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What happens when you combine authentic passion for unique homes with consistent content creation? Roland Osage's journey from barber to real estate powerhouse with over 220,000 TikTok followers provides a masterclass in building a thriving business through social media.

Roland's path to real estate success began unexpectedly when he purchased his first home at just 19 years old. After witnessing significant appreciation without making improvements, his curiosity was piqued. While working as a barber in San Francisco, he began exploring property flipping, eventually obtaining his license in 2018 to better understand the terminology and processes. Fast forward to 2021, and a simple decision to create walkthrough-style property tours on TikTok would transform his business forever.

What makes Roland's approach unique is his commitment to showcasing homes he genuinely finds interesting – properties with natural elements, wood features, and distinctive character rather than the ubiquitous white-gray aesthetic dominating recent years. His consistent schedule generates a steady stream of quality content while respecting the collaborative spirit of the East Bay real estate community by always featuring other agents' listings with proper credit.

The results are remarkable: beyond his massive social media following, Roland earns real money directly from TikTok and has built an automated lead generation system that seamlessly funnels potential clients from social media into scheduled consultations. Most importantly, he's created an authentic brand that resonates with clients and colleagues alike – proving that in real estate, "you will get back exactly what you put into it."

Want to revolutionize your own real estate marketing? Follow Roland on Instagram and TikTok to witness firsthand how consistency, authenticity, and a willingness to share the spotlight can create extraordinary results in today's digital landscape.

Follow Roland Osage on TikTok @rolandosage

Follow Roland Osage on Instagram @roland_osage 

Roland Osage is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 02055089

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Dive into the captivating underbelly of East Bay history with Liam O'Donoghue, the passionate storyteller behind the acclaimed podcast East Bay Yesterday. From corrupt political beginnings to cultural transformations, this conversation unveils the hidden forces that shaped Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, and beyond.

Did you know Oakland's first mayor essentially stole the town? Horace Carpentier, a shrewd lawyer turned politician, manipulated his way into ownership of Oakland's valuable waterfront before selling it to railroad barons for personal profit. This foundation of opportunism set a precedent that would echo through generations of East Bay governance – a reminder that today's political challenges have deep historical roots.

The struggle for housing equity takes center stage as we explore Byron Rumford's groundbreaking Fair Housing Act of 1963 and the fierce backlash it faced from the real estate industry and a pre-gubernatorial Ronald Reagan. This pendulum of progress and resistance reveals how neighborhood demographics shifted over decades – from Italian immigrants moving up from West Oakland to Temescal, to the complex dynamics following Japanese American internment during WWII.

Emeryville's transformation from a vice-filled "gambling hell" (complete with corrupt police chiefs driving DeLoreans and taking bribes) to today's shopping destination demonstrates how quickly a place's identity can change. Meanwhile, the once-thriving warehouse art scenes that defined East Bay counterculture in the 1990s and early 2000s have largely disappeared, raising questions about where tomorrow's cultural innovations will emerge in an increasingly expensive region.

Whether you're a longtime resident or recent arrival, these stories provide crucial context for understanding the East Bay's present challenges and future possibilities. Join us for this illuminating journey through the colorful, complicated history that continues to shape one of America's most dynamic regions. Follow Liam's work through East Bay Yesterday's podcast, Substack, or join one of his popular boat tours for an immersive historical experience.

Click here for the East Bay Yesterday podcast front page and tour info

Follow East Bay Yesterday on Instagram @eastbay_yesterday

Click here for information about the book Hella Town by Mitchell Schwarzer

Click here for information about the book The Pacific Circuit by Alexis Madrigal

Click here for a prior episode with Liam O'Donoghue from 2021 

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Berkeley's revised energy savings ordinance and a proposed fire safety ordinance will significantly impact homeowners and real estate transactions starting January 2026. Third-generation Berkeley resident and REALTOR® Megan Micco shares essential details about the changes, compliance requirements, and strategies for navigating these new regulations.

• BESO (Berkeley Energy Savings Ordinance) will require actual energy efficiency improvements rather than just assessments starting January 1, 2026.
• Properties must achieve six credits from a menu of energy upgrade options or place a $5,000 deposit in escrow at closing.
• Heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, and knob-and-tube replacement each provide full compliance with six credits.
• Buyers receive the full $5,000 deposit back after making improvements within 2-3 years.

• Starting 2027-2029, a nine-county Bay Area ban will prohibit new gas furnaces, water heaters, and eventually stoves, and all new gas appliance installs.

• Proposed new Berkeley EMBER Ordinance will require a five-foot fire-resistant "Zone Zero" buffer around homes in a newly created high fire zone
• City Council votes June 17 on expanding fire safety requirements to a proposed "Zone 4" area from Grizzly Peak to Wildcat

For more information about Berkeley climate initiatives, contact the City of Berkeley.

Megan Micco is a licensed CA REALTOR®, and Broker Associate at Compass, DRE#01930373

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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What happens when one of the world's most prestigious news organizations publishes a deeply flawed hit piece on an entire profession? That's exactly what Declan Spring and guest, José Fernández, addresses in this response to The New York Times Daily podcast episode "The Housing Market Has New Rules. Realtors Are Evading Them."

They examine and dismantle the NYT's reporting, exposing fundamental misunderstandings about how real estate actually works in America. From the false portrayal of NAR as a regulatory body to the complete omission of the Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreements that now create unprecedented transparency in the industry, this episode reveals how biased framing and selective reporting can create a dangerously misleading narrative.

Together, they walk through how buyer representation actually works, why the "dreaded 6%" commission myth needs to die, and the critical difference between market education and the serious ethical violation of steering. Their exchange offers listeners a rare glimpse into the nuts and bolts of real estate practice that most reporting glosses over.

Beyond defending a profession of 1.5 million Americans unfairly characterized as a "cartel," Declan outlines the real barriers to housing affordability—from supply shortages and restrictive zoning to the insurance crisis and stagnant wages—and makes a case that scapegoating real estate professionals for systemic problems only distracts from meaningful solutions.

Whether you're a real estate professional frustrated by persistent misconceptions about your work or a consumer trying to navigate the complex world of buying and selling property, this episode delivers the context, clarity, and honest analysis that was missing from the original reporting. Join us for a defense of transparency and accuracy—not just in real estate, but in journalism too.

José Fernández  is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01353359

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Ever wonder what makes East Bay real estate so unique? Meet Mark Choi, a data-driven agent who's been meticulously documenting every property he visits since 2004. In this conversation, Mark explains why he tours up to 36 homes on broker tour day and how his two decades of records offer rare insights into our market.

