Lance Winslow's Real Estate Blog w/500 articles - Lance Welcomes You and Wishes You Well! - 02/25/08 03:51 PM
 
A Message from Lance Winslow:
Thank you for coming to my Real Estate Blog. The Real Estate Sector is going through some tough times, but like anything, there are cycles and sector rotations, so, it will eventually recover. Depending on how closely you have watched many real estate markets in the United … (16 comments)

Turning Old Car Tires into Roof Shingle Tiles Made of Rubber - An Environmental Solution Worth a Look - 02/25/08 03:28 PM
Believe it or not used tires can be made into roofing tiles and it turns out they have many advantages over other roofing materials. Tires into roofing; old tires made into roof tiles is be is being done. There is a plant that is recycling 40,000 tires a day for roof … (4 comments)

Wireless Sensors for Lawns in Drought Areas - Professional Lawn Watering Techniques - 02/25/08 02:46 PM
Over the years, the Online Think Tank has studied the challenges of droughts in the US. Our goal is to come up with solution to ease the pain of dwindling and over taxed fresh water supplies that our civilization so desperately needs. One concept we came up with was a scheme … (1 comments)

Hurricane Homeowners Insurance in Florida Beach Communities - You Wish - 02/25/08 01:30 PM
Although the most recent Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Seasons, 2006 and 2007, were relatively light, State Farm is not writing any new policies to homeowners who live within a mile from the coast. State Farm indicated that the risk is far too great and that it is "only a matter of time" … (2 comments)

Property Tax Receipts and Economic Slow Down Takes Toll on Local Governments - Layoffs On the Way - 02/25/08 12:14 PM
As predicted and expected local governments are beginning to trim the fat and that means laying off employees. In markets where housing has taken its biggest bite out of the economy, there is an air of uncertainty. Country controllers, city auditors and local government leadership is trying to find ways to … (4 comments)

Homes Near Schools, Sports Parks and Libraries Often Hold their Value Better - 02/25/08 09:48 AM
In places like California, homeowners watched average home prices fall over 20% and in some areas like Riverside County by 25% or more. Of course, Las Vegas, Detroit, Phoenix and Southern Florida took huge hits also and indeed, home prices are still falling in these markets. Much of it is about … (0 comments)

$3.50 per Gallon Gasoline Prices Predicted by Spring 2008 - 02/25/08 09:18 AM
The Real Estate Sector is a huge drag on our economy, but then again so are the high oil prices, as high fuel costs act like an additional tax on everything you buy or any service you partake in. High gasoline prices affect families and our citizens at a real personal … (5 comments)

Droughts Causing Some Power Plants to Shut Down - 02/25/08 08:57 AM
Shortage of water not only hurts real estate values, as people stop watering their landscaping, it is also hurts the energy generation companies. Now it might be obvious that if lack of water in the reservoirs and behind dams means that the water cannot be let out in order to use … (2 comments)

The Flow of Thought - An Essay by Lance Winslow, Part I of II - 02/25/08 05:16 AM
What does the Flow of Thought have to do with the Real Estate Sector, and why am I posting this essay on my Real Estate Blog? Well, The Flow of Thought has to do with everything in human society, including the planning of our civilization, cities and community. In fact, you … (3 comments)

The Flow of Thought Part II (Memorization, Freedom of Thought, Creative Thinking & Philosophy) - 02/25/08 05:06 AM
To refresh the reader, in Part I of The Flow of Thought we discussed ADHD, Education, Drug Use issues on the brain, Fluoride in the water, Future Computer-Brain Interfaces and Frequency Pollution. This is: The Flow of Thought Part II (Memorization, Freedom of Thought, Creative Thinking & Philosophy)
Now I would like … (0 comments)

The Flow of Water - the First Necessity of Human Civilizations - 02/25/08 02:22 AM
The purpose of this essay is to assist you in understanding the importance of our fresh water supplies. What does The Flow of Water have to do with the Real Estate Sector? Everything! Without fresh water supplies a community, town, city, region, state or nation is uninhabitable. Of the most important … (1 comments)

The Flow of Transportation Part I of III (moving people, products and services) - 02/24/08 11:15 PM
Why is the Flow of Transportation important to the Real Estate Sector? Well, because every thing that the civilization needs comes from other places, even the people themselves have to get around. Without proper transportation, there is no quality of life, and I guess the Romans figured that out when they … (0 comments)

The Flow of Transportation Part II of III (bureaucracy, terrorism, buses, highspeed train vs. plane & future innovations) - 02/24/08 10:43 PM
The United States is often more representative of a United Countries with our myriad of regulations and rules which change the second you cross the border into a new state, even though we really are one country.  Obviously, when Snow was serving as Secretary of Treasury these issues had been studied … (0 comments)

TheThe Flow of Transportation - Part III (road infrastructure, airports, safety, planning) - 02/24/08 10:08 PM
The Flow of Transportation is vital to our or Nation, traffic gridlock destroys quality of life, and leads to decay. Property Values in Real Estate and the very foundation of community depends on a strong, stable and secure transportation system. Before we can talk about downtown revitalization, additional housing, increased population, curbing crime or … (0 comments)

Problems with Cold Calling Quotas for Your Sales People - 02/24/08 08:11 AM
Often sales managers make a huge mistake when they require their sales people to make "X" amount of cold calls per week and write down the person they called, what was said and the phone number on a little chart. What ends up happening is fairly interesting and it happens in … (3 comments)

Cash Strapped Consumers Choosing Between Risk of Car Repossession and Foreclosure? - 02/24/08 07:34 AM
Well, apparently the credit card companies see some problems down the road if the economy continues to worsen, which is what is predicted. The Economic Stimulus Plan is of interest because consumer studies show that when consumers know they are going to get a check in the mail, they generally spend … (7 comments)

The Flow of Fuel - America is Motivated by the Fuel Which Drives Us Around. - 02/24/08 06:57 AM
Without it, without the Flow of Fuel, our very mobile society comes to a complete stand still.  When the supplies get low and the free-markets dictate higher prices; every one of us feels the pain in some way.  We are effected no matter where we live, what we do, where we … (2 comments)

