January 2012
15 posts
1 tag
Why am I hiding from my Facebook Timeline?
I’ve ignored my friends who have told me that Facebook has an absolute, drop dead date for Facebook users to cut over to Timeline. I think for a Baby Boomer, I have done pretty well rolling with all the changes that FB has put me through over the relatively short time they have allowed the public to play on their little site. And I have adopted social media across the board too, much...
3 tags
More will be spent on online ads than print ads in...
According to eMarketer, US spending on online advertising will exceed spending on print advertising for the first time in 2012, and the trend will continue as advertisers find more value online.  Online advertising  spending in 2012 is predicted at $39.5 Billion, compared to $33.8 Billion for all print advertising.  By 2016, the projection is  $62B for online vs. $32.3B for print.
As I have...
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Joe's Memphis Real Estate Predictions for 2012
Earlier this week I posted about the year-end residential real estate sales figures for 2011. Will real estate be better in 2012? Who knows? A few pundits indicate consumer morale is improving. We definitely have historic low mortgage rates. The inventory I have shown lately has been of good quality and value. The stage is set for a better year than 2011.
This is the first time I have...
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What I learned on vacation
[caption id=”attachment_20197” align=”alignleft” width=”200” caption=”Katy on the empty streets of Hot Springs”][/caption]
I like to vacation when other people aren’t vacationing. Which is why we like to vacation in January. The townhouses were all pretty empty at Sunbay in Hot Springs, Arkansas, except for ours. The famous bar at the...
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Memphis real estate sales decline in 2011
[caption id=”attachment_19877” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”For Sale www.1573Vance.com - Midtown”][/caption]
The Memphis Area Association of Realtors (MAAR) has released sales information for December and year-end, 2011. The report contains complete information on all publicly recorded sales in Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties,...
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RSS what?
Ever see this symbol before? This post is not about RSS (Real Simple Syndication) or how it works. It’s about the the computer literate folks I encounter every day who are not utilizing the power of RSS feeds to simplify their lives.
Unless owners of sites block their feeds, any website with dynamic (frequently updated content) has a feed. The feed updates and syndicates changes,...
listening to "Paul Thorn Band--Even Heroes Die" →
Listen to everything you can by Paul Thorn
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Weekly Summary of useful Social Media Links...
The Facebook Eye - Nathan Jurgenson - Technology - The Atlantic
Thought provoking commentary.
How to Lie, Cheat & Steal Your Way to a Bigger Social Graph ~ via Social Media Today
If you like looking for social media love in all the wrong places, this post’s for you.
10 Creative Ways to Use QR Codes for Marketing
Interested in using QR codes for Marketing. Please learn to use them...
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test - disregard
[flickr id=”6685479465” thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”small” group=”” align=”left”]
[flickr id=”6685479465” thumbnail=”small” overlay=”true” size=”medium” group=”” align=”none”]
Original Article
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Cooking with Joe - Hoppin' John is not just for...
Hoppin’ John - Black Eyed Peas at their best
[caption id=”attachment_20138” align=”alignleft” width=”260” caption=”Hoppin’ John”][/caption]
Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a Southern good luck tradition. Turnip or collard greens are also a part of the tradition and are plentiful in most Meat+3 Southern diners, and...
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Goodbye - Hello
[Reposted from Memphis Real Estate Buzz Blog, which is moving to http://blog.spake.com/ - If you are reading this pleas subscribe on this page so you don’t miss any posts]
Last post on Memphis Real Estate Buzz
Moving to http://Blog.Spake.com
[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”240” caption=”Image by joespake via Flickr”][/caption]
If you...
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Goodbye - Hello
[Reposted from Memphis Real Estate Buzz Blog, which is moving to http://blog.spake.com/]
Last post on Memphis Real Estate Buzz
Moving to http://Blog.Spake.com
[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”240” caption=”Image by joespake via Flickr”][/caption]
If you have come to this URL - http://MemphisRealEstateBuzz.com for the last few years for my...
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Test Post
Test Post January 7, 2012 10:46 CST
Original Article
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test
test
Original Article
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My first Memphis antebellum home sale
Live in the heart of the city
Memphis is not as old as some of the other famous Southern towns or even some of its less famous suburbs. Antebellum homes are pretty rare. It was a pleasure to work with Shelley and Mike on the purchase of a circa 1854 home in the Uptown neighborhood.
