Condo Blog - A Non-Corporate Blog From CondoDomain HQ

Watch the Movie Here - Its one of the best ones yet!
HARBORVIEW AT THE NAVY YARD - IS A BRAND NEW LUXURY WATERFRONT CONDOMINIUM COMING TO BOSTON. Take a fresh look at Harborview at the Navy Yard. This is waterfront living in Boston with a new perspective. A place filled with history and all the benefits of urban living, but removed just enough so you can savor a quiet, secluded moment. Enjoy spectacular city views, with sailboats slipping past to the rhythm of the waves. This is Boston as you’ve never seen it before. This is HarborView at the Navy Yard.

For more information on HarborView at the Navy Yard Condos in Boston.

Read about the Buyers Market Handbook:  Download the Buyers Market Handbook.

Cool condo pic of the day [Source: Wired New York]

Cool article on condo developers taken residences in their own masterpiece properties.

Some developers inhabit their own buildings rather famously. Donald J. Trump has even given his Fifth Avenue spread in the Trump Tower a cameo role in his television show, “The Apprentice.”

Others prefer to fly under the radar.

Either way, developers who choose to live where they build often get first choice, sometimes at a substantial discount. If they have partners, they might have to pay retail or forgo some part of their profit for the space, but chances are they will be able to customize to their heart’s content, without going through the difficulties the average buyer would encounter.  Continued…
Source:  NYTimes.

As many of you have heard Allan Dalton, Move.com’s new Chief took on Zillow in a heated debate at C.A.R.’s annual convention. The debate that began at RISMedia’s CEO Exchange in August between Move, Inc. President Allan Dalton and Lloyd Frink, president of home valuation portal Zillow.com, gained momentum Friday when the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) posted video on its site of the recent discussion among an executive panel at C.A.R.’s annual convention held Oct. 17 in Long Beach.

Watch the video here.

Source: RISMedia | C.A.R.

Don’t search YouTube! Well, actually you can if you want but be careful of the first video. I was on the site today seeing if any real estate people have started to push video on to the site. So I typed “condos” in the main search bar. And i got….. This is either viral marketing at its finest or its was just tagged wrong. In any case Ill spare you the drama…you can watch it yourself here. I guess we will call it the “Condo Movie on YouTube“, my humps, my humps, my humps… (you go Pearl!)
For “Real” Condo Movies visit our CondoCast’s on condoDomain.com.

Source: YouTube

Today I was breezing through my Google Alerts (Google News in your eMail box) and I noticed a new section under the 4 or 5 news alerts I received on “Boston condos”.  Well, as I scolled to the bottom I saw an article headline written by BostonREB.com - the Boston Real Estate Blog (aka - John A Keith).

Anyway thought it was an interesting topic, maybe we can take over the press this way?   So bloggers….keep blogging!

We made the list on Sellsius’s Blog-O-Holic top 30 reasons.

1. You constantly check your stats, technorati rank & links before you eat breakfast and before you go to sleep
2. You work on your next blog post while you’re in the shower, at work, talking to family members or with your significant other when you should really be focused on something else.

5. You tell people you just met “I have a blog”

28. You smash your blackberry because it won’t connect after attempting to make a “mobile” post on the fly. [Condo Blog]

Source: Sellsius Real Estate

(image from Sellsius)

Panama is quickly becoming the crown jewel of Latin America. The interest by Americans in owning real estate in Panama is unprecedented, as Baby Boomers discover this magical and economic retirement paradise. There are now more Americans buying property and planning to live in Panama than anywhere else outside of the United States. The most compelling aspect of this growth is that 99% of retirees could never afford to live in a TRUMP property, but in Panama they can.

All Condo / Hotel studios are $290,000 ($330,000 after November 1st) no matter where located in the building and they are all approximately 540 sq. ft. The revenues generated through the Hotel will be pooled so that each owner receives the same percentage of income, whether their unit has been rented or not. All hotel suites are fully furnished and accessorized at the Trump level of quality.

