research today

The world around me changed pretty fast while I was not looking.  Back in the day, we would go to the courthouse, read the deeds in the big heavy books, borrow the clerk's telephone book and a quiet office, and make telephone calls to verify sales transactions.

My how things have changed!  Not too many folks have telephones (at least at home) and corporate real estate departments have scattered their employees for 'tele' working.  LinkedIn, FaceBook and emails are the best way today to reach out to confirm sales and rentals in most cases.  Is that crazy? Or is it just me . . .

So if you need me, just email.

Train or traffic?

My dear friend Val sent this to me.  It is a good article about the ENERGY cost of train versus automobiles at present.  We are a culture, America, that grew up on independent travel.  The trains seem to work well in Europe, I think partly because of the smaller distances and more dense population and partly because Europe grew up before automobiles were invented.  What do you think?

Communication

The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

— George Bernard Shaw

A quote I really like and to which I often refer comes to mind as I contemplate a valuation conversation with a real estate expert at banking management levels.  For me, when I review my own properties, I often cannot see what the value should be.  It is hard for me to separate my desires, wants, and needs from true value.

The market does not recognize my needs specifically, and based on the underlying principle of substitution, that market (i.e. buyer) can chose another alternative versus my property.  As humans, we value what we have already acquired, for whatever the myriad of reasons may be.  They are often non-pecuniary, having nothing to do with the market value.  Residential, particularly, is a bit tougher than commercial, since it often has more emotional investment.

The question is, will I be able to adequately communicate the market data to provide enough information to help the seller make what I perceive as a good decision.  Ultimately, it is their decision.