The Mostly Real Estate Podcast, with Declan Spring | Inside The East Bay Housing Market

Hosted by Declan Spring

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May 2026

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About the show

Conversations about the East Bay housing market and the people shaping it. Master the East Bay housing market through conversations with the people who know it best. Hosted by Declan Spring, this podcast goes beyond the transaction to explore the stories, personalities, and real-world forces shaping real estate across Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and the surrounding East Bay communities. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with top agents, lenders, developers, historians, and local voices who influence how the market actually works. From pricing strategy and buyer behavior to neighborhood dynamics and industry shifts, the show offers an inside look at the craft, challenges, and character of East Bay real estate. Who this podcast is for. Homeowners, buyers, and real estate professionals interested in understanding how the East Bay housing market actually works — through conversations with the people shaping it. Declan has spent years working inside the East Bay housing market and brings a journalist’s curiosity to conversations with the agents, lenders, and local figures who influence how the market evolves. Produced by Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova, founders of The Home Factor, the podcast blends local insight, professional expertise, and long-form storytelling. Whether you're a homeowner, buyer, investor, or real estate professional, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the market and the people shaping it. Thinking about buying or selling in the East Bay? Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova lead The Home Factor, a real estate team focused on helping clients navigate Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and surrounding communities. Learn more at: thehomefactor.com Subscribe for regular conversations about housing, community, and the evolving East Bay real estate landscape. CA DRE#01398898

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May 20, 202650 min

Alarmist Media and Neglected Opportunity In The East Bay Condo Market - #75 Kerri Naslund-Monday

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!Insurance shocks, SB 326 balcony repairs, HOA dues, and shifting lending rules have turned the Inner East Bay condo market into a maze. We wanted a simple one-year check-in with Kerri Naslund-Monday, but the data forced a harder question: are condos truly “down,” or are we watching a fragmented market where some buildings are quietly fine while others are becoming unfinanceable?We start by pushing back on the kind of reporting that blends condos, townhomes, and single-family homes into one alarming number. Oakland is not one market. A downtown condo and a Rockridge house aren’t moving together, and when you flatten them, condos take the blame for a story that’s more nuanced. Mentioned in the intro:SF Chronicle article from May 10 on Oakland Home ValuesThe Property Ledger: YouTube Video regarding the Oakland Condo MarketKerri walks through what buyers are asking right now at open houses: SB 326 compliance, special assessments, reserve funding, and whether the building’s insurance setup will hurt conventional financing.Then we get practical. Kerri shares countywide stats on distressed units, the shockingly high expiration and cancellation rate, and why “what didn’t sell” matters more than the few standout comps that did. We talk about what still sells (top floor, views, extra baths), why the buyer pool keeps shrinking, and how her team uses an online bidding platform to get more eyes on stale listings and force faster price discovery. If you’re buying, selling, or advising clients on Inner East Bay condos, Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, this is the candid map you want. Subscribe, share the episode with a real estate friend, and leave a review.Kerri Naslund-Monday is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01759031Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

April 20, 20261 hr 21 min

Your Mortgage Market Reality Check - #74 Faramarz Moeen-Ziai

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!Mortgage rates can feel random until you trace the chain back to the bond market, oil prices, and political decisions that hit confidence like a hammer. We sit down in Berkeley with Faramarz Mooeen-Ziai of FMZ Loans to talk about what really changed over the past year, why a brief window of rates in the 5s disappeared overnight, and how real estate pros can stay useful to clients when the headlines keep shifting.FM also walks through what it looks like to build a lending shop from the ground up around one clear idea: the realtor is the customer. We dig into his four-step process, from fully underwritten pre-approvals to hands-on offer support and proactive updates that keep deals from dying in contract. If you care about winning in competitive situations, closing in tight timelines, and protecting your reputation with clients and listing agents, you’ll take notes here.From there, we zoom out to the big forces shaping affordability: deficits and Treasury supply, Fed decision points, CPI and jobs data, and why oil shocks can take a long time to show up in everyday prices. We also tackle AI from both angles, the excitement and the threat, including what happens when entry-level jobs disappear and “trust” becomes the real differentiator. We finish with one of the most practical ideas of the conversation: the branding gap, and how aligning your brand with who you actually are helps AI search connect you with the right clients.Subscribe, share this with an agent or lender friend, and leave a quick review if it helps, what’s the biggest change you’re seeing in your market right now?Please visit Faramarz Moeen-Ziai's business page here.Faramarz Moeen-Ziai, mortgage advisor NMLS #342090Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

April 4, 202648 min

Long Term Success In Real Estate Comes From Consistency Not Shortcuts - #73 Anja Plowright

