Close To Home

In the second episode of the Clouse Corner Brennen explains the difference between buyers and sellers agents. If you have ever gone to an open house and wondered who the agent you are talking to is working on behalf of, worry no more! In just a quick minute Brennen will explain the differences between the two, who they work for, and why you as a buyer or seller probably need one. Here at the Clouse Corner we like to keep the learning concise and to the point! As always if you have further questions feel free to leave them in the comments, or reach out to our social media accounts; and if you learned something new, or know someone who you think could use the information we put out please consider leaving a like, subscribing, or sharing the podcast to people looking to know more about the wide, wide, world of real estate! Instagram Facebook Twitter As always, thanks for listening! Our opening theme: "Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 creativecommons.o

It feels good to be back! In this episode the Close to Home podcast returns in full, with Brennen’s top five mistakes for buyers to avoid when purchasing a new home or property. They are: 1. Shopping without knowing your budget. 2. Not being aware of market dynamics. 3. Assuming the home is in good condition. 4. Waiting until you have a 20% down payment. 5. Making big Purchases before closing. Are you intrigued? We hope so! But if you want in depth answers about how to avoid these mistakes you’ll need to listen to the episode. Also, if you want to meet up with the Close to Home crew in the real world we have a couple upcoming events! October 16th: We are hosting a home seller seminar where we’ll give you the TOP 5 TIPS you need to know on how to get your home ready to sell. The seminar will be taking place at Kaladi Brothers Coffee in their community room from 5pm until 6:30pm. October 19th: We are hosting a down payment assistance class at our office in Capitol Hill. Did you know that the state of Washing

Hey guys! After a hiatus the Close to Home podcast is back and better than ever. We have new music, new intros, new formats, but the same commitment to help you, our listeners, find your dream home and live your best life in it! We are starting this week with a new segment called: The Clouse Corner. These will be seperate mini- episodes, released every week, where our host Brennen shares a quick bit of advice or insight to help you better understand the world of real estate and how to navigate it. This week's episode deals with closing costs, one of the final steps in your transaction process and a key financial component of the transaction. Most people don’t know what is included in closing costs, when they are paid, or how much they are. In this episode, you’ll learn all of that and more! Thanks for tuning in! If you learned something useful, or know of someone who might benefit from this episode please share it with them, or just drop us a like. Also, feel free to leave us a comment, even just to tell us y

Our guest today is Judy Boerner-Rule, president of Tapestry Associates. Judy has a deep history of managing luxury hotels, food and beverage, and private club management. She was recruited in 2002 to manage the private residential estate of a high-profile family, with her responsibilities gradually evolving into the role of Senior Director of Operations for all of the family’s residential estate operations. In 2006, she met Randy Gantenbein and Anne Lyons, whom with Judy would become co-founders of Tapestry Associates. Judy describes Tapestry Associates as a property and personal lifestyle advisory for individuals and families of significant wealth. It was founded with the goal of helping principals and their advisors optimize the investment of their enjoyment capital. Judy shares with us which types of services Tapestry provides to achieve this goal and the three categories that her clients usually fall under. She also provides the points to consider to determine the need for property and personal lifestyle

Today’s guest is Justin Riordan of Spade and Archer Design Agency, the world’s first guaranteed home staging company, which currently has offices in Seattle, Portland, and Palm Springs. After obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Hawaii, Justin gained seven years of experience in interior architecture and five years in construction management before starting Spade and Archer about nine years ago. Justin tells us about what home staging is and why it is so important in the process of selling a home. There are many differences to be seen in a house that is staged compared to one that is not, so Justin talks about how these differences are subtle yet make an exceptional impact on a home’s likeliness to sell. We hear about problems that Justin runs into in his line of work, the most common of which is sellers focusing too much on their own psychology rather than the buyer’s. He also shares insight on how to successfully stage a house based on his deep experience. https://www.spade-archer.c

Not only does the real estate market change with supply and demand, the marketing trends in real estate also change. This week we focus on the change in real estate videography as I interview Ryan Reese. Ryan is a the founder of Reese Films, a 7 person production company specializing in creating lifestyle films and video content for marketing purposes in the luxury real estate industry. Ryan and his team have produced marketing videos for over 2000 properties and counting as We discuss how conveying emotion, telling a story, and helping the viewer understand the lifestyle of a home are all very important in marketing the property and ensuring that it gets sold. I strongly believe that video is one of the best ways to do all three of these things. From music, to the right equipment, to how to avoid trouble when you're flying drones - hear it all here. You can find Ryan at www.ReeseFilms.com and if you love this episode, please rate and review this podcast at https://apple.co/2Drpi7c

Hey guys, thanks again for tuning in! I would love it if you could please rate, review, and share this episode with anyone you think might enjoy it. Just go here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/close-to-home/id1381629174?mt=2 In this episode I discuss my transition from my full-time job at Microsoft to my full-time job as a real estate broker and the 10 lessons I've learned since one year ago when I made the transition. For entrepreneurs and real estate agents alike, working for yourself can be difficult and unmanageable. These are some of my observations and strategies to find success in starting your own business. I hope you enjoy!

