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Podcasting is a great content play | Pound Ridge Realtor | Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY

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Podcasting is making a comeback thanks to a growing consumer demand for content. If you’re not listening to podcasts, or better yet, producing your own audio content, you better reconsider.
podcast

photo credit: Bill Selak via photopin cc
I’ve been publishing the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast since 2005. I got into podcasting as a way to create content and unlock opportunities to get in front of leading authors and industry experts.
Back then, podcasting was new, iTunes had just burst onto the scene and an army of podcasters embraced this new RSS driven way to syndicate content. But then social media came along and things like Twitter and Facebook made podcasting seem so last decade. (Heck, people even starting suggesting that blogging was dead!)
But then, a funny thing happened on the way to the evolution of all things digital. People started to rediscover podcasting as a tremendous way to package and deliver content in a new and intimate way. All of a sudden, everyone had a podcast listening device in their pocket (otherwise known as a smartphone), and the new iPhone even came with the iTunes Podcast app preloaded. As a result to the easy access, podcast listening again began to surge.
Some people still shy away from the term “podcast” much like they did “blog.” Here’s the deal, just like a blog, forget what you call it, creating audio content is a great way to tap the fact that people want to listen to content on their most personal device – their phone – and why wouldn’t you work your tail off to get invited into that place.

How I podcast

There are dozens of ways to podcast and I am by no means an expert on every aspect of the technology, but I will share what seems to work for me.
Blue Yetti USB Mic – This a high quality microphone with lots of professional type settings and will set you back about $100, but the quality sound is worth it.
Skype – I do all of my interviews over Skype as my guests are from around the globe. I use a SkypeIn 9 didget phone number so my guests can call from a phone if they like but more and more people connect directly via Skype these days.
I also use a Skype add on called Call Recorder so I can record directly in Skype and it also lets me split the tracks so I can edit them independently.
Garage Band – I edit on a Mac and Garage Band does a great job. I level the sound, add music, and edit some things out before saving to iTunes.
Libsyn – I use Libsyn to host and stream my podcast. I pay about $10 a month for this and it keeps my podcast separate from my web hosting.
Blubrry PowerPress – This WordPress plugin creates a player for my blog and handles the RSS technical stuff including passing the podcast to iTunes. I run my podcast on my regular blog and use the category RSS feed to splice those posts off.
Rev.com – Sometimes I will transcribe my podcasts as a way to essentially take one form of content and make another. Rev.com is fast and very affordable.
If you want to learn more about the technical aspects of podcasting, check out Podcast Answer Man – Cliff Ravenscraft.

My personal listening list

2012 became the year that a number of very well-known content producers embraced the podcast format, producing and distributing audio content in a very big way.
The following podcasts have become very popular in iTunes and offer tremendous content for those inclined to consume their content while driving, working out or simply hanging out plugged into a pair of earbuds.
Seth Godin’s Startup School: Recently launched on the Earwolf network, the Startup School podcast features highlights from a workshop Godin conducted with 30 up-and-coming entrepreneurs.

 

 

Podcasting is a great content play | Pound Ridge Realtor | Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY.

ANTLER ALERT: THRUWAY AUTHORITY, STATE POLICE REMIND MOTORISTS OF DEER SEASON DANGERS | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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ANTLER ALERT: THRUWAY AUTHORITY, STATE POLICE REMIND MOTORISTS OF DEER SEASON DANGERS

The New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Police Troop T are reminding motorists of the dangers of deer season with the semi-annual “Antler Alert.”

Deer become more active and are more frequently present along the roadside in May and June. Most deer-vehicle collisions on the Thruway occur May through June and October through November, according to the Thruway Authority and the State Police Troop T.

The Thruway Authority maintains an excellent safety record and uses deer crossing signs at locations with a higher-than-average history of vehicle-deer collisions. Nevertheless more than 2,000 of these incidents occurred along the Thruway in 2012.

