At Home With Jonathan Osman

It's the Ask Jonathan Episode.  This time, listeners asked for a market update, about what life is like as a Realtor and if you should waive an inspection or appraisal to make an offer more attractive to a Seller.   If you would like to leave a voicemail for the next Ask Jonathan episode, call and leave a message or text 980-880-5088. send an email to podcast@trpcarolinas.com or leave a message via any of our social channels.  At home Podcast on Twitter At home with Jonathan on Instagram and At home with Jonathan Osman on Facebook. 

Real estate search site Zillow announced today that they are shutting down their iBuying business effective immediately, laying off 25% of their workforce and selling 7,000 homes in their inventory to institutional investors. We look at the implications of their announcement and how it may impact the Charlotte real estate market From Bloomberg "Zillow shuts down home flipping business after racing up losses"

This week, I'm joined by Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to discuss passage of the 2040 Charlotte Comprehensive Plan, the upcoming Unified Development Ordinance or UDO, new developments in the development at Eastland Mall as well as return to work plans.   You can also hear Ely and myself on the August 3rd Charlotte Talks podcast, where we discussed the role institutional investors are playing in the Charlotte housing market.  

This week, Jonathan refutes the social media rumor that the housing market in Charlotte is in a bubble that's about to burst with facts and stuff.   Show notes: Here's the Charlotte Axios story that started it all: Is Charlotte's real estate market headed for a crash? Freddie Mac Perspectives: "In 2018, we estimated the housing shortage to be 2.5 million units", Housing Supply, a Growing Deficit. Who's Buying Houses? The 2021 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors. Who else is Buying? Institutional Investors (Wall Street).  Here's the report showing they own 17k homes in Charlotte: U.S. Single Family Rental 2020 Institutional Activity. National Association of Home Builders report for May 2021 Mortgage Bankers Association June 2021 Mortgage Credit Availability Index

Your favorite real estate podcast is coming back with all new episodes in July and I've added a real estate help line.  If you have a real estate question, I would love to answer it on an upcoming episode.  To submit your question, call 980-880-5088 and leave a voicemail with your question.

This week, Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute joins to discuss the support and backlash to the Charlotte 2040 Comprehensive Plan.  Plus, we talk Thomas the Tank Engine and I try to explain why the housing market is completely insane.  Finally, if you like drinking games, take a shot every time I say 106.

February 2020 was the last month that the real estate market wasn't negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  This week, Jonathan looks at the effects on housing in Charlotte one year later and how likely is a proposed $15,000 Home Buyer Credit to become reality?  

This week, Jonathan is joined by WFAE Reporter David Boraks to discuss his series on an old asbestos manufacturing facility in Davidson, North Carolina that some hope to redevelop and the issues faced by the adjacent neighborhood.  Dive deeper into David's reporting by visiting Asbestos Town on WFAE and locate other Brownfields sites in North Carolina.

This week, Charlotte Observer Real Estate and Development Reporter Danielle Chemtob joins to share how Covid has impacted office vacancies, what's next on a site for the a new stadium for the Carolina Panthers, an update on Eastland Mall, River District and more.  Follow Danielle on Twitter at @daniellechemtob

Located in Northeast Charlotte, the neighborhood of University City has grown to become the second largest employment center in Charlotte from a diverse mix of employers including Atrium, AXA Equitable, Wells Fargo, Red Ventures and more.  Learn the history of the neighborhood and new developments heading to University City, including the $1 billion Centene campus from Darlene Heater from University City Partners.   View the rendering for the new Centene campus, currently under construction.

This week, Jonathan recaps the Charlotte region's real estate stats from 2020 and previews changes in store for the 2021 market.  

This week, I am joined by Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute to discuss the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Zoning Plan and the Charlotte MOVES Task Force Transit Plan, which includes expanding Charlotte's Light Rail System.  

This week, Charlotte Realtor Jonathan Osman explains his listing preparation process, addresses when the best time to sell your home is, and which improvements you should consider making when preparing to list your home for sale.

This week, Jonathan is joined by family law attorney Dana Lehnhardt from Lehnhardt Price Family Law to discuss the most common mistakes that are made during the separation and divorce process, how real estate is factored in, when you should consider a prenup and purchasing a home while separated. 

In this third episode of the series, Jonathan covers the due diligence period, what to expect and what should be accomplished.  Also, he will answer the question on when possession occurs in both North and South Carolina. 

