TEMPE, ARIZONA – Chelsea Peitz says one of her roles at Fidelity National Title Agency is to help successful real estate professionals use social media to build a memorable brand and boost their bottom line.

That has earned Peitz, Assistant Vice President, Director of Social Strategy, a prestigious top ranking by San Francisco-based Inman, an industry leader that covers social media aspects of the real estate industry.

Peitz topped Inman’s list of the 20 best real estate Snapchatters in the U.S.

Peitz is a frequent speaker on real estate marketing topics and will be a guest speaker this month in San Francisco at Inman Connect, a week-long event that brings together more than 4,000 top producing agents and brokers, real estate franchise CEOs, marketing executives, and tech entrepreneurs. Her topic will be “Talking in Pictures: How Snapchat changed how we build our personal brand.” Fidelity National Title Agency is the only title company with a speaker at the event.

A graduate of Arizona State University, Peitz has more than 16 years of experience in the real estate space. She previously served as Director of Marketing at Fidelity National Title.

Peitz is an Inman News contributing writer whose pieces often focus on leveraging technology to grow business. She also educates real estate professionals and shares best practices to expand their careers.

“We are so excited and proud that Inman recognized Chelsea for this prestigious honor,” said Sharon Terhune, Vice President and Residential Sales Manager at Fidelity National Title Agency. “She is truly a thought leader in the industry and an asset to Fidelity. As a matter of practice, our team is always looking for the most innovative ways to help our best partners create a competitive advantage.

“Chelsea has helped the sales team create digital branding strategies and build authentic campaigns to enhance the businesses of our best real estate partners,” Terhune said.

According to Inman’s website, half of Snapchat’s new daily users in the U.S. are 25 and older. This group uses Snapchat 12 times a day for a total of 20 minutes. Users under 25 are visiting Snapchat 20 times a day and spending over a half hour on the app.

Says Inman: “Imagine all that reach to future homebuyers and sellers; it’s no wonder real estate has gravitated toward the platform.”

 

Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 135.31 points, or 0.8%, to 16,441.35. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index declined 16.38 points, or 0.9%, to 1,831.98. The NASDAQ composite slipped 33.52 points, or 0.8%, to 4,143.07. Benchmark oil for February delivery fell $2.98 to close at $95.44 a barrel in New York.

AVERAGE U.S. RATE ON 30-YEAR LOAN AT 4.53%

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average U.S. rates for fixed mortgages edged higher this week for the third straight week but remained low by historical standards. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said that the average for the 30-year loan rose to 4.53% from 4.48% last week. The average for the 15-year loan increased to 3.55% from 3.52%.

FACTORY & CONSTRUCTION GROWTH BOOST 2014 OUTLOOK

WASHINGTON (AP) — Expectations are rising for a stronger U.S. economy in 2014 after reports showed solid growth in manufacturing and construction spending at the end of last year. Factory activity in December stayed near a 2 1/2 -year high. Americans are buying more cars and homes, increasing demand for steel, furniture and other manufactured goods. Manufacturers have boosted hiring to meet that demand and may add jobs at a healthier pace this year. Builders stepped up spending on home construction in November, despite recent increases in borrowing rates. That suggests many remain confident in the housing recovery.

U.S. CONSTRUCTION SPENDING UP 1% IN NOVEMBER

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. construction spending rose in November at the strongest pace in more than four years, driven by solid gains in home construction and commercial projects. The Commerce Department said construction spending increased 1% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $934.4 billion. That’s the fastest rate since March 2009 and a slight improvement on the revised 0.9 per cent gain in October. Residential construction rose 1.9% in November, after falling in October. Spending on single-family homes has increased 18.4% year-over-year, while spending on apartment buildings is up 36.3% during the same period.

BERKSHIRE SEEN FAILING BUFFETT 5-YEAR TEST FOR 1ST TIME

Warren Buffett probably missed his target for the first time in 44 years. Berkshire Hathaway Inc., his $292 billion company, is poised to report that it failed to increase net worth more rapidly than the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index during the past five years, according to analyst estimates. It would be the first time the billionaire investor fell short of the goal since he took over the Omaha, Nebraska-based company in 1965.

WALMART SAYS IT’S CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION OVER DONKEY MEAT RECALL IN CHINA

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Walmart Stores Inc. says it’s considering taking legal action against “responsible parties” after DNA testing showed traces of fox meat in the donkey meat it sold in China. Walmart had recalled the donkey meat — which it said was considered a popular delicacy in parts of China — after DNA testing by a government agency. The company said Thursday that it withdrew all products from the supplier, Dezhou Fujude Food Company, and that affected customers were offered compensation. It also says it plans to add DNA testing to its meat products in China.

