This week marked the 40th anniversary of the breakthrough TV program Sesame Street. I’ve written before about some of the many lessons you can learn from this cultural icon, but today I’m going to zero in something new. You might have an Elmo blog, a Cookie Monster blog, or a Big Bird blog. (How you define those is up to you.) But some of the smartest and most successful bloggers out there bear more in common with the show’s least-likeable character: Oscar the Grouch. Oscar was an important character from the show’s beginning, and on the surface he doesn’t seem to quite fit in.
Selected by darrylod
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Copyblogger
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The Oscar the Grouch Guide to Building a More Remarkable Blog
6 Nov 2009 | 7:33 am -
Here’s Something to Think (and Talk) About
5 Nov 2009 | 6:55 amI’m flying to New York City today for the Audience Conference, so I thought I’d share a quotation about the relationship between writers (or any content creator) and the people they hope to connect with. When talented people write badly it’s generally for one of two reasons: Either they’re blinded by an idea they feel compelled to prove or they’re driven by an emotion they must express. When talented people write well, it is generally for this reason: They’re moved by a desire to touch the audience. ~Robert McKee Let’s discuss. What do McKee’s words mean to you? About the… -
Get Off Your Computer and Become a Better Blogger
4 Nov 2009 | 6:45 amBloggers spend a lot of time on their computers. They’re posting, reading, commenting on other blogs, sending Tweets, checking half a dozen social networking sites, and generally being web-geeky. They find something interesting or random, and then clue in other people to that interesting or random thing. This is how blog posts gain steam on Digg or go viral. This is how we find out about new YouTube videos. This is how we communicate now. Except we don’t. We were people before we were bloggers Think about the blogs that you like the most. Like, to pick a totally random example,… -
The Quentin Tarantino Guide to Creating Killer Content
3 Nov 2009 | 5:58 amIn a recent Copyblogger post discussing how the king of content is being slowly usurped by the Crown Prince of Context, author Larry Brooks referenced the remarkable opening scene of Quentin Tarantino’s new movie Inglourious Basterds. There are few writers like Tarantino, and though his verbal carpet bombs and kinetic escalation of violence aren’t for everyone, there is no doubt that the dude follows his muse. Those who love him will eagerly wait in lines wrapped around the block to show their support. In short, Tarantino sells it every time. And by it, I mean an ironclad belief in… -
How to Get Lucky With Content Marketing
2 Nov 2009 | 7:36 amDo you feel like you’re fighting for every page view your blog receives? Do you wonder why you’re struggling to find readers when other bloggers seem to just hit “publish” and the world comes running? It may be tempting to throw up your hands and say, “those other guys have all the luck,” but it won’t get you anywhere. The truth is, those “lucky” people are doing something you’re not doing. (Or they’re doing what you are doing, but better.) If you want to get lucky, you’re going to have to give up the “poor…
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Real Estate Market Conditions
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ZipRealty Price Reductions By Metro, October 2009
5 Nov 2009 | 2:13 pmDownload Price Reductions for October 2009. Click image below for a larger view. -
ZipRealty Home Inventory by Metro, October 2009
4 Nov 2009 | 3:31 pmDownload Inventory Data for October 2009. Click on the image below for a larger view: View a chart of the ten markets that experienced the biggest month over month inventory declines. View a chart of the ten markets that experienced the biggest year-over-year inventory declines. View a chart of the ten markets with the biggest month-over-month drop in median list price. -
Chicago, IL – Will County Housing Update for September 2009
15 Oct 2009 | 9:00 amCounty: WillYear to Year Comparison MonthSep-2008Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price96%95%-1%Sold Homes5806146%Listing Price Per Home $ 244,576 $ 225,155 -8%Sold Price Per Home $ 233,614 $ 213,857 -8%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 122 $ 107 -13%MLS Days On Market Per Home177165-7%Homes on Market7,1595,105-29% Month to Month Comparison MonthAug-2009Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price95%95%0%Sold Homes5836145%Listing Price Per Home $ 222,440 $ 225,155 1%Sold Price Per Home $ 211,199 $ 213,857 1%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 110 $ 107 -3%MLS Days On Market Per… -
Chicago, IL – McHenry County Housing Update for September 2009
15 Oct 2009 | 7:00 amYear to Year Comparison MonthSep-2008Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price95%95%0%Sold Homes2582798%Listing Price Per Home $ 242,568 $ 209,321 -14%Sold Price Per Home $ 230,118 $ 198,050 -14%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 120 $ 99 -18%MLS Days On Market Per Home18720711%Homes on Market4,0883,061-25% Month to Month Comparison MonthAug-2009Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price94%95%0%Sold Homes24127916%Listing Price Per Home $ 233,000 $ 209,321 -10%Sold Price Per Home $ 219,457 $ 198,050 -10%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 110 $ 99 -10%MLS Days On Market Per Home2032072%Homes on… -
