Close to Home: Recent Episodes
Brennen Clouse
How do you buy a home? Why is the home the most intimate and telling place in your life? What makes the home the most important place to you? What makes your home feel like your own? How do you sell your home? What's the best way to decorate? What are the hottest paint colors? Where is everyone eating and shopping this month?
Welcome to the Close to Home podcast where we will answer all of your home questions and beyond! Every other week, hosts Brennen Clouse and Tracy Erickson dishes the newest trends, how-to's, and stories about the home - one of the most special places for each of us.
What is an expired listing and can it be made into a good thing for either the buyer or seller? The answer to both is a resounding, "yes!" This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is going to do a quick dive into what makes a listing expire and what both buyers and sellers can do to make the most of the situation!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Happy New Year to all our lovely listeners, we hope you had an amazing holiday! This week we are jumping right back into it with Brennen's annual top predictions for the Seattle real estate market in the upcoming year. If you're thinking of buying or selling property this year this one is a must listen!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Happy holidays to all our lovely listeners! With the new year fast approaching we here at the Clouse Corner thought it would be a good idea to close out the year with a little retrospective, so to put a proverbial bow on it Brennen is going to be running down the top 4 mistakes he saw buyers commonly make in 2021. Happy New Year!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Happy Holidays and thanks to all our listeners, you'll hear more from us in the new year!
What is seller sabotage and is it as bad as it sounds? Well, yes, it's pretty bad, but luckily it is avoidable. That's why on this week's Clouse Corner Brennen is going to give you the quick run down on seller sabotage, how to recognize it, and how to deal with it!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week's episode is dedicated to all the four legged members of our families as Brennenand Tracyare sitting down with Ashley Georgia the owner and operator of the Pittie Project. The Pittie Project is an amazing organization that partners with dog rescues across the US in order to give pitbulls a second chance at life. It's amazing work and we loved helping Ashley share her story. Also, some surprise guest appearances this week by Ashley and Tracy's dogs!
If you would like to get involved with the Pittie Project with donations, volunteering, or even adopting, you can find them at: www.thepittieprojectpnw.org
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sometimes the number of loans available to help you buy a home can be overwhelming, both in their numbers and complexity. How do you choose which is best for you? The answer: stay informed. That's why this week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is giving the fastest possible breakdown on FHA loans, what they are, and how best to use them!If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
There's never been a better time to get into real estate from the agent side, but how do you even begin? This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is giving a quick 5 minute walkthrough to how you can get started selling real estate!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's getting to be that time of year! And luckily this week Brennenand Tracyare sitting down with Kristi and Lindsay the amazing founders of the L’AVANT Collective, makers of beautiful all natural soaps that happen to make amazing holiday gifts! L'AVANT was a mutual brainchild of it's two founders on a trip to Cabo, and it took four years to come to fruition, as you might imagine the story has several great twists and turns, so enjoy!
Kristi and Lindsay were also kind enough to give listeners of our show an exclusive discount! Just go to their site: lavantcollective.comand enter the code: closetohome and you'll get 15% off your order! How amazing is that?
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Everyone knows home owners insurance is important, but what seperates a good plan from a bad one, and why do you need it? This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is going to be giving a super quick breakdown on home owners insurance plans and what you need to be looking out for!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
These days most people are looking for an entry point into the housing market, which probably means you'll start with a fixer upper and try to flip. But which is the better choice? On this weeks Clouse Corner Brennen is going to be digging into the pros and cons of condos versus single family homes on this week's Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
So you've finally done it, you've got the money together, called up a contractor and are about to go all in on that kitchen remodel. But what are the potential pitfalls you should be watching out for? Don't worry, this week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is going to give you a quick rundown of the top 3 common mistakes people make during their kitchen remodel!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's that time of year again, the leaves are changing, the pumpkin spice lattes are in full flow. But I know what you're thinking, what about real estate? That's right dear listener this week's episode is for anyone looking to sell their home or condo in this, the spookiest month of the year. Be sure to tune in as Brennen gives the inside track to selling your home in the fall!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
What the heck is, "Generational Living," You might ask? Generational living is a growing trend in today's market where multiple members of a family combine their buying power in order to get a larger home, often with separate attached residences. But what are the benefits beyond that? That's what we are diving into on this week's Clouse Corner as Brennen explains all the tips and tricks that can give you a legal and financial leg up using generational living!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We've all been there, you see a vacant lot and suddenly your brain is just a Pintrest board of bewitching little tiny homes you can live in while you finish your dream home on the property proper. But how feasible is that really? This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is digging into the potential pitfalls you can face when you decide to build your dreams from the ground up on a vacant plot of land.
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In our continuing series on loans this week Brennen is breaking down VA loans. What is a VA loan you might ask? A Veterans Association loan, or VA loan is a home loan given to members of the armed services and backed by the US government instead of a bank. If that's enough to peak your interest then this week's episode is definitely for you!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The pastry train keeps on rolling this week as Brennenand Tracysit down with Hana Yohannes, founder of Shikorina Pastries. Hana is a former student of The Pastry Project, our previous guests on the show, who decided to make her dreams a reality and created the bakery she always wanted to own. Shikorina Pastries uses 100% fair trade, organic ingredients, sourced from the local Puget Sound region; and strives for an inclusive menu that caters to different diets and food allergies, as well as gluten free and vegan options.
If you would like to learn more, or just get your hands on some of those amazing strawberry poptarts Hana mentioned you can find them at: shikorinapastries.squarespace.com
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
At first glance this title might sound like a real estate riff on a sea shanty, but that is not in fact the case! A Seller's credit can help a buyer deal with closing costs and repairs during the close of a sale on a property. Does that sound like something you would be interested in? Well then this weeks Clouse Corner is just for you!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We've been cooking up something special on this weeks Close to Home asBrennenand Tracysit down to talk with Heather and Emily cofounders of The Pastry Project in Seattle! The Pastry Project is a non-profit that's all about giving cooks the skills they need to join a real kitchen without it being a huge undertaking for either themselves, or the restaurant. Frankly it's an amazing idea and we hope it catches on everywhere! As you can tell from the background noise Heather and Emily are both kept very busy, so this episode is a little shorter than usual, but it's packed with goodies nonetheless.
If you would like to learn more, take a class, or support The Pastry Project you can find them at: www.thepastryproject.co
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Once you've put in an offer on a house and it's been accepted you're in the clear right? Right? Not quite, there are still a few hurdles to clear, and by far one of the most scary is the possibility of a counteroffer. What does that mean, and what do you need to be prepared to do about it? Don't worry Brennen has all the answers you're going to need on this week's Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We've got something really special for you this week on the Close to Home! Tracyis sitting down withRumi andCharlie, the current owners of Seattle's own Moshi Moshi. If you're a long time listener you might know that Moshi Moshiwas originally owned and built out by Tracy and her husband Kevin, making this week's episode a fun owners-only retrospective of how far the business has come over the last decade. If you've ever dreamed of owning or operating a restaurant then this is the perfect episode for you, no purchase necessary!
If you would like to order food or learn more about Moshi Moshi you can find them at: Moshimoshiseattle.com
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sometimes you've just found the perfect house, you know it, we know it, heck the house knows it. When that time comes there is nothing more nerve wracking than waiting for the offer review date to see if yours is going to be the one accepted. So why not avoid it entirely? There is an art to constructing an offer that a seller will snap up well in advance of reviewing all their other prospects, and this week on the Clouse Corner we are giving away the first steps to get you started!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
One piece of advice you'll often receive when you tell people you're selling your house is that you can save money by selling off market and not using a real estate agent, but is that really the case? On this weeks Clause Corner Brennen weighs the benefits and potential downsides of selling off market. Which one is ultimately more profitable? You'll have to listen and find out!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is going to be breaking down some of the warning signs of a cooling real estate market. Now nothing is guaranteed, but the market does give definite signals when it comes to these things and it's a good idea to know what you might need to look out for in the future, whether that's just a better time to sell or a good time to get a great deal! The answers to that and more on this week's Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Recently a client reached out to Brennen with a question about using their homeowner's insurance and in doing so inspired this episode. Obviously homeowner's insurance is something you must have to close the sale of a house but how do you use it properly, and what potential mishaps should you try and avoid? Those questions and more are getting answered on this week's Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is giving a brief rundown on mortgage payments. Full disclosure we here at the Clouse Corner are not financial experts and this should be by no means taken as the end all be of advice on the topic. This is mostly just a 5 minute rundown to get you in the right ballpark so that you will feel confident knowing roughly what is feasible for your finances moving forward. All that being said, sit back, learn, and enjoy!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's a triple decker this week as Brennenand Tracyare sitting down with Kristin Rye, the owner of the recently expanded HoneyHole! The HoneyHole is a Seattle institution known for it's amazing hand crafted sandwiches and Kristen is here to give the inside track on everything from new events to the optimal time to order your lunchtime special. So place your orders, sit back and enjoy this week's Close to Home!
If you would like to order a sandwich or learn more about the HoneyHole you can find them at: thehoneyhole.com
And as always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week on the Clouse Corner we're taking a break from our usual format of teaching specific lessons in real estate and just taking a deep dive on what the heck is going on in Seattle's housing market right now. Obviously the pandemic has thrown a lot of things out of whack and many of the trends seen in the housing market right now are pretty unprecedented. So let's take a minute and talk about them!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Are you hoping to break into the rental game with an investment property? Maybe somewhere super desirable right now like Seattle? Well then look no further! This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is giving a quick crash course in the top three common mistakes people should avoid with their first investment rental.
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Tracyis sitting down with fifth generation fisherman Luis Arruela to talk about his family's history with fishing, as well as his own experiences running his own fishing boat in Alaska. The idea of running off to be a fisherman in Alaska is one that still holds a certain amount of romantic appeal, inspiring shows like Deadliest Catch. Luis is going to give his own take on the actual realities of doing the job as well as how it has changed over the last 20 years.
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Glamor shots are a must for selling your house, they use perfect staging and amazing life to turn a house into the home of your dreams. That ebing siad come closing time you want to make sure that you've got a genuine prince and not just a from in a wig if you catch my drift. This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is taking a quick look at glamor shots, what are they good for, and what do you need to keep an eye on?
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
With all the madness that has happened over the course of the last year on both the seller and buyer sides of the market it's hard to know where you should be putting your focus. That's why this week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is honing in on what he believes is the most important question a seller should be asking themselves right now, and where they (and their realtors) should be putting their focus!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Tracyis sitting down with close friend and pioneer of the craft cocktail in Seattle Eric Carlson. If you read any of Seattle's numerous food magazines it's likely you've already heard of Eric who most recently has been applying his talents to the cocktail menu at Stoneburner. Over the course of this week's episode he and Tracy will be discussing his personal journey in the exciting world of bars and restaurants, as well as what the future holds, not just for him personally but the Seattle food scene as a whole.
If you would like to see Eric's masterful creations in person consider learn more at: Stoneburnerseattle.com
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
At a recent open house Brennen was asked whether not putting in an offer because of a potentially long closing was a good idea. It's an interesting question and so we are theming this week's episode around it. Is it better to play it safe? Or do you miss 100% of the shots you don't take? Find out this week on the Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Proof of financing is can sometimes go overlooked in the buying process and yet it plays a cruicial role in the buy offers you put out on each property. What are the advantages to having a current proof of financing attached to each offer you make? Find out from Brennen on this weeks Clouse Corner!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Have some fresh coffee with you this week and be prepared to order out for emergency baked goods as Brennenand Tracyare sitting down with Mi Kimthe founder and head chef of Raised Donuts! Raised Donuts(in case you didn't know)is an amazing specialty bakeshop in Seattle drawn from Mi Kim's own culinary journey and family history, and inspired by the single item specialty food stands she encountered on a trip to Korea. The shop features from scratch recipes, seasonal specialties, and hands on cooking classes, which will hopefully be returning soon. If you've ever been curious about what goes into the creation of new business then this is a can't miss episode!