We dive into the East Bay’s unusual pricing strategy—where homes often sell 40-150% over asking—and Mark recalls an El Cerrito listing that sold for 200% of list price. He shares critical market timing lessons, pinpointing January 2012 as the bottom for prices and January 2021 as the peak for low interest rates, along with advice on seasonal rhythms and the best times to list.

Mark also discusses how a $50,000 upgrade can yield a $150,000 return, the evolution of buyer behavior, and the rise of neighborhoods like El Cerrito. Most crucially, he reveals the key question buyers should ask when hiring an agent: "What's your reputation with other colleagues?" — a factor that can make or break an offer.

Ready to really understand the East Bay market? Subscribe to The Mostly Real Estate podcast for more insider perspectives.

Read more about Mark Choi on his agent website

Mark Choi is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01433100

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

What happens when global politics, tariff wars, and housing policy collide? Mortgage expert Dominic Villa pulls back the curtain on today's chaotic lending landscape, revealing truths that every homeowner and buyer needs to understand.

When the stock market plunges but mortgage rates inexplicably rise, something unprecedented is happening. Dominic breaks down this counterintuitive financial paradox, explaining how China's massive holdings of US debt create a precarious situation where tariff policies could potentially send mortgage rates skyrocketing above 10%. This isn't fearmongering—it's the reality of our interconnected global economy.

Beyond the immediate concerns, we explore why today's real estate fundamentals differ dramatically from the 2008 financial crisis. With homeowners holding substantial "real equity, not inflated equity" and lending regulations emphasizing verified income and ability to repay, the foundation remains solid despite economic turbulence. Dominic offers practical advice on fixed versus adjustable-rate mortgages in this environment, noting that "boring and predictable is everything you want in your housing payment."

The conversation takes a critical turn when discussing the potential dismantling of consumer protections. Through personal stories, Dominic illustrates how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has saved homebuyers tens of thousands of dollars by preventing predatory lending practices. His concerns about the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac highlight a looming threat to mortgage affordability that few are discussing.

Whether you're in the market now or planning future real estate moves, understanding these forces will help you navigate one of the most complex mortgage environments in decades. Listen, learn, and make informed decisions that protect your financial future.

For more info on Dominic Villa and Castle Hill Mortgage click here. Follow Dominic on IG @MrDominic. Follow Declan on IG @DeclanSpring

Dominic Villa is Mortgage Banker with Castle Hill Mortgage NMLS ID: 1187381

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Let Freemodel remove the barriers to pre-sale renovations.

Lara Richmond from Freemodel reveals how pre-sale renovations with no upfront costs can transform properties and maximize sale prices, sharing real examples of homes that gained hundreds of thousands in added value through strategic improvements.

Watch our companion video segment here

• Freemodel funds and manages pre-sale renovations with payment deferred until closing
• Ideal for homeowners with equity but no available cash for improvements
• Project managers handle everything from design selections to contractor coordination
• Beyond selling, Fremodel offers "invoice projects" for buyers renovating new homes
• Project managers build reliable contractor networks for smooth project execution
• Understanding target buyer demographics drives design decisions that appeal to the market
• Forward-thinking renovations consider coming regulations like California's 2029 gas appliance ban

Lara's passion for remodeling ignited with the renovation of her first home, leading her to study design and architecture at George Washington University. Since 2008, she has been revitalizing homes across the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Washington, D.C. As the founder and CEO of Agave Interior Design, Lara is dedicated to creating beautiful and functional spaces that enhance the well-being of families. Her projects have set record sale prices in several East Bay neighborhoods, including Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond Heights. 

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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In this episode, we break down the heated debate over the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) and its latest update. The policy, which requires Realtors to list publicly marketed properties on the MLS within one business day, has sparked division within the industry. We explore both sides of the argument, from claims of increased transparency and fairness to concerns about restricted competition and broker autonomy.

Plus, we dive into NAR’s latest policy shift—the introduction of “Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings”—and what it means for agents, sellers, and the future of MLS systems.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Origins of CCP – Why NAR introduced the policy in 2020 and its impact on pocket listings.
• The Debate Intensifies – Industry leaders take sides, with Compass CEO Robert Reffkin leading opposition efforts.
• Legal & Regulatory Concerns – How the Department of Justice’s stance shaped the policy’s future.
• NAR’s New Update – What the “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers” policy changes and how it affects MLSs.
• What’s Next? – The ongoing power struggle between traditional brokerages, tech platforms, and the evolving real estate landscape.

Tune in as we break it all down and discuss what this means for the future of real estate professionals!

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Josh Dickinson is not your typical broker! As a trained environmental engineer holding three advanced degrees—including an MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business, a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Notre Dame—Josh’s approach to real estate is anything but conventional.

After spending 15 years working with leading environmental firms and nonprofits, and successfully fundraising millions for one of the nation’s top universities, Josh discovered a true calling: helping people on a more personal and community-centered level. This realization led to the founding of Zip Code East Bay in 2012, marking the beginning of a fulfilling journey in real estate that has since expanded to Sonoma with Zip Code Sonoma, and a partnership with Keller Williams at their Bay Area Portfolio office in Berkeley.

Thanks to Liana Dickson for being my special guest this week for Property Of The Week.

Read more here on the Zip Code East Bay website.

Josh Dickinson is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01918193

Liana Dickson is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01984196

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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"Specialty: Tough deals and strategic negotiation. I thrive in negotiations!"

Kerri Naslund-Monday is not your average REALTOR®. She's an entrepreneur through and through. 

To learn more about Kerri, or to reach out to her, visit her website here.

"I grew up in the late 1970s-early 1980s, when video games were either unavailable or too pricey for my welfare-dependent family. So I played board games; Monopoly was my favorite. I developed my own version of the game, with credit cards, loans, and renters, by the time I was eight. After working since age 14, and saving most of my pay, I set a goal—to become a homeowner by the time I was 25. One crack house in Oakland became “home sweet home” the day I turned 25. Three years later my boss, Moe, at the tattoo shop asked when I was going to purchase income property. I claimed not to have adequate savings. That’s when Moe taught me the power of leverage."

Kerri Naslund-Monday is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01759031

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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“A well thought out estate plan is an act of love for yourself and your beneficiaries”. So says my guest Loulena Miles. 

Loulena Miles has been practicing law as a licensed California Attorney since 2003.  In our conversation today we will be discussing a very thin slice of California law - stepped-up tax basis. Loulena was a guest previously, on episode 32 of the show, when our conversation covered the basics of estate planning, and the different main documents that are involved in an estate plan. You are highly encouraged to listen to that episode as well - click here for the link. 

