Beers and Homebuying

Speaker 1: [0:00] Hello everyone, and welcome to the Awesome in Seattle Podcast. I'm Reed Watson of the Awesome Nossum Group at Wilson Real Team, and as you may already be able to tell, this episode is going to be a little bit different. Normally Christian Nossum is your host, but since he is the authority on today's topic, we are gonna turn the tables, and so I will be asking the questions. In this episode, we're gonna talk about beers and home buying, which is a home buyers class hosted by yours truly, the Awesome Nossum Group After going virtual for over a year now, Beers and Home Buying will be returning to in-person venues very soon. So this is kind of the perfect time to share some info about this really fun and informative Awesome Nossum Group tradition. You can go to beersandhomebuying.com or follow the Awesomenossum Group on Instagram for upcoming updates. So before we really get into it, let's welcome our very special guest, Christian Nossum.

Speaker 2: [1:02] Hello, hello. There we go. Thank you for having me on this podcast. I've never been on it before. This is gonna be fun. This is a new one

Speaker 1: [1:10] for me.

Speaker 2: [1:10] Yeah, it's great. It's a little weird being on, the one being interviewed when I'm the one always interviewing everyone else, so.

Speaker 1: [1:14] So on that note, are you ready for my first question? It, it's a heavy hitter.

Speaker 2: [1:18] Okay. I'm ready.

Speaker 1: [1:20] Christian, can you tell us just a little bit about what Beers and Home Buying is, and how it all got started?

Speaker 2: [1:26] Yes, I can. So Beers and Home Buying originally came about probably, like, 2014, 2015, something like that. Mm-hmm. Um, we had a lot of clients that were Amazon, Southlake Union tech employees, and some of their teams that they worked on, they were like, "Hey, could you, like, would you be willing to teach us?" And we were like, "Yeah, I'll come down and we'll meet at Cactus for lunch, and I'll teach you how to buy a house." And then that turned into, "Let's do it for happy hour instead." And then that turned into, "Huh, I think we're onto something here, 'cause this little venue is packed, and now it's getting really hard to hear people because we have, like, 25, 30 people here. Well, maybe we should make this a little more systemized." So then we came up with a presentation, and then we started advertising it, and now it is a class that we do pretty much every month, if not twice a month. Once COVID hit, we started doing them online, which we'd never done before. Uh, that's worked really well, um, so now we do them in person and online, and it's just kind of a, it's an awesome way to go. It originally started as a very low-key, like, no pressure way to learn how to buy a house. That was really what it was all about. There's a handful of classes, home buyer classes out there, and generally they are, I mean, some of them are four hours, six hours, eight hours long, like an all-day thing. There's others that are out there that basically say the only way to win your, or get your offer accepted is if you waive everything, and it's like, "Well, why did you make me come to this class if you're just gonna tell me to waive everything, but not explain what those things are?" So we were just kind of, as we kind of say in the, in the class, we were kind of like Goldilocks, where we're- Mm-hmm … we're finding the just right. And that's kinda what the class is. Now it's only, it only lasts an hour, then we stick around for another half hour or so and we answer questions. Super laid back. It's at breweries or bars or restaurants that are really fun and, like, kinda just a place that you'd wanna just hang out and chill. Yeah. And we provide free beer, so it's no reason not to come.

Speaker 1: [3:36] Yeah, absolutely. That's one of the things I like about Beers and Home Buying, and also just working for the awesome Nossum group is the casual atmosphere. Um, it also helps us to be a really good resource-

Speaker 2: [3:48] Yeah … Speaker: because we generally genuinely care about the individuals, the couples, the families that we interact with and that we help. So who typically attends a Beers and Home Buying class? Who is this class for? Really, honestly, for anybody. It can be literally anyone, as long as you're of drinking age if the venue has a 21 or older requirement. Uh, but not all of them do. I mean, a lot of them are family-friendly places. So it's for anyone that wants to learn how to buy a house, and you don't even have to be a first-time home buyer. Most of the people are, but that doesn't mean that when they did it however many years ago they bought the first time or the second time, um, this could be even third time. Like, we've literally had people that have bought three times, and they still come back to the class just to get a quick refresher on how it works and how it's changed since they did it last.

