Real estate News 04/2015
Real Estate Matters | High-end upgrades may not return investment for FSBO ...
Real Estate Matters | High-end upgrades may not return investment for FSBO ... (Apr 1, 2015, Washington Post (blog))
Sears Moves to Raise $2.5 Billion By Selling Real Estate
It also starts the process of unlocking the value of Sears's real estate for shareholders. Analysts have considered that property to be a central source of value for Sears Holdings Corp. ever since the company was formed in 2005, when Mr. Lampert ... (Apr 1, 2015, Wall Street Journal)
Sanford Alderfer Real Estate opens second office in Harleysville
When founder Sanford A. Alderfer conducted his first real estate auction on Feb. 8, 1960, his office was located in his family home on Main Street in Harleysville with a sign hanging outside his front door. Now after 55 years of real estate services ... (Apr 1, 2015, The Reporter)
Bucks real estate investor charged in mortgage fraud scheme
Rossi owned the properties under several different holding companies, including R&S Real Estate and HB Holding Co. he obtained bank loans from banks including Leesport Bank and the now-defunct Berwyn, Pa.-based Nova Bank in the names of those ... (Apr 1, 2015, Philadelphia Business Journal)
Sears expects $2.5 billion from real estate moves
(AP) — Sears Holdings said it plans to sell about 254 other properties to a real estate investment trust that it is creating and anticipates about $2.5 billion in proceeds from the sale. Sears anticipates distributing rights to acquire shares in the ... (Apr 1, 2015, Crain's Chicago Business)
Salzman Real Estate joins forces with ERA Shields
One of Colorado Springs' few remaining independent real estate agents has joined one of the city's largest residential brokerages. Harry Salzman's business, Salzman Real Estate Services, merged Wednesday with ERA Shields Real Estate, a brokerage of ... (Apr 1, 2015, Colorado Springs Gazette)
Former real estate exec Michael Lyon released from Sacramento County jail
Former real estate mogul Michael Lyon was released from jail Wednesday after six months behind bars and with 16 new counts of electronic eavesdropping looming. Lyon bonded out of jail nearly two weeks after a judge set a $285,000 bail. Lyon last year ... (Apr 1, 2015, Sacramento Bee)
Portsmouth weighing hike in real-estate tax
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Portsmouth is the latest city to consider raising its real-estate tax next year. City leaders said they would use the money to help improve the school system, but not everyone is happy about the proposal. The city is looking ... (Apr 1, 2015, WAVY-TV)
Why New York's Expensive Real Estate Is Going Crazy
Traditionally, space in skyscrapers has been the preserve of too-big-to-fail corporations and law firms with triple-barrelled names. But, as you probably realize if you've taken a turn round Central Park lately, the latest and greatest supertalls don't ... (Apr 1, 2015, Gizmodo)
A crazy simple approach to creating wonderful real estate content
Then, write down all the real estate questions and complaints you've heard over the years from customers, prospects, friends, relatives, etc. If you work with a team of agents or other personnel (e.g., a receptionist or administrator), ask them to sit ... (Apr 2, 2015, Inman.com)
See Brevard's most expensive real estate sales
COCOA BEACH – The sprawling beachfront home that once was home to USA Today and FLORIDA TODAY founder Al Neuharth recently sold for $5 million. That's a record for Brevard County's residential real estate market and it's coming at a period when ... (Apr 2, 2015, Florida Today)
Real Estate Investing: The Best and Worst Markets for Property Taxes
For real estate investors, it's normally the second biggest fixed cost they need to consider, next to their monthly mortgage payments, when calculating potential cash flow on investment properties. Although they can be averaged out at the state or ... (Apr 2, 2015, U.S. News & World Report (blog))
Woman harassed by real estate phone calls
AURORA – Deborah Averch estimates she's received more than 100 phone calls in the last few days from real estate agents who want to sell her house. There's one problem: it isn't for sale. "I've never seen anything like it in my life," she said. "It's ... (Apr 2, 2015, 9NEWS.com)
Real estate heir, murder suspect Robert Durst appears for hearing on Louisiana ...
Real estate heir, murder suspect Robert Durst appears for hearing on Louisiana ... (Apr 2, 2015, WDSU New Orleans)
New online home valuations rely on real estate agents
A startup thinks it's discovered a way to arm consumers with more accurate online home valuations by crowdsourcing them from real estate agents. Homing In generates “Exactimates” by collecting information and photos on a property from a homeowner and ... (Apr 2, 2015, Inman.com)
Estero, Fort Myers see restaurant real estate boom
Restaurants depend on two things: disposable income and population growth. The current economic boom is providing both. "Naples and Fort Myers are two of the top fastest growing areas in the nation," explained Gary Tasman, founder and executive ... (Apr 2, 2015, The News-Press)
Is Real Estate Broker The Career For You?
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is projected to increase 11% between 2012 and 2022 – about as fast as the ... (Apr 2, 2015, Investopedia)
Dirty Dozen breakfast to highlight Commercial Real Estate Week
Held in conjunction with the Society of Exchange Counselors, the session will include buyers, sellers and investors in commercial real estate, all of whom will be marketing their properties to one another, said Rod Stewart, an SEC member, Kansas CCIM ... (Apr 2, 2015, Kansas.com)
What did that house sell for? Real estate in the Tiers
Real estate transactions are public records obtained by the Star-Gazette from the deeds on file in the county clerks' offices. Real estate agencies do not provide the information. CHEMUNG COUNTY. BEAVER DAMS. Elwyn C. Layton to Holly L. Wilson, ... (Apr 2, 2015, Elmira Star-Gazette)
Real-Estate Revolution Hits Cuba
It is all part of a real-estate revolution sweeping Cuba. More than five decades after Fidel Castro seized power here, ordinary Cubans are starting to accumulate real wealth by buying and selling their homes. Authorities are dusting off plans to ... (Apr 3, 2015, Wall Street Journal)
5 Things to Know About Buying Real Estate in Cuba
... transport up to $10,000 each time they travel to the island. Some Cuban homes are so cheap that it wouldn't take long to accumulate enough cash to close a deal. But if a Cuban-American buys property, that could still be construed as a violation of ... (Apr 3, 2015, Wall Street Journal (blog))
Hong Kong Real Estate: Is The Lack Of Land A Myth?
Ronnie Chan, the chairman of Hung Lung Group, compared himself to Brad Pitt during a real estate conference in Hong Kong in December. “I am a man. Brad Pitt is a man. We aren't exactly fungible assets. In the case of commercial real estate, I am Brad ... (Apr 3, 2015, Forbes)
Real Estate Notebook: George buildings in Delray trade for $19.5 million
Palm Beach-based Menin Development paid $19.5 million for the George buildings in downtown Delray Beach. The adjacent retail properties at 326 and 400 E. Atlantic Ave. total nearly 20,000 square feet. They had been owned by the George family since ... (Apr 3, 2015, Sun Sentinel)
San Mateo real estate investor charged in with Bay Area foreclosure auction ...
San Mateo real estate investor charged in with Bay Area foreclosure auction ... (Apr 3, 2015, San Jose Mercury News)
Real estate tech is making life hell for some homeowners
Her experience captures how technology designed to help real estate agents drum up business is increasingly making life a living hell for consumers who are deemed likely to buy or sell homes. The phenomenon raises questions about whether lead ... (Apr 3, 2015, Inman.com)
REITS versus Real Estate Mutual Funds
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate mutual funds both offer diversification and an easy, affordable way for individual investors to invest in various segments of the real estate market. They are also a more liquid way to invest in ... (Apr 3, 2015, Investopedia)
Real estate 'turf wars' lead to lost sales, leave seller money on the
I'm a bit surprised to hear that turf wars might still exist, even in this day of statewide real estate data. It's becoming popular for some agents to stretch their selling boundaries further, but some have been hit with resistance from local-area ... (Apr 3, 2015, Inman.com)
New Alabama real estate conference taking some inspiration from TED talks
About 300 real estate agents statewide will gather in Birmingham Tuesday for a conference focusing on technology in the real estate industry. The first ever REcharge event at the Birmingham Marriott off of U.S. 280 is different than your typical ... (Apr 3, 2015, AL.com)
Correction: Real Estate Heir-Pirro Story
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — None of the three killings linked to real estate heir Robert Durst happened on Jeanine Pirro's watch, yet the New York prosecutor-turned-talk show host has managed to get involved in each investigation. She has spent 15 years ... (Apr 3, 2015, ABC News)
Houstonia Magazine: real estate issue
HOUSTON'S REAL ESTATE MARKET IS EVER EVOLVING. HOUSTON MAGAZINE BREAKS IT ALL DOWN. JOINING US THIS MORNING, DIANE CAPLIN. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, DIANE. HI. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. I LOVE YOUR ... (Apr 4, 2015, KPRC Houston)
Meet Maurice Wilder, the biggest real estate mogul you've never heard of
He looks at a piece of real estate, and either he likes it or he doesn't." In downtown Clearwater he has occasionally had a reputation as a frugal landlord, but in recent years he has upgraded his buildings' infrastructure to meet the needs of tech ... (Apr 4, 2015, Tampabay.com)
Millville hopes Cumberland County College campus ends real estate roller coaster
About a decade later, city officials said High Street businesses underwent more than $7 million worth of renovations. Real estate sales topped $15 million, and the price of a downtown property that sold in the late 1990s for $40,000, depending on the ... (Apr 4, 2015, Press of Atlantic City)
Real estate fraudster or savvy businessman? You decide
Sitting in his prison cell in the Milan Federal Correctional Institution a few years ago, Sherman Pegross reflected on a misspent life. At 18, he was sentenced to two years of probation for extortion. Multiple arrests and convictions followed for theft ... (Apr 4, 2015, Detroit Free Press)
Local real estate agents use technology to hook buyers
