There’s a never-ending loop of real estate shows you can watch on TV nowadays. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, you’re bound to find one on. But be careful: the minute you get sucked into one, you may find yourself sucked into the next the way they phase out of one episode into the next!

You can go from watching one agent helping a couple buy their first home

There’s a never-ending loop of real estate shows you can watch on TV nowadays. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, you’re bound to find one on. But be careful: the minute you get sucked into one, you may find yourself sucked into the next the way they phase out of one episode into the next!

You can go from watching one agent helping a couple buy their first home on a shoe-string budget, to another helping a family who just won the lottery buying a home bigger than they ever hoped for in the blink of an eye. The next thing you know, you’re watching an agent help someone decide to renovate their house and keep it, or just buy another one.

In that sense, it’s almost like getting a glimpse into what it’s truly like being a real estate agent, because they help all sorts of people—in many different situations—buy and sell totally different types of houses.

But that’s about where the reality of being a real estate agent ends when it comes to real estate reality shows! There’s no way a half hour (or even an hour!) TV show could convey what it’s really like to help buyers and sellers. In fact, these shows are a far cry from reality.

While each show has a different angle, they all basically make it seem quicker and easier to help someone buy or sell a house than it is in real life.

If you want a true look at what it’s like for agents, here are six concepts for real estate shows that’ll give you a peek into the things they don’t show!

1) How many houses?!

Most real estate shows would have you believe that a buyer looks at three houses and then they head to the local bar for a drink and a quick think before making an offer that always gets accepted.

The show that should exist is one that shows how many buyers look at dozens of houses, and often make offers on a few of them, before they successfully buy one. And it usually takes more than a few sips of wine and recapping each house for everyone involved in the purchase to agree which house they should go after!

2) How many agents?!

While many buyers start working with one particular agent early on in the process and are loyal the whole way through, many others don’t.

It’s not uncommon for a buyer to start their home search over a year before they actually buy a house. So they may meet an agent at an open house and go see houses with that agent for a few months, only to pause their search and disappear on that agent. Then they see a house online they like and call the listing agent, and end up working with that agent for some time until they ghost him or her and start working with a friend or family member who has their license.

So to get a real feel for what it’s like to be an agent, it’d be great if there was a show that followed a buyer from the minute they dealt with the first agent, all the way through to the agent they ended up buying with. They could bring all of the agents together at the end for a reunion show like on The Real Housewives and let them scream at each other for stealing each others’ client.

3) You were right…

Agents put a lot of time and effort into doing a thorough market analysis (CMA) to help homeowners list their house at the right price. Unfortunately, some sellers don’t like the truth and just select an agent who tells them what they want to hear.

It sucks for an agent to lose a listing to another agent who let the owner overprice, only to watch it eventually sell for what they originally recommended (or less) because they listed too high. The only satisfaction the agent gets is knowing deep down that they were right all along, but that doesn’t count for much.

What’d make for some great TV is to follow an owner who does this from beginning to end, and watch them realize the agent they didn’t list with was right all along. But the twist would be that they not only realize it, they also have a tear-filled face-to-face chat with the agent and apologize for not listening to their advice. It won’t pay the agent’s bills or put food on the table, but some things are worth more than money.

4) My parents want to see the house…

There ought to be a show where you see every house the buyer looks at and watch how they came to their decision. You’d truly be happy for them knowing that they had to see so many houses that were just awful, or didn’t fit their wants or needs.

But wait…before they make an offer, the buyer’s parents need to come take a look at the house!

Will they give it the thumbs up or not!? Does the dad think it’s a “total teardown” and they should keep looking? Will they threaten to not give them money for the down payment that they’re counting on if they buy this house? Will the buyer listen to the parents?

5) Not ‘til we find the right house!

