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September 5, 2006
Unleashing the consumer, Tues., Sept. 5, 2006, 6:57 AM
Saturday's New York Times carries a story that I think is an important one regarding changes in consumer's buying habits that are hitting the real estate industry. The bottom line is that what's good for the consumer is the Internet.
"The Last Stand of the 6-Percenters" is a story I encourage you to read because I think Internet listing's and sales of homes is just the first iteration. With the development of audio/video over IP, a seller or seller's agent ought to be able to line up online meetings with prospective buyers non-stop.
In addition to the tens of billions of annual real estate commissions that will ultimately shift from real people, the computer will soon eliminate most of the legal administration on these deals.
Moreover, virtual buy-side agents will soon pop up at the hit a button for use by prospective buyers in any deal.
Once a home (or other form of property) has been captured on video inside and out, and the details specified for the offering, then buyer, seller and respective agents can be located anywhere in the world.
Similar interesting developments will soon extend into the capital markets, particularly in small cap research.
When I started in the securities business, not that many years ago, the cost of buying and selling a single position was six (6) percent. As soon as those commissions came down, volume increased, liquidity improved, better prices resulted, and more at-home pro traders came into the industry. It was a boon to capital markets.
ROBTV and BloombergTV are now available via Internet. Just like is the case with the company being profiled by the New York Times in this story, I believe that companies like ROBTV will soon proliferate. In fact, my associate Howard Lindzon is starting one. His Wallstrip is going into production this month.
Posted by Posted by Bill Cara on September 5, 2006 06:57:08 AM | Category: 25 Cons Discretionary
Discourse
I had made some comments on the story this weekend as well. Much agreed. Another GREAT story was Ben Steins on the crime that is mmangement BuyOuts - I have the link on my blog.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060905/53515337.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2392697
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/04/bloomberg/bxoil.php
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8JUMNEO0.htm?sub=apn_home_up%26chan=db
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aj97Lx5_Osik&refer=canada
Posted by: oratier ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.billcara.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 5, 2006 9:13 AM [link]
It's always good policy to monitor what the competitor is buying and selling.
Article contains an interesting remark by Putin regarding Russia's Gold reserve...
Posted by: oratier at
September 5, 2006 11:04 AM [link]
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_baum&sid=a0vbMXwKH.HQ
Yield-Curve Recession Indicator Flashes Yellow: Caroline Baum
By Caroline Baum
Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Unless the shape of the Treasury yield curve normalizes in the next few months, going from its current negative to a more normal positive slope, the U.S. could be headed for a recession late next year.
That's the implication of a new paper by economists Arturo Estrella and Mary R. Trubin of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Estrella has produced a significant body of research on the yield curve, or spread between a short- and long-term Treasury rate, as a predictor of recessions. One of his earlier co- authors, Columbia Business School professor Frederic Mishkin, will be sworn in today as a governor of the Federal Reserve Board.
Posted by: stockman at
September 5, 2006 11:14 AM [link]
KRY...enjoying a nice breakout today.
Posted by: Leisa at
September 5, 2006 11:27 AM [link]
Re: "Yield-Curve Recession Indicator Flashes Yellow: Caroline Baum"
Good Point.
It would be prudent for U.S. investors to consider taking a more defensive posture following the mid-term elections. This is not a prediction of dire straits ahead; however, if the competing U.S. political party assumes power, there may be some socio-economic changes in store that MAY rattle the Market(albeit temporary), IMHO
Posted by: oratier at
September 5, 2006 11:29 AM [link]
Leisa, KRY is looking good. Tracking gold rather nicely today, which is itself outdoing silver for the first time in recent memory.
No position.
Posted by: number2son at
September 5, 2006 11:51 AM [link]
Looking good? KRY is on FIRE!
I do have a position, and far from of KRYing, it's all I can do to supress a broad GRIN!
Posted by: Jock at
September 5, 2006 12:42 PM [link]
Well we've taken 8 days to move about 25 points on the S&P.
We're near my short point here - so time to begin
probing some shorts- but lightly - cause if some market event (like oil dropping $2 in one day)
occurs near S&P 1220 it could be enough to knock out the high.
Gold is looking interesting... but some metals
have faded after this a.m.'s burst... let's see if this is just another beginning of the month runup like other months...but if gold holds into the close - this will be a good trade.
tradesman
Posted by: Tradesman at
September 5, 2006 12:55 PM [link]
Re. KRY.
It's on fire based on no news correct? Is this priviledged insider info or is someone just pumping it?
IVN, which is in a somewhat similar boat (waiting for some risky good news), is not moving up at all.
Posted by: ursus at
September 5, 2006 1:03 PM [link]
The newest info. on KRY is Charles de Vaulx of First Eagle Global Fund dumped a pretty large block of shares off last week. That shouldn't drive it as fast as it is going, should it? Fishy...
Posted by: westo4 at
September 5, 2006 1:15 PM [link]
From what i could find, that sale of KRY by Vaulx was on 6/30. AND, sales pressure drives stocks, DOWN, not UP.
Often hard know what drives a speculative stock, till well after the fact ...
Posted by: Jock at
September 5, 2006 1:53 PM [link]
I think the best thing about using the internet in real estate is being able to do a comparable sales analysis in the neighborhood without the "help" of the agent.
Posted by: ableape at
September 6, 2006 7:36 PM [link]
Thanks for the mention Bill - Yes - wallstrip.com goes live October 1. Funny video is up in the meantime.
Posted by: howardl![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.billcara.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at
September 5, 2006 9:01 AM [link]