The Flow of Trade - It is a Global Economy and the US Housing Crash Affects the World - 02/24/08 05:14 AM
This short essay is on the Flow of Trade and how proper flow keeps food on the plates of people and Civilizations from going to war. In the new Global Economy everything affects everything else. The Flow of Trade is a major consideration of civilizations and cultures working together to insure … (0 comments)

The Flow of Natural Resources and Raw Materials that Home Building and Construction Rely On - 02/24/08 01:05 AM
The Flow of Natural Resources and Raw Materials is vital to our Nation's Industrial Capacity and Job base.  There are many reasons why we should be harvesting the raw materials that already exist in this country, rather than importing them, whenever it is feasible or possible.  When there are reasons, which … (4 comments)

The Flow of Energy is Vital to Human Civilizations - without it Real Estate Values are Worthless - 02/23/08 10:24 PM
This essay is meant to educate citizens and the real estate community on the importance of energy; "The Flow of Energy!" The flow of energy has always been important to advanced civilization.  The ancient Egyptians used people power.  They used elephants to move things and even in battle.  The water wheel … (0 comments)

Is Your Home Earthquake Ready - Is Your Family Earthquake Safe - 02/23/08 07:03 PM
Sometimes I think it is funny how folks forget that the Earth is in constant motion, slow motion yes, but it is constantly moving. We call it such things as; Continental Drift, Plate Tectonics and those occasional Earthquakes, lave flows, extreme weather and constant ocean waves. The Earth is moving, it … (3 comments)

Donate the House on Your Property to the Fire Department - But there Might be Tax Consequences! - 02/23/08 06:05 AM
Well, every once in a while you have a piece of property that is actually worth something, but the old run-down building or house on top of it, makes it impossible to do anything with. Getting permits to demolish stuff can be as aggravating as getting permits to build something sometimes. … (8 comments)

Those People Next Door - How On Earth are Those Folks Going to Sell their Home in that Neighborhood? - 02/23/08 05:42 AM
Well, I have some long old time friends in the city, well it's kind of a suburb city which has been engulfed by the growing area, it is just wall-to-wall city now. You know "they call it LA - Los Angeles home to 16.6 million people on 460 square miles of … (4 comments)

For Sale by Owner Horror Stories - 02/23/08 05:10 AM
So, I am sitting there at the coffee shop across the street from the Movie Theatre tonight, waiting for "Vantage Point" at 9:15 PM, it had good reviews so, what the heck. I am sipping on one of those foo-foo coffee chocolate shake drinks - Blended Mocha something or rather. (oh, … (10 comments)

Sharing Walls can Become a Huge Problem - Condo Seller Learns the Hard Way! - 02/23/08 04:45 AM
The other day a friend of mine told me of a problem he was having with one of his 5 alternate homes. He travels between them and lives a life of leisure and likes to have his own place when he visits his favorite cities for a month or two at … (2 comments)

Waterless Urinals Save Water - Something to Think About - 02/22/08 06:43 AM
Well, I certainly realize that you did not come to Lance Winslow's Real Estate Blog to read up on the latest and greatest innovations in waterless urinals, that I am sure of. Nevertheless, please do not get too pissed off about what I am going to say next. You see, Americans … (4 comments)

Ownership Society - Explain that to Me Once Again? - 02/22/08 06:24 AM
We all remember the wise words that were spoken about the "Ownership Society" and the gentleman who reminded us of this was President Bush. He is correct, an ownership society that owns their own real estate is indeed a much better society and makes for a much better civilization. Why? Simple, … (2 comments)

Employee Team Project Incentives for Internet Companies - 02/22/08 05:44 AM
There are many ways to give much needed incentives to employees such as stock options, Christmas Bonuses and profit sharing. However, consider a start up entrepreneurial company, which is web based. What can you do to give a little back to your employees and generate some real productivity and tap into … (0 comments)

More on Real Estate Team Building from Team Leader and Author Lance Winslow - 02/22/08 05:17 AM
 
Team Building on a Budget
There is always lots of talk about teambuilding to increase productivity in a business. And this goes for all size businesses whether they are small, medium or large corporations. It is possible to build a strong team in a very small business with only three or four … (0 comments)

Team Work in the Real Estate Sector Separates Those Who Succeed from Those Who Don't - 02/22/08 04:52 AM
 
What if Your Company Spent More Time in Team Building?
They call it Organization Capital in the world of academia and many Universities even offer courses on it. You can learn about organization capital in personnel management classes, human resource degree programs and even if you are going for an MBA. Why … (1 comments)

Protecting Your City from Crime with Video Camera Surveillance - Decoy Systems and Facial Recognition - 02/22/08 04:15 AM
We all know that crime drives down property values and violent crimes or rapes in the newspapers is just about the worst thing for a city's image. Once a city has a bad reputation for crime, homebuyers find elsewhere to live. Thus it is paramount to keep crime statistics low. The … (1 comments)

Will Digital Cameras and Video in Cell Phones Decrease Crime Rates in Your City and Raise Property Values in the Process? - 02/22/08 03:48 AM
The newest techno gadget, which is reshaping the way teenagers interact is the Digital Picture Camera 3G Cell Phone. As more and more people have these and as higher bandwidth and video compression technologies are introduced we will see a whole new realm of communication. As people communicate on cell phones … (0 comments)

Your Smart Home, SmartCar and Smart Garage of the Future - Own a Net Centric Home! - 02/22/08 03:27 AM
The Smart garage of the future will have many things for instance; as you walk towards the garage door it will open like the grocery store doors. If you take out the keys, your car the door of your car will open. As you get in the car it will start … (0 comments)

The Future Smart Home with Virtual Reality in Your Living Room - 02/22/08 03:10 AM
 
… (0 comments)

Community Means All Citizens Even Teens - Skateparks and Skateboard Parks of the Future - 02/22/08 02:24 AM
A study has just been completed by an online think tank, which seems to indicate that Skateboard Parks are changing and still evolving. There will be many high-tech changes and uses of technologies at these facilities, but there will be low-tech changes too.
Significant changes also on the low-tech side of skateboard … (2 comments)

