A little over a month after filing an agreement in one of the ongoing buyer broker commission lawsuits, New England’s largest multiple listing service (MLS), MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN)’s attempt to settle the Nosalek case, has hit a snag.
Originally filed in December 2020, the Nosalek lawsuit alleges that the broker-owned MLS PIN is not directly required to abide by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) rules. However, it has nonetheless adopted a rule similar to an NAR rule requiring listing brokers to offer a blanket, unilateral offer of compensation to buyer brokers in order to submit a listing to MLS PIN, which has over 46,000 subscribers.
Nosalek is one of three ongoing class action lawsuits deal with buyer broker commissions. However, unlike Moehrl and Burnett, NAR is not named as a defendant.
Judge Patti Saris, the U.S. District Court judge in Boston presiding over the Nosalek case, expressed skepticism over the financial portion of the proposed agreement during a preliminary hearing to consider approval of the agreement on Wednesday.
“I’ve never seen a settlement agreement like this in my 30 years,” Saris said.
In the proposed agreement MLS PIN said it would pay $3 million, change its commission policies, and cooperate against the remaining defendants in the suit, which include Anywhere, RE/MAX, Keller Williams and HomeServices of America.
According to the proposed settlement, of the $3 million MLS PIN has agreed to pay in the settlement, up to $900,000 will go toward attorney’s fees, up to $200,000 will go toward expenses, $250,000 will go toward notifying settlement class members, and each of the three named lead plaintiffs will get up to $2,500 for being class representatives. The remaining $1.6425 million would be used to pay for further expenses for the litigation against the remaining defendants “for the benefit of Settlement Class Members,” according to the filing.
With this payment structure, class members in the case will not be getting any money from the settlement agreement, however the plaintiffs’ class-action attorneys, “get fully funded for expenses to date, and they basically get a litigation fund open-ended for the future for as long as it takes, which may be another three to five years,” Saris said.
Saris asked the Robert Izard, an attorney for the plaintiffs, if there was a way to give some of the $3 million paid by MLS PIN to class members. She said that this was the part of the settlement she is “struggling with.”
According to Izard, there are well over 300,000 class members and if the court awarded the plaintiffs’ attorneys their expenses to date, plan a 30% fee that would add up to between $1.5 million and $2 million, meaning that class members would get less than $5 each.
While Saris said she found the argument “persuasive,” she questioned why the settlement would cover plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees for dealing with all of the defendants and not just their costs for dealing with MLS PIN. In his response, Izard said it was unclear if there would be a way to fairly divide the time the plaintiffs attorneys spent with just MLS PIN.
Moving forward, Izard said the money would be held in an attorney trust account until his firm asked the court to approve the expenses at “an appropriate time.”
Saris said that she had never done something like that before, but said it was “very creative.” She also noted that she “loves” the proposed rule changes in the settlement, which would make the offering of compensation to buyer brokers optional. The changes are contingent on the settlement’s approval.
“I do love what you’ve accomplished,” Saris said. “I had problems with that [rule], so I denied the motion to dismiss and I think two other courts did as well.”
Saris added that she also “loves” the idea of ending the practice of requiring listing brokers to offer compensation to buyer brokers “so that at least it stops the damages. The other defendants might like that, too. It sort of caps it, if you will. I do think the rule change is important and congratulations. I’m just worried here about the fairness … of how you’ve structured it, which is the individual plaintiffs get no dollars.”
Instead of the proposed financial arrangement, Saris suggested that the plaintiffs’ attorney get paid some of their fees to date and take the rest of the money and put it in a pot. If the plaintiffs won the case, the post would grow and then it would be divided among the plaintiffs, and if the plaintiffs lost, the pot from the MLS PIN settlement would be what the plaintiffs received minus a “fair” attorney fee.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys have until September 5 to either redraft the settlement agreement or brief Saris on cases with similar settlements.
“I do ideally want to do this as quickly as possible because I actually think that the rule change is a good thing,” Saris said. “I don’t want to be the person who blows that up.”
This (tiny) piece of Boston history is up for sale.
It was built shortly after the Civil War, but no one knows for sure why.
According to Boston legend, a pair of brothers inherited the land from their father. When one left to serve in the military, the other built a large home that took up the majority of the property, leaving just a scrap left over. In retaliation, the returning brother built a tall, narrow home on the property anyway, blocking the light and view to his brothers house.
Whether that’s the true story or not, the house is certainly special. It’s 4 stories tall, but just over 10 feet at it’s widest point. That adds up to about 1,166 square feet, including in 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. It also comes with some great views of Boston Harbor and downtown. All that will cost you $895,000.
After years of competitive bidding wars and rising prices, a new study from Zillow shows it might finally be a good time to buy a home in many U.S. markets.
Zillow researchers looked at three factors to determine which of the largest U.S. housing markets are becoming more buyer-friendly and found that some previously prohibitively competitive markets – including Seattle and Las Vegas – have turned into the best places for buyers this winter.
The three buyer-boosting metrics Zillow considered are:
An increase in the share of listings with a price cut. Price cuts indicate homes are sitting on the market longer – which means more options for buyers, less competition for homes and more room for buyers to negotiate. Many recently white-hot markets have seen large jumps in the share of for-sale listings with a price cut.
