Real Estate Guides

NAR’s ePropertyData Sold to Xceligent

Charles Melvin — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:41:22 +0000

Second Century Ventures (SCV), the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), announced this week that it had sold ePropertyData to Xceligent for an undisclosed amount. With 240,000 members and growing, ePropertyData provides commercial real estate information in markets across the country and powers NAR’s current national public commercial real estate search platform, which already contains more than 200,000 active lease and sales listings. Xceligent will leverage ePropertyData’s commercial information exchange solution to help expand its existing coverage of fully researched commercial real estate information into the largest U.S.

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9th Circuit Court Upholds Right to Discriminate in Roommate Case

Stella Ransom — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:18:50 +0000

“There’s no place like home. In the privacy of your own home, you can take off your coat, kick off your shoes, let your guard down and be completely yourself. While we usually share our homes only with friends and family, sometimes we need to take in a stranger to help pay the rent. When that happens, can the government limit whom we choose? Specifically, do the anti-discrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) extend to the selection of roommates?”

Those are the words of Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Judge Kozinski wrote the majority opinion in the case ofThe opinion was filed February 2, 2012.

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Canadian Museum for Human Rights a hot attraction in Winnipeg

Blake James — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:27:16 +0000

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Downtown living is especially exciting in Winnipeg at this time because of the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights that is currently being built, expected to launch in 2013. Although it is still in the construction phase, it is already proving to be an innovative work of architecture, situated in downtown Winnipeg at the Forks. The CMHR will be both an iconic and sustainable landmark; once completed, it will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certified Building to promote energy efficiency and support for the environment.

A $310 million project, the purpose of the CMHR is primarily to increase awareness and understanding of human rights.

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Rents soar as foreclosure victims, young workers seek housing

Blake James — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:55:29 +0000

A nation still struggling to clear up one housing debacle has run smack into another soaring rents.

The foreclosure mess has pushed millions of former homeowners with tarnished credit into a competitive apartment market across the U.S. Add fresh demand from young workers, few new units and tight standards for home loans, and the result is rental sticker shock not seen in years.

Rents are surging from New York to Los Angeles. The average monthly U.S. rent for apartments hit $1,008 in the first quarter, pushing past the all-time high set in the third quarter of 2008, according to the data firm RealFacts. Full story…

This Listing Agent in Ames, Iowa Needs Help!

Charles Melvin — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:36:13 +0000

Thanks to Kerry Bern of Gladbrook, IA for pointing out this listing in Ames, IA.

This $1.9M listing stands out a little more than most. This listing agent needs help big time! Call up this agent Kerry and offer your services! Be

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In The Pipeline: CoStar Development & Construction News for May 6 – 12

Stella Ransom — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:08:36 +0000

In The Pipeline is a column on significant acquisitions of commercial land for sale, and other transactions and trends affecting office, industrial, flex, multifamily, mixed-use, hotel and public works developers. Send us news leads about your new commercial real estate project — to receive future In the Pipeline columns by e-mail.

Amazon To Add New Distribution Centers In CA

Amazon.com, already accounting for a significant share of all new warehouse construction in the U.S., will occupy new fulfillment centers in San Bernardino and Patterson, CA totaling 2 million square feet. Full story…

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Dips Back Below 4.00 Percent

Stella Ransom — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:55:14 +0000

In Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey, mortgage rates, fixed and adjustable, moved lower on weaker housing economic indicators as the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slid just below 4.00 percent for the week.

30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.99 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 29, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 4.08 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.86 percent.

15-year FRM this week averaged 3.23 percent with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.30 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.09 percent.

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For some at Elbo Room, Spring Break lasts forever

Blake James — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:37:07 +0000

elbo (Robert Duyos, Sun Sentinel / February 22, 2012)

FORT LAUDERDALE For the regulars at the Elbo Room, it’s like Spring Break lasts forever, and that iconic song by Connie Francis never ends.

If “Where the Boys Are” is a question, the answer is here — right at the end of the bar.

“Is there any better place in the world than right here?” said Steve Geissler, 50, who downed his first beer here in 1979, before his freshman year at New York Institute of Technology in his native Long Island. “Live music, the ocean right there, pretty girls. When I moved here 12 years ago, this was the only place I recognized. I

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A pet peeve about renters violating rules

Charles Melvin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:15:33 +0000

Q: I question whether it would be difficult to enforce a rule or declaration provision banning renters from having pets in a condominium, while owners are allowed to have them. As I have seen in our building, renters do not leash their pets and do not protect the property like owners. The rapid turnover of renters means that pets are less familiar in the building and greatly increases the risk of an aggressive animal in a unit that could cause injury to residents.

