<![CDATA[Kira Gets Real... Estate]]>Real estate can be overwhelming. Let’s make it make sense.


I’m Kira Witherwax, a real estate professional here to bring perspective to the process. Every month, I break down buying, selling, and investing without the pressure.


Expect real stories, honest market talk, answers to the questions you’re definitely Googling at 2 a.m., and with some added shenanigans that come with navigating real life.


Whether you’re house-hunting, selling, investing, or just being a little nosey, this is real estate, really explained.

]]>https://www.kirawitherwax.com/Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 23 Oct 2026 06:37:28 GMTMon, 01 Dec 2025 02:21:30 GMT60Kira Witherwax<p>Real estate can be overwhelming. Let’s make it make sense.</p><p><br />I’m Kira Witherwax, a real estate professional here to bring perspective to the process. Every month, I break down buying, selling, and investing without the pressure.</p><p><br />Expect real stories, honest market talk, answers to the questions you’re definitely Googling at 2 a.m., and with some added shenanigans that come with navigating real life.</p><p><br />Whether you’re house-hunting, selling, investing, or just being a little nosey, this is real estate, really explained.</p>episodicKira Witherwaxhello@twentysixandco.comno<![CDATA[First-Time Home Buyer? Don't Make These Costly Mistakes]]>Thinking about buying a home? Learn the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved, what happens in a multiple-offer situation, why home inspections matter, and the biggest mistakes to avoid before closing.

]]>239ab5bb-a16f-4055-9464-cc1d28b76527Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:39:38 GMT<p>Thinking about buying a home? Learn the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved, what happens in a multiple-offer situation, why home inspections matter, and the biggest mistakes to avoid before closing.</p>no00:27:41First-Time Home Buyer? Don't Make These Costly Mistakesfull<![CDATA[Can a Seller Cancel a Contract? Plus Escalation Clauses Explained!]]>Kira Witherwax shares valuable insights on real estate, building capacity for future success, navigating contracts, and handling market challenges. This episode offers practical advice for buyers, sellers, and anyone interested in real estate strategies.

]]>e3023a2f-5632-4298-8ce1-8e3dd20a9d10Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:29:06 GMT<p>Kira Witherwax shares valuable insights on real estate, building capacity for future success, navigating contracts, and handling market challenges. This episode offers practical advice for buyers, sellers, and anyone interested in real estate strategies.</p>no00:23:31Can a Seller Cancel a Contract? Plus Escalation Clauses Explained!full<![CDATA[Mortgage Payments, Closing Costs & The Stuff No One Explains]]>In this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira answers common buyer questions about mortgage payments, interest rates, closing timelines, closing costs, seller concessions, and what to do right after moving in. It’s a practical, friendly breakdown for buyers who want to feel more prepared before jumping into the homebuying process.

]]>0a775ef4-3f9b-42ea-a670-9928c4e62011Tue, 05 May 2026 18:19:41 GMT<p>In this episode of <b>Kira Gets Real... Estate</b>, Kira answers common buyer questions about mortgage payments, interest rates, closing timelines, closing costs, seller concessions, and what to do right after moving in. It’s a practical, friendly breakdown for buyers who want to feel more prepared before jumping into the homebuying process.</p>no00:19:49Mortgage Payments, Closing Costs & The Stuff No One Explainsfull<![CDATA[You Don’t Need the Right Answer—You Need This Instead]]>On this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira interviews Heidi Fortsch sharing her expertise on decision-making processes, especially in real estate. Discover how to trust yourself, set conditions of satisfaction, and navigate life's big choices with confidence.

]]>2404ce67-505c-4664-a588-f0d47722fc75Tue, 07 Apr 2026 21:21:13 GMT<p>On this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira interviews Heidi Fortsch sharing her expertise on decision-making processes, especially in real estate. Discover how to trust yourself, set conditions of satisfaction, and navigate life's big choices with confidence.</p><p></p>no00:26:12You Don’t Need the Right Answer—You Need This Insteadfull<![CDATA[Buying & Selling at the Same Time? Here’s What Happens.]]>In this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira Witherwax discusses various aspects of real estate transactions, including the implications of exclusions in listing contracts, the necessity of video marketing, and the complexities of buying and selling homes simultaneously. She also explains the process of prorating items at closing, providing valuable insights for both buyers and sellers.

]]>c2616310-a2a3-41e1-ad33-0ba54c7f6a4bTue, 03 Mar 2026 19:27:08 GMT<p>In this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira Witherwax discusses various aspects of real estate transactions, including the implications of exclusions in listing contracts, the necessity of video marketing, and the complexities of buying and selling homes simultaneously. She also explains the process of prorating items at closing, providing valuable insights for both buyers and sellers.</p>no00:18:51Buying & Selling at the Same Time? Here’s What Happens.full<![CDATA[Anything You Say CAN Be Used Against You in Real Estate]]>In this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira Witherwax discusses essential topics in real estate, focusing on agency relationships, the misconceptions surrounding pre-foreclosure properties, the importance of understanding seller concessions, and the criteria for choosing the right listing agent. Kira emphasizes the significance of knowing who your agent represents, the realities of buying pre-foreclosure properties, and how seller concessions can benefit buyers financially. She also advises against selecting a listing agent based solely on their price recommendation, highlighting the importance of expertise and trust in the agent-client relationship.

