Buying or selling a home soon? Before you make a major move, there’s one decision that can make or break your experience:
👉 How do you choose the right real estate broker to represent you?

This episode gives you the inside scoop you won’t get anywhere else.

📝 EPISODE SUMMARY

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, prepping to sell, or relocating to a new city, choosing the right real estate broker is everything. In this episode, Joe and Makayla walk you through the exact qualities, questions, red flags, and expectations that buyers and sellers should look for when hiring an agent.

They cover the most reliable ways to start your search—open houses, reviews, online presence—as well as how to conduct an effective “interview” with a potential broker. You’ll learn why responsiveness matters, why market data trumps vibes, and how to tell whether a broker actually understands your needs.

From evaluating communication style, to spotting unrealistic promises, to understanding the importance of neighborhood-level expertise, this episode gives you a clear, practical roadmap to choosing a broker who will advocate for you, negotiate well, and guide you with confidence from start to finish.

⏱️ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

00:04 — Why choosing the right broker matters for BOTH buyers and sellers
Joe & Makayla share how a thoughtful choice affects your entire transaction.

06:00 — Where to start your search if you don’t have referrals
Open houses, Google reviews, content, and why Zillow isn't always the best indicator.

09:03 — Dig deeper than a brokerage website
How Instagram, YouTube, and podcast content reveal an agent’s true style and values.

10:45 — How to interview a broker (buyers & sellers!)
What professionalism, responsiveness, and clarity really look like.

12:57 — Market knowledge: your broker must understand your neighborhood + your goals
Why hyperlocal insight benefits both sides of the transaction.

16:00 — Experience with your type of transaction
Condos, land, estate homes, first-time buyers—every category requires different skill sets.

19:00 — Red flags for any consumer hiring a broker
Vague answers, pressure tactics, overpromising, poor communication, and more.

22:30 — The bottom line: how you know you’ve found the right fit
The best brokers are data-driven, communicative, strategic, and aligned with your priorities.

👤 GUEST BIO

No guest this episode — Joe and Makayla take the mic solo to deliver candid, experienced-backed insights from years of helping buyers and sellers navigate the Portland market.

Learn more at: https://www.livportland.com

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED

• LivPortland Website: https://www.livportland.com
  
  

👉 Buying or selling in 2025? Visit LivPortland.com to connect with our team.
👉 Love the show? Subscribe for more insider real estate conversations.
👉 Found this helpful? Leave us a review—it helps others find the podcast!

Thank you for listening to this episode. Stay up to date on the latest trends and insights by subscribing to our podcast and following us on social media.

For more information about buying or selling in the Portland Metro real estate market, please visit www.LivPortland.com or contact us directly.

We appreciate your feedback, so please leave a review and let us know what topics you would like to hear more about.

Are Zillow’s Zestimates your secret weapon—or your biggest home-selling trap? 👀

🏡 Episode Summary

In this episode of Off the Record, Joe and Makayla pull back the curtain on Zillow’s Zestimate—that number every homeowner loves (or hates) to check. They break down how Zestimates are calculated, what they get right, and the major blind spots that can seriously mislead buyers and sellers. From missing upgrades and neighborhood nuances to how emotion and experience still beat algorithms, this episode reveals what really determines a home’s value in today’s market.

You’ll also catch some fun off-topic banter—like pest control horror stories, Halloween antics, and the surprisingly deep connection between chickens and rats 🐔🐀—because that’s the charm of going Off the Record.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to use (and not misuse) Zestimates when it comes to pricing, buying, or selling a home in the Portland metro area.

⏱️ Episode Highlights

[00:12:00] – What a Zestimate really is: Joe explains how Zillow’s algorithm combines MLS data, tax records, and AI to generate home value estimates.

[00:14:00] – The pros: Makayla and Joe agree it’s a quick, convenient snapshot that gives homeowners transparency and engagement.

[00:17:00] – The cons: Why Zillow can’t see your home’s true upgrades, location quirks, or emotional value.

[00:18:40] – Unrealistic expectations: How Zestimates can set sellers up for disappointment—and how agents reset those expectations with real data.