All condominium residences are FINISHED but not furnished. Finished means central air conditioned; full appliance package with washer and dryer; marble flooring throughout; granite kitchen countertops with full backsplash; European kitchens cabinets, frameless shower enclosures, designer fixtures, and the level of quality you would expect in a TRUMP property. Download Brochure

PRICE RANGE FOR CONDOMINIUMS ARE:
ONE BEDROOM: $425,000 ( 1085 sq. ft approx.)
TWO BEDROOMS: $625,000 ( 1630 sq. ft approx.)
THREE BEDROOMS: $750,000 ( 2130 sq. ft. approx.)
THREE BEDROOM COMBO: $1.4M ( 3300 sq. ft. approx.)
FOUR BEDROOM COMBO $1.8M ( 4380 sq. ft. approx.)

SPECIAL UNITS AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITIED TIME AT OPENING PRICES:
2603 - 2 BR - 1642 SF - $568,000
3306 - 2 BR - 1642 SF - $569,000
2804 - 2 BR - 1642 SF - $571,000
3403 - 2 BR - 1642 SF - $581,000
4405 - 2 BR - 1642 SF - $587,000

Source: Jimmy Nevius, Las Vegas High Rise Projects

THANK YOU CNN MONEY!!!!

“Between income trends & development restrictions have made each of these top cities safe bets for investors!” 

Great, clear, educated article today on cnnmoney.com.  Finally the press “gets it”.

Top 5 Housing Bubble Proof Markets:

1.  San Francisco - If developers were allowed to go all out with building on San Francisco’s Treasure Island, Presidio and the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge, the price of housing would fall close to the cost of construction. But those pristine natural amenities are the product of one of the most anti-development political cultures in the country - and a perennial magnet for the highest earners.

2. Los Angeles - Along with San Francisco, Los Angeles was the first major metro in the United States to become “filled up” during the 1960s and 1970s because of geographic constraints and political restrictions on building. Three-quarters of new construction is now in-fill development, and much of it is high end. The gentrification is pricing out middle and lower income families, who are moving in-land.

3. Seattle - The newest graduate to join this elite class of super-expensive cities, Seattle is the least likely to hold its place. New zoning laws approved by the city council this year lift restrictions on building heights in the downtown core, and promise to generate $100 million worth of affordable housing.

4. Boston - Boston had the strongest wage growth of these cities through the tech bust and jobless recovery. Over the next five years, it will have the highest per capita income, next to San Francisco.

5. New York City - The force with which middle class households here are getting replaced by wealthier ones was reflected in the recent hysteria over the Tishman Speyer group’s $5.4-billion acquisition of 110 apartment buildings in lower Manhattan, the largest real estate deal in recent history. The apartment blocks are home to thousands of rent-controlled tenants who should have been priced out of the city years ago - and fear they now will be by market rents under the new owner.

Source:  CNNMoney.com

MGM Mirage has opened a residential gallery at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, where new details of the ambitious $7 billion CityCenter development (pictured) are on view for prospective buyers. Pre-sales are expected to begin in January 2007. The opening of the gallery signifies the determination to begin the sales launch on time and to keep the project on track. In fact, a spokesperson has reported to CPN that present plans call for the opening of everything in the development on a single day in November 2009.

CPN reported on the formation of CityCenter Realty, the brand extension of MGM Mirage that is in charge of the new development back in August, but more information on plans for the proposed buildings is now available. There are four planned residential offerings for the new mixed-use development, including: the Veer Towers, a pair of 37-story glass towers comprised of over 700 modern condominiums residences, designed by architect Helmut Jahn; the Vdara Condo Hotel, a 50-story tower design by RV Architects that will be situated between the Bellagio and the CityCenter’s planned gaming hotel; the KPFArchitects-designed Residences at the Mandarin Oriental, which will feature 227 condominiums atop the 400-room hotel; and the Harmon Hotel & Residences, designed by London-based Foster and Partners, which will feature 228 condos, ranging from 800 to 4,200 square feet. The center of the development will no doubt be the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed, 60-story, 4,000-room hotel and casino. Continued…

Source: CPN

The new shinny Residences at the InterContinental condos in Boston started their closings this week….and we got a sneak-peak tour into a unit today. Extell Development really pushed the envelope on this development. Upon entering the lobby designed by Celeste Cooper from the Oprin Group, you are greeted with exquisite design & a feeling of ultra-luxury.

