The Fitze is Right | A Real Estate Podcast

Jennifer Fitze, Compass Real Estate
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship

Your agent isn't telling you everything, but Jen Fitze will. The Fitze Is Right is the real estate podcast where veteran Maryland realtor Jen Fitze shares the real stories, insider secrets, and hard truths about buying and selling homes that most agents keep to themselves. With over 20 years of experience in the Maryland real estate market, Jen has seen it all... from nightmare deals and shady tactics to creative wins that saved her clients tens of thousands of dollars. Each episode features a true real estate story, Jen's expert breakdown of what went wrong (or right), and an industry secret most agents won't share with you. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, looking to sell, or just love wild real estate stories, this show gives you the knowledge you need to protect your biggest investment. New episodes weekly. Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen. Topics covered: home buying tips, home selling strategies, real estate horror stories, Maryland housing market, home inspections, closing process, real estate agent advice, first-time buyer mistakes, Harford County real estate, Baltimore County homes, negotiation strategies, and what your realtor won't tell you. Follow Jen on social media @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate for daily real estate tips and behind-the-scenes content.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    They Waited 11 Months for a Short Sale... Then Got the Worst Phone Call of Their Lives

    In Episode 11 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze reads and reacts to one of the most painful viewer stories the podcast has ever received — an 11-month short sale nightmare that ended in total devastation. A couple found their dream home — a four-bedroom colonial listed at $285,000 in a neighborhood where everything else was selling for $360,000 or more. Their agent told them it was a short sale and that the process would take "a couple extra months." It didn't. They submitted their offer in March. Sixty days passed. Ninety days. Nothing. Their agent kept saying the bank was reviewing it. Meanwhile, they were living month-to-month in a tiny apartment with two kids. Their landlord raised the rent twice. They were paying an extra $400 a month just waiting. By month five, their agent was harder to reach. By month seven, they discovered she had never done a short sale before — she was Googling the process while they were living through it. Then the bank assigned a new negotiator and the entire review started over from scratch. At month nine, they finally got a verbal approval. Their agent called screaming. They cried. They told their kids they'd have their own rooms. They gave their landlord 30 days notice. They started packing. They picked out paint colors. Two weeks later, the bank changed the terms. They wanted $15,000 more. The couple didn't have it. Their agent told them to pay it because they'd already waited so long. They borrowed $8,000 from family and scraped together the rest. Then came the final blow. The seller had filed for bankruptcy during the process. The sale was frozen by the court. Indefinitely. Their agent didn't even know — she found out when the buyers told her. After 11 months, thousands in extra rent, borrowed money from family, and their entire lives on hold — the deal was dead. They eventually bought a different house seven months later with a different agent. It cost them $80,000 more. Jen breaks down everything that went wrong, what a short sale actually is, why the timeline is 6-18 months not "a couple extra months," the sunk cost trap of "you've waited this long," and how to spot an agent who's Googling your transaction instead of managing it. In this episode you'll learn: → What a short sale actually is and why they take 6-18 months → Why "a couple extra months" is the most dangerous thing an agent can say → The bankruptcy loophole that lets sellers stay in homes for years without paying → Why verbal approval from the bank means nothing → The sunk cost trap and why "you've waited this long" is terrible advice → How to spot an agent who's never done a short sale before → Whether short sales are ever worth it in today's market New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  2. Jul 14

    I Bought 4 Beach Condos, Rented Them Out for Years, Then Sold Everything... Here's Why

