InfoCentral Blog

Do you dare disclose if there is murder or mayhem at your listing? What are the professional and logistical challenges if there is a well publicized ghost on your next property? Don't despair, help is here! This updated Field Guide offers some creative marketing tools and advice for selling properties with an unsavory past.

Posted on August 22 at 12:25 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Today's Mossberg column in the Wall Street Journal [linked here through ProQuest for our members] discusses Microsoft Live Labs' latest webservice, Photosynth. I first heard about this project through a YouTube video of a presentation at the 2007 TED conference in Monterey, CA. Mossberg explains the technology:

"Unlike a simple 2-D panorama, which many photo programs can create from several pictures, a Photosynth creation, called a "synth," is a virtual 3-D environment. It gives you the feeling you are in the middle of a room looking around, or circumnavigating a building or object. You can travel through a scene both laterally and vertically, and zoom in to see detailed, higher-resolution views of objects inside the synth, such as paintings on a wall."

How does this differ from existing virtual tours? Well, for one, you can create these yourself without any special equipment. It does take some skill to get the photos to work seamlessly together, but the results can be a lot more impressive. Currently "synthed" photos are only available for viewing on the photosynth website and there are no privacy settings. However, look for this innovative application to spread and grow.

Watch the video demo from TED2007 below the jump...the Photosynth demo starts at about 2:45.

Continue reading "Photosynth 3-D Photo Tour" »

Posted on August 21 at 04:32 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Looking for real estate data from around the world? The Global Real Estate Project is a reference tool for international real estate research. It provides real estate trends, local contacts, and market information (data as of 2007) for different countries around the globe. The information contained in these profiles was compiled by the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the University of Denver under the directorship of Dr. Mark Lee Levine, Director/Professor, CIPS.

Posted on August 19 at 04:11 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Information Central has just updated its Field Guide to Web 2.0. The term Web 2.0, which was coined in 2004 by O'Reilly Media, refers to a second wave of web-based services such as wikis, social networking sites, and other communication tools which focus upon shared information and collaboration among users. This Field Guide contains general information about Web 2.0, its potential usage in the real estate industry, and future trends that will keep REALTORS® knowledgeable about the ever-changing dynamics of the Internet. Watch the now classic YouTube introduction below the jump...

Continue reading "Web 2.0" »

Posted on August 19 at 01:41 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

With recent upswings in energy prices and increased concern over global warming, wind energy and wind farming have become hot topics. Wind power is one of the fastest growing sources of electricity generation. While much past growth has taken place in Europe (Denmark derives up to 20% of its electricity from wind), wind power has recently made inroads domestically. In the U.S., more than 25,000 turbines produce 17 GW of electricity-generating capacity, enough to power 4.5 million homes. Total capacity rose 45 percent last year and is forecast to nearly triple by 2012. Right now, only one percent of the country's electricity comes from wind, but government and industry leaders want to see that share hit 20 percent by 2030, both to boost the supply of carbon-free energy and to create green-collar jobs.

As wind farms spread, local opposition to the massive towers (some over 400 ft tall) is appearing more and more. Residents not only oppose the turbines for aesthetic reasons, they also worry how wind farms will impact property values. Although research remains scant, wind farms appear have a minimal or at most transitory impact on real estate. To help you understand this topic, NAR has created a field guide which explores the current state of the industry, examines real estate-related research, provides wind maps and regulations to give an indication of where future projects might unfold, and gives resources for further study.

Posted on August 18 at 03:29 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)