Speaker 1: [4:38] Especially good if you, maybe it's not your first time, but it is your first time buying in Seattle, I think. Yes. It's really good to know what the specifics are in the state that you're buying into.

Speaker 2: [4:48] That's a very good point. Yeah, there's lots of people that, I mean, are transplants to the Seattle area, and they, I mean, they know how to do it in other parts of the country, but that's totally different than here. Um, and some people just wanna get a market update. Like, they just wanna understand what is the market doing? We see the headlines, but what is really happening? And that's part of what we do at the class as well is we go over that.

Speaker 1: [5:09] Yeah. That market update is always really interesting, even for me, because it changes every single month. We update our stats- Exactly and Jason takes us through a really detailed but not, you know, too long presentation of what's going on in the market right now- Yeah … which is fantastic. And I think it also sort of helps people who have been so intimidated by the home buying process, which is happening especially here in Seattle with an incredibly competitive market, and maybe a lot of those people haven't considered buying a home seriously. But that casual atmosphere and, you know, sticking around to answer questions with a lender afterwards helps to get the ball rolling for them.

Speaker 2: [5:51] Yeah.

Speaker 1: [5:52] So for those listeners who are interested in coming to a Beers and Home Buying class, what can they expect to get out of the class?

Speaker 2: [6:00] Yeah, so I'll just walk you through, like, when you get to the venue just so you can even understand from there. So you walk in the door, we're gonna check you in just to make sure that you actually signed up because especially now with capacity, I guess, limitations that we have, um, there are- And there have been times in the past too where we couldn't allow any more people in the room because they do often sell out, like where they're just full. People are already standing on the edges of the room, and there's literally nowhere else for you to go. So for the people that did sign up, we wanna check you in and make sure that you get a spot. And then from there, you go and grab a drink, whatever you choose, like beer or water or cider or whatever the venue has, depending on what it is. And then you sit down, and sometimes we have food, sometimes we don't. With COVID restrictions in place, I don't know what we're gonna do with that, so we'll just have to see how that all pans out. And then, you know, w- we start the class. The class lasts about an hour, and it's super laid back. Like we said, it's very… It's more of a conversation. So we have specific topics that we're gonna go over throughout the, the class, but It is open for questions while we're going through the class, and we encourage that dialogue as we're going through the class to expand and answer questions and make sure that really everybody's on the same page. I can't reiterate enough, it's super, super laid back. Like, I'm … We're all just sitting there. My legs ba- generally crossed. I have a beer in my hand, and I'm just talking, and so is every other agent on the team. Like, we're just super laid back, having fun and having a conversation, talking about a subject we are all passionate about and love, and we just want to help you the best we can so that you, when you leave, you have a good idea of the basics of home buying, and you have a good idea of what the next steps would be if you want to even just explore if it makes sense to buy or not. And what the next steps would be as well if you should even buy at all. At the end we do a Q&A. We have a lender there as well. So we're the real estate agent side. We help with the home search, with the home negotiation. We help you understand what you can afford. The lender is, like, the bank. They're the ones that give you the loan to buy the home. So we go over all that stuff. We answer all the questions, and we're both there in the same room to kind of piggyback off of, uh, some of the really good questions that we get.

Speaker 1: [8:32] Yeah, having the lender there is a great resource that I think a lot of first-time home buyers don't necessarily think about because they don't know the process, but they might have questions about what they can afford and how they can afford it that are best answered by a financial professional.

Speaker 2: [8:46] Yes, exactly.

Speaker 1: [8:47] So one more question. I know the answer to this. Um-

Speaker 2: [8:50] You'll give me a softball … Speaker: what type of commitment do I have to make after the class? Does it cost any money? And do I have to pay for my own beer? Yeah. Um, you have to give us three goats and a chicken, and, uh, every beer is non-happy hour prices even though we're there during happy hour, so. Uh, no. There is literally nothing that you have to do. The class is totally free. Um, we buy the beer, and there's no commitment. We don't make you sign anything. Agents often do make you sign a contract called the buyer's agency agreement- Mm-hmm … which states that you as the buyer are agreeing to only work with this one agent. We never make buyers sign those. We don't feel like that's fair to the buyer. So there's literally no commitment. We don't make anyone sign anything like that. It's totally free. There's no commitment at all, and it's zero pressure. We are not forcing anyone to do anything.

