell more U.S. treasuries to help pay for massive federal deficits. We are at the point where we are now monetizing the budget deficits.

Essentially QE3 is the largest counterfeiting operation in the history of the world, as stated on Rob Chrisman's website. I have to agree. Essentially one agency is printing the money that is being used to purchase securities from another. It's all a big shell game, done under the auspices of trying to bolster employment.

But the phony employment story is understandable, because if Bernanke actually came out and admitted the real reason for doing this ' that without it mortgage rates would skyrocket ' well, that would not sound so good. And the housing industry 'powers-that-be' would have a tough time spinning that into good news for the mainstream media to report.

The president of the Richmond Fed, Jeffery Lacker objected to QE3 strongly. Lacker's contention is that an open-ended QE3 will have a very negative long term impact on the economy. He's right, but no one is listening to him. As usual, the industry does not want to hear about the problems with the underlying fundamentals.

It's been my experience that the only way to prepare for a disaster is to be willing to recognize that a disaster is possible. And the 2008 'melt-down' would be nothing compared to a scenario in which the Fed is no longer able to control interest rates. And with the yearly interest payments on the Federal debt now at an estimated one-half trillion per YEAR, it's anyone's guess how long the so-called housing recovery will last, since it's built on a foundation of phony economic activity.
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Donna S. Robinson is a real estate investor, author and residential market analyst located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults. Her latest book, Basics Of Real Estate Investing is now available on Amazon.

Zillow Acquires HotPads for $16 Million

In real estate technology news, Zillow has announced the acquisition of real estate search site HotPads for an estimated $16 million in cash This acquisition is supposedly slated to grow Zillow's 'rental audience' as well as extend the company's marketing for rental pros.

Not a spanking new development, HotPads launched in 2005 to help users with rentals. The platform expanded to include sales and even vacation offerings subsequently, and with some success. In direct competition with sites like Apartments.com, Craigslist and, even giant Zillow, HotPads is actually the sixth acquisition by Zillow in the last two years. Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow, offered this via MarketWatch:

'This acquisition represents a significant step-change for Zillow Rentals, allowing us to dramatically increase the number of leads we send to landlords. HotPads has a younger, complementary and rental-focused audience. Now Zillow will become even more relevant to consumers at the beginning of their real estate life cycle. In addition, by acquiring an amazing engineering team, with a deep understanding of how people search for rentals and become tenants, we expect to accelerate our innovation and monetization of our rental marketplace.'

At close yesterday 26.23 +0.12 (0.46%) Zillow stock tumbled last month on the news of SEC disclosures concerning correspondences between the SEC and Zillow's CEO Spencer Rascoff. Further stock price tail-off occurred when the company's quarterly projections failed to meet analyst expectations. Yesterday, despite the news of Zillow's HotPads buy, The Street downgraded 'Z' stock from buy to sell due in large part to weak operating cash flow.

Chicago's Newest Suburban Real Estate Website Launches

Looking for a home for sale in suburban Chicago? If so, your new home search may be getting a little easier with the recent launch of Sobborgo.com. Although still in its early development stages, Sobborgo aims to be Chicago's most comprehensive real estate search site and will eventually serve the entire suburban region.

Home listings for many of Chicago's Western and North Shore suburbs are already highlighted on the website, but over the coming months, additional features such as market and community statistics, in-depth listing pages, Google mapping technology, a Sobborgo.com blog that will discuss suburban Chicago real estate news, and a variety of other state-of-the-art web technology enhancements will be added to the site, making this a must-use for Chicagoans looking for that perfect suburban dream home.

As registered leads come into the website, each potential home buying client will be directed to a qualified agent on the Sobborgo.com team who is a real estate specialist in whatever Chicago suburb that lead is searching. Currently, Sobborgo.com is mainly organized by community, but as users click on their preferred town, they will have the option to search real estate for sale by price, or in many cases, by subdivision.

So if you're a home buyer who has narrowed down your home search to just a few specific subdivisions in a certain suburban community, simply click on your desired suburb and see the subdivisions populate on the website's right sidebar. And for several communities, like Naperville for example, other convenient search options have also been installed, which include condos for sale, rental listings, luxury homes, and new listings on the market.

