The Portland Real Estate Podcast

The average person lives in a home for about 7 years. And agents and lenders need to stay top of mind, so we’re there when the client is ready to move again. However, 88% of people forget their real estate team less than a year after closing. But what if there was an easy way to stay engaged with clients and support them in taking care of their home—with very little effort on your part? Scott Fouser is Chief Revenue Officer of Househappy, a tech platform that helps real estate professionals stay in front of their homeowner-clients through the gift of concierge home maintenance services. On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, Scott joins hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to explain how the Househappy concierge connects homeowners with trusted service pros, giving your network of contractors first dibs on open jobs and coordinating the transaction in-app. Scott discusses what’s included in the agent-branded emails Househappy sends clients and shares his response to REALTORS who worry that a bad experience with a contractor will be associated with them. Listen in to understand what differentiates Househappy from platforms like Angi or HomeAdvisor and find out if Scott’s team can help you engage with new and existing clients to conquer client retention and grow your real estate business! Key Takeaways How Househappy keeps agents and lenders top of mind with homeowners The role the Househappy personal concierge plays in finding homeowners a trusted service pro How agents and lenders can refer their network of service professionals through Househappy The process Househappy uses to notify contractors about open jobs, send homeowners bids and schedule services What’s included in the emails Househappy sends clients (and why the open rate is over 50%) Why an agent might use Househappy rather than asking homeowners to contact them directly How Househappy notifies agents when a homeowner might be selling The cost of a Househappy subscription package for agents and lenders Scott’s response to agents and lenders who worry that a bad experience with a contractor will be associated with them What differentiates Househappy from Angi or HomeAdvisor (and how it improves the user experience for homeowners) Househappy’s ecosystem of 104,000 contractors across the US and what the concierge does if they don’t have a service pro in a particular area How Househappy vets contractors to ensure they live up to a certain standard The onboarding process for agents and lenders to set up a subscription to Househappy The best way to gift your clients and prospects a Houshappy account How to use Househappy to farm a neighborhood and generate new business Connect with Scott Househappy Househappy on Instagram Househappy on Facebook Scott on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Househappy for Agents & Lenders Sarita Dua on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP125 Black Knight Tammy Wittren on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP146 Open Houses Direct

No doubt you’ve read multiple news items about artificial intelligence and received several emails promoting AI trainings since ChatGPT launched last November. And many believe that AI technology will start a revolution bigger than anything we’ve experienced in our lifetime, including the internet. But what is AI really capable of? And how might real estate professionals use it in a meaningful way? Eric Post has 20 years of experience in the industry, owning both real estate and mortgage brokerages and working in the consulting, coaching and startup space. Today, he is building a company called Huzi to help small business owners and entrepreneurs leverage artificial intelligence to expand their business. On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, Eric joins hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to discuss the AI language model known as ChatGPT and describe how it allows us to have conversations with a given data set. Eric explores real-world applications of AI in real estate, sharing his vision of how we might use AI to improve the client experience and create efficiencies in writing deals and conducting valuations. Listen in to understand what skills you need to use AI effectively and learn how to leverage ChatGPT to solve problems in your real estate business and do more for your clients than ever before! Key Takeaways  What aspect of ChatGPT inspired Eric to build a company around this technology The difference between a language model like ChatGPT and general intelligence What skills you need to use AI technology like ChatGPT effectively Eric’s vision of how we might use AI in real estate to improve the client experience How what ChatGPT can do is a reflection of your creativity as a user How AI like ChatGPT allows you to have a conversation with a given data set The value in leveraging ChatGPT to design your business strategy What it looks like to be successful using AI as a real estate agent (now and in the future) How to use ChatGPT AI to build relationships with prospective clients What kinds of jobs ChatGPT is likely to eliminate and how quickly that might happen Why ChatGPT is only trained on data through the end of 2021 and when it might be updated The imminent transition from SEO keyword to AI optimization strategies How AI might change the way we write real estate deals and do valuations and inspections Eric’s advice for agents on how to survive in a world built on AI The real estate product Eric is developing to help agents answer questions with AI  Connect with Eric Huzi Eric on LinkedIn Eric on Facebook Email eric@huzi.ai   Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Eric on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP117 ChatGPT ‘ChatGPT for Real Estate Data? It May Be Here Sooner Than You Think’ in Inman Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight LabCoat Agents

