Hang around web writing circles for any length of time, and the inevitable “write for search engines or write for people” debate comes up. It’s a bit strange, really. Last time I checked, it’s people who use search engines, not some other life form. So you’re always writing for people. Obviously, the debate stems from the fact that search engines are powered by computer algorithms. But as search engines have gotten smarter, writing that pleases people and satisfies spiders is not that far apart, if at all. Let’s look at four factors that work well for SEO and see how well they…
Selected by darrylod
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Copyblogger
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Does Writing for People Work for SEO?
9 Feb 2010 | 8:16 am -
The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion
8 Feb 2010 | 7:49 amI’ve found it just doesn’t pay to crow too much about what I’ve accomplished. Sure, I celebrate when things go well. But I’ve found that talking too much about my achievements leads not only to criticism, but to disappointment. There’s always going to be someone who’s done more or worked harder. And until they carve my name into the side of the moon, I see no reason in puffing myself up. The minute you get a big head is the same minute that reality smacks you and you realize that you aren’t as cool as you think you are. So self-adulation is something I try to stay… -
Five Areas to Focus On for Effective SEO Copywriting
5 Feb 2010 | 8:51 amWhen I first started Copyblogger in 2006, I was almost militantly against on-page search optimization. Seems strange, since I’d been a successful student of SEO since 2000. It was because I saw all these people fretting over keywords like it’s 1999, and yet they had no links. Their content was weak. Their sites weren’t trusted. You can’t optimize something that’s dead in the water. So my initial goal was to get people to focus on content that attracted attention and links first. Only then do you have something you can make better (that’s what optimize means, naturally). Fours… -
Landing Page Makeovers 2007-2009: Where Are They Now?
4 Feb 2010 | 6:46 amThis is another addition to our ongoing series of tutorials and case studies on landing pages that work. It occurred to me late last year, as I was readying yet another Landing Page Makeover, that the end of one year and the beginning of the next was a good time to do a “Where are they now?” post. So first things first, I went back and contacted all makeover participants from the very beginning of the series. Of the more than 20 contacted, I learned that one is no longer in business, MagicPumpkinArt.com (Makeover #14) and two are in the midst of developing new products or revising… -
Does SEO Copywriting Still Matter?
3 Feb 2010 | 8:28 amIf there’s any one thing that can be said about SEO with certainty, it’s that it manages to cause a lot of confusion. For example, it seems like many people’s idea of SEO was formed 10 years ago, and hasn’t bothered to change with the times. Even an online veteran like Robert Scoble is completely clueless about modern best practices for search engine optimization. So, before we go any further, let me answer the question posed by the headline . . . Yes, SEO copywriting still matters. Here’s why. Search is still the biggest game in town “Pick your survey, search remains one of the…
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Real Estate Market Conditions
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ZipRealty Home Inventory by Metro, January 2010
5 Feb 2010 | 1:34 pmDownload Price Reduction January 2010 FINAL Click on image below for a larger view. -
The Number of "For Sale" Homes Increased 2.9 Percent in January 2010
4 Feb 2010 | 11:11 amJanuary marked the first time in 18 months that more homes were listed "for sale" compared to the previous month, with an additional 15,000 homes, or a 2.9% increase, listed for sale compared to December according to the January Housing Inventory Index, a survey of Multiple Listing Service (MLS) listed homes in 27 major U.S.housing markets Other highlights from ZipRealty's January Housing Inventory Index include: The number of home listings year-over-year remains down 22.3%, with 163,000 fewer homes on the market. The combined number of MLS-listed single family homes and condos… -
New Jersey Home Buyers Now to Receive a Rebate from ZipRealty
19 Jan 2010 | 3:31 pmFor home buyers in New Jersey, today is an exciting day. New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a bill sponsored by state Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr., Paul D. Moriarty and Joseph Vas that allows New Jersey home buyers across the state to receive a cash rebate, once they close on their home, from real estate brokerages, including ZipRealty. With people being asked to cough up higher down payments and meet more stringent lending standards than ever to purchase a house these days, the ability to get a check after closing – or even cover those closing costs with a rebate… -
Sonoma County – Housing Update for December 2009
9 Jan 2010 | 6:00 pmCounty: SonomaYear to Year Comparison MonthDec-2008Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price96.2%97.6%1%Sold Homes459438-5%Asking Price Per Home $ 379,077 $ 420,475 11%Sold Price Per Home $ 364,582 $ 410,323 13%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 219 $ 240 9%MLS Days On Market Per Home9991-8% Month to Month Comparison MonthNov-2009Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price97.3%97.6%0%Sold Homes4294382%Asking Price Per Home $ 441,697 $ 420,475 -5%Sold Price Per Home $ 429,936 $ 410,323 -5%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 253 $ 240 -5%MLS Days On Market Per Home9891-7%Talk… -
Solano County – Housing Market Update for December 2009