While Sobborgo.com is still being developed, suggestions are welcome for what you would like to see in a real estate website. So if there's a particular feature or web technology that you feel makes your home search easier, fill out the contact form on Sobborgo.com and let your thoughts, opinions, and suggestions be heard! And while you're at it, follow Sobborgo.com on Facebook and Twitter, and also be sure to keep an eye on the website over the first part of 2013'you won't want to miss what's in store for Suburban Chicago home buyers!

 

REMI Worries about Real Estate Inventory in San Diego

The Real Estate Marketing Insider (REMI) has recently found that the San Diego real estate inventory is in freefall. This could threaten the recovery of the industry in the area.

San Diego County has a dangerously-low inventory of available homes. (Image © Andy ' Fotolia.com)

As a result of the low inventory of available homes in San Diego County, the area is seeing rising home prices, a situation potentially threatening for the recovery of the real estate industry in the area. REMI worries that the housing market could face a serious setback if housing demand drops and drives prices back down.

From October 2011 to October 2012, the number of homes for sale in San Diego County dropped almost 35 percent. According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, real estate inventory has fallen for 15 months in a row, and will continue to fall into the first quarter of 2013. The same association reported that the year-over-year price change for single-family homes has increased 13 percent.

According to the Home Buying Institute, mortgage rates are expected to remain low into the first part of 2013, mainly due to measures taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve, who will keep buying both mortgage-backed securities and Treasuries until late 2013.

Freddie Mac also announced that the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is with 3.34% at the lowest in more than 40 years. This could be an incentive for San Diego home buyers in 2013, but San Diego's housing inventory has fallen low enough to cause sharp rises in prices, which could put home buyers off.

Part of the problem is also that many home buyers are more focused on properties in neighborhoods near the coast, adjacent to San Diego's beaches. But according to REMI, the most important factor in dwindling inventory levels is the spike in demand; as mortgage rates are now so low, and unemployment in San Diego is down more than 2 percent from 2010, buyers at all financial levels are seeking to buy.

If San Diego's inventory will continue to fall, transactions above the asking price will become more common. REMI is worried, however, if home prices in the region continues to plummet, that San Diego may be due for another housing crisis.

NAR's Stinson Takes Home top Best in Biz Award

Last week the Best in Biz Awards winners for 2012 were announced with National Association of Realtors CEO Dale Stinton heading a list of professionals who exhibited extraordinary leadership over the course. Stinton, who has been a top Realtor by anyone's measure since 2005, was named the top CEO for large companies.

Stinton is not stranger to these and other awards, obviously. From tech to in the trenches brokerage deals, Stinton is one of the most recognized decision makers in the country. He helped launch Second Century Ventures, the Realtors Property Resource, and fostered deals that in effect, became game changers.

The Best in Biz Awards, judged by analysts and the press, recognizes business leaders across many business sectors and departments. Other winners this year include; Janine Popick of VerticalResponse in the 'mid-sized' business category; Austin Allison, CEO and Founder of dotloop; and Brian Compton, President of Tax Resolution Services.com, just to name a few.

For the full list of winners, please visit this link.

Moscow and Kiev Lead in Eastern Europe's Commercial Real Estate Market

Data regarding commercial real estate construction in Eastern Europe showcases the three top players in the third quarter of 2013. Moscow leads, followed by Kiev, who has just made it in this top 3, and Sofia, according to a recent report by Colliers. The real estate giant has analyzed data for 13 cities in the area and their retail market and summed up commercial real estate completed in Q3 to determine the leaders: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Budapest, Prague, Kiev, Bucharest, Bratislava, Zagreb, Sofia, Belgrade, Tirana and Athens.

Shopping center in Moscow

Moscow is the leader with over 1 million square meters built, the runner up having only a third of that to account for ' 354,000 square meters built in Kiev. Sofia, ranked third, had 207,000 square meters of commercial real estate added in the third quarter of 2012.

The Colliers press release also revealed that the total supply of high-quality retail space in Eastern Europe reached 15.41 million square meters at the end of this year's third quarter. The region's total supply almost tripled in the past three years. Yet the space being actively built in retail centers fell by 255,750 square meters in Q3, 2012 from last quarter's results. Across the analyzed 13 cieties, retail space in the active phase of construction as of two million square meters of leasing space.

