Archive for February, 2008
A blog is a Moon, not a Star!
February 21st, 2008 Categories: Perspectives
These pictures were taken by me last night during the lunar eclipse.
When I first decided to explore the universe of blogging I knew it would enhance my business, and offer an adventure. I spent a lot of time and effort learning about blogging. I have since launched two blogs since December. I even started working for the premier real estate blogging consulting company, The Real Estate Tomato.
The most important thing I learned was that a Blog is the opposite of your typical real estate website.
A Blog is a Moon, not a Star!
A typical website is set up as a marketing piece to attract your attention. It’s a virtual brochure with no opportunity to participate. The focus is the agent’s experience, service, or listings. The author expects you to revolve around this site as your ultimate source of information. In the solar system of real estate, there is no shortage of “stars” fighting for your attention. In fact, there are so many stars, you can name your own! 
A blog revolves around the reader, not the other way around. The reader attracts the blogger by their demand for the truth and a relevant insight to the real estate market. Our future generations expect syndication of information and don’t have time to check in for more. Furthermore, as the reader, you can participate and drive the content by commenting and using social networking.
Successful bloggers realize they must revolve around the reader. If they do, the reader will admire their moon, just like we admire Earths.
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Maryland Housing Trends Report Released | Part 3 BRAC
February 12th, 2008 Categories: BRAC, Maryland Real Estate News
According to the Maryland Trends in Housing report written by MRIS and Delta Associates, the Pentagon’s Base Realignment and Closure operation (BRAC) will have a profound effect in our local market.
The report confirms what I have written already regarding the effects of BRAC in Howard County, and surrounding areas. My sources of information for those articles came from the Howard County BRAC Task force as well as Maryland BRAC web pages. For resources I encourage you to also check out my BRAC Resource page that I have created.
According to the Trends in Housing report, approximately 30,000 military jobs will be added to the region by the year 2011. Many of the new positions will bring additional family members along with them, thus increasing the population dramatically.
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Maryland Housing Trends Report Released | Part 2 Foreclosures
February 6th, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics
On Monday I reviewed the Maryland Housing Trends Report written by MRIS and Delta Associates.
In that post I covered the Economy as well as the Real Estate Trends and Forecast. In this post I will summarize the special section which included Foreclosures and the regional effect on the real estate market. In part three I will post about what the report has to say about the effects of BRAC in the Maryland area. Clearly the writers have identified these two subjects as ones to keep an eye on.
Foreclosures: Navigating the impact on the residential real estate market
To recap, the report starts by noting the trends for the regional market and illustrates that in some areas home prices have held steady while sales volume has decreased. The report also illustrated how days on market statistics have increased. The area is still supported by high incomes and low un-employment.
However, everywhere we turn we hear about rising foreclosures, and now, the Maryland General Assembly plans to address rising foreclosures.
So, what effect does the rising foreclosure rate have on the market?
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Maryland Housing Trends Report Released | Part 1
February 4th, 2008 Categories: Market Statistics
This morning I received the sixth issue of the Maryland Trends in Housing report written by MRIS and Delta Associates. This report provides an in-depth look at the issues that shape the Mid-Atlantic housing Market.
The Housing Trends Report includes an analysis of the following key topics:
- An analysis of the Washington and Baltimore economy
- An exploration of housing data, including Residential Real Estate
- An overview of the Commercial Real Estate market
- A special section regarding Foreclosures in the real estate market
- A special section including information about BRAC. (Base Realignment and Closure). See my BRAC Information Page.
In this post I will summarize the analysis of the economy as well as the findings on the real estate market. (Washington/Baltimore Area)
In part two of this series I will summarize the two special sections including the foreclosures and the effects of BRAC to our area. Later this week I will begin my monthly real estate market reports for individual counties and key cities.
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