Monthly Archives: October 2006
Halloween Carnival
The Halloween Carnival is up at the Real Estate Tomato. Check it out and take some marshmallows.
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Brand loyalty and quality customer service
The Genius (named Eric, very helpful) told him that the unit was out of warranty and he could either have the battery replaced for about $60, look for a third party battery replacement or – if he were to purchase a new iPod, recycle the old one, and get ten percent off!… Those who see the new technologies as tools which they may use to offer better service will be able to survive and thrive, perhaps more successfully than ever before.
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Real estate carnival 10-30-2006
Some agents probably are.- Nubricks shows us that there is opportunity beyond the borders of the USA, and exposes (to me) a market other than our own and ChIndia.- Greg defines the “Divorced Commission,” writing more eloquently than most where the industry must go.- Mike is seeking Maverick nominations.- What can we learn from the California market?… (MLS)- Finding the story beyond the numbers.- The Difference between Good Realtors and Bad Agents.- Pat presents his thoughts on the real estate blogging community.- Dan Green offers a defense of interest-only mortgages.- Finally, Brian warns us to be vigilant on behalf of our clients.Update: I neglected to include sellsius’ great post about the Realtor.com/Zillow kerfluffle.
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Albemarle is Number 10
Out of the whole U-S of A, Albemarle County is ranked number 10 with regards to the percentage of folks with higher education degrees. (Permanent, subscription link)
Heck, of the Top 10, Virginia had four – Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax … and Albemarle. (No Charlottesville?)… Continue reading…
PowerBook update 10-27-2006
I am losing my patience with Apple. My PowerBook is still in repair in Short Pump, they have no idea when it might be ready, and I am losing efficiency and profitability every day. Also, due to my dependence on my laptop, my clients suffer.
The good news is that my new MacBook Pro is on its way to Cville from Shanghai.
Two hard drive failures in 13 months does not make me feel warm and fuzzy. Frankly, it makes me think I may be insane.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and
Housing numbers are down
And inventory is up.
Rates are low.
Home price appreciation is slowing.
Inventory is up. Significantly.
note: as soon as I figure out how to upload an image via coding, rather than depending on my normal program, I will.
Regarding NAR’s press release: They have an obligation to present the facts, and their best opinions. Everybody has opinions and interpretation of data. Assumptions and conclusions may (and usually do) differ.
Take this for example:
Total existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – dipped 1.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.18 million units in
Prices fall because home size is falling
Now, to do a similar analysis on the CharlAlbemarle regional market … If only I had the data interpretation skills and tools …
3 Oceans does a brilliant analysis that shows the current trend toward smaller houses with better space (not just more and the impact on home prices. I’ve talked about this before, and will say it again. More and more, people are realizing that not only does one have to clean the 12 foot foyer, they have to heat it as well – neither of which is cheap.
Check it out.… Continue reading…
A market in Transition
Some Realtors should find a new profession – so says the Minnesota Association of Realtors (thanks, Inman). So far this year, in the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors, (most of the top 10 agents are either new construction or condo conversion agents) as of today, 382 agents have had at least 5 “sides” and 201 have had at least 10 (out of ~1300 Realtors). In the Charlottesville regional market, to make a living, I think that one has to have at least 15 sides to make a living.
This is going to be a constant theme for the … Continue reading…