Unlock the secrets of estate planning with our latest episode featuring the brilliant attorney Loulena Miles. Curious about how a stepped-up basis can impact your financial future, especially if you’re in California? Join us as we decode this complex concept and reveal how it can help significantly lower capital gains taxes on inherited properties. We promise you’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to navigate these tricky waters and ensure your loved ones reap the maximum benefits.

Our conversation kicks off by dissecting what a basis means in real estate, highlighting the importance of knowing your property's fair market value, whether purchased or inherited. Through engaging examples like Maggie and Frank's journey, we illustrate how a stepped-up basis can offer substantial tax advantages, particularly in community property states. Loulena sheds light on the common pitfalls to avoid, such as incorrect property titling and failing to obtain necessary appraisals, ensuring you’re equipped to sidestep these issues with confidence.

We also navigate the intricacies of leveraging trusts to avoid probate, which can be a game-changer in reducing stress and costs for heirs. Loulena’s insights help clarify the looming changes in federal estate tax laws, emphasizing the importance of timely estate planning. Whether you're managing an estate now or planning for the future, this episode is packed with practical advice and expert guidance to help you make informed decisions and protect your assets.

Click here for a link to Loulena's law firm, Miles & Torres PC

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

During his almost 30 years in real estate, David Gunderman has become the most successful agent in his area, a true industry leader, and in 2022, the Gunderman Group became the third-highest volume producing group in all of Keller Williams. 

Dedicated to the “chosen family” model of business, David has gathered a team with deep roots in the community—a group of highly-skilled professionals who believe that every choice, every decision, every action they take must be steeped in strategy, awareness, and respect for each client’s unique life circumstances.

David’s many life experiences have contributed to his unique style, skill set, wisdom, and success. In our conversation, David and I discuss his background, career in theater, the various life experiences that inform his values, team building, advice to newer agents, consumer changes during his career, and industry changes to the purchase process since new NAR rules recently came into effect.   

You can find the Gunderman Group on the web here, and on Instagram here.

David Gunderman is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01313613

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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What happens when you combine in-depth construction knowledge, real estate expertise, and authentic social media content? For Ellie Ridge, it created a phenomenon that transformed her from a recently laid-off Meta employee to a successful realtor with 234,000 Instagram followers in just two years.

This conversation takes us through Ellie's fascinating journey, beginning with her unique background. As the daughter of a master roof framer (and later home inspector), Ellie grew up absorbing valuable knowledge about building structures that would eventually become her professional superpower. When her family lost their home, 13-year-old Ellie developed a fierce determination for financial security that would shape her future decisions.

Ellie shares the pivotal moment when, at age 24 while working in tech, she purchased her first home. She approached this not as her dream home but as a strategic investment – a mindset she now passes on to her first-time homebuyer clients. After being laid off from Meta two years ago, she joined her mother's real estate business, bringing a fresh perspective and emphasis on construction knowledge.

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Ellie's candid discussion about social media success. She reveals how her construction-focused content unexpectedly went viral, the mental health challenges that came with sudden internet fame, and her approach to creating sustainable, authentic content. Rather than focusing on algorithms or growing followers, she emphasizes the importance of genuine passion: "Make videos about stuff you love talking about. People can feel when you care about it."

For real estate professionals and anyone interested in building an online presence, Ellie offers practical insights about lead generation, conducting effective open houses, and maintaining multiple business channels rather than relying solely on social media. Her journey demonstrates how specialized knowledge and authentic communication can create a unique path to success in a competitive field.

Ready to learn how someone turned construction knowledge into social media gold? Listen now and discover strategies you can apply to your own business and online presence.

Follow Ellie Ridge on Instagram @ellieridgerealtor 

Ellie Ridge is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 02217753

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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It's been two weeks since my last podcast, The Dawn Of A New Era of Real Estate Practice. I recorded that podcast on the eve of August 17, a day before new rules came into effect from the National Association of REALTORS® that decouple compensation to the Buyer's Broker from the Residential Listing Agreement, and most Multiple Listing Services, and put the burden of responsibility for compensation to the Buyer's Broker on the Buyer in the form of a Buyer Representation and Broker Compensation Agreement. If you haven’t listened to that 11 minute episode I encourage you to do so. It will provide context for this episode. This episode is similarly short and, again, I don’t have a guest. For efficiency, It’s just my voice again following up with notes on what I’ve seen and what seems to be emergent over the past couple of weeks. Enjoy!

There's a lot of information packed into this short episode. For convenience, please find a transcript to the episode here.

For Buyers: Please find a guide from the National Association of REALTORS® here.

For Sellers: Please find a guide from the National Association of REALTORS® here.

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Starting August 17 we enter into a new era of real estate practice in terms of how the buyer's broker gets compensated for the hard work of the individual buyer’s agent.

There's a lot of information packed into this short episode. For convenience, please find a transcript to the episode here.

I’m going to keep strictly to the facts here. This is not the right time or place to offer an opinion, or to speculate about how all of the following will unfold. Frankly, it will take several months at minimum for each State, each region, each metro, each city, and possibly even each neighborhood to find their new normal.

Although these changes are national, I can only discuss the forms that we’re using in California since I’m licensed only in California and have access only to the California Association of Realtors forms library.

For Buyers: Please find a guide from the National Association of REALTORS® here.

For Sellers: Please find a guide from the National Association of REALTORS® here.

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Carrie McAlister is a top producing East Bay Realtor®, founder of Calia Homes, and Team Leader for the newest Keller Williams office in Berkeley, branded as Bay Area Portfolio.

This is a conversation about the newest Keller Williams office at 2089 Rose St, in Berkeley where my team, The Home Factor, is now housed. Keller Williams has taken a different approach to how this office looks, feels, and operates.

Carrie and I talk about her career to this point, her start in the industry, and her general fondness of the career.  We talk about Carrie's own real estate team, Calia Homes, the rise of teams in the past decade, and the brokerages that power them.  Keller Williams has a structure and lingo that takes a minute to learn and we go through a breakdown of the various terms. We talk about the intention and goal behind the establishment of the Berkeley office, the Keller Williams culture, and Gary Keller's book The Millionaire Real Estate Agent. We also touch briefly on the word 'Luxury' and its meaning and use in the real estate industry.

Several great local agents get mentioned, among them are David Gunderman, Faye Keogh, Pat Leaper, Claudia Mills, Remy Weinstein, Sara Min Zhao, and Robert Jones.

Carrie McAlister is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01464959
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Jodi Nishimura is a top producing East Bay Realtor® and the founder of Kai Real Estate.

