Top real estate tech tools of 2005. Opinion: A look at latest innovative technology. Dozens of new technology companies enter the real estate scene every year, and existing companies launch hundreds of new tech applications and gadgets for the real estate business. Here's a list of our picks for the top real estate tech tools of 2005: Google Earth, Homepages.com, wireless home listings data, Trulia, streaming online video, SafeMLS, REDTablet PC, MyPlaceConnection, Relay, and eClosingRoom. Click here to read more.
The median home price in Monterey County declined from $680,000 in September to $675,000 in October, the third consecutive downward month, down from a July peak of $698,000. But even with the dip, homes are still significantly higher than a year ago, when the median price in Monterey County was $578,000 for October 2004. When it comes to real estate, perspective is everything. If you're a buyer, things are looking better by the day. Prices are beginning to inch downward, homes are staying on the market longer, and many of those squeezed out of the chance at homeownership as prices escalated in the past few years are now beginning to dream. For a seller who's watched the homes in his neighborhood selling fast and high, things are a little less clear. Not that homes aren't still moving, and commanding record prices when they do. It's just that the runaway real estate market of the past few years may be finally settling in to a more reasonable jog. Click here to read more.
Second homes on the rise. It came as a big surprise to the real estate industry last year that second homes were accounting for more than one-third of annual sales. Newly accurate or not, the percentages don't tell the whole story: Though baby boomers make up a large part of the second-home market, a growing number of foreign buyers are in it, taking advantage of a weaker dollar. And the opposite is true, too: Many U.S. buyers are finding the dollar purchases more in foreign markets, especially Latin America and Eastern Europe. The second-home market has become so large that 140,000 of the nation's more than 1.6 million Realtors acknowledged specializing in it in 2005, a 30 percent increase over 2004. A clear indicator of its importance came at the Realtors' annual meeting in San Francisco in late October, when the NAR announced a new certification program for the Resort and Second-Home Professional Specialist. Click here to read more.
Wealthy Americans Remain Confident that Home Values will Increase. Amid signs that the runaway real estate market is slowing down, the majority of wealthy Americans remain optimistic that their homes will continue to appreciate in value, according to survey findings released today by The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said they expect to see double-digit increases in the value of their primary homes over the next five
years, with nearly one-third (31 percent) anticipating an increase of 20 percent or more. "Our findings indicate that many among the wealthy will not believe there is a real estate slowdown until they see it reflected in their property values, especially in regions of the country where prices have skyrocketed during the past five years," said Nicholas Buss, Ph.D., senior vice president and PNC's real estate economist. Click here to read more.
Data publisher sees rising foreclosure activity. Foreclosures.com reports increasing foreclosures in California, Nevada, New Jersey. Real estate foreclosure activity has edged up in California, New Jersey and in the Las Vegas area of Nevada at the end of the third quarter, according to data from Foreclosures.com, a Fair Oaks, Calif.-based real estate information publisher and investment advisor. "We saw increases in defaults month to month at the end of the third quarter in eight of 13 northern California counties that we cover...and in four of five southern California counties," said Foreclosures.com president Alexis McGee. She added, "We're seeing flat appreciation in San Francisco, and even a slight decline in prices. In Orange County, prices dropped $4,000 in October, for the second consecutive month. Defaults at the end of the third quarter reached 1,000 versus 582 in the third quarter of 2004. That's almost a 42 percent increase." Click here to read more.
Despite Shifting Tides, U.S. Commercial Real Estate Will Remain Unscathed, Thriving into 2006, According to Colliers International. Colliers International, the global real estate services firm, today launched its 2006 Real Estate Forecast, providing an in-depth look at the nation's commercial real estate market with predictions and top trends for the coming year -- specifically, the industrial, retail and office subsets. According to the firm's research, the U.S. commercial real estate sector will enjoy another blockbuster year aided by considerable momentum going into 2006, which will continue to fuel growth in industrial, retail and office real estate. Click here to read more.
Real answers to real estate questions. What would you do? Experts in the world of real estate offer their wisdom to prospective buyers, homeowners and investors. For homeowners in Orange County, it's been a great ride in the past few years, as local home prices recorded double-digit increases. But now what? Is it time to sell? If you were one of the many unlucky ones who couldn't afford to buy, is there any hope? And what should you do if you just want to diversify your portfolio by adding some real estate investments? Ten local real estate experts came to the Register last week to share their views about how readers can best position themselves financially when it comes to property next year. Click here to read more.
~Tina Jan~
Coldwell Banker Kivett-Teeters
1655 E. Sixth St.
Beaumont, CA 92223
Work: 951-845-5520 Ext. 105
Fax: 951-845-4916
Cell: 909-446-2666
Toll-Free: 1-877-TINAJAN
tina.jan@coldwellbanker.com
www.tinajan.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting!