Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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Weekly Real Estate Snippet - How random lenders find out you're buying a house…and how to stop them from calling

April 12th, 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:

• Homeownership GOOOOOOOAAAAALS!

• How random lenders find out you're buying a house

• 5 phone calls you probably ignore… but I still answer

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

Meme of the Week

Only a select few can (at least for now) explore space… but I'm always happy to help you explore a place with a little more space right here on Earth whenever you want or need to.

Homeownership GOOOOOOOAAAAALS!

One of the biggest advantages of homeownership is building equity over time. That equity can give you options later on, whether it's moving up, branching out into an investment, or funding something meaningful in your life.

Case in point… a soccer fan in England recently sold his home to follow his team during the World Cup. Not exactly the most common use of equity, but it just goes to show you that your home can help you chase some pretty big goals… or in this case, your favorite team's. ⚽

How random lenders find out you're buying a house

I often hear from buyers who start getting harassed by lenders they've never contacted after getting pre-approved or beginning the mortgage process. Every now and then, someone even asks if it was me or my company who shared their information. It's definitely not.

What's actually happening is something called "trigger leads," where credit bureaus sell data indicating you're in the market for a mortgage. There has been some recent legislation aimed at limiting this, which should help reduce the amount of outreach—but it likely won't eliminate it entirely.

So I recently put together a quick article explaining how it all works, along with a few simple steps you can take to cut down on the unwanted calls.

"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

Where has Google been planning on opening up an office since 2007, but has yet to do so?

A) Greenland

B) The moon

C) Iceland

D) Mars

Click the answer you think is correct.

5 phone calls you probably ignore… but I still answer

In a world where most people don't answer the phone for anyone, let alone an unknown number or something that looks like spam, I might be one of the few people still giving callers a little hope.

Unfortunately, as an agent, I find myself picking up calls that I know are probably robocalls, spam… or worse. But there's always that chance it's a client trying to reach me.

So for your entertainment, I put together a list of 5 types of phone calls I still answer on a regular basis that you probably just ignore.

The fact is…

I'd offer to help you assess the value of your lunar land before giving anyone your hard-earned money… but I'd probably just be taking a shot in the dark. ?

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

April
4

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 10 funny ways to feel like you're on HGTV when buying a home. If only it were that easy!

April 4th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• You might have to take turns touring this one

• Is AI the new "well-meaning dad" for real estate buyers and sellers?

• 10 funny ways to feel like you're on HGTV when buying a home

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

Meme of the Week

I feel like I've pretty much seen it all at this point, so it's going to be pretty difficult to surprise me! But I'm curious to see if you can prove me wrong. What would yours be? ?

You might have to take turns touring this one

Every once in a while when I'm showing a home, there's a room that's just a little too tight for everyone to walk into at once… so we take turns stepping in to take a quick look.

But an entire house like that? That'd be a first for me.

There's a home in Peru that's considered the world's narrowest fully functional house, measuring just 63 centimeters wide (about 2 feet). And somehow, it still manages to fit everything you'd need to live comfortably.

Well, comfortably might be up for debate…

Is AI the new "well-meaning dad" for real estate buyers and sellers?

When it comes to buying or selling a home, more and more people are turning to AI for advice. And while it can be helpful, it doesn't always know the full context of your specific situation or the current market. But that certainly won't stop it from sounding like it does.

I recently published an article that touches on a viral story about a real estate deal that went sideways after both the buyer and seller were told they were "right" by AI. It's a good reminder that this kind of overly confident advice isn't exactly new… just the latest version of it—and what you should keep in mind if you're relying on it along the way.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

According to a national survey of everyday annoyances, which home-related event ranked #2 out of the top ten smallest things that stress Americans, right behind "seeing someone they'd rather avoid"?

A) An appliance breaking

B) A neighbor's dog barking

C) The smoke detector chirping from a low battery

D) A knock on the front door when you're not expecting any guests

Click the answer you think is correct.

10 funny ways to feel like you're on HGTV when buying a home

House hunting shows give people who've yet to buy a home a peek behind the curtain. They also give folks who've bought a house or two in the past a chance to relive the thrill of finding the perfect abode.

But as the folks who have already been through the experience can probably attest to, those shows make it look a little quicker and easier than it is in real life. If only buying a house were just like they show on tv…

Wait a minute! Maybe we can duplicate the experience!

I thought you might get a kick out of this lighthearted list of ways to make it feel like you're on an HGTV show when you're house hunting.

The fact is…

How long did it take him to fold the dollar bills?!

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

March
31

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Should you renovate, or relocate? A fun quiz to help you decide

March 31st, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Mirror, mirror on the… what the heck is THAT?!

• Would you pay to improve a neighbor's yard?

• Should you renovate, or relocate?

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

Meme of the Week

If your name is on here… maybe that's a sign. And if it's not, but you want to be on that list, let me know and I'll add it. ?

Mirror, mirror on the… what the heck is THAT?!

Real estate agents often catch other agents accidentally reflected in bathroom mirrors or trying to hide behind shower curtains in listing photos. It can be funny… but also a little painful to see.

If you can't pull it off cleanly, it's probably better to hire a pro — or at least get good at editing photos.

Well, AI is making it easier to clean up little photo mishaps without needing to be a Photoshop expert. But one agent recently learned the hard way that it's still worth checking the final result after AI added a creepy-looking creature crawling out of a mirror — and he somehow missed it before posting the photos.

Would you pay to improve a neighbor's yard?

Most homeowners know curb appeal matters when they're getting ready to sell. But a recent survey suggests your neighbor's yard might matter more than you think. In fact, nearly half of homeowners said they'd consider chipping in to improve a neighbor's lawn if it meant their own home would sell faster or for more money.

