It's another look at the year with part two of our "Best Of 2017" episode. We start off talking negotiation and how Tom was taught to haggle by his wife -- and how he applies this in his real estate career. After that, it's part of our interview with David Duley, a serial real estate investor, about the current real estate market. And then, it's Eric Petz, a specialist in distressed properties. And we round it all up with my wife, Julie Clary, about estate plans and how important they are to real estate.
It was the first year of the podcast, so we thought it would be fun to start off by going back to our first episode and hear how it all began. We follow that with a great clip from CPAs extraordinaire, Steve Landsman and Vahan Papyan, about how freelancers can overcome obstacles to buy a home. Next up, a segment from one of our most popular episodes with Ian Mayer of IM Home Inspections talking about what to look for when hiring an inspector. And then a final rant from me about how to avoid helplessness.
The pressure is intense. You went to an open house and gave all your personal information on the sign in sheet. Since then, you've been inundated by endless emails -- and potentially -- unsolicited phone calls. This is a situation all too common in the real estate industry. We'll go through the ways real estate agents "trap" your information and put you into their marketing campaigns, harassing you until you cry for mercy. We'll show you how to avoid this mess and choose a real estate agent you can trust.
Tom is getting the same question over and over - "Should I buy a house now? Or, should I wait?" He likes to hear folks be cautious when buying a home, but facts have come to light regarding the real estate market that may mean waiting is not the best choice for them. Inventory is at critical levels (meaning prices will continue to rise) and interest rates will go up. These mean that buying a house will soon be even more expensive to do. Buying a house sooner rather than later might be a better strategy.
It's the holiday season, so we're giving out tips about how you can discuss the real estate market with your family around the Christmas buffet. We know that Aunt Beatrice has heard on the news that it's a terrible time to buy a house and Uncle Bernie is saying "Bah-Humbug," telling you we're in a bubble and it's about to burst -- so, we thought it would be helpful to arm you with all the facts and strategies so you can hold your ground when you tell everyone you're looking to buy a home.
We're back and we've got lots of news to talk about. First, we discuss how the National Association of Realtors is finding new ways and options to help buyers save up their down payment. Then, we discuss how Millennials are coming off the bench and buying homes, leaving large scale landlords like Blackstone, who had made big bets in rentals, in the lurch. Then, we talk about the use of augmented reality in real estate and how some folks are building their entire homes around one piece of art.
In this episode, we're helping out with your move! Maybe not in the "heavy lifting" in exchange for cold pizza kind of way, but with lots of great advice from moving expert, Ted Cotter of Inside Moves Relocation Services, Inc.. Ted has amassed an incredible amount of knowledge and expertise when it comes down to the moving process with his over 30 years of working in the field. We discuss the process of training movers, how to protect your belongings, and the biggest mistakes people make when they move.
In this episode, we take a closer look at one of the most important facets of the real estate transaction - communication. Deals can fall apart if not enough attention is made to keep everyone talking. We focus on the topic of communication by breaking it down into the three main stages of the transaction: before the offer (How do you want to be spoken to as a client?), during the escrow (Are both parties talking to each other?), and after the deal closes (Do you want to stay in touch with your agent?).
It's time for a very special Halloween episode of The Clarified Realty Podcast. First up, we discuss word that real estate will appreciate at a slower level next year in California (Tom disagrees). Then, a study says there might be a correlation between crime and rent control. In extra scary news, Ron brings up the possibility of the new Trump tax plan gutting the mortgage interest deduction. Finally, we cover a spine-tingling survey done to see what it would take for someone to buy a haunted house. BOO!
We're talking with Geoff Jaime of GT Investments about how he started buying apartments buildings and managing them. He talks to us about his first multi-family property purchase and how he made that move after some good advice from his landlord. He then discusses what potential investors should look for when they are going to buy properties and what they have in store for them as they manage their purchase. We also discuss the pros (and mostly) cons of rent control. It's a very interesting conversation!
Ron and Tom start start with The Fed and will it be increasing rates by the end of this year and how that could affect the real estate market. They then discuss Blackstone's big bet the American Dream is dying, evidenced by their purchase of thousands of single-family homes to rent out. The conversation then moves towards the re-emergence of appraisal free loans and how that could mean transactions takes less time. Then things take a "Minority Report" turn with new real estate A.I. backed by Kobe Bryant.