Continuing the series on the home buying and selling process, this episode covers the best sources to find homes that are available for sale, when and why you should hire a Realtor and finally the items that we will negotiate when making an offer: Price Due Diligence Earnest Money Closing Seller Paid Concessions Personal Property

This episode begins a series on purchasing your first home, starting with the needs analysis process and mortgage qualification.  Learn how to establish criteria for your home purchase, tips on purchasing in a new neighborhood and why the mortgage pre-approval process is so important.

This week, I'm joined my Dave Noyes with ReMax Results in Asheville discuss the explosion of the second home housing market in the North Carolina mountains. Also, recap the latest Charlotte real estate market trends and why the suburbs and exburbs are outpacing the city.

Taiwo Jaiyeoba, Charlotte's Assistant City Manager and Director of Planning, Design and Development, joins me to discuss building a more pedestrian friendly city, addressing the transportation needs of a growing city, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) / Accessory Commercial Units (ACU) and building a new city square at Trade and Tryon in Uptown.   As always, this podcast is sponsored by Tryon Realty Partners.  When you're ready to talk real estate, give Jonathan a call at 704-960-1725.

Greg Jackson from Heal Charlotte joins me to discuss his vision for a transitional housing campus in east Charlotte and what we can do to help his organization accomplish their goal.   Follow Greg at @GregJackson704 on Instagram and Twitter. Follow Heal Charlotte @HealCharlotte1 on Twitter, @MyHealCharlotte on Instagram and Heal Charlotte on Facebook.  

This week, I am joined by Danielle Chemtob with the Charlotte Observer to discuss whether or not Charlotte or Mecklenburg county will introduce impact fees on new development and if they're allowed to. Also, hear a quick recap of the housing market update for July 2020. Read Danielle's article on Impact Fees in Charlotte: Charlotte May Try to Alleviate Growth With A Fee Developers Oppose. But Hurdles Remain: https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/development/article244408057.html

This week, Jonathan is joined by David Love with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services Engineering and Mitigation Program to discuss the city's Flood Plain acquisition program and how FEMA flood plains are determined.  Also, Jonathan explains the HUD AFFH program, which was halted in 2017 and the President tweeted that he was repealing last week.   Mecklenburg County residents: see if your property is located in a flood plain here on the 3D Floodzone Map: https://meckmap.mecklenburgcountync.gov/3dfz/

This week, Jonathan is joined by Chuck Cole, Executive Director of Trees Charlotte, to discuss the loss of Charlotte's Tree Canopy and what we can do help restore the loss.  Plus lots of other tree talk and a few tree puns. Visit https://treescharlotte.org/ view the canopy map and learn about their organization.

This week, Jonathan delivers the real estate sales figures from June 2020 and dives into if a Covid-triggered foreclosure wave is headed for the Charlotte area.

This week, we're discussing Sorting Out The New South City with author Tom Hanchett.  Learn how Charlotte wasn't always a segregated city, the pivotal event that divided the city, how generations of black residents were kept from having a say in North Carolina and the landmark Supreme Court decision that re-integrated a generation of Charlotte students.   Buy Tom's book Sorting Out the New South City: https://uncpress.org/book/9780807861882/sorting-out-the-new-south-city/  and follow him on Twitter at @historysouth

This week, I am joined by Chrissie Nelson Rotko of Off the Eaten Path Blog, Wynee Bermudez of Wynee's World and Kristen Wile of the Unpretentious Palate to talk how Charlotte area restaurants are fairing with phase 2 Covid-19 restrictions, who's doing a good job at keeping their customers safe and recommendations of favorite Black, Asian and Latino owned restaurants.

This week, I share the story of the most insane real estate transaction that I've ever been apart of and I share a quick recap of the May Charlotte real estate sales figures. But first, I share some of my thoughts in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the feeling that things may change this time.

Since 2014, the Charlotte region has had a housing shortage that is only more exacerbated this year due to Covid-19. This week, I'll explore how the shortage came to be and what is a possible solution.   Show notes: During the episode, I referenced an article citing the number of sales from iBuyers to Institutional Investors: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/47578-with-foreclosures-dwindling-investors-turn-to-direct-buyers-for-new-single-family-rentals/ iBuyers: A new choice for home Sellers but at what cost https://www.collateralanalytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CA-RESEARCH-iBuyers-A-new-choice-for-home-sellers-but-at-what-cost.pdf I referenced an example I had of the fees of an iBuyer:  

