Sometime, somehow, the foreclosure crisis will ease. But probably not anytime soon.
Home prices dropped 2.6% nationwide during the last three months of 2010, pushing more borrowers underwater, according to a quarterly real estate market survey from Zillow.com.
Now 27% of homeowners with mortgages owe more than their homes are worth. That’s up from 23.2% a quarter earlier.That will surely lead to higher foreclosure rates soon. That’s because being underwater is second only to unaffordable payments in leading to foreclosure, according to Zillow’s chief economist, Stan Humphries.
Additionally, the report found that more than one-third of all homes were sold at a loss in December. That trend has been on a steady uptick for the past six months, as homeowners try to find ways around foreclosure or out from under their homes.
The so-called “robo-signing” events of the fall also forced the number of underwater mortgages higher.
When banks’ foreclosure paperwork came under scrutiny, many halted all repossessions until they could straighten things out. With foreclosures no longer being cleaned out of the system, more homes stayed underwater rather than moving on to foreclosure.
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Foreclosure Inventories are 7.8 Times above Normal and Rising
Do Video Production Pros Need to Know Web Video Marketing?
Say what you will about the impact that today’s multimedia-centric culture has on the brains of the wired generation, but we think it’s making them smarter. In fact, we think that the Internet, smartphones and Web 2.0 have made all of us savvier consumers. As with all new challenges, this heightened level of astuteness raises the bar for us marketers—but for those of us willing to jump higher, it also means more opportunities that let us connect with audiences in a meaningful way.
Earlier, we talked about how we’ve already begun ramping up the production value of our Internet commercials in order to meet the expectations of our discerning viewers, but we’re also responding to today’s smart Internet viewer with the other facets of our video for Internet marketing efforts. Here are a few key ways that web audiences have become more sophisticated, and how we deliver the experiences that make the right impact.
More are Researching at Home
Whether true or not, the Internet is seen as unbiased and disinterested in its appraisal of goods, services and products—or at least moreso than a salesperson working on commission. Because of this, and other reasons, most users prefer to do as much independent research as they can from the comfort of their homes before they pick up the phone or visit a showroom. And with so much information available at the tips of their fingers, why shouldn’t they?
At Firm Media, we work with a lot of professionals who have unique expertise in their field. And while web users may be ultimately be shopping for an attorney, therapist, pest control or a plastic surgeon, when they are on the Internet looking for information, they are shopping for authority. Video marketing is a large piece of the puzzle that helps take that sense of authority that has made our clients successful offline and show it to viewers on the Internet. In short, we make our clients resident experts on the hot topics—and that’s got to be good for business.
Searchers Know How to Find What They’re Looking For
Just like using a keyboard or word processor is an acquired skill, so too is using a search engine. After a few decades of learning the language of search engines, today’s web users are more adept at getting relevant results for their queries. In other words, they’re unlikely to spend hours sifting through pages and pages of results for an extremely broad search term—rather, they are more prone to craft a well-targeted search query and choose from the top five listings.
Thanks to powerful analytics tools and years of experience, we’ve come to understand the way users search pretty well. We know word for word which questions search users are asking—and we know how to provide them with relevant answers. We do so by carefully crafting the descriptions, filenames, titles and tags of our videos so they appear on the search engine results pages for the most popular relevant search terms. Plus, we’re doing the same with your blog, social media accounts, website and other online content. The net effect gives your name, brand or business a much greater presence.
Web Users Recognize and Avoid Spam
Spam is a bit like pornography—it’s hard to define legally, but you’ll know it when you see it. Spam has long been a blight to the Internet community, but with security compromises crippling companies for days, lurking phishers trolling for personal information and malicious hackers preying upon unwary individuals every day, users are more invested in sidestepping spam and shady content than ever before. Unfortunately, many spammers use some of the same marketing tactics as legitimate businesses. This means that occasionally, a piece of valuable content with pure intentions gets passed over because a web user erred on the side of caution (and rightfully so).
At Firm Media, we make it a priority to ensure that our content never has a passing resemblance to spam. Getting your videos ranked and indexed competitively while accompanying them with informative, accurate and conversational titles, descriptions and tags is a challenge—but it’s one that is worth every iota of effort, for the sake of your business, your viewers and the overall quality and integrity of the Internet community.
