Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

August
8

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Builders are ditching hallways?! (Could these 6 home features be next?)

August 8th, 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:

• Good news if old houses give you the creeps…

• How can a brand-new home cost less than an existing one?

• Builders are ditching hallways?!

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

Meme of the Week

Helping a buyer find "the one" is a feeling I can't even describe... and one that never gets old.

Good news if old houses give you the creeps…

If you're the type of home buyer who gets the sense there's a presence in the house while touring an older home, a recent study may help you sleep a little better.

Researchers say those eerie feelings may simply be caused by low-frequency vibrations from aging pipes and ventilation systems rather than anything supernatural.

But if you love the idea of owning a home with a little history and character, don't worry... you're still welcome to pretend it's the former owner checking in every now and then.

How can a brand-new home cost less than an existing one?

Most people assume a brand-new home will cost more than an existing one. After all, that's how it works with just about everything else. But today's housing market has turned that assumption upside down in some areas.

I recently published an article explaining why new construction can sometimes be the better value, and why it pays to consider all of your options before deciding which home is right for you.

"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

Developer Abraham Levitt is known for building the first suburban neighborhoods in the US. How long did it take for one of his homes to be built once the foundation was poured?

A) 16 minutes

B) 16 hours

C) 16 days

D) 16 months

Click the answer you think is correct.

Builders are ditching hallways?!

It turns out some builders are designing homes with fewer hallways in an effort to squeeze more usable living space into a smaller footprint in order to save buyers money.

That kind of makes you wonder, if hallways are fair game, what other parts of a house could builders get rid of to save buyers even more money?

So let's have a little fun with it…

Check out this list of 6 other things builders might want to consider getting rid of, in order for homebuyers to get more bang for less bucks!

The fact is…

Do you think they came with those little Allen wrenches and all those funny-looking screws?

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

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
18

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Not that it'll be a problem if you're working with me, but…What if the perfect house hits the market while your agent is away?

July 18th, 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:

• If you're looking for a reason to buy a house with a resort-worthy pool

• What if the perfect house hits the market while your agent is away?

• 6 things to say before your real estate agent goes on vacation

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

Meme of the Week

I'd love a reason to be searching for a property like this! Anyone looking for a house with a resort-worthy pool?

If you're looking for a reason to buy a house with a resort-worthy pool

Vacations are supposed to be relaxing. You save up your money, take time off work, and picture yourself spending lazy afternoons lounging by the pool with a good book or a cold drink.

Unfortunately, that's not always how it plays out.

A video from a popular holiday resort recently went viral after dozens of guests were filmed sprinting through the pool area in an all-out race to claim the best lounge chairs for the day. Apparently, waking up early isn't enough anymore. Some travelers have even resorted to sleeping in pool chairs overnight just to secure a good spot!

What if the perfect house hits the market while your agent is away?

Despite all the jokes real estate agents make about working from the beach, answering emails poolside, or taking phone calls while standing in line at a theme park, there are some parts of the job we simply can't do remotely. Showing houses is one of them.

I recently published an article explaining what to do if the perfect house hits the market while your agent is on vacation… and why calling another agent may create more complications than you might expect.

(And yes… I'm the type of agent who makes sure these things are already in place for my buyers before I ever sneak away for a vacation! ?)

"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

Null Stern Hotels in Switzerland are known for providing hotel rooms without:

1) Bibles in the drawer

2) Beds

3) Walls

4) TVs

Click the answer you think is correct.

6 things to say before your real estate agent goes on vacation

We already talked about why your agent being away doesn't have to create problems. But if you really want to help them (ahem... me) relax, there are a few things they'd (okay... I'd) probably love to hear before heading out of town.

This is a fun, tongue-in-cheek look at six of them.

The fact is…

I mean, if you're going all that way, you might as well stay for the full two weeks, right?

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
11

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Which hurts more? Losing a house… or paying too much? (And how to avoid both of those things.)

July 11th, 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:

• Come for the AC, stay for the meatballs…

• Which hurts more? Losing a house… or paying too much?

• 9 thoughts you go through after submitting an offer on a house

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

Meme of the Week

If you've ever lost out on a house you loved, you probably know exactly what this feels like. If not… hopefully I can help you avoid finding out the hard way.

Come for the AC, stay for the meatballs…

If you've ever traveled overseas during the summer, you've probably noticed that air conditioning isn't nearly as common as it is here in the U.S. As a brutal heat wave continues across parts of Europe, people in France have apparently discovered one of the best places to cool off… IKEA.

Videos have been circulating online showing shoppers stretching out on sofas, relaxing in living room displays, and generally making themselves right at home while escaping the heat.

To be fair, IKEA practically invites people to wander around and imagine themselves living there. But perhaps the least they could do is buy a plate of Swedish meatballs before heading back out into the heat.

Which hurts more? Losing the house… or paying too much?

It's not uncommon for buyers to worry about whether they're paying too much for a house. It's totally human and understandable. But what people often don't think about is how they'll feel if they lose it altogether.

I recently published an article about why losing a house you truly love can sometimes sting more than wondering if you overpaid for one… and a few simple ways to help avoid both of those feelings.

Whether you're actively house hunting or just thinking about buying someday, I think you'll find the perspective helpful.

"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

Which of these buildings is the world's first air-conditioned office building?

A) Empire State Building – New York, NY

B) Milam Building – San Antonio, TX

C) Wrigley Building – Chicago, IL

D) Eastern Columbia Building – Los Angeles, CA

Click the answer you think is correct.

9 thoughts you go through after submitting an offer on a house

Making an offer on a house can feel like crossing the finish line… until about 30 seconds later when your brain suddenly decides it's time to think through every possible outcome.

If you've ever bought a house, you'll probably relate to more than a few of these! And if you haven't yet, consider this a fun little preview of what's waiting for you. ?

The fact is…

I guess the balloons at my open houses are safe… unless I accidentally use 300 weather balloons.

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

Older Posts ⇨

Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Builders are ditching hallways?! (Could these 6 home features be next?)

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

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

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Not that it'll be a problem if you're working with me, but…What if the perfect house hits the market while your agent is away?

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Which hurts more? Losing a house… or paying too much? (And how to avoid both of those things.)

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