Seaport Real Estate Services Blog - SeaPort Real Estate Group

Zillow Group - A Catalyst for Change

Posted by Tim Bray on February 21st, 2015

It may be time to push the chair back from the table and stand up to the behemoth before us.  We as real estate professionals should not be threatened or scared of the paradigm shift that is currently taking place in the industry. We must embrace change and be nimble. There is an opportunity for the Brokers in this country to come together as one. An opportunity to create a portal that will enable the real estate industry to grow and thrive indefinitely.

Let’s back up a few years and look at Zillow’s business model. Zillow proposed to add value to the consumer by offering a Zestimate.  The Zestimate made the consumer flock to www.zillow.com .  The consumer felt that they now had a tool offered by a disinterested third party that made the Appraiser…

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Now is the Time

Posted by Tim Bray on January 22nd, 2015

Despite our typical beliefs, now is the time to place your property on the market. Consumer confidence is as high as we have seen in the past decade due to low interest rates and historically low gas prices. 

The abnormally high number of sales in the lower price ranges will be having a ripple effect throughout higher price ranges in the  months to come. 

View our latest video on this topic below or https://youtu.be/DSE3NZLBmQw

 

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Truth about the 2013 Real Estate Tax of 3.8%

Posted by Tim Bray on February 17th, 2013

To start, I must say that I am not a tax professional or an attorney. In fact, I have no desire to be involved in either of these professions (though I respect them) and urge you to seek counsel from someone other than a real estate professional writing a blog post.

First of all, it is not a sales tax nor does it impose any transfer tax or recordation tax. It is called a “Medicare Tax” because the money received will be allocated to the Medicare Trust Fund, which is part of the Social Security System. This tax will not affect everyone and in fact will impact a very small percentage of people selling.

People are confused for good reason.  The actual legislation will make your head spin…take a look.

SEC. 1411. IMPOSITION OF TAX.
(a) IN…

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