Habitat for Hermanity: Your Real Estate Infotainment...Where Housing Hilarity Ensues! San Francisco Bay Area Realtor Herman Chan - Habitat For Hermanity

New Bravo TV Star Goes From Hocking His Privates to Hocking Private Property!

1/31/2012

The new star of Bravo TV's Million Dollar Listing NY is Fredrik Eklund (aka Tag Ericksson to you gay porn fans).
For many realtors, selling real estate is often a 2nd career after they get burnt out from their 1st one. I suppose Fredrik is no exception! With his salacious past, clients might wonder, "Gee, is the house or is he for sale?" But with clients like Justin Timberlake & Cameron Diaz, it clearly hasn't been a problem (then again, those 2 are straight...).

Bravo's press release makes no mention at all about his prior il-LUST-rious career, but you can count your little ding-a-ling it will come to light mid-season for some ratings drama. "Fredrik Eklund is the youngest Managing Director for Prudential Douglas Elliman. With more than 1.25 billion dollars in residential sales, he is known for being a “listings machine” ...is constantly rated as downtown’s “Top Luxury Broker” and was nominated as “Rookie of the Year” by the Real Estate Board of New York."

And to all those haters who accuse Bravo TV of pushing a homosexual agenda (Andy Cohen, Madison, Josh Flagg, Jeff Lewis, Brad Goreski, Tim Gunn and more!), well I guess you was right!!

Win a Free Kodak PlayTouch Camera!

1/30/2012

In case you are bored at work, play my Facebook game Montris. Why? Because:

It'll make the hours pass by
It'll make my Facebook page happy
You wanna win a super cool brand spanking new Kodak Play Touch Video Camera!

Don't believe you can win? Check out these past Hermanity players who've scored free stuff. Have a ball here!

Celeb Housing News: Biggest Loser's Dr H, Nick Santino & Denise Rich

1/29/2012

Condo's pet policy to blame for soap actor Nick Santino's suicide? Doubt it, Nick could have moved somewhere else. Now he's in heaven with his dog.....RIP

Biggest Loser's Dr. H lists his Spanish Los Feliz Mansion for $5.4M. Buena suerte amigo!

Privately owned 5.8 acre island in San Francisco Bay for sale at $9M. What the heck would you build there? No flat space!

Aptly named Denise Rich lists her 12,000 sq ft epic 5th Ave penthouse for jaw dropping $65M, per Real Estalker. Wait, Denise who?!

So Tired of These "Is House Hunters Real or Fake" Articles! It's HGTV, Not PBS!

1/29/2012

Last week, MSN.com posted an article called "What's wrong with House Hunters." It's the same old complaints: too fast, too fake, too blah blah blah. Um, hello... it's TV! Don't take it so seriously, folks. It's HGTV, not PBS! Of course, no one buys a house in 25 minutes. That's the beauty of TV. Rachel Ray miraculously whips up a soufflé in 10 minutes & nobody screams Bloody Mary! Why do real estate shows get called into question?

Pride & Equality Interviews Herman for "Models of Hope" Issue

1/26/2012

Pride & Equality Magazine sits down with me to chat about LGBTQ youth, being a "Real Estate Artist" and my eggs drying up!

Also, I'm so flattered to be the special guest for their 4th Annual Vincent R. Johnson Models of Hope Dinner next month. They honor "individuals that not only the GLBT youth can look up to, but anyone the community can see as a ray of light." Great cause! Tickets just $35 or $350 for a table. Hope to see you there!

Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂

1/24/2012

2012 is the year of the dragon. Is it a good time to buy or sell real estate this year for you? Depends under what sign you're born under. Rat, dog, ox, unicorn? J/K. There's no unicorn, unfortch.

So, before you write that offer, check out your horoscope here!

Century 21 Ads Starring Ken & Barbie

1/24/2012

Just arrived in my mailbox today. Here are the back covers of the current issues of Realtor Magazine & CA Real Estate Magazine. Is it me or do the models for the new Century 21 ads seem too pretty, preppy and WASP-y? Wow, it's Realtor Ken & Barbie! I can't wait for the next ad...featuring Skipper!

To be fair, the web commercials on C21's site aren't as, um, monotone...Is diversity important to you in choosing a brokerage?

Celeb Housing News: Vanilla Ice, Drake, Hells Angels Mortgage Fraud & more

1/22/2012

Eminem's forefather Vanilla Ice kicks off 2nd season of his real estate renovation show, The Vanilla Ice Project. "The market's evolved, but it's better today than ever, investing-wise...you can crush it if you know the right area." Proof there is life after a 1 hit wonder! Nice Nice Baby!

Rapper Drake is shelling out $540,000/yr for his rented LA mansion. All that dough is making some landlord very happy. Dude, why don't you just buy a place! We'll write up the offer for ya!

Leader of the Hells Angels was sentenced to 70 months in prison & ordered to pay $1M for his role in a multimillion dollar mortgage fraud scheme. He altered bank statements & falsified documents. I ain't defending him, but would a white collar criminal get same punishment? Doubt it!

