When one of our most recent TikToks elicited some...ummm... strong reactions from viewers, we thought it would be fun to discuss the topic on the podcast. The topic in this case was reasons to move to Florida. Anna and fellow relocation specialist, Angela Foote, read through some of the comments and addressed them with honest answers about what life in Gainesville is like and how it’s a little different than the rest of Florida. Listen as we dispel myths, confirm others, and discuss how humidity may very well be your best friend as you get older. What preconceived ideas do you have about the S ..read more

Wendy Gilch wants buyers and sellers to know. Know what? Know everything about real estate and the intricacies of the industry, as well as the scams that can turn the experience from a dream into a nightmare. Frustrated by the process as a consumer years ago, Wendy set out to shed light on what is often a process that keeps consumers in the dark. Between referral services that claim to connect consumers with the “best” agents to companies that sell consumers’ info to agents, mortgage brokers, and others in the industry, most companies that make millions from the business of real estate by clai ..read more

Blake Stargel is making it big in Hollywood...Hollywood real estate, that is. After moving to California from Nebraska, where he had traded college life for Realtor life, Blake started hitting the real estate world and social media hard. In this episode, Blake tells us what it was like to move to LA and then transition to a new brokerage, what the continual grind to get business is like, where he is today, and where he sees himself and the market going during the coming year. Plus, he gives us the scoop about some Million Dollar Listing celebrities, who he encounters regularly in the LA real e ..read more

With 16 years in the business and vast experience working in the residential real estate market with buyers, sellers, and many investors, Atlanta native and former flight attendant Jackie O’Connor has experienced the ups and downs of the real estate market both in Ann Arbor and Boston. With a career that has seen the housing market go up and down more than once, through the financial crisis, a pandemic, and the latest housing boom that we’re in now, Jackie has remained strong and steady, and today she runs the Jackie O. Real Estate Team at Keller Williams Boston Metro. In this episode you’ll l ..read more

Homeowners insurance can affect homeownership in ways well beyond what we may think. Today, John Darr joins us again…you may remember him from season two. He owns Darr Schackow insurance in Gainesville, and he gives us the scoop today about where we are in terms of homeowners insurance, what we can expect for the upcoming year, and what that means for current and future homeowners. You’ll definitely want to listen to this episode because it’s much more important than you might think! Plus, John makes it interesting so it’s also less boring than you might think ..read more

For months, we’ve been trying to get Kristin Hawkins, Sales Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator at FBC Mortgage, to join us on the podcast. The holdup? The crazy busy lending business! While 2020 brought a lot of unpleasant surprises, it also brought a flurry - make that a blizzard - of activity in the mortgage industry. With interest rates lower than we’ve ever seen, potential homeowners were snatching up 2.5% interest rate loans and existing homeowners took advantage of the historically low rates to refinance their mortgages. With the busiest and best year in her career (so far) in the book ..read more

If there were a prize for Most Energetic Guest, then Ari Rastegar would win it hands-down. Founder and CEO of Rastegar Property Company, Ari is a force to reckon with due to his business acumen and overall dynamic personality. His innovative, technology-driven investment strategies have made him a thought leader in real estate, where he specializes in recession-resilient real assets and multifamily real estate developments, building portfolios designed to reduce risk and maximize capital appreciation potential. Today, Ari took time from his incredibly busy schedule to discuss President Biden’s ..read more

Over a 44-year career in this industry, Dan Coffey has maintained a single focus - to use his knowledge and expertise to assist people navigate the complexities of the mortgage process. He is proud to be part of such an important milestone in a client's life, and he strives to make the homebuying process a joyful experience because it should be. On this episode of Let’s Talk Real Estate, Dan walks us through the history and all the caveats of mortgage lending. Did you miss when we had Dan on Season 1 of Let’s Talk Real Estate? On episode 16 of Season 1, Dan gives us a rundown on gift funds to ..read more

Mortgage Loan Officer, Dan Coffey is back on the podcast to provide in depth knowledge about the dynamic and ever-evolving world of mortgage lending. In this episode, we explore valuable insights and opportunities for prospective homebuyers. Dan discusses predictions for interest rates and highlights the resurgence of FHA loans - covering qualification criteria, credit scores, and the flexibility of FHA loans. We also delve into seller concessions, mortgage points, and the benefits of locking in rates early. Additionally, Dan sheds light on the advantages of VA loans. Despite market shifts, Da ..read more

Did it appraise or not appraise? That is the question! Everything can be going right during a transaction...the price is agreed upon, the inspections go well, the survey is done, the lending process is well underway, and the title search has started. But this one seemingly minor item, yet incredibly important component, can make or break everything, oftentimes days before closing. Today’s episode answers some questions about the appraisal process, the purpose of the appraisal, and what can happen when it goes wrong, and why ..read more