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ByTheOwner.com Receives Page Ranking of 5 from Google 2007-10-29 08:35:44 ByTheOwner.com recently received a page ranking of 5 from Google. Page Ranking partly determines the results of google’s search results. Typically sites with a page ranking (PR) of 5 or more will be at the top of related searched. Google does not disclose the science behind page ranking, but typically well designed websites with lots of useful information and incoming natural links are ranked better than poorly designed websites with few incoming links. ByTheOwner.com works hard on our website design and online marketing to ensure that we rank at the top of google searches. We have also noticed that google searches vary based on the geographic placement of where the search is coming from. For example a person searching “for sale by owner” in Toronto might receive different results from a person performing the same search in Vancouver. For this reason we are working at improving our results throughout Canada. www.bytheowner.com ... Google

ByTheOwner.com ranked as the 6th most visited real estate site in Canada 2007-10-29 08:25:43 A recent Comscore Media Metrix for September 2007 ranked ByTheOwner.com/Duproprio.com as the 6th most visited real estate advertising website in Canada. Here are the results: 1. MLS.ca (www.mls.ca) 2. Remax International (www.remax.ca) 3. Royallepage (www.royallepage.ca) 4. La Capital (www.lacapitalvendu.com) 5. Canoe (www.micasa.canoe.com) 6. ByTheOwner.com/Duproprio.com (www.bytheowner.com) ByTheOwner.com is proud to be amoung the top real estate websites in Canada. It’s important to note that ByTheOwner.com was the only For-Sale-By-Owner website in the top 10. The closest FSBO website ranked #17. ByTheOwner.com is looking to take more market share away from traditional real estate agents such as Remax and Royal Lepage. The cost to sell a home with a real estate agent is approximately 5% of your home’s value ($15,000 + GST on a $300,000 home). www.ByTheOwner.com ...

Columbus Announced as Indie Art Capital of the World 2007-10-29 06:24:50 PRESS RELEASE Columbus Announced as Indie Art Capital of the World For Immediate Release: Monday, October 29, 2007 Contact: Mike Reed, 614-348-9800, or Daniel Fox, 614-746-0333 COLUMBUS, Ohio “? The title of “Indie Art Capital of the World” was announced and awarded to the City of Columbus last Tuesday, October 23rd. This announcement marks the beginning of a new grass-roots effort in Columbus to help clarify and boost the cities image throughout the world as a place where all types of art produced with an independent spirit are embraced. Already forging a strong foothold in the community, this title is anticipated to be adopted into the marketing and promotion organizations throughout Central Ohio by the end of the year. Local indie artist Mike Reed says that he’s ready for the new title to be embraced from top to bottom. “Have the Greater Columbus Arts Council adopt the moniker”, Reed stated. “Not only is this something Mayor Mi ...

Toronto’s north-end condo corridor 2007-10-29 05:01:02 Here’s a look at the new condo developments in the Yonge Street corridor in North York. Parking space and storage locker are not included in the purchase price unless indicated. 1. AVONSHIRE: 100 Harrison Garden Blvd., just north of Highway 401, just east of Yonge St. Builder: Tridel. Two 21-storey precast concrete and glass buildings with a total of 435 units. Prices (parking included): from $360,000 for 887 sq. ft. to more than $1 million for a penthouse with 2,083 sq. ft. Fees: 39 cents per sq. ft., plus heat and hydro. Amenities: 24-hour concierge, indoor pool, whirlpool, equipped fitness room, theatre, four guest suites, library, saunas, billiards room, party room, 0.4-hectare park. Sales: just opened. Status: construction to start late summer 2008. Occupancy: summer 2010. Sales centre: northeast corner of Yonge St. and Avondale Ave., 416-730-0300; www.tridel.com/avonshire. 2. C-CONDOMINIUMS: Finch Ave., one block west of Yonge St. Builder: Empire Communities. A 21-storey ...