    In Episode 10 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze tells a story she's never shared on the podcast — her own. Not a client's deal. Not a horror story from a transaction. This is Jen and her husband's personal journey buying, renting, and selling four beach condos in Ocean City, Maryland. It started with a dream. Growing up, Jen and Chris each had one week at the beach per year. That was all their families could afford. When they got married, they started renting the same condo in Ocean City for two weeks every summer — spending over $3,000 a year on someone else's property. After four or five years of this, Jen asked the question that changed everything: what if we just bought one? They got approved — she still doesn't know how — and found their dream unit at the Capri. Right on the beach. Beautiful view. $10,000 over budget, because of course it was. They hired a property manager, rented it out when they weren't there, and the first year the numbers came in: $30,000 in rental income against $27,000-$28,000 in expenses. Barely breaking even — but they had a beach house. The plan was simple: buy a new condo every two years, using the rental history to qualify for the next mortgage. By the end, they owned four units. One bedroom on the ocean. Two-bedroom oceanfronts. A bayside unit where they could watch fireworks from the balcony — Jen's absolute favorite. Then COVID hit. No rentals allowed. Four mortgages plus their primary home. No income. "We went broke a little." Jen pulls back the curtain on the tenant nightmares — renters who opened the sliders and ran the AC at 58 degrees all weekend, destroying the entire unit. Curling iron burns on white dressers. Bottle caps down the garbage disposal. Margarita stains on white pillows, flipped over like Jen wouldn't notice. Eventually, they made the decision to sell. The first condo — purchased for $270,000 — sold for $475,000. Six years of equity growth. They used a 1031 exchange to defer taxes, rolled everything into a new home, and now have a tiny mortgage. Jen's verdict on being a landlord? Social media glamorizes it. The internet makes you think it's passive income. It's not. It's a second job with no days off. It's a financial gamble. And a pandemic can wipe you out overnight. If you're going to do it, have your strategy, your team, and your expectations in order — or you're going to fail. In this episode you'll learn: → How Jen and her husband went from renting to owning 4 beach condos → The real math of vacation rental income vs. expenses → What COVID did to landlords who depended on seasonal rentals → The worst thing tenants ever did to one of their condos → What a 1031 exchange is and how it defers your taxes → Why "passive income" from rentals is mostly a myth → The one lease rule every landlord should have New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  3. Jun 30

    My Seller Got Arrested Twice & Locked Me Out The Basement

    In Episode 9 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze tells the story of the most chaotic listing of her career — one that ended with an arrest, a restraining order, and a seller she's still tagged as "incarcerated" in her CRM. It started as a simple referral. A realtor friend at a 55-and-older new construction community in Perry Hall called Jen to list a woman's house. The seller needed to sell in order to qualify to buy in the new community. Simple enough. Jen drove down, met the woman — super sweet, 90 pounds, not even five feet tall — toured the house, which was clean and beautifully decorated. Everything seemed perfect. Then Jen heard yelling from the basement. On the tour, one daughter's bedroom was locked with a note that said she could never show it. The stairwell to the basement had no trespassing signs posted in the seller's own home. The basement was completely off limits. What Jen discovered: one daughter upstairs had mental health issues. Another daughter and her wife were living in the basement rent-free, screaming obscenities at their mother. The husband, sitting on the couch ignoring everything, apparently doesn't live there — and now Jen knew why. It got worse. During listing photos, the upstairs daughter's bedroom door had warnings written on it: "Keep out. No trespassing. You'll go to jail." When the daughter was finally gone, Jen was able to see the room — the walls were covered in drawings and nasty messages to the mother. In Sharpie. Then came the phone call no agent ever expects. The builder's agent called: "We have a problem." The 90-pound seller had been arrested for assault on her basement daughter. A restraining order was filed — against the mother. She couldn't return to her own house. The daughters threw her clothes on the front lawn. A few days later? Arrested again. Same charge. Jen had to withdraw the listing and put in the notes: "Seller is incarcerated." The seller lost $10,000 in good faith deposit on the new construction because she couldn't sell her house. The daughters won — they were living there for free and sabotaged the entire sale. Jen also breaks down the financial reality of being a realtor that most people don't understand: agents front all costs out of pocket, don't get paid until settlement, and if the deal falls through, they eat every dollar they invested. Plus four scenarios that can kill a deal — from financing falling through to title search surprises. In this episode you'll learn: → What happens when a seller's family sabotages a home sale → Why the basement is where all the problems hide → What realtors actually pay out of pocket before getting paid → Why realtors only earn about $40/hour when you break it down → Four things that can kill a deal between contract and closing → Why you should never buy anything during escrow — not even gum New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  4. Jun 17