Reduce Graffiti and Gangs, Keep Kids Off the Street - Skateboarding Park Initiatives For Your City - 02/22/08 02:11 AM
If you truly care about home values in your area and care about crime, then it behooves you to have a chat with some of the local skateboarders hanging around. What is needed are a few skateboard parks strategically located in various parts of the city, close enough to skateboard too. … (6 comments)

High-Rise Hurricane Resistant Building Designs - 02/22/08 01:49 AM
New high-rise Hurricane Resistant building designs and shapes are needed, especially if former Vice President Al Gore, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, who created the Internet is right about the future of Super Storms being caused by Global Warming, due to human CO2. But how can humans engineer and build high-rises that … (0 comments)

New Housing Construction in Alaska - Easier said than Done - 02/22/08 01:33 AM
As you know Alaska is dark most all the time for parts of the year. This makes it tough to build infrastructure and large construction projects. Projects that are vital to our nations energy needs and resources. Lighting is a huge issue and problem. There may be a way to use … (0 comments)

NanoTech and Carbon NanoTube Construction for New Homes is Only 5-7 Years Out - 02/22/08 01:19 AM
Imagine the walls of your house thinner than a sheet of plywood, but stronger than solid steel? Imagine every wall of the inside of your home could double as a high definition TV screen, could light up, conduct electricity or even make itself invisible like a giant window at the clap … (0 comments)

Where Do Real Estate Professionals Rate on the IQ Scale? - 02/22/08 12:53 AM
In any profession there will be a graph of those participants with the highest and lowest IQs. Contrary to popular belief this graph is not a Bell Curve. In fact it follows more in line with the 80-20 Rule. In considering this and studying the participants in the industry, it was … (3 comments)

Gated Communities with Many Homes for sale with Similar Floor Plans are Deteriorating - 02/22/08 12:00 AM
Many specially designed community based fully enclosed gated neighborhoods are deteriorating due to the subprime lending fallout. Why is this happening and how could it be any worse than new housing tracts with foreclosures on every street? Well, in some cases it is not worse, but just as bad. In other … (3 comments)

Efficiency in Business Starts with energy Efficient Buildings and Manufacturing Plants - 02/21/08 09:39 PM
Every Dollar Saved is a Dollar Earned as they say. Indeed, it would be hard for any CFO or Accountant to dismiss this notion. Therefore, every increase in efficiency in a business that saves money, is like money in the bank. The Department of Energy, the construction industry and America's corporate … (4 comments)

information on the National Association of Home Builders and the National Green Building Program - 02/21/08 09:02 PM
Home builders are looking to niche segments of the population to continue in business. There are many potential niches that are at least partly viable in some markets. For instance, homes geared for foreign buyers, home geared towards single moms, retirement gated communities, low-income housing and even eco-homes with the latest … (0 comments)

Green Homes and the DOE - Department of Energy - 02/21/08 08:14 PM
Many folks do not realize the intense efforts of the DOE - Department of energy when it comes to designing the energy efficient homes of the future. The Department of Energy funds and studies the latest in eco-friendly and energy efficient housing methods and some of the innovations that come from … (2 comments)

The Dynamics of Housing Affordability are Changing Rapidly - 02/21/08 06:57 PM
Few would deny that affordable housing is paramount for a thriving civilization and the problems that arise without it can cause regions or entire nations to go into economic decay, even crumble. Of course, in the United States there is a bit of unrest in the housing sector, as builders find … (2 comments)

Save Money in Dry Cleaning for Your Professional Business Attire - 02/21/08 06:47 PM
One of the toughest things to swallow as a professional businessperson is the cost associated with dry-cleaning your expensive wardrobe and it is amazing how fast these things add-up too. Perhaps you have heard about "self cleaning" windows, it is a process that uses titanium dioxide in a special coating, yes, … (1 comments)

Renters Market Sector - Economic Think Tank Analysts Predicts Strong Growth Due to Difficult to Get Mortgages - 02/21/08 06:34 PM
The Subprime lending issues are still taking their toll on the US economy and these tough times are sending economic ripples around the world. The US banking sector is under the gun, with more regulation expected and too, you can expect more scrutiny in the Real Estate Sector as well.
With … (1 comments)

Housing Construction and New Housing Starts; Economic Outlook - 02/21/08 06:24 PM
It should come as no surprise that the housing construction sector is in the tank right now. Yet, another tank, The Online Think Tank, estimates that it will be well into 2010 until things return to normal. Currently, housing construction is at a 14-year low. New Housing starts are about as … (0 comments)

More Foreclosures; There Goes the Neighborhood - Well, Maybe Not? - 02/21/08 06:18 PM
There is a lot of difference in regional housing economics. Areas like Las Vegas, Detroit, Miami, Phoenix and Riverside County CA, are completely devastated and there are so many foreclosures that in some neighborhoods there foreclosures on every single street. All this is causing a huge blight, as vacant homes become … (0 comments)

New Trend Good News for Detroit Real Estate Market - Is InSourcing Ousting Outsourcing in a Down and Out Economy? - 02/21/08 06:09 PM
is not something you hear about every day, and yet it appears that the brunt of the American Corporation Outsourcing has tapered off and is on the decline, along with the US Dollar. Indeed that is one of the reasons why this is happening now. Folks like Lou Dobbs have been … (2 comments)

Private Property Rights in Cuba's Future? Fidel Castro: Almost a 50-year Run as Dictator of Cuba - 02/21/08 05:57 PM
Fidel Castro has been a thorn in the side of the United States for nearly 5-decades, one of our nearest neighbors, a communist country. Many citizens of Cuba, have fled to freedom to find sanctuary in the United States, and who could blame them? Fidel Castro took over the Cuban government … (2 comments)

County Governments in Subprime Housing Fallout Areas About to Take Another Beating - 02/21/08 05:47 PM
Imagine being the comptroller for a County Government in a heavily hit Housing Market Region? Much of your County's budget money comes from property taxes and there are record number of foreclosures, worse, the onslaught of requests for property tax reassessments are chipping into the county's income and tax base - … (0 comments)