When ranked by retail space provision per 1,000 residents, Zagreb came first in Q3 with 1,710 square meters, followed by Bratislava (1,063 square meters) and Sofia (915 square meters). On the opposite side of this top were Athens (64 square meters), Belgrade (148 square meters), Moscow and Kiev both coming in last with the same number ' 258 square meters.

Photo source

Will Zero Percent Interest Rates Force Older Homeowners Into Reverse Mortgages?

I can honestly say that the current state of the housing market in the U.S. is unlike anything we've ever seen in it's history. Though the Federal Reserve has implemented one round of money printing after another, with unprecedented amounts of cash going to help bolster the secondary mortgage market, housing is still barely conscious in spite of the Fed's relentless attempts to revive it.

News reports of a housing recovery are becoming more common as we approach the 2012 holiday season. But I would beg to differ with the news media on this one. Yes we probably have hit a bottom where prices are concerned, but a slight improvement in prices relative to the worst price drop in U.S. history is hardly a reason to declare that the housing market is in recovery.

When you consider that interest rates for mortgages are near all-time lows, there is even more reason to wonder what passes for a 'recovery' these days. If this were any other recovery period from any previous recession, holding interest rates near zero for several years would have been enough to re-inflate the housing bubble. This is, indeed, the outcome that Bernanke and his easy money policies have been hoping for. See article here for excellent analysis of this point.

But instead of igniting a true housing recovery, these low rates have resulted in a catastrophic drop in earnings on savings for older home owners and even wealthier retirees. When it comes to the loss of earnings on savings accounts and traditional investments like CD's, it's a huge disaster for seniors who have spent their lives building savings for retirement, only to now find that their anticipated income is evaporating.

As a middle-aged baby boomer with an elderly but basically healthy mother, this is becoming a pressing issue that has forced us to think of ways to increase income via other investments or looking at alternative sources of funding if her savings were to run out at some point.

Born in 1934, at the height of the great depression, Mom grew up with those 'old fashioned' values of frugality and conservation. She saved money and she did not waste a thing. In the world that used to be America, those values were guaranteed to translate into a comfortable retirement with solid income from a variety of relatively safe investments ' like a few rental properties, some cash in an interest bearing account, and a few CD's down at the bank.

Back in the 1990's those CD's were paying around 7%. In the 1980's some were earning double digit returns. But today, not so much. At present, she's getting about one-half of one percent on 1 year bank Certificates of Deposit. Her rental houses have rented for the same rate for about 6 years now, yet tenants are struggling more than ever to pay on time.

Property taxes have gone up, as have insurance costs. These two items now eat up about 3 months rent each year. And since 2008 her rental houses have lost about 35% of their value. As has her personal residence. What appeared to be a solid plan for long term income has now become a challenge. Fortunately for Mom she has help from well educated children who can help her make the best decisions for her benefit. But, that being said, it's become a real challenge for her to maintain a spendable income that allows for a higher standard of living. She's avoiding trips and putting off buying items like that new sofa she's always wanted because of her loss of income.

The virtually-zero interest rates that the Federal Reserve continues to perpetuate are costing seniors big money in lost income on savings. Income that was predictable for years, but has now evaporated like a mist during the tenure of Ben Bernanke as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. In my opinion, a continuation of quantitative easing will only drive the prices of goods higher, while forcing income on savings and traditional investments down to almost nothing, leaving millions of seniors and retirees squeezed between a rapidly rising cost of living and much lower incomes from savings.

This is a perfect-storm type of scenario that is likely to force millions of seniors into reverse mortgages over time. If interest rates remain low, it's just a matter of time before most seniors are living entirely off of social security. It's an impossible economic situation for people who are too old to have the skills for 'day trading' or learning about playing the commodities market. Reverse mortgages will be the only viable recourse for many senior home owners, and it's likely that the borrower's net proceeds from those loans will also be significantly lower, due to the higher foreclosure rates.