The Thruway Authority offers these safety tips for motorists:

  • Always wear your seatbelt; it’s the law.
  • Be more aware of deer throughout May and June.
  • Deer are more active during evening, dusk and dawn.
  • Scan shoulders of the roadside for deer eyes reflecting light.
  • Using high beams and sounding horn may help to repel deer, but won’t necessarily prevent a collision.
  • Slow down when approaching deer standing at the roadside, as they may run into oncoming traffic.
  • Deer often move in groups. Where there’s one, there may be more.
  • If you see a deer in your lane, brake firmly. The most serious vehicle-deer accidents occur when drivers veer at high speeds, and strike another vehicle or go off the road.
  • Never swerve to avoid hitting a deer. This can confuse deer and possibly cause them to go into the roadway.
  • If you are involved in a vehicle-deer collision, do not attempt to approach or touch the deer.

If a vehicle-deer accident occurs, motorists should make every attempt to drive their vehicle as far off the highway as possible, park on the right shoulder, activate their four-way hazard flashers, and stay in the vehicle and wait until help arrives.
Motorists traveling on the Thruway can report an accident by calling 911 or the Thruway Authority’s emergency number at 1-800-842-2233.

 

 

Press Release – New York State Thruway.

Florida’s Housing Market Showed Improvement in the First Quarter of 2013 | Pound Ridge NY Real Estate

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Florida’s housing market gained strength in first quarter 2013 with increased closed sales, more pending sales, higher median prices and a reduced supply of homes for sale compared to the same quarter in 2012, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.
“The first three months of 2013 demonstrate that Florida’s housing market is gaining momentum and continuing to bolster the state’s economy,” said 2013 Florida Realtors President Dean Asher , broker-owner with Don Asher & Associates Inc. in Orlando. “More people went back to work as more jobs were created in Florida during the first quarter, and our population is also growing –which provide a solid foundation for growth in the housing market. It’s taking less time to sell a home and, coupled with tight inventory, that shows buyers are eager to lock in historically low mortgage interest rates and take advantage of favorable, but rising prices.”
Statewide closed sales of existing single-family homes totaled 48,976 in 1Q 2013, up 10.2 percent compared to the year-ago figure, according to data from Florida Realtors Industry Data and Analysis department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. Closed sales typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
Meanwhile, pending sales – contracts that are signed but not yet completed or closed – for existing single-family homes rose 26.8 percent in the first quarter compared to the 1Q 2012 figure. The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in 1Q 2013 was $153,000, up 13.4 percent from the same quarter a year ago.
The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. Housing industry analysts note that sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties downwardly distort the median price because they generally sell at a discount relative to traditional homes.
Looking at Florida’s year-to-year comparison for sales of townhouse-condos, a total of 24,655 units sold statewide in the first quarter, up 3.2 percent from the first three months of 2012. Pending sales for townhouse-condos in 1Q 2013 increased 13.7 percent compared to a year ago, while the statewide median for townhouse-condo properties was $116,000, up 18.4 percent over the same quarter last year

 

Florida’s Housing Market Showed Improvement in the First Quarter of 2013 | Pound Ridge NY Real Estate | Bedford NY Real Estate | Robert Paul Talks Life in Bedford NY.

Hold Your Email Recipients Accountable | Pound Ridge Realtor

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Have you ever received an internet lead that only provided an email address?  You were diligent in responding quickly to this lead, and sent them a detailed emailed response

providing them with all the details they requested and a nice call to action to engage them.  Sometimes after you send that important follow up email, you mentally block that activity out of your mind and push it into the archives of your brain.  The problem is your leads can slip through the cracks without a gentle reminder, informing you if that person responded.

Yesware, a free(ish) email tool, just released a new update that will help you with all of your non-responders.  Draft an email, hit the reminder button and set a time.  It is that simple!

Watch the video below to get a quick 1 minute overview on how it works!

 

 

 

http://techsavvyagent.com

Elevated refi activity pushes mortgage applications higher | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Mortgage applications increased 7% for the week ending May 3 when compared to a week earlier, an industry trade group said Wednesday.

The steeper jump comes after only slight increases these past few weeks, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The refinance index also soared 8%, reaching its highest level since December 2012.

“The gain in the refinance index was due to increases in both the conventional and government refinance indices of 8.8% and 5.7% respectively,” the MBA noted.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index rose 2%, bringing it back to its highest level since May 2010.

