In this inspiring episode of Let's Talk Real Estate, we sit down with Sarah Cain of Sarah Cain Design, a boutique design firm known for its innovative approach to residential and small commercial spaces. Sarah brings her expert perspective on interior trends for 2024 and 2025, from warm tones replacing gray to the resurgence of artisan-crafted touc…

We sit down with Kerry Ward, an experienced Insurance Agent at Darr Schackow Insurance, to delve into the complexities of the current insurance market. On this episode, we cover a range of essential topics, including the present state of the insurance market and understanding flood insurance coverage and requirements. Kerry shares insights on how G…

We sat down with Matt Peck, owner of HouseMaster in Gainesville, Florida, a home inspection company that provides many types of inspections, from general to wood destroying organisms, and almost everything in between. What’s everything, you might ask? Well, Matt dives into the different types of inspections, why buyers AND sellers should have them,…

Podcast regular, Mortgage Banker with Ameris Bank, Dan Coffey, discusses questions that first-time buyers have about how to prepare to buy a home in the future and how Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI, can actually help save a buyer money when purchasing a home, and often how it can make a home more affordable. As Dan always says, “the only time …

Mortgage Loan Officer, Dan Coffey is back on the podcast to provide in depth knowledge about the dynamic and ever-evolving world of mortgage lending. In this episode, we explore valuable insights and opportunities for prospective homebuyers. Dan discusses predictions for interest rates and highlights the resurgence of FHA loans - covering qualifica…

John Darr, CEO and owner of Darr Schackow Insurance joins us again on the podcast to discuss the ever-changing insurance industry in Florida. Since our last episode with John, the insurance industry in Florida has undergone significant changes, including stricter underwriting rules and requirements for roofs, water heaters, and claims history. Toda…

Interest is the only thing that seems to interest buyers and sellers these days. Will the interest rates affect sales? How about my purchasing power? How high will interest rates climb? Will this cause a housing bust? Regular and super knowledgeable guest Dan Coffey joins us again today to share his insights and provide info about today’s rates, wh…

Property management: not the sexiest topic in real estate, but definitely a big component of it. Today, Susan McQuillan, V.P./North Central Region at Watson Realty Corp’s Property Management Division, joins us to discuss property management and what it involves. From securing tenants to managing leases to calling a plumber when there’s a toilet iss…

Homeowners insurance can affect homeownership in ways well beyond what we may think. Today, John Darr joins us again…you may remember him from season two. He owns Darr Schackow insurance in Gainesville, and he gives us the scoop today about where we are in terms of homeowners insurance, what we can expect for the upcoming year, and what that means …

This week we have part 2 of our conversation with Dan Coffey with Ameris Bank. On this episode, Dan walks us through everything related to renovation loans, and with the current housing market this may be the best way to go if you’re wanting to make some renovations. Dan will also be talking to us about loans for Medical Professionals, which aren’t…

Over a 44-year career in this industry, Dan Coffey has maintained a single focus - to use his knowledge and expertise to assist people navigate the complexities of the mortgage process. He is proud to be part of such an important milestone in a client's life, and he strives to make the homebuying process a joyful experience because it should be. On…

Jovi Richards is a Richmond, VA native and knows that market inside and out. After graduating from UVA, she spent several years working with children with autism. However, after having her first daughter she realized that she needed more flexibility and the opportunity to earn more for her family so she decided to become a real estate agent. Workin…

Retiring or having a second home along the Florida coast has always been a fantasy for many. However, permanently fleeing to Florida from states like New York and California has become common practice in the last year and a half. With miles of beaches within walking distance, beautiful year-round weather, and the ability to jump on a boat and cruis…

The Miami real estate market is hotter than ever, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Dozens of years ago foreign investors took notice and since then Miami hasn’t stopped growing, and beautiful beaches and year-round sun have turned it into the go-to spot during the pandemic. With developments as impressive as a luxury condo tower by Aston…

Monika Nielsen has been in this industry for 25 + years and she has helped hundreds of women clear their closet and discover (or rediscover!) their style. Whether it’s your closet or wardrobe, she can get you to a place where you can breathe again…finding peace in your space and being excited to start the day. Monika will walk you through the menta…

Mark Morgan started Resolution Estimate because for a long time, he saw a need for real estate agents, buyers, and sellers to obtain accurate information quickly in regards to inspection items, repairs, or alterations to a home they are selling or seeking to purchase. Traditionally the realtor, seller, or buyer would contact various contractors or …

Chaitrali “Chai” Karve is the Director of Business Development at Golden Gate Global, which is a firm specializing in the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. In 1990, Congress created the EB-5 Program to stimulate the economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. In 1992, Congress created the Immigrant Investor Program, als…