Can Canadian Home Buyer Traffic Take Up Some of the Slack in the Inventory of Homes for Sale? - 02/21/08 05:38 PM
Few buyers, more sellers and harder to get mortgages are severely hurting any potential recovery of the US housing market. In areas like Florida, Detroit, Southern California, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, the housing market is not getting any better, its getting worse, with more foreclosures on the way. Since fewer homes … (0 comments)

Robotic Dog vs. Cloned Dog - Let's Compare - 02/16/08 08:20 PM
Every new home needs a dog in the yard to make it complete. Humans and Canines have evolved together for 10s of millions of years. Even if you are a Realtor staging a vacant home, that home needs a dog, to make it seem real. Obviously, you cannot leave a dog … (9 comments)

Put Yourself in the Pilot's Seat - Turn a Simple Meal Into the Main Dish - 02/16/08 07:20 PM
People who were not cooks or cooking types freak out when other people come over to visit and they have to make a meal. But it does not have to be that tough and anyone can turn a simple meal into the main dish and delight their guests without much extra … (3 comments)

The Future Artificial Intelligent Robot Androids Replacing Real Estate Agents will Need Humor Programming - 02/16/08 04:24 AM
Currently, artificial intelligence programmers are having a bit of a time with robots coming up with original humor. Jokes can be programmed in, and certain jokes can be recognized, but a Robot with a Sense of Humor, that's a tough one indeed. Before we are able to complete the AI robot … (6 comments)

Artificial Intelligent Researchers Working on Rude Robotic Software for Computer-Human Dialogue on Blogs? - 02/16/08 03:04 AM
Well I guess it should be no surprise to any of you that the Government is reading your Blog here at ActiveRain, but don't worry they are reading everyone's blog, emails, websites and communication across this vast Internet network. Well, actually a computer is collecting all this data and then putting … (1 comments)

Are Homeowners and Homebuyers More Apt to Vote for a Candidate that Promises them Homeownership Relief? - 02/15/08 11:35 PM
Presidential Hoperful Obama is promising folks a better economy where ever he gives a speech, most who attend these speeches tell us that Barack Obama is an excellent orator and accomplished speaker, and yet we are all left holding the bag, when trying to pin down, exactly what his economic policies … (12 comments)

Barnes and Noble Bookstores Change Return Policy - Good Example to Discuss Real Estate - 02/15/08 08:07 PM
Today, I went into the Barnes and Noble Bookstore and spent the day catching up on news, technology and various human events. Generally, I go to the Coffee Shop there, have a soup, sandwich and Mocha Frappachino a couple of times per month and spend 6-8 hours reading periodicals, and scanning … (9 comments)

The Ultimate Stuffed Turkey - 02/15/08 06:02 AM
Are you ready for the ultimate stuffed turkey? If so listen to this, but before you do you cannot be a Chicken or Big Birdish over Bird Flu, otherwise this recipe will never fly. This is the most intense recipe you have ever heard of and it is indeed the Ultimate … (4 comments)

Low Calorie Food and Drink Dishes You Can Make at Home - 02/15/08 05:20 AM
Well if you are in real estate, you need to stay healthy to deal with the stress and fast paced world out there. Now Realtors must work harder than ever, but to do that you must eat right too and watch your weight. You cannot put this off, it is paramount to be thinking here. Isn't … (4 comments)

Making the Perfect Turkey Sandwich - Realtors Deserve the Best Turkey Sandwiches! - 02/15/08 05:05 AM
If you are like most Americans, then you love the Thanksgiving Feast, and you probably love the Turkey Sandwiches that you have for the weeks after, using up all the leftovers. In fact, some Americans admit to buying two turkeys and cooking the second one just to save for Sandwiches later … (2 comments)

World Wide Market for Certified Organic Foods is Staggering - 02/15/08 04:55 AM
As more and more people come to find that the human food supply is clearly lacking, these consumers are turning to Organic Foods. There sure seems to be a huge growing world wide market for "organic foods" these days and in the US it seems we have a bit of consolidation … (0 comments)

Super Saucy Salad Instead of a Slimy Salsa - Ignite Your Taste Buds in a Healthy Way! - 02/15/08 04:47 AM
One of the hardest things to do as a real estate professional is to eat right. If you don't your health will fail and you will be the homeless one with no income. It is difficult to eat right, but hardly impossible.  
Perhaps you may not realize it but eating fresh salsa is very … (0 comments)

Crockpot Recipe to Get Your Mind off Crackpot Homebuyers with Ridiculous Offers - 02/15/08 04:25 AM
Hey, lets face it, some days we have to weather the storm and wave of crackpot buyers with crackpot offers. That is just part of modern day real estate. But why not humor yourself with a nice crockpot recipe to celebrate your victory over the knuckle-heads rather than letting it get to … (0 comments)

Super Soups for the Super Duper Realtor - Rocket into Action with Lance's Soup Recipe! - 02/15/08 04:16 AM
If you are a soup lover, but you find the soups at the supermarkets in the cans lacking substance, then consider making them into a Super Soup! There are many things that you can load up in a thick brothed or sauced soup to make them an excellent meal and one … (2 comments)

Food for Busy Realtors - Top Ramen with Teriyaki Sauce: Secret Family Recipe - 02/15/08 04:02 AM
Perhaps you like secret family recipes and like to trying new things, but perhaps you are like me and you're not such a good cook. Well, I have a special new recipe for you even if you are not a good cook it is called top Ramen with teriyaki sauce and … (3 comments)

Commercial Real Estate is No Piece of Cake - Catch a Clue - 02/14/08 11:57 PM
Often we hear of the incredible commissions earned by commercial real estate brokers and agents, but you must understand it takes time and a lot of hard work to build the relationships needed to close those deals, negotiate those deals and keep everyone happy throughout and after to insure referrals. It's … (2 comments)

Selling Listed Property to the Government? - 02/14/08 10:57 PM
Often the local municipality, county, state or federal government will purchase properties. Consider this; if your listed property is along a flood zone, park, or backs up to an airport, government building or could potentially be a future imminent domain target, why not contact them? If your property is not moving, … (2 comments)

Homebuilders Caught with Inventory in the Bubble Burst Turning Tracts into Gated Community Rentals - 02/14/08 10:47 PM
There has been a new growing trend where Homebuilders who could not sell their inventory before the bubble burst have taken to turning these units into rental homes. May have asked local city planners to allow them to put gates up to entice higher-end renters, some are getting the municipal nod, … (7 comments)