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you start looking is Real Estate 101. It helps you know how much house you can afford so you don’t look at houses beyond your reach. But some buyers refuse to do it, saying they know they can afford it, and they’ll get pre-approved when they find the right house. But that’s a recipe for disaster…

Not only is it a waste of time to look at houses you can’t afford, it can also be heartbreaking to fall in love with one and not be able to buy it. Plus, it makes it hard to ever like any house you can afford!

Agents can say it ‘til they’re blue in the face and certain buyers will never listen. So maybe it’d be helpful if there was a show where you got to witness buyers refuse to get pre-approved and see the utter heartbreak when they fall in love with houses they can’t afford.

6) Six degrees of my-friend-is-an-agent

If agents had a nickel for every time a prospective client said they had a friend or family member who’s an agent, they’d all be rich!

It’s the easiest excuse to use when you want to blow off an agent. But does that agent really exist? Are they truly friends with or related to one? Will they actually work with that agent?! Or was it just a lie?

A candid camera type show where buyers are put on the spot and have to explain who the agent they’re referring to is, and how close they actually are to them when they use that excuse… now that would be hilarious!

By Lighter Side Staff

Jul 20, 2022

If you’ve been thinking about selling your house, you’ve probably heard that the market’s cooling off, or “resetting” (as Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, recently put it.) So you might be wondering if that means you won’t be able to get as much money for your house as your neighbors did a few weeks back.

On

By Lighter Side Staff

Jul 20, 2022

If you’ve been thinking about selling your house, you’ve probably heard that the market’s cooling off, or “resetting” (as Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, recently put it.) So you might be wondering if that means you won’t be able to get as much money for your house as your neighbors did a few weeks back.

On the other hand, there are still reports that house prices are still rising, like in this realtor.com article, which makes you wonder if you could actually get more money than they did!

So, what’s the truth?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Real estate functions on a very local level, and much of what you read is referring to the broader, national market. Not only does the general area you live in matter, but the specific price range or neighborhood your house is in can affect whether or not you get more or less for your house.

For instance, if your house is in a price range for first-time buyers in your area, the higher interest rates could easily affect how much buyers are willing or able to offer. On the other hand, if your house is in an affluent area and there are a lot of cash buyers, prices may not be affected as much. And a lot depends on how many homes are for sale—if there is still low inventory in your area, and a lot of buyers, then prices may stay strong.

While pricing your home appropriately is always important, it’s even more important to do so in this market. You obviously don’t want to price lower than you have to if the market data doesn’t show signs of lower sales prices, yet you don’t want to shoot for a record-breaking price and have your house sit on the market and not sell.

The problem is, when determining the value and list price for your house, you have to rely on recently sold homes as your proof and basis. The houses that are considered “recently sold” were on the market a few months back. And with the market reportedly shifting, that’s ancient history when you consider how much interest rates have gone up in the past few months, after those homes went under contract. Until the houses that went into escrow between then and now actually close, it’s a guessing game as to how much they actually sold for.

So, here are some thoughts to help you think about if you’re putting your house on the market in the near future:

Be aware that interest rates have gone up considerably, and may go up more over the coming months. But more importantly, be aware of how much that is affecting the buyers in your area and price range. Just keep in mind, the Fed is actively trying to impact the real estate market by adjusting rates, so if you’re on the fence about selling and worried the rates will affect the value of your house, you may want to do it sooner than later.

The Takeaway:

The real estate market is shifting in many areas, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the value of your house is affected—at least yet.

If you’re going to list your house soon, you have the advantage of basing your asking price off of recently sold houses that are similar to yours, which were likely at historically high prices. Just make sure to keep your eye on the reaction of the market and any new sales data that comes in over the course of the first couple of weeks to a month. If there are no offers on your property, or signs of interest on the part of any buyers, then consider reducing your price.

By Lighter Side Staff

Jul 13, 2022

Many headlines would have you believe that bidding wars and houses selling for over the asking price are a thing of the distant past. But it was only a few weeks ago that buyers wouldn’t have dreamed of finding a house where that wasn’t the situation.

