Archives
December 2006
Dec. 31, 2006 - Best of 2006 ... |
In keeping with today's theme on the RSS Reader, I present some of the best posts from this blog over the final six months of 2006 (the blog was up and running earlier in the year but I didn't really start writing seriously until July.)
This is post number 204 - I'll take it down to the best five:
1) Fun With Bubbleheads. A discussion on the so-called real estate bubble, which led to a firestorm on a pair of housing bubble blogs.
2) Do Buyers Care Who Pays their Agent? An argument in defending value with service and attracting a long-term repeat clientele versus offering rebates to attract one-time business.
2a) A related post on my Active Rain blog about Pandora and the buyers' commission.
3) Procuring Cause and You. A quick primer on procuring cause and how it applied to one erstwhile home buyer.
4) Again from Active Rain - Bigfoot, the Open MLS and Other Myths.
5) Zillow Listings - the first taste is free.
Honorable mention: the not-consistent enough series on absorption rates here in the Valley. I've tracked it consistently but missed a few weeks of posting when other items (such as actual real estate) got in the way.
What was your favorite? There's no mechanism for a write-in vote, but feel free to post your favorite in the comments below. I'll be adding a list of favorite posts on the right-side of the blog within the next week and all feedback is appreciated.
Have a safe New Year's ... we'll see you before kickoff tomorrow morning.
Favorite Blog Post of 2006
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes
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Dec. 30, 2006 - New Years Eve at Westgate |
For many years, the Fiesta Bowl block party in Tempe had been the place to be on New Years' Eve. With live entertainment in multiple venues and restaurants galore along Mill Avenue, there was no better place to be as the clock ticked toward midnight.
But with the Fiesta Bowl moving to Glendale, the Valley's best New Years' party has shifted west as well - to the Westgate City Center, near Glendale Avenue and Loop 101. Westgate not only includes both Jobing.com Arena, home of the Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Sting, but also University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals and host in the next 10 days of both the Fiesta Bowl (Oklahoma vs. Boise State - both of which have fans by the busload already here) and the BCS Championship Game between Ohio State and Florida.
(Fun sidelight of life with the Ohio State crowd. When the Buckeyes were here to play Miami in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl for the BCS championship, Ohio State fans took over the balconies of Gordon Biersch on the northwest corner of 5th Avenue and Mill and Hooters on the southeast corner. They then spent most of an evening before the game shouting at each other ... OH ... IO! ... OH ... IO! Maureen should have been here.)
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers will headline the celebration that also features a Fireworks Display at midnight, 40’ Video Jumbotron, DJ’s, Dance Clubs, and a $250,000 Arizona Lottery give away during the evening. Westgate City Center will be one of the hottest New Years Eve destinations and will feature various levels of partying; including partying like a rock star in either of our clubs, overlooking the $5 million dollar Bellagio style “WaterDance” Fountain, stage and the events plaza.
Tickets range in price, depending on where you want to be. One interesting sidelight is the dance clubs will be inside the shells for the under-construction residential lofts at Westgate - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance the night away, unless the new owners invite you over for New Years' next year.
Westgate's first phase essentially is done but more is to come ... including a Margaritaville cafe, where I surely will be wasting away on more than one occasion. All I want is for Jimmy to come open this one as he has his others and I'll be happy.
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes
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Dec. 29, 2006 - One for My Peeps |
For me, 2006 has been the year of educating my peers about the Internet. I've taught several classes on building a web presence and recently discussed the benefits of starting a real estate blog, assuming of course that there is something of worth to say. As I discuss these things, I see heads nod and eyes light up (or glaze over, depending on what tangent I'm on) but within a few days the interest disappears.
On some level I don't mind at all - this is a competitive business and I'll be happy to be the lone ranger reaping the benefits of the Internet. (Right now my wife is smiling.) On another level, I feel like I've failed in my quest to "pay forward" the web advice I was given when I first started. (Right now my wife is hitting me with a skillet.)
So here's one final Internet primer ... my closing gift for 2006 to my peers ...
WEBSITES
Expensive doesn't always mean better. Template-driven sites can work, as long as you take the time to make that template yours. Here are some options absolutely worth exploring in 2007:
Century 21 Web Builder - $60 a year, includes hosting. You can also pay for additional options. It's WYSIWYG format - What You See is What You Get - and is relatively easy to use. This is made more for someone who wants the website for their own clients but not necessarily as a prospecting tool. Not sure where to start or lacking the time? I'm available to help get your website up and running: $35 per hour, three-hour initial minimum bill.
Point-2-Agent - I have this on the list because I've heard some good things about them. There are free sites and paid template sites - if you contact Jay Thompson with Century 21 Aware, he can give you more details.
Sharkzone Design - Tom designed my web site and has a substantial portfolio you can review. He's offering three different packages for the real estate set, depending on how extensive you want your site and how much SEO (search engine optimization) work you desire. You basically have a one-time fee then only pay for a hosting, which is a piddling in the grand scheme of things. A must call/e-mail if you ask me.
I also can assist with some website design on a consulting basis - you can check my Arrowhead Ranch and Westbrook Village sites to see what my sites look like.
The big key with the website is spider-friendly code and quality content. Without those, your site won't get very far.
BLOGS
There are multiple pay options available. Two free options are Active Rain and Realtown Blogs. You can join Active Rain off this link - you'll have access to continuing real estate-related subjects and get your own free blog. You also have the opportunity to be listed as a featured agent in the city of your choice, all by simply participating in the discussion.
The second option is Realtown Blogs, brought to you by Internet Crusade, the folks who put together the e-Pro certification classes. There are several templates available - if you would like a more personalized look, I'm able to assist for $25 an hour, two-hour minimum billing. (Needless to say, this blog is designed with a customized template.)
One last thing ... if you don't use Google Reader or another RSS reader to keep up with trends in the real estate market, get one. Yesterday. There's far more out there than your manager possibly can tell you at a weekly sales meeting. Changes take place in minutes much less weeks right now.
If you have questions, I'm always only an e-mail away. Happy 2007, kids.
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes |
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Dec. 28, 2006 - Your Vote - 2007 Phoenix Market Trend |
My apologies to the e-mail readers for receiving more than one e-mail today but I have the poll working and want to give you a chance to have your opinion heard. We'll try these polls from time to time ... if it proves successful, I may use it to help me with my football picks this week in my wife's football pool.
Where will the Phoenix Market Go in 2007?
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes |
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Dec. 28, 2006 - Fortune Predicts Chilly 2007 |
Fortune magazine has predicted a nearly 4% decline in real estate prices for the Phoenix metro area, ranking the Valley of the Sun near the bottom of the country's 100 largest real estate markets. There's no further explanation but I presume the logic behind the prediction is the continuing withdrawal of investors from the local market, combined with pressure from builders looking to offload their inventory.
We'll be running a reader's poll later today ... currently the poll software doesn't want to recognize any e-mail address as valid.
(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes
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