9 Jan 2010 | 4:00 pmCounty: SolanoYear to Year Comparison MonthDec-2008Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price96.0%100.4%5%Sold Homes585497-15%Asking Price Per Home $ 241,544 $ 229,804 -5%Sold Price Per Home $ 231,905 $ 230,715 -1%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 137 $ 135 -1%MLS Days On Market Per Home8061-24% Month to Month Comparison MonthNov-2009Dec-2009% Change% Sold Price to Asking Price100.8%100.4%0%Sold Homes45049710%Asking Price Per Home $ 232,541 $ 229,804 -1%Sold Price Per Home $ 234,374 $ 230,715 -2%Sold Price Per Sq Ft $ 137 $ 135 -1%MLS Days On Market Per…
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Sellsius real estate marketing blog
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Twitter Search Widget: Looking for a House on Twitter
8 Feb 2010 | 4:03 amTo make a Twitter search widget read this post. Related Post: How to Find a Clients on Twitter: AKS Method Technorati Tags: twitter, twitter search widget, cool tools -
Curbed Hiring Interns (Please RT)
7 Feb 2010 | 1:26 pmNew York City blog buds at Curbed are looking for interns: Are you an eager, perhaps college-age person who happens to read and enjoy Curbed on a daily basis? (Note: enjoyment not required.) If so, this opportunity may be for you. We’re looking for interns with journalism in their blood to join our merry band ASAP. Responsibilities may include (a) attending long, boring meetings from which you may be required to file entertaining and witty reports; (b) dashing from Curbed HQ to the scene of breaking news with camera in hand; and (c) undertaking onerous, occasionally terrible research… -
Shark Tank Nubrella: Hands Free Umbrella Will Not Invert in Wind
6 Feb 2010 | 4:55 pmNubrella, a hands free umbrella which will not invert in the wind, made its TV appearance on Shark Tank, a show where folks present new products hoping to get an investment from one of the sharks, which include Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran (my favorite), Kevin Harrington, and Daymond John. I was impressed with the new hands free umbrella, Nubrella. Given that folks are on cell phones all the time and need two hands to tweet or text message, the Nubrella is a great product. Also great for the disabled. Every shark turned the Nubrella down, except for Daymond… -
Suffolk Passes Law Requiring Co-op Boards to Give Reasons for Buyer Rejection
5 Feb 2010 | 6:09 pmIt has long been the law in New York that co-op boards could reject potential buyers without disclosing the reason. This is very frustrating to buyers and sellers… and real estate agents. As a lawyer, I had a way to get the Board to disclose the reason for the rejection– by claiming discrimination to the NYC Commission of Human Rights– this forced the co-op board to appear and disclose the reasons. It is a clever tactic (given you sense discrimination by asking the buyer to tell you what questions they were asked during the interview). Some time later, New York tried… -
How to Control Birds (and Bird Poop): Bird-B-Gone
4 Feb 2010 | 7:56 amDoes your home, boat, or business property have problems with birds and their little droppings? Too many birds can lower property values…. crap. Cleaning bird poop is also a pain… and has health risks. There might be a solution. Bird-B-Gone products supposedly get rid of birds without terminating them. According to the website: Bird•B•Gone products carry the longest industry guarantees, and are made in the United States. Our products are humane and safe for birds and the environment. We provide first-rate customer service and support, and measure our success by the…
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Social Internet Marketing and Jess Sloss
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Possibly the Coolest iPhone App Yet – Siri Personal Assistant
7 Feb 2010 | 12:49 pmWhen Google announced it’s voice activated Google Search application, excited iPhone users rejoiced. Good news, this app puts Google’s to shame.Too bad it’s NOT available in Canada. From Siri, Siri is a virtual personal assistant on your phone. You ask Siri in your own voice, and it helps you get things done when you’re on the go. This video shows a demo of Siri helping plan a romantic evening, get tickets to a great movie, discover cool things to do on the weekend, and getting back home. Siri Personal Assistant Highlights Uses natural language understanding to connect… -
People Hate Broccoli Commercials more than Broccoli
6 Feb 2010 | 7:39 amBroccoli to bloggers "Why You Hatin' ?" I wrote about the odd Broccoli TV commercials out there a few weeks back, and since then things have gotten weird. In my post I critiqued this missed opportunity of integrating a more interactive component to the campaign. Others have commented and posted that they think the commercials are so bad that it must be intentional. While it looks like we all agreed that the campaign is weird, what is even more shocking are people’s response to the campaign. The Canadian Design Resource posted a screen shot of the www.miraclefood.ca site… -
Management Decision Making Flash Back
5 Feb 2010 | 1:00 pmFor years I worked as a manager at a local Cross Country ski hill. It was good times, mostly because we always had fun. This video highlights one of my preferred ways of decision making. Ah, the good times. From Christmas 2008. Cant see the video? Click here to view on Facebook. Share this on Facebook Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Tweet This! Share this on del.icio.us Digg this! Email this to a friend? Buzz up! Share this on Reddit Subscribe to the comments for this post? -
Onion Ring More Popular than PM Stephen Harper
5 Feb 2010 | 7:38 amThis onion ring is more popular than Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper That is right folks, this onion ring (istock photo watermark and all) is more popular than Stephen Harper. On Facebook at least. The facebook group, Can this Onion Ring get more fans than Stephen Harper? started on February 2, 2010 and already has over 55,000 fans. Yes that is more than Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has ( he has 29,822 ) Out of Touch with a Generation While the group is obviously tongue in cheek, it does highlight a serious problem with the Canadian Conservative Government’s… -
The Staff Room – A brilliant webisode series that makes me laugh!