There have certainly been signs of the market softening a bit in favor

By Lighter Side Staff

Jul 13, 2022

Many headlines would have you believe that bidding wars and houses selling for over the asking price are a thing of the distant past. But it was only a few weeks ago that buyers wouldn’t have dreamed of finding a house where that wasn’t the situation.

There have certainly been signs of the market softening a bit in favor of buyers, but bidding wars are still a thing, as well as houses fetching offers over asking price—even if it isn’t happening on every listing.

So if you’re a buyer right now, there’s still a good chance you’ve “lost” a house to another buyer within the past few weeks, and you’re still feeling the sting that comes with it. You may be wondering when (or if) the market will truly give you a fair shake at getting a house…

Well, don’t lose hope! In fact, you may even get a second chance at a house you lost to another buyer.

According to this recent Axios article, nearly 15% of pending home sales failed to close in June. Whether it was due to buyers not getting their mortgage, home inspection issues, the house not appraising for the sales price, etc., many sellers found themselves looking for a new buyer or going back to the buyers whose offers weren’t originally accepted.

So if you lost out on a house recently, there’s a chance you may get a second bite at the apple!

If and when that happens for you, here are a few things to keep in mind:

The Takeaway:

There are signs and headlines that the market is shifting in favor of buyers, but they’re a bit misleading. Houses that are desirable and priced appropriately in the market are still selling fast, with multiple offers, and often over asking price. So if you’re in the market to buy a home, you still need to be aggressive and make a strong offer.

However, if your initial offer isn’t accepted, don’t lose hope! With 15% of home sales falling through in June, there’s a chance you may find that the buyer they chose backs out and the seller checks to see if you’re still interested.

If that happens, be careful about lowering your offer, and don’t dismiss your second chance due to emotions or concerns about what was “wrong” with the house.

Most homeowners consider adding solar panels for one (or a combination) of three reasons: They’re environmentally conscious. They’re looking to save money. They think it will add value to their home when they sell it. Very few people will argue against it being an earth-friendly decision to make if that’s your motivation. And, theoretically, they […]

The post Will

Most homeowners consider adding solar panels for one (or a combination) of three reasons: They’re environmentally conscious. They’re looking to save money. They think it will add value to their home when they sell it. Very few people will argue against it being an earth-friendly decision to make if that’s your motivation. And, theoretically, they […]

The post Will Solar Panels Help or Hurt the Sale of Your Home? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Blogging is something many real estate agents struggle with. To begin with, you might wrestle with whether or not it’s even worth doing. Is blogging dead? Do people even read blogs anymore? Then there’s the whole element of time. It’s not like you’re sitting around at your desk all day with tons of time to […]

The post Struggling With Content for Your Real Estate

Blogging is something many real estate agents struggle with. To begin with, you might wrestle with whether or not it’s even worth doing. Is blogging dead? Do people even read blogs anymore? Then there’s the whole element of time. It’s not like you’re sitting around at your desk all day with tons of time to […]

The post Struggling With Content for Your Real Estate Blog? Here’s a Week’s Worth of Ideas… appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

People often envision young adults graduating from college, landing a job, and renting their own place to live. While it was never easy, that path has become more and more difficult to attain in a straight line. College isn’t cheap, and many grads are starting their adult lives with a heap of student loans and […]

The post Recent College Grads Should Think Twice

People often envision young adults graduating from college, landing a job, and renting their own place to live. While it was never easy, that path has become more and more difficult to attain in a straight line. College isn’t cheap, and many grads are starting their adult lives with a heap of student loans and […]

The post Recent College Grads Should Think Twice Before Renting a Place to Live appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You probably never even heard the term until you became a real estate agent. But once you became one, you were probably told how important it is to build and nurture your very own “sphere of influence.” The problem is, people tend to be pretty loose with the term and definition. Who should be considered […]

The post 5 Strategies for Real Estate Agents

You probably never even heard the term until you became a real estate agent. But once you became one, you were probably told how important it is to build and nurture your very own “sphere of influence.” The problem is, people tend to be pretty loose with the term and definition. Who should be considered […]

The post 5 Strategies for Real Estate Agents to Build a Better Sphere of Influence appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

If you’ve been considering buying a house — or if you’re actually in the process — you’ve probably heard two things quite a bit lately: Interest rates are on the rise. They’re still historically low. Yes, they are still historically low, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re higher than if you’d just bought […]

The post 7 Ways for Homebuyers

If you’ve been considering buying a house — or if you’re actually in the process — you’ve probably heard two things quite a bit lately: Interest rates are on the rise. They’re still historically low. Yes, they are still historically low, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re higher than if you’d just bought […]

The post 7 Ways for Homebuyers to Deal With Rising Interest Rates appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Seinfeld was pitched as a “show about nothing”— a show about the mundane day-to-day stuff a comedian and his cast of friends experienced. Who’d be interested in that!? The world, apparently. It’s been off the air for years, but people are still watching it to this day. People love a peek into the lives of […]

The post If Seinfeld Were a Show About Real Estate, Instead

Seinfeld was pitched as a “show about nothing”— a show about the mundane day-to-day stuff a comedian and his cast of friends experienced. Who’d be interested in that!? The world, apparently. It’s been off the air for years, but people are still watching it to this day. People love a peek into the lives of […]

The post If Seinfeld Were a Show About Real Estate, Instead of “A Show About Nothing” appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Do you have a neighbor that annoys you? The chances are, you do! According to this REALTOR Magazine article, a recent survey done by Lending Tree revealed that 75% of Americans don’t like their neighbor. What bugs people about their neighbors the most? Take your pick: They give off a “weird vibe” (28%) They’re too […]

The post Hate Your Neighbor? New Survey Shows You’re

Do you have a neighbor that annoys you? The chances are, you do! According to this REALTOR Magazine article, a recent survey done by Lending Tree revealed that 75% of Americans don’t like their neighbor. What bugs people about their neighbors the most? Take your pick: They give off a “weird vibe” (28%) They’re too […]

The post Hate Your Neighbor? New Survey Shows You’re Not Alone appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

There are tons of ways and places to market yourself as a real estate agent, but email marketing has to be one of the best for a bunch of reasons: It doesn’t cost much and can even be done for free. Who doesn’t use email?! Everyone has an email address; you just have to get […]

The post 10 Effective Real Estate Email Marketing Tips appeared first on

There are tons of ways and places to market yourself as a real estate agent, but email marketing has to be one of the best for a bunch of reasons: It doesn’t cost much and can even be done for free. Who doesn’t use email?! Everyone has an email address; you just have to get […]

The post 10 Effective Real Estate Email Marketing Tips appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

If you’ve been thinking about selling and hesitating or simply waiting, you may want to start thinking about how you’ll feel if you miss out on the best time to sell your house in a long time. You never know when (or if) conditions will be like this in the real estate market again. It’s […]

The post Homeowners Should Have Some “Fear of Missing Out” on This Market

If you’ve been thinking about selling and hesitating or simply waiting, you may want to start thinking about how you’ll feel if you miss out on the best time to sell your house in a long time. You never know when (or if) conditions will be like this in the real estate market again. It’s […]

The post Homeowners Should Have Some “Fear of Missing Out” on This Market appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

There are more folks who get their license and leave the business within a year or two than there are ones who make it. It looks so appealing and even easy from an outsider’s point-of-view… There’s so much freedom. The money seems incredible. It even seems like a downright sexy profession where you just dress […]

The post 11 Reasons Real Estate Agents

There are more folks who get their license and leave the business within a year or two than there are ones who make it. It looks so appealing and even easy from an outsider’s point-of-view… There’s so much freedom. The money seems incredible. It even seems like a downright sexy profession where you just dress […]

