Posts in category 'Weekly Snippet'

Jay Mattlin, Real Estate Broker with Key Realty

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Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Real estate contract cancellations are at a "record high" (I put that in quotes for a reason…)

March 7th, 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:

• On the fence about robots taking over?

• Real estate contract cancellations are at a "record high"

• Stock photos are hilarious!

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

Meme of the Week

And just like that, Halloween will be right around the corner again!

On the fence about robots taking over?

Some people think we should be worried about robots taking over the world. Some aren't worried about it at all. Only time will tell how concerned we should be, but for now, it looks like we have some time before it's a real threat.

At least based upon what happened to one homeowner in California…

A food delivery robot went through her garden uprooting plants, and then drove through her fence and dragged a portion of it along for the ride to its next stop.

Real estate contract cancellations are at a "record high"

According to recent headlines, real estate contract cancellations are at their highest January level since 2017. However, while that might sound alarming, it's only a 0.6 percentage point increase compared to last January, and a 2.7 percentage point increase compared to January 2017.

Unfortunately, headlines are often designed to grab your attention, not necessarily make things sound normal.

While the claims are factually correct, cancellations are normal, and the increases are not as drastic as they may sound. If you want a more objective take on what's going on, check out this article I recently published.

"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

In which U.S. city are the McDonald's "Golden Arches" turquoise, rather than yellow?

A) Santa Fe, NM

B) Sedona, AZ

C) Asheville, NC

D) Miami, FL

Click the answer you think is correct.

Stock photos are hilarious!

There are lots of misperceptions about what it's like to be a real estate agent.

But it's easy to see why people outside the industry would have a skewed view of an agent's life when you look at it through the lens of stock photos! For example, check out these nine things agents are often depicted doing in stock photos for a quick laugh.

And if you've never looked through stock photos of people in your career, it might be fun to give it a try the next time you're bored.

The fact is…

Selling for less makes sense when you use a word like that… but taking longer to sell is a really interesting tidbit!

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

February
28

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Before you even head out to grab some paint samples…Here are tips to help you save time and money

February 28th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Can you hear me now?

• Before you even head out to grab some paint samples…

• "Broom clean" is hard to define

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

Meme of the Week

Your "perfect house" might be rare, but I'm pretty confident we can find it well before the next leap year rolls around in 2028.

Just to be safe, let me know what you're looking for so I can start keeping an eye out! ?

Can you hear me now?

We've probably all had moments where a neighbor's noise made us lose a little sleep — loud music, late-night gatherings, maybe a barking dog that just won't quit. For the most part, you just grin and bear it. But if it's a bit too loud or too often, perhaps you share a few choice words with your neighbor about it.

But one woman was so fed up with noisy neighbors that she grabbed a megaphone and began blasting insults and swearing at them in the middle of the night… for nearly two years!

But if you ever feel tempted to solve a neighbor dispute with a megaphone, know that she ended up getting sentenced to three months in jail and was given a $3,600 fine.

Before you even head out to grab some paint samples…

A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to update your home before it hits the market. But if you've ever tried to pick the perfect color, you know what it's like to stand in the paint aisle staring at 47 slightly different shades of "warm neutral" and hope you don't make the wrong choice.

Which is probably why a recent article I came across reported that more and more homeowners are hiring paint color consultants to avoid getting it wrong.

But before you spend money on that, you might want to check out this article I recently published. It breaks down what those services typically cost — and shares a few other ways to get solid guidance on choosing the right color… including just giving me a ring before you start updating.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

What's the name of the custom color Walt Disney World created to hide doors they don't want people to notice or enter?:

A) Go Away Green

B) Mickey Mouse Mauve

C) Walt's White

D) Beat It Black

Click the answer you think is correct.

"Broom clean" is hard to define

You're supposed to leave your house in "broom clean" condition for the buyer when you sell your house, which leaves a lot of room for interpretation. It often boils down to sellers feeling like they left the place looking immaculate, and buyers wondering if the seller even owned a broom.

But it is kind of subjective…

Which is probably why so many sellers think they're being super thoughtful when they leave certain things behind, but buyers end up feeling like you just left them something to figure out what to do with or get rid of.

So to take some of the subjectivity out of it, here's a list of 5 things you shouldn't leave behind when selling your house, even if you think you're doing the buyer a favor.

The fact is…

It might, but it still might be a smart move to give me a call before you run out and paint your door black!

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

February
14

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - A fear a lot of first-time buyers don't talk about (And many don't even realize it…)

February 14th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• In the market for a new birdhouse?

• A fear a lot of first-time buyers don't talk about

• Dating and buying a home have more in common than you'd think

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

Meme of the Week

A few days is probably pushing it… but hey, I'm always up for a challenge if you're in a pinch.

In the market for a new birdhouse?

Most real estate offices don't get much walk-in traffic these days, so it's always a surprise when someone actually shows up at the door.

But imagine how surprised the agents were when a peacock recently strutted right up to the entrance of their real estate office in Tennessee, casually checking the place out like it had an appointment.

If you really want to surprise me next time you're thinking about buying or selling, feel free to stop by instead of calling or texting… and if you want to do it with a little extra flair, a peacock costume wouldn't hurt.

A fear a lot of first-time buyers don't talk about

When people say they're not sure they're ready to buy a home yet, they often blame prices, rates, or competition. And sometimes that really is the issue. But for a lot of first-time buyers, there's something sitting a little below the surface that doesn't always get mentioned… or even recognized.

For many potential first-time buyers, the idea of getting pre-approved for a mortgage feels intimidating, which can stop them before they even get to the point of worrying about prices, rates, or competition.