Projected increase in rent appreciation over the next year. Rent appreciation has slowed recently, but as mortgage affordability deteriorates due to rising mortgage rates, rents could begin to increase again as some would-be buyers put their buying plans on hold. We know that nearly half of renters consider buying while they’re looking for a home,i and the potential of rising rents also factors in to when it’s a good time to buy.
Affordability relative to the past. We looked for markets where mortgage affordability is poor – but not worse than it was historically. With interest rates on the rise, and mortgage affordability already closing in on its historic norm, prepared buyers may want to enter the market before housing payments become historically unaffordable.
Based on those factors, Zillow found that the cities of Orlando, Boston, Seattle, Las Vegas, Charlotte, Columbus, Portland, Sacramento, Minneapolis and Dallas were the top ten markets for buyers this winter.
“The housing market always lets up a little in the fall, when kids are back in school and the home shopping season wraps up for the holidays,” said Zillow Senior Economist Aaron Terrazas.
“But this fall and winter are shaping up to be more favorable for those buyers who have struggled to get into the housing market for several years amid red-hot competition. Mortgage rates are rising, but will climb much further in 2019 and early 2020. As purchase affordability deteriorates, expect rents to pick back up as some would-be buyers put their plans on ice. Renters who were thinking of buying and decided to hold off may want to take another look this winter, as a steady clip of mortgage rate increases chips away at affordability and more homes become available on the market.”
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
The National Association of Realtor’s chief economist is optimistic that the real estate sector will continue to see stable growth, amid a strong economy.
Lawrence Yun’s remarks came during a talk at the Realtors Conference & Expo in Boston last week, where he added that in his opinion another recession seems unlikely in the short term due to the country’s sound economic fundamentals.
Yun also forecast around six million new and existing home sales by the end of this year, and slightly more in the next couple of years. The economist also believes home prices will continue to grow at a modest rate, around 4.7 percent in 2018, 3.1 percent in 2019 and 2.7 percent in 2020.
However Yun said these positive trends would only occur if homebuilders are able to keep up with demand by adding new inventory to the market. New homes are being added to the market at a rate of around 1.2 million per year, but that’s below the historical average and well off the 1.9 million homes that were built in 2004.
There are no signs of a housing bubble at least, Yun added. He said that even though home prices have been outpacing income for several years now, the overall economy in the U.S. is still fundamentally sound, that mortgage quality is high, and that due to the persisting inventory shortages in many markets, there is no danger of the overbuilding that preceded the Great Recession.
Some risks do exist though. Yun said the threat of a full scale trade war between the U.S. would hamper economic growth, and lead to higher interest rates for long-term debt instruments. If that happened, it’s likely a recession would occur, Yun said.
One piece of good news is that Realtors themselves can help do their bit by reminding their clients that the economy is still healthy and that all signs point towards positive home price increases. Yun said there’s little chance of a recession happening as inflation remains under control, and so any interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve will likely be moderate.
In other words, it’s a good time to buy a home, Yun said.
“All indications are prices will keep moving higher, and buyers who wait risk missing out on wealth gains,” he said.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
Stan Ponte started his real estate career as a leasing agent but was never one to shy away from new opportunities. When the opportunity to sell luxury real estate presented itself, he jumped on it. Now, 22 years later, Stan is one of New York City’s most successful luxury specialists, consistently ranking among Manhattan’s top agents by sales volume. He even has an active $79,000,000 five-story penthouse listing! On today’s podcast, Stan shares how he made a name for himself in luxury real estate and what it takes for a new agent to break into the luxury market. Don’t miss it!
Listen to today’s show and learn:
Stan’s start in real estate [1:47]
How to get into luxury real estate [3:13]
The story of how Stan almost helped Ed Burns buy an NYC loft [3:44]
The power of gifting [5:43]
How Stan got started as a luxury real estate agent [6:52]
Financial advice for new agents [9:45]
The trick to making great money in real estate [12:06]
Stan’s sales stats [15:14]
What’s unique about New York City’s real estate market [16:45]
Selling apartments in the aftermath of 9/11 [17:50]
When to take listings and when to work with buyers [19:23]
What qualifies as a luxury listing in New York City [20:21]
Advice on running a real estate business [21:18]
A tactical way to leverage your SOI for more business [24:36]
Stan’s opinion on outbound marketing [36:15]
The key to getting more referrals from other brokers [37:48]
Stan’s approach to contact communication [40:09]
One of the craziest luxury listings we’ve ever seen [43:38]
How to reach out to Stan Ponte [47:46]
What the NYC real estate market is like right now [48:55]
Stan Ponte
Stan Ponte is a Senior Global Real Estate Advisor and Associate Broker with Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage. He was named the #2 agent in Manhattan by sales volume for his work in 2020 according to “The Thousand” list, an annual national ranking by The Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends.
As a realtor in New York City for the past 21 years, Stan’s client list ranges from first time home buyers to CEOs, philanthropists, hedge fund managers, tech world innovators and entertainers. Stan’s success as a top performer in New York City’s white glove firms includes two years of management experience at a global real estate firm, where he honed his business development and agent services skills.