4 Feb 2010 | 2:06 pmFunny bone engaged! The Biology teacher just got a boner? I just ate a sandwich, and took some time to get in tune with my funny bone. Introducing The Staff Room, a comedic short series, only available through your favourite social media channels. If you are anything like us, you enjoy things that are a little off, perhaps a little inappropriate, add a touch of dry wit, and get something completely hilarious! The Staff Room creators, Written/Directed by Jason Bryden and Produced by Irene Karas, released their first 3 episodes last Wednesday, followed by Episodes 4 through 6 today. Short 2-4…
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BloodhoundBlog
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I have never seen a better commercial for residential real estate in Metropolitan Phoenix — where it’s sunny and 66 degrees today…
9 Feb 2010 | 10:20 amThe only thing that might improve it would be the sound of the howling winds… -
Agents of Change
8 Feb 2010 | 9:32 amDon Stewart posed an interesting question this morning about whether real estate is changing top-down from the broker or bottoms-up from the agent. In a post about how Redfin sees the real estate industry changing, Don suggested we had focused too much on the laws, the brokers, the MLS data sharing rules and the system by which sellers pay buyer’s agents: I think that many agents are becoming more client focused, less afraid of discussing value for money, and are happy to be judged by their performance. They are not just trying to grab commissions, they want to build a professional… -
Can’t Find A Nut? Search In A Nut House
6 Feb 2010 | 6:28 pmMortgage squirrels, searching for some nuts, during what I believe could be a long winter, might consider this idea: There should be a lot of listings hitting the market when the shadow inventory eventually gets released. Banks are not very attentive sellers inasmuch as they care less about condition and price than expediency. Rather than pump money into property improvements or work with HOA’s to get the financial statements in order, they reduce the price until a cash buyer comes along. Zillow showed us that REOs tend to sell for 3/4 of the market price. Equity sellers might be… -
“I can’t for the life of me figure out why our house isn’t selling. Maybe we need more orange…”
6 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am -
Deflationary Or Inflationary? Laying Economists End To End
5 Feb 2010 | 10:35 amThe last half of the title came to me as I recalled one of Johnny Carson’s most memorable lines. He was talking about how economists are supposed to be the smartest kids in the room, but at the same time can’t agree with each other what day it is. He said, “If we laid all the economists end to end around the world…it would be a good idea.” (Insert rimshot here.) There are two basic schools of economic theory — Those who believe economies can be centrally controlled, engineered if you will — And those who believe economies should be as free as…
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Blown Mortgage
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Loan Modification Horror Stories, What Are The Lessons?
8 Feb 2010 | 10:37 amHAMP’s loan modification program seems to be finally speeding up its conversion rate from trial loan modifications to converted modifications. However, the 4 million troubled homeowners targeted by the program are not even close to receiving the help they need. The debate continues on exactly how much responsibility the Government has towards troubled homeowners. Should they simply shoulder their responsibility, lose their home and start from scratch? One, obviously upset, commentator had this to say about the issue: How many people seeking home loan modifications used their home as their… -
How To Spot A Loan Modification Scam Before You Are A Victim Of It.
6 Feb 2010 | 6:14 pmThe media has been rife with horror stories of scam artists preying on one of the most vulnerable sectors of our population, troubled homeowners and their families. However, many homeowners just haven’t got the message so we shall revise a few of the signs that can help us spot a loan modification scammer. These leeches of society will ask for exorbitant fees from homeowners too worried or clueless to see they are paying a thief for something they could do for free. It must be said beforehand that, as in so many other industries, the many pay for the sins of the few, and that most loan… -
Forensic Loan Auditing: How To Get Leverage On Your Loan Modification
4 Feb 2010 | 6:02 pmForensic Loan Auditing is a fancy way of describing a thorough revision of the documents you signed when applying for your loan. This includes the accuracy of the math in the interest rates and payments schedule, the legality of the terms of the loan and any proof that you were misled in some way. Why is Forensic Loan Auditing useful? Forensic Loan Auditing is useful because if your mortgage did not comply with the Federal Guidelines for lenders at the time of signing there is a chance your mortgage was illegal, or at the very least non-complying. This can cause your mortgage to be void and… -
Loan Modifications Are Going To Be Simpler, What Do You Need Now?
3 Feb 2010 | 5:19 pmHAMP, the Government’s Loan Modification Program is changing their tune about the paperwork required to apply for a loan modification. Homeowners applying for a loan modification must now include their paperwork before even entering the trial stage. Previously troubled homeowners could apply for a loan modification trial by simply providing proof of income over the phone. The problems arose when some troubled homeowners either took too long to send the paperwork or could not prove the claims they had made. The Treasury and many servicers claim that this is the cause that the conversion of… -
HAMP Loan Modifications and “In-house” Modifications, What Is The Difference?
