According to the Mobile Outlook 2009, published by Mobile Marketer, a leading journal for mobile marketing, media and commerce, location-centric centric services are one of the key drivers of adoption to the mobile web.  Sure sounds like great news for the real estate industry. The study goes on to say that consumers are getting used to getting content online and they are even starting to trust the medium enough to transact banking business.  All good news for the future of mobile.

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in a recent article from China Daily, there was an amazing fact from The China Statistics Yearbook 2008 revealed.  They found that the average home price in Beijing was 23 times a local family’s average income, compared with the international level of four to six times.  Do you think they are setting themselves up for a MAJOR fall?  Their government has come through with up to 30% discounts on mortgages for first time home buyers, but it doesn’t seem like that will be enough to make those loans truly a prudent investment over time.

China is also experiencing irrational property price increases.  “One thing we are concerned about is whether there is a new bubble being shaped. While people have a strong perception of excessive liquidity and further price growth, the possibility of a bubble is pretty big,” said Gu Yunchang, secretary-general of the China Real Estate Association.

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In Jim Welsh’s June newsletter he offered the following synopsis of where we are heading in real estate.  I hope that he is wrong, but nevertheless believe it valuable enough to republish his thoughts.  He is offering his opinion based upon some pretty credible data sources.  Be sure to read the entire report to understand why he feels that “The combination of higher unemployment and underemployment, along with another round of mortgage resets will lead to another wave of foreclosures. This next wave will increasingly impact the mid to upper end of the price range.”

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Details are coming together for our fast approaching CMLS Conference in Lake Tahoe, Calif.  Check the Web site as agenda, event and sponsorships are continually updated.
 
Agenda Items:

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The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) announced the winners of its 59th Annual Journalism Awards today.  NAREEs awards program recognizes excellence in reporting, writing and editing stories about both residential and commercial real estate.    

This year’s Robert F. Brennan Award for Best Overall Entry by an Individual went to Mara Der Hovanesian of Business Week magazine.  The best Freelance Collection Award went to Sharon Stangenes for her freelance contributions to the Chicago Tribune.  The James D. Carper Award for Best Entry by a young Journalist went to Polyana da Costa, Daily Business Review.

The award winners were selected by a panel of expert judges from the E. W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.  Professor Patrick S. Washburn, a former news reporter and editor, chaired the panel of jurors.  A record number of entries from professional journalists across the U.S. were received this year.  Prizes, totaling $10,000, were awarded in 30 different categories.

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