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Should sellers be present when a buyer visits? I dont think so boo!

5/31/2011

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Ever come across a helicopter seller? Hovers over you in each room, chirps in your ear non-stop , praises their house to high heaven? Give it a rest!

Q: Whenever a  buyer makes a private appointment to see my house, I make sure I am there to answer all their questions.  After all, I know my house better than anyone!  Well, a buyer asked for  a second visit, but he just wants himself and his agent there and not me. What is up with that?! -Jonah

A:  Sometimes a seller and buyer will meet briefly during a showing – but personally, I prefer they don’t!

Read the rest of my sassy sage advice here
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Memorial Day Salute to all the troops!

5/30/2011

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For Memorial Day, I just wanna say a big thank you to all the  (wo)men in uniform, service members, troops & veterans  who put their lives on the line  for all of us. We appreciate your skill & bravery!

....which is more than I can say for some lenders like JP Morgan Chase who admitted to overcharging active-duty military personnel on their mortgages & wrongfully foreclosing on their homes!  How Un-American!  UPDATE: JP Morgan has settled lawsuit for $56 Million.

PS: Image is by one of my favorite artists J.C. Leyendecker.
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We got plugged on Real Estate Megasite SF Curbed! Yeah!

5/28/2011

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Yesterday's post about the 2 faced Berkeley listing got mentioned on real estate behemoth site Curbed! What a great way to kick off my Memorial Weekend!
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2 Homes for the price of 1...but ummm it is the same house!

5/27/2011

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What a deal!  Not only do you get a dated brown shingle home on the outside, but  wow you also get a white post-modern curvy condo inside. (giggle)

My initial theories on this listing:
1. Must be a Mixed Marriage: Exterior by Berkeley Hippie & Interior by SOMA Yuppie
2. The house (& probably owner) is schizophrenic
3. The person who designed the inside has something against right angles.
4. It's not just mental cognizant dissonance , it's rental cognizant dissonance
What are your theories for how this dubious design came about?

If I've said it once I've said it a million times, please match outside architecture with inside decor. (If you missed the memo, revisit my webcast here!)
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Reunited with Wall St Journal Tech Columnist/Author Kara Swisher

5/26/2011

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Kara Swisher and I were both speakers at the Better Homes & Gardens conference earlier this year in Las Vegas.  It was wonderful to see her in action again at this dot429 event.  When she is not keeping Eric Schmidt, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates et al  in check, she runs All Things Digital.  You see, when Kara talks, people listen.

Her speech last night was sooo on point! The big players in the tech world are predominantly "older white straight men". As a proud & out lesbian woman, she is a rarity, especially given her ginormous public persona. "Basically it's a sausage factory!" (Her words, not mine!). 

I commiserated with her afterwards that it was the same in the real estate upper echelon. As a proud & out gaysian who wears his heart (and mouth?) on his sleeve,  I know for a fact I've been blackballed in some quarters. I asked her how she deals with any backlash for her brash critiques & brutal honesty about the insular tech world. DON'T BACK DOWN.

Glad we're on the same page, Kara!  Thanks for paving the way!

Here's my video for WORKopen, a collaboration between dot429 and Saks 5th Ave, to encourage people to come out at work.
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Love Thy Neighbor, Hate Thy Client?! Some Sellers Just Are Not Worth it

5/25/2011

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My video rant for my fabulous friends at AG Beat (formerly known as Agent Genius Magazine)  is up & live! I've written oodles of editorial (op/ed) commentary pieces for them in the past, so I'm thrilled at my new foray into video for AG Beat.

My AG Beat video debut is a rant about a delusional seller stuck in 2007 who thinks her house is all that and a side a bacon.  Sometimes, as a realtor, it is best to just walk away. What do you think? What is the most ludicrous thing a seller has told you? Spill your guts!
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Is it ok to mix business with pleasure in real estate?

5/25/2011

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Depending on who you ask, mixing business with pleasure is sometimes called networking....and sometimes it is called a train wreck! There are definite pros and cons to using a friend for business. Read my advice column for this reader on 365gay LogoTV Online.

Question: For our loan, should we use our banker down the street? We’ve known him for years so we trust him. But should we still shop around? – Jillian in Alabama

Have any of your friendships soured over a business deal? Let me know. Gimme the gossip!
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Play my new facebook game Gems Swap II for a chance to win a....

5/24/2011

3 Comments

 
KODAK PLAY TOUCH VIDEO CAMERA
It's great for shooting photos as well as videos of people and homes. You can edit on the camera as well as  upload to the web by pressing the SHARE button. Pretty cool!

Just something fun for all the fans of Hermanity!  Join the game here
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My Facebook Contest Winnner Announced! Who Won a new KODAK M580 Digicam?

5/23/2011

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What a smashing sucess!  Over 3000 people played my facebook game. Congrats to the first winner of my facebook contest! Watch the vid to see if it is you.

Don't fret if you didn't win this time. KODAK has generously donated another prize for my next contest. It's their new Play Touch Video Camera! Stay tuned for details!
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Once a Realtor, Always a Realtor, eh?

5/21/2011

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It's an S.O.S. for Q&A, A.S.A.P.!

5/19/2011

8 Comments

 
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The Q&A chapter for my new book needs your questions!