In the spring of 2020, Oregon REALTORS voted to have statewide forms administered by the state association as a member benefit—not for profit. To that end, the association made an offer to purchase the other two owners’ interests in OREF. But that offer was rejected. Consequently, Oregon REALTORS developed its own forms library, which went live on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Jeff Wiren, President of Premier Property Group, was President of Oregon REALTORS when the new forms were announced, and Jeremy Rogers serves as the Director of Legal Affairs for Oregon REALTORS. On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, Jeff and Jeremy join hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to discuss the battle between OREF and Oregon REALTOR forms. Jeremy walks us through the simple steps agents can take to avoid legal liability based on choice of form, and Jeff shares some of the key differences between the OREF and Oregon REALTOR forms libraries. Listen in for insight on making Oregon REALTOR forms available to non-members and learn how to access the new forms library and where to send your feedback.  Key Takeaways  When Oregon REALTORS decided to include statewide forms as a member benefit Why Oregon REALTORS created separate forms vs. working with OREF to perfect the existing library PMAR’s decision to retain ownership of OREF as a for-profit company 5 simple steps agents can take to avoid legal liability based on choice of form The panel’s predictions on who will win the battle between OREF and Oregon REALTOR forms The likelihood that Oregon will go back to a single set of approved forms The expense associated with developing the Oregon REALTOR forms library (and the association’s efforts to do so without raising dues) Jeff and Jeremy’s insight on the advantages of using Oregon REALTOR forms The policy on making Oregon REALTOR forms available to non-members Joe’s suggestion around using specific vs. calendar dates on Oregon REALTOR forms The potential to run Oregon REALTOR disclosure forms through SkySlope’s Breeze platform Why Jeff encourages cooperation among REALTORS when it comes to form preference How both OREF and Oregon REALTORS form libraries create equity between buyers and sellers Who to reach out to at OREF or Oregon REALTORS with complaints or compliments How to access the new Oregon REALTORS forms library and its associated trainings Connect with Jeff Jeff at Premiere Property Group Jeff on LinkedIn  Connect with Jeremy Jeremy at Oregon REALTORS Jeremy on LinkedIn  Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Oregon REALTORS Oregon REALTOR Forms Library PMAR OREF ZipForms Dotloop SkySlope Breeze

We can all agree that the real estate market was pretty bad last year. Case in point, pending sales in the Portland metro area were down 50% year-over-year in November 2022. But things are starting to pick up as we move into 2023. And we can either complain about the challenges OR step into 2023 with a positive attitude. Because if you ask Dill Ward, energy begets energy, and the agents who show up with joy will build momentum. In other words, the market is between your ears. Dill is Principal Broker at The Dill Ward Group of Living Room Realty. She has 14 years of experience as an agent and investor in Florida and Oregon. On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, Dill joins hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to explain how she leveraged networking to restart her career in a new state and share her proactive approach to navigating the current market. Dill, Joe and Steve explore why the Portland real estate market picked up in January, discussing the attrition rate among loan officers in Oregon and what they expect the REALTOR numbers to be when they come out next month. Listen in for insight around the rule against text on images in RMLS and get Dill’s advice on stepping into 2023 with energy and ‘finding the humans who need to move’ regardless of what’s happening in the market. Key Takeaways   How Dill leveraged networking to restart her real estate career in Portland The relationship between being resourceful and being a successful real estate agent How we’re getting multiple offers on listings that are priced correctly (and why we usually encourage sharing pricing information with other REALTORS) Dill, Steve & Joe’s take on why the Portland real estate market picked up in January What we’re doing to combat negative stories re: the real estate market in the media The statistics on attrition among loan officers in Oregon (and what we expect the REALTOR numbers to be when they come out next month) Dill’s insight on being proactive to perform well in the current market Why we’re not fans of the rule against text on images in RMLS When RMLS plans to make good on its promise to provide an alternative to ShowingTime Why we give very little credibility to the Home Energy Score How an itemized breakdown of how PMAR dues support agents would benefit all involved Our questions around having two sets of forms for Oregon real estate Connect with Dill Dill Ward Group Dill on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources  Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Carolyn Hoty on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP109 Ask Sarita Sarita Dua on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP125 Mark Aalto on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP141 Kurt Von Wasmuth on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP122 Home Energy Score PMAR Dues OREF FAQs on Real Estate Forms

