Category Archives: Lewisboro

4 Time Saving Content Curation Tools | Katonah NY Realtor

Content curation services, which had been one of the choice tools of marketing experts for some time now, are finally entering the mainstream.4 Time Saving Content Curation Tools

Some research done by the guys over at LikeHack showed that this service is now often used not by marketing consultants but by ordinary people. This is due to information overload and the rising need for content filtering.

For this reason, content curation is evolving from not being only a professional tool but a tool that saves web surfers time as personal service.

The demise of Google Reader is only going to accelerate the use of these tools as people switch to these emerging technologies to filter their content to save them time and increase content relevance.

What is content curation?

A content curator is a service that uses algorithms to show the user only the most relevant and appropriate content with respect to a specific niche or topic. It is a great marketing tool with unusually broad filtering capabilities and information selection that can be used to develop and promote a business. In 2012, Forbes called content curation one of the five hottest new web trends.

Companies like American Express and Whole Foods already actively use this marketing tool to curate content that might be of interest to their customers. Other companies use it to create their own online newspapers or select articles for the corporate blog.

The changing trend

However, content curation has been gradually developing from a niche marketing tool into a mainstream product. Personal content curation services are proliferating*:

Content Curation tools

Moreover, the team at LikeHack used SEMRUSH to analyze the search engine traffic  to curation sites like paper.li and observed that the increase in the number of visits slowed to nothing in the past six months.

Paper.li traffic:

Paper li content curation

It is important to note that the actual popularity of the phrase “content curation” has not decreased. On the contrary, GoogleTrends clearly show that the popularity of the keyword query and its various forms is growing.

What does this mean?

It means that more and more people are interested in content curation; it is no longer just for marketing professionals..

Why is this happening?

Everybody knows that the amount of information exchanged through social networks and feeds is growing exponentially, following the well-known MooresLaw. According to LikeHack’s research based on 3 million user accounts, people spend approximately one hour every day looking through unnecessary information. There are several services available today which solve this problem, and they are growing in popularity:  Likehack, Storify, Pearltrees, Getprismatic and others.

For example, here are the stats for GetPrismatic:

Get Prismatic content curation tool

Traffic to the site has grown considerably. A similar trend can be observed with other services. Today there are services that allow you to filter your Facebook, Twitter and RSS feed, showing only what’s most interesting and relevant.


Read more at http://www.jeffbullas.com/2013/05/23/4-time-saving-content-curation-tools/#A56VccFwCxiAC6dE.99 

 

4 Time Saving Content Curation Tools | Jeffbullas’s Blog.

Housing market now the ‘tailwind’ pushing economic growth | Cross River Real Estate

It was only a few years ago that the housing market helped drag the U.S. economy into the gutter, but times surely have changed.

In its monthly economic forecast on Monday, Fannie Mae said it believes the recent slowdown in economic growth may be short-lived thanks to the strong rebound of the housing market, which will serve as the economy’s “tailwind” through the rest of the year and even into 2014.

“If (home purchase) demand awakens further and more jobs are added each month, economic activity should step up compared to 2012 levels with housing acting as a significant contributor to growth,” the report said.

After a strong start to 2013, Fannie Mae noted economic growth has been tapering off in recent months “partly due to fiscal drags including sequester.” But with further anticipated improvements in the financial and housing markets, Fannie Mae expects the nation’s economy will grow 2.2 percent by year-end from 2012. That’s a modest gain, but still better than the 1.7 percent and 2 percent year-over-year economic growth the U.S. saw in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

“Employment numbers are getting better, albeit it at a relatively slow pace, and the April employment picture should help boost consumer sentiment toward the economy overall,” Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan said in the report. “Spending grew in the first quarter at a surprisingly strong pace, and although this rate is unlikely to hold up, consumers continue to show signs of resilience in the face of fiscal concerns.”

 

 

Housing market now the ‘tailwind’ pushing economic growth – Phoenix Business Journal.

Katonah NY Weekly Real Estate Report | RobReportBlog

Katonah NY Weekly Real Estate Report

5/22/2013
Homes for sale60
Median Ask Price$997,000.00
Low Price$359,000.00
High Price$18,995,000.00
Average Size3587
Average Price/foot$424.00
Average DOM98
Average Ask Price$1,954,480.00

 

 

Katonah NY Weekly Real Estate Report | RobReportBlog.

Housing inventory shortage lifts prices | Katonah NY Real Estate

The home value forecast from Pro Teck Valuation Services reveals the impact low housing inventory has on home prices, which it calls the sold-to-list price ratio. 

In the May update, the Honolulu, Tucson, San Francisco and Chicago metro areas are highlighted to determine how the indicator has been useful from a historical perspective as well as in current market conditions to best predict home price appreciation in markets. 