Chicago, IL – Lake County Housing Update for September 2009
14 Oct 2009 | 11:00 pmCounty: LakeYear to Year Comparison MonthSep-2008Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price94%92%-2%Sold Homes5545530%Listing Price Per Home $ 318,137 $ 306,567 -4%Sold Price Per Home $ 298,667 $ 281,698 -6%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 143 $ 132 -8%MLS Days On Market Per Home196163-17%Homes on Market8,7206,535-25% Month to Month Comparison MonthAug-2009Sep-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price93%92%-1%Sold Homes629553-12%Listing Price Per Home $ 312,945 $ 306,567 -2%Sold Price Per Home $ 290,899 $ 281,698 -3%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 134 $ 132 -2%MLS Days On Market Per…
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Sellsius real estate marketing blog
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Top 12 Do It Yourself Low Cost Home Improvements: Home Gain Survey
7 Nov 2009 | 6:10 amHomeGain surveyed nearly 1,000 REALTORS® nationally to find the best home improvements to increase the value of your home. The survey results: 1. Cleaning and de-cluttering 2. Home staging 3. Lightening and brightening 4. Landscaping 5. Repairing plumbing 6. Updating electrical 7. Replacing or shampooing carpets 8. Painting interior walls 9. Repairing damaged floors 10. Updating kitchen 11. Painting outside of home, and 12. Updating bathroom(s). (click image to enlarge) Cleaning and de-cluttering is low cost and has ranked #1 every year, since the survey began in 2000. A whopping 98… -
The Value of Having Good Home Insurance
6 Nov 2009 | 7:17 pmGuest post author: Shayna A. Home insurance has become a necessity as burglaries are on the rise and the possibility of natural disasters has increased in the last few years. These occurrences and other tragedies are not unlikely, and without insurance you may not be able to pay for damages. Damages can lower the cost of your property. Furthermore, all home insurance policies are not created equal. Trying to save a few dollars may cause you more headache and future expenses. Choosing a good home insurance policy requires as much time and thought as buying a home. You may not see the value… -
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate App for Buyers
6 Nov 2009 | 3:56 pmBetter Homes and Gardens Real Estate has just released an easy to use iPhone app for home buyers called Home Selection Assistant. FREE. It’s designed to let you take and organize photos of homes you see, as well as immediately access helpful information on the neighborhood, local schools, and more while you’re in the house– no need to wait to you get home to surf the net. A nice time saver. Features include: • GPS enabled–pinpoints the photo’s location and displays comparative home values, local school district information, population demographics, and nearby… -
iPhone App Aggregator Apptism Finds the Perfect iPhone App for You
4 Nov 2009 | 8:08 pmLooking for a Real Estate app, or other cool app, for your iPhone? Visit Apptism, the only iPhone app aggregator I know of. Search and get the 411 on 100,441 iPhone apps. 50 to 100 apps are added or updated daily. Gadzooks. Apptism gives the app description, price, reviews, news, top apps (free and paid), screenshots, videos. Filter apps by Category, Activity Type, Free/Paid, Price, Rating. Save your apps or set up a wish list. I found the global !Emergency! app in Apptism– it will figure which country you are and locate the 911. Technorati Tags: apptism, iphone, apps, cool tools -
Writers Wanted By Examiner.com
3 Nov 2009 | 8:05 pmExaminer.com is looking for writers to become Examiners for US or Canadian cities. Examiners are local insiders with specialized expertise about a particular subject who want to share it with their neighbors. If you are accepted into their network, you will: publish to a network with 17 million readers earn pay for views, visitors & ad clicks* add gig to your resume or professional portfolio choose what you cover within your topic (Categories include Neighborhoods, Home & Living, Social Media, and Business & Financing) be able to network with 20,000 Examiners *According to the…
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Social Internet Marketing and Jess Sloss
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That’s disgusting mom
6 Nov 2009 | 1:53 pmvia lamebook.com Oh man. That’s unfortunate, but he totally opened himself up to that one. No related posts. -
see what Google Knows About You. The Google Privacy Dashboard.
5 Nov 2009 | 4:25 pmvia mashable.com Interesting stuff, check out your Google Privacy Dashboard Mine showed me that I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time online. Related posts:Why I want Google Voice in CanadaApple Denies Google: Screw Up or Huge Gift?The 50 Hottest Brands on Twitter Right Now via @mashable -
Here’s $5 and 2 hrs to make as much money as you can. Go.