31 Jan 2010 | 12:56 pmA loan modification is a loan modification, right? If it helps you avoid a foreclosure on your home it is good news, right? Not necessarily. It is a little more complicated than all that. HAMP is a Government sponsored loan modification program. This might not give you much peace of mind but the truth is that mortgagees that are part of this program must follow certain requirements in order to receive the incentives the Government offers for loss mitigation actions, another name for loan modifications. These requirements have been recently (Nov. 23rd 2009) updated and include: 1) …
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New England Real Estate Journal
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Meet the CAI Member - Aronson
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmJanet Aronson is a partner in the law firm of Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, PC in Braintree, ...... -
Proto Group brokers $2m sale of 10,873 s/f retail prop. sold by Windalier Newington
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmNewington, CT The Proto Group, LLC has sold the former Hops Restaurant and operating IHOP at 3260-3280 Berlin ...... -
Meet the REFA Member
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmAs a principal of CresaPartners, Gage is responsible for the brokerage operation and the ...... -
Genzyme Corp. leases 136,000 s/f at 9/90 Corp. Center from National Dev. and UBS
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmFramingham, MA According to National Development and UBS, Genzyme Corp. has leased a total of 136,000 rentable s/f ...... -
Wollinger of WinnResidential receives Industry Excellence Award from the Rental Housing Association
4 Feb 2010 | 9:00 pmBoston, MA The Rental Housing Association (RHA) honored William Wollinger, president and COO of ......
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The Real Estate Tomato
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A Frenzied 5 Creative Ways to Use A Real Estate Blog to Demolish Your Market Competition
2 Feb 2010 | 5:25 pmToday’s offering is a guest post from Tomato client and real estate blogging guru, Ben Roberts of Exit Pro Realty and TheExitPro.com. Thanks for the effort, Ben! — Readers of The Real Estate Tomato come in one of three flavors... They've got a RET blog and are always reading and improving their skills. They don't have a RET blog and are considering making the investment in their online presence. They stumble upon the Tomato and are in awe of the fresh ideas within these juicy posts... leading them inevitably to numbers 2 or 1. I can say this of course, because I'm a guest… -
Simple Marketing Tip: Engage The Audience You Create To Avoid The Headache of Lost Opportunity.
11 Jan 2010 | 2:51 pmI believe I have developed TMJ. For the last month I have had frequent headaches and a persistent clicking in my right ear. The sensation varies from an annoying pop to a painful snap. I have been doing light research on the issue since it began, and am now really ready to find remedy. What does this have to do with Real Estate Blogging? Other than the fact that I can't be the only blogger out there suffering from TMJ and any solution I find will be much appreciated, I'm sure... the following post is a documentation of how I used the internet for research, found a potential… -
Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp: January 4th From 9am - 4pm PST
9 Dec 2009 | 4:28 pmWe're Back!Introducing the 2nd Edition of Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. Our first event was such a success, we decided to parlay the momentum into the launch of another. January 4th - 9am until 4pm PST9 Hours, 28 Incredible Speakers, 1000s of Attendees! It's Free! What Is Virtual BarCamp?How Do I Register?Who Is Speaking (To be determined)How Can I Sponsor? In an effort to always improve, we have made some changes to the event format: There will be 4 Webinar Rooms (previously there were just 3 rooms).Presentations will be 45 minutes in length (previously they were 30 mins).Total number of… -
Real Estate Brokerage Websites - I Don’t Think We Are In Kansas Anymore
8 Dec 2009 | 11:56 amBeth Butler, former Broker for EWM Realtors in Miami, FL wants to get into the head of real estate brokers around the country. She wants to share her expertise in managing an incredibly successful real estate company blogsite with those that need to see the light. The playing field has changed, and many need a coach. Beth is that Coach. Real Estate Brokerage Websites - I Don’t Think We Are In Kansas Anymore By Beth Butler Just like in the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy tiptoes out of her house to find she is in an altogether different place than she left, so it is with the… -
New To Real Estate Blogging? 6 Simple Steps to Get You Started.
3 Dec 2009 | 4:41 pmFor the entire month of December I will be writing articles as contributions to what I call the Rewrite Project. Instead of writing on new topics, I am going to be digging through the advice archives and rewriting the "oldies but goodies". Why? Why not? But it is also an exercise to show you that you can never step in the same river twice, and finding relevant blog content to publish is as easy as looking in the rear-view mirror. The next article in my series of rewrites is the dismantling and recreation of “New To Business Blogs? The 6 Steps To Getting…
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HomeGain Blog
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Green Home Trends
5 Feb 2010 | 2:22 pmThe key to mainstreaming green homes is to make sure that consumers understand the value of green upgrades — how cost-effective energy efficiency can be in the long run. Consumers want homes that are environmentally friendly and home values should reflect the increased savings. Better Homes and Gardens Recent poll results of 2,342 people who plan to [...] -
Agent Success Newsletter - January/February 2010 Issue
3 Feb 2010 | 10:41 amHomeGain rolled out its January/February 2010 newsletter for real estate agents, called “Agent Success Newsletter“. The digital real estate newsletter included: Feature Story: The 2009 Top Performing AgentEvaluator Agents by Highest Home Sales Volume and Highest Dollar were announced last month by region, nationwide and by state. We were pleased to also recognize two Rookie Agents of the [...] -
Will Mortgage Underwriters Be Using Mapquest Soon?
3 Feb 2010 | 8:00 amTransportation costs may soon become a recognized expense for mortgage applications if the Natural Resources Defense Council study holds up. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the study showed that higher transportation costs resulted in a higher foreclosure rate: The draft report looked at trends associated with 40,000 mortgages in San Francisco, Chicago and Jacksonville, [...] -
And Then There Was Staging…
1 Feb 2010 | 11:07 amThis is my first contribution to HomeGain and thought what a better place to start then at the beginning – the importance of home staging and why it is such a hot industry in the real estate market. In 2009 HomeGain released its national survey results for the top Return on Investment (ROI) for home sellers. [...] -
Welcome New Guest Blogger, Stephanie Decker of Staged Homes
30 Jan 2010 | 11:00 amWe’d like to welcome Stephanie Decker of Staged Homes, LLC in Mill Valley, CA to our team of HomeGain Guest Bloggers! Stephanie will be our designated home staging expert, blogging about ways to help Realtors work through home staging issues and work effectively with home sellers. With more than 20 years in the Interior Design industry, [...]
