Shea Homes' Origen at Civita Sweep National Awards

Origen honored as the nation's Neighborhood of the Year amid a competition of the nation's best. 

Courtesy ORIGEN

In design and architecture news, Shea Homes San Diego has just won several gold medals for their contemporary new urban community, Origen at Civita in San Diego's Mission Valley. Present at the ceremonies at the National Sales and Marketing Council's The Nationals awards (now in their 32nd year),  Origen took Neighborhood of the Year, and the following other categories:

• Best Sales Center [Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors]
• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model Under 1,500 Square Feet for Origen socialGarden plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and CDC Interiors]
• Best Interior Merchandising of a Model from 1,500-2,000 Square Feet for Origen skyLoft plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and Design Line Interiors]
• Best Architectural Design of an Attached Home Plan for Origen socialGarden plan 1 [Shea Homes San Diego and Woodley Architectural Group]

Vanessa Linn, vice president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes San Diego, offered the following via the company's press release:

'Origen represents a huge leap outside our comfort zone. This was our first foray into vertical architecture and urban infill, and we challenged our team of design professionals to create something absolutely original in the marketplace. We're grateful for their contributions to the success of Origen and to the ultimate customer satisfaction expressed by our new homeowners.'

Designed by Michael L. Woodley's (at left) Woodley Architectural Group,  and with interiors by Design Line Interiors, this Origen community consists of 200 3 & 4 bedroom town homes spread over two distinct neighborhoods. The video below speaks of the Shea Homes features at one of the communities.

For Woodley's part, his firm works with some of the most respected builders in the United States. And Design Line Interiors not only has some of the most striking interior concepts we've seen, but as striking a website for visitors to grasp what they can do. Their client list reads like a 'who's who' of California developers.

For more information on Origen's news and offerings, please visit the prescribed links or call: Jan Percival of Scribe Communications at: 858-414-4715

Addition by Illumination: Under-Cabinet Lighting Can Make Your Rooms Come Alive

Have you ever noticed how under-cabinet lighting can make a room, almost any room, look better? Kitchens, studies, laundry rooms and bathrooms can all be improved by this simple addition.

While there are a plethora of lighting options, each has its own virtues and methods of installation. If you're interested in complementary lighting in any of your rooms, take a look at this helpful primer on lighting choices and tips for installing each.

© francisco ' Fotolia.com

LED Lighting

LED bulbs are all the rage these days and this remains the case with under-cabinet lighting.

Pros: They're energy efficient, bright, and can last for decades. While they're known for their stark white-blue luminance, some newer bulbs imitate the warmer white glow of incandescent bulbs, making them a good possibility for any space.

Cons: The higher price tag may scare off some potential buyers, but LED proponents will tell you that the energy they save makes up for the elevated cost. Another thing to consider with LED lighting is that while the bulbs themselves are quite small, the lighting system itself is comparable in size to fluorescent or incandescent lamps.

There are several under-cabinet applications for LED lighting.

LED Tape lighting, also called strip lighting, is a popular under-cabinet choice for its low profile and easy installation.

Installation Tips:

1. Locate the power source. Make sure the light cord is long enough to reach it.
2. Adapters are usually included, but if they're not, you can find them at your local hardware store.
3. Hide the driver somewhere it cannot be seen, like on top of the cabinet.
4. Some rare cases may require you to install mounts and then attach the strip to the mount.

LED stick lighting is nearly identical to LED tape lighting except the lights are housed on a rigid plastic or metal 'stick.'

Installation Tip:

1. Stick lighting normally requires the simple installation of a few brackets for holding the fixture; they're normally installed with a few screws.

LED spot lighting is often used if focused bright light is the goal.

Installation Tip:

1. For recessed lights it is extremely important to match the light size to the size of the drill bit you use. If the holes are too large the lights will fall through.

© Sergey Nivens ' Fotolia.com

Incandescent Lighting

Incandescent lighting is the most common form of under-cabinet lighting due to its low cost. Although incandescent bulbs have gotten a bad rap due to their inefficiency and short life, more expensive varieties, like xenon and halogen, last longer, and are slightly more energy efficient than standard bulbs.

Pros: It's cheap, there are several options, the lighting is warm, and it's easy to replace bulbs when they burn out.

