Category: Uncategorized

By Susanne Dwyer

Bitcoin started out as blockchain technology with an innovative ideology for a more secure monetary future, and is now taking hold in the real estate world. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, although not yet mainstream, show promise in an industry that typically prioritizes buyers who can provide secure funds for a property in a short amount of time.

Widely misunderstood, cryptocurrencies work through blockchain technology that creates a linear series of blocks of code, which are then used to create a record of each transaction and its access point. The technology uses unique access codes that can be used from nearly anywhere in order to share data in a transaction. Essentially, Bitcoin and other forms of blockchain currencies cut out a central authority, using varying individuals to authorize the payment in order to ensure an impartial and secure transaction.

Some alternative blockchain currencies have wavered in price steadiness, but Bitcoin has consistently gained since its initial unveiling in 2009. Bitcoin’s value skyrocketed to nearly $20 million between July and December, and has now leveled off to around $16 million.

Bitcoin boasts the following advantages (on its website):

• Freedom to make or receive payments from anywhere in the world and at any time
• Fees are not tied to the transfer amount and can be chosen at the discretion of the user.
• Transactions are more secure because they do not contain sensitive customer information.
• Users can protect their funds with added backup methods and encryptions.
• The Bitcoin supply is transparent and cannot be manipulated because it is cryptographically secure.

More and more real estate businesses related to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are beginning to form. One, the International Blockchain Real Estate Association, is a trade organization that was founded in 2013 and implements blockchain in real estate. The association states that using cryptocurrencies in a real estate transaction can “reduce costs, stamp out fraud, speed up transactions, increase financial privacy, internationalize markets and make real estate a liquid asset,” according to its website.

But the technology is not without its vulnerabilities. While the unique codes provide some measure of security, they alone cannot prevent cyber fraud. Just last month, a Youbit heist in North Korea made international headlines as one occurrence in a series of events to try and steal from cryptocurrency exchanges and individual investors. Even Bitcoin is aware of its own challenges; its website cites that the degree of acceptance is low, currency volatility is an issue and the software is still undergoing development in order to make it more secure and accessible to the masses.

Bitcoin also needs to compete against multiple popular cryptocurrencies if it wants to stay on top. Here are the biggest contenders:

• Ethereum
• Ripple
• Litecoin
• Dash: Digital+ cash
• NEM
• Monero
• Zcash

While some luxury homes are listed with a Bitcoin price tag, the industry is seeing a lot more rental opportunities welcoming the blockchain technology. For example, ManageGo is a New York-based company that allows renters to pay with virtual currency—whether that be Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin—all from an app. With this technology, landlords can eliminate the …read more

From:: Real Estate News

By Susanne Dwyer

The statistics are captivating: American Express OPEN’s 7th Annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report reveals that businesses owned by women of color have grown 467 percent since 1997. Numbering 5.4 million, minority women-owned businesses comprise 46 percent of all women-owned firms, have over 2 million employees and generate $361 billion in annual revenue.

In the recovering American economy, why aren’t women of color being touted as a powerful demographic?

Women are creating historic success in spite of difficulty accessing business capital, higher mortgage rates than men despite lower default rates and higher lifetime medical expenses. For women of color, a demographic that experiences high poverty levels, these circumstances take on an ever deeper significance. In 2016, the poverty rate reported by the U.S. Census Bureau for black women (21.4 percent) and Latinas (18.7 percent) was meaningfully higher than the 12.5 percent rate for women overall.

Furthermore, according to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), wage gaps endured by black (59 percent) and Hispanic (85 percent) women eclipse the current 25 percent gender pay gap. Asian women, who earn 87 cents for every dollar a man earns, are an exception.

How are women of color propelling their lives and careers forward in the face of opposition? Through willpower, sacrifice and an exceptional ability to make the most out of limited resources. In fact, a recent Urban Institute study examining loan performance shows that single borrowers, particularly women, are more likely to be minorities: about 34.1 percent of female-only borrowers are minorities, compared with 32.1 percent of male-only borrowers, 22.4 percent of male-female borrowers and 27.5 percent of female-male borrowers.

A Growing, Educated Market
According to Census Bureau population projections, from 2015-2060, Hispanic or Latina women will grow from 17.1 to 27.9 percent, black women from 12.7 to 13.3 percent and Asian women from 5.5 to 9.4 percent. Moreover, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that in the labor force from 2014-2024, Hispanic women will increase by 30.3 percent, Asian women by 24.3 percent and black women by 11.3 percent.

Important to note is that this progress for women of color is mirrored in education. The Census Bureau reports that since the year 2000, 25- to 34-year-old black and Hispanic women were “significantly ahead” of their male counterparts in bachelor’s degrees earned, and Asian women began to significantly surpass Asian men in bachelor’s degrees in 2010.

Supported by this expected growth, women of color are advancing gender equality and making an impact in the workforce that will be felt throughout the housing market and economy. As these women continue fueling their upward mobility, the elimination of gender gaps—both personal and professional—will only strengthen them and their influence in the women’s movement. The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that gender parity alone could add $1,750 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the U.S.

Desirée Patno is president and CEO of the National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses (NAWRB). For more information, please visit www.nawrb.com.

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The …read more

From:: Real Estate News

By Susanne Dwyer

Homeowners are getting older, and to continue on in their current house, improvements are necessary.

“Aging in place,” however, is not just about adding railings and ramps—in fact, 46 percent of homeowners aged 75-plus began improvements early with the expectation that they would grow older, but stay put, according to a HomeAdvisor report. The most common remodels, the report shows:

• Add Lever-Style Doorknobs
• Add Pull-Out Shelves
• Add a Smart Fire Detection System
• Add a Smart Security System
• Replace Stone/Tile With Carpet/Wood

Homeowners at an earlier stage, aged 55-75, are also making modifications, but not necessarily due to aging concerns (though they are, fortuitously, ideal for just that). These include adding automated features like a programmable thermostat or voice activation, and, in bathrooms, grab bars and higher toilets.

According to HomeAdvisor, a “holistic” movement is occurring—a comprehensive, and, at times, preventative, approach to living over the years. Early on, that could mean addressing issues that could be unsafe, like a cracked walkway. Later, that could mean cutting clutter and organizing (accessible storage, for example), or eliminating labor-intensive chores, such as adding gutters that clean themselves. The outcome is a lifestyle that is not only beneficial currently, but also crucial down the line, when age can impede the ability to carry out chores and upkeep.

Other key improvements to consider, the report shows:

• Lighting
• Modifications in Shower (Bench, threshold)
• Moving Master Bedroom to First Floor
• Ramps
• Wider Doorways

Source: HomeAdvisor

Suzanne De Vita is RISMedia’s online news editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at sdevita@rismedia.com. For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

The post ‘Aging in Place’ Begins Early: Report appeared first on RISMedia.

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From:: Real Estate News