Ruth @ Trulia's Blog

I hope you will all "sign" Trulia's petition to extend the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. The recent positive trends (rising home prices in 18 out of the 20 metro areas sampled by the S&P/Case-Shiller index) could be indicative of the Tax Credit's benefits. Additionally, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence index rose from 47.4 in July to 54.1 in August.

As owner of a home in Michigan, I especially keep an eye on market trends there. The average price of sold homes in Detroit was $11,596 in July (seriously – ask the Michigan Association of Realtors). While the plummeting home values are bad news for me, it’s strangely good news for some of my friends who were previously unable to own their own homes. With the help of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, more of peers are inclined to take advantage of this buyer’s market.

We are just starting to see the good effects of the Tax Credit. Let’s extend the opportunity to really reap all the benefits! Sign Trulia’s petition here: http://act.ly/ig

I've participated in countless conversations about the great digital migration and I've basically been living the story since I got my first AOL handle at age 10. I have been known to brag about being a hard core, cold blooded digital native. I may have even described my tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome as natural evolutionary occurences.

In the online media industry, we're most often concerned with how this migration will affect advertising dollars but in recent months, the general future of printed publications has become a very hot topic. Sites like NewspaperDeathWatch.com are proof that mass interest has peaked. Some people get a little romantic about the impending doom of newspapers but I never really liked getting my thumbs dirty. I enjoy editing the Web to customize my information intake in real time with audio visual accompaniment. And classifieds? Circling is fun but clicking is better!

Real estate has long suffered from a storied and tumultious relationship with classifieds. When I look at a newspaper real estate listing, I barely even process any information. The text is written in some kind of secret agent language and if there's even a picture, it's small and one dimensional.

That being said, a colleague just sent me the following instant message...

Today the Ann Arbor (Michigan) News announced it would publish its last edition in July.

...and my heart skipped a beat. I was suddenly struck with feelings of possession and injustice. I mean, The Bay City Times? I don't care. The Flint Journal? Saw that coming. But the Ann Arbor News! That's my hometown paper! This can't be happening to me.

Then I took a deep breath and read the whole story on MLive.com. The reality of the situation does not surprise me nor should it. I'm not ignorant about the economy - especially in southeast Michigan where I still own a rapidly depreciating home (though I live and work in Manhattan). The truth is I haven't touched an Ann Arbor News in years.

But when I think of that big building with those big capital ANN ARBOR NEWS letters outside, I remember that my dad's (who reads 4-5 newspapers nightly in addition to the constrant stream of data he receives via Web, email, IM, iPhone, etc.) office is nearby. And just blocks away, there is the Cloverleaf diner where I first met my husband. Nick and Pat and George (the owning family) even attended my wedding. And down the street, there is Community High School where I spent my unforgettable teenage years and served as Editor-in-Chief of our own newspaper, The Communicator. Now I'm thinking about the Hands On Museum, the fire station, city hall, the Diag, Kerrytown, the farmer's market, the train tracks, the Huron River, Zingerman's and the Saginaw family, the Peshkins and the Produce Station. I remember my former colleagues at All Media Guide, the coolest company in town (until Google set up shop). I remember how devastated my mother was when Pfizer closed. My parents met at the University of Michigan. I was born in the University of Michigan hospital. I remember a photo published in the Ann Arbor News of my friends sledding on an overturned picnic table. I remember scouring the Sunday paper for "free kittens" even when I wasn't in the market for more pets. I'm reeling...

The good news is I am visiting in two weeks but the bad news, well, maybe it's not so bad after all... The publisher unveiled plans for a comprehensive news and social media site called AnnArbor.com and said it "isn't about abandoning local journalism, it's about serving it up in a very different way." I know, deep down, I'm all for that kind of change. It's my life, it's my work. But for now, I am joining up with the newspaper romantics because I experienced a definite, genuine sense of loss upon hearing the Ann Arbor News would stop publishing this summer.

As cynical as I want to think I am, I can't overcome this one. It's less about the physical paper and more about the constellation of other themes at play: the power of advertising, the needs of consumers, the issues plagueing my home state, etc. And then there's the whole connection to real estate. I recall a recent conversation with respected local figure and successful broker Ed Surovell in which he explained why Edward Surovell Realtors would always advertise in the Ann Arbor News. I never knew Ed growing up but I'm thankful that my position at Trulia allowed us to meet. He's a fascinating guy full of knowledge and opinions. I wonder what he thinks about all this.

