Insights
Straight talk on real estate
Market updates, buyer and seller strategy, and mortgage truth from the brokerage that works for the client, not the transaction.
All posts
What the industry won't tell you, in writing
Plain-English breakdowns of the fine print: who pays what, who works for whom, and where the money actually goes.
Why Price Per Square Foot Is the Most Misunderstood Number in Residential Real Estate
Price per square foot was built for office buildings. Here's why it misleads buyers and sellers of houses and condos, and what to use instead.
Read →
How Real Estate Articles Get Written (and Why You Keep Reading the Same Answers)
Most commission advice comes from agents paid by percentage, quoted in articles built to rank. Here are six common questions, the usual answers, and ours.
Read →
How to Read a Home Valuation Report Like a Pro
A Zestimate is a guess. A real valuation shows its work. Here's what belongs in a home valuation report, the red flags to catch, and how to use it in a negotiation.
Read →
Why Transparency in Real Estate Matters More Than Ever
Buyers are told their agent is free. Sellers sign away a percentage without an itemized bill. Here's what stays hidden in a typical deal, and what transparent real estate looks like.
Read →
How Much Commission Do Real Estate Agents Really Make?
A 2.5% commission sounds like a fortune, but the agent keeps far less after splits and fees. Here's how commissions work after the NAR settlement, and why the percentage model is the problem.
Read →
Flat Fee vs. Discount Brokerages: What's the Difference?
A discount brokerage cuts the percentage and often the service. A flat-fee brokerage drops the percentage entirely. Here's how the two compare, and the questions to ask either one.
Read →
Flat Fee Real Estate: The Future of Buying and Selling Homes
Flat fee real estate replaces the percentage commission with one fixed price for full service. Here's how it works for buyers and sellers, what it saves, and what to look for.
Read →
The Smarter Way to Sell: Skip the Commission, Keep Your Equity
A 2.5% listing fee takes a bigger bite the more your home is worth. Here's what full-service selling for a $15,750 flat fee includes, and what it saves at different prices.
Read →
How to Buy a Home Without Overpaying in Commissions
Your buyer's agent isn't free. The fee is built into the price. Here's how a flat-fee buyer's broker works, and how the rest of the buyer-broker fee comes back to you as a rebate.
Read →
Essential Home Buying Tips for Today's Competitive Bay Area Market
In the Bay Area, list prices are often a starting point and the best-prepared buyer wins. Here's how to get your financing, pricing, deposit, inspections, and representation ready.
Read →
Why Real Estate Rebates Are Great for Buyers
A buyer's rebate returns part of the buyer-broker fee to you at closing. Here's how Arrivva's rebate works, the ways to use it, and what to know about lenders and taxes.
Read →
Prequalified, Preapproved, or Underwritten: What Stage Is Your Mortgage In?
Sellers compare offers by how likely they are to close. Here's the difference between prequalification, preapproval, and a fully underwritten preapproval, and why it decides whose offer wins.
Read →
If you're interviewing agents, interview us too.
You may discover that the best broker isn't the one charging the highest commission.
Calls and texts are answered by Amy, our AI assistant, who can answer questions and help you book.