Malibu Dan is back In the Living Room—this time with Suzanne Seini, founder/CEO of Innovate Realty (aka the “Queen of the Closing Table”). Dan opens with real talk: respect, mentorship, and why he believes brokerages should feel like home—not a cold, cutthroat office.

Suzanne breaks down her journey from prior brokerages (including the chaotic Zillow iBuying era) to building Innovate with a people-first mindset. They talk loyalty, culture, how agents actually thrive, and what makes a brokerage more than “tools and tech.” The episode is a mix of heart + behind-the-scenes industry reality… with Malibu Dan’s signature humor all the way through.

What they talk about (bullet points):

• Malibu Dan’s intro + giving Suzanne her flowers (and mispronouncing “Sini”)

• How Innovate Realty was built with agents and support at the center

• Their past connection at Sertare Properties + the mentor/team culture they respected

• Suzanne’s move into the Zillow iBuying world and how she landed the opportunity

• What it felt like being “enemy #1” during iBuying (hate, DRE complaints, offer madness)

• 2019–2021 market chaos: multiple offers, corporate process, agents taking the blame

• Why Zillow’s model failed: relying too much on algorithms/zestimates vs human comps

• Malibu Dan’s view: real estate is relationships—AI can’t replace genuine care

• Innovate’s “difference”: sincerity, real support, and leadership that actually checks in

• Brokerage culture: feeling wanted + having a real team behind you

• Why agents don’t move even when they’d be happier (comfort, fear, loyalty)

• Suzanne’s leadership style: people-first, not numbers-first

• Creating a non-competitive, “for each other” agent culture

• The lonely side of real estate + why community matters

• Hiring/firing: Suzanne’s honesty about only letting go of one agent (and why)

• Malibu Dan’s Franco & Jennifer Shamu story: one great deal experience that led him to Innovate

• Wrap-up gratitude + Dan calling Innovate his “one stop” home going forward

Early February check-in and the momentum is real. Suzanne and Paul break down what they’re seeing across Southern California — stronger open house traffic, resilient pricing, and rates near three-year lows — then shift into a bigger topic: why most agents and investors lose steam after January, and how to build a system that actually produces results all year.

They dig into consistency vs. “fake busy,” measurable actions, marketing with real ROI, and how both agents and investors can pressure-test their plans with real numbers and post-mortems. Plus: big Innovate expansion news and what growth really looks like behind the scenes.

In this episode, we cover:
• SoCal market snapshot: strong weather, strong traffic, and resilient demand
• National homebuilder slowdown vs. California resilience
• Investor activity rising while acquisition competition increases
• Rates near 3-year lows and why sidelined buyers are re-entering
• Why January momentum often dies in February (and how to avoid it)
• The marathon vs. sprint analogy for business performance
• Busy vs. productive — and why they’re not the same
• Building a sustainable, repeatable accountability system
• Agent strategy: consistency, mindset, and execution after a slow-close month
• Marketing that works: targeted content + real call-to-action vs. vanity posting
• Measuring outcomes: leads, contacts, conversions — not just activity
• Investor strategy: deal math, scopes of work, timelines, and post-mortems
• Why renovation budgets and timelines are almost always underestimated
• Innovate Realty expansion: new offices + new states launching
• What entrepreneurship really feels like behind the scenes
• Realty Talk growth and new agent-hosted shows coming soon

Welcome to the very first episode of In the Living Room with Malibu Dan — a new show built around real estate, lifestyle, and culture in sunny Southern California (with curiosity beyond CA too). Malibu Dan kicks things off by telling the real story behind the name — a radio career, an old-school LA station era, and encouragement from longtime friend Tim Conway Jr. to jump back on the mic.

For the first guest ever, Dan brings in Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson to talk entrepreneurship, how Bye Bye House really started, what makes flipping “less risky than people think,” and a super practical conversation agents get asked all the time: permits — when they matter and when they don’t.

In this episode, we cover:
• Who “Malibu Dan” is and how the name came back to life
• Dan’s radio background + why he returned through Innovate’s podcast studio
• Why this new show is real estate + lifestyle + culture (SoCal-based)
• Paul’s entrepreneurial origin story (from teenage landscaping to door-to-door sales)
• The University of Utah years, commission life, and early financial lessons
• Paul’s previous businesses: home services, solar/energy retrofits, scaling teams
• How Bye Bye House began: first flips, private lending, and the Center Street connection
• What “doing well” means in flipping: speed, construction control, and margins
• Finding deals: networking, on-market distressed properties, and “math problem” underwriting
• Paul’s view of the housing market in “three tranches” (bottom/middle/top inventory)
• Permits explained: when to pull them (structural/sqft) vs. when they slow everyone down (cosmetic)
• Why buyers misunderstand permits — and what inspectors really verify
• Wrap-up: Dan’s gratitude to Innovate/Bye Bye House + teasing more guests and future episodes

Short and sweet episode — because 2026 is already moving fast. Suzanne and Paul share what they’re seeing in the market right now (real buyer activity, multiple offers, over-ask sales), then “double click” on the headlines: a proposed ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes, and the bigger local concern — rent policy changes that could seriously impact Los Angeles multifamily housing. They wrap with the real silver lining: consumer confidence returning, and some big Innovate announcements coming soon.

In this episode, we cover:
• Quick 2026 market pulse: buyer activity picking up fast
• A real example: strong open house traffic + multiple offers + $50K over ask
• Proposed institutional investor ban: what it actually targets (big funds, not local investors)
• Why it likely won’t impact Bye Bye House / Innovate — and why enforcement is questionable
• The affordability narrative vs. the real numbers (institutional ownership is a small slice nationally)
• Why certain pockets may feel investor pressure more than others
• The bigger concern: LA rent policy proposals and why it could hurt multifamily upkeep, values, and new development
• How rent limits can discourage building inventory during a housing shortage
• The positive takeaway: headlines + rates in the low 6s = buyers regaining confidence
• Why buyers should lean on agents/lenders to verify what’s real vs. just hype
• Teaser: major Innovate announcements coming soon

Kicking off 2026 with a fun one. Suzanne and Paul are back with a quick market pulse, buyer energy, and rates talk — then they welcome Tammy & Branden from The Echo Group, who recently joined Innovate Realty. The conversation goes deep on traditional vs. investor real estate, how to build trust fast, and why understanding the math (and the client mindset) matters more than ever. Plus: legendary real estate stories you won’t forget.

In this episode, we cover:
• 2026 kickoff and the Echo Group intro
• Early-year market vibes: rates, buyer excitement, and open house traffic even in the rain
• National housing trends, builders slowing down, and what it means for infill in 2026
• How buyers/sellers get influenced by what they consume online (mindset matters)
• Why “if they love the house, they’ll find a way” — and how agents should read that
• Trust-building + question-based selling: getting to needs, stress points, and real motivations
• Why real estate today is “eHarmony”: photos first, expectations, and the open house advantage
• Tammy & Branden’s paths: REO/foreclosures, short sales, remodels, and scaling transactions
• The investor lane: why agents miss massive opportunity if they don’t understand investor math
• Hard conversations earlier in investor deals — and why discomfort creates growth
• Feeding your own pipeline: turning one investor deal into multiple transactions
• Iconic transaction stories: Ike & Tina Turner’s former home, massive turnout, and neighborhood history
• Real talk on “death on property” disclosures and how different buyers react
• Wrap-up: training resources, investor education, and why alignment/culture matters at Innovate

In this episode of Realty Talk, Suzanne Seini and Paul Hanson unpack the real dynamics between real estate agents and investors — where tension comes from, why it exists, and how collaboration actually leads to more closed deals.

From investor underwriting and ROI thinking to agent psychology, communication, and market expertise, this conversation breaks down what each side can learn from the other heading into 2026. Whether you’re an agent, investor, or industry professional, this episode offers practical insight on how to work smarter, move faster, and create long-term opportunity together.

