WalkScore.com is a website for determining how easy (or hard) it is to live a car-lite lifestyle in a neighborhood. WalkScore calculates the walkability by measuring the distance to stores, restaurants, schools, parks and other neighborhood amenities and ranks them from a low of 'driving only' to a high of 'walkers' paradise'.

The site acknowledges there are certain limitations to its data. First they use Google Maps as their base and there are known errors, both in terms of streets and business addresses. Also distance is calculated 'as the crow flies'. If the nearest store is across the lake, WalkScore assumes you will be swimming. And just because you can walk doesn't mean you should - WalkScore doesn't look at crime or the availability of sidewalks or pedestrian friendly crossings.

Recently the site measured Seattle neighborhoods and came up with a walkability map of the city. For fun you can also see the walkability score of celebrity houses from around the country, including the Brady Bunch house in North Hollywood.

Posted on June 24 at 10:16 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (1)

According to a study by the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement Texas has become the second most popular retirement destination behind Florida, up from fourth place as late as 2000. And while Florida continues to far outpace other states, the percentage of retirees heading there has declined steadily over the last 30 years, from a high of 26.3% of all retiree migration in 1980 to its current 16.61% rate. Arizona, California, and Georgia round out the top five states.

And while the above numbers look at in-migration only, when you look at net migration - the total number coming AND leaving the rankings shift a bit: Florida, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee and Georgia make up the top five.

Posted on June 24 at 09:31 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

The Virtual Library eBooks Collection features over a thousand real estate, business, and personal growth titles and is made available exclusively for REALTOR® members and board staff. An average of 1300 eBooks, videos, and audio books are downloaded each month. If you use this collection -- or are interested in using the eBooks collection -- NAR's Information Central wants to hear from you at eReviews, a new companion website of the Virtual Library eBooks Collection.

Which eBooks have you found most helpful? Which were duds? Let us -- and your fellow REALTORS® -- know! Go to eReviews.realtor.org to rate featured titles, share feedback, submit reviews, make title recommendations, chat with an information specialist, take polls, and more.

Recently reviewed staff picks include: Financial Freedom by Suze Orman (audio format) -- 7 Steps to Fearless Speaking by Lilyan Wilder (audio format) -- The Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Business Plan and Making it Work by Brian B. Brown (Adobe format).

Posted on June 20 at 10:45 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Attend an open house in Tiburon, California last week, and you might have received a bottle of chardonnay. REALTORS® and agents are giving away unique gifts at open houses to attract buyers--gas cards, gallons of ice cream, shoeshines,
vodka tastings, free dog biscuits and spa coupons. "In this housing market, volume is really off; there's limited demand," says Mark McLaughlin, a Realtor with Morgan Lane, who is representing the home and gave out the wine. "We had a team meeting and came up with this and said, 'Why not give it a try?' It's a really nice bottle of wine. It's to keep the house in the top of their mind."

Posted on June 9 at 12:31 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

Vacant homes can decrease property values in the neighborhood. "The Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit research group, estimates that a home's value is reduced by about 1% for every home that is foreclosed on or sits vacant in the neighborhood." Problems arise when strangers enter the house at all hours, and a vacant house fire is a threat to life and property in the area. The writer and her husband are attempting to make the house safe yet uninviting to predators.

Posted on June 3 at 03:48 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)