This episode couldn't be more timely. We talk to Mark Trachtenberg, an investigator with the U.S. Postal Service about the recent Equifax security breach and how that can affect homeowners. Mark has been chasing down con-men and ponzi-schemers for almost a decade and has some very good insight. He also tells us about the latest scams, who are the most vulnerable when it comes to getting scammed, and what to look for so don't get taken in the first place (hint: if it's too good to be true -- it probably is).
They've been maligned and misunderstood, but home equity sharing programs may just be a helpful way that buyers can either provide more of a down payment to potentially get more house or even keep their monthly payments lower. In this episode we're talking to Michael Micheletti and Lara Watson of Unison Home Ownership Investors about how their company provides these programs to potential home buyers and home owners (for improvements), how the perception of these programs is changing, and how the programs can help homebuyers and homeowners in very specific ways.
We start off with with the mechanics of their programs and what it entails. In short, Unison will double your down payment (up to a certain amount). In return, when you go to sell, they will share in the appreciation that your home has experienced (not full equity of your home) over the time you have had it. If you wish, you can also buy yourself out early for a lesser amount.
Michael and Lara then discuss the rough road to acceptance of these programs and how most people above a certain generation are very hesitant to be involved in anything that "takes away their piece." Tom talks with them about how it will take interfacing with the parents of the potential customers in order to help make the transition happen.
The conversation also turns to very specific ways that the Unison programs can be of assistance. The big one that changed Tom's mind was realizing that many people who want to move into specific school districts -- but can't traditionally afford the homes there -- could potentially now be able to afford a home in the area and, thus, save a small fortune by not having to send their kids to private schools. This was a game changer in his mind and started him thinking on other ways that Unison and their programs could help.
This is a really fascinating episode with some very interesting ideas for using Home Equity Sharing as a process to get more millennials introduced to the housing market. Great conversation!
This episode is blazing white hot with the energy of the sun! We're talking to Steve Hochman, the owner of Solarhawk Renewable Solutions. He starts off by letting us know what inspired him to turn from a life as a producer in the entertainment industry into working to bring more environmentally friendly energy solutions to the public.
He explains to us the importance of renewable energy and how just one day of sun, when harnessed, can power the world for a very, very long time. We then discuss how the public is starting to embrace renewables like solar -- and what can be done to make even more see the reason that it is the wave of future.
We then discuss how various organizations, like the military, are incorporating solar into their energy solutions and saving tons of money by doing it. We then finish up by going into the economics of getting solar installed on a house -- and how it can pay for itself over time.
By the end of this episode, we were all impressed by the passion that Steve showed for what he does and how this is more than just a job to him -- it's a movement. We hope you give it a listen and tell us what you think!
This week on The Clarified Realty Podcast — we were supposed to talk about news stories, but we got a rant instead! Tom starts off the podcast with a story about a phone call with a real estate agent that goes from bad to worse when, even though he admittedly called the wrong number, the agent treats him like a three-year old and spends the rest of the conversation making Tom feel like crap. Tom tells the story in order to give fair warning to homes sellers out there that the agent answering their phone is the first line of defense when it comes to customer service. If a buyer’s agent is not treated nicely, or with respect, it could really cool the agent’s enthusiasm for working with you.
We follow that story up by discussing some of Ron’s tough transactions working with an agent that is less that cooperative. He tells a couple of stories about how he’s been able to keep deals on track, even though the agent on the other side is being difficult or downright uncooperative.
Tom then tells a story of another agent that was playing games during one of his current transactions. He gives us examples about why that doesn’t work to the seller’s advantage in the long run — and could have ruined a very sweet deal. When you have a golden opportunity in your hand, don’t let the get away because of greed. Recognize the sure thing and grab it with both hands. The unknown of having to start the deal fresh with someone new is never worth it.
And then, just when things couldn’t get any worse, Tom goes into a story about a Realtor he saw in the checkout line at his grocery store. The poor checker off-handedly mentioned to him that someone she knows was looking for a house — and they guy just couldn’t help but give the her the hard sell. Tom talks about his disgust agents like this and his overall condition of the industry and how guys like this make all agents have a bad name.