GOV’T WATHCDOG CALLS FOR ENDING UNEMPLOYMENT DATA LOCKUPS, SAYS UNFAIR TO SOME INVESTORS

WASHINGTON – A Labor Department watchdog has recommended ending a practice that allows reporters to review a key unemployment report before it is made public. The department’s Inspector General says media “lockups” for weekly unemployment benefits are a problem because news outlets can feed the data to investment firms and financial exchanges immediately after the 30-minute lockups end. Several news services use software to transmit data to traders, who then profit because they have the data fractions of a second before others. The AP provides such data to the NASDAQ exchange, which then sells the data to its customers. The Labor Department has raised its own concerns about the early release of market-moving data and responded to the report by saying it will consider ending the unemployment benefits lockup.

FIRE EYE BUYS MANDIANT, TECH FIRM THAT LINKED CYBERATTACKS TO CHINESE MILITARY UNIT

NEW YORK, N.Y. – FireEye Inc. says it has acquired Mandiant Corp., which linked years of cyberattacks attacks against U.S. companies to a secret Chinese military unit. The computer-security company said Thursday that the purchase of privately held Mandiant would increase its ability to stop attacks in their early stages. FireEye, which had a successful initial public offering of stock in September, said it would issue 21.5 million shares and options of its stock, which closed Thursday at $41.13, and pay $106.5 million in cash to former Mandiant security holders. That would value the deal at about $1 billion.

FIAT STOCK JUMPS ON CHRYSLER DEAL, BUT UNIONS WORRY

ROME (AP) — Stock in Fiat soared on news the Italian automaker will take full ownership of Chrysler, but some Italian unions worried what the deal will mean for jobs and investments in the country. In a New Year’s day announcement, Fiat Spa said it could complete its acquisition of Chrysler without having to raise new capital through a rights issue. Investors cheered the fact, bidding the shares up 12 per cent on the Milan exchange. The stock was up by as much as 15.8% earlier in the day.

SNAPCHAT QUIET AFTER SECURITY BREACH

NEW YORK (AP) — Snapchat, the disappearing-message service popular with young people, has been quiet following a security breach that allowed hackers to collect the usernames and phone numbers of some 4.6 million of its users. The breach occurred after security experts say they warned the company at least twice about a vulnerability in its system. Snapchat’s seemingly detached response is causing some security specialists to wonder whether the relatively young company can handle the spotlight that it’s been thrust into over the last year as its service becomes enormously popular.

WARNING ISSUED ABOUT OIL SHIPPED FROM N.D. & MONT.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Following a string of explosive accidents, federal officials said that crude oil being shipped by rail from the Northern Plains across the U.S. and Canada may be more flammable than traditional forms of oil. A safety alert issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation warns the public, emergency responders and shippers about the potential high volatility of crude from the Bakken oil shale patch. The massive oil reserve is fueling the surging industry in eastern Montana and western North Dakota, which is now the nation’s second-largest oil producer. The warning comes after a massive explosion caused by an oil train derailment on Monday near Casselton, N.D.

MACY’S, MARTHA STEWART LIVING SETTLE DISPUTE

NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia say they have settled a breach-of-contract lawsuit involving J.C. Penney. But Macy’s said the settlement does not impact its lawsuit against J.C. Penney Co., which is still ongoing Macy’s Inc. and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. said their settlement terms are confidential and not material to their businesses. Both companies said that they look forward to “a continued, successful partnership together.”

STUDY FINDS MEDICAID EXPANSION DROVE UP ER VISITS

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A new study has found that people enrolled recently in Medicaid went to the emergency room 40 per cent more frequently than others, often seeking help for conditions that could be treated less expensively in a doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic. The research, published by the journal Science, comes as millions of Americans gain health insurance this week under the federal health care law, many of them through Medicaid.

NEW DRUG APPROVALS FROM FDA DECLINED IN 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration approved 27 first-of-a-kind drugs in 2013, down from 39 new medications in 2012, which was a 15-year high. Despite the decline, FDA officials say the tally of innovative medications approved last year is in line with the historical trend. On average, the FDA has approved 28 first-of-a-kind drugs annually over the past five years. FDA drug approvals are watched closely by analysts as both a barometer of industry innovation and the federal government’s efficiency in reviewing new therapies. Experts say the number of drug approvals declined in 2013 mainly because there were fewer drugs submitted for review.

COURT GRANTS LAW LICENSE TO MAN IN U.S. ILLEGALLY

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court granted a law license to a man who has been living in the U.S. illegally for two decades, a ruling that advocates hope will open the door to immigrants seeking to enter other professions such as medicine, nursing and accounting. It’s the latest in a string of legal and legislative victories for people who are in the country without permission. Other successes include the creation of a path to citizenship for many young people and the granting of drivers licenses in some states.