Speaker 1: [9:47] Yeah, and that's something that really sets the Awesome & Awesome group apart. So to lead off of that, why is Beers and Home Buying different from, say, a different, another type of real estate class?

Speaker 2: [10:00] Yeah. Well, uh, one, it's called Beers and Home Buying, so that's pretty cool. But it's, a- again, it's super laid back. You're gonna get a ton of info. You're really gonna walk out of this class not being completely overwhelmed. Over the last seven plus years that we've done this class, we have revamped this thing numerous times. Like, we ask for feedback af- at the end of each class, and we actually take that feedback and make the class better at the end of each one. We have really worked hard at simplifying very complex processes. A- and the home buying process is a very, very complex process. Really, there's a ton of emotions that go into home buying as well, and we've tried to eliminate as much of that as possible with data and with knowledge so that you don't feel completely overwhelmed and like you're hitting a roadblock because you're so scared, you don't know what the next step is gonna be. We try to be proactive and educate you on those steps so that you're not freaking out. Because I've bought numerous homes myself and sold numerous homes myself, like my own primary houses and rental properties and things like that. I still freak the hell out every single time I do it. It's human nature to do. It's, like, not- Absolutely … common to spend that much money on one thing. It's okay- No … to freak out. Everyone does. So knowing that and knowing that it's a human, natural human emotion and a natural human thing that you do, it helps to know that that's normal. It helps to know, okay, well, this is normal. It's okay. But now I understand what the actual next steps are, so that helps to calm me down a little bit. Okay, now I actually understand not only do I know what those steps are, I understand each step because I've gone to this class. Some people asked some good questions, expanding upon each thing, and now I really got a pretty good idea of what there is that's around the corner that I don't know yet. A- and that, having that knowledge really helps people. W- I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard when we're handing the keys to people, like, we'll get this weird reaction like, "Wait, that's it?" And we're like, "Yeah."

Speaker 1: [12:12] Mm-hmm. " Speaker 2: That's it. Well, congrats. You got a house." And they're like, "Wait, all our friends told us that this was gonna suck, and it was gonna be so stressful and so hard, and all these roadblocks and speed bumps were gonna come into play." None of those things happened. I don't understand. Like, you guys made this so easy, and I know that sounds like a weird compliment that I'm giving myself, but it's true. We get this all the time. Mm-hmm. Like, we hear this a lot Like, holy cow, I did not expect it to be this painless. I expected a lot more stress. Yeah. And just having that education, you just don't feel those things. You don't get that. So, um, we've worked really, really hard at putting all that stuff into place to make it easier for people. Uh, without revealing too much, what are some of the best takeaways that people generally have from the class?

Speaker 2: [13:01] Biggest takeaway by far, and we always ask what the biggest takeaways are that people have, it's the one that we get every single class is, "I did not realize you didn't have to have a 20% down payment."

Speaker 1: [13:12] Yep. " Speaker 2: Because that's what everyone says you need, and that's what I read online." And it, you don't. The majority of home buyers in Seattle do a 5% or less down payment, and you can. Mm-hmm. We have systems in place. We have processes and strategies in place that you can beat all cash offers with only a 5% down payment, and it works. It happens all the time. Absolutely.

Speaker 2: [13:35] So another takeaway is really, I think, the data. Jason Saldarriaga- Yeah … on the team is amazing with data. He c- we call him our data guru, uh, and there's a reason for that, 'cause he is just, he loves it. And he, the very first thing we do at the class after we do the little intro is we go into the market update, and we explain what's going on in the market. And Jason does a great job of comparing and contrasting, going, zooming in, zooming out, and really explaining what is happening in the market with the latest data that has come out. And then we give our anecdotal evidence of what we're seeing in the market at the moment to help people understand what's happening and how to prepare themselves. It really does make a big difference when you understand what you're walking into. Uh, another takeaway that we get- Mm-hmm … is helping people understand what neighborhoods they can afford to live in. I'm not gonna give it all away, because I know other agents follow us, and this is kinda something that's common sense and they could do it, but they just don't for some reason. Basically, we help you understand what you can afford and where you can afford it. And then if you don't know the areas that you can afford it, we teach you about those areas. Crazy concept, I know, but, uh, it's just not happening out there for whatever reason. So we do that. We show you what you can afford and where you can afford it, and then we teach you about those neighborhoods if you're not already, not already up to speed on those neighborhoods. Like, Reid and I are both Seattle natives. Mm-hmm. Jason's been, and Les have been in Seattle for a long time. We know the area. We know all the neighborhoods. We're not only Seattle-focused, either. I should say that. Like, we know not just Seattle, but other neighborhoods as well. So we're happy to help educate you, happy to help show you what's going on in the market in these other areas as well, because it is somewhat neighborhood-centric. Some neighborhoods are hotter than others. Some are more competitive than, than others. Some are, on the flip side, less competitive, and you can sometimes get some deals in some of these neighborhoods. So- It is a lot of fun trying to find the deals out there and how to educate yourself more than the next buyer so you're more competitive than they are.

