I’m often surprised that I don’t see more real estate professionals talk about social networking tools because real estate is really about relationships and social networks on the internet are just an extension of this idea. Social networking tools are one of the most powerful ways for real estate professionals to use the internet to connect with potential buyers and sellers. When you get a reference (or lead) from a social network, this person comes to you with a certain level of trust!

I am on my 21 year old son’s checking account for emergency backup
only. I don’t keep up with his account nor use it but the bank said it was
best to have someone who could access it in case of emergencies. My
question is…he is fairly frequently bouncing checks and doesn’t worry
about it since he has overdraft protection, but will this hurt my credit?
He doesn’t live at home but his bank mail still comes to our house. 
Diane

What’s the old saying? A mother’s work is never done. Seems like that
might be the case here. Diane is right to be concerned. If she’s not
careful her son could cause her serious financial grief.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NEWS

• Blackstone Group, the private equity firm that bought Equity Office Properties earlier this month in the biggest leveraged buyout ever, agreed to sell 17 of Equity’s former buildings in the San Diego area to closely held Irvine Co. for an undisclosed sum. The buildings sold to Irvine have 2.1 million square feet of suburban office space. The highest sales in suburban San Diego have averaged $428 a square foot, according to Real Capital Analytics. That would value the sale at about $900 million. Blackstone has also sold 61 buildings in New York City, Washington, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, since taking over EOP, leaving it with about 400 buildings.

HONOLULU — Even storing your stuff in Hawaii can be done in an upscale style, as the newest self-storage facilities resemble small resorts and hotels on some of the islands’ priciest real estate.

With 24-hour access, air conditioned hallways and use of fancy business centers and Wi-Fi Internet, storage companies are catering to customers as the industry that is booming nationwide becomes more competitive.

For those undeterred by the sales flier that warned a 96-year-old Columbia City house is “an extreme fixer, to be entered at your own risk” or by the “hazardous environment” sign on the door, Al Johnson left a flashlight just inside the entry.

“I’m on my second battery,” said Johnson, an associate broker with Windermere Real Estate, during an open house earlier this month. He posted this listing on a Sunday evening and got calls about the house every half-hour the following day.