Viva Retirement! Looking South of the Border
(Hunt) 4pp.
Studies show that Americans retiring to Mexico are seeking a lower cost of living and better quality of life. Most still want to live where there are other Americans so they can socialize with them, and they want access to American products and services.
What's in YOUR Building?
(Dotzour, Thomas) 3pp.
Cities are encouraging builders to develop commercial buildings to meet energy-efficient LEED standards. Retrocommissioning, the process of analyzing system performance in existing buildings for the purpose of improving operations and maintenance, is becoming more common as owners struggle to maintain Class-A and AAA ratings.
Bubble Watch 2008
(Anari) 3pp.
House values are determined by net rents. Stock price-to-earnings ratios can be helpful when studying home price-to-rents ratios. Monitoring these ratios can yield a "normal" price-to-rent ratio for an area, which in turn can suggest whether a price bubble may occur.
Blazing the Preservation Trail: King Ranch's Legacy of Wildlife Stewardship
(Gilliland) 2pp.
King Ranch shareholders have been well ahead of the curve in their commitment to a conservation-driven land management ethic. As early as 1912, the ranch's business decisions were made only after considering their effects on the diverse wildlife populations and natural habitats of this legendary South Texas landholding.
Wind Rights and Wrongs
(Fambrough) 4pp.
Wind leases differ from mineral leases in significant ways. For example, signing bonuses are less for wind leases, terms are of different length, royalty payments are not protected by statute and surface rights are not automatic
Search for Tomorrow: The Science of Forecasting
(Hunt) 4pp.
Accurate forecasting facilitates better business decisions. But accuracy requires information that is not readily available. Although forecasting is a complicated and inexact science, it is nevertheless valuable
Green House Values
(Hunt) 2pp.
Some buyers choose green amenities for their earth-friendly benefits; others want lower bills. Green features generally do not add to the value of a home until sufficient sales data show that homebuyers in the local market are willing to pay more for those features.
Home Sale Rules Enhanced
(Stern) 1pp.
Several new IRS rulings accommodate the needs of taxpayers who sell their homes "early" because of "unforseen circumstances."
