I do agree with you Rob ( shocking!) Most realtor community articles ( including my own) are very surface, but for all of the reasons mentioned above, we have no choice!

So instead, we talk about restaurants, schools, etc.. Community threads like those on http://www.maplewoodonline.com or NJ.com are really where you can get the “heated discussions” on our local communities and read the passionate ( and many times ignorant) comments.

Its kindof the same thing we were talking about w/ @garyvee on being transparent.

I do agree with you Rob ( shocking!) Most realtor community articles ( including my own) are very surface, but for all of the reasons mentioned above, we have no choice!

So instead, we talk about restaurants, schools, etc.. Community threads like those on http://www.maplewoodonline.com or NJ.com are really where you can get the “heated discussions” on our local communities and read the passionate ( and many times ignorant) comments.

Its kindof the same thing we were talking about w/ @garyvee on being transparent.

First, it is my belief that real estate professionals should see themselves as “ambassadors” to the communities they serve. So, what does that mean? It means that they live the local lifestyle story–they own it. The understand the local politics, the state of the school system, the condition and amenities offered by the parks and recreational facilities in the neighborhood. They live and work in the community–they know the lifestyle.

As such, they can report on it from a unique perspective–one that goes deeper than the average resident, and one that propsective new residents might enjoy hearing (seeing).

And, yes, it’s about real estate. It’s about explaining the local zoning codes and the impact it has on value and character of the community. They can explain the permitting process and can convey that knowledge to residence who are mostly unawares. They can also (via video) capture some home improvement projects going on about town–whether it’s putting a dormer on a roof, or putting in a new kitchen–and this can be documented and shared with a video of the project, interviews with the homeowners, the contractors, city officials, etc. They can also, with homeowners permission, publish .pdf documents that show invoices and timelines, so that other residence can get a sense of cost and scope. There so much that can be done.

With repsect to the local news API, I can add a widget on my home page that is connected to multiple local news sources, from the community newspaper to the city paper and even to other local bloggers. It’s a live feed, and I control which publications feed into it. There will also be a real estate news api, which will connect to a variety of publications that focus on the real estate (both residential and commercial), finance, new developments, etc. On this api, I will act as a “curator” of the news, selecting only what I consider to be the best individual artilces from a vaireity of sources. The idea is to delver value to my site visitors.

There will also be a standard blog that focuses on both real estate and lifestyle issues. So you see Rob, it’s much more than just another local real estate blog–it’s a community platform with a tilt toward real estate and lifestyle.

Me thinks, Rob, your idea of what a newspaper is might be too narrow. Everything is not on the level on the NY Times or the Wall Street Journal–and it doesn’t have to be.

Consider this, in time (if I do this right) I fully expect some “traditional” newspaters to approach me and say “Hey, some of our readers might benefit from your insights on local lifestyle and real estate matters, would you like to be a part of our network.” Again, keep in mind news of the future will be all about networks and nodes within networks.

One last extremely important item–a fact that is lost for the most part in the re.net. While we are out there collecting stories, video taping events, interviewsing community leaders and local businesses, just consider for a moment the amount of real life networking that is going on during all of this. This is the real value, getting out there and networking with your community. It’s what the real estate business is built on. This canno be underestimated, and in many ways is more important that publishing the story, the video, etc. online. Think about it.

I’m sorry for going on, but I have so much to say on this topic and am very excitied about the future of news. I figure, in about a year after much content is added and I have a good read on the analytics, then we can decide on what exact category the sites falls into. Thanks Rob, I’ll remain silent now.

First, it is my belief that real estate professionals should see themselves as “ambassadors” to the communities they serve. So, what does that mean? It means that they live the local lifestyle story–they own it. The understand the local politics, the state of the school system, the condition and amenities offered by the parks and recreational facilities in the neighborhood. They live and work in the community–they know the lifestyle.

As such, they can report on it from a unique perspective–one that goes deeper than the average resident, and one that propsective new residents might enjoy hearing (seeing).

And, yes, it’s about real estate. It’s about explaining the local zoning codes and the impact it has on value and character of the community. They can explain the permitting process and can convey that knowledge to residence who are mostly unawares. They can also (via video) capture some home improvement projects going on about town–whether it’s putting a dormer on a roof, or putting in a new kitchen–and this can be documented and shared with a video of the project, interviews with the homeowners, the contractors, city officials, etc. They can also, with homeowners permission, publish .pdf documents that show invoices and timelines, so that other residence can get a sense of cost and scope. There so much that can be done.

With repsect to the local news API, I can add a widget on my home page that is connected to multiple local news sources, from the community newspaper to the city paper and even to other local bloggers. It’s a live feed, and I control which publications feed into it. There will also be a real estate news api, which will connect to a variety of publications that focus on the real estate (both residential and commercial), finance, new developments, etc. On this api, I will act as a “curator” of the news, selecting only what I consider to be the best individual artilces from a vaireity of sources. The idea is to delver value to my site visitors.

There will also be a standard blog that focuses on both real estate and lifestyle issues. So you see Rob, it’s much more than just another local real estate blog–it’s a community platform with a tilt toward real estate and lifestyle.

Me thinks, Rob, your idea of what a newspaper is might be too narrow. Everything is not on the level on the NY Times or the Wall Street Journal–and it doesn’t have to be.

Consider this, in time (if I do this right) I fully expect some “traditional” newspaters to approach me and say “Hey, some of our readers might benefit from your insights on local lifestyle and real estate matters, would you like to be a part of our network.” Again, keep in mind news of the future will be all about networks and nodes within networks.