Jodi has earned several distinctions both locally and nationally. Most recently, she is in the top 1% of Realtors® for the East Bay and was a recipient of Real Trends America’s “Best” designation — landing her in the top 0.5% of all real estate agents nationwide.

Jodi and I talk her upbringing in Hawaii, her background in education, and her eventual move to the Bay Area after stints in Japan, and New York. Jodi's journey into real estate started as an investor, then as a Realtor®, culminating more recently in the founding of her own brand, Kai Real Estate, with an office on Solano Avenue in Berkeley.

We talk about the value of coaching, the mental block that local Realtors® sometimes have with recognizing themselves as sales people, her decision to launch Kai Real Estate, why it is that Kai is attractive to newer licencees, the value that Realtors® bring to their local community, and the value and benefits of working with Jodi.

In Jodi's own words, her favorite part of the work is "The gratification of helping clients make wise decisions that impact their future, the gratitude and humility that comes with being trusted by them to do so, and the joy in partnering with them in this part of their life’s journey."

Jodi Nishimura is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 01762935
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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Pleasure and joy might be deemed frivolous by society at large but according to Katie Macks they are your birthright.

Katie Macks is a leadership coach, and her brand is Audacious Leadership.

From Katie's website: "Audacious leadership values our differences and creates an environment of belonging. We value and fortify one another with dignity, respect, and love and we’re changing the way business gets done! We are ushering in a new paradigm of leadership and business practices that changes the way we relate in our businesses and in our lives."

Katie's message and coaching will be of benefit to anyone listening, but for real estate agents there's the added bonus that Katie was a top-producing real estate agent in a past life so she really understands and can empathize with the personal challenges faced by real estate agents. 

To schedule a 30 minute alignment call with Katie at no cost please click here.

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"Few things in life motivate me more than helping others get along more effectively. The core of everything I do rests firmly on a foundation of collaboration and collaborative problem-solving."

So says Shawn Dunning, my guest on this episode of the podcast, a collaborative leadership, conflict resolution, & team development consultant.

Shawn and I spend the first half of our conversation discussing his deep dive into local politics in 2022. Shawn ran for Mayor of the City of Richmond as an outsider in 2022 and came closer to holding office than anyone could have imagined. Following his mayoral campaign Shawn has set his sights for 2024 on a seat on Richmond City Council in District 6. 

The second half of our conversation is devoted entirely to Shawn's professional career as collaborative leadership, and conflict resolution consultant. We discuss primarily intrapersonal and interpersonal conflict, and the A, B, C of conflict resolution. 

To find out more about Shawn's consulting practice please click here. To gain insight into his political agenda please click here. To listen to a conversation I had with Shawn during his run for Mayor in 2022 please click here. To view Shawn's LinkedIn profile please click here.

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Aman Daro has become a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".

We invite you to follow along with our chat, a conversation around the 2023 Q3 East Bay Stats Report released a couple of week ago by Red Oak Realty, by viewing the 91 page report here as we highlight specific page numbers. Yes! It's an interactive live podcast!

If you follow the podcast episodes with Aman what emerges is the story of the East Bay real estate market. In our last chat we speculated that the theme of 2023 would be low inventory. That definitely has been the case. But there's so much more. 

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Chris Brown has been selling homes in Las Vegas for 5 years and is widely respected as one of the top social media agents in the valley specializing in relocation and new-construction single-family homes. Chris is a Los Angeles native who moved to Las Vegas after spending three years in Orlando, Florida working in collegiate and professional sports. In the past year, Chris has sold nearly $10 million worth of real estate with 90% of his clients coming from social media. 

After working as an agent on a team with EXP Realty Chris decided to depart and join the number #1 luxury brokerage Simply Vegas as a solo agent. During this transition, Chris committed to targeting his clients 100% through social media by displaying the local lifestyle clients get when they live in Las Vegas. With an audience of over 160,000 followers, Chris has found his niche as the "lifestyle specialist", his new way of prospecting future clients.

In our conversation we talk about, among other things, the primary differences between short form and long form video, and monetization metrics; why understanding what each media platform is best designed for is the key to growth and success; understanding that consumers turn to YouTube for instructional and ‘how-to’ specific content as opposed to general media which often generates more random entertainment content; the value of contracting with a professional strategist for long form video content; consistency. 

Chris can be reached by email at CB@TheBrownGroupNV.com or on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube at the handle @CB.LasVegas.

Chris Brown is a licensed NV REALTOR® NRED#188080

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This podcast episode is cross branded with a podcast I host and produce on behalf of Bridge Association REALTORS®: The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Podcast

The first part of my conversation with Andrea Gordon was released on April 27 this year on the Bridge Association of REALTORS® Podcast and is exclusively available here. 

Andrea Gordon has a robust business. She’s consistently a top producing agent, not just at Compass but at a nationwide level. This makes for powerful insight on many levels because Andrea is never not in contract. She’s always in the market. And at the same time she's learned how to always work on her business. We talk about the challenges of a lean market and where to keep your focus.

Andrea is an MLS committee member. The MLS committee provides oversight of MLS policies, publications, and forms, and next year Andrea will be on the MLS board. Andrea is also involved with the MLS Management Group (MMG) consisting of representatives from Bay East, Contra Costa, and Bridge MLS. We talk about the recent stepped up pressure and threats to the career of being a real estate agent, the recent monumental change to Bright MLS on the east coast, and the first clear signs of changes coming to the decades old commission structure of real estate including several lawsuits that have been working their way through the court system and are finally coming to a head. For Inman subscribers, here are some links to get you up to speed: Anywhere settles lawsuit; Is Anywhere's settlement the first domino to fall?

Andrea and I have chatted before on an alternate podcast. In 2020 we had a rich conversation on the Let’s Talk, with Declan Spring podcast. If you’d like to listen to that podcast episode please click here.

Andrea Gordon is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 01233563
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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Hailing from Sonoma County, and better known in the East Bay and especially in El Cerrito as 'The Little Hill’, Rachel Melby is an East Bay aficionado, and self-proclaimed ‘cool mom.’ After a dozen-odd years in the tech industry, Rachel finally made her dream of working within her local El Cerrito community a reality. 

Rachel is a tech and marketing veteran turned Realtor who discovered her passion for helping people find their next home while serving as an undercover real estate matchmaker through her El Cerrito-based instagram community page @thelittlehill.

Rachel has years of experience building strategic partnerships, leveraging data, and developing content for companies like Google and YouTube. After too much time helping big tech get bigger, Rachel dreamed of nothing more than working alongside folks in her own East Bay community.

