Linkage and Whatnot

One Realtor who hates Freakonomics. He's all fired up over being compared to the Klan. Whatever, Buddy, you didn't see me freaking out when they made The Devil's Advocate.

Sick of going to open houses? Check out the Greek Fest this weekend instead. I'd tell you to go to the County Fair but this is opening weekend and with their "Deep-Fried-Everything-On-A-Stick" theme it'll be jam packed. Seriously, you should click on this link and type in "fried" to see all the fried food offered at the fair this year-- it's amazing. I've had the fried olives and they are spectacular but I'm really looking forward to fried Coke. The Deep Fried Elvis, on the other hand, scares me. But I'm sure E will try it.

The WSJ Real Estate Journal has an interesting piece on whether it's a good time to buy a house. (Hint: probably not.)

From the NYT, a couple who are bound to turn violent on each other: "... their entire one-bedroom apartment measures about 200 square feet, including the bathroom, the separate bedroom and the huge 19th-century fireplace that they occasionally use for roasting marshmallows."

Linkage and Whatnot

Check out Habitat for Humanities Re-Stores. You can be kind of green and you can be kind of good, all at once.

Best Rental Markets according to Forbes.com.

Dude actually sold his condo on Zillow ... the WSJ's Real Estate Journal says says he got over a million bucks too. I wondered if that ever worked.

Linkage and Whatnot

America's Top Ten Most Expensive Commutes, according to Forbes.com. While SoCal did not make this list, it did hold THREE OUT OF TEN spots on Forbes' Most Unhealthy Commutes list.

Learn how to low ball without offending at the WSJ's Real Estate Journal.

Give your new house that old look at Casa Sugar.

Rally in the Alley! In The Oaks asks you to volunteer for a Sherman Oaks beautification project.

Linkage and Whatnot

I HEART ROBERT SHILLER! And, I HEART FREAKONOMICS! Together at last! Oh be still my heart! Check out their blog post on the bubble.

"How ratings firms' calls fueled the subprime mess" on the WSJ's Real Estate Journal.

Countrywide facing bankruptcy? Holy cow. Check out the L.A. Times article.

Hunny child! Your Mama will be on TV tonight! I will definitely tune in to see the Real Estalker on VH1.

Linkage and Whatnot

13% for a jumbo loan? Whoa. Thanks to Reader Greg for the tip.

On L.A. Land today, Peter Viles highlighted this OC Register story about a sad street in Santa Ana that is hurting bad from sub-prime loans.

Read about tightened lending standards at Calculated Risk.

Tips for negotiating out of your home purchase contract from the WSJ's Real Estate Journal.

Celebrity sightings at Fashion Square Mall! From Timewaster. I once shared a table with Michael Douglas for an entire meal; I had not idea. I am officially the worst celebrity spotter ever. Well, I did see Kelly from The Office at Fred Segal last week. But only because she sort of stepped on my foot.

Linkage and Whatnot

I am not alone! According to Manhattan Beach Confidential, lots of buyers feel just like I do.

Only in Hollywood: Pigeon's are on the pill. Yes! That pill.

I've been seeing this a lot: neighboring sellers undercut each other in a pricing war.

Whenever I see exclamation points in an MLS description, it gets my hopes up about a buyer's market. And if this isn't an exclamation point incarnate, I don't know what is.

Linkage and Whatnot

How do McMansions affect a neighborood's value? Find out at the WSJ's Real Estate Journal.

According to Forbes.com, you can buy Paris Hilton's Hollywood Hills pad.

Check out the new Casey Serin on the block.

Linkage and Whatnot

I heart Beth Butler for writing honestly about mortgage fraud. Read it here.

I also heart Kathleen Madigan explaining, in plain English, why subprime lenders should not be bailed out.

The dual-agency question tackled by MeFites.

Celebrity neighbors here in the Valley.