Stacey Wiedower tells the story of Mike and Shelley’s move from New Mexico/Wyoming to inner city Memphis...
December 2011
17 posts
8 tags
Popular post for 2011 - Memphis Real Estate Buzz
[caption id=”attachment_6908” align=”alignleft” width=”207” caption=”Plan for Sears mail order home”][/caption]
If you offer real estate Search on a real estate blog, it seems that the natural thing for visitors to do is Search, many times overlooking the brilliant insights of the Realtor/blogger in favor of  looking at glitzy presentations of...
1 tag
Renters, beware of online scams
This scam has been going on on Craigslist, and probably other sites for years, but it hit one of my listings yesterday. Fortunately someone alerted me early that the listing was being offered for rent at about a third of market rent. Of course it was a scam, perpetrated by someone off shore. It generated 9 calls from my yard sign from people who had seen the ad and driven by the house, so,...
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Merry Christmas!
No matter what your religious or political beliefs, there is a special thread that connects all of us during this time of the year. Thanks to all of you who have followed this blog. Have a wonderful holiday with your followers and friends, and lets have high hopes for healthy, peaceful, and prosperous 2012.
Original Article
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That's Logistics
UPS came up with this catchy holiday jingle.
When its planes in the sky for a chain of supply that’s logistics.
When the parts for the line come precisely on time that’s logistics.
A continuous link that is always in sync that’s logistics.
There will be no more stress ‘cause you’ve called UPS, that’s logistics.
It’s a pretty high impact ad. We hear...
1 tag
Winter solstice always feels like turning the...
[from Joe Spake’s Weblog]
[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Image via Wikipedia”][/caption]
Tonight at 11:30 PM (CST) the Winter Solstice occurs. Â It’s an astronomical event that always perks me up. Â What is Winter Solstice, other than some pagan holiday that probably had a lot to do with the placement of...
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Winter solstice always feels like turning the...
[caption id=”” align=”alignleft” width=”210” caption=”Image via Wikipedia”][/caption]
Tonight at 11:30 PM (CST) the Winter Solstice occurs. Â It’s an astronomical event that always perks me up. Â What is Winter Solstice, other than some pagan holiday that probably had a lot to do with the placement of Christmas on December 25?
According to...
11 tags
Top 10 posts of 2011 for Joe Spake's Weblog
[reposted from Joe Spake’s Weblog]
[caption id=”attachment_20067” align=”aligncenter” width=”520” caption=”Panorama of Mississippi River flood crest at Memphis - May, 2011”][/caption]
Disaster sells, obviously
Four of the most read posts on Joe Spake’s Weblog in 2011 were directly related to this year’s record flooding on the...
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Top 10 posts of 2011 for Joe Spake's Weblog
[caption id=”attachment_20067” align=”aligncenter” width=”520” caption=”Panorama of Mississippi River flood crest at Memphis - May, 2011”][/caption]
Disaster sells, obviously
Four of the most read posts on Joe Spake’s Weblog in 2011 were directly related to this year’s record flooding on the Mississippi River from the Memphis...
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Tech tip: Check your site in browsers you don't...
It seems that those of us who are looking for the shiniest new technology objects seldom look back at the applications we have kicked to the curb. So it is with web browsers. I have been addicted to Google’s amazing Chrome browser for quite a while now. I browse in Firefox occasionally, but Internet Explorer? Didn’t everyone leave IE behind years ago? To be honest, I have only...
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Madison got dedicated bike lanes and the world...
Maybe the bike lanes weren’t such a bad idea after all
[caption id=”attachment_20062” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Madison Ave, Midtown Memphis, with dedicated bike lanes”][/caption]
It was interesting to read in the Commercial Appeal last month that some of the businesses that opposed the bike lanes on Madison Avenue are now...
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Memphis area home sales report for November 2011
The Memphis Area Association of Realtors has released its Memphis Area Home Sales Report - November 2011. Headlines were made this month as November unit sales rose 28.4% above November 2011. However, year to date unit sales lag 2010 numbers by 8.3%. The decreases in November and YTD median and average sales prices is troubling as we see values continuing to erode. New home sales were flat,...
listening to "Our Dream Come False" →
Classic Biff Rose ~ American Waltz… getting into the American Christmas groove.
