The rental market is much more responsive to changes in economic conditions, especially rising unemployment. Many firms are cutting back on hiring or are downsizing. In better times, new hires were a key driver of the rental market as new employees often rent first, then buy.

Many spectators incorrectly assume that the falling sales market would yield a rising rental market, that would-be purchasers become renters as credit went sour. After all, our second quarter market sales report showed a 25.6% year-over-year decline in resale apartment prices and a 50.3% decline in the number of sales. Therefore the rental market should jump, right?

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Ballard, a former real estate and business law attorney, operated a fraudulent real estate investment scam, commonly known as a “Ponzi” scheme. From September 2002 through May 2006, he collected more than $2 million. In Georgia alone, he solicited funds from investors in Duluth, Dunwoody, Fayetteville, Jackson, Jonesboro, Newnan, Palmetto, Peachtree City, and Whitesburg.

Ballard also solicited funds from victims in Florida and Tennessee.

He told the victims he was making “lucrative” real estate and other investments which were not actually transacted. He often used bogus HUD-1 Settlement Statements, Warranty Deeds and Sales Contracts to reflect non-existent property purchases, while using a portion of the scheme proceeds to repay former victim investors. The repayments included their principal plus substantial “returns” often exceeding 50 percent of the initial investment, but those repayments were all funded with money from new victim investors.

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In one corner are the current champions of Australia’s online real estate classifieds, realestate.com.au and Domain, and in the other corner is the challenger Google.

And there’s no need for introductions.

While more than 90 per cent of Australians online use Google, the popular search engine is now looking to enter the property search market.

In Australia, that market is dominated by realestate.com.au and Domain. (Domain is owned by Fairfax Media, also the owner of My Small Business.)

Those sites received visits from 22 per cent and 14 per cent respectively of online Australians between March and May, according to Nielsen Online.

So far, realestate.com.au - part of REA Group Ltd and majority owned by News Limited - has only really had to worry about Fairfax’s Domain nipping at its heels.

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Apple Valley, Minnesota (PRWEB) July 10, 2009 — A new Ecumen senior housing community by Ecumen’s senior housing development team has been completed in Apple Valley, Minnesota with the opening of a new memory care community in Apple Valley, Minn. The senior housing development is part of Ecumen’s assisted living community in Apple Valley. Ecumen is the most innovative leader of senior housing and services, empowering individuals to live richer and fuller lives.

The $3.7 million memory care expansion is located at 14625 Pennock Avenue. It features 20 memory care residences on one level. Integrated into the design is an open kitchen and dining area overlooking a garden. In addition to the specialized memory care neighborhood, Ecumen’s Centennial House community also features 60 assisted living residences.

“Our focus was to create a very open, easily navigable floor plan with plenty of natural light to contribute to a vibrant environment,” said Tom Opatz, who led the development process for Ecumen. “We want people to feel very comfortable and welcome from the minute they walk through the door, and based on the feedback we’re receiving, we’re accomplishing that.”

Ecumen seeks to innovate, while empowering and honoring its customers through its architectural design and other components such as QuietCare technology and the Ecumen Lifestyle Covenant.
QuietCare is unobtrusive proactive sensor technology that can help identify emerging health issues before they become more serious. Ecumen’s Lifestyle Covenant is an agreement that Ecumen staff and customers in memory care shape together to ensure they’re working collaboratively to empower individual customers in living the lifestyle that person desires.

“Ecumen and its professionals at The Centennial House have been great assets to Apple Valley, and I am very pleased that they have expanded and brought these important services to the residents of our community,” said Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland.

The need for senior living developments and specialized residential options for memory care is increasing. The Alzheimer’s Association projects by 2030 that 7.7 million Americans over age 65 will have Alzheimer’s, a 50% increase from today.

