Foreclosures fall for 8th straight month

CNN Money reports that foreclosures are down around the nation for the eighth straight month, according to RealtyTrac.

Last month, foreclosure filings dropped by 33% from one year ago and 2% from April. The total number of real estate-owned properties (repossessed) in May fell 3.8% from April and 29% from one year ago.

Nevada, Arizona, and California continue to see the most significant number of foreclosure filings. But  even there, rates have dropped. In May, one of every 103 households in Nevada received notice to foreclose. And in Arizona and California, one in every 210 and one in every 259, respectively, received notice.

The positive news may be a reflection of the banks slowing down their review procedures in response to the “robo-signing” scandal of last September, which caused many firms to suspend foreclosure proceedings. While experts say that falling foreclosures do not necessarily herald a housing rebound, the reduction of distressed properties overall is good news for the real estate market.

A History of Modern Music: the timeline [Interactive]

Full interactive here.

Zillow launches mortgage app

Web traffic on mobile devices is increasing. Case in point, Zillow says that 30 percent of its weekend traffic is generated on iPhones, smart phones, iPads, and the like. The company hopes to respond to this consumer shift by providing easy access to real time loan information.

Zillow recently announced its free mobile app for the iPhone, which will offer home buyers access to loan quotes and calculators for payments, affordability, and refinancing.

On its website, Zillow promises these client features:

  • Live rates – not teaser rates
  • Easy-to-advanced calculator options
  • Personalized quotes from confirmed lenders
  • Loan quote comparisons
  • Reviews and ratings on hundreds of lenders
  • Saved loan requests and quotes
  • Ability to email calculator results, rate trends and loan quotes

Conducting a Marketing & Sales Plan

conductor_6It started when I was 14. It was my first opportunity to conduct a symphony orchestra. I took the conductor’s score home, following along with a recording of Mozart’s ‘Andante & Allegro’; I identified whom I needed to communicate with, so that the melody would be clear to the listener. Hours of perfecting my patterns, and my movements, so that the orchestra would know exactly what I wanted them to do. Phrasing and rhythm had to be internalized so that I could communicate and control the entire group. Everything needed to be memorized… all the parts… all the phrases… to assure a gorgeous timbre was played by all. Yet, I couldn’t make a single sound…

Even at 14, I knew what I expected. No one would get away with giving less than what was needed to serve the music. I can remember some instrumentalists complaining that I expected them to play the 16th note runs, in tempo. Of course, I did! How else would the phrase be propelled as it needed to be?

After 25 years of leading, directing, creating, performing, I have found myself doing the same job but with a new set of players, and a new checklist. No longer do I have to verify that the trumpets are playing in Bb or C. I, now, verify if I am hitting our target buyer’s needs and wants. Telling the story about a home, a neighborhood or a lifestyle is up to me – just like conducting an orchestra. Again, I don’t make any of the sound, but the message has to be tailored to the recipient and to make sense, no, to captivate them.

Though, there is a small minority of buyers (typically investors), that do not engage emotionally in the buying process. Most buyers make a decision based on emotion and subsequently, solidify their choice with logic.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA         Why our properties sell is because we pay attention to the story that the home, the neighborhood, and the lifestyle provides to the next owner. Technology delivers the message immediately; the speed of the message is lightning fast (in real time). For properties on the market today, the first impression is almost always the ONLY impression.

Another reason my team’s marketing works is because we understand human nature, in that, we all want significance. Many of the orchestras I conducted were made up of volunteers. My job was to make the many sound as one unit. This is counterintuitive to most ego-driven performers. To do that, I had to make sure the musicians felt important and valued. When the 2nd violin playing in the 4th row felt valued, she performed better. When she played better, we would all sound better. The reality is; this was about them, not me. When they sparkled, the music was served. When the music was served, we all won!

When the buyer’s values are identified and met, they are emotionally engaged. This is crucial to ensuring that buyers commit to a property, and stick with it until the closing.

We are all in sales. Teachers, parents, politicians, lawyers, even you! What you need to remember is; IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! It is about THEM!

EXCLUSIVE ONE-BEDROOM OVER-WATER BUNGALOW | BELIZE

EXCLUSIVE ONE-BEDROOM OVER-WATER BUNGALOW | BELIZE | Image

Cayo Espanto is at Caribbean island Belize, it offers ultimate privacy and 5-star service. At the resort you can choose to stay at the exclusive and spectacular one bedroom, over-the-water bungalow named Casa Ventanas. This unique bungalow is the most intimate, romantic and most popular accommodation on the island. Guests are always enchanted by all of the sea life swimming right past or under the bungalow.

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Dyes Inlet by Arkinetic in Bremerton, Washington

Dyes Inlet by Arkinetic in Bremerton, Washington – Amazing Architecture

This state has some spectacular architecture. If you are looking for something in the greater Seattle area, give me a call 206.713.3244 or ping me at Emmanuel@EmmanuelFonte.com

Consider deck basics before you build

http://youtu.be/CN7ehPQwVSU

Notice of Inconsideration

I’m planning on keeping these in my car…

bad park job

The Cello Song – Bach is back (with 7 more cellos)

LOVE this!!

Be sure to watch for the bow throw around 2:35!

Every sound you hear was created by Steve playing his acoustic cellos (with one exception — a subtle “hi-hat” noise made by his voice).

The Cello Song is based on one of the most recognizable classical pieces ever written, J.S. Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1: Prelude. (Hint: Say Bach’s title with an English accent and it sounds a lot better). It’s been featured in a lot of movies (and car commercials)…Steven Sharp Nelson decided that this piece needed some accompaniment (Bach must have been busy and never got around to it? :) Adding some original material and 7 more cello parts stacked on top of each other, Steve has created a cool new sound that embellishes all the features that have made Bach’s work so popular. The 7 new parts include drawn-out melodies which soar above fast arpeggios, strumming chords from a guitar-like part, shaker sounds (accomplished by rubbing the sides of the cello), tremolo (1:081:24), and a cello-banging percussion part (complete with kick drum).

“Bach was an amazing composer — one of the best that ever lived. He wasn’t the greatest with titles though (smile)… As a consequence, no one can ever remember his Cello Suite’s name…so when I’m asked to perform his piece people always say, ‘hey, can you play that … um … that cello song?’ And so in Bach’s honor I name this adaptation of his amazing composition after what it has been naturally called for hundreds of years.