In this conversation we talk a great deal about Rachel’s entry into the local real estate community as a social media expert with an already established and thriving community page on instagram, and how she managed with great care and integrity to use her community page as a launching pad into her real estate career @littlehillrealestate 

Rachel Melby is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02179456

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What happens when data nerds dive deep into the Inner East Bay real estate market? Aman Daro, Director of Operations at the Grubb Company, returns to the podcast armed with comprehensive MLS data that reveals surprising trends shaping our local housing landscape.

The numbers tell a fascinating story of market bifurcation. While homes priced below $500,000 struggle to maintain value (selling 7% below asking on average), properties in the $1-2 million range are thriving at 22% over asking price. Even more striking, the luxury market above $2 million is performing exceptionally well, defying conventional expectations during economic uncertainty. This pattern suggests wealthy buyers may be viewing real estate as an inflation hedge, while entry-level segments face greater challenges.

Geographic variations paint an equally compelling picture. El Cerrito has emerged as one of the region's hottest market with the lowest months' supply of inventory. Berkeley continues its remarkable stability, now boasting the highest 20-year appreciation rate in the Inner East Bay. Meanwhile, Oakland and Richmond show strong performance in desirable neighborhoods despite higher cancellation rates. The condo market tells a different story, with median prices down 12% year-over-year and significantly longer days on market.

Aman also tackles controversial topics like private listings versus MLS exposure, sharing data that homes sold off-market typically achieve lower prices than those with full market exposure. For both buyers and sellers, this conversation offers invaluable insights into timing strategies, price point considerations, and neighborhood dynamics that could significantly impact your real estate decisions in this unique East Bay market.

Connect with Aman at adaro@grubbco.com or explore more local real estate content through The Home Factor's weekly Substack newsletter at thehomefactor.com.

Aman Daro is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 01350412

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Aman Daro has become a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".

Has the local real estate market started to recover?... Well, it continues to be complicated…

In this conversation with Aman we catch up on the speculation floated in our March conversation that a historically low supply of homes might continue as the overarching theme through at least the end of Q2. Aman walks us through some of the key data points so far this year and contrasts them with 2022 and further back in time. We touch on recent challenges in the property insurance market and the surprising increase in the number of East Bay sellers who are not moving out of the area. 

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412

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This podcast episode is cross branded with a weekly podcast I host and produce on behalf of Bridge Association REALTORS®: The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Podcast

Ruth Stroup is a 17 year insurance agent with Farmers®, and founder of the Ruth Stroup Insurance Agency in Oakland. 

In our conversation Ruth educates me on many aspects of property insurance and the changes she has seen in her 17 year career. Topics include a brief history of property insurance since the 1980’s and the unintended consequences of 1988’s Prop 103; State Farms May 27th announcement that it has discontinued writing new policies on California property; The reinsurance market; Population growth and property development; Insurance company formulas - loss ratio, combined ratio; Firelines and the 3 factors that comprise fireline scores; Types of insurance carriers in California; FAIR plan; Insurance coverage and purchase contract contingencies; Property insurance inspections after the policy has been written.

Ruth Stroup Insurance Agency, 3560 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 License #0M13985
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

This podcast episode is cross branded with a weekly podcast I host and produce on behalf of Bridge Association REALTORS®: The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Podcast

Cameron Platt is a broker and co-founder of Abio Properties. Cameron’s career in real estate was born out of a dissatisfaction with his practice of law. He realized he had a stronger passion for helping people in real estate transactions than in court. These days he considers himself a “recovering” attorney.

In our conversation Cameron and I discuss the value and protection that REALTORS® bring to consumers and the pressing need for REALTORS® to understand and articulate their value to consumers in the face of downward pressure on commissions from various places including new tech, private enterprise, and lawsuits. We reference the  Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS® as a key document that each REALTOR® should carefully review and consider in their dealings with consumers.

Cameron has a long and impressive history as a leader in the REALTOR® community: 

Past President, Oakland Association of REALTORS®

Director, Oakland Berkeley Association of REALTORS®

Director, California Association of REALTORS®

Committee Member, National Association of REALTORS®

Click here for a link to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of REALTORS® 

Cameron Platt is a licensed CA REALTOR® & Broker DRE#01403911 
Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

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“A well thought out estate plan is an act of love for yourself and your beneficiaries”. So says my guest Loulena Miles. 

In our conversation we cover the basics of estate planning, and the different main documents that are involved in an estate plan. We talk about how to refresh an estate plan and the hazards of do-it-yourself estate planning. We also spend some time talking about digital assets, and the importance of creating an advanced medical healthcare directive and thinking clearly about end of life care and beyond.

This conversation was originally recorded as a live Zoom presentation to a small audience and Loulena provided 3 documents to accompany her talk. The documents are available by clicking on the links below and I encourage you to download and/or print item #2, the Podcast Handout, and have it available as you listen to the talk.  

1. Main Presentation Slides (simple)
2. Podcast Handout (detailed)
3. Biggest Mistakes People Make With Their Wills (WSJ - 2/16/2023)

Loulena Miles has been practicing law as a licensed California Attorney since 2003. She began her career in public policy in Washington DC working for the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability. Following completion of her law degree, graduating in the top of her class at Golden Gate University, she worked as the Staff Attorney at Tri-Valley CAREs practicing environmental law and public policy. She then worked in private practice as an Associate Attorney at Adams, Broadwell, Joseph and Cardozo in South San Francisco with a focus on administrative law. Most recently, before forming Miles and Torres Associates, Loulena assisted senior citizens with legal issues including maintaining housing, healthcare and financial solvency. She is a Strauss Scholar and a New Voices Ford Foundation Fellow. She presented at the United Nations in New York and Geneva and the World Social Forum in Mumbai, India. She holds a certification in conflict resolution and mediation. She was awarded Witkin and Cali awards for top academic performance in Wills and Trusts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Negotiations and Toxics Law and Policy. Loulena Miles is a member of East Bay Trust and Estate Lawyers and is currently serving on the nonprofit board of Tri-Valley CAREs.

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This podcast episode is cross branded with a new weekly podcast I'm hosting and producing on behalf of Bridge Association REALTORS®.

I thought I would take the opportunity to highlight the second podcast I've been hard at work on, The Bridge Association of REALTORS® Podcast, by publishing an episode to the Let's Talk, with Declan Spring podcast.

Today I’m chatting with Bridge AOR affiliate member and mortgage lender Evelyn Freitas, with Guaranteed Rate. 