I'm not sure I even really know what I think about all this. But it's nice to know I'm not the only one. On MLive.com, Ann Arborites are already expressing disbelief:
"I am gonna go back to bed, get back up, and restart my computer."

Considering the business impact:
"The repercussions will be vast. Everyone whose job has something to do with supplying the actual newsprint to the A2 news will probably lose their jobs as well."

Noting the impact on readers:
"This will be a sad day, not every one has the knowledge and time to be on the computer."

Making jokes:
"I use the paper for mulch in the garden ... oh well."

And asking questions:
"How are you supposed to take a computer into the bathroom????"

Well, the last one's no biggie - get a laptop.

This CNN.com headline just caught my attention...

"Extreme Makeover" home in foreclosure

Before I even clicked the link, my Midwestern fear kicked in... I bet it's in Detroit.

Guess what? Oak Park!

On top of being hurt by the subprime mortgage crisis, the Vardon family's blind and austic son's medical treatments and not covered by insurance and the father was laid off from Chrysler. As if that weren't enough, their property taxes increased by nearly $1,000 because of the makeover.

I hope they're able to get out of what sounds like an absolutely terrinle situation. This just goes to show that there is no magical solution for the serious problems facing American families.

Vardon Family Fund
P.O. Box 721084
Berkley, MI 48072-0084

http://www.wxyz.com/news/local/story/Extreme-Makeover-Family-Facing-Foreclosure/rmDc6vh40UOtwBO1XcT6dg.cspx

Here in Trulia's New York office, we all pitched in to create this "green" gingerbread house!

Whenever my husband and I walk past the building at 424 Lafayette Avenue, we check to see if anyone has moved in yet.  It’s been empty since we moved into this neighborhood over six months ago. Well, except for the uninhabited, furnished apartment carefully staged by Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group.

The property is one of those skinny, clean structures that are popping up all over Brooklyn. It’s taller than a townhouse but less imposing than a huge apartment complex. There are only seven units in 424 Lafayette. How do I know this? After months of passive curiosity, I finally looked up the property online. I couldn’t find any listings but I located a general overview.

“Introducing 424 Lafayette Avenue: a modern and exciting boutique 7-unit condo building set in the heart of Historic Clinton Hill.” This area is definitely not the “heart;” it’s more like the “edge.” This part of Lafayette more resembles neighboring Bed-Stuy than Clinton Hill.

“You will immediately appreciate the serene and sunny spaces from the moment you walk in as the light streams through the oversized South-facing glass windows.” You will also immediately notice that the enormous West-facing windows have unobstructed views of the massive housing project across the street.

“The building consists of 1 and 2-bedroom apartments, many with private outdoor spaces. Amenities include an elevator, private storage spaces for all units, cutting-edge modern interiors, and the convenience of the subway right across the street.” Okay, that’s true.

“The kitchens are outfitted with slick granite countertops, gorgeous mosaic glass tiles, custom cabinetry, and stainless steel appliances. Bathrooms are equally beautiful and appealing.” Sounds great!

“With the 421-A tax abatement, you will enjoy the benefits of NO taxes for 25 years! One-bedroom residences start at just $272K and two-bedrooms at $615K... modern convenience at an affordable price!” Whaaaaa? Even in this zip code, finding a place under half a mil is a challenge. Not to mention NO TAXES for 25 years! Exclamation point!

This is the first I’ve ever heard of 421-A. It almost sounds too good to be true. You’d think with that kind of incentive, buyers would be scooping up these residences.

Here are some highlights from Barbara Corcoran’s TODAY Show appearance this morning on NBC. She said…

 

1. 1. If there are “three or more for sale signs” in your neighborhood, the market in your area could be nearing rock bottom.

 

2. 2. A good way to find rebounding markets is to look for “small, urban areas with very vibrant job markets.”

 

3. 3. If you’ve been craving a home with a little something special, “now’s the time to get out, find that house and make it your own.” She even highlighted  a few specific charmers under $300K. Her Maine choice really stuck out so I looked it up on Trulia…

 

34 Exeter Street, Portland ME 04102
Corcoran highlights this super cute colonial as a great buy for $289,000. This four bedroom home would be perfect for a young family because of its proximity to the local five star elementary school. She also gives the following advice about local homes: “Do your inspections! The older the home, the more that goes wrong. In today’s market, you can negotiate so that seller will fix it.”

