The 1850 Condo Auction & Twitter

By Anthony Longo 4 06 2009

Ok - call me crazy - but we are going to try a little something here.  By now you have all heard about the new upcoming condo auction (loft auction) in Boston’s South End - The 1850.  It is definitely an unfortunate time for any current homeowners in the building (who didn’t buy right) but is a very exciting time for the newcomers who will be snagging a brand new South End loft at discounted prices!

So last night I was out with a good friend of mine for a little “going away” party as he just got a great opportunity to head up biz dev for the API group at Twitter.  (You can follow him @rsarver)  To make this long-story, short - he got my wheels turning and today I am going to try a little experiment.

WE ARE OFFERING A BONUS OF $1,000 ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR CUSTOMARY CASH BACK REFUND TO ANY PERSON WHO CONTACTS US THROUGH TWITTER VIA A RE-Tweet or @reply AND PURCHASES AN AUCTION UNIT AT THE 1850 THROUGH CONDODOMAIN.

How do you do this?

Just at reply or RT (Retweet) @CondoDomain the following make sure to let me know @tonylongo as well:

RT - The $1,000 CondoDomain/Twitter Experiment: Reply or RT us to get additional $1,000 at The 1850 Loft Auction: http://tinyurl.com/ooyuhc

That’s all you have to do and we will make sure to reach out to you and get you recorded in our 1850 Auction database.  Any questions be sure to speak up or tweet us @CondoDomain or @ebounce



New Boston Condo Features

By Erica Farthing 7 05 2009

If you haven’t noticed yet…the CondoDomain Boston website has a slightly different look. We have been working hard to create an even BETTER website for your Boston condo search, tour, save experience.

Not only is there a clean and crisper look to our Boston condo site, but there are many cool new features you MUST check out!

Right on our Boston CondoDomain homepage you will notice the new feature called “NEW ON MLS”. This feature pulls up everything new that has hit the Boston condo market in the last 5 days. As you can see, just in the last 5 days, 131 Boston condos are new to the market!

Take a closer look HERE

Another neat feature on the Boston CondoDomain homepage is the “MOST VIEWED” section on the right side of the page. Here you are able to view the Top 100 Boston condo listings that have been viewed the most on the site.

Take a look at what others are viewing on our Boston condo website!

Stay tuned for more information on the website enhancements to improve your Boston condo search experience. We hope you enjoy :)



Beacon Hill Condos

By Anthony Longo 25 03 2009

Beacon Hill Condos

Beacon Hill Condos: Peaceful Living with Downtown Convenience

Looking for downtown location that maintains a close community feeling? Investing in Beacon Hill real estate may be your best option. While Beacon Hill condos makes up one of Boston’s smallest communities, it is also one of the most charming and prestigious. However, new construction of Beacon Hill condos, including Beacon Hill condo developments, is rare, so having an experienced real estate agent is essential.

Beacon Hill real estate’s classic Boston architecture is surrounded with plenty of green space. Many brick row houses have been converted into Beacon Hill condos. Varied residents fill Beacon Hill condos, but Beacon Hill condos are a favorite among families. Beacon Hill real estate owners will find several parks, including Boston Common and the public garden, only a stroll away. Because Beacon Hill real estate is filled with these green spaces, it is the perfect place for children. Additionally, the proximity of the State House and Massachusetts General Hospital to Beacon Hill real estate makes this area a favorite for local lawmakers and medical professionals.

Finding a Boston Condo or a Beacon Hill condo can be daunting. However, at CondoDomain we are experienced in finding Beacon Hill condos and luxury real estate throughout Boston. Finding the right Beacon Hill condo is only the beginning. Here at CondoDomain, we will help you get the best price with our excellent negotiators. You want to be excited about your new Beacon Hill condo, not concerned about haggling over the price and details. Contact us now to ensure you have the best resources available including open houses and choice listings.