Evelyn has been a mortgage lender since 2004, entering the profession after 18 years in small business management and accounting. Evelyn fell in love with the work of helping people achieve their financing and family goals through home ownership and realized that the skills she had developed in her previous career found a higher expression in the service of these goals. 

We discuss what it is buyers' should ask when qualifying a loan agent, what types of products and services are offered by various lenders, and what level of care and communication buyers' and REALTORS® should expect from a loan agent.  We also talk about the recent CalHFA Dream for All program and its sudden and incredibly quick withdrawal from the market, and I ask Evelyn if other types of down payment assistance or equity sharing programs exist. 

Evelyn Freitas is Mortgage Banker with Guaranteed Rate NMLS ID: 247578

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Aman Daro has become a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".

Has the real estate market started to recover?... Well, it's complicated...

In this conversation with Aman we talk all about the 2022 real estate market and how it played out since our last conversation in September 2022. Aman walks us through some of the key data points from the last quarter of 2022 and for the year so far, and offers possible scenarios for what we can expect between now and the end of spring.  We talk about inflation and mortgage rates and how the unnerving rise of each coincided with the beginning of summer 2022, marking the beginning of a distinct market downturn.  We also talk about Chat GPT.

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412

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Today we’re talking all about disclosures, with my guest Jenny Cook. As my Transaction Coordinator, Jenny is a vital member of my team managing the day-to-day task of ensuring my real estate transaction files are compliant with CA Department of Real Estate rules & regs. I can’t think of a better person to talk through disclosures with me and save me from being accused of mansplaining!

 There are numerous real estate websites consumers can go to for property information. Some of them are owned by real estate brokerages, some not. The general information they provide is useful but it’s not the property specific disclosures that licensed agents have access to. At a certain point it becomes essential to work with a real estate agent to gain access to disclosures and to also understand how to interpret the disclosures. This podcast is an effort to help you understand how to approach reading a disclosure packet once you’ve received it from your agent.

Think of this as a workshop! Please follow along with us as we read through a disclosure packet. Click here to download the disclosure packet we’re referencing in the podcast. I’ve also included some key disclosure documents that we discuss in the podcast. This podcast is designed to be listened to along with Episode #23 on Home Inspections and Episode #27 on Pest Inspections. 

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Janine Hunt is a REALTOR® with Red Oak Realty in Oakland, CA. Janine works alongside her husband, Paul Hunt, and together they've been serving residential real estate clients in the East Bay for 10 years. Janine Hunt is the outgoing 2022 president of Bridge Association of REALTORS®, serving thousands of REALTORS® from their offices in Berkeley, CA. Janine and I talk about her and Paul's transition to real estate following successful careers in other industries. Janine has mentored, coached, and trained people in multiple industries including in the field of real estate and her passion for training is readily apparent. Grab your notebook!! We talk about Janine's goals coming into her presidency, and her accomplishments. Several books are mentioned in the episode: Switch, Exactly What To Say For Real Estate Agents, Speed of Trust, Leaders Eat Last, Dare To Lead, and Outwitting The Devil. Janine Hunt is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01909766  

Felicia Mares-Villa is a Realtor with Abio Properties in Oakland, CA. Felicia is just 5 years in the industry, and at only 32 years of age is set to become the youngest and first Latina President at Bridge Association of REALTORS®. I first became acquainted with Felicia through her presence on social media, Instagram in particular. She brings a very strong game! We talk a lot about social media and her journey so far in her chosen career. Felicia has been on the podcast before, 2 years prior to this chat, on Episode #3 published in September 2020. We also talk about her upcoming role as president of her local association and what she hopes to accomplish in that role. Felicia Mares-Villa is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 02028970

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Dan Marzilli is a Pest Control Operator (aka Pest Inspector) with GT Inspects, currently based in Oakland. GT Inspects Inc. is a licensed Branch III operator in the State of California (Lic #PR7280). This is a companion piece to Episode #23, a conversation with Home Inspector Brian Cogley

Serving 30 cities in the East Bay, GT Inspects Inc. specializes in the following services:

• Structural termite inspections, including original inspections for real estate transactions
• Test openings for potential stucco moisture damage
• Competitive bids (free-of-charge)
• Chemical treatments for wood destroying pests and organisms
• Structural pest control repairs

In this conversation Dan and I talk about the benefit of a Pest Inspection; The criteria for becoming a Pest Control Operator; How a pest report is put together (click here far a sample pest report); What parts of a home are inspected and what parts are not; Various types of insects from termites, to beetles, and various types of fungus; The most common pest inspection findings in the East Bay housing stock; How to read a report to get the most out of it; Why damaged decks and windows are not always given a dollar value for repair; The differences between a Pest Control Operator's license and a General Contractor's License; We talk more than a few times about stucco test hole openings, and we talk about other daily aspects of the job.

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Shawn Dunning is a candidate for mayor in the City of Richmond, CA. Shawn is the former chief operations officer of organizational development company Adventure Associates, Inc. During his tenure there, Shawn developed and facilitated leadership, team development, and conflict resolution programs for corporate, government, and nonprofit groups throughout the United States. Earlier in his career, he directed the Leadership Wisdom Initiative and also founded the Leadership & Training division for the international conflict transformation organization Search for Common Ground. Working from Washington D.C. and Jerusalem, Shawn led projects in the United States, the Middle East, the Balkans, Africa, and Southeast Asia that developed the capacity of emerging and elite political and civil society leaders to lead from a basis of common ground principles.

Shawn is also an avid community organizer and volunteer, having served on nonprofit boards. He studied speech communication and psychology as an undergraduate at Cal Poly and holds a master's degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University, where he developed foundational theory and practice for Adventure-Based Conflict Resolution.

Learn more about Shawn's professional experience at shawnmdunning.com and on his LinkedIn profile.

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What happens when you combine 27 years of real estate expertise, theatrical directing, and PhD-level thinking? You get the incomparable Andrea Gordon. 

Andrea doesn't just sell homes – she tackles challenging client psychology head-on. "Nobody in their right mind wants to spend over a million dollars on anything," she explains. When buyers find a home they love, their faces don't show joy but fear as they immediately begin creating obstacles. "Part of our service is pushing them off a little cliff," Andrea shares, highlighting how agents must help clients stop "talking themselves out of happiness."

This episode reveals the communication secrets behind Andrea's success: meeting with staff three times weekly, marketing teams weekly, and conducting a 15-minute Zoom check-in with every client each week. Her philosophy is refreshingly direct: "People hire me – they don't hire somebody to send them a bulk mail." While technology offers valuable tools, personal interaction remains irreplaceable.

