Monthly Archives: July 2013

The Art and Science of Creating a Successful Blog Post | Cross River Realtor

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The creative geek has never had it so good.The Art and Science of Creating a Successful Blog Post

They have the web tools, apps and the social networks that keep poking them  with global gems of content inspiration and ideas. It is a revealed universe of  possibilities. What we are seeing in this century is the synergy between  the art of creation and science of technology.

Gutenberg would be turning in his grave if he saw what is happening in the  new world of publishing.

So we now have the online tools to publish your inspirations. Google has  freed us from the tyranny of remembering and finding facts. This is leading to  an explosion of  prolific and innovative ideas and expression. It  could be music created with an app, a photo that is captured on a smart phone  and filtered or it could be creating an article for a blog.

It is the synthesis of art and science.

Creating a successful blog post is creativity enabled by technology both in  production, delivery and marketing.

The Art

This starts with an idea for your article. It might appear while driving,  talking with a friend or during a wakeful moment at 2am (that is when this idea  turned up). It may be inspired by a book, a passing tweet or a brainstorming  session at a workshop.

Whenever the idea strikes, grab a pen, your phone or that napkin at the  coffee shop. Writing in blood is always an option…because failing to capture an  idea due to forgetfulness can sometimes feel like losing one of your  children.

The writing for me can start two ways.

  1. Creating the introduction (that’s how this one started)
  2. Mapping out the structure and framework for the post (that often  happens)

Neither is right or wrong but the creation has to start. Sitting down at the  computer laden desk with my two screens, keyboard and my mouse and starting the  mundane action is next.

As the words arrive the next phase is the wrangling and wrestling with the  text, phrases and even the sub-titles. Many a blog post has an ugly face but as  you massage it and apply the makeup it can turn into a thing of beauty.

That is certainly the intent.

Next is the internal discussion with myself as to whether I need to  illustrate and elaborate my ideas with a screen shot, an image, add a video or  even plonk in a Slideshare presentation.

Sometimes it goes beyond the words.

The Science

WordPress is the technology and foundation tool of choice for this blog.

The science support crew includes the following:

1. Snagit

This is the screen capture tool I use for screen shots, inserting call out  text boxes and arrows and even shadow and torn edge effects. I couldn’t do  without it.

2. WordPress Plugins

You cannot do without these to enhance your productivity and marketing  effectiveness.

This includes.

  • SEO Plugins (such as WordPress SEO or Yoast)
  • Akismet (this software stops the spammers)
  • BackWPup (this backs up my blog),
  • Facebook like box (you can like my Facebook page without leaving my  blog)
  • GetSocial (my floating social media sharing buttons)

This is not an exhaustive list but all of these I couldn’t do without.

Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/07/17/the-art-and-science-of-creating-a-successful-blog-post/#AIPsxa7OmCCbSHBa.99

California home prices soar | Waccabuc Real Estate

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California housing prices increased by more than 30 percent in June, with inventory rising slightly in what is considered an encouraging sign for the market, a trade association said Tuesday.

Last month, the median price of a previously owned house soared 33.5 percent across the state from a year ago to $428,510, according to the California Association of Realtors.

The tight inventory, which had been holding back sales, rose to a 2.9-month supply of properties last month, up from 2.6 in May but still below the 3.5-month inventory of a year ago, the association said.

Sales of previously owned houses statewide declined 3.7 percent to an annualized rate of 414,950 units. This is the number of home sales that would occur if the market matched June’s pace for the entire year.

Leslie Appleton-Young, the association’s vice president and chief economist, believe the slight uptick in available homes is a good sign. “The inventory is the big thing. That’s the most important leading indicator for the housing market,” she said.

Rising home prices may encourage more owners to put their properties up for sale in the coming months, but June’s inventory level is still well below the six- or seven-month supply considered normal. “I think it’s going to go up some more. You’ve got buyers taking more time [making decisions], and some are priced out by the rising prices and the interest rates. And I think you have sellers who came in too high, so their properties are staying on the market and not moving,” Appleton-Young said.

Still, the tight inventory and increased buyer competition has driven down the time properties stay on the market compared with a year ago. In June, homes sold in a median of 27.7 days, up slightly from 27.1 days in May but down from 43.5 days in June 2012.

In the Los Angeles metro area — the combined Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties — the median price of a single-family home for sale jumped 31.7 percent from June 2012, to $392,470, and sales declined 9.5 percent.

In the Inland Empire, the median home price increased an annual 33.2 percent, to $248,760, while sales fell 15.2 percent.

