App Explosion Urban Spoon. Dropbox. Around Me. Evernote. Keynote. Wikihood. Posterous. Those are just some of the apps — for smartphones and tablets — that I heard discussed (and extolled) at a Realtor conference this morning. Yes, I recognize their utility. And yes, I ‘m sure I’ll have my favorites by the end of the...Read More
Earning Goodwill — But Not a Listing In my post, “When Realtor MLS Statistics Are Misleading,” I talked about all the things that take up Realtors’ time these days, but aren’t necessarily captured in their MLS sales statistics — or are easily missed. The list includes pre-list (non-MLS) sales; acting as a Facilitator; handling the...Read More
The White House No, this isn’t the White House, but it’s certainly a white house (and landscape). On a blistering hot day locally, it was the coolest house photo I could find. And no, local authorities don’t open up fire hydants for neighborhoods kids here like they do on the east coast — we’ve got...Read More
On the Job Training A good Realtor learns from every deal they do. From the unique facts that characterize each transaction. From the clients they work with. And from the Realtor on the other side of the deal — especially the Realtor on the other side of the deal. If they’re good, you learn what...Read More
The Case for Pricing Conservatively Quick: which is more, 80% of “X” or 95% of “Y?” The answer: it depends on what “X” and “Y” are. So, let me fill in some numbers, straight from today’s real estate market: make “X” equal to $325k, and “Y” equal to $289.9k. Now, it’s possible to calculate the...Read More
The Fannie and Freddie Sideshow What do you call two companies that have cumulatively lost tens of billions, are now wards of the state, and continue to receive multi-billion dollar government subsidies? If their names are “Fannie” and “Freddie,” the answer is: the world’s two biggest red herrings. Or, if you prefer, a sideshow to...Read More
