Real Estate News This Morning - February 21, 2008
February 21, 2008
The Morning Review of Today’s Top Real Estate Stories
Get your cup of coffee and settle in with this morning’s top real estate related stories right off the newswires!
In an effort to keep you informed, we have searched the wires and as you start your day, these are some of the more interesting stories affecting the real estate industry this morning. Check back throughout the day as we will add additional links as more stories are released.
If you hear about a story that you think our readers would be interested in, please email us the link and we will post it. Please email us the link.
Good Quote Of The Day:
There is no question in my mind (and experience) that real estate consumers are looking on-line for homes — and agents. “Web presence” is crucial for today’s agent, IMHO. By far the single most important thing you can do to convert an online prospect to a client is respond — quickly. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard comments like, “You were the first agent that emailed/called/bothered/cared. We get 95% of our business from our blog and website.
Jay Thompson
http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/
Bad Quote of The Day
In regards to the pending lawsuit DOJ v. NAR, Realty Times wrote the following as to why rebates may not be a good thing:
“What rebates mean … is that consumers can get money back on the transaction and that it should be legal to do so. The flip side is something nobody wants to talk about — and that’s the seller might not be thrilled to pay for the incentive. What it really means is that practitioners who rebate must sell their services at a higher rate to the seller in order to have cash to rebate to the buyer, and vice versa. In other words, somebody’s overpaying, while everyone else looks the other way. What’s consumer-friendly about that?”
Practitioner’s must sell their services at a higher rate…are you saying that if the Seller rebates a buyer, the agents and brokers will RAISE their commission? Oh, that’s going to make the business model better and public scrutiny better…NOT! I like Realty Times but sometimes when they make statements like this you have to wonder if they are truly being objective.
Top Stories:
Uh..Oh…Lawrence Yun Is Blogging..And He’s Not Taking The Blame!! And He’s Giving Credit To Bubblebloggers!! LOL!!
Housing Starts And A “True” Leap Of Faith (video)
House Swapping: Trading Spaces Forever
More Pain Ahead for Housing Sector, Economic Activity Slows
Still Think You Don’t Need A SERIOUS Online Presence?
The Public Is Tired Of Hearing About The Defaulters
When I read the “Stay the same, differently” post I could not help but think that every Realtor, Broker, Mortgage Broker, and anyone else that lives off of the Real Estate Industry must read “Who Moved My Cheese”!!! As soon as I was sick of crying and pining after the “good old days”, I grabbed it off the shelf and read it again that night. Our cheese has been moved and you better get out of Train Station F!
“One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station F to find no cheese left but they found cogdill eating all the cheese; they, however, are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. Leaving Cheese Station F behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station F only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands “who moved my cheese?”. Unprepared, the humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese is indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both head home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw find the same cheeseless station. Beginning to realize the situation at hand, Haw proposes a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, nixes the proposal.
Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found “Cheese Station N”, a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station F, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese, blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again knocks down the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station F, the humans remain without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw begins laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiseling “If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct” on the wall of Cheese Station F for his friend to ponder…”
I’m with you! You be Sniff…I’ll be Scurry!!! Some will be Haw’s and the Hem’s will get out of the business… Whoo Hooo
Thanks for the comment Christine. This post was written by one of our guest bloggers, Wayne Malcomb in upstate New York. It was his first and I loved it!