Zillow mines public data for pre-sale foreclosures, new Apple goodies, the worst passwords, and best blogs
Using publicly available data, Zillow plans to list properties in foreclosure before they are even listed for sale.
Remember your tiny dorm room from college with the bathroom down the hall? Or perhaps you shared a decrepit rental with 5 of your best buddies, with an old couch on the front porch. Dorms have evolved into cottage-style housing, reports The Wall Street Journal. “At the Cottages of Columbia near the University of Missouri, the units include 9-foot ceilings, stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors and marble bathroom countertops. Other developers include walk-in closets, steam rooms, indoor golf simulators, basketball courts and yoga studios. ”My parents told me to not get used to living like this,” said Avery Bond, a Louisiana State University senior who has lived at the Cottages of Baton Rouge for three years and pays $630 a month.”
Apple releases a flood of updates (Mac mini, iMac, Macbook Pro with Retina, iPad) and a new, smaller iPad this week. How does the new iPad Mini stack up against the competition? Engadget has a handy chart. Update: within hours of pre-ordering opening on Friday, the white version of the mini appears to be already sold out.
And if you are one of those who needs to keep up with the latest and greatest, Mashable via CNN gives some suggestions on where you can sell your iPad 3.
Just in time for Halloween, Splashdata lits the scariest (ie worst) passwords for 2012. Unchanged from last year: #1 ‘password’ #2 ’123456′ #3 ’12345678′. #18 was a surprise to me: ‘shadow’.
During this presidential campaign, housing has been ignored. Why? Housing hasn’t been a feature in the debates or on the campaign trail. Seattle Bubble speculates that “Here’s one possible explanation: Neither wants to have a serious discussion about housing because they would have to talk about the mortgage interest deduction, which more and more is looking like it will need to be severely limited or possibliy even eliminated no matter who gets elected.”
The United States will be outpacing Saudi oil production, says the Energy Department. Production of crude and liquid hydrocarbons next year should reach a 40-year high. Increasing U.S. oil production will cut the need for foreign imports, helping our economy. The oil boom in such states as North Dakota, Oklahoma and Wyoming has decrease unemployment and helped companies that support the oil boom, like pipe suppliers and railroads.
This week Tina Brown, editor at Newsweek, discussed the venerable print magazine’s transformation into a digital-only publication next year on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Time rounds up the best blogs for 2012, covering everything from the economics of gadgets to the Civil War to Kate Middleton’s fashions.
Celebrity pocket sales, what happens to stolen Picassos, and Newsweek goes digital only
With the forthcoming presidential election, many are wondering what’s on the horizon for real estate. The Sun Sentinel highlights the issues at hand and the surprising lack of discourse on this topic.
Celebrities keep many secrets, including information about selling their homes, says The Los Angeles Times. You won’t find their homes listed on www.realtor.com or a local MLS. These pocket listings are discreetly shopped around to brokers, avoiding gawkers, snoopers and fans. Also, homes can be bought and sold through a trust or a limited liability company, keeping private information private.
Art thieves stole several promenant works of masters in the Netherlands this week, including paintings by Monet, Gauguin, and Picasso. What happens next? Museums try to track them down through back channels and are generally willing to pay a bit to get them back. They obviously can’t be sold at auction right away, but the black market will handle them, though at a substantial discount from their face value.
Windows 8 rolls out next week with new touch screen functionality. Computer makers are already trying to figure out just how to incorporate it into their non-tablet machines without just creating smeared screens and gorilla arm syndrome.
It’s not even Halloween yet but the Holiday price wars are heating up. Amazon racked up some impressive gains last year, stealing sales from the brick and mortar world. This year, traditional retailers are starting to fight back.
Many Kindle and Nook users received an email this week in regards to a class-action suit on price fixing by publishers. Settlement from the suit isn’t going to make anyone (but the lawyers of course) rich, but you might find a bit more credit in your account eventually.
