Maureen Mengel Blog

Washington Real Estate Investment Trust saw a large increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,605,001 shares, an increase of 70.0% from the May 31st total of 2,120,278 shares. Washington Real Estate Investment Trust (WRE) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest curated from Real Estate News

Two property adverts which highlight statistics about the ethnicity of the communities they are being sold in as selling points have been branded racist. One ad for a $1.2million house in the far north, featured in The New Zealand Herald's Homes OneRoof supplement, said "71 per cent of the people in Kerikeri are European". 'Racist' property ads list ethnicity of community as a selling point curated from Real Estate News

Stagflation is very rare — a stagnating economy is incompatible with rising inflation. For inflation to rise we must have rising incomes to pull prices up. Article image credited to Anton Prado PHOTO / Shutterstock.com The week in financial markets: the 1970s word nobody wants curated from Inman

William B. Blanchard, real estate attorney, spoke about "flat fees," a game-changing development of great significance to RealtorsA and title agents in Illinois ... [T]his is a game changer for Illinois residents, real estate agents and title agencies because Home Bay's fees are significantly below prevailing rates in our market ..." ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2018 / EINPresswire.com / -- In light of Real Estate Commissions and Title Insurance Services for a Flat Fee that are beginning in Illinois, real estate attorney William B. Blanchard spoke about this game-changing development that will affect RealtorsA and title agents in Illinois. Game changing "Real Estate Commissions and Title Insurance Services... curated from Real Estate News

For "Flow Separation," a new public artwork in New York, artist Tauba Auerbach repainted an historic fireboat with a diagram based on WWI Dazzle ships and fluid dymanics. Believe it or not, one of WWI's greatest innovations was a a can of paint. New York's most historic fire boat has a dazzling new paint job curated from Real Estate News

Do you have a reliable way to generate monthly cash flow from the dividend stocks you own today? If not, why not? Many “first-level” investors hope that their stocks will go higher so that they can sell them for cash flow. But, if you follow rich people, you’ll notice that they never actually sell any assets – they instead use them to generate more and more cash flow . We can – and should – do the same. We can “tap” dividend stocks for regular cash flow. We can even turn the shares we own today into monthly dividend payments that provide us all the income we ever need for the rest of our lives (and we can hang onto the shares and enjoy price upside, too!) Some financial advisers (many of whom haven’t even retired successfully themselves!) pitch a “4% withdrawal rate” where you “safely” withdraw roughly 4% each year that you use as spending money. Sometimes they’re right … but when they’re wrong, they risk your entire retirement with “reverse” dollar-cost averaging. If you’re ...

Maybe you've seen this story floating around the Internet, or maybe not. Maybe you instantly recognized it as a parody. Realtor sets home on fire after losing the listing! Or did he? curated from Real Estate News

Some real estate brokers here in Lufkin are warning their customers that 30-year mortgage rates are expected to be increasing soon due to the current stable economy that is causing a rush on housing. "We have a very strong seller's market," said Gann Angie Williams, a realtor with Gann Medford Real Estate. Lufkin's housing market crowded with buyers; realtors predict high mortgage rates curated from Real Estate News

With the hot real estate market in P.E.I. - especially in Charlottetown - some realtors have been brushing up on their skills to handle multiple offers. Exit Realty in Charlottetown recently offered their staff training because of how frequently homes are selling in a multiple- offer situation - something that until now had been relatively rare. 'Be prepared to move fast': P.E.I. realtors get trained to handle multiple offers curated from Real Estate News

June 1 officially marked the beginning of hurricane season for 2018. The forecast for this year, according to Colorado State University , will be 14 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. After the devastating hurricane season last year, with over $282 billion in damages, homeowners are considering the consequences of owning real estate on the Atlantic Ocean. Last year, the Virgin Islands and Florida suffered severe damage from Hurricane Irma. Parts of the British Virgin Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Leeward Islands reported complete devastation. In fact, Florida hasn’t seen a major hurricane make landfall since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Why would I want to own real estate in the south where they experience many hurricanes? Surprisingly, a hurricane has the opposite effect than what’s expected. Reports show that hurricane damages actually cause housing market prices to go up. Therefore, as a real estate investor, you should be inclined to invest in prop...