Interest rates are up to 7%. Pending sales are down 42%. And yet, many real estate agents continue to do business at a high level, despite the dramatic market shift. In April of 2022, Brittany Gibbs, Heather Robbins and Kim Gellatly appeared on the podcast to discuss the developing shift and share what they were doing to prepare for the market correction. So, what did Brittany, Heather and Kim get right? What has surprised them in the last six months? And what are they doing to find success in the current real estate market? Brittany, Heather and Kim serve as Principal Broker at Move Real Estate, Robbins Realty Group and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, respectively. Together, they have 46 years of industry experience. On this episode of The Portland Real Estate Podcast, Brittany, Heather and Kim sit down with hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to discuss how the rise in interest rates and decline in pending sales is affecting their businesses. They explain how seller and buyer behavior has changed with the market shift and offer insight around how what’s happening now compares to the Great Recession of 2008. Listen in to understand how the market slowdown is impacting other real estate professionals and find out how Brittany, Kim, Heather, Joe and Steve are finding the opportunity in this market shift. Key Takeaways How rising interest rates and declining pending sales affect our panelists’ businesses Why proactive communication with clients is crucial in the current market How seller behavior has changed with the real estate market shift What our panelists are doing to set expectations with sellers in the listing appointment How buyer behavior has changed in the current real estate market The creative strategies our panel is using to get around higher interest rates What surprised Brittany, Heather & Kim over the last 6 months How the current real estate market compares to the Great Recession of 2008 Why there is more cooperation among real estate professionals right now How the market shift is impacting other real estate businesses (title, lenders, inspectors, etc.) What our panelists are doing differently to be successful right now What Brittany, Heather, Kim, Joe & Steve are optimistic about going into 2023 Connect with Brittany Move Real Estate Brittany on LinkedIn Connect with Heather Robbins Realty Group Heather on LinkedIn Connect with Kim Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Kim on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Brittany, Heather & Kim on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP142 Justin Harnish on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP145 Glenn Kelman Interview on CNBC

Mortgage interest rates are the highest they’ve been in 20 years. And as a result, mortgage applications are down by 38% and refis have dropped a whopping 86%. So, when will rates start to come back down? What can lenders and real estate agents do to adapt to the current circumstances? Guest Cohost Tammy Wittren is Branch Manager at NFM Lending. With more than 30 years of real estate and lending experience, Tammy separates herself from the competition by building a team of professionals who share her commitment to serve others. On this Best of Masters episode, Tammy joins Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to explain why mortgage rates have risen beyond 7% and where industry experts say rates will be in 2023. They discuss some of the top posts from the Masters Facebook group, offering insight around business taxes in Multnomah County, professionalism in showings, and the changes to Oregon real estate forms. Listen in to understand why the value of a good REALTOR grows in a market decline and learn how to master your craft and make your numbers work in a cooling market. Key Takeaways What global factors contributed to mortgage rates rising beyond 7% Tammy’s insight on what the experts say mortgage rates might be like in 2023 How layoffs in the mortgage industry are likely to trickle down into real estate Tammy’s argument that buying a home is still a solid investment Why comps that go back farther than a month are no longer accurate What’s behind the increase in buyer terminations The taxes business owners must pay in Portland/Multnomah County The protocol for professionalism around showing appointments and notifying agents when an offer is rejected How Oregon real estate forms are changing and why it’s a problem Tammy’s warning around sending repair addendums to a lender The benefit of leaving a search on after a client goes with another REALTOR Why the value of agents diminishes in a booming market (and vice versa) Connect with Tammy NFM Lending Tammy on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group ‘30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Hits the Highest Level in 20 Years’ on CNBC Mortgage News Daily Chinese ‘Ghost Cities’ on 60 Minutes NFM Interview with Mike Fratantoni