Breaking a three-week trend, the refinance share of overall mortgage activity inched up to 76% of total applications compared to 75% last week.

Additionally, the adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity increased slightly and now accounts for 4% of all mortgage applications.

The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage with a conforming loan balance continued to slip to 3.59%, the lowest level since December 2012, and down from 3.60% the previous week.

Meanwhile, the average 30-year, FRM with a jumbo loan balance dipped to 3.79% from 3.80% last week.

The average contract interest rate for the 30-year, FRM backed by the FHA ticked up to 3.35% compared to 3.34% the previous week.

Both the 5/1 ARM and the 15-year, FRM fell to the lowest rate in the history of the survey, tumbling to 2.53% and 2.81%, respectively.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/news

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Buy Country Spread Just Outside New York for $5.7 million | Pound Ridge Homes

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Ryan Reynolds and Blake Livelymore big

The happily-married hot celebrity couple, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively has reportedly dropped $5.7 million on a residence in the Westchester County town of Pound Ridge, New York. (Photo : Reuters)

The happily-married hot celebrity couple, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, has reportedly dropped $5.7 million on a residence in the Westchester County town of Pound Ridge, New York.

According to the Real Estalker, the couple had closed the deal on the property sometime back in November 2012, but kept it private just as they had kept their wedding in September.

“Blake was trying to decide between getting married in her new home in New York or in Charleston. She chose Charleston because we could keep it secret, quiet and a private affair for her,” Tara Guérard, their wedding planner told Life & Style at the Martha Stewart Weddings Annual Bridal Market Party. Apparently, they also used a lot of code names to do a lot of things, reports Life & Style Magazine.

The Real Estalker tried searching for some “meaty” property records but could only lay hands on some less interesting stuff. The couple bought the estate under a trust that Reynolds used to purchase his Bedford, New York and Los Angeles homes. Currently, the home is under renovation. However, the original colonial-style residence spans an area of 8892 square feet and  has 21 rooms including seven bedrooms seven/six bathrooms, all sitting on 12 large acres of land. A detached barn and a sweeping driveway are also a part of the property.

Currently, any active listing could not be found on the estate. An eyewitness reportedly saw the couple’s car moving in and out of the property many a times. The witness also saw trucks hauling loads of furniture to the residence.

Well! Nothing can be known until they want it to be known. Recently, Lively opened up about how she and Reynolds chose the Bedford home in an interview with Elle décor. The former “Gossip Girl” star said that the location of the home and the kitchen was why they liked the place a lot. Lively loves to cook and therefore having a comfy kitchen was one of the first things in her mind.

“Since my kitchen is the most important part of my home, I want to be creative and innovative, not only in its aesthetic, but also in the tools that I’m using to cook,” she explains in the interview.

 

 

http://www.realtytoday.com/articles

 

Calgary’s country residential real estate market set to take off | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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A longer winter season in the Calgary area has had an impact on sales in the country residential market but with the weather warming up it’s expected that sector will see an uptick in activity similar to what’s happening in the city and in surrounding towns.

“As the snow has melted and access to rural properties becomes an easier venture, buyers are becoming more motivated to purchase within the rural markets,” said Mark Evernden, with Sotheby’s International Realty Canada in Calgary. “As well as warm weather, a strong and growing economy accompanied by low interest rates also make home buyers eager and able to obtain homes.”

According to the Calgary Real Estate Board, year-to-date until the end of April, there have been 263 MLS sales in the ‘country residential’ market which includes acreages. That’s down 2.95 per cent compared with the same period a year ago. However, the average sale price has increased by 2.64 per cent to $823,253. New listings are off by 1.20 per cent to 991.

Evernden said the country residential market is now in full swing of activity.

“It is seasonal. The longer winter does impact the sales and volume as we are seeing. From a marketing position, the green pastures and rolling hills with colour give it that extra appeal to the consumer with digital and print marketing that goes out. No different than terrible rain seasons and gloomy days in the tropics,” he said, adding that there will now be an increase in viewings driven by the better weather, strong economy and migration of high net worth clients to the area.

Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Calgary+country+residential+real+estate+market+take/8347802/story.html#ixzz2Sd9SPf18

Cash Sales: 30 Percent of Residential Sales | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Approximately 30 percent of REALTORS® reporting on their last sale had a cash sale (32 percent in February). Investors and international buyers typically pay cash. About 9 percent of REALTORS® reporting a sale to a first-time homebuyer also reported cash sales, while over 70 percent of reported last sales to investors and international buyers were for cash. This is based on data from the March REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey.

What Does This Mean for REALTORS®?
The first time buyer faces a challenge—particularly given that investors are in many cases paying cash—as are second home buyers and international buyers. The key to success appears to be getting financing in place.

 

 

 

http://economistsoutlook.blogs.realtor.org/2013/04/30

Real Estate Q&A: 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchanges and Renters Insurance Coverage | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Investment property 1031 tax-deferred exchanges

Hi Leonard — I own a few investment properties, and I want to trade up to bigger properties. I’ve owned them a long time and would like to avoid paying taxes with a 1031 tax-deferred exchange. What are the ins and outs and basics on these? Rob H., Virginia Beach, VA

Hi Rob — OK first, are these investments performing well? If yes, you should really think through whether or not you want to trade up to a bigger property. Trading up to a better property may be a good idea, but not just a bigger one.

When you do an exchange, you might save money on taxes, but you still have the significant transaction fees that all real estate deals incur. So that could easily be 10-15 percent of the sales price — which is a much bigger slice of your equity that is gone, gone, gone due to the transaction.

The basics are simple: Sell one property, sales proceeds are held by a third-party intermediary, buy another property of an equal or higher price. Any taxable gain you would have had to recognize on the sale of the existing property is now deferred until you sell the new property (and it could be deferred indefinitely if you keep doing 1031 exchanges). But don’t forget those transaction fees.

The tough part is that you must identify the property(ies) you plan to purchase within 45 days of selling the first one and close escrow within 180 days. Many people take their own sweet time, and wham: The 45 days go by, the exchange fails, and they pay the taxes!

Make sure to get good quality advice on the rules and regulations way before you start the process to sell the first properties that you plan to exchange.

Renters insurance

Hi Professor — I’m considering requiring my existing tenants to carry renters insurance when their lease renews. They’re pressing back a little due to the cost. Any guidance on how to deal with this? Martha M., Cushing, OK

Hi Martha — Renters insurance protects everyone: the tenant, the landlord and people who are guests in the house. It’s pretty inexpensive, generally costing $125-$225 per year for basic coverage.

You can explain to them what it covers and why it is worthwhile for them to carry this insurance. It protects their personal property from damages or theft, covers liability in case someone gets hurt at the property and more (check the policy for specifics).

You could also offer to pay for or chip in for the policy for the first year, or longer. It gives you some protection, too. Insurance covers them for losses so they won’t ask you to cover their losses. Note: Even if you are not legally responsible, that doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be asked to help by the tenant.

You certainly don’t want a good tenant to leave over a couple of hundred dollars, so think it through and do what you need to so your tenant stays in the property for a long time.

 

 

http://www.zillowblog.com/2013-05-03

More move-up buyers are ‘going to Miami’ | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Home sales in Miami rose year-over-year for the 11thconsecutive month in March. The March report fromDataQuick also revealed sizeable increases in mid- to high-end activity and a record level of sales to investors and other absentee buyers.

Miami’s median price paid for a home rose 14.1% year-over-year, marking the 15th consecutive month that the city saw a gain.

In March, there were 10,215 new and resale houses and condos closed in the metro area that encompasses Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Broward counties. Sales in March rose 18.8% from February and 7.1% from one-year prior, according to DataQuick.

However, while a sharp gain between February and March is normal, the change between those two months has averaged 26.7% since 1997.

During the first quarter of 2013 — January through March — a total of 28,294 homes sold in the region, a 14.2% increase from the first-quarter of 2012.

Sales of homes that were priced below $100,000 dipped 11.2% year-over-year, while sub-$200,000 homes dropped 3.3%.

In Miami and other markets slammed by foreclosures in recent years, you tend to have the greatest inventory restraints in the most affordable areas — the bottom third or so of the market, says Andrew LePage, a spokesperson for DataQuick.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com