The Fitze is Right | A Real Estate Podcast

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

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

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

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

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