Real Estate Market Has Moved Online 2007-10-29 03:52:30 The survey also finds homeowners are almost three times more likely to start property hunting online than they were last time they moved. Additionally, the study finds among buyers aged 18 to 44 this figure jumps to 42 per cent, compared with 20 per cent of those aged 45 and over, a sign that online property searches are set to get more popular. Increasingly, the real estate market has moved online. A 2004 study by the National Association of Realtors indicated that 74 percent of consumers begin the home buying process online, and 75 percent expect their agent to be Internet-savvy. In fact, according to industry analysts Borrell Associates, online now accounts for more than one-third of all consumer media time - making it more difficult for advertisers to reach consumers solely through such traditional media as television and print. Finding a new property on the internet has certainly increased in popularity with the ease of searching from your own home and the ability to search thous ...

BOO! - San Francisco Halloween 2007 2007-10-28 12:52:32 So it looks like Halloween just ain’t going down in the Castro this year. Bummer. I remember my first Halloween in the Castro (long before I was a San Francisco REALTOR®)… I think Foster’s Beer had sponsored it that year or something because I remember drinking many cans of the stuffs and it wasn’t (still isn’t) a beer that I go out and drink by choice. I don’t remember police barricades, or stabbings, or shootings. But I remember some awesome costumes, including a whole JFK scene complete with a cardboard version of the Lincoln Continental he was shot it and Jackie O holding in Kennedy’s brains. Yes, it was unpleasant to look at, but damn, was it ever creative and well executed! Sorry, I think I’m digressing. The point is, I had an awesome time. Halloween in the Castro had a great vibe back then… I think the worst thing that happened that year was that I accidentally pulled off the tail of someone’s badger costum ...

Better Homes & Gardens Offers Refinance Tips from Yours Truly 2007-10-28 10:59:21 In the latest edition of Better Homes and Gardens I was interviewed for an article called “Before You Refinance” which I believe is a worthwhile piece for anyone considering refinancing their current home loan.  You can read a PDF of Before You Refinance here; or pick up the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The article talks a lot about dubious refinance offers, negative amortization and interest only loans, choosing to pay closing costs vs. not doing so and more.  It’s a good primer for people who are about to jump in the refinance pool. I’ve written extensively about getting prepared to start the refinance process; and those articles on refinancing are available under the Articles section of this blog. Share This ... Amp

TREB to tackle phantom bidding 2007-10-27 04:18:23 Use of concocted offers is to be the focus of a newly appointed Toronto Real Estate Board task force It seems that Maureen O’Neill, President of the Toronto Real Estate Board, who only recently heard about the practice of “phantom bidding” has now made the revolutionary discovery that there should be “more transparency” in the real estate industry practices. The following article appears in today’s Toronto Star: The head of the Toronto Real Estate Board is striking a task force of industry experts to look at ways to quash the controversial practice of phantom bidding. “We certainly want more transparency in the industry,” Maureen O’Neill said this week. O’Neill has approached a Toronto broker to chair the committee and another five from across Greater Toronto to sit on the panel. “I want someone from every corner of the GTA, so there is balance,” she added. The practice of seller’s agents concocting fake o ...

On fire 2007-10-26 22:31:28 I had written about my friends Jill and Tim, whose home was featured on the TV show “The Riches”. This just in, horrifying photos taken from their patio of the hills and homes around their home, on fire. Incredibly, their neighbor who is a firefighter, suggested that the best way to save their home would be to stay with it and try to fight it themselves with the garden hose. Which they did, successfully. ...

Countrywide Communicates to Brokers After Earnings 2007-10-26 15:36:40 Here is the email we received from Countrywide after its 3rd quarter earnings were released. I think that in general Countrywide may have survived this round, but is far from out of the woods. The letter below seems like every other press piece put out by Countrywide; but what do I know? Of particular note is the investment in Countrywide by Bank of America and the latter’s subsequent termination of its wholesale lending channel. Is it a harbinger for things to come at Countrywide? What do you think? A letter from the President & COO of Countrywide Home Loans October 26, 2007 Dear Valued Business Partner, Over the last four decades, Countrywide has enabled approximately 20 million borrowers to achieve the dream of homeownership. While we are extremely proud of this and our many other accomplishments, we understand at the most basic level that our success would not be possible without you. Please know that Countrywide deeply appreciates our partnership with you” ...

