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

The Sassy Suit Asks Me How To Have a Career As a Real Estate Agent

2/29/2012

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.

Los Angeles Po-Po to Realtors: No More Aerial Shots!

2/29/2012

LA Times reports: "The Los Angeles Police Department is warning real estate agents not to use images of properties taken from unmanned aircraft" Is there anything a realtor won't do to showcase a listing!? LOL. Look, aerial shots are great, but the Federal Aviation rules are there for a reason. No aerial shot is worth endangering the friendly skies!

Here are some (hopefully legally obtained) aerial shots of our fav celebs like Mariah, Streisand, & Britney

Who Needs Staging When You Are OPRAH!?

2/28/2012

via www.corcoran.com

Oprah has hoisted her hefty NY penthouse on the market for a cool $7.9M clams. Interestingly enough, the 2,530 sq ft condo is completely empty. Not a single piece of decor in sight! Hey with the most powerful showbiz woman in the world as the owner, who needs staging? Her name sells it! (and the amazing views don't hurt either)

Japanese Designer Starbucks Store Made of ChopSticks!

2/28/2012

Designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, this new Japanese Starbucks is made up of thousands of wooden twigs, toothpicks & chopsticks! I'm amazed Starbucks (the queen of branding) allowed them to veer off their template store. This store does not say coffee. It says French Fries. I realize it is avant-garde and all, but practically speaking, how can you get your coffee without getting splinters & your eyes poked out!

UPDATE: One of my Tweeples sent me this Starbucks in Seattle made of shipping containers! How cool is that. Sustainability!

Thanks Twitter.com@GrantSasek!

Paula Abdul's New LA Listing: Do You Really Think Paula is This Boring at Home!?

2/25/2012

Paula Abdul lists her LA home for $1.9M. And it's surprisingly un-Paula. No sign of wacky! Maybe she IS a normal gal at home... I've heard of de-personalizing a listing but geez, her house has been totally sterilized. I was kinda hoping to see some wacky decor that is so indicative of our beloved Paula. I guess her mismatched frilly over-accessorized fashion sense didn't spill over to her house. Dirty darn it!

Good luck with the sale, Forever Your Girl!

Earth tones galore!

Eerily bland!

How to Dress to Sell a Home: Be Sure Clients Know the House is for Sale....Not You!

2/23/2012

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

Predatory or Thoughtful? Your Client Gets a Closing Gift From the OTHER Agent!!

2/23/2012

What would you think if you did a deal with another agent, and at the end of the transaction, they gave a closing gift to YOUR client? I'm not talking dinky rubber keychain with their contact info. I'm talking a sweet jaw dropping present.

Is it merely in the spirit of celebration? A kind gesture of congratulations? Or... is it poaching your client?! Back-handed try to steal them?

What would you think/do?!

Advertising Yourself or Your House On-Line: No Pix Usually Means Fugly!

2/22/2012

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?!

Homeownership = Aphrodisiac?!

2/20/2012

CNN Money's survey reveals more than a third of women said they'd much rather date a homeowner than a renter. Well d'uh! If a man can commit to a 30 yr mortgage, he's more likely commit to a 30 yr marriage! Renters bail the second they find a better apt! Who wants a boyfriend who'll ditch you for someone cheaper?!

Herman's Exclusive Feature for Wealth Magazine: Condo Investing Tips!

2/19/2012

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".

Offspring of Mama's Family & My Name is Earl Lives Here!

2/17/2012

Mobile homes aren't real estate per se, but this would be THE perfect set for reality show about trailer parks & the people who love them! Thelma Harper should Host!

Firefighter Dies in $11M House for Germany's Next Top Model...Due to Code Violations!

2/17/2012

Whether you're rich or poor, you gotta adhere to building codes! The homeowner & architect of a $11M Hollywood Hills mansion made changes to this house behind the city's back. Like adding 4 fireplaces without city permission. "This man built an 18-foot fire trough designed for outdoors inside the home. It was a recipe for disaster," said Deputy Dist. Atty. Sean Carney "He essentially put this fireplace on 2-by-4s." When fire broke out, a firefighter died trying to save the house. ...and this was supposed to be the set of the next "Germany's Next Top Model too!" Wow, some people just think they are above the law! Building codes are there for a reason, y'all!

Now We Know Why Adele Was Renting a Mansion & Living in Just 1 Room!

2/17/2012

Any of you find it weird Adele showed Anderson Cooper her rented massive mansion but was living in just 1 room? Well turns out she was in the middle of buying a house. She just closed on a 25 acre mansion in West Sussex ...where the paps can't get to her! Rollin' in the dough!

ShowStopper Magazine: Showcase Your Home to Sell!

2/16/2012

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!

Hilarious Real Estate Tales You Just Can't Make Up!

2/16/2012

Today I had 2 closings and also wrote an offer. All in a day's work but I was smiling ear to ear the whole day. I realized my clients are as wacky as me. We have so much fun! Reminds of me an article I wrote for AGbeat, Hilarious Real Estate Tales You Just Can't Make up, where I recount some real life humorous stories with my clients! You've got to read it to believe it! Enjoy it here.

What has been your most hilarious real estate experience?

Do Real Estate Agents Make Bad Boyfriends? Ask Amanda Seyfried!