Do you panic when you can’t find your cell phone? You might have nomophobia—the fear of losing your cell phone. On average, people check their cell phone 34 times a day. Cell phone addiction may arise from a surge of dopamine as a reward when you read a new text message. Compulsive cell phone behavior ranges from checking your cell phone during inappropriate times to waking up in the middle of the night to check your messages.
Newsweek, founded in 1933, will become an online-only publication next year. Editor-in-chief Tina Brown cited a recent study that said 39% of Americans now get their news from an online source in saying the time had come. The new Newsweek Global site will work on a paid subscription model.
Halloween party on the horizon? Need an ‘appetizer’? How about some finger food?
Download FREE eBooks through the NAR Library, earn free rewards through our MVP+ Program.
Now through Oct. 31st, download a eBook from the NAR Library eBook Collection and receive FREE the REALTOR® Foundations Product Bundle, a $13.90 value! This bundle includes two well-regarded downloadable brochures:
- Why Rent When You can Buy Brochure – download
- What Everyone Should Know About Equal Opportunity in Housing Brochure – English Version download
To take advantage of this promotion, simply visit our eBook collection, make sure you have the required free software installed, and download a title. You will receive an email within a few days with details on how to download the brochure bundle for FREE.
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® library offers 3,000+ digital books, audiobooks and videos that can be downloaded to your computer, portable device or smartphone. Topics include sales and marketing, residential and commercial real estate, technology, management and personal growth.
Using digital books is as easy as 1-2-3. Go to ebooks.realtor.org and have your NRDS number handy:
- Download the free REQUIRED SOFTWARE, located at the left margin of ebooks.realtor.org.
- Select up to six titles at a time and add them to your eBookBag, proceed to checkout, sign on with your NRDS number, and confirm checkout.
- Download your selection and enjoy!
Before starting, take a look at our online help section. You can get help on using specific devices, types of ebooks or technical questions. Or feel free to contact us at 800-874-6500 Monday – Friday, 8am to 6pm central time.
The following field guides have recently been updated on realtor.org:
Board Histories & Anniversaries
Just as the National Association of REALTORS® celebrated its centennial in 2008, many state and local associations are preparing for significant birthdays and events. The resources on this page offer ideas for recognizing and celebrating an anniversary and writing an organization’s history. State and local associations can also tap into the tap into the extensive resources of the NAR Archives for further assistance.
Marketing with Blogs
Blogs are a great marketing tool for your real estate business. You can provide a snapshot of your local market, have a forum for your thoughts about real estate and market yourself. Find out the benefits of blogging, getting started with blogs and see what real estate practitioners are writing about.
Homeowner’s Insurance
“Homeowners insurance covers the structure of your home and your personal property, as well as your personal legal responsibility (or liability) for injuries to others or their property while they’re on your property.” It is important to note that a standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not typically include earthquake damage or flood insurance. Learn more about this and more from the following articles, eBooks, and other resources in this updated field guide.
Social Networking for REALTORS®
Every junior high kid seems to have a Facebook page. Why should you, a real estate professional? Learn about social networking websites, see how other real estate agents have embraced social networking to increase their presence on the Internet to attract more clients, learn about the variety of social networking websites and much more.
Mold & Health Issues
In 2001, a family in Texas won $32.1 million (later reduced to an amount kept confidential) in a case involving extensive mold damage to their home. Even Erin Brockovich, Michael Jordan, Bianca Jagger and Ed McMahon have experienced mold contamination in their houses. The governor of North Carolina had to move out of the mold-infested Governor’s Mansion in August 2005. Mold is a health risk for children, adults, and even pets. Learn how to avoid mold, how to eliminate mold once it is discovered, and the health effects of mold, in these articles, book, Web sites, and Web videos.
Family Firms
Family firms, or “family owned businesses,” have challenges unique from other types of business. Hiring successors presents the added challenge of balancing familial relationships with employee concerns of nepotism. Business planning brings forth added estate planning and tax concerns. Crisis and strategic planning may call for extra provisions, such as measures for death or illness in the family, among other things. Learn more about these issues from the following articles, eBooks, and other resources in this updated field guide.