Check out more amazing delicacies at: instagram.com/raiseddoughnuts
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Everyone has experienced buyers fatigue at some point, maybe when you're three-quarters of the way into a long grocery run, maybe when your favorite collectible card game starts printing a new set every other month and you can no longer keep up. The conditions that create buyers fatigue are pretty universal and that applies to real estate as much as anything. That's why this week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is taking a few minutes to explain the conditions that create buyers fatigue, and what you can do to avoid it as both a buyer and a seller!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
How much does experience count for when it comes to picking your realtor? The question can get surprisingly muddy since many people know someone in real estate and oftentimes that person might just be starting out. This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is breaking down the pros and cons of going with age over beauty (so to speak) when it comes to picking your realtor!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's hard to debate that there has ever been a better time to sell your home, especially if you live in a desirable city like Seattle. However there is one question that looms over such a decision, even in the best of times: "Where do you go?"
This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is laying out what he thinks are the most desirable places and properties one can move to after they sell their homes. They may not all be sipping Mai Thai's on the beach, but they are pretty great!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This one might seem like a no brainer but houses that look new tend to sell faster and for more money. Unless your property is some kind of heirloom or landmark that tends to be the case. But where should you put your energy when you go to start fixing your place up to sell? This week on The Clouse Corner Brennen is giving his top tips for areas that need to look like new in order for your house to sell.
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Once you've made the decision to sell your home or condo you'll probably want to make the transition from owning the asset to cash in hand as quickly as possible. Of course there are the usual things to consider, like the market, and timing, which will affect the demand for any property. However there are also several easy steps you can take as a seller to make people go, "shut up and take my money!" (not literally of course). Anyway those are the tips Brennen is sharing this week, so take them in, make them happen, and watch how fast your home sells!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
New Townhomes certainly are eye catching and often sought after in any marketplace, but just like there are tips and tricks for buying an older home (good bones, sound foundation etc.) there are also some things you really should know before jumping into new construction as well. This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is going to share 3 of his favorite tips for people looking to buy a new town home, which let's face it is just about everyone!
If want to know more, or have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Everyone knows what "Curb Appeal" is, but they also tend to talk about it like it's the "It" factor in a teen romcom and that makes it harder to achieve than it actually is. This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is sharing his top 4 tips for what you should maintain or repair to give your house that "wow" factor from the moment people step out of their car!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Pull up a seat at the table as this week Brennenand Tracyare sitting down with Ethan Stowellacclaimed Seattle chef, restaurateur, and philanthropist, to talk about how Covid has impacted the Seattle restaurant industry over the last year. Ethanis a hometown boy who has worked in, started, and built many restaurants in Seattle, including seven (yes seven) new ones during Covid. We're beyond excited to hear Ethan's thoughts on how Covid has changed Seattle's restaurant scene, possibly forever, and where he sees the industry heading in the future!
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
If you're trying to sell a property you also live in it may seem like a huge logistics problem to not live there as it's being sold, however there are some good reasons most people choose not to live in a house as it's being sold if they can. This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen will lay out those reasons and hopefully make the case for why you, or your clients, should not live in their house as it's being sold if that's an option!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It may sound absurd that will all the effort that goes into staging a house the make or break item is often the TV but it's the truth. After all it's not like some of the usual must haves like a fireplace, you can literally put a TV almost anywhere. And yet if you don't include one you may find your people walking away from the your open house, why? This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is breaking down why putting a TV in your staged home can make all the difference!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
More and more Townhomes are including HOA fees but what do they actually cover, and why is this becoming the new norm? This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is giving his two cents on why HOA's are becoming more and more common in developer packages, and how you can find out what yours covers!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Have you ever wondered why homes almost always go under contract starting on Monday? Is it because people just want to get a jump on the week, or is there more to it? A savvy buyer knows that the weekend is the best time to make a descison about a house and this week on the Clouse Corner we're walking you through it. Whether you're a buyer or seller you'll come away from this episode with a whole new appreciation for the weekend, and let's face it, you appreciated it a lot before anyway!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's part two of our series on why homes fall out in escrow! As we've said before hearing that a real estate deal fell apart in escrow is a pretty common saying, but not a lot of people actually understand what it means. Last time we covered how a deal might fall apart in escrow because of financial reasons, and this week we are covering title and inspection; two of the other top reasons. If you've every heard the term but have no idea what it means with any luck this episode is a good starting point!
If you have any questions about real estateor ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
The first few months of the year are always boom time in the real estate market. But why? Is it just something in their air, or perhaps a mad dash to convert your Christmas bonus into equity? This week Brennen will be breaking down the real estate rush of the first few months of the new year, why it happens, and how you can best capitalize on it!
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Meet Rachel and Zach a couple with a baby on the way and looking to buy their first home and who generously donated their time to share their story this week! As you might guess Rachel and Zach are former clients and this week they are sitting down withBrennen and Tracyto share how the whole process worked for them. We'll be asking everything from their biggest fears, their most helpful tips, to what it felt like to finally find their very own "Gilmore Girls House." Thanks again to Rachel and Zach for sharing their story and we hope you enjoy!
If you are a former client turned listener and would like to share your home buying story please reach out to us, we would love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We've all heard the phrase "it fell through in escrow," even if it was just in an old episode of Fraiser or The Simpsons, but what does it actually mean? Sadly if something is common enough to be mentioned in prime time television then it is a not uncommon occurence. That's why we're using this weeks Clouse Corner to break down all the ways that a deal can fall apart in Escrow.
If you have any questions about real estateor ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
One of the most frequently asked questions that comes our way is how does one start out in real estate. In order to answer that question Brennen is using this weeks Clouse Corner to give listeners the whirlwind tour of how he himself got into this crazy business! This story has everything drama, sacrifice, a man with a dream, and a happy ending. Also, the whole thing clocks in at under 5 minutes, which is a hard deal to beat.
If you have any questions about starting your own journey in real estate or ideas for future shows feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Equity, or the value of your home overtime, might as well be considered the cornerstone of real estate. And keeping up your homes value in order to take full advantage of it is a big part of that. That's why this week Brennen is giving his insight from a realtors perspective on what you, a homeowner, can do in order to not lose value on your house while you own it.
If you have any questions about real estate or ideas for future shows feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen and Tracy are sitting down with an expert in customer and technology integration Jason Carrol. Jason worked with many amazing clients over the years including industry juggernauts like Nike and Allstate. And, for the last year and a half Jason has been the Interim Regional President of Compass in Washington, which means we get to pick his brain about where he sees the real estate agent going in 2021 and beyond. Unsurprisingly much of what he had to say was themed around staying ahead of changing technology. Because of the rapid advance of automation and mobile services many industries are being taken by storm and career paths are disappearing. However, Jason is confident that Compass, and real estate in general, is a safe industry as long as people embrace utilizing new technology and a broker centered model of customer service moving forward. Definitely worth a listen if you want to know a little bit about how Compass, and the business world at large are looking to move on from 2020.
If you have additional questions about how you could get started working with Compass, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Pull out your crystal balls because it's prediction time again! At the start of every year Brennen likes to make some called shots about the real estate market and Seattle in particular. How did we do from last year and what does 2021 have in store? Find out on this weeks Clouse Corner!
If you have any questions about becoming a better real estate agent or about working with us feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Spinning Monkeys”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Finding the right agent can be tricky, that's why this weeks episode is all about the mistakes newer agents tend to make. If you're currently looking for an agent consider this top three to be your guide when it comes to seperating the best from the rest. Also, if you are a newer agent then take some tips from someone who has been there before; they will definitely work out in the long run!
If you have any questions about becoming a better real estate agent or about working with us feel free to reach out!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Knowing how much to rent your property for is definitely a tricky subject. Charge too little and you're not getting the full bang for your buck, but charge too much and you risk losing even more money with an empty property. That's why this weeks episode is all about finding the right balance with your property. Brennen will be breaking down the Seattle market rent prices and giving his tips to get you the most out of your rental in the New Year!
If you have any questions about the show, or about working with us feel free to reach out!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week is all about insurance as Brennen and Tracy are sitting down with Alice Yao of AYAO Insurance. Alice started AYAO in 2018 in Kirkland and ever since has been helping people in Seattle find the right insurance policies to protect their homes, and other cherished possessions. She is also one of the rare individuals who really, truly, loves their work and is always happy to talk about it. She claims her family has grown tired of listening to her talk about insurance but after our interview we just don't see how that's possible.
Together these three are going to give our listeners the inside track on insurance in the Seattle area. What policies do you need in case of emergencies or natural disasters, how is insurance for a condominium different than a single family home, and where might you be leaving money on the table?
You'll just have to listen and find out!
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week it's part two of our two part series about the pros and cons of owning and operating an Air B&B, last week was the pros so this week we regretably will be sharing some bad news to you hopefuls. On the bright side it's the holidays so brew up some coacoa snuggle in and enjoy some bad news in a way that's really only possible but once a year!
Last week we spent a lot of time playing up the positives, additional income, a place for inlaws to stay over the holidays, a good use of extra space etc. But this week we are really getting to the heart of why everyone might not want to own and operate an Air B&B even if you have the resources to do so. Much like any side hustle with the potential for good return the downsides fall in line with the usual list that comes from running your own business: The demands on your time will be great, all the customer service will fall on you, and you have to devote yourself to a certain level of care and attention to detial even if you're exhausted. However, if all of that sounds doable to you maybe you're ready to start on the adventure of running your own Air B&B!
If you have any questions about this or other episodes feel free to reach out to us!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week in the first of a two part series Brennen is talking about Air B&B's, specifically the upsides and downsides. This is the good week where it's all about upside. Enjoy!
Converting an in-law unit or studio space into an Air B&B for an additional revenue stream is becoming more and more popular recently (with some notable recent exceptions). But with a Covid vaccine on the way and life possibly returning to normal within the next year we thought now would be a good time to give our listener some info about the worthiness of this particular additonal revenue stream. Who knows? Picking up a new project to fix up and renovate could be a great way to pass the next six months or so, and we all kind of need one of those right now.
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We are back with part two of our interview series with Stacia Weishaarfrom Cornerstone Home Lending inc.. This week only has one topic: refinancing. Together with Brennen and Tracy Stacia is going to give an in depth analysis of the state of the lending market right now and how you could potentially refinance in order to pay off debt and own your property in a potentially ludicrous amount of time.
It's been a truly insane year on a number of axis and the housing lending market has also been impacted. However, unlike many other industries those impacts could lead to potential opportunity for those bold enough to seek it out. The added layers of security to housing lending after the crash of the early 2000's, and the federal government backing mortgage securities in 2020 have lead rates to hit an all time low while equity has remained high. What does that mean? It means buying power is up, refinancing is up, and now might be your best opportunity to set yourself up to get a low interest rate, pay off your debt quickly, and potentially own your dream home.
Last week we also mentioned Stacia helps run the charity: Housing Solutions for Hopewhich helps deliver safe, readily-available housing solutions for patient families in greatest need at Seattle Children’s Hospital in order to improve health care outcomes.
Check them out this holiday season at: housingsolutionsforhope.org
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is giving a sneak peak at what goes on under your floorboards, more specifically your sewage line which is, I think we can all agree, something you don't want anything to go wrong with. what are the proper steps to take to make sure your new home is also not sitting on a giant pile of... well you know. Find out this week on the Clouse Corner!
There are a lot of things to check and maintain when it comes to buying or upkeeping a home but your sewage line isn't one that immediately springs to mind for most people, probably because it isn't a very pleasant to think about. It is however very important. For starters your sewage line is actually two separate parts, the line in the street outside your house which is the cities job to maintain, and the line which connects to it which is yours. Now the test that checks how well the line connecting your house is holding up is called a, "Sewer Scope" and long story short just get one, please it's so gross if something goes wrong with it. Just get the sewer scope!
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week a trip to the dentists office gave Brennen gave Brennen the surprising fact that a lot of dental hygienists also work part time in real estate, so this week we are discussing the advantages of hiring professional versus part time when it comes to buying your home.
Hello listeners! Look, we've all hired a "guy" at some point, everyone knows a "guy." It starts with a project, some minor build or home improvement that is just a little too pricey to justify and so you let it slowly get worse until eventually you decide to bite the bullet. But of course you want to save a few bucks so instead of a professional you ask around and you find a "guy." Maybe they do a good job, and maybe they mess something up and you have to call in a professional for even more money. The point it at that point it's a crapshoot. There are benefits to hiring a professional from the outset, not a part timer, not a moonlighter, but someone who really lives and breathes the thing you hire them for, and that's what we are discussing this week.