The real estate market was nothing but hot in 2021. We saw a staggering number of transactions, and most homes were on the market for less than a week. And now the market is correcting. Real estate has a longer shelf life and there are fewer buyers. But what if this shift in the market isn’t necessarily a bad thing? What can we do as brokers to adapt to the circumstances and be successful for the long term? Justin Harnish is the Broker-Owner of Harnish Properties, and industry leader in the sales and marketing of luxury homes in and around Lake Oswego. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Justin joins cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to discuss how the real estate market has changed in recent months, describing how demand has stepped back while supply remains the same. They explain how the interest rate hike works in favor of cash buyers, why off market sales are a good play right now, and what a market correction means for buyers, sellers and agents. Listen in for insight on keeping sellers happy right now and learn how you can adapt and be successful in the current market environment! Key Takeaways How demand has stepped back in recent months while supply hasn’t changed Why the level of urgency is lower in the luxury market How the interest rate hike works in favor of cash buyers The challenge of finding comps in a market that is changing so quickly Justin’s take on how the market will play out for the rest of 2022 Why a market correction is not a bad thing and how it will ‘thin the herd’ in our profession The return of seasonality in the real estate markets Why off market sales are a good play right now How agents can adapt to be successful in the current real estate market Why conversations around price reductions are back How to keep sellers happy right now How sellers know what’s going on in the market and why that benefits us Why real estate is still the safest long-term investment there is Why a new judge was assigned to the Lake Oswego case Connect with Justin Harnish Properties Justin on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Justin on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP037 Justin on The Portland Real Estate Podcast EP114 Think Big, Act Small: How America’s Best Performing Companies Keep the Startup Spirit Alive by Jason Jennings ‘Judge Ann Lininger Disqualified from Long-Running Case Over Access to Waters of Lake Oswego’ in Williamette Week

We’ve just seen the most significant interest rate hike since 1994. There’s scary inflation news and an economy in flux.Has all of this caused a slowing down in the real estate market? Kurt von Wasmuth, President/CEO of the Oregon RMLS, is back on the show to share the latest market action data. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Kurt joins cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to share the active listings data and the forecast for new construction for the rest of 2022. Kurt shares what the post-COVID data shows about review deadlines and what buyers want and will pay the highest dollar for in homes now. We discuss two surprising data trends in the commercial market and how the great resignation is affecting the numbers in the real estate population. Listen in for a look at the value of the RMLS for subscribers in a tight real estate market and how Kurt’s team is working to bring new features onboard. Plus, two exciting RMLS offerings coming soon. Key Takeaways Why median is a more reliable market indicator than average when it comes to housing prices  Why it’s still a hot market even with the trend of only one month’s worth of inventory What the new construction data says about the change in momentum in the market The indicator that new construction is going to be strong throughout the rest of 2022 Why the review deadlines trend is cooling now that demand is cratering Why buyers are going all-in for larger yards and more square footage The post-Covid trend toward buying in the commercial space How the great resignation drove the MLS subscriber number to an all-time high What will happen to a broker’s bottom line when the number of listings per subscriber resets How artificial intelligence is helping to find errors in the RMLS How the value of an RMLS subscription increases in a tight real estate market Connect with Kurt Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) Kurt von Wasmuth on LinkedIn Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources PDX Real Estate 122: A Conversation With RMLS CEO Kurt Von Wasmuth

