Bits Blog: F.A.A. Approves iPads in Cockpits, but Not for Passengers

Bits Blog: F.A.A. Approves iPads in Cockpits, but Not for Passengers: On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration said that pilots on American Airlines flights would be officially allowed to use iPads instead of paper flight manuals in the cockpit, just a few feet from the most critical aviation equipment on a plane, even during takeoff and landing. You, back in Seat 32B: turn off that Kindle.

Short sales are up in Orlando, breathing some life into market

Short sales are up in Orlando, breathing some life into market: November short-sale transactions in Orlando increased 39.4% over last year, buoying the median home sales price in the market by 9.52%, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association said Wednesday.
The median Orlando home sales price last month was $115,000. In the short-sales segment, the median selling price jumped 7.1% from last year, with the average short sale [...]

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Foreign homebuyers clicking on depressed US housing markets

Foreign homebuyers clicking on depressed US housing markets: Foreigners looking to purchase homes in the U.S. are increasing their online search activity for bargains, as sliding home prices continue to attract investors from around the globe — especially Canada.
Florida properties remained the lead attraction for foreign investment in the third quarter, followed by Arizona, Nevada and California, according to traffic on the website [...]

Existing home sales to be revised lower

Existing home sales to be revised lower: If you thought the U.S. housing market couldn't get much worse, think again.

Mortgage applications shoot up 4.1% on refinancing surge, low rates

Mortgage applications shoot up 4.1% on refinancing surge, low rates: Mortgage applications filed in the United States shot up 4.1% last week as refinancing volumes surged on record low interest rates for the year.
The Mortgage Bankers Association released its Market Composite Index – a matrix that measures loan application volume – Wednesday morning, showing an uptick in refinancing activity. The index rose 4.1% on a [...]

Retirement Planning In A Changing World

Retirement Planning In A Changing World: Retiring at the age of 65 is quickly becoming a thing of the past. So, what is happening to make this change?

Five New Management Metrics You Need To Know

Five New Management Metrics You Need To Know: After years of leading teams and watching some of the best startup CEOs in the world, I've learned that the most important metrics are often ones you never read about on the income statement or in the financial press.

Rent a time-share and stay for less

Rent a time-share and stay for less: Vacationing with your kids? Cut your costs by renting a time-share instead of hotel rooms. You'll save money on lodging -- and spend less on meals by cooking in.

Is Coral Gables still experiencing a Buyers’ Market? Inventory at a 5 year LOW!

Is Coral Gables still experiencing a Buyers’ Market? Inventory at a 5 year LOW!:
The terms Buyers’ and Sellers’ Markets come from the number of homes on the market versus how quickly they are being absorbed. If the number of homes on the market would sell out (assuming no new ones came on to the market), in three months or less, you have a Sellers’ Market (home inventory is low, homes are in hot demand and selling quickly). If the inventory of homes on the market is over six months, you have a Buyers’ Market. The number of available homes is plentiful and buyers have a large inventory to select from.
Since the beginning of 2011, Coral Gables has seen a steady decrease of homes on the market, and we are right at the tipping point of reaching a Neutral or Stable Market. A stable market normally doesn’t last very long, but during that time, neither Sellers nor Buyers have a strong advantage over the other.
What does this mean to BUYERS?

• Fewer homes to choose from
• More competition from other Buyers
• “Low Ball” offers aren’t going to fly very far
• Keep a sharp eye on the listings for new and reduced properties and don’t wait too long to make an offer
• Know the inventory and market so as soon as a new property comes on the market that meets your criteria, be ready to act
• Interest rates are still low, take advantage of that and the market before the pendulum swings into a Sellers’ Market

What does this mean to Sellers?

• It’s a great time to list, you have far less competition from other Sellers
• While we are not in a Seller’s Market, we are in one much more favorable for Sellers than we have seen in the previous five years
• You still need to be priced right, presented well and marketed properly
• If you have been waiting to list until the market stabilizes, now is the time

Miami Real Estate Buyers – Listen up!

Miami Real Estate Buyers – Listen up!:

If you are a Miami Beach home buyer you know you can be picky, you can demand more and you have every right to be a pain, since this is YOUR market. If you have been looking for a while, you may find the search frustrating and never ending and may even wonder if you will ever buy a property.

With the daily gloom of the media, you may have a tendency to forget what your goal is. You may even start doubting what it is that you really want. So here’s what Rick and I recommend. (Yeah, we’re giving you homework, but you will thank us for it….or not)

Sit down either by yourself or with your significant other and write a list. Write down what it is that you want (not taking price into consideration yet). Number of bedrooms and baths, single-family or condo, square footage, location, size of property, layout, close to a particular school, gated neighborhood, remodeled or not, preferred finishes, charm/no charm, modern or traditional, pool/no pool. Brainstorm away until you have everything down on paper.

If you are making a purchasing decision with a significant other, we recommend that you consolidate your lists and come to a consensus on what is most important. Then go ahead and organize those items in order of significance – please realize that it is almost impossible to find the perfect home with everything you want and it is essential to be flexible and let some of those “wants” go.

After you are done with the “real estate wants list”, go back to your Realtor and discuss price – this will most likely be the only factor that has remained constant since you began, and you may notice that you will be able to afford more items on that list than when you began (so the search time is not all that bad).

Review Miami Beach homes on the market that you have seen and make sure you are not discarding any good opportunities because you were not as “open minded”. Go back and look at them again and make sure you are not missing a great deal that could turn out to be your dream home.

I will repeat again and again that buying real estate is an emotional process and looking at properties for an extended period of time can be draining and frustrating. By studying your needs and indentifying your goals, you may find yourself with a different outlook and willing to make a decision (even if the decision is to stop looking).

We work with real estate buyers on a daily basis that confuse wants with needs. This simple exercise helps them clear up their goals and look at properties with a different mindset. Remember that your Miami Beach Realtor is there to help you with your decision (even if it means knocking sense into you!)

If the exercise doesn’t work – call us and we’ll make you a mojito to make up for your troubles!

Fourth Quarter 2011 Real Estate Investment Outlook

Fourth Quarter 2011 Real Estate Investment Outlook:

N.F.L. Fast Forward: Quarterbacks Bear Down on Marino’s 1984 Record

N.F.L. Fast Forward: Quarterbacks Bear Down on Marino’s 1984 Record: Four quarterbacks are challenging Dan Marino’s single-season passing record of 5,084 yards, which says as much about his 1984 season as it does about the current N.F.L.

Surging student loan debt threatens homeownership

Surging student loan debt threatens homeownership: College graduates may not be able get onto the property ladder as soon as they'd like due to the costs associated with funding higher education.
According to Rick Palacios, a senior research analyst at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, student loan debt now totals $865 billion, which is an average of $25,000 per student.
"Student loans are [...]

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: A look at stories across HousingWire's weekend desk, with more coverage to come on bigger issues:
Senate Democrats and House Republicans proposed a plan to pay for the proposed payroll tax-cut extension. The plan boosts the "guarantee" fees that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac charge lenders. The government-sponsored enterprises use the fees to cover defaults of [...]

7 Reasons Big-Company Executives Fail in a Startup

7 Reasons Big-Company Executives Fail in a Startup: Mid-level or even top executives who "grew up" in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. In reality, very few executives or professional stars from large corporations thrive ...