Zillow is having a good August. After the real estate technology company announced better-than-expected earnings numbers, its stock soared by almost $14 per share. The boost probably made a lot of investors happy, but the collateral impact was that it also pushed Zillow’s market capitalization — or the company’s value — into the neighborhood of […]
Alexa, Did You Get Hacked?
Amazon Alexa, Google Voice and Apple Siri can all be hacked by a laser. Should be this be cause for concern for “smart home” owners? Probably. Researchers discovered that when a laser is aimed at the devices’ microphones, an electrical signal is created, just as it is when a voice command is made. Using an […]
Assembly Required: Multifamily Modulars
Blokable, a startup that creates assembled smart homes, has raised $23 million in Series A funding, allowing the company to eye projects across Washington and California. Launched in 2016, the Seattle-based company’s units can be assembled into modules that can function as either tiny homes or be stacked into larger multi-family properties and hotels. The […]
July 29 – CVAR At A Glance
Featured Classes and Events July 31 | Master Negotiator – All Locations Aug. 1 | CVAR MLS Forum with Adrese Roundtree Aug. 1 | Citrus Valley Caravan – CVAR HQ – Division of Estate Aug. 5 | CRMLS Training – CVAR HQ Aug. 6 | American Red Cross Blood Drive – CVAR HQ Click here for […]
Realogy, Amazon Partner on TurnKey Program for Buyers
Realogy stock surged more than 25% last Tuesday after it announced a deal with Amazon. The largest residential real estate brokerage company in the nation is partnering with the largest online retailer in the world in a strategy designed to boost sales for both. Realogy and Amazon will now offer TurnKey, a program that takes potential […]
Amazon DIY Tiny Home an Instant Sellout
A build-it-yourself tiny home recently posted on Amazon has been going viral and sold out almost instantly. This apparently shows a demand for such “accessory dwellings,” although such a structure does not include a bathroom or kitchen. The state of the housing market might have pushed some toward more unconventional housing ideas. The build-it-yourself home, currently […]
Dec. 10 – CVAR At A Glance
Featured Classes and Events Installation & Holiday Breakfast – CVAR Leadership for 2019 Dec. 10 | 45 Hr. License Renewal Course – CVAR HQ Dec. 11 |Brokers/Salesperson License Cram Course Dec. 12 | New Member Orientation – All Locations Dec. 13 |Maximize Down Payment Assistance – CVAR East Dec. 14 |Annual General Membership Meeting Dec. 18 | […]
Bezos Donates $100 Million to America’s Homeless
The world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, is giving nearly $100 million to address homelessness in America in what amounts to his biggest publicly-announced charitable donation yet. The Amazon founder and CEO outlined his plans to give $97.5 million to two dozen nonprofits around the country that are providing services to the homeless. This is the first […]
Creative Solutions to Save Brick & Mortar Retail
Though many predict disaster for this sector of commercial real estate, there are solid examples of innovation that are making a difference in attracting the next generation of shoppers. Brick-and-mortar stores continue to see sales fall on the back of weaker mall traffic amid rising competition from e-commerce stores, which continue to record significant growth […]
Disruptors Can’t ‘Own It’
“People who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire,” said Elizabeth Mendenhall, president-elect of the National Association of REALTORS®, to 1,600 state and local leaders in opening remarks during NAR’s Leadership Summit in Chicago. Mendenhall and new NAR CEO Bob Goldberg delivered a message about an industry in transition, touching heavily on […]