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MAAR Monitor
A window into the Memphis residential real estate market
[caption id=”attachment_13906” align=”alignleft” width=”250” caption=”www.1573Vance.com”][/caption]
The Memphis Area Association of Realtors is publishing the monthly MAAR Monitor: A 6-Month Window into the Memphis Real Estate Market - a monthly summary of the previous 6 months of area...
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Today's Hot Links -Real Estate, Memphis, Social...
AOL Names 11 News Stories That Shaped 2011 ~ via Mashable
Is Privacy in Social Media an Age Issue? - via Social Media Today
Sellers Overvalue Their Home’s Worth, Study Finds
Another good reason to listen to the advice of the real estate professional you hire.
You’re So Memphis If… (via the I Love Memphis Blog)
Well, you gotta live here or have lived here.
Most Popular Top 10s of 2011...
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The last magnificent home on Union Avenue
Will the Nineteenth Century Club fall victim to the track hoes?
[caption id=”attachment_20008” align=”aligncenter” width=”490” caption=”Nineteenth Century Club”][/caption]
The Nineteenth Century Club is a philanthropic and cultural women’s organization. Â The organization bought the magnificent house at 1433 Union Avenue in 1926. Â The...
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What's interests me may interest you too -...
Increase your credibility with basic curation
[caption id=”attachment_19997” align=”alignleft” width=”260” caption=”From www.spakephoto.com”][/caption]
Curation is a new term for many of us in social media, so as a simple definition for this post I would say curation is the collection, preservation, and sharing of good quality, relevant, timely,...
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Power your photo blog with Flickr
Everybody loves pictures
The old saying “a picture’s worth 1000 words,” has held true through the ages, yet many small business don’t see the real value of publishing pictures of their products and services. Whether it’s a cleaning service, custom manufacturer, realtor, or provider of very specialized services, a picture of what you do, make or sell is almost...
November 2011
14 posts
1 tag
Digest of real estate and local stories, photos...
joespake posted Digest of real estate and local stories, photos and video for week ending November 23rd.
joespake posted Links for 2011-11-23 [del.icio.us].
joespake posted Lawmakers Urge Mortgage Principal Write-downs | Realtor Magazine.
joespake posted Occupying Memphis | Viewpoint | Memphis Flyer.
joespake posted Realtor held liable for incorrect information in the...
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Digest of real estate and local stories, photos...
joespake posted LinkedIn competitor Path.to steps it up a notch, takes on the professional network giant.
joespake posted Home buyers expect to live in a house longer, unwilling to compromise on purchase â report.
joespake posted 10 Web SEO Mistakes That Webmasters Make.
joespake posted Digest of real estate and local stories, photos and video for week ending November...
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Memphis Bungalows
[caption id=”attachment_13627” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Midtown Memphis Bungalow”][/caption]
Most of Memphis’ Bungalows are located in the Mid-City area, roughly bounded by Bellevue, the Wolf River, Highland, and South Parkway, however you see samples of the style in other parts of the city that saw development in the 1920s.
...
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Digest of real estate and local stories, photos...
joespake posted Nov. 12: Memphis Skate Park Unofficial Opening » The Commercial Appeal.
joespake posted Digest of real estate and local stories, photos and video for week ending November 9th.
joespake posted Occupy Photography!?.
joespake posted How NOT to Network on Twitter: 5 Common Pitfalls and how to Avoid Them.
joespake posted Kindle Fire looks like a good deal.
joespake...
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Working for Commission
QUESTION: What’s wrong with this scenario?
You need a new refrigerator. You go the big box store and are engaged by an energetic salesperson. She knows the specs for all the models off the top of her head, but you have done some research too and ask her some questions that require studying factory specs, and a call back to you at a later time. Within minutes you are doing everything you...
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Kindle Fire available for pre-order
Pre-release advertising for the Kindle Fire is very impressive. I am interested in checking out the Fire’s browser feature as well as usefulness of the apps. Amazon is taking pre-orders for the Kindle Fire’s November 15 release. I predict Amazon won’t be able to keep up with holiday orders. Check it out and pre-order here:
[asa]B0051VVOB2[/asa]
(affiliate link)
[reposted from...
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Kindle Fire looks like a good deal
Pre-release advertising for the Kindle Fire is very impressive. I am interested in checking out the Fire’s browser feature as well as usefulness of the apps. Amazon is taking pre-orders for the Kindle Fire’s November 15 release. I predict Amazon won’t be able to keep up with holiday orders. Check it out and pre-order here:
[asa]B0051VVOB2[/asa]
(affiliate link)
Original...
