CandysDirt.com Wins Best Blog Silver at NAREE2015 — Our SECOND NAREE Award!

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We are proud to announce that CandysDirt.com won Silver for Best Blog at the 65th annual National Association of Real Estate Editors annual conference in Miami June 26th. This is our SECOND NAREE award, as we won Gold in 2013. That it has my name on it is a formality (and space saver), as this award really goes to the fine professionals on our staff who make CandysDirt.com the best real estate blog in the country: Joanna England, Leah Shafer, Karen Eubank, Rachel Abrams Azouz,  Bethany Erickson, Jon Anderson, Amanda Popken, Dawn McMullen. Thanks to the Dallas real estate community and all our fabulous, beloved readers, for your continued support. 

Category 14: Best Blog

Gold Award – Polyana da Costa, Bankrate.com

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This is a good explanatory blog about issues of interest to homeowners and investors. It conveys a significant amount of mortgage information, which is not widely known, to homeowners. The variety of the stories is outstanding.”

Silver Award – Candace Evans, Candy’s Dirt

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This blog, which contains frank information about the real estate business and personalities, is highly readable. Particularly outstanding was a piece on former football star Deion Sanders, whose mansion north of Dallas has many ‘over-the-top’ features.”

Bronze Award – Cory Weinberg, San Francisco Business Times

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The blog contains diverse stories about such topics as driverless cars and traffic in the Bay Area and the condominium market in Oakland. It is written in a humorous style in a first-person voice.”

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Dallas area writers Steve Brown and Candace Carlisle of the Dallas Business Journal were also at the conference. Candace also took home a silver on a story she wrote about RE land ops around I-345:

Silver Award – Candace Carlisle, The Dallas Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “The reporter showed how a local developer was buying up large amounts of land around the I-345 freeway through downtown Dallas. It was an in-depth look at the real estate opportunities triggered by the demolishing of the interstate. The writing was highly informative.”

And Ben Lane at HousingWire took gold for a fantastic story on how fracking is affecting residential real estate:

Gold Award – Ben Lane, HousingWire

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “Fracking, which continues to be huge news in the U.S., is having an effect on residential real estate. This reporter examined the effect on neighborhoods and mortgages. It was an exhaustive look at something that is drawing a lot of consumer attention in many states.”

There were many fabulous winners, and our congratulations overfloweth. The entire press release is below, and we plan to run some of the winner’s story with links. NAREE is an amazing organization and conference, and the peer recognition is priceless. I’ve noticed it’s getting more tech, too; even former prez Brad Inman was on hand for the Silver book award, which went to Stan Humphries of Zillow.

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Association Headlines

 

NAREE’s 65th Annual Real Estate Journalism Award Winners Announced with Judges’ comments
Judges’ comments for each winner included….
Published Tuesday, June 30, 2015

NAREE’s 65th Annual Real Estate Journalism Award Winners Announced

 

MIAMI- (June 26, 2015) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) today announced the winners of its 65th Annual Journalism Awards, recognizing excellence in reporting, writing and editing stories about residential and commercial real estate.

Sarah Kleiner Varble, The Virginian-Pilot, received NAREE’s Platinum Award for Best Individual Entry.

Andrea Brambila of Inman News was the Gold Award Winner of the Ruth Ryon Award for Best Young Journalist for reporters 30 years old and younger.  Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal, won the Silver Award in the Young Journalist category. The Bronze Award went to Cory Weinberg of  the San Francisco Business Times.

The President’s Gold Award for Best Freelance Collection went to Julie Satow, a freelance writer whose work appeared in the New York Times.  Ken Harney, a freelancer for Washington Post Writers Group and Inman News, earned the Silver Award and Camilla McLaughlin, Unique Homes and New Home Source, took the Bronze.

NAREE presented the awards June 26, 2015, at its 49th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference at the Intercontinental Miami hotel.

A panel of expert judges from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University selected all award winners.  Professor Emeritus Patrick S. Washburn, a former news reporter and editor chaired the panel.

 

The 2015 NAREE award winners, with judges comments, are:

Platinum Award for Best Overall Individual Entry

Platinum Award Winner- Sarah Kleiner Varble, The Virginian-Pilot

Judge’s Comment on Platinum Award: “This reporter’s series, about numerous critical problems that homeowners experienced with Chinese drywall, was a clear overall winner. This is true global, social, and personal journalism: reporting on a genuine problem and not just a standard trend story. The writing was detailed and compelling, the interviews captured the human element, and the story performed a real public service.”

 

Ruth Ryon Award for Best Young Journalist

Gold Award – Andrea Brambila, Inman News

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “Her story outlined a conflict of interest between Zillow.com’s ‘preferred lenders’ and real estate agents.  Complicated information was presented in a readable form.”

Silver Award – Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This reporter particularly shone with a breaking news story that outlined how Microsoft founder Bill Gates backed a billion-dollar real estate development plan in downtown Tampa. She obtained an interview with the developer to uncover the story and provide context and background.”

Bronze Award – Cory Weinberg, San Francisco Business Times

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This person’s blog demonstrates that he is comfortable writing about diverse topics, such as driverless cars and traffic in the Bay Area and the condominium market in Oakland. His writing is humorous and uses a first-person voice.”

 

President’s Award for Best Freelance Collection

Gold Award – Julie Satow, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter particularly stood out for a story about the trend of wealthy Chinese moving from New York City to Long Island. Using good interviews and real estate records, the story was well written and detailed.”

Silver Award – Ken Harney, Washington Post Writers Group and Inman News

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This columnist is a true professional with a well deserved national reputation for his topical range and journalistic thoroughness and clarity in writing. The topics that he writes about are of broad general interest to a non-specialist audience, and he is to be applauded for explaining complex governmental issues that may be missed by the general public.”

Bronze Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, Unique Homes and NewHomeSource

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This reporter is clearly comfortable writing about a variety of topics, ranging from people sharing their homes with animal companions to the recovery of the luxury home market after the recession to homes maintaining themselves with ‘smart’ technology. Her writing is lively, informational, and informative.”

 

Category 1: Best Collection of Work by an Individual

Gold Award – David Migoya, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This writer’s three stories on real estate, banking, and pot in the Rockies were all strong. This was genuine enterprise reporting on timely topics. He utilized a variety of reporting techniques, including interviews and sifting through data, to illustrate the impact on Colorado real estate from the various topics.”

Silver Award – Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “These stories about the ‘Bluff’ area in Atlanta are compelling reading because they show how a poor area of the city changed. The reporter relentlessly stayed on this story for a long time and clearly left no stone unturned.”

Bronze Award – Amy Gamerman, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The reporter’s three stories tackled various topics, including one about ‘over-the-top’ winter fishing houses that included a big-screen TV and king-size beds. In each case, the topics were original and the writing was highly interesting.”

Honorable Mention – Sanjay Bhatt, The Seattle Times

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “These enterprise stories demonstrated how money often is king in the real estate business and the ‘little guy’ is hurt. The reporter put the human element in all of his stories and used hard data and numbers to illustrate the topics.”

Honorable Mention – Katherine Clarke, The New York Daily News

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “These stories provided a fresh, enterprising look at the sheer variety of real estate investments and developments in New York City. They included coffee shops in Harlem, the recycling or reuse of horse stables, and the boom in residential real estate in midtown Manhattan.”

 

Category 2: Best Column

Gold Award – Mary Beth Breckenridge, The Akron Beacon Journal

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This is an off-beat and fun column to read. The writer does not take herself or her beat too seriously. It is topically creative and her audience profits from her obviously having fun with words.”

Silver Award – Ken Harney, Washington Post Writers Group and New Home Source

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “These columns are thought provoking discussions about a variety of topics of interest to consumers and investors. He manages to deal with complex topics, frequently about the federal government, and makes them easily understandable. He also consults experts and does valuable legwork.”

Bronze Award – Lew Sichelman, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “His columns are clearly written and know their audience —those buying or building homes. No frills advice and suggestions are provided and explanations are jargon free about topics of wide interest.”

Honorable Mention – Michele Lerner, Freelance Writer, Bankrate.com

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “The columns target renters as well as old and new homeowners. In dealing with both specific topics and question-and-answer formats, she writes in a practical and concise fashion.”

 

Category 3: Best Home & Design Story

Gold Award – Katy McLaughlin, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter examined several famlies which had decided to live ‘off the grid,’ which means that they lived without utilities. The reporter utilized strong interviews, which included stories of people who lived both inside and outside of the U.S., to create a compelling, lengthy report that may have made others think about trying this.”

