"I know on the face of it, this plan sounds idiotic and impossible, sending Macy's customers to Gimble's. But gentlemen, you cannot argue with success! -Miracle on 34th Street
One of my favorite things about the holidays (now that they’re over, at least) is the regular reminder about life lessons, captured in great stories like “A Christmas Carol” and movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Both as a kid and as an…ahem…adult (well, kind of an adult) I feel that the little reminders about the way life should work are helpful, and gosh-darn it, I still like to think that every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!
One of the things that I think is missing from our world today (and maybe of yesterday too, since they put the idea into a movie made in 1947) is the idea that helping people find what they WANT, versus what you want to sell them, is a hallmark of fantastic service. You remember the scene from Miracle on 34th Street, right? When Santa tells kids where to go find the toys they really want, even if they don’t have it at Macy’s? At first, it seems incredible, but then, it works, and the people at Macy’s are heroes, even if they sent a customer to Gimbles.
I’ve been mulling over that idea for awhile, and thought I’d put it into action in a way here on the Real Estate Rebel by sharing with you some of the best, in my humble opinion, places other than here to get information on the Real Estate market. I don’t always agree with every conclusion they reach, and in some cases people may think they’re my “competition”, but the information is sound and, in true rebel fashion, I encourage you to use your own judgment about what you read.
Now, there are roughly a hundred zillion sites out there that a person can go to, from individual Real Estate Agent pages and the MLS all the way to high-end sites requiring a credit card for investment advice. I’ve narrowed it down to five places that 1) I use regularly to keep updated, 2) DON’T require payment for basic information and 3) present intelligent analysis as well as facts. I’ve listed them in no particular order, so click away and again, read REBELLIOUSLY!
1) Patrick.net has a forum called “Housing Crash” that has a lot of spirited discussion about what’s going on today, with a focus on the California Bay Area. It’s a good source of links to additional information, as users are constantly tossing up new sites and news items.
2) www.property-investing.org is a good source for broad spectrum news about Real Estate around the country. There’s a slight bias toward selling some services/books, but the round-up of trends and information is well worth the occasional pitch you’ll find buried in the links
3) www.bloomberg.com has good information from (mostly) market-leading business writers and the basic content is free. I keep my eye on this site for intel specifically from the Fed and other government-based entities that affect the market.
4) www.housingpredictor.com has excellent information about what’s going on in various states. Like Bloomberg (above), basic and useful content is free. If you want to pay for the deeper stuff, go for it!
5) Last but not least, I have to mention the Real Estate News and Commentary Blog at ShortSalesRiches.com, Chris McLaughlin’s website. Great intel there in easily digestible bites.
So there you have it, my Rebellious Readers, a veritable treasure chest of opinion, fact, and perspective on Real Estate around the Bay Area and the country. Go gettem!!
Oh, and one more time, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Rebelliously,
Larry
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