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“This week, till Friday 6PM Pacific, the Trends Community Blog will accept nominations of Companies that you consider to be one of the industry premier Pacesetters in our industry. Companies that are creating and leading our industry towards change. Then over the coming weekend I will select among all the nominations the Top 8 finalists that will be posted next Monday the 18th. Next week all members of the Inman Trends Community will each have one vote to help determine which three companies are our medal winners for the title: Real Estate Pacesetter 2008.”

What are you voting for? Well at the core of this Olympic Race for innovation in the real estate vertical are these 4 attributes:

1. Innovative Web 2.0 company or user of Web 2.0 technology

2. The size, need and demand for the companies/services

3. The quality or uniqueness of their services

4. The potential impact of their services on the industry We belive we served these line items better than anyone else…read our presentation below.

We here at CondoDomain.com (http://condodomain.com – Boston is currently live @ http://boston.condodomain.com) believe we are not only at the cutting edge of the transformation that is occurring in real estate, we are also helping to reshape the entire industry. Headquartered in Boston, we operate as a web-based buyer’s brokerage company and offer full, buy-side services for a flat fee. After all, why should a buyer’s broker be compensated more if their buyer spends more? That’s backwards in our opinion!

I believe we are at the commencement of the decoupling of the ‘traditional’ real estate model. The old model of full, ‘bundled’ services of showings, negotiating, listing, etc. etc. etc. are beginning to be offered in an a la carte fashion to provide the ever increasingly web-savvy real estate consumer with CHOICES. While I do not believe the full service brokerage model will ever fully go away, I do believe that within the next 2-5 years, brokerages will begin to offer buyers a wide array of options in order to accommodate the various demographic and generational behavior patterns that are already emerging in the marketplace.

1. As an innovative and forward thinking company, CondoDomain.com continually implements the latest technologies. For instance, within a week of Google releasing their ‘Street View’, we implemented it into our site and our buyers and fans love it. One of the main components of our platform is to bring all data, without exception, to the surface so our clients can get a transparent and complete view of each property.

We are also finding and engaging customers through the various social aspects of web 2.0 - Facebook, LinkedIn, Trulia among several others - and we communicate with everyone through all means: IMing, Emailing, Video conferencing, Txting, mobile phoning (of course!) and yes even, believe or not, regular mailing! We make ourselves accessible however our buyers want us to be accessible.

2. As a web-based (virtual office) business, CondoDomain.com targets high-density cities because they attract a high population of young savvy professionals, middle-aged single and/ or divorced buyers, and empty nesters. We focus on these individuals because, on average, they make more money, they move more frequently, they are heavy Internet users, they are more educated and they are one of the fastest growing and highest spending groups in the industry. Focusing on this vertical, CondoDomain.com taps into the new construction condominium market, which has a much higher profit margin than the traditional re-sale market.

One of the biggest advantages of our company’s business model is the timing. With a rising inventory, condominium developers are now (finally!) marketing to the real estate brokerage community. The need to access buyers has become more important than ever. Evidence of this is shown by the increase of cash bonus incentives and commission structures marketed towards the local brokerage communities and their agents.

In 2006, there were over 1,000,000 sales of condominiums and co-ops. Many developers saw opportunity in the surge and began large-scale projects. Since then, the market has slowed, with pre-construction sales dropping in numbers and inventory increasing.

Experts expect buyers to take advantage of the over-saturated market, which developers are desperate to dispose of. Large condominium developers & marketing firms, like Florida’s largest private real estate firm, Fortune International, have created accelerated marketing programs with cash bonuses and commission fees up to 10%. Many of CondoDomain.com’s other clients - The Carlyle Group, MCZ/Centrum Properties, Draper & Kramer, Inc. and Crescent Heights - have all initiated incentive marketing programs to increase sales, which will supplement our company’s gross revenues.

The current economic conditions support our business model even further. What buyer is going to walk away from a $13,000 check at closing (our average client refund)? Refunds this size or more pay for years of condo fees, new furniture or closing and moving costs - it is a lot of money! The demand for our service is steadily growing because buyers realize that they can save a ton of money doing a lot of the initial research themselves; this is, of course, work that they are ALREADY doing.

3. Quality and uniqueness is at the core of our business model. Our website, which is our #1 sales agent, is one of the most up-to-date pieces of web technology in our industry and we know it is one of the best for condominiums and for real estate in general. We are a niche player and we only work with buyers making us just that much better at it. We know urban markets, we know condos!

4. Being an urban player, we play a significant role in the future of real estate. Most innovation and concepts start in city centers - in high density populations and then they spread out. In the not too distant future, we anticipate seeing suburban players taking our successful model and replicating it in their local markets.

We look forward to your feedback and brokers/agents interested in joining us in the next revolution of real estate should get in touch immediately!!