If you are a lender this is likely to be a booming opportunity if you deal in reverse mortgages. If you are a senior who is considering a reverse mortgage, I would advise caution. Personally I do not like or endorse reverse mortgages. But the fundamentals in the senior sector are highly likely to head in this direction.
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Donna S. Robinson is a real estate investor, author and residential market analyst located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults. Her latest book, Basics Of Real Estate Investing is now available on Amazon.

Show Me The Money: More Home Buyers Bringing All Cash To The Table

An increasing number of home buyers are upping the ante with all-cash deals ' a trend that started when the housing market took a turn south ' according to the National Association of Realtors.

Research unveiled at an industry conference last week also found the amount of time it takes to sell a house is shrinking.

'We've seen a tremendous increase in cash buyers since the housing downturn that we haven't seen before in history,' said Lawrence Yun, chief economist of the National Association of Realtors®. Yun said a decade ago all-cash home purchases were less than 10 percent of the market but have increased steadily since 2008, to as much as 30 percent of sales.

Tight lending conditions have contributed to the cash phenomenon. Most of the all-cash buyers are investors, Yun said. There is also an increase in the number of international buyers. NAR research shows that 62 percent of international purchases were all cash; the percentage has continually increased since 2007.

Another segment of homebuyers that is using all cash is boomers who are downsizing. They sometimes have enough equity in the home they sell to pay all cash for a smaller home.

Cash sales often mean quick sales.

'Research shows a bias toward cash sales for newer and lower priced homes,' Dr. Grant Ian Thrall, president of the American Real Estate Society , said. 'Many of those sales are occurring within the first 60 days that the home is on the market, and more than half sold within the first 120 days.'

Meanwhile Yun says the decrease in the amount of time on the market is also the result of a tightened inventory.

'Tightened inventories in some places mean homes are selling more quickly and reducing time-on-market,' Yun said. 'Our research shows that last year, home buyers saw 10 homes before buying, down from 12 the year before, and more than half of buyers reported that finding the right home was the hardest part of the home search process.'

 

Better Homes for Serviced Connected Disabled Veterans

Purple Heart Homes and The Home Depot Foundation announced a partnership that will provide better housing solutions to Serviced Connected Disabled Veterans, who served for the US Army. The Home Depot Foundation offered a grant to help make modifications to eight homes, including installing ramps to supplement stairs, making doorways wider and bathrooms more accessible.

'Veterans are men and women, young and old, able bodied and physically challenged. We are happy to team up with Purple Heart Homes to continue in our mission to ensure every veteran has a safe place to call home,' said Kelly Caffarelli, President of The Home Depot Foundation.

Purple Heart Homes was co-founded by Dale Beatty and John Gallina, two combat Veterans severely wounded in Bayji, Iraq on November 15, 2004. Since founding in 2008, the non-profit company, has struggled to find funding for its projects to help Veterans and their caregivers remain in their own homes by making needed adaptations and modifications.

'Now thanks to a grant we received from The Home Depot Foundation we are able to help make life easier for those who served before us,' said Dale Beatty.

The grant will only help modify 8 homes, a drop in the ocean, if we consider that there are 3.5 million Service Connected Disabled Veterans in the US. But it is a good start. Purple Heart Homes has already commenced using the funds to enhance the homes of some of these veterans, making improvements to disabled veterans' homes in Franklin, NC; and Norwich, CT.

TAG Acquires German Real Estate Firm TLG in EUR 471 Million Deal

TAG Immobilien has acquired the residential branch of state-owned real estate firm TLG after winning a bid that will require a EUR 471 million investment. The sum to be paid as part of this deal, the biggest in the German property sector for 2012, also includes TLG's outstanding debt.

TAG was one of the favorites of this bid, along with equity investor Lone Star, both competing for the acquisition of two separate portfolios of properties that include 12,000 flats in former East Germany, together with several commercial properties. While TAG acquired the residential portfolio, the commercial property unit is still up for grabs but is expected to be bought soon by Lone Star.

The combined transaction is expected to surpass the second largest one of earlier this year, the acquisition of 22,000 flats by a group led by Patrizia Immobilien from public-sector bank LBBW, valued at EUR 1.4 billion (USD 1.78 billion) . These transactions are part of the German government efforts to divest assets, a goal it has been actively working towards since 2008.