In addition to Stan’s resale activities, he is proud to have been chosen as co-director of sales to represent the Woolworth Tower Residences. “The opportunity to sell extraordinary homes in the most recognizable and beloved building in the world is one of the proudest moments of my career,” Stan says. To explore the Woolworth Tower Residences please visit thewoolworthtower.com.
Often called on as a keynote speaker or panelist, Stan is able to discuss his deep understanding of the global reach of Sotheby’s International Realty, bringing him to New Delhi, Hong Kong, Beijing, London, Boston, Stamford, Aspen, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Barcelona, Madrid and Washington D.C.
Stan is able to focus his time and energy on selling while his team manages the office and focuses on marketing; ensuring his clients receive the level of service and attention they deserve.
“Our tailored approach to marketing is something I look forward to sharing at my very first meeting with a seller,” Stan says. “We do our homework first. From the comparable market analysis to a carefully laid out print and e-marketing campaign, we target the buyers and brokers who are most likely to bring the highest price the market will bear.”
Stan is a proud member and co-founder of a referral group of agents in markets outside of New York City and encourages his clients to visit ourtrustednetwork.com if they are interested in being introduced to his trusted Sotheby’s International Realty colleagues who value professionalism, integrity and deep local market knowledge. “We treat our referrals for what they truly are, an extension of trust and an invitation to be added as a member of the client’s team of real estate advisors.”
A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Stan previously served on the Board of Directors of the Pre-War Condominium that he calls home and is a current board member and former President of The Drama League. He was one of the founding members of the successful Broker’s Build with Habitat for Humanity NYC and was recognized with their New Partnerships Award. Stan is a strong supporter of the Anti-Violence Project which awarded him in 2017 with their highest recognition, The Courage Award. In addition, Stan and his husband were honored to receive the 2020 Bailey House Rand Harlan Skolnick Social Responsibility Award. Stan also supports the Catskill Animal Sanctuary and the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University where he serves on the NYC Leadership Circle and served as a founding board member at the Bedford Playhouse. He may be the proudest, however, to serve as President of Legacy Ranch, a horse rescue rehabilitation and adoption facility founded by his mother.
“My commitment to my friends, family, and non-profit organizations, especially through the theater, is paramount to my sense of being a responsible and grateful citizen and a proud contributing member of the community.”
Related Links and Resources:
Thank You Rockstars! It might go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway: We really value listeners like you. We’re constantly working to improve the show, so why not leave us a review? If you love the content and can’t stand the thought of missing the nuggets our Rockstar guests share every week, please subscribe; it’ll get you instant access to our latest episodes and is the best way to support your favorite real estate podcast. Have questions? Suggestions? Want to say hi? Shoot me a message via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Email. -Aaron Amuchastegui
Do you remember the excitement of curling up in front of your TV for Saturday morning cartoons, or coming home from school to watch a show you’ve been waiting for all week? If you’re feeling nostalgic, look no further than this blog post. We’re talking about all the shows that were so good that we could watch every episode.
1. Wishbone
One Redditor posted, “Wishbone.”
Another replied, “PBS programming back then was [seriously great]! Watching Wishbone gave me an upper hand in my classical lit course at university. Ghost Writer was also really good!”
One user asked, “Wait? Disney got the licensing for Wishbone?”
One user added, “It was. I was technically ‘too old’ to watch Wishbone (I was in HS when it aired), but I’d watch it when I babysat my brother (who is six years younger than I am), and it was so… adorable. I felt a weird sense of pride that it was filmed in Allen, which was just a short drive (maybe an hour?) from where I grew up in Ft. Worth.”
One replied, “Loved that little dog so much!”
A user said, “I am 51, so I wasn’t exactly a kid when this was on, but I can sing every word of the theme song and own a small Wishbone stuffy.”
2. Batman: The Animated Series
One user shared “Batman: The Animated Series.”
One replied, “Consequently, Superman TAS, The New Batman Adventures, Teen Titans, and Justice League & JL Unlimited. The 90s-2000s DC animation run is one for the ages.”
Another responded, “Justice League was hands down the greatest comic-to-screen adaptation ever.”
“JL Unlimited was outstanding,” one Redditor commented.
One user shared, “90s-2000s DC animation run was great, and those shows, including BTAS, remain my favorites ever since my dad placed them on when I was younger and when they aired on tv.”
Another user replied, “Batman TAS used to come on at 4:30 PM where I lived on weekdays. I can’t tell you how happy and warm it made me to watch that show. It was an escape from a very stressful home. I watched it when I was 4-6ish yo, probably, like in ’93-’94 or so maybe.”
“You’re me, but much younger. I would have been 15 to 16—very stressful home. Batman TAS was a godsend some days,” one user concluded.
3. Batman Beyond
One user added, “AND BATMAN BEYOND.”