Brian-Logan Reid
National Director of Real Estate
http://boston.condodomain.com

Like what we have to say….please do vote and help us win this award! Thank you!!!

In the condo sector, metro area condominium and co-operative prices, covering changes in 54 metro areas, showed the national median existing-condo price was $220,000 in the second quarter, down 3.0 percent from $226,900 in the second quarter of 2007. Seventeen metros showed annual increases in the median condo price and 37 areas had price declines.

“The price changes have probably as much to do with supply and demand fundamentals, as anything else,” Paul Bishop, NAR senior economist and managing director of research, tells MHN. “The markets that saw the biggest decreases in condo prices are the ones that has seen a condo boom in the last several years and the prices are now coming down. Many of these markets have also weakened due to rising foreclosures in the single-family sector.”

Meanwhile, Bishop explains that the biggest performers did not see the big run-up in prices between 2001-2005, the way some of the other markets like Las Vegas, Miami, etc. did. “Neither did the stronger performers experience excess inventory,” says Bishop.

The strongest condo price increases were in the Syracuse, N.Y. area, where the second-quarter price of $144,900 rose 17.8 percent from a year earlier, followed by the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner area of Louisiana, at $192,100, up 15.9 percent, and the Houston-Baytown-Sugar Land area of Texas, where the median condo price of $141,100 rose 9.9 percent from the second-quarter of 2007.

Metro area median existing-condo prices in the second quarter ranged from $107,500 in the Wichita, Kan. area to $523,500 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. The second most expensive condo market reported was Honolulu at $330,000, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana at $327,800.

Other affordable condo markets include Greensboro-High Point, N.C., at $109,600 in the second quarter, and the Indianapolis area at $113,500.

“There are substantial variations in the condo market depending on the regions and quarters, but some of the smaller and mid-size markets reflect the underlying strength and stability of the economy,” Bishop explains.

Source: Multi-Housing News

CondoDomain.com

Brian-Logan (”B-L”) will lead these efforts as the Director of Real Estate.  He will oversee the initiation and launch of satellite offices across the country for CondoDomain.com. Working alongside CEO Tony Longo, B-L is responsible for recruiting and managing all new brokers nationwide as well as advising on the strategic, long-term business model of CondoDomain.

Prior to joining CondoDomain, Brian-Logan worked in the resort destination of Nantucket as a real estate broker, coordinating high end sales and luxury rentals.

B-L received his diploma from The Loomis Chaffee School and his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Middlebury College. He was a member of the two-time national championship lacrosse teams in 2001 and 2000 while simultaneously running a moving and storage company for three years. B-L’s business acumen in addition to his broad range of skill sets makes him an invaluable member of the CondoDomain corporate team.

B-L - WELCOME TO THE TEAM….WE ARE ESTATIC THAT YOU ARE HERE!!!

Check on Brian on CondoDomain | Facebook | LinkedIn

In the lawsuit filed Monday in Broward Circuit Court, John Taglieri also contends the developer of the project violated state securities and condo laws.

SB Hotel Associates LLC failed to register Taglieri’s unit at the beachfront Trump International Hotel & Tower as a security, though it was marketed as an investment opportunity, and wrongly promoted the project as a Trump development, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims marketing material indicated the units would be worth 36 percent more with the Trump name.

Trump is not the developer and does not have any agreement to indicate the project will operate under the Trump name when it is completed, according to the suit.

Taglieri put down $146,000 in December 2005 for a $730,000 unit in the 298-unit tower under construction at 551 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. (A1A). He was told the 24-story development would be complete in 2007.

“The impetus for the lawsuit is frustration with purchasing a product he thought he was getting that was heavily promoted in a certain way by the developer and realizing that’s not the project that will be delivered,” said Taglieri’s attorney, Jared Beck of Beck & Lee in Miami.

“In this market, misrepresentation and failure to deliver what’s promised are things a developer cannot afford to get away with,” he said.  Continued…

Source: Law.com

More Blogs on:  Condo-Hotel | Trump

Search Boston Condos in style now! CondoDomain.com has updated its search page! Now even more through, and faster than ever! Search by Open Houses Only, Search New Listings within 5 days, Search by Map Only or Quick List Only…the list goes on.

Other website upgrades include “My Matches” which automatically saves all properties that match your “Email Alerts” in our system and “Show Me Everything” which allows you to see every piece of MLS information right on our website including: Building Information, Heating/Cooling, Price Changes, Water/Sewer to tax information….we have it all now!

Logon and Search Today

PRESS RELEASE

CondoDomain.com Launches New Website

Boston, MA– CondoDomain.com announced today that they have launched the newest version of their website featuring enhanced state-of-the-art technology, exceeding customer demands by allowing registered users even more transparent data from MLS listings and expanded options to view properties online.