The large New England franchisee is going indie, but Re/Max Integra CEO says the company will work to place willing agents at other Re/Max franchises. Leading Edge splits from Re/Max curated from Inman

Apollo Commercial Real Est. Finance and Farmland Partners are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, earnings and valuation. Head to Head Comparison: Apollo Commercial Real Est. Finance curated from Real Estate News

The National Hurricane Center named the first storm of this hurricane season before the season officially begun. Last month, Alberto was declared a storm a few days prior to the commencement of the June 1 season. A very active storm season is highly expected, so it’s important to know about the benefits and importance of hurricane insurance for properties surrounding the gulf and atlantic ocean. Does my property insurance cover storm-related damages?   Homeowners insurance will provide for some damages from hurricane winds. However, the general deductible for hurricane related damages is different from your average property insurance deductible. Typically, this deductible is in the form of a percentage ranging from 1-5% according to the Insurance Information Institute . One major impact from a powerful storm is devastating flooding. This type of damage is not typically covered in a property insurance policy. Homeowners need to elect to obtain a flood insurance policy for cove...

Prospective homebuyers aren’t being scared away by rising mortgage rates – even if they creep up over 5 percent for a 30-year mortgage – according to a new study from Redfin. Of the more than 1,300 respondents surveyed by the Seattle-based real estate brokerage in May, only 5 percent said they’d call off their home search if rates – which recently climbed to 4.5 percent – hit the 5 percent mark. Conversely, 24 percent said such an increase would have no impact on their search. “Homebuyers are well aware that higher mortgage rates means higher monthly payments, but mortgage rates remain very low, historically, and buyers will make compromises,” said Taylor Marr, senior economist at Redfin in a release. “Most of the pressure buyers are feeling is from competition for a very limited number of homes for sale. The fact that such a small share of buyers will scrap their plans to buy a home if rates surpass 5 percent reflects their determination to be a part of the housing market.” The d...

How are real estate broker-owners responding, adapting or changing? Here’s what Eddie Berenbaum, co-founder and president of Century 21 Redwood Realty, is doing. Fighting back: Using hands-on industry knowledge to stay ahead curated from Inman

There are already a few startups that promise to be the Uber for real estate. Now there’s another one: Nexme, an iOS app that connects buyers and sellers to agents on demand. But Nexme is taking its own approach. Wanna meet buyers and sellers in a 5-mile radius? Try Nexme curated from Inman

The new company, B6 Real Estate Advisors, is looking to disrupt the industry with proprietary technology and a new culture. NEW YORK CITY-Paul J. Massey Jr. is bringing the band back together-or at least some of its members. Paul Massey Launches New Brokerage Firm curated from Real Estate News

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved details on Thursday, of a $616 million disaster recovery plan for the state of Florida, nearly 10 months after Hurricane Irma made landfall , killing dozens and potentially causing up to $65 billion in property damage. The plan is part of HUD’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program, which requires grantees to develop a spending plan with feedback from local residents. “It’s great news that we were able to secure critical funding from HUD that will directly benefit the families who were most affected by last year’s storms,” Florida Governor Rick Scott said in a statement. “This $616 million will enable communities to build new affordable housing and to replace homes lost in the wake of last year’s hurricane season.” “Through this program, we can continue to move forward with long-term affordable housing solutions for displaced families as well as provide grants to businesses who were impacte...

One out of every 10 millennials sold cryptocurrency to save for their first home. Redfin released a new survey exploring how millennials between the ages of 24 and 38 saved for homes. The sale of cryptocurrency, a virtual currency and medium of exchange, was named by 10 percent of millennials as their means to afford an initial down payment on a primary home over the next year, according to the survey, released Thursday. Courtesy fo Redfin Digital currencies, the most popular and reputable of which remain Bitcoin and Ethereum but also include numerous cryptocurrencies backed by real estate assets , experienced a leap in value last year. While these investment remains high-risk,  new startups are seeking people to put money into cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technologies behind them. Nonetheless, a majority of millennials still saved for their first home the traditional way — 69 percent put aside portions of a paycheck each month; 36 percent added earnings from a sec...