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
When Stacia Weishaar decided to buy her fist home it was tragic experience, her agents were aloof and unresponsive, her lender couldn't clearly lay out the financials, and everyone (including her own parents) couldn't explain the process to her in a clear competent fashion. The whole experience left her with a bitter taste in her mouth and since this was the not the last home she ever planned on buying she decided to educate herself on the process. Smash cut to today where she is sitting down with Brennen and Tracy to discuss her business Cornerstone Home Lending inc.
Through Cornerstone Stacia and her team are approaching home lending in a whole new way that is the total opposite of that first bad buying experience. Stacia prides herself and her team on educating their clients through every step of the process and being responsive and available to them throughout should they have any questions. It's a whole journey that's meant to really inform and educate buyers into the legacy of home ownership, from the day they first pick up their keys and even beyond.
As if that were not enough she also founded and helps run the charity: Housing Solutions for Hopewhich helps deliver safe, readily-available housing solutions for patient families in greatest need at Seattle Children’s Hospital in order to improve health care outcomes.
Check them out this holiday season at: housingsolutionsforhope.org
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen wanted to talk about refinancing because right now with the market where it is it can look like a very tempting offer. However, what are the mitigating questions people should be asking?
Refinancing is a big decision. Right now with the housing market in Seattle being what it is getting a better deal on your mortgage through refinancing seems like a slam dunk and for many people it is, but not everybody. It's important to remember that among other factors refinancing costs money up front, which is luxury not everyone has right now. Of course there is the benefit of potentially saving money over the long term that might offset that initial amount. Basically things are more complicated than they appear and it's important to ask yourself some key questions before you slap down cash for refinancing your home. What are those questions? Listen and find out.
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is giving some insight into how strategically lowering your listing price can actually help out with the sale of a property.
Lowering your listing price may seem like the last thing you want to do, after all who doesn't want to make the most money on their sale? The real answer is a little more nuanced than that though. The truth is lowering the listing price on a house or property if done correctly can actually do a lot to help get a property attention when it is otherwise struggling to sell. Of course the best scenario you can have your cake and eat it to and just sell the property at or above asking, but in order to do that you have to work with a hands on professional who knows all the ins and outs of the system. Maybe one who also hosts a couple of podcasts, who knows?
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
"Chillstep House"
by Alejandro Magaña (A. M.)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Have you ever gone into an interview only to have it flipped around on you entirely and suddenly you're the one on the spot? Us neither, that is until this week when Brennen and Tracy sat down with their coach and mentor Jason Farris! In a surprising move, which is in retrospect not too surprising, Jason completely flipped the script on us and spent the whole time interviewing Brennen and Tracy.
Jason Farris was an early adopter of new technologies in the real estate industry and was recently named: "one of the top Video influencers of 2018," by BombBomb. These days he does lots of coaching and consulting helping people (especially small newcomers) in the industry grow their businesses by embracing the added reach of new technology. And he does all this while maintaining his own company FresYes, which employs almost 100 agents.
But that's about all you're going to hear about it. Because he did not come to be interviewed but to interview.
In case you've been wondering what is going on behind the scenes with Brennen, Tracy, and the rest of the team then this is your chance to get caught up! Spoilers: we are planning some really big stuff for 2021 and if you want to be involved you should probably start reaching out to book your month with us now!
Other than that sit back and enjoy a masterclass on how to completely take over a room, or avoid actually being interviewed but like, in a cool way.
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, we'll be back on the 28th with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
What exactly does the buying process look like during Covid? Does it come with extra risks of exposure? This week on the Clouse corner we are hoping to allay those fears by clearly laying out how the buying process has changed and how you are being kept safe.
Greetings listeners! We hope all of you have gotten out and cast your ballots, or if not yet that you will do so tomorrow! We published some Covid 19 centered episodes earlier in the pandemic but I think we were all hoping that we would be over the worst of it by now. Turns out, sadly, that is not the case. Nonetheless we have learned a lot about how to keep people safe and still go about business as usual (or as close to it as possible) and this week Brennen is going to lay it all out for you. You'll be walked through the buying process with descriptions of each step, the risks, and the protective measures taken. If you, or someone you know, has been wanting to buy a new house but second guessing based on the pandemic then we hope this information will be helpful!
If you have additional questions or ideas for future episodes please don't hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
We hope you're hungry! This week Brennen and Tracy are sitting down with Chef Shama to talk about her culinary journey, from working at Microsoft, to starting a food truck from scratch, to now teaching through various culinary schools and online, it's pretty wild.
Roll Okay Please started out as a bottle of ketchup and some loose noodles in then not Chef Sama's refrigerator, which doesn't sound like a lot. Nonetheless she used those humble beginnings to feed the hungry tech bros she worked with at Microsoft and found a new calling. That calling took the form of her food truck which she named, "Roll Okay Please" as an homage to the term, "Horn Okay Please" that is often found painted on trucks or busses in India. The message was clear to the people who understood it, if you want amazing authentic Indian food, look no further. These days she no longer runs the food truck, but she does teach over Zoom, so if you want to learn to make a Paneer that will blow some socks off head over to her Facebook page and get signed up!
As always if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, we'll be back on the 28th with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
There are a lot of ways to get the leg up in the real estate market, on this weeks Clouse Corner, Brennen explains how and when to utilize an additional down payment to gain a tactical advantage.
Halloween is closing in this week and in the sprit of clever disguises this week Brennen is offering up some practical advise. Now I'm sure some of you are still looking at the words "additional down payment" and thinking, "really?" Trust us, we know that sometimes it feels like there isn't another pound of flesh to give when it comes to purchasing a home. That being said tactically using an additional down payment, particularly on a single family home in the Seattle market right now can yield surprisingly good results. Find out all the details by listening to the episode.
As always if you have additional questions we would be delighted to answer them"
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is breaking down the various timelines that go hand in hand with various real estate practices, his theory is that it's better to be well informed than to live dangerously, but he's open to dissenting opinions.
We've covered timelines a few different times on this program, both from a buyer and sellers perspective, but something we've never dared ask before: Are timelines exciting?
Could it be that timelines in real estate are actually sexy bad boys, and not just high stakes homework assignments which cost you an arm and leg if you mess them up? Maybe they cost you an arm and leg but like, in a cool sexy way... Nope, I can't do this. It's about timelines guys, they are things your real estate agent should know. If your agent doesn't know about them you need a new agent. Maybe get in touch with Brennen? Especially if you have any questions, we are all about answering your questions.. when we are not busy anthropomorphizing real estate terminology. New Close to Home episode this Wednesday, catch you then!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It's time to get Upstaged! Brennen and Tracy are sitting down with Fernanda and Flavia, best friends, business partners, and creators of Upstaging Seattle, to talk about how they met, how they make homes so beautiful so fast, and how to start a successful business using only Google searches and Instagram.
If you're a theater kid, like some of us who work on the show, then you think of upstaging as a bad thing. Well get ready to have that idea turned on its head, because when it comes to real estate stealing the spotlight is the name of the game, and Upstaging Seattle are the stars of the show! When Brennen or Tracy need a house made beautiful fast these are the experts they turn to, in fact Brennen was the first customer to earn their regular customer discount last year (that's how much we love these ladies). Don't believe us? Check out their amazing Instagram for before and after shots that will blow your mind! If you like looking at glamorous home décor shots (a strong possibility if you enjoy our show) then they are well worth a follow, or if you live in Seattle and need a house staged, better yet give them a call!
Speaking of calls, if you have additional questions about the show, or ideas for future guests or topics please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, we'll be back on the 28th with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is talking about the rumors of a, "Seattle Exodus" is it a real thing and should people be alarmed? Listen and find out!
If you live on the West Coast and have tried to rent a U-Haul recently you've probably heard from someone on the customer service chain that truck supplies are low because of everyone is moving right now. This is certainly the case in Manhattan and San Francisco where previously very in demand areas are suddenly seeing an excess of available inventory relative to the demand. But what about Seattle and other major cities, are they also experiencing this disparity and if so what might that mean for people who own property or are looking to buy? Well, we've only got about 5 minutes, but we'll certainly do our best to answer all these questions on this weeks Clouse Corner.
As always if you have additional questions please feel free to reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week in our ongoing effort to demystify any and all real estate terms Brennen will be digging into underwriting and how it can effect the buying process.
Taken at face value underwriting sounds like those correction notes teachers used to leave on your essays back in school. However, it's actually an important part of acquiring a loan for buying a house or property. Basically it's an assessment of the amount of risk that a loan would carry, but that is the most skin deep of definitions. In order to get the full picture you'll have to actually listen to the episode. Brennen does a better job of explaining it all than I ever could.
Of course, if you have questions feel free to send them our way, we love answer them and we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week, in part two of our ongoing series about pet care, Brennen and Tracy are sitting down with Whitney H. the manager of Frolic Pet Services to talk about the amazing services they are offering in the Seattle and Puget Sound area!
We know that during quarentimes more than a few of people may have picked up a new furry companion to take the edge of their stress, or maybe you've just let their training lapse a bit and now you're worried about leaving your pet to go back to work, maybe none of these are true and you are just super into lizards. If any of these are sounding familiar then you definitely can have some great take aways from listening to this weeks episode and getting acquainted with the services Frolic Pet Services offers. Seriously, they deal with everything from dogs to poison dart frogs, it is wild.
Also check out their Instagram at www.instagram.com/FrolicPet/ it's cute pictures of animals, so what not to love?
If you have a local business in the Seattle area you would like us to spotlight, or you have other questions about real estate, or whatever, feel free to reach out to us:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, and we will see you next month with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is weighing out the advantages of buying a new home.
You may have asked yourself what are the advantages of buying a home new? Some of the primary ones are having a greater say over the final touches of construction, as well as saving money on initial upkeep. Certainly most of the market is usually comprised of older homes and don't get us wrong they can be great too! However, if you are weighing all of your different options, and maybe there's a particular style of kitchen finish you have your heart set on, you are more likely to have a say over that kind of thing if you chose to buy new. There are other advantages as well, but you'll have to listen to this weeks episode of the Clouse Corner to hear them all!
As always if you have additional questions feel free to reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is demystifying the term, "equity" so that listeners can better understand how it translates to money in their pocket.
What is equity? From context it's decently easy to pick up that it is a good thing. Our parents and friends tell us we should but property so that we can start gaining equity, but unless you are in the know that can really just lead to more questions. That's why we decided drop some basic financial literacy on you this week and make it abundantly clear just what exactly "equity" is, how it's calculated, and why you probably want it.
It's a super quick listen so check it out and then check off, "learn something new," learn something new from your list of things to do today.
Also, as always if you have any questions or comments feel free to reach out to us, we always love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week we are introducing our brand new co-host the amazing Tracy Erickson! She is also a broker with Compass and going forward will be hosting Close to Home episodes with Brennen! Speaking of which, this week they will be discussing Selling Sunset, the new Netflix series centered on the glamorous life of selling high end real estate in Los Angeles. What, if anything, does it get right? Or is it in fact soapy overblown hyperbole? Together, Brennen and Tracy will discuss the show, their own experiences in the business, and what living the lifestyle of a real estate agent really means. We hope you enjoy!
As always if you have questions or topics you would like us to discuss in future episodes feel free to reach out to us.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
That’s all for this week, stay safe out there and thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen goes through the final checks and touches you should keep in mind during a final walkthrough of a property.
Hey folks! We are back again with another top 5 list and this weeks is an important one. It doesn't matter if you're buying or selling the final walkthrough is possibly the most important step of the process. If you're selling it's where you make sure that everything is in up to your standard and appealing to a potential buyer. And if you're buying it's your last chance to catch any problems you might have missed and make sure you don't get stuck with a lemon (pro tip, think electrical). If you genuinely don't know what you should be looking for in a final check of a property and were just planning to fake your way through by nodding along and inspecting some grout, then take 5 minutes and give this one a listen. We promise it's worth it!
As always if you have questions feel free to reach out to us!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week in our ongoing effort to highlight small Seattle Businesses Brennen was lucky enough to sit down with Kari Kalway of Puddles Barkery, a local Seattle purveyor of palette pleasing home-made dog treats.
