Daily Market Update:Study reveals America’s most walkable city

TextStudy reveals America’s most walkable city… A rock-climbing wall… in a condo?!... Role of real estate agent unlikely to change says Trulia founder… More Americans buying second homes in Canada…

Study reveals America’s most walkable city
New York has widened its lead in a league table of the most walkable cities in the U.S. The report from WalkScore uses metrics such as availability of walking routes and pedestrian friendliness and New York scores 87.6, almost four points above second-placed San Francisco. Miami’s placement is noteable having climbed three places to number five in the table. The city has been boosted according to the report by increased vibrancy leading from the collapse of its condo market in the recession. Having seen a boom in condo building many units were unable to be sold and were rented instead, often to younger residents which has increased the buzz in the city.
 
A rock-climbing wall… in a condo?!
An apartment in Brooklyn has been listed at a price that would beat the highest-ever paid for a condo in the New York borough. The condo covers three floors of One Brooklyn Park and is listed at $32 million according to the New York Post. The home comes with a 3,500 bottle wine cellar, a gym including a rock climbing wall, a screening room and a terrace with a peach tree. The apartment has views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
 
Role of real estate agent unlikely to change says Trulia founder
Peter Flint, the founder of Trulia who sits on the Zillow board, says that the role of real estate agents is unlikely to see significant changes in the next five years. Speaking to Inman.com, Flint says that the industry will see “surprisingly little” change, noting that it hasn’t really changed much in the previous five years. As someone who has built his business on the growth of digital he says that QR codes have been the most over-rated real estate technology.
 
More Americans buying second homes in Canada
The number of Americans buying homes in Vancouver is booming according to a new report. Sotheby’s International Realty Canada says that American buyers are increasing faster than other nationalities as the low mortgage and interest rates and dollar exchange rates make now a good time to buy. James Upton, a real estate agent at RE/MAX Crest Realty Westside told the Financial Times that condos are a particular target for Americans: “Condominium prices haven’t kept pace with single-family homes, and that’s made the sector ripe for investment, especially when you consider that a stronger U.S. dollar takes about a third off the price.”