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Re: Sellsius Proposes Nationwide Blogger Meet Ups

Morgan Brown — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:16:53 -0000

I'm happy to help set up a Orange County, CA blogger meet up!

Re: Sellsius Proposes Nationwide Blogger Meet Ups

Morgan Brown — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 09:51:21 -0000

Loren,

Lets just plan it together! Send me an email at morganb(at)gmail(dot)com and we can coordinate the whole thing.

I've got some good local press contacts, OC Register, Business Journal, etc. that we can definitely get some coverage for this thing.

I think we can definitely tie this in with a venue that will sponsor the event as well.

Anyone else looking to help organize or has suggestions can send me an email at the above as well - the more the merrier.

Morgan

Re: Sellsius Blogger Meet-Up in Laguna Beach This Friday

Morgan Brown — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:03:15 -0000

I'm in!

Re: Dear Arizona: A Zestimate May Be A Dog, But It Is Not A Poodle

Morgan Brown — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:52:19 -0000

Just because the Zillow.com Zestimates are "Znowhere close" on a lot of properties doesn't mean the values are appraisals. Zillow should be allowed to carry on - it is merely a consumer-facing AVM that needs to work on its valuation engine, like now.

Re: Sellsius Blogger Meet-Up in Laguna Beach This Friday

Morgan Brown — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:24:04 -0000

i spoke with the mortgage blogger from the OC register matt padilla, he is going to try to join us along w/John Lanser - the OC register real estate blogger. they haven't confirmed 100% but are interested in coming.

Re: Sellsius Surfs with Real Estate Bloggers in Laguna Beach

Morgan Brown — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:42:42 -0000

It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed meeting everyone there. My photos are up: http://www.blownmortgage.co...

Cheers!

Re: Sellsius Surfs with Real Estate Bloggers in Laguna Beach

Morgan Brown — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 15:42:42 -0000

It was a lot of fun! I really enjoyed meeting everyone there. My photos are up: http://www.blownmortgage.co...

Cheers!

Re: “JB” says, ZILLOW SUCKS!

Morgan Brown — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:37:32 -0000

I agree with you and Greg. It is clear that (1) Zillow's Zestimate is not an appraisal and (2) Zillow doesn't sell homes.

The Arizona Board of Appraisal is foolish in trying to make a consumer-oriented AVM out to be an appraisal - and to require Zillow to have an Arizona Appraiser's license to provide Arizona Zestimates. If this precedent was set any mortgage bank worth its salt would be required to hold an Arizona appaiser's license as we all run AVMs on a large majority of properties to support or refute appraised value. It would squash one of the major risk scoring tools lenders across the country use today.

Real estate agents afraid of Zillow are also foolish. Zillow is not going to sell homes. Zillow is going to keep real estate in the conversation more than anything else. It is going to keep more people interested in our industry. What better thing is there to ask for than that? I would love it if everyone spent their time talking about what they saw on Zillow - it would mean they're thinking of us.

Re: Real Estate Blog Tour USA: Sellsius Plans Road Trip Across America

Morgan Brown — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:30:09 -0000

OC Round 2 - bring it!

Re: One way to lasting credibility in real estate

Morgan Brown — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:34:58 -0000

Jim,

You couldn't have said it better. Giving the honest truth will reap future rewards. I'm in the mortgage industry and sometimes I end up telling people to sell their homes. It's not easy, but it is correct, and I know my honestly is appreciated.

Re: Redfin On 60 Minutes Tonight - Real Estate Market Disruption

Morgan Brown — Mon, 14 May 2007 02:59:29 -0000

A couple of things:

1. There are discount firms in every industry from grocery stores to attorneys and tax preparers. Real estate should be no different. There are different level service offerings for people who have different needs. There is room for both. Realtors wouldn't look so bad if they didn't freak out every time there was talk of why they are over paid. Real estate is just like other professions - there is a tiny percentage of people doing work that is actually worth the fee they charge, the rest are over paid. Pick any industry and that holds up.

2. Realtors need to stop clinging to the 3% split as its their birth rite. There is no set price in an open market. As soon as the DOJ gets done with the NAR the market will be more open. Prices will fall within a range based on perceived value. Lazy, mediocre agents will be compensated as such, premier, best-of-breed realtors will be compensated accordingly as well.

3. Realtors should stop complaining and start articulating value. There are some that actually earn it (not many), they should embrace the discounters, refer customers shopping prices to them, and then take the customers who want the personalized service. Mercedes, Tiffany and Ritz Carlton don't complain when Saturn, Robins Bros or Motel 6 lower prices - they just deliver amazing value. It's time for Realtors to get the hint.