With nearly 3,000 courses worldwide, disc golf is a rapidly growing global phenomenon. Considering how many ball golfers choose homes in proximity to courses, it’s only a matter of time before disc golfers start planning their lives in a similar fashion. However, a real disc golf haven is defined by more than just how many courses are within driving distance.  You have to consider course quality and variety, local club activity, tournament frequency, and the vibe of the place itself.

According to Steve West, course designer and analyst, the “center” of all disc golf courses is Longview Park in Rock Island, IL. Click here to check out his experiment.

Allen Risley, PDGA member since 1979, used the Professional Disc Golf Association’s course directory to calculate areas with high “polehole density.” He says that there are some places “where you can have over 250 baskets within a 50-mile radius of where you stand.”

My brother, who has played nearly 900 courses, gave me a list of 26 different cities that qualify as a good place for a disc golfer to live. How am I supposed to narrow that down? I used a combination of my own person opinion, the personal opinions of disc golfers I’ve spoken to or polled online, available data on courses/players per capita, various demographic criteria, etc. This is by no means an official list, nor can these designations be proved with scientific facts. That being said, it should come as no surprise that my hometown gets the #1 spot…

#1: Ann Arbor, MI

If you are going to live in the mitten, Ann Arbor is the place to be whether or not you even disc golf.

Basics

Ann Arbor residency is appealing for all kinds of people; the city often tops “best places to live” lists in the media. The diverse population and artistic/athletic/educated/liberal vibe make an ideal atmosphere for disc golfers. Having grown up here, I am intimately familiar with the area’s thriving disc golf culture. To the west, you have Hudson Mills in Dexter. To the north, you have Blizzard Hills in Pinconning and to the east, you have Rolling Hills, EMU and Waterworks in Ypsilanti. In the actual city of Ann Arbor, you have Bandemer and Mary Beth Doyle (formerly Brown Park). Not to mention my parents’ private course, BRATS. There are about 30 additional courses within easy driving distance. In 2000, both the amateur and professional PDGA championships were held here. The local tournament culture is pretty active with a variety of clubs across southeast Michigan. For weekend trips, you can include the Kalamazoo area (host of the 2008 amateur world championship this past summer) and the beautiful courses up north in Traverse City or Ludington. Michigan is also home to one of the sport’s top disc manufacturers, Discraft. 

Testimonials

Garrett Graham, 32, says he can drive to 45 courses from his Whitmore Lake home and “20 of those are within 30 miles.” Eric Beich, 40, says “Michigan has a lot of courses and very active tournament scene.” Shawn Kelley, 31, reminds us why disc golf is a year round sport: “Disc golfing in 2 feet of snow is fun if you have the right attitude.” David Nelson, 29, says that “if you can endure the harsh winters, this area has some great courses most notably Hudson Mills (48 holes). I've played a bit in Austin, TX, which has some nice courses as well.” Keep reading for more on Austin! Gabriel Dotson, 28, lays it out plain and simple: “Tree Town all day long. Always adding more courses.” The growth here ensures Ann Arbor will be among the top disc golf cities for years to come.

Homes

540 Barton Shore Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48105

Live in Barton Hills (with a view of the pond) for less than $1 million! You really ought to click through to the Surovell site to see pictures that highlight the home’s unique contemporary design.

Just steps away from the Hudson Mills entrance, this eight acre yard is like an extension of the Monster course. And who can resist an in ground pool and wraparound porch?

2601 Waters Road, Ann Arbor MI 48103

I grew up driving by this house on a nearly daily basis and I’ve always been drawn to it. The yard is just so unique; you have to see it for yourself to fully understand. If you lived here, you can bike down to my parents’ private course for 18 holes of disc-losing fun!

#2: Austin, TX

Much like the number one spot on this list, the city itself makes a great foundation for a blossoming disc golf culture. The sheer amount of course options nearby is icing on the cake.

Basics

 Disc golf is big from Dallas/Ft Worth to Houston but Austin is the most revered disc golf town in Texas. Often compared to Ann Arbor (not just in that previous quote), Austin is a favorite due to its culture and diversity. The local clubs are very active and Millenium Golf Discs is headquartered here.