2/16/2012

Amanda Seyfried & her real estate broker boyfriend Justin Huchel just broke up after 1 month of dating! This isn't the first time Amanda has had bad luck with a real estate professional. Her prior beau was NY real estate exec Andrew Joblon who split after 4 months.

Anyone else had trouble dating someone in real estate? Take it from me, it's tough. Income is up and down. Weekends and evenings are devoted to clients. The market is crap now. Sometimes I just wanna flip burgers!

We all can't be married to Bravo TV's Mauricio Umansky! (Kyle Richards, if you are listening, give us advice how you dealt with dating a realtor!)

Amazing Eco-Friendly, Solar, Green & All Around Cool House!

2/15/2012

Winner of the Department of Energy's bi-annual Solar Decathalon in DC is WaterShed! Congrats! Check out the stunning features that aren't only easy on the eyes but also kind to Mother Earth. The one detail that wouldn't fit me is the conference table that converts to bed (Video 0:55). For me, it would be a pain to clear off my big project just to sleep. I'd rather leave all my paperwork on the table and crash on the couch!

Nevertheless, I hope this catches on to the mainstream. Going green doesn't mean sacrificing aesthetics. You can indeed be a trendy tree hugger!

Stacie Turner, Realtor from Real Housewives of DC, Divorces!

2/14/2012

You might remember Stacie from Bravo TV's short lived Real Housewives of DC. After 14 yrs of matrimony, this Harvard grad is calling it quits with her hubby.
She was the classy one (although that's not hard to do, when you're cast along side White House crashers the Salahi's!). Bravo seems to have a penchant for casting women with real estate licenses. Gretchen, Jeanna, Tamra (OC), Lisa Wu (Atlanta).

Number of Realtors Sinks Below 1 Million...Good Riddance!

2/13/2012

When 90% of the business is done by 10% of realtors, does it honestly matter if membership to National Association of Realtors dips below 1 million? Membership peaked in 2007 at 1,369,411. It's all for the best, if you ask me.

Dirty little secret: Despite their "aura of success", most realtors across the nation maybe sell 1 house per year ...usually to a relative! No joke. Even if the number of realtors drops to 100k, when selecting representation, be sure your agent is full time & part of that top 10%. With so much on the line, you can NOT risk your house and money to a part time amateur!

Celeb Housing News: Snooki, Jwow, Octomom, Jason Kennedy & Sexy Cupid

2/13/2012

E! Host Jason Kennedy rents new Beverly Hill place, where my friend Roger Perry represented the homeowner! Go Roger!

TMZ: House Full of Hose! LOL! The new set of Snooki & JWow's new crib is an old fire house. HOT!

OctoMom seeks new house to fit her fourteen (count 'em fourteen) kids. Geez, might as well buy a motel!

Happy VD!

(as in Valentine's Day ...not venereal disease!)

NY Times: Straight Divorced Men Have No Home Decor Skills

2/13/2012

...which is exactly why they need Susan Manrao. This 35 yr old Interior Designer specifically targets a new niche: divorced straight men. She says "working with men alone is easier than working with couples or women, because they tend to be more hands-off, affording her greater creative freedom." (read: men have no taste) “You need to have places to have sex other than the bed...I don’t mean to sound brash, but that’s what people want.” (read: men see decor as a tool to get laid). I ain't hatin' on ya lady. Everybody's got an angle!

Houses Where Rock History Was Made: Nirvana, Jerry Garcia, Springsteen

2/13/2012

I've driven by these 2 houses many times in SF! I had no idea they were once the home base for Jefferson Airplane & Grateful Dead during the heyday of flower power & free love. MSNBC profiles houses where rock legends made musical history, including Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen & more!

R.I.P Whitney Houston

2/11/2012

Each day I live, I want to be
A day to give the best of me
I'm only one, but not alone
My finest day is yet unknown

I broke my heart for every gain
To taste the sweet, I faced the pain
I rise and fall, yet through it all
This much remains

I want one moment in time

-One Moment In Time

Kristen Bell's LA House Succumbs to Foreclosure

2/11/2012

I'm surprised to hear Kristen Bell lost her house! She's a fairly successful working actress (House of Lies, Gossip Girl, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Veronica Mar). But according to Real Estalker (who is usually spot on about real estate gossip), it seems Miss Bell abandoned her home.

It's unclear why she left it, but it might have something to do with taking a bigger bite than she could swallow so young. Yup she bought a $3M house at 22 yrs old. If you work in an unsteady career (like Hollywood!), don't bite off more than you can chew. Good luck Kristen!

Is it any wonder McMansions are sooooo 2000 & late?!

2/11/2012

I've blogged repeated about my anti-McMansion sentiments. (I'm pro small space living) And here's empirical proof that McMansions are indeed going the way of the dinosaurs, from Trulia and The Atlantic. It's not just the economy, it's also cultural values shifting. People increasingly are downsizing by choice. Paring down to live simpler lives. The cost of utilities to support a McMansion are sky high! Plus, landscaping & maintenance will kill you! Not to mention you'll spend a fortune on gas driving out to the vapid house in the boonies. Your social life is another casualty of McMansion living. You think you have this fabulous palatial space to entertain, but none of your city friends make the trek out to visit.

What do you think? Can we retire the McMansion? Or will it make a comeback?