The sale of the commercial arm of TLG is expected to be finalized by the end of the year at the latest. The German finance ministry said the deal is in its final phase and should be completed in a few weeks.
TAG representatives stated on Monday that, in order to refinance the equity purchase price of EUR 218 million and to finance other smaller acquisitions, the company would issue up to 30 million new shares The net debt included in the deal was of EUR 253 million. The estimated worth of the newly issued shares is of about EUR 250 million (based on Friday's closing share price of EUR 8.39.)

Properties in Germany are currently drawing international investors as they have not been subjected to the same trend of prices going up and down at incredible speeds as it happened in other European countries, such as Spain or Ireland. On the contrary, German property values have seen a stable increase over the past few years.

India: Buying vs. Renting in Key Metro Areas

ArthaYantra, an integrated personal financial service company started by a group of alumni of the Indian School of Business (ISB) Hyderabad, has recently conducted a research on buying a home vs. renting a home in key metropolitan areas in India. The company developed a proprietary composite score 'ABRS,' which integrates consumer's concern vis-a-vis ability to afford buying or renting a home.

The survey found out that Hyderabad and Pune are the most affordable places to own a house, as both prices for property and rental values in these two cities are low. The situation is similar in Chennai and Bangalore. By comparison, Kolkata is better to own a home, as it features moderate property prices, but high rental prices. Unlike Kolkata, Delhi has the lowest rental values, yet high property prices. Last, but not least, Mumbai is the least affordable city because of its high property prices and rental values.

ArthaYantra's research addresses various concerns, all revolving around the buying vs. renting a home decision. The study answers questions such as how much more money does a person need to shell out for buying a home compared to renting it? Can a buyer actually afford this additional amount? ABRSTM answers these questions by considering three important factors: rental value, property price and gross income. The ABRSTM scoring system not only tells whether it's better to buy or rent but also tells whether it's affordable to buy or rent. The complete research provides scores for each city, for professionals in different salary brackets (8-25 lakhs).

Widespread Employment Changes May Result In More Problems For Housing Industry

The impact of widespread reductions in the working hours of employees in a large variety of industries would be highly likely to trigger more delinquencies and foreclosures for housing.

In the past week and a half since the presidential election confirmed that the Affordable Care Act would be implemented, I've personally heard from local employees of businesses who have announced reductions of all employee hours from the typical 40 hour week to 32, 30 or 28 hours instead. This is alarming because it has been relatively widespread, has happened in a matter of a few days, and will impact large numbers of workers in my general area.

Among the businesses that will be reducing the working hours of all employees are major local grocery store chains, a handful of restaurants which are all part of larger chains, and a report about the son of a personal friend. The son had lost his job with a big pharma company a couple of years ago, and had only recently gotten another job with a major medical services corporation. This week he was notified that his hours would be reduced by as much as 15 hours per week. I happened to get a flu shot this past week, and the pharmacist who administered it at a local pharmacy said he was worried about his hours being cut back. I was not even looking for this information. It was volunteered by frustrated employees.

If other areas of the country are seeing as much of this type activity as I have witnessed in my own part of the world, it would appear that implementation of the Affordable Care Act could result in growing problems for housing by significantly reducing incomes of workers across a wide variety of industries.

If this activity is widespread, it's bound to result in more mortgage delinquencies at a time when some balance between foreclosures and REO sales has finally been reached. It could easily tip housing back in the wrong direction. Indeed FHA is already seeing delinquency rates approaching 20% of their entire portfolio of insured loans. It is already in a dangerous position. Reductions in previously stable incomes could have a serious impact on the mortgage insurance claims.

Real estate investors may want to take stock of their tenants and watch for any appearance of a trending problem in this area. Any immediate vacancies should be filled with care, to insure that the new tenant is likely to have enough income going forward, to afford the property. Rent rates are likely to remain flat, which, for most typical markets, is where they have been for over 5 years now.

It's still early yet in the development of the employer response to the Affordable Care Act, but there are definite signs ' 'tracks' if you will, indicating that the herd is beginning to move in a specific direction. If a stampede ensues over the next few months, many homeowners and real estate investors could get trampled.

This would be one of the fastest fundamental transitions that the housing industry has ever witnessed. We've never had a situation where unemployment was already high, and now the working population is facing unexpected reductions in their working hours.

