The question: Would a pink room-a problem you could fix for the price of a few cans of paint-make the students less likely to purchase the homes? The answer, based on preliminary results, is yes.
The study is part of a growing body of research that is putting real estate under the microscope. Scientists are finding that psychology-everything from how a buyer perceives his agent to how a seller prices her home-plays an unexpectedly large role. “When the market was going up, these questions were mildly interesting,” says Michael Seiler, a professor of real estate at Old Dominion University and the coauthor of numerous studies in the field (including the one about the pink room). Today, with the market wobbly, “they’re much more relevant,” and the results of such research, he and other academics say, can offer useful insights to buyers and sellers alike.

Here’s a roundup of some pertinent findings.

Choose Your Words Carefully

For a seller, advertising that you’ve recently painted your house seems like a no-brainer. But in a study that looked at nearly 60,000 residential real estate transactions in Texas, listings that mentioned new paint, new carpet and/or roof work sold, on average, for slightly less than those that did not.

Thomas A. Thomson, the study’s coauthor and the director of the Real Estate Finance and Development Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio, says that buyers aren’t going to be fooled by a problem house simply because it has a fresh coat of paint. “It’s kind of like putting lipstick on a pig,” he says. But even if there’s nothing wrong with the house, an advertisement that touts new features could set off alarm bells. If a seller says everything is new, a buyer might wonder why everything needed to be replaced-and whether there are other defects lurking.

Thomson recommends sellers take the simpler route: Let potential buyers be surprised by the quality of the home instead of disappointed by how average it is compared with its description.

Looks Do Count

Do buyers pay more when sellers’ real estate agents are attractive? Apparently so: Preliminary results of a study from Old Dominion University suggest that, put bluntly, the more attractive a male finds his female agent, the higher the price he’ll probably be willing to pay. Women also seem to be susceptible to attractive female agents, although not to the degree that men are. (Neither women nor men seem to respond much to attractive males.) “I’d like to think I wouldn’t fall prey to it,” says Seiler. “But I think that the people who were in our study would have said the exact same thing.”

Welcome, Out-of-Towners!

Out-of-state buyers tend to pay more than locals for properties of equal value, particularly when they come from states with higher real estate prices, according to a study from Brigham Young University. Researchers looked at apartment sales in the Phoenix metropolitan area-2,854 transactions from 1990 to 2002-and found that, on average, out-of-state buyers paid more than 5 percent more than their in-state counterparts.

BYU’s Grant McQueen says it often makes economic sense for out-of-state buyers to find homes fast, even if it means shelling out more money than if they shopped more or negotiated longer. Otherwise, they can end up paying more in travel costs than they save on the price of the home. The other reason, though, is less rational: In what’s known as “anchoring,” buyers tend to pay more for a home when they’re used to paying a higher price elsewhere.

The Downside of Upbeat

A big part of any decision to sell a house is where a homeowner thinks prices are heading. So how do owners feel after the brutal market of the past few years? Surprisingly-perhaps naively-optimistic. A recent survey of 479 homeowners in 20 U.S. metropolitan areas found that people were about five times more likely to say their own homes would see their prices increase in the next 12 months than they were to say their neighbors’ homes would do better.

Robert Shiller, a professor at Yale University, and Karl Case, a professor at Wellesley College, survey homeowners every year to gauge how confident they are that their homes will increase in value. Only once, when the housing market was at its worst in the recent crash, did the poll results slide into the negative. In general, the average respondent figured his home was bound to jump in value in the near future. “People don’t change their opinions that quickly,” says Shiller.

Whether they’ll regret those opinions later, only time will tell. If his expectations are out of whack with reality, an overoptimistic seller could wind up waiting for a higher price that will never arrive. But pessimists should tread just as carefully: An overly downbeat seller could wind up dumping a house at a price far below what it could fetch a year or two later

CNN Black In America with Tyler Perry

CNN: Black In America 2 – Tyler Perry Exclusive

According to the Associated Press, this fall, CBS is replacing the soap opera As the World Turns with an hour-long daily talk show with six co-hosts — all women, all mothers.

Those hosting the as-yet untitled daytime show include Holly Robinson Peete (we love her!), Sharon Osbourne; Leah Remini of The King of Queens, Julie Chen (host of The Early Show and CBS’ Big Brother), Sara Gilbert of TV’s Roseanne fame, and Broadway actress Marissa Jaret Winokur.

CBS said today that the new show will take a moms’ view of entertainment and news stories. And it looks like it’ll be rivaling its fellow woman’s roundtable discussion show “The View.”

Holly Robinson Peete On John Mayer’s Racist Quote: “I Landed In A Good Part Of It”

Black Stars Shine On This Season Of “Celebrity Apprentice”

While surfing the web, I came across a chat board that posed the question whether women encourage men to be dogs? Blank stare. There were actually men who stood by this idea and argued it passionately.  He went on to say that when women dress seductively they are encouraging bad behavior from men. Of course I disagreed. My first reaction was to wonder how in the hell can a woman encourage a man to be a dog? If it were that easy to encourage them to do something then more women would be encouraging men to be loyal to them. But then I thought about it more and realized that this situation is possible. However only in certain instances.