Trash Control in Downtown Revitalization Projects is Critical - 02/14/08 10:38 PM
The first priority for a Downtown Revitalization plan is to remove the trash and graffiti and keep it away. Also recommended is power washing of bus stops, sidewalks, local parks and buildings on a routine basis. Other recommendations discussed at a local meeting of a chapter of the Online Think Tank … (2 comments)

County Tax Assessors Now Using Satellite and UAV Aerial Photos to Survey Properties - Predict Trend to Continue - 02/14/08 01:31 AM
So you think you are going to do an addition on your house, build a new pool, put in a clubhouse in the back yard and conveniently play stupid and pretend you did not know that you need permits and that you must declare this for your property taxes? Really, well, … (11 comments)

Even God Can't Help the Detroit Real Estate Market - GM Announces Biggest Losses in US Corporate History - 02/13/08 04:50 PM
Well if you think your particular real estate market is bad, you might be thankful that you are not selling Real Estate in the Detroit Metro area. As if things were not bad enough already, GM just announced the largest losses in US Corporate History - 38.7 Billion Dollars. Now GM … (0 comments)

Scientists Proclaim Lake Meade is History - Water Supplies for NV, AZ and CA in Crisis - 02/13/08 04:08 PM
Some of the hardest hit Western real estate markets in the country share a common thread - they all rely on Water from the Colorado River and Lake Meade Reservoir. Southern California, Las Vegas and Phoenix all draw most of their fresh water supplies from Lake Meade, a lake that experts … (7 comments)

Un Connecting the Connected Real Estate Agent - 02/13/08 04:40 AM
The high-tech world of personal technology is causing a bit of my problem for many humans. Some of the new technology is so feature-rich that it is causing feature fatigue. Too many choices in your personal technology toys seems to be counterintuitive to how the human mind works, even though the … (5 comments)

Real Estate Sector Online and E-Government - Will They Unite in Your Community? - 02/13/08 04:05 AM
Government IT systems, which deal directly with the public must appear to be very simplistic for those who will be using them; The eCitizen. This is why eGovernment initiatives must plan on masking the complexity and believe me the eCitizen will soon be telling the eGovernment; Do not put me on … (0 comments)

Will the Future MLS be Integrated into the E-Government Initiatives? - 02/13/08 03:40 AM
The E-Government Future is on its way. Will our government become a website, connecting citizens to services and government? Today we have E-Government Initiatives, which are widely successful and citizens or e-Citizens as they are now called can get almost any information about the government online.
Citizens can learn about services, … (3 comments)

80% of Homebuyers Use the Internet for at Least Some Information when Buying a Home; Detroit Example - 02/12/08 03:09 AM
In a very large and comprehensive study, it was discovered that when homebuyers shopped for a home, they used the Internet to gather information about the area, find homes for sale or learn about available financing. So, it should be no surprise that if you expect to sell home during this … (11 comments)

Single Mom First Time Homebuyer Segment is Quite Strong in Many Places - 02/12/08 02:37 AM
In a buyer's market, it becomes tough to sell homes when all the buyers have to sell their homes first. So, first time homebuyers, vacation homebuyers and foreign-born (Savers, foreign currency holders) are very good prospects. Now then, let us look at one of these major categories; the first time homebuyer. … (4 comments)

Avoid the Immigrant Home Buyer to Your Own Peril! - 02/12/08 02:16 AM
Many real estate agents that specialize in foreign-born immigrant niches are doing much better than their professional counter-parts. When a real estate agent speaks another language or is one with another culture, they have a distinct advantage in selling homes in a buyers market. First, it should be noted that there … (2 comments)

Is Your City Sinking Due to Ground Water Over Use - Talk About Falling Real Estate Value? - 02/12/08 01:42 AM
Recently, in studying the Coachella Valley, which is in the low desert between the Salton Sea and Riverside CA, we noted that excess ground water usage was depleting the underground aquifers at an alarming rate. Why was this happening? Well the Coachella Valley is home to some 200 Golf Courses and … (4 comments)

Is Your Broker a Robot? What if He Was and You Didn't Know it? - 02/11/08 04:27 AM
Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Engineers are designing the next generation of robotic androids to work along side humans. They will appear to be very real and even emulate Emotion and Empathy. In fact, maybe your future broker maybe an android? Maybe he is now, does he lack empathy, no worries the … (14 comments)

I Need a Personal Robotic Assistant for My Real Estate Endeavors - 02/11/08 03:50 AM
Are you a solo real estate professional - could you use a little assistance from time to time? Many real estate professionals hire virtual assistants and outsource all kinds of important things. Of course, sometimes you need a personal assistant who can work with you throughout the day, as you meet … (12 comments)

How Much Photo Editing is Ethical - Where Do We Draw the Line? - 02/11/08 02:59 AM
Most web masters use Photoshop to help make the pictures on their client's websites perfect. Websites are advertising and that is to be expected. Many real estate people have professional pictures taken for marketing reasons too. Some real estate professionals take digital pictures of their listings and then touch them up, … (16 comments)

3D-Television Will Soon Be Here - Imagine Your Real Estate Clients Immersed In One of Your Listings? - 02/11/08 02:04 AM
We are all aware video taping of home listings for the web to show potential homebuyers a property, but just wait until the next generation of technology? Your homebuyer will sit in their home, their own living room and your listing will be all around them, in fact, their entire reality … (8 comments)

Ask Not What ActiveRain Can Do For You - Ask What You Can Do For ActiveRain - 02/10/08 03:50 AM
Perhaps you are like me and you go out of your way to tell people about this wonderful online Real Estate Network, the number one of its kind in the World. When you tell people about ActiveRain, the first thing they want to know is how will it help them. Generally, … (27 comments)

Website Content Review; Writing Copy is Not Easy - 02/09/08 05:55 AM
For those in the business of writing copy for advertisements, websites or public relations pieces whether they are for commercial, non-profit or government agencies they know it is not easy. It is an art and a science and all of that and more all wrapped into one. Writing copy for online … (4 comments)