It's an interesting idea… but it's not necessarily an offer your neighbor will appreciate, even if it comes with free lawn care. So I recently published an article about why this can be a tricky conversation — and a few tactful ways to think about it if you ever find yourself in that position.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

Officials from the Swedish island of Gotland launched the "World's Ugliest Lawn" competition in order to do which of the following:

A) Shame people into taking more pride in their curb appeal

B) Normalize ugly lawns so people don't feel ashamed

C) Raise enough money to sod their entire island

D) Promote water conservation

Click the answer you think is correct.

Should you renovate, or relocate?

For some, renovating a home is a thrilling opportunity to reimagine their space and build instant equity. For others, it's the start of a multi-month saga involving uncontrollable delays, budget explosions, and a fine layer of drywall dust that may linger until your next renovation project.

Sometimes the right move is to pick up that hammer and get to work. Other times? You might be better off selling and finding a home that's already "just right."

So before you rip out your cabinets or start shopping for tile you saw on Instagram, take this fun little quiz to find out if you're ready to renovate, or ready to relocate.

The fact is…

Here's a fun fact for all of you who love mowing your lawn!

And a not-so-fun fact for the rest of you…

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

March
21

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - "Good fences make good neighbors"...As long as you keep these tips in mind!

March 21st, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Something fishy is going on here…

• "Good fences make good neighbors"

• 6 ways finding your dream home is like finding a four-leaf clove

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

Meme of the Week

I love this sentiment! But if your home starts feeling a little too cozy when everyone shows up, I'm always happy to help you find one with a little more room.

Something fishy is going on here…

You may have come across a story going viral about a man claiming he was kidnapped by a gang of dolphins, taken underwater, and forced to build a multilevel, multifamily structure made from coral.

If the story sounded a little unbelievable to you, your instincts were correct. Local police say the entire thing was just a hoax meant to grab attention and generate clicks online.

But if you were hoping to hop on the waiting list for a unit in the building once it was finished… it sounds like you'll have to keep waiting.

"Good fences make good neighbors"

Speaking of viral stories, you may have seen one making the rounds about a homeowner who discovered their neighbor's fence was built a couple of feet over the property line. Instead of apologizing or discussing how to fix it, the neighbor reportedly claimed "squatters' rights" and insisted the land was now theirs. Most likely that claim won't hold up, but it sounds like the courts will have to sort it out.

Situations that extreme are rare, but fence disputes between neighbors actually happen more often than people realize. Which is why I recently published an article with several tips worth keeping in mind if you're thinking about installing a fence of your own.

It's a lot easier to plan things out upfront than to argue about them after the posts are already in the ground.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

Which of the following household cleaning supplies do many people have a superstition about, believing that it's bad luck to bring the one you used in your old home into your new home?

A) Your old dustpan

B) Your old broom

C) Your old toilet brush

D) Your old vacuum

Click the answer you think is correct.

6 ways finding your dream home is like finding a four-leaf clover

Since it's St. Patrick's Day week, I thought you might get a kick out of this lighthearted list comparing house hunting to searching for a lucky four-leaf clover.

The fact is…

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum

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

March
14

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Things agents say now that would've made no sense in the 1980s (It's amazing what we take for granted!)

March 14th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Would you grab coffee here?

• Saving for a house isn't as easy as many experts make it sound

• Things agents say now that would've made no sense in the 1980s

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

Meme of the Week

On one hand, I'm obviously just joking...

But the longer days really are a huge deal to me (and my buyers) at this time of year!

Would you grab coffee here?

Whether it's a home or a business, the old saying about location, location, location being the three most important things in real estate usually holds true. When it comes to businesses, that normally means a spot that's easy to find, easy to reach, has plenty of parking, and hopefully plenty of walk-in traffic.

But apparently the exact opposite can work too…

If you're looking for a caffeine kick and an adrenaline rush, this cliffside café might be worth checking out. Just make sure you have reservations before rappelling down to sip your coffee while dangling over the ocean.

Saving for a house isn't as easy as many experts make it sound

It seems like every few years someone comes up with a new way to make saving for a house down payment sound not only possible, but easy. There was the "Latte Factor," where buyers were told skipping their daily coffee would do the trick. Then came the warnings about avocado toast. Now there's something called the "$27.39 Rule," which suggests simply saving that much per day.

If only it were always that easy!

The advice is well-meaning and meant to be encouraging, but at times it can come across as a bit tone deaf. That's why I recently published an article sharing some perspective on why saving for a down payment can feel so difficult — and why even small, consistent progress still matters more than any catchy rule..

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

Doing which of the following in your house everyday increases your chances of becoming a millionaire by 206%?

A) Making your bed.

B) Turning down the thermostat by 5 degrees.

C) Only flushing the toilet every third time you use it.

D) Cooking your meals in the microwave instead of in the oven.

Click the answer you think is correct.

Things agents say now that would've made no sense in the 1980s

Technology has changed so much since the 80's! While we may not have flying cars, or live on Mars quite yet, a lot of our world would look and sound like a sci-fi novel to people just a few decades ago.

For a little fun, perspective, and appreciation for how far things have come in the world of real estate, I recently put together a fun list of things agents say today that would have made absolutely no sense back in the 1980s. It's a funny little reminder of just how much the real estate world has changed.

The fact is…

Not a bad idea for saving up 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

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Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - How random lenders find out you're buying a house…and how to stop them from calling

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 10 funny ways to feel like you're on HGTV when buying a home. If only it were that easy!

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Should you renovate, or relocate? A fun quiz to help you decide

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - "Good fences make good neighbors"...As long as you keep these tips in mind!

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Things agents say now that would've made no sense in the 1980s (It's amazing what we take for granted!)

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