Cons: They have the shortest life, about two years if the light is used three hours per day. They are the least energy efficient. 

Those considering incandescent under-cabinet lighting have three choices: puck, light strips, and linear fixtures. 

Puck Lighting: Puck lights look similar to hockey pucks, hence the name. These lights are popular choices for those who would like to have circular pools of light, rather than an entire area lit. They have a low profile of about two inches which means they can be mounted under cabinets or recessed easily.

Installation Tips:

1. Measure the wire length. You'll need to measure from light to light. Don't forget to account for the power source.
2. Use a staple gun or plastic clips to hold wiring in place. 

Light Strips: Incandescent light strips are similar to LED strips in that they too can be cut to fit any area. They provide warm, uniform lighting for the desired area.

Installation Tips:

1. Some strips may be mounted, others may be stapled
2. For low voltage systems, a transformer will be necessary.

Linear Fixtures: Sometimes referred to as light bars, these come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Multiple halogen or xenon lamps produce the light in these fixtures. For more illumination, consider xenon lamps.

Installation Tip:

1. You will want the bar to be nearly as wide as the area it will mount to, so be sure to measure beforehand.

© amikosa & Fotolia

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is a third option for under-cabinet lighting. They are more energy efficient than incandescent lighting, though outperformed by LED bulbs. These fixtures are sometimes sold in two classifications: regular and premium. Some companies opt to include multiple brightness settings as opposed to dimmers.

Pros: Fluorescent bulbs offer better efficiency and longer life as compared to incandescent ones.

Cons: They're more expensive than incandescent bulbs. Bulb life can be shortened by frequent on/off operation.

Compact Fluorescent Puck Lighting - These perform like incandescent puck lights, but better. They can be plugged in or hardwired depending on the product and wishes of the installer.

Installation Tips:

1. As with every installation, measure twice, mark, and then drill once.
2. Measure the wire length. You'll need to measure from light to light. Don't forget to account for the power source.
3. Use a staple gun or plastic clips to hold wiring in place.

Linear Fluorescent Fixtures - Again, these fluorescent fixtures are very similar to their incandescent neighbors, they just perform better.

Installation Tip:

1. Measure the area where you plan to mount the bar. You will want the bar to be nearly as wide as the area it will mount to.

Take Away

Complementary lighting can give rooms in your home just the look you've been aiming for. In theory and if price is of no consequence, LED technology is superior, but in reality, every room is different. If you're considering under-cabinet lighting, take a trip to your local hardware store and see examples of each lighting type in person. That way, your complementary lighting will be tailored specifically to you.

Additional photo credits: Feature Home Depot 'How To' image ' courtesy © pics721 ' Fotolia.com

Regional Real Estate Deal News: January 25, 2013

In today's real estate news roundup we feature a number of multi-million dollar transactions impacting cities across the US, a new leasing agreement on a prominent New York office tower, the grand opening of a master planned community in Texas, and more.

Atlanta, Georgia. Courtesy ssinharoy

Here are our real estate highlights for January 25^th, 2013

Preferred Apartment Communities, Inc has just announced the acquisition of three separate multi-family communities in Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia and Raleigh, North Carolina, comprising a total of 928 apartment homes. The multi-family property management specialists stated that the transaction was financed using the proceeds of its recently finalized $40 million private placement transaction, and said that it plans to rebrand the three communities as 'Preferred Apartment Communities'. The total cost of three acquisitions was approximately $90 million.

Dallas-based investment firm Hillwood Investment Properties has just provided details of eight major transactions it carried out over the last month, acquiring industrial properties in five major US cities totaling 2.6 million sq. ft. The acquisitions included three industrial buildings in Chicago's Fox Valley, O'Hare, and I-55 submarkets, two properties in Orlando's Southwest Orange submarket, and additional purchases in Indianapolis, Memphis and Atlanta. The deal increase Hillwood Investment Properties' total portfolio sized to an impressive 9.7 million square feet. Hillwood's Executive Vice President of Acquisitions Tom Fishman (pictured left) had this to say:

'We continue to increase our industrial portfolio with selective acquisitions in our targeted industrial markets. We closed out 2012 with incredible success and will continue seeking strategic investment opportunities in 2013.'