Record-breaking Texas agent Ben Caballero with HomesUSA.com is the top agent in the country once again according to Real Trends. Article image credited to Inman. Pictured, top agent Ben Caballero in conversation at Inman Connect. HomesUSA.com’s Ben Caballero lands top spot on Real Trends ‘Thousands’ — again curated from Inman

Many people purchase timeshares believing they are financial investments. Perhaps what is causing some of this confusion is the term “401(v).” A 401(v) is an increasingly common term used by timeshare sales representatives to denote an “investment” in your vacation, but the similarities between a vacation investment and a financial investment begin and end with the clever euphemism. Brass Tacks: 401(v) Vs. 401(k) Most people are aware of what a 401(k) is, but for the sake of comparing a true financial investment with a 401(v), here's a brief description: A 401(k) is an employer-sponsored retirement plan in which a designated portion of an employee’s paycheck is automatically deducted each pay period. This money is removed before the income is taxed and then invested in a series of diverse options at the employee’s discretion. In many instances, the employer will match the employee contribution by as much as 6% of the employee’s gross pay. All investment funds appreciate tax-...

Where you plant your first location will usually determine the long-term success of your entire business. Your top trade area might not be your first franchise site, but the one you begin with does set the stage for future growth. Working with franchisees in their site selection decisions over the past 20 years has provided me with valuable insights on the most common mistakes businesses are inclined to make when selecting the real estate. As you evaluate potential properties, avoid these common missteps to make a smarter selection. 1. Not knowing what you can afford:  While you may meet the financial requirements of the franchisor to be a franchisee, you need to qualify financially for landlords, too. Even if you meet the financial hurdle, you may be required to provide personal guarantees for the entire term of the lease. Be aware of what you are committing to. My rule of thumb is to keep occupancy cost (total rent, not base rent) around 10% of ...

Sally Capp took donations totalling $332,000 in her campaign to win Melbourne's lord mayoralty - with tens of thousands of dollars coming from individuals and companies tied to property development, construction and real estate. Cr Capp vowed repeatedly not to take money from developers throughout her successful campaign to replace former lord mayor Robert Doyle. Capp in hand: lord mayor's $332,000 donors include property interests curated from Real Estate News

The real estate industry has seen a rapid rate of mergers and acquisitions — but there’s also a countertrend where independent local brokerages are surging in popularity. Here are the top five reasons indie brokerages continue to distinguish themselves in a crowded field and demonstrate tremendous growth nationwide. 5 reasons local indies are the future of real estate curated from Inman

The farmhouse look has gained popularity, especially in the southeastern region. (Think Chip and Joanna Gaines’ “Fixer-Upper” style.) Here are seven staging tips for giving your listing that farmhouse look. 7 staging tips for giving your listing the farmhouse look curated from Inman

Actress Scarlett Johansson attends the premiere of "Ghost in the Shell" at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, in New York. In 2004, the Church of Scientology embarked on a top-secret project to find a new girlfriend for Tom Cruise after his divorce from Nicole Kidman and the end of his relationship to actress Penelope Cruise, according to a widely known 2012 report by Vanity Fair. Scarlett Johansson blasts ex-Scientologist's claim she auditioned to date Tom Cruise curated from Real Estate News

A high ranking mortgage banking executive in New Jersey resigned after a judge ordered him to pay $3 million to a waitress he allegedly groped in a Philadelphia restaurant, according to a news report from Philly.com. Gregory Englesbe. (Photo courtesy Twitter) E Mortgage Management, the Cherry Hill-based company, announced CEO Gregory Englesbe’s resignation on Wednesday. A spokesperson declined to comment on Englesbe’s conduct as a representative of the company. Inman was unable to reach Englesbe who had no publicly listed phone number or personal email address. On Oct. 7, at around 10 p.m., Englesbe and others were drinking and dining at Scarpetta, a tony restaurant in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia, where the plaintiff Kristin Lisi worked, according to a copy of the complaint obtained by Inman. “Kristin Lisi, was walking down the hallway adjacent to the second floor private dining room of Scarpetta, when Defendant Gregory Englesbe said to Plaintiff, ‘You’...