    The Truth About Home Inspections... Plus I'm Reading Your Wildest Comments

    In Episode 8 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze breaks down the entire home inspection process from start to finish — and then reads and responds to the wildest comments from social media about previous episodes. First, Jen walks through exactly what happens during a home inspection — when it occurs, what inspectors check, what they're NOT allowed to check, and how much it costs. She reveals that inspectors can't move furniture, can't see inside walls, and can't look under carpet. Your inspection is a snapshot of two hours on one random day — nothing more. She breaks down the different types of inspections most buyers don't know they can get — radon, chimney, pool, well and septic, environmental — and explains why each one matters. She shares the story of the worst inspection she's ever seen: a row home in Dundalk with a 100-page report and 12 pages of repairs. The buyers still went through with it. Then Jen gets personal. She reveals that her own house had a failed radon test and a broken window, the sellers refused to fix either one, and the listing agent threatened to put it back on the market. She's been in the house for 12 years and still hasn't fixed the radon. "It's a when we sell problem." In the What Your Agent Won't Tell You segment, Jen drops a bomb: not all agents want a thorough inspector. Some agents want the deal to go through with no hiccups, so they recommend inspectors they know won't flag everything. Jen's philosophy? "It's way more important for me to lose a deal than for you to move into a problem house." Then the episode takes a turn as Jen reads and responds to comments from social media — including one buyer who found a video of the seller on the news talking about being scared of flooding, another who discovered a photoshopped fire in listing photos that led to the photographer being held liable, and a person who backed out of a $360,000 condo eight years ago that's now worth $500,000. "I'm still homeless," they wrote. In this episode you'll learn: → The full home inspection process from start to finish → What inspectors can and can't do — including what they're not allowed to touch → The #1 red flag that means walk away immediately → What radon is, why it's dangerous, and why most homeowners don't know they have it → Why not all agents want a thorough inspector → How to research and choose the right inspector → What a CLUE report is and why every buyer should pull one → Real stories from viewers about inspection nightmares and disclosure disasters New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  5. Jun 2

    From Homeless & In Debt to Buying Her First Home At 24... Here's How

    In Episode 7 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze sits down with Jocelynn, a 24-year-old first-time homebuyer who just closed on her first house. In a market where the average first-time buyer is 40 years old, Jocelynn did it at 24 — self-employed, fresh out of debt, with a credit score she'd been rebuilding for less than two years. Two years ago, Jocelynn quit her corporate job to start her own business. She went into debt. Credit card companies were calling every day. She was Googling "how long does a delinquency stay on your credit" and convinced she wouldn't be able to buy a home until she was 45. She moved in with her grandmother. She lived on top of a garage with mice. On paper, buying a house was impossible. Then she met Jen at a local event and said five words: "I want to buy a house." Jen didn't flinch. A year later, they were looking at houses together. The first house they loved fell through over Christmas — the sellers kept countering with worse terms, demanding inspections on impossible timelines, and refusing to budge. Jocelynn was heartbroken. She started doubting whether she could actually do this. Jen didn't let her sit in it. In January, Jen pulled a new list of houses and said "we're going." The third house on that list changed everything. A 1950s home with a rounded Hobbit-looking front door, a stone sunroom with old Baltimore charm, and way more space than anyone would expect from the outside. Jocelynn knew before she opened the front door. The seller's agent had texted that morning saying "just bring an offer." The seller accepted. It was meant to be. On final walkthrough day, Jocelynn's car broke down — a $5,000 repair on the same day she was signing closing papers. Her mom saw the house for the first time. Jen had secretly fixed radiator issues during the inspection that Jocelynn didn't even know about until this episode. In one of the most emotional moments in the show's history, Jocelynn breaks down in tears reflecting on her journey — from debt and doubt to waking up every day in a home she owns. "It's more than a house," she says. "It's a representation of what you can do when you follow your heart." Jen also reveals what happens behind the scenes that buyers never see — including the 173 items on her personal checklist for every single transaction. In this episode you'll learn: → How a 24-year-old self-employed first-time buyer got approved and closed → Why the first house falling through was actually a blessing → What to do when a seller counters with unreasonable terms → How to trust the process even when it feels impossible → What your agent actually does behind the scenes (173 things) → The most important quality to look for in a realtor → Why you should tell your agent and lender EVERYTHING upfront New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  6. May 19

    Their Agent Told Them a $22,000 Roof Problem Was 'No Big Deal'