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!“Real estate hacks” sound tempting right up until you’re the one holding a buyer’s stress, a seller’s memories, and a decision that can’t be undone. I sit down with East Bay powerhouse Anja Plowright to unpack what actually builds a durable real estate career in Berkeley, Oakland, and beyond: process consistency, grounded communication, and the kind of personal growth that makes clients feel safe when everything feels chaotic.We talk about how the business has evolved from paper disclosures and rigid MLS limits to a world where agents are expected to be writers, analysts, marketers, and creators. Anja shares why she stays intentionally old-fashioned in the ways that matter most: one-on-one relationships, intuition about spaces, and a calm, organized presence that lowers client anxiety. If you’re a newer agent, her advice is direct and practical: know yourself, set boundaries, and build systems you can repeat under pressure.We also go deep on AI in real estate, why it’s not the threat people assume, and how it can help if you keep the human edge front and center. Then we get tactical on offers from the listing side: the line between overcommunication and undercommunication, how to signal confidence without creating red flags, and why a clean, complete offer package is still a competitive advantage. To wrap, we touch the March 2026 East Bay real estate market, including interest rates, low inventory, and lifestyle-driven demand.If this conversation helped you think more clearly about your work or your next move, subscribe, share it with a friend in real estate, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.Anja Plowright is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01351797Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

February 6, 202650 min

Why Rate Shopping Might Be A Bum Steer: Real Lending Insights From Brady Thomas - #72

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!The smartest edge in a choppy market isn’t a flashy rate quote, it’s certainty. We sat down with Brady Thomas, owner of LaSalle Mortgage, to map how real buyers win: a fully underwritten pre-approval, a lender who calls the listing agent, and a plan that balances affordability with speed to close. Along the way, we translate rate noise into plain English: the Fed doesn’t set mortgages, the 10-year Treasury and risk spread do, and trust in institutions shapes bond demand. If jobs cool, rates can fall, and housing can heat up, even as the broader economy softens.We also go deep on ADUs, the East Bay’s favorite form of quiet density. Permitted ADUs with a kitchen, bath, and separate entrance can now count toward qualifying income on homes with up to four total dwelling units. Single-family parcels may support multiple ADUs, and appraisers can use rent surveys so lenders can include 75% of fair market rent. The catch: the ADU must exist and be permitted. Bonus rooms and low-ceiling would-be In-Laws won’t count for rental income, though they can still add appraised value. For financing builds, most owners lean on cash, family help, cash-out refis, or HELOCs; renovation loans exist but come with guardrails because half-finished projects spook lenders.Brady also previews his new Field Report, a hyperlocal survey of the top Inner East Bay agents that reveals what actually worked in 2025 and where the 2026 market is heading. The throughline is clear: buyers are pickier, preparation matters, and positioning beats passive listing. Enjoy the conversation, grab the Field Report from the show notes, and if this helped you, share it with a friend. Subscribe for more hyperlocal insights, and leave a review with your biggest question about rates or ADUs, we’ll tackle it all on a future show!Brady Thomas is a licensed Mortgage Lender NMLS# 396946Click this link to receive your copy of The Field ReportFollow Brady on Instagram @peptalkmortgageDeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

February 4, 202651 min

Berkeley’s Zone Zero Explained - A Conversation With Berkeley Assistant Fire Chief Colin Arnold - #71

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!A half-mile of flying embers can decide your home’s fate, but the real battle is won within five feet of your walls. We sat down with Assistant Fire Chief Colin Arnold to unpack Zone Zero, why AB 38 already shapes East Bay home sales, and how clear, science-backed steps can protect families, preserve escrows, and ease insurance headaches.We walk through exactly where Berkeley’s rules apply—focusing on the very high fire hazard zones in the Grizzly Peak and Panoramic areas—and why the city is prioritizing deeper, four-side inspections over quick curbside checks. Chief Arnold explains how defensible space works across 0–30–100 feet, what embers actually do on impact, and the practical fixes that matter most: removing combustible mulch near foundations, screening vents and gutters with ember-resistant mesh, cleaning under decks, and breaking the “wick” effect of fences and gates that run into homes. You’ll also hear how the department aligns its approach with the California Department of Insurance’s Safer from Wildfires framework to support better insurance outcomes.If you’re listing in the hills, we cover the resale inspection playbook, how to avoid last-minute surprises, and how AB 38 compliance at the point of sale helps buyers and lenders. We also highlight real help available now: free citywide chipping, free ember mesh for vents and gutters in the very high zone, a CalFire-funded assistance program for eligible residents to bring properties into compliance, and a home hardening tax rebate that applies up to one-third of property transfer taxes to approved upgrades. From decks and hot tubs to mature oaks and cedar siding, Chief Arnold offers clear guidance and practical flexibility grounded in data and experience.Ready to turn compliance into confidence? Check your address and programs at BerkeleyFireSafe.org, share this episode with a neighbor, and subscribe for more East Bay real estate insights. Your first five feet start today—leave a review with your biggest Zone Zero question and we’ll tackle it next.Click here for the full text of AB 38Click here for BerkeleyFireSafe.OrgIn June of 2025, Chief Colin Arnold was selected to serve on the FIRESCOPE AdHoc Wildland Pre-Plan GroupDeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