On May 11, a federal judge permanently blocked Oregon’s ban on ‘love letters,’ calling it a violation of homebuyers’ First Amendment rights. And most REALTORS are glad that the ‘love letter’ is still an option. But what does this mean in practice? How do brokers plan to leverage ‘love letters’ moving forward? And what can real estate professionals do to promote fair housing and help prevent the discrimination the ban was supposed to address? On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar dig into the top posts in the Masters in Real Estate Facebook group over the last couple of months, beginning with the ruling on the ‘love letter’ ban and how these personal messages can be used appropriately. Joe and Steve share their take on the controversy over CC-ing another agent’s transaction coordinator and what’s behind the trend to ask about pending listings prices. Listen in for insight around the ongoing fight for public access to Oswego Lake and learn what to expect from the current market correction—and what steps you can take to be inflation-proof. Key Takeaways How Oregon’s ‘love letter’ ban was permanently blocked What made the ‘love letter’ ban an overreach and why it wouldn’t prevent discrimination How brokers might approach ‘love letter’s’ moving forward The controversy over being asked to CC another agent’s transaction coordinator on emails How to ensure that your TC and everyone on your team is included in email communication What’s behind the trend to ask about pending listings prices When you should and shouldn’t reveal the price a seller accepted How to offer guidance for comps without giving away the price of a pending listing The ongoing fight for public access to Oswego Lake What public access to Oswego Lake would mean for homeowners The market correction we’re experiencing now and what kind of inventory increase we can expect What steps you can take as a REALTOR to be inflation-proof Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group Oregon’s ‘Love Letter’ Ban Total Real Estate’s Challenge of the ‘Love Letter’ Ban ‘Judge Permanently Blocks Ban on Homebuyer Love Letters’ in The Seattle Times Heather Robbins, Brittany Gibbs and Kim Gellatly on PDX Real Estate EP142 ‘Judge Paves Way for Greater Public Access to Oswego Lake’ on OPB

According to CNBC, today, buyers are paying 37% more for their payments on the same house because of a combination of higher interest rates and higher housing prices over last year. Diana Olick, CNBC Real Estate Correspondent says although closings and pendings have not changed, lockbox activity is down by 19% nationally for the month, an indicator that things are changing. With inflation the highest it’s been since 1981, we’re seeing interest rates back up to where they were in 2009. So how are these higher rates affecting the real estate market? Brittany Gibbs is the Principal Broker at Move Real Estate with 25 people at her Brokerage and 15 team members. She’s been in the real estate industry for eight years and is the mother of two little boys ages four and five.   Heather Robbins has been selling real estate for approximately 20 years. She owns Robbins Realty Group, a small boutique brokerage in her hometown of West Linn with her mother, who has been her partner and mentor in the business from the beginning. Kim Gellatly got her real estate license right out of college. She’s been selling real estate for 18 years and is the Principal Real Estate Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices with three buyer specialists on her team and much support as a mom and business owner. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Brittany, Heather, and Kim join hosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to share their personal experiences with buyer and seller reactions to the rising interest rates. Listen in for insight into how each member of our panel is going the extra mile to serve their clients through creative strategies to help them realize their dreams of homeownership while managing expectations on both sides. Key Takeaways How the higher interest rates are making it harder for buyers with more competition and less inventory How to help first time and lower price point buyers through creative financing options How to manage expectations for buyers who are seeing a decline in offers How the increase in interest rates has increased communication between industry partners How each member of our panel is meeting the challenge of the new market head on Why our panel members are optimistic about the real estate market for the rest of 2022 and beyond Connect with Brittany Gibbs Brittany Gibbs on LinkedIn Move Real Estate Connect with Heather Robbins Heather Robbins on LinkedInRobbins Realty Group Connect with Kim Gellatly Kim Gellatly on LinkedIn Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Here’s How Much the Same Mortgage Costs Now, Compared to Last Year by Mike Winters, on CNBC The Price of a Home Sold in March Set a Record, as Inventory Dwindled and Sales Fell by Diana Olick on CNBC Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group