Freddie Mac today released its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) results , which revealed that mortgage rates have dropped 0.2 percentage points week-over-week to 4.55 percent — the fourth decline in the past five weeks. Freddie Mac chief economist Sam Khater says mortgage rates have stabilized over the past two months, a piece of good news for buyers who still have to grapple with exorbitant home price growth . “The decrease in borrowing costs are a nice slice of relief for prospective buyers looking to get into the market this summer,” Khater said in a press release. “Some are undoubtedly feeling the affordability hit from swift price appreciation and mortgage rates that are still 67 basis points higher than this week a year ago.” Realtor.com chief economist Danielle Hale also offered commentary on today’s report, saying although short-term rates have steadily risen, the lack of growth in longer-term bond rates has kept mortgage rates steady. How to rope in more...

For the past 19 years, Silvia Madriaga, Realtor with Walton County’s ResortQuest Real Estate, has been putting 1,000 flags around both her own and neighboring counties every Fourth of July. In preparation for this year’s festivities, the Florida Realtor has been placing American flags on the streets of homes in her local neighborhood, according to a report from The Walton Sun . “We go walking with stacks of flags in our arms,” Madriaga said; she also told the local paper she also attaches cards that read “Happy Birthday, America!” “We get cheers and waves from the passersby. We look forward to putting the flags out, and people look forward to seeing them,” she said. In Ohio, a real estate company has taken matters into its own hands and donated 10,000 American flags to decorate homes all over the Mid-Ohio Valley. According to the Morgan County Herald, Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate Center, which manages homes for over 10 counties in Ohio and Virginia, donates flags to dif...

As relative industry newcomer Compass further expands its footprint into the Chicagoland area, competitors are welcoming their nascent rival. Article image credited to Jeff Brown on Unsplash Compass rivals react to latest Chicagoland expansion curated from Inman

Hydro One Inc. and the Power Workers' Union say the utility's frontline workers have voted 87 per cent in favour of a new two-year contract. A tentative agreement had been reached in mid-April to replace a contract that expired at the end of March. Hydro One staff vote 87 per cent in favour of a new contract curated from Real Estate News

Zillow could use the money generated to fund future acquisitions and growth, it hinted in an investor press release posted Wednesday. Zillow eyes acquisitions and growth in new $650M offering curated from Inman

How are real estate broker-owners responding, adapting or changing? Here's what Vanessa Bergmark, owner of Red Oak Realty, is doing. Fighting back: How brokers are arming themselves for change curated from Inman

ANALYSIS: A couple I know well sold their Auckland house recently. There was a marketing campaign of four weeks, then an auction. How are real estate agents paid? curated from Real Estate News

The subsidiary of Transat AT Inc. is acquiring two A321neos and five A321neo LRs which will be delivered between 2020 and 2022. Air Transat signs lease deal with AerCap for seven new Airbus aircraft curated from Real Estate News

Move aside, glass — terra-cotta is back to reclaim its place as the “it” material for luxury residential and commercial projects. According to the Wall Street Journal , builders are increasingly choosing the aged, clay-baked ceramic thanks to luxury buyers’ demands for a more “traditional aesthetic.” The Journal notes that three of New York City’s most-awaited luxury condos — The Fitzroy, 11 Beach Street and 2017 West 79th Street all have terra-cotta facades that display the material’s versatility. The Fitzroy, in New York City The nation’s two largest architectural terra-cotta manufacturers Boston Valley Terra Cotta and Gladding, McBean said they’ve experienced a boom in business over the past few years. “It’s not really a mini-renaissance anymore,” a Gladding, McBean representative told the Journal after explaining the 70 percent increase in projects using the material since 2014. “It’s growing by leaps and bounds.” Gladding, McBean’s website lists the four kinds of te...