It's a wide ranging show today. We will talk the latest foreclosure numbers. Once again, we were right and there are more numbers that should make us wonder whether or not we are past the worst of the economy. We will also talk about the edge case properties that sometimes fall through the cracks and can represent a great opportunity for buyers and investors. Finally, average prices are up. But is that the real deal? We will discuss it and give you the inside scoop. Take a listen to the whole podcast for that and more!

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Just when you thought we had safely put institutional subprime lending behind us, the practice returns - big time! We will also discuss the new buyer tax credits - what has changed and what has stayed the same. Take a listen to the whole podcast for that and more!

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We have some new laws here in california designed to protect consumers. We will review and discuss them in todays show. We will also take some time to discuss loan origination and whether or not real estate brokers should be providing that service as well as representing buyers. We will talk about a few other things that have generally gotten me riled up this week.Take a listen to the whole podcast for that and more!

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This weeks show evolved into a discussion of what buyers and sellers should be doing to achieve their goals in the coming months. There is still some concern about where foreclosures are going to go, but that does not mean that there are not good deals to be had out there. Take a listen to the whole podcast for that and more!

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So which do you pick if you are a homeowner facing tough times? Short sale or foreclosure? We will take some time to talk about the differences in todays show. There is also some interesting news from the Palo Alto area that brings up the topic of rent and whether or not landlords should be free to ask what they want for rent. We will discuss it this week on Real Estate Realities with the RebelBroker.

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This week I will share some experience with you all about the quality of agents I have been encountering. Plus, I ask you for your experiences. Are you seeing the same thing I am? We also get more information regarding foreclosures that makes it seem like we were WAY ahead of the curve on worrying about the backlog of looming foreclosures. We also tie it all together with the latest real estate headlines. Take a listen for all of it this week! Click on through to the podcast!

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Are we really doing this again? This week we will talk about how some current policies in the world of foreclosures might just be doing more harm than good. We have seen this happen a couple of times over the laster, but could the results be worse this time around?

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This weeks show will touch on a promising development that can help you get your home off the grid. We will also talk about the latest really annoying example of real estate agents we would never want to work with. Plus, China is investing in US commercial real estate. Dandy. Click on through to the other side for the podcast!

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That's right, this week we talk about a trend in the foreclosure business that I think people can really profit from. In many areas, there are now multiple offers on foreclosures. Well, I have come across a way for you to not only beat out ALL those offers, but to pay LESS than all the others are offering! How can this be? Dark magic? Divine intervention? Bribery? Nope, just take advantage of a trend I spotted that might not last too long!

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That's right, this week we are talking about some fees. A recent court ruling negated one brokerages fees they were charging to clients. However, that does not mean that the fee is dead, it just means they need to handle it differently. So what does this mean for you? We discuss.

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There was a lot of news out there over the last week. The Fed/Treasury is doing its best to take us down the same economic road that nations like Zimbabwe have followed (not good). There are also a few news items out there that dovetail into one another in an interesting way - from a real estate point of view anyway. Take a listen for all the details. Plus, we edge toward some conspiracy theories. Be patient with me, I wander into the political weeds a bit - but trust me, it all relates to real estate eventually!

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I had some interesting calls from listeners over the last week who wanted to talk apocalypse. We will cover that idea in this weeks show. Commercial real estate is taking it in the shorts, we will do a quick rundown of what you might want to do if commercial real estate interests you at all. Listen to this weeks podcast for all that and more!

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Lots of random news coming together this week. The press is just starting to talk about something we have already covered - the change in appraisal rules. We will review that and see if the press has gotten it right so far. We will also talk about several issues coming together that must might spell a much longer cycle of foreclosures.

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In this weeks show we talk about mixing just a little bit of real estate investment into your vacation plans. After all, if you are taking a vacation there, chances are someone else just might want to... and they will need a place to stay. Maybe it is just the place to consider investing in a short term rental property. Follow the link to listen in.

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First had foremost, happy 4th of July! I know most people don't get this as much as I do, but so much of our freedom is based on real estate. The idea of having private property and doing with it as you please plays (and played) a huge part in what our founding fathers believed was critical to a free society. So take a moment to remind yourself how lucky you are to be an American! Unfortunately, on this day of celebration we must again turn our attention to a government which seems to be operating under some crazy assumptions. The kind of assumptions that got us into this mess in the first place!

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Alright folks, the season is upon us! If you are thinking about buying or selling this season, this is a great primer to get you going. We will talk about what you should be thinking and possible pitfalls to avoid. Also, the live Rebelbroker show is delayed 1 week (because of the 4th of July!). Find all the details on the rebelbrokers LIVE show at www.therebelbroker.com.

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In addition to the latest real estate news and info, this weeks show will talk about a recent report on how free the states. Finally, don't miss the RebelBroker LIVE show this June 6th at 9AM!

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The time is quickly approaching. Buyers, sellers and investors need to get ready for the 2009 'selling season'. Now I have a feeling that this years summer season is not going to be all that some hope, but it should at least be the best we are going to get for this year. So sellers need to know how to be prepared. Buyer and investors will also get some helpful info on how to get the most in todays market.