Double-digit-percentage price gains were the norm around California. This has been the trend for several months, as supply of low-priced foreclosed and short-sale properties have dwindled. “They’re gone, they’re gone,” Appleton-Young said. “Investors have really picked that market clean.”

Interest rates are now putting some pressure on the market. The rate on a 30-year mortgage was in the 3.5 percent range until the middle of last month, then spiked above 4 percent shortly after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said the agency may reduce its economic stimulus and possibly stop it entirely next year. He then backed off, saying last week the economy needs the Fed’s help for the “foreseeable future,” and rates dropped a bit.

 

 

read more…

 

http://www.presstelegram.com/breakingnews/ci_23673936/california-home-prices-soar

 

 

Westchester issues swimming alert | Armonk Real Estate

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Below are selected alerts for residents to take note of:

July 17, 2013 Boater and swimmer advisory lifted for  Long Island Sound near Milton Harbor in Rye and Mamaroneck Harbor The advisory cautioning against contact with the Long Island Sound near Milton Harbor in Rye and Mamaroneck Harbor has been lifted by the Westchester County Department of Health.  The advisory is being lifted based on the results of water samples which show that the water does not pose a public health risk. People who use the Long Island Sound in this area for recreational purposes are free to resume direct contact with the water and swimming at the following beaches is now permitted: Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, Shore Acres Pointe and Harbor Island Park Beach, all in Mamaroneck; and American Yacht Club, Shenorock Shore Club, Coveleigh Club and Greenhaven Association, all in Rye.

The advisory had been issued that If уоu are planning for Shорріng ѕwіmmіng рооl thаn it is  ѕuggеѕted that уоu ѕhоuld  buy oval above ground pools . Bесаuѕе when уоu are going to find yourself wіth numеrоuѕ арреаlіng options. Onе thіng tо keep іn mіnd wіth pools is thаt you have a number оf dіffеrеnt ѕhареѕ, manufactures, and ѕіzеѕ tо соnѕіdеr. But frоm all of them оvаl рооlѕ themselves hаvе ѕоmе unique bеnеfіtѕ that аrе wоrth kееріng іn mіnd, аѕ well and these pools are more secure from injuries and damage. Onе оf thе bіggеѕt аdvаntаgе to an оvаl рооl оvеr ground ѕwіmmіng pool would bе thе аеѕthеtісѕ.

The advisory had been issued as a precaution because an underground force main break near Blind Brook had released sludge close to where the Blind Brook empties into the Long Island Sound. The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities took the force main out of service at about 2:15 p.m. on Monday, but repair efforts were hindered by high tide.
Repairs to the force main were completed Tuesday evening and water was pumped through the pipe during the night while workers checked the air relief valves along the force main. Crews finished backfilling this morning and the line has now resumed normal pumping operations.

http://health.westchestergov.com/alerts

10 weird renewable energy sources | North Salem Real Estate

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'The Flintstones' foot-powered car (© Moviestore Collection/Rex Features)
Putting the ‘new’ in renewable

From Fred Flintstone’s foot-powered car to the Starship Enterprise’s dilithium crystals, Americans have a rich history of imagining alternative fuel sources for petroleum-free worlds.

But what may have seemed like science fiction just two decades ago — think dance floors that produce energy and cars that run on chocolate — is quickly becoming reality.

To be sure, not all of these technologies will make it out of the laboratory, and many are decades away from achieving mainstream adoption. Yet with growing concern about climate change and rising costs at the gas pump, more consumers are opting to think outside the box when it comes to powering their homes and cars.

“You can do lots of things in the lab, but the trick is turning it into a commercial scale that makes economic sense,” notes Greg Pahl, the author of “Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy” and other books about renewable energy. “With the more speculative ones, it may take 20 to 25 years to bring something like that to full commercialization.”

Among the newer alternative fuel sources that are showing potential? Biomass energy, which relies on previously living organisms to create fuel, and wave energy, Pahl notes.

While some renewable energy sources are growing mainstream — such as solar photovoltaic panels, which can be found in 300,000 homes across the U.S. — these weird energy sources are either just gaining a foothold or are in the experimental stage.

Read on to learn more about unusual energy sources that just might change the world.

 

Read more…

 

http://money.msn.com/investing/10-weird-renewable-energy-sources

U.S. Housing Starts Unexpectedly Tumble 9.9% In June | Mt Kisco Real Estate

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U.S. Housing Starts Unexpectedly Tumble 9.9% In June

Housing starts in the U.S. unexpectedly showed a notable decrease in the month of June, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Wednesday.