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Occupy Memphis
To the best of my knowledge, Occupy Memphis is has been totally arrest free. There is not much news coverage for the folks camped out in Civic Center Plaza. During my short visit Sunday to Memphis’ part of the movement that stemmed from Occupy Wall Street, I was impressed with the organization and commitment of the participants.
Visit the Occupy Memphis Site for more information and...
9 tags
Cooking with Joe - a couple of my favorite kitchen...
[Blast from the Past - Reposted from Joe Spake’s Weblog - June, 2010]
I have owned a few George Foreman Grills; they come in all shapes and sizes. They are good for quick grilling lots of things: burgers, grilled cheese, grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, sliced eggplant and other veggies, T-bone steaks, onions, and the list goes on and on. When you don’t want to fire up...
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Sometimes the best things fall through the cracks
[caption id=”attachment_19937” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Crockett Technical H.S. Yearbook page - 1923”][/caption]
The older I get the more I appreciate history, especially historical pictures. The kind of pictures that end up in drawers somewhere, eventually to be thrown out with the trash. Some folks keep those scraps that tie...
9 tags
Tribute to dead mall also offers "lost Memphis"...
[Originally posted on Joe Spake’s Weblog in 2010, this story has a connection to tomorrow’s post.]
The Marketplace of the Mid-South
I was looking up something about Memphis when I ran across a link to http://lostmemphis.com in a Wikipedia article. The link takes you to a page of http://mallofmemphis.org, a tribute to Memphis’s flagship shopping mall. The site is a captivating...
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BarCamp Memphis - November 12 #BCMEM
BarCamp Memphis 2011 will happen November 12
BarCamp is an tech UN-conference, open to all. Â Web 2.0 topics are addressed in presentations chosen and presented by participants. Â To steal a line from Forrest Gump: Â BarCamp is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get. Â Topics could range from software tricks, blogging, development, Â social media, or e-marketing, to...
2 tags
Will you pull your neighborhood together with...
Ever thought of starting a neighborhood website to share neighborhood news, recommend good service providers, sell, buy or swap stuff? A friend introduced me to what appears to be a new site, Nextdoor.com that serves the purpose. The concept is that the first person in the neighborhood to adopt Nextdoor, draws the neighborhood boundaries and invites friends to join a PRIVATE neighborhood...
2 tags
Will you pull your neighborhood together with...
Ever thought of starting a neighborhood website to share neighborhood news, recommend good service providers, sell, buy or swap stuff? A friend introduced me to what appears to be a new site, Nextdoor.com that serves the purpose. The concept is that the first person in the neighborhood to adopt Nextdoor, draws the neighborhood boundaries and invites friends to join a PRIVATE neighborhood...
October 2011
14 posts
5 tags
Cooper Young driving tour
Cooper Young is one of Memphis’s most popular and eclectic neighborhoods. Located in Midtown in Zip 38104 and part of 38114. Here’s a video tour I did last year:
Want to know more about Cooper Young? Give me a call!
Original Article
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Looking for a deal? Memphis' cheapest houses
People never believe me when I tell them they have a good choice of houses for sale for less than $10,000; many below $5000. Looking for a deal? Check out these from the Memphis Area Assoc. of Realtors MLS:
Some investors buy houses like these by the dozen. If you have some cash, some of these, or others like them could be quite rewarding to you urban pioneers out there.
[Note: This slide...
Luxury Midtown Memphis Properties — spake.com
If you are looking for luxury in-town, Midtown offers historic charm plus close proximity to everything Memphis has to offer. These properties and more are currently available. Click on the property photo or contact me for more details. $1,795,000 34 BELLEAIR CIR MEMPHIS, TN 38104 $1,250,000 580 S BELVEDERE BLVD MEMPHIS, TN 38104 ...
Luxury Condominiums – Downtown Memphis — spake.com
Experience the best of Downtown Memphis Living. Walk, trolley or bike to fine dining, shopping, and Downtown events. These luxurious properties and more are currently available. For information on these luxury condos, click the image, or contact me at 901-214-5563 or joe@spake.com. $999,000 109 N MAIN ST 1604 MEMPHIS, TN 38103 $599,900 55 S MAIN ST...