Dishin' Dirt with Gary Pickren

Send us Fan Mail I have spent a lot of time lamenting over the destruction of Clear Cooperation.  The biggest threat to CCP is Robert Reffkin, CEO of Compass. With a possible Anywhere merger at hand, many in the industry fear that he will push the policy over all Anywhere brand platforms.  Today, I have a copy of the advertisement Compass uses to sell clients on the Compass Private Exclusives and...

Send us Fan Mail Last week all the buzz was the Compass/Anywhere merger.  This week the big news is Zillow and its numerous legal troubles. Zillow has had a terrible month. Multiple lawsuits and now government interaction has marked the many troubles facing Zillow. Today, I examine these cases and discuss how the cases could affect all real estate agents, particularly those who rely on leads. Don&...

Send us Fan Mail Huge news in the real estate market!  Compass is buying Anywhere brands. We will look at the recent merger announcement between Compass and Anywhere with guest Colton Lindsay, a recognized real estate expert from Utah. We will explore the implications of this merger, the debt crisis facing the parties, and the importance of data in shaping the deal.  Our conversation will also tou...

Send us Fan Mail On September 17, I had the opportunity to record Dishin' Dirt live onstage at SCR's REALTOR Mania. My guest was Jon Waclawski, General Counsel, Senior Vice President for NAR.  We discussed everything from the status of legal cases against NAR, the good and bad of Sitzer/Burnett, Clear Cooperation, In-House Listings, the Three-way agreement, MLS rules and a whole lot more...

Send us Fan Mail In this abbreviated episode of Dishin' Dirt, I will discuss the other side of the coin in the builder agent debate. I will talk about the fiduciary duty that buyer agents have in a new construction transaction. Quit dropping off your clients and leaving!  Why do I even have to say this. And then I will shift gears to explain the implications of the new FinCEN reporting requir...

Send us Fan Mail Four-time guest, Garrett Maroon, joins me on Dishin' Dirt to discuss the intricacies of balancing work and family life, particularly in the real estate industry.  We explore the concept of redefining success beyond traditional metrics, emphasizing the importance of personal fulfillment and relationships.  Garrett also shares insights from his book, 'The Balanced Breakthr...

Send us Fan Mail Builder and seller agent incentives are a big problem in our industry today.  Should the agent get an incentive simply to show a house or should that incentive go to the buyer?  Don't you have a fiduciary duty to do what is in the client's best interest?  How is it in the client's best interest for you to get a bonus for steering them to a house?  Doesn't sound...

Send us Fan Mail The Central Carolina REALTORs Association has amended its' sales contract. The contract that will go live near the end of September 2025 and includes new provisions on agent compensation, seller transaction costs, authority to sign and home warranties.   Finally, compensation is in the contract where it should have been the past year. Hopefully this will stop the numerous pro...

Send us Fan Mail It has been one year since real estate as we know it was supposed to end with the Sitzer Burnett/NAR settlement.  House prices and commissions were supposed to collapse, and no real estate agent in their right mind was ever going to work with a buyer again. Today, I will discuss the implications of the first anniversary on the real estate industry. I will address the misconception...

Send us Fan Mail What the heck is Geographic Farming and how can it make you a lot of money? Janine Sasso, a successful real estate agent and author, joins me to discuss this very effective sales strategy for every real estate agent. Janine emphasizes the importance of being a hyper local agent , focusing on geographic farming, and building relationships through direct mail and events. She also di...

Send us Fan Mail Today I am I going to dig deeper into the significance of the Dawkins vs. Eastwood Homes case. I examine the implications of "take or leave it" builder contracts, particularly focusing on the unconscionable provisions that the Court has said can disadvantage home buyers while urging builders to reconsider their contract terms to avoid potential legal repercussion. This c...

Send us Fan Mail Real estate agent complaints about being cut of out of builder transactions and builder agents having direct communication with represented clients is on the rise.   Today I review the recent guidance letter from the South Carolina Real Estate Commission regarding builder agents and their responsibilities. In particular, I discuss the need for builder agents to comply with the sam...

Send us Fan Mail The Real Estate Commission continues to receive complaints about licensees advertising or marketing listings that belong to another Broker.  As a result, the Commission issued a new guidance letter on how advertising and marketing must be handled in social media, print media and other communications. The Commission also discusses the rationale behind the law as well as why it matt...

Send us Fan Mail FinCEN will simply not go away. We thought it was over last year when the government halted the requirement to file your business entity disclosures. But now the anti-money laundering portion of FinCEN requirements for cash transactions involving a corporate entity purchasing property must provide a 120 plus item disclosure which will cost your clients hundreds of dollars and hour...

Send us Fan Mail The South Carolina REALTORS Association has revised the contract to address compensation in the contract. Today, I examine those changes but more importantly I look at the "why" behind the changes.  Once we understand the "why" it makes the changes more acceptable and likely to be implemented. I also look at the new Form 555 Home Warranty form. Don't forge...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you know it or not, you are using AI every day in your real estate practice.  So today I will examine the increasing role of AI in real estate but also examine the legal and ethical implications that comes with its use. Everyone should be embracing this technology like we did with the internet in the 90s and social media in the 2010s.  But we also need to understand that t...

Send us Fan Mail The 'Pig Butchering' real estate scams to the Form 610, this podcast has it all.  Today I educate you about the new real estate scam targeting agents as well as discuss why you should use a Form 610 on every transaction.  And as a bonus, I will discuss if we are turning into a buyer's market and what they could mean for your business this summer. Don't forget t...

Send us Fan Mail Shifting gears this week. I wanted a more upbeat episode after discussing legal matters for so many weeks. This week my guest is Rick Torrison who discusses the importance of mindset in the real estate industry. He explores the risks associated with being a real estate agent, the impact of limiting beliefs, and how to overcome them. Rick emphasizes the need for self-evaluation, ch...

Send us Fan Mail Real estate agents are constantly under attack. One of the most common risks agents face is when something breaks in the house post-closing. Too many lawyers and buyers think the listing agent knew every possible defect that could have existed in the house.  Currently, there are three major defenses that can be used when agents are sued. Today, I will highlight two significant cou...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode I discuss the legality and ethics of including real estate commissions in contracts. I will clarify misconceptions surrounding commission payments, emphasizing that it is not illegal or unethical to include them in contracts. I also highlight the changes brought about by the Sitzer settlement, which affects how buyer agents are compensated. The conversation will un...

Send us Fan Mail South Carolina REALTORs Association has issued new compensation forms with not one but two Form 120s and updated agency agreements in Form 130, 135 and 136. Today I examine those changes and what they mean for you.  Also, a new study by the Federal Reserve shines light on whether or not commissions have gone up or down since implementation of the Sitzer settlement. Don't forg...

Send us Fan Mail We are heading fast into the summer selling season.  So today I am going to provide you a comprehensive analysis of the South Carolina real estate market. I will discuss various regions including Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Spartanburg, Sumter, and Columbia, highlighting trends in sales, inventory, and pricing.  Also, an important update. Blair Cato has added its 9th Office in SC. ...

Send us Fan Mail Summer Goralik is a compliance expert in the real estate industry.  Summer and I discuss the importance of empowering investigators and regulators in the real estate industry, the proactive approach needed by real estate commissions, and the complexities surrounding private listings and fiduciary duties.  We also discuss the recent challenges facing the industry, including the NAR...

Send us Fan Mail A MAJOR VICTORY FOR ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS!! Today we discuss a significant ruling by the South Carolina Supreme Court that protects real estate agents from liability under the South Carolina Residential Property Condition Disclosure Act. The ruling states that there is no private cause of action against real estate agents under the Act allowing buyers to sue agents for the false...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Dishin' Dirt, I discuss the recent controversies surrounding Private Listing Networks (PLNs) in the real estate industry. I examine the negative implications of PLNs on market transparency and consumer choice, while showing how the PLN primarily serve brokerage interests rather than those of sellers.  Plus, breaking bad news from Britian that needs addressi...