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Today's Real Estate News
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NAR must vie for sold listings
9 Feb 2010 | 11:11 amFirst American, Move Inc. also want to partner with MLSsread more -
Security, United Title brands no more
9 Feb 2010 | 10:09 amMercury's former Colorado subsidiaries folded into Fidelity National Title read more -
Doing business with people you don't like
9 Feb 2010 | 9:16 amFrom BradInman.comread more -
Social media not just a 2-way street
9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 amTarget behavioral trends, consumer needs and wantsread more -
Appeal filed in Corcoran client list case
9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 amFrom The Real Dealread more
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Bubble Meter
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Housing bubble poetry
5 Feb 2010 | 11:50 amNow we know what Prof. Karl Case (of S&P/Case-Shiller) is doing with his free time since he retired.Hat tip: Greg Mankiw. -
January 2010 employment data
5 Feb 2010 | 7:10 amThe official unemployment rate declined in January. It's still too early to tell for sure, but so far it looks like we're seeing the declining unemployment that occurs after a typical recession, rather than the "jobless recovery" of the previous two recessions. (The typical pattern after a recession is for the unemployment rate to decline. That pattern was broken by the previous two recessions when the unemployment rate rose for quite a while after the recession had ended.)Payroll numbers suggest we lost 20,000 jobs in January. That's far better than the pace a year ago, but we need… -
The danger of walking away
4 Feb 2010 | 3:01 amApparently, thirty states—including Virginia—are recourse states. CNN Money has an interesting article about banks pursuing people who have lost their homes. If you walk away from your home, you better be poor:Sometimes lenders go after borrowers walking away from their homes if they have other assets, according to Florida real estate attorney Larry Tolchinsky."Banks are pulling credit reports to see if it's a strategic default," he said. "If you're behind on all your other payments, you're okay. But if you're not, they'll come after you."And:What can be scary is that the judgments don't… -
Dean Baker's take on walking away
3 Feb 2010 | 3:25 amEconomist Dean Baker, one of the first people to publicly warn of the housing bubble, disagrees with me on ethics:Walking away from an underwater mortgage is one way in which normal homeowners may be able to both help themselves and the economy.The logic is straightforward. As many as 20 million people owe more than the current value of their homes. In most cases they have little hope of ever accruing equity in their home. There continues to be an enormous glut of housing. Nationwide, vacancy rates are at record highs. Rents are actually falling for the first time since we have reliable… -
FHA to encourage flipping
2 Feb 2010 | 3:51 amThe Federal Housing Administration is behaving more and more like the financial institutions that got us into this mess:Starting today home "Flippers" are now welcome at the FHA.That's right, with a glut of foreclosures plaguing the nation's neighborhoods, the FHA is temporarily removing restrictions on investors who buy and sell homes within 90 days.It's just for one year, but Flippers are no longer persona non-grata with the government."FHA borrowers, because of the restrictions we are now lifting, have often been shut out from buying affordable properties," FHA Commissioner David Stevens…
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NYT > Real Estate
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Salt Lake City Journal: Project Renews Downtown, and Debate
9 Feb 2010 | 8:09 amA $1 billion Mormon church-financed redevelopment project and a wave of recent church purchases in Salt Lake City have put a new focus on the line between culture and economics. -
In City Real Estate, Old Clans Are Shrewd Again
9 Feb 2010 | 4:10 amSome families with deep roots in Manhattan kept their heads a few years ago when the market overheated. -
Developer Is Accused of Fleecing Investors
8 Feb 2010 | 10:40 pmAdam Hochfelder, a onetime real estate mogul, was charged with taking $2.5 million from clients and friends for hotel deals he never made. -
New York Plans to Topple Public Housing Towers
8 Feb 2010 | 2:43 pmFor the first time in its 75-year history, the New York City Housing Authority wants to knock down an entire high-rise complex. -
Square Feet | The 30-Minute Interview: Cory Gubner
6 Feb 2010 | 7:20 pmMr. Gubner is the president and chief executive of RHYS Commercial, a full-service commercial real estate company based in Stamford, Conn.
