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Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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May
30

May 30th, 2026 by
Image here
 
 
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 had no excuse to not know what time it was!

•  A garbage can costs how much?!

•  7 creative ways to avoid talking to your neighbors
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
As an agent, I can also confirm that some buyers get just as excited when a seller throws in a 12-year-old fridge to sweeten the deal!
price-is-right-appliance
He had no excuse to not know what time it was!
A Florida man was recently arrested for performing what could best be described as some "unwanted handyman services."

Apparently he decided to head over to his neighbor's house at 3AM to "fix" their Ring camera light. But the late-night timing wasn't the only issue...

He was reportedly wearing nothing but sandals, a headlamp… and a watch.
 
 
A garbage can costs how much?!
When people think about the hidden costs of owning a home, they usually picture things like unexpected repairs or higher-than-expected utility bills.

But there are some much smaller costs that just seem shockingly expensive simply because nobody prepares you for the price tag. Like the first time you're standing in the aisle of a home improvement store and wondering whether you accidentally grabbed the premium luxury version of… a garbage can.

I recently published an article highlighting that, and 5 other surprisingly common expenses that homeowners often don't think about until they're standing in a store wondering, "Wait… this costs how much?"
 
 
"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
Until 2001, residents of Victoria, Australia were required by law to hire a licensed contractor for which of the following basic home maintenance tasks?

A)  Gutter cleaning

B)  Changing a light bulb

C)  Fixing a leaky faucet

D)  Installing a smoke detector

Click the answer you think is correct.
 
 
7 creative ways to avoid talking to your neighbors
We all have neighbors we enjoy catching up with… and then there are those moments where you're bringing in groceries, dragging your $80 trash can to the curb, rushing somewhere, or simply not in the mood for an unexpected 20-minute conversation.

So I thought you might get a kick out of this list of some creative ways to avoid talking to neighbors! They're not super practical, but they might make you feel a little better about simply pretending to check your phone or having your earbuds in.
 
 
The fact is…
So this is the guy you can thank the next time you're buying one of those surprisingly expensive trash cans ?
re-fact-trash-can
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
May
23

May 23rd, 2026 by
Image here
 
 
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:

•  A not-so-dead dead-end street

•  Sunlight shouldn't outshine everything else

•  Solar panels can be a bright idea, but…
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
Pop quiz!
yes-no-once
A not-so-dead dead-end street
One reason people love living on a dead-end street or cul-de-sac is because there's usually less traffic and therefore… less noise.

Unfortunately, residents in one London neighborhood are being woken up in the middle of the night because they live on one.

Waymo self-driving cars have reportedly been mistakenly driving down their street, only to realize there's nowhere to go and back all the way out because it's too tight to turn around. And when they do, they blast a loud warning alarm that sounds like a siren the entire time.
 
 
Sunlight shouldn't outshine everything else
A real estate website recently introduced a new "Sun Score" feature designed to estimate how much natural light a home gets throughout the day. And while that may sound useful, it also raises an interesting question: how much information is too much information when searching for a home?

Today's buyers already have access to more ratings, scores, and data than ever before. While tools like this can be helpful, they can also make it easy to overanalyze smaller details while losing sight of bigger priorities.

I recently published an article that takes a closer look at the topic, and why it's important not to let a bright room completely cloud your judgment when house hunting.
 
 
"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
The famous playwright, George Bernard Shaw, had a backyard writing shed with what unique feature?

1)  It rotated to follow the sun.

2)  It had a secret underground passage from his house.

3)  It had a small stage for actors to perform his latest work.

4)  It had no windows so he wouldn't be distracted.

Click the answer you think is correct.
 
 
Solar panels can be a bright idea, but…
Solar panels can absolutely lower energy bills and make a home more appealing to some buyers. But depending on how they're financed, owned, or installed, they can also create a few unexpected complications when it comes time to sell.

So I thought you might find this quick list of things homeowners should know about solar panels before putting their home on the market helpful—especially since a lot of buyers and sellers don't realize some of these issues even exist until they're already under contract.
 
 
The fact is…
Makes you wonder what "Sun Score" those homes would've gotten!
re-fact-daylight-robbery
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
May
9

May 9th, 2026 by
Image here
 
 
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:

•  Can you imagine moving every 26 days?

•  66% of buyers think they need "perfect" credit to buy a house…

•  12 classic mom sayings that double as real estate advice
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
Listen, I'm not saying this is the right thing to do… I'm just saying I understand the thought process ?
mothers-day-dreaming
Can you imagine moving every 26 days?
Moving is not something most people want to make a habit of. The average American moves around 11 or 12 times in their lifetime, but those moves are usually spread out over decades.

So can you imagine having to move every 26 days… and then move right back to where you came from just 24 hours later?

Well, one family does exactly that in order to spend most of the year living at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort in an RV.  Because of resort rules, they can only stay for 26 consecutive days before having to leave for at least 24 hours.

Fortunately for them, their home is on wheels. So every few weeks, they pack up the RV, spend a day somewhere else, and then head right back to Disney.
 
 
66% of buyers think they need "perfect" credit to buy a house…
A recent survey found that 66% of potential homebuyers believe they need near-perfect credit to qualify for a mortgage—or at least to secure a good interest rate.

