The Mostly Real Estate Podcast, with Declan Spring | Real Estate Entrepreneurship

Declan Spring
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Master the East Bay market with the definitive realtor podcast for real estate entrepreneurs. Hosted by Declan Spring, this show goes beyond the transaction to deliver deep-dive real estate storytelling and expert media spin analysis of the local market. Whether you’re looking for a real estate insiders podcast that covers the East Bay or a marketing podcast for entrepreneurs in the property space, we spotlight the top producers, developers, and creatives shaping the industry. Each episode explores the craft, challenges, and character of the market, from community news in the Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond areas to high-level real estate marketing strategies. Produced by Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova (founders of The Home Factor), we bridge the gap between creative media and property expertise. Subscribe for weekly insights on becoming a better real estate entrepreneur, understanding the business of real estate through story-telling and first person experience, and staying ahead of the East Bay market. CA DRE#01398898

  1. FEB 6

    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# 396946 Click this link to receive your copy of The Field Report Follow Brady on Instagram @peptalkmortgage Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    51 min

  2. FEB 4

    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 38 Click here for BerkeleyFireSafe.Org In June of 2025, Chief Colin Arnold was selected to serve on the FIRESCOPE AdHoc Wildland Pre-Plan Group Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    51 min

  3. JAN 9

    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.net To learn more about Civility Poll and Passion Spark please click here. Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    1h 7m

  4. 12/30/2025

    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, CA Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 Mentioned in the Show: Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) The SwitchIsOn.org ElectrifyMyHome.com Albion (Solar) Hassler Heating Copper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley

    17 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    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, CA Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898 Mentioned in the Show: Berkeley Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) The SwitchIsOn.org ElectrifyMyHome.com Albion (Solar) Hassler Heating Copper - An Induction Range Made in Berkeley

    1h 12m

  6. 11/13/2025

    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#01909766 Follow Janine in Instagram @ilovemartinis Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    1h 3m

  7. 10/24/2025

    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# 001988025 Follow Herman Chan on Instagram @hermanity Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    1h 23m

  8. 10/03/2025

    Bestie Slay! Gen Z Agents vs. The Market - #66 Emma Dolgin and Ellen Martinez

    Ideas for the show or to want just to support us? Send us a text! Two twenty-somethings, high stakes, and a market that refuses to sit still. I sit down with Emma Dolgin (The Grubb Company) and Ellen Martinez (Compass) to unpack what it really takes to build a real estate career in your early 20s. No TV gloss, just the moves that matter. From first deals during the 2021 frenzy to the humbling slowdown that followed, Emma and Ellen share how they learned fast on strong teams, built trust through consistency, and kept cash flow sane when commissions went quiet. We dig into the East Bay’s unique rhythm, upfront disclosures, multiple offers, and the kind of local nuance that renders automated pricing laughable. They explain why buyer representation agreements filter for serious clients, how open houses and sphere marketing still work when you’re patient, and where social media shines as a credibility layer rather than a magic lead faucet. The Oakland realities come into focus: price declines, tougher insurance in the hills, and the lock-in effect of 2–3% mortgages that keep sellers put and inventory uneven.  And yes, we challenge the AI narrative. Emma tested disclosure summaries with a model and watched it miss vital details. Helpful for drafts and checklists? Absolutely. A stand-in for local judgment, negotiations, and on-the-spot problem solving? Not even close. If you’re an aspiring agent, you’ll hear hard-won advice about choosing teams, asking for help early, and treating real estate like a pro, because the moment you show up with care and competence, people notice. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a friend who loves the East Bay market, and leave a quick review—your feedback helps more curious listeners find the show. Follow Emma Dolgin on Instagram @emma.dolgin  Follow Ellen Martinez on Instagram @ellenmartinezre Emma Dolgin is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02113494 Ellen Martinez is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#02135069 Declan Spring is a licensed CA REALTOR® DRE#01398898

    1h 20m
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5
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About

Master the East Bay market with the definitive realtor podcast for real estate entrepreneurs. Hosted by Declan Spring, this show goes beyond the transaction to deliver deep-dive real estate storytelling and expert media spin analysis of the local market. Whether you’re looking for a real estate insiders podcast that covers the East Bay or a marketing podcast for entrepreneurs in the property space, we spotlight the top producers, developers, and creatives shaping the industry. Each episode explores the craft, challenges, and character of the market, from community news in the Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond areas to high-level real estate marketing strategies. Produced by Declan Spring and Denitsa Shopova (founders of The Home Factor), we bridge the gap between creative media and property expertise. Subscribe for weekly insights on becoming a better real estate entrepreneur, understanding the business of real estate through story-telling and first person experience, and staying ahead of the East Bay market. CA DRE#01398898

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