(Above -  main entry for the Residences at the InterContinental and below the hallway leading to the main elevators)

(Below -  the residential elevators)

We got a guided tour of the 14th floor, most units were locked, however, we got access to a harborside unit, which had never ending views of the Boston Harbor & Boston’s seaport district.

Absolutely breathtaking views. The unit we toured at the Residences at the InterContinental was a 3 bed, 3 bath loaded with all the extra’s. It was a corner unit boasting both east and southern views. The pictures tell it all. More to come on the Residences at the InterContinental (we left our other camera in the car).

For more information on the Residences at the InterContinental please visit their website at http://residences-intercontinental.com

Source: condoDomain Travel Team

Yup, its a great blog we just came across today.  It has actually been around for a long long long time…however we just came across it today and had the time to take a quick read.  It has some great stuff on there for everyone…but really a ton of information Internet marketing for Real Estate Agents and Brokers?  Visit the Real Estate Tomato Here!

Elad’s Plaza in NYC opens retail collection:  Elad’s release says, “The signature Plaza Retail Collection will also feature a spa, beauty salon and state-of-the-art fitness center with a 100-foot lap pool.”

NEW YORK CITY-In the midst of converting the 805-key Plaza Hotel into a condo hotel, Elad Properties revealed plans for the Plaza Retail Collection, which will also be housed in the historic building.

The retail portion will occupy 160,000 sf on six levels of the property. Consumers will be able to enter through the restored Fifth Avenue entrance or on 58 Street for direct access to the stores, according to a statement issued yesterday. Continued…

Source: GlobeSt.

The new “interactive search” with Ms. Dewey.  You just have to go and find out for yourself.

Here is the link:  http://www.msdewey.com   Search for “whatever” you want…Im sure she will have the answer for you!

A good online mortgage lender can make the home mortgage shopping experience bearable if not pleasant. With competitive rates and good customer service, a home mortgage lender can help you buy your home within a reasonable timeframe. To find such a lender, start by researching recommended lenders. Ask questions about loan rates, terms, and payment process. Once you find a perfect match, start the application process to lock in rates.

Source: Condo Loan Center

Got an extra $28M laying around for the ultimate Chicago ‘Sky House’?

Trump ‘Apprentise built’ high-rise in downtown Chicago still available for pruchase.

It turns out that said penthouse, a whopping 14,000-square-foot pad, is still available to anyone willing to stump up the cash. Tere Proctor, director of sales and marketing for Trump, 401 N Wabash Ave, said Friday that she was authorized to sell it if a buyer came along.  Continued…

Source:  YO Chicago

For more information on Chicago Condos.

LAS VEGAS-Majestic Resorts Inc. has figured out what to do with the 5.5-acre site of the former La Concha Motel at the north end of the Strip, across from the soon-to-be redeveloped Stardust hotel and casino. Majestic CEO Lorenzo Doumani tells GlobeSt.com the site will hold a single 650-foot tower containing a mix of hotel, condo-hotel and straight condominium units. The $825-million endeavor is slated for occupancy in 2009.

Continued… 

Source:  GlobeSt.

“The condominium market is attractive to young, childless professionals, divorced middle-aged singles, and empty-nesters in a broad range of age and income.”

….

“This is a totally new housing equation when compared to prior markets. Many observers are missing this dynamic.”

Read This Article Here!!!

