New Trend: 24-Hour Real Estate Service

Moonlight Trumps Daylight... "The more unlikely the hour becomes, the more likely they are to purchase. ... They're here for a reason."

That's Michael Shvo talking about the success of his 24-hour sales office for condominiums at 20 Pine Street The Collection in New York City. ("It's 4 A.M. Do You Know Where Your Realtor Is?", New York Times, March 26, 2006)

Yep, it's true -- 24-hour real estate. And at least one agent, Michael Monterosa, loves it. "Working at that time of night, you feel like you're running the whole ship because you're there and you're in control." Monterosa's workday runs from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. But at least he doesn't have to cold call!

And starting Friday, you'll also be able to pick up an Apple product for your new condo at 4 a.m. That's when Apple opens its retail store on New York's Fifth Avenue. (New York Times, May 17, 2006)

You can read all about the craziness of a new Apple Store opening at ifoAppleStore ("in front of" Apple Store). These fanatics camp out overnight before an opening to be first in line. (News Flash: Groupies Swarm Apple Store, Dispatch, Dec 16, 2003)

Does all this 24-hour real estate get you down? Don't worry. You could move to Germany where retailers can "open only from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday [and] staying open on Sundays is prohibited, except for a few times a year." (Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2006) Oops.

Retailers hope to change the law before this year's World Cup. "As millions of soccer fans (including our daughter and son-in-law!) visit Germany for four weeks of matches ... retailers and restaurateurs want to give them every opportunity to spend." ... All true fans -- real estate, technology and soccer -- gotta shop.

Spread the Word... Many thanks to MindMatrix and my friends Harbinder Khera and Finn Johnson for sponsoring this week's Dispatch!

-- Peter Pike