Posts made by author 'Jay Mattlin'

August
2

August 2026 Key to Home Newsletter

August 2nd, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

Categories: Monthly Newsletter

August
1

Weekly Snippet - Who says it's impossible for Gen Z to buy a home? Because it's not what the stats are saying…

August 1st, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)

Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:

• Picture this…

• Who says it's impossible for Gen Z to buy a home?

• 9 ways to stay patient while saving up for a down payment

But first, let's start it off with my...

Meme of the Week

Let me know if you need a little help pulling off a power move like this. Literally and figuratively!

Picture this…

Real estate agents often recommend that sellers should "depersonalize" their homes by taking family photos down so buyers have an easier time picturing themselves living there instead.

But imagine walking into a house and finding a framed photo of... yourself.

That's essentially what happened to two sisters staying at a vacation rental after they discovered a photo of their family hanging on the wall. Needless to say, it made for a pretty surreal moment... and probably one of the few times a family photo actually helped someone picture themselves in the house!

Who says it's impossible for Gen Z to buy a home?

Buying your first home can feel nearly impossible these days, especially for Gen Z. If you go by what you see and hear on TV and social media, it can sound like there's no hope.

Fortunately, that's not entirely true.

Check out this article I recently published with some encouraging statistics showing that a record number of Gen Z buyers are proving it isn't impossible after all.

"How's the market?"

I get that question a lot, and I'm always happy to answer it! But there's no one-size-fits-all answer. That's why this newsletter doesn't include weekly stats or price updates.

Besides, most people don't care about real estate data until it actually matters to them. So instead of stats, I just try to keep this fun and entertaining.

Curious about a specific house? Wonder what your place is worth? Or just want a quick market snapshot?

Just hit reply and ask me! I'm always glad to give you any information, thoughts, or data you want. (And of course, no obligation or pressure! I love any opportunity to talk about the market.)

Trivia Time

According to a 2024 survey by the National Association of REALTORS®, what is the #1 reason first-time homebuyers say they purchase a home?

A) To stop paying rent

B) For the tax benefits

C) The desire to own a home of their own

D) To get away from a noisy upstairs neighbor

Click the answer you think is correct.

9 ways to stay patient while saving up for a down payment

It's certainly worth the wait and effort, but saving up for a down payment on a house can feel like it'll take forever!

If only there were a fast-forward button. (Or a surefire way to win the lottery!)

Unfortunately, there isn't. It simply takes time and patience.

In the meantime, check out these 9 fun ways to stay patient while saving for your future home. They just might make the wait feel a little shorter.

The fact is…

That sounds like a little more than a down payment!

That wraps it up for this week!

Be on the lookout for the next one!

Want to unsubscribe from this newsletter? Simply reply and let me know.

Categories: Weekly Snippet

July
25

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Famous last words…7 things home sellers often say they regret

July 25th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

I've put together a nice assortment of bite-sized pieces of real estate news, entertainment, and resources I think you're going to enjoy. (And maybe even learn a thing or two you never knew you wanted to know!)

Here's a sneak peek at what's on tap:

• He spent his house down payment on World Cup tickets…

• Should you wait for a "better" market to sell your house?

• 7 things home sellers often say they regret

But first, let's start it off with my...

Meme of the Week

Just in case you're not sure who you should call when it's time to buy or sell a home... I put together this handy pie chart for you!

He spent his house down payment on World Cup tickets…

Spending your house down payment on World Cup tickets probably isn't what most financial advisors (or real estate agents!) would recommend. But it's hard not to appreciate that one soccer fan did just that so he could treat his grandfather to the trip of a lifetime after all the games his grandfather took him to growing up.

In fact, after hearing the story, a sports betting company offered to replace every penny of the money he'd spent if England won their game against DR Congo. And they did… giving him a second chance at the down payment he had worked so hard to save.

Now that he has the money back, he says he could use it to buy a house… or spend it on more soccer trips instead. Hopefully he remembers the old gambling saying: never bet against the house. Odds are, they're not going to double down on this bet. ?

Should you wait for a "better" market to sell your house?

We've all had those moments where we look back and think, "I should have..." or "I could have..." Real estate is no exception, especially if you've caught yourself wishing you'd sold a few years ago or wondering whether you should wait for the market to improve.

If you're thinking about selling your home, it's easy to compare today's market to the frenzy we saw just a few years ago. But extraordinary markets have a way of making perfectly normal ones feel disappointing.

I recently published an article to help put today's market in perspective. It's a worthwhile read if you're debating whether to sell now, wait a while, or even relist a home you recently took off the market.

"How's the market?"

I get that question a lot, and I'm always happy to answer it! But there's no one-size-fits-all answer. That's why this newsletter doesn't include weekly stats or price updates.

Besides, most people don't care about real estate data until it actually matters to them. So instead of stats, I just try to keep this fun and entertaining.

Curious about a specific house? Wonder what your place is worth? Or just want a quick market snapshot?

Just hit reply and ask me! I'm always glad to give you any information, thoughts, or data you want. (And of course, no obligation or pressure! I love any opportunity to talk about the market.)

Trivia Time

What is the behavioral economics term for when homeowners assign more value to their property simply because they own it—often leading them to overprice it when selling?

1) The Ownership Illusion

2) The Endowment Effect

3) Seller's Syndrome

4) The Anchoring Trap

Click the answer you think is correct.

7 things home sellers often say they regret

No matter what the market is doing, there are a few things home sellers tend to say that they think will help... but often end up having the opposite effect.

Of course you want to sell your house for as much money as possible, and certain things sellers say are simply an attempt to do just that. Unfortunately, taking a firm stance and saying these things can cause a homeowner to defend their position even if they realize they may have been mistaken.

So I put together a list of 7 things you should avoid saying (even if it's just to yourself!) if you want to give yourself the best chance of selling your house quickly and for the most money possible.

The fact is…

Here's one place where waiting to sell definitely isn't the best strategy. ?

That wraps it up for this week!

Be on the lookout for the next one!

Want to unsubscribe from this newsletter? Simply reply and let me know.

Categories: Weekly Snippet

July
22