First off a quick apology, this episode starts with a little bit of weird background noise. One of the mics was acting up and we couldn't remove it entirely, it goes away after about 2 minutes but we are sorry about it. That being said we were really lucky to talk to Kari Kalway for this episode about her passion project start up Puddles Barkery. Lately in these Close to Home episodes we've been trying to focus more on how businesses and people develop and grow and less on purely house related things. Kari has an amazing story about seeing a need in the market place and stepping up to fill it in a really unique way. Plus, lots of adorable mentions of cute puppers. If you've got a special dog in your life head over to her website and pick them up a treat they are sure to love!
As always if you have any questions or comments reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is breaking down how long it takes to get a home in tip top shape and ready for the market.
We all know the difference between just getting something done and getting it done right. For instance: if you're writing a paper and you bang the whole thing out in one frantic night versus taking your time over a number of weeks, any professor is going to be able to tell the difference. Obviously this is a purely hypothetical example with absolutely no close real world parallels to actual life events, or some persons affiliated with this show... Anyway, the point is when something is important it's always worth putting in extra time and preparation to make sure it's done up to the highest standard; this is true in academia, and in real estate.
But how much time is exactly is that? Well, that is exactly the question we are going to answer on this weeks Clouse Corner and honestly the answer may surprise you!
As always if you have additional questions, ideas for topics, or need help with an actual real estate transaction, we are always happy to do what we can:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
How big of a difference can a coat of paint make? Brennen investigates on this weeks Clouse Corner!
Lets talk a tale of two houses:
Two houses go on the market at the same time. Both are spacious two bedroom, one bath, affairs in a desirable neighborhood; located near a natural grocery store, and some boutique shops. For ease of comparison we'll say they were built at the same time and have the exact same fixtures and amenities. In fact the only difference at the time of them entering the market is their paint jobs. One owner favored bold dark colors, like deep blue and burgundy and painted all their walls and bathrooms in this vein. The other was repainted before going on the market in light neutral tones. Which do you think will sell faster, and for more money with just this one difference? Which one would you prefer to move into?
Now obviously this is a leading question. But it's pretty likely that if you followed this thought experiment you found a strong preference for the lighter more neutral house. There are a lot of reasons for this, but the main take away you should have is that paint is actually really important. In fact it might be the single most important change you can make before putting a house on the market.
If you like the episode please feel free to reach out and let us know. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Recently Brennen got asked an interesting question, “how much money will I make buying a Seattle Condo, historically speaking, versus continuing to rent?” It’s a good question, and doesn’t just apply to Seattle, so we are breaking it down on this week's Clouse Corner.
Hello listeners! We talk a fair bit about renting versus buying on this show. Check out our past episode on that subject if you want to know more. But basically we tend to favor buying, surprising literally no one. But it’s not just because we are in the real estate game. The fact is: If you live in an area (like Seattle) where equity is steadily growing, if you can afford to buy and are instead renting you’re leaving money on the table. How much money? That’s what we are going to answer this week. We are breaking down how much money a condo owner would have hypothetically made if they had sold a condo in Seattle after owning it for 3,4, and 5 years. That’s right, they all would have made money. So, if you’re asking yourself, “can I make money owning a condo?”, the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” But if you want to know just how much you’ll have to listen to the episode.
Just a quick disclaimer: These numbers are drawn from historical data in Seattle over the last 5 years and though they are comparable to other in demand housing markets nothing is guaranteed. If you want to know more about a specific market or neighborhood in Seattle reach out to us and we would be happy to get you the information you need!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
If you're in the market to sell your home but not sure how to proceed never fear! In this weeks Clouse Corner Brennen is giving the run down of the top 5 mistakes he sees sellers making in the market right now and how to avoid them.
To say a lot of things are changing right now would be a pretty huge understatement. Covid has had rippling effects on almost every industry and that includes real estate. With that in mind how do these changes affect what someone looking to sell their home should prioritize? It's a good question and one we are going to get into on this weeks Clouse Corner, so take out a notepad and get ready to look at your home through new fresh eyes. Let's see what we can improve!
As always if you have additional questions feel free to reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is diving into some more mistakes first time home buyers make, and how best to avoid them.
Hello again listeners! If you've been with us for any amount of time you'll know that we do these kind of lists semi-regularly on the Clouse Corner, that's because there are always new people entering the market and we believe and informing people on both sides leads to the best interactions in the industry. That being said if you are old hat at buying properties at this point feel free to go and check out an episode from our archive, or make your own list top 7 lists and share how well you matched up in the comments. We would love to see how close you can got, and hey, maybe you'll inadvertently give us material for a future episode.
All that being said for all your first time buyers out there looking for some peace of mind, rest easy, you've come to the right place. So kick back relax and get the information you need.
As always if you have questions or suggestions for future episodes feel free to reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week we Brennen talks about what in his opinion are the 5 key questions people should be asking their real estate agents.
Welcome back to the Clouse Corner listeners! Real estate is a competitive market, this is pretty well known fact, and as such there is a lot of competition helping you sell your property. This should be a good thing for you, as greater competition should give you the best chance at being able to negotiate terms in your own favor, but that's much harder in practice than in theory. The truth is all of that competition means there is a lot of mediocre mixed in with the good, and if you're new to this you might find yourself in over your head, with an inexperienced or inept agent while you're still trying to get your bearings. You don't want that. And we here at The Close to Home Podcast certainly don't want that. With that in mind Brennen is sharing what he thinks are the top 5 questions everyone should ask a potential real estate agent this week If you've struggled finding a agent who worked well with you in the past, or you just want to start the selling process off right, there should be a little something for everyone this episode.
As always if you have questions or ideas for future episodes feel free to reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen tries to demystify the world of condominiums and how potential buyers of them can avoid the most common pitfalls that come with the purchase.
Hello listeners, we hope everyone is staying safe out there. We talk a lot about houses on this show, obviously, it is a real estate podcast after all. However this week we are mixing it up and focusing in on serious home-ownerships fun loving BFF aka buying a condo. There are a lot of reasons to own a condo, they make a great entry property into a certain areas and neighborhoods, they can pull double duty as a vacation property and Air B&B the rest of the year, or they are just a good solid option if live a smaller lifestyle and don't want the trouble of a house.
All of that being said there are still some common mistakes that come with the territory and we (and by we I mean Brennen) are going to do our best to prep you for the potential pitfalls that come with this kind of purchase.
As always if we missed anything, or you have more questions or comments feel free to reach out to us:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen is talking photography, what to avoid and how to get the perfect snapshot.
There really is nothing like a first impression, and the first impression your property listing often makes is through photos, and so it makes sense that you should be willing to put a little extra elbow grease into getting them just right. It's important that people be able to see themselves in your space without it seeming like someone else already lives there, and that can be a hard line to tread. Personally Brennen has seen photos ranging from amazing to outright bad, it just comes with the territory. But the suffering of his eyes is our gain! This week he's dropping the bare-bones basics of taking photos of your home that will get people up off their butts and into your open house. It may be art, but there is definitely a science to it.
As always if you have additional questions please reach out to us, we love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Sometimes purchasing a home or condo can entail more than a few hidden costs you have not budgeted for; we are breaking some of them down this week on the Close Corner.
Often in our heads we make home buying more simple than it is. You hand over the money or a down payment, often in a large bag with a dollar sign on the outside, they hand over a big fancy piece of paper that says, "Deed" in big bold gothic letters and boom, you own a house. Sadly there is a lot more involved and often it can get pretty nit picky pretty quickly. If you've been listening for a while then you've heard us cover some of the hidden fees and whatnot that you are likely to encounter when buying a home. Luckily for us and unfortunately for you we have not covered them all so this week we are covering some more! That's it, hopefully you find it helpful.
If you have any questions, or suggestions for future episodes please feel free to reach out to us. We love to hear from you!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week in part 2 of our interview series with Hollis Rendleman of Hollis Rendleman Interiors we are focusing on how to set up your home office, without work taking over your home.
Welcome back listeners! As we all know the world is working from home right now and that has brought up a fresh set of challenges for a lot of people. How do you not take work to bed with you when your work is literally 20 feet from your bed? That’s why in this second half of our interview with Hollis Rendleman we wanted to focus on tips for the at home worker and putting together your own work space. It’s pretty safe to say the results speak for themselves and all of us who worked on this podcast will definitely be making some changes to our home offices, or in Brennen’s case his kitchen table. Hopefully you’ll find some good tips in there as well; and if you do, consider heading over to hollisrendleman.com and checking out one of her workshops.
As always if you have questions, ideas for future episodes, or guests you think we should speak to, please feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
That’s all for this week, stay safe out there and thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen takes some time to talk about red lining and the Equal Housing Act and how they shape the housing market and wealth gap still evident today.
Hello listeners, normally we are not the the kind of podcast that does very special episodes, but in light of everything going on in the world right now we wanted to contribute to the conversation in our own small way. Now don't let the somewhat clickbaity title fool you, this is not some kind of juicy tell all first hand account of discrimination in the housing market, although those definitely exist. This weeks episode is more a tip of the iceberg affair meant to give a little historical background and information to people wanting to learn more about the circumstances that are shaping our lives in America today. That being said this is only intended to be an introduction, we strongly encourage everyone to do their own research. These things happened, and it is only by learning the truth of them and educating ourselves that we learn to better understand one another and how to begin changing the world for the better.
If you have thoughts or comments you would like to share with us we always love to hear from you, your thoughts and suggestions are always appreciated:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening and stay safe out there!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Toward Us”
By Asher Fulero
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen talks with Hollis Rendleman of Hollis Rendleman Interiors about how to go about designing your space not just for comfort but to reflect and elevate who you are!
After a (very) long hiatus we are back with new episodes of our flagship Close to Home Podcast! It’s definitely been a minute and we appreciate you sticking with us as we acclimated to the new state of things. Speaking of acclimating, we are opening up with a two-part series, with our next two episodes centering on design all star Hollis Rendleman. If you have not checked out the interior magic she does over at www.hollisrendleman.com then you absolutely should. In Part one we were lucky enough to get her general thoughts of how optimizing your interior can benefit an individual or business in a multitude of ways, some expected, and some surprising. It’s definitely one of the better interviews we’ve done so be sure to catch both parts!
As always if you have questions, ideas for future episodes, or guests you think we should speak to, please feel free to reach out:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, and we will see you next week for part 2!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
What are the best improvements you can make to your house before putting it on the market? Brennen gives you the inside track to the most effective improvements!
Hello Listeners! This week is all about the practical, small tangible improvements you can make to your house that will net you the biggest payoffs. In an ideal world we would all like to think that we can improve a house, maybe not to the point of full on restoration (lets be honest the plumbing alone would be a disaster) but definitely enough to leave it better than we found it. The sad truth though is home improvement is less like Under the Tuscan Sun and more like The Money Pit, once you start things can easily go wrong and you'll find your time and money slipping away at an alarming rate. That being said, there are some small easy things anyone can take on that will improve a homes value on the market. We are starting with 3, there are definitely more, but 3 is all we have space for on an episode of the Clouse Corner, if you want more you'll just have to bother Brennen about it.
If you want to do that here is our social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening! Tune in again next week when I'll probably reference Under The Tuscan Sun again.
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen breaks down why you should have your house put on its best outfit before you take it out on the town!
Hello again lovely listeners! We are keeping it short and sweet this week with a meaningful breakdown on staging! What is staging you might ask? Actually, probably not, it's one of the more common things for people to know about real estate. Well, just to cover our bases:
staging is the practice of setting up a home or property with furniture and other adornments, so that people can really imagine themselves living there when they come to tour the place.
See? super easy. Now most of you can probably see the benefits of showing people a nicely set up room instead of an empty box, unless you are super into empty boxes (no shame). But, if you want the in depth breakdown don't take my word for it, Brennen is eminently more qualified and here to share his expertise. Enjoy this weeks Clouse Corner!
As always if you have any questions or future episode suggestions please let us know:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week we are talking seller financing, what is it, how does it work, and when is it a good plan?
Hello lovely listeners! We are kicking off the month of June by getting back to our roots, so to speak. What exactly are those roots you might ask? Why, explaining the technical minutia of the world of real estate of course! What a silly question to ask! Up this week is seller financing, what is that you might be asking? Well to give only the briefest of context:
Seller financing is when the seller of a property handles the mortgage process instead of a bank or other financial institution.