Silver Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “As the reporter noted, some people are ‘going to the dogs.’ This story described how more and more people share their home with animal companions, resulting in builders and sellers responding to the market by offering multiple pet friendly features in new homes. The detail in this story was impressive, including the mention that some dog houses are built to match the architecture of the main home.”

Bronze Award – Francis Storrs, The Boston Globe

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “If readers thought tree houses were just for children, this story showed that this was not the case. It illustrated that the proverbial house in the air can be built for today’s adults and is quite attractive to them. The story also had a short ‘how-to’ section for those who might be interested in building their own tree home.”

Honorable Mention – Stefanos Chen, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This engaging, quirky story described what may be becoming a trend: luxury homeowners taking on tenants to save money, take care of their pets, or possibly other purposes. The reporter wrote about the advantages and disadvantages of what some might consider an unconventional living arrangement.”

 

Category 4: Best Residential Real Estate Story in a Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Julie Satow, Freelance Writer, The New York Times

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter wrote about the trend of wealthy Chinese moving from New York City to Long Island. Using good interviews and real estate records, the story was well written and detailed.”

Silver Award – Audrey Hoffer, Freelance Writer, The Washington Post

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “In this story with colorful photographs, the reader was transported into a world of high-tech bathrooms. The reporter did a good job of describing what’s available in new technology in one of a home’s two or three most important rooms.”

Bronze Award – Sue Doerfler, The Arizona Republic

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The reporter described a caretaking service for luxury homes in which people are hired to live in them until they are sold and then move into another home, sometimes for a few weeks or even months. This article showed that there are some areas of real estate journalism that are rarely written about but which make very worthwhile stories.”

Honorable Mention – Candace Jackson, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “The story looked at the increasing importance of bicycles and bike paths to renters and home buyers. They are playing an important role in making properties rentable and/or sellable. Photographs from several cities and engaging interviews added to the story.”

 

Category 5: Best Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story – Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Joe Light, The Wall Street Journal

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter revealed a loophole that allowed Nevada real estate investors to acquire properties from homeowners’ associations at pennies on the dollar. A complicated story was presented in a highly readable and engaging fashion with good writing.”

Silver Award – David Migoya, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “A bank in Colorado was specifically formed to serve the Hispanic community, but this reporter showed that it made few real estate loans to Hispanics as well as doing little to serve them. The story was the result of painstaking research in home loan and other banking data. It offered strong and compelling evidence that the bank was not doing what it purported to do.”

Bronze Award – Chris Fleisher, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The Home Affordable Modification Program, as this story showed, was so complex that it failed to help the people that it was supposed to help. This detailed description of the program used good graphics and data, as well as interviews, to illustrate the problem to readers.”

Honorable Mention – Sanjay Bhatt, The Seattle Times

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “Institutional investor, The Blackstone Group, gobbled up many affordable homes in the Seattle area. This reporter, through interviews and the use of public records, showed the concerns that neighbors had about the new owners and the resulting rising costs of what were once affordable homes. The good writing shed light on a nationwide trend.”

 

Category 6: Best Commercial Real Estate Story – Daily Newspaper

Gold Award – Michelle Jarboe McFee, The Plain Dealer

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “Randall Park Mall, once a regional destination in suburban Cleveland for shopping, declined along with the neighborhood where it was located. As a result, it was about to be demolished as this reporter toured it and showed how it had been trashed and had become a blight. The story was compelling and talked about the promise of this property after the demolition. Good photographs added to the story.”

Silver Award – Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This story described how a changing sociological landscape has triggered a demand for self-storage facilities. The reporter showed how some developers were taking advantage of this trend in a blue-collar market segment and were profiting from it.”

Bronze Award – Steve Raabe, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The legalization of marijuana in Colorado has had enormous impact on many aspects of life in the state, including the commercial real estate market. This story explored how the once ‘down-in-the-dumps’ warehouse market had skyrocketed as an enormous need for the product had risen accordingly. The story was well written.”

Honorable Mention – Nancy Sarnoff, Houston Chronicle

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “When the world’s richest oil company, Exxon Mobil, builds a three-million-square-foot office complex, it can’t help but impact nearly every aspect of Houston. In a comprehensive account, the reporter explored the ramifications of the development on housing, traffic, schools, and stores. Company photographs and other graphics added enormously to this story.”