4 Nov 2009 | 12:41 pmvia instigatorblog.com This video was sent to me by @ddej and @kittenthebad, thanks! Tina Seelig, Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, tells about a project she assigned to an entrepreneurship class. How much money could you make in 2 hours with $5 of seed funding? The results were amazing and encouraging to those of us that like to overcome constraints. Ben from the Instigator blog, highlights a handful of important lessons, here are my favorite: 1) There’s no substitute for doing something. That’s clear with the groups that had success. It’s not that they… -
2 million TV’s are located in US bathrooms and other amazing media stats. (vid)
4 Nov 2009 | 12:15 pmvia bothernomore.com Did you know? What was the most shocking stat for you? Related posts:3 Online Marketing Campaigns that Show the Amazing Power of Internet MarketingSocial Media for Small Business: FeedbackGood Ideas Salon Vancouver: Media -
Latest Data on Facebook’s US Growth by Age and Gender
3 Nov 2009 | 10:41 amvia insidefacebook.com All Facebook has put together a great selection of stats. Worth a bookmark. Full Post here. Related posts:Facebook’s Redesign Puts an Even Bigger Premium on ActionBuskers of the Digital Age: Social Media and the future of the music industryAlignment in the Hyperconnected Age
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BloodhoundBlog
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The Deeds for Lease Program Coming Soon to a Slum Near You (Also Coming Soon: the Slum)
6 Nov 2009 | 10:03 pmFannie Mae announced today it’s implementation of the Deeds for Lease Program (which name, interestingly, they have trademarked). I cannot begin to count the problems with this latest attempt by the government to sober up an alcoholic nation by supplying enough booze to drown a water hippo. You can read the press release and imagine the nightmare yourself so I’m not going to recount it here, but I will point out one of the less reported aspects of this program that has the potential to cause a whole lot of those pesky unintended consequences our political leaders are so loathe to… -
Homebound hounds: You’re going to have break those chains on your own this year in San Diego
6 Nov 2009 | 5:51 pmI think it should be obvious by our lack of self-promotion, but we ended up not putting anything together for BloodhoundBlog Unchained in San Diego. I can’t speak for Brian, but I’ve been wall-to-wall with work for months, and I haven’t had time for anything else. I’ll go through the PayPal records tonight to make sure everyone’s money is refunded. Meanwhile: If you see any NAR grand poobahs, be sure to kick ‘em in the shins for shifting all your November move-ups into December. Christmas may be good, Thanksgiving not so much… -
A strategy for the Republican party that can actually win elections
6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 amThe national Republican party is riven by an insuperable internal contradiction. Out of one side of their mouths, Republicans wish to portray themselves as tax cutters, red-tape slashers, champions of liberty fearlessly hacking away at the slimy tentacles of the leviathan state. Ignore for the moment that they’re spineless jellyfish when it comes time to cut, slash or hack; this is how they wish to present themselves. Out of the other side of their mouths, Republicans offer American voters an alternate set of slimy tentacles for the same old leviathan. The state they promise to shrink… -
Congress extends and expands the home-buyer’s tax credit
5 Nov 2009 | 5:16 pmThe Washington Post: Under the housing program, people seeking to own a home for the first time in three years would receive an $8,000 tax credit if they sign a contract by April 30 and close on it by June 30. Current homeowners who are buying a new primary residence would be eligible for a $6,500 tax credit starting Dec. 1 if they owned their home for five consecutive years in the previous eight. The timing is more lenient for military families who have been deployed overseas for 90 days or more in 2008 or 2009. They would have until April 30, 2011 to sign a contract. But the measure limits… -
FannieRents: “Taxpayers are now going to own all these houses Fannie Mae should have unloaded. It’s going to cost a fortune.”
5 Nov 2009 | 3:22 pmYahoo News: Can’t pay the mortgage? You still might be able to stay in your home. Government-controlled mortgage company Fannie Mae is going to give borrowers on the verge of foreclosure the option of renting their homes for a year. The change announced Thursday could give a temporary break to thousands of homeowners, but critics question whether it will only add to the mushrooming losses at the company, which has received billions in taxpayer money. The new “Deed for Lease” program will allow homeowners to transfer title to Fannie Mae and sign a one-year lease, with…
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Blown Mortgage
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Loan Modifications Scrutinized, 1340 Loan Modifications Investigated in California
5 Nov 2009 | 2:41 pmThe numbers of loan modifications, foreclosures and bankruptcies we are dealing with in this credit crisis are so large they are too often hard to understand and digest. A good solution is often to downsize and see if more sense can be put into smaller models. A good model for the United States is California, the fourth economy in the world and one of the hardest hit states in the United States credit crisis. House prices have free fallen but mortgages remain the same. This has eaten up most of people’s equity leaving homeowners owing more on their homes than they are worth. Not exactly… -
Loan Modifications, 5 Things the Government Is Not Doing But Should
4 Nov 2009 | 11:28 amMortgage foreclosures are increasing steadily as home values plummet and layoffs are becoming ever more common while homeowners crumble under the weight of mortgages they can no longer afford. The administration is working hard to increase the number of loan modifications to help out struggling homeowners. However higher unemployment rates are making it hard for homeowners to afford even good prime mortgages loan modifications struggle to improve. Also, foreclosures often prove to be a cheaper alternative for mortgage providers when the real cost of loan modifications is calculated. So what… -
Loan Modifications, Servicers and Who Is Profiting From the Credit Crisis
4 Nov 2009 | 11:25 amThe news is full of loan modification horror stories describing how homeowners have struggled for months with lost documents, changing standards, unreasonable loan modification agents and the slow tides of bureaucracy. Bad news does always seem to travel faster and further so you don’t hear half as much about the hundreds of thousands of loans that have been successfully modified. However the question still remains why loan modifications are moving so slowly if the government is willing to pay the bill for the expenses mortgage servicers and investors have to incur when modifying a loan. -
Disappointed Homeowners Torture Loan Modification Agents
31 Oct 2009 | 8:29 amLoan Modifications have become loaded words politically and economically and as things get worse they get much more personal. Nationwide efforts have been made to educate homeowners in their search for the right loan modification for their home before they fall into foreclosure. Unfortunately only a small percentage 16% to around 25% of eligible homeowners (depending who you talk to) get a loan modification trial and even that represents a small percentage of the number of those that actually wanted or needed a loan modification but weren’t eligible. The fear and anger of losing their home… -
Loan Modification Fantasy League, How Bad Did Your Bank Do
29 Oct 2009 | 2:51 pmAs part of the Obama’s administration Making Home Affordable Program (HAMP) name and shame (or praise) initiative, every month a list of banks and mortgage providers is issued. The good banks are praised the bad ones are marked. The idea is to provide an extra incentive for providers to speed up their loan modification procedures. September’s Loan Modification league showed the winners and losers of the HAMP loan modification league. The league shows the order of the “best” and “worst” banks based on the percentage of loan modifications they carried out, or more accurately, they…
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The Real Estate Tomato
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It’s Official! We're Holding A Virtual Real Estate BarCamp On November 17th, 2009.
