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

Cyber bullying has gotta stop folks! As the spokesperson for this cause, here I am spreading the word on the boob tube for SayIt2MyFace Campaign, which battles this horrible behavior.

The charming & handsome David Perry interviews me for Comcast TV show Ten Percent. We discuss coming out, Perez Hilton, how I was cyber bullied, why this epidemic is more damaging than just plain old bullying! Watch here. (Ignore the bald spot on my head! My fade is too tight)

Bonus Clip: One of my favorite authors Armistaud Maupin was just on Ten Percent too talking about his new musical Tales of the City based on his famous book series.

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Century 21 re-caps my electrifying presentation at Real Estate Connect Conference

7/29/2011

Century 21 gives me some MAJOR love! Thanks for all your tweets too.

"This week we’re blogging live from the Inman News Real Estate Connect conference in San Francisco, CA. Of all the presentations we’ve seen so far, the most entertaining award goes to Herman Chan! Herman hosted a session titled “I Heart Video Blogging” and from the moment he stepped on stage he had the audience in hysterics with his dynamic personality and sense of humor...."

For my helpful and hilarious videoblogging tips, read the rest of their article here!

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SocialMediaHQ interviews Herman about his SM Savvy!

7/29/2011

SocialMediaHQ sits down with me to discuss social media & real estate. If you aren't sure if you should take a stab at SM, read the answers to questions below & decide for yourself!

*How can social media contribute to the bottom line of businesses, especially real estate professionals?
*Since the housing crash, what trends have you seen in the real estate industry in regards to social media?
*What digital relationship building techniques have you implemented for building your blog?
Read my full interview here

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News: Facebook HQ design disaster, Tony Danza, tragedy for Airbnb, TRHOBH

7/28/2011

*Epic PR nightmare for Airbnb.com! This poor woman used Airbnb & totally got pillaged! It's a huge blow to the credibility & safety of this on-line short-term rental site. I dunno about you, but letting strangers crash chez toi just doesn't sound wise in this era of loonies. There's a reason why people don't hitchhike anymore! [via Gawker]

*Who's the Boss? It'll be 80's sitcom dad Tony Danza, if he gets his asking price of $9.1M for his Malibu home. Good luck Tony! You're still a DILF! [via RealEstalker]

*Is it a dungeon, dorm room, or creepy post-modern design disaster? The new Facebook HQ in Menlo Park needs some major remodel help! Somebody call Vern Vip ASAP! [via TechCrunch]

*It's crystal mess! Watch the new trailer of season 2 for Bravo's blockbuster hit The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I can't wait to see how the Kelsey Grammer divorce knocks Camille down a peg! [via Jezebel]

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Winner of my Facebook Contest Announced!

7/27/2011

Over 11,000 people took part in my facebook contest. Thank you all for playing! But there can only be 1 winner. Watch my video to see if you are the lucky winner of a snazzy new Kodak Play Touch Video Camera!

Merci beaucoup for my friends at KODAK who donated the prize. They've got some amazing products, especially geared towards real estate. I have a 20% discount just for my viewers here.

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Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad) & LogoTV Mentions

7/22/2011

Not a shabby way to kick off the weekend!

So flattered best-selling author & speaker Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame mentioned me on Twitter!

And of course, I always appreciate my peeps at MTV Network's LogoTV. Thx!

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Catch Herman at Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco

7/22/2011

Hot on the heels of my chat last night for Young Professionals Network and Women's Council of Realtors, I'll be speaking at the Real Estate Connect Conference next week. My talk will be about VideoBlogging. (no surprise there!). Other speakers will include my friends Ginger Wilcox (Trulia), Sara Bonert (Zillow), Rick Marini (CEO Branch Out), Sherry Chris (CEO of Better Homes & Gardens) and a slew of peeps from Google, Facebook, Virgin America, New York Times, yadda yadda yadda (List of speakers here).

WHAT: I ♥ VideoBlogging & So Should You!
WHO: Me, myself and I on stage
WHEN: Thurs 7/28 4pm-4:20pm. Full conference schedule here
WHERE: Hilton San Francisco Union Square. 333 O'Farrell Street, SF, CA
REGISTER: Tickets range from $899-$1099. Buy here.

Hope you see you guys there! Please say hi and don't forget to tweet me @hermanity. If you can't make it no worries, keep up with all that is going on via twitter.com/InmanConnect

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What to do when your neighbors yard is an eye-sore

7/21/2011

Let's say you've spent a fortune landscaping your backyard. It's an oasis even HGTV's Jamie Durie would be proud of! But oh no! Your new next door neighbor moved in and they are slobs. Their yard looks like a landfill! Watch my quick tips how to deal with this eye-sore.

PS: thanks for my friends at p6.com for shooting and editing this vid. thanks!