Pretty simple right? But why would you want this as a seller or a buyer? Well you'll have to listen to the full episode to find out, but the major appealing aspect is it allows a buyer and seller to create a more tailor made deal. A common case could be parents buying a house for newlyweds and giving them a deal on paying it back over time, but that's just one example.
If you have any questions about seller financing, or any other real estate topics, please feel free to reach out to us, we are always happy to answer any questions you might have! We can always be reached via social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Closing might seem like the end of the line for the home buying process, but there several common pitfalls that can be a first time buyers downfall. find out what they are this week on the Clouse Corner.
Hello lovely listeners. It seems we are not talking as much these days and it's a shame! As some of the keener ears in the audience may have already noticed we have had to move our production into our homes with the shelter in place orders and Covid19. This meas that for the foreseeable future we will only be bringing you episodes of the Clouse Corner and not recording the longer form episodes of Close to Home. It's a shame but we hope you'll bear with us as we take every precaution to keep ourselves and our guests safe.
Speaking of staying safe this weeks episode is all about safety, specifically how can you keep yourself and your money safe during the final phases of the home buying process. It may seem like a done deal once you've already traversed the harrowing intricacies of applying for loans, and having your credit measured every which way, but trust us, thinking you're in the clear can also be a recipe for disaster.
Did we cover all of your questions about the mistakes that can occur during closing? If not feel free to reach out to us with those and any other real estate related questions. You can always find us on social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thank you for listening and we will see you next week!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week we are talking deals! More specifically are you missing out on anything by not shopping around during the pandemic?
Hello lovely listeners! In case you haven't gathered from our lead in this weeks topic might be a bit touchy. Don't worry, no actual touching has occurred in the making of this podcast, we all know that's a relic of the before-times. Nonetheless, as a podcast centered primarily on Seattle real estate and real estate related topics, we would consider ourselves remiss if we did not at least try to acknowledge the topic. What with society largely shutting down if you're the kind of person who has a nose for a deal you might think now would be a great time to pick up some property at a steep discount, However, do the trends actually support this line of reasoning? Well, you're just going to have to listen and find out!
Just a quick disclaimer, the facts in the this episode are pointed specifically at the Seattle real estate market and not towards other state or the United States at large. If you have any questions about your area, or other trends in the market feel free to reach out, we are always happy to talk and offer our advice.
We can be reached through various social media: Instagram
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen delves into the DI-Why of buying a piece of work property and improving it over time.
Hello Lovely listeners! The idea of buying a run down starter home and restoring it to glory with your own two hands can be a romantic one. I think deep down most of us have had the fantasy of being Diane Lane, restoring our beautiful villa under the Tuscan sun. It's a great day dream. But the practicalities of just plumbing and electric on a run down home are often enough to make your head spin. That's why this week we wanted to delve a little deeper on this common idea of home improvement, how do you balance risk versus reward to get the most out of your time and money. We may not all be able to be Diane Lane, but hopefully we can avoid being Tim, the Toolman, Taylor. Shout out to anyone who remembers the show Home Improvement. And for those who didn't don't worry, that joke isn't worth looking it up. If you have extra free time these days (and most of us do) do check out Under the Tuscan Sun, it's a good watch!
As always if you have any questions or suggestions for future shows please feel free to reach out to us on social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen is breaking down what exactly makes a loan a "jumbo loan" in the Seattle area.
With all the craziness going on in the world right now you may have heard the term "jumbo loan" thrown around a bit. If you have and were wondering what exactly makes a loan jumbo (it's not adding fries and a drink) then that is where we come in. Brennen is here to give you the rundown on what exactly makes up a Jumbo Loan and what you can expect from them. It's a brief info dump that we hope people will find helpful, especially those in the Seattle area!
As Always if you have additional questions please reach out to us over our various forms of social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
What kind of timeline should you plan for when putting your house on the market? Brennen tells you what to expect this week on the Clouse Corner.
Putting a property up on the market can be a challenging process. From staging, to photo shoots, to actual market logistics there are a lot of things to consider and they all need to occur in a specific timeline. How should you prioritize, what comes first, and how long should you plan for it all to take. Well, that's what we are talking about this week on the Clouse Corner. With any luck this weeks episode will have all in the information you need to start putting together your own sellers timeline!
As always if you have more questions about this or any other topic we are happy to answer them all. You can contact us through our various social media presences:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the second of their two part series on small business finance Brennen and Tatiana Tsoir (personal finance wizard, and host of the podcast "Anything Would Work") delve into dicey subject of debt, what's good, what's bad, and how to deal with it.
Hello all you cool cats out there! this week we are bringing you the much anticipated second episode with Tatiana Tsoir! It's been a real blast having her on for a couple of Close to Home episodes in a row here, so we hope you'll show her some love by checking out her new book: “Dream Bold, Start Smart” as well as her personalized learning courses, and her own podcast. You can do all of that, or maybe just one or two, whatever is convenient, over at: tatianatsoir.com
And hey, if you're already over there maybe drop her a comment telling her you enjoyed her on the CTH podcast and she should come back, we would sure appreciate it if you did.
Anyway on to the main event, this week while we still have Tatiana's expertise we are talking all about debt, both yours and your small businesses. Now one thing you'll often hear about this topic is that debt is good, you want a long credit history, and you should grow that history by paying off debt for increasingly large items over years and years. Get ready to have that idea put thoroughly on blast this week. I will be the first to tell you Tatiana is here to bust upon those preconceptions and leave you hard honest facts about what debt is worth the risk of taking on, and how you should deal with it once you have it. Honestly, it's a refreshing take and you'll pick up some good stuff, but I'm not going to spoil it here, it is 20 minutes well spent though.
If you have any questions, or you just want to badger us to have Tatiana again we always love to hear from you guys via our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Just Breathing”
By Coyote Hearing
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen gives a quick overview about what makes a move up buyer and how you can get started on becoming one.
Hello Lovely listeners! This week we are broadcasting from a very special location, our living rooms! apologies for the less than stellar audio quality, we left the good mics at the office. However, we didn't leave the good tips and this week we are going to talk to you about one of the most important things in real estate: being a "move up buyer." Now what is a move up buyer you might ask? The quick and dirty answer is someone who in the process of buying and selling real estate gradually moves into properties of greater and greater value, or, "moves up" if you will. It's really the dream for most people when starting from when they buy their first home, and we want to help you achieve it. How do you get started? Well you'll just have to listen and find out. Keep washing those hands and stay safe out there!
If you have any questions about being a move up buyer or anything else feel free to reach out to us, we can always be reached through our various social media outlets:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the second part of our short series on condos versus single family homes Brennen shares some tips on how to market and sell these two distinct pieces of property.
Hello again lovely listeners! I hope you are all staying safe out there. Last week on the Clouse Corner we talked a little bit about what to look for when you’re deciding to buy a condo or a single family home. Well this week the shoe is on the other foot and we are talking to the people out there looking to sell these kinds of properties. Now obviously you could infer a lot of this from last week's episode, in fact let's make a game of it: if you want, listen to last week's episode and then listen to this week's episode and see if we tell you to answer all the questions we told buyers to ask last week. Let us know with a comment or DM if we missed anything, and of course if you think of any new questions we didn’t answer in either we are always happy to answer those questions as well.
You can always reach us through our various forms of social media:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Starting your own business can be equal parts stressful, rewarding, and challenging. This week we are lucky enough to talk with Tatiana Tsoir, a tax expert and accountant specializing in small business, about setting yourself up to succeed from the beginning.
Welcome back Close to Homies! It’s been a while since we did a Close to Home episode and, as is fitting, we are coming back with a bang. The world of real estate is very large and one could talk about it, even make a podcast about it, basically forever. But sometimes it’s nice to take a step back from the fast paced world of home ownership and check in on the equally exciting world of small business and side hustles! We are so lucky this week to have Tatiana Tsoir on as our guest, not only is she a fabulously talented and intelligent accountant, but a personal friend and long time business adviser to Brennen our host! Together they are going to delve into the financial groundwork every small business needs in order to succeed.
If you want to pre-order Tatiana’s new book “Dream Bold, Start Smart” you can do that at: tatianatsoir.com
While you’re there check out the podcast she co-hosts “Anything Would Work” which is all about how to turn your day dreams and passions into job opportunities!
That’s about it for us this week. Check back with us on the 22nd when we’ll have part two of our series with Tatiana up. In the meantime if you have any questions we would be happy to answer them, we can always be reached on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Just Breathing”
By Coyote Hearing
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week we are taking on the pros and cons of buying Seattle area condominiums versus single family homes on the Clouse Corner!
Hello lovely listeners, these days a lot of us are finding ourselves with a little extra time on our hands. That kind of thing can be a mixed blessing. On the one hand a little extra time to daydream, or maybe enjoy a good book is a precious thing, on the other hand it’s easy to get stuck in a rut thinking the same thoughts over and over again. If you’re one of the people stuck in a small apartment maybe some of those thoughts have been about how you should really get serious about getting a bigger place in the fall.
If any of that sounds familiar then this week's episode is for you! Brennen is debating condominiums versus single family homes with… well himself. Look, we’re all short on conversation partners these days. Seriously though, reach out to some friends or family, these are trying times and you’ll probably be glad you did. And if you’re short on conversation partners and want to talk real estate you should consider reaching out to us, we always love to hear from you! We can always be reached on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen explains credit scores, what is the magic number to get the best loans and mortgages? Listen and find out!
Everyone knows a little something about credit. The basic gist is high numbers are good and low numbers are bad, don’t get that one wrong whatever you do! But what are all the things your credit score is used to calculate when it comes to buying a home, and how do you go about improving your credit if it is... let's say less than optimal. Those are exactly the questions we are diving into this week on the Clouse Corner. As a special bonus most of these tips are things you can do from home, which as we all know is quite trendy right now. That was a joke, please stay safe out there.
As always if we didn’t answer a question you have or you want a more in depth answer feel free to contact us. We are always available through our various social media channels:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen talks about one of the most important steps to buying a property, choosing a lender.
These days it seems like everything is getting smaller, literally, last week I could go anywhere and now I just live in my house. I mean I always lived in my house but you get my point. The walls are closing in and it seems like the only solution is building strong local infrastructure. What does this have to do with loans and lenders? I am getting there. Now more than ever it seems people are seeing the need for that special something, that local, home grown, organic, touch of personal attention. Minus the actual touch, wash your hands for God's Sake! And that kind of thinking applies to the home buying process as well! Sure, you might have gotten pre-qualified online, most people do, but when it comes to getting pre-approved and beyond that’s when you want that human local touch. That’s just one of the many great tips in this weeks Clouse Corner!
If you want to talk more about the finer points of real estate, or are looking for a good lender in the Seattle area then we would love to talk to you! You can reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening and we hope to hear from you!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s time to get the details on what’s going on in Seattle's real estate market, Brennen compares and contrasts February of this year with the market in 2019.
Hello lovely listeners! We hope all of you are staying safe out there. As you may have guessed we record our episodes a bit in advance so there isn’t any speculation on the effects of Covid 19. We try and pride our podcast on good accurate information and facts and the truth is we don’t have the data yet for accurate predictions on the market. Look forward to next month's market update for that. In the meantime if you find yourself with questions we are always happy to answer them, either via our various social media channels, or in future episodes.
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening, we hope to hear from you!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Now that we’ve talked about the importance of being pre-approved, this week we are going to discuss what to do when that number is not what you were hoping for.
So last week we talked about the difference between being prequalified and pre-approved and how important the latter is over the former. If you want a quick refresher take a quick break from reading this and go give it a listen, we can wait. If you’re really pressed for time the broad strokes are: prequalified is a theoretical number for the loan you might eventually be pre-approved for which you will actually use to purchase your property. Get it? Got it? Great. But what do you do when that number is lower than you were hoping for? That’s the question Brennen is looking to answer in this week's Clouse Corner.
If you found this weeks episode helpful, or you have ideas for future episodes, you can always reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Unfortunately there won’t be a Close to Home episode this week, we’ve had to move our recording schedule around a bit, so we’ll have that to you next Wednesday! Thank you for your patience, and thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Selling and buying property can be a difficult ordeal so this week Brennen shares his top 5 questions you can use to make sure the agent you’re working with is the best of the best!