Another Redditor added, “Won’t ever argue with someone about BAS being the better one overall, but holy crap, Batman Beyond is still incredibly amazing, and people overlook it so much in favor of BAS. In the very same vein, obviously, Mask of the Phantasm is the better movie overall, but I can never get over just how INSANELY amazing Return of the Joker is. Tim Drake sob/laughing is one of the most full-body goosebumps and heart-wrenching scenes in animated history. And the whole final fight against the Joker was 100% perfect. Joker was losing his cool at fighting a Batman with a Spiderman-style ‘mouth.’”
Another user replied, “Lol yeah, Terry is pretty chatty for a Batman. He got more Bruce Wayne-ish later in the series, but he was still quippy.”
“I did a complete rewatch of this series about a year ago, and except for a couple of episodes here and there, it absolutely holds up,” one user added.
4. Are you Afraid of the Dark?
One user commented online, “Are you afraid of the dark?”
Another user replied, “Ahh, I loved that show!!! Same with Goosebumps, lol.”
“The episode where the girl is writing ‘help’ on the wall backward scared me a lot as a kid. I still think the imagery was quite haunting for a kid’s show,” one user replied.
Another Redditor added, “Pick the right door, and you’ll go free. Pick the wrong door, and [he’ll] be………”
One user shared, “I can only remember the episode where the one dude attempted to flirt with girls but later is revealed to be a ghost that only his sister could see.”
5. Count Duckula
One user commented on the thread, “Probably showing my age here, but there was a show in the UK back in the early 90s called Count Duckula. As a kid, it was enjoyable, but some of the jokes went over my head. ‘Your cousin lives in Spain, m’Lord. He’s sure to give us a warm welcome.’ ‘Oh, he’s a friendly kind of guy?’ ‘No, m’Lord, he’s a pyromaniac.’
Another user replied, “This is the one where he’s a duck vampire but only eats vegetables?”
One user replied, “They used to show this at 5 AM on Saturday morning in America when I was a kid, I still remember the song. ‘From the halls of Transylvania / There’s no one more insane. / Dun dun dun da da da / DUCKULA’ Well, I kind of remember it.”
6. Duck Tales
One Redditor commented, “Duck Tales(1987).”
Another user exclaimed, “OoOooh!”
One commenter replied, “‘Racecars, lasers, aeroplanes.’”
Another added, “‘It’s a duck-blur!’”
One user replied, “I can hear it in my head, lmao.”
7. Looney Tunes
“Looney Tunes. I still laugh off watching them,” one user posted.
One replied, “They are where most people my age (69) first heard classical music. The Boston Symphony Orchestra used to run an instrument petting zoo every year, and they played Looney Tunes cartoons in Symphony Hall non-stop all day.”
Another user stated, “The Indianapolis Symphony did a performance of “Bugs Bunny on Broadway. They showed the cartoons on a movie screen while the Symphony played the soundtrack! It was SO much fun.”
One user added, “My favorite all-time bugs bunny line is right after he finishes destroying a man’s bagpipes thinking they were the Loch Ness monster. ‘Well, he put up a good fight. But clean livin’ prevailed.’”
8. The Muppets
One user commented, “The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock.”
Another user replied, “The Muppets aren’t for kids. They’re for everybody.”
“Fraggle Rock was on HBO, wasn’t it? It was forbidden to all those who didn’t have a rich friend,” one commenter replied.
Another user commented, “LOVED the Muppet show! Statler and Waldorf were the bombs! Saturday morning cartoons were Hong Kong Phooey.”
One Redditor added, “The Swedish Chef herdy gurd gurd herdy bork bork!”
“And Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP…. we could do this all day because the whole show and all the characters are awesome!” another user said.
9. Gargoyles
One user shared, “Gargoyles.”
A user replied, “Did a rewatch when Disney+ started up. Very rewarding.”
One added, “Up until the boat episodes…it became such a slog around then.”
One user also added, “‘Avalon doesn’t take you where you want to go, AVALON SENDS YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO BE!’ Ugh that entire bit, like 20 [whole] episodes, is nothing but filler.”
10. Animaniacs
One Redditor posted, “‘Wheel of morality turn turn turn tells us the lesson we must learn.’”
Another replied, “‘If at first, you don’t succeed, blame it on your parents’ even as an adult that makes me giggle. Edit: and winning the trip to Tahiti.”
One commenter added, “‘Lake Titicaca, oh lake Titicaca, it’s between Bolivia and Peru. Lake Titicaca, yes lake Titicaca, with waters tranquil and blue. Lake Titicaca, oh lake Titicaca, why do we sing of its fame? Lake Titicaca, yes lake Titicaca: ’cause we really like saying it’s name! Titicaca!’”
11. The Magic School Bus
One user shared, “The Magic School Bus!”
Another added, “‘I knew I should have stayed home today!!’”
Another user replied, “‘With the Frizz??’”
One commenter exclaimed, “‘NO WAY! aaaaaaaAAAAAAA’.”
Another replied, “‘Cruising [on] down Main Street.’”
12. Teen Titans
One user shared, “Teen Titans.”
Another user replied, “The old one, not the new overly cartooned characters.”
Another responded, “I do believe that one’s called ‘Teen Titans Go’.”
One user commented, “I think I’m the only person who likes the original and Go.”
Another added, “Honestly, I like it too. It has its own charm. I just see them as alternate universe versions of the first show characters.”