Leveraging Speech Technology in Your Real Estate Endeavors - 02/09/08 04:50 AM
The Future of Voice & Speech Recognition
Experiencing the new modern paradigm shifts in technology will require humans to become one with the technologies they create and the ability to interface in real-time. Perhaps, the greatest step towards this goal is Voice Recognition Technology, where humans can talk and communicate in a … (13 comments)

Writing a Decent Blog Post on ActiveRain in 15-Minutes - Don't Sacrifice Quality with Pretend Posts to Collect 200-Points - 02/09/08 03:54 AM
Perhaps you have noticed the trend towards Blog Posts of 4-5 lines or the very minimum to get the automatic 200 points at ActiveRain. It is unfortunate to see this, because it really ruins decent knowledge transfer. Worse, new Bloggers see these barely passable (if you even want to go that … (9 comments)

Crime in the City - Taking a Bite Out of Crime Improves Property Values - 02/09/08 03:20 AM
We must take a bigger bite out of crime in our cities. Many people decry illegal immigration and illegal aliens because so many of these individuals end up in our prisons. In fact, some 68% of all prisoners in the State of Arizona are illegal aliens who are not even suppose … (1 comments)

Tourism and Public Relations for Light Houses - 02/09/08 02:54 AM
There are many ways to get tourists to come to your community and bring their money to spend. When they do this helps the local business community and local economy. It means more good paying jobs and has a positive affect on local real estate values as well. If you community … (2 comments)

Downtown Revitalization - ATV Use for Security Patrols and Mini-Fire Fighting Units - 02/09/08 02:19 AM
Often when Down Town areas revitalize, parking is a huge issue and there is not a lot of space downtown for full-size fire trucks to do their job. Often parking behind the buildings is limited and they really pack in the overflow and available parking. In front, there is also little … (0 comments)

Can We Stop Earthquakes - What Would That Mean for California Real Estate? - 02/09/08 02:02 AM
Is it possible and has mankind reached the point in which they can now stop Earthquakes? By knowing all the pressure points along major fault lines is it possible to alleviate pressure and prevent the "big one" or the Monster Quake in California which we all know is only a matter … (0 comments)

The Flow of Money - Beach Ball Affect Allegory of the Modern Day Global Economy - 02/08/08 11:40 PM
The Allegory of a "The Beach Ball," is not taught in all universities, perhaps it should be. I hope this abstract thought, "The Beach Ball Effect," will help to bring to light the important issues with respect to the flow of money in World Economies. It might even assist you in … (2 comments)

Psychology of Personal and Business Relationships in Real Estate - 02/08/08 11:26 PM
The Real Estate Business is much about relationships, and your success or failure in the real estate sector depends on those relationships. Whether it is in referrals, litigious free transactions or just getting along in the community as your sales and career climbs skyward. Too many real estate folks will work … (3 comments)

Real Estate Professionals - What Do You Know About Earthquakes? - 02/08/08 10:11 PM
It seems folks forget that we all living on the shifting sands and Earth below, where change in the landscape rules the day. How soon they forget the Earthquakes of the past, going about their daily business without a care? Well, for real estate professionals you must remember the recent and … (4 comments)

Floods and Real Estate Considered - 02/08/08 09:46 PM
Understanding the reality of floods; how they occur, how to prevent them and how to prepare when this type of disaster strikes will inevitably determine the amount of devastation and death that happens. As real estate professionals, we should be aware of these things and have basic understanding of the dangers … (3 comments)

Top 7 Tips to Getting Your Online Real Estate Business Articles Read on the Internet - 02/08/08 06:11 AM
If you are an online Real Estate Business Writer or Blogger then it makes sense to write articles that the most people will indeed read. The best way to do this is to carefully choose titles such as put in the title; Top 7 Tips or Top 10 Secrets. These articles … (13 comments)

What is the Safest City in America? - 02/08/08 05:35 AM
So, have you ever considered the question; What is the safest city in America?
Sure you have, as that is what has brought you here to read about the search for the safest city. First, looking at weather patterns, it appears that if there is a nuclear war we must be … (6 comments)

Estate Plans, Trusts and Real Estate - 02/08/08 03:47 AM
We all know that we need to have our lives in order in the event of our demise because our families are so important to us. As the Death Tax slowing dies over the next many years, it behooves all of us to have estate plans and trusts set up to … (7 comments)

12% of Americans Live in a Flood Zone - Not All are Able to Easily Get Insurance - 02/08/08 03:35 AM
Did you know that over 12% of the United States population lives within a flood zone and even more people live close to the ocean, which means they are also potentially in danger of being flooded out by excessively high tides high, tsunamis or hurricanes storm surges. We have all heard … (6 comments)

Protecting Skyscrapers in Hurricane Prone Areas - Billions of Dollars of Real Estate at Risk - 02/08/08 03:20 AM
In areas where Hurricanes or super high-winds occur it seems we need to be a little more cognizant of the wind-flow modeling as each building is built or a master plan downtown renewal project is slated. This is a very serious issue. Many studies have been done in Chicago "The Windy … (1 comments)

Without Fresh Water or in Extreme Droughts Real Estate Values can go to Hell in a Hand Basket - 02/08/08 03:04 AM
Over stretching the fresh water supplies in American Cities is not a wise move. Water conservation is paramount if cities are to expand their populations. Right now, the Southern US is under extreme drought pressure, not long-ago it was the Western States, which are still not safe from decreasing challenges of … (1 comments)

Urban Heat Islands Causing Trouble for Metropolitan Real Estate Markets - 02/08/08 02:43 AM
There is a whole lot of talk about Global Warming these days and whether you agree with the CO2 scenario or that the climate cycles of Earth just occur naturally, one cannot deny the subsequent extreme weather that urban heat islands are causing. Likewise, no one can deny that pollution created … (1 comments)

2008 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season Getting Closer - Can the Real Estate Handle Another Storm? - 02/08/08 02:22 AM
The 2006 and 2007 Atlantic Tropical Season were mild, at least for the US Coastline and that was a breath of fresh air after the Devastating 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season, with such names a Katrina, Rita, and Wilma - all Category Fives during at least one time of their development.
Some … (1 comments)