When the guys are able to get to the news, Ron tells us about how Blackstone, one of the biggest landlords in the country has merged with another company, Starwood Waypoint Homes, to become the biggest landlord in the country. They believe there is a movement of millennials away from buying homes and they are making a big bet on it. So, what are millennials spending their money on if not real estate? Apparently, bachelor parties.
For an episode that was supposed to be news, there sure was a lot of rant in there! But it’s a really fun listen! We hope you enjoy it — and please leave your comments below or leave us a review on iTunes!
In this episode, it's a recast of an awesome Facebook Live of The Clarified Realty Happy Hour we did at the Wework in Burbank, CA. The focus of this episode is on freelancers and people who go from gig-to-gig. How do they make it work for themselves so that they can last until the next job or show? We were lucky enough to have John Ales, an amazing actor from Bosch (Amazon) Sex, Drugs, & Rock and Roll (FX) and countless other movies and TV shows discuss his life and what he focuses on each day to keep his career on track. We cover such topics as second or third jobs, working on your craft for 40 or more hours a week, and when you should or shouldn't say "no" to a non-paid opportunity. It's a fascinating conversation and he takes us behind the curtain of what it takes to be a "working actor" in the entertainment industry.
We then talk to Vahan Papyan, CPA and owner of Papyan Accountancy Corporation, who specializes in working with freelancers. He guides sole proprietors, self-employed individuals, and freelancers into how they can maximize their deductions, while at the same time preparing for large purchases (like real estate). He speaks about the pros and cons of becoming incorporated and gives us advice about the best ways to go about implementing a strong tax strategy.
It's a fantastic episode and we really think there is a some amazing content for everyone to hear. Please note that there is a little bit of an audio problem with the microphones, but we felt that what went down in the discussion was incredibly valuable and worth listening to. And we hope that you will join us at our next Happy Hour! "Like" our Facebook page and we will keep you in the loop!
In this episode of the podcast, Tom and Ron are talking about the latest and greatest in Real Estate news. There's a lot of interesting ground to cover this week, so they dive right in.
They start off the episode by taking on the topic of home buyer's remorse. A recent survey from Trulia found that almost half of Americans have suffered some sort of buyers remorse when they purchased their home -- though not the type of remorse you would expect. They actually wish they had bought a larger home! On top of that, most renters say they are remorseful that they haven't bought at all. Tom talks about how to look at the big picture when home shopping and trying to find larger homes by expanding your search -- not necessarily by spending more money.
Up next, Ron tells Tom about an article from the New York Times reporting on the worsening housing crisis here in California. We discuss the different ways governments are trying to alleviate the problem (Property Tax Initiatives, Zoning De-Regulation), while also going into how there is a growing YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement trying to get the developments happening where we need them most. It's a fascinating conversation about how residents of certain areas actually do themselves a disservice by not allowing growth. When it gets to be too late -- they are out of control of the process and could have had more of a say along the way.
Next up, we talk about a new trend in home burglars where they are casing their hits virtually through home listing photos left on Zillow. We discuss the dangers of leaving your listing photos online and not taking them down after the sale.
And speaking of home break-ins, we talk about Ryan Lewis (the other guy who isn't Macklemore) selling his 7 million dollar estate with the help of a video where a friend/musician pretends to break in and take a tour. We discuss what it takes to market your home with an original and clever video like this -- and the potential ways it could actually work against you if you're not careful.
It's an awesome news-packed episode and we hope you'll listen and enjoy!
You may have never heard of them -- and there might be a very good reason for that. Most Real Estate Agents don't want you to think that they exist -- but the Transaction Coordinator is the unsung hero of the Real Estate Industry. On this episode, we interview Lauren Senecal, a Transaction Coordinator and owner of TC Advantage here in Southern California and we find out a lot about what happens behind the scenes when you are buying or selling a home that you may have never have even guessed.
We begin by speaking to Lauren about how she started in the industry and what has brought her to opening her own TC (that's what they're known as in the biz) company -- TC Advantage. We then talk about her day-to-day duties and how she assists agents with the process of buying or selling a house from beginning to end, making sure that deadlines are hit, the proper forms are filled out by the right people, and making sure the entire process stays organized.
We then talk about the various reasons why agents prefer to keep Transaction Coordinators a secret in order to create the illusion that they do everything from beginning to end. Lauren also talks about the things that she thinks makes transactions run smoothly and how she would change the process if she could. We also talk about various horror stories she's seen and how they could have been avoided beforehand.