Houzz reported on the 2018 Design Trends Expected to Take Hold Early this year (see link). In this two part episode, Stacey Zorzi and I review some of the trends that don't work for us and those that we love coming to fruition this year! We discuss our love and hate relationships with design and when you're out, you're out. Tune in and tell us if you agree - are these design trends in or out?! Houzz article: https://goo.gl/5PDDVj

Houzz reported on the 2018 Design Trends Expected to Take Hold Early this year (see link). In this two part episode, Stacey Zorzi and I review some of the trends that don't work for us and those that we love coming to fruition this year! We discuss our love and hate relationships with design and when you're out, you're out. We talk about not hanging wallpaper with your significant other if you don't want to get in a big fight, level five painting (what is that?), Stacey's sofa addiction, and how to avoid some custom design work that may not help if you're trying to sell your home in the future (like initials in your pool!). Tune in and tell us if you agree - are these design trends in or out?! Houzz article: https://goo.gl/5PDDVj

What are the costs that surprise most people in a remodel? This week I spoke with Jenny Ruegamer again from Jenny Ruegamer Design. In this episode we explore the timelines for getting a contractor and what to budget for each type of room, whether it's your kitchen, bathroom, or living room. We also discuss how to budget your project based on your needs and hoow to match the budget you have to work with to your expectations. Last, we discuss design trends that are HOT in Seattle right now and how the shift in style preferences are changing! Thanks for tuning in and please don't forget to rate & review us! You can find Jenny Ruegamer at jennyruegamer@yahoo.com.

The Fed just announced an interest rate increase with two more possibly on the way in 2018. While this may be positive news for the economy, it can impact home buyers and sellers in unforeseen ways. That's why I interviewed Lysa Catlin of Caliber Home Loans to learn more about what the Fed Interest Rate Hike is and what it means for real estate. Lysa grew up in the mortgage industry and is a second generation mortgage originator. With more than 22 years of experience, Lysa has the technical expertise, dedication, and knowledge to help clients achieve their financial goals. Her and her team are committed to providing exceptional service, and believe in the importance of taking time to ensure their customers understand the loan process through a hands-on approach of continuous communication and education. You can reach Lysa at: Lysa.Catlin@caliberhomeloans.com or (206) 963-0191

In the second of this two-part interview, I speak with Stacia Weishaar of HomeStreet Bank about how to beat all-cash offers when buying a home, her top tips for overall financial wellness (even if you aren't buying a home), and her top tips for future home buyers. Stacia and I discuss the most important part of beating cash offers: being prepared. We also discuss tips for overall financial health for everyone, including those who plan to buy homes. And last, we discuss Stacia's top three tips for buyers planning to make a home purchase this year. You can reach Stacia at: Stacia Weishaar ‭(206) 849-0357‬ stacia.weishaar@homestreet.com

In the first of a two part interview, I speak with Stacia Weishaar of HomeStreet Bank about what she and her team do to create delightful refuge for their clients in the lending process. Stacia and I discuss the meltdown of the home mortgage market in 2008-2009, why it happened, and why it’s unlikely to happen with today’s new lending practices. Stacia and I also explore the ins and outs of what a home loan really is and how it works. We discuss the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was a result of the crash. Last, we discuss what’s new in home lending in 2018, including a Fannie Mae raise in the loan limits for conventional loans: from $592,250 to $667,000. You can reach Stacia at: Stacia Weishaar ‭(206) 849-0357‬ stacia.weishaar@homestreet.com

From Deflation to Elation: The first-time home buying experience. In this episode I interview my good friend and past client, Lindsay Tomson, on the experience of buying her first home. How does your perception of buying a home differ from the experience of buying your first home? How does your realtor get paid? What's the most difficult part of buying your first home? Is it really like the broad city episode? We cover all of these questions and more in this episode. Plus, get Lindsay's top 3 tips for people searching for their first home: 1. Find a realtor you want to spend time with 2. Figure out your methodology for organizing everything before you start 3. Trust your gut and be true to what you're looking for I hope you love listening!

In this episode I speak with Jenny Ruegamer of Jenny Ruegamer Design about the process and thought that goes into remodeling your home after you buy. How long should you wait after you purchase a home to remodel? What is the typical timeline of remodeling a room or whole house? We answer all of these questions and more in this episode! Jenny is an interior design and architect that lives in Seattle. You can find Jenny at jennyruegamer@yahoo.com

You probably don't know me, or maybe you know me tangentially. In this episode you'll hear a bit of my story and what brought me to real estate. Listen in for how I got here and what makes real estate so important to me. I'll also cover what I hope this podcast will evolve into in the future! Please shout out with any suggestions: brennen@avenueproperties.com