Also new in the library:
New Books in the Library
What’s new in the Information Central library collection? This month you’ll find books on Urban Planning, Appraisal Standards, Marketing, Fundraising Basics and many more. Interested in borrowing any of these titles from the library? Simply click on the title to make your request right over the web!
New eBooks in the Library
What’s new in the Information Central eBook collection? This month our featured eBook section is REALTOR® Safety Month. You’ll also find some of the following new titles in our “just added” section on the eBook home page: Virtual Productivity Success, iPad 2 Manual, 8 Minute Organizer, Planning to Plan and many more. Interested in borrowing any of these titles from the eBook collection? Simply click on the title to make your request right over the web!
Raising price to attract offers, iPad mini, and how many calories in that Coke?
When a house doesn’t sell, lower the price, right? Some owners are raising the price and selling. ” The strategy sometimes works. Julia Hoagland, a broker with Brown Harris Stevens in New York, took on a listing that had previously been on the market for six months with another firm. The 26th-story Upper East Side condo with views of Central Park was originally asking $2.73 million. After researching comparable sales, Ms. Hoagland convinced the sellers to raise the asking price by $220,000, or 8%. “It is risky, to be perfectly honest,” says Ms. Hoagland.”
Money recently came out with its list of the Top 100 Places to Live in the US, small cities edition. At the head: Carmel, IN, McKinney, TX, and Eden Prairie, MN.
Amazon has a new competitor in the same-day delivery market: Walmart.
AllThingsD continues to report that Apple will unveil a new iPad Mini on Oct. 23.
Good idea or not? As criticism over sugary sodas intensifies, the beverage industry is rolling out new vending machines that display just how many calories are in its drinks.
Recently a member contacted the NAR library for research on modular homes, including their resale value and impact on adjacent property values. We provided articles, reports, statistics, and additional resources that may be helpful in building the case that modular homes appreciate in value just as “stick homes” do, and that they do not negatively impact property values in the surrounding community. Please note that many sources use the terms “manufactured” and “modular” interchangeably, or use terms like “prefabricated housing” to denote all types, but we have focused our research on modular homes wherever possible.
Articles
- “Fresh Thinking,” (Builder, May 2010).
- “Dispelling the Myths of Modular Construction,” (Buildings, January 2008).
- “Fabulous Prefab,” (REALTOR® Magazine, February 2007).
Modular Homes: Modular Home Building Council (National Association of Home Builders). A directory of articles on modular homes from NAHB
Reports and Studies
Trends and Information About the Manufactured Housing Industry (Manufactured Housing Institute, 2012)
Provides industry overview, demographic information on owners of manufactured homes, cost/size comparisons of new manufactured and new single-family site-built homes from 2007-2011, advantages of manufactured housing, and number of manufactured home shipments by state in 2011.
Understanding Today’s Manufactured Housing (Manufactured Housing Institute, 2012)
Provides a detailed explanation of the HUD code and discusses the impact of manufactured homes on property values and local community services.
Overcoming Barriers to Placing Manufactured Housing in Metropolitan Communities (Journal of the American Planning Association, Winter 2010).
Abstract: Manufactured housing is an option that is relatively little used in metropolitan communities although it appears to provide a quality-cost advantage over site-built housing. This article examines barriers to placing manufactured housing in metropolitan areas that planners might influence, focusing particularly on land use and design regulations. The authors paired data from a nationwide survey of planners in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)-eligible metropolitan communities with information on those communities’ characteristics to estimate several regression models explaining two measures of manufactured housing supply using both supply- and demand-side variables. A variety of regulatory restrictions, including the lack of by-right zoning, as well as permits, snow load standards, fire codes, zoning codes, subdivision regulations, and architectural design standards impede the placement of manufactured housing in metropolitan communities. The authors suggest that planners emphasize manufactured housing as an affordable housing option and they offer suggestions for accomplishing this.
