MLS Style Category Definitions 1. (SF) One Story (ONEST) One story single-family house 2. (SF) One 1/2 Stories (ONEHF) One 1/2 story single-family house. Second floor only has adequate ceiling height in a portion of it. 3. (SF) Two Stories (TWOST) Two story single-family house. Has adequate ceiling height throughout upper story. 4. (SF) More...Read More
Millennials Become Acquainted With “The Golden Rule” It makes sense to me that 20-something’s are unfamiliar with such technological relics as VHS tapes, MP3 files, and analog watches (what everyone used to just call “watches” — you know, the ones with a minute hand and hour hand). But, I have to confess that I didn’t...Read More
“No-No’s” for Would-Be Home Sellers, or “What’s the Opposite of an Achilles’ Heel?” My #1 piece of advice for would-be home sellers prepping for market this Spring (or any other time of year) is, “make everything consistent.” Which suggests this corollary: “don’t over-improve.” In fact, there are two kinds of over-improvements: 1) within the home; and...Read More
What’s a Little Didacticism in a Movie With Margot Robbie & Brad Pitt? Are collateralized debt obligations (“CDO’s”) easier to understand when a gorgeous Margot Robbie — enjoying a champagne bubble bath — explains them? (maybe, if you’re not too distracted). How about when the teacher is Selena Gomez or Chef Anthony Bourdain? That’s the...Read More
3,000 Bonus Points vs. $60 Quick! Which sounds more valuable? Sixty dollars, or 3,000 bonus points? If you guessed the latter, you’d have lots of company — and be flat wrong (at least, according to the terms of a year-end credit card promotion I just received). Conversion Confusion Assuming 15,000 points converts into a $300...Read More
Economist: “Assume You Have a Can Opener”* Everything I learned about economics at Stanford turned out to be useless. In fact, worse than useless, because it was wrong, and therefore had to be flushed (unlearned). (Sorry, Mom; sorry, Dad. Thankfully, not everything I learned in college was for naught.) Economics’ Dark Age In Stanford’s defense,...Read More