Right here in the comments section, post any quandary, dilemma, complaint or predicament  about real estate. It can be about loans, inspections, your agent, or the market. From silly to serious, I will answer anything you wanted to know about real estate, but were afraid to ask!
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My Facebook Contest has ended! Winner will be announced soon via video!

5/16/2011

2 Comments

 
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I'm  floored by the thousands & thousands of people who played my game on my facebook fan page. A-MA-ZING!

As a videoblogger, it is only appropriate I crown the winner this week via video. so please stay tuned to see if you won a fabulous KODAK M580 Digital Camera!
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I am Hosting a Golf Tournament May 27th!

5/14/2011

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"Come meet Herman Chan at our 2nd Annual Golf Tournament, Dubbed the Internet Sensation Videoblogger by Realtor Magazine, Herman is the undisputed Realty Expert whose helpful & hilarious commentary on HGTV, House Hunters, MONEY Magazine, MSNBC has made him everyone's favorite Real Estate Personality!"

Confirmed attendees thus far are: California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones & Congresswoman Doris Matsui

TOURNAMENT FEE: $135

WHEN: Friday May 27, 2011 from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM PDT

WHERE:  Lincoln Hills Golf Club 1005 Sun City Lane, Lincoln, CA 95648

More info, tickets, and details here
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An Oldie but Goodie! I Smell Carbs

5/13/2011

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"I SMELL CARBS" is one of the most popular videoblog entries on Habitat For Hermanity! 

This post is especially poignant for me because I have just shed 20 lbs  in about 5 weeks.  This was quite a herculean  feat, considering I had to endure several birthday dinners (including my own), as well as 2 Mother's Day dinners and other carb-heavy soirées!

I've got a few more pounds to go. I'm in Phase 2 of Phase 4 of this program. I can not wait for the day when I can dive into a bucket of  greasy fried rice, platter of linguini con le  vongole, and pizza! Why am I dieting? Heellloooo, I'm in sales! And besides, the camera adds 10 lbs!

What diets have you tried? Did you keep it off or yo-yo back?
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Real Estate Cartoon

5/12/2011

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I've definitely come across some distressed sellers who weren't too far from this cartoon!

Got any other funny real estate cartoons? Please share. It's a tough business. We need a little humor.
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KLOUT: Your audience is hooked on your updates & secretly can't live without them!

5/9/2011

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Self-proclaimed "Geek, New Media web producer & writer, social media manager" Goldie Chan (no relation, unfortch) was sweet enough to facebook me today about Klout. This San Francisco based company measures people's overall online influence. 

"Your audience is hooked on your updates & secretly can't live without them!" ...well, I can't live without you all either! And that's no secret!
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I made the MONEY Magazine cover story! 100 Best Money Moves

5/6/2011

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Yippee! I'm the featured Expert for the Real Estate Section!  Not only did several of my tips make the final 100 Best Money Moves, but our little videoblog Habitat For Hermanity got a plug. And best of all, they made an illustration of me (by the talented Michael Hoeweler). How many people can say they've had their portrait in Money Magazine?

Run out & get the latest issue of Money Magazine , their "annual guide to the best & timeliest investments, deals, products and strategies will help you and our family make smarter financial decisions. Guaranteed." ....and check out my mug!
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EXCLUSIVE! Hermans new HGTV House Hunters Episode in June!

5/5/2011

7 Comments

 
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JUNE 20, 2011 9:30pm e/p
JUNE 20, 2011 12:30am e/p
Check back on the link often because programming can change.

Today HGTV producer wrote me,"You seriously come off great on camera! You should have your own show, interested?? Selling San Francisco! Or another name :)" That totally made my day!

What would be a good name for my real estate TV show? I'm taking suggestions!

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Simmer Down! Your agent is nagging you for a good reason!

5/4/2011

4 Comments

 
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QUESTION
Hello Herman, I am totally insulted that my agent won’t show me any more homes until I get pre-approved for a loan...It’s not any of her business yet.  Shouldn’t we find our house first and then work on a loan? -Abbie

ANSWER
Abbie, simmer down! No need to be insulted. Everyone is being very cautious nowadays....

Read the rest of my no non-sense advice for MTV's site 365gay.

Tell me when & why your realtor nagged you!
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Tie-Dye, Incense, Peace Signs? I am in the latest issue of Deliver Magazine!

5/2/2011

1 Comment

 
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There is a photo of me in the May Issue of Deliver Magazine, sitting in a field listening to a hippie professor ramble on. Hmmm, brings me back to my days at UC Berkeley!

I look back on those times at Cal with great fondness. The campus culture allowed me to be myself and nurtured my idiosyncratic behavior...which has come to be known as HERMANITY!

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EXCLUSIVE! CREW: Celeb Real Estate Wrap Up...Prince, Sheryl Crow, Jerry Garcia

5/1/2011

2 Comments

 
Welcome to another episode of CREW (Celebrity Real Estate Wrap UP), brought to you exclusively by Habitat For Hermanity! In this segment, find out which Grateful Dead member's ex-house is  up for sale &  just how much space pint sized Prince needs in a home.  But first, is it true Sheryl Crow is trying to sell her house....Ebay style?!   Watch and see!

NOTE: This is the only video that  will ever exist of Hermanity singing. You've been forewarned

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