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Is Google Plus really Google Minus? Verdict is still out!

7/20/2011

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Do you think all this hoopla over Google+ is deserved? Or is it more like Google-?

I'm still testing it out (albeit tepidly), but not enough of my friends/sphere are on it to make it a truly social experience for me....yet. I do like that I can categorize people into "circles" effortlessly (whereas to create "lists" in facebook is more laborious and requires more clicks).

Add me to your circle here at gplus.to/hermanity (To nab your Google+ vanity URL like mine, visit gplus.to) . If you have absolutely no idea what in Carmen San Diego I am talking about, here is a newbie guide to Google+. If you're a convert, LMK what I am missing!

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Q&A: Is it housing discrimination if a str8 guy will not rent a gay man like me a room?

7/19/2011

Question:
My bff & I share an apartment and the lease ends next month. She asked her boyfriend if we could stay at his house (we would pay rent). He said yes but last minute reneged when he found out her roomie was a gay man (me). Is this housing discrimination?
-Homeless Will & Grace

Answer:
Hey Will,
What a creep! He was all gung-ho when he thought 2 hot gals would be parading around his house all day in see-through nighties. No wonder he was so quick to agree to this. He thought he was Jack & you two would be Janet & Chrissy…..but instead he got Janet & Chris. Oops!

Read why this is not housing discrimination in my weekly Q&A column for LOGO here.

Speaking of Three's Company (one of my all time favorites sitcoms!), did any of you see Justin Timberlake & Lady Gaga's song on SNL, It's Not Gay, If It's a Three-way, where they parodied Three's Company?! Hilarious! And catchy tune too.

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My guest article for design blog ChicTip: Love your Small Unit! (wink, wink)

7/18/2011

Read my hilarious double-entendre laced article for ChicTip entitled, Love Your Small Units. Small living is one of the hottest trends now (what with the recession & downsizing).

My tips for how to make your bite-sized abode look bigger include:

Mirror Mirror on the Wall
The less patterns the better
Dual Purpose Furniture
Fiat Lux (fancy Latin!)
K.I.S.S.
Pick one showstopper

Read the full length article here. Do you have any tricks to enlarge your small space? Please share!

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News: Dolce & Gabbana, Illegal Cash Back Deals, did Google propel subprime crisis?

7/15/2011

*Dolce & Gabbana finally have penetrated the posh Fifth Ave in NYC by snagging a lease valued at just under $300M. It's long overdue boys! The Italian duo shot to fame (at least in USA) for designing Madonna's Girlie Show outfits in 1993. (BTW, the dancer behind Madonna is my talented friend Carlton Wilborn. Both in Dolce & Gabbana garb) [via NY Post]

*Google's "reverse redlining"? Read about Google's online exploitation of subprime borrowers & how Google hugely profited from the mortgage mess. [via Huffington Post]

*Ever heard of buyer cash back incentives? Well apparently, those "Illegal Cash-Back Deals Worsened The Housing Bubble, Drove Up Foreclosures" according to this report. Those discounts/cash back set-ups always seem fishy to me. Now we know why! [via Huffington Post]

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Casting Notice: Apply for Home Makeover for HOME MADE SIMPLE on OWN Network

7/15/2011

I met my fabulous Casting Director friend Susan when she was casting The Outdoor Room on HGTV. Her past shows include P. Diddy's Making The Band on MTV, Inked on A&E, Remixed on BET...and now she is seeking people for the show Home Made Simple on Oprah's OWN Network. Please apply & tell her Herman sent ya!

Speaking as someone who is no stranger to being on TV, when submitting yourself, be upbeat, animated and memorable. Remember it is about E.S.P (Energy Smile Personality). No one wants to watch a bump on a log, especially on the boob tube.

Read this article How to get your home a TV makeover via Market Watch and watch HGTV's Vern Vip below for more tips on getting a TV home makeover.

I am rooting for all my Hermanity fans to book this! I'll feature you on my vlog!

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Real Estate Ad Boo-boo: Huge D*ck for Entertaining...LOL!

7/14/2011

Ellen cracks up the audience with these real estate ad blunders. The last one is a doozie! I'm surprised they printed the actual word. (This is day time TV, right?). It makes it all the more funny because Ellen is the most famous lesbian in the world & clearly everyone is in on the joke that she has no interest whatsoever in huge d*cks!

I hope she does more of these segments! Do you have a hilarious real estate ad copy story? LMK!

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The Return of Subprime, Facebook Foreclosures & Carnie Wilson Underwater

7/13/2011

*Foreclosure via Facebook. Banks now serving papers thru social media. Just another reason to increase your privacy settings! [via Time.com]

*Subprime lending roars back with a vengence! Is history doomed to repeat itself? [via HuffPost]

*Contrary to popular reports from Perez Hilton to Huffington Post, Carnie Wilson of 90's pop trio Wilson Phillip's fame (and recently featured in Bridesmaids) is not in foreclosure. She says "My house is not in foreclosure. My house is in a short sale." OK, she's not in foreclosure. She's in pre-foreclosure. [via Zap2it]

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Ghost Bile, Pimply Whiteheads, Exploded Styrofoam...aka Popcorn Ceiling!