Vornado Realty Trust finally clarified speculation surrounding LNR Property LLC's future, announcing that the diversified real estate investment, finance, management and development company has entered into a definitive agreement to be sold, without providing any details on the buyer. Vornado, a 26.2% stakeholder in LNR Property LLC, said that the deal would be finalized in the second quarter of this year, netting the trust a cool $241 million.

650 Fifth Avenue

In New York, the South Korea-based Hana Bank has agreed to renew its 7,318 sq. ft. lease on the 15^th floor of 650 Fifth Avenue, a prominent office block located on the northern edge of Rockefeller Center. Dr. Houshang Ahmadi, President of the Alavi Foundation that owns the 650 Fifth Avenue Company, made the following statement on announcing the deal:

'Coming right on the heels of the building's recent extensive capital improvement program, this transaction is further proof of our commitment to quality services and long-term tenant retention. 650 Fifth Avenue remains a premier New York City office location and we are pleased to negotiate a beneficial lease renewal for a respected financial organization such as Hana Bank.'

Blackburn Communities has just given details of a planned Pre-Grand Opening event that puts the spotlight on its newest community, The Preserve at Mayfield Ranch in Southern Texas. The event is set to take place on February 9 from 12pm to 5pm, and will give interested buyers the first opportunity to select a homesite and preferred floor plan, and take advantage of discounted pre-grand opening prices. With its modern homes priced in the $170K to $240K range, and its advantageous location at the crossroads of Round Rock, Cedar Park and Georgetown, The Preserve at Mayfair Ranch is likely to attract a great deal of attention from regular buyers and investors alike. Those interested in attending the event or learning more about this master planned community can download the brochure and RSVP here.

Artist rendering of The Preserve at Mayfield Ranch

One final piece of news comes from the real estate firm Prudential Northwest Properties, which has revamped its website at www.prunw.com, adding compatibility with mobile devices, improved search tools, a simplified user interface, video listings and user-generated real estate market information. The most impressive new feature is a new interactive map powered by BrokerTec Systems's Market Watch technology, highlighting trends, active listings, price changes and other info for any market in the US.

RealtyBiz Tool Short: zipConsult Makes zipForm® Conversational

Last week,  the real estate industry's leading contract software outfit, zipLogix, announced the release of their zipConsult conferencing service. Designed to amplify the all round utility of their popular zipForm® contract software, zipConsult is powered byAnyMeeting. AnyMeeting, with an integrated zipForm 6 Pro, may emerge as the premier mobile meetup combo for the industry.

The long and short of this product release is fairly simple for any agency to get actually. Meeting online, with the capability of reviewing documents collectively, ending in the more efficient and timely closing of deals? This is what business, especially small business, really needs from technology.  Video conferencing, doc sharing, and particularly the capability to 'hook up' on the go, these are features agents and the industry need and want.

Not unlike hospitality, PR, or any other especially digital capable industry, real estate is particularly conducive of better mobile capabilities. The day of the static office deal are rapidly fading into the past as more and more buyers and sellers utilize smart devices as carry along assistants. The ability to buy and sell, and to meet and virtual 'handshake', this is what tools like zipConsult can enable. Meetings can be scheduled in the blink of an eye, on the spur of the moment.

Furthermore, if we look at what's ahead for mobile technologies, then AnyMeeting and companies like ZipLogix are actually in a prime position to integrate into the future of business. To see what I mean, watch the video below with Cisco's Padma Warrior. In this segment on the The Gavin Newsom Show, she discusses the next shift in mobile smartness ' device to device communications.

Now, the end of this tech tale is obviously a futuristic image. The image is one of the need for office space disappearing altogether. If you can, image a world where no service industry exec or office worker ever has to drive to work. For sustainability of our planet, conservation of resources, and to fulfill the promise technology has always held ' advanced communicative thinking is the way.

Soon you will be able to touch a wall in your house and transform it into a communications interface AND a window into any genre you can think of. Oh wait, you can do that now. The future, which is actually now, is about our connectivity being more enhanced than ever, from whatever distance. Like the Xperia Z video from Sony at article's end, shows a man on a mountain ' he might as easily be meeting to sign a closing. Just imagine.

zipLogix is a subsidiary of Real Estate Business Services, Inc. (REBS), the business is a joint operation in conjunction with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR). For more information about this latest release or other zipLogix products, follow the links or call: 866-MY FORMS (866-693-6767)

How To Protect Your Business Brand Online

Building and protecting your business brand online is different from building your personal brand. There are many things that need to be considered in order to be legally protected from the very beginning, no matter if you are just starting or you've been in the business for a while.