 

Category 7: Best Small Daily Newspaper Story

Gold Award – Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter examined zombie foreclosures, which result when financial lenders take long periods of time, frequently years, to complete the process. This sometimes leaves neighborhoods in distress, making it difficult to sell houses.  These types of foreclosures, which are beginning to draw increasing attention, were described in an interesting fashion by the reporter, who showed readers why they should care about this. The story resulted in a new city ordinance.”

Silver Award – June Fletcher, Naples Daily News

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This was an important story about a trend in real estate buying: home prices in some areas are often out-of-reach for working class people, who fuel the economy but cannot afford to live there anymore. The story focused on Collier County in Florida. The writing style was accessible and engaging.”

Bronze Award – Harold Bubil, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “Can the rumor of a friendly ghost help sell a house? A family in Punta Gorda, Fla., thought it could, and they were asking $1.59 million for their home. The reporter took a reader through the various ghost ‘sightings’ in a highly interesting and lively story that never forgot what reporters are told, ‘Keep the reader turning the page.’”

 

Category 8: Best Weekly Newspaper Story

Gold Award – Sam Black, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This reporter showed how the St. Paul Port Authority has enormous influence in local real estate development although the process of how it works is largely unknown by the public. The reporter interviewed developers and others who had concerns about the transparency and fairness of what occurred when real estate deals were made. It was a detailed and well explained account.”

Silver Award – Candace Carlisle, The Dallas Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “The reporter showed how a local developer was buying up large amounts of land around the I-345 freeway through downtown Dallas. It was an in-depth look at the real estate opportunities triggered by the demolishing of the interstate. The writing was highly informative.”

 

Category 9: Best Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Magazine Story, General Circulation

Gold Award – Al Barbarino, Real Estate Capital

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This is a report on an emerging and interesting trend of U.S. developers tapping the Israeli bond market to provide financing for American real estate investments and projects. Although others have reported on this story, this was a more in-depth look at the history and ramifications of this trend.”

Silver Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, Unique Homes

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This was an informative service article on the recovery of the luxury home market after the recent recession. The reporter interviewed economists and housing experts to get a sense of where the market was headed and showed that it clearly was rebounding.”

 

Category 10: Best Trade Magazine Story

Gold Award – Ben Lane, HousingWire

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “Fracking, which continues to be huge news in the U.S., is having an effect on residential real estate. This reporter examined the effect on neighborhoods and mortgages. It was an exhaustive look at something that is drawing a lot of consumer attention in many states.”

Silver Award – Al Barbarino, Commercial Observer

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This was a different take on a real estate story. It looked at how juice bars are beginning to occupy many New York City blocks. Despite their popularity among consumers, the reporter found that the product might not live up to the hype.”

Bronze Award – Marcie Geffner, Freelance Writer, New Home Source

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This is a consumer story that offered practical tips on how to better use space in a home. The reporter consulted a variety of experts and made practical and concise suggestions.”

 

Category 11: Best Commercial Trade Magazine Story

Gold Award – Rich Bockmann, The Real Deal Magazine

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “In looking at how parking lots are disappearing in the west side of Manhattan and being replaced by buildings, the reporter interviewed owners and checked property records and other documents. Photographs helped flesh out the story. The story was interesting and eye catching.”

Silver Award – Anna Spiewak, Commercial Property Executive

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “The story reported on an emerging and expanding method of real estate financing, crowdfunding (the allowing of small investors to have a stake in commercial property). The reporter interviewed financing experts and real estate investors about how a non-wealthy person could get involved in this trend. It was a very reader friendly story.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This was an examination of the phenomenon of bulk buying single family homes that were then rented out. It was a lively and interesting consumer article that was detailed and comprehensive.”

Honorable Mention – Mike Ratliff, Commercial Property Executive

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This story examined the emergence of a new institutionalized asset class of investors for single family rentals that arose from the ashes of the national foreclosure crisis and looked at what markets were most affected.”

 

Category 12: Best Online Residential, Mortgage or Financial Real Estate Story

Co-Gold Award – Deborah Nelson, Ryan McNeill and Duff Wilson, Reuters

Judge’s Comment on Co-Gold Award: “This reporter examined how home buyers are flocking to America’s seashores even as they are disappearing into the oceans. In one of the strongest entries in any category of this year’s contest, the story was outstanding because of the amount of information that was provided to back up what is occurring. As the article pointed out, the great irony is that the great demand for ocean-front property is rising along with the seas. Good art helped this entry.”