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We called it months ago, the latest quarterly foreclosure data has got most pundits going nuts. But we know better! You say you don't know better? Well then you have not been listening to this podcast long enough! Tune in to todays show and get the real scoop! We will also talk about something I came across this week that agents might use to try and convince you they are 'tops' in their profession. Should we believe them? We will talk about it.

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We jump headfirst back into the world of real estate after last weeks political show. Lots of news that seems to cover the spectrum from good to bad. We will put it through the common sense grinder and see what we come up with.

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SCD? What the heck is that? Kick the tires and light the fires on this episode to find out. It's all about politics this week! If you have no interest in what a California real estate broker thinks about politics, you might want to skip this one! But hey, take a chance - you might just like it!

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This weeks show is about the latest news. Congress is talking about sticking it to homeowners and I have found that the short sale situation is being made worse not only by real estate agents, but bankers too. Try to contain your surprise!

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Foreclosures are making up over half the transactions going on in many markets. We talked about where we need to lay the blame when it comes to short sales last time. This time we talk about what is and is not working in the world of foreclosures and talk a bit about how to make this segment of the market a better place.

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It has been a while since we have done one of these Market Heads Up style shows. This week we are going to really just look at what is going on in the market, buffet if you will of various real estate tidbits. Due to high levels of caffeine in this week show, verbosity may ensue. Enjoy and I'm sorry. A couple of really good inside real estate moments in this weeks show - you don't want to miss it!

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I got a few calls since the last show that made it clear I had some explaining to do! First, we will talk about how the horrible agents I described in my last show are managing to survive. The bottom line is that it is their customers fault for not asking the right questions. We will talk about those questions in todays show. Also, is it really the fault of appraisers and agents that we find ourselves in our current market situation? Take a listen and find out!

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Well, as far as Darwins theories apply to Real Estate he was wrong. With the downturn and so many agents going out of business, I think all of us were hoping that the only agents left standing would ones that are good at their job. Sadly, this has not turned out to be the case. What is worse is that some of the biggest failures in this business are representing sellers in the middle of a short sale - and doing it HORRIBLY! Check in for all the details and how to sniff out the agents that should be made to walk the plank.

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We kiss 2008 good-bye (and none too soon)! In this weeks show we will talk about some 2008 issues, foreclosure issues, timeline and ways to avoid it. Plus, what to expect in 2009.

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Lots of rumors floating around about mortgage rates. The Wall Street Journal put out a story that there was a plan in the works to get 30 year mortgage rates below 5%! As you can imagine, that generated a whole lot of buzz. We will take a look at that and talk about ways to prepare. We will also examine the cost effectiveness of different remodels to a home.

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This week is all about reassessing expectations based on the latest economic information. It was not too long ago that things looked like they might turn around in 2009. The latest data has me re-evaluating that in favor of projecting a more prolonged downturn that is likely to last at least until 2010. Take a listen for all the info I have been tracking.

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This week we focus on options for homeowners that find themselve struggling. We will run down a list of the nations biggest lenders and discuss the requirements to get assistance in their various programs to help struggling home owners. Whether you are concerned about your options or facing default and foreclosure, this is a show you don't want to miss.

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There are tons of things going on right now and we try to hit on the main points in this weeks show. Some great new tools available on my website for finding short sales and foreclsoures. In addition, lots of news relating to lenders trying to help borrowers who are in trouble. Take a listen for all the big news.

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In todays show we review some of the big headlines relating to the world of real estate. We will also take some time to talk about what sellers can do to get more attention at a time when buyers are having trouble getting loans. We will also talk a little about what the future may bring to the world of real estate. Could you ask for more? I didn't think so.

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No matter how much I want to keep the talk focused on real estate, I cannot help but find myself coming back to politics. However, this will be short and sweet and then we get into the latest real estate info! Lots up updates and mortgage info that is right up to the minute.

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There are los of facts, figures and historical events that help inform our current economic situation. Howver, on of the most important issues facing us now is, what do we have faith in? We are being asked to put our faith in the same bunch that got us into this mess. We have been putting our faith in ideas and people based on which political party they were in. We need to think differently - and now. We need to re-evaluate the things we seem to have had faith in, and make a more wise choice. We talk about that this week.

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We are still hip deep in the middle of the government bailout situation. It all started with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Not all the details are curently known, but in todays show we take a look at what we do know and what some folks in the press are saying we should be worrying about.

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Big news this week is about what is going on with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Take a listen for some good info and a link to a youtube video that can lay it all out for you. Plus, some of the latest market numbers and some big names out there that confirm what The Rebel Broker has been telling you all along!

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Well, the lending industry is failing another one of lifes little inteligence tests. Just when you thought they would have gotten some smarts on the heals of really dumb decisions vis a vi the subprime fiasco, they make the same idiotic mistakes, in the opposite direction. This time, they are restricting the ability of real estate investors to purchase properties. If they had a good reason, that would be fine. However, their reasoning now is as adlbrained as the logic that let them fund so many subprime loans in the first place. Listen to the whole show for the rundown.

