Journal Sentinel reports on 2008 foreclosures
The number of foreclosed properties headed for sheriff's sales in Milwaukee County jumped 77% last year, the third consecutive year of double-digit increases. And officials said there were no signs that the trend was abating.
Similar percentage increases were seen in Waukesha County, up 73%, and Washington County, up 72%.
Ozaukee County, which boasts the state's highest median household income, recorded a 47% increase in properties that have gone through foreclosure. Comparable figures for Racine County were not yet available.
In Milwaukee County, 4,747 properties were scheduled for sheriff's sales last year, a review of county data shows. That figure is nearly three times greater than the 2006 total.
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Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Credit Crunch & Foreclosures
National Association of Realtors introduces 4-point housing stimulus plan
Our nation is facing an unprecedented lack of liquidity throughout every sector of the economy. This has placed insurmountable barriers in the path of too many homeowners wishing to avoid foreclosure and save their home and home buyers wishing to take advantage of the low mortgage rate environment and realize the American dream of owning a home. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® believes it is imperative that Congress take action and restore consumer confidence in homeownership. We are calling on Congress to enact measures that address foreclosures, stabilize housing and real estate, energize credit markets, restore bank lending capacity and revitalize the economy.
Read More >
Our nation is facing an unprecedented lack of liquidity throughout every sector of the economy. This has placed insurmountable barriers in the path of too many homeowners wishing to avoid foreclosure and save their home and home buyers wishing to take advantage of the low mortgage rate environment and realize the American dream of owning a home. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® believes it is imperative that Congress take action and restore consumer confidence in homeownership. We are calling on Congress to enact measures that address foreclosures, stabilize housing and real estate, energize credit markets, restore bank lending capacity and revitalize the economy.
Read More >
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Video Trends in Real Estate
BestMilwaukeehomes.com now includes videos of listings!
The latest trend in selling homes is video. Video has been around for a while, but has not been used in significant numbers.
There are two different camps in the video world - motion video and movie slide shows. Motion video is captured with a camcorder or other video system. The highest quality is achieved using a professional service, which has the necessary equipment and software to produce quality videos. Amateur videos usually are too shaky and slow, because the creator lacks the appropriate equipment - which can cost thousands of dollars.
Video slide shows are generally looked down upon by video professionals as not "real" video. Rarely do they give a true feel of the "flow" of a property. However, the slide shows may be saved in a movie format, with music and/or narration and uploaded to the many video sites across the web. They are also more affordable for mid and low end listings.
Currently, I am using a version of slide shows, however, I use movie editing software to apply the "Ken Burns effect." If you remember his PBS specials about the Civil War, he used pan & zoom effects to give the antique still photos a feeling of motion.
Using this effect, I take about twice as many photos as the average slide show and piece multiple shots of the same room and pan/zoom effects to give the feeling of a video tour. Eventually, I plan to invest in a higher-end video camera and stabilizer to achieve true video. Until then, I like how my movie slide shows show off the property and the quality is much better than the shaky video I can only achieve at this point.
Check out the new listing videos on my site! My listing videos will be syndicated to major video sites like Wellcomemat.com, YouTube and Google Video.
The latest trend in selling homes is video. Video has been around for a while, but has not been used in significant numbers.
There are two different camps in the video world - motion video and movie slide shows. Motion video is captured with a camcorder or other video system. The highest quality is achieved using a professional service, which has the necessary equipment and software to produce quality videos. Amateur videos usually are too shaky and slow, because the creator lacks the appropriate equipment - which can cost thousands of dollars.
Video slide shows are generally looked down upon by video professionals as not "real" video. Rarely do they give a true feel of the "flow" of a property. However, the slide shows may be saved in a movie format, with music and/or narration and uploaded to the many video sites across the web. They are also more affordable for mid and low end listings.
Currently, I am using a version of slide shows, however, I use movie editing software to apply the "Ken Burns effect." If you remember his PBS specials about the Civil War, he used pan & zoom effects to give the antique still photos a feeling of motion.
Using this effect, I take about twice as many photos as the average slide show and piece multiple shots of the same room and pan/zoom effects to give the feeling of a video tour. Eventually, I plan to invest in a higher-end video camera and stabilizer to achieve true video. Until then, I like how my movie slide shows show off the property and the quality is much better than the shaky video I can only achieve at this point.
Check out the new listing videos on my site! My listing videos will be syndicated to major video sites like Wellcomemat.com, YouTube and Google Video.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
First Weber a 'Front Runner'
New multi media technology stands apart from the pack
My broker, First Weber Group, is rolling out a new multi-media program, which will change the face of interactive listings in our Wisconsin market. It promises to offer a multitude of bells and whistles to make buyers, sellers and agents happy.
On the selling side, listings input into the system will now automatically get a video slide show, a narrated virtual tour, individual listing site, unique web URL, integrated Google mapping technology, craigslist formatted flyers and syndication to major real estate portals such as Trulia, FrontDoor, Zillow, YouTube and more!
For buyers, the new listing PIN numbers will now double as text message numbers and allow a buyer to text the number to 'eData' (33282) and receive an automated response with the listing information, photos and ability to contact the agent - right from their cell phone.
Agents benefit by receiving text messages that their listing is getting activity and get the visitor's cell phone information (optional to visitor) , ease of entry (no longer have to enter the same listing information to dozens of programs and web sites) and bragging rights to one of the best broker online marketing systems in our market! We'll also be better able to track web activity, produce eMagazines and CDs of our listings and agent commercials.
Of course, I have been syndicating listings, using texting & mobile web applications and doing video tours for a long time now, but adding the texting capabilities is a great convenience and I think it will be a hit with buyers and sellers alike.
It's so great that technology is finally catching on in real estate and I'm proud that my company is a "front runner!"
My broker, First Weber Group, is rolling out a new multi-media program, which will change the face of interactive listings in our Wisconsin market. It promises to offer a multitude of bells and whistles to make buyers, sellers and agents happy.
On the selling side, listings input into the system will now automatically get a video slide show, a narrated virtual tour, individual listing site, unique web URL, integrated Google mapping technology, craigslist formatted flyers and syndication to major real estate portals such as Trulia, FrontDoor, Zillow, YouTube and more!
For buyers, the new listing PIN numbers will now double as text message numbers and allow a buyer to text the number to 'eData' (33282) and receive an automated response with the listing information, photos and ability to contact the agent - right from their cell phone.
Agents benefit by receiving text messages that their listing is getting activity and get the visitor's cell phone information (optional to visitor) , ease of entry (no longer have to enter the same listing information to dozens of programs and web sites) and bragging rights to one of the best broker online marketing systems in our market! We'll also be better able to track web activity, produce eMagazines and CDs of our listings and agent commercials.
Of course, I have been syndicating listings, using texting & mobile web applications and doing video tours for a long time now, but adding the texting capabilities is a great convenience and I think it will be a hit with buyers and sellers alike.
It's so great that technology is finally catching on in real estate and I'm proud that my company is a "front runner!"
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