    In Episode 6 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze does something different — she reads a real viewer's home buying horror story for the first time and reacts live. A first-time buyer couple found their dream home — a three-bedroom colonial listed at $385,000. Their agent told them to offer $15,000 over asking. They did. The offer was accepted. During the home inspection, the inspector flagged the roof — said it had about 2 to 3 years left and would eventually need to be replaced. Their agent told them it was no big deal, totally normal for a house this age, and not to ask for a repair credit because it might upset the sellers. They trusted their agent and didn't ask for anything. Four months after closing, the first big rainstorm hit. Water poured through the bedroom ceiling. They called a roofer who told them the roof wasn't 2 to 3 years from replacement — it was shot. Multiple layers of shingles had been roofed over instead of torn off. The repair estimate came back at $22,000. They called their agent. Her response? "That's homeownership." Jen's reaction is exactly what you'd expect from someone who's spent 20+ years fighting for her clients. She breaks down every mistake that was made — from the agent not pushing back on the roof, to the inspector missing the multiple layers, to the fact that a specialist should have been brought in before closing. She explains why a good agent uses inspection findings as leverage every single time and why the phrase "it might upset the sellers" should never come out of your buyer's agent's mouth. The hard truth? At this point, the buyers have no options. They've closed. They have to pay for the roof. But they also learned the most expensive lesson in real estate: your agent's experience and willingness to fight for you is worth more than anything else in the transaction. Jen also answers rapid fire questions including whether multiple layers of shingles is a deal breaker, the most expensive mistake she's seen a buyer make, and what first-time buyers should do before hiring an agent. In this episode you'll learn: → Why "it might upset the sellers" is the biggest red flag from a buyer's agent → What multiple layers of roofing means and why it's a serious warning sign → Why you should always bring in a specialist for big-ticket inspection items → What options buyers have after closing when they discover hidden problems → The most expensive mistake first-time buyers make → How to find the right agent before you start your home search Got a real estate horror story? Send it in — Jen might read and react to yours on a future episode. New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  7. May 12

    54 Showings, 22 Offers, and $100K Over Asking... How I Did It

    In Episode 5 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze reveals the strategy behind her biggest listing wins — including one that generated 54 showings in four days, 22 offers, and sold for $100,000 over the list price. The house was an estate sale in Fallston, Maryland. A desirable neighborhood, but the home hadn't been updated since the 1970s. Orange kitchen counters, teal and blue carpet, wood paneling everywhere. The systems and roof had been updated, but the inside was a time capsule. Jen priced it appropriately for the condition and market — and the response was overwhelming. Agents were calling saying they couldn't get in. There was nowhere to park on the street. People were flowing through the house constantly for four straight days. Even other agents were calling to buy it for themselves. When the deadline hit, Jen had 22 offers on her famous spreadsheet — and the things buyers were offering were maddening. Escalation clauses stacked on top of each other, contingencies waived left and right, and offers changing day after day. The house sold for $100,000 over asking. And the winning offer wasn't even cash — they beat out multiple cash offers by waiving every other contingency. Proof that cash doesn't always win. But this wasn't just about the market. The seller had just lost her parents. This was the family home she grew up in, full of memories. She didn't want a flipper turning it into another white-and-gray investment. Jen put every detail into a spreadsheet so the seller could make the right choice for her family — not just the highest number. Jen also breaks down the pricing psychology behind her listing strategy — why she prices homes in $25,000 increments to double the buyer pool, and how the same strategy helped her get 27 offers on a townhouse in Middle River. Then she reveals what most agents won't tell you: how to actually research your listing agent before hiring them, why most agents' "marketing plans" are just a sign in the yard, and what the real difference is between a house that gets 3 offers versus 50. Spoiler — it's usually not the house. It's the agent. In this episode you'll learn: → How a 1970s time-capsule house generated 54 showings and 22 offers → Why pricing in $25,000 increments doubles your buyer pool → How a financed offer beat multiple cash offers → Why you should start preparing your home 6 months before listing → How to research your agent before hiring them → What sellers post on social media that kills their own sale → The difference between an agent who lists houses and one who markets them New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  8. Apr 30