The report showed that housing starts tumbled 9.9 percent to an annual rate of 836,000 in June from the revised May estimate of 928,000.

The steep drop came as a surprise to economists, who had expected housing starts to climb to an annual rate of 951,000 from the 914,000 originally reported for the previous month.

While the report may raise some concerns about the outlook for the housing market, Teunis Brosens, Senior Economist at ING Bank, said the data is not as bad as it looks.

Brosens noted that most of the weakness was in the always volatile multi-family housing starts, which plunged 26.2 percent to an annual rate of 245,000 in June from 332,000 in May.

Single-family housing starts showed a much more modest decrease, dipping by 0.8 percent to an annual rate of 591,000 in June from the revised May figure of 596,000.

“While single-family starts are somewhat lower than earlier this year, they are up 11.7% from a year ago, indicating that the trend is still positive,” Brosens said.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department also said building permits fell 7.5 percent to an annual rate of 911,000 in June from the revised May rate of 985,000.

Building permits, an indicator of future housing demand, had been expected to rise to an annual rate of 990,000 from the 974,000 originally reported for May.

 

 

Read more…

 

http://www.rttnews.com/2152679/U-S-Housing-Starts-Unexpectedly-Tumble-9-9-In-June.aspx?google_editors_picks=true

 

Health Department Issues Heat Advisory In Chappaqua | Chappaqua Real Estate

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WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. — With temperatures soaring towards 90 degrees on Monday, the Westchester County Health Department has issued a county-wide heat advisory.

Residents are advised to avoid strenuous activity, drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages, and take precautions to prevent heat-related illness.

The Health Department also stated to residents to be alert for symptoms of heat stroke.

Symptoms include hot, red, dry skin; shallow breathing; a rapid, weak pulse; and confusion. Anyone suffering from heat stroke needs to receive emergency medical treatment immediately. Call 911 if you suspect heat stroke and immediately cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency help to arrive.

“Heat stroke and dehydration can take you by surprise,” Westchester County commissioner of health Dr. Sherlita Amler said in a statement. “The elderly, young children and those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or lung conditions need to be especially careful to avoid heat-related illnesses. High humidity and some medications can also increase a person’s risk for heat stroke.”

While less dangerous than heat stroke, heat exhaustion also poses concerns. Seniors, children up to age four, people who are overweight or who have high blood pressure and those who work in hot environments are most at risk. Signs include headache, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and exhaustion, as well as cool, moist, pale or flushed skin. People suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved out of the sun and have cool, wet cloths applied to their skin.

For more information, visit the Westchester County Health Department Website.

9 Creative Ways to Use Social Media to Launch a Product | ArmonkRealtor

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Are you looking for creative ideas to help launch your next product (or company)?

Want some actionable tips to employ social media in your next launch?

If so, keep reading as I explore nine ways we used social media to help launch a new project.

You’re sure to find unusual tactics that will help you with your next launch.

Why Social Media for a Launch?

Social media has changed everything when it comes to marketing.

Now, instead of spending a ton of money hoping to get in front of the “press,” you are the media.  Social media allows you to connect with people and encourage engagement with very little money and only a nominal effort.

 

Like Social Media Examiner, you may have a blog or podcast—or perhaps a video series.  This means you are a media outlet and can leverage that following every time you launch.

Even if you don’t produce content, chances are pretty good you’ve developed relationships across social channels. All of these outposts provide a great opportunity to take the launch process to an entirely new level.

Let me show you how. Below are nine ways we employed social media to help launch a new initiative called My Kids’ Adventures.

Tip #1: Create a Teaser Campaign on Facebook

When your idea is nothing more than a thought, start brainstorming ways you can employ social media to hint that something exciting is coming.

My teaser campaign was code-named “Project Torch” and I referred to it every now and again on Facebook. As you can see below, a lot of folks were intrigued and wondered what I had up my sleeve.

I posted the result of a brainstorming session on Facebook, with the words blurred on the clipboard

Starting months before launch, I regularly posted random images of torches, Indiana Jones and updates about my progress on “Project Torch.”

People were private messaging me, calling me and emailing me (family, friends and business peers) wondering what in the world this secret project was.

Tips when doing a teaser campaign:

  • Experiment using Facebook posts with and without images.
  • Share progress images (I showed fuzzed-out logos we were working on).
  • Reference your “code name” in all of your updates to create natural curiosity.
  • Be very careful not to reveal too much too early (even to your closest friends and employees!).