“While many were predicting that REO and the ‘shadow inventory’ would keep real estate markets depressed, in reality the shortage of housing inventory has lead buyers to bid more competitively against one another leading to significant home price increases and tighter housing conditions,” said Tom O’Grady, CEO of Pro Teck Valuation Services. 

The sold-to-list price ratio typically fluctuates between 92% and 98%, but can exceed 100% in very hot markets, according to the authors of the home value forecast. 

 

Bedford New York Real Estate | Bedford NY Homes by Robert Paul Realtor » Blog Archive » Housing inventory shortage lifts prices | Katonah NY Real Estate.

Housing inventory shortage lifts prices | Katonah NY Real Estate

The home value forecast from Pro Teck Valuation Services reveals the impact low housing inventory has on home prices, which it calls the sold-to-list price ratio. 

In the May update, the Honolulu, Tucson, San Francisco and Chicago metro areas are highlighted to determine how the indicator has been useful from a historical perspective as well as in current market conditions to best predict home price appreciation in markets. 

“While many were predicting that REO and the ‘shadow inventory’ would keep real estate markets depressed, in reality the shortage of housing inventory has lead buyers to bid more competitively against one another leading to significant home price increases and tighter housing conditions,” said Tom O’Grady, CEO of Pro Teck Valuation Services. 

The sold-to-list price ratio typically fluctuates between 92% and 98%, but can exceed 100% in very hot markets, according to the authors of the home value forecast. 

“The sold-to-listed price ratio has historically lead home prices by approximately six months over the past three real estate cycles and its turning points have been excellent signals for the same in condo prices,” added O’Grady. 

The May home value forecast update also provides a listing of the top-10 best and worst performing metros as ranked by its market condition ranking model. Sales/listing activity and prices, months of remaining inventory, days on market, sold-to-list price ratio and foreclosure and REO activity are all indicators of the best and worst markets.

“Two of the top markets this month are in Nevada (Las Vegas-Paradise and Reno-Sparks), both of which had been very distressed since their respective market peaks in 2005 and 2006. Also, California continues to be well represented on the list by Los Angeles, Oakland, and Sacramento metros,” said Michael Sklarz, principal of collateral analytics and contributing author to Home Value Forecast.

Sklarz added, “Nashville’s metro area is a new entrant this month. Although the market has a more shallow correction than many of the other markets in the recent recession, it appears to be experiencing improving overall economic conditions and one of the most affordable markets in the U.S. now.”

“The bottom ranked metros also represent an interesting mix around the U.S. While all have nine to thirteen Months of Remaining Inventory, many of the indicators are showing positive trends even for the bottom metros area this month,” added Sklarz.

 

Housing inventory shortage lifts prices | HousingWire.

Lenders prep for increase in millennial housing demand | Katonah Real Estate

The pent-up demand for the millennial generation to buy houses is starting to surface, according to a report from Rob Chrisman.

Millennials, which range from 18 to 34, have put off buying houses due to the recession, high unemployment and student loan debt.

In the report, Chrisman explained that a lot of lenders are prepping for the upcoming demand.

Hamilton Group Funding, a Florida based mortgage banker, is continuing its aggressive expansion plans in multiple states, seeking to acquire mortgage firms or branches with $50 to $250 million in annual residential production, Chrisman said.

In addition, Chrisman noted that First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation is growing its retail division, adding loan officers and operational staff in New Jersey.  

Millennials are 90 million strong according to Chrisman, and as the demand increases, the industry will have to prepare itself to meet the surge. 

 

 

Lenders prep for increase in millennial housing demand | HousingWire.

Katonah Museum of Art Begins Search For New Executive Director | Katonah Real Estate

 

The Board of Trustees of the Katonah Museum of Art has announced that a formal search for the Museum’s next Executive Director has begun.

The Board has retained worldwide executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, renowned for the placement of chief executives, board of directors and senior level management assignments in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors.

In addition, the Museum will engage input from its local residents.

“Our Board is focused on vision and ensuring that our long-standing mission of excellence in art and education is carried out through new programs, initiatives and collaborations — and most significantly, the next phase of executive leadership,” said Board President Rochelle Rosenberg.

“This is a very important moment for the Museum.  As we continue to serve the community, we look forward to new leadership, greater opportunities and growth,” she added.

Katonah Museum of Art Begins Search For New Executive Director | The Bedford Daily Voice.

Famous Miami Beach hotel becomes a foreclosure | Katonah NY Real Estate

It’s not just homes — foreclosure activity also is changing the face of neighborhoods with once vibrant businesses.

The Miami Herald says the famed Shore Club on Miami Beach became the subject of a final foreclosure judgment this week.

