After participating in many carnivals in the past, I’m excited to be hosting my first – this week’s edition of the Carnival of Real Estate. It seems that many of the real estate bloggers were busy stuffing themselves with turkey this week — there were not many submissions to the carnival, which is sad because I’ve read tons of great posts this week on the various real estate blogs.
I wanted to focus on real estate articles that are intended for real people, not just other bloggers. Sadly, there were not too many to pick from. Is it that most of the real estate bloggers are just writing to one another, or have we all run out of good material and information to share with the rest of the “outside world”?
Here are my top 4 posts:
- Todd Waller offers his Eight Reasons to List During the Holidays instead of waiting to list in the spring.
- Silicon Valley Blogger shares his insight with Don’t Let Real Estate Clean You Out, a look at some of the signs of a peaking California real estate market.
- Chris Cranny teaches us a great lesson about Subdividing land.
- Teresa Boardman’s Common Walls, Common air? gives some good suggestions for residents of townhomes and other properties for dealing with smokers.
If I could, I’d mention other blogs that have great lessons to share, but that would be breaking the rules. I would like to thank everyone who submitted articles for this weeks edition, even those people’s articles I didn’t pick. Most were very good, but they were not targeted to the readers of this week’s edition.
Stay tuned for next week’s carnival which will be posted on December 4th at the Property Monger.
Article Author:
Joshua DorkinJoshua has written 540 articles for us.
Visit Joshua's Website: http://www.biggerpockets.com/
BiggerPockets.com was founded by Joshua Reed Dorkin in August 2004. An entrepreneur, web designer, real estate investor, and one-time realtor, Joshua was not satisfied by the online offerings of other real estate sites out there, and decided to build one himself. Mr. Dorkin's vision for BiggerPockets has helped to propel it into becoming one of the top real estate destinations online. His vision for the site and its future has brought national press attention to both Mr. Dorkin and to BiggerPockets.
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I would like to enter more carnivals but my content is focused on real estate on a very local level so it does not work. Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity. I beleive that real estate is local and that my readers are more interested in real estate than they are in REALTORS or in technology.
Congrats to all the winners. Excellent selections all.
Joshua,
Well, thank you! I appreciate the nod.
Now to find my tux and the champagne…
Joshua-
Great work with this edition of the carnival. I think bloggers naturally get sucked into the “blogosphere,” so this is a good friendly reminder to write more content that is relevant to those non-bloggers.
Being on the other side of real estate as a homeowner (for now, but hopefully it’ll change one day), I appreciate all the great posts this carnival brings, as well as the chance to be part of it. I’m hoping that the other bloggers you mentioned will submit their nuggets in the coming weeks.
Thanks for the support everyone. I actually expected to be reamed by some people, but I’m glad I stayed true to my beliefs. I think people sometimes forget who their audience is. I believe that the Carnival of Real Estate was designed for bloggers interested in sharing real estate information. Maybe there should be a carnival of Real Estate and another carnival for Real Estate blogging or for real estate professionals.
I think having two separate carnivals would help to clear up some confusion. If I were just a regular Joe who came upon the CoRE, I’d likely not come back because it normally doesn’t focus on what I want to read about. If it were more focused, I think the carnival would see a broader readership for its initial target audience.
Thanks for picking my blog! I agree with you about the whole audience thing and I would also suggest there be two separate carnivals as well since that is something I noticed too: there seems to be a divide between real estate blogs that actually give the reader real-world examples, focusing specifically on analyzing real estate from an investment perspective and those that focus on blogging itself or on being a real estate professional.
Great carnival, thanks!
It’s always a good reminder to focus on the customer. That said, I don’t agree that this carnival should be split in two — on that, I posted a response to your comments on the carnival’s MBL profile page …
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/carnivalofrealestate/
David –
Thanks for your comments. I read your thoughts on the carnival and I respectfully disagree. What harm would it bring to have a carnival focused on the real estate “consumer” – people interested in reading about real estate, and one for professionals focused on blogging and technology?
Doing so would, as you say, be “a good reminder to focus on the customer.”
You argue that the carnival’s core audience is interested in “the intersection of technology and real estate.” Then what harm would come of a carnival of real estate for the average blog reader interested in “real” real estate information? Like you said – every host personalizes the carnival. I’ve been excluded from several carnivals in lieu of other blogs focused on tech, as I’m sure have other bloggers. Since it seems that there are two distinct audiences, it is only more logical to change things.
Since you control the carnival, it appears as though you’ve got the final word here.
Other thoughts anyone?