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Why Does Your Client Trust You? | Bedford NY Homes
Would you try a product on the recommendation of someone you don’t like?
Like has a bit of a double-meaning these days. Ever since Facebook implemented the “like” button everyone has kicked into high gear to get you to like them.
However, you can agree with a specific thing someone says and like it, while totally disagreeing with their world view. Same thing could happen with a business project vs. the business itself.
Although likability can be borrowed, it is transferred only based on a more permanent philosophical alignment or agreement.
You move in when you can live with that individual. You’re eager to show that business association, when it makes you look good on more than one level. Liking, it turns out, is not uni-dimensional.
Is it easy to engineer?
How to win friends and influence people
With respects paid to Dale Carnegie and his work, it’s fairly easy to become an influencer. Here are the steps; put some enthusiasm in them, and you’re on your way. Now you can get the word out on your blog, be friendly on Facebook, while displaying the most appreciative character on Twitter.
You might even get a few hundred folks to click on your stuff, comment, interact with the agreeable, likable you.
Is this a reflection of true influence?
Look at the evidence
People are doing all kinds of things online. They check out events, catch up with friends, buy stuff they searched for and compared, and encounter serendipitous situations — like for example, coming across people with similar or complementary interests.
They’re online, yet they’re still people. To understand the role of influence, you need to take a deep dive on purpose and motivation.
How many followers did Mother Theresa have?
Influence is with the influenced
Motivation is a start. There’s also another mechanism at play here — because we’re social by nature, and cannot possibly know it all, though a few of us do try, we rely on clues from others when making decisions. Say your business is working with an influencial who tells people to buy a certain product, and their friends are telling them to buy another, the friends win.
Mark Earls has done a lot of thinking and writing around understanding the propensity of people to be influenced and what those relationships look like. If you have not read his book, Herd: How to Change Mass Behavior by Harnessing our True Nature (Amazon affiliate link), you should pick up a copy today.
Does likability impact trust?
We’re not going to solve the influence question with a post.
In thinking about the increased desire of businesses and individuals to want influence — which by the way is not measured merely in the number of followers — I wondered what happens when likability comes into play. Social networks are exposing the private nature of our offline connections and interests.
And by doing that, they’re encouraging a more general approach to information in people — the broader the content in applicability, the greater the network of friends. I do wonder if with that, there is a forced sense of likability — people who are genuinely not really interested in what you say or who you are, who for lack of a better word, suck up to you in public so you buy their wares, so to speak.
Does liking someone make a difference in purchase decision? When I asked: would you try a product on the recommendation of someone you don’t like? on Twitter, something interesting happened.
The first few responses, probably reactions to the question, were in favor of “no” — dislike overpowers authority. Then, after a couple of minutes, the answers changed to more rational responses — if the recommendation was fact-based and sounded credible, one can dislike someone, yet still value their opinions in areas where they agree, if it’s evident the product is working for such a person, wouldn’t let the dislike be a show-stopper.
Would you try a product on the recommendation of someone you don’t like?
