The More Things Change…
Scan here using a smartphone QR Code Reader and see where it leads! The rapid change from desktop PC to laptop and now to smart phones and tablets is revolutionizing real estate once again… just over a year from my first blog entry, where I discussed how back in the 1990′s, I showed the Internet to a [...]
Continue Reading →Randolph: We are not alone…
AS THIS MAP OF RANDOLPHS across the US shows, we are not alone… at least those of us who call Randolph home are not! I reached this conclusion while developing my new Randolph website. Although not in the top-ten most popular town names, Randolph has 13 sister cities…towns, villages and townships named RANDOLPH. This number [...]
Continue Reading →Looking Back… Looking Forward, Part III
After reviewing contract signings and absorption rates, the last… and maybe most important measurement of the real estate market is average selling prices. Keep in mind that these prices are just averages, and especially in this market we need take foreclosures, short sales and other factors into the equation. As they say “your mileage may vary.” [...]
Continue Reading →25 Years Ago Today…
Where were you? I was a student at Northeastern University in Boston and had a 12:30 appointment with my advisor on January 28, 1986. The television was on in the background as I got ready… yet another shuttle launch was being shown… Shuttle launches had become so routine that people barely paid attention. The shuttle [...]
Continue Reading →Looking Back… Looking Forward, Part II
Contract signing trends were highlighted in the first part of this series. Here we take a look at absorption rates which provide an additional perspective. Absorption rates are calculated from the total current inventory and the number of monthly contracts resulting in the average months it takes to sell or absorb the current inventory of homes. Of [...]
Continue Reading →Looking Back… Looking Forward, Part I
As I have written in previous blog entries, contract signings measure the motivation of buyers to commit to a large purchase, where closings are just the consummation of that decision. Following the format of last years’ three part examination of the real estate market, I will share measurement data in separate blog entries. Click here [...]
Continue Reading →First Impressions
The old saying “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is proven once again by the 2010-11 Cost vs Value Survey showing that a new front entry has the highest return on investment when trying to increase the value of a home, followed closely by new garage doors. Returns on investment [...]
Continue Reading →The Power of the Web
This past week, we’ve seen two displays on the power of the Internet. First, Wikileaks released hundreds of thousands of confidential documents regarding military readiness and State Department secrets… many of which can potentially harm or kill those who risk their lives every day for our great country. The irony is that this group who [...]
Continue Reading →Consumer Confidence on the Rise
According to data released from the Conference Board this morning, the consumer confidence level is at its highest point in five months. This survey measures consumer’s feelings about the current economy, as well as feelings about the outlook for the future. According to CNN Money, the newest report shows several encouraging signs. Specifics from the CNN [...]
Continue Reading →GM Takes an Important Turn
For the first time in 17 months, General Motors stock is trading on the NY Stock Exchange. In their first day of trading, shares were up 3.6% to $34.16, raising more than $22 billion, cutting the US Treasury Department’s ownership stake of GM to 26%, from nearly 61 percent of the company. This is good [...]
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