Testimonials

“Austin, Texas would be my vote.” –Jay K. “I know that Austin is the place to DG!” –Rick Perez, 33. Allen Risley (quoted earlier) says there are “quite a few historic courses and you can play pretty much year 'round.” Joshua Washburn says when he was growing up in Austin, there were only three courses. The sport was gaining in popularity when he moved away but now it’s booming. He says, “From a disc golf standpoint I wish I had never left. But I would likely have no wife, kids or career. Right now in Austin I could play a different course each day and that would take over 2 weeks!” It’s a tough choice; family or frolf.

Homes

2102 North Lamar Boulevard #7, Austin TX 78705

Here’s a huge, fancy condo right on the edge of Pease Park. It boasts a terrace with beautiful city views. The Street View on the Trulia details page shows an interesting picture of the park at dusk.

1212 Castle Hill Street #5, Austin TX 78703

If you’re looking for something smaller (AKA more affordable), try a loft in Old West Austin. This one is still within walking distance to Pease but with only one bedroom and one bathroom, it’s on the market for less than $200K. You’d be pretty close to Zilker, too.

1901 Sunny Brook Drive, Austin TX 78723

Bartholomew is another local favorite in Austin. This little Windsor Park ranch is right across the street. Again, check out the Street View on the Trulia details page for a good shot of the park.

#3: Clearwater, FL

I got a lot of great feedback about Florida, both verbally and from posing the question on DiscGolfersR.Us; I picked Clearwater to represent the whole state.

Basics

Home of Ken Climo, perhaps the most well known disc golfer, the weather here is warm all year round. Boomers! If you’re looking to retire in Florida anyway, might as well live near all the disc action.

Testimonials

Take it from Clearwater resident Wendy: “We have 8 local courses. We have some of the most competitive Pros here. Why not live here in this tropical paradise?” Jamie Ruane, 40, brings up a good point about ball golf’s summer off season, saying “fees are generally lower and the courses are less crowded.” Jeremy Rogers says, “Tampa bay area, Clearwater to be more specific. Two great courses 7 minutes away from each other w/ disc shop in between.”

Homes

2501 Brigadoon Drive, Clearwater, FL 33759

The price is right in Clearwater! This under $100K (and this is one of the more expensive pads in the area) townhouse is located near the Alligator Creek section of Cliff Stephens Park. You’re also close to the course at Coachman. Don’t look too deep in the reeds for those OB discs!

This brightly colored home is just down the street from Taylor Lake Park in Largo, FL. Lots of updates, three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and 2,124 square feet.

2304 Messenger Circle, Safety Harbor FL 34695

There are lots of homes for sale near the Gregg Paas Memorial DGC in Safety Harbor, FL. If you’re into the large, tropical homes in safe neighborhoods thing – this could be your dream home. Complete with palm trees!

Ann Arbor, Austin and Clearwater are sure to remain disc golf centric as; their significance is already grounded in years of history. Wisconsin, Minnesota and other Midwest areas are also very hot as are the Tulsa and Bowling Green areas, Colorado, the central Eastern states and both No and So Cal. It was hard to pick the three top areas. In closing, I would like to make one prediction for a future important disc golf city: Augusta, GA.

This city is home to the new International Disc Golf Center which includes hosts courses: the Jim Warner Memorial Course (designed by Jim Kenner, Ron Russell and Pad Timmons), the WR Jackson Memorial Course (designed by John Houck), the Ed Headrick Memorial Course (designed by Chuck Kennedy and Tom Monroe). The IDGC will feature collections from the Ed Headrick Memorial Museum and the Disc Golf Hall of Fame. Site features include a full service pro shop, a vending area, putting practice baskets, meeting rooms, an outdoor classroom and an Innova Skill-shot Course. Technically, this is all in the Augusta suburb of Appling, GA. But with warm weather year round and close proximity to Florida, this growing area has the potential to become a bursting haven for disc golfers in the future.

There are lots of fantastic disc-friendly cities in America. Ed Horst says the best place is “the UNITED STATES!! Unlimited play abounds in all states.” Perhaps the best place to live is “half a block from the first tee,” as suggested by Dave from Los Angeles. Or as Jason from Memphis suggests, “on the course.”

To residents of these places - did you know your city was so popular for disc golf?

To disc golfers - how do you agree/disagree with my assessment? Based on my research, I know that each and every one of you have your own opinion. Also, see if you can use the map features on Trulia to identify more houses on or near disc golf courses that are for sale. If you can find some, post the link here so I can check them out!