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It may seem obvious, but despite that fact, many relationships in real estate fail because the buyers, sellers or agents are not communicating effectively. In this weeks show we talk about not only the importance of good communication, but how email, voicemail, phone calls and facr to face talks fit in. Plus we cover all the latest real estate news for this week.

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Some good news this week and a few more reasons to give condos a serious look. The big media has caught on to what I have been reporting for a while now, the good news is that the bad news has slowed the rate at which it is geting bad - which is good. Trust me, it all makes sense.

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There are a couple of things going on that might just make condos a good option for some buyers. Be careful tho, if you don't buy right, condos can be a very bad move. We will talk about this and various other current real estate events in this weeks episode.

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Lots of stuff happening this week! We have the info you need to know about the recently signed Housing Bill. But that is just the tip of the news iceberg! We will also talk about defunct title companies, some smart changes to FIRPTA (don't worry, I explain it) and some other good news and real estate numbers.

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The news is mixed this week. Things are still tough, but at least some of the trends are looking better. We are seeing the number of folks becoming renters rising rapidly. What should investors be doing to meet that demand. We will talk about it this week.

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I have seen an increase in the number of Lost Leaders lately. These are homes that get listed in the MLS but little or no effort is put into getting them sold. The only purpose they serve is for the listing agent to be able to use the listing as a marketing tool and to pump up their listings statistics. If you really want your home sold, you DON'T want to be a lost leader. Listen in for all the details.

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We have some good numbers this month. If they keep going, July could be a pretty good month for the market. Not all the news is good. The folks at business week have written an article that ponders whether we are just at the beginning of an even more down market. As scary as that thought is, recent numbers in my are are encouraging. We will talk about all that and more in this months Market Heads up.

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It has been a week of numbers here in the Rebel Cave. We have got numbers for the state and the country that are starting to tell a new story about the markets. It looks like some areas are starting to feel the bottom and we might just be seeing the same thing in lots of our local markets.

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This week I came across an excellent article covering some of the bird eye numbers for California. I will share the observations and statistics with you. We will also talk a bit about the economy in general and how things may not be as good as they have been, we are still far from a time a huge hardship.

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Are gas prices effecting your search for a home? Do you find yourself changing your home search to areas closer to work, just to keep those gas expenses in check? Many people are in the same boat and are finding that they are having to change their home searches from places they want to live to places they feel like they have to live in order to keep their gas expenses under control. Well, in this weeks show we explore some of the other options you have so that you can still live where you want and not suffer under the heavy weight of gas prices.

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Even though we find ourselves entering the Season , sellers are still in a position where they have to be willing to entertain just about any offer on their home. For those that are willing to step outside conventional methods of financing, this is a great time to explore lease options and seller financing. Even for those buyers who have done the math and realized that they can still pay far less in rent than what a mortgage would be, this market can work for them. In this show we will talk about how things like a lease option can work for a buyer who does not want to pay more per month than they are RIGHT NOW in rent.

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Here we are at the beginning of June and we take a few minutes to talk about where things are going in the coming month. We will review some of the latest market numbers and see if that gives us any insights. Also, we will take some time to talk about long distance investing. While I often suggest to new investors that they invest in local properties, sometimes we find other areas and cities that look too good to pass up. We will spend some time talking about the special considerations when jumping into an investment way outside your local area.

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With all the people facing potential foreclosure, many vultures in the form of scam artists are starting to circle. The OCC has even put out a consumer advisory on the subject. So this week, we talk about the details of the advisory and share how you can tell if you are about to get scammed. Also, we will recap some of the places you can go to get real help.

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This should not be news to anyone. We all try to make the best impression possible in interviews, first dates, etc. In the world of real estate, many agents work hard on creating the perception that they are a successful agent. We will discuss how that is often not the case. They can also point to their office or their status as a Top 1% agent as a reason to work with them. We put all these ideas under the microscope this week and see what we get!

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Folks in real estate can get real creative with the word unique. In todays podcast, we will talk a little about working to overcome the challenges of the unique property. Do you need to turn the unique into the common to get it sold? Not always. But whats more, many of todays sellers who might have a unique home to sell don't have the funds for a make over. There are different ways to approach this challenge and more often than not, the usual bag of tricks that real estate agents use will not fit the bill.

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We take a birds eye view at the Santa Clara County market. We look into average price changes, inventory and sold numbers from all over the county to see what we can learn from them. We will also talk about some general California numbers to put everything into perspective.

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Lots of good info in this weeks show. We will take a quick look at the differences between Proposition 98 and 99. This two initiatives are on the ballot in California and both are supposed to deal with eminent domain. We take a look at them and see which one goes further in limiting the states ability to take your property away from you. Then we will spend some time going over some of the main points relating to FHA loans. These are a few of the top quesitons folks out there have been asking and we answer them in this weeks show.

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Most people don't realize that with the information currently kept in the MLS system (the one I use anyway), you could easily calculate all kinds of useful information about real estate agents. While most agents just want to dazzle you with their status as a Top 1% Agent (which means NOTHING to buyers and sellers), wouldn't it be nice to be able to go to a website, input your agents name and find out how many of their listings actually end up selling? Or how close to asking price their listings tend to sell for? Or even if the amount of time it takes them to sell a house is higher or lower than the average for their area?All this could easily be presented by a website with access to the MLS data. Plus we talk about some current numbers and how the skills we have learned in picking our real estate agents might just help us pick our next president!

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One of the elements that buyers tend to pay less attention to is who built their home and when. Often, these can reveal a great deal about a home. Some builderss are known for their quality work while others just plain aren't. Was the home your interested built in a big boom period when homes were going up fast and furious? Or maybe it was built during a time when more time and attention was going into each home being built?We will talk about this and a few other tidbits in this weeks show.

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This week we will touch on the subject of short sales and REO properties. This time, instead of looking at them more from the perspective of the seller, we will take a little time to see what special concerns these properties hold for buyers. With so many of these types of properties out there right now, it is good to have a little insight into the practical issues of dealing with them. Of course, we will also talk about the usual news items and give the heads up on what open houses you can visit the rebel broker at this weekend!

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There are a few different ways for agents to get compensated. In this weeks show, we talk about that a bit. What we really get into is what might just be a better system that works better for clients. We are going to look at where vested interests lie and explore and idea on how we might better line up vested interest with client interests. We will also get some advanced info on the open houses that the Rebel Broker will be holding this weekend. So take notes and if your in the area, come on out for a visit!

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This week I give you all a heads up on open houses I will be holding over the next two weeks. This weekends is a fantastic loft in Santa Clara, so make sure and come by to see this unique property - even if your not in the market, taking a look at what loft living has to offer is worth the time. We will also get a quick update on some market numbers for California. Then, we will discuss what buyers and investors should be looking at when they are touring a property they are thinking about buying. It's not just about finding the features you like, but managing any potential expenses that might crop up from the property. The more you know before you write the offer, the better position you will find yourself in.

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This time around we will be talking about some general California issues and numbers. In addition, we will talk about just a few of the books out there that anyone interested in real estate investing should be considering. Even if your just looking to buy your first home, these books could be a great way for you to attain that next level of knowledge required to make a smart home buying decision. Plus, find out where the Rebel Broker will be holding his next open house and if your in the area, come on by for a visit!

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In this weeks show we talk about the good news in the mortgage rates arena. Also, we are going to explore whether agents that really stink are born or made. Sort of. Do some of the books aimed at real estate agents encourage them to be deceptiive? Check in with your Rebel Broker and find out.

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This week we take a look at last months numbers and see what that might tell us about the market in March. We'll include advice for buyers, sellers and investors and even talk about some communities that are starting to look like the slow market is catching up with them.

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It's a bit of a free-form show this week. Robert will be talking about the word on the street regarding consumer confidence and a possible recession. We will also talk about the big numbers this week. Plus, Real Estate Realities has hit Facebook! If you want to interact with other listeners and Robert, head on over to facebook.com and do a search for Real Estate Realities in the Groups area and feel free to join in on the discussion!

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We are in a tight market. If sellers do not have agents out there doing the job right, then they are losing money with each passing day. This week we expose the fact that there are still plenty of agents out there NOT doing even the most basic things to get sellers and their properties the attention they need to even come close to getting sold. It's a sad but true edition of Real Estate Realities where the RebelBroker vents about what some agents are doing while trying to let sellers know how to make sure their agent is not one of these under-performers.

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Podshow PDN (http://www.podshow.com/) This week we are going to take a quick look at what tools are out there for buyers, sellers and investors. There are lots of real estate folks out there (including me!) that go the extra mile to provide their clients with the best tools available. But not agents go to the extra effort or expense to provide these tools. This includes everything from the buyers home search to the marketing of a sellers home and tracking the escrow process.So sit down and take a few minutes to hear about some of the tools out there, what they can do for you and what you should be looking for.

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In this weeks podcast, we take a look forward to the next 30 days by looking back at last months numbers. We will do a quick overview of Santa Clara County and then a closer look at the communities of Los Gatos and Morgan Hill. We will then move on to try and get an idea of what buyers, sellers and investors should be thinking right now. Where should they be shopping? What should sellers be doing to have the best chance of getting their home sold this month? Listen in for all the info.

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President Bush's Hope NOW program is another source of relief for homeowners that find themselves in trouble. In addition to some of the other relief programs we have talked about in previous shows, this program offers those facing possible foreclosure a way to regain control of their financial situation. In this show we talk about the different situations in which this program can help and discuss what it does and how to get in touch with them.

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This one is aimed right at the folks looking to get their home sold in 2008. If you are even considering selling your home in 2008, we will be talking about the right time to get your home on the market and what to do before you actually list your home with an agent. If you are going to be trying to get your home sold in 2008, let me suggest you also take the time to listen to my podcasts on finding an agent (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=80 Itemid=45) and getting ready for the sale.

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Well, 2007 is in the can and in this weeks show we take a look back and see what happened. We will compare 2007 to previous years and even try to figure out what the market is going to do in 2008. We will explore the numbers for Santa Clara County and for Morgan Hill.

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Podshow PDN (http://www.podshow.com/) It's a new year and we should all take some time to evaluate where we are and where we want to be. We will talk about a view resolutions that should be on everyones list. While there are plenty of scary indicators out there, with the right mindset and preparation, you can be ready for just about anything.

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This week we will not talk about stats, sales, market trends or mortgage rates. Instead, we will focus on the season of hope and try to draw strength from our own abilities and what previous generations have shown us that they can achieve on their own. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and that whatever your situation may be, that you find the hope and perseverance to push ahead and make your highest dreams come true. Podshow PDN (http://www.podshow.com/)

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This week we take a look at last months numbers to help us understand what might be in store for us in the month of December 2007. We will start out looking at some very local communities and then broaden our analysis. Also, in this months episode, we will talk a bit about chasing the market and what sellers need to do in order to avoid this deep real estate pitfall.

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With all the foreclosures going on right now, it just seems like a good idea to give a quick overview of what it takes to start looking into purchasing a foreclosure property. In this podcast, I will focus on the most basic information you need to get started. The first thing you need to figure out, is if foreclosure properties are right for you. I will be completely honest here and let you all know that I am not a big fan of the foreclosure properties. You can definately get some amazing deals, but the tradeoff is a much more emotionally charged situation to deal with - at least that is the case if your trying to get these foreclosures before they go to auction.

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Just because the market is down in general does not mean it is down by the same amount everywhere. In fact, many areas are not down at all, but enjoying continued average home increases. If your a seller, that means your a buyer too... unless you plan to become a renter. Do you know how the market has performed in the areas you are thinking of moving too? Have you compared that performance to where your home currently is? What you don't know could cost you thousands of dollars. Make sure your real estate agent is giving you all the information you need to make the right decisions that could save you many times what your Realtor is earning.

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Slight change in format for the show this week. To keep the focus on the subjects I know the most about, I am going to spend more time on local market influences, including the hottest and least hot areas of Santa Clara Count. While I will still give info on what is going on nationally, that information will be looked at with an eye toward what it means to people living right here in Santa Clara County. I hope you enjoy this new, deeper look into what is going on in Santa Clara County, where we will explore what buyers, sellers and investors should be thinking about each month.

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Plenty of scary stories out there in real estate. Not all of them involve ghosts and ghouls - really bad loan folks and real estate agents are usually enough. But after a while, the scary stories start to pile up. Let's take some time out to re-tell a few stories to fit the season. In this show we mix a couple of real world scary stories with a couple that just might get the hairs on the back of your neck standing up!

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There are some strange things afoot in seller land these days. Maybe it's panic, maybe it's the proximity to Halloween. Whatever it is, there are some sellers out there doing some very counter intuitive things. Don't let yourself be one of them! It is a time for sellers to be thinking outside the box. So lets do some box breaking in this weeks show and talk about what sellers should be doing in todays market.

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It is that time again. This week we talk about what the market has been up to over the last month and what that means for buyers, sellers and investors for October. With September being the end of the 3rd Quarter of 2007, we get a little deeper into the details this week and cover some of the high and low spots in my local market in Santa Clara County, California. Take a listen to the show for all the details.

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In this weeks show we have our first guest interview with Lois Jones with Bank of America Mortgage. We will talk about folks in really big mortgage trouble and what options they may have. We will also talk about folks in less dire straights, but who want to look into securing a mortgage that might leave them with a little more cash at the end of each month. So check out this months podcast for this and more.

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Sometimes, the greatest obstacle to getting things done in life is ourselves. If there is any part of life where this is true, it is real estate. Whether you are an owner who is facing some potentially tough changes in your mortgage or a buyer trying to find the right time to buy, the biggest thing to overcome is the tendancy to do nothing at all.

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When other things in life are weighing heavily, adding that extra burden of trying to sell real estate can just be too much. Those are the times when we start doing things that we might regret in the long run. So how can you work to minimize the downside when hardship enters the equation? How can you work with people you are in conflict with? Where do you turn? In this podcast we talk about these and other topical issues relating to real estate.

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In this episode we talk about how sometimes, your children can end up not going to the school you thought they would when you bought your home. Whether you have school age children or just want to protect your investment in your home, the quality of the schools that serve where you live is important. In this episode, Robert shares some personal experience in this area, and makes some suggestions on how to avoid the pitfalls of not getting what you thought when it comes to schools.

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We take a look at all the data effecting our market in September of 2007. Expectations were not met for this years summer season. Now that we are exiting what is supposed to be the hot selling season, what did we get? What can we expect in the coming months? This podcast will give buyers, sellers and investors some insights into what to expect this month in our evolving real estate market.