18 Oct 2009 | 10:05 amSome said we were crazy, but no one said it was a bad idea. On November 17th from 9AM until 4PM PST we will be holding the first of its kind, Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. What is it? VirtualREBarCamp is a One Day, All-Day, Online Real Estate BarCamp. The REBarCamp phenomenon has exploded over the last year with dozens of in-real-life gatherings where the real estate community comes together to discuss and demystify the current trends in technology and marketing. The goal of VirtualREBarCamp is to bring this experience to you as opposed to having to bring yourself to it. – In place of a… -
Tom Ferry of YourCoach.com Talks With The Real Estate Tomato, LIVE Oct 7th at 3pm PST.
6 Oct 2009 | 5:32 pmOver more than a decade, Tom Ferry has earned a peerless reputation across North America as a top trainer, motivator and personal coach for professionals in the real estate and financial services industries. Tom has conducted trainings for more than 130,000 sales people nationwide. As founder of TomFerry-yourcoach in 2003, Tom has rapidly built a new powerhouse in the coaching industry. His charisma, discipline and flexibility, along with his ability to train coaches to teach powerful activity-based marketing techniques, has made him a sell-out draw at conferences and seminars across… -
How To Choose A Domain Name For Your Real Estate Blogsite
11 Sep 2009 | 7:45 pmWithout doubt, the most common question that I get from brand new blogging clients is, "Can you help me choose a domain name?" The days of agents using their own name as their website identity are gone, and this has them left with the task of developing a new, powerful brand. After answering this question and setting up several hundred domains over the last few years the formula has become clear. That said, you could probably break everyone one of these 'rules' and still end up with an incredibly successful blog. But before we get the guidelines, you need to get into a Domain Buying State of… -
A Message About The Power Of Content, Any Content, For Your Real Estate Blog.
2 Sep 2009 | 11:35 amRegular contributor, Teresa Boardman delivers a no-nonsense post on the (seemingly random) Power of (seemingly random) Content. Enjoy! Speaking of Tomatoes… By Teresa Boardman I get a little introspective this time of year and usually send Jim some kind of a post about things that I have learned. I have been writing my real estate blog for four years now and have over 1800 posts, not to mention a couple more blogs. The biggest lesson for me this year has been that no matter how strategic my blogs are there is a random element that usually works in my favor, but not… -
Mike Simonsen of AltosReaserch Featured On Tomato Radio - Aug 21st, 3pm PST
20 Aug 2009 | 10:51 am(We know we missed our last 2 episode dates 1st and 15th of Aug - Our successful trip to Inman SF made it impossible to produce the show - But we're happy to be back!) Altos Research is the leader in providing consumer friendly market statistics for your website or blog. We are fortunate to get Mike’s perspective on how to use this data to attract, engage and convert visitors to your site. Together, we will be discussing Mike Simonsen's 3 Question Philiosphy The consumer shows up on your site and they only have 3 questions: What's for sale? How much is the house worth? How's the market?
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HomeGain Blog
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HomeGain Survey: Home Staging Top Priority for Sellers
6 Nov 2009 | 3:30 pmHomeGain.com recently conducted its third nationwide home improvement and home staging Home Sale Maximizer™ survey (previously conducted in 2003 and 2007) to reveal the top 12 low cost*, do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements for people getting their home ready to sell. Nearly 1,000 REALTORS® responded to the survey. (See complete survey results) Home Staging is reported to [...] -
HomeGain 2009 Top 12 Home Improvements Survey Results
4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 amDue to popular demand from the real estate community, HomeGain.com regularly conducts its nationwide home improvement and home staging Home Sale Maximizer™ survey. Past findings from the survey have been a guide for thousands of home sellers in preparing their home for sale. HomeGain recently conducted a new survey of top 12 low cost*, do-it-yourself (DIY) [...] -
HomeGain Moves Its Headquarters
3 Nov 2009 | 2:00 pmWe’ve moved! HomeGain has officially moved its headquarters to a new office in Emeryville. After 10 years in the same office building, HomeGain decided it needed a change of scenery. Located at 6001 Shellmound Street, on the 5th floor, HomeGain has a beautiful 360 degree view of the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges, San Francisco and [...] -
How To Maximize Your Lead To Sales Conversion Rate
3 Nov 2009 | 9:59 amIf you don’t follow up on your leads, don’t complain you are not converting leads. Those who know me know that my only goal in life these days (ok, I have some non work related) is to have the highest conversion rate amongst Real Estate brokerages in the country. The better we become with our lead [...] -
One D.C. Condo, Two Appraisals & a $200,000 Difference?
30 Oct 2009 | 10:04 amAll of us are fully aware of the recent changes in the appraisal industry. Another victim of yesterday’s market, there is now a “hands off” message that lenders take very seriously. What I have observed is that the bigger the lender, the more distance that exists between loan officers and appraisers. For instance, it’s my understanding that [...]