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Zillow Blog
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Mortgage Rates Decline to 4.84%
9 Feb 2010 | 12:02 pmMortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages declined this week, with the current rate borrowers quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 4.84%, down from 4.87% at this time last week. The 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovered at or below 4.80 percent for most of the past weekend and neared 4.75 percent on Monday. Additionally, 15-year fixed borrowers were quoted on average, 4.27% and for 5/1 ARMs, 3.70%. What are the rates right now? Check Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for up-to-the-minute mortgage rates for your state or the nation. -
Scarlett Johansson’s Hollywood Hills Home Listed for $4,950,000
9 Feb 2010 | 8:54 amOoh, this has to hurt: Actress Scarlett Johansson purchased this Hollywood Hills home in 2007, paying $7 million and now she has listed it for sale for $4,950,000 — a price reduction of $2,050,000 (see percentage of Hollywood Hills homes sold for a loss). This gated Spanish Villa was built in 1931 and just underwent a complete restoration, including some green upgrades such as solar power. A gourmet period-style kitchen includes “Big Chill” appliances (retro, baby). Rooms flow in and out to terraces, patios and cascading gardens. Johansson has starred in films such as… -
Academy Award® Winners and Their Homes
9 Feb 2010 | 7:24 amFor actors and actresses of the big screen, it’s nail-biting time as nominees for the 82nd annual Academy Awards® were just announced and winners will be selected on Sunday, March 7, in Los Angeles’ Kodak Theatre. As a salute to Hollywood’s best, here is some celebrity real estate we’ve posted that includes past winners of Academy Awards®: Nicolas Cage (Best Actor, “Leaving Las Vegas,” 1995) Mr. Cage has been faced with some financial troubles in the past couple of years, losing three homes to foreclosure — two in New Orleans and one in Las Vegas. -
Dallas RainCamp - Internet Marketing Class For Professionals
9 Feb 2010 | 4:45 amDallas, TX RainCamp What is RainCamp? It is a full-day seminar for real estate professionals packed with ideas easily implemented in your strategies for social media, networking, blogging or overall business plan. Zillow is proud to partner with ActiveRain to bring this event around the country to teach professionals about growing their online business in today’s modern-day real estate market. If you are in Dallas on Tuesday, Feb 16, you should definitely register to attend the Dallas RainCamp. I recently attended the New York RainCamp, which was a packed house of more than 500… -
How Do I Do a Short Sale on My House?
8 Feb 2010 | 2:48 pmFrom Yakima, WA, in the Buying Foreclosures section of Home Buying Advice, within Zillow Advice, misssassy1146 asks: “How do I short sale my house?” Having been through a short sale myself, my opinions are very biased. That being said, I’ll share my personal experience, which I found to be very similar to the many short sale blog posts I encountered as I searched for help myself. How to start the process of short selling your house: 1.) List your home for sale with an agent. Do not do a short sale by owner, as there is no money to be saved. Start gathering paperwork…
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BloodhoundRealty.com
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We can’t undo what happened yesterday in Haiti, but we can do what we can to make tomorrow better. Here’s how you can help.
13 Jan 2010 | 2:41 pmTom Vanderwell, who writes with us at BloodhoundBlog, our national real estate industry weblog, adopted two of his children from Haiti. He has long been involved with the orphanage there, even setting up their weblog: God’s Littlest Angels in Haiti. Since yesterday’s earthquake, Tom has been working continuously with the orphanage’s staff, both to make sure they have what they need right now and to help them prepare for what seems likely to be a surge in orphaned children. No doubt there are a lot of people appealing for your help right now, but Tom’s efforts could… -
Are the uninformed chatterboxes in your area insisting that the real estate market has recovered? You may want to defer the celebration. Even so, this could be the golden moment for investors in Phoenix.
5 Jan 2010 | 4:31 pmI’ve known for six months or more that there was a sweet spot on the horizon for investors and other highly-solvent buyers in the Phoenix real estate market. That event was delayed by the first-time home-buyer’s tax credit. Today’s news about declines in the number of pending purchase contracts is a symptom of the market returning to an unstimulated level of demand. I watched the dropoff reflected in today’s news as it happened last fall. Lenders cut off new applications for first-timers and, just like that, price pressure eased, available inventories started to rise… -
Why are lender-owned homes so much easier to buy than short sales?
28 Dec 2009 | 8:03 amAn extended answer to a question from a buyer client, the short film linked below goes into the in-house procedures that result in the observed effect: Lender-owned homes are much easier to get under contract and to get through the closing process than are short sales. We also talk a bit about strategy, particularly for mortgage-financed transactions. Click on the link below to watch the video. -
To our friends and clients: Merry Christmas, Joyous Holidays, Happy New Year — and thank you so much for being here with us!
25 Dec 2009 | 1:15 pmHere’s to your health, wealth and happiness in the coming year! -
A look back at the last decade in real estate, what I got right, what I got wrong — and where things go from here
26 Nov 2009 | 2:16 pmMy friend Andrew Breese asked me to go through my own history, in light of both the real estate boom and the bust, detailing where I was wrong and where I was right. Very big job, and it would be a long essay to write, so I’ve elected to go through it in video instead. Click on the graphic below to watch the video.
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WSJ.com: Real Estate
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Mortgage Bankers Sell Building at a Loss
8 Feb 2010 | 6:06 pmThe Mortgage Bankers Association sold its 10-story headquarters building in Washington, D.C., for $41.3 million, well below the $79 million it paid in 2007. -
Connecticut, Starwood Hit Bump
8 Feb 2010 | 5:29 pmConnecticut pulled off a coup when Starwood Hotels agreed to relocate its headquarters there. But now there are questions being raised over how the state sealed the deal. -
China Prepares to Salvage CCTV Tower
8 Feb 2010 | 4:33 pmBeijing is preparing to rebuild a Rem Koolhaas skyscraper in the complex housing the national broadcaster, a year after fire gutted the structure. -
Home Builders See Daylight
8 Feb 2010 | 6:42 amFewer write-downs and cancellations along with improved order rates are putting some lift into the depressed home construction market. -
Lenders Seize Sillerman Resort
4 Feb 2010 | 6:45 pmLenders holding the $180 million mortgage on entertainment mogul Robert Sillerman's luxury resort in Anguilla have taken over the half-built project.