For instance, those women who know that the guy has a woman/wife and still gives him the time of the day when he approaches her. Sure, the majority of the blame falls on him for cheating on his girlfriend but at the same time the mistress must and I repeat must take some responsibility. Especially if she is fully aware of the fact that he has a woman and still decides to become involved with him.  Another situation would be where a woman is complacent about her man’s cheating rather than encouraging. She knows her man is cheating but stays with him.

Lance Gross Will Never Have A Public Relationship Again

Other than that, I cannot immediately think of a situation where a woman purposely encourages a man to be a dog. Sorry fellas. The bottom line is that we all have free will. We all were born with the little voice in our head that tells us the difference between right or wrong. Or at least we should. It is our decision whether we are going to listen to that voice. It would be no different from a woman who chooses to be a cheater or to use men for money. Even if she has had a negative past with men, the bottom line is that it ultimately is her decision how she is going to respond to those experiences. Is she going to allow those experiences to taint her?

So can a woman encourage a man to be a dog?  In certain circumstances, I would say yes. However overall I would answer hell no. No one can truly force anyone to behave in any way. Especially to sleep around. Remember fellas, we all have free will. There is no one to blame for whorish behavior besides you. The idea of someone “making” you be a whore is laughable.

What do you think? Can a woman encourage or provoke a man to be a dog?

I’m a quote person – one of those people who’s always looking for unique words of wisdom to describe her life. While most of the time, I’m one to create my own mantras, very often someone else has already said what I’m trying to express. Lines from books, movies, or even song lyrics can contain interesting tidbits or insights that make me think, reflect, or just generally reassess my lifestyle. Quotes have a way of getting under your skin and the ones that agree with your internal ideals end up being the ones that stick with you and reaffirm what you believe. Why are quotes important things to read when times get tough or you just need some inspiration?

When I go through a new stage of my life, quotes can be a comforting vehicle that draws me toward the challenges that lie ahead. One of my favorite quotes is by a man named Horace Walpole: “The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.” I found the quote written on a tea bag and found it interesting, so I’ve always kept it in the back of my mind. There are just certain lines that never leave your thoughts and end up being “mantras” that you follow. Maybe you’re a “go with the flow” type of person like I am and are always thinking something along the lines of “just keep truckin’.” While you might not necessarily associate that with “quotes” and words that other people use, that IS a life mantra that you follow. Even if you’re not putting these quotes into words on paper, they’re still lines that you follow – an internal morality that keeps you going, despite any troubles that arise. Living through wise words, anecdotes, and the ideas of others that work is always a good plan to live by, as long as you’re also able to form your own opinions first.

How To Be Optimistic And Go With The Flow

What exactly is a quote, anyway? An inspirational line, in my own words, is one that enters your mind and never leaves – a group of words that leaves a lasting impression in your life. For example, in my life, I believe that the “yin and yang” are necessary for gaining a balanced perspective on events. A quote by the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu puts my life goals into better words than I ever could: “So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; sometimes breathing is hard and sometimes it comes easily; sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.” It might sound hokey at first, but using quotes like that one to describe my life makes it easier for me to convey to others what my values are. It can be hard, especially for non-writers or people who just don’t think that way, to express their thoughts in a coherent manner unless someone else takes the reigns. Everyone uses some sort of way to communicate with others and wants to be understood. Keeping that in mind, quotes in any medium are the perfect way to compartmentalize these thoughts into bite-size pieces for others to digest. If you’re at a loss for words, there’s always someone else there to pick up where you left off.

Where do you start when trying to find good quotes? The internet has a ton of ways to find exactly what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re interested in life quotes, this site right here is perfect. There are all different types of sub categories on most websites that have topics such as “love,” “aging,” “giving up,” and “being yourself,” etc. all laid out for you in one handy area. If you’re interested in reading, novels are a great resource to use to get a handle on your ideals. As for another medium, music that’s particularly strong lyrically (ie. Common) can be interesting to listen to and pick out themes that are relevant to every day life. If what you’re looking for is a visual media, there are also many television shows that deal with intense issues and value systems that say some incredible lines. You hear interesting quotes in every day conversation – anyone could be a quote-maker if they just looked into themselves and realized that they have something important to say. Think back to the last time you came up with a brilliant idea or thought. Did you write it down? Start recording your thoughts – those could be your life mantras or ideals right now!

In general, quotes are a way of life – they permeate the world with compartmentalized mantras that are the values, wisdom, and ideals of many. Even listening to your friends chat or watching the news, you could find that you’re internalizing some lines you hear in every day life. Those are your values and are important for your life. Using wisdom from others to live is a strong way to be, as long as you’re staying true to who you are. Sisters, write down your thoughts and be inspired by others – how else are you going to live your life unless you engage in it?