If a landlord renting a condominium can refuse to rent to someone with a pet, why does a landlord have such discretion with nonowners in a condominium building?

A: The Condominium Act prohibits two classes of ownership.

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Brandywine Sells Herndon Office Building for $91.1M

Charles Melvin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:53:24 +0000

Brandywine Realty Trust announced this week that it had sold a 268,240 square foot office building located in Herndon, Virginia for $91.1 million, or $340 per square foot, to Wells Core Office Income REIT. Cassidy Turley marketed the property for sale on behalf of Brandywine.

“The sale of this property achieves our objective of maximizing value from our existing portfolio,” stated Gerard H. Sweeney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brandywine Realty Trust. “It strengthens our balance sheet by providing additional liquidity, provides additional capital for our investment activities and demonstrates our commitment to execute key components of our 2012 business plan.”

Brandywine completed the development of this property known as South Lake at Dulles Corner in November 2008, with design work from Noritake Associates, and subsequently leased the entire building to Time Warner Cable Inc.

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Small Space Solutions with Container Gardening

Blake James — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:10:45 +0000

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Perhaps youre living in a condo with a balcony, or a home on a small lot in the City Centre, but you havent given up on your dreams to plant and nurture a garden? You dont have to, as you will see in this great article. Container gardening can be done in relatively small spaces, patios and balconies. If youre looking for a condo or a small home, give me a call, or fill out a Dream Home Finder form or a Dream Condo Finder form, and I will get in touch with you.

Patio Container Gardening (via 21C Woman)

Benefits of Container Gardens: There can be many reasons for planting a container garden. It

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CoStar’s People of Note (March 25-31)

Stella Ransom — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:09:24 +0000

NATIONAL
Holliday, Fenoglio Lead Veteran Team to CBRE
CBRE recruited Harold E. (Hal) Holliday, John T. Fenoglio, David M. Aaronson and James M. Richards Jr. as executive vice presidents. The brokers will serve in the mortgage brokerage’s debt and equity finance group in Houston. The team previously worked at Grandbridge Real Estate Capital.

Holliday has nearly four decades in mortgage brokerage and co-founded Holliday Fenoglio. After HF’s acquisition by Amresco 18 years ago, he successfully led the firm’s commercial mortgage banking business and launched Amresco’s multifamily lending programs for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. After t Full story…

Marketing Luxury Real Estate: Tour and Brew to Impress

Stella Ransom — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:20:21 +0000

When you are marketing luxury real estate, here is a fun way to impress your clients while driving them from property to property. Why not offer them an espresso?

Handpresso, a French company is the creator of an outdoor version of an espresso machine powered by a hand pump which is available in the US via importika.com, $199.95. This model comes with 4 cups, a serving flask, and two small napkins in an elegant black carrying case, As you are touring the gardens of a home you are showing, you can relax with your clients as you discuss the property and serve them a freshly brewed espresso. We would suggest packing a tin of biscotti and some chocolate to sweeten the deal making process. The coffee pods are also available in decaf.

The other gadget is a personal one. Since

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Homes near recreational amenities score big with buyers

Blake James — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:16:10 +0000

For more than 25 years, Todd Serpico has been cheering on the White Sox as a perennial season ticket holder, ever faithful that each season could be a magical one for his beloved ball club.

Though 2011 didn’t bring home a pennant for the Sox, it did prove to be a winning year for Serpico, who moved his growing family into a new residence at Lexington Square in Bridgeport only a mile away from U.S. Full story…

This Week In Real Estate Video

Charles Melvin — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:37:29 +0000

I enjoy tracking what people are doing with real estate video. There are not as agents using video as you may think. The thing I find interesting is how many different unique styles there are. Im fascinated by how unique and personal a persons video shooting/editing style is. I getting so I can turn off the audio and recognize who shot the video.

I think the most interesting is that Julie Kinnear which may look unpolished along side of the other videos. However, despite fact that it appears that Julie doesnt do any editing of her videos they are effective and engaging. They are simple, straight forward and she turns them out like crazy. Of all t

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Top Cities for Foreclosure Deals

Stella Ransom — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 08:19:48 +0000

The sheer number of distressed and foreclosed properties across the nation in recent years has been “impressive” to say the least. In many towns these foreclosed properties are selling at steep discounts which has many investors heading for the contract table.

These foreclosed homes need to sell; that much is clear.

Some investors or buyers may feel a twinge of guilt that they are taking advantage of sellers, but it’s important to keep in mind that these homes are already in possession of banks, not individuals, and they need to be sold in order for the glut of foreclosed property to start to decline. Buying up the foreclosed inventory can in turn help reinvigorate the market.

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