1. Can Real Estate Transactions Be Far Behind? … An article recently in the Wall Street Journal (February 9, 1998) titled "Big Brokerage Firms Catch On-Line Bug: Competition Forces Introduction of Web-Based Trading," resonated with expected changes in the real estate industry. … According to Stan Witkowski, Prudential’s director of strategic client initiatives, "stock trades have become commodities that aren’t that different from firm to firm. So Prudential and others should instead focus on charging clients for advice. … Enhanced Web sites, client-to-broker e-mail and Internet trades should make that advice better." … Yes, real estate transactions are not stock transactions, but many of the same dynamics apply, and competition will likewise force real estate service providers to bolster their web sites.

2. Web Success--NAI Showcases Surplus Properties. … NAI recently added Proportunitie$, a new component of its listings section, to showcase surplus properties available from select clients. … You’ll find over one hundred properties from Amoco Oil with several more clients to be added in the coming weeks. … Do you have a Web Success story? Send me e-mail. … For hyperlinks to site mentioned above, click "PikeNet Dispatch" at the top of the home page.

http://www.pikenet.com

3. New and Notable. … Wall Street Credit, LLC originates, underwrites and closes real estate financings from its office in New York City. … ComTech Properties, based in Orlando, FL, offers commercial real estate services specializing in industrial property. … Dynex Capital provides commercial lending nationwide specializing in multifamily properties. … VB Realty Capital is a subsidiary of Vereinsbank that provides commercial mortgage financing nationwide. … Lease-On-Line is a leasing and sales listing service for the San Fernando Valley, CA. … Real Estate Search USA provides delinquent tax and foreclosed property data in AR, FL, NM, TX. … The Garibaldi Group provides corporate real estate brokerage and consulting services in New Jersey. … For hyperlinks to all sites mentioned, click "PikeNet Dispatch" at the top of the home page.

http://www.pikenet.com

4. Knowledge Base--How Many Web Sites Link to Yours? … The web is all about communication, so you want as many other web sites as possible to link to your site. … It’s easy to find out how many other sites have links to yours using the Alta Vista search engine. … Remember that Alta Vista does not search dynamically generated pages, like PikeNet, but it still provides a fascinating glimpse into how widespread your brand might be. … For step-by-step instructions, go to the PikeNet Knowledge Base by clicking the icon at the top of the home page. … Select the "Web Related" section and click the last question.

http://www.pikenet.com

5. Use pikenet.com, not pike.net. … Last week I completed the transfer of pike.net to another party. … Previously pikenet.com and pike.net resolved to the same IP address. … Now you must use pikenet.com. Thank you!

6. Top Level Banners. … I don’t charge Top Level Banner advertisers for more than 2,000 impressions per month. So for $1,000, your banner will stay up for a minimum of five months. … Last month Top Level Banners were seen many thousands of times more than their allocation, reflecting increasing traffic. … For full details, click the online "Media Kit" under the Billboard on the home page or use the hyperlink below:

http://www.pikenet.com/advertising/advertising.html

7. PikeNet Ratings and Graphics. … As I mentioned last week I do not rate a number of categories at PikeNet. … But I do want to emphasize that some sites within these non-rated categories should be at the very top of your list. … So you’ll notice, for example, that in the Research Category, I’ve designated some sites as "Top Pike" sites. This is the equivalent of a five-star rating and those sites should feel free to display either the Top Pike or the PikeNet Five-Star graphics at their web sites. … Yes, there are more Top Pike sites that I need to add, but it will take me several weeks to implement this new system. … If you have a PikeNet rating, I encourage you to post the PikeNet graphics at your site. … Go to About PikeNet and then PikeNet Graphics or use the link below. … Thank you!

http://www.pikenet.com/about/graphics.html

***Canceling and Subscribing*** … If you do not want to receive this Dispatch, reply with "cancel" in the subject field. If you would like to be added to this mailing list, go to PikeNet at http://www.pikenet.com and click "Subscribe Now" at the top of the home page.

--Peter Pike