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A dubious argument
Hmmm ….
Some developers argue that cash proffers are to blame for the current slump in the housing market because the cost is passed on to buyers in the purchase price.
They may be part of the equation making housing more expensive, but to say that “proffers are to blame” reeks of disingenuous lobbying.
Representing two buyers on the same house?
Don’t do it (in Montana).
I have been in this situation only once and I disclosed my situation to both buyers. Both sets trusted me and felt comfortable with my going forward submitting offers for both of them on the same property. I don’t remember whether either got the property, but I do remember the gratitude I felt that they both trusted me to represent their best interests ahead of my own.
Everyone should read this editorial
Slowly but surely, we seem to be relinquishing common sense and freedom.
Six years after the terrorist attacks of 2001, airport security remains a theater of the absurd. The changes put in place following the September 11th catastrophe have been drastic, and largely of two kinds: those practical and effective, and those irrational, wasteful and pointless.
The first variety have taken place almost entirely behind the scenes. Explosives scanning for checked luggage, for instance, was long overdue and is perhaps the most welcome addition. Unfortunately, at concourse checkpoints all across America, the madness of passenger screening continues in plain view. It began with pat-downs and the senseless confiscation of pointy objects. Then came the mandatory shoe removal, followed in the summer of 2006 by the prohibition of liquids and gels. We can only imagine what is next.
To understand what makes these measures so absurd, we first need to revisit the morning of September 11th, and grasp exactly what it was the 19 hijackers so easily took advantage of. Conventional wisdom says the terrorists exploited a weakness in airport security by smuggling aboard box-cutters. What they actually exploited was a weakness in our mindset — a set of presumptions based on the decades-long track record of hijackings.
In years past, a takeover meant hostage negotiations and standoffs; crews were trained in the concept of “passive resistance.” All of that changed forever the instant American Airlines Flight 11 collided with the north tower. What weapons the 19 men possessed mattered little; the success of their plan relied fundamentally on the element of surprise. And in this respect, their scheme was all but guaranteed not to fail.
For several reasons — particularly the awareness of passengers and crew — just the opposite is true today. Any hijacker would face a planeload of angry and frightened people ready to fight back. Say what you want of terrorists, they cannot afford to waste time and resources on schemes with a high probability of failure. And thus the September 11th template is all but useless to potential hijackers.
Who says microblogging isn’t effective?
Actually texting - and print media - but I learned about if via Twitter.
Technorati Tags: real-estate, realtor, twitter
Attempted Censorship or misguided public official?
Real estate assessments - high and low - bring about emotional responses. Local government, and government in general, have an insatiable need for our money. Sometimes, as in this case, the responses are from the public officials charged with assessing property.
I would however request that you immediately remove all inappropriate and misleading information related to the Office of the County Assessor, real property taxes, and the assessment process in Loudoun County from your web site.
Properties are assessed on an annual basis. We get that. Local governments depend on property taxes for the bulk of their budgets. Next year we all - homeowners and governments likely will be dealing with less income.
Maybe this is more chilling because it comes from a public official. This post at real/diaBlog (unfortunately they have deleted part of the post), based in Loudoun County ruffled the feathers of a Loudoun County official who emailed the author demanding that he remove parts of the the post, “or else.”
Coincidentally, I wrote a very similar post earlier this month that generated an off-line conversation that led to the posted clarification. For that clarification, I am grateful, and the post was much better and more informative because of it.
There’s a right way and a wrong way to address disputes.
Making unfounded accusations and distorting others’ words qualifies as the “wrong way.” At no point in any of the emails from Todd Kaufman the Loudoun County Assessor, does he identify exactly what part of the post he found to be “erroneous and misleading.”
This situation goes beyond real estate and real estate assessments and into the realm of trying to squash free speech and open public discourse.
Might (real estate) bloggers be considered journalists?
The Free Flow of Information Act says we might:
(2) COVERED PERSON- The term `covered person’ means a person who is engaged in journalism and includes a supervisor, employer, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of such person.
(3) DOCUMENT- The term `document’ means writings, recordings, and photographs, as those terms are defined by rule 1001 of the Federal Rules of Evidence (28 U.S.C. App.).
…
(5) JOURNALISM- The term `journalism’ means the regular gathering, preparing, collecting, photographing, recording, writing, editing, reporting, or publishing of news or information that concerns local, national, or international events or other matters of public interest for dissemination to the public.
I wish this agent the best of luck and hope that it works out. Trying to keep the County Officials in check via a blog is like sticking your finger in a bee’s nest!
I’d argue that trying to keep public officials in check is our shared responsibility and obligation.
Realtors are held to a higher standard due to our shared Code of Ethics; public officials are supposed to be held to a higher standard as well.