It would also have broader implications for the housing industry, as it could trigger a reduction in retail home sales, as well as mortgage qualifying. Most folks who only work 3 to 4 days a week already find it much more difficult to qualify for a mortgage. And reduced median income would also mean necessary reductions in entry level home sizes and prices.

Any reductions in employment, whatever the cause, will always negatively impact local housing in that area if the reductions affect enough workers. It appears that the potential is here for such an impact.

Yes, people will still need shelter. One thing that housing has on it's side is the fact that it's a very important commodity that represents a basic human need. One way or the other, the housing industry is here to stay. But smart investors, lenders, builders, developers, and other industry professionals would be wise to keep an eye on the developing fundamentals and formulate business strategy accordingly. In spite of the clear risks to the industry, such changes could also force new opportunities to develop in private lending and creative finance.
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Donna S. Robinson is a real estate investor, author and residential market analyst located in Atlanta, GA. Follow her on twitter at donnaconsults. Her latest book, Basics Of Real Estate Investing is now available on Amazon.

HomeLight: The Next Big Scary Real Estate Thing?

In real estate tech news Google Ventures backed HomeLight made its debut the other day for unbiased agent recommendations  Will buyers and sellers see HomeLight as a Realty TripAdvisor? Or, is digital suggestion a thing of the past? If transaction performance is a key, HomeLight may be the next big thing. It may be a bit scary too.

HomeLight landing page

Launched out of beta testing, HomeLight must look like an online real estate child star to Google Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Innovation Endeavors, and other undisclosed investors. The landing below, suggests a bit of something different in the real estate space, that's sure.

The $1.5 million invested is probably money well spent for the angels, especially given the poor showing across the market online. We have discussed many times the relative weakness of agent sites, even so called aggregators in the real estate niche. Social media wise, in the traditional web visibility arena, agents just don't cut it where taking advantage of the web goes.

Minimalist, and utilizing what some call the 'Hollywood effect' of massive imagery, fast load time, and so forth, it's as if HomeLight read every article I ever wrote about homepage engagement. And then the 'drill down' ' HomeLight has only tapped the big markets so far. Searching my hometown, Charleston, SC, I get the overall map (very nice) and the typical 'we're sorry' message. So much for finding Charleston's best agents (but I already know them).

A super easy navigation and filtering system underlies the landing page for HomeLight though. Anyone will love this site when compared to cookie cutters from the dot-com era, those cluttered remnants of a time when the web did not even understand digital. Moving on though, a nice refinement for the developers would be to make this map interactive (which it is not now) so that a failed search will reveal close by pins of Realtors. In the case of Charleston, Beaufort or Savannah even.

Moving on, users can type in, for instance, Atlanta. Next the system prompts users to select a neighborhood (below) which is good. But, while there is an 'all neighborhoods' selection, I am not so sure targeting and focusing so narrowly as a default is the best idea ever. While Google maps and geo-centric local stuff can be optimized like this, more people may prefer seeing all of Atlanta?

Okay, the system just got too aggravating. Click number (where am I now?) three I think, takes me to a choice of buying or selling. All that minimalist glee and 'easy button' charm is, I feel, slipping away now.

About three or four clicks in ' HomeLight still wants answers

I swear, if a HomeLight CTO or whoever comes to tell me the system is trying to seamlessly 'discover' user needs, I will digitally crucify them. How is it that highly skilled, rocket scientist developers, how is it that'. wait, I just clicked 'buy' ' now I see some really crappy agent images AND ANOTHER QUESTION! Is all this going into Google's home-buyer profiling algorithm?

'Condominium', I chose condominiums so that the folks could profile me. Now they want to know if I can afford really cheap stuff or really expensive stuff. Are you with me here? Interestingly, at this point, I get to profile my prospective real estate agent. In the screen below you'll see choices like 'shark', used car salesman type, leg breaker, and of course 'gray beard dinosaur' ' all fun aside, 'Has lots of experience' is a stupid choice. If the user chooses 'wet behind the ears' is said user categorized as 'easy mark' or something?