The Covid-19 Pandemic has exposed a significant wealth gap that is growing ever wider in Charlotte and our country as a whole. Ely Portio from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute joins me to discuss their latest report and their #WealthGapWednesdays Twitter   Read The Racial Gap in Charlotte Mecklenburg here: http://ui.uncc.edu/sites/default/files/RWTry2.pdf and learn follow along with the related articles here: https://ui.uncc.edu/story/charlotte-mecklenburg-racial-wealth-gap-report

This week, Jonathan is joined by Kings Mountain Mayor Scott Neisler to discuss the "vegas style" Catawba Indian Gaming Casino that was approved in March for Kings Mountain. The economic impact, both for the Catawba tribe and the town, are massive as this will be the closest casino to Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville and Spartanburg.

This week, Jonathan is joined by Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute and volunteer Mecklenburg County Parks Commissioner Rick Winiker to talk about Charlotte's new Shared Streets program, which debuts this week.  Also, hear how the the stay at home orders impacted real estate sales in the Charlotte region. Show Notes: Charlotte Shared Streets program: https://charlottenc.gov/Transportation/Programs/Pages/CharlotteSharedStreets.aspx Barcelona's Super Blocks program: https://vimeo.com/282972390

This week, Jonathan Osman is joined by Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina to go through how the home inspection process has changed as a result of social distancing. Also, a quick update on how the stay at home order has impacted real estate viewings in the Charlotte area.

The Charlotte housing market has slowed considerably due to the stay at home order and local restrictions but it is by no means dead. This week, Jonathan interviews Christopher Day with RMS Mortgage and Jaime Kosofsky with Brady and Kosofsky to learn how they have adapted their business to the new social distancing guidelines.   Want to see the house the lady is singing about at the 4:55 mark: 13620 Castleford Drive Mint Hill. Binge The Mecklenburgers with me here on Youtube

Rodric Lenhart with Everlong joined Jonathan to discuss investing in short term furnished rental properties versus traditional rental properties. He shares tips on how to make your property stand out from the competition and how important vacancy rate is. Plus, we discuss how the real estate industry feels like a MLM at the moment.  But first, a quick recap of the latest sales figures for the Charlotte region for March 2020.

This week, Mortgage Lenders tighten their standards for new loans, the concern servicers have over mortgage assistance, iBuyers cancel contracts and what to binge watch during social distancing.  Yes - we talk 90 Day Fiance and Tiger King!

Starting this morning, a Stay at Home order is in effect for residents and businesses in Mecklenburg County.  What does that mean for real estate? How can real estate agents adapt to work remotely to facilitate transactions?  

Danielle Chemtob from the Charlotte Observer and Ely Portillo from the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute joined Jonathan to discuss Opportunity Zones and how they are impacting the neighborhoods around Uptown Charlotte that are being redeveloped.

In this episode, I share resources for anyone that may be in need of food and housing assistance during the Covid-19 Pandemic.   ** Notes** Spectrum is offering 60 days of free internet for households with students that are home from school in the Carolinas.  844-488-8395 Second Harvest Food Bank and Loves and Fishes offer food for those in need.  Also, children on the free and reduced school lunch program can obtain free sandwiches from the Loyalist Market in Matthews.   If your child is on the free and reduced lunch program, contact your school to coordinate delivery or pickup of meals. Crisis Assistance Ministry can offer emergency rent payment assistance. If you fall behind on your mortgage, the NCHFA can offer foreclosure assistance. Brian Moynihan, Bank of America, on Face the Nation stated that they will work with customers that are in danger of falling behind on their payments.  Reach out to your lenders if you are in danger of falling behind.

Preston Sandlin from Home Inspection Carolina joins Jonathan Osman to talk about the common issues uncovered during the home inspection process, what things to worry about and what things get overblown.  We talk everything from post-war houses to new construction.  

The stock market took a tumble last week as a result of fears of the CoronaVirus and led to mortgage interest rates to fall as well.  Mortgage lender Rebecca Richardson joined me to discuss why interest rates have fallen to the lowest point in recent history.  

Garrett Tichy is the founder of one of the Charlotte area's most successful co-working businesses.  Not only is it where Tryon Realty Partners is based, Hygge is home to hundreds of smaller and emerging businesses. This week, hear from Garrett how he got into co-working, learn about Hygge and what he is working on for 2020.  

