Habitat For Hermanity
415.787.3450
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • About
  • Press
  • Testimonials
  • Speaking
    • Appearance / Speaking Fees
    • Better Homes & Garden Conference in Las Vegas
    • Mother Love Talk Show
    • NARdigras: National Association of Realtors Conference in New Orleans
    • California Association of Realtors Expo in Anaheim
    • Women's Council of Realtors
    • Talk Media Networks
    • theEGDE Las Vegas
    • South Hills Country Club
    • Asian Real Estate Association of America Sacramento
    • Lincoln Hills Golf Tournament
    • Rainstorm Conference for ActiveRain
    • Inman Real Estate Connect
  • Hocking Homes
  • Contact

Find me as the Real Estate Expert for NewNowNext

10/3/2011

2 Comments

 
Picture
Owned by MTV/Logo, NewNowNext is Logo Digital’s hub for the latest in music, TV & movies, fashion, design, travel, beauty and health. They've smart, quirky, sassy contributors scattered around the globe feeding the site new articles and videos on a daily basis....including Hermanity! 

Catch all my Real Estate & Design  tips right here. 

2 Comments

Say Bye Bye Bye to your agent who pressures you to Buy Buy Buy!

8/5/2011

1 Comment

 
LogoTV viewer writes to Hermanity:

QUESTION: The house we're buying has chimney damage. My agent says we should focus on our loan instead?  Is that right?
ANSWER: Yikes, your agent just wants to sweep the chimney under the rug & focus on his commission! Watch my video for the 3 steps you need to take ASAP! 

Remember guys, you are the client. Your agent is supposed to always have your back & protect your best interests. A great realtors does what is right for you, not for their wallet! 

Have you come across any agents who were looking out for themselves more than you? Vent here!

Tags: Gay Video & Lesbian Movies, Logo: Fierce TV

Share
1 Comment

Real Estate Decor Q&A: Are Plastic Wood Panel Walls Rustic & Charming?

6/29/2011

1 Comment

 
Viewer Question: Should we get rid of our plastic wood panel walls?
Hermanity Answer: Yes!...unless you're filming a '70s porno

Watch my hilarious & helpful response to a LOGO TV viewer whose husband wants  dark dingy plastic wood panel walls in their basement. Bless his heart, but some men are just clueless!  (That's why they need us!)

Have you ever had design disagreements with your boo? How did you resolve it? Is it true what they say: Happy Wife, Happy Life? 
Share
1 Comment

Modeling Agency, Urban Loft, Art Gallery...or All the Above!

6/16/2011

6 Comments

 
I am utterly floored by what my friend Bret Cota did to this live/work loft! This is a perfect example of how a space that serves multiple purposes can be seamlessly unified by great design.  Bret operates EXALT Modeling & Talent Agency out of this live/work loft, but you would never guess it. Part office, part art installation, part photo studio, part condo, the tasteful black & white aesthetic holds the decor together.  No distinction between office space, living space or art space exists. Just goes to show that when you have a strong design theme that is well executed throughout, anything is possible in a space!

Also, because the steel and concrete in lofts can appear cold, Bret uses plants, wood  & animal print which add a level of warmth to what would otherwise be a sterile space.  And the stark contrast between black and white is diffused by touches of earth tones (beige, browns, gray), which soften the austere sleek b/w look.  Hope you enjoyed these  wonderful design tips! I can't wait to feature his next project!

Thank you Billy Winters for taking these brilliant photos.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
All photos by Billy Winters
Share
6 Comments

My Latest Q&A for Logo: How to deal with co-workers bigoted Facebook posts?

6/14/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture

Question: A fellow realtor posted a homophobic Facebook post. What to do? - Jason Feinman, Pennsylvania

Answer: Drop by his open house in a rainbow flag!

Read the rest of my advice column here.

Picture
Share
0 Comments

Design SOS: What new color will look best for my friends store?