This seems to me to be an egregious attempt to control a conversation. If a clarification or retraction is in order, so be it - ask for that, rather than attempt to intimidate the writer.
As I am nowhere near being an attorney, would the County Assessor’s emails be subject to a Freedom of Information Act request?
Today, Danilo’s broker stands her ground.
I think this story may lead to a much larger discussion about freedom of speech, the NAR Code of Ethics and how they relate to blogs, Broker oversight and just what a Realtor may be permitted to write. If real estate blogs transcend real estate, politics and self promotion - who regulates them if not the laws regarding journalism? Should (real estate) bloggers have to choose between being Realtors or journalists?
More at Bloodhound and 4Realz.
Update 31 December 2007: Bacon’s Rebellion picked up the story, thanks to Ben.
Technorati Tags: blog, politics, real-estate, realtor
Positive housing news from mainstream media
My colleague Dan Gross recently wrote about the National Association of Realtors’ history of predictions that make meteorologists look spot-on. He’s right: it’s always wise to treat broker happy-talk skeptically, and that includes the NAR’s prediction of a housing market rebound in 2008. But amid their blarney, the realtors do make some valid points about how much is right with the economics that support the buying and selling of homes. Unemployment remains low. Interest rates remain very attractive by historic standards. It may be a less-than-stellar time to sell a house, due to extraordinarily high inventory levels, but it sure is a great time to buy one. Since many homes are bought by first-timers, who needn’t worry about selling a current house before they buy one, there is a pool of buyers who should stand ready to make offers.
Psychology is a powerful thing, combined with the fundamentals, it’s important to recognize the positives when they show themselves.
Contrast that with the release of today’s housing numbers, and the Calculated Risk’s always-excellent analysis.
A localized analysis for the Charlottesville area is in the works.
Technorati Tags: real estate
Greening incentives for new construction and renovations in Charlottesville
Go green and save green - or something like that could be the marketing tag line for an expansion of the City of Charlottesville’s current green trending. In response to this question -
“What, in your opinion, is the best way for local governments in Virginia to promote the construction (or renovation) of energy-efficient homes and businesses? The General Assembly passed an ordinance this year which allows localities to set a reduced property tax rate for buildings that are 30% more energy-efficient than the norm. Our Sustainability Committee is recommending to City Council that Charlottesville offer a one-time 50% property tax cut for buildings that meet this goal.
One thought is that this might encourage builders to “go green” knowing that they can tell potential buyers that their first-year property tax bill will be cut in half. Two questions: (1) would this really be much of an inducement to builders or buyers and (2) more importantly, would this just be giving property tax relief to builders or property owners who were likely going to make these kinds of improvements anyway (and have the financial wherewithal to do so)?”
Here’s the relevant Code:
Energy-efficient buildings, not including the real estate or land on which they are located, are hereby declared to be a separate class of property and shall constitute a classification for local taxation separate from other classifications of real property. The governing body of any county, city, or town may, by ordinance, levy a tax on the value of such buildings at a different rate from that of tax levied on other real property. The rate of tax imposed by any county, city, or town on such buildings shall not exceed that applicable to the general class of real property.
For purposes of this section, an energy-efficient building is any building that exceeds the energy efficiency standards prescribed in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by 30 percent. Energy-efficient building certification shall be determined by any qualified licensed engineer or contractor who is not related to the taxpayer and who shall certify to the taxpayer that he or she has qualifications to provide the certification.
Defining green is the first step. Finding the right people to do the necessary energy audits would be another step (and perhaps one of the weak links in the process).
There is a hard limit on the premium consumers are willing and able to pay to choose environmentally friendly options. Double is clearly too much.
In this market, any incentive that encourages buyers to buy would be welcome, but I don’t think this alone would cause builders/developers to change their building practices. For those who are already moving towards green, this would be the type of thing that would encourage them to further the cause.
Part of the equation must be on marketing green definitions to builders, developers and consumers. Greenwashing is wrong, and worse - counterproductive. Market the incentives to consumers so that they will ask and demand “green-ness.” Market to the mortgage brokers to get them to find and educate themselves and consumers about Energy Efficient Mortgages.
- Consider extending the tax break for a three-year period.
- Fast-track green developments/improvements
- Provide incentives to builders to innovate more rapidly. Help them to provide a wider market for homebuyers and homeowners.
- Recognize green renovations as well.
Taxes are one of the most effective ways for government to influence behavior.
Another question is - how many homes in the City limits might qualify? What impact would this have on the City’s budget? (even though they are running a surplus)
Technorati Tags: charlalbemarle, charlottesville, ecobroker, green
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This work by Jim Duncan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. -