SEC. OF LABOR REAFFIRMS IMPORTANCE OF LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

In a Dec. 24 interview with the Baltimore Sun, and on a conference call three days later with two-dozen reporters from across the country, Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez said “it would be literally unprecedented” if Congress fails to renew the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program that provides benefits to long-term jobless Americans. Perez said that Congress approved the program with broad bipartisan support in 2008, when the U.S. unemployment rate was 5.6 percent. The current unemployment rate is 7 percent. He added, “The hole that this Administration inherited in the Great Recession was a deep one. And when you’re in a hole, you stop digging. We must maintain these emergency benefits in order to continue climbing our way back to a fully healthy economy.” Perez also noted that when Congress reconvenes on Jan. 6, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will bring up legislation to extend unemployment insurance and move it toward a vote. “Congress can do the right thing in the new year and renew this program,” said Perez. “It will help people who want to be employed. It will help families keep going. It will help create economic growth for the nation.”

 

 

Real Estate Daily News Buzz is designed to give news snippets to readers that our (yet to be award winning) editors thought you could use to start your day. They come from various business perspectives, real estate, government, the Fed, local news, and the stock markets to save you time. Here you will find the headlines and what the news buzz for the day will be.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 70.96 points, or 0.5%, to 15,821.63 on Wednesday. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 14.31 points, or 0.8%, to 1,782. The NASDAQ composite rose 45.66 points, or 1.2%, to 3,965.58. Benchmark U.S. crude for December delivery gained 84 cents to close $93.88 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

TWITTER IPO CREATED 1,600 OVERNIGHT MILLIONAIRES
Market research analyst PrivCo has uncovered an amazing stat about Twitter’s IPO: It created 1,600 new millionaires, mostly from rank-and-file employees, it said in a blog post. Just for fun, PrivCo calculated the tax bill this IPO created, too: $2.2 billion. Read more here.

BEYOND TWITTER: THE NEXT WAVE OF TECH IPOs IS BREWING
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Just as one high-tech breakthrough often paves the way for the next big thing, technology IPOs move in virtuous cycles, too. Twitter’s scintillating stock market debut punctuated a procession of highly anticipated coming-out parties over the past two-and-half years, providing a springboard for a new generation of rapidly growing startups to make the leap to Wall Street. The next wave of potentially hot IPOs includes trendy services such as AirBnB, Square, Spotify, Dropbox, Uber, Snapchat, Pinterest, Box, Scribd, Flipboard and King.com. Most of their services are tailor made for smartphones and tablets, a crucial characteristic that helped feed the rabid demand for Twitter’s stock in its initial public offering last week. Despite the short-messaging service’s unprofitable history, Twitter is now worth about $29 billion — a valuation that has enriched its founders, employees and early investors.

PHOENIX SPENDING $27 MILLION TO IMPROVE SKY HARBOR
Following the announcement of the antitrust lawsuit settlement between Tempe-based US Airways and Fort Worth-based American Airline and the US Department of Justice and six states. The Phoenix City Council has approved a $27 million measure for improvements to the international concourse at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s Terminal 4. The council move allocates airport funds at city run Sky Harbor for new elevators and others improvements, according to the Arizona Republic as concerns mount as to keeping the two carrier’s current hub cities. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a US Airways hub. The settlement promises to keep the two carriers in place for three years.

CBRE RECOGNIZED AS A 2014 MILITARY FRIENDLY EMPLOYER
Los Angeles – CBRE Group, Inc. announced on Veteran’s Day that it has earned the 2014 Military Friendly Employer® title by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs and Military Spouse. This marks the third year in a row the company has been designated as a Military Friendly Employer. “This designation affirms our commitment to providing an attractive place for veterans to work. While we are extremely proud of our military-friendly policies and initiatives, we are even prouder to work alongside the more than 1,000 CBRE employees who are U.S. veterans, reservists and active duty military members,” said Jennifer Ashley, CBRE’s Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Marketing, the Americas. CBRE was chosen for the elite Military Friendly Employer title via a data-driven survey of over 5,000 companies.

TANGERINE LANDFILL TO CLOSE INDEFINITELY
MARANA – Pima County has announced that its Tangerine landfill, which is near its permitted capacity of 6.7 million cubic yards, will close December 1st. The landfill began operation in 1983, and was the first in Arizona to be fully lined. Additional waste disposal and recycling options include Ryan Field Transfer Station (residential only), Catalina Transfer Station, Waste Management’s Ina Road Transfer Station, Los Reales Landfill, and Sahuarita Landfill. In addition, several licensed private solid waste haulers are available to provide waste pickup service for a fee.