It's another very interesting episode and we're so glad that Lauren could stop by to show us her wealth of knowledge and expertise. Please listen and give us comments below! We'd love to hear what you think and to know what we can do better. Also, if you have any ideas for future episodes, please let us know!
Well, we've got an extra special guest on today's podcast and we just couldn't be happier. This week we're talking to an incredible woman, an accomplished Estate Planning Attorney, and -- oh, yeah -- she just so happens to be our intrepid host's wonderful wife, Julie Clary! This week's episode is incredibly informative and lots of fun, too!
Ron starts us off by stopping everything and bringing us back to one of Tom's earlier episodes and rants about negotiation. He asks Julie if it was true that Tom had learned how to negotiate from Julie during their trip to purchase his wedding ring in the Los Angeles jewelry district. Julie confirms the story and also gives some incredibly useful advice on how to negotiate and never pay full price if you have to! Julie and Tom also discuss how important it is not to show how much you may love a house (you lose all the leverage in the deal) and how you should not get emotionally invested right away in your potential new home (you may have to walk away from the deal). A bit off on a tangent -- but incredibly useful information when it comes to purchasing a new home.
Afterwards, we get into the main reason for Julie's visit -- to discuss estate planning, wills, trusts and how someone can help their heirs avoid the mess of the probate courts. She tells us how the process works when done correctly, what "no contest" clauses are for, and how to potentially avoid issues with family members that may want more than their share. We also have a great conversation about what someone should look for when choosing an Estate Planning Attorney that will make sure their trust is "tailor made" for their specific situation and that their wishes are taken care of after they pass.
Julie really is an incredible attorney and this conversation is full of fun and great advice. We're really excited to have her as a guest and we hope that everyone will give this episode a listen and tell us what you think!
It's the day after July 4th and we're back with a BANG! (Get it? A BANG? You know? Fireworks? Oh, nevermind...)
When we first started The Clarified Realty Podcast, we promised that we would be learning right alongside all of you. This episode is definitely no exception. We're talking with Cheryl Courtney of Polycomp Administrative Services who has over 20 years of retirement planning experience.
Cheryl starts off by talking to us about her role as a Third Party Administrator and what that has to do with Real Estate in general. She explains to us how someone can own Real Estate as part of a retirement account and what other financial vehicles can be used to house Real Estate investments. She gives an introduction to REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), which are a lot like mutual funds for properties -- as well as what their pros and cons can be. We talk briefly about how someone can borrow (briefly) from their 401K in order to purchase a home and we wrap up with a discussion about how business owners who are used to spending all their money to re-invest in their companies can structure their 401k plans to put away large sums of retirement in a shorter period time when they need to.
I'm not ashamed to admit that I learned a lot during this episode and I'm pretty certain that if I did -- you will, too. Please give it a listen and let us know what you thought. And, as always, we'd always appreciate if you'd take a moment and give us a review on iTunes!
The news is back! After we had such a great response from our last "All News" episode, we thought that we'd do another one. This episode is chock full of interesting real estate news and views.
We start off with a conversation regarding whether or not foreign buyers are the cause of the lack of inventory we are now seeing in the market. Turns out -- not so much... Even if the source telling us has a very silly name and Tom doesn't completely trust it, either (I mean, "BuzzBuzz?" -- c'mon!). It does appear that buyers from other countries are not grabbing up properties like they used to and Tom gives reasons why this is no surprise to him at all.
Next up is a story regarding the news that the Fed's Robert Kaplan is sticking to his forecast that there will be two more rate hikes in the coming year, which leads to a conversation about Fannie Mae relaxing its regulations on potential buyers that carry student debt. Both Tom and Ron are optimistic about the move and hope that it is a shot in the arm to get Millenials off the bench and into the game.
And last, but not least, we take a trip into Margaritaville! Everyone's favorite "parrot head," Jimmy Buffett is expanding his empire to include developing a retirement community for baby boomers. We take a look at the project and how he has found ways to appeal to this generation throughout his career -- all from just a catchy tune and a whole lot of really smart entrepreneurism.
We hope that you enjoy this episode as much as we did making it. Please, please, please... Leave comments below to let us know what you think! And we'd be so grateful if you'd take a moment and leave a review on iTunes, too!
