Real Estate Services

By Julie Gelfand

As in politics, all real estate is local. Few issues can inspire (or provoke) the passions of a community as quickly or as deeply. Land use is a particularly heated topic on Long Island, where the preservation of open space, the development of affordable housing, the rezoning of commercial property, the siting of power plants and the planning of city-sized projects bump up against the competing needs and sensibilities of homeowners, local businesses and government officials.

Real estate developers are increasingly relying on public relations to help manage these challenges. Whether marketing a new property or “putting out a fire,” public relations is uniquely suited to the real estate setting because real estate projects come with built-in stakeholders. There is no such thing as a development without supporters and/or naysayers. Neighbors, zoning and planning boards, taxing authorities, preservationists, community activists and editorial boards all have opinions about land use in their towns. In all cases, the solution requires engaging stakeholders in constructive dialog. And that’s what public relations does best.

This puts real estate public relations in stark contrast to, say, consumer products or even business services, where the target market may not initially have an intrinsic stake in the product or service being offered. There, the challenge is creating a stake or interest among prospective customers, stockholders or other market segments. But in real estate, the motivated interest of the market pre-exists, so the communications needs are well defined from the outset. What this means for the savvy developer or property manager is that the opportunity to influence public reception to a project is there at the outset, well before ground is broken.

Tactically, a strategic public relations program in the real estate world has the same core components as a program designed for any other industry. These components may include media relations, community engagement, government liaison, tenant (customer) communications, crisis management or others. Publicity, direct marketing, advertising, interactive communications, social media networking, public presentation, special events and or other executions may be encompassed as appropriate.

The key to a successful outreach, as with any well conceived public relations program, is to design communications strategies that establish the project’s benefits to the community and ensure a credible, reliable, accurate portrayal of the facts, while minimizing the impact of the rumor mill and/or the influence of any self-interests.

After all, to quote Will Rogers, “Rumor travels faster, but it don’t stay put as long as truth. ”

Julie Gross Gelfand,
Harrison Leifer DiMarco,
Executive Vice President & Director of Public Relations,
http://www.hldpr.com

Julie has 25 years of strategic public relations experience ranging from Wall Street to the national non-profit sector. An articulate and impassioned communicator, Julie’s strength is in assessing the public relations opportunity for a client’s product or service and devising a communications program that establishes or sustains strategic brand awareness in targeted market segments. Her client portfolio has included companies and organizations in varied sectors of the economy, from health care to commodity futures, real estate development to pillow manufacturing, energy production to generic pharmaceuticals, and many others. Julie supervises account strategy, serves as senior counselor and oversees both long-range and day-to-day services to all public relations accounts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_Gelfand

By Don Anderson

Every one loves a lower interest rate but should you pay the points a lender charges for the reduced rate? The likely answer is… not in every case. The answer is really a function of how long you’ll remain in the property. A point is one percent of the loan amount and points can also come in a variety of fractions, ie. 1.5 or 2.25. In any event, just take the number as a percentage of the loan amount to determine the dollar value of the discount. A $200,000 loan with 1 discount point equals $2,000 that significantly increases closing cost. That’s the first of three pieces to the puzzle. Next, calculate the principle and interest payment using the market rate, which is the rate if no points are paid. Then… calculate the payment again using

the discounted rate, the rate associated with the payment of points.The difference is your monthly savings by paying the point or points in some cases. Now, divide the value of the points by the value of the monthly savings to determine the number of months till you’re even. Let’s say that the answer is 60 months. Well, if you’re in your dream home and no future move is planned, you may very well want to consider paying the points. On the other hand, if your job may take you elsewhere within 60 months, tell the lender thanks but….no thanks! Of course, if we find you a motivated seller then you might have your cake and eat it too! It’s always nice to have a lower payment at someone else expense.

Don Anderson is a real estate broker in Knoxville, Tennessee and he can be reached 865-588-3232. http://www.knoxvillehouses.com
View Don’s video “Finding The Equity Treasure” at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=koAD7R3IWrg

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Anderson

By Ron Olive

Find the best homes and land in North Idaho!

Homeowner’s Rejoice!

In early March the National Association of Realtors released its forecast for existing home sales. According to NAR, sales of existing homes are expected to remain steady through the Spring and a gradual recovery should then occur throughout the rest of the year!

