Self-proclaimed “Geek, New Media web producer & writer, social media manager” Goldie Chan (no relation, unfortch) was sweet enough to facebook me today about Klout. This San Francisco based company measures people’s overall online influence.  

“Your audience is hooked on your updates & secretly can’t live without them!” …well, I can’t live without you all either! And that’s no secret!

Yippee! I’m the featured Expert for the Real Estate Section!  Not only did several of my tips make the final 100 Best Money Moves, but our little videoblog Habitat For Hermanity got a plug. And best of all, they made an illustration of me (by the talented Michael Hoeweler). How many people can say they’ve had their portrait in Money Magazine?

Run out & get the latest issue of Money Magazine , their “annual guide to the best & timeliest investments, deals, products and strategies will help you and our family make smarter financial decisions. Guaranteed.” ….and check out my mug!

JUNE 20, 2011 9:30pm e/p
JUNE 20, 2011 12:30am e/p
Check back on the link often because programming can change.

Today HGTV producer wrote me,”You seriously come off great on camera! You should have your own show, interested?? Selling San Francisco! Or another name ” That totally made my day!

What would be a good name for my real estate TV show? I’m taking suggestions!

QUESTION
Hello Herman, I am totally insulted that my agent won’t show me any more homes until I get pre-approved for a loan…It’s not any of her business yet.  Shouldn’t we find our house first and then work on a loan? -Abbie

ANSWER
Abbie, simmer down! No need to be insulted. Everyone is being very cautious nowadays….

Read the rest of my no non-sense advice for MTV’s site 365gay.

Tell me when & why your realtor nagged you!

There is a photo of me in the May Issue of Deliver Magazine, sitting in a field listening to a hippie professor ramble on. Hmmm, brings me back to my days at UC Berkeley!

I look back on those times at Cal with great fondness. The campus culture allowed me to be myself and nurtured my idiosyncratic behavior…which has come to be known as HERMANITY!

Welcome to another episode of CREW (Celebrity Real Estate Wrap UP), brought to you exclusively by Habitat For Hermanity! In this segment, find out which Grateful Dead member’s ex-house is  up for sale &  just how much space pint sized Prince needs in a home.  But first, is it true Sheryl Crow is trying to sell her house….Ebay style?!   Watch and see!

NOTE: This is the only video that  will ever exist of Hermanity singing. You’ve been forewarned

Just a reminder! KODAK has partnered with me to give away a free KODAK EASYSHARE M580 Digital Camera through my  facebook fanpage contest.  This normally retails for $170, play to win here!

Also, as Kodak’s Brand Influencer, I can also offer all my Hermanity Fans 20% off KODAK products. Just use this special coupon on my facebook fanpage. KODAK has geared up a lot of their stuff towards the Real Estate community, so check ‘em out! 

This contest expires May 16, 2011. Good luck to all the contestants!

I just wrote an offer for my buyers on a townhouse that was For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The deal didn’t come together because the sellers significantly  overpriced the house (duh, no surprise there!) They came up with a price based on the amount of money they owed on the house and how much profit they needed, when they should have based it on the current market and recent comparable closed sales. They might learn eventually…but only after wasting everyone’s months of time, money & effort.

I dread FSBO’s because

1. The sellers don’t really know what they are doing. They read Selling Your Home for Dummies once and  think they are experts….when in reality they are just winging it. So what ends up happening is the buyer’s agents has to do double duty to hold the deal together.  They gotta do twice the work for 1/2 the pay!
2. FSBO’s are notorious for slashing commissions. They don’t realize if they don’t compensate agents what they are worth,  guess what, those agents are not going to show their property! Inventory of buyers plummets. The listing gets “blackballed”
3. Selling a house is a full time job. FSBO sellers have their own jobs 40-60 hours a week. That is 40-60 hours they can not sufficiently service all the paperwork, inquiries, showings, open houses, disclosures, etc required to sell a property.

What do you guys think? Share your FSBO experiences!