Re: Not the next Steve Jobs

Morgan Brown — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:06:28 -0000

That was painful in the beginning, he seemed to get more comfortable once he started talking about the interface. I think it points to a couple of important points:

(1) Be prepared to the point where you know what you are saying without even thinking about it. Know your speech cold.

(2) Talk about your passion. His passion is clearly in the interface and technology.

Let someone else talk about the sweeping ramifications or big picture stuff if you're uncomfortable doing it and stick to what you are passionate about so that you don't come off like a stiff.

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:12:44 -0000

I have a post coming on this as well but here is my take on it:

Is it fraud? I'm no lawyer but by the definition above I think it is probably questionable at best. Consider "get an advantage over another by false suggestions or suppression of the truth"

Is it a false suggestion? Not really - their credit score did improve via having an authorized signer relationship with the good credit person. Is it suppression of the truth? Not really - the authorized signer's card appears on the credit report. So does any derogatory information. The derogatory information doesn't disappear. There isn't any law (as far as I'm aware) that states that the authorized signer needs to be a relative or friend before putting a person on a card. People have been using co-signers (and authorized users) from their parents and friends for years.

Whether it is fraud or not is up to the lawyers. I think that it is gaming the system. People will always find ways to game the system; then the system responds and then people game some more. The proverbial cat and mouse game.

With all that being said I don't like it one bit. It definitely makes me feel dirty. It finds another way to make mortgage people look like scum. What are we going to come up with next? Renting social security numbers?

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:14:35 -0000

BR - The way the company describes it is that the bad score person has zero access to the good credit score person's card, account information and other data needed to utilize the credit for purchasing power or identity purposes.

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 01:54:13 -0000

Jay I agree - I'm calling BS on these shenanigans. It's definitely morally wrong. I spewed, I mean posted a bit more over at my home base:
http://www.blownmortgage.co...

Thanks for the great topic.

Re: Does your Gmail look like this?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:08:01 -0000

I am much happier with my Gmail since I switched to the above a couple of weeks ago. Aesthetics definitely count for something. I tried the better Reader plugin as well, and while it is OK it's no where near as nice as the Gmail counterpart.

Re: The significance of product demos

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:12:55 -0000

Travis - you are right. Gates just isn't that inspiring. Jobs is much better at crafting the product and brand value through a story (which has filtered down through Apple) and let's face it - stories are the only things that people remember. Long after specs, details, and stats have faded a great story is still there going strong.

Re: Does your Gmail look like this?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:22:01 -0000

travis that is sick. i'm in on that one.

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 23:51:33 -0000

My only question is then: Is it fraud when you add your son or daughter to your credit card as an authorized signer to improve their credit/purchasing power? Even if you don't plan on giving them direct access to the credit?

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:59:15 -0000

Jeff C. - good link. Let's see how many cows got out before the barn doors were closed.

Second question - how many kids' credit scores are going to absolutely tank now?

Re: Buying a Higher FICO Score?!?

Morgan Brown — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:59:52 -0000

Sorry Jay - Jeff C posted the same link on my blog about the story and I was crossed up - whoops!

I agree there is definitely a difference between family and those that paid for the service - it will be interesting to see how that distinction is made by the law/companies involved, etc...

Re: Zillow Mortgage - Place your bets!

Morgan Brown — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:55:18 -0000

Todd - Excellent job on getting the ball rolling on this intriguing subject. I agree with the folks here who say that there hasn't been a suitable online gateway for mortgage information for consumers yet. The problems are myriad from misinformation, bait-and-switch and lack of transparency, to name a few.

If Zillow wants to Zillowfy this process they are going to have to eliminate the above problems and rewrite the rules of what it means to be a conduit between the general public and mortgage lenders.

I think Zillow has an opportunity to do that by leveraging the things that it does best and by being the un-lead generator.

I've got some ideas myself on how they might do that; but they need to be hashed out in a longer space - so I'll ping you when I get my thoughts up online.

Re: Zillow Mortgage - Place your bets!

Morgan Brown — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 03:14:59 -0000

alright todd - you got us started, i went long.

Re: Birth of a Brokerage: Thompson’s Realty

Morgan Brown — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:34:36 -0000

Congratulations Jay - here's wishing you the best success!

Re: Bank of America May Write Down $6.5 Billion

Morgan Brown — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:48:41 -0000

Tom - great point. Add Countrywide in there and you've probably got a number at least double.