A lot is happening in the world right now. The bond market took a dive, interest rates are rising, inflation is prominent, gas prices are up, and there’s a war in Europe. All of these things are interconnected, so how are they going to affect the real estate market going forward? Mark Aalto is a lender and economic forecaster who gives great insight into things that are commonly known among lenders, but might be new, helpful information to realtors. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Mark joins cohosts Steve Nassar and Joe Fustolo to discuss the current market and his predictions for the rest of 2022. Mark shares his perspectives on current events in the real estate industry, how the stock and bond markets affect interest rates, and how the industry is accounting for an appraisal gap in the homebuying process. Listen in for insight on why interest rates stayed low throughout the pandemic and have now increased significantly since the start of the year. Key Takeaways Why the stock and bond markets heavily dictate financing rates How financing rates have increased significantly since the beginning of 2022 How rates have fluctuated with the stock market throughout the Covid-19 pandemic Why Mark would rather do purchases than refinancings with his customers Mark’s perspective on the current state of the bond market and how it is affecting interest rates Mark’s predictions of what rates will look like throughout the rest of 2022 Mark’s experience with loan programs and why they are typically underwhelming Why buyers cannot get recast for government loans and need to go directly through the lender The details of a federal judge recently blocking the new Oregon law banning “love letters” from prospective homebuyers and what that means for the future of the buyer/realtor relationship Mark’s perspective on the appraisal system and how the industry is accounting for an appraisal gap Connect with Mark Mark on LinkedIn Mark on Facebook Mark on Twitter Mark’s Team on Advantage Mortgage Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources USA Today: Federal Judge Blocks Oregon Law Banning ‘Love Letters’ From Homebuyers Over First Amendment Rights

Nowadays, there are tons of people in the real estate business. Whether you’re an agent for a large company, small company, or own your own real estate business, it’s important to stand out from the crowd. The truth is that everybody wants to stand out, but not everybody will put in the effort to do it. Justin Stoddart is a real estate coach, podcast host, author, and speaker. He also serves as Founder and CEO of Portland-based company Think Bigger, where they help real estate professionals build successful businesses. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Justin joins cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to discuss his book The Upstream Model and how real estate professionals can pursue a life of success AND significance. Justin shares various ways agents can provide value to their clients, the importance of delegation, and how agents can differentiate themselves within the market. Listen in to learn Justin’s 5 steps for building your business with the Upstream Model. Key Takeaways Justin’s background flipping homes and entering the real estate world Benefits of being an independent real estate industry coach Why great leadership is the highest form of sales Current challenges and opportunities in the Portland real estate market and the future of the market How an agent’s mindset can be a great differentiator in the market The relationship-based business of real estate and what agents can do to set themselves apart The importance of delegation The benefits of managing your time by prioritizing customers that will bring you most of your revenue The difference between a referral partner and a referral source Why you should run your business as if it is large, regardless of its current size How consistent communication is key to add value to your clients and stand out How to be seen as MORE than just a real estate agent Justin’s 5 steps for building the Upstream Model Why it is important to pay attention to who you surround yourself with. Connect with Justin Justin on LinkedIn Justin on Instagram Justin on Youtube Justin’s Website Work with Justin Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Podcast: Think Bigger Real Estate Show The Upstream Model by Justin Stoddart The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson Uncopyable: How to Create an Unfair Advantage Over Your Competition by Steve Miller