DreamWorks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg lists his $9.4M Beverly Hills home, which he bought for $2.8M in 1985. Pix here. Think you can afford this DreamWorks dream home? Puh-leez, dream on!

How to Find an Interior Designer...on the Cheap!

1/20/2012

Last week I dropped in on a friend who closed escrow over a year ago. It was a fabulous property & I couldn't wait to see how she decorated it. I walked in...and it looked the same. Whomp, Whomp! I said, "Girl, what happened to all those design plans you fantasized about!? Didn't you TIVO like 800 hours of ColorSplash!?" She had no time, no money & no idea where to start. What a shame! But I see this all the time. Folks spend thousands a month on house payments but don't do a darn thing to make it nice.

So, eHow asked me to share some quick tips on how to find a designer to help you dress up the biggest purchase of your life! And it won't cost you an arm & a leg either.

How to Find a Room Designer -- powered by ehow

Sex Appeal = Curb Appeal: Looking Sharp is Part of the Job!

1/19/2012

Check out my cousins handcrafted custom made shirt company Shirtlisted. Yes, that's me in the video. (...and of course the screen shot youtube uses is a crotch shot! D'oh!) Great job cuz! I love my 2 shirts. Always get complimented at open houses when I wear them.

Your 2012 Resolution: Follow Hermanity!

1/17/2012

Google+ www.gplus.to/hermanity
Facebook  www.fb.me/hermankchan
Twitter  www.twitter.com/hermanity
YouTube  www.youtube.com/habitatforhermanity
LinkedIn  www.linkedin.com/in/hermanity

If you're already 1 of my 40,000 peeps, thanks! If not, then please jump aboard! :-)

Celeb Housing News: Joan Rivers, OJ Simpson & Bachelor's Ben

1/17/2012

*** Ratings for the new Bachelor season are a flop. People say it's because of Ben. But I think it's the house. Look at that post-modern disaster. Nothing more than a hexagonal box encased in trellis cage! Now that filming has wrapped, it's for rent at $2,000/night.

*** RadarOnline reports: JP Morgan Chase tries repeatedly to serve OJ Simpson foreclosure papers at his property. But, um, hellllloooo! He ain't home...cuz he in da slammer! And someone explain this line to me: "In an effort to escape the $33 million judgment against him, O.J. bought a house near Miami in 2000 for $522,000, taking out a mortgage for $575,000." Wuh?

*** Can we talk? Say what you will about Joan Rivers, but she has raked in the mega bucks over her 50 yr career as a female comedian. Did you see her telling 2010 docu-film Piece of Work? Amazing the sexism she was up against! She paved the way for Margaret Cho, Kathy Griffin, Mo'Nique, Ellen, Rosie, Lisa Lampanelli! R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Oh, and she's just listed her tri-level NY penthouse for $29M. Work, betch! XOXO

Hocking Homes with Herman: Paintballed!

1/16/2012

My new clients told me pesifically they wanted a home in a "non-scary part of town." As luck would have it, on our first tour, out of the blue we get pelted with paintballs! At least they weren't real bullets. If someone is gonna attack me next time, please glitter bomb me! Sigh...the perils of being a real estate agent.

Celeb Housing News: Anderson Cooper, Regis Philbin & Paula Patton of Mission Impossible

1/15/2012

***Anderson Cooper scoops up house next door to his Hamptons estate for $1.7M. Allegedly, he wants to preserve it from becoming a McMansion, but honestly, it's gonna house his boy toy. (Yes, Virginia, he's gay.)

***Paula Patton's house is slapped with a $450,000 tax lien! The Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol starlet & her sexy singer hubby Robin Thicke are scrambling to rectify! Gotta follow the tax protocol, folks!

***Regis Philbin finally sells Connecticut home for $3M. What can I say, it's a slow week for celeb housing news!

San Francisco Poised for Big Tech Boom...Deja Vu!

1/14/2012

SF is on the verge of a dotcom fever 2.0! I've noticed a trend amongst clients & friends who are intoxicated with the taste of IPOs. Business Insider agrees: "Tech companies flocking to SF!" LinkedIn just announced they are moving from Silicon Valley to SF. Twitter secured a HUGE new HQ. Salesforce signs SF's biggest lease in a decade. Zynga just IPO'd. My tech clients are rolling in dough like it was 1999...and many of these people need to buy homes. But inventory is still sparse. Supply down + demand up = Prices will soar? What do you think? Tech boom or DotBomb?

CASTING for Major Cable Network: Arts & Crafts Throwdown!

1/13/2012

Are you a doily diva? A macramé maven? Are you the MacGyver of arts & crafts? If so, my casting director friend needs you to apply for this show from the producers of Cupcake Wars. They're seeking people with some design expertise that can make something out of nothing! Prize is $10,000 and lots of attention on you. More info here.
Good luck! See you on the boobtube!

Asian Real Estate Superstitions for Friday the 13th!

