TheREALTYgram Blogger

Web Women Giving Circle Gets BloggyFollowing Philanthropic Sojourn to Andes

Peru. The Andes. Triumph of the human spirit. Humanitarian outreach. CARE. More Magazine. Women empowering women.

In my wildest dreams I never imagined that I would get so close to heaven. That in this age of war and terror that there is so much reason to be hopeful and optimistic about the fate of humankind.

I was in Peru last week with the Web Women Giving Circle. We are publishing a chronicle  of events on our blog there ... you are welcome to visit as we share our experiences there in the days ahead.

MLS Police Want Frontal Views Only

The public generally is not aware that many multiple listing services (MLS) run by REALTORS have sets of rules and regulations to insure that content and data is accurate and complete. In our local Lehigh Valley (PA) market area we have an MLS rule that specifies that the main photo on a listing represent a front exterior view of the subject property. I ran across a photo of a listing in Manhattan today described as the worst listing photo ever. I am inclined to agree. The listing agent can thank his lucky stars he's not listing properties in Bethlehem, PA!! The MLS Police would bust him, for sure!

Is The LoftNinja The Calder of the Web;Or Is He The New Andy Warhol?

I just took a little busman's tour around the Big Apple. I didn't even have to leave Bethlehem, PA. iustiNYC Real Estate is one of the shiniest stars in the blogosphere. There's nothing that this blog lacks!  TheLoftNija (a NYC real estate agent)  has been my favorite urban photographer for over a year. His visual repertoire ranges from sexy, wide-angle loft interiors to gritty blighted structures that come alive as art forms. He translates the proportion and geometrics of cable and steel to stunning beauty in Calder-esque fashion. His maps are multi-colored eye candy drifting in the twilight background.

I confess that I have always disliked dark background web sites with reverse type, but The LoftNija makes me love it here! He pulls it off brilliantly, with a grey sans serif type and earth tone links and headlines that offer easy reading even for middle age eyes.

justiNYC weaves photography, video, poetry, and narrative into a winning web surf. Techie wannabes like me love all his tools and links that help us grow. My favorite link is  his arts page , marrying his photography with op art graphics. Makes me want to take out my camera and shoot! I think I'll just do that today. Thanks for the inspiration, Justin!!

9:33 PM Update...just received an e-mail from Justin with more treats from The LoftNinja: Real Estate Blog Pad: Tips and Tools for the Real Estate Agent 2.0 and a neat gallery of panoramas called Space.

Bethlehem, PA, Is Christmas City U.S.ASee Your House? Call Me For A Photo!

Here's a peek at our beautiful city at Christmastime. I have lots more photos on my other blog, where I will be posting new photos several times a week during the holidays. If you see your home appear on one of the blogs you may call or e-mail and I will be happy to send you a high resolution image with my best wishes for a Happy Holiday!

Blogger Spotlight: The LoftNinja Is ProofThat There Really Is Hope For This Industry

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the newest real estate alphabet soup mix (ILD) that has the drawers of the DOJ in such a knot, and the issues and controversies of the industry just seem to grow without an end in sight. I have renewed hope in the real estate industry these days. There is a fountain of good energy and goodwill that emanates from the members of the Real Estate Blog Squad. Many (or most) of us have never met. As I meet the bloggers online and on the telephone I am increasingly encouraged that good sense will prevail in this industry. A recent in-person visit with the LoftNinja at an art show in Lower Manhattan prompted me to give Optimism the head place at my table.

LoftNinja designed the REBS poster. His innovative fauxtography speaks to his philosophy:

"You cannot separate an organism from its environment. This is an attempt to bring mine-as it (and I) change- to you."

He blends art with real estate advertising and he is developing a new blog aggregator for the REBS (watch for more news on this soon). He is articulate. He is a real estate agent, an anthropologist, and an accomplished fauxtographer. I am intrigued as he talks about the gentrification of Brooklyn. I am encouraged when I hear him reflect about industry ethics. I am hopeful when I consider that this is a young man to whom the industry can look  for leadership in the future.

And Unto Us A Baby Blog Is Born Today

The Historic Homes Blogger is a new blog  that offers narrative and pictorial perspectives on historic homes and districts, renovation, and property preservation in Bethlehem and beyond. My co-author of this blog is my broker and dear friend, Connie Glagola. The blog is produced on Internet Crusade software presently in development.

The Brethren's House (1748) housed the single Brethren Choir.

REALTOR/Blogger Joins MoveOn Peace VigilIn Bethlehem Supporting Cindy Sheehan

A tiny park in Southside Bethlehem, PA, was the site of a Peace Vigil last night that supported the efforts of Cindy Sheehan, a mother whose son lost his life in Iraq. Cindy is in Crawford, Texas, and she wants to speak with President Bush about the war. So far he has refused. It doesn't seem to work for his political agenda. There is a slide show here with more images of the event in Bethlehem. The Bethlehem event was organized by Diane Petro.

New York Times Real Estate OnlineOffers Multimedia Viewing Experience

The New York Times digital real estate news offers narrated slide shows. (Thanks to Inman Blog for the heads up.) The Inman blog selected the story of an architect on Park Avenue. It's some good food for thought; I'll have to start offering a voice narration on my visual tours. I'll keep you posted.

Isn't This Why People Live In California?Garden For Sale, Home Included

Garden For Sale Home Included offers,"Hot Tub, glass of great red wine ( I highly recommend Ballentine Vineyards) and this view. What more do you dream about?"  This blog was designed to sell a house from the garden's perspective. It is wonderful! Lots of eye candy, brilliant photos of flowers, clever pet portraits. Lots of good karma in this sector of the blogosphere. Thanks to the Blog Discovery Channel at Urbanfoto for sharing this gem.

11 AM UPDATE: I just received an e-mail from an Arizona broker who has more wonderful eye candy...Arizona Wildflowers. Lovely! (I just love sugar-free, nonfat eye candy ;-)

Reality Television Show IssuesCasting Call For East Coast Home Sellers

  TLC, the television network that brought you Trading Spaces and While You Were Out, is currently casting fresh episodes of its newest breakout hit, Moving Up - hosted by Trading Spaces star designer Doug Wilson:

"We're looking for people who are moving sometime between June 6th and August 1st. We need people with outgoing personalities or unique, extreme taste in design - people who would love to be on TLC! Diversity is important to our show as well. We're looking for people from a wide range of socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. Interested candidates must still occupy their current home as must the families they are either buying from or selling to. Candidates must reside in NY, NJ, CT, MA, RI, DE, PA or VA. All candidates should demonstrate a strong passion for design and should have plans to change the decor of their new home right away. TLC will step in to help make those projects happen faster and less expensively. Contact via e-mail."