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Oil Versus Gas Fuel. What do I do? | Chappaqua NY Homes
Gas Furnaces vs. Oil and electric Furnaces
Most residential furnaces are old, highly inefficient, and a cause of high energy bills and pollution. And many are oil furnaces, which raises the question: is it worth changing to a gas furnace?Furnace and fuels
For many years oil and natural gas heating systems were in direct competition, without no clear economical advantage of any of them.Today, in most cases, gas furnaces are a better option due to their efficiency, cleanness, easier maintenance, and also by economical reasons. Propane isn’t such a good option, and electricity isn’t a true economical choice, except for small needs…
Fuel Prices
The oil and gas prices are still fluctuating, making it difficult to give a definitive advice. But most experts bet on gas, even considering prices fluctuations or the supply and connection charges, surcharges, discounts, etc. involving the different fuels.Electric furnaces
Electric furnaces have low maintenance requirements and are easy to install and cheap, but they are much more expensive to operate than gas (and oil…) furnaces.Electric furnaces should only be considered for infrequently uses and small needs, mostly in moderate climates. But in this case electric furnaces have other well positioned competitors, like modern gas stoves or even insert fireplaces…
Oil furnaces
Oil furnaces are no more a popular option. Their efficiency has risen a lot (80% and more are the standard), and there are now new high-efficient oil furnaces offered by manufacturers like Carrier/Bryant or Thermo Pride, but that doesn’t make them a first option.High efficient oil furnaces – with a reliability that prior models didn’t offer – require a different and better chimney, often an upgrade with a stainless steel liner inside the old structure. Installing a sealed-vent model is highly advantageous, even if that costs more…
Oil Furnaces disadvantages
Oil furnaces are now a relatively clean option, but not as cleaner as the gas one; they also require more maintenance than their gas or electric counterparts, besides storage tanks and insurance costs and other higher requirements; but above all, they involve higher running costs – a trend that will not be reversed in the future, according to most forecasts…New natural gas and propane furnaces
In most cases, switching from oil or electric furnaces to gas units is an economical option. Even if the gas furnaces require relining the chimney or a plastic venting out the side wall, as high-efficiency furnaces do.Gas furnaces are cleaner, require low maintenance, provide higher energy savings and are more friendly for the environment. Bet on a highly efficient gas furnace system, if you are not considering hypotheses like solar, heat pumps or space heating combined with high levels of home insulation and sealing…
Propane furnaces are usually modified natural gas equipment, for regions where natural gas isn’t available.
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10 Year Prices For Bedford NY | Bedford NY Real Estate | RobReportBlog
Bedford NY Residential Real Estate | RobReportBlog
Dealing With Snow On The Roof | Bedford NY Homes – Robert Paul’s blog
With snow piling up on my roof I am afraid it might do damage or worse yet cave in. What can I do?
Lisa – Ypsilanti, MII have talked to many people with the same concern this week. The fact is, snow along with ice could cause roof damage. The threat of collapse is a very low probability, but possible. As I stated in my February 10th, 2010 article “preventing Ice Dams”, sometimes snow can weigh up to 30 LB per square foot. On a 1500-square-foot house with a roof surface area of 1600 square feet, that’s 48,000 Lbs or more on your roof! Some roofs aren’t built to withstand that amount of weight. The weight of a large amount of snow and ice can also cause damage to your gutters and downspouts.
The damage mostly occurs when the snow melts and refreezes underneath snow where it meets the shingles. Snow melts due to the heat from the attic, then drains to the gutters and refreezes. Now the water and ice accumulates and works back up the roof growing underneath the shingles causing damage – and in many cases melts into the house.
Using a roof rake and getting it replaced or repaired by austin roofing will help you alleviate some of the stress on both you and your roof. A roof rake is a solid piece of metal or plastic about 16 to 20 inches wide on the end of an extension pole which allows you to “rake” or pull snow off the roof. They can be purchased at most of your local hardware stores. Remove as much snow as possible from the top of the roof down toward the gutters. About 10 to 15 feet should be sufficient. Never remove the snow while on top of the roof. For obvious reasons, it is a slippery slope and snow isn’t as soft as you think to land in.
Apply calcium chloride to all ice in gutters and down spouts. Do not use sodium chloride (rock salt), or table salt, it can cause damage to your landscape greenery. I’ve seen homeowners insert calcium chloride into panty hose and lay it inside the gutters, it was successful to remove the ice. To apply, I recommend tossing it up into the gutters, sounds funny but it really is the best way. Roofers In Boca Raton will do it professionally for you at fair pricing.
There is controversy over whether or not to use a ladder when removing the snow. I believe it is much safer not to use a ladder because when the ice and snow melts, it can accumulate on the rungs of the ladder and refreeze in minutes. This is definitely a slippery and hazardous situation. You can easily fall and get seriously hurt.
Lastly, if your home continually has a problem with ice damming, have a professional check your home for proper roof ventilation and insulation. You may consider having heat tape installed in those problem areas along your roof then you’d be able to melt the ice with a flick of a switch. Heat tape is a low temp electrical cord that is normally placed along the perimeter of the roof, in the roof valleys and in the gutters and downspouts to keep the water moving during the frigid winter months. It should be installed by a professional.