Photo: Michael Cunningham

It is certainly a rare opportunity when publishing an article to receive direct, positive feedback from people or groups who are personally involved in the topic of discussion. We recently published a list of 30 Black Female Leaders You Should Know About and were delighted to hear from A’Lelia Bundles, the great-great-granddaughter and biographer of Madam CJ Walker. However, we were even more honored when she granted us an interview to talk about the life of Madam Walker, her own career and the importance of the Walker legacy in the realm of African American women.

“She was a very resilient person because she had such a difficult early life.”

Speaking from Washington DC, Ms Bundles told HelloBeautiful that writing the biography of her great-great-grandmother was an opportunity for the world to learn of a real person whose character and life story was much more than that of just a millionaire businesswoman.

Madam CJ Walker was orphaned at the age of 7 and widowed by age 20, becoming a single mother. She was determined to make her daughter’s life better, says Ms Bundles, and like many single mothers became extremely driven and resilient.

“I used to play on her typewriter.”

Ms Bundles said that during her own childhood the constant presence of Madam CJ Walker was hard to avoid, but that her family attempted to make her great-great-grandmother’s memory seem as normal as possible.

“My mother was very cautious to not overwhelm me with Madam CJ Walker,” she said. “I was surrounded by things that belonged to her but I was never told you must be like Madam Walker.”

It was not until years later that Ms Bundles became interested in Madam CJ Walker’s daughter, A’Lelia Walker and developed an ironic resistance to her great-great-grandmother’s legacy, growing a large “Angela Davis” afro.

“I wanted a big afro,” she said, laughing. “My mother took me to the Madam CJ Walker Beauty Salon and they have me a big afro.”

Eventually a college professor insisted that Ms Bundles pursue the story of Madam CJ Walker in a course paper. This sparked a series of events, including the release of a stamp series featuring Madam Walker in 1998, and then the publication of Ms Bundles’ 2002 biography, ‘On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker.’

“It’s become my second career.”

Ms Bundles, who previously worked in the media industry, said the release of her book increased the exposure of Madam CJ Walker thanks in part to her connections and ability to share the book with a large mainstream media audience.

She said her own career had been influenced greatly by her parents. Her father had studied journalism in college but was unable to the penetrate the job market due to the small amount of positions available to black journalists.

Ms Bundles went on to work for ABC and NBC in Washington, Atlanta, Houston and New York City. With over 30 years of experience in producing, recruiting and reporting, she has undeniably set her own path to success.

But she said Madam CJ Walker’s legacy began to influence her professional life in the later stages of her career.

“Seeing how much she inspires other women has really shaped this part of my career,” she said.  “It’s become my second career.”

In recent years Ms Bundles has been invited to deliver speeches in London and Jerusalem, and has also shared her stories with audience ranging from the women of Bedford Hills Correctional Facility to the students of the Harvard Business School.

She said the reason why Madam CJ Walker’s legacy applies in these settings is because her story is, “relevant and inspirational.”

“She’s the patron saint of those women.”

As a precursor to the successful black businesswomen of today, such as Oprah and Ursula Burns (CEO of Xerox), Ms Bundles said Madam Walker continues to receive much positive attention because of her symbolic importance as the first African American millionaire.

When asked about other black women who aspire to greatness, she said many women lack the self-confidence to get started.

“There are a lot of women who don’t see their capabilities,” she said.

But this is certainly not the case of Ms Bundles herself. Following the success of her book, she is now in the process of writing another biography about her great grandmother, the daughter of Madam CJ Walker, A’Lelia Walker.

She hopes to recreate a scene from the Harlem Renaissance that has yet to be explored by historians.

A’Lelia Walker was heavily involved in that movement as a socialite and businesswoman herself. But her mother’s legacy has often overshadowed the extraordinary life she lived. Ms Bundles hopes to increase the profile of her great grandmother in a similar way she did with the biography of Madam CJ Walker.

30 MORE Black Women You Should Know About

The interview with Ms Bundles comes as an honorary bill is addressed in Congress, paying homage to the achievements of Madam CJ Walker. The bill, H.J. Res. 81, was presented by Rep. Charles Rangles [D-NY] this year in March.

A’Lelia Bundles recommends that if you are interested in supporting the bill you write to your Congressional representative stating your support.

There is currently a Facebook page dedicated to the bill and you can also read more about it on the GovTrack website.

Profiles and more information on A’Lelia Bundles, A’Lelia Walker and Madam CJ Walker can be obtained by visiting the official homepage.

An additional link that you may be interested in is the Madame Walker Theatre Center, an Indianapolis organization dedicated to supporting the arts and honoring the legacy of Madam CJ Walker.