Look out for copy cats ' courtesy Mikko Luntiala

Here's what you need to do to ensure your business brand is protected online:

Check whether the business or brand name is free. Before you decide whether to accept the brilliant name you thought of for your brand and business, you must first check whether it is available, or you might get in trouble. If the name is already taken your application will be rejected and you won't be able to register it. You can do this check for free online.

Form a Limited Liability Company (LLC). It is important to form a LLC before you register your trademark because this way it can be placed under your LLC.

Register your trademark. To legally protect your assets, though not actually required by law, it is still good idea to register your trademark. The process lasts somewhere between 9 months and a year, and the costs are at least about $350, but it's totally worthy of the security you get in return.

Protect your brand name nationally. If you expect your business to expand in the future out of your local area, you'll have to protect your brand nationally as well, and not only by registering your name and forming a LLC.

Also register a Federal Trademark. If your business goes national, to protect your business brand against infringement you need to also register your trademark with the Federal US Patent and Trademark Office.

Get yourself a domain name. To communicate with your customers, no matter if your business is strictly online or you are using the Internet to get your brand out on the market, you'll need a domain name for your company website. Register the best before someone else takes it and asks you for more money.

Protect your brand internationally. You never know how your business idea will develop ' even though you are now just starting you may one day see excellent opportunities to expand your brand to different countries. It will then be important to have your brand internationally protected against infringement. Also file your trademark with the country where you are expanding your business.

Make sure your brand is protected against plagiarism. Original quality content is very important for your company website to rank higher in the popular search engine results. But if you don't protect it against plagiarism other websites might steal it and create duplicates that will hurt your brand ratings and online reputation.

You can use the plagiarism checker to check whether the content on your website is unique and original. If you find your content has been stolen, you can first contact the plagiarist website or its hosting company and ask them to remove the duplicate content, or you can ask Google to help if additional steps are required.

About the author: Sandra Miller is a freelance writer from Brooklyn. She loves writing tech tips.

Heartbreak Hotel Awaits Some Spring Home Sellers

Over the next few months, many sellers will have their hearts broken. This will be primarily self-inflicted but much of it enabled by collaborating real estate agents. The hurt will come as a result of the positive real estate news splashed across the headlines. Sellers are already putting on rose colored glasses, bumping their list prices and finding many agents willing to champion their cause.

Heartbreak hotel awaits. Courtesy Thomas Hawk

Reality however, bites; and it bites hard. While there may be some merit to reports of an improving market, it needs to kept in context and most importantly, data at the local level must be considered before national reports.

Sellers must understand ' and responsible agents will hopefully stress ' that any purchase price can be placed on a sales contract, the challenge is getting that contract through the appraisal and underwriting phase. Enter the big, biting dog called Reality; and it's not the appraiser that is doing the biting, it's the underwriting process. Pounding and berating the appraisal process is pointless; appraisers care about one thing, complying with underwriting requirements. They are tasked with providing an impartial and supported opinion of value. They are not there to validate a purchase agreement or to set market value; they simply prepare their report based upon the current industry requirements.

We may be in an improving market, but remember that appraisals employ closed sales. Appraisers will use closed sales up to a year prior when writing their report. If prices for the spring market are in fact rising, the challenge then is to find justification with comparables that may not demonstrate that. Unless underwriting requirements loosen a bit to reflect this rising market, the spring season may be one filled with consternation.  The solution isn't clearly apparent but just as appraisers reflected declining markets for years; a first step might be to note slightly increasing values if the data can be clearly found; perhaps by adding a bit more reliability to pending and even realistically priced listings. Underwriting policies and lenders must adjust and allow the appraisers to do their job if appreciation can be supported.

Real estate agents play a major role in keeping the market moving forward. The best agents will look at a potential listing as an appraiser will, will brief the seller with that data and explain the appraisal process. Most importantly, they will ensure that the seller sees, understands and uses the applicable data; they will not act as enablers and over list a home simply to get a listing. The very common agent tactic of telling sellers what they want to hear is very damaging to a property and the market in general. Extended marketing times, repeated price reductions and stale listings do not paint a picture of a robust, improving market. Agents need to truthfully answer the 'what is my home worth?' question.