It’s easy to focus on our deficiencies. To wish we had more going for us or blame the market for the fact that our numbers are low. But what if we focused less on what we lack and more on solving the problems in front of us? James Lee got his real estate license in 2010 and was doing well. And then he suffered an injury that left him paralyzed. How did he get back into real estate after the accident? How does he navigate being paraplegic and running The JL Real Estate Group? On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, James joins cohosts Joe Fustolo and Steve Nassar to share what happened the day of his injury and discuss the health complications he faced in the months that followed. James describes the obstacles he faces on a day-to-day basis, explaining how he relies on technology to do his work as an agent and what he does when a home is not wheelchair accessible. Listen in for insight on why James’ client relationships are better now than before the injury and learn what we can do as a real estate community to support people with mobility issues. Key Takeaways How James’ experience as a contractor helped him succeed early in his real estate career The injury that paralyzed James 8 years ago and the complications he faced in the months that followed What it was like to return home after 6 months in the hospital and rehab How the real estate community rallied around James after his injury Why James says being in a wheelchair helped his career and what he does when a home is not wheelchair accessible  How James relies on technology to do his work as an agent The biggest obstacles James faces on a day-to-day basis What James is doing to raise money for a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities Why James is an advocate for Homes for Heroes How the typical client reacts to James’ situation and why he says his client relationships are better now than before the injury What the real estate community can do to help people with mobility issues Connect with James The James Lee Group The James Lee Group on Facebook Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Homes for Heroes Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group

In January of 2012, as we made our way out of the Great Recession, ethics in real estate was at an all-time low. And Joe Fustolo asked himself, ‘How can I fix this?’ He created the Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group to foster professionalism and cooperation among real estate professionals in the Portland tri-county area. Ten years later, Masters is nearly 8,000 members strong, and Joe’s commitment to the integrity of the group sets it apart from other real estate related communities on Facebook. On this episode of the Portland Real Estate Podcast, Joe and cohost Steve Nassar celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Masters in Real Estate, discussing what the group looked like in its early days and how the community grew over time. Joe shares the mandatory questions prospective members must answer to be approved, reviewing what's okay to post (and what’s not) and explaining why members who break the rules are blocked.  Listen in for insight on asking for vendor recommendations on the platform and find out how staying relatively small and local differentiates Masters from other real estate communities on Facebook. Key Takeaways What inspired Joe to start Masters in Real Estate in January of 2012 Who Joe invited to join the Facebook group early on and how it grew over time The mandatory questions prospective members must answer to be approved and why members who break the rules are blocked from the group Why Joe encourages Masters members to self-moderate When to go to your principal broker with a question rather than the Facebook group What to do if you’re unsure whether a post breaks the rules How Joe feels about posts featuring kudos and shout outs How to ask for vendor recommendations on the Masters platform and why you need to be careful about posting negative reviews Why it's important to Joe to keep the Facebook group small and local The benefit of using the Masters group to address safety concerns Connect with Joe Soldera Properties Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Steve Steve’s Team at Premiere Property Group Steve on LinkedIn Resources Masters in Real Estate Facebook Group

In Episode 137, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the future of the Portland Real Estate Podcast. (We had some recording difficulties, so the playback begins a few minutes after originally starting) Tucker will be leaving the show as one of the primary co-hosts and they discuss the future of the show and potential new co-hosts to fill the spot! They also discuss the future of the podcast and what you can hope to see in the coming year. Lastly, they discuss the latest Zillow Collapse and the news surrounding that. Tune in for a great show! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!

In Episode 136, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the current state of the real estate market as well as the biggest topics from The Masters In Real Estate Facebook group over the past Month! Tune in as they dissect each question and Topic, give their feedback and advice as they educate listeners on how to be better at their craft! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!

In Episode 135, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the current state of the real estate market as well as the biggest topics from The Masters In Real Estate Facebook group over the past Month! Tune in as they dissect each question and Topic, give their feedback and advice as they educate listeners on how to be better at their craft! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!

In Episode 134, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the current state of the real estate market as well as the biggest topics from The Masters In Real Estate Facebook group over the past Month! Tune in as they dissect each question and Topic, give their feedback and advice as they educate listeners on how to be better at their craft! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!

In Episode 133, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the current state of the real estate market as well as the biggest topics from The Masters In Real Estate Facebook group over the past Month! Tune in as they dissect each question and Topic, give their feedback and advice as they educate listeners on how to be better at their craft! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!

In Episode 132, Tucker, Steve and Joe discuss the biggest topics from The Masters In Real Estate Facebook group over the past 30 days. Tune in as they dissect each question, give their feedback and advice as they educate listeners on how to be better at their craft! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes or Stitcher for all future episodes!