The new site not only follows new MLS rules and regulations, but also aims to enhance the experience of potential buyers through expanded, user-friendly search capabilities. New technology implemented into the website includes dual use mapping with Google Maps & Microsoft Virtual Earth, both offering unique imaging from aerial and street level views. Other features include a brand-new search interface and more property details. These new features will make it even easier for users to view property in more detail, making the search and compare process even more time and cost effective for both the company and users of the website.

“As a web-based real estate company, our website is always #1 on our list. The need to stay on top and provide the most thorough set of data in an easy-to-use interface and do it with speed is our #1 goal,” noted Anthony Longo, Founder & CEO of CondoDomain.com. “Consumers want to see everything, they want to be able to parse through it, and they want it fast. Our updated site will allow them to do just that.”

For over three years, CondoDomain.com has been online trying and testing different web techniques to interact with buyers of real estate online. Utilizing the innovative search platform, registered site users are able to browse the entire website for Boston condos and luxury Boston real estate. Here they will find every MLS listing, every new development and existing condo building, foreclosure listings, FSBO (for sale by owner) properties and even upcoming auctions.

CondoDomain.com aims to open its second market this month, in effort to expand to their pre-existing 33 U.S. markets.

About CondoDomain.com

CondoDomain.com is a web-based real estate brokerage based in Boston, MA. The company is expanding nationwide to offer its buyers’ brokerage services in more than 30 cities around the U.S. Currently operating in Boston, CondoDomain offers an innovative flat-fee business model allowing the majority of the commission to be refunded to the buyer. By combining up-to-date MLS feeds, new construction buildings, FSBO, Foreclosures, Lofts and Auction listings all on one site, CondoDomain has become one of the most popular and user friendly real estate websites available. CondoDomain.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee to all of its clients, ensuring a professional, efficient, and pleasant transaction. Visit www.CondoDomain.com for more information or feel free to dive into our blogs at www.CondoDomain.com/blog.

For more information, please contact Erica Farthing at (877) 852-6636.

Oh…and there is still one unit left for a cool $8M if you got it!  Interested?

Past Posts on 25 Bond: See them all here

I intercepted a copy of this Offer to Purchase which looks like a 2-year-old wrote it up. I had to suck it up for this one, but I did cut out the real estate agents name and company name as I don’t want to be responsible for someone loosing their job....BUT COME ON. Who does this? How embarrassing is this to the profession of real estate brokerage? Who could ask their client to sign this piece of garbage document. (Remember this agent is making $9,000 on this deal). Jeaseeeeeeeee
This is the grossest document I have ever seen. Lazy Lazy Lazy. Shame on this broker!

California and Boston later this summer.

The new format is the result of a ruling from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), a broker-owned database of Seattle-area listings, which closed Sweet Digs on May 15; the NWMLS ruled that Sweet Digs’ in-person property reviews violated rules against advertising another broker’s listing.
According to a Redfin survey of more than 300 Sweet Digs subscribers on what data would be “very interesting,” 63 percent chose price reductions, 62 percent past sales, 61 percent inventory levels; in the same survey, 61 percent said the open house reviews were “very interesting.” Continued on Press Release of visit Redfin Corp Blog

Sign up for Sweet Digs Here (Boston, LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle)

Speaking of “SWEET DIGS,” Mr. Zilbert still has the Sweetest Digs of them all way down in South Beach! The branded “Beachhouse” is a voluptous $6M Il Villagio Miami Beach Condo from Heaven!

It sounds like the setup for a dull economist’s joke. Who gets the better deal: the cautious economist who sells his house through a real estate agent, or his risk-taking colleague who finds a buyer on his own?

But the question — debated by two Northwestern University economists who chose different methods to sell their homes — and the research it helped prompt are serious. And the answer will be of interest to anyone who has paused to consider whether paying a real estate agent’s commission, typically 5 to 6 percent of the sale price, is worth it.

The conclusion, in a study to be released today based on home-sales data from 1998 to 2004 in Madison, Wis., is that people in that city who sold their homes through real estate agents typically did not get a higher sale price than people who sold their homes themselves. When the agent’s commission is factored in, the for-sale-by-owner people came out ahead financially.

The study is to be made public on Northwestern’s Web site.  Continued…

Source:  New York Times

Details about WiTricity, or wireless electricity, are scheduled to be reported today in Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said.

In a December story in the Globe, MIT physicist Marin Soljacic sketched out a vision of how everything from iPods to laptops could be wirelessly recharged by using a carefully designed magnetic field to deliver power to such devices from a range of 10 to 15 feet.

Now, MIT said, Soljacic and a research team he works with have some data to begin validating his theory - namely, the successful experiment to light a 60-watt light bulb from a power source two meters away, with no physical connection between the power source and the light bulb.

If Soljacic’s idea bears fruit, consumers could be truly unplugged, their rechargers replaced by single device that transmits power wirelessly.

Source:  Boston Globe by way of MIT