New Beacon Hill Condos Developments
Lincolnshire Condominiums
Existing Beacon Hill Condos Developments
Bowdoin Place
One Garden Street

Search All Beacon Hill Condos

Tags: Beacon Hill, Beacon Hill Condo, Beacon Hill Real Estate, Charles Street, Boston Real Estate, Luxury Brownstones



CondoDomain Whitepaper: Year 1

By Erica Farthing 22 01 2009

Putting this Whitepaper together was almost as exciting as engaging in the real estate brokerage community this year.  For all of you who have followed us through social media and our blogging efforts… and for all of you who have met us or become a client of ours: you all know we like to have fun along the way!

Well, while all of that fun that is publicly displayed, there is actually quite a bit of work that went on behind the scenes.  I believe that this CondoDomain Year 1 Review reveals our true colors.

What will you find in this report?

i. Transactional Data / Commission Refunds
ii. Negotiation Advantage
iii. Demographics
iv. Customer Satisfaction
v. Why CondoDomain
vi. 2009 Corporate Forecast

condodomain-download

Heck, its short enough….check it out.

Like Redfin’s similar real estate annual reviews, Ill let the statistics do the talking.

Congratulations to all of our team members here at CondoDomain for an outstanding 2008 and congratulations to all of our new clients and friends of the firm.

2009 is set to be an even bigger year.

DOWNLOAD THE 2008 ANNUAL REPORT



Blogging For Boston Real Estate Agents

By Anthony Longo 27 12 2008

What other way to best find our newest team member that to “BLOG” for them?

So here it is…we are blogging for Boston Real Estate Agents to join our team.  Well, actually we are looking for 1 SUPERSTAR, rock-the-house, data soaking, business minded, super organized, mega-social, real estate agent who wants to be apart of the fastest growing Boston real estate company.

So what does it take to become one of the top real estate buyers brokers in Boston?

1. Passion: We want the most passionate individuals who love real estate, technology and urban living.

2. Savvy: You are way ahead of the curve, understand that the traditional model is changing and you have already started exploring new initiatives like blogging and other web 2.0 marketing tactics.

3. Entrepreneur: You are self-motivated. You are a risk taker. You want to shoot for the stars and be involved in something special.

What else is involved and what will CondoDomain offer me?

Well, for starters we are a web-based buyers brokerage so we only work with buyer looking to buy in downtown Boston.  This means (and we will help you) you need to know every downtown neighborhood better than every other Boston real estate agent!  Know all the major new construction developments better than every other Boston real estate agent.  And love to pull and analyze sales data better than every other Boston real estate agent!  See where we are going here.  We simply push to be the very best at what we do - help people find and purchase their new Boston condo.

CondoDomain Boston is located at 319 A Street in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood in an AWESOME LOFT.  We operate our shop out of a huge open loft space that allows creative energy, ideas and a very exciting and fun work environment to flow opening (a huge part of our company business model).   Many who have walked through the space say that we operate like an early stage dot-com start-up company - and  that is exactly how it is.

Our company, being a web-based brokerage operates online.  Our entire marketing platform generates thousands of buy-side leads per month.  These leads need to be responded too immediately, sorted, managed and eventually brought out to tour properties.  (So you gotta be a die-hard blackberry or iPhone user.)

Oh…one more thing. Our company has a very different business model.  We refund a large portion of our real estate commission back to our clients.   I know, sounds crazy but we have a really good reason for it.  Learn more about our commission refund business model here, here, don’t forget to miss the post where we gave back $43,000 to our $2M One Charles Condominium buyer.

We keep it pretty simple: If you like a loud, fun, very active but professional work environment, like working in a team environment and consider yourself passionate, savvy and entrepreneur-like, give us a shout –**– Facebook me, Twitter me, Txt me, Email me or I guess you can call me too - 617.314.7704.