Countrywide Post 1st Earnings Loss in 25 Years - Stock Surges 2007-10-26 08:07:20 Countrywide posted its first operating loss in 25 years today, reporting a quarterly loss of $1.2 billion related to subprime mortgage losses and restructuring charges. The company stock surged more than 15% after the announcement as Countrywide stood by their stockholder dividend and forecast a profit in the 4th quarter. From Market Watch: “Countrywide’s results for the third quarter of 2007 reflect the impact of unprecedented disruptions in the U.S. mortgage market and the global capital markets, as well as continued weakening in the housing market,” said Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo in a statement. However, the CEO said the company believes it can weather the credit storm as it “stabilized its liquidity, strengthened its capital position, significantly tightened its loan program and underwriting guidelines, and began the process of right-sizing operations for today’s lower volume mortgage market.” We view the third quarter of 2007 as an earni ...

The Canadian Housing Observer 2007-10-26 04:47:04 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has just released the 2007 edition of its flagship publication the Canadian Housing Observer. It presents a detailed annual review of housing conditions and trends in Canada and of the key factors behind them. The report is supplemented by online data resources accessible to anyone interested in exploring trends further or in conducting additional analyses of housing conditions. The Canadian Housing Observer is an important tool for identifying, addressing and monitoring Canadian housing trends and issues. It is an ideal resource for housing planners; researchers; policy developers; home builders; housing finance and real estate professionals; and municipal, provincial, and federal housing specialists. Highlighting the State of Canada’s Housing, the report examines the state of Canada’s housing from a variety of perspectives, combining national coverage with provincial and metropolitan detail. The report discusses influences on housi ...

HAPPY NEUTRAL DAY”¦ Home Sellers are your Decorations Up? 2007-10-26 02:57:00 With the 2nd most decorated holiday right around the corner, I thought it would be a great time for me to discuss a home staging issue that comes up each year”¦ Should a home seller put up holiday decorations?Typically, I advise sellers to use VERY little or NO decorations for ANY holiday. WHY? Well, for the simple reason I have said time and time again… when selling a property the house is to be the “star”� not the stuff. It is a fact that a house holds the greatest appeal when it is neutral. Neutrally makes it easier for a buyer to map their lives into a house that is for sale. If a holiday is not a part of the buyer’s life, then the decorations are no longer neutral and they then become a distraction.But even if you suspect that most likely the buyers looking at your home do celebrate the holiday you want to decorate for”¦ the decorations can be a distraction. Holiday decorations, by design, are made to stand out from the ordinariness of our l ...

What’s Your Guess on Countrywide for Tomorrow? 2007-10-25 20:16:08 With probably the most anticipated earnings call in the history of Countrywide’s existence ahead of us tomorrow; what are your guesses for the results? How bad will it be? How big a write down will they take? How far will the stock tank? Or…will it not be that bad at all? I’m guessing they didn’t early report either because things are really bad, or they aren’t as horrible as they thought. I’m leaning towards really bad, but we’ll see tomorrow. Here are the call details if you’re interested: COUNTRYWIDE TO REPORT 2007 THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS AND HOST LIVE TELECONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 26, 2007 The Company will host a live, telephonic management discussion of the third quarter’s results at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Live audio dial-in numbers: (800) 700-7414 (U.S.) or (612) 234-9959 (International) Share This ...

Bank of America Exits Wholesale Lending”¦For Now?? 2007-10-25 18:32:15 Sorry for the lack of updates today folks. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Beverly Hills and Greater Los Angeles Association of Realtors meeting to hear Brad Inman and Dustin Luther talk about blogging in real estate. I highly recommend that if you are the industry you try to hear either of them speak - you’ll learn a lot about where we are headed in terms of marketing to customers. Anyway, I digress. Thank you to EVERYONE that emailed me to let me know that news that Bank of America is exiting wholesale lending at the end of the year. They will accept loans from brokers until 11/25 which must close by 12/31. From the web site (here’s a link to the PDF of the announcement): Important Announcement Today Bank of America announced that it will exit the wholesale mortgage business in order to devote increased energy to its expanding retail channels. We will be fulfilling all of our contractual obligations to you and your customers. The termination of your Whol ... America