7/12/2011

Can you believe popcorn ceiling once was the height of housing fashion?! Depending on how it was sprayed on, it always looked to me like either ghostly bile or wall of pimply whiteheads. Delish! I find it funny when I see a gorgeous crystal chandelier hanging from a ceiling of pigeon poo. If a homeowner is going to spend thousands of dollars on fabulous lighting, why not give it a nice clean backdrop. It's like serving beluga caviar on a Styrofoam plate.

Anyone a fan of popcorn ceiling? LMK! (it's ok. you can post anonymously)

NOTE: Thank you for my friends at P6.com for shooting, editing & hosting this video. Check them out here!

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My Informative & Campy Interview on LA Talk Radio w/ Priscilla Leona!

7/11/2011

Wow! That hour just flew by! What a blast being interviewed by Priscilla Leona, host of entertainment talk show Question Reality! With past celeb guests like pop star Ari Gold & Project Runway's Jack Mackenroth it's no wonder there is 6 month wait list for her show.

In our informative & campy chat, we discuss the real estate & entertainment industries:
*Will Herman be the next host for Property Virgins on HGTV?
*Are the agents on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing any better than us normal agents?
*If you're an actor/model, can you juggle a real estate career part time?

Listen to the full interview here! Did you learn anything? LMK!

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Real Estate News Quirks: Human BirdHouse, Colonia & "My wife lives down the street"

7/10/2011

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It's supposed to be a public relaxation space in Vienna, Austria. I dunno about you, but this looks a lot like a bird house for humans to me! And more importantly what is that white tower with 3 boobies? [via ArchDaily.com]
Not exactly rags to riches story, but they'll get there soon I hope. Read how impoverished Texas border towns (aka Colonias) with no water, utilities or infrastructure are not only managing to survive, but also become a full community. Inspiring! [via cnn.com]
What's the secret to a successful marriage? Live in 2 separate apartments! At least according to this NY couple whose unique living situation has been documented in a new film. They are so funny! [via NY Post]

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Talk about Downsizing! Family of 3 lives in 320 sq ft home

7/9/2011

Watch how this family of three lives in a 320 sq ft home. I applaud this family. In these lean times, they are living within their means (Gee, what a novel idea!). They honestly seem happy...then again, who wouldn't be with no mortgage! It's a commentary of the past few years of American excess & just how flawed the "bigger is better" mentality is. It's revealing how sparsely we can live. We are so spoiled with space in the USA, compared to many parts of the world where it is not uncommon for a family to live in teeny-weeny abodes.

The only way I would live in 320 sq ft with someone is if that someone is a goldfish! I would especially NOT live in tight quarters like this, if I were a girl. I mean, when it's packed like sardines, you brush up against someone and next thing you know, you're knocked up! Trust me, it happens!

Do you live in a small space? Is the tradeoff between economic stress & smaller space worth it?
PS: If you dig cozy living spaces, check out this blog about Small Places!

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Video: Not Just for Vixens, But for REALTORS too!

7/7/2011

Come see me on stage in Manhattan Beach! I'll answer burning questions such as"Will video cement my online presence?" "Can I really make a high quality video that's fast & free?" and most importantly, "If I am ugly, should I still do video?"

"Video may have killed the radio star, but it can make you a real estate star! Just ask Herman Chan, whose video blog Habitat For Hermanity propelled him from dinky local real estate agent to Real Estate Personality on the national stage. We are also having a raffle with an iPad as the main prize. All proceeds for the raffle will go towards funding our scholarship fund. Please join us!"

What:
Video: Not Just for Vixens, But REALTORS too!
Young Professionals Network Tech/Video Event

Where:
American Farmhouse Tavern
924 N Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach

When: Thursday July 21, 2011 4:00pm-6:00pm

How: Register here

See you all there!

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Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Granite Countertops in or out?

7/5/2011

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LogoTV Question: We're re-doing our kitchen. How do you feel about granite countertops?
Hermanity Answer: (Yawn) Been there, done that. They are SO over did. Give concrete or recycled glass a try. More eco & budget friendly!

Watch me enumerate with my trademark sass & sagacity the reasons why this viewer should skip granite counter tops!

Bad for mother earth
Requires too many Benjamins
Honey, that ship has sailed. Next!

What do you think? Are granite counter tops here to stay? Or have you discovered some great alternatives? Please share!

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You think a freeway behind your yard is bad? Well how about above it?!

7/4/2011