January 9, 20261 hr 7 min

From Cookies To Coaching: Mapping Passion To Purpose, With Joy - #70 Jerry Beckerman

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!What if joy at work is less about perks and more about practice? I sit down with Berkeley entrepreneur and mentor Jerry Beckerman to trace a path from a bustling Telegraph Avenue cookie shop to Passion Spark, his Socratic-based program that helps people connect what they love to how they earn. We talk about the discipline of imagination, the real meaning of risk across body, feelings, and spirit, and simple ways to turn rote tasks into play so the work sustains you instead of draining you.Jerry opens the hood on building a customer-first experience starting with imagination, and then scaling production with intention. He shares how a single editorial mention doubled sales overnight, why word of mouth outperforms ad spend. We dig into the hard part too: when excitement fades and routine creeps in. Jerry’s antidote is to choose play on purpose, set personal metrics, and measure success by alignment rather than assets.We get practical about careers and midlife pivots. Jerry lays out four “realities” for mapping passion to income: direct entry, delayed payoff, part-time bridge, and lower materialism. We explore trusting your gut like an expert, then verifying with research, so you get the best of intuition and evidence. Goal-free evaluation helps avoid tunnel vision, and the Socratic method builds ownership in teams by asking better questions instead of prescribing answers. We close on civility: how micro-choices like a smile or hello shift culture, and how Jerry’s Kindness and Civility Polls use introspection to raise productivity and reduce burnout.If this conversation sparks something, share it with a friend who needs a nudge toward “enough,” rate the show, and hit follow so you never miss an episode. And if Jerry’s work resonates, reach out, your next step might be one question away.Jerry Beckerman is the President and Founder of Passion Spark.To contact Jerry Beckerman please email him at jerry@opine.netTo learn more about Civility Poll and Passion Spark please click here.Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

December 30, 202517 min

Updates To BESO - Berkeley's Building Energy Saving Ordinance - #69 Part 2 With Jeff Lipton

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!Jeff Lipton and I discuss how the January 1, 2026, changes to its Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO) are about to reshape how Berkeley homes change hands, and we wanted to make the path clear. We break down the upcoming changes, and explain exactly what sellers must do, what buyers can expect, and why smart planning can turn a compliance task into a market advantage.First, we clarify what a Home Energy Report and HER score actually measure, how the score becomes part of the MLS remarks, and why that visibility matters for buyers. Then we map the new fork in the road: complete qualifying upgrades before listing, or defer them and send a combined $5,000 deposit to the City that the buyer can reclaim after earning six credits within two years. We detail how the credit system works, the $150 compliance filing, and practical timelines, plus the very real tradeoffs between doing the work now versus passing it forward.From there, we get tactical. We share vendor recommendations for heat pumps, solar, and electrification projects; outline common electrical needs like adding 240-volt circuits; and point to rebate aggregators to stack local, state, and federal incentives. We talk through heat pump water heaters, mini splits, induction ranges, and even battery-backed cooktops that keep working during outages. Along the way, we highlight a simple strategy: plan upgrades before equipment fails, pre-wire where possible, and use BESO compliance as a selling point that reduces buyer friction and can boost demand.If you work in Berkeley real estate or plan to buy or sell, this guide will help you navigate HER scores, credits, deposits, disclosures, and the new expectations at the point of sale. Subscribe, share this with a neighbor or client who needs to prepare, and leave a quick review to tell us which upgrade you’d tackle first. Jeff Lipton is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02139138, real estate strategist, operator, marketing expert, and business lead supporting his wife, Megan Micco, a top-producing broker associate with Compass, in Berkeley, CADeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898Mentioned in the Show:Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO)The SwitchIsOn.orgElectrifyMyHome.comAlbion (Solar)Hassler HeatingCopper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley

December 19, 20251 hr 11 min

Why Focus Beats Hustle: Build A Systems Optimized Referral-First Business - #69 Jeff Lipton