For properties like 100 King St., listing agent Scott Cleveland of Re/Max Supercenter in King George calls in Mats Jerndal of Oddbox Studios, who uses a fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles—commonly known as a drones—and cameras to create real estate ... (Apr 4, 2015, Fredericksburg.com)
Tech-industry moguls snap up L.A. real estate
But L.A.'s appeal among techies is spreading beyond the mega-rich, with tech industry buyers from Silicon Valley spending more and more time in the area — and snapping up real estate here. They include Facebook and eBay executives as well as angel ... (Apr 4, 2015, The Seattle Times)
Real estate transfers
The GRSW Stewart Real Estate Trust to Joseph Ehrecke and Gary Ehrecke, property at 927 Ridgewood Ave. — $168,400. Joseph Tryon to Bryce Reynolds and Erica Lange, property at 3451 Southdale Drive — $172,500. Aaron Rosheim and Kerrie Rosheim ... (Apr 4, 2015, Ames Tribune)
Comings and goings in Salem's commercial real estate
Thanks to the ongoing economic recovery, industrial and retail activity in the Salem area was on the rise in 2014. Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisors, a Salem company that provides commercial real estate brokerage, produces an annual publication ... (Apr 4, 2015, Statesman Journal)
Cos Cob real estate market on the rise
After years of being overlooked, the neighborhood of Cos Cob has become a bright spot in Greenwich's real estate scene, with house closings up significantly over last year and buyers finding themselves in bidding wars over a property. In the first ... (Apr 4, 2015, Greenwich Time)
Union City: San Francisco real estate giant buys another commercial property
Terreno Realty Corp. recently bought its third Union City parcel in the past four months, spending $7.4 million on 3 acres in the city's northwestern corner. The 65,000 square-foot property, which has 10 loading stations and 104 parking spaces, is at ... (Apr 5, 2015, Contra Costa Times)
6 ways real estate brokers can recruit like a tech startup
In the battle for top real estate talent, a healthy commission split and great training simply aren't enough. As a real estate agent-turned-tech entrepreneur, I've noticed some surprising parallels between recruiting software engineers and attracting ... (Apr 5, 2015, Inman.com)
Niagara County real estate transactions
•Prospect St., A & K Real Estate Investors Llc to Ronnie B. Glina; Hedy B. Glina, $27,000. NEWFANE. •Howell Ave., Carol Hallifax; Gloria Woodard to Richard E. Hull; Jean M. Hull, $87,000. NIAGARA FALLS Highest price: $2,650,000 Average price: $252,464 ... (Apr 5, 2015, Buffalo News)
Erie County real estate transactions
AKRON. • 4 Stoneridge Lane, Daniel Joseph Miller; Keilka Monet Salsbury to Jonathan M. Sowinski, $200,000. ALDEN. • 2863 Peters Corners Road, Merlin H. Knauff; Katherine G. Knauff to Paul J. Terry; Cynthia M. Terry, $215,000. • 234 Three Rod Road, ... (Apr 5, 2015, Buffalo News)
Residential real estate transfers
Keating, Brendan J. and Heine, Kati R. to Baker, Lynn A. and Arthur P., 8211 N. 154th Circle, $143,000. State Street Investments to Legacy Homes Omaha, 15819 Jardine Circle, $79,500. NS-Newhill LLC to Charleston Homes, 18230 Northern Hills Drive, ... (Apr 5, 2015, Omaha World-Herald)
29 Newbury is latest casualty of rising Back Bay real estate
Lewis is a month-to-month tenant and said her landlord, D.L. Saunders Real Estate Corp., told her in mid-March that she needed to be out by the end of April. “I'm really heartsick,” said Lewis, who opened the cafe in 1986. “This has pretty much been my ... (Apr 5, 2015, Boston Globe (subscription))
The Tech Assault on Traditional Real Estate Is Gaining Minimal Traction With ...
The Tech Assault on Traditional Real Estate Is Gaining Minimal Traction With ... (Apr 5, 2015, Huffington Post)
Real estate, private equity help returns in 2014
Returns for privately held real estate were positive, but real estate investment trusts were “king,” said William Frieske, Chicago-based vice president and senior performance consultant for Northern Trust Corp.'s investment risk and analytical services ... (Apr 5, 2015, Pensions & Investments)
PhillyDeals: Retooled real estate group bouncing back after financial scandal
Stanley, a Berwyn-based real estate investment adviser, was tapped by fellow board members to head the company in December, after Schorsch stepped down as chairman, and chief executive David Kay resigned. That followed October's disclosure that ... (Apr 6, 2015, Philly.com)
Douglas County real estate market slowly improving
Local real estate agents say that several factors in past months have gradually changed people's attitudes toward real estate. Those factors include more security in their jobs, the unemployment rate dipping below 10 percent in the county, rental rates ... (Apr 6, 2015, Daily Astorian)
City View Village sold to Houston real estate investor
The retail center is 100 percent leased. “City View Village is our third property in San Antonio, Texas, giving us approximately 300,000 square feet and enhancing our presence in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with high ... (Apr 6, 2015, San Antonio Business Journal (blog))
Real estate transactions
Cernus Development has purchased 156 acres on Lake Olympia Parkway and Fort Bend Parkway in Missouri City from Plains Capital Bank for the construction of a single-family residential and commercial mixed use development. McAlister Real Estate's Matt ... (Apr 6, 2015, Chron.com)