Speaker 1: [15:37] Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2: [15:37] Yeah, people do walk away feeling very empowered. We've actually got that comment, like, "I feel so much more empowered now. I think I can actually do this. I'm signed up to meet with you guys and chat further." And that's actually what happens at the end, is we do offer just super laid back, half-hour one-on-one meeting with us after the class where, you know, if you don't wanna tell everyone in front of the entire class, "Hey, here's my personal financial situations. Can I buy a house?" So we just do, we offer these. They're totally free, just like everything else. Um, and just so you know, another tip, as a buyer, you don't pay for your real estate agent directly. Right. The seller is the one that pays for both real estate agents. So you as the buyer should choose the agent that you think will represent you the best. Who can negotiate the best? Who has the best reputation within the industry? That means a lot right now in this competitive market. Sure does. What agents are out there? Yes. Yep. So that's where that reputation really does come into play.

Speaker 1: [16:38] Yeah. You wanna have a good team behind you, and think that's something that Christian has taught me and that I've really benefited from as well, so.

Speaker 2: [16:44] Yeah. It helps a lot, and it really- Mm-hmm … it doesn't cost you as the buyer anything more. Like, it's nothing out of pocket more to work with a really, really good team that is going to give you a much better shot at getting your offer accepted,

Speaker 1: [16:57] so. Absolutely.

Speaker 2: [16:58] Why not go with the best odds?

Speaker 1: [17:00] And why not come to Beers & Home Buying?

Speaker 2: [17:02] And why not come to Beers & Home Buying? Beersandhomebuying.com. It's very easy.

Speaker 1: [17:08] Well, thank you, Christian. You were super fun to interview. It seems like you've done this before a couple of times. Is there anything else you wanna add before we sign off?

Speaker 2: [17:17] Um, if anyone ever has real estate-related questions, uh, even if you can't make it to the class, do not hesitate to reach out. You can follow us on social media, on Instagram. We're Awesome Nossum Group. We are very approachable. We want to help people. We aren't gonna charge you any money. Don't feel bad if it's the weekend. Like, you can reach out. We work pretty much every day. So yeah, don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to help. We want to help, and we love educating. Like, that's, that's my whole deal. Everyone that is on this team, I hand selected because they also love to educate. They're not gonna screw people over. They want to help people, and they want to make sure they're fully educated so that they can make an informed decision, 'cause the last thing we want is for someone to regret buying a house. The, the, the steps that you learn at Beers & Home Buying, you're n- you're gonna know if it makes sense for you to buy or not, and if it's not gonna make sense, we're gonna tell you, and we're gonna show you. And if you want it to make sense at some point down the road- We will show you how to make that roadmap to success happen.

Speaker 1: [18:21] Well, thank you everybody for joining us. Again, if you wanna check out a Beers and Home Buying class, they are completely free, and you can go to beersandhomebuying.com or find us at awesomenossum.com or awesomenossumgroup on Instagram. You can check out our Tour Tuesday segments that Christian and I have been doing. Those have been a lot of fun.

Speaker 2: [18:44] Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1: [18:44] And this has been the Awesome Nossum Group with another Awesome in Seattle episode. So don't be afraid to hit that subscribe button, and we will see you all on the next one.

Speaker 2: [18:56] Thank you.

Speaker 1: [18:57] Bye.

Speaker 2: [18:58] Bye.