Hello Close to Homies, I hope everyone out there is washing their hands and not touching their faces! It’s been a while since we did a good old fashioned top 5 list and we thought we should remedy that! The real estate business is a big industry, and as with any large industry it’s important you pick the people you work with carefully. If you are in the Seattle real estate game and a listener of the show you’re in luck, since you already know at least one good agent! But what if you are moving to a new town and that’s not the case? If you want to make sure the agent you are working with is the best, then take a minute to jot down these five questions because they will put you ahead of the game for making that big purchase!
If you have ideas for future top 5 lists or other episodes you can always reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always thanks for listening, and we will see you next month with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hey folks, when we recorded this episode we could not have predicted that it’s release would coincide with the worst day for the stock market since 2008. No doubt there is a lot of panic out there and we are not trying to contribute to that in any way. Originally this episode was just intended to be an even handed look at where you can best make your own money work for you, splitting pros and cons between the market and owning property. We hope that you our listeners will still be able to put it in that context and hopefully get some good information out of it. Just to reiterate our intention is only even to inform and is never intended to be opportunistic or sensationalizing.
You our listeners are very important to us, and we truly hope you are all taking care of yourselves and staying safe out there.
If you want to reach out to us with questions, or just to let us know how you are doing, we would love to listen:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen breaks down why being pre-approved is an important and necessary step in the home buying process.
Hello again lovely listeners! We are back again with our favorite hobby: busting misconceptions about the home buying process wise open. Now at a first glance being pre-approved for a loan and being prequalified for a loan would seem to be two ways of saying the same thing, but they are not. You might have talked to someone and know roughly what you are prequalified for, in terms of a loan, but that number is not the same as what you can necessarily expect to get pre-approved for. That’s why this week on the Clouse Corner we are getting into all the differences between the two, and also why you should be working off the number that you are pre-approved for and not the one you’re prequalified for! Get ready to hear the term “pre” a lot in this weeks preview into the preconceptions surrounding these predetermining prefigurements on the Clouse Corner!
As always you can reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen shares his most up to date checklist for buying in 2020.
Hello Close to Homies! It’s a real pleasure to be back bringing you that inside information on purchasing property that we are known for. This week Brennen has a real treat in store. Everyone knows that buying a house is complicated. There are credit checks, paperwork, home inspections, more paperwork, down payments, closing costs, more paperwork, you get the idea. It’s a balancing act with enough spinning plates to make a circus bear run for cover. Luckily we are here for you. In just 10 minutes we are going to run you through the must have checklist, so that you can feel prepared and ahead of the game at each step in the intricate home buying process. Think of it as the cliff notes, or a crib sheet, you’ll still have to put in the work, but if you follow our guidelines you’ll be prepared for anything that gets thrown at you in process.
Of course in the property game you’re only ever as good as the team behind you, so if any of you are looking to purchase in the Seattle area consider Red-Rovering us on over to your side. We have one of the best teams around and are always delighted to work on behalf of our listeners! You can always reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening, and we will see you next month with a new Close to Home!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
By Patrick Patrikios
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s Market update time! Brennen is going to give us all the latest on the Seattle real estate market.
Hello Lovely listeners! Not a whole lot to describe this week to be honest. If you’ve been around here for a while you know how this song and dance goes. It’s the Market update! The best source for your up to date comparison of the Seattle real estate and how it has shifted in the last year. What was the market like in January of last year versus now? Well, you will have to listen to find out. It’s useful stuff. Whether you are looking to buy or sell soon, or you just want to be up to date on the latest trends and what it means for the market, the monthly update is the episode for you. And of course if you are looking to sell consider reaching out to us, we love hearing from you, and working with you!
Also, if you’re just here for the content that’s cool too (we do have a pretty sweet theme song). Anyway that’s all for this week folks. Catch you on Wednesday for Close to Home and as always thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen gives the do’s and don’t for romancing your dream home this Valentines day.
Hello lovely listeners! With Valentine's Day just around the corner we thought this would be a good week to shake up our format. Instead of our usual talk about crown moldings, and market numbers, this week we are a dating show, and we are giving out free couples counseling on how to forge a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Of course we’re talking about the relationship between a house and it’s owner, what else would we be talking about? After all, in order to fill a room with roses first things first you need a room, right? Seriously though, sometimes in life, and house hunting, sometimes you just have a moment where things click and you know, deep in your bones, that this is it, the real thing, the L word. The problem is sometimes that house you love has a full blown case of the crazies and might destroy your life. Not on our watch, listen to these tips and you’ll find yourself settling down with a nice sensible property in the burbs, not running off with some bad boy fantasy who will break your heart when you discover the raccoon colony living under the foyer.
As always if you have questions please reach out to us on our various social media accounts, we love to hear from you! And if you have ideas for future episode shakeups please leave them in the comments!
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
On this very special episode of the Close to Home Podcast, Brennen lets you peak behind the curtain for an in depth look at what the last two years of working as a real estate agent in Seattle have taught him.
Greeting Close-to-Homies! I wonder if I will ever not cringe typing that out? Maybe, who knows what the future can hold. If past experience is any indicator probably not. Sometimes the only way we can make sense of the uncertain future ahead of us is to look back at the people we used to be for a blueprint. That is exactly what this week's episode is all about.
You all know Brennen as our energetic host, the content king of Compass Real Estate, or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to have first hand experience working with him. If you haven’t, then this week is your chance for the next best thing. This week Brennen is going to share some of his biggest takeaways, breakthroughs, and general wisdom, from his last two years as a real estate agent. That’s right we are getting personal up in here! Enough talk about pretty houses and equity, it’s time to get down in the nitty gritty of what it takes to run a business in 2019. And trust us, there is a lot of grit to go through.
If you’re curious about the industry, or have dream of running your own business someday then this is the episode for you. Brennen is not holding anything back. You’ll hear successes, but a lot more about failure and how to learn from it, because that is the reality of actually running a business day to day.
If you have any questions or want additional details you can always reach us on our various social media platforms:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
As always, if you enjoyed what you heard please consider leaving a comment or review for us on Apple Podcasts. But no pressure. Good luck out there Close to Homies and we’ll see you next week!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Just Breathing”
By Coyote Hearing
“Running Back 2U”
By Stayloose
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
This week on the Clouse Corner: Brennen delves into the differences between closing costs and the down payment when it comes to purchasing a property.
Hello lovely listeners! This week we thought explaining the difference between the closing cost and down payment would be helpful. These two share a lot of overlap so it’s worth picking some nits so that you, our listeners, can better understand how to prepare for them, and get all the bang possible out of your buck. Who knows if you listen carefully you might even pick up a couple tricks for how to get someone else to pick up some of the metaphorical tab. But you’ll have to listen to find out!
As always if you have questions please feel free to reach out to us on our various social media accounts:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen takes a short historic look at the cost of renting versus buying in the marketplace.
Hello again lovely listeners! Can you believe the first month of a new year is almost over? It seems like just last week we were celebrating the new year! I guess time flies when you're cranking out content! And speaking of content, this week we are bring you something a little different. You've heard us talk about renting and buying before on the podcast (big surprise we advocate for buying over renting) but this week we thought it would be interesting to take a more historic look at the why behind that stance. It's a super quick episode so it won't take more than the time for you to finish you coffee and go, "huh."
As always we hope you enjoy it. If you have any recommendations for future episodes, or other topics you would like us to take a deep dive on please reach out, we love to hear from you!
As Always you can reach us on any of our various social media channels:
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Here's hoping each and every one of you is off to a fantastic start to the new year, thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen coaches would-be buyers on the best techniques for buying and selling homes in the new year.
Hello lovely listeners! If you have been listening to us for any period of time you are probably aware that real estate is an ever shifting market. So, if you are wanting to get the most money for your home, or make you money go further towards purchasing new property for yourself you have to stay up to date. This week Brennen prepares for the new year by laying out his top tips for people looking to buy and sell in 2020. These are not just tips for the seasoned listener though, if you are new around here, first off welcome, and be sure to take some notes!
One of the biggest takeaways you’ll get from this week's episode is in 2020 preparation is going to be king. Fortune will favor people who do their research and find agents who are ready and willing to help bring out the best in their properties. Agents like Brennen! But of course no pressure. Well, maybe a little.
Did you find this guide useful? Are there questions about the market that are specific to you or your area that you want answered? Please feel free to leave your questions in the comments, or reach out to us on our various social media platforms. We love hearing from, and helping our listeners!
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Take it easy Homey’s (yep that one is here to stay) remember 2020 is going to be a marathon and not a sprint, so take all the time you need to be properly prepared. Thanks for listening, we’ll see you next week for the Clouse Corner!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Just Breathing”
By Coyote Hearing
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen gives his top 5 tips for listeners making big moves and lifestyle changes in the upcoming year.
Hello again lovely listeners. Listen, we know it's a holiday weekend so hopefully you are out making the most of it! But, especially if your holiday itinerary involves one last wonder around your favorite neighborhood haunts before you tear everything up and head to Seattle, (trust us there are dozens of you, probably) then taking 5 minutes out of your long weekend for these 5 hot tips will be totally worth it. Even if you are not Seattle bound but are thinking 2020 is the year you grab that promotion and head to the big city, or the bigger city, or even to somewhere quiet and quaint so you can work from home, we've made sure these tips are broadly applicable meaning: there's a little something useful here for everyone. Anyway, we're not here to bend your ear about it, give it a listen and as always feel free to reach out if you have any questions. You can always reach us at our various social media pages:
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Enjoy the long weekend, and we'll see you back here on Wednesday for our regular Close to Home episode!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Here's hoping each and every one of you is off to a fantastic start to the new year, thanks for listening!
This week Brennen puts a new spin on the market update by bringing you two clients personal stories.
Hello lovely listeners!
This week we are trying something new on the Clouse Corner monthly market update. Instead of throwing a bunch of numbers at you, this week Brennen has the personal journeys of two clients, who both closed on their homes in the recent market. We are hoping that adding some of these first hand stories will be a good way to give you listeners some up to date tips and tricks for dealing with the ever changing market, in addition to still giving you the facts you need. It's a new way of doing things and let us know if it works for you. Do you like it better than the old market update, or do you miss those hard numbers? Let us know by dropping us a comment or otherwise reaching out!
As Always you can reach us on any of our various social media channels:
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Here's hoping each and every one of you is off to a fantastic start to the new year, thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the first episode of the new year Brennen explains Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) some of its history in Seattle, and how it applies to you.
Hello Lovely listeners!
For our first episode of the new year we thought we would try something a little different. This week Brennen does his best to explain the changes made to Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) in Seattle going forward from 2020. He also does a quick recap of the history of the policy. The basic cliff notes on who will be affected are people who own homes they are looking to sell in certain specific price ranges. So, if you own a property that you’re looking to sell that is either priced under 500 thousand, or upwards of 1.5 million, you should give the episode a listen because this affects you! Also canny buyers might also pick up a little inside info they can use as well.
Hope your New Years goals are going well, let us know what they are and if they include a new home in the comments!
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Clover_3”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
"Frolic"
By Luciano Michelini
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen talks about how Seattle buyers can take advantage of down payment assistance.
Hello lovely listeners, it’s 2020! A whole new year of possibilities is right in front of us and all we have to do is reach out and grab them. In that spirit our first episode of the new year is about down payment assistance, a program available to Seattle buyers that can help them punch above their weight class, fiscally speaking. It goes without saying but don’t actually start throwing punches at an open house, it’s considered very poor sportsmanship.
Anyway, if one of your goals for the new year was setting yourself up in a cozy new starter home, or even the dream home you fantasize about, then you will enjoy this week's episode!
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
As always, thank you for listening and we will see you on Wednesday for the first Close to Home episode of the new year!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Closing out 2019 Brennen makes his top 5 real estate predictions for the upcoming year.
Hello again lovely listeners, this week's Clouse Corner is going to be our final episode of 2019. It seems like the year really just flew by there at the end. Hopefully you all had a great holiday season and are looking forward to great things in the new year!
Speaking of the new year, this week's episode is all about just that! If you think you might be putting a property up for sale in the next year and want to be prepared, or if you just really like learning about Seattle real estate trends, then this is going to be a great listening experience for you.