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It can be a challenge to really get down to the truth when it comes to information you get from the news. Several popular news sources were happily reporting the real estate market is up 4% in July without further elaboration. Is this really the good news that they imply? Is this the turn around? I don't want to ruin it for you, but lets just say it is good to be skeptical! In this podcast we will take a few minutes to look at what is being reported, what should be getting reported and what the real scoop is. When you hear different pieces of news, what questions should you be asking about what you have just heard? We examine this and other topics in todays podcast.

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I think that on the short list of question I get asked most frequently when talking casually with someone about real estate, I would have to include How much to real estate agents make? . It is surprising to hear what the perceptions are in general. Many seem to think that real estate agents make lots of money for very little work. In this weeks podcast, we are going to give you the inside scoop on how things really work for most agents. As with most things in life, much of what we will talk about will sound familiar when you boil it down to its most basic - such as - the harder you work, the more you can make. But with real estate, you can work very hard and also make very little. It is as close as you can come to starting your own business without having to open your own office and get a business license

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Trying to sell your house by yourself involves more than you realize. Marketing, contracts, disclosures, staging... the list goes on and on. What are the numbers regarding trying to sell your house yourself? Does it really save you money? Are there ways to sell your home on your own and still work with agents? What about market changes? Is it easier or harder to sell your home in a buyers market? When is the best time to try and sell your home youself? This podcast will give you a good overview of the ups and downs of selling your home yourself.

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Well the numbers for July are in. What do they tell us that a buyer, seller or investor should know in Aug.? Are buyers still in the drivers seat? What should sellers be doing differently RIGHT NOW if they want to get their home sold? In this podcast we will explore these issues and try to get an idea of what the coming month holds for us. Is this summer season becoming the turn around everyone is praying for or is it just more of the same? Lets take a few minutes to look it all over and see what need to do to achieve our real estate goals over the next month.

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Your going to get lots of folks in real estate telling you what they are going to do. I suggest in this podcast that what they are going to do is far less important than finding out how they are going to do it. Not all agents are created equal when it comes to carrying out the promises they make regarding various real estate tasks. Just the simple act of putting the sign in front of your home can be handled very differently depending on the real estate professional you have choosen. So it becomes less a discussion of just doing something, and more about how to do something right. This podcast will use some real world examples to illustrate that true results are only going to come from folks who do what they promise - the right way.

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Referrals are very common in the real estate business. Whether you are talking about a national franchises Relocation Network , Referral Network or an agent referring you to another agent, your talking about a referral. What does it mean to you and what should you be doing to protect yourself when being referred to an agent? This podcast will give you a quick overview of what you as a buyer or seller should be aware of if you are being referred to another agent.

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We are in a market that is tough for lots of sellers. Many are still holding out hope that the days of being able to just list a house at any price and have it sell are still around. For a while there, even very overpriced homes could count on at least getting offers at a more reasonable price. Well that market is gone. While many seem to be holding onto the idea that you can always come down in price, what they fail to realize is that by starting out at a high price, you are losing the advantages associated with a new listing, when it hits the market at an unrealistic price. Then there are the agents that are willing to take these overpriced listings that have little or no hope of selling. Why do they do this? We will discuss the self serving reasons some agents have for taking an overpriced lising. In this podcast, we take a look at what consequences there can be for having an overpriced listing and why some agents are willing to take these types of listings at all.

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Using the data and numbers from June 2007, we take a look at what sellers, buyers and investors should be thinking for July. This is it, we are in the Season for home sales. For many, if you don't do what it takes now, your going to miss your opportunity. Take a few minutes to see what this podcast has to say about our current market, and what we should be considering as we move into the prime real estate season.

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Whether your a seller or a buyer, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the most powerful tool at your disposal. For sellers, it is about getting the attention of the home buying public with complete and accurate information on your property. In addition to the data, the photos of your property should each be carefully considered to put your home on display at its best. We will explore ways for you as a seller to make sure your getting the most out of the MLS listing of your house. For buyers, the MLS is your best tool for getting access to information on homes. But what do you need to know to get the most out of the information available? In this podcast, we will take the time to explore all these issues.

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In part three of the podcast series on house flipping, we explore some issues about fixing the property after you have purchased it. In addition, we will take a few moments to discuss ways for you to approach the rehab. We will also talk a bit about some of the things I have seen investors do when rehabbing property. With this podcast under your belt, new investors will have a good place from which to carry on their research into what it takes to achieve success with this type of real estate investment. But remember, all investments carry with them a level or risk. Always explore all your options and seek out the advice of local professionals who can help you make those informed decisions.

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This podcast is a continuation of the discussion on flipping properties that we started last week. We went through some basic ideas of how to find a prime candidate for flipping and now we are going to talk about some of the strategies for the actual purchase. All of this series is aimed at the new investor, considering flipping as their investment strategy. We will talk about the best way to put together your offer so that you can get the best price while doing what needs to be done to insure that your assumptions, calculations and projections are correct.

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This show is aimed right at the aspiring investor. In this weeks podcast, we take a look at what we should do to find the kind of property that would make a good home flipping investment. Home flipping takes more effort than many other investment styles and can be a tough place for the new investor to start, but the pay-off can be satisfying.