Gulf Coast Real Estate Market Values and Stopping Hurricaes - 02/08/08 02:11 AM
Ocean spray from white caps and high seas during Hurricanes helps propel the Hurricanes. If ocean spray is eliminated the Hurricane Force winds would be able to reach the severe categories we have recently seen. This is based on a study done recently at University of California at Berkeley and assisted … (3 comments)

Help Florida Real Estate Values Stop Hurricanes! - 02/08/08 02:00 AM
Many scientists believe we cannot stop Hurricanes, they are wrong. Currently, we cannot stop a Hurricane, but that is only because we have convinced ourselves that it is impossible. This notion is Totally Unacceptable. Personally, I am well aware of what the experts think and the non-military agencies purport with regards … (2 comments)

The Game of Real Estate - How do You Play it? - 02/06/08 08:09 PM
Where are you in the game?
The other day someone told me that life is just a virtual reality game. He was a real estate agent and had fallen on tough times, but was determined not to give up. He had a good philosophy about the cycles and trends in the real … (10 comments)

400-Blog Posts - A Tribute Blog Post to "ActiveRain god" Rich Jacobson - He Did it! - 02/06/08 08:18 AM
Rich Jacobson, our ActiveRain Community Builder has reached a grand total of 400-blog posts and if you are me, then you are completely humbled by the herculean achievement. Rich Jacobson has proved that with constant hard work and diligent effort over a long period of time; anything is possible! This inspirational … (15 comments)

Real Estate Business Management Teams Need To Understand Why They Are In Business - 02/06/08 07:54 AM
So many business executives do not really understand why their company is in business. Sure, they have achieved an MBA, and yes, they look at the numbers each week and the goals set for the company for sales. They are aware that they need to achieve certain goals in order to … (3 comments)

Marketing Dollar Commitment and Allocation of Resources is Essential to Winning in Real Estate - 02/06/08 07:31 AM
So often, we see small business people in the real estate sector who need to cut costs because they find that their businesses are in trouble. With a market like this, you can see how that might occur. Sometimes, the first thing we see them do is a cut marketing dollars … (3 comments)

Advertising to Create a Trend - How About an Upward Trend in the Real Estate Market then? - 02/06/08 07:17 AM
Marketers and Advertisers know that with the right delivery and enough impressions of a specific message, they can shape the minds of millions of people. Yes, advertising is that powerful. Are you harnessing the power and force of adverting and marketing to help propel your real estate success locally?
Is it … (2 comments)

The Future of Advertising and What it Means to The Real Estate Sector - 02/06/08 07:04 AM
If you are going to sell homes in the Real Estate sector at a time when the market is not breaking any speed records your advertising becomes critical, and it becomes even more costly per home sold. The advertising landscape is changing fast due to the growth and use of the … (5 comments)

"Well to Be Honest With You," "Truthfully Now" and "To Tell You The Truth" Communication 101 - 02/06/08 06:38 AM
You must be very careful when communicating with your real estate clients, what you say, can cause question marks and red flags. Often in communication either written or verbal we see people using phrases such as; "Well to Be Quite Honest With You" and they will use such sentences in the … (20 comments)

Real Estate Secret to Success - Blowing Away Customer Expectations; A Bit of Advice - 02/06/08 06:26 AM
In the real estate sector currently, it is no walk in the park. You must have a strong referral base to feed your clientele list if you hope to make it. If you exceed your customers' expectations you will surely induce a firestorm or Tropical Storm of referrals. Why?
Well because … (3 comments)

In the Real Estate Sector; Word of Mouth Advertising is Not FREE! - 02/06/08 06:13 AM
It has been said by many a marketing consultant and book writer on the subject of word-of-mouth advertising; that Word of Mouth Advertising is great, but they warn; It Does Not Just Come Out of Thin Air. Indeed, they are correct, it does not come out of thin air, no sir, … (3 comments)

Learn How to Lead - By Example and with Integrity - Your Real Estate Career Depends on it - 02/06/08 05:54 AM
You can have years and years of experience or multiple decades of observations, but without the proper diplomacy and leadership talents, you may never reach your full potential in the real estate sector. But, I am here to tell you that it does not have to be that way. You see, … (2 comments)

Sometimes the Future Can Be Scary - In the Past Folks Believed that too, How About Now, Do You? - 02/06/08 05:29 AM
Super Tuesday is over, the stock market took us down another 380 points and Tornadoes swept thru the Midwest killing many people. Needless to say, the future can sometimes be a very scary thing. If we look at recent and the history of days gone by, we can see that folks … (3 comments)

Home Ownership and the Deep in Debt American Consumer - 02/06/08 05:04 AM
Interests rates are low, housing prices are low, so, what a wonderful time to buy real estate at the bottom right? Well, so many consumers are tapped out in credit and upside down or underwater with home equity. May I ask you something?
When will Americans start saving again and work … (3 comments)

Consumer Debt in America - Out of Control - Hurting Consumer Confidence and the Real Estate Sector - 02/06/08 04:52 AM
The average American is in debt research shows. Many have up to 1.5 times annual earnings in short term debt; credit cards and new car loans. This is a huge problem indeed, as citizens of the United States fail to save. Some believe it is the banks and credit card companies … (6 comments)

Most Popular 2008 Hairstyles for Work - Real Estate People Must Look Their Best! - 02/06/08 04:38 AM
Every year haircut styles change slightly as time marches on and since the only thing constant is change if you do not change your haircut style, you will find it difficult to win friends and influence people. Speaking of friends; the television show; Friends was certainly a trendy set of haircuts … (7 comments)

Are You Addicted to Blogging About Your Real Estate Endeavors? - 02/06/08 04:04 AM
Are you addicted to online blogging? I was once accused of being addicted to blogging and writing on the Internet; in a nice way. A very popular Internet copywriting editor said that I was; "Punch Drunk on Article Writing!" Not sure if that is possible, as I am not convinced that … (4 comments)

Business Team Work and Super Stars - Lets Talk About Your Real Estate Team? - 02/06/08 03:49 AM
Have you ever been on a business team and noticed that the other team members do not pull their weight? Has this ever happened in your real estate office? Have you noticed them sloughing off responsibility or even ethics to get their workload share done faster, but turning in a half-baked … (1 comments)