One last extremely important item–a fact that is lost for the most part in the re.net. While we are out there collecting stories, video taping events, interviewsing community leaders and local businesses, just consider for a moment the amount of real life networking that is going on during all of this. This is the real value, getting out there and networking with your community. It’s what the real estate business is built on. This canno be underestimated, and in many ways is more important that publishing the story, the video, etc. online. Think about it.

I’m sorry for going on, but I have so much to say on this topic and am very excitied about the future of news. I figure, in about a year after much content is added and I have a good read on the analytics, then we can decide on what exact category the sites falls into. Thanks Rob, I’ll remain silent now.

I think I see what you’re saying. Your focus, then, is still on the local real estate market, rather than the local community. From that perspective, sure, going negative isn’t a problem.

What I’m wondering about is this: “active local news api”. Where is that coming from? If there is a publication/organization that is providing that news, then they are the true local newspaper, not you.

And FWIW, I think there’s value in being the “real estate digest which includes some original reporting”. What I’m suggesting, however, is that the audience for that then still remains real estate consumers, not residents of an area.

Compare any realtor website for Montclair, NJ with Baristanet and you’ll get a sense of the difference I’m talking about. I’m very curious to see how realtors get around these issues myself, so will be tracking your efforts, Tim.

-rsh

I think I see what you’re saying. Your focus, then, is still on the local real estate market, rather than the local community. From that perspective, sure, going negative isn’t a problem.

What I’m wondering about is this: “active local news api”. Where is that coming from? If there is a publication/organization that is providing that news, then they are the true local newspaper, not you.

And FWIW, I think there’s value in being the “real estate digest which includes some original reporting”. What I’m suggesting, however, is that the audience for that then still remains real estate consumers, not residents of an area.

Compare any realtor website for Montclair, NJ with Baristanet and you’ll get a sense of the difference I’m talking about. I’m very curious to see how realtors get around these issues myself, so will be tracking your efforts, Tim.

-rsh

By the same tolken, am I going to report on the recent mugging in the park? The answer is no, but I will provide an active local news api on the front page that tickers through local storys covered by the more generalst-type publications. If a story pops up on that api about the park mugging, then consumers can go ahead and click on the link and read all about it.

Newspapers, or media outlets, come in many shapes and sizes. The New York Time is one model, Vanity Fair is another…and still entertainment Weekly is a third. My point is not to get hung up on the term “newspaper.” In fact, I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that newspaeprs of the future won’t look anything like what they are today. Rather, they will be nodes in a vast network of news, but that’s another story.

I guess, what I will be doing can best be described as a real estate digest which will include some original reporting, but also links to other soruces that extend the conversation further. My philosphy is to do what I do best and link to the rest (thanks Jeff Jarvis).

Finalyy, shortly after the launch of the new site I intend to launch an industry facing blog that will cover the trials and tribualtions of my own experience with this project…so that otherss may learn from my successes and failures.

By the same tolken, am I going to report on the recent mugging in the park? The answer is no, but I will provide an active local news api on the front page that tickers through local storys covered by the more generalst-type publications. If a story pops up on that api about the park mugging, then consumers can go ahead and click on the link and read all about it.

Newspapers, or media outlets, come in many shapes and sizes. The New York Time is one model, Vanity Fair is another…and still entertainment Weekly is a third. My point is not to get hung up on the term “newspaper.” In fact, I don’t think it’s too far of a stretch to say that newspaeprs of the future won’t look anything like what they are today. Rather, they will be nodes in a vast network of news, but that’s another story.

I guess, what I will be doing can best be described as a real estate digest which will include some original reporting, but also links to other soruces that extend the conversation further. My philosphy is to do what I do best and link to the rest (thanks Jeff Jarvis).

Finalyy, shortly after the launch of the new site I intend to launch an industry facing blog that will cover the trials and tribualtions of my own experience with this project…so that otherss may learn from my successes and failures.

I would love to track your progress — I’m assuming that you’ll be blogging about the ups and downs and unexpected challenges and the like, or at least video-blogging it.

The thing I’m most curious about are issues surrounding transparency vs. authenticity for realtors.

For example, I’m wondering if these ‘media’ activities means you are not considered a realtor while engaged in there, and therefore not subject to the various FHA type rules against steering and the like.

Or even if we’re not talking legal issues, the big question is whether a real estate broker can speak negatively about an area, or an establishment, etc. For example, say you’re writing an article on a park that happens to be a seedy hangout. Do you say, “So Macarthur Park is dangerous after dark, and you can find crack vials on the playground — avoid it at all costs”?

I do think it’s a worthy goal to become a local resident news/info center; I’d just like to see how it’s done by real estate people instead of media people.

-rsh

I would love to track your progress — I’m assuming that you’ll be blogging about the ups and downs and unexpected challenges and the like, or at least video-blogging it.

The thing I’m most curious about are issues surrounding transparency vs. authenticity for realtors.

For example, I’m wondering if these ‘media’ activities means you are not considered a realtor while engaged in there, and therefore not subject to the various FHA type rules against steering and the like.

Or even if we’re not talking legal issues, the big question is whether a real estate broker can speak negatively about an area, or an establishment, etc. For example, say you’re writing an article on a park that happens to be a seedy hangout. Do you say, “So Macarthur Park is dangerous after dark, and you can find crack vials on the playground — avoid it at all costs”?

I do think it’s a worthy goal to become a local resident news/info center; I’d just like to see how it’s done by real estate people instead of media people.

-rsh