Finally! The user gets to see some agent profiles. On a positive note, I like the way HomeLight presents said agents. It looks as if the developers are setting up for a move to mobile, big time. More on that later, but again the waiting world is asked to trust a system here. The top 2% of sales variable uses to produce, for instance, Susan A. Thompson, is apparently based on her having sold 18 condos in or around Atlanta. But I chose 'spends a lot of time with me' as criteria?

Now I feel all negative. Honestly, this review started out as a news bit, and is ending up a full fledged beta test. Maybe that says something for HomeLight's user engagement? Still more critique is necessary though. Looking at this particular agent's sales record, it seems as if my 'price' choice has been fairly well ignored by the system. Ms. Thompson's sales are in the $200,000 range, I chose higher for another purpose.

The agent profile section of HomeLight actually has massive potential. Graphs, lots of white space, easy buttons, and a lot of room for improvement, the user interface is the best I have ever seen. Now HomeLight should issue some guidelines and suggestions for agent presentation. Ms. Thompson's profile looks nice, but explaining how come there are two people in the pic? Maybe I am a stickler for stupid details, I am not sure.

Which one is Susan?

Just to be fair (or even more picky), Bradford Smith is in the top 0.8% agents in Atlanta, according to HomeLight. His profile picture is fuzzy, he loves everything about Atlanta (even the crime), and he wants his clients to rave about him even though no one can email him or enjoy a nice picture. Sorry, but this is getting monotonous. Since I am here:

• Debbie G Sonenshine ' nice picture ' she hates email ' someone from Kashmir wrote her dogma
• Andre Dewinter ' GQ on the picture ' he is accessible ' and smart customer testimonials
• Michael Schiff ' is in the system, that's about all
• Robin Blass ' Image okay ' she hates email too ' Robin has decent profile text ' not from Kashmir

There are other profiles within the system for my search criteria, I listed those above to illustrate one thing only. When your name goes onto the digital web, all the things associated with it, with you, are indelibly branded onto it. The web I mean. Even Google cannot erase remnants of anything you say or release. A skilled technical person, or just a search expert, can find out about you, you business, and so on. Forever. (until the system melts anyway). So what, you say?

If I have to explain, you won't understand anyway. A final constructive critique of HomeLight's system. If I choose 'is a tough negotiator' I get the same agents. Excuse me, but the three criteria are profiling stereotypes. Someone who chooses 'Is a tough negotiator' is likely an 'alpha' personality. 'Is experienced' can be surmised to point to social-analytic types (depending), and 'spend a lot of time with me' is clearly targeting social-emotional people. Let me be clear in the conclusion on this.

Blurry pictures and intentions?

While I cannot say categorically that the system is geared 'profile' users, certainly there are elements that seem to go beyond using user data to 'focus' user query results. It is one thing to find out what people like, and then serve it to them. However, finding out 'who' people really are, this is quite another. While more refined buyer-seller profiles would certainly be a fantastic 'lead generation' facet, there's still issues to consider in the ways in which companies get data. Studies along these lines are authoritative and relatively common these days. Consult this Chicago Journals paper on Franklin B. Evans, noted business and economics guru. Enough said about my opinion on this.

As for HomeLight the useful buyer-seller-agent conduit? It is the best I have seen, where potential goes. If the investors and developers do this one right, the world has a new real estate resource to turn to. I was highly critical here, and for good reason Developments that see favored position by the likes of Google and these others, their obligation is to meet and exceed anyone's expectations. This is my view. And, if HomeLight has any intention of excelling beyond selling this to Google or whoever, they will take note.

Editor's note: If you want to profile me, just ask me for my Myers-Brigs test results, my Mensa membership scores, even the opinions of me X-Wives, for me it is all about transparency. This post is opinion, and not necessarily that of RealtyBizNews or anyone associated with the author.

Black Friday Gadget Buying for the Home

This holiday season a lot of people are keeping things close to home where gift buying is concerned. Tough economic times sometime mean feathering one's own nest, so what's wrong with shopping for great gadget deals aimed at improving your house's livability, coolness, and enjoyment? Here's some bargains, coolness, and just plain holiday deals for the homeowner. Buying for your home, no matter the price, is actually saving.