FINAL RESULTS: CITY OF TUCSON 2013 GENERAL ELECTION
TUCSON- Final results for the City of Tucson’s 2013 General Election have been posted by the City Clerk’s office. 68,427 of Tucson’s registered voters, or about 30.4%, cast ballots in the election. Final results: Click here

STAFFER IN TUCSON CITY CLERK’S OFFICE NAMED NEW PRESCOTT CITY CLERK
PRESCOTT- Yesterday the City Council of Prescott, AZ approved the appointment of Dana DeLong to the position of City Clerk. She will replace Lynn Mulhall, who is retiring January 3. A longtime employee of the Tucson City Clerk’s Office, DeLong has gained extensive experience in records, agenda, and elections management. She currently holds the position of City Records Manager. She holds a Certified Municipal Clerk designation and is a Certified Election Official. “We are delighted to welcome Dana to the City of Prescott,” said Mayor Marlin Kuykendall. “She brings a wealth of experience and she has a strong background managing the critical functions of city government.”

SPENDING CUTS, GOV’T SHOUTDOWN LOWERED US BUDGET DEFICIT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government started the first month of the 2014 budget year with a smaller budget deficit, signaling further improvement in the nation’s finances at a time when lawmakers are wrestling to reach a deal to keep the government open past January. The Treasury Department said Wednesday that the deficit in October was $91.6 billion. That’s 24% lower than the $120 billion imbalance recorded in October 2012. Across-the-board spending cuts and the partial government shutdown helped reduce expenditures last month, the first of the new budget year. Higher taxes and a better economy also boosted revenue.

NEXT GENERATION BIOFUELS STILL YEARS AWAY
NEW YORK (AP) — The first trickle of fuels made from agricultural waste is finally winding its way into the nation’s energy supply, after years of broken promises and hype promoting a next-generation fuel source cleaner than oil. But as refineries churn out this so-called cellulosic fuel, it has become clear, even to the industry’s allies, that the benefits remain, as ever, years away. The failure so far of cellulosic fuel is central to the debate over corn-based ethanol, a centerpiece of America’s green-energy strategy. Ethanol from corn has proven far more damaging to the environment than the government predicted, and cellulosic fuel hasn’t emerged as a replacement.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION POSTS 27,000 HEALTH CARE SIGNUPS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Putting a statistic on disappointment, the Obama administration revealed Wednesday that fewer than 27,000 people signed up for private health insurance last month in the 36 states relying on a problem-filled federal website. States running their own enrolment systems did better, signing up more than 79,000, for a total enrollment of over 106,000. Still, that was barely one-fifth of the nearly 500,000 people administration officials had projected would sign up the first month of Obama’s signature program, a numerical rebuke to the administration’s ability to deliver on its promise.

US PRODUCING MORE OIL THAN IMPORTED – 7.7 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first month in nearly two decades, the U.S. in October extracted more oil from the ground than it imported from abroad, marking an important milestone for a nation seeking to wean itself off foreign oil. A promising sign for a still-slugging economy, the shift could foreshadow future opportunities to boost jobs in the U.S., lower the trade deficit and insulate the economy from foreign crises that can send oil prices rising. But it also speaks to deeper, underlying changes in the way Americans use oil, as price-conscious consumers seek to limit what they pay at the pump. Not since 1995 has the U.S produced more crude oil than it imported. For several years now, domestic production has been on the rise while net imports have been declining. But data released Wednesday by the Energy Information Administration, the statistical wing of the Energy Department, show the trend lines have finally crossed, with crude oil production topping 7.7 million barrels per day.

AIRLINES BOOST ON-TIME MARKS WITH FEWER PASSENGERS
Airlines are doing a better job of staying on schedule now that fewer people are flying.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday that 83.8 per cent of domestic flights arrived on time in September, slightly better than September 2012′s 83.3 per cent rate. It was a bigger improvement over July and August, when summer vacationers packed the nation’s airports and about one in four flights arrived late. Hawaiian Airlines held its usual top spot in the ratings, with 95 per cent of flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule. Of the 16 reporting carriers, Southwest Airlines ranked last, with a 76 per cent on-time mark.

MACY’S FEELING UPBEAT ABOUT HOLIDAY SEASON
NEW YORK (AP) — Macy’s is seeing signs that a merry holiday shopping season could be in store. The department store chain on Wednesday reported a quarterly profit that handily beat Wall Street expectations, with the company citing rejiggered advertising and promotions for helping reverse a slip in sales in the previous quarter. In a conference call with analysts, chief financial officer Karen Hoguet noted that traditional gift categories such as fine jewelry, cashmere and housewares were trending well. She also noted positive trends for cold weather items such as coats, boots and sweaters.

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