    40 People Showed Up to a House With No Photos... The Offers Were INSANE

    In Episode 4 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze takes you inside one of the wildest bidding wars she's ever been a part of... and she was at pottery class when it all went down. A $425,000 house in Bel Air hit the market with zero photos online. Not one interior shot. Just a terrible exterior photo that looked like it came from Google Earth. No showings were available through the normal scheduling app; Jen had to call the listing agent directly. Showings were restricted to one four-hour window and the seller would be present. Jen and her buyers showed up expecting the worst. Instead, they walked into a flipping party... cars everywhere. The house was a huge rancher on almost three acres, beautifully maintained by the same owner for 50 years. Original medieval-looking flooring in perfect condition. And a French maid mannequin in the family room. 40 people toured the house in four hours... on a listing with no photos. Then things got creative. Jen's buyer's husband found a $5 bill in the yard while looking for lot line stakes. They returned it to the seller. When they wrote their offer with an escalation clause, they ended the cap amount in "05"... so the seller would know they were "the $5 people." Since love letters to sellers are no longer legal, they had to get creative to stand out. Offers were due Sunday at 2 PM. Jen was at pottery class. Covered in clay. Her vase collapsed. Her phone was blowing up... buyer wants to change the offer, listing agent is texting updates, and Jen is trying not to be rude to the pottery instructor while managing a real estate bidding war with clay-covered hands. Then came the gut punch. Only 5 offers came in out of 40 showings,  but the winning offers were well over $100,000 above the listing price. All cash. Jen's buyer never had a chance. She texted her frowny faces from the pottery wheel. But the episode doesn't stop there. Jen breaks down everything you need to know about bidding wars — what an escalation clause is and when it helps vs. hurts you, what an appraisal gap means, why she'd never let a client waive inspections on a well and septic system, and how cash offers actually work. Then she reveals what your agent won't tell you: the listing agent does NOT work for buyers, dual agency means one agent takes both sides with no commission discount, and love letters are now illegal due to Fair Housing violations. Plus, she shares how she once won a house for her buyer using Reese's Cups, a Home Depot gift card, and a little creative research. The episode wraps with the first-ever Rapid Fire segment; including Jen's answer to "What would you ban from real estate?" Spoiler: RIP Zillow. In this episode you'll learn: → Why a house with no photos got 40 showings in 4 hours → The creative $5 strategy that made one offer unforgettable → What an escalation clause is and when it can hurt you → Why cash offers win and how financed buyers can still compete → What the listing agent really does with your information → Why dual agency is almost never smart for buyers → How love letters became illegal and what you can do instead New episodes bi-weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  9. Apr 15

    A Facebook Post Ruined This Home Sale on Settlement Day

    In Episode 3 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze shares two stories that will change the way you think about selling a home — one about a Facebook post that destroyed a deal on settlement day, and one about what your agent legally doesn't have to tell you. A house in Jen's parents' neighborhood in Parkville, Maryland had a water line burst from the refrigerator. Water was literally pouring out of the house. The owner came home to $60,000 in repairs. The entire main level was destroyed. A couple years later, the homeowner decided to sell. One problem — they never disclosed the water damage. It wasn't in the disclosures. It wasn't in the listing. They acted like it never happened. Then the buyer did what every buyer does — they went and stalked the seller on social media. Found their Facebook page. Scrolled through old posts. And there it was — photos and posts about the water damage, the $60,000 in repairs, all of it documented on Facebook for the world to see. The buyer had no idea until that moment. None of it had been disclosed. When settlement day came, the buyer sat down at the table and said three words: "I'm not buying." The seller had already moved out. Moving trucks were loaded. Possibly already purchased another home. They had to move everything back in. The entire sale collapsed — all because of a Facebook post and a missing disclosure. But Jen doesn't stop there. She breaks down exactly what disclosures are, what sellers are legally required to tell buyers, and what happens when they don't. From a Walmart being built near your neighborhood to a road widening that eats half your front yard — if it affects a buyer's decision, it has to be disclosed. Period. Then the episode takes an unexpected turn. Jen reveals that in Maryland, you do NOT have to disclose if someone died in a house. And she shares the story of listing a home where the previous owner — a doctor — was found in the garage. She refused to step foot in that garage. And she didn't have to tell a soul. In this episode you'll learn: → What disclosures are and why they can make or break a home sale → How a Facebook post gave a buyer the leverage to walk away on settlement day → Why buyers should always check a seller's social media before closing → The things sellers try to hide and how they get caught → What happens legally when you don't disclose known issues → What your agent is and isn't required to tell you about a property's history → Why Jen gives every seller "homework" before listing their home New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  10. Mar 24

