The Tartan Team podcast
Disclosures with Nick & Dave
Honest conversations about buying, selling, and the parts of the real estate industry no one bothers to explain.
Episode 11 · September 3, 2026
Compass vs. Northwest MLS: What the "First Look" Settlement Means for Washington Sellers and Buyers
Compass and the Northwest MLS settled after 16 months — and Washington got a new listing status called First Look. Nick and Dave on what it actually does, the honest case for it, and the question nobody's asking: what's in it for the agent?
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Episode 10 · August 11, 2026
What to Fix, What to Skip, What to Never Touch When Selling
The companion to our pricing episode: which pre-listing improvements actually pay, which quietly lose money, and which ones to leave alone entirely. Defensive repairs vs. offensive upgrades, with real ROI numbers.
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Episode 9 · August 4, 2026
Three Ways to Price a Home: Two of Them Are Traps
List low, list at fair market, or list high — and two of those are usually a playbook being run on you. Nick and Dave on how fair market value actually gets determined, the agent tricks of 'buying the listing' and phoning it in, and the questions to ask at the kitchen table.
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Episode 8 · July 28, 2026
Two Homebuyer Fees Worth Negotiating: The Rest, Not So Much
A line-by-line walk through the buyer's closing cost estimate — what's fixed, what's negotiable, and which fees are actually worth your time. Spoiler: it comes down to lender fees and your agent's commission.
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Episode 7 · July 21, 2026
That $35,000 Builder Incentive Is Not Free — Here's the Catch
Builders advertise $30–35k in flex cash, rate buy-downs, and design credits. Nick and Dave break down where that money actually comes from, the five ways you can spend it, lender caps that can send it back to the builder, and which option is usually the best deal.
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Episode 6 · July 14, 2026
Is Vancouver, WA Really Cheaper Than Portland, OR on Taxes?
Everyone 'knows' Washington beats Oregon on taxes — but is it true? Nick and Dave break down income tax, the WA excise tax, property tax, Portland's local taxes, estate tax, and the break-even math for buying in Clark County vs. Multnomah County.
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Episode 5 · July 7, 2026
Renting Is Cheaper Right Now: Here's When Buying Still Wins
Is homeownership still part of the American Dream? Nick and Dave dig into the rent-vs-buy math — why renting is ~37% cheaper per month right now, the real break-even horizon, transaction costs, and how to think about a 'dream home' that fits your life instead of your ego.
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Episode 4 · June 30, 2026
Why We Once Charged a Flat Fee to Buy but a Percentage to Sell
At the time, we charged a flat fee to represent buyers but a percentage to sell. Nick and Dave on why that wasn't a contradiction: how commission aligns incentives on the sell side, the full- and limited-service listing tiers we ran then, and why flat-fee listing platforms fall short on representation.
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Episode 3 · June 23, 2026
The Retainer Experiment: Why We Once Charged Up Front to Help You Buy
Why The Tartan Team once charged an upfront retainer on the buy side — how commission-at-closing quietly penalizes an agent's best clients, why a retainer realigns incentives, and a breakdown of the three flat-fee tiers we ran at the time.
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Episode 2 · June 16, 2026
Real Estate Commissions After the Lawsuit: What Actually Changed
What the NAR commission settlement actually changed — and what it didn't. Nick and Dave on buyer agency, steering, the seller's playbook now, why a cheaper buyer's agent makes you more competitive, and the flat-fee model we ran at the time and why we built it.
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Episode 1 · June 9, 2026
From Minnesota to Washington: Dave Miller Joins The Tartan Team
Meet Dave Miller — cabinet-maker, finish carpenter, and electrician turned Tartan Team co-founder — on the trades, house hacking, and what's actually worth paying for in a home.
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