Thank you Barron’s. Thank you Kevin Ahearn…now if we can only convey this message to the rest of the PRESS!

Source: Barrons

Hmm. We are certainly going to look more into this site…but it caught our attention and we thought we would post. They house 5 verticals, condos, townhomes, houses, rentals and commercial buildings. It costs $69 to list unlimited # of listings…FSBO or Agent’s are welcome. For more information visit www.MotivatedSellerNetwork.com

(Remember its free for all real estate agents to post unlimited listings on condoDomain.com - The source for New Condos!)

The “Lunar Embassy of China,” a company selling land on the moon, lost the first round in a battle against an earthly government bureau on Friday.

The Haidian District Court in Beijing ruled against the company’s lawsuit to win back its business licence that was suspended by the city’s industry and commerce watchdog.

The Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce (BAIC) clamped down on the company last October for “speculation and profiteering,” and blacklisted it as one of the city’s top 10 false advertisers in 2005.

The verdict is the first handed down in the case. Legitimacy over lunar ownership and sales was at the core of the dispute during the past two hearings.

The plaintiff, Li Jie, chief executive of the Beijing Lunar Village Aeronautics Science and Technology Co Ltd, claimed his company was legal as it was authorized by the US Lunar Embassy and registered at the BAIC in September 2005.

Dennis Hope, a US entrepreneur, founded the US Lunar Embassy in 1980 by registering his claim to the surface of the moon and eight other planets with the US Government.

Millions of people have bought lunar “land” from Hope, according to media reports.

A tad “lunny” but can I get a mortgage? … continued… 

Source:  Peoples Daily Online

Buying has never been easier than this. Walk into the Atelier Condos new sales center and just swipe your AMEX card! You can put your whole downpayment on it…making you that much closer to getting that Centurion Card (AMEX Black Card). Atelier is the first building in New York City to offer a down payment to be maid by American Express. So rack your points up and buy at Atelier Condos.

Source: New York Times | Atelier Condos

New product pushes ahead even as re-sale slow a bit.

Amid the slowdown in condominium resales, developers march on with new projects in Metro Atlanta.

One of Atlanta’s most prolific condo developers, Novare Group Inc., plans The Atlantic in Atlantic Station, The Roxy in Buckhead and 3360, a joint venture with Atlanta-based Post Properties Inc. (NYSE PPS), Duke Realty Corp. and Pope & Land Enterprises Inc. Novare has also begun construction on ViewPoint in Midtown.

Wood Partners LLC, which built Metropolis, Eclipse, Spire and TWELVE Atlantic Station with Novare, has development plans of its own: Trump Towers Atlanta and condos on Norfolk Southern Corp.’s land downtown.

Novare has 1,105 units under construction and 1,039 units in the pipeline for 2007, said Jim Borders, president and CEO of Novare. Continued…

Source: News11

From Trump to Shaq to Martha Stewart, what is going on with Celebrity branded condo developments? Does it actually add “more value”? What is everyone’s reactions to this … and does any “star-power” work? For example, Philippe Starck, international “artistic” designer VS. The Shaq, Basketball Super Star. Is there a line to draw in the sand?
Watch the Video

Source: Forbes.com

…and $1M is surpassed!

The next million-dollar penthouses in downtown Detroit — a benchmark price set only last week — are closer to reality as one of three new condominium projects planned along the river is poised to clear a critical hurdle Tuesday.

The Detroit Economic Development Corp. next week is expected to approve the development agreement of The @water — pronounced Atwater. With the approval, city-owned land would be transferred to a developer on a high-end condo-retail project.

It’s the first upscale housing project planned for the downtown riverfront area to reach this stage of approval.

The $250 million project — with 600 midrise condos, many of which will overlook the Detroit River — is one of several public and private projects planned as part of an overhaul of the industry-scarred downtown riverfront.

“This is transformative,” Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said Thursday. “It’s revolutionary. It was dusty cement silos.”  Continued…

Source:  Detroit News.com