The site was once a popular celebrity hangout, but today the 309-room hotel is facing an online sale.

The sale will hit on June 25.

 

Famous Miami Beach hotel becomes a foreclosure | HousingWire.

American Banker: Wells, Citigroup halt foreclosure sales in several states | Katonah Realtor

American Banker is reporting that Wells Fargo ($39.88 0.62%) andCitigroup ($51.45 0.84%) ‘halted’ most of their foreclosure sales in several states after evaluating the process against the backdrop of new guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Reporters Jeff Horwitz and Kate Berry wrote that within two weeks of the OCC’s release of new guidance on minimum standards for foreclosure sales, Wells, Citi and JPMorgan ‘all but stopped’ foreclosure sales.

Since then, JPMorgan has picked them back up again.

 

 

American Banker: Wells, Citigroup halt foreclosure sales in several states | HousingWire.

Organic Pest Control Series: Beneficial Insects | Cross River NY Homes

.Day and night, pesticide-free organic gardens are abuzz with activity, much of it a life-and-death struggle between predators and prey, Pest Control in Mesa is the best ally you can have when we talk about insects. We seldom see much of this natural pest control, in which tiny assassins patrol their surroundings in pursuit of their next meal. Assassin bugs aren’t picky: They will stab, poison and devour a wide range of garden pests, including caterpillars, leafhoppers and bean beetles. Check out True Pest Control, they offer the best pest control in Adelaide. Soldier and ground beetles work the night shift, emerging after dark from beneath rocks, mulch and other daytime hiding places to feast upon soft-bodied insects and the eggs of Colorado potato beetles.

Aphid lions (the larvae of the lacewing) have a hooked jaw that helps them dispatch huge numbers of aphids, caterpillars, mites and other pests. The main reason why pest control is indispensable is the threat to human, plant and animal health posed by the pests. Almost all pests are carriers of some disease or the other and have even been known to cause severe epidemics and massive agricultural destruction. Apart from destroying valuable food supply, causing death and serious health problems such as allergic reaction, the pests also lead to serious property damage. Pests like termites can eat away huge wooden structures and render them hollow and useless. Almost everyone is revolted by these pests. In fact, the mere sight of a pest scurry around on a property is enough to turn you off and question the hygiene maintained at the place. Needless to say, pest control services is something you cannot do without.

However, it is a specialized service that you cannot manage on your own. The professional services of a pest control services company have to be hired if you want to rid your residential or commercial property of pests. For more information about the power pest control services, visit powerpestcontrol.ca. Locating the pests and eradicating them involves the use of special products and equipment that these companies have. Their technicians are trained in the use of these solutions and equipment in a safe manner. With their extensive knowledge of the different types of pests, they are able to identify the places of pest infestation and decide up on the best extermination plan to use for solving the problem, for example using a Flying Termite Removal Program. Their services are focused not only on one-time pest removal, but on minimizing the chances of future infestations as well. If you are interested in periodic pest treatment of your property as a preventive measure, the pest control companies can handle it too. According to Box Elder Bug, pest invasions can cause you great discomfort, physical harm and financial loss. It makes sense to engage a knowledgeable, experienced and reliable professional to deal with the issue. If you are interested in knowing about the pest control companies servicing your area, you can log on to a local business directory and get all the required information. Before we can get into trying to understand whether biological pest control is the answer to the pest-control related environmental concerns, it would be proper to give ourselves a little background information on this whole pest control business; for the benefit of those who may be encountering it for the very first time. Now, pests are organisms (typically insects) that are injurious to the interests of the people who refer to them as such. Thus to farmers, the insects that invade and eat up their crops (whether in the fields or during storage), would be termed as pests.

On the other hand, the ‘domestic insects’ that tend to mess up with things in domestic settings (like moths, that can mess up with cloths in storage), are seen as pests by housekeepers. Worth keeping in mind is that although most pests are insects, there are also quite are number that are non-insects: with the likes of rodents (that can mess up with crops in farms of things stored in domestic settings) being seen as pests too, the fact that they are not insects notwithstanding. Having seen that pests are injurious, it would be natural that the people who happen to ‘fall victim’ to them would want to get rid of them. In the meantime, people who haven’t yet fallen victim to pests would be keen to avoid such a ‘fate.’ Hosting pests, by the way, can be a serious fate: thousands of hectares of farmland have been known to be wasted by pests in a single day, leading to losses that often run into millions of dollars. It is the steps taken to avoid pest invasion then, or to resolve pest invasion if it has already taken place, that are referred to as constituting pest control expert services, like Pro Care. Now pest control takes various forms, depending on the pests one is trying to get rid of (or to prevent the invasion of). And while bigger pests like rodents may be controlled through mechanical means like trapping, for a long period of time, it is chemical control that has worked for the vast majority of pests, which tend to be insects as previous mentioned.