6/11/2011

30 Comments

 
I stopped by my friend Sheila Frazier's shop called Strictly Savvy. After playing around with some of her hot new merchandise (check out those phabulous earrings!), she asked me my advice about what color to paint her store's floor. She is thinking black or grey? I'm thinking a lighter color because the space is already small. Dark colors will diminish it more. All you design freaks, help a sista out!  What color will make her store pop?
Share
30 Comments

Real Estate Expert: ‘Should I convert my garage into a workout room?’

6/8/2011

11 Comments

 
It never ceases to amaze me how myopic some people are about their remodel choices. Making a home too customized to your own needs & tastes can often backfire. What adds value in your mind may in fact detract value!...as this LogoOnline (aka 365Gay) viewer finds out from me here.

What is the worst thing you've seen a garage converted into?  I'd love to hear!
Picture
LogoTV showing Hermanity some love again! Thx!

Share
11 Comments

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

5/31/2011

1 Comment

 
Picture
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

Picture
Share
1 Comment

Is it ok to mix business with pleasure in real estate?

5/25/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
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!

Share
0 Comments

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

5/19/2011

8 Comments

 
Picture
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!

Share
8 Comments

I made the MONEY Magazine cover story! 100 Best Money Moves

5/6/2011

19 Comments

 
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!
Share
19 Comments

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

5/4/2011

4 Comments

 
Picture
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!

Share
4 Comments

Should I Sell My House Without an Agent?

4/26/2011

3 Comments

 
I just wrote an offer for my buyers on a townhouse that was For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The deal didn't come together because the sellers significantly  overpriced the house (duh, no surprise there!) They came up with a price based on the amount of money they owed on the house and how much profit they needed, when they should have based it on the current market and recent comparable closed sales. They might learn eventually...but only after wasting everyone's months of time, money & effort.

I dread FSBO's because
  1. The sellers don't really know what they are doing. They read Selling Your Home for Dummies once and  think they are experts....when in reality they are just winging it. So what ends up happening is the buyer's agents has to do double duty to hold the deal together.  They gotta do twice the work for 1/2 the pay!
  2. FSBO's are notorious for slashing commissions. They don't realize if they don't compensate agents what they are worth,  guess what, those agents are not going to show their property! Inventory of buyers plummets. The listing gets "blackballed"
  3. Selling a house is a full time job. FSBO sellers have their own jobs 40-60 hours a week. That is 40-60 hours they can not sufficiently service all the paperwork, inquiries, showings, open houses, disclosures, etc required to sell a property.
What do you guys think? Share your FSBO experiences!
3 Comments

Should this seller listen to me or his mama for staging his S.F. loft?

4/20/2011

5 Comments

 
Picture
Alvin in San Francisco has a staging dilemma. Mom wants to decorate it for families....but it is a modern sleek loft!? My response may be caustic, but I say it with love. Really I do! 

EXCERPT:
And if you don’t mind me saying Alvin, it’s time to stop being a mama’s boy! This is your property. You bought it. You own it. You’re selling it. You are a grown ass man who can stick up for himself.

Say, “Mom, I love you but your staging advice, albeit well intentioned, is without  taste.” Go ahead, stab her in the heart!

Read the rest here.

Share
5 Comments

Ask the Expert for LOGO: Should I Skip the Inspection?....HELL NO!

4/15/2011

2 Comments

 
This is a commonly asked question I get from buyers, and I am sooooo glad I got a chance to answer this for LOGO's viewers.

VIEWER QUESTION: We're buying a new construction house. Do we still need to do an inspection?

HERMANITY ANSWER: I don't get this. People are willing to spend 1/2 a million bucks for a house, but can't bear to spend couple hundred dollars for an inspection. It's small price to pay for peace of mind folks....

Want to  learn how an inspection can get you more from the builder/developer? Watch til the end of my clip for my hot tip!

Have you ever waived an inspection and lived to regret it? Post your comments here or on LOGO's site here.
Share
2 Comments

Ask The Expert: What Southwestern towns are gay friendly?

4/5/2011

11 Comments

 
Picture
The salacious photo of the cowboys was not my doing, I promise! Logo did it!...although if that's what Southwest living is all about, I will move in a heartbeat.

