Archive for September, 2007

Still Alive, Slightly Under The Weather

I did not forget you all, but this was a full force Mr. Mom weekend for my two boys and have not been feeling well. Add to the lack of really interesting stories to bring to you, posting has been missing. I will try to get something up tonight, but if not, we will see you [...]

23Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Zell Says No Credit Crunch – Instead a Confidence Crunch

Recently Sam Zell was interviewed at Wharton Business School about the recent volatility in the real estate markets. As you may know, Zell sold his Equity Office Products group to Blackstone near the peak of the market. He goes on to talk about that there is still credit available even though we are all calling [...]

22Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 3 comments | Continued

Weekend Thought: Stop Making Us Sign In To See Listings On Your Site

Since most of my readers are real estate agents, you rarely see the headache buyers run into trying to see your listings. And of course, odds are if you take the time to read this site, the last thing in the world you do is hold your listings hostage behind a sign in page.
To [...]

21Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 4 comments | Continued

15-3-1 – If the Financial Guru’s Can’t Predict Well, Is It Our Fault?

Heads up, this is going to be a bit of a rant.
I was reading through Ben Bernanke’s comments on the state of the economy and real estate from yesterday (transcript here) and I came across a nugget of information. Essentially, of the loans outstanding,

15% of subprime loans are 90 days or more late
3% [...]

21Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Hofstra Adds Real Estate Studies Center To Long Island Campus

Real estate has been a driving force for Long Island. What was a region of small hamlets when my grandmother grew up there has morphed over the years into one solid stretch of suburbs, shopping, and industry. And Long Island has served as the blueprint for suburbia for all the good and bad that occurred.
What [...]

21Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 2 comments | Continued

Strange Buyer Problems – At Least You Are Not Martha Stewart

Every real estate agent has the clients that just blow them away, and not for the right reasons. Wierd eccentric behavior that confounds all expectations and the willingness at the drop of a hat to sue are the bane of most agents existance.
Well, there is an inmate in the South Carolina penal system who [...]

20Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 2 comments | Continued

Auction Network Coming To You Via Internet and Television

This is an interesting concept. The Auction Network will be selling all sorts of items including homes on television and the internet starting in late October and rolling out through the next year. With America’s fascination with eBay and other auctions, this will be a great way to be a voyeur and participant in auctions [...]

20Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 4 comments | Continued

Is Malibu a Microcosm Of the National Market?

While in many ways Malibu, California is an outlier. Home prices are through the roof, celebrities run around buying and selling homes, and the market is dependent on many factors that the rest of America never sees. But with all these differences Malibu may be showing us why housing prices are not dropping.
In Malibu [...]

20Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

You Better Water Your Lawn In Orem City, UT

Living in Georgia we seem to be on perpetual water restrictions, but for 70 year old Betty Perry of Oram City, Utah she was arrested and thrown in jail for failing to keep her lawn watered. Showing cuts on her face the lady was arrested and plead innocent to the charges.
I would hate to [...]

19Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Housing Starts Slow – Hooray For Common Sense!

One of the biggest drivers in a slow housing market is too much inventory. Tighter inventory forces buyers to make decisions and keeps pressure on pricing. Too much inventory and buyers are afraid of making the wrong decision and pricing becomes much harder to hold. Economic common sense, right.
Except in the housing industry which it [...]

19Sep2007 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued