Zillow summarizes the real estate woes of the Real Housewives of (fill in the blank). I'm a total fan of these zany women who live larger than life (and larger than what their husbands can afford), but even stardom can't insulate these entertaining catty women from the housing crisis.

What is more shocking to me is high number of real estate agents on the show who've been hit. There's Playboy Playmate Jeana Keough who had notices of defaults filed on 3 of her 4 properties! And then Tamra Barney who shortsaled her own house after slashing her house 30%.  Lisa Wu Hartnell of Atlanta lost her $2.9M house to the bank for a mere $1.9M.  All of them are agents!

One  real estate agent housewife they didn't mention was Gretchen Rossi of Orange County. (Fun fact: Gretchen, Slade & I were classmates during a weekend workshop. They actually were really nice.)

Just goes to show that even if you are an agent (much less a reality TV starlet), it doesn't mean you're impervious to the real estate mess.  The problem with  "Keeping up with the Jones" mentality is that  there will always be someone richer & prettier than you.  It's a never ending  self-inflicted psychological game. Be grateful for what you have & live within your means.

See how your favorite housewives dealt with what so many other Americans are going thru here. Good luck ladies! I feel ya.

Condominiums can be a terrific way to get into the real estate market. And let's face it; they also are a great way for people to downsize in these lean times!  However, they are not without their pitfalls.  Before you dive into the condo pool, what are the red flags to watch out for? Watch my video & find out, y'all! 

Have any good tips about buying condos? Please share, we'd love to hear!

From Berkeley to Long Island, here is a slideshow of the oddest homes out there. We've got dome homes, subterranean mansions, Earthships & more! Great for visiting aliens, mole people and people preparing for the Rapture. See more here.

By the way, how do you appraise a property like this? There are NO comparable sales...unless you go to Mars. 

*Skinnygirl buys fat pad! After selling her Skinnygirl Cocktail brand for $120M this year, business savvy Bravo TV star Bethenny Frankel has put some of that dough to use.  She just closed on a ginormous $5M Tribeca apt. No word on how this will affect the new talk show deal she just landed (Ellen is on board!) and her new season called Bethenny Goes to LA. The woman is unstoppable! [via HuffPost ]

*Sunshine & Hot Bods come at a premium. According to CNN Money, the Top 10 Priciest towns in the USA are all in California.  California girls / We're unforgettable / Daisy Dukes / Bikinis on top!  [ via AGBeat]

*Tenants bolt like a Bat out of hell!  Two Manhattan women paid $36,000 upfront for a 1 year lease only to find the place was allegedly swarming with bats. First off, don't these scaredy-cats know in Chinese culture bats "are auspicious creatures? If one ever flies into your home, you won’t want to do any harm to it cause it brings you luck!" Second, who the heck pre-pays $36,000 right off the bat? [via NY Post]

QUESTION: Can you sue a termite inspector if you later find they missed some termite damage? 
ANSWER: Not if the termite inspector put you on notice your house needed further inspection. 

Judge Milian of the People's Court (guilty pleasure here!) breaks it down for this home buyer who is suing his termite inspector. Basically, the inspector warned the home buyer that the house needed more evaluation and  that he could not give it a pest clearance. The buyer at least  was smart enough to get the home inspected, but what is the good of doing an inspection if you don't follow their advice?! 

It's like if you go see a doctor & he tells you to get further tests done because you might have diabetes. You do no tests, and soon after you get diagnosed with diabetes. You ain't gonna sue the doc?! Nuh-uhhhh! 

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE:  I like the plaintiff's lavender tie. But, umm, his hair. I have no words. 

Another fabulous LogoTV viewer pops Hermanity a question.  I love hearing from you guys! 

Question:  I'm selling my house soon. Should I do a pre-inspection? 
Answer: Yes! It's like getting tested at the clinic. No one likes surprises! Trust me, it'll save you a lot of heartache & pain down the line. A pre-inspection gives a seller a chance to correctify any outstanding repairs, gives the buyer a more clear picture of the house's condition and helps mitigates negotiations in escrow. 

Has a pre-inspection ever saved your deal? I wanna hear! 

*You'd think having $10M vacation home in New Hampshire, a fancy  Boston townhouse, and a $12M La Jolla house, he'd be satisfied. But presidential contender Mitt Romney wants to quadruple his La Jolla house from 3009 sq ft to 11,062 sq ft....because it currently is "inadequate for his needs". [ via San Diego Union ]

*Brad & Angelia along with their 4 dozen kids have rented a country estate that includes a 16th century mansion. Jumping from mansions, to castles, to estates every other month, the tykes are living like gypsies, but I'll bet they can beat anyone when it comes to ancient history trivia! [ via People ] 

*Would you marry an elderly man for his rent controlled NYC apt? That's what this landlord is accusing this 63 yr old of. She inherited her  83 yr old hubby's apt after only 1 month of marriage!  If she gets to pay $500/mo for a $5000/mo pad, girlfriend has hit the jackpot!  [via NY Post ]   

*What do a sugar daddy, an adulterous handsome swindler & slain wife have in common? Apparently real estate!  The New York Post exclusively reports, "Less than 2 years ago, handsome alleged killer Kashif Parvaiz, 26, had persuaded a frail, older gay man to sign over to him his share of a Queens apartment building that is now about to be sold for more than $9 million"  Real Estate ain't just for investments; it's a motive for murder! Read more here

*Realtor confronts Obama! "The loan modification system has been a nightmare and the lenders are so tight and you have to be so perfect. And it’s not a perfect world.” Preach, girl, preach! [ via AG Beat ]

Before her smash hits in Devil Wears Prada, Brokeback Mountain,  Catwoman, Oscar Host  (hmmm, not so much of a hit), who knew this 14 yr old actress named  Anne Hathaway would catapult to Hollywood A-List status with a 1997 spot for  Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate? Good eye, BHG! 

via Jezebel.com

"Habitat for Hermanity's Herman Chan, a real estate celebrity and expert, did a dynamite session at Real Estate Connect San Francisco on how and why Realtors should be using video as an integral part of their business..." Read the rest of the article by Bernice Ross here.

If you missed me at Real Estate Connect, don't fret. Tune into my free 1 hour webinar August 30th  "SOCIAL MEDIA: I ♥ VideoBlogging & So Should You!  It's hosted by YPN & California Association of Realtors. 

By the way, do my eyes deceive me?!  "Real Estate Celebrity"?  I'm flattered by such a glowing label by the venerable Inman News, but honestly, I'm just a country bumpkin trying to find my way in the big city. (wink)

Never seen me live? No problem!

Catch my free1 hour webinar Tuesday August 30, 2011 9am (PST).   Hosted by Young Professionals Network & California Association of Realtors, my topic shall be:

"SOCIAL MEDIA: I ♥ VideoBlogging & So Should You!"Blogging is so 2000 and late. It's all about Videoblogging now.  Herman Chan's claim to fame stems from his hit videoblog, Habitat For Hermanity, which in one year amassed over 12,000 combined followers on Twitter and Facebook.   Learn why video and social media are the way to the modern consumer's heart. Produce fast and cost-effective clips to capture leads.  Striking the right balance humor and help is the key to successful social media.  A super informative and entertaining presentation!

Even if you are not a realtor, please tune in to Watch, Laugh, Learn!  Register here! It's free!