One also commented, “They’re both great, for different reasons. The original for the stories and action. Go! For the comedy.”
Another user shared, “Just introduced my son to this. He was addicted to Teen Titans Go but now prefers this and wants to know why it changed lol.”
13. Recess
One user posted, “Recess.”
Another user replied, “The episode about stickers was making fun NFTs long before they were even a thing.”
One person responded, “That episode whomps.”
One user added, “This is literally the only show on TV at my house ever since it went up on Disney plus, it’s the best show in terms of nostalgia for me, but I believe no other show quite captures the mind of children better than it. All the rumours, the secrets, the relatable boredom, takes me back to my childhood with each episode!”
Another person stated, “I watched this as an adult and loved it. I’m constantly looking for the Ashleys in my workplaces, lol.”
14. Hey Arnold
One user commented, “Hey Arnold.”
Another poster wrote, “Watching it as an adult… it’s bittersweet because I watched it all the time as a kid but, man they really have some ‘hidden gems’ in there kid. I definitely didn’t understand.”
One commenter added, “The episode where the popular cool girl goes home and her dad is crying about eating their last can of soup is forever in my brain. And the episode where he teaches one of his adult neighbors to read. ‘LOOK I am petting the kitty!’”
Another replied, “Far too many real, legit situations in that show that were just casually thrown around and us kids just thought it was hilarious. I need to watch the show again at my own risk. I feel incredibly sad for Helga now that I’m older.”
15. Rocko’s Modern Life
One user shared “Rocko’s Modern Life.”
Another added, “I loved this show as a kid. As an adult, my thoughts are, this show is really weird and I can’t believe I watched it as a kid. I still love it lol. Similar to Ren and Stimpy.”
One Redditor responded, “Yes! This is my pick as well! It gets even better as an adult with all the innuendos!”
Another exclaimed, “‘Oh baby oh baby oh baby.’”
One user responded, “‘Rocko?!?!’”
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
It’s no secret that celebrities have said some wild and outrageous things—both on-screen and off. From ridiculous demands to understanding complicated topics, these famous people will make you shake your head in disbelief. Whether it was a misinformed statement or something downright silly, prepare to be amazed by what they had to say or did! So get ready for an entertaining read as we explore the dumbest statements uttered by our beloved stars of stage and screen.
1. Not Fake a Hate Crime
One user posted, “Jussie Smollett. Tracy Morgan said it best: ‘Yeah, they gave me a role on “Empire.” Contractually, they gave me millions of dollars. Contractually, all I gotta do is not fake a hate crime.’”
Another user replied, “Dave Chappelle’s bit about Jussie Smollett was pretty funny too. ‘The black community supported Jussie Smollett by keeping our mouths shut.’”
“This is the top one for me. It took so much careful planning and effort,” one commenter added.
2. If I Did It
One Redditor posted, “Making a book called ‘If I Did It’ after being acquitted of murder.”
Another user replied, “The family of OJs victims got the rights of the book and made the ‘if’ incredibly small.”
One commenter added, “Also, the forward they added is called ‘He Did It.’”
Another Redditor said, “Kids today will never understand what a BIG FREAKIN’ DEAL the whole OJ thing was, from the car chase to the trial. So really, if it weren’t for OJ, we wouldn’t have The Kardashians.”
One user explained, “OJ was one of those athletes who managed to cross over to pop culture. He was on TV often between his acting and product endorsements. In addition to being considered one of the best football players, he had a squeaky-clean image. The closest parallel I can draw today is if Peyton Manning killed his wife and went on a police chase. Of course, there probably wouldn’t be a racial component as there was with OJ, but as far as images are concerned, OJ and Manning would be similar.”
3. Joining Scientology
One user posted, “Joining Scientology, promoting it, and defending it.”
Another user replied, “Just look at Danny Masterson, they tried to cover up his [sexual] scandal, and thankfully he was convicted.”
4. Performing an Ukulele Apology
“Playing the ukulele to ‘apologize’ for being creepy to kids you met on the internet,” one Redditor posted.
Another user commented, “There’s no quicker way to make people think you’re diddling kids than writing a song about it!”
One commenter responded, “I saw a meme about it today, and it was like ‘Common playing in A minor got you in this situation in the first place’ and I was crying laughing.”
5. Trying to Bring a Controlled Substance On an Airplane
Another user added, “Former NBA player Damon Stoudamire tried to get over 1 ounce of [drugs] onto an airplane, but got caught at the metal detectors because he wrapped it in Aluminum Foil.”
One user asked, “Is that what happened to him?! I was wondering why he just got up and disappeared.”
“He’s the head coach of Georgia Tech,” one Redditor answered.
6. Being Bill Cosby
A Redditor shared, “Bill Cosby for being Bill Cosby. Millions adored this man as the father figure they always wanted. Until he wasn’t the father figure anyone wanted.”
One replied, “This one hurt severely. The public loved him. He had great stand-up routines and tv shows. I got to see him perform once.
“Then, Boom. It turns out he’s [sexually assaulted and] drugged women. Ugh.”