The chemicals used in this endeavor are what are termed as pesticides. And while pesticides are usually very effective in pest-control, the downside to them tends to come up when we consider the fact that they tend to be extremely environmentally unfriendly. Check out pestzone to see the best way to eliminate pests on your house. Worth keeping in mind, at this point, is the fact that the chemicals referred to as pesticides tend to be very potent ones. So it often happens that traces of them remain where they were used, even after the pests are gone. Those traces are eventually washed down to the water bodies where they wreck great havoc to the (non pest) plants and animals resident in the water bodies.

Learning about the beneficial insects in your garden will make it a more fascinating place, and help you tweak it in ways that intensify the work done by wild garden allies. This is often a simple matter of avoiding the use of pesticides (including organic ones), the service of bee removal Phoenix AZ, and growing plenty of flowers to provide beneficial insects with pollen and nectar. In greenhouses or other special situations, you may even decide to purchase and release certain lab-raised beneficial insects. This will not be necessary with the beneficial insects described here, because all will naturally gravitate toward a diversified organic garden.

Although, squirrels in an attic can be a real problem, professional Baltimore squirrel removal services are usually needed as a sound resolution. Don Brody from On The Fly Pest Solutions says squirrels may be cute but in a home a wild animal can cause nightmares, such as electrical fires from rodents gnawing live wires.

Below we feature the best beneficial insects for your garden, each one beautifully illustrated. Get to know these garden helpers individually and make a plan for how you can incorporate them into your garden as part of your natural pest control strategy.Do you have termites? The first step to avoiding a termite problem is having your home regularly inspected for termites. Termite inspections Brisbane provide customers with professional wood destroying organism inspections for real estate purchases and refinancing.

Check out the other sections of our our Organic Pest Control Series: Using Organic Pesticides and Common Garden Pests.

Braconid Wasp

Braconid wasps play an important role in controlling insect pests. Braconids are beneficial insects that lay their eggs inside or on host insects, and then the maggot-like wasp larvae weaken the host pest.

Read more.   

Ground Beetle

The busy ground beetles’ diet can help control slugs, asparagus beetles, caterpillars, Colorado potato beetles, corn earworms, cutworms, squash vine borers and tobacco budworms.

Read more

Honeybee

Have you ever wondered, “What do honeybees eat?” If so, and if you’d like to attract these beneficial insects to your garden, this piece crammed full of honeybee information is a good place to start.

Read more

Hover Fly

Hoverfly larvae eat mealybugs and small caterpillars, and are especially helpful with organic aphid control. Adult hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen, and you can attract them to your garden with flowering plants.

Read more.

Lacewing

Beneficial lacewing larvae prey on aphids, cabbage worms, caterpillar eggs and more. Learn how to attract these garden helpers.

Read more.

 

Lady Beetle

Lady beetles feed on all sorts of garden pests, including aphids, small caterpillars and insect eggs. They even feed on powdery mildew. Learn how to attract them to your organic garden for natural pest control.

Read more.

Mason Bee

The mason bee is a great pollinator and can work blossoms at a lower temperature than honeybees. Mason bees are so named because they pack mud into their nests, like brick masons.

Read more.

Praying Mantis

The praying mantis is a beneficial predatory insect that provides grasshopper control and more. Learn to create an inviting praying mantis habitat.

Read more.

Predatory Bugs

If your goal is to squash garden pests naturally by attracting beneficial insects, then welcome assassin bugs with open, dirt-covered arms.

Read more.

Soldier Beetle

Brush up on your soldier beetle facts, including what soldier beetles eat, where they live, and how to attract this beneficial insect to your organic garden.

Read more.

Spider

Pest outbreaks could be rare if you have lots of beneficial insects and spiders in the garden. Learn how to attract various types of garden spiders.

Read more.

Tachinid Fly

The Tachinid or “Diptera” species is well worth inviting to your organic garden because of its ferocious appetite for garden pests such as Japanese beetles and grasshoppers.

Read more.

Trichogramma Wasp

Itty-bitty trichogramma wasp larvae develop inside of and eat insect eggs, especially those of cabbage worms, codling moths and European corn borers.

Read more.

Yellow Jacket

Yellow jacket wasps feed their young liquefied insects, with caterpillars, flies and spiders comprising the largest food groups during most of the summer. The effect: Adios, garden pests!

Read more.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/beneficial-insects-zl0z0413zkin.aspx?newsletter=1&utm_content=05.17.13+GFSS&utm_campaign=2013+GFSS&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email#ixzz2TYoKNBGr