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!What if your marketing got simpler, your leads got warmer, and your days felt lighter? That’s the promise behind our deep-dive with operations-minded strategist Jeff Lipton, whose approach turns a referral-first business into a steady, scalable machine. We start with the foundation most agents skip: ruthless focus. Pick a narrow geography. Define your ideal client persona. Choose the property type you’ll master. That clarity sets the course for everything—content, channels, intake, and even what you stop doing.From there, we unpack the system that actually delivers: SEO built for humans and algorithms, not vanity. Jeff explains how to blend technical hygiene, local content that answers real questions, and credible backlinks earned through PR outreach. We also tackle the shift to AI-driven search and why the winners will write like experts in a conversation—specific, local, and genuinely helpful. AI can draft, but your judgment makes it trustworthy, and that’s what surfaces when someone asks a nuanced question about buying in Berkeley.Then we go inside the machine: intake checklists that evolved into smart forms, custom CRM fields, and automations that capture timelines, objections, and even gift preferences—followed by post-close surveys that make the process better every month. The result is more inbound, less chaos, and a client experience that feels personal without burning you out. We talk lifestyle design too: setting a ceiling for volume, working with people you like, and creating room for life by automating everything that doesn’t require judgment.We close with a practical walk-through of Berkeley’s updated Building Energy Saving Ordinance (BESO): point-of-sale requirements, the end of buyer deferrals for the report, deposit mechanics, six-credit compliance options, and why getting compliant before listing can boost demand. Plus, vendor tips, rebates, and electrification insights from a team that’s done it at home and with clients.Enjoy the conversation? Follow and share the show, and leave a quick review—your support helps more agents find thoughtful, no-fluff strategy. Jeff Lipton is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02139138, real estate strategist, operator, marketing expert, and business lead supporting his wife, Megan Micco, a top-producing broker associate with Compass, in Berkeley, CADeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898Mentioned in the Show:Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO)The SwitchIsOn.orgElectrifyMyHome.comAlbion (Solar)Hassler HeatingCopper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley

November 13, 20251 hr 2 min

Own Your Pipeline By Owning Your Time - #68 Janine Hunt

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!The quiet weeks of late fall decide your first quarter. We bring on Janine Hunt, team leader, past association president, and current MLS chair, to show exactly how to turn seasonal goodwill into a steady pipeline without feeling salesy or stretched thin. Think of this as your practical reset: a clear distinction between sphere and pipeline, the messaging each one needs, and a simple cadence you can keep even when life gets loud.We dig into systems for relationship-based growth, why specificity beats generic marketing, and how to use events for a three-part touch sequence that compounds results. Janine shares how she time-blocks mornings to build and afternoons to manage, plus how to move social media reactions into real conversations that convert. If you’ve struggled to stay consistent, you’ll get a lightweight tracking approach to measure inputs and outcomes. We talk leverage too, when to bring on a coach, what good coaching looks like, and how accountability transforms team dynamics. Close the year with intention, build your own economy, and step into January with momentum you can feel.If this episode sparks a plan, share it with a colleague who needs a boost, subscribe for more real estate strategy with heart, and leave a quick review to tell us which lead gen pillar you’ll commit to next.Janine Hunt is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01909766Follow Janine in Instagram @ilovemartinisDeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

October 24, 20251 hr 22 min

Selling Joy, Dodging Drama, And The Dog In The Empty House - #67 Herman Chan

Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text!What happens when the noise gets louder than the work? I invited the ever-candid Herman Chan to cut through the hype and talk honestly about what it takes to build a meaningful real estate career right now, where brand still shapes outcomes, regulations keep shifting, and clients are more anxious than ever.We trace Herman’s journey from corporate and TV pilots to a long, resilient practice, and why he ultimately chose local, personal, and sustainable over scale and spectacle. We unpack the three fronts agents feel most: regulatory pressure that rewrites playbooks, client dynamics frayed by post-2020 stress, and industry competition sharpened by scarcity. Along the way, we examine brand gravity, why the sign still matters at higher price points, and how broker wars and private listing platforms manufacture FOMO that most agents don’t need to carry.Herman argues for a smaller, stronger tribe: fewer gimmicks, deeper trust, and the discipline to say no. That’s where the joy lives. He shares raw stories from the field; squatters, liens, break-ins, midnight security calls, the quiet, unglamorous work that protects clients and never makes the reels. We also talk AI without the buzzwords: where a co-pilot helps (drafts, structure, polish), where it crosses boundaries (privacy, ethics), and how to use it without feeding it your life. For new agents, Herman maps a practical on-ramp: apprentice with a strong producer, publish one consistent content lane, reduce expenses, and let your micro-community anchor your lead flow.If you’ve felt exhausted by broker drama, algorithm churn, and the pressure to “be everywhere,” this conversation offers relief and a plan. Shrink your world, serve with precision, and measure wins by the people you help, not the likes you chase. Subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs a reset, and leave a review to tell us where you’re finding real joy in the work.Herman Chan is a Broker Associate and licensed CA REALTOR® DRE# 001988025Follow Herman Chan on Instagram @hermanityDeclan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898