We’re Taking the Sexy Back in Real Estate!

Today is the 29th-birthday of arguably the most successful boy-band graduate — Justin Timberlake – and in his honor, we’ll bring sexy back for the 173rd-edition of the Carnival of Real Estate. Okay, maybe we’ll leave sexy alone and simply give out the Carnival of Real Estate’s Boy Band Awards.

Real Estate goes to the boy bands in honor of Justin Timberlake's birthday. (photo from Are You a Beauty)

Justin Timberlake Award: “Looking for a Deal on a Foreclosure? Try Pittsburgh,” Zillow Blog, January 26, 2010. In honor of our birthday boy, this week’s winner gets the Justin Timberlake Award for being the best on the block! Too often when people think of Zillow all that comes to mind is the zestimate, but the work of Katie and her counterparts on the Zillow Blog is downright awesome. This article is yet another example as they provide great writing along with new content and even some new research.

Mark Wahlberg Award: “Reviewing the FOMC Statements and What It Means for Mortgage Rates,” The Mortgage Report, January 27, 2010. While, I’m not sure if Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch were a true boy band, but the truth is that Mark Wahlberg made a great transition into video. Similarly, Dan –still in his tie – takes us outside the traditional blog with a video entry that breaks down in “plain English” what a government document is reporting. I’m totally digging the video format for Dan.

“Title of the Song” Award Winner: “On your way home can you pick up a gallon of milk, a loaf of bread and a two-bedroom condo?” Twitter, January 28, 2010. “Title of the Song” is a boy band parody by the amazing a Capella group, Da Vinci’s Notebook. It goes to prove that when done with beautiful voices even a boy band can be made (sort of) cool. So when I first clicked on Dustin’s link it took me a second. I wasn’t sure what to think. But then, I saw T.Y.R.’s comment “sometimes the best blog posts make only one point and make it well.” And I realized he was perfectly correct. After years of writing, I love words and using them. Sometimes brevity is best and creativity is what I’m rewarding here with the “Title of the Song” award.

Boyband Award Winner: “Update: Lake Powell Pipeline,” The Lake Powell Real Estate Blog in Arizona and Utah, January 9, 2010. I love place-blogging and I’m honored to see Heather giving us an update on her local community, which is why she receives the first-ever Boyband Award (I feel pretty safe saying that). Boyband was a boy band created by a New Zealand radio station in 2006 that ended up with a No.1 hit, in New Zealand, on its remake of the Kink’s “You Really Got Me”. Boyband never made it big on the world stage, and Heather will never make it big on the national stage either — but then her blog isn’t speaking to me in Ohio is it? (Disclaimer: my Web site is a place-blog and I preach about the power of place-blogging during all my real estate education courses.)

Not to be outdone, we had numerous other entries but just like LFO or 98 Degrees they were just short of having truly lasting fame. So the best of the rest includes:

• “New Home Architecture as a Competitive Edge,” The Housing Chronicles, January 29, 2010. Patrick does a great job of introducing new award-winning trends in home architecture. My biggest issue with the article is that it has so much text and zero images. For someone that doesn’t know the areas he’s talking about some graphics – or links to graphics – would have been wonderful.
• “What is a Mortgage Partner,” First Rental Property, January 2010. Another very interesting post that gives some very good analysis and introduction for investors. Writing could have been a little tighter but solid overall.
• “The Anatomy of a Short Sale – Part IV,” the Arlington Dirt, January 19, 2010. Jennifer does a great job of connecting with her readers on what is going to happen if they hire her to do a short sale. Nice blog design, but still images would have spruced up this blog post.
• “Anti-Flipping Rule Good for Denver Investors???,” Call Denver Home Real Estate Blog, January 21, 2010. I don’t know that I agree with the article, but it is one of the sharpest looking blogs in the carnival.
• “How is Real Estate Valued?,” Planting Dollar$, January 22, 2010. The age-old question of how much is my house worth? Ryan gives the three traditional methods. Great basic information post. My suggestion would have been to use this as a mini-series — a post featuring each of the styles to keep the reader’s mind a little cleaner.
• “Blowing Up Bills With Baloons,” Banked on Homes for Sale, January 27, 2010. Interesting article that provides a basic idea with little analysis behind it.
• “7 Ways to Fix Your Credit After a Foreclosure,” My Dollar Plan, January 25, 2010. Jill provides a hand-ful of ideas on how to restore your credit after a foreclosure. Most of the points can be applied to anyone facing financial issues. A couple of little things on the article are that the numbering isn’t right on the points which was distracting.
• “The Two Facets of Buying and Renting,” Ezine Articles, January 20, 2010. Frank attempts to explain how renting and buying are different but I found the article tough to read and follow. Article did very little for me. It gives no rationale behind his statements and talks in circles.

Justin Timberlake, I hope that you got all that you want for your birthday … whatever it is that you could still want. And to this week’s entries and winners I say thank you for the chance to enjoy your blogs. I had a chance to take a walk down the back roads of the boy bands that make me really hopeful the ’90s music never returns — unlike the Carnival which will return next week because “Backstreet’s back, alright!”

Do you think your writing is better than those included? Well then submit your entry before 3 p.m. on Sunday for next week’s Carnival!! Would you like to be a future host of the Real Estate Carnival? Well click here to learn more!

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