Cool gadgets with practical uses ' courtesy Micasa Labs ' click to visit

We Said 'Nest'

Didn't I just say; 'feathering one's own nest' is smart for 2012 holiday buying? As chance would have it the Nest Thermostat is one of the coolest and most home efficiency oriented new gadgets on the market. At right around $250 bucks, this home thermostat actually learns user behavior and adjust your house's temperature accordingly. Talk about an 'easy button' for total home comfort!

Designed by the same genius who invented Apple's iPod, the cool (or hot) gadget comes in a variety of colors, and is designed to blend in with any decor. Energy saving at its heart, the thing also senses your presence and if you are not around? You guessed it, it saves energy by adjusting for your absence. For a self gift, or even something under a friend's Christmas tree, this is a super idea. As for Black Friday deals on this one, we are talking cutting edge here, the price is a steal already. The video below tells more.

Vital Home & Office Products

I cannot speak for every homeowner out there, but there are a few gadgets that just make 'home sweet home' even more sweet. A killer coffee machine is simply one of these. With a million makes and models to choose from, about the only recommendation I can make to you is; 'make double sure you get a quality one' ' it'll actually save you money. That said, these machines cannot be considered cheap, not by any stretch. Wonder machines like the Jura-Capresso, expresso maker go for upwards of $2,000 dollars, and they're worth it. If you are on a budget, the Krups XP4600 Espresso Machine, Silver Art is on sale for Black Friday at Macy's online, down from $429.99 to $299.99 for two days.

Krups Silver Art Collection

iPads, They're Everywhere!

I love my iPad. There, I said it. Besides making me look really cool here in our village in Germany, the thing just does a lot of cool and playful things. And too, some useful and practical ones Now for Christmas I may well tell Santa our home needs the Belkin Fridge Mount for the device. You read that correctly. The world's biggest tech accessory company, now makes what amounts to a calendar/recipe/shopping list/family information hub out of your fridge front.

It's actually a quite brilliant idea ' that is for people who can afford several hundred dollars worth of tablet transformed into a fridge magnet. Unfortunately, the $39.99 device is sold out on the Belkin site, but you can find them at Best Buy and Amazon, even the Apple stores in Australia, the UK, and others, bust strangely not the US.

Poor Man's Apple TV ' Roku 2

Our household makes rather extensive use of Apple TV, let's face it, the greatest invention since the TV itself ' but it gets expensive if somebody doesn't monitor things. There are times when I would just like to stream video from my PC without Apple stores and such in the loop. That's where Roku 2 comes in. This little $59 dollar box makes streaming video to your set drop dead simple.

Roku 2 video streaming device ' an Apple TV clone if ever there were one

The tiny little box hooks into your home's WiFi network thereby allowing both free and subscription media to flow to any set in your house. Just how come every TV manufacturer has not integrated this into their sets, is a mystery to me actually. Netflix to Hulu, anything you can see with your PC, Roku streams it for you.

Roku 2 HD is priced as suggested  but there are  Roku 2 XD ($79), Roku 2 XS ($99) and there's an even cheaper Roku LT for only $49 dollars.

Whacko Cool Home Gadgets

Everybody loves technology these days. Gadgets come and go like so many floating pieces of debris washing down the river of our consciouness, and our buying habits too. Excuse the metaphor please, but it's true. So seldom do we acquire things that are what I would call 'really cool', let along really practical 'keepers' ' well, the iRock has a shot at being a 'keeper'.

The world's first, and probably only so far, power generating iPad rocking chair is just what Santa needs to bring that Mom or Dad show has everything. That goes for the Mom and Dad that spend a lot of time ' A: on their iPad ' B: rocking on the porch ' C: both. Handcrafted, in 5 different colors, the iRock is a super high quality affair developed by Micasa in Switzerland. This is no ordinary pulley driven electrical generator, while it does use the rocking action to power your iPad, it also serves as a high fidelity 'rocking experience' for the person rocking.

Made exquisitely of Swedish pine, this combination iPad docking station, slash high tech comfort rocker is really the 'cat's meow' as you can see from the photos. Check out the website for just how this comfy chair was developed. BTW, you won't find this one at Best Buy, but you can get one from the craftsmen who make it for just $1300 bucks. Boy, if I could get 40% off I'd be rocking tomorrow. Check out the Micasa Lab on Facebook too.