Another user added, “It was absolutely heartbreaking. I watched every episode of The Cosby Show, some more than once. It made me feel good; happy memories; everything was okay. Until it wasn’t.”
7. The Streisand Effect
“Barbra Streisand created Streisand effect. She didn’t want her home to be known on the internet, so she did everything in her power to remove pictures and addresses but wasn’t successful, and in return, her home became a hot topic,” one user added.
One user replied, “It seems dumb today, but the internet was pretty new and kind of unknown to most people. I imagine this was thought the same way as going after a tabloid. But instead, we witnessed an entirely new phenomenon.”
Another user added, “The funny thing was, prior to her lawsuit, the picture featuring her house had been viewed five times. Presumably, one of those was Streisand herself, and another was her lawyer. IIRC, the offending picture was part of a project to photograph the entirety of the California coastline. So thousands of images. One of which happened to show the back of her house. There was nothing in the picture that identified the house as hers.”
8. Antonio Brown Incidents
One user posted, “Here’s a list of Antonio Brown incidents from another thread. He could have legit been a potential Hall Of Fame player, as he was arguably one of the best WRs in the NFL. Then… he took crazy to a level that makes Kanye look sane. The dude has a lot more time to add some stupid [things] to it, but here goes:
“Edit: The newest is buying an Arena Football Team to be an owner/player then not paying league dues… currently the target of a class-action lawsuit for withholding paychecks to players as well.
“•Kicked out of Florida International University after fighting a security guard…
“• His second year in the league, he took a personal stretch limo to a charity event, had them open every single expensive bottle of wine, and rejected it. They refused to pay for it (charity, remember), then left. -credit Nduguu77…
• Trashed a condo and threw furniture out a window 14th-floor window, which almost hit some people, notably a child…
“• Threw a fit over Juju winning team MVP and trashed him on social media…
“• Held out and refused to show up to training camp because the NFL would not approve his helmet because it was too old for their safety standards…
“• Got fined by the Raiders for not attending camp…
“• Tried to fight Mike Mayock, called him a cracker, had to be held back by Vontaze Burfict, then punted a football down the practice field and said, ‘Fine me for that.’ [He was fined.]…
“• Released a video where he used audio of Jon Gruden, who didn’t know he was being recorded, which is illegal in California (full disclosure, Gruden has said he gave permission, but the generally accepted theory is that he said that in the hope that it would help get him to show up to the facility and not alienate him.)
“• Demanded a release from the Raiders…
“• Made a lot of crazy tweets saying stuff like ‘Devil is a lie,’ a proverb about burning down a village… he made a lot of crazy tweets around this time is the point here…
“• Signed with the Patriots…
“• The sexual assault allegations came out (the one where he’s getting sued)
“• The sexual harassment allegations came out (the one where he’s not getting sued)
“• Threatened the woman not suing him in a group text that included his lawyer and had a picture of her kids in the text
“• Got released by the Patriots after one week
“• Went off on a tweet storm and said a lot of crazy [things] about a lot of people, and was supportive of people sending threats to the writer of the article detailing the sexual harassment allegations
“• Said he was done with the NFL
“• Went back to college via online classes
“• Tried to outsource his homework to Twitter
“• Wants to come back to the NFL
“• Filed several grievances to try and get more than $40 million from the Raiders and Patriots…
“• Tweeted a couple of bizarre tweets about the Raiders using him for HBO ratings and the Patriots trying to steal his stuff and kept using this weird chicken-based metaphor
“• Tried out for the Saints and brought an entourage and film crew to shoot a music video with him when specifically told not to do that…
“• Tweeted ‘No more white woman 2020.’…
“• Used a bunch of slurs and profane language toward cops in an Instagram video he posted
“• A police youth football league cut ties with him and returned a donation after the release of the video saying there was an ‘irreparable rift’ between the department and AB…
“• Was involved in a dispute with movers at his home, where he allegedly threw rocks at the movers and moving vans. He is currently being investigated for battery by the police…
“• Warrant issued for the arrest of AB…
“• Rumors spread about AB signing with Tampa or Seattle
“• AB announces his retirement (for what I believe is the third time, it’s hard to find a good record of the rest of them.) Two days later, AB wants to play again and is asking for the league to wrap up its investigation
“• The NFL announces an eight-game suspension for AB… under investigation for the bike-throwing incident
“• Allegedly acquired fake covid-19 card. Confirmed to have acquired a fake covid-19 card and subsequently suspended for three games
“• Removed jerseys and pads and threw them in the stands before exiting the game verse the Jets. Was subsequently cut from the Bucs for stripping on the field…”
9. Praising Nazi Germany
“Losing a billion-dollar shoe deal b/c he couldn’t stop talking about how much he loves Hitler,” one user added.
Another user replied, “When Alex Jones is trying to reign you in, you know you’re spouting some crazy [things].”
One commenter shared, “That was such a bizarre interview. Alex REPEATEDLY gave him outs like, ‘As a fashion designer, surely you just appreciated their uniforms, RIGHT?’ And Kanye pretty much says, ‘Nah, I just like Hitler, man.’ Wtf?”
