Existing Home Sales Up

Although a narrow gain, sales were up for the first time in months

clipped from online.wsj.com Existing-Home Sales Edged Up In November, but Remain Weak Existing-home sales managed a small climb during November, the first increase in nine months The supply of unsold homes fell -- but remained bloated. Analysts see demand for homes receding "Near term, existing-home sales should continue to hover in a narrow range, just as they have since September, and that's good news because it'll be a further sign that the housing market is stabilizing," NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said "Mortgage interest rates are near historic lows and the most current data shows decelerating price declines, along with a modest reduction in the number of homes on the market," Mr. Yun said

Prediction: "I would be putting my money on John McCain"

I guess I'd have to agree

clipped from campaignspot.nationalreview.com MITT ROMNEY, JOHN MCCAIN, 2008 HOMEPAGE CAMPAIGN BOX, HORSERACE Santa was good to me, and got me an XM Satellite Radio receiver. Right now on POTUS08, David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision polling company is predicting the Republican primary will come down to a two-man race between John McCain and Mitt Romney. "If I were to bet right now, I would be putting my money on John McCain," says Johnson, who worked on Bob Dole's 1988 campaign.

Kenya Elections Update

It sure looks like current President has won again in Kenya, but who knows? When will the final totals be announced?

Kenyans on edge for result of tight election

If you have better info, than my feeds off of the Alertdesk, send the links, I'd like to get better and quicker updates on the election in Kenya.

Bhutto Assasinated

In a blow to peace in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was assasinated Thursday by a suicide bomber.

Suicide Attack on Rally May Have Killed BhuttoNew York Times - 25 minutes agoBy SALMAN MASOOD and GRAHAM BOWLEY RAWALPINDI, Islamabad - A bomb blast devastated a political rally being held by the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday, killing several people and seriously injuring Ms.Report: Bhutto killed in attack CNNExplosion heard at Bhutto rally CNN InternationalBloomberg - Reuters - Guardian Unlimited - FOX Newsall 285 news articles »

Christopher Hedges in Northwest Indiana

The Black Swan - Chapter by Chapter Reviews

Once a year I try to use this blog site for a chapter by chapter review of a book I'm reading, one that has some signifigant impact or high level of interest for me.

Will I do every chapter, probably not, I lose interest quickly if the book drones on, so initial chapters will have better reviews. If you've read the book, or want to read it, follow and comment or even disagree with me.


The Black Swan, The Impact of the Highly Improbable.


Author: Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Prologue thought for the day - "everyone knows that you need more prevention than treatment, but few reward acts of prevention." So ... should one goal be to give notice those that prevent. How?

"I don't particularly care about the usual." This is a strong statement indeed by the author. I guess I would say I agree, the usual the normal doesn't really help you understand someone, or a place, or a company, or a plan. The unusual, the unpredictable, the reaction to pressure ... that's got a lot more to do with understanding. I think I agree. But, how does a person set about to understand the unpredictable or the unusual?

"We lack imagination, and repress it in others" Yowee, that's big, that's powerful stuff.

We need more imagination, we need more innovation ... calling all Tom Peters followers ... It's high time we realized that imagination may be our greatest asset in a time of unusual and impossible.

Opportunity Enterprises Expands

Bravo, to a terrific Porter County organization that is expanding their ability to work with their valuable clients.

clipped from www.nwi.com Nonprofit buys land to boost programs VALPARAISO | Opportunity Enterprises on Friday announced it has bought 158 acres of Lake Eliza and adjacent land from First National Bank, which will allow the agency to expand its day program and add programs. The new facility will be known as Lakeview and will be located on the shores of 51-acre Lake Eliza and 107 acres of surrounding land. The site, which includes a 13,000-square-foot program center, will provide space for Opportunity Enterprises to expand its traditional day services, while also offering innovative wellness programs, outdoor education and diversified recreation activities, a news release states Opportunity Enterprises is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting self-sufficiency and life choices to more than 1,700 people with challenges of all ages in Porter County and Northwest Indiana.

Interested in Home Comfort? Energy Efficiency?

Aaron Simac over at On Home Comfort is writing a series of articles on home to increase your home's comfort and energy efficiency. Go take a look.

