Commercial Real Estate in Memphis and our Galaxy

The article in todays Dallas Morning News mentions the difference in opinion between Sarah Walkers father, who has publicly forgiven Kosoul, and Sarah’s sister, who feels very different. The local McKinney, Texas newspaper has a lot more to say about it.

From the Dallas Morning News:

“The evidence was overwhelming and showed the brutality of a cold-blooded killer. If the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst, I believe Kosul [sic] Chanthakoummane has earned himself a front-row seat,” Ms. Mull said.

From the McKinney Courier-Gazette:

Joe Walker, Sarah Anne Walker’s father, has made it clear he doesn’t want Kosoul Chanthakoummane, the 27-year-old man convicted of murdering his daughter, put to death. And he wants a chance to discuss the matter with Chanthakoummane’s jury during the punishment phase of the trial, which starts today…“I will do everything possible as long I live to prevent that [the death penalty],” Mr. Walker said. “As you probably know in many death penalty cases, the average is about 12 or 13 years before it [the execution] ever comes about. I will do everything possible to prevent that.”

Can you imagine the pain the family is going through? I have three sisters, a brother, and one son. Read more »

From today’s Dallas Morning News:

Both the prosecution and defense agreed that Kosoul Chanthakoummane killed a real estate saleswoman in a model home last year. So there were no gasps or emotional outbursts Wednesday when a Collin County jury found him guilty of capital murder after deliberating for 30 minutes.

Today, that jury will begin considering the case’s main point of contention: whether Mr. Chanthakoummane should spend the rest of his life in prison or receive the death penalty for fatally stabbing, beating and biting Sarah Walker and then stealing her jewelry in July 2006.

“I think the proof of a robbery was circumstantial, but we’re not surprised by the jury’s verdict,” defense attorney Steve Miears said outside the courtroom. “This case is about what the appropriate response is to the murder of Sarah Walker.”

There are a couple interesting details as you read the whole article. Read more »

From the DMN:

The punishment phase of the trial starts Thursday, with jurors considering a life or death sentence.

I’ll give you more info as I get it.

From the Sarah Anne Walker page of the Semper Fi Catholic Forum:

TODAY I WROTE A LETTER TO KOSOUL AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY..
EXPLAINING I PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET EVERYDAY FOR HIM..
AND ALSO THAT I FORGIVE HIM COMPLETELY. AND HAVE NO ANIMOSITY TOWARDS HIM. I PUT IT IN A COPY OF THE DIARY WITH OTHER MERCY PAMPLETS..

JESUS I TRUST IN YOU
JOSEPH Walker

From todays Dallas Morning News:

A man accused of stabbing a real estate agent 33 times in a McKinney model home last year was found guilty Wednesday morning.

Jurors deliberated just 30 minutes before returning the verdict against Kosoul Chanthakoummane in the killing of Sarah Anne Walker, whose body was found in the kitchen of a model home on July 8, 2006.

Here’s my pick for Mayor of our fair town:

Carol Chumney

and not just because she looks like:

Chloe O’Brian.

Because she’s the only person who can dethrone the King and is the only one who can make it safe for me to buy groceries without fearing for my life.

Here is a partial list of some other cool kids in Memphis that voting for the lovely Miss Chumney. Read more »

MAAR announced their recommendations for the City of Memphis Election tomorrow.

The most noteworthy endorsement:

Herman Morris.

I’m not sure if they’re endorsing him because he’s the best one for the job or if the board thinks he’s the best shot to dethrone the King. According to yesterdays Fox 13/Rasmussen poll, Carol Chumney and he-who-must-not-be-reelected are neck and neck. I’m voting for the Chumster. Carol. I’m voting for Carol.

Memphis based Crye-Leike, Realtors

Commercial Property Affiliate Broker Will Hicks

Completes Commercial Real Estate Course (CCIM)

MEMPHIS, TN.– Crye-Leike, Realtors Commercial Real Estate Affiliate Broker Will Hicks has successfully completed the Financial Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate (CCIM, CI 101) in Nashville.

“This course is part of the curriculum toward earning the designation of a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM),” said Hicks. “The CCIM is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor and user and is among an elite corps of 86-hundred professionals who hold the CCIM designation across North America and more than 30 countries.”

Hicks’ works with buyers and sellers of business and investment real estate in and around Shelby and Desoto counties. He is a member in good standing of the National Association of Realtors, Tennessee Association of Realtors and Memphis Area Association of Realtors in which he serves on the Member Services Committee.

“Recognized for its preeminence within the industry, the CCIM curriculum represents the core knowledge expected of commercial investment practitioners,” said Hicks. Read more »

Honestly, I haven’t watched 60 Minutes in years. Last week they bared their teeth and went after real estate agents and the 6% commission. Here’s a link to the transcript of the story, along with some excerpts.

Even with today’s housing slump, real estate agents will pull in about $60 billion this year. And the reason is, as any homeowner knows, they charge a six percent commission on the price of every house they sell. So, for instance, a home that goes for a half a million dollars will net agents $30,000 right off the top.

For realtors, the six percent commission is sacrosanct. It’s remained in place, even as the price of homes has quadrupled over the past 25 years.

But as correspondent Lesley Stahl reports, things are beginning to change. What happened to travel agents, stock brokers and book sellers – the encroachment of the Internet – is beginning to affect real estate agents. And the sacred six percent is under assault from online discounters.

Sacrosanct? As in “Regarded as sacred and inviolable”, Sacrosanct? 6% isn’t a holy number to anyone I know. Who told them that? Read more »

I’d hate to spoil the season finale, and possibly next season of Lost for you, so be warned.

One of the stars of Lost is selling his 4,335 square feet, 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom home in Maulukua Place, Haleiwa, HI for a cool $2,940,000. He’s asking for that, I don’t know what he’ll take.

I got the link to The Real Estalker from a Lost site I check out from time to time, The Tail Section.

Name and picture after the jump. Read more »