Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 3 real estate questions you should never hesitate to ask me. You're never "bothering" me with these questions!

April 26th, 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:

• 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! ?

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!

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
19

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - First-time buyers may be more ready than they think they are! (...and 7 debates first-time homebuyers face)

April 19th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Not sure which number in this story is more impressive… 89, 27, or 21

• First-time buyers may be more ready than they think they are!

• 7 debates first-time homebuyers face

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

Meme of the Week

Honestly, I'm not sure anyone ever fully moves out, judging by the closets, attics, and basements I see filled with boxes of "the kids' stuff" when I'm showing houses!

Not sure which number in this story is more impressive… 89, 27, or 21

We've probably all been locked out of our house or apartment at some point. And maybe even checked a window or two to see if there was a way back in.

But it's a little less common to get locked inside your home and have to climb out a window to solve the problem.

Well, that's exactly what an 89-year-old woman did when she found herself locked inside her bedroom without a phone to call for help.

Not impressive enough? She lived on the 27th floor and had already made it down to the 21st floor before firefighters were able to reach her and bring her back inside safely.

First-time buyers may be more ready than they think they are!

Between rising prices, higher rates, and constant headlines, it's easy for first-time buyers to assume buying a home just isn't realistic right now.

But sometimes that feeling can be influenced by more than just market conditions. There's a concept called "money dysmorphia" that can make people feel less able to buy than they actually are.

I just published a quick article explaining why that happens, and how potential first-time buyers can assess whether they may actually be more ready than they think they are.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

A 2019 survey revealed that 30% of millennials felt they had a better chance of doing this, than they have of owning a home:

A) Flying to space and walking on the moon

B) Landing a date with an A-list celebrity

C) Being struck by lightning twice

D) Finding a four-leaf clover

Click the answer you think is correct.

7 debates first-time homebuyers face

Buying your first home comes with plenty of "this or that" decisions. It's something I see buyers work through all the time during the house hunting process. You don't always know exactly what you want until you've seen a few different homes and started weighing your options.

That said, it doesn't hurt to start thinking through some of those decisions ahead of time.

So I thought you might find this list of 7 common choices first-time buyers face helpful, and give you a head start on the process.

The fact is…

Maybe hold onto the pennies though… they might be worth more in the future now that they've been discontinued. Set those aside for retirement. ?

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
12

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!

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?"

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

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Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 3 real estate questions you should never hesitate to ask me. You're never "bothering" me with these questions!

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - First-time buyers may be more ready than they think they are! (...and 7 debates first-time homebuyers face)

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

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