Co-Gold Award – Michelle Conlin, Reuters

Judge’s Comment on Co-Gold Award: “This story, about financial institutions imposing gag orders on mortgage borrowers, led to an investigation by the state of New York, which ordered them to end the practice. The reporting exposed the paradox of consumers having to give up their free speech rights in order to secure their financial well being.”

Silver Award – Andrea Brambila, Inman News

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “The story outlined a conflict of interest between Zillow.com’s ‘preferred lenders’ and real estate agents.  Complicated information was presented in a readable form.”

Bronze Award – Camilla McLaughlin, Freelance Writer, NewHomeSource

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This reporter showed how homes are increasingly becoming an ‘internet of things,’ which means that they are able to maintain themselves through ‘smart’ technology. It was a lively and informational consumer report.”

 

Category 13: Best Online Commercial Real Estate Story

Gold Award – Heather Perlberg, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This story, which examined the effects of legalized marijuana on the Denver area, was an example of how a recent development can change the operations of the real estate market. It was a detailed and well reported examination of the demand for marijuana-related properties.”

Silver Award – Randyl Drummer, CoStar News

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This story highlighted a recent national trend—the use of vacant mall space for medical offices. The reporter used numerous interviews to complement details and numbers and bring the issue to life for readers.”

Bronze Award – Nadja Brandt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The reporter described dramatic real estate changes in Southern California’s legendary Sunset Strip. Using numerous interviews with investors, city officials, and business owners, the story outlined how luxury hotels, stores, and restaurants were replacing existing landmarks, such as erotica shops and blues clubs.”

Honorable Mention – David M. Levitt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This story was an engaging in-depth look at New York City dealmaker David Werner, who had shunned the press. The reporter interviewed associates and used background data about his purchases, including the highest price for a single city building in four years, to bring this unconventional businessman to life.”

 

Category 14: Best Blog

Gold Award – Polyana da Costa, Bankrate.com

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This is a good explanatory blog about issues of interest to homeowners and investors. It conveys a significant amount of mortgage information, which is not widely known, to homeowners. The variety of the stories is outstanding.”

Silver Award – Candace Evans, Candy’s Dirt

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This blog, which contains frank information about the real estate business and personalities, is highly readable. Particularly outstanding was a piece on former football star Deion Sanders, whose mansion north of Dallas has many ‘over-the-top’ features.”

Bronze Award – Cory Weinberg, San Francisco Business Times

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The blog contains diverse stories about such topics as driverless cars and traffic in the Bay Area and the condominium market in Oakland. It is written in a humorous style in a first-person voice.”

 

Category 15: Best Audio or Video Report—Broadcast or Online, Radio or Television

Gold Award – Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac Report

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This broadcast report examined in detail the phenomenon of house flipping. Making it particularly strong were the interviews with people who were actively engaged in this practice. It covered all angles and was interesting.”

Silver Award – Kiel Hauck, Angie’s List Magazine

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This podcast offered practical information about budgeting and managing home repairs. It used simple language to make clear an otherwise intimidating topic.”

 

Category 16: Best Breaking News Story

Gold Award – Heather Perlberg, Nadja Brandt, and David M. Levitt, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “When New York City’s legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel was sold to a Chinese insurance company, it made international news. This story covered nearly all aspects of the sale and added context and history that many readers would have been unaware of. An otherwise formal business story was laced with nuggets of the property’s heritage and history.”

Silver Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This was a brisk story reported on deadline about the potential impact on a West Palm Beach neighborhood encompassing an addiction recovery center. In an additional angle, the project is near a historic district. It was a strong entry because of the clear writing about a complicated topic.”

Bronze Award- Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Tampa Bay Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This story outlined how Microsoft founder Bill Gates backed a billion-dollar real estate development plan in downtown Tampa. The reporter obtained an interview with the developer to uncover the story and provide context and background.”

Honorable Mention – Susan Lundine, Meg Ribbens, Abraham Aboraya and Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This story broke the news that the block housing occupied by The Orlando Sentinel was scheduled for commercial real estate development. The business journal beat The Sentinel on the story about its own building, causing reporters from The Sentinel to come to the reporter for details. The story provided details about the project and its impact on the city.”

