Today’s News Synopsis:

How soon before you house runs on batteries?  In a unique story, tile company Casa Ceramic is using optical illusions on their floor to get people to slow down and really take a look when viewing the home.  After making its way into the retail and restaurant business, Bitcoin is making its way into real estate.

In The News:

Realtor.com – “Your Next Home Could Run on Batteries” (10-16-2017)

“In the near future, your home could be battery operated.  This is especially true if you live in New York, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Vermont, Arizona or a growing roster of other states and municipalities experimenting with revamping their electrical grids for the 21st century.”

CNBC – “Bitcoin is finally buying into US real estate” (10-16-2017)

“Bitcoin is already in retail and restaurants — so it was only a matter of time before the cryptocurrency took on real estate.  That time is now.”

Bloomberg – “Distressed Investors Are Already Buying Houston Homes for 40 Cents on the Dollar” (10-16-2017)

“Bryan Schild drives through the byways of Houston looking for what could be the investment opportunity of a lifetime: homes selling for as little as 40¢ on the dollar.”

GeekWire – “Amazon will move into Macy’s building in landmark Seattle real estate deal” (10-16-2017)

“For 88 years, the historic structure at 300 Pine St. has been the epicenter of retail in Seattle, first as the home to The Bon Marché and later Macy’s. Now Amazon has ensured that it will continue into the next generation of retail, leasing a big chunk of office space in the building.”

Curbed – “Tile design uses optical illusion to slow people down” (10-16-2017)

“There’s just something fascinating about optical illusions in architecture, whether they’re eye-popping murals, clever cut-outs, or paste-on coverings. The British tile company Casa Ceramica created their own in a part of their showroom, designed to stop people right in their tracks.”

Mercury News – “Orange County developer unveils bid for Amazon’s second headquarters” (10-16-2017)

“If developer Michael Harrah gets his way, Santa Ana will become home to Amazon’s enormous new second headquarters, repurposing three proposed development sites in the city into a 10 million-square-foot, high-tech hub.”

HousingWire – “Could Dallas be the next San Francisco?” (10-16-2017)

“The words “tech market,” “startup culture,” or “unaffordable home prices” probably bring to mind San Francisco, the home of companies such as Google, Facebook or Lyft; however, a new city might be challenging San Francisco for its title.”

Realtor Mag – “Top Amenities for Relocating Baby Boomers” (10-16-2017)

“Baby boomers say they want to move to a home that has a multicar garage and that’s near their grandchildren, according to the latest Del Webb Baby Boomer Survey, sponsored by national home builder PulteGroup Inc..”