1/13/2012

In honor (or horror?) of Friday the 13th, Zillow did a run down of real estate superstitions. Reminds me of a hilarious article I wrote for A.R.E. (Asian Real Estate Magazine). It's a quick guide to dealing with Asian clients & how to avoid social blunders. I touch upon some superstitions:
*Why listing a house at $444,444 is major no-no!
*Are fruit trees considered unlucky?
*Why you'll lose a listing if you show up wearing all white!
*If buyer ask you if you're familiar with Feng Shui, don't say, "Never had that dish, but I looove Kung Pao chicken"

Five Star Hotel? No, it's Beyonce's Delivery Room!

1/12/2012

photo via TMZ.com

At 1st glance, you'd think this was a hotel room. But it's in fact a delivery room refashioned just for HipHop Royalty's new baby, Ivy Blue! Well, Ivy green with envy!

With Ma & Pa spending a fortune on baby Carter's new bedroom, that's gonna be one privileged kid! But I have a feeling Jay-Z & Beyonce will make good parents. They are uprooting the family to the 'burbs!

photo via mediatakeout.com

Most Expensive Home Sold in 2011 is Faux French Chateau in Silicon Valley

1/12/2012

Click pic for 13 more images

From Russia with...Money!! Russian bazillionaire venture capitalist Yuri Milner plopped down $110M for this Palo Alto 28,000 sq ft castle on 18 acres, making it by far the most expensive home sale in 2011. This ain't even his primary residence. It's merely a vacation home! (PS: Is he single?) Yuri is part of a new trend of affluent Russians invading US market, due to instability in their respective nation.

My Exclusive Video for Sold Magazine: Tips for Real Estate VideoBlogging

1/11/2012

I've been in the vlogging game for a few years now, so I often get asked by realtors how to videoblog. Sold Magazine incidentally had me do an exclusive clip for their readers about this very topic. Here some quick easy tips. Don't miss the last one. It's the most important, and most hilarious, tip!

Power of Celebrity Tenants: Kardashians Boost Property Value

1/11/2012

Earlier I blogged about a problem celebrity tenant: entitled, partying and wild behavior do not make great renters. But, it turns out not all celebs tenants are bad. While filming "Kourtney & Kim Take on NY," the Kardashians rented out a 2bd Tribeca pad & left the space spotless. Apparently, they never spent a single night there. Pays on time & never there: the perfect tenant! Prior to their lease, the pad was listed for $4.8M. Post-Kardashian, it's now for sale at $4.995M! Nothing like a little star quality to upsell a listing! Before you diss K&K, would you pay more for a house knowing your favorite star once lived there? Things that make ya go hmmm

Huh? "SF HuffingtonPost: Ode To Oakland: NYTimes Bestows Huge Honor On Our Sibling City."

1/11/2012

Um, ok. Now that Oakland snagged some hot press, SF adopts Oakland as a "sibling city", when normally SF eschews anything Oakland! I can't help it. I have to stick up for the underdog. "SF HuffingtonPost: Ode To Oakland: NYTimes Bestows Huge Honor On Our Sibling City."

Both cities are awesome in their own right, but honestly, sometimes SF is the step-sister who treats Oakland like an ugly illegit bastard child black sheep of the family. Well, guess what, Cinderella is going to the ball! Lol!

Pix of New Twitter HQ in SF!

1/11/2012

photos by isaach.com

Check out this link for some new sneak peak pix of the twitter headquarters from sfist.com! I guess we can officially kiss goodbye to any remaining hookers & crack dealers who populated this "Mid-Market" neighborhood. It's happened before. The last tech boom transformed South of Market (SOMA) in San Francisco from a district of industrial warehouses to dotcoms & million dollar high rise condos.

Next up will be Tenderloin. There is no where else in the city to gentrify...er, I mean, develop!

Modernizing Old Home is Hottest Trend, But Beware!

1/11/2012

Check to see if your house is landmarked

Ever since the collapse of the market, McMansions have fallen out of style. Buyer tastes have veered towards old homes with character. Revamped Victorians, Edwardians, bungalows are hot! Sellers who modernized their 100 yr old homes up to 2012 amenities and upgrades while maintaining the old world charm and architectural integrity command huge prices.

However, before you start chopping up your old house, check with the city to make sure it is not designated as an historic landmark. Otherwise you may be violating historic preservation ordinances! This family in Palo Alto ,CA is fighting the city to get their house (in photo) removed from the city history inventory. What is considered historic is up to debate. Apparently, this Council Member agrees with this family: "With all due respect to the Historic Resources Board, they're not composed of experts." Snap!

How Much For That Igloo? HGTV's House Hunters International Goes to the Arctic!

1/10/2012

For the first time ever, House Hunters International is heading to the Arctic Circle. I can't wait to see the real estate agent chauffeur clients on a toboggan! This show is an spin-off of HGTV's #1 show House Hunters (which I've been on more than once! haha!). Now that they can cross off the North Pole, what is next? House Hunters Under the Sea? House Hunters Intergalactic? What frontier would you like to see?