 

Category 17: Best Investigative Report or Investigative Series

Gold Award – Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This series about real estate short sales led to a government investigation by Nevada and ultimate policy changes by the state and a national real estate association. In addition to using hard data numbers, the reporter used a human element in the writing that made the story compelling reading. The series exposed insider deals and showed the value of hardcore journalism.”

Silver Award – Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “Based on a six-month investigation of foreclosures, using two federal databases, this series led to an investigation by the FBI and the Treasury Department. This is clearly a national problem, and the reporter brought it to the attention of the public in a clear and concise manner.”

Bronze Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This was a strong series that uncovered mortgage foreclosure issues relying heavily on documents from public records.  The stories resulted in an investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.”

Honorable Mention – Dan Freed, TheStreet.com

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “Where did the money go that the government collected from fines levied in the financial crisis? This series showed that much of it went back indirectly to banks and not to homeowners. The reporter did a good job of showing how the government works in comparison to how it should work.”

 

Category 18: Best Series

Gold Award – Willoughby Mariano, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This story was about a single investor buying homes in a poor area of Atlanta and how that changes the neighborhood. It was both a human interest and hard news story that the reporter put together through a dogged investigation and legwork. This issue is emblematic of what is happening in other parts of the country.”

Silver Award – Kimberly Miller, The Palm Beach Post

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This was a briskly presented overview of the challenges buyers faced in a rapidly rising Florida real estate market. The graphics beautifully complemented the narrative, which explained a complex story in a very readable fashion.”

Bronze Award – Aldo Svaldi, Steve Raabe and Mark Jaffe, The Denver Post

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This was an overview of current trends affecting the Colorado real estate market, including purchases by foreign buyers and the effect of legalized marijuana. It was an exhaustive and comprehensive examination of current developments in the Denver area.”

Honorable Mention – Teke Wiggin, Inman News

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This entry reported on how quality-of-life-data about crime can affect property sales and possibly promote segregated residential areas. Resulting in an investigation by the National Fair Housing Alliance, the series was compelling as was the writing.”

 

Category 19: Best Team Report

Gold Award – John Gittelsohn and Heather Perlberg, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This was an outstanding example of watchdog journalism that made effective use of public records.  The topic was difficult to uncover, but the reporter showed resourcefulness and brought the topic home with compelling writing.”

Silver Award – Anthony Effinger and Katherine Burton, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “Writing on a topic that is not widely reported, the ownership of numerous trailer parks, this report brought home to readers a segment of real estate news that is booming. Particularly interesting was how two Harvard MBA graduates forsook going to work at corporations and instead have become highly successful in trailer park investment. The story was very well written.”

Bronze Award – Neil Callanan and Patrick Gower, Bloomberg News

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This report demonstrated how virtue might not checkmate vice but property values could. Showing how prostitution was displaced by skyrocketing property values in London, it was a sensitive but compelling look at an emerging trend in a major real estate market. It was clearly written and easy to read.”

Honorable Mention – Arielle Kass and J. Scott Trubey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Judge’s Comment on Honorable Mention: “This examination of a Georgia banker, who disappeared after his bank crashed and investors lost money, was a serious, non-tabloid crime story. Written as a detective story and containing the suspense of a mystery, the writing invited the reader to keep going. In the end, there was a resolution, and readers were not left hanging.”

 

Category 20: Best Design, Home or Shelter Magazine

Gold Award – Gail Ravgiala, Design New England

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This is an elegant publication with sumptuous photography and a lot of user friendly information. It makes New England look attractive, no matter what the season, and even those who don’t live there will find useful information for their homes.”

Silver Award – Dan DiClerico, Consumer Reports

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This respected magazine offers a large amount of information to consumers on topics regarding their homes. Undoubtedly, many readers saved the issue entered in this contest to consult for current as well as future home projects.”

Bronze Award – Melissa C. Gillespie, Ocean Home Magazine

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “For those who can afford ocean-front property, this is a valuable and appealing magazine. It has a creative design and offers prospective homeowners a smorgasbord of architectural and interior design ideas.”

 

Category 21: Best Residential Trade Magazine

Co-Gold Award – Denise Dersin, Professional Builder

Judge’s Comment on Co-Gold Award: “This magazine has a lot of information that is attractively packaged. It uses a good presentation and enticing graphics.”