Charles Velasco is co-team leader of the Velasco Team at RE/MAX in Sacramento, California, and has sold multi-millions and worked with hundreds of buyers and sellers during his short real estate career. Today, he’s on track to be one of his area’s mega agents. You can credit much of his success to his disciplined lifestyle, his family’s encourageme…

Jamie Gould’s roots are set in concrete...a family concrete business, that is. With years of experience in the construction industry and with a passion for helping homeowners to renovate and build, Jamie left the corporate world and started his own consulting business, ContraFaba, which helps homeowners, architects, and contractors manage their cos…

Congratulations! You have a beautiful home or a great portfolio of investment properties...or both. That means you have hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in major assets that need constant management, from general maintenance to inventory for insurance purposes. Do you know how much time and money you’re spending on property-related tasks? …

At the helm of commercial lending brokerage firm Clopton Capital since its founding in 2010, Jake Clopton has worked on hundreds of transactions involving everything from apartment buildings to self storage facilities. Based in Chicago, the firm works with clients nationwide and focuses on private investors whose loans typically range from $1-$40 m…

Italy’s Le Marche region, by all accounts, sounds like a fairytale. With Medieval castles and villages and the stunning Apennine Mountains outlined by stretches of pebbled beaches on the Adriatic Sea, this little-known - but quickly growing - region on Italy’s east coast rivals its larger and better-known sister cities in geographic beauty, charm, …

What exactly does the title company do? Many involved in the real estate transaction process may not be able to give a clear answer, and we’re not just talking about buyers and sellers. Sometimes, title work can seem too complicated or possibly not “sexy” enough to discuss, but it's a crucial component of the real estate sales process. From running…

We crossed the pond this week and headed to London to talk to Tarek Merlin, who is Director and Co-Founder of Feix&Merlin Architects. We initially connected with Tarek on TikTok, where he takes us Behind Closed Doors of some very cool buildings that the public wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. A proponent of renovating and repurposing old building…

James Blythe, Principal at Gainesville-based LEVEL Architecture + Interiors, chatted with us about the importance of user-centric design, repurposing old buildings, and the changes that they’re seeing in commercial design projects since the beginning of 2020. With a special place in his heart for a decrepit furniture store-turned-ax throwing establ…

It’s almost like every article or podcast about real estate is on repeat: it’s a seller’s market...multiple offers...bidding wars...etc, etc, etc. Home prices are up, demand is higher than ever before, and it feels like inventory couldn’t be lower these days (because it’s never been!). The housing situation wasn’t this competitive a year ago, so wh…

In the midst of the pandemic, dental hygienist, mom, and military wife, Kristyn Gavazzi, decided to change careers and jump into the world of real estate. Admittedly naive about what it takes to actually be a real estate professional, Kristyn has quickly learned and has used her network, authenticity, and tenacity to hit the ground running. Since h…

Wendy Gilch wants buyers and sellers to know. Know what? Know everything about real estate and the intricacies of the industry, as well as the scams that can turn the experience from a dream into a nightmare. Frustrated by the process as a consumer years ago, Wendy set out to shed light on what is often a process that keeps consumers in the dark. B…

Designing our spaces has become more necessary than ever before, between having to make our homes vacation spots AND offices, we crave for environments that work perfectly for our needs and wants. Today, Sarah Cain, a top-notch interior designer and owner of Sarah Cain Design, discusses the importance of creating a truly personal space that blends …

When one of our most recent TikToks elicited some...ummm... strong reactions from viewers, we thought it would be fun to discuss the topic on the podcast. The topic in this case was reasons to move to Florida. Anna and fellow relocation specialist, Angela Foote, read through some of the comments and addressed them with honest answers about what lif…

Nancy Tran may be new to real estate, but she’s not new to sales or to the discipline that is needed to succeed in the business. This episode is a must for new and veteran agents alike as Nancy shares her habits, daily routine, and clever prospecting ideas that have helped her succeed during her first year in the business, even amidst a pandemic! H…

While we mostly feature agents who have been in the business for a while, every few episodes we like to highlight up-and-comers who are the future of real estate. We first “met” Matt and Cass on TikTok, which is where we’ve initially connected with many of our other guests. Austin native and trendy brokerage Realty Austin agent, Matthew Turnage, is…

With 16 years in the business and vast experience working in the residential real estate market with buyers, sellers, and many investors, Atlanta native and former flight attendant Jackie O’Connor has experienced the ups and downs of the real estate market both in Ann Arbor and Boston. With a career that has seen the housing market go up and down m…

