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Now you can dig up the dirt on a property all online!  San Francisco Planning Department lets you dig up a property's history from rent control,  complaints, historical status, zoning, permits and more! This is super useful for anyone who is planning on buying a place or even renting. You can not always rely on the landlord or seller's disclosures (because they might not know themselves either). 

I wish every city made this info as readily available as SF. It's like Carfax, but for houses! 

 
 
My new column for Show Stopper Magazine (March 2012 Issue, page 13). Spring is around the corner which historically is the kick off the real estate high season! Check out my 3 tips before you blindly throw your house on the market. The wrong price could mean a house that never sells! 
 
 
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Gay Parent Magazine interviews me about real estate for the LGBTQ community. What's my #1 tip for gay/lesbian buyers? Why it's the Year of the Landlord? What about homophobic sellers? Any advantage to owning property as gay married couple? For my answers, click here for full issue (see pg 17).  FYI, big file.

It's not just celebs like Elton John, Ricky Martin, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosie, etc. but I can't believe so many of my gay friends are poppin' out babies. Maybe I'll be next...if I ever find Mr. Right. Although I can't wait forever. At this rate, I might have to do it solo! I can't let these cheekbones go to waste!

 
 
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America's favorite HR Exec & Career/Workplace Expert Reese Alexander (aka The Sassy Suit) interviews me for Examiner.com about how to have a career as a realtor.  If you want to get a taste of real estate but don't want to go thru getting licensed, read my tip in her article


Reese always has the best-est job advice. Sassy, classy but never trashy! Follow her here twitter.com/thesassysuit

 
 
I am shocked how agents dress! I can not tell you how many times I've walked into an open house and have seen agents in sweats, halter tops or flip-flops. You don't have to wear a 3 piece suit, but you want people to know you are hockin' homes...not hockin' hooters!

eHow asked me to do a video about this very tragical dilemma facing our industry. Watch!

How to Dress to Sell a Home -- powered by ehow
 
 
Real phone conversation with clueless listing agent

Herman: Hi, I'm calling about listing on *&^@& St.  Is there anything wrong with the property? 
Agent: It's gorgeous! 
Herman: How come there  are no photos?
Agent: Didn't you read the pretty description I wrote?
Herman: (rolls eyes) Um, a picture is worth a 1000 words. 

I feel so sorry for his clients! People are visual creatures. If your house is for sale, make sure you have TONS of pics. It's like online dating, you  are more likely to click on the guy with attractive photos and sparse bio, than a guy with no pix and long flowery bio (TMI or over compensation). Let's face it. No pix implies fugly! 

Case in point: Notice how boring this blog post is without any images?! 
 
 
Wealth Magazine  allots me a beautiful full 2 page spread in their Winter 2012 issue. Check out my exclusive web video "Condo Investing Tips" for this esteemed publication dedicated to "financial intelligence for life". 
 
 
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Direct Shopping Network TV Hosts Brook Roberts & Tara Gray have launched a new magazine called Show Stopper!  With already over 300,000 subscribers, I'm so flattered my friend Tara (former Miss Alabama!)  asked me to pen a column about home & design. See page 14-15 here.  Got a question for me? Post in comments & it just might be next month's topic! 

 
 
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Examiner nails me on the head! (Ouch! Thanks a heap Cece! Lol) "He’s wacky, he’s wild … he’s Habitat for Hermanity! The site, which offers “Helpful, Hilarious & Hellacious Real Estate & Design with a Punchline!”, features real estate personality Herman Chan doing – well, his Herman thing...He shows his pretty face from coast to coast, preaching the gospel of Herman himself. And who wouldn’t kneel at his altar?"  Kneel at my altar? Hmmm, no comment, haha! Too easy. 

I love what Cece wrote on her ActiveRain blog : "I made a pledge some time back that I would only work with people I like. I bet he has, too. . ." True Dat! I tell agents all the time,  "Just be yourself! That's how you attract loyal clients who share your world view!"