After many depressed years there are signs of improvement in most real estate markets. Professional agents are critical to fostering this recovery; they play a central role representing clients in what is likely the largest financial transaction that they will ever be involved in. Tough love for sellers may be needed, but agents applying that professionalism, knowledge and experience, this will benefit not only the seller but the market in general. The spring sales will set the comparable tables for the summer and fall market; let's do it correctly.

 

About the author: Hank Miller is a full time Associate Broker and Certified Appraiser in Atlanta. He is known as much for his attention to detail as he is for his candor. Visit www.hankmillerteam.com for all things real estate.

Regional Real Estate Deal News: January 24, 2013

In property and other real estate related deals this morning, several large acquisitions with local and regional impact took place over the last several days. Michigan, California, Florida, Iowa, and other states are represented.

Monroe, Michigan ' Wikipedia

Here is are selected regional realty news stories for January 24th, 2013.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated just finalized the acquisition of a block of land interned for building a new World Headquarters for La-Z-Boy. The site, purchased from the Monroe-based Sisters of Monroe, Michigan, will see ground breaking in the Spring. Some 500 employees are expected to work at the new headquarters. The $50 million dollar project is scheduled for completion in late 2014 or early 2015.

Transaction leaders NetAuthority have just announced the grand opening of their new technology and product center in Freemont, California. Slated to meet the growing demand for NetAuthority R&D and product management, the new facility will also be for operational and technical support of their operations. NetAuthority is the leader in authentication of devices across financial, healthcare and other markets. The new facility is located at 39300 Civic Center Drive, Suite 180, in Fremont, California.  The company headquarters will remain in downtown San Francisco.

Starwood Property Trust  and  Starwood Capital Group just announced an acquisition of LNR Property LLC ('LNR') for a total purchase price of $1.05 billion in cash. Founded in 1969, LNL is a diversified real estate investment and management firm of 12 offices and 550 employees in the US and Europe. CEO Barry Sternlicht of Starwood offered this:

'We are delighted to announce this transformative and highly strategic acquisition that diversifies Starwood Property Trust's revenue sources, adds significant scale to our operating platform and dramatically expands our proprietary origination capabilities. We expect the combination of LNR's capabilities, Starwood Property Trust's superior access to capital, and both firms' underwriting expertise to result in a long-term and sustainable competitive advantage.'

The agreement states Starwood Property Trust is to acquire certain LNR businesses for a sale price of $856 million. For more information on this deal, please read the original press release here.

Waypoint Homes, Inc. has just announced offering homes for rent in Tampa and For Lauderdale, Florida. A leader in the rapidly growing REO to rental sector, Waypoint works with local agents and contractors to rejuvenate and market homes for rent or sale. Thus far the company owns some 3,000 plus homes, mostly in California.

In sustainability news, the University of Iowa Green Energy Initiative got a Biomass Hurst Boiler installed as part of that institution's Oakdale Research Park campus in Coralville, Iowa. Hurst Boilers is now part of the initiative to have 40 percent of its energy needs met with renewable resources by the end of 2020. The installed boiler replaced the old natural gas boiler, which Hurst had to custom fit exclusively. Capable of combustion of hundreds of different fuel types, the Hurst units are state-of-the-art technology for a sustainable future. The video below tells a bit more about their operations, but interested readers may want to visit the company's website.

There's also more information available via the original press release via PRWeb.

Fortune 500 construction company EMCOR Group, Inc. has just announced their subsidiary, Shambaugh & Son, having received the contract to design and build a new manufacturing facility for Cayuga Milk Ingredients. The Auburn, New York project will be a 110,000 square foot complex will undoubtedly add new jobs and revenue flow for this part of New York.

RBF Consulting (RBF) was just selected by Escondido, California to do construction management on the $30 million dollar Kake Wohlford Dam project. The reservoir project in San Diego County consists of enlarging and already existing dam and other engineering there. The reservoir provides some 30% of the city's water. RBF is a Company of Michael Baker Corporation, that provides engineering, design, and planning services worldwide.