Saturday, March 17, 2007

Walmart Withdraws Banking Idea....Do We Have a Double Standard or Not?

I've written a few posts on Walmart and Steelyard Commons. One of the posts led to comments on Walmart's efforts to get further into the banking business. (you will have to read the comments to get this banking thread)

I'm not a huge Walmart fan, I think it's great that they are not taking the tax abatement for their Steelyard Commons location; I think it's great they are doing some community (commercial) programs in several states (including Ohio) that will supposedly help small businesses near Walmart. But getting into banking - other than providing ATM services or check cashing as other retailers do, seemed like the fox guarding the chicken coop to me. I do have a slight twist on this thought though. Apparently Target already has similar banking services to the type of service Walmart sought.

Pat Combs, President of the National Assn of Realtors® had an official comment on Walmart's withdrawal of it's efforts to increase it's banking services. She talks about how mixing finance and commerce is a bad idea for our country. I can't help but feel that even though Target and Lowe's may be 'better neighbors' (and I agree), it's still a double standard no?! I suspect Walmart would have had a strong case if they had continued in this effort, or, that Target and others with the increased banking items, might have lost theirs?

Someone may be able to help me understand why there is a difference here. Peace Out - 3C

Helpful Phone Numbers?


Browsing through any of the neighborhood redevelopment corporation websites is uesful. Today I was on the Kamms Corner site. They have a terrific list of useful telephone numbers -

Kind of a timely link here, since we have talked about predatory lending which can lead to foreclosures.

And maybe the best link; if you are worried about making your mortgage payments, DO NOT WAIT until it's too late to try to resolve the issue. Two things to do.

Peace Out - 3C

Cuyahoga County: West Side Condo/Town House Sales for March 2007

My last post dealt with single family home sale activity in March 2007. This is the condo side of the report, for the same zip code areas:
  • Data includes condo sale activity through local brokerages and our computer system (MLS)

  • Data covers condo sales from March 1, 2007 to the present

Rocky River 44116:

2 condos under contract

1 sold

Lakewood 44107:

1 condo under contract

1 sold

Cleveland's West Side 44135 none under contract, none sold

Cleveland's West Side 44111 none under contract, none sold

*Note: there are fewer condo communities in both of the two above zip codes

Cleveland's West Side: 44102:

1 condo under contract

1 condo sold

Cleveland's West Side: 44113:

3 condos under contract

1 condo sold

Peace Out - 3C

Single Family Home Sales: Cleveland's West Side, Lakewood and Rocky River



It's the weekend and time for an update on home sales. This is a 'single family' home report, by zip code, for a few of our west side communities:

  • Data includes homes sold through brokerages

  • Data from March 1, 2007 to the present.

Rocky River 44116

1 home under contract

6 homes sold

Lakewood 44107

6 homes went under contract

17 homes sold

Cleveland's West Side 44135

1 home under contract

12 homes sold

Cleveland's West Side 44111

5 homes under contract

9 homes sold

Cleveland's West Side 44102

1 home under contract

6 homes sold

Cleveland's West Side 44113

2 homes under contract

none sold in March (yet!)

Peace Out - 3C