McCain picks up two big endorsements

Now, I think we'll see the polls start to surge to McCain's benefit

clipped from www.americanthinker.com Des Moines Register endorses McCain, Hillary The Des Moines Register has released its party endorsements for the Iowa Caucuses and the winners of that coveted nod are Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Also on the endorsement front, the Boston Globe, a newspaper widely read in next door New Hampshire, has aslo endorsed McCain as well as Barack Obama on the Democratic side:

My Mini City

the more visitors, the larger my city grows

clipped from daltonsbriefs.myminicity.com Increase population http://daltonsbriefs.myminicity.com

Heroic Conservatism

I'm reading book of that title by Micheal Gerson, former speech writer in the Bush whitehouse.

The subtitle "Why Republicans need to Embrace America's Ideals"

Some terrific stories about 9/11 and crisis moments in the white house, from a moderate conservative who believes, like John McCain, that we need to win Freedom.

War in Iraq is a success

I get a little sick of hearing all the talk of how the "entire" American public has lost interest in the War on Terror and just wants our troops home. Do they want all our troops home, from South Korea, from Kosovo, how about from Japan too?

No, they just want the troops home from Iraq because we were having a hard time beating the little militias over there and we were seeing our troops give up their lives, the biggest sacrifice.

Well, why is it then that when good news about success in Iraq begins slowly leaking out, the press nor the pundits have the time to say anything? The British are turning over control of an entire province to the Iraqi's. That's a success right?

Why are intellectuals so liberal?

Actually the Cato article I stumbled on was title "Why do intellectuals oppose capitalism" but I just added own spin.

"It is surprising that intellectuals oppose capitalism so. Other groups of comparable socio-economic status do not show the same degree of opposition in the same proportions. Statistically, then, intellectuals are an anomaly."

Elegant Universe Videos

I have read and heartily endorse this book

clipped from www.pbs.org To view any part of this three-hour miniseries, choose an episode from one of the three columns below and select either QuickTime (full-screen option available) or RealVideo to begin. If you experience difficulty viewing, it may be due to high demand. We regret this, and suggest you try back at another time. Note that NOVA programs are not available for downloading due to rights restrictions. watch chapter 1 in QuickTime RealVideo String theory is radically changing our ideas about the nature of space, opening up the possibility that extra dimensions, rips in the fabric of space, and parallel universes actually exist. running time 10:02

A case against homeownership - What!

I just happened to run into this article, foolish as it sounds, that suggests that home ownership is bad for society. I bet the writer is pretty happy to see people getting kicked out of their homes too?

Homeownership a Problem? What a liberal says.

My Wife is a Realtor

Very funny video, follow link

clipped from www.kioskrealty.com American Dad - My Wife is a Realtor Source: Hulu

"Fixed Rates under 6% as good as it gets"

America's Most Opinionated Mortage Lender says it like it is.

Time Is Running Out For Some Borrowers

With fixed rate mortgages sliding back under 6%, expect to see refinances, and buyers back out in the market this winter. A Perfect Storm for Spring Rebound

Here in Northwest Indiana, I suggest contacting First Financial Trust Mortgage Company, the key Portage and Valparaiso team for refinances and for purchasing homes.

Chicago South Shore Connections

Last night our team attended the Northwest Indiana Forum Legislative Affairs Program, featuring Rep. Pete Viscloscky (D-IN). What a terrific bi-partisan effort to provide leadership on what could be the most important economic development opportunity this decade.

Green Pointe is emphatically in favor of the extension of the south shore. We were pleased to voice our support along with so many other leaders.

The opportunity to extend the South Shore Commuter Rail into Munster, Lowell, and Valparaiso is key to the next decade of growth and job creation.

Now the legislative leadership will be attempting to build concensus downstate for some form of tax to pay the remaining $350 million it will take to locally match the $650 million already on the table from RDA and Federal funds.

Chicago South Shore Connection, it's about time.

Citizens for the extension of the South Shore Line has an online petition too.

Friends writing the truth about real estate

From Seattle's Urban Villages:

"Even with the tightened mortgage standards, I believe this spring will have a lot of buyers looking to buy homes because of our strong Seattle economy, and continued growth with more people moving to Washington and the Seattle area. While I believe that while we won't have the kind of sellers market the past few springs have seen, it will still favor sellers (in the close in Urban areas) and the buyers who decided to wait out the buyers market this Autumn will have lost their advantage.
So here's a tip for some Seattle Home Buyers: this Autumn could be a very favorable time to "Harvest" the opportunity to buy a Seattle Home!"