    My Buyer Tried to Back Out Because of a Dream Then Hired an Attorney

    In Episode 2 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze shares one of the wildest buyer stories you'll ever hear... and it all started with a phone call about a nightmare. A military buyer relocating from Arizona to Aberdeen, Maryland found the perfect home; a beautiful rancher near Ripken Stadium. Offer accepted, deposit down, everything moving forward. Then Jen gets a call one morning. The buyer had a nightmare that the big tree in the front yard fell on the house. She no longer wanted to buy it. Not because of the inspection. Not because of the appraisal. Not because of financing. Because of a dream about a tree. From that point, the buyer completely ghosted Jen. Wouldn't answer calls, texts, or emails. The only thing she would say was that she wasn't buying the house. She missed her entire inspection window which was her only legitimate way out of the contract. She didn't schedule the appraisal. She just disappeared. Meanwhile, Jen is documenting everything in writing, keeping her broker in the loop, and communicating with the listing agent. Then a week before settlement, Jen gets a phone call from an attorney. The buyer had hired legal representation to get her out of the contract... because of a dream about a tree. The attorney reviewed everything Jen had documented, called back the next day, and delivered the verdict: the buyer cannot get out of the contract. She has to buy this house. And the attorney charged her an extra $1,500 just for wasting her time. But here's where the story takes its wildest turn. After weeks of ghosting, fighting, and hiring lawyers, the buyer shows up to the final walkthrough and says "Oh, I just love this house. I just love it." She walked through picking out where to put her furniture, barely spoke to Jen, and settled on the house like nothing ever happened. Jen and the listing agent sat in the family room after closing and stared at each other in disbelief. In this episode you'll learn: → The only ways you can legally back out of a real estate contract → Why skipping your inspection window can cost you your only exit → What to do when a deal starts falling apart from the buyer's side → Why documenting everything in writing saved Jen when the attorney called → What sellers should know about packing before the deal is final → How to handle stress and anxiety during the home buying process without derailing your purchase New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  11. Mar 9

    My First Home Had Black Mold, a Drug Raid, and a Seller Who Attacked Me at Closing

    In the very first episode of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze takes you all the way back to where it started... her own first home buying experience. And it was a disaster. In 2003, Jen and her husband were young, broke, and desperate to buy their first house in a competitive market. They finally landed a $72,000 home in Edgewood, Maryland. Sounds like a win, right? That's where the nightmare begins. The seller's wife, who wasn't even on the deed, physically blocked them from doing the final walkthrough. At settlement, that same woman came over the table screaming and threatening Jen. They had to split into separate rooms just to close the deal. The listing agent was so concerned about the situation that he put up his entire commission as a guarantee the sellers would leave the home in good condition. They didn't. Jen showed up on move-in day to holes in the walls, trash everywhere, a destroyed fence, and tire marks across the backyard. The agent lost every dollar of his commission. But it gets worse. Fifteen months later, a drug raid hit their court. Jen found herself on the floor of her bedroom in the dark at midnight while helicopters circled overhead and suspects ran past her house. The for-sale sign went up two weeks later. Their next home? A $138,000 house in Abingdon with 22 showings and zero offers, because the inside was trashed. A daycare operator with seven kids had left the home with poop on the bathroom walls, destroyed carpets, and a smell so bad they had to sit outside during the home inspection. Jen and her husband saw the potential and bought it anyway. To start renovations before closing, they agreed to pre-occupancy which meant waiving the final walkthrough. That one decision cost them everything. After closing, they discovered the basement was soaked, the walls were wet, and behind the drywall was black mold running up every joist. They couldn't afford to fix it and had to sleep on an air mattress in that basement with the mold for three months while they rehabbed the rest of the house. No one would go to court to help them. Their agent stopped returning calls. They were on their own. These two nightmares are exactly why Jen became a realtor. She never wanted anyone else to go through what she went through... and now, with over 20 years of experience in Maryland real estate, she makes sure they don't. In this episode you'll learn: → What a final walkthrough actually covers and why you should never skip it → What pre-occupancy means and why it can strip away your only protection as a buyer → Why your agent's obligation to you legally ends at settlement → What to do if you discover damage or hidden problems after closing → The one mistake first-time home buyers make that costs them thousands This is the episode that started it all. If you're buying a home, selling a home, or just love a wild real estate story... hit play. New episodes bi-weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips. Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't. New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show. Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode. CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

  • 11 Episodes

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5
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About

Your agent isn't telling you everything, but Jen Fitze will. The Fitze Is Right is the real estate podcast where veteran Maryland realtor Jen Fitze shares the real stories, insider secrets, and hard truths about buying and selling homes that most agents keep to themselves. With over 20 years of experience in the Maryland real estate market, Jen has seen it all... from nightmare deals and shady tactics to creative wins that saved her clients tens of thousands of dollars. Each episode features a true real estate story, Jen's expert breakdown of what went wrong (or right), and an industry secret most agents won't share with you. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, looking to sell, or just love wild real estate stories, this show gives you the knowledge you need to protect your biggest investment. New episodes weekly. Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen. Topics covered: home buying tips, home selling strategies, real estate horror stories, Maryland housing market, home inspections, closing process, real estate agent advice, first-time buyer mistakes, Harford County real estate, Baltimore County homes, negotiation strategies, and what your realtor won't tell you. Follow Jen on social media @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate for daily real estate tips and behind-the-scenes content.

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