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Today's Real Estate News
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Give up home, Fannie will lease it back
6 Nov 2009 | 8:57 pm'Deed for Lease' program avoids foreclosureread more -
All roads lead to low rates
6 Nov 2009 | 12:05 pmCommentary: How do we measure 'recovery'?read more -
Move Inc. revenue declining
6 Nov 2009 | 8:04 amCompany not projecting growth in 2010read more -
The real estate video road show
6 Nov 2009 | 8:02 amWheel Estate Cam, Episode 2read more -
Redfin offers real-time sales info
6 Nov 2009 | 4:52 amCEO suggests do-it-yourself CMAsread more
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Bubble Meter
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October 2009 job numbers
6 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amThe unemployment rate has reached the highest level since the early 1980s, rising to 10.2% in October 2009. The last time the U3 (official) unemployment rate was this high was April, 1983. (As a kid back then, it really didn't seem that bad—although I'm doing well now, too.)Initial weekly unemployment insurance claims continue to improve—or more precisely, they are getting worse at a slower rate. This graph shows year-over-year numbers. Ideally, we'd like the YoY numbers to be below zero for an extended period of time.The government's job loss numbers show a continuing, but slowing,… -
Home buyer tax credit = more global warming
5 Nov 2009 | 6:48 amAccording to Harvard economist Edward Glaeser, Congress and the White House are intent on harming the planet:ENVIRONMENTALISTS who are worried about global warming should pay attention to the congressional debate about extending the home buyers tax credit. Federal tax policies toward housing have long encouraged Americans to emit more carbon. President Obama could do the country, and the planet, a service by either refusing to sign the extension of the $8,000 credit or by insisting that it be accompanied by offsetting reductions in the home mortgage interest deduction.According to the… -
Homebuyer tax credit nearing renewal
4 Nov 2009 | 4:37 amStupid stuff like this is why, after a decade of voting straight Democratic in state and federal elections, I decided to stay home yesterday and let the winds of change blow. I'm disgusted with both political parties. -
How the crisis could change economic theory
3 Nov 2009 | 6:26 amHere's an interesting look at how our little housing bubble may change macroeconomic theory.The crisis exposed the inadequacy of economists' traditional tool kit, forcing them to revisit questions many had long thought answered, such as how to tame disruptive boom-and-bust cycles. ..."We could be looking at a paradigm shift," says Frederic Mishkin, a former Federal Reserve governor now at Columbia University.That shift could change the way central bankers do their job, possibly leading them to wade more deeply into markets. They could, for example, place greater emphasis on the amount of… -
D.C. area foreclosures double year-over-year
2 Nov 2009 | 5:10 amFrom last Wednesday's Washington Post:The number of Washington area homeowners in foreclosure has more that doubled in the past year, according to a report to be released Wednesday that shows the problem remains most acute in a few counties and could get worse as more borrowers fall behind on their payments.About 2.7 percent of local borrowers are in the foreclosure process, meaning that the bank has started the legal process to take back the property, according to the report by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit policy research group based in Washington. That was slightly below the national…
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NYT > Real Estate
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In the Region | New Jersey: A Makeover Plan, Up Close
6 Nov 2009 | 10:48 pmProgress is being made in converting Newark’s empty lots and abandoned buildings into new housing, despite a crushing recession. -
Big Deal: Almost Family
6 Nov 2009 | 10:48 pmJoseph A. Olshefski, who spent much of his adult life at 313 East 58th, is now acting as the broker for the owner, who is selling it. -
Living In | Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Where Rivers Meet, Ahh-Inspiring Views
6 Nov 2009 | 10:47 pmAbout 40 percent of Croton-on-Hudson is set aside as parkland, and the area is known for its rivers. -
Square Feet | The 30-Minute Interview: Howard L. Michaels
6 Nov 2009 | 8:06 pmMr. Michaels is the chairman and chief executive of the Carlton Group, a real estate investment bank that specializes in equity and debt placement. -
Mortgages: HUD Combats Discrimination
6 Nov 2009 | 8:06 pmThe federal government is poised to enact rules to combat discrimination on loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration.
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Zillow Blog
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Zillow COO Spencer Rascoff Talks How Jobs Affect Housing on Forbes.com
6 Nov 2009 | 1:20 pmIt’s jobs and wages, not growth in the GDP that will really spur the housing recovery, Zillow’s Spencer Rascoff told Forbes. Spencer regularly participates in panel discussions on Forbes.com. Other participants include Donald Trump, Jr., Michael Feder of Radar Logic and Pat Lashinsky of ZipRealty. This time, the discussion centered around whether a weak housing market could tank the economy. Spencer responded by saying, “I tend not to focus on economic growth rates when thinking about the housing market, because economic growth typically includes government spending, and… -
$8000 Tax Credit Extended Through April 30, 2010
6 Nov 2009 | 9:26 amIn what has been urged as a must-have by real estate professionals and builders, the $8000 tax credit for first-time home buyers (previously due to expire Nov. 30), has been extended through April 30, 2010, according to the Associated Press. Not only has it been extended, but it has also been expanded to include more buyers. Details on Tax Credit Extension: $8000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers extended for buyers who sign a contract by April 30, 2010 (and who close by the end of June). $6500 tax credit offered to homebuyers who have lived in their current residence at least five years… -
New Homebuyer Tax Credit Proposal: Impact on the Housing Market
5 Nov 2009 | 3:27 pmOn a 403-12 vote today, the House of Representatives approved a measure to extend the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, along with a $6,500 tax credit for repeat homebuyers who have lived in their current homes for at least five years. The Senate has already approved the bill, and the President is expected to sign it tomorrow. To qualify for the credits, applicants must sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010 and close by June 30, 2010 and have annual incomes below $125,000 (for individuals) and $250,000 (for joint filers). Income limits were previously $75,000 for individuals and… -
Local Market Explorer v2 Now Available
5 Nov 2009 | 12:26 pmThe Local Market Explorer WP Plugin that we released in August just got an upgrade! Though the BETA version 2 has been available for a few weeks, it’s now officially available for download in the Wordpress Plugin directory. Here’s what’s new with version 2: Support for neighborhoods and ZIPs rather than just cities Additional flexibility to re-order the various modules on the page More market statistics are now included in the market statistics module Support for video embeds (Scripps Ranch example on Geek Estate with Kris Berg’s video embedded) in the about module A… -
Buy vs. Rent Question by First-time Buyer
5 Nov 2009 | 11:45 amZillow user Muddslide says in Zillow Advice: I’m a first time home buyer and have saved 200,000. I’m looking for a great deal, but am really gun shy. It’s nice to hear there really are people who have been careful and not been sucked into the subprime seducements of the past few years. What would you do?
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BloodhoundRealty.com
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What matters most in rental home investing in the Phoenix area? Everything!
14 Oct 2009 | 8:44 amI represented tenants for my first two years as a real estate licensee. I walked into — and walked right out of — hundreds of homes that were amazingly inappropriate candidates for tenancy. Horrible locations, with no access to jobs, schools, shopping, entertainment, transportation. Still worse, horrible homes, dingy, run-down testaments to the perils of deferred maintenance. And still worse, many of these homes would be filthy — stained carpets, smudged walls, debris everywhere. In many cases, the carpets had not even been vacuumed, and often the back yards were… -
The news media may insist that the real estate market has turned the corner, but my attitude toward work is simple: “Just say yes!”
10 Oct 2009 | 8:53 amThis from my Arizona Republic real estate column (permanent link): We represented the buyers for a million-dollar house, our first, that closed this week. A week from now, we will be listing a million-dollar home, also a first for us. We are carrying two listings at $450,000 right now, with another to come, and we will be listing another home at $800,000 shortly. But also this week, I sold a property for $65,000. Just a few weeks ago, one of my listings sold for $27,000. Am I schizophrenic? I hope not. But I am scared to death to say no to anyone right now. Salespeople like to say yes. -
Despite the hype, the long-term trend of home prices in Phoenix is still steadily downward
3 Oct 2009 | 8:46 amThis from my Arizona Republic real estate column (permanent link): With all this activity in the Phoenix real estate market, prices must be going up, right? Wrong. Sales prices for bread-and-butter single-family homes in Metropolitan Phoenix were down in June, July and August. They were up in May, and it looks like we’ll finish higher in September. But the net effect is to put average home prices right back where they were in March of 2009. That’s right. We just worked our way through six very busy months, with the $8,000 first-time home-buyers tax-credit as a huge incentive to… -
Looking for a reason to buy real estate? How about free ice cream?
26 Sep 2009 | 6:51 amThis from my Arizona Republic real estate column (permanent link): When I was a kid, my Uncle Jack, my mother’s oldest brother, told me a story I’ve never forgotten. He was at a little county fair way out in corn country. Nothing special, just beauty contests for hogs, cheesy little rides and sticky, sugared confections. Late in the day, the ice cream vendor decided to pack it in, announcing that he was giving away what was left of his inventory. People elbowed their way to the front of the crowd, so eager were they to get something for nothing. They walked away with the ice cream… -
When the weather finally breaks in Phoenix — it breaks for ten solid months of pure paradise…
19 Sep 2009 | 5:11 pmThis from my Arizona Republic real estate column (permanent link): If you live in New York or Boston or Chicago, there will come a day in the Spring when the cold will seem to be in full retreat. The sun will be shining. The icicles on the trees will be melting, and the tickle of the cold drops of water on your hair and neck will make you want to throw your arms out wide and rejoice in your release from the awful prison of Winter. That happens in Phoenix, too, but it happens six months earlier, on September 15th. Mid-March has its own charms, when the citrus trees open their blossoms and the…
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WSJ.com: Real Estate
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U.K.'s Liberty Forges On
4 Nov 2009 | 2:42 pmLiberty International has made strides over the past year shoring up its balance sheet, managing occupancy and maintaining cash flow. But the U.K.'s largest retail landlord's problems are far from over. -
Fears of New Bubble as Cash Pours In
4 Nov 2009 | 2:41 pmThe World Bank and IMF are raising concerns that efforts by governments and central banks to stoke a recovery will create asset bubbles in real estate, stock and currency markets. -
Wells Bets on Recovery to Fix Mortgages
4 Nov 2009 | 12:43 pmWells Fargo & Co.'s strategy for modifying troubled Pick-A-Pay mortgages looks like a game of kick-the-can-down-the-road. -
Developers Diversified Deal Is Nearer
4 Nov 2009 | 11:27 amA closely watched deal that may help uncork the commercial-property debt market is picking up steam after being threatened by the Fed. -
Hotel Venture Runs Into Ugly Reality
4 Nov 2009 | 7:53 amA foray into hotels by Sam Nazarian, who operates some of L.A.'s hottest nightspots, has turned into a costly slog amid the worst hotel market in decades.
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Writing on the Web
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If You Work for Yourself, Be a Good Boss (Weekend musings...)
7 Nov 2009 | 5:14 amAre you thinking about next year already? I am. I hate to say it, but this year's over. With the end-of-the-year holidays, and my vacation coming up, it's time to finish up projects, get them announced, and generate some revenues. What are you doing to prepare for 2010? I'm writing a prediction about content marketing for a book, and I'm launching a couple of projects (sneak preview, Content Marketing for Smarties and Patsi's Private List). (BIG announcement next week, on the teleseminar (don't forget to register here: How to Create Content Products with MyKnowledgeGenie.) (Personal Note:… -
Content Creation Made Easy, Interactive, and Affordable: My Knowledge Genie Free Class
6 Nov 2009 | 3:21 amYou may have heard the buzz about it already, My Knowledge Genie is a content creating wizard that will save you a ton of time and energy. I don't promote products unless I see them as having really good value. As soon as I set up a free account at MyKnowledgeGenie.com, I had to stop my fist from hitting my forehead too hard. This tool really is a genie. I started a free trial last week, and I'm almost finished with a comprehensive ebook that includes chapters, checklists, definitions, learning reminders, and summary questions. I'll be publishing it soon, and selling it for $97. Cost for… -
3 Key Content Questions You Must Answer
4 Nov 2009 | 3:51 amTo paraphrase Doug Kessler, Velocity Marketing:While there’s a lot of craft in the practice of content marketing, the core of the discipline is very, very simple: you have to be able to answer three questions quickly, clearly and compellingly: Who the hell are you? Why should I care? Why should I believe you? If you can answer these three questions well, you’ll have done the hardest and most important part of your content marketing job. You'll also make the other parts of your job a lot easier.While Doug writes this as part of his Holy Trinity of Technology Marketing, these questions are… -
Put Down Your Twitter Toys & Get Back to Work!
3 Nov 2009 | 4:45 amI am looking at the Twitterverse and shaking my head. So much going on there, so much noise. Looks like some of you are having just too much fun over there...And like a kid with a new toy, some of you are abandoning your old stand-by business blogs in favor of quick updates on Twitter.Tsk, tsk. Put down your Twitter Toys right NOW! Some of you are making too much noise. All that laughing, it can't be good for business, now can it? Really? You're getting new clients and making money and having a good time, too? Can't be true...and yet...just last week I got a new client who told me she found… -
Confessions of a Content Marketing Doofus...
2 Nov 2009 | 6:27 amI've got to confess to being my own worse marketing example...This weekend I read my own blog posts...and decided I talk a good talk but don't always walk the talk! What a doofus...(Another great photo from Shutterstock)It's the post about using client comments as part of a good content marketing strategy. If social proof is so darned vital in influencing readers to become clients, why don't I showcase the emails and comments I get from the people I've worked with?I can be demure and say I don't like tooting my own horn, but that would be lame since I am telling everybody else how crucial…
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Holy Kaw!
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My plug is better than yours
7 Nov 2009 | 8:38 amWho’s got the best power plug? Crave UK answers the question with their tongue somewhat in cheek. Could there be any bias with their #1 plug? I guess the writers don’t travel much and could care less about size. Also, perhaps anthropomorphism is a bit too highly ranked? More intelligent ways to be shocked. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
25 wackiest NYC Marathon costumes
6 Nov 2009 | 11:01 pmRunning 26.2 miles while sucking down polluted urban air wasn’t quite difficult enough for some jogging fools competing in the New York City Marathon last week, so a handful of creative folks decided to extend Halloween an extra day and run the race while donning costumes. Photogs spotted clowns, super heroes, Uncle Sam, nuns and even an apparently alive Michael Jackson. Lucky for you, you didn’t have to travel all the way to the Big Apple to check out all the shenanigans because Buzz Feed has collected images of the 25 best costumes at the 2009 NYC marathon. Enjoy (and feel lazy… -
Tech that refuses to die
6 Nov 2009 | 10:26 pmCall them the Jason Vorhees of technology—gadgets that just won’t die, no matter how many times you kill ‘em with a chain saw. Tech moves fast,—remember, like 10 years ago you probably had a pager in your pocket—but why is it that some technology seems completely resistant to kicking the bucket? From cables that remain tangled under your desk to the hipsters’ audio format of choice, vinyl, CNet highlights eight tech items that refuse to meet the Grim Reaper. Even Twitter makes a surprise entry on the list. Check out the full list, including why the sans… -
How to change
6 Nov 2009 | 10:09 pmWant to change? Then, according to Peter Bregman, just change one thing. In his case he stopped consuming large amounts of sugar. For me, it would be carbohydrates. But the article isn’t really about dieting—it’s about how to become a better business person, so read it and reap. More Lifehacks. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Guess who is a Glamour woman of the year?
6 Nov 2009 | 9:56 pmIt’s going to be a long time before I post about anything in Glamour, but this is a special occasion. The magazine named Google’s Marissa Mayer as one of the women of the year for 2009. Joining her is “refuse to use Bluetooth” Maria Shriver and others. The only reason Matt Cutts didn’t win is that he’s a man—despite the concerted efforts of SEO consultants around the world to game the voting.. More, albeit less glamourous, news about Google. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Web Strategy by Jeremiah
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Insights for CMOs: Writing Column For Forbes
6 Nov 2009 | 7:28 amI’m very thankful that Forbes has extended me an offer to be a regular contributor discussing emerging technologies for the evolving customer strategy. CMOs are hungry for information. Marketing leaders are finding that they have to quickly evolve as the media and marketing landscape is quickly changing from emerging technologies like social tools. As a result, they are thirsty for what’s next, and how they can get ahead of the curve –with minimal risk. This regular monthly (or more) column on the Forbes CMO network (@ForbesCMO) isn’t reporting, but instead will… -
People on the Move in the Social Media Industry: Nov 6, 2009
6 Nov 2009 | 6:02 amThings appear to be picking up in the economy, and I’d like to continue to recognize those moving in the social media space. I’ve started this post series (see archives) to both track and congratulate folks who get promoted, move, or accept new exciting positions. Please help me congratulate the following folks: Mike Pascucci leaves AAA Mid-Atlantic, and accepts the job of Social Media Strategist with Ektron, a Content Management System (CMS) company based out of Nashua, NH. Find him on Twitter at @mikepascucci. Kingsely Joseph leaves Salesforce and joins Digital Chocolate an… -
How Facebook’s Open Strategy Shifts The Roadmap for Corporate Marketing and Support
3 Nov 2009 | 7:20 amBold Strategy Bolsters Users, Developers, and Brands In a recent meeting at Facebook HQ, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Facebook is opening its doors to share roadmaps, data, and it’s experience. This strategy shifts attention towards Facebook.com as a sole destination, and towards a distributed network to the open web. Looking deeper, these impacts should shape your corporate web strategy as you re-allocate resources for application development, prepare for Social CRM, and prepare your corporate webpages to become “Facebook Fan Page” enabled. To Combat… -
Quicktake: The Impacts Of Google’s Social Search
31 Oct 2009 | 5:02 amCurrently, search results serve up content that is popular –but not necessarily content that is accurate or relevant to your needs. With Google’s Social Search feature, it will serve up results based on a users’ specific contact list, here’s how it works: Using the recently launched Google Profile product, users will be able to add their name, then list out the various social networks they are part of. Google goes to work and finds out who’s your friend in those social networks, then applies it to it’s search algorithm. The end result? Search queries now… -
Behind Closed Doors: What’s On the Mind Of Chief Marketing Officers
30 Oct 2009 | 9:45 amWe attended the Forbes CMO Summit in sunny Palm Beach, to learn what’s on the minds of executive marketing leaders. The conversation from this group regarding social was more sophisticated, which Charlene and I don’t think is reflective of most chief marketing groups we speak with. What’s unique about these Forbes CMOs? Perhaps they are more progressive, well read, and tuned into the rapid changes coming. In consideration to attendees of this event, I won’t be giving any specific individual quotes, (this wasn’t a media event) but instead, I’ll focus on the insights related to…
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Junta42-Content Marketing
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Custom Print Magazines - Why Can't MasterCard Produce Inc. Magazine?
4 Nov 2009 | 7:00 amI don't know about you, but I've been reading more print magazines lately. Seems odd at first, but in a way, it makes perfect sense. I spend most of my business day and night on the computer. When I'm on my computer, I need to get things done. But when I want to relax and engage in an inspiring story, print is my choice...books and magazines. At the top of the list is probably Inc. magazine. This month's article about how 37Signals founder Jason Fried spends his day was priceless. Speaking of "priceless", shouldn't MasterCard be producing an Inc-type… -
Less of Me, More of You - A Stella Pop Content Marketing Video
2 Nov 2009 | 7:38 pmBig thanks to Mike O'Grady at Stella Pop for putting out the latest edition of eVidmagazine featuring yours truly. Although Mike was originally thinking a two or three minute video interview, he decided that the video worked best as a 10 minute segment. Hey, he's the expert, so I'm not going to disagree with him. My biggest takeaway from the video was this - Less of me and more of you (well, not literally since it's almost 10 minutes of me). What I mean is that brands are starting to focus much more on you (the buyer) and much less on the "me" (themselves). In simplest… -
BtoB Custom Media / Custom Publishing Special Report
29 Oct 2009 | 9:49 amBtoB Magazine just did an outstanding custom media special report for business-to-business brands. Here's an overview of the special report. Media, Agencies Battle to be Kings of Content: Publishers, advertising agencies, direct firms, pr firms - everyone is battling for the money flowing into content marketing and custom media. This article offers perspectives from both media companies and agencies on the battle for content. Custom Media Moves Closer to the Core: Great examples from the CME Group, Sherwin-Williams and IDG on how brands are leveraging both print and online custom media as… -
Who's Outsourcing Content? - A Junta42 Annual Report
29 Oct 2009 | 5:33 amWe just delivered the Junta42 annual report email to the Junta42 content marketing vendors and I thought I would share it with the community.As you'll see in the email, these are high-level numbers. Over the next few weeks, we'll be putting together a "State of Content Marketing Outsourcing" (better title to come) that will take the mounds of data we have on content marketing projects and put it together in a handy report. If there is anything specific you'd like to see, please let me know.>>>>Start of EmailHi John: First off, I wanted to… -
Personal Branding Success in 15 Steps
27 Oct 2009 | 7:35 pmDan Schawbel has put together a first-rate magazine about personal branding called (of course) Personal Branding Magazine. The latest issue includes an article from yours truly, which I've included below. I also included one of my PowerPoint presentations when I do in-person workshops on personal branding (this article was based on that presentation). If this topic is important to you, I suggest you check out Dan's magazine (get the free trial issue here). 15 Steps to Personal Branding SuccessBefore talking about the how of personal branding, it’s essential to talk about why…
