Strategic Defaults Driving Retail Sales? A penny saved is a penny earned. –Benjamin Franklin, circa 1780 A penny defaulted on is a penny earned. –Benjamin Franklin, 2010?? No, I have no way of knowing whether a modern-day Benjamin Franklin would have uttered the second quote. In fact, he didn’t even say the first one (that...Read More
Open Houses Galore Clients often ask if a particular Sunday is a good time to hold an open. I don’t forecast home prices or interest rates, but I’m going to go on record with this prediction: today, April 11, will be the busiest day of the year for open houses (the “retail” kind; broker opens...Read More
City Lakes Posts by Popularity The most popular post (by far) on this blog the last few days? “Realtor April Fool’s Jokes” (so much for my conceit that my Readers are all erudite, knowledge-seeking policy wonks). Runner-up? This post, which originally ran in late December: ‘Chinese Drywall in Minnesota? New Bank Disclaimer.’ The impetus...Read More
Chicago & Privatized Parking In an effort to streamline unethical practices and boost illegal profiteering, Mayor Richard M. Daley announced sweeping new plans Monday to overhaul his city’s “antiquated” system of graft. According to Daley, Chicago’s once-great fraudulent institutions have grown obsolete, and City Hall is no longer bilking taxpayers out of as much money...Read More
The Real Estate Walk-Thru OK, so it’s not as dramatic as the point in the wedding ceremony where the officiating clergy asks the assembled guests to “speak now or forever hold your peace.” But functionally, the walk-thru performed by the Buyer just before closing plays much the same role in a residential real estate deal....Read More
Realtor Dress Code Upgrade? No, I’m not seeing any Realtors don formal wear (like tuxedo’s) just yet. But there do seem to be more men wearing ties and sports coats lately, and women wearing fancy scarves and the like. What’s going on? “Dress for Success” I’d guess a couple things: –Older, more established Realtors are...Read More
