Listing Data Distribution Gets …

in RE Blogs Technology on

Via TechCrunch: ListHub products and services include syndication of 2.4 million property listings from 270+ multiple listing services and 38,000 brokers to more than 70 real estate marketing web sites, as well as data management services and reporting analysis used to monitor online listing performance.

…ListHub products and services include syndication of 2.4 million property listings from 270+ MLSs and 38,000 brokers to more than 70 real estate marketing web sites, as well as streamlined data management and reporting analysis used to monitor online listing performance. With the addition of the ListHub brand, Move will deliver even greater value to MLSs, brokers and real estate web sites as a single trusted source for national online listing syndication and reporting services empowering real estate professionals to reach more consumers while efficiently managing their online marketing strategy from one standardized dashboard. … Together, Move and ListHub will consult and work with key constituents in the real estate industry to demonstrate how its newly combined products and services can help MLSs, franchises, and brokers increase their online marketing effectiveness, safeguard the use of listing data, and reach more potential buyers and sellers efficiently through the national ListHub syndication network.

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Dredge? Dig? Drig? Charlottesville and Albemarle Need a Water Plan

in Growth Politics on

I could make at least two arguments: 1 – The City Council has once again demonstrated their collective inability to stick to a plan that was hammered out over many years and was a good plan. 2 – Congratulations to City Council for being flexible, relatively nimble and for listening to the people This much is known – we need water, and it’s not an infinite supply and Charlottesville and Albemarle aren’t alone – Fluvanna and Louisa have been talking about water for some time .. … And the dam supporters had some pretty big guns: the Chamber of Commerce, the aforementioned former Supervisor, the League of Women Voters, and the Nature Conservancy, the enviro-group credited with devising the dam/pipeline plan. … Charlottesville Tomorrow : Charlottesville City Council has unanimously approved a revised community water supply plan proposal that emphasizes phased construction of a new or refurbished Ragged Mountain Dam (with an initial water level height increase of 13 feet and a larger foundation that would support up to a 42 foot increase in water level), extensive and ongoing dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, a new pipeline connecting Ragged Mountain to South Fork, and aggressive water conservation efforts.

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Fun with the Code of Ethics – Is it unethical to Overprice a listing?

in General Real Estate Public Perception on

Someone asked me this question last week, and after a bit of deliberation and thought, I think that the argument could be made that a Realtor “buying a listing” – telling a Seller what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear – could be considered a breach of the Realtor Code of Ethics .

…The services which REALTORS® provide to their clients and customers shall conform to the standards of practice and competence which are reasonably expected in the specific real estate disciplines in which they engage; specifically, residential real estate brokerage, real property management, commercial and industrial real estate brokerage, land brokerage, real estate appraisal, real estate counseling, real estate syndication, real estate auction, and international real estate.

…The challenges to a viable Code of Ethics are (at least) two-fold: 1 – The system is self-enforcing (and I could make the argument that if I were to file a violation against another agent, I could be violating my fiduciary duty to a future client) 2 – Few members of the public know that they can file a violation and don’t care enough to do so. … This is one of the many reasons that I share all market data with my buyer and seller clients – I want them to be educated, informed and competent as to the decision that they are making based on my professional advice.

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Transportation Costs and Housing Affordability

in Politics Transportation on

If Walkscore put walkability on the real estate map (it’s getting better all the time, by the way), the new online tool Abogo might do the same for transportation affordability. … Seeing this number in black and white may help diffuse the old drive-til-you-qualify myth – that you can find more house for the money the further from the city you move. Living in lower densities may pose less up-front costs per square foot, but the ongoing cost of getting to where you need to go on a regular basis is real and likely much higher. … The numbers look high to me , and my transportation numbers are going to be higher than the average user (I do drive pretty much for a living).

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A (Congressionally Mandated) Faster Short Sale Decision on the Horizon?

in General Real Estate Politics on

For context, in the Charlottesville MSA – Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene and Nelson, right now, there are 2513 active residential listings. 72 are marked as Short Sales.

…‘(4) SHORT SALE- The term ‘short sale’ means the sale of the dwelling or residential real property that is subject to the mortgage, deed or trust, or other security interest that secures a residential mortgage loan that–
… ‘(B) requires authorization by the securitization vehicle or other investment vehicle or holder of the mortgage loan, or the servicer acting on behalf of such a vehicle or holder.’.

…(b) Applicability- The amendment made by subsection (a) of this section shall apply to any written request for a short sale made after the date of the enactment of this Act.

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List Price to Sale Price Ratio in Charlottesville’s Real Estate Market

in Market statistics on

I ran the automated “competitive market analysis” report in the Charlottesville MLS and the price-to-sell percentage was 94.6%, meaning that houses that sold in August sold for about 94.6% of the asking price. … I picked six. – One property that looks like it sold for 100% of the asking price actually sold for – after it was pulled off the market and switched Realtors – 77% of the original asking price , was a foreclosure and last sold for $174,900 in March 2003. – Another one looked like it sold for 100% of the asking price actually sold for – after it was pulled off the market and switched Realtors – 93% of the actual original asking price . A non-foreclosure that last sold for $300k in May 2007 (and was being marketed then as “priced at 2007 county assessment”). – One in Crozet looks like (and actually did) sell for 80% of the original asking price. (and the listing agent is marked as handling both sides of the transaction) – A home in Ivy sold for 94% of the asking price, and the seller paid $5k towards the Purchaser’s closing costs. – Lastly, one that sold for $945,000 – 96% of the asking price – actually sold for 66% of the original asking price – nearly two years ago. – One was new construction that looks like it sold for 107% of the asking price – in zero days on the market. … The data and reports that you read that talk about the Charlottesville real estate market, the Virginia real estate market and the nation’s real estate market probably don’t give you the insight or the guidance that you need to make the decision that you need to make.

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