We'll be taking this week off of Close to Home for the holidays, but we'll be right back with you next Wednesday the 8th with a brand new episode so stay tuned!
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for a great year of shows, if you’ve been listening the whole way, or if you’re new around here, we really appreciate you taking the time to tune in. See you in 2020!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week Brennen talks about how sellers can take advantage of Compass Concierge to increase the value of their property.
Happy holidays lovely listeners! We hope the season is treating everyone fantastically, with good cheer, family, and joy to spare. Also we apologize for the audio quality of this episode. There is construction going on outside of our office in Seattle and we did the best we could, but it still sounds a little off.
One of the nicest parts of the holiday is finally having time to relax in your home with the people who mean the most to you. Not only is it a heart warming experience, but it’s also a good time to assess the house itself and see what needs a little sprucing up. Maybe making big meals in your kitchen would be easier with more counter space, or going across the floor to make coffee in the morning would be a less chilling experience with radiant heating.
Well good news! Compass Concierge is a feature where Compass can loan you money to make these kinds of luxury upgrades and you pay them back when you sell the house. A task which should be much easier once you have all the bells and whistles.
Learn more here
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
That’s all for this week, thanks for listening and we’ll be back next week with our final episode of 2019!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
By Dan Henig
“Carefree Melody”
By Twin Musicom
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Brennen talks to Nicole Kincaid about how energy clearing can be helpful with problem properties.
Hello lovely listeners! This week we are delighted to be hosting Nicole Kincaid, energy clearing and Stuffology expert. What is Stuffology you might ask? You know that closet you’re constantly shoving stuff you don’t want to deal with into and then forgetting about? Well Stuffology is the process that turns that shame cupboard into a nice working closet again, the kind of place where you can put guests coats. Obviously it doesn’t have to be a closet, for some people it’s a garage, or a junk drawer, you get the idea. We all have areas in our homes that we don’t feel great about, or are just accumulating junk; often some combination of the two.
Luckily for all of us Nicole is an expert, not just in helping people clear out physical clutter, but also that pesky emotional baggage taking up space in your lovely floor plan. This week she and Brennen take a deep dive on the benefits of maintaining your house, not just physically, but energetically, and the many unexpected upsides thereof. If you’re having problems getting a property to sell because people are just getting a “vibe” off of it, even though the location and price are great, or you just want to enjoy your own home to the fullest, this is episode for you.
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
And be sure to check out Nicole as well at: NicoleKincaid.com where, rumor has it, she writes a really good blog!
Happy holidays, and thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Good Times”
by Patrick Patrikios
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“Gisele Revisited”
by South London Hifi
“Hallowed Days”
by Chasms
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It’s the middle of the month again, which can mean only one thing: it’s time for the Seattle Market update!
Hello Lovely Listeners! This holiday season is really flying past. It seems like just a few days ago we were uploading our first Clouse Corner of the month and now we are almost in the scramble for gifts portion of the season. Luckily if you are looking to be better prepared than we are we have just the thing for you! That’s right it’s monthly market update time.
It’s commonly thought that the best way to prepare for the future is to look to the past, so every week we devote an episode of the Clouse Corner to doing just that. Brennen will compare and contrast the fluctuations of the market from last year, all while giving an inside perspective on what those numbers actually mean. Are we in a buyers market, or a sellers market, is this a good time to put a property up for sale, we attempt to answer all these questions and more.
As always if you have questions you can reach us on our various social media pages.
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Low Life High Life”
Dan Henig
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Brennen breaks down why winter is actually an underrated time to put properties on the market.
Hello again lovely listeners! This week Brennen is taking on the myth of winter being a bad time to put properties up for sale. Regular listeners may note that this is the same topic we covered in Close to Home episode 18, and you would be right! Think of this episode as the cliff notes, or the introduction. So, if you missed last week's episode, or just want to try it in a shorter punchier format, here you go!
The conventional wisdom is that spring is the best time to put a property up for market, but we’re not about convention here at The Clouse Corner. Sellers bold enough to put their properties up in winter may find themselves enjoying some unexpected benefits, like dodging a springtime saturated market. That’s just one tid-bit from this week's episode, you’ll have to listen to find out the rest!
As always shoot us comments or suggestions on our social media:
InstagramFacebookTwitter
Also online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Continue Life”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Everyone knows that spring is the best time to put your home on the market, or is it?
Hello again, lovely listeners. This week Brennen is busting chops and misconceptions about the best time to put your home on the market. Common wisdom says it should be in the spring. But if you think that a cozy place all done up for the holidays isn’t going to attract a buyer, then buddy, you have another thing coming. And that is just one of tip of the festive iceberg (literally, there are six other in this episode). With any luck by the end you will be convinced, or at least have some healthy skepticism, the next time you’re told May or June is the best time to sell a property!
Also, in case you have not noticed our new commercial in the episodes we are really hoping people will drop us a review on apple podcasts. If you like the show, or just have a suggestion for a topic or way we can be better, please drop it in the reviews. It really helps us get this podcast into the ear-buds of people who could use the information.
That’s all, thanks for listening! And as always feel free to hit us up with questions or suggestions:
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Just Breathing”
By Coyote Hearing
“Ruination 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This Week Brennen tackles the classic debate of rent vs. buy from a new angle.
Hello lovely listeners! We hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving, or just enjoyed some well deserved time off. We certainly did, but now we’re back to business as usual!
It’s time for another little tid-bit of wisdom on the many nuances of real estate courtesy of Brennen. Now, we’ve talked about whether it is better to rent or buy back in Episode 15, which you should check out if you have not already. However, that was from the perspective of the person doing the renting or buying. This week we’re doing the old flipsy-dispy and giving the other side access to that sweet, sweet, market insight. If you have been hemming and hawing over a property you own, then take five minutes out of your day and spend them in the Clouse Corner!
Thanks for listening, as always, if you learn something, or have questions let us know, we love to hear from you!
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at:TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Investigations”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello again lovely listeners! With Thanksgiving just around the corner we thought we would bring you a special treat. It’s Nikki Benson! That’s right,bossladymortgageis back! And she and Brennen are putting their heads together to give you some quality edutainment.
So kick back and relax, if you are listening to this episode on Thanksgiving day maybe cut yourself an extra slice of pie, but try and make some room for the best dessert: facts about applying for mortgages!
Seriously though, Nikkiis always a huge pleasure to have on the show and we really hope you guys enjoy this one.
If you have any questions for Nikki, or just want to pester her to be on the show again, hit her up at: nikki.benson@caliberhomeloans.com
And as always you can reach out to us over our social media!
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening and have a great holiday!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Classic Rose 2”
By Vibe Mountain
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello lovely listeners! This week we are back with another Clouse Corner that is all about the numbers. Specifically, when is the optimal time to start the process of selling your property? It’s the kind of issue that becomes more complex the more you look into. You have to consider all the time you’ll be spending on paperwork, cleaning, and staging. Luckily for you Brennen is here with the breakdowns to give you the optimal window for your house to be done, dusted, and sold.
Of course this being a Clouse Corner, all this information is just the tip of the iceberg. If you find you want to know more you can always reach out to us over social media!InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at: TheClouseGroup.com
And as always thank you for listening! Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Cipher”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello again lovely listeners! We are back with another spicy top five list courtesy of Brennen, who is putting his own spin on How to Find Your Dream Home - Without Losing Your Mind.
Often times the process of buying a new home, or even moving out of an old one can seem like an insurmountable amount of work. There are so many listings to go through, financials to get in order, not to mention seeing the actual properties themselves. Honestly, it’s enough to make you look at your current domicile and say: “eh, good enough.”
But who wants “good enough” really? As a kid it’s probably a safe bet you never spent time drawing your “good enough” house. No, you drew your dream house, and even though a trampoline room is probably not on the table anymore, that’s still where you deserve to be.
Anyway, if you’re having trouble figuring out where to start your home buying process, this is a great episode to start with. And, as always if you learn something and want to know more, or have follow up questions just shoot us a message. We love to hear from you!
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for Listening!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Impact Allegro”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello Lovely Listeners! We are back with some helpful, and hopefully entertaining, advice here at The Clouse Corner. In case you’re new around here, this is our weekly podcast where we take all the complexities and the world of Real Estate and condense it into tasty tidbits of wisdom. It’s like a good cup of coffee, or a bite of toast that’s been perfectly buttered, but for your brain, and maybe your house? We don’t judge.
This week Brennen has the numbers, all of them. You’re going to hear the difference between the housing market for condos and single homes this year versus last year. What will this answer? First and foremost whether we are in a buyers or a sellers market. If you want to know what that is, we did a Clouse Corner about it, which you can check out! But basically, we want buyers to know that the market is hot right now, and sellers to know where they can go to get good help selling their homes. Spoiler alert, it’s Brennen!
As always, thanks for listening. If you liked what you heard consider listening to one of our other shows, you might like them too! Also if there are questions you want us to answer in future episodes leave us a comment, we love the feedback!InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Call to Adventure”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello again lovely listeners! This week we have a special treat for you, as we have bossladymortgage herself Nikki Benson in the house! Together, her and Brennen are going to break down everything you need to know about getting downpayment assistance in the state of Washington!
What is that you might ask? Well you should definitely listen to the episode and find out! But in a nutshell it’s a zero interest loan from the state to help first time home buyers get started. There is a catch, you do have to go to a class to qualify. Luckily we teach those classes on the third Saturday of every month (that’s the 16th of November if you’re interested).
Just shoot Nikki an email at: nikki.benson@caliberhomeloans.com and you will be all set to go.
As always if you learned something, or have a question you would like answered, let us know, we would love to hear from you!
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at: TheClouseGroup.com
And be sure to check out Nikki as well! And mention that we sent you so she’ll come back and be on the show again, because hosting her was non-stop laughs!
Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Sneaky Snitch”
By Kevin Mcleod
“Land of Combustible People”
By Komiku (loyaltyfreakmusic.com)
“In the Restaurant”
By Komiku
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere (leerosevere.bandcamp.com)
Music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“Land of Combustible People” and “In the Restaurant” Licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)
Public Domain Dedication
Hello again lovely listeners! We are back once again with your weekly bite sized nugget of delicious wisdom, like a delicious canapé for your brain and your wallet. This week Brennen tackles the ever important question:
“When should I start shopping seriously for my new home?”
It might surprise you to find out, but many people can get stuck in the cycle of renting year after year, or even month to month, because they do not understand how much time it actually takes to find, purchase, and close on a home. Now though, you can put your calendars away, or hang on to them, and mark down with confidence when you can expect to be moving into your new home!
If you learned something, or know someone who might find the information in the episode useful, please feel free to share us or just throw up a like to let us know you like what we are doing.
And as always thanks for listening!
InstagramFacebookTwitterAlso online at: TheClouseGroup.com Our Opening theme:
“Inspired”
By Kevin Mcleod (incomptech.com)
Other music (in order used):“Scheming Weasel”
By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere
All music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hello lovely listeners and welcome back to the coziest corner of the internet, The Clouse Corner! This week Brennen shares 4 of his favorite ways for property owners to get started using their home to raise additional funds rather than just sit there like a wall, well four walls, and a roof, and maybe a cozy breakfast nook, but I digress.
The Point is sure, if you already own your property you could just sit on it and let it accrue value over time; but with just a little extra work on your part you can leverage it and get a jump start on everything from early retirement, to a well deserved vacation. Anyway, enough with the preamble, dive in and enjoy!
If you have any questions, or comments, please feel free to reach out over social media. And if you learned something useful, or know someone who could use the information, please feel free to share us. We always appreciate the help!
As always thank you for listening!
InstagramFacebookTwitterOnline at: TheClouseGroup.com
Our opening theme:
"Inspired"
By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Hyperfun”
By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere
All music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week, on the second episode of the new and improved Close to Home podcast, Brennen tackles the classic question: is it better to rent or buy?
Spoiler: The answer may surprise you!
Of course, you’ll have to listen to the episode to get all the juicy tidbits, but the short answer is it all comes down to the math. Only you know what lifestyle you’re looking for; we just want to give you the proper tools and information. So, whether you’re looking to purchase a house and live there for the next 10 years, or spend that decade traveling around taking in the sights, Brennen will give you the numbers to make an informed choice. Although, even if you are planning on moving around a lot you might consider subsidizing it by becoming the landlord of a cozy two bedroom, maybe in Seattle, just saying.