Tip #2: Create a Video That’s Personal

Social media provides an amazing opportunity to connect with people. Why not create a video that reveals the need you hope to address while simply hinting at the solution?

The video below was put together in less than two weeks. Part was filmed with my iPhone while I was on vacation and the other part was done with the help of a guy at my church on a Saturday afternoon.

 

This video played an instrumental role in setting the tone for our new project.

How I unveiled the video…

The above video was first formally revealed at Social Media Marketing World, following my keynote presentation.

I pulled a Steve Jobs and said, “But wait, there’s one more thing…”  I showed the video and spoke for about 5 minutes and that was it.

 

 

Read more….

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/social-media-product-launch/

‘Long way to go before the caldron bubbles over’: CoreLogic | Cross River Real Estate

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Analytics firm CoreLogic argued in its latest MarketPulse report that the housing market is not on the road to bubble territory, and rising interest rates will only make it less likely for it to head in that direction.

“Economists are often referred to as dismal scientists because of their emphasis on the downside of economic events. However, CoreLogic is prepared to offer an optimistic opinion about the U.S. housing market,” read the report. “CoreLogic does not believe the market is experiencing a housing bubble, either nationally or even in some of the fastest-growing markets.”

The firm also said that housing today remains highly affordable relative to historical norms.

“For housing price affordability to return to the average level that we saw in the years between 2000 and 2004, either home prices would have to rise an additional 47 percent or interest rates rise to 6.75 percent,” CoreLogic said.

“So while the bubble opinions swirl like the words of Shakespeare, ‘Double, double toil and trouble/Fire burn and caldron bubble,’ this housing market still has a long way to go before the caldron bubbles over,” the report later added.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/wire/long-way-to-go-before-the-caldron-bubbles-over-corelogic/#sthash.SYMVwu20.dpuf

Surprise: Shiller, NAR differ on the MID | Katonah NY Real Estate

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Homeownership has helped Americans who might otherwise be unable to scrape together a nest egg do just that, Yale economics professor Robert Shiller noted in a New York Times editorial over the weekend. But the Swiss do just fine amassing household savings and have a much lower homeownership rate, Shiller noted, arguing that it’s time to take away some of the “enormous subsidy to homeownership” provided by Uncle Sam — such as the mortgage interest deduction.

Not surprisingly, National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun believes that Shiller has missed some “obvious facts.”The housing crisis, Yun notes, “arose from easy lending,” and “did not happen because of the mortgage interest deduction.” Eliminating the mortgage interest deduction “will result in home price declines of about 15 percent,” Yun claims.

Shiller might be willing to concede some or all of those claims. His main point is less about the role housing subsidies played in creating the conditions that led to the downturn, and more to do with whether there are societal drawbacks to relying so heavily on homeownership as a mechanism for household savings.

There are, Shiller notes, advantages to being a renter in today’s economy. Renters, he says, “are more mobile. That means they are more likely to accept jobs in another city, or even on the other side of a large metropolis.” –

See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/07/16/surprise-shiller-nar-differ-on-the-mid/#sthash.1HV2fWzB.dpuf

6 quick and inexpensive ways to turn real estate technology excuses into solutions | Bedford Hills Real Estate

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Homebuyers and sellers today make inferences about real estate agents’ professionalism based on their ability to use current technology. The image we project to the public is heavily influenced by whether or not we keep up with the level of technological service they have come to expect from other industries.

This isn’t about being the most advanced and tech-savvy agent in your city. It’s about adopting the common-sense technology practices that make your business, and your relationship with your clients, more professional. Using technology responsibly and proactively allows us to enhance our outward business persona, as opposed to continually making excuses for why we’re not on board.

We often focus on the cutting edge of technology, but for those who may need a bit of sharpening up, there are a few quick and inexpensive ways to get past objections and move on to a stronger technology reputation:

1. Adjust Your Smartphone Attitude. Statistically, it appears a fair number agents still don’t have a smartphone. There’s not much to say here. $99 — do it. Today.

2. Mobile Communication Is Still Business Communication.“Please excuse any spelling errors – sent from my mobile. …” Erase this from your mobile email signatures. Remove it from every device you own. It shows a lack of care. Here is what it says to your clients/associates:“I am too lazy to properly use this handheld device that has more computing power than the first Space Shuttle.

I’m going to send you a garbled message because you’re not worth the 10 seconds it would have taken to fix it. LOL CUL8R K?” –

 

See more at: http://www.inman.com/next/6-quick-and-inexpensive-ways-to-turn-real-estate-technology-excuses-into-solutions/#sthash.6Vgop77O.dpuf