The post 11 Reasons Real Estate Agents Love One of the Easiest Careers to Hate appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Anyone who’s seen Ozark knows that Marty Byrde is the epitome of cool, calm, and collected in even the most stressful situations. It’s enviable for anyone really, but real estate agents can certainly relate to how he keeps his composure in any situation more than most people. While the stakes aren’t nearly as high as […]

The post 11 Times Real Estate Agents

Anyone who’s seen Ozark knows that Marty Byrde is the epitome of cool, calm, and collected in even the most stressful situations. It’s enviable for anyone really, but real estate agents can certainly relate to how he keeps his composure in any situation more than most people. While the stakes aren’t nearly as high as […]

The post 11 Times Real Estate Agents Need to Channel the Calm of Ozark’s Marty Byrde appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

With mortgage rates rising, low inventory, and intense buyer competition, you may be wondering if it makes sense to wait and see if the market shifts in your favor before buying. It certainly hasn’t been fun or ideal for buyers, so if there’s a chance you could have more houses to choose from at a […]

The post Weighing the Pros and Cons of Waiting to Buy a House Right Now

With mortgage rates rising, low inventory, and intense buyer competition, you may be wondering if it makes sense to wait and see if the market shifts in your favor before buying. It certainly hasn’t been fun or ideal for buyers, so if there’s a chance you could have more houses to choose from at a […]

The post Weighing the Pros and Cons of Waiting to Buy a House Right Now appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

It’s tough to land listings in any market, but when you’re smack dab in the middle of a market with low inventory, they’re like lassoing a unicorn under a rainbow. You could go with the all-too-common advice of hitting up FSBO’s, or calling on expired listings, but so is every other agent out there. Sitting […]

The post 5 Creative

It’s tough to land listings in any market, but when you’re smack dab in the middle of a market with low inventory, they’re like lassoing a unicorn under a rainbow. You could go with the all-too-common advice of hitting up FSBO’s, or calling on expired listings, but so is every other agent out there. Sitting […]

The post 5 Creative Ways to Encourage People to List in a Low Inventory Market appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Whether you sold a home in the past few years or not, you’re probably well aware that houses have been selling fast, with multiple offers, and over asking price. But everyone also knows it can’t always be like that. The real estate market is cyclical, and we’ve seen a favorable market for sellers for quite […]

The post 3 Things Sellers Shouldn’t Worry (Too Much)

Whether you sold a home in the past few years or not, you’re probably well aware that houses have been selling fast, with multiple offers, and over asking price. But everyone also knows it can’t always be like that. The real estate market is cyclical, and we’ve seen a favorable market for sellers for quite […]

The post 3 Things Sellers Shouldn’t Worry (Too Much) About in the Near Future appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

Real estate is a cooperative industry. You won’t survive long in this business if you can’t get along and work with other real estate agents. That doesn’t mean agents don’t have their differences about how to do their jobs well! There’s no one-size-fits-all way of working with clients. For every way one agent goes about […]

The post 10 Things Real Estate

Real estate is a cooperative industry. You won’t survive long in this business if you can’t get along and work with other real estate agents. That doesn’t mean agents don’t have their differences about how to do their jobs well! There’s no one-size-fits-all way of working with clients. For every way one agent goes about […]

The post 10 Things Real Estate Agents Agree to Disagree About appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.

You’re probably well aware that mortgage rates are rising. At the same time, home prices don’t seem to be coming down, there’s still a ton of competition, and you’re probably no stranger to bidding wars when you make an offer on a house. So you might be searching for a way to maintain the buying […]

The post With Mortgage Rates Rising, Is an Adjustable Rate Right for You?

You’re probably well aware that mortgage rates are rising. At the same time, home prices don’t seem to be coming down, there’s still a ton of competition, and you’re probably no stranger to bidding wars when you make an offer on a house. So you might be searching for a way to maintain the buying […]

The post With Mortgage Rates Rising, Is an Adjustable Rate Right for You? appeared first on Lighter Side of Real Estate.