Meet Our Corporate & Boston Team

Meet Some Of Our Clients

See our Facebook Recruiting Post

For all of those who are more “visual thinkers” like me see below:



Pay Your Rent With American Express

By Anthony Longo 16 12 2008

This isn’t that new, I wrote about this a few times last year on our Corporate Blog here, here & here - but I am still so surprised why this has not exploded yet?  I mean who wouldn’t want to have their rent auto-payed on their American Express or Visa Credit Card?  Related Group is still the only company I know who is doing this as they explain in detail on the Related Rentals website.

Maybe an exclusive contract with Visa & AMEX?

Using your credit card to pay your rent could fund your annual European vacation.  I mean lets say you spend $3,000 per month on rent.  That $36,000 points for the year which will get you across the Atlantic flying coach on Virgin!

All kidding aside…does anyone else that having a credit card function for luxury rentals makes sense???

Speaking of Related.  We have our first Related Project in town - The Clarendon - an awsome new luxury development which is looking prettttttty sharp these days!!!



Project: Development

By Anthony Longo 12 12 2008

‘PROJECT: Development’ is a new series of BLOG postings and articles that you should expect to see in 2009.  ‘PROJECT: Development’ will drill down and extract the in’s and out’s of all the hot new luxury developments and lofts in downtown Boston.  Forget ‘price per square foot’ and how many bedrooms…you can pull all of that off MLS.  ‘PROJECT: Development’ will give you the MEAT you are looking for!

From sales volume and pricing adjustments to unique units & hidden features, we plan to take you through all the hot and not so hot Boston condo developments.

What should you expect?

Well…we will give you the skinny on what is going on in that development (yes the good, bad and the ugly).  We will also be posting great photography and even VIDEO for our not so shy developers & marketing peers.

Here are two test ‘PROJECT: Development’ articles we did this year:  “Condolicious: Northpoint“  & Checkin’ out The 1850

Developers Make Contact With Us ASAP!

Erica is already filling her schedule for ‘PROJECT: Development’.  Make sure you are not left out and you get the ‘transparent’ version of your property EXPOSED via ‘PROJECT: Development’. Contact Erica

How can you find ‘PROJECT: Development’ articles on our site/BLOG?

1.  You can read our blog everyday so you never miss a ‘PROJECT: Development’ .

2.  You can check in on our blog once in a while and visit the CATEGORY - ‘PROJECT: Development’ .

3.  You can sign up to get our blogs right in your inbox via FeedBurner auto-email blog.

Have a project that you want to get the skinny on? Email Erica (erica [at] CondoDomain.com)



DOJ Says No Way To Traditional Brokers OPT OUT Clause!

By Anthony Longo 21 11 2008

DOJ says NO MORE OPT-OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This mean now that all of the ignorant real estate brokers whom cheated their clients in the past - can not do this anymore!!!  Imagine listing your home for sale with a broker who “Opt’ed Out” of having your listing pushed all over the Internet via other real estate broker’s websites…crazy and pathetic for any brokers whom cheated their high-paying clients whom which they hired you to market their home!

via Inman News…

The Department of Justice and the National Association of Realtors have agreed to minor modifications to their proposed settlement of the government’s antitrust lawsuit against the Realtors’ association, paving the way for a final judgment in the three-year-old case.

The government says the settlement, announced in May, will give consumers access to multiple listing service data on homes for sale similar to that enjoyed by Realtors. After wrapping up its review of public comments submitted during a 60-day window, the DOJ proposed leaving the settlement virtually unchanged.

But in its response to comments received from the industry, the DOJ shed some light on how it expects the agreement to be enforced: by NAR. The government also left the door open for future antitrust action concerning NAR’s Internet Data Exchange, or IDX, policy.

In its September 2005 lawsuit, the DOJ alleged that NAR’s policy on “virtual office Web sites,” or VOWs, violated antitrust laws. The policy alleged suppressed competition from real estate brokers who gave consumers access to multiple listing service data on a par with that enjoyed by Realtors through password-protected sites.

By allowing brokers to withhold their sellers’ listings from VOWs, NAR restrained VOW brokers in their ability to compete with traditional brokers, who often provide information on MLS listings by hand, mail, fax or e-mail, DOJ lawyers said.