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Writing on the Web
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Why Video Works with Content Marketing to Attract Clients- An Audio Interview
9 Feb 2010 | 6:45 amDo you have personality? And are you showing it to your blog readers? Do they know what you look like and sound like, and can they get a glimpse of what your office space looks like? Do they know your hobbies, where you live? Right now I'm in pajamas and there's a few strands of hair sticking up in the air. My work space is full of papers, books, coffee and Huey, the cat. But a professional video might show a different view... One of the things I put forth in the Click Predictions ebook for content marketing trends for 2010 is that companies are going to start showing more personality. It's… -
Content Marketing for Online Profits - Video
8 Feb 2010 | 4:10 amHere's my video description of the new ebook I released last week, Content Marketing for Online Profits. I have to ask your forgiveness for my amateur video which I shot myself with an inexpensive Logitech Web cam, on a Sunday morning at home. My intention was to write a polished script and do a better job than this, but I've run out of time. The important message is that if you haven't done so already, please click this link to register to gain access to Content Marketing for Online Profits. It's an online learning program brought to you through MyKnowledgeGenie.com, which is quite amazing… -
Content Marketing Profits: Learn for Free...
6 Feb 2010 | 4:00 amIf you'd like to learn about how online content works to get found, get known, get clients and make sales, register for Content Marketing for Online Profits. It's free, and from what readers tell me, it's easy to use and learn from. Click, register, get instant access. Then tell me what you think! -
How Does Content Marketing Lead to Sales?
5 Feb 2010 | 5:32 amThis is the real question, isn't it? After writing good content that educates and entertains, after posting on web pages, blogs, and a few key social media sites... how does content work to generate sales?"Show me the money," you might say.For some people, if the ROI can't be pin-pointed, forget about it. I'll leave the analytics to experts. Google keywords like "return on investment content marketing," for example. There's no question that the return on investment of content marketing can be measured and proven. If it didn't, then why would 6 out of 10 marketers be spending more money on… -
10 Content Marketing Success Tips
3 Feb 2010 | 3:24 pmAre you writing this down? Take notes, these 10 tips for online success with Content Marketing are important. I didn't write them, but one of my favorite bloggers did, Adam Singer over at Online Marketing Blog. (#1 top Junta42 Content Marketing blog).Here's what he says:"As more companies, marketers and industry professionals flood the web with content, the value of those with a true understanding of content marketing keeps going up. "More noise increases the value of signal. If your content marketing defines you as that source of signal, you’ll consistently be found, referenced and chosen…
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Holy Kaw!
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13 geeky Valentine’s Day gifts
9 Feb 2010 | 12:33 pmLooking for a way to knock the argyle socks off your geeky lover this Valentine’s Day? Skip the computer programmer-themed porn and try gifting your nerdy loved one some HTTPanties or “Tweet Me” Sweethearts candy. The Huffington Post tracked down thirteen geeky gifts that scream “I love you, nerd face.” Full geeky gift list at Huffington Post. Get your geek on. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Google Buzz's official demo [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 11:25 amGoogle has just unveiled its latest attempt to become more relevant in the social media space—Google Buzz. The product is integrated within Gmail and will be rolled out gradually to all of the webmail service’s users over the next few days. While this development is still unfolding, you can check out Google Buzz’s two-minute demo of Buzz in action both online and via mobile. What are your initial reactions? Another soon-to-be-forgotten Google product like Wave, or a Facebook/Twitter killer? Full story at Mashable. Total Google coverage. Permalink | Leave a… -
Darth Vader’s original wimpy voice [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 11:15 amImagine a galaxy far, far away where Darth Vader sounded like any other British bloke strolling down the corridors of the Death Star. Before James Earl Jones provided the menacing voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, English actor and bodybuilder David Prowse delivered the lines from inside the Darth costume. While George Lucas never intended for Prowse’s voice to make the flick’s final cut, it’s weird to imagine how different Star Wars would have been with a different Vader voice. Full story at Huffington Post. Tons of Star Wars tidbits. Permalink | Leave a… -
7 things you didn’t know about condoms
9 Feb 2010 | 10:14 amRubbers. Raincoats. Inconvenient. Whatever you call 'em, condoms remain a must-have in the safe sex tool box. Long before the days of Durex and Trojans, men used animal intestines to protect their willies (that sounds lovely, eh ladies?) and still to this day use lambskin condoms for latex allergies and supposed extra sensitivity. Want to learn even more fun facts about condoms that will surely impress your friends and potential lovers? Check out Asylum's seven things you probably didn't know about condoms that includes tantalizing tidbits like: Vaseline + condoms = Disintegrated rubber and… -
Horror flick mirror scare mash-up [video]
9 Feb 2010 | 9:25 amHorror movies love to rely on cliches to scare the bejeezus out of us, but does it really surprise anyone that the axe murderer is going to pop in the reflection of a mirror? Ok, yes, it still totally sparks a few pee-in-pants moments. Check out this mash-up of mirror scare moments (fair warning: don’t watch alone in a big, dark, scary house): Full story at Four Four. Boo! Tons of scary and not so scary movie news. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Web Strategy by Jeremiah
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Quicktake: What Google Buzz Means