Just when I thought there wouldn’t be too many more changes in 2021, I decided to move from Keller Williams to Engel & Volkers. Why? I couldn’t resist the brokerage’s culture and ideals, which emphasizes that luxury is an experience, not a price point. All customers deserve a luxury experience, and I’ve always worked to make that a reality. Today’s…

Blake Stargel is making it big in Hollywood...Hollywood real estate, that is. After moving to California from Nebraska, where he had traded college life for Realtor life, Blake started hitting the real estate world and social media hard. In this episode, Blake tells us what it was like to move to LA and then transition to a new brokerage, what the …

John Stoeber, a Principal at Kronos Investment Partners, is barely out of college yet he knows more about investing in real estate than most seasoned professionals in the industry do. A self-proclaimed number cruncher, he oversees underwriting, market analysis, and financial reporting at Kronos, which is a private equity firm that buys cash-flowing…

If there were a prize for Most Energetic Guest, then Ari Rastegar would win it hands-down. Founder and CEO of Rastegar Property Company, Ari is a force to reckon with due to his business acumen and overall dynamic personality. His innovative, technology-driven investment strategies have made him a thought leader in real estate, where he specializes…

Justin Diamond has a proven track record in the social media industry, working for large companies in the New York City metro area for years. Now, as a new real estate agent, Justin is using his digital media expertise to his advantage as he dives into the world of New York real estate. We met Justin on TikTok, where his helpful and instructional v…

For months, we’ve been trying to get Kristin Hawkins, Sales Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator at FBC Mortgage, to join us on the podcast. The holdup? The crazy busy lending business! While 2020 brought a lot of unpleasant surprises, it also brought a flurry - make that a blizzard - of activity in the mortgage industry. With interest rates lower …

Originally from Nashville, Josh graduated from Louisiana State University in International Trade and Finance. Josh served 8 years in the U.S. Army, including a 10-month stint in Bagram, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom. These experiences, coupled with the education he received from Louisiana State, have molded him into a focused, disc…

Was 2020 awful or did it provide some growth opportunities? What did it do for the real estate industry? What did it do for our business? How did it affect us? What did we learn? Deviating a bit from just talking real estate, Anna addresses all of these, provides some personal insights, and a bit of advice as to how we can go into 2021 with a bette…

Beau Blankenship, owner of Engel & Volkers in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, a former football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, transitioned to a career in real estate about five years ago and has soared to become the top agent, team leader, and broker in his area. The 30A Scenic Highway stretch is an up-and-coming part of Florida’s Emerald Coast t…

Did it appraise or not appraise? That is the question! Everything can be going right during a transaction...the price is agreed upon, the inspections go well, the survey is done, the lending process is well underway, and the title search has started. But this one seemingly minor item, yet incredibly important component, can make or break everything…

The Builders Association of North Central Florida brings you the The Parade of Homes, a twice-a-year showcase of homes built to impress, and usually no detail is spared. From futuristic home automation systems to the latest in lighting, paint, and building materials, builders pack a punch in every home they build. The Parade offers a wealth of info…

Nashville-area native and Realtor Brandon Carver joins us to discuss the city’s booming market. As America’s music capital, Nashville has always been filled with energy, attracting entertainers and creatives for over 200 years. During the past 20 years, it has seen tremendous growth and there are no signs of it stopping. In fact, the pandemic has m…

Recruits and those relocating usually have an impression of Gainesville that is quite different than the reality. Luxury housing not only exists in several areas of town; it’s on the rise and in major demand. Whether you’re moving here from NYC or San Francisco, or you’re a local looking to upsize now that home has to be your vacation destination, …

Melissa Leifer, a real estate broker at Keller Williams Tribeca, is a native New Yorker who has been in real estate for over 18 years and has seen its share of ups and downs, including 9/11, the financial crisis, and COVID. Melissa shares what the housing market was like in NYC before the pandemic, during its challenging first months, and what she …

In our Season 2 opener, we sat down with rockstar agent and partner at Darr Schackow Insurance, John Darr, to discuss the importance of insurance policies for both buyers and sellers when entering into post- and pre-closing occupancy agreements. Buyers and sellers alike usually don’t amend their Insurance policies when entering into these commonly …

A new season of Let's Talk Real Estate With Anna Olcese.By Anna Olcese

Today‘s episode is a rebroadcast of one of our very first, which was released early in 2020 and was recorded in late 2019 before all of the madness. The “madness” - surprisingly - is NOT COVID. It’s the crazy low interest rates that we’re seeing lately. All time low, in fact! If you decide to take advantage of the low rates, then listen to refresh …