The reality is, most buyers are purchasing homes with credit scores that are far from perfect. But if you don't realize that, it's easy to spend years assuming you're not ready yet instead of actually exploring your options.

I recently published an article that dives a little deeper into where this misconception comes from, why the range of acceptable credit scores is often wider than people think, and why it's worth talking to a few lenders before assuming the answer is no.
"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 global movement began with a man building a tiny wooden house in his yard to honor his book-loving mother?

A)  Tiny House Nation

B)  Book Nook Collective

C)  Little Free Library

D)  The Reading Porch Project

Click the answer you think is correct.
12 classic mom sayings that double as real estate advice
Moms have a signature way of getting their point across—usually through one-liners that are both universal and impossible to forget. As it turns out, a lot of those classic "mom-isms" also translate surprisingly well into real estate advice.

So I thought you might get a kick out of this list of 12 classic mom sayings you've probably heard dozens of times… but never realized could apply to buying or selling a house.
The fact is…
OK, building a house from scratch with no experience is impressive… but was she able to get the kids to clean their rooms and pick up their socks?
re-fact-youtube-tutorials
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
May
2

May 2nd, 2026 by
Image here
 
 
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:

•  Want to be flush with cash?

•  13% of home buyers think they need 20% down…

•  5 hidden costs of house hunting
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
Most of the time real estate contracts are filled with boiler plate language, but you never know when there's going to be a curveball thrown in there!
read-wrong
Want to be flush with cash?
Whether it's saving up for a down payment, covering renovations, or just trying to make your monthly rent or mortgage payment feel a little less painful, wouldn't it be nice if you could put your current home to work for you?

Well, one man recently went viral after deciding to sell ad space… on his toilet. What started as a joke quickly turned into a business, with major brands actually lining up to get their logos featured in his bathroom.

Not exactly the most traditional way to bring in extra income… but maybe it'll inspire you to look around your home and find a clever way to cash in on something you never even thought of.
 
 
13% of home buyers think they need 20% down…
Years ago, you almost always needed a 20% down payment to buy a home. That is far from true anymore, but a lot of people (13% of buyers, in fact) think they still need to save up that much in order to buy a home!

The reality is, just under 75% of buyers put down 10% or less on their homes. But if you aren't aware of that, you can easily find yourself feeling like it is impossible to save up enough money for a down payment.

I recently published an article that dives a little deeper into this, and how to find out if buying a home might be more within reach than you think.
 
 
"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
Besides the money to buy a house, what did a Russian mortgage company start lending their customers for a couple of hours after closing in 2014?

A)  A moving truck

B)  A cat

C)  A personal maid

D)  A company credit card to buy themselves a closing gift

Click the answer you think is correct.
 
 
5 hidden costs of house hunting
Buying a home isn't just about the big numbers like down payments and closing costs.

There are also a handful of smaller expenses that tend to show up while you're out looking at homes. Thankfully, they're a lot more enjoyable than you might expect. (Well, except maybe filling the car with gas more often…)

So here's a list of 5 hidden expenses you might want to throw a few bucks at when budgeting for your home search.
 
 
The fact is…
Unfortunately, you can't use the money from the game sitting in your closet… but it does put things in perspective. ?
re-fact-monopoly-total
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
26

April 26th, 2026 by
Image here
 
 
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:

•  Sorry to just drop in like this…

•  Renovate or relocate? It depends on how much you're spending

•  You're never "bothering" me with these questions!
But first, let's start it off with my...
Meme of the Week
If you want to help me keep the streak going… give me a call! ?
zero-days
Sorry to just drop in like this…
It's pretty common to see a few balloons outside a house to let people know there's an open house.

But one California family recently had what you could call an impromptu open house (or at least an open backyard) when a hot air balloon carrying 12 people made an emergency landing right behind their home.

On the bright side, it turned into a pretty unique way to meet a bunch of neighbors they'd never met in the two years they've lived there.
 
 
Renovate or relocate? It depends on how much you're spending
A recent survey revealed that many homeowners are choosing to stay put and renovate instead of moving.

According to the data, most of them seem to be making relatively low-cost renovations, which can make a lot of sense. But for nearly 12% of homeowners, the amount being spent starts to reach a point where it's worth taking a step back and considering whether renovating is still the best move—or if buying another home might make more sense.

I recently published an article with thoughts on where that tipping point tends to be. If you're thinking about renovating instead of moving, it's definitely worth a read.
"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 the 2024 Cost Vs Value Report, which of the following home improvements will produce the greatest return on investment, recouping 193.9% of the cost?

1)  Replacing garage door

2)  Remodeling kitchen

3)  Remodeling primary bathroom

4)  Installing solar panels

Click the answer you think is correct.
You're never "bothering" me with these questions!
You might feel like you don't want to "bother" me with certain real estate questions, especially if you're just thinking things through or not quite ready to make a move.

But there are actually a few situations where I'd much rather you reach out sooner rather than later…

So here's a list of 3 real estate questions you should never hesitate to ask me. Seriously, it's never a bother!
The fact is…
You almost always find something surprising beneath the surface when renovating… but they're usually not a pleasant surprise like this! 
re-fact-old-newspaper
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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