"Dear Seller": No Longer the Opposite of "Dear John:

Remember the good old-fashioned method of writing to the seller of a desirable house to plead your case? Check out this article for samples of missives that send another message: this is my final offer-- and here's why!

Good News, and a Conversion

Check out this analysis of real estate prices in the city. Meanwhile, real-estate journalist and longtime renter has a conversion experience and buys a house! Read about it here.

Sex (and Gender) and the City

Nothing seems to divide the sexes like "Sex and the City." The Chicago Tribune has advice for he-men who would rather "soak in a bathtub of lemon juice and slit our wrists with Manolo Blahnik credit-card receipts" than see the film. (For the ladies, the sidebar provides some lovely pictures of fashion at the London premiere). Meanwhile, The New York Times reports that even studio executives are stunned by the rate at which women are rushing theaters. Can we look forward to more spin-offs and/or imitations?...

Home Managers

Here's an interesting alternative to showing an empty home, which is never a good idea. Paradoxically, people are better at imagining their stuff in a place that is already full of someone else's stuff. To keep your property from becoming an anxiety-inspiring blank canvas even when you no longer reside there, consider hiring a home manager. S/he will live in and maintains the home in show-worthy condition, but can relocate at very short notice. Real Estate Bloggers report here.

What $1,000,000 Will Buy

If you are willing to take Sharm El Sheik in Egypt over Manhattan, you will get a lot more for your million bucks! Check out this entertaining slide show at Forbes showing exactly how far this sum will get you in today's international market.

New Construction Raises the Bar in New York

This entertaining article details the relatively recent phenomenon of New Construction Envy: the process whereby buyers who cannot afford granite countertops and spacious bathrooms nevertheless stubbornly refuse to settle for less -- at least not for a whole lot less money.