Q: I miss the warmth of Florida, but I couldn’t find banking work there . I want to relocate again soon because I cannot stand Cincinnati and the cold winters here. I am considering the areas from Texas to Arizona – can you advise me on which towns both have the lowest unemployment rate and the largest GLBT population?    -Doug, CT

Read my recommendations here. Do you agree?

Meanwhile, if you gotta question for me,  LOGO says "Ask YOUR real estate question!"

Share
11 Comments

Q&A with HERMANITY: Do I Have a Bad Real Estate Agent?!

4/3/2011

1 Comment

 
This frustrated viewer wants to know if he got stuck with a bad real estate agent. Duh! If you gotta ask that question, you know you gotta loser on your hand!

Let's face it.  Not all realtors are knock-it-outta-the-ballpark superstars.   Far from it!  (In fact I can rattle off more than a few names of lackadaisical agents, but I'll be discrete for once, hehe).  As I told Mother Love on her talk show last week, the bar to entry to this business is lower than Heidi Montag's IQ.  This probably isn't going to endear me to the realtor community, but sometimes I am flabbergasted how incompetent & careless some of us are. (Don't hate, y'all know it's true!). But what shocks me even more is how much some clients will put up with. Clients deserve the best work from their agent. If they can't bring it, there are tons of agents more than willing to step up. So, pick your real estate representation carefully.

Have you ever regretted your choice of realtor? What did you do about it?
Share
1 Comment

A Dose of Hermanity: My Three Page Interview for A.R.E. Magazine

3/29/2011

5 Comments

 
Picture
Yet ANOTHER publication interviews Hermanity this year....and it's not even April yet! This time A.R.E. Magazine picks my brain about my favorite real estate sites, servicing the Asian-American Market & Tiger Moms.

Here's a great excerpt:
A.R.E. Mag: "There is a new generation that has witnessed the foreclosure epidemic & may no longer view home ownership as the American Dream. What is your advice to them about home ownership? "

Hermanity: "What? You want to live in your parents' basement forever? That's cute after college in your 20's but not so cute in your 30's. If the foreclosure crisis has taught us anything, it's that diving blindly into home ownership is bad...." 

Read the rest of my helpful hilarious interview, schlock full of my witty advice here!

Share
5 Comments

Ask The Expert: ‘A new house is blocking my view – Can I do anything?’

3/22/2011

3 Comments

 
Picture
Hey Hermanity Fans!
Here's my latest column for LogoOnline's 365gay site.  Buying a house w/ a view? It might not be there forever. Views aren't guaranteed. Read why in my new column for "Ask The Expert"

This poor guy in Long Island comes home from college to find a monstrous McMansion erected next door. Aside from being an eye-sore, it totally blocks his view! I break it down for this viewer here. 

Share
3 Comments

Ask the Expert for LOGO: We Broke up! What to do about our house?!

3/15/2011

3 Comments

 
My favorite video for LOGO thus far! "We Broke up! What to do about our house?" Please share with any friends heading for splitsville. With 61% of Californians getting divorced (at least once!), you can bet your bottom dollar people are going through this!

By the way, if you like my LOGO videos, do me a favor and comment on the actual  site (you can log in with your facebook account if you want). The more reactions there are, the more they will let me do!

Share
3 Comments

Q&A: Is this gal entitled to the stove in this real estate transaction?

3/10/2011

3 Comments

 
Can you believe all the fuss this gal is making over a stove!? Is she just greedy or is it agent miscommunication?

This viewer thinks she is entitled to a stove, which belongs to her boyfriend's dad. Sounds to me like there was a miscommunication with  dad or dad's agent misrepresented his intentions (tsk tsk!) .   I try to break down the smoke and mirrors for her.

Don't get me wrong. I love getting questions from all you peeps, but  geez sometimes I wonder about y'all! Yo, it's just a stove!
Share
3 Comments

My 1st Video for LOGO as Real Estate Expert: Should I buy property in the suburbs?

