The FTC and DOJ want to force Realtors to open up the MLS to virtually anybody who wants to advertise there. (this is a somewhat hyperbolic statement, but that is the direction they ultimately seem to be going)What is preventing the limited-service brokers, et…. from starting their own competing websites via which they can advertise?… Matter of fact, there are quite a few of them.The MLS’s are owned by Realtors…. Not everyone can be wear the ASE patch.One of the primary differences separating the MLS is the inherent cooperation between Brokers…. What if the MLS is forced to become just another medium to advertise? What if Realtors have to provide more representation for their clients rather than simply plugging information into the MLS? More at Russ’s blog.Realestatejournal has a story, as does Inman.
Where are the buyers?
They are lying in wait … from a client yesterday with whom I have been working for several months:
“I are going to be out of the housing market for a while. We’ve just decided that with interest rates going up, the market changing and the bank not getting the monthly payments to where we’d like them…..it’s just in our best interest to wait right now. I know the market’s beginning to change as the article in the Daily (Progress) said yesterday. And, we’ve seen it ourselves with 817 and 824 Harris still on the market. But we’re going to hold off for now. We’ll have more money saved for a down payment and hopefully prices will be down even more with the interest rates going up.”
So, I will sell them something next year (or the year after …) This is a long-term business that necessitates a long-term frame of mind. People are returning to buying houses with that mindset, which qualifies as “a good thing.”
Friday Links – 07-14-2006
As the week winds down for most (I am gearing up to continue showing throughout the weekend), these are a few stories worth reading, each of which relates in some way to the CharlAlbemarle region’s real estate market.Ardell at RCG has two outstanding posts -Negotiating Fees with the Buyer ClientIf wishes were horses, beggars would ride – a call for civilizing the process of the real estate transaction.Thinking Entrepreneurially about TransitCoolTown Studios has this:53% of 24-34 year olds would choose to live in transit-rich, walkable neighborhoods, less than 25% of middle-aged Americans are interested in living in dense areas. Source: CNU- Demand for housing within walking distance of transit will more than double by 2025. Properties within a 5-10 minute walk to a train stop are selling for 20-25% more than comparable properties further away, and going up. Source: Center for Transit-Oriented DevelopmentWhat’s a government to do when their massive annual raises stagnate?Bankrate.com under fireOnline home valuations are useful, but …The desk-top appraisal said the home would be worth $400,000, but the drive-by and on-site visit lowered it significantly, to the $305,000 to $320,000 ballpark, which Mr. Hagar said would be the most accurate for our purposes.Have a good weekend!
How to Choose a Realtor (take 2)
I was asked recently to write an article for the “Ask the Expert” column for The HooK. The first time, I wrote a decent, un-opinonated column. One could call it “pedantic.” It wasn’t me. It was ok, but writing from a non-biased voice other than my own is difficult, especially if one doesn’t do it frequently. With practice, I will get better. I don’t have…
July Newsletter is out!
The July Newsletter is out. Please email me if you would like a copy.
All press is good press
I was recently interviewed by Jessica Swesey of Inman News for a story on real estate blogging success stories. I steadfastly hesitate to call my blogging experience a success. My blogging and career remain a constant work in progress. As soon as I get permission, I will post a link. Noah Rosenblat, also interviewed, said:”It always takes a lot more time to do than anyone thinks. The key is good content; there’s got to be a reason to come back,” he said. His theory for good content? Tell it like it is and always be honest.It is an odd experience to see my name and quotations in the same article as Robert Scoble, of Microsoft fame.
Geocoding public notices
A recent discussion at realcrozetva got me thinking – how difficult (read: how much would it cost?) would it be to geocode public zoning notices?A common question asked of me is – what’s going to happen to that field/woods/old house?… My second response is (by way of risk management and a need to be the “source of the source” rather than the “source”) is to direct my clients to the appropriate locality’s zoning department. Even zoning departments, however, cannot see into the future or guess with 100% accuracy as to whether a certain project will be approved or not. Albemarle’s Zoning Notice search page is detailed, but they charge a separate fee for GIS data.The City of Charlottesville’s new website is terrible, but I finally got here.Fluvanna has a nice GIS implementation.Great post on geocoding at RCGWhat if the a potential buyer or resident was able to do a proximity search from his or her address and search for zoning notices? Look at any and all zoning/public notices within a 2 mile radius of his home or business?… While we’re at it, why not provide crime data in an open format that is accessible and usable?I was smarter, I’d figure out Yahoo’s Geocoding API. It looks straight-forward and simple, I just can’t put it together.