Manufactured Housing Appreciation: Stereotypes and Data (Consumers Union, April 2003)
This report focuses on manufactured homes in the “mobile home” sense of the term, and asks “How do mobile homes appreciate relative to site-built housing?”
An Examination of Manufactured Housing as a Community- and Asset-Building Strategy (Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, September 2002)
Comprehensive report on all aspects of manufactured and modular housing, including its evolution, finance challenges, and model community development strategies. Also includes a lengthy bibliography of sources.
The Impact of Manufactured Housing on Adjacent Site Built Residential Properties in Two Alabama Counties (Southern Business Review, Fall 2000)
Compares appraised values and appreciation figures for manufactured and site-built homes in two Alabama counties.
Factory and Site-Build Housing: A Comparison for the 21st Century (NAHB Research Center, Inc., October 1998)
Distinguishes modular housing separately from manufactured housing, and discusses trends, regulatory processes, code requirements, cost, and more.
The Future of Manufactured Housing (Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University, January 1997)
This is an older study, but I have included it for historical reference value, and for an interesting table (Exhibit 8, page 15), which compares repair activity performed by all home owners compared to repair activity performed by manufactured home owners; the exhibit shows that the owners of manufactured homes spend less money and time performing repairs—even as far back as 1991-1993.
Statistics
Average Sales Price of New Manufactured Homes Placed by Size of Home by State (US Census Bureau)
Presentations
Manufactured Housing: An Industry Overview (Manufactured Housing Institute, May 16, 2012)
A comprehensive slideshow on manufactured housing on the advantages in quality and cost of manufactured housing (including some great photos), sales statistics, historical trends, and industry outlook
Books from the NAR library
We have several books on modular housing available for check out from the NAR Library. Please note that a $10 shipping fee is required, and we limit checkouts to 3 books at a time. I have provided one title below, but please feel free to search the library catalog for additional titles on modular housing.
The Modular Home, by Andrew Gianino (2005)
Institutes and Associations
A member recently contacted NAR’s Information Central to inquire after sales meeting resources. Below you will find a selection of resources on this topic.
A few articles from REALTOR Magazine :
- One Fantastic Year of Sales Meetings, Realtor Magazine, January 2011
- Can’t-Miss Sales Meetings, REALTOR Magazine, Feb 2009
- You’re the Coach, REALTOR Magazine, Sept. 2010
- Become a Chief Inspiration Officer, REALTOR Magazine, Nov. 2009
- Generate Ideas, Disney Style, REALTOR Magazine, September 2012
- Outside-the-Box Business Strategies, REALTOR Magazine, July 2012
- Your Most Creative Marketing Ideas, REALTOR Magazine, April 2010
We also have a few items in our library. For instant gratification, we have a few eBooks (download the free Adobe Digital Editions software first, then checkout and download eBooks):
- 77 Tips for Absolutely Great Meetings
- Manager’s Guide to Effective Meetings
- Manage Meetings Positively
- Plan and Conduct Effective Meetings
We also have a few books in the NAR Library (REALTORS can check out up to 3 books at a time for a period of 30 days; shipping $10):
Field Guides are one-stop resource packages on dozens of subjects of interest to REALTORS®. On each page you’ll find links to articles, books, web sites, statistics, and other material on each subject. The list of the most-used field guides from Information Central for the month of September 2012 was released today:
- Field Guide to Quick Real Estate Statistics
- Field Guide to Marketing Tips for REALTORS®
- Field Guide to 1031 Exchanges
- Field Guide to Listing & Selling Luxury Properties
- Field Guide to Real Estate Office Policy Manuals
- Field Guide to REALTOR® Safety
- Field Guide to Buying vs. Renting
- Field Guide to the Best Places to Live
- Field Guide to Open Houses
- Field Guide to Short Sales
Have an idea for a new field guide? Let us know!