We also have more upcoming community events!
What is a Brew and Learn? It’s basically all there in the title. Come and get all your real estate questions answered at the Boardwalk restaurant on the Microsoft campus November 20th from 5pm to 6:30. We will be buying the drinks and some tasty bites; so if you have time come on down, we would love to meet you!
As always if you have any questions please feel free to reach out over social media.
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Until next episode, thanks for listening!
Our opening theme:
"Inspired"
By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Other music (in order used):
“Where was I?”
By Lee Rosevere
“Scheming Weasel”
By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
“Thought Bubbles”
By Lee Rosevere
“Let that Sink in”
By Lee Rosevere
“We Don’t Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere
All music obtained and Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
This week on the Clouse Corner Brennen delves into the basics of investing in real estate. If you have ever watched HGTV you should be more than familiar with the term. But what does it actually mean, and what are some of the ways you can get started? Well, get ready for not one, not two, but three ways you can begin growing wealth using your home or investment property!
It’s a subject we’ve talked about on our Youtube Channel! Check out our episode on House Hacking if you want a more in depth dive onto the subject. Also, while you’re there check out our other great videos, maybe drop us a like or a comment!
And as always you can reach us on our other social media pages:
Also online at: TheClouseGroup.com
Thanks for listening and we’ll see you next week!
Our opening theme:
"Inspired"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other music (in order used)
"Scheming Weasel"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
In the second episode of the Clouse Corner Brennen explains the difference between buyers and sellers agents. If you have ever gone to an open house and wondered who the agent you are talking to is working on behalf of, worry no more! In just a quick minute Brennen will explain the differences between the two, who they work for, and why you as a buyer or seller probably need one. Here at the Clouse Corner we like to keep the learning concise and to the point!
As always if you have further questions feel free to leave them in the comments, or reach out to our social media accounts; and if you learned something new, or know someone who you think could use the information we put out please consider leaving a like, subscribing, or sharing the podcast to people looking to know more about the wide, wide, world of real estate!
As always, thanks for listening!
Our opening theme:
"Inspired"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other music (in order used):
Divertissement - Pizzicato (from the ballet Sylvia) Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
It feels good to be back! In this episode the Close to Home podcast returns in full, with Brennen’s top five mistakes for buyers to avoid when purchasing a new home or property. They are:
-
Shopping without knowing your budget.
-
Not being aware of market dynamics.
-
Assuming the home is in good condition.
-
Waiting until you have a 20% down payment.
-
Making big Purchases before closing.
Are you intrigued? We hope so! But if you want in depth answers about how to avoid these mistakes you’ll need to listen to the episode.
Also, if you want to meet up with the Close to Home crew in the real world we have a couple upcoming events!
October 16th: We are hosting a home seller seminar where we’ll give you the TOP 5 TIPS you need to know on how to get your home ready to sell. The seminar will be taking place at Kaladi Brothers Coffee in their community room from 5pm until 6:30pm.
October 19th: We are hosting a down payment assistance class at our office in Capitol Hill. Did you know that the state of Washington offers potentially large amounts of buyer assistance towards your purchase of a home? Well they do! But first you have to take this course and get certified. Come check it out and see if you qualify for buyers assistance.
Well that’s all for this week, check in next Monday for a new episode of Clouse Corner, and the week after for another episode of Close to Home. In the meantime if there’s something you want us to talk about let us know in the comments, or reach out on any of these platforms:
Also online at: theclousegroup.com
Thanks for listening!
Music (in order used)
Intro and Outro: "Inspired"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
“I got 99 broadswords but this one isn't one (store's theme)”
By Komiku
Licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0)
Public Domain Dedication
“We Don't Know How it Ends”
By Lee Rosevere
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Hey guys! After a hiatus the Close to Home podcast is back and better than ever. We have new music, new intros, new formats, but the same commitment to help you, our listeners, find your dream home and live your best life in it!
We are starting this week with a new segment called: The Clouse Corner. These will be seperate mini- episodes, released every week, where our host Brennen shares a quick bit of advice or insight to help you better understand the world of real estate and how to navigate it. This week's episode deals with closing costs, one of the final steps in your transaction process and a key financial component of the transaction. Most people don’t know what is included in closing costs, when they are paid, or how much they are. In this episode, you’ll learn all of that and more!
Thanks for tuning in! If you learned something useful, or know of someone who might benefit from this episode please share it with them, or just drop us a like. Also, feel free to leave us a comment, even just to tell us you missed us, because we certainly missed you!
Look out next week for the return of the long form Close to Home podcast!
Also, check out our social media!
Also online at: theclousegroup.com
Our new opening theme:
"Inspired"
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Other music (in order used):
Divertissement - Pizzicato (from the ballet Sylvia) Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Our guest today is Judy Boerner-Rule, president of Tapestry Associates. Judy has a deep history of managing luxury hotels, food and beverage, and private club management. She was recruited in 2002 to manage the private residential estate of a high-profile family, with her responsibilities gradually evolving into the role of Senior Director of Operations for all of the family’s residential estate operations. In 2006, she met Randy Gantenbein and Anne Lyons, whom with Judy would become co-founders of Tapestry Associates.
Judy describes Tapestry Associates as a property and personal lifestyle advisory for individuals and families of significant wealth. It was founded with the goal of helping principals and their advisors optimize the investment of their enjoyment capital. Judy shares with us which types of services Tapestry provides to achieve this goal and the three categories that her clients usually fall under. She also provides the points to consider to determine the need for property and personal lifestyle advising.
Tapestry Associates: https://www.tallc.com/
Today’s guest is Justin Riordan of Spade and Archer Design Agency, the world’s first guaranteed home staging company, which currently has offices in Seattle, Portland, and Palm Springs. After obtaining a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Hawaii, Justin gained seven years of experience in interior architecture and five years in construction management before starting Spade and Archer about nine years ago.
Justin tells us about what home staging is and why it is so important in the process of selling a home. There are many differences to be seen in a house that is staged compared to one that is not, so Justin talks about how these differences are subtle yet make an exceptional impact on a home’s likeliness to sell. We hear about problems that Justin runs into in his line of work, the most common of which is sellers focusing too much on their own psychology rather than the buyer’s. He also shares insight on how to successfully stage a house based on his deep experience. https://www.spade-archer.com/
Not only does the real estate market change with supply and demand, the marketing trends in real estate also change. This week we focus on the change in real estate videography as I interview Ryan Reese. Ryan is a the founder of Reese Films, a 7 person production company specializing in creating lifestyle films and video content for marketing purposes in the luxury real estate industry. Ryan and his team have produced marketing videos for over 2000 properties and counting as We discuss how conveying emotion, telling a story, and helping the viewer understand the lifestyle of a home are all very important in marketing the property and ensuring that it gets sold. I strongly believe that video is one of the best ways to do all three of these things. From music, to the right equipment, to how to avoid trouble when you're flying drones - hear it all here. You can find Ryan at www.ReeseFilms.com and if you love this episode, please rate and review this podcast at https://apple.co/2Drpi7c
Hey guys, thanks again for tuning in! I would love it if you could please rate, review, and share this episode with anyone you think might enjoy it. Just go here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/close-to-home/id1381629174?mt=2
In this episode I discuss my transition from my full-time job at Microsoft to my full-time job as a real estate broker and the 10 lessons I've learned since one year ago when I made the transition. For entrepreneurs and real estate agents alike, working for yourself can be difficult and unmanageable. These are some of my observations and strategies to find success in starting your own business.
I hope you enjoy!
Houzz reported on the 2018 Design Trends Expected to Take Hold Early this year (see link). In this two part episode, Stacey Zorzi and I review some of the trends that don't work for us and those that we love coming to fruition this year! We discuss our love and hate relationships with design and when you're out, you're out. Tune in and tell us if you agree - are these design trends in or out?!
Houzz article: https://goo.gl/5PDDVj
Houzz reported on the 2018 Design Trends Expected to Take Hold Early this year (see link). In this two part episode, Stacey Zorzi and I review some of the trends that don't work for us and those that we love coming to fruition this year! We discuss our love and hate relationships with design and when you're out, you're out. We talk about not hanging wallpaper with your significant other if you don't want to get in a big fight, level five painting (what is that?), Stacey's sofa addiction, and how to avoid some custom design work that may not help if you're trying to sell your home in the future (like initials in your pool!). Tune in and tell us if you agree - are these design trends in or out?!
Houzz article: https://goo.gl/5PDDVj
What are the costs that surprise most people in a remodel? This week I spoke with Jenny Ruegamer again from Jenny Ruegamer Design. In this episode we explore the timelines for getting a contractor and what to budget for each type of room, whether it's your kitchen, bathroom, or living room. We also discuss how to budget your project based on your needs and hoow to match the budget you have to work with to your expectations. Last, we discuss design trends that are HOT in Seattle right now and how the shift in style preferences are changing! Thanks for tuning in and please don't forget to rate & review us!
You can find Jenny Ruegamer at jennyruegamer@yahoo.com.
The Fed just announced an interest rate increase with two more possibly on the way in 2018. While this may be positive news for the economy, it can impact home buyers and sellers in unforeseen ways. That's why I interviewed Lysa Catlin of Caliber Home Loans to learn more about what the Fed Interest Rate Hike is and what it means for real estate.
Lysa grew up in the mortgage industry and is a second generation mortgage originator. With more than 22 years of experience, Lysa has the technical expertise, dedication, and knowledge to help clients achieve their financial goals. Her and her team are committed to providing exceptional service, and believe in the importance of taking time to ensure their customers understand the loan process through a hands-on approach of continuous communication and education.
You can reach Lysa at: Lysa.Catlin@caliberhomeloans.com or (206) 963-0191
In the second of this two-part interview, I speak with Stacia Weishaar of HomeStreet Bank about how to beat all-cash offers when buying a home, her top tips for overall financial wellness (even if you aren't buying a home), and her top tips for future home buyers.
Stacia and I discuss the most important part of beating cash offers: being prepared. We also discuss tips for overall financial health for everyone, including those who plan to buy homes. And last, we discuss Stacia's top three tips for buyers planning to make a home purchase this year.
You can reach Stacia at: Stacia Weishaar (206) 849-0357 stacia.weishaar@homestreet.com
In the first of a two part interview, I speak with Stacia Weishaar of HomeStreet Bank about what she and her team do to create delightful refuge for their clients in the lending process. Stacia and I discuss the meltdown of the home mortgage market in 2008-2009, why it happened, and why it’s unlikely to happen with today’s new lending practices. Stacia and I also explore the ins and outs of what a home loan really is and how it works. We discuss the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was a result of the crash. Last, we discuss what’s new in home lending in 2018, including a Fannie Mae raise in the loan limits for conventional loans: from $592,250 to $667,000. You can reach Stacia at: Stacia Weishaar (206) 849-0357 stacia.weishaar@homestreet.com
From Deflation to Elation: The first-time home buying experience. In this episode I interview my good friend and past client, Lindsay Tomson, on the experience of buying her first home.
How does your perception of buying a home differ from the experience of buying your first home? How does your realtor get paid? What's the most difficult part of buying your first home? Is it really like the broad city episode? We cover all of these questions and more in this episode. Plus, get Lindsay's top 3 tips for people searching for their first home: 1. Find a realtor you want to spend time with 2. Figure out your methodology for organizing everything before you start 3. Trust your gut and be true to what you're looking for I hope you love listening!
In this episode I speak with Jenny Ruegamer of Jenny Ruegamer Design about the process and thought that goes into remodeling your home after you buy. How long should you wait after you purchase a home to remodel? What is the typical timeline of remodeling a room or whole house? We answer all of these questions and more in this episode! Jenny is an interior design and architect that lives in Seattle. You can find Jenny at jennyruegamer@yahoo.com
You probably don't know me, or maybe you know me tangentially. In this episode you'll hear a bit of my story and what brought me to real estate. Listen in for how I got here and what makes real estate so important to me. I'll also cover what I hope this podcast will evolve into in the future! Please shout out with any suggestions: brennen@avenueproperties.com