“Trying to stem declining gum sales, Mondelez and other gum makers are coming up with formulas that they say convey additional benefits. Trouble sleeping? There is a gum for that. Other new chewing gums purport to boost energy, alleviate headaches and stimulate weight loss.” –“Chew on This: Gum That Promises to Help You Sleep and...Read More
Multiple Offers, Momentum Shifts, etc. Unbeknownst to laymen, there is a predictable ebb and flow in the course of each housing transaction, whereupon each side is most (and least) vulnerable to the other. For a Buyer, the point of maximum vulnerability comes early: that would be after they have verbally come to terms to buy...Read More
Listing Agents Who Call the Buyer’s Lender As a Buyer’s agent, how can you tell if the listing agent (representing the Seller) is taking your client’s offer seriously? They call the Buyer’s lender ” specifically, the lender on the Buyer’s Pre-Approval letter ” and verify key information. Like, whether they’ve previously worked with the Buyer;...Read More
[Editor’s Note: I’m glad to report that, effective next year, the National Association of Realtors is tightening the rules on so-called pocket listings. I first criticized the practice on this blog more than eight years ago(!) — the post below originally appeared May 18, 2011. Please note that the views expressed here are solely those...Read More
Or Maybe They Should be Called “Dismaying Jeans” Yeah, yeah, I know what fancy-schmancy retailers mean when they refer to “distressed jeans”: jeans whose various holes and patches somehow make them look chic ” and worth a huge mark-up (also referred to as “vintage clothing” in some quarters). My definition of “distressed jeans” is a...Read More
“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” —Mark Twain Once upon a time, unscrupulous people were said to “push” or “peddle” lies. In an era of ubiquitous fake news, apparently that’s not energetic enough. Now, if a lie is to get anywhere (never mind “around the...Read More