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It's a new month and that means it's time to take a look around and see what the real estate market has for us. In many ways, it is more of the same, but there are some interesting tidbits this month. So take a few minutes to listen to this months podcast and get an overview of the some key market indicators for California and the nation. Then we will try to put this information into perspective for buyers, sellers and investors.

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Your first step in buying a home should not be to find the home, but to touch up your credit and find the right loan provider. In this weeks podcast, we will take a look at some of the things you can use to improve your credit situation. Many don't realize that your credit score does not just determine if you can get a loan, but also effects the QUALITY of that loan. So sit back and listen to what you should be doing to get your credit score ready for a purchase.

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Last week, we explored what to do if your a seller trying to work with an uncooperative Home Owners Association. This week, we talk a bit about what to do if your a buyer who is interested in a property that has a Home Owners Association. It's not all about just liking the unit your considering buying. The Home Owners Association can have a huge impact on what you have to pay monthly, your ability to enjoy your unit and whether or not you can do what you want with or in the common areas. So take a few minutes to check out this weeks podcast to get what Robert suggests should be on your mind when your evaluating that HOA.

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There are all kinds of Home Owners Associations (HOAs) out there. Some are more casual affairs that only really deal with the big issues. Others are far more draconian and do not allow residents freedom in painting their homes, windows treatments or even letting them put for sale signs in front of their home. In this episode of Real Estate Realities, we explore the issues you might have with your HOA when it comes time to sell and explore some of the options that might help you find a solution to getting your home properly marketed and stay within the limits set out by your HOA.

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In the first of the new Market Heads Up series, Robert dedicates one show a month to giving listeners some thoughts about what the market holds for them, RIGHT NOW. Not a lot of statistics and analysis - just a general overview of what the market is doing. Count on getting insights that will help you whether you are a buyer, seller or investor. Finally, Robert raps up the show with his thoughts on where the market is likely to go.

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My Odeo Channel (http://odeo.com/claim/feed/b553872da247279c) (odeo/b553872da247279c) No matter how good you are at carefully picking your agent, there may come a time when you realize that your best interests are not being attended to. If an agent is not performing for you, what can you do about it? In this podcast, we will take a few minutes to talk about warning signs and what to do if your concerned. Who should you talk to and when? What about all those agreements you have signed? If you feel it is time to let your agent go, will signing those documents prevent you from doing so? Check in with this weeks podcast for a discussion of all this and more.

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My Podcast Alley feed! (http://www.podcastalley.com/) (pca-b9b69341229bfce18d598ec5c2fa0fda) Most people haver heard of a transfer tax. This Private Transfer Tax is something far worse. Basically, it allows developers of homes to add something to the deed of the home they sell. This addition to the deed states that every time the home is sold, the PRIVATE developer will get some percentage of the purchase price. Thats right, the company that built that new home gets a piece of the action whenever that homes is sold - EVERY TIME IT SELLS! That means that 40 years down the road, whoever buys that house will have to pay this private tax to whoever built it. Does this make sense to you? It shouldn't! Check out this weeks podcast where we talk about this strange beast and about the law presented in California to stop it.

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As a seller, you open your doors to the buying public in the hopes that you will find someone to purchase your property. While the vast majority of the folks out there who might show up to see your home, a very small minority are not there to consider buying your home, but rather to make you a victim. So what do you do? As a seller, your want to get your home sold for the best price. You cannot just close yourself off, but you cannot go ahead blindly either. In this podcast, Robert tries to provide a few tips on how to protect yourself, your family and your property from these predators out there that might use the marketing of your home to their advantage.

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The first quarter of 2007 is in the can and the numbers are interesting. In this podcast, we examine all the key numbers for Santa Clara County and also look at some informative statistics for California and the nation at large. We also talk a bit about the subprime situation and how that may effect the upcoming market. This year could be a pivotal time for the real estate market. We are still seeing interesting and in some ways contradictory elements that eventually have to find some kind of balance. Whether you are a buyer, seller or investor, this podcast is going to give you some good information to improve your comfort level with what the market is doing and what it just might end up doing next quarter.

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Most of the books, tapes and infomercial how-to programs jump right into investing. We take a slightly different look at where to begin by focusing this weeks show directly at the aspiring real estate investor. Over the years, I have met many different kinds of investors - including the successful and the not so successful. Lets start the discussion of real estate investing not with where to start looking for properties, but whether or not YOU should be investing in properties at all. Real estate investing is not a game of luck. Folks who succeed at it do so because they have the skills and talents to pull it off. Do you have those traits? Are your expectations about real estate investing realistic? To put it bluntly, do you have what it takes? This is where we start our discussion of investing. Listen to todays podcast, with any luck, some of what it has to offer might get you thinking about whether or not real estate investing is really what you want to do.