• Why agents and investors often clash — and how to eliminate friction
• ROI vs. relationships: the core mindset difference
• How investors underwrite deals (ARV, construction costs, speed, margins)
• Why speed matters more than perfection in investor transactions
• What agents can learn from investor decision-making
• What investors can learn from agents about market knowledge & deal psychology
• How communication and presentation can win offers
• The risks of double-ending deals without proper representation
• Real examples of collaboration creating smoother, faster transactions
• Why understanding investors is a competitive advantage for agents in 2026

What does it really take to succeed as a real estate agent in 2026? In this episode of Realty Talk, Suzanne Seini (CEO & Founder of Innovate Realty) and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson break down how the market is shifting — and what agents must do to stay ahead.

In this episode, we cover:
• Market conditions, interest rates, and why micro-markets matter
• Buyer demand, inventory shortages, and pricing expectations
• Why today’s buyers and sellers are more informed than ever
• The shift from salesperson to trusted advisor
• How to build trust through transparency and expertise
• Speed, communication, and setting clear client expectations
• Branding, media, and social proof in modern real estate
• Gen Z buyers and changing consumer behavior
• Why culture, mentorship, and people matter more than splits
• How agents must evolve to win in 2026 and beyond

A must-listen for agents reflecting on their business, considering a move, or planning for the future

Welcome back to Real(ty) Talk! Today, Paul and Suzanne unpack why the end of the year is one of the most strategic times to buy, sell, or invest—even though most of the industry slows down. From holiday motivation to inventory psychology, we explain how agents can finish strong and set up a powerful start to 2026.

This episode covers:

• Why buyers have a huge edge during the holiday slowdown

• How agents can stay consistent, time-block, and build next year’s pipeline

• What the Fed’s final meeting under Powell means for rates

• Insights from a recent economic forum on inflation, AI, home values & affordability

• The 5 biggest red flags for buyers—pricing traps, urgency pressure, inspection disasters, sketchy disclosures, and title nightmares

• A hilarious (and terrifying?) Homes Gone Wild story featuring a sweaty stranger and a massive steel wine opener

Tap follow, share with a colleague, and join us next week for more stories, strategy, and insider real-estate insight.

This week on Realty Talk, Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” and Paul “Fix-It-All” are recording on-site at Innovate Realty’s La Mesa office in San Diego County. They break down the buzz around 50-year mortgages, what Trump’s proposals and Fed moves could mean for buyers, and how today’s market is really behaving as we head through the end of the year.

They also pull back the curtain on how Innovate’s multi-location model and in-house media team are changing the game for agents and their clients—from collaborative office culture to wedding-style closing videos that generate repeat and referral business.

In this episode, they cover:

• The pros, cons, and real risks of a potential 50-year mortgage

• Why “date the rate” still matters—and what most consumers actually do with debt

• Inventory, days-on-market, and why some listings are flying while others sit

• How Innovate’s La Mesa office is capturing nearly 1% of San Diego County’s market share

• What makes Innovate different for agents: in-house media, multiple locations, and low-ego leadership

If you’re a buyer, seller, or agent wondering how to navigate this market—or thinking about whether your brokerage is really supporting you—this episode is for you.

👉 Follow, rate, and subscribe on Spotify or YouTube, and don’t forget to send us your real estate stories for a chance to be featured on a future episode!

This week on Realty Talk, Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” Seini and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson sit down with Innovate Realty’s Director of Marketing — and former touring musician — David Doblin (aka “Double D”) for one of our most electric conversations yet.

🎵 In this episode:

• David’s wild career journey from jazz drummer to real estate marketer

• Why buyer confidence is shifting — and what a Fed rate cut could mean for SoCal housing

• Behind-the-scenes at Innovate Realty’s full-service ecosystem: brokerage, escrow, media, and more

• How AI is becoming “the ultimate amplifier” for agents — from automating tasks to building full apps in-house

• The Homes Gone Wild story you won’t believe (hint: it involves the Golden Gate Bridge 🫣)

💡 Takeaway: Whether you’re a new agent or a seasoned pro, this episode shows how creativity, adaptability, and technology can shape the future of real estate.