By blocking VOW brokers from allowing their customers to review the same set of MLS listings that traditional brokers can provide to their customers, NAR’s rules “restrained VOW brokers from competing in a way that is efficient and desired by many customers,” the DOJ claimed.

The proposed settlement requires NAR to modify its challenged VOW policy, making it clear that brokers can operate VOWs “without interference from their rivals,” and that traditional brokers cannot withold sellers’ listings from display on VOWs.

The proposed settlement would also allow brokers to operate referral VOWs, which allow prospective buyers to search for homes online, but directs them to other brokers or agents when they are ready to see a home in person, negotiate a price, enter into a contract, and close the deal.

Existing referral VOWs have established relationships with Internet companies and developed “significant numbers of potential buyer leads,” the DOJ says, and the proposed settlement prohibits MLSs from standing in the way of VOW brokers referring customers to other brokers for compensation.

Continued @ Inman News



Our Jessica Stole The Show!!! (Fox25 Lastnight)

By Anthony Longo 14 11 2008

If you missed the Boston Real Estate Special on FOX25 - Check it out here!

It’s the battle of the ages in Boston real estate. The old, historic brownstone versus the new, luxury highrise. Which would you rather call home?  FOX25’s Keba Arnold takes a look at how the real estate market in Boston is changing.

As previously ‘blogged’ about in recent posts (here & here), the FOX25 News special aired lastnight and Jessica Quirk stole the show!

So, what did you see in this super-speed 5 minute segment:

Brownstones:

Mary Kelleher of Gibson Sotheby’s: touring one of our all-time favorite clients ever:  Sarah Kasper, as they, browse through a listing at 12 Claremont Park.

Amy Jacobs of Otis & Ahearn also toured Sarah through that beautifully renovated brownstone they showed located at 690 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End.

Highrises:

On the flip side - my uber-hip clients John & Valerie Hattersley, whom are moving into the city from out of town checked out the stylish-lofts @ 285 Columbus in Boston’s Back Bay  whom were graciously introduced to the project by President & CEO of Boston Residential Group - Curtis Kemeny.

Last but not least John & Valerie were accompanied by longtime friend and colleague Joe Laurano of The Marketing Group of Boston through the new “volumized” FP3 Lofts over near us in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood.

End result - a total hit.  Our client Sarah Kasper ended up purchasing her brownstone unit she always dreamed of…and for John & Valerie, they got their eye’s set on a Loft…right here in downtown Boston!!!

Thank you all who helped put this great piece together.  The people at Fox called last night to wish us luck and thanks us all.  So thank you!

Listing/Development Breakdown:

12 Claremont Park (SOLD)

690 Tremont Street (South End - just 2 units left!!!)

285 Columbus Lofts (Back Bay - handful of units left!!!)

FP3 Lofts (Seaport District - now open for building tours)

45 Province (Midtown - now in pre-sales)

Any questions on any of these properties feel free to call us anytime.  You can either ask for me, Thomas or our new movie star Jessica Quirk!



Real Estate Commission Rebate

By Anthony Longo 28 10 2008

So, what is the largest real estate commission rebate that has been given back to a buyer and or seller of a real estate transaction?  Does anyone out there know? I put the word out last week via Facebook and on my Twitter but haven’t got any good feedback.

The reason why I bring it up is because our powerhouse Boston agent, Thomas Cincotti is closing no a $2M condo this week.

The Commission - $50,000!!!

The Rebate - $43,000!!!  (remember this is NON-TAXABLE TOO!!!)

This will be by far our largest rebate back to one of our buyers to date!   We are excited to enter the next level in serving the luxury condominium dweller!  (Believe me, we would even more excited if we got to keep the commission … but, its not our business model to do that.)

Tommy - great job, keep up the good work.

Buyers - Now serving clients from $200,000 to $2,000,000

Start your search today - Boston Condos For Sale





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