10. Staging a Hate Crime
One user answered, “[Jussie Smollet] is a contender, although many choices exist. He stages a hate crime to gain leverage in contract negotiations… He hires meatheads to do the deed and pays them with a check. Of course, he lied the whole time, then the video turns up, and the DA figures it out.
“But being famous, he pulls strings and escapes prosecution for making a false claim. THEN…the political tide shifts, and he runs his mouth and refuses to reimburse the county for the cost of the investigation. And so the new DA says f- it and prosecutes him, and he gets convicted because he was obviously guilty.”
11. Posting a Video of Violent Death
“Logan Paul posted a full YouTube video of someone hanging in a forest,” one user posted.
Another user commented, “Well, his whole family seems like crap, so no surprise he’s a huge [jerk].”
One Redditor added, “Even worse was that he was in Aokigahara, the ‘suicide forest’ in Japan. It’s unclear why that forest is such a popular place for people to un-alive themselves, but to revel in such a horrible event for internet fame is despicable.”
12. Saying You Could Have Saved Flight 11
One user posted, “Mark Wahlberg saying if he had been on flight 11 (like he was supposed to), it wouldn’t have crashed because he would have killed the terrorists then figured out how to land the plane.”
Another user replied, “So he said what every person in Boston says daily.”
13. Debating Word Definitions
One user shared, “That time Jennifer Garner corrected Conan O’Brien on the word snuck is one of my favorites. The fact that she throws in the bit about him going to Harvard makes it extra delicious.”
Another user replied, “His laugh when pulling out the dictionary to prove her wrong lives in my mind rent-free.”
14. Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop
“Gwenyth Paltrow and everything she promotes. Here’s a tea made with echinacea, random plants I got from cutting my yard. I stirred it with my [privates]. It’ll cure ED, lung cancer, whatever. Now available at Goop,” posted one user.
Another user replied, “Doesn’t everyone want a $100 candle that smells like my [body]..?”
15. A Math Called Terryology
One user posted, “Terrance Howard ‘invented’ his own math called Terryology.”
Another user replied, “‘How can it equal one?’ he said. ‘If one [times] one equals one, that means that two is of no value because one [times] itself has no effect. One [times] one equals two because the square root of four is two, so what’s the square root of two? Should be one, but we’re told it’s two, and that cannot be.’”
Do you agree with the statements listed above? Share your thoughts!
Source: Reddit.
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The luxury real estate horizon looks bright for a few counties in Florida despite a slowing sales forecast for the state overall. Interest from prospective home buyers from America’s Northeast is aimed at both Collier and Sarasota, two of the nation’s fastest-growing luxury housing price markets. These areas, along with interest in Jacksonville and a new projects across the state, are bright spots in a sagging Florida luxury market.
According to the May 2018 Luxury Home Index from realtor.com®,
interest from buyers in New York, Boston, and Chicago boosted Sarasota (North
Port) and Collier (East Naples) price growth of 19 and 14 percent respectively.
In that report, even Fort Lauderdale, which ranked 19th on the national list,
showed a 9% uptick in sales prices. Javier Vivas, director of economic research
for realtor.com® offered this comment in a press release:
“Luxury prices in the Sunshine State are rising quickly as buyers from places like New York, Boston, and Chicago get wind that there is a better bang for their buck available down South. Meanwhile, we are seeing signs of a luxury market glut in many established markets, which is in some cases leading to spillover demand for their less pricey neighbors.”
Luxury properties in the news in Sarasota have helped peak interest in the area. An instance that comes to mind was the recent announcement that the one of America’s most talked about restaurants, the Beach Bistro opening at the luxurious BLVD Sarasota (feature image) beginning of 2020 put an exclamation point on one of the city’s most exciting new developments. Remaining BLVD residences range from 3,550 to 5,500 square feet and are listed starting at $1.9 million.
The boost to Collier County sales prices was helped by big home sales in Naples where one
sale came in at a record $48.8 million. Naples’ 34102 ZIP code ranked is the
15th richest in America according to a recent report by Bloomberg. The recent
sale of a Port Royal beachfront mansion of 9,394 square feet that originally
listed for $60.9 million dollars, obviously did nothing to lower the areas
ranking.
Amazing new luxury developments dot the state and draw attention from high net worth investors, even as the market trends toward oversupply. One that comes to mind is the Waterfall Condominiums going up at Jax Beach. This eight-floor complex of 42 residences will have two fantastic penthouses on the top level, and range in size from 2,721 to 3,077 square feet. Expansive terraces will offer unmatched beach views listed by the Hanley Home Team at about $1.3 million on average.
An interesting aspect for these luxury residences is the fact new height restrictions have now limited beachside properties to no more than three stories tall. But, the beach property on which the condos will be built, at 14th Avenue South and 1st Street South, was grandfathered in, allowing for a high-rise residential structure. This brings up another important variable for all Florida luxury properties. Once the growth in new development sinks (and this is inevitable), the exclusivity of these properties will rise accordingly. Short story, prices will probably skyrocket.