If correct that means we are now experiencing a bottom in the existing home sales market. The sales growth rate for 2009 is expected to be approximately three and a half percent.

Despite the assertion that the bottom is in for units sold, NAR projects that existing home sales prices will still fall another 1.2% before finally bottoming. But just like units sold in 2009, NAR projects that the price of existing homes will go up three and a half percent next year.

The new home sales market appears a bit bleaker according to NAR. Their projections are for new home sales to be down almost twenty four percent this year, but then rebounding sharply with a more than seven percent increase in 2009. Prices of new homes are expected to fall about six percent this year, but rebound by about five percent in 2009.

Mortgage rates are expected to remain around 5.8% this year but then move up to 6.3% next year.Overall the report from NAR is encouraging as Realtor’s have been hoping for a bottom for quite some time now. The signs of activity can certainly be seen at the Tomlinson North Idaho Sotheby’s office in

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. If you are feeling the itch to sell then now may be the perfect time - before everyone else figures out that the bottom may indeed be “in.”

See the original housing recovery article here.

Tomlinson North Idaho Sotheby’s International Realty knows North Idaho like no other agency! You may also request your free copy of our unique homes and land magazine for North Idaho to be delivered via U.S. Postal Service mail. Just make the request in the comments section on our Real Estate Request Form!

When only the best will do the answer is clear - Sotheby’s International Realty Coeur d’Alene Idaho is located in beautiful Kootenai County and is a wonderful place to retire! Kootenai County has a 2006 listed population of 131,507. Six year population growth was approximately twenty-one percent.

About thirteen and a half percent of the people are 65 or older.

The year 2000 home ownership rate was almost seventy-five percent. The 2004 median household income was $41,308 and over $11,000 is spent each year on retail sales, per capita.

This demographic info is provided by the US Census Bureau and is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.

Contact us today to find out more about retiring to North Idaho!

Realtor Ron
Tomlinson North Idaho Sothebys International Realty
http://www.besthomesandland.com/public/recovery.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Olive

By Peeves Selibio

Mark Evans and his wife Lynda were angry at how things have gone from tough to tougher in real estate that sent some of their closest friends in the real estate industry to the end of financial problems. For months now, real estate property prices continue to fall to their lowest yet, and the prospect of foreclosure seems to hover above every house like vultures waiting for their victims to breathe their last.

There are people however who are realizing the silver lining behind the dark clouds. As cheesy as it sounds, but there is a part of truth in the wisdom of old: “a person’s problem is another person’s opportunity.” After all, analysts believe that real estate will soon go back to its old self, as it always does. It still survives as one of, if not the most, lucrative investments of all time.

The test of survival is on an individual’s attitude, either to sit indifferently and curse the current situation, or get up and do something about whatever is left of the situation. An individual who keeps an optimistic attitude can:

· Purchase a house now and bid goodbye to renting for good;

· Purchase a real estate property house now, improve by giving a face lift and resell it when times improve;

· Purchase a real estate property house now with the chances of renting it.The Odds

Industry analysts however were quick to add that the “silver lining” may not be what it seems if caution is thrown altogether to the wind as the odds to this optimistic view are one too many:

· Without competence and years of expertise backing him up, the novice investor might find himself in murky waters while talking terms for the right value of a foreclosed real estate property. Instead of making some cash, he might be losing money as bids might be higher than what the house truly is worth.

· With the rates of real estate property watered down so much due to the decline, new investors or those willing to stake their hard-earned savings at a new house, taking advantage of the low prices, might hit some problems telling the bank that they are of lesser mortgage risk, as banks would certainly be more conscious to protect its own interest when they qualify another client for mortgage.

Temporary defeat

But Carol Tucker remains positive of the situation. A mother of two, she believes that she’s through with renting an apartment and now moving to her latest home. She views the current dilemma as a chance she has been waiting for that although it may not sound good that she gets her break at a time others lost theirs, she would not pass up the opportunity.

Jason is also on a search for better real estate deals too, as he believes that the economy will get better soon and he would surely cash-in the benefit. Meantime, people like Jason would not mind changing the locks on the front door, repainting the walls, and renovating the garage until the wind of good fortune blows to their direction.