I recently published an article about why that fear is far more common than people admit, and why getting pre-approved is usually much less scary than it sounds. Give it a read if this feels familiar — or feel free to share it with a first-time buyer you think might benefit from it.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

Which monumental structure did a woman named Erika LaBrie marry in 2007?

1) The Eiffel Tower

2) Big Ben

3) The Lincoln Memorial

4) The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Click the answer you think is correct.

Dating and buying a home have more in common than you'd think

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I couldn't resist sharing this funny list of ways buying a home is a lot like dating!

Got anything you'd add to the list based upon your experiences buying a house or dating?

The fact is…

All I can say is ?!

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

February
7

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - If only my house had _________________. Does a new home actually equal happiness?

February 7th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• As luck would have it…

• If only my house had _________________.

• 6 funny ways for sellers to choose which buyer wins a bidding war

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

Meme of the Week

It doesn't have to be on the market or Valentine's Day for me to play matchmaker! Let me know what you're looking for and I'll keep my eyes peeled for you!

As luck would have it…

A 70-year-old Louisiana man was sleeping in his living room when a car crashed through his house and landed right on top of him.

Fortunately, he was okay. In fact, he felt good enough to ask the ambulance driver to stop on the way to the hospital so he could buy a lottery ticket, figuring it must have been his lucky day.

But this wasn't his first lucky day… His house has been hit by cars five times since he's lived there. Some might call that the unluckiest location imaginable — but he seems to prefer a very glass-half-full approach to life.

If only my house had _________________.

It's actually fairly normal for people to look around their home and feel like they'd finally be happy — and never have to move again — if it just had this, that, or another thing.

A lot of people try to sort that feeling out by talking to friends, family, or even running scenarios through ChatGPT. That can all be helpful, but sometimes it just creates more noise.

So if this is something you've been feeling and wondering about, you might want to check out this article I recently published about why looping in a real estate agent earlier than most people do can actually be really helpful.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

What is the actual meaning of the word "igloo" in the Inuit language?

A) Frozen glue

B) House

C) Dome home

D) Ice tent

Click the answer you think is correct.

6 funny ways for sellers to choose which buyer wins a bidding war

It probably sounds ideal to have multiple offers when you're selling your home — and don't get me wrong, it absolutely is!

But it's also not quite the no-brainer many sellers expect it to be. Saying "no" to one or more buyers can actually be harder (and more stressful) than saying "yes" to the one you choose. And when the offers are close, picking between them isn't always easy.

Unless you've been through it yourself, it's hard to appreciate just how stressful a multiple-offer situation can be. Whether you've experienced it as a seller, hope to one day, or are in the middle of it right now, this funny list of creative ways for sellers to choose between buyers should at least give you a good laugh.

The fact is…

If you've ever dealt with building codes, permits, or inspections, this will feel frustratingly familiar.

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

January
27

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 5 signs you're addicted to house hunting…(Even after you've bought a new home!)

January 27th, 2026 by Jay Mattlin

I'm glad you're here!

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

• Maybe you can find a better deal on Expedia?

• The part of the "Great Wealth Transfer" no one really mentions

• 5 signs you're addicted to house hunting

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

Meme of the Week

One of the many things no one warns you about in this career. ?

What's something you find yourself saying all the time that you never imagined you would?

Maybe you can find a better deal on Expedia?

High-end hotels are known for sky-high prices, but one new hotel set to open in 2032 is taking that literally.

A 21-year-old plans to build the world's first moon hotel, and he's already offering pre-construction reservations with down payments ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000, depending on the options you choose.

Is it safe to assume the $250,000 package comes with a view of the parking lot and dumpsters?

The part of the "Great Wealth Transfer" no one really mentions

There's been a lot of talk lately about the "great wealth transfer," and it's often painted as heirs receiving a big windfall they'll use to live a more lavish lifestyle.

For many families, though, a large portion of that wealth is tied up in homes. And before heirs see a dime of usable money, they often have to spend some of their own just to maintain the property. Between taxes, insurance, upkeep, and repairs, the costs can add up quickly, and can be a real strain during an already emotional time.

I recently published an article that looks at these realities and encourages open, thoughtful conversations within families, so when the time comes, the process is as smooth and manageable as possible for everyone involved.

"How's the market?"

Trivia Time

You can sell a house and pay no capital gains tax on on the first $250,000 of your profits if your tax-filing status is single, and up to $500,000 if married, if you meet which of the following criteria:

1) Make less than $50,000 in income per year.

2) Only used it as a rental.

3) Use the house as your primary residence 2 years out of the past 5 years before you sell.

4) Don't report it on your taxes and never get audited

Click the answer you think is correct.

5 signs you're addicted to house hunting

House hunting isn't all fun and games, but it can definitely be addictive!

The process of finding and successfully buying a home can take months, and often has its fair share of stressful moments. But the thrill of the chase can be a hard habit for some buyers to kick, even after they've found the perfect place to call home!

If this sounds familiar to you, then you'll get a kick out of this list of five telltale signs that you just can't quit the hunt, even with a shiny new set of keys in your pocket.

The fact is…

Sounds like there were actually several old ladies who lived in a shoe… well, at least for a week-long vacation!

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 - Real estate contract cancellations are at a "record high" (I put that in quotes for a reason…)

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - Before you even head out to grab some paint samples…Here are tips to help you save time and money

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - A fear a lot of first-time buyers don't talk about (And many don't even realize it…)

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - If only my house had _________________. Does a new home actually equal happiness?

Weekly Real Estate Snippet - 5 signs you're addicted to house hunting…(Even after you've bought a new home!)

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