Beyond transaction strategies, we explore how society and  the real estate environment has shifted since 2016. Andrea talks about why agents shouldn't fear asking to be paid for their value. Her passionate defense of the profession comes through clearly: "Every time you don't value yourself, you're not valuing the profession in the eyes of the world."

Whether you're a real estate professional looking to elevate your business or a consumer wanting to understand today's complex market, Andrea's blend of tough love, theatrical flair, and strategic thinking offers a masterclass in what makes a legendary agent. Listen now to transform how you approach real estate transactions!

Please click here for Andrea Gordon's website.

Please click here for Andrea Gordon's podcast.

Please click here for more information about Rainbow Zebra Productions.

Andrea Gordon is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 01233563

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Aman Daro has become a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".  

In this conversation with Aman we compare and contrast this years market to the market in 2021. We talk about the story of this years market and Aman identifies for us exactly when the market shifted in favor of buyers. We speculate as to why the market has shifted so dramatically. Aman walks us through some of the key data points for the year so far, the highs and lows,  and offers possible scenarios for what we can expect between now and years end.

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Andrew Butt is a candidate for City Council for District 2 in Richmond, California. He’s managing principal at Interactive Resources, his family’s architecture firm in Pt. Richmond.   Andrew lives with his family in Point Richmond and has served as planning commissioner for the cities of El Cerrito and Richmond, and chaired the Richmond Design Review Board and El Cerrito Planning Commission. Andrew is also very involved in the local community through his volunteer work as board president of Point Richmond Music, which he co-founded, and serves on boards of several local non-profits, including the Early Childhood Mental Health Program, and the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Andrew is an old friend of mine so I thought this was a good opportunity to chat with someone I know and trust about local politics in the city I choose to call home. We talk about how Andrew and I met; his father, Mayor of Richmond, Tom Butt, in whose footsteps Andrew is clearly following in many ways; we talk about growing up in Richmond; City of Richmond history from about the second world war to the present and Andrew’s recollection of racial tension as he was growing up; the collapse of industry in the middle of the last century and its impact on the population; we touch on redlining; we talk about Andrew’s family’s history of public service; his studying for architecture in Arkansas and eventual return home to work at his family’s architecture firm in Pt. Richmond; we talk about Andrew’s start in community service in Richmond, the Point Richmond Music Summer Concert Series, his work as an appointee to the Planning Commission, and participation with the Design Review Board; we talk about NIMBYism and its contribution to the housing shortage; we talk about Andrew’s reasons for getting into local politics; we talk a good deal about the Point Molate and opposition to Andrew’s preferred vision for Point Molate from the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA, the political group currently holding power at City Council level; we talk about the Rosie The Riveter National Historic Park and other preservation efforts; the challenges of getting good information and unbiased reporting; we talk about Andrew’s influences (there's some mention of former Mayor of Richmond, David Pierce) and his vision for the City of Richmond and how it might look if there were a revitalization of Richmond’s downtown main streets; we go on in rapid fashion to talk about many aspects of City leadership that concern Andrew and are the reasons he has created a 10 point plan and sees now as being an important time for him to run for office; we talked about the challenges of social media and the false narratives prevalent in social media that Andrew feels he needs to address.

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Brian Cogley is an American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Certified Inspector and a California Licensed General Contractor (#954299).

Brian has been inspecting residential and commercial buildings in the Bay Area since 2004. He has performed Condo-Conversion Inspections, Reserve Studies, BOMA Measurement Calculations, ADA Inspections, Cost Estimates, and consulted on new construction defects for litigation purposes. Additionally, he is featured on the cover and in the introduction of the popular book, The Complete Guide to Home Inspection.

In this conversation Brian and I talk about the benefit of a Home Inspection; the criteria for becoming a Home Inspector; the types of housing stock most commonly found in the east bay and the common vulnerabilities in construction methods through the decades; foundations; seismic retrofit; building codes; questions of code compliance and so much more. Click here to download a sample Cogley Inspections complete home inspection report.

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It's been 2 years since the real estate market roared back to life after the initial COVID lockdown in March 2020. Interest rates dropped in 2020, and as people took the time (and had the time) to reevaluate their lives and what, where, and how they wanted to feel about life, the real estate industry was about as hot as it could get. But is the wind starting to blow from another direction as we head into the summer of 2022? It's hard to say definitively that the market has or is shifting but it sure feels like it... I thought I would take my concerns about a changing market to my colleagues as I sat today at an open house. My gratitude to Anissa Burnley at Compass and Tim Kerns at Red Oak for sharing their insights. Gratitude to Aman Daro too for his always remarkably detailed and useful data.

 Also mentioned in the podcast is this "The Daily" podcast.

Anissa Burnley is with Compass and is a licensed CA real estate agent, DRE#01471819
Tim Kerns is with Red Oak Realty and is a licensed CA real estate agent, DRE#02126975

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Aman Daro has become a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".  

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

In this conversation with Aman we talk about the record number of transactions in the East Bay in 2021; the possibility of a cooling market in 2022; the increasing number of licensed real estate agents; the increasing value of East Bay real estate; increasing mortgage rates and inflation, and the potential impact on the real estate market; how Aman tracks property value - his unique and innovative approach; the average number of offers on East Bay listings; where are people moving to and from; an overview of the market in the greater Bay Area.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412

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Katie Lance is the CEO and Co-Founder of Katie Lance Consulting. For the past 10 years Katie has been working with agents and brokers to help them get smarter about how to use social media to grow their business. Her specialty is in helping real estate agents and brokers achieve big results using social media WITHOUT spending a ton of time! She is also the author of the best-selling book, #GetSocialSmart and the founder of the #GetSocialSmart Academy. Katie is a nationally known keynote speaker at conferences and events and has been named one of the most 100 influential people in real estate by Inman News and is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post. 

Whether you have a social media plan for 2022, haven't yet gotten serious about social, or if you're somewhere in between, there are plenty of great ideas to catch in this podcast. 

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Liam O’Donoghue is the host and producer of the East Bay Yesterday podcast and co-creator of the Long Lost Oakland map. His journalism has appeared in outlets such as KQED Arts, Berkeleyside, Open Space, KALW-FM, Mother Jones, Salon, East Bay Express, and the syndicated NPR program Snap Judgement. In 2018, he was honored by the East Bay Express as “the best journalist-turned-historian” and presented with a “Partners in Preservation Award” from Oakland Heritage Alliance. O’Donoghue has given many presentations on local history at libraries, schools and bookstores and throughout the Bay Area, as well as at institutions such as The California Historical Society, The Hearst Museum, Oakland Rotary Club, and Nerd Nite East Bay. O’Donoghue’s quotes on Oakland-related issues have appeared in media outlets including New York Times and Washington Post.

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Ben Stewart has 18 years experience as a financial advisor and portfolio manager. He founded Stewart Wealth Management in 2007, after spending seven successful years as a Vice President at Wachovia Securities. 

I greatly enjoyed chatting with Ben! He has a very matter-of-fact approach to investing and is so incredibly down to earth and comfortable with sharing his vast insight. He never over complicates the conversation with opaque lingo or flashy "solutions".

Ben serves his clients with high energy, a pro-active work ethic, and a creative investment approach to build wealth. He strives to take the mystery out of the complex world of investments with simplified communication and effective stratgeies . Ben has specialized knowledge in not only stock and bond markets, but also real estate investments. 
 
Ben grew up in Novato, California and graduated from California State University of Sacramento in 1996. 

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Aman Daro is becoming a regular on the podcast, and with good reason. If you've ever received statistical charts from me or any Red Oak Realty agent showing aspects of the real estate market in the East Bay most likely they were conceived of and compiled by Aman Daro.  Aman Daro is COO at Red Oak Realty but is more fondly thought of as "the data guy".  

I encourage you to listen to episode #5 of the podcast, my first conversation with Aman, to better understand his mission at Red Oak Realty and his approach to tracking data and uncovering market trends.

In this conversation with Aman we talk about “the pandemic market”, roughly described as the period from mid-March 2020 to July 4th, 2021; the return of seasonality since July 2021 and into the Fall market; how to set seller expectations for the Fall market; efforts to gauge buyer demand in the Fall market. We also speculate cautiously about what buyer demand will look like through the end of the year; the record number of home sales in the inner East Bay in 2021; a likely decrease in the number of units sold in 2022 and why it’s important to prepare for media spin and understand the context for a decrease in total units sold; algorithm predictions & pitfalls; iBuyers & the East Bay, and more.

Aman Daro is CA licensed real estate agent DRE##1350412

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Kevin Roose is an award-winning technology columnist for The New York Times, and the New York Times bestselling author of three books: Futureproof, Young Money, and The Unlikely Disciple.

In this episode of the podcast we focus on Kevin's book Futureproof and I try to, in particular, look for its value with respect to surviving automation and A.I. as a real estate agent for as long as is humanly possible (hint, the emphasis here is on human).

Kevin is also the host of “Rabbit Hole,” a New York Times-produced podcast about internet culture, and a regular guest on “The Daily,” as well as other leading TV and radio shows. He writes and speaks regularly on many topics, including automation and A.I., social media, disinformation and cybersecurity, and digital wellness. Before joining The Times, he was a writer at New York magazine, and a host and executive producer of "Real Future," a documentary TV series about technology and innovation.

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What actually makes mortgage rates rise and fall? If you've been waiting for the Federal Reserve to cut rates before buying a home, you might be watching the wrong signals entirely.

Mortgage expert Faramarz Moeen-Ziai pulls back the curtain on the complex world of mortgage rate determination, revealing why there isn't a direct correlation between Fed actions and the rates homebuyers actually see. Drawing on over 21 years of industry experience, including surviving the 2008 financial crisis, Faramarz explains how the bond market – specifically mortgage-backed securities – dictates mortgage pricing through a delicate balance of risk assessment and investor demand.

The timing of this conversation couldn't be more relevant, coming just hours after Congress passed legislation potentially raising the debt ceiling by approximately $3 trillion. This massive influx of government debt will require unprecedented Treasury bond issuance, creating potential ripple effects throughout the bond market. The upcoming Treasury auctions will provide the first indication of how this expanded debt load might influence mortgage rates in the near term.

For homebuyers sitting on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop, Faramarz offers a sobering reality check based on decades watching market cycles: "Waiting can really cost you. It's not a trend, it's a momentary thing." With rates currently in the mid-6% range – a significant improvement from recent highs – and somewhat reduced competition in many markets, motivated buyers may find themselves with advantages they won't see when rates eventually improve and competition increases.

Beyond rate predictions, Faramarz shares how his lending approach has evolved to create deeper partnerships with real estate professionals through a customer-focused "Four Pillars" system designed to deliver exceptional service and generate mutual referrals. His insights will be valuable for anyone navigating today's complex housing market – whether you're a buyer, seller, or real estate professional looking to better understand what's really happening behind those mortgage rate headlines.

Please visit Faramarz Moeen-Ziai's business page here.

Faramarz Moeen-Ziai, mortgage advisor NMLS #342090

Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 

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Tina Kopko is a CA licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist® . She's also a friend with whom I enjoy endless conversation as we hike the lovely local parks in the east bay hills. Today's conversation is an invitation to the listener to take stock of your own mental health. The emphasis in the media in the past 18 months has been mostly on physical health and well being but the enormous toll the past 18 months has had on our mental and emotional well being is every bit as concerning and far more difficult to assess. I hope you enjoy today's conversation and that it's useful to you. To learn more about Tina Kopko and her practice please visit her website at authenticitina.com. Tina Kopko, CA MFT License #53393

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!

Open Houses are back!! In this fairly short conversation I catch up with the wonderful Simon Black, a fellow Red Oak agent and Realtor®. Simon is a consummate professional and a particularly effective and knowledgeable open house host. I though Simon would be the ideal guest to chat with about the very recent update to health guidelines that allowed for the welcome return of public open houses this past weekend. We talk about the logistics of open houses during this new period of COVID guidelines; adjustments to marketing property during shelter-in-place that might become normal in the post-COVID era; Matterport and other digital tools such as floorplans and social media. Simon Black is a licensed CA Realtor® DRE# 01983547

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Alissa Custer is a top-producing agent known especially well for her dominance in the City of El Cerrito, CA, where she's perhaps better recognized by her team name and brand MAJ Realtors. I was excited to chat with Alissa because I've watched her rise to prominence with great respect and professional awe/curiosity. I'm deeply grateful for Alissa's extraordinary generosity in explaining step-by-step the details of her marketing efforts and for making the structure accessible to other agents. In our conversation we discuss Alissa's start in California real estate in 2004 working alongside her father, a broker, in San Luis Obispo; her move to the East Bay in 2010, building momentum in her career and gaining an edge, running a business like a business, investing in business, committing to a long term marketing plan, farming (a lot about farming), farming coupled with social, team building, expansion, the power of commitment, and, of course, social media, video, and, my favorite, list vs sales price.   Alissa Custer is a licensed CA Realtor® DRE# 01703944