From Hospitality To Homes: Gerson Seise On Modern Real Estate

Looking for a saner way to navigate a chaotic housing market? We sit down with Gerson Seise Realty - Real Brokerage Technologies, who turned a hospitality background and property management experience into a client-first approach that actually lowers stress. Instead of chasing rate headlines, Gerson explains how to prepare for a purchase by controlling what matters most: your debt-to-income ratio, your credit health, and a steady income. When those pillars are in place, you can move quickly on the right home and refinance later if rates shift, avoiding the trap of waiting while great properties pass you by.

Gerson shares how growing up in a family-run cafe in Newport Beach shaped his service mindset, then walks us through the practical lessons he carried into real estate: clear communication, attention to detail, and a deep respect for community. We explore the recent changes and settlements influencing real estate agents today and why coming in “new” helped him adopt modern practices without unlearning old habits. He also breaks down how he markets differently—focusing on long-term relationships, joining the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce, and using Instagram to highlight local lifestyle touchpoints like restaurants, parks, and sunset walks. That shift from listing-forward content to neighborhood living helps clients picture themselves in a place, not just a property.

We also get personal: why he’s delaying his own podcast until he can give it proper focus, how food and walkability guide his neighborhood scouting, and why he believes the best agent is the one who’s the right fit for your values. If you want a grounded, modern blueprint for buying or selling—rooted in readiness, trust, and community—you’ll find a lot to take away here, from mortgage timing myths to practical prep steps that make offers stronger and closings smoother.

Visit: https://gersonseiserealty.com/

Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share with a friend who’s house-hunting, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find the show.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Rachel Five.

SPEAKER_01 (00:12):
Well, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast.
Now, if you're looking for arealtor who brings real
brokerage technologies inhelping you buy or sell your
home, well, that resource iscloser than you think.
Today I have the pleasure ofintroducing your good neighbor,
Gerson Seiss, with Gerson SeissRealty and Real Brokerage

(00:33):
Technologies.
Gerson, how is it going?

SPEAKER_02 (00:36):
Hi, Rachel.
It's great.
How are you?

SPEAKER_01 (00:38):
I'm wonderful.
Well, you know, we're reallyexcited to learn about your
reality business.
So tell us about your company.

SPEAKER_02 (00:46):
So I'm very new, actually.
Um I've had my real estatelicense for a few years now, but
I've been doing this full-timefor a year in August.
And being new, especially inLaguna Beach, has been
challenging.
And but this year, with all thenew uh settlements and laws and
regulations, I was able to hitthe ground running when the main

(01:11):
topic was and with current andseasoned real estate agents and
realtors was to get them out ofthe old and into the new.
But since I didn't do the old, Iwas just able to pick up the new
and learn it and go straightfrom there.

SPEAKER_01 (01:27):
Wonderful.
Well, how did you get into thistype of business?

SPEAKER_02 (01:32):
Um, I grew up in a family-based business in Newport
Beach.
Um, my parents owned a cafemarket in an apartment complex
that I worked, I worked throughfor the market through COVID,
and then it made the change fromhospitality, food, and beverage
to property management, and thenit kind of all just trickled

(01:55):
into each other.

SPEAKER_01 (01:56):
Wonderful.
Well, what do you think aremaybe some myths or
misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_02 (02:02):
A lot of people focus on like interest rates and
mortgage rates and down paymentsand the numbers when those
change every day for anyonedepending on different
circumstances.
I like to tell my clients reallyto focus on your debt-to-income
ratio, your uh credit score, ummaintaining a uh steady income.

(02:29):
And the biggest thing is whenyou're ready.
When you're ready, every and youhave those things that you've
kept on top of for a relativegood amount of time, everything
else falls into place.
Mortgage rates you can alwaysrefinance, lenders are there for
that to help you if you want to,because if you want the house,

(02:51):
it's not necessarily going to bethere when the numbers are
right.
What's important is you're readyfor it and we can work with the
rest.

SPEAKER_01 (02:59):
Wonderful.
Well, now we know marketing isat the heart of every business.
So how are you targetingcustomers and attracting you
know people to your realitybusiness?

SPEAKER_02 (03:09):
My um, unlike most real estate professionals, my
business is client-based, notlocation-based, since a lot of
my clients came from my previouscareers.
They followed me.
So um my business is verycommunity-driven, and I've uh

(03:31):
joined local Chamber ofCommerce, Laguna Beach
specifically, and it's reallyhelped introduce me to the
neighborhood that I'm a part ofbecause I spent so many years
rushing off to an office inanother town that I didn't live
in.

SPEAKER_01 (03:46):
Wonderful.
Have you ever thought of doingyour own podcast?

SPEAKER_02 (03:51):
I have.
Um we'll see.
I I tend to hyperfixate onthings.
Um, I'm better at that when thetime's right.
And right now I have so manylittle things going on that I
don't have the uh proper time togive to a podcast, but I thought
about it.

SPEAKER_01 (04:11):
Yeah, right on.
So now outside of work, what doyou like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02 (04:16):
I love food.
I love checking out newrestaurants, walking around
town.
Um I'm not necessarily a beachperson, but I enjoy sitting on
the at the parks that overlookthe beach, sunsets, stuff like
that.
So I've been able to reallyincorporate my interests with my
business because that's what Ireally post more about on my

(04:39):
Instagram than necessarily justhomes.

SPEAKER_01 (04:42):
Wonderful.
Well, Gerson, please tell ourlisteners one thing they should
remember about Gerson sizereality.

SPEAKER_02 (04:55):
I may not be right for everyone, but if I'm I want
to be right for my clients.
There are so many realtors andso many real estate agents out
there, especially right now,that have different strengths
and weaknesses.
We're not all meant foreveryone, but I like to be there
for the people that trust mebecause that's really what this

(05:16):
relationship starts, because I'mhelping guide you through the
biggest, one of the biggestpurchases in your life.

SPEAKER_01 (05:23):
Wonderful.
Well, how can our listenerslearn more about Gerson Seiss
Realty?

SPEAKER_02 (05:29):
Um, my website, GersonSizeRealty.com.
Um, my main social media is myInstagram, which is uh
GersonSeiss Realty, and theneverything on there, my phone
number, my email address, uhtext, call me anytime.

SPEAKER_01 (05:46):
Wonderful.
Well, Gerson, I reallyappreciate you being on the
show, and we wish you and yourbusiness really the very best
moving forward.

SPEAKER_02 (05:54):
Thank you so much.
It was great.

SPEAKER_00 (05:58):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on the
show, go to gnporangecounty.com.
That's gnporangecounty.com orcall 714 941 862.