After accruing $72,000 in student loan debt while pursuing her Masters Degree, Bernadette Joy endeavored to pay it off as quickly as possible. Not only did she do it in about 11 months, her and her husband used the same strategy to pay off their mortgage ($300,00 total). Now they are debt free.  This episode, learn how they did it, how you can save for your dream home using the same strategy, and take her CrushYourMoneyGoals.com challenge. Find her on social media at @BernadebtJoy Announcement: Jonathan Osman with Tryon Realty Partners is hosting a series of home buying workshops.  If your plans include a home purchase, learn about the process and how to avoid the most common pitfalls most buyers make.  It's free! Register now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-time-home-buyer-workshop-tickets-95121750717

Today, Jonathan is joined by Kristen Wile from the UnPretentiousPalate.com, Chrissie Nelson Rotko from OffTheEatenPath.com, Wynee Bermudez from WyneesWorld.com, and Greg Sisto from Vivino Selections to talk the Charlotte restaurant scene, the best new restaurants, what's hot and the places that no one is talking about but should be.  Also, what are the best places to showcase the taste of Charlotte if you only had 24 hours in town.   Wine enjoyed on the episode: Ornella Molon Rosato Connect with each guest on Instagram: @Kristen_Wile & @Unpretentiouspalate, @Wyneesworld, @Chrissie_beth and @VivinoSelections

Mecklenburg County Volunteer Parks and Rec Commissioners Brian Cox and Rick Winiker talk greenways, adding parks, Charlotte's Central Park idea and how you can get involved in Mecklenburg 2020 Planning Sessions: Meckplaybook.com.   Referenced Attachments: Participate in the 2020 Parks and Rec Planning Sessions: MeckPlaybook.com Why Residents Should Support Greenways: https://ui.uncc.edu/story/mecklenburg-should-support-greenways  Population vs Areas of Need With Parks: The Power of Parks:

Have you considered cutting the cord but didn't know which service was right for you to stream your favorite shows.  Jonathan Osman provides a ranking of the TV streaming services (Hulu Live, Spectrum TV, AT&T Now, Sling, and YouTube TV) as far as which ones were easiest to use, most channels and value for money.  Also, if you were a Playstation Vue subscriber and you're now searching for which service is most like Vue, this bonus episode is for you.   To receive OTA (Over the Air) television free: External Antenna: https://www.amazon.com/ClearStream-Indoor-Outdoor-Antenna-Mount/dp/B007RH5GZI/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&aaxitk=JQcZ3hW8bFVALL251re6Zw&hsa_cr_id=3423825790401&ref_=sb_s_sparkle_slot Distribution Amplifier, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-Distribution-Amplifier-Antenna/dp/B001PI09SE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=channel+master&qid=1580501036&sr=8-1 DVR: Try a TiVO or ReCast: https://www.amazon.com/Fire-TV-Recast-over-the-air-DVR-500GB-75-hours/dp/B01J6A6H74?ref_=ast_bbp_dp&th=1&psc=1 Finally, and most importantly, point the antenna at the tv towers.  https://www.antennaweb.org/ is a great resource to help you find where they are and even the type of antenna would work best for you.   Good luck!

Thinking of getting into real estate? I interviewed Naomi Abel and Becca Smoot, two newer Realtors, to learn about life as a rookie agent. There's a lot of truth to what they shared, especially how real estate isn't at all like you see on TV.  Enjoy the episode!

This is a stat heavy show (kinda boring - sorry) where I will walk through how Charlotte's housing market has changed over the last year and the last decade.  Also, I will address the common question I get as to when is the best time to put your home on the market.  Follow the show on Twitter at @AtHomePodcast, Instagram @AtHomeWithJonathan and Facebook At Home with Jonathan Osman

This week, Jonathan is joined by Katie Peralta with the Charlotte Agenda and Ely Portillo with the UNCC Urban Institute to discuss the plan to make a MLS practice facility on the former Eastland Mall site in East Charlotte.  Plus, we discuss the latest proposal to revive the Brookhill Village site in South End.  

Every house can be a smart home, regardless of budget, if plan for it properly.  On this episode, Jonathan discusses the benefits of using a hub, wifi-access point placement, using the guest network for your new smart devices, smart door bells, cameras, and light switches.  He also answers what to do when you're planning to sell your home when you have a bunch of smart devices. 

Chris Day with RMS Mortgage referred to me as Captain Useless and then we proceeding to talk how to finance your first home, a second home and even a property that needs renovation.  

Ashley Jimenez with Ashley J Design joined Jonathan to discuss the process of designing a custom home and when it makes sense to renovate vs build new.