Joshua,
Drew Meyers administers the CoRE but any permanent changes should be by consensus of all/most of the hosts. I don’t want the final word and this discussion is very useful, thank you. Drew had a bright idea to add more categories to the CoRE submission form, which we’re trying to figure out and which should help hosts group like submissions.
I guess my personal feedback is that I like my carnival in multiple acts — maybe that’s just me but I enjoy both the consumer-facing and the industry-insider posts. The carnival format actually does a great job of leaving it up to the reader to decide what posts interest them once the host has filtered submissions for quality. Readers only click through to articles they’re interested in — that’s why the carnival includes a brief synopsis of each post.
What I’ve seen some carnivals’ hosts do is group posts into categories by theme — an approach I’d recommend for future hosts who also find strong themes in their week’s submissions.
I don’t see why the carnival would benefit from being split at this point. When the CoRE becomes too big, it may make sense but I don’t think we’re there yet and would hate to see it divided up to the point that it looses momentum. That said, the CoRE has inspired a few other real estate carnivals that are more narrowly focused.
PS – while we wait for more feedback (hint hint), note that Greg Swann has a post that touches on this topic:
http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=697#comments
It would be extremely helpful if we can centralize all discussion/debate regarding improvements to the carnival. Currently, I think the CoRE mybloglog page is the best way to do this- http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/carnivalofrealestate/.
I really like this blog. Keep up the good work…
Can anyone direct me to a good information source that covers the income tax implications of real estate auctions?
Anwar Khan Auctions
Very informative and interesting. Like the “carival” real estate info
I had to laugh when I read “Don’t Let Real Estate Clean You Out”
Hi Joshua,
I nice that someone else (you) can spend time to filter out good reads from bad. Thanks.
Where do I go to find out more? Does the IRS.gov site have more information on this?
I love to read any information about real estate. Thanks a bunch.
As I own a investment property this was a great post. Thanks so much for the tips, especially the holiday one….
Johan
http://www.flickurpic.com
Very useful information, keep them coming please.. would like more tips and stufff
Good information all around although the Subdividing land article is no longer available. Thanks for the info!
I’m not 100% convinced that selling in the holiday period is such a great idea but the article did put some good arguements forward.
Happy to have found your site. Always looking for some good insights on Real Estate!
Barbaron Luxurious Residences, St. Maarten
http://www.barbaronsxm.com
Live the Caribbean dream. Luxurious, furnished ocean front condos
Rent it out when you’re not there
I enjoy reading anything on real estate. A very interesting market we have now a days.
Great blog. I have linked to your website as I believe my blog readers will get great value from it.
Here’s a great resource for real estate investors that is a definite must read. Lots of great articles and exclusive info and tips you will find now where else and its all free:
http://bestbraindrain.com/categories/Real%20Estate.aspx
E.D.
We decided to list our home throught the holidays and see what happens. Real estate here is just so flat, im not sure what will happen
Listing is good in holidays as people have some time to browse for the right property together, free of work restrictions.
Happy to have found your site. Always looking for some good insights on Real Estate!
Kristy Petrillo
http://www.GeorgiaMountains.com
Live the North Georgia mountain dream. Mountain views, river front and Lake Blue Ridge homes and land. Rent it out when you’re not there.
Hi Josh,
Good reads. I particulary liked the article on Subdividing Land.
Joshua Dorkin, Friend, Good like with your projects “Carnival of Real Estate”
Sure, during the holiday period people have a lot more time to seriously consider buying or moving, but this is off-set by the fact that there are a lot of people who go away during the holiday period. I find things are generally quieter during holiday periods.
Does any one have ideas on how to get your web site ranking better
A lot of people are just too busy with their daily lives to have time to seriously consider buying a new home, so for many the holiday period is the best time to consider doing this.
Excellent I really like this real estate blog, Keep up the great work! Make sure you don’t get cleaned out!
Anthony Brunetti
Real Estate Postcards
http://www.postalrealtor.com/
Great blog, i love this site!
very interesting info , Keep up the good work…
This is a great real estate blog, thanks!
Really great, I think that tis real estate resours
Nice site and good views on real estate.
Very interesting site, would love to have more info about selling during the holidays, pros and cons.
Thank you
A lot of the properties that I sell are holiday homes, so listing during the holiday period is key for me.
Goods…..a lot of information is here…….no more to search
tks a lot
Great carnival.. and very useful information, thanks
Josh, great info and reminder to blog and blog for your customers and future clients. Establishing yourself as a good source of information will keep people coming back to your site and blog.
Great site you have here..very informative post you have here.