Real(ty) Talk

Welcome back to Realty Talk — your favorite real estate podcast on the planet 🌎

This week, Susanne Seini (Founder & CEO of Innovate Realty) and Paul “Fix It All” Hanson sit down with Innovate agent Michelle Mayo for a candid, fun, and inspiring conversation.

We kick things off with:

• Super Bowl halftime hot takes 🎤🏈

• Streaker marketing strategies (yes, really 😂)

• Waste Management Open chaos ⛳

• A wild golf playoff moment featuring...

Malibu Dan is back In the Living Room—this time with Suzanne Seini, founder/CEO of Innovate Realty (aka the “Queen of the Closing Table”). Dan opens with real talk: respect, mentorship, and why he believes brokerages should feel like home—not a cold, cutthroat office.

Suzanne breaks down her journey from prior brokerages (including the chaotic Zillow iBuying era) to building Innovate with a people-first mindset. They talk loyalty, c...

Early February check-in and the momentum is real. Suzanne and Paul break down what they’re seeing across Southern California — stronger open house traffic, resilient pricing, and rates near three-year lows — then shift into a bigger topic: why most agents and investors lose steam after January, and how to build a system that actually produces results all year.

They dig into consistency vs. “fake busy,” measurable actions, marketing ...

Welcome to the very first episode of In the Living Room with Malibu Dan — a new show built around real estate, lifestyle, and culture in sunny Southern California (with curiosity beyond CA too). Malibu Dan kicks things off by telling the real story behind the name — a radio career, an old-school LA station era, and encouragement from longtime friend Tim Conway Jr. to jump back on the mic.

For the first guest ever, Dan brings in Paul...

Short and sweet episode — because 2026 is already moving fast. Suzanne and Paul share what they’re seeing in the market right now (real buyer activity, multiple offers, over-ask sales), then “double click” on the headlines: a proposed ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes, and the bigger local concern — rent policy changes that could seriously impact Los Angeles multifamily housing. They wrap with the real silve...

Kicking off 2026 with a fun one. Suzanne and Paul are back with a quick market pulse, buyer energy, and rates talk — then they welcome Tammy & Branden from The Echo Group, who recently joined Innovate Realty. The conversation goes deep on traditional vs. investor real estate, how to build trust fast, and why understanding the math (and the client mindset) matters more than ever. Plus: legendary real estate stories you won’t for...

In this episode of Realty Talk, Suzanne Seini and Paul Hanson unpack the real dynamics between real estate agents and investors — where tension comes from, why it exists, and how collaboration actually leads to more closed deals.

From investor underwriting and ROI thinking to agent psychology, communication, and market expertise, this conversation breaks down what each side can learn from the other heading into 2026. Whether you’re ...

What does it really take to succeed as a real estate agent in 2026? In this episode of Realty Talk, Suzanne Seini (CEO & Founder of Innovate Realty) and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson break down how the market is shifting — and what agents must do to stay ahead.

In this episode, we cover:
• Market conditions, interest rates, and why micro-markets matter
• Buyer demand, inventory shortages, and pricing expectations
• Why today...

Welcome back to Real(ty) Talk! Today, Paul and Suzanne unpack why the end of the year is one of the most strategic times to buy, sell, or invest—even though most of the industry slows down. From holiday motivation to inventory psychology, we explain how agents can finish strong and set up a powerful start to 2026.

This episode covers:

• Why buyers have a huge edge during the holiday slowdown

• How agents can stay consistent, time-bloc...

This week on Realty Talk, Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” and Paul “Fix-It-All” are recording on-site at Innovate Realty’s La Mesa office in San Diego County. They break down the buzz around 50-year mortgages, what Trump’s proposals and Fed moves could mean for buyers, and how today’s market is really behaving as we head through the end of the year.

They also pull back the curtain on how Innovate’s multi-location model and in-h...

This week on Realty Talk, Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” Seini and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson sit down with Innovate Realty’s Director of Marketing — and former touring musician — David Doblin (aka “Double D”) for one of our most electric conversations yet.

🎵 In this episode:

• David’s wild career journey from jazz drummer to real estate marketer

• Why buyer confidence is shifting — and what a Fed rate cut could mean for SoCal ho...

This week on Realty Talk, Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson and Suzanne “Queen of the Closing Table” Seini dive deep into chaos, comedy, and crucial strategy — all wrapped in one powerhouse episode.

🔹 💰 Giveaway Alert: Win $100 — follow us on Instagram & Spotify, then comment “lockdown” on our latest post to enter!

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• 🏛️ Government Shutdown Breakdown — How it’s shaking up markets and buyer confidence.

• 🏡 Homes Gon...

Get ready for an inspiring ride from turntables to top-tier real estate!

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• From DJ decks in LA to luxury listings in Newport Beach — the wild path of Robert & Tanya Mack.

• How they built a real estate brand on authenticity, creativity, and media mastery.

• Secrets to thriving in competitive markets while keeping it real.

• Powerful lessons on trust, connection, and embracing change.

• A behind-the-scenes look at the...

"The queen of the closing table" Suzanne Seini and Paul “Fix-It-All” Hanson break down the industry’s spiciest headlines and give first-time buyers a practical game plan.

In this episode:

• Compass × Anywhere explained — what the acquisition means for agents, consumers, and competition.

• Rates reality check — why 30-yr mortgages follow the 10-year Treasury (not the Fed funds rate) and why ~6% isn’t the villain.

• Spread talk —...

What happens when you trade a big rig for open houses? In this high-energy episode of Realty Talk, we sit down with Justin Mercer — a tattooed, trailblazing realtor who's redefining success in real estate. From building a brand that turns heads to turning challenges into closings, Justin shares how authenticity, hustle, and heart built his booming business. We dive into market trends, lead generation, personal branding, and the...

🎙 Welcome back to Real(ty) Talk Podcast! This week, Paul “Fix It All” and Suzanne, the queen of the closing table, sit down with special guest Evan Tando, a real estate and lending expert.

We dive into:

• The current state of the real estate market, from interest rates to inventory.

• How a background in psychology and social work influences Evan's approach to real estate.

• Why retirement isn't in Evan's vocabulary and his ...

🎙 Welcome back to Real(ty) Talk Podcast! This week, Paul “Fix It All” and Suzanne, the queen of the closing table, sit down with special guest Stephen Couig — the King of Lending and CEO of Center Street Lending.

We dive into:

• The origin story behind Center Street Lending (and how it got its name).

• How the fix-and-flip industry has evolved since the 2008 crash.

• What a typical private loan looks like for investors.

• Common pitfalls n...

🎙 7 Things You Can Ask a Seller to Pay For in 2025

If you’re buying a home in 2025, don’t just focus on the price—focus on the perks. In today’s market, sellers are more flexible than ever, and smart buyers know how to take advantage of it.

In this episode, we break down 7 powerful things you can negotiate for, including:
✅ Closing costs (saving you thousands upfront)
✅ Mortgage rate buydowns (making monthly payments more affordable)
✅...

From an avocado-eating skunk standoff to a special ops mission in a crawlspace, we're sharing our wildest real estate stories. But we're also getting real about the current housing market. This episode is packed with concrete numbers you'll want to hear, including:

• Why 35% of major U.S. markets are seeing a decline in value year-over-year, while Southern California remains relatively stable.

• The difference between the...