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Get your mind out of the gutter! We are talking about office size. When your picking your agent, should the size of their office matter? Is it important to use an agent that works for an office that is part of a national or international franchise? We have talked about how to pick your agent in both the buyers and sellers advice series, but never about the importance of their office. It's time to take the gloves off on a subject where the real estate industry would really like you to believe one thing, while tending to your own best interests most likely means believing something else. Listen to this podcast for what Robert has to say on how important (or unimportant) the size of your agents office is.

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The last in our sellers series covers a few subjects all sellers should be mindful of during the escrow process. This is the time to be sure our agent is keeping an eye on the ball. Not only your ball, but the buyers ball too. There are plenty of things to get done and not a whole lot of time to get it done in. Make sure you have a good handle on what is done and what has yet to be accomplished. Communication is the key at this critical stage of your real estate transaction that concludes with you being delivered the check for your house!

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You've selected your real estate agent and worked through the process of showing your home. This podcast takes a quick overview of some of the key items in most offers and gives some ideas on things to consider during this process. What makes one offer stronger than another? Should you just have the buyers agent fax over the offer or present it personally? What is a contingency and what does it mean to you? Count on getting some insights into all these questions and more. An offer on your home is an important document. With the right mind set and preparation, you can make it as easy a process as possible.

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Now that we have picked our agent and signed the listing agreement, the real work begins. If you have picked the right agent, they are going to be doing all they can to get your home sold for the best price in the shortest amount of time. But what can you be doing to help the process along? This podcast will give a broad overview of some of the things that can help get your home the attention it deserves and help to generate an offer that you can be happy with.

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You see it all the time. Signs, ads, flyers and business cards that proclaim that a real estate agent is a Top agent. Sometimes it will say they are in the top 1% of the nation, state or county. So what exactly are these folks in the top 1% of? Should buyers and sellers be making an extra effort to work with agents who are in the top 1%? Probably not. Todays podcast is going to explore this Top Agent mythology, uncovering what it often means and how little it actually means to buyers and sellers out there.

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Once a seller has selected the person they feel is most qualified to take the listing on their home, the next step is to sign the listing agreement. This document will spell out how the agent is compensated, whether or not their is a sign and lockbox at your home and will also include any limits you want placed on the listing of your home. This podcast will be a quick overview of some of the key things to think about when you decide to sign a listing agreement with your real estate agent or broker.

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With the buyers advisory series all wrapped up, it is time to turn our attention to the specific concerns of all the folks out there that are looking into selling their home. While there is some crossover between the needs of buyers and sellers, this first installment of the sellers advisory series tries to cover some the issues unique to sellers. Selecting the right agent can be the difference between selling your at a good price in a short period of time or watching your home sit on the market for months at a time.

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This is the third in the Buyers advice series. This time around we start with how an offer can be accepted and move right on into the escrow process. While every escrow can be unique, this podcast tries to cover some of the most common areas that can leave Buyers scratching their heads. The escrow is an important process that gives all the parties the time they need to fully evaluate the agreement and the property involved so that nobod gets an unpleasant surprise.

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In the spirit of calling it as I see it, today we talk about the need for folks looking for a reliable Real Estate Agent to take some steps to verify claims made by agents they are considering working with. After you have talked with your prospective agent, take a few minutes to review the marketing material they have given you about themselves. Browse their website for the same kind of information. Then, take a moment to verify some of their claims. To illustrate the potential problem, let me use the example of Bryan Yvonne Carpenter. If you do a search on Bryan Yvonne Carpenter (including the quotes) on google, (http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Bryan+%26+Yvonne+Carpenter%22 hl=en client=firefox-a rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official start=100 sa=N) you will find hundreds of real estate agents and brokers websites claiming this couple in their testimonial section. Most of these are identical with identical photos of The Carpenters . Clearly, these testimonials are bogus creations. If you find an agent you are considering doing this kind of thing, I strongly suggest you move on to the next agent.

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Last weeks podcast helped buyers make the difficult decision of what real estate agent to pick for their home purchase. This week, we talk about what happens once you have picked your agent, the home search and the elements to focus on first when writing an offer.

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So many people I talk to want to know what the real difference is between a real estate agent and a broker. What about Realtors? How do they figure into the equation? And what about the alphabet soup that sometimes follows the real estate agents name on their card? What is all does all that stuff actually MEAN anyway? Don't let your confusion embarrass you! This podcast will lay it all out for you. This is an enhanced podcast, so if your using iTunes or some other podcast player that works with the enhanced features, you will see images and get links that others will not.

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Picking the right real estate agent is critical for any Buyer that is shopping for real estate. This podcast will give Buyers some great insights into what you should do when trying to select your real estate agent. Make no mistake, selecting the right agent is nearly as important as picking the right home. Choose wisely, you can end up saving thousands in time, money and headaches. Choose poorly, and you could get stuck with a home that leaves you wishing you never gave up that apartment!

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Just about the most popular article of 2006 was my piece on re-listing and what it does. It seemed fitting then to have my first podcast re-visit this topic that seemed to interest so many people. This podcast will tell you everything you need to know about re-listing. If you would prefer to read my original article, you can find it here (index.php?option=com_content task=view id=40 Itemid=2) .

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