Ecumen is based in Shoreview, Minn., it works to innovate, empower and honor in its mission to create home for older adults. Visit Ecumen’s Changing Aging Blog or its Senior Housing Development Blog.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/senior/housingdevelopment/prweb2621814.htm

Pontevedra, Galicia (PRWEB) Julio 7, 2009 — La selección de la empresa de construcción pontevedraen base a la relación calidad-precio de los presupuestos es de vital importancia. Numerosos contratos de obra siguen siendo adjudicados a la oferta con el precio más bajo. Esto, a menudo, resulta en constantes variaciones del contrato y reclamaciones que incrementan significativamente el precio final de las obras.

Los constructores deben ser elegidos en base a la oferta con mejor relación calidad-precio y no a la oferta más baja. Relación calidad-precio significa lograr una construcción (ya sea construcción de casa, reforma casa o reformas y construcción) que es apta para su habitabilidad, que satisfaga las necesidades de sus ocupantes, y que logre un equilibrio entre las calidades y los costes a lo largo de la vida de la obra.

Los clientes y todos aquellos involucrados en el proceso de diseño y construcción necesitan colaborar estrechamente: intercambiando información, trabajando sobre objetivos e incentivos claros y previamente acordados, y manteniendo un compromiso de mejora continua. Toda la cadena de distribución, incluidos clientes, arquitectos, empresas constructores, subcontratistas y proveedores, debe estar integrada para la correcta gestión de riesgos y el desarrollo de proyectos que mejoren el valor final de la construcción, fomenten la innovación y minimicen el derroche de recursos.

CP Construcciones considera que si el proceso constructivo y la elección de materiales se realizan de forma adecuada, el coste general de la obra a lo largo de toda su vida y el número de accidentes se reducen considerablemente, así como también se consigue una mayor certeza en tiempo y costes presupuestados y en consecuencia una construcción mas sostenible.

CP Construcciones - construcción y reformas Pontevedra - se dedica a la prestación de servicios de construcción de ámbito comercial, industrial y residencial abarcando Obra Nueva, Reformas, Restauración y Rehabilitación Integral de Edificios y Monumentos Históricos, Limpieza de Fachadas, y se especializa de forma particular en la construcción de Chalets en piedra.

La constructora de Pontevedra ofrece una inmejorable relación calidad - precio, así como un servicio integral, asegurando que cada proyecto se realiza en continua y estrecha cooperación con clientes, arquitectos y proveedores.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/construccionpontevedra/reformaspontevedra/prweb2620344.htm

(Vocus) July 10, 2009 — TopTenRealEstateDeals.com is a new independent website offering exciting and unique Top 10 lists of today’s best deals on real estate for sale. Their current featured market addition is Orlando, Florida

“With Florida being ground zero for distressed condo sales, there are some tremendous opportunities in Orlando right now… We hope our monthly Top 10 will whet your appetite for some of the best real estate deals in Orlando!” says Orlando Real Estate Top Ten Concierge, Marcus Burke.

The Orlando list features the 10 best deals on condos in the Orlando area.

To view the Orlando Top Ten Real Estate List visit: real estate for sale.

For further information, or to request an interview with a company representative, please contact their Internet Marketing Director, Jason Wakefield at press at toptenrealestatedeals dot com.

Contact:
Jason Wakefield
Internet Marketing Director
TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
574-204-2295
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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2630024.htm

Overland Park, Kan. (Vocus) July 10, 2009 — Auctioneers from the across the world will travel to Overland Park, Kan. for the 60th International Auctioneers Conference & Show next week. This year’s conference will take place July 13-18 at the Overland Park Convention Center. This year’s event will feature over a thousand auctioneers celebrating one of the world’s fastest growing and oldest industries. The conference is coordinated by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., the NAA is the nation’s largest association dedicated to the auction profession and industry.