]]>4bf897cc-243a-435f-bd4c-86d84b631916Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:23:41 GMT<p>In this episode of Kira Gets Real... Estate, Kira Witherwax discusses essential topics in real estate, focusing on agency relationships, the misconceptions surrounding pre-foreclosure properties, the importance of understanding seller concessions, and the criteria for choosing the right listing agent. Kira emphasizes the significance of knowing who your agent represents, the realities of buying pre-foreclosure properties, and how seller concessions can benefit buyers financially. She also advises against selecting a listing agent based solely on their price recommendation, highlighting the importance of expertise and trust in the agent-client relationship.</p>no00:19:15Anything You Say CAN Be Used Against You in Real Estatefull<![CDATA[Changed Your Mind, Low Appraisals, and Cash Under Mattresses: Real Estate Truths No One Explains]]>In this episode of Kira Gets Real… Estate, Kira answers real questions from real people — and tells the truth about situations most agents gloss over.

What happens if you list your house… and then realize you don’t actually want to sell? Can you just pull it off the market? What if the appraisal comes in low and blows up the deal? Who has options — the buyer, the seller, or the bank?

Kira walks through these common (and stressful) scenarios in plain English, including:

  • What it really means to withdraw a listing
  • How low appraisals affect buyers and sellers
  • Why seller concessions can complicate everything
  • When buyers can (and can’t) make up an appraisal gap
  • Why cash — yes, actual cash — can derail a mortgage

She also steps outside of pure real estate to talk honestly about juggling a demanding career with family life, using her favorite “glass balls vs. rubber balls” analogy to explain how priorities actually work in the real world.

For agents, Kira shares her unfiltered take on building a sustainable business (spoiler: it’s not quick, and it’s not transactional), plus a few hard-earned lessons that can save everyone some awkward moments.

If you’re buying, selling, working in real estate, or just trying to make sense of the chaos — this episode is for you.

]]>9574277f-292f-4914-8273-97f6215e5b15Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:33:21 GMT<p>In this episode of <b>Kira Gets Real… Estate</b>, Kira answers real questions from real people — and tells the truth about situations most agents gloss over.</p><p></p><p>What happens if you list your house… and then realize you don’t actually want to sell? Can you just pull it off the market? What if the appraisal comes in low and blows up the deal? Who has options — the buyer, the seller, or the bank?</p><p></p><p>Kira walks through these common (and stressful) scenarios in plain English, including:</p><ul><li>What it really means to withdraw a listing</li><li>How low appraisals affect buyers <i>and</i> sellers</li><li>Why seller concessions can complicate everything</li><li>When buyers can (and can’t) make up an appraisal gap</li><li>Why cash — yes, actual cash — can derail a mortgage</li></ul><p></p><p>She also steps outside of pure real estate to talk honestly about juggling a demanding career with family life, using her favorite “glass balls vs. rubber balls” analogy to explain how priorities actually work in the real world.</p><p></p><p>For agents, Kira shares her unfiltered take on building a sustainable business (spoiler: it’s not quick, and it’s not transactional), plus a few hard-earned lessons that can save everyone some awkward moments.</p><p></p><p>If you’re buying, selling, working in real estate, or just trying to make sense of the chaos — this episode is for you.</p><hr />no00:21:45Changed Your Mind, Low Appraisals, and Cash Under Mattresses: Real Estate Truths No One Explainsfull<![CDATA[Decoding Property Valuation Methods]]>In this episode, Kira Witherwax discusses the concept of value in real estate, emphasizing its often misunderstood nature. She explains the different types of property valuation, including appraisals, tax assessments, and comparative market analyses (CMA). Kira highlights the importance of understanding the purpose behind each valuation method and how they can differ significantly. She also delves into the emotional aspects of home value, advising homeowners to view their properties from a buyer's perspective. Throughout the conversation, Kira offers insights into the real estate market and encourages listeners to ask questions about their own property situations.

]]>34080d3f-685c-4edb-9834-1b026385f1dcFri, 16 Jan 2026 22:40:50 GMT<p>In this episode, Kira Witherwax discusses the concept of value in real estate, emphasizing its often misunderstood nature. She explains the different types of property valuation, including appraisals, tax assessments, and comparative market analyses (CMA). Kira highlights the importance of understanding the purpose behind each valuation method and how they can differ significantly. She also delves into the emotional aspects of home value, advising homeowners to view their properties from a buyer's perspective. Throughout the conversation, Kira offers insights into the real estate market and encourages listeners to ask questions about their own property situations.</p>no00:24:04Decoding Property Valuation Methodsