Real Estate, For Real

Gina Wolter returns to the podcast this week. We talk about the importance of communication in our industry, and how easy it is for Realtors to slack off in that department. Then we shift to the topic of appraisals. We cover how they impact our transactions, and share ideas of how the process could be potentially be improved. 

It's another Grady Day on the podcast! Cindy and Missy return, but this time they bring their mom, Betty, and their brother, Dave. We learn how Grady Realtors began, and what it was like having the whole family working together. Betty shares what retirement is like, and how tough the decision was to merge the family business into The Real Estate Group. A really fun episode with a lot of great stor...

On this Realtor Roundtable episode I welcome Katelyn Rexroad, Maki Rose, and Zach Brewer. We talk about getting into the business at a young age, the obstacles facing younger agents, applying the same mentality they used as competitive athletes growing up to the competitive industry they work in now, the importance of having a social media presence, choosing work over the normal social life of peo...

I go solo in this episode to talk about what has and hasn't changed in our industry since the introduction of Buyer Agency Agreements a little over a year ago. Are buyers reallly paying their own agents now? How do we go about having these conversations with buyers, as well as sellers? We seem to be settling in and adapting to the changes. But, there is still some lingering confusion, even among a...

I'm joined this week by Xuna Hu. We talk about learning English, her decision to move from China to the US, meeting her husband, his cold proposal, getting her real estate license, the constant anxiety that comes with our career, staying up to date on the changes in practice, and her favorite Friends character. Plus, we go over the viral video of a truly terrible experience she went through a few...

This week I welcome Zac Camille with Guardian Property Inspections. Zac tells us about the process of becoming a home inspector, juggling running an inspection business with being a full-time firefighter, the importance of language in the inspection to not freak our clients out unnecessarily, his plans to grow the business, and braving the attics and basements. 

This week I'm joined by Giuseppe Mattera from the Winchester Team. We talk about his experiences so far as a newer agent, how watching YouTube videos as a teenager made him want to get into real estate, the importance of communication, how he became a Miami Dolphin fan, dressing the part, and hairlines. 

This episode I go over the things you need to know if you're planning to sell your home. From choosing to sell on your own vs hiring a Realtor, to how to select the right agent that will best assist you in your sale. I go over the importance of presentation, marketing, and pricing. I also cover when the best time is to call an agent, off-market sales, update allowances, bad smells, pre-inspections...

After the last few episodes being jam packed with educational and useful information, I thought it was time to lighten things up a bit. So I welcomed back the very first guest I ever had from episode 1, Adam Bugos. We talk a little about the current state of the market, and the difference between selling in Central IL vs other areas around the country. Then we share some great stories about differ...

This week I'm joined by Greg Formigoni and Brad Dyer from Illinois National Bank, to discuss the changes taking place when it comes to conventional loans. Fannie and Freddie have implemented some new practices that are impacting the process of selling loans to the secondary market, in some cases presenting a few additional hurdles for buyers, sellers, and Realtors. We go over what these changes co...

This week I'm joined by Mike Oldenettel, Mike Buscher, and Nash Oldenettel to learn about the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC). We discuss some of the issues they are constantly working for and against to make things better for us as Realtors, the housing industry as a whole, and the consumers that we work for. We cover what the process can look like at the local and state level, the impo...

This week I welcome Ben Call to talk about the commercial side of real estate, and explain some of the similarities and differences compared to residential. We transition to the groundbreaking development at Legacy Pointe. Specifically, the Legends Entertainment complex. A massive family arcade with games, bowling, food, and huge TVs everywhere. Hear what all has gone into bringing Springfield an...

This week I welcome Evan Hart, to give a much needed Appraiser point of view. We talk about the process of becoming an appraiser, what goes into putting an appraisal together, communicating with Realtors, and adjusting with the ever-changing housing market.

This week I welcome Kim Elliott. While learning how she got her start in the business, we discuss fun weekends at SIU, teeing up your ball in the fairway, joining a team to avoid using Skyslope, and her decision to come to The Real Estate Group in 2013. Then we dive into her upcoming role as CAR president, talk about some of the different committees and what they do, and the importance of getting...

I celebrate the 30th episode of the podcast by welcoming Todd Musso and his dad, Nick Musso. We talk about Nick's time running a small town real estate company in the late 70s and 80s, before joining the local MLS in the 90s. We go over the changes in the industry when the internet got involved, and how the importance of proper training for new agents is the same now as it was then. We also discus...

It's another Realtor Roundtable episode, as I welcome Janet Gogerty, Logan Frazier, and Ketki Arya. We discuss requesting compensation from sellers as buyer agents, whether women are held to different standards than men when it comes to Realtor attire, navigating through dual agency transactions, projecting your success on social media, and persuasive letters from buyers to sellers.

On this episode I welcome Gina Wolter. We discuss her life growing up in Petersburg IL, in a real estate family. Then touch on things like Realtors always being accessible, struggles starting off in a real estate career, and the constant evolution of real estate contracts. We then transition to her work with the New Salem Lincoln League and their efforts to save, preserve, and maintain the New Sal...

This week I welcome Eric Easley and Jamie Murphy from The Easley Team. After learning how they got their start, we discuss the importance of marketing remarks, difficulties with buyer agency agreements, our strangest client request, the importance of being open to change in our industry, and whether or not Real Estate should be taught in high school.

On this Realtor Roundtable edition I welcome Angie Miller, Missy Grady, and Julie Davis. Some of the topics we go over are coming soon listings, open houses, audio and video surveillance in homes during showings, unruly children, what potential changes to the way we do our job may come in the next 5-10 years, and finding the line between diligently keeping in touch and being too "salesy".

In this Realtor Roundtable episode, I welcome Kelly Stotlar and Wade Ebert back to the show. We talk about the importance of online listing presentation, the state of the current market compared to a couple years ago, managing buyer and seller expectations who may have an outdated view of the housing market, and how we approach requesting compensation as a buyer agent. Plus, I try to convince them...

Diane Tinsley has experienced every aspect of real estate. From being a commercial lender, an assistant, solo agent, team member, team lead, trainer, managing broker, to eventually owning a brokerage. This week Diane sits down with me to talk about her unique journey through two decades of real estate. We also touch on the latest news with Zillow and office exclusive listings, and ask AI if it's c...

I spend this week's episode speaking to anyone who might be thinking of purchasing a home. I give you my thought's on who to call first, lender or Realtor, and the best way to find who to work with when it comes to both. I explain why owning a home may be more of a possibility than you think. From there, I take you through some of the more important steps in the process leading up to finding the r...

This week I'm joined by Randy Aldrich. We talk about how he got into the business, his time at other brokerages, some of the agents he's learned from along the way, being an educator as opposed to a salesperson, the work Realtors put in that the public doesn't see, and still being class clowns as fully formed professional adults. 

This week I'm joined by Garrett Dooley, VP of lending at Rate Mortgage. We talk about his transition from a professional football player into the mortgage industry. And how in just four short years he has built a reputation as someone a real estate agent can trust will do a great job for their clients. We also go over some of the things that make a mortgage company different from a bank, Rate's pl...

I drink some green wine with Cindy and Missy Grady while we discuss their family legacy in Real Estate, their emotional move to The Real Estate Group, NAR conferences in California, continued education cruises, selling the neighborhood and not just the house, where all these cash buyers are coming from, and $8000 wrinkle treatments.  This is the 20th episode of the podcast, and I was absolutely th...