9 Feb 2010 | 11:26 amGoogle launches status update features Google launches Buzz, which is similar to Friendfeed, which is now part of Facebook. Content will be aggregated, and then prioritized based upon the people you already email with, Harry McCracken and I call this a social graph based on history, “Historical social graph” or HSG. Secondly, this Google Buzz feature will rate and rank content based on activity and interaction within your social group. Users can choose to publish the Buzz in public, which will display on the Google Profile page. They also announced the ability to input this data… -
Register For Webinar: Developing a Social Strategy by Objectives
8 Feb 2010 | 10:11 amLeft: There are four main categories of social strategy, yet with over 20 subset objectives, which we’ll discuss at a high level. Organizations that focus on social technologies suffer from the symptom of ‘Fondling The Hammer‘ . True social strategy stems from business objectives –not the latest technologies. So often, companies develop social tactics based on the latest tool that’s sprung forth. Yet, so far and few in between to organizations develop an actionable plan based on business goals. This second in our no-cost webinar series is coming up on the… -
People on the Move in the Social Media Industry: Feb 4, 2010
4 Feb 2010 | 8:31 pmThe submissions are defintly picking up, I’m seeing more submissions than before. Why? I attribute this to the start of the new year when many folks change up jobs, and the slight uptick we’re starting to see in the economy. In an effort to recognize the changes 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: Congrats to Jeannette Gibson (Twttier) who has moved to corporate marketing to run social media at… -
Matrix: Companies Should Factor ‘Social Influence’ Into Total Customer Value
3 Feb 2010 | 6:00 amCase Study: An Influential Mom Blogger Caused Mainstream Crises Popular blogger, Heather Armstrong (@dooce) was dissatisfied with her non-working Maytag appliance. Following protocol, she called their support number, yet her issue was not solved. Stonewalled, she argued/warned the support staff that she was on Twitter, yet didn’t receive special assistance. Escalating further, she then flexed a muscle and told them she had over 1,000,000 Twitter followers –yet the support rep did not budge. Finally, she blogged and Tweeted against Maytag, initiating a boycott by her… -
List of Corporate Social Media Strategists, Corporate Community Managers in 2010
30 Jan 2010 | 9:36 amAs an industry watcher, I look at trends, data, spending, technologies, yet what’s really important is watching the trend of professionals as they grow into these roles managing disruptive technologies. Update: Brian Hayashi has created a spreadsheet of this with additional info –like Twitter handles. We’re staying coordinated so the data is matched, follow Brian on Twitter. [Connecting with customers using social technologies is deceptively challenging, as most outsiders don't recognize the leadership to change internal cultural. Now, in public, let's recognize those who…
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Junta42-Content Marketing
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Seven Ways to Position Yourself for Unlimited Work
9 Feb 2010 | 7:17 amAs Junta42 continues to grow, we've started to branch out and hire freelancers and form partnerships. What I've learned through this process is that the way I make decisions on who I buy from or partner with has completely changed from just a few years ago. Whether you are an experienced freelance writer, a journalist/editor in a media company or brand, or even a marketing professional, there are things you must be doing now to make sure the work is always there (whether you work for yourself or someone else). It saddens me to find that people who I worked with for years at Penton… -
Junta42 Announces Content Marketing Giveaway
4 Feb 2010 | 7:29 pmJunta42 is again putting our money where our content is... Today we launched the $4200 in 42 Days contest where Junta42 will contribute $4200 toward a brand's content marketing effort. Simply put, it works like this. From now until 4/2/2010 any project submitted through the Junta42 system will be eligible for the $4200. All you have to do is sign up to the Junta42 content marketing matching service and select one of our expert, pre-qualified vendors. That's it. See more details here. Any thoughts or questions? Just shoot them over. -
Social Media Usage in Content Marketing Jumps 500% in Two Years
3 Feb 2010 | 6:54 amAs a follow up to our 2010 Junta42 Content Marketing Study, we've been doing some comparisons between content marketing product usage in 2010 versus 2008. The findings are interesting, to say the least Here are the highlights: Significant Increases in Content Distribution Social Media (i.e., Twitter, Facebook) - distribution of content through those channels has increased over 500% in two years. Blog usage has more than doubled. Online video has jumped nearly 2x. eBooks have nearly doubled. Slight Content Marketing Increases Digital Magazines Podcasts Microsites Holding Steady… -
David Meerman Scott on content marketing, social media & what's next
1 Feb 2010 | 3:57 pmHis book was a game changer. Now, David Meerman Scott's updated version of The New Rules of Marketing and PR promises even more. I had a chance to catch up with David recently and got his quick take on the book, social media and content marketing. Enjoy! JOE: From the previous version to the new version, what's the biggest change you thought you had to make? What's the biggest surprise - meaning something you'd never thought you'd actually update? DAVID: When I wrote the first edition of the book, Facebook was only available to those with a… -
5 Keys to Success with Content Marketing
28 Jan 2010 | 6:16 pmHere's a content marketing interview with me conducted by J-P de Clerck. I like the way J-P summed up the key successes and failures in content marketing for me. Hope they are helpful. The keys to success in content marketing: Understanding the informational needs of your customers Knowing how those informational needs mix with your marketing goals and objectives Developing a content program around those needs Being consistent (content marketing is a marathon, not a sprint) Listen and continually evolve the program Failure in content marketing: Selling, rather than…