Finally, “one of” luxury properties all across the Sunshine State help prop up high-end property prices. An example here is the so-called “Victory House” (above) that sits on 200 fabulous bayfront acres overlooking St. Petersburg and downtown Tampa Bay. This amazing property has its own private beach and has hurricane-proof doors and windows throughout. The six-bedroom, six-bath house is on a 13-acre parcel that includes about seven acres of uplands and the canals, a place where the owner will never have neighbors. Listed at $18 million, the mansion named for Nasr “Vic” Abuoleim is but one example of hundreds of similarly “exclusive” properties in the state.
A wonderful friend
of my father’s who was a land developer, he had this saying that has never
failed me. “Always buy land, they don’t
make any more of it,” he’d say. In
the case of Florida property, the more expansive the market gets, the more
“land” becomes a luxury. My bet is on prices rising in the mid-term to long.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.
RealtyTrac has released a new report that identifies potential bubble markets based upon three early warning signs.
There has been increased fear of another housing bubble for a while now, with some markets already identified as bubbles and others supposedly suffering from an affordability crisis.
Signs of a possible housing bubble include the following:
– A market that was less affordable in October 2014 than its peak price during the previous bubble between 2005 and 2008 – A market that was less affordable in October 2014 compared to its historical average since 2000 – A market with a rising foreclosure rate on loans originated this year compared to last year
Overall, the price of a median-priced home required 26% of median income in October in 475 counties nationwide.
This compares to a historical average of 28% going back to January 2000, and is still well below the 41% average seen in each county’s peak month during the most recent housing bubble.
In fact, just six counties were deemed less affordable in October than during their peak between 2005 and 2008, thanks in part to higher incomes and low mortgage rates.
The short list includes Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Travis County, Texas, Jefferson County, Alabama, Brazos County, Texas, Allegan County, Michigan, and Montgomery County, Tennessee.
These counties correspond to the metro areas of Boston, Austin, Birmingham, College Station, Grand Rapids, and Clarksville.
However, 21% of counties nationwide are now less affordable than their historic averages, including hot spots like Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, Dallas, San Antonio, and even parts of Detroit.
Meanwhile, 37% of counties are reporting rising foreclosure rates on loans originated this year compared to last, including places like Chicago, San Diego, Brooklyn, Miami, Las Vegas, and Seattle.
And six percent (30%) of counties are both unaffordable by historic measures and experiencing rising foreclosure rates on recent loans.
This combined problem list includes places like the San Francisco metro area, Suffolk County, Orange County, Honolulu, Denver, the St. George, Utah metro area, and the Bend, Oregon metro area.
RealtyTrac vice president Daren Blomquist noted in the report that affordability and foreclosure rate by loan vintage are key metrics that help determine if a certain market is at risk of another pricing bubble.
He added that about 20% of markets have now surpassed their historical affordability norms, a “strong sign” that a bubble is forming or that appreciation will soon plateau until wages have a chance to catch up.
The fact that foreclosure rates are rising on new loans could be an indication that affordability is once again a concern as buyers stretch themselves too thin.
12% of Counties Have Reached New Home Price Peaks
In October, a total of 58 counties had higher median home prices than their prior peaks seen in 2005 to 2008.
The usual suspects made this list too, including San Fran, New York, Boston, and Denver, along with Charlotte, Raleigh, and Buffalo.
However, low interest rates are keeping homes in these highly sought-after areas affordable. But if rates rise and home prices continue to climb, the story could change in a hurry.
But nearly half (48%) of counties nationwide are still historically affordable and experiencing flat or declining foreclosure rates. So the whole nation isn’t yet at risk of another housing bubble.
The most affordable regions include Lansing, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Buffalo.
There’s clearly some divergence in terms of affordability and home price peaks. Put another way, some areas of the country are experiencing new all-time highs but are still historically affordable.
The concerning thing is the unaffordable places, especially at a time when interest rates have never been lower. It doesn’t bode well for them or those at new highs, unless interest rates stay low forever.
Read more: When will the next housing crash take place?
Saudi Arabia said Thursday it will extend its unilateral production cut of 1 million barrels of oil a day through the end of September in its effort to boost flagging energy prices, a move that could push U.S. gas prices higher.
The Saudi reduction, which began in July, comes as the other OPEC+ producers have agreed to extend earlier production cuts through next year.
The national average for U.S. gas prices stood at about $3.82 a gallon on Tuesday — about 30 cents higher than a month ago, according to motor club AAA. While today’s prices at the pump remain far lower than they were last year, when energy costs soared worldwide in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts say such a jump is unusual.
The kingdom announced the extension in a statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency, quoting an anonymous official in the Energy Ministry. The official added that the cut “can be extended or deepened” if the need arises.
Mortgage rates tick higher
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose again this week, bad news for Americans seeking to upgrade or buy their first home.
The average rate on the 30-year home mortgage rate ticked up to 6.90% this week from 6.81% a week ago. A year ago, the benchmark home loan rate stood at 4.99%, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday.
The average rate on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with those refinancing their homes, climbed to 6.25% from 6.11% last week. A year ago, it was 4.26%.
High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already overpriced for many Americans.
High inflation has driven the Federal Reserve to raise its benchmark interest rate 11 times since March 2022. Its fed funds rate has hit the highest level in 22 years.