Networking Works, But Why? - 02/06/08 03:37 AM
We have all heard that networking works and it is one of the best ways to get new business for your company. Professionals, consultants and so many types of folks enjoy the networking process and develop long-term relationships with those they meet.
Local business relationships that refer them business and the others … (9 comments)

Networking and Show Up Late to Chamber of Commerce Meetings - Why? - 02/06/08 03:19 AM
If you are a networker and want to become more efficient on meeting the right people, well then, let me suggest not being the first person at the event or party. You see it makes sense to let the crowd sort itself out first. You can allow the shameless sales people … (1 comments)

Real Estate Selling Techniques and Perceived Uninterested Prospects - 02/06/08 03:09 AM
Many sales managers will tell their sales staff that you need not contact a prospect if you have contacted them twice or three times already and they still are not interested. However, if you are a salesperson you should be careful how you perceived uninterested prospects.
Perhaps it is something you … (1 comments)

Salesmen Often Talk Too Much About Their Companies - 02/06/08 02:53 AM
If you are a salesperson and you love your product and service this is a good thing. Yet, if you are so excited that you become a one-man testimonial then you are telling and you are not selling. Salesmen often talk too much about their companies rather than listening to the … (1 comments)

Real Estate Sales and Building the Relationship - 02/06/08 02:29 AM
It is important in sales to build relationships so that the client will confide in you all their needs and problems that they need solved. By knowing all objections ahead of time you can best serve them, while not wasting your time. Without this relationship you cannot expect them to open … (1 comments)

Develop a Positive Attitude for Your Real Estate Career Today - 02/06/08 01:47 AM
Are you looking to increase your positive attitude in life and develop a more positive perspective in your world? If so, this will surely help your real estate career. Okay, so you are indeed serious, well the first thing you should be considering then is looking in the mirror, developing your … (4 comments)

Direct Mail Advertising and Envelope Barrier Strategies - Real Estate Marketing - 02/06/08 01:28 AM
In direct mail advertising, we talk often about the envelope barrier and there are many things you can do to prevent the letter-opening barrier from hurting your chances of your potential customer from seeing your brochure, flyer or advertising piece that you have sent out via US Mail.
Now then, as a … (3 comments)

Real Estate Market Saturation and Brand Building in Your Local Market - 02/06/08 01:03 AM
Is your company brand literally saturating your target local real estate market? Is your real estate company literally everywhere and on the lips of your clients, competition and vendors? Do your competing sales teams compare themselves to you in sales calls? Well having been a Founder of a Franchise Company, we … (1 comments)

Selling, Marketing and Identifying Your Competitive Advantage in the Real Estate Sector - 02/06/08 12:50 AM
Do you own a small real estate company and are you interested in making sure that your message to your clients and future clients is indeed the right one? Do you have a competitive advantage over the competition? Have you identified that competitive advantage? If you do not find a competitive … (0 comments)

Marketing Your Real Estate Company on a Small Budget - 02/06/08 12:00 AM
So often, I talk with small business people, some of whom are in the real estate field who are worried that they need more clients and do not quite understand how to market their companies to get the most bang for their buck. One very inexpensive thing you can do is … (8 comments)

You Must Know Your Market - No Matter What Sector of Our Economy You Work in - 02/05/08 11:35 PM
When launching a new product or service into the marketplace in a particular market sector you must understand and know your target customer. You must know the demographics of your market including the buying behavior of the customer and the trends that are happening in the marketplace. You must know your … (0 comments)

Networking vs. Selling - At Chamber of Commerce Meetings - 02/05/08 11:22 PM
If you attend networking clubs, service clubs or Chamber of Commerce meetings to meet people, promote your company and also help the local community while joining with other businesses in a common cause, well I salute you for your efforts. It is great to see like-minded business folks out doing the … (5 comments)

Real Estate Sales Training Tip: Recognizing a Hot Prospect - 02/05/08 11:04 PM
Sales trainers and sales managers need to teach their sales force and their salespeople to recognize when a prospect is a hot prospect and the difference of when a prospect is not interested. This will help the salespeople manage their time better and spend their client time and resources with those … (1 comments)

Business Management and Charting Progress at Your Real Estate Company - 02/05/08 10:30 PM
Are you monitoring the results of your real estate management team? Are you charting the progress of your organization? Are you paying attention to the organizational capital, which comes thru - working thru crisis and achieving results?
Can your real estate management team cut the mustard? Does everyone in your real estate … (0 comments)

Do You Practice Smart Marketing in Your Real Estate Advertising, Marketing and Branding Endeavors? - 02/05/08 09:31 PM
What is a Smart marketing system? Well, a Smart Marketing System (SMS) is not really a known term, but rather a term coined by someone who writes marketing books, does seminars and is a consultant in marketing. It makes sense to coin new phrases and new terms and indeed that is … (2 comments)

Business Negotiation: Be Careful If You Win Too Much - 02/05/08 06:57 AM
One of the worst things I have discovered in Business Negotiation is that, so often, one party will oversell leaving very little on the table for the other party. Sure you shake hands and look them in the eyes when completed but you wonder if they can perform or if they … (5 comments)

Business Meeting Networking and Working a Room - Real Estate Public Relations and Marketing - 02/05/08 06:40 AM
Anyone who has done a lot of networking knows how beneficial it can be for a business or career advancement. They often say - "It is all in who you know" and well, a lot can be said for that, can't it? Indeed and therefore understanding how to network is essential.
You … (4 comments)

Tips to Making Your Real Estate Business Plan - 02/05/08 06:19 AM
If you are considering starting a real estate business then making a business plan is a good idea. A professional business plan for your real estate endeavors can help you become more successful in your business. All businesses plans have an executive summary.
The executive summary should be no more than two … (3 comments)

How to Write a Real Estate Blog Post or an Article Fast - 02/05/08 06:06 AM
How can you write an article for your Blog, a forum or for an online article submission site really fast? Well, it is fairly easy once you get the hang of it and you should be able to write an article every ten minutes if you learn the secrets to pumping … (7 comments)