Coldwell Banker To Sell Second Life Properties

Dekortage sends news of what may be a new development in the attempted mainstreaming of Second Life. We've seen plenty of examples of real-world news media, politicos, and PR campaigns setting up in SL. But so far most of this action has been about first-life organizations trying to gain real-world publicity by their forays into SL. CNN is reporting that the real estate firm Coldwell Banker is moving into SL for the purpose of selling and renting in-world properties. From the article: "Coldwell Banker has bought extensive tracts of property on the central 'mainland' of Second Life. (Most companies own 'islands' scattered all over.) It subdivided this digital land into 520 individual houses and living units, half of which it will sell and half it will rent... 'A small number of land barons mostly control real estate in Second Life, and we thought we could bring real estate to the masses,' [a VP explained]."

I wonder...

[LynnwoodRooster]

If I can get one of those 30 year, first 5 years interest-only subprime mortgages here? Maybe this is the way to "save" the sub-primes - virtual property! After all, it seems that "virtual" clients didn't work to well...

Re:Supply and demand

[Usquebaugh]

Hey that reminds me of another world I know.

Re:Whoa Cowboy!

[tm2b]

You don't understand...

When you die in New Jersey, you die in real life !

Re:More or less likely to use CB for a real house?

[Anonymous Coward]

well, John Edwards (the fraud lawyer, not the fraud psychic) set up a second life campaign headquarters. He also has a second life wife with second life cancer.

Re:Supply and demand

[rubberchickenboy]

I predict that Coldwell Banker will lose their shirts on this one.

Maybe, but they're only virtual shirts, and they can just rez others.

This made me check my calendar.

[fredmosby]

The first thing I did after reading the summary was check my calendar. April 1 is still a week away though. Maybe they're just trying to get ahead in the April fools market.

Re:Whoa Cowboy!

[Blakey Rat]

I take it that SL is just some VR game?

Some VR game with, apparently, the BEST PRESS AGENT EVAR!

Seriously, they're in the news every damned day with stories like this. And yet the only people who actually play Second Life are furry pedophile rapists. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but that's the reputation the game has. How the hell do they get all this press? Sexual favors?

Re:Supply and demand

[John Hurliman]

In 2003? They increase the amount of land all the time. Every time someone buys a new island the amount of real estate in-world is increased, and the Linden-owned mainland continent grows all the time as well. Around a month ago over 100 new sims were added, and these sims the Coldwell Bankers bought were auctioned off meaning it was fresh mainland additions.

It's like when a company sells more shares, and all those idiot investors lose their shirts. You should probably get on the phone and tell Coldwell why they are idiots, and how if you were in charge you could save the company. They'll probably hire you on the spot.

Re:Supply and demand

[victortyt]

buy virtual real estate

So, is the estate virtual or real?

Is SL wants it real, then.. lets give them real..

[JackMeyhoff]

Virtual World War? Virtual riots? Virtual pillaging? Virtual squatting? Virtual Crime? Lets let the value of land plumet as it would in those real life situation.

Re:Supply and demand

[KDR_11k]

It's complex, duh!

Re:Supply and demand

[IQpierce]

Haha, I get it.

WoW, right?