[00:20:00] – Accuracy check: Zillow claims a 2–5% accuracy rate for active listings, but Joe reveals why that number isn’t the whole story.

[00:22:00] – When Zestimates fail: From rural properties to luxury estates, Joe and Makayla share why the algorithm breaks down when homes get unique.

[00:24:00] – The smart way to use Zestimates: Use it as a conversation starter, not a pricing strategy—and always get a human expert’s insight.

👥 About the Hosts

Joe Reitzug and Makayla Mast are Portland-based real estate experts and hosts of Off the Record, where they blend humor, insight, and deep industry experience to give listeners the real scoop on buying, selling, and living in Oregon.
Explore more at livportland.com
.

🔗 Resources Mentioned

• 🏡 Blog: Zillow Zestimates — Helpful Tool or Price Trap?
  
  
• 💬 Learn about assumable loans with rates as low as 2–4% — available at livportland.com

Don’t let an algorithm price your biggest asset.
👉 Visit livportland.com to get a personalized home valuation from real experts—no guesswork, just insight.
And while you’re there, subscribe to Off the Record for more inside stories and market updates from Joe and Makayla.

Thank you for listening to this episode. Stay up to date on the latest trends and insights by subscribing to our podcast and following us on social media.

For more information about buying or selling in the Portland Metro real estate market, please visit www.LivPortland.com or contact us directly.

We appreciate your feedback, so please leave a review and let us know what topics you would like to hear more about.

💡 Rates finally dipped — but will you move fast enough?
Joe and Makayla share what the smartest homebuyers are doing right now while everyone else is still waiting for 5%.

🏡 Episode Summary

The real estate world just got interesting again — rates are now sitting in the high 5s to low 6s, and buyers who’ve been on the sidelines are starting to make their move. In this episode, Joe and Makayla break down what this shift really means for affordability, competition, and timing.

They’ll walk you through how smart buyers are capitalizing on this rate window, from locking early and exploring assumable loans to negotiating seller-paid points and finding hidden gems that have been sitting on the market.

This isn’t theory — it’s what real buyers are doing right now to win. Whether you’re buying your first home or upgrading before year-end, this episode will help you play your cards right in a fast-changing market.

⏱️ Episode Highlights

• 00:02:00 – The Market Shift: Rates drop into the high 5s/low 6s — why this is the opportunity buyers have been waiting for.
• 00:05:00 – Affordability Boost: How a single rate point can expand your purchasing power and comfort zone.
• 00:07:00 – Rate Lock Smarts: Why timing your lock and comparing lenders matters more than chasing the lowest rate.
• 00:10:00 – Hidden Deals: Why homes sitting 60+ days could be your best chance to negotiate.
• 00:12:30 – Refinance Watchlist: Even if you’re not buying yet, learn when to refi and how to be ready when rates dip again.
• 00:14:00 – Creative Financing: From adjustable-rate mortgages to seller-paid points — what’s working for buyers right now.
• 00:15:30 – The Secret Weapon: Assumable FHA and VA loans can save buyers hundreds per month — no military background required.
• 00:17:00 – Timing & Prep: Why early pre-approval and proactive planning are the smartest plays for 2025.
• 00:19:00 – What We’re Loving: Communication wins, cooperative brokers, and how professionalism makes or breaks deals.

👥 Hosts

Joe Reitzug and Makayla Mast — Portland real estate pros, storytellers, and the team behind LivPortland.
Together, they pull back the curtain on what’s really happening in the market — so buyers and sellers can move with confidence.

Rates just dropped — now’s your moment.
👉 Visit LivPortland.com to connect with Joe, Makayla, and the team for expert guidance on how to move smart in today’s market.

Subscribe to Off the Record for more insider real estate insights every week.

Thank you for listening to this episode. Stay up to date on the latest trends and insights by subscribing to our podcast and following us on social media.

For more information about buying or selling in the Portland Metro real estate market, please visit www.LivPortland.com or contact us directly.

We appreciate your feedback, so please leave a review and let us know what topics you would like to hear more about.