The article does an excellent job outlining the technology driven needs of the newest buying generation, which includes quick response times and information that is available instantaneously using IM, text messaging, social networks, and other misc. Additionally, the column notes a shift by the traditional broker shops to address and meet these technology driven needs.

All good stuff! Remember these companies provide support services to brokers as their primary function and we applaud them for creating more efficient systems for their network of independent contractors.
Getting to the point: The business model hasn’t changed and the traditional channels have not addressed the need for a different kind of model, where the incentives are not counter intuitive. They have put some lipstick on an old beast.

Why you ask? When I first came on at Territory it didn’t make any sense to me. Why would a network of large and well-funded companies consciously sabotage the long-term forecast of their market share? And do it with their eyes wide open? They remain stagnant because the implications are long term and the companies do not want to disrupt their cash flow in the short term. Basically they will change when it is in their best interest - not the buyer’s best interest.

You may not agree on the reasons why; albeit, we can all agree the business model hasn’t changes.

100 CT residents are in an uproar over a house they find out of place for the neighborhood. I can’t say I disagree, it’s pretty disgusting, but lawyers say the plans are in compliance with the local zoning.

I mean, what the heck is wrong with the mansion currently located on the 7 acres?

Ahh, the American Dream!

High ceilings with a wall of large windows make this place seem extra spacious. This unit is a 636 Square Foot 1 bedroom plus parking. Located walking distance to neighborhood bars and restaurants, Independence Square Park and the water. $329,000

Fantastic 2 bedroom condo that is walking distance to the train plus it has a deeded parking spot, exclusive roof rights, laundry in unit, etc etc. Add the charm of exposed brick and proximity to Coolidge Corner and longwood medical center and you have a great place! 846 square feet for $390,000

Territory buyer rebate on this property (using full asking price to calculate): $5,755 !

201 Newbury Street, the Prince School, has long been one of my favorite buildings. Once Back Bay’s only public elementary school, the building was dedicated on November 11, 1881 and named in honor of Ex-Mayor Prince. The Prince School closed for good in 1981. Today you may know it as the home of The Gap on Newbury Street.

Unit 307 is a 900 sqft 1 bedroom condo. Its pricey at $760 + per square foot but what did you expect for a landmark building in the heart of Back Bay? On the upside the price dropped yesterday from $719,000 to $699,000.

199 State Street aka Greenway Place is one of my favorite buildings. The problem is that it hit the market with pricing over $850 per sqft while the Rose Kennedy Greenway was a big dust bowl.

When I first toured the building I thought the prices were high but then I considered that the buliding is new (old building, gut renovated) with quality finishes, a beautiful view and a fantastic location.

Over the next 260 + days I watched the 11 units in the building sit and sit and sit some more. I think the pricing, the lack of parking and the strip of dirt across the street accounted for the delay in sales. Eventually the developer took to renting the units out.

At the end of February the only unit still being offered for sale (Unit 702) incurred the kind of price drop you expect to see from a condo located on the Miami River. The price was changed from $1,400,000 to $844,000, a drop of almost 40%.

Unit 702, a 2 bedroom 1637 sqft condo, now stands at $515 per sqft, a price similar to what you would pay for new construction in Brookline or South Boston (two inferior locations). The Rose Kennedy Greenway is almost complete, it even has grass and a number of trees. Lack of parking is still an issue but there are plenty of rental garages in the area so just add $350 to the $823 condo fee.

The point is that this is a great deal. The developer (assessor data shows the unit sold in ‘07 for $900,000, does anyone know if this is correct?) has under priced the unit, trying to find the bottom of the market. Once they sell this one you can bet that other 10 units will hit the market at a higher price per square foot.

The phones are ringing. Offers are being made. The spring market is here…

Rain City Guide makes an interesting observation based on home sales in the Seattle area — Older homes sell faster and for more money on a price per square foot basis. You never would have guessed this, right? Ardell offers a very interesting, and I would argue accurate, insight into why this is so.

“Every time someone built a house, going back to Seattle’s First Hill, by and large they chose the very best location to build on. Chances are if you were to go out right now and find the absolute best place to build a house, there will already be one built there.

Most often the place where a builder can put up more than one house and as many as 50, the location is inferior…and consequently available.

People choose location over house…almost always, and rightly so. And most often best location equals oldest house.”

The moral of the story isn’t really that older homes are more valuable but that location is the primary factor when people buy real estate. Remember the real estate mantra location, location, location? Well its dead on the money. In affluent areas like Seattle and Boston its even more relevant because when real estate values are sky high a disproportionate amount of value is associated with the land a house sits on.

3 good one’s just came on the market and they have open houses, whew hew!

1) NEW: 2 in the same building: 8 Lindall plce, Unit 2 and 4. Both 1 bedrooms, newly renovated. Sunday, 12-1:30

2) NEW: 36 R Joy Ct, Unit 1 (link unavailable due to tech issues, MLS 70737481). Beautiful 1 bedroom on fabulous street, residence secluded down a gated, landscaped courtyard. $319,000. Sunday, 11:30-12:30

3) 93 Mount Vernon St - Unit A. Gorgeous 1 bedroom with nice original hardwoods and fireplace. Price will likely drop again. Sunday, 1:30-2:30

4) 15 South Russel Street (no link available today, MLS 70737432). Unbelievable single family with 2 bedrooms and private deck. Beacon Hill charm at its best. $879,000 Sunday, 11:30-1pm.

5) 10 Bowdoin Street - Unit 418. Luxury full service living at its best. Full service, 2+BD/2BTH w/parking and all the high-end fixens. Sunday, 11:30-1

**Don’t forget to print out our custom Open House sheet to help you stay organized on your tours. You can find one one every open house schedule on our site.

The market in Cali is down so much they are resorting to sex appeal to sell.

A downtown LA complex has dancers in windows with bright colors flashing behind them in attempt to sell units. Turns out they are just projectors, but they look so real people (men) are pulling up trying to get into what they believe is a “Disco” but instead they are given a pamphlet with unit pricing.

“The idea was to create a unique place” - Canvas LA Developer

And by unique he means ….