Dishin' Dirt with Gary Pickren

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Last week all the buzz was the Compass/Anywhere merger.  This week the big news is Zillow and its numerous legal troubles. Zillow has had a terrible month. Multiple lawsuits and now government interaction has marked the many troubles facing Zillow. Today, I examine these cases and discuss how the cases could affect all real estate agents, particularly those who rely on leads.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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Huge news in the real estate market!  Compass is buying Anywhere brands.

We will look at the recent merger announcement between Compass and Anywhere with guest Colton Lindsay, a recognized real estate expert from Utah. We will explore the implications of this merger, the debt crisis facing the parties, and the importance of data in shaping the deal. 

Our conversation will also touch on generational changes in the industry, the role of AI, and the challenges of fair housing and market access presented by the merger. 

Colton provides insights on what real estate agents should focus on in this evolving landscape and shares predictions for the future of brokerages.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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On September 17, I had the opportunity to record Dishin' Dirt live onstage at SCR's REALTOR Mania. My guest was Jon Waclawski, General Counsel, Senior Vice President for NAR.  We discussed everything from the status of legal cases against NAR, the good and bad of Sitzer/Burnett, Clear Cooperation, In-House Listings, the Three-way agreement, MLS rules and a whole lot more. 

Listen to hear what is going on at NAR in the legal sense. 

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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In this abbreviated episode of Dishin' Dirt, I will discuss the other side of the coin in the builder agent debate. I will talk about the fiduciary duty that buyer agents have in a new construction transaction. Quit dropping off your clients and leaving!  Why do I even have to say this.

And then I will shift gears to explain the implications of the new FinCEN reporting requirements and urge agents to stay informed and compliant to protect their licenses and clients.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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Four-time guest, Garrett Maroon, joins me on Dishin' Dirt to discuss the intricacies of balancing work and family life, particularly in the real estate industry. 

We explore the concept of redefining success beyond traditional metrics, emphasizing the importance of personal fulfillment and relationships. 

Garrett also shares insights from his book, 'The Balanced Breakthrough,' including the PDA formula for building a successful business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. 

The conversation also touches on the significance of faith and legacy in shaping one's approach to success.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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Builder and seller agent incentives are a big problem in our industry today.  Should the agent get an incentive simply to show a house or should that incentive go to the buyer?  Don't you have a fiduciary duty to do what is in the client's best interest?  How is it in the client's best interest for you to get a bonus for steering them to a house?  Doesn't sound too client centric to me!

Today, I will discuss the complexities surrounding builder and seller bonuses and incentives in real estate, particularly in light of the Sitzer Burnett case. I will explore the ethical implications of commission steering, the fiduciary duties of agents, and the legal truths that govern real estate compensation. The conversation will emphasize the importance of prioritizing client interests over personal financial gain, and I will discuss the potential legal repercussions of accepting bonuses from sellers.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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The Central Carolina REALTORs Association has amended its' sales contract. The contract that will go live near the end of September 2025 and includes new provisions on agent compensation, seller transaction costs, authority to sign and home warranties.  

Finally, compensation is in the contract where it should have been the past year. Hopefully this will stop the numerous problems in how agents document compensation.  Check out this week's episode to learn the changes and what the changes mean to you and your clients.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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It has been one year since real estate as we know it was supposed to end with the Sitzer Burnett/NAR settlement.  House prices and commissions were supposed to collapse, and no real estate agent in their right mind was ever going to work with a buyer again.

Today, I will discuss the implications of the first anniversary on the real estate industry. I will address the misconceptions surrounding the settlement, the impact on commissions, and the ongoing strength of the Realtors Association. I will also discuss the importance of adapting to changes in the market and understanding the value of real estate agents in navigating transactions. 

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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What the heck is Geographic Farming and how can it make you a lot of money?

Janine Sasso, a successful real estate agent and author, joins me to discuss this very effective sales strategy for every real estate agent. Janine emphasizes the importance of being a hyper local agent, focusing on geographic farming, and building relationships through direct mail and events. She also discusses the challenges agents face today, including distractions from technology and the need for genuine human connections. Janine provides insights on how to effectively target neighborhoods, budget for marketing, and integrate traditional methods with modern technology to achieve success in real estate sales.

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Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.    

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Today I am I going to dig deeper into the significance of the Dawkins vs. Eastwood Homes case. I examine the implications of "take or leave it" builder contracts, particularly focusing on the unconscionable provisions that the Court has said can disadvantage home buyers while urging builders to reconsider their contract terms to avoid potential legal repercussion. This case affects any real estate agent who represents a new construction buyer.

Don't forget to like us and share us!
Gary

* Gary serves on the South Carolina Real Estate Commission as a Commissioner. The opinions expressed herein are his opinions and are not necessarily the opinions of the SC Real Estate Commission. This podcast is not to be considered legal advice. Please consult an attorney in your area.