Real Estate deals in Miami can get very complicated. It’s good that there are websites like http://www.MiamiRealEstatehome.org that can give valuable information about Real Estate negotiations, property rate quotes and help users untangle themselves from all the hassles in their search for the best Real Estate property.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peeves_Selibio

By Tasha Lucas

What is Steel Framing? -

Imagine the wood framing of a traditionally built home, but where there are 2×4s, 2×6s, etc., there are steel studs. The studs themselves start out as large steel sheets. These sheets are passed through a series or rollers, none of which use heat, to bend the steel to make more useful shapes for buildings, like the flanges, web, and lips of a stud or C-shape. Steel studs come in various shapes and sizes, much like those that builders are accustomed to seeing in dimensional lumber, including 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, etc. The lengths are custom cut in the steel plant. And, since there is no heat used to shape the steel, no integrity or strength is lost. The shape makes the studs stronger than the original steel sheet. The steel studs can either be sold as is or placed into configurations to be sold as wall panels.

Applications -

Since steel is so strong, durable, versatile, and affordable, it can be used as framing for a great variety of situations, from superstructures like skyscrapers, bridges, and high-rises to lower-scale building projects like commercial shopping centers and residential homes. Since steel’s strength-to-weight ratio is so high, it is ideal for situations that require long spans. For example, steel opens up possibilities for wide, open living spaces in residences.

Advantages -

* Steel framing’s higher strength-to-weight ratio gives designers and engineers more options to use less framing material, allowing longer spans and wider on-center spacing schedules. In other words, fewer studs need to be used in the erection of a house or building, and larger open spaces are available in a home or building.

* Steel studs and joists are strong, light-weight, and made from uniform-quality material.

* Galvanized steel is noncombustible, unsusceptible to rot, and resistant to corrosion. It does not shrink, warp, twist, crack, split, or swell. This means your walls are straight and square for the life of the house, which will be a long life at that. Steel framing contributes to better drywall and exterior appearance, as well as the fit of doors and windows.

* Steel is insect and termite resistant. It is also mold resistant.

* Steel performs well in high wind and seismic areas.

* Steel provides a more reliable supply of framing materials for the building industry. It isn’t affected by the shortages and sharp price increases of the lumber industry.

* Remodeling and additions are no issue with steel framing since, just like wood framing, non-load-bearing walls can be removed.

* It is at least partly made of recycled materials and is 100 percent recyclable after use.

* Since steel is fire retardant, withstands high winds, and is more durable in hurricanes and earthquakes, homeowners may enjoy lower insurance premiums.

Disadvantages -

“Thermal bridging” occurs when hot or cold air is drawn to a stud, resulting in heat loss or gain. In cold climates, thermal bridging could result in increased heating costs and in hot climates, heat gain could result in moisture damage. When we build with steel, we use thermal barrier insulating materials to provide exceptional heat and cooling loss protection to steel-built homes.

What makes it “green”?

* Steel is completely recyclable. In fact, steel is North America’s most recycled material. More than 65 million tons of steel scrap is recycled each year. More steel is recycled than paper, aluminum, glass, and plastic combined. As an end result, recycling steel scrap also saves landfill space and natural resources. When the steel framing of a home has outlived its useful life, it can be recycled into new steel.

* An average 2,000 square foot steel framed house can generate as little as a cubic yard of recyclable scrap, diverting material for local landfills. This is partly because steel studs are cut to exact lengths from steel stud machines so there are no wastes at the construction site. The wastes in the steel plant are recycled to make more steel.

* Steel framing contains at least 28 percent recycled steel and is completely recyclable. Using recycled steel takes the pressure off renewable resources. For example, a typical 2,000-square-foot home requires about 40 to 50 trees, about an acre’s worth. With steel, only the equivalent of about six scrapped automobiles is needed.

* When used with thermal barrier materials, there is minimal heating and cooling loss. Steel framing also results in less loss around windows and doors as well as foundation and roofing connections because the steel will not warp and move, ridding concern of gaps and accompanies energy loss created over the life of the house.

* Steel framing means less need for lumber. Today, more than 90 percent of North America’s old-growth forests are already being harvested. This eases the strain on these dwindling forests, saving the wildlife that lives in those forests, as well.

* Steel is non-toxic and allergy free, which means healthier living for occupants.

Written by Tasha Lucas, Monster Constructors, L.L.C

You can also see this article on the Monster Constructors website:

http://www.monsterconstructors.com

http://www.monstergreenbuilding.com