This episode is a real fascinating one, delving into an aspect of real estate that few ever see. Have you ever wondered how real estate developments start? How a city or county agrees to allow a building to be built in the first place? Well, we're talking to one today -- Ben Rocca of Rocca Development Group. In a nutshell, he works with developers and the local governments to expedite projects and keep everything running on schedule. Whether it's getting permits or doing due diligence, he makes sure that any bureaucratic blocks are taken care of in order to make sure a project completes. His process is very interesting and he takes us through what he does during a project from beginning to end. We also discuss how neighborhoods interface with new projects -- how initial resistance can be overcome and developments are eventually accepted. This is a really interesting episode and I hope you guys like it! Please let us know what you think in the comments!
In this episode, we are giving tips on how to get your offer accepted in this crazy seller's market. Whether it's making sure you're completely approved by your lender BEFORE making your offer, shopping below your top price, or finding out things (other than cash) that the seller might want... There are lots of way to give you more an advantage as you go up against the multiple offers and deals that are cash. Ron and Tom give 10 solid ideas for shaking up your home search and keep you from getting frustrated at every turn. Buying a home in a seller's market may be a lot of work, but it doesn't need to be painful or scary, either!
Welcome back! In this episode of the podcast, we're taking a look at an often-times misunderstood aspect of the real estate transaction: Title Insurance. To start off though, Ron and Tom discuss the news of the day -- a story regarding the CEO of Redfin being "freaked out" by the lack of inventory out in the market. They discuss why inventory is such a growing problem and why Redfin is ill-prepared to deal with it. They then bring in their guests, Marisa Azra and Tony Taranto of Chicago Title Company, who take us through the process and explain what exactly title is. At its most basic, it means "Do the people who are selling me their home -- actually own it?" Tony and Marisa explain that title insurance is insurance that protects a homeowner should anyone come along later and claim that they have a right to the property. We then chat about how the process has changed through the years through the incorporation of technology. We then talk about the several types of Title Insurance and how each one affects/protects each type of transaction. The conversation then moves into potential problems that can happen in title and how they can be resolved (Quiet Title Action). We then wrap up with a conversation about the worst "horror stories" they've seen in their experience. It's an incredibly fascinating and educational episode -- and pretty fun, too! We hope everyone enjoys it and leaves lots of comments below!
We’ve reached Episode #025 of the Clarified Realty Podcast and we’re trying something a little new! This week Tom And Ron are taking a look at some of the latest news stories having to do with Real Estate.
The first news item they discuss is how home values, contrary to current popular opinion, still have not risen to meet what they were prior to the crash. For some areas, there is still a very long way to go. This also appears to have less to do with the quantity of jobs and more to do with the level of wages. Cities with higher wage jobs are also doing better when it comes to the values of their homes. Also, in a related story, Redfin is claiming that buyer demand is down. We dissect this idea and find that the headline is a bit misleading. We use this as a cautionary tale to show people that you shouldn’t always make decisions without having all the information first, as well as a more complete understanding of the big picture.
The second news story is regarding a lawsuit against Zillow and their “Zestimate.” A homeowner is having a difficult time getting the price she deserves for her home because the Zillow’s estimate is erroneously including homes from a cheaper area as comps. We discuss how even Zillow admits that they estimates are inaccurate and not to be relied upon.
The next item is really a combination of two stories. Ron brings up a survey that was done to gauge different generations’ knowledge of basic financial terms (like 401k, CDs, HELOCS). Tom is discourage to hear that the numbers are not adding up to what you would hope them to be. This brings up another article regarding a new mortgage website called “Morty” that allows buyers to be more involved in the process. Tom brings up the question — if most people “don’t know what they don’t know,” should they really be trying to do the job traditionally done by an expert? While both Tom and Ron are firm believers in educating their clients, at some point a line can get crossed and the client is actually hurting themself more than helping.
And lastly, we talk about the new 100 million dollar listing here in Los Angeles… Opus. The agent has made news recently because he is using naked women in his marketing video for the property. While Tom has no objections philosophically about this… He does think the video sucks and also sabotages the message that the agent really should be trying to communicate.
It’s a great episode with lots of fun and interesting topics. We hope you enjoy listening and that you’ll leave us some comments or give us a review on iTunes. We’d be forever grateful!