The NAA and its members will be celebrating six decades of service at this year’s conference. Highlights of the conference include over 40 educational seminars ranging from technology in the auction industry, to growth in the real estate auction market. One of the major highlights of this annual event is its competitions. Each year the NAA crowns the world’s top male and female auctioneers at its conference. Auctioneers from across the world will compete for the coveted International Auctioneer Championship (IAC) title. In addition to the IAC competition, conference attendees will enjoy the International Ringman Championship (IRC) and the International Junior Auctioneer Championship (IJAC). Conference attendees will also be provided with one of the largest trade shows in the history of the event.

To learn more about Conference & Show, visit: auctioneers.org/conference2009.

In 2008, the live auction industry sold $268.4 billion in goods and services in the United States. The fastest growing sectors of the auction industry in 2008 were residential real estate and agricultural machinery and equipment auctions. With over $83 billion in gross sales, automobile auctions continue to lead the industry. The auction industry is vast and diverse with auctioneers specializing in a variety of markets, such as art/antiques, automobiles, machinery, real estate, personal property, and charity.

About the NAA
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., the National Auctioneers Association (NAA) represents the interests of approximately 4,400 auctioneers in the United States, Canada, and across the world. Founded in 1949, the mission of the NAA is to promote the auction method of marketing and enhancing the professionalism of its members through education and technology. To learn more about Auctioneers or to find an auctioneer, visit: www.auctioneers.org.

Contact:
Chris Longly
(913) 541-8084 ext. 31

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/NAA/Auctioneers_Conference/prweb2611464.htm

Marikina City, Philippines (PRWEB) July 11, 2009 — Philippine real estate company acknowledges SEO Philippines for coming up with strategies which brought it back to top of search engines. The Ayala Land website used to climb the hardest struggle to internet success until it opted to use search engine optimization strategies by local SEO company — Optimind Web Design and SEO.

The unfathomable success of SEO Philippines utilizes effective website promotion strategies. Optimind Web Design and SEO, which can be found in this link: real estate Philippines. By providing well-written content, traffic has crowded in the site and visitors come clicking on to its pages. As a result, Ayala’s unequalled services and packages for real estate Philippines have been a favorite of potential clients.

Optimind’s noble goal of helping individuals and corporations in increasing their revenues is a big foundation of every online business success. More and more companies have opted for Optimind’s services including flash and mobile development, social media optimization and virtual team solutions. The company recognizes how thousands of websites are launched every single day and how it results to tougher competition that is why they use tactics that will make you more visible and will bring you to top.

Moreover, its SEO and SMO activities are designed specifically to increase the linkability of your website through design and content plus a good sense of providing value to your customers. On the other hand, virtual team solutions help you gain access to a team of highly competent web professionals, reduce your company expenses and gets you assured of excellent output. Take for example condo Philippines which bested all other real estate properties in terms of revenues through Optimind solutions.

SEO companies that truly work wonders to you websites are rare and scarce. The acknowledgement of Ayala Land of Optimind for its miraculous transformation to top is indeed a glory to SEO Philippines.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2628684.htm

The written testimony from Jon Greenlee, of the Federal Reserve, is particularly disheartening. There is currently about $3.5 trillion of debt associated with commercial real estate, about half of which is on the books of banks. He suggests that the Fed has been following this situation closely and has stayed on top of banks’ exposures to the sector. He also has some rhetoric about the recent stress tests. Why do I not find this reassuring?

James Helsel, on behalf of the National Association of Realtors, is even more negative. He argues that this sector supports 9 million jobs and many of these are now in jeopardy. Of course, he is looking for a bailout of some kind (who isn’t?) but still he is right about emerging problems in and around the retail sector.

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The 13, employed in nearly every profession in the real estate industry — including lawyers, real estate agents, appraisers and bank workers — were accused of participating in 19 sham real estate transactions.

Each of the defendants has been charged with a handful of larceny and fraud charges, the most serious of which, enterprise corruption, could result in 25-year sentences.

Prosecutors said the fraud occurred over a four-year period ending in April in Cypress Hills and East New York in Brooklyn, Washington Heights in Manhattan and in Westchester County and on Long Island.

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