Northwest Houston Real Estate:
"In spite of national reports of turbulence in the mortgage industry, the greater Houston real estate market held up remarkably well last month. Sales actually rebounded from the previous two months of declining sales. "

Sacremento Real Estate Blog
"3. There are huge discounts in price - There was a time when homes had trouble appraising and hence getting a loan for the home was hard. Today, if you find a great deal, the appraisal might just come in 10% over the price you’re in escrow for. Congratulations - you just “made” 10% of the sales price by just buying the home!
So head out there and let the shopping begin. Remember, you don’t have to restrict yourself to just retail gifts this winter. Housing is selling at wholesale prices!"

I included the last one hesitently, the post is somewhat negative, but I wholeheartedly agree that this winter is the last and best buying opportunity in every market! The media has overblown the whole sub-prime and foreclosure issue .... creating an artificial lag in home values.

Someone asked for my linked in profile: Northwest Indiana Daltons Briefs Linked In

Valparaiso Nazarene Church to Expand

Valpo Naz, as we call it, is set for groundbreaking next Sunday. Here's the Valparaiso Nazarene Church website as well.

Real Estate Posts

Carnival of Real Estate last week.

Guerilla Marketing Seminar, details forthcoming

Fun interview with Seth Godin, something to the tune of "what would you do if you were a REALTOR?"

Have you considered a "subject to" sale? If so check out this great easy to understand post.

World News

Death Toll in Ukraine Mine Blast increasing "I am grieving with all of Ukraine," said the President Viktor Yushchenko.

Home builders index steady at record low in Nov.MarketWatch - 6 hours agoBy Greg Robb, marketwatch WASHINGTON (marketwatch) -- US home builders remain pessimistic in November and are beginning to blame the news media for their woes.Homebuilder Confidence in US Held at Record Low (Update2) BloombergSlashed prices fail to lift US housing market Financial TimesForbes - USA Today - Wall Street Journal - TheStreet.com

Mexican President Receives President-elect of GuatemalaMexidata.info, CA - Nov 18, 2007Mexican President Felipe Calderón received Mr. Álvaro Colom Caballeros, President-elect of Guatemala, who will take office on January 14, 2008 for a period ...

Albania welcomes Kosovo vote
Kosovo leader sees early independence move
EU Faces Embarrassing Split Over Kosovo Independence

Sound kinda funny to you? Europe, home of all the colonial powers, is still saying that the "little" people need to be careful declaring independance.

Book I'm reading this week

Time to take on a Seth Godin this week

clipped from sethgodin.typepad.com 4 Weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List. More than 100,000 copies in print in just a month. A personal take on the Dip from Andy Wibbels. Seth's Web Pages The Dip Blog Books by Seth Godin Seth's Main Blog Seth's Squidoo Lens All Marketers Are Liars Blog SethGodin.com: Official Site

Northwest Indiana Commercial Construction

Time for some self-promotion. This is our new company, based right here in Valparaiso Indiana, focusing on commercial real estate, construction management, and property management

clipped from greenpointe.blogspot.com Welcome to Green Pointe Development. We specialize in leasing, selling, constructing, and managing commercial real estate right here in Northwest Indiana

Week One - Dalton Briefs Ranking of NWI Bloggers

I've been trying for the last couple weeks to come up with a way to rank Northwest Indiana bloggers, but frankly it's going to end up subjective no matter what. For this first week I'm only going to rank the real estate bloggers, since I know most of them. In future weeks, I'll try to add other bloggers, but I'm still looking for them. Note: I'm going to have to add them all day, so it may take until Monday nite to get them all loaded.

Northwest Indiana Top Ten Real Estate Bloggers

Jeff and Grace Safrin of F.C. Tucker Jeff and Grace Safrin Blog


Ranked third in Porter County for Active Rain bloggers. A perenial contender for "northwest indiana real estate" google page one ranks, currently at fourth and the highest ranking personal site behind GNIAR and Realtor.com and McColly.com Corporate site. Here's an example of their blogging work: LET ME TAKE YOU THERE - Crown Point, Indiana - A Place where you can Go - and Call HOME :)


Jana Caudill of Keller Williams Jana Caudill Blog



Jana is ranked third in Lake County for Active Rain. Again she, like the Safrins, ranks consistently high on google for northwest indiana real estate. Her numbers for real estate production are huge too! Here's an example of her blogging: 3 Bedroom Tri-Level for Sale in Crown Point






Chuck Dellorto from McColly the largest real estate company in Northwest Indiana. Chuck Dellorto Blog.

Chuck ranks first in Lake County for Active Rain bloggers. His posts are very strong for consumers wanting solid information about the market. Chuck's been watching new construction too, here's a great real time post about our largest home builder in this market: New Construction Specials - Ready to Move in Homes

Suzanne Willems from Willems Realtors, probably the most blog focused real estate office that I've noticed so far. Suzanne Willems Blog.