3/1/2011

13 Comments

 
My first video for TV cable channel LOGO's website dropped tonight!  I'm giddy to partake in Ask An Expert (By the way,  I love the company I am keeping below!)
Picture
13 Comments

7 Tips for Prospective LGBT Homeowners for 429Magazine by Herman Chan

2/28/2011

2 Comments

 
Picture
My article for 429 Magazine about the 7 things LGBT buyers should be aware of when purchasing a home. Read it here.
1. The Right Representation
2. Vet your Agent
3. Branching out Beyond the Gayborhoods
4. Location: Better Safe than Sorry
5. Different forms of ownership
6. Downpayment dilemma
7. Get it in writing!

2 Comments

Turn Your House into a GreenHouse for Frontiers Magazine by Herman Chan

2/22/2011

1 Comment

 
Picture
Going green is thee biggest trend in the real estate industry---well, besides foreclosures! Find out about right-sizing, recycled materials, eco-districts. Read my article for Frontiers Magazine.

Be kind to Mother Earth, s'il vous plait!

By the way, here I am gracing the cover from another Frontiers Magazine issue.





Picture
.

Share
1 Comment

The Metamorphosis of Herman Chan in Echelon Magazine Q&A

2/4/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
What a great way to kick off my Chinese New Years!

Check out my full page interview in Echelon Magazine's latest issue. Read how I got started in the biz, what my typical day is like, and my advice to new agents and people looking for a home!

The article starts with "Can you say caterpillar to butterfly?" Just call me Mariah Chan! (ps: I am totally dating myself with that reference!)


 

Share
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture

    As Seen On

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010

    Categories

    All
    365gay
    365 Gay
    Advertising
    Advice
    Agent Genius
    Apartments
    Apppraisal
    Appraisal
    Apt2b
    Architecture
    Areaa
    Areas
    Asian
    Bad Realtor
    Banks
    Billy Winters
    Book
    Bullying
    Business Card
    Buyers
    Buying
    Cancer
    Cartoon
    Cash Offers
    Castings
    Celebrity
    China
    Closing Gifts
    Colors
    Commission
    Condo
    Contest
    Cookies
    Crime
    Curb Appeal
    Curbed
    Dating
    Debbie Gibson
    Decor
    Design
    Diet
    Disclosure
    Dot429
    Downelink
    Eco
    Ehow
    Ethics
    Events
    Fashion
    Fat
    Financing
    Food
    Foreclosure
    Foreclosures
    Foyer
    Friend
    Fsbo
    Funny
    Furniture
    Garages
    Gay Parent
    Ghetto
    Green
    Hgtv
    Hoa
    Hocking Homes
    Holiday
    Hostels
    Hosting
    Hotels
    House Hunters
    How To
    Huffington Post
    Huh
    Huhdafad37f6d
    Humor
    Humour
    Infographic
    Inspection
    Instinct
    Interview
    Interviews
    Investment
    Ipad
    Kara Swisher
    Klout
    Kodak
    Lighting
    Listing
    Listings
    Litigation
    Loans
    Logo
    Luxury
    Marketing
    Mcmansions
    Mls
    Money Magazine
    Mtv
    My House Is Worth What
    Nar
    Neighborhoods
    Newnownext
    News
    Nimby
    Open House
    Paint
    Pets
    Photographer
    Photos
    Porn
    Prefab
    Press
    Press Celebrity
    Qa438751ea22
    Qacd92bcee57
    Radio
    Rant
    Rants
    Realtor Magazine
    Remodel
    Remodeling
    Renting
    Re Sale Value
    Resale Value1f569878c8
    Safety
    Saks 5th Ave
    San Francisco
    Say It 2 My Face
    Selling
    Sf
    Sf Bay
    Sf Chronicle
    Shortsales
    Shout Out
    Show
    Showings
    Small Living
    Small Living
    Small Space
    Small Space
    Social Media
    Sold Magazine
    Speaking
    Sports
    Staging
    Stalking
    Tech
    Tips
    Top Agent Magazine
    Trends
    Trulia
    Tv
    Unique Homes Magazine
    Upcycle
    Videoblogging
    Videos
    Wealth Magazine
    Weird
    Yahoo Finance
    Zillow

    Blogroll

    Real Estalker
    AG Beat
    Curbed
    SFist
    LAist
    Luxist
    Apartment Therapy
    HGTV
    Lovely Listing
    Houzz


    Find us on Google+
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.