I don’t usually like to curate this kind of content, but I really think it’s a good reminder for all of us to feel safe in all environments. “A Los Angeles real estate agent was attacked in broad daylight by a man who looked directly into — and smiled for — a security camera moments earlier.” The good news is the man was caught a couple of days ago. He is an exception to the rule of course. People, in general, are good and most of us feel safe the majority of the time. Here’s the NBC report: Video shows Los Angeles real estate agent attacked at open house.
2. WE WORK, WE PARTY
Business Insider says WeWork could cause a disaster for New York City’s real-estate market. “Tequila-fueled staff meetings and investor pitches, pot smoking on board Gulfstream jets, and wild-eyed declarations of the ability to change the world (and to live forever) may have found ready media outlets seeking to present salacious tidbits regarding the behavior of Adam Neumann, the cofounder, chairman, and now former CEO of sometime-before-yesterday’s momentum darling, The We Company, and its better-known subsidiary, WeWork.” Does this business model work? Can it make it through a recession?
3. RECORD-BREAKING CASH
“Today’s mortgage holders saw their home equity increase by 4.8% annually at the end of the second quarter. This is a collective gain of nearly $428 billion, according to CoreLogic. Break it down by borrower, and the average homeowner with a mortgage gained $4,900 in home equity in just one year.” CNBC reports More Americans are house rich, but they’re leaving that cash in the house. How long will they hold on before spending some of their equity?
4. MAKE IT NINE
8 Things You Need to Prep Your Home for Fall: Do You Have Them All? “Fall is the perfect time to get your house in order. Whether you have leaves to rake or gutters to clean, or want to get your indoors comfy and organized for those long winter months, your autumn to-do list is calling—and the right tools and items can make your job a whole lot easier.” I think Realtor.com missed the mark on this one a bit. Number 9: Spend the $150 or so it will take to get your heating system inspected and serviced. It could save you a great deal of money and potential hassle this winter.
5. URBAN REFUGEES
“In a survey last year of 23,000 new home shoppers, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, a firm with offices across the country, found that roughly 30 percent worked at home between one and four days a week; 13 percent worked at home full time.” Whether you’re a broker, buyer or seller it’s important to stay on top of how the real estate market is changing relative to telecommuting. Read Seven Ways Telecommuting Has Changed Real Estate (NY Times).