Suzanne ranks second in Lake County for Active Rain bloggers, and has posted consistently and heavily for the last six months. Here's an example of her listing specific posts: 1504 Farmdale Dr, Schererville, INDIANA 46375

26-50 Most Influential Real Estate Bloggers

Inman Posts the Top 25, We Post #26 - 50 I totally missed this addition to the original Inman list that surfaced at the beginning of October No, I'm not on the list, and didn't pretend to rank up there with these 50 writers and bloggers.

I have learned a lot though from these terrific and challenging writers.

Here's the original list if you missed it: 25 Most Influential Real Estate Bloggers: 2007".

Maybe i could be #51? Some day.

Facebook is new SEO game in town

I have noticed that many real estate professionals are making avid use of facebook to build their blog traffic. Some have suggested that facebook's new feed is slowly becoming a very powerful force in SEO and traffic creation ... albeit similar to google rank ... with great secrecy as to how to game the system.

Have you joined and begun tracking your real estate blog friends on www.digg.com? Well, digg added social networking a couple weeks back, and the same 200-300 real estate professionals that I see everywhere are there too. My digg profile is here if you want to be-friend there in addition to facebook or linkedin.

So, what's the real goal? Do you just need heavy traffic? Do you really only care for hyper-local traffic that is potentially a real buyer? Do you want to write and discuss? I'm having a hard time deciding which is more important, to me.

A shot across the agent's bow

What do you think of "free" real estate services?

clipped from www.iggyshouse.com Our sister company, BuySide Realty, pays 75% of the commission received from the seller. On average, BuySide’s clients have received over $11,000 each. We list on MLS* for FREE. Get your home on REALTOR.COM® for FREE. THERE IS NO CATCH … it's FREE. See how it works

Today's great real estate posts

The Mortgage Witch Hunt A terrific commentary on the "witch hunt" to clobber the mortgage brokers. She asks the question "If mortgage brokers shrivel up and blow away, then all the consumer will be left with is a few big banks to get their mortgage. Fewer options and less competition will not promote what’s best for the consumer such as lower rates, fees and superior service. Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Agents and Consumers: if you don’t want mortgage brokers to vanish from the industry, please voice your opinions to your elected officials at the national, state and local levels."

Patrick Kitano suggests that the next wave of real estate blog are arriving with Hail Curbed - the national real estate media network

Silencing Trulia Voices by Jonathon Dalton. Is Trulia really doing a service for consumers if they allow the system to be gamed by REALTORs trying to get ranked higher with vapid answers to questions?

Arizona Mortgage Pro Says "Rate Cut"

UPDATE:

FED RATE CUT!!!!!! 1/4% as Arizona Mortgage Guru said it would.

Now it's time to buy a house people.



Fed Rate Cut Could Mean an Extra $30,000 in Your Pocket!

If you're even thinking about a new home, or refinancing, or even getting a second mortgage to pay off something ... this one is a good read.

But ... just as the Fed is ready to make a decision GDP growth comes in at 3.9% instead of consensus 3%. Uh Oh

Use Craisglist for SEO traffic

Reports suggest that using craigslist increases traffic quite a bit What is a bit frustrating about this is that the look and feel of these posts are so Web 1.0

clipped from chicago.craigslist.org $208900 QUALITY NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR SALE IN CEDAR LAKE IN

Mortgage Jobs on the wane

I need to be frank here, on a local level our politicians that desired an end or massive slowing of the housing industry, go their way. Since this is supposedly a market based property tax system I will expect to see massive cuts in government expenditures now too.

It's high time these guys get their heads on straight and start talking about helping housing recover. For their own sakes.

clipped from www.bloomberg.com Countrywide May Fire as Many as 12,000 as Mortgage Demand Wanes Sept. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Countrywide Financial Corp., the biggest U.S. mortgage company, plans to cut its workforce by 10,000 to 12,000 in the largest round of firings since the industry's contraction began last year. New U.S. home loans probably will drop 25 percent in 2008 from this year's levels, forcing the company to eliminate as much as 20 percent of its staff, Calabasas, California-based Countrywide said in a statement yesterday. Countrywide's statement said fewer jobs may be lost if markets improve. Mozilo said he's still adding salespeople. ``Events could change, though it's remote, to make things better than we anticipate,'' Mozilo said. ``Hopefully at the end of the day we won't have to cut as many as we've proposed. There's a potential for a refinance boom if rates come down.''