Co-Gold Award – Matt Power, GreenBuilder Magazine

Judge’s Comment on Co-Gold Award: “This magazine has a clear and reader-friendly design along with strong graphics and presents data in a useful and accessible format. It also has striking photography. It addresses an important audience segment.”

Bronze Award – Rania Efthemes and Will McDermott, Scotsman Guide, Residential

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “Scotsman Guide is a well organized publication with an easy to read format. Stories are informational and concise.”

 

Category 22: Best Commercial Trade Magazine

Gold Award – Jennifer Molloy, The Institutional Real Estate Letter – Asia Pacific

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This magazine is very attractive and full of good information. It clearly meets the needs of its audience and goes beyond press releases to get at the news.”

Silver Award – Matt Valley, Seniors Housing Business

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “Addressing a growing niche in the real estate field, this magazine has a sharp design and solid editorial content. It covers an increasingly important demographic group, which is a timely topic.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, David Bodamer, Susan Piperato and Kathy McGilvery, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This publication is clear and attractive. It offers a wide range of topics, which are professionally reported and well presented.”

 

Category 23: Best Newsletter

Gold Award – Heather Ogilvie and Carol Johnson Perkins, Fair Housing Coach

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This newsletter features a simple but clear presentation about serious social challenges around the nation, and it is far from real estate fluff. There is a sensitive handling of serious topics.”

Silver Award – Daren Blomquist, Housing News Report

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This is a sophisticated newsletter full of good and interesting information with a mix of news and features. It is a highly professional publication.”

Bronze Award – Patricia Garcia, New Home Source Home of the Week

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The presentation is attractive with practical content. A comprehensive package, it covers a variety of topics.”

 

Category 24: Best Newspaper Real Estate or Home Section

Gold Award – Dan Beucke, Samantha Gowen, Jeff Collins, Marilyn Kalfus and Jonathan Lansner, Orange County Register

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This newspaper section has attractive front pages with a great use of color and good photographs. The articles are well written on interesting topics and serve readers well. It is a very timely section.”

Silver Award – Emily Gitter, Beth DeCarbo, Stephanie Capparell and Suein Hwang, The Wall Street Journal – Mansion

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “Outstanding photographs contribute greatly to the stories being told, and the writing is lively and interesting on a range of topics. This section is particularly notable for its large number of stories each week.”

Bronze Award – Brenda Richardson, The Chicago Tribune

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “This section has a good mix of practical and informational stories, which are presented attractively. It contains service stories in the best sense of the term.”

 

Category 25: Best Web Site

Gold Award – Matt Power, Melissa Smith, Mary Kestner, Heather Wallace and Catie O’Keefe, GreenBuilder Magazine

Judge’s Comment on Gold Award: “This web site, which is lively and easy to navigate, has compelling content. In addition, the design is clear and attractive. All of this makes it clearly the best entry in this category.”

Silver Award – Katie Hamilton and Gene Hamilton, DIY Do it Yourself or Not – www.DIYornot.com

Judge’s Comment on Silver Award: “This site is practical with stories that answer the questions of its audience. The content is clearly written, making it very reader friendly.”

Bronze Award – Elaine Misonzhnik, David Bodamer, Susan Piperato and Kathy McGilvery, National Real Estate Investor

Judge’s Comment on Bronze Award: “The reader is offered a wide variety of topics in this easy to use web site. The design is clean and appealing.”

 

The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) is a non-profit journalism organization founded in 1929.  www.NAREE.org.

 

Contact: Maryl Doyble-Kimball

NAREE Executive Director

561-391-1983

Posted in

Candy Evans, founder and publisher of CandysDirt.com, is one of the nation’s leading real estate reporters.

6 Comments

  1. Leah Shafer on July 6, 2015 at 3:02 pm

    WOOOHOOOO!! Happy dance!!

  2. Joanna England on July 6, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    Ridiculously proud of this team!

  3. HP on July 7, 2015 at 8:46 am

    way to go! well deserved!

  4. Peyton on July 7, 2015 at 9:11 am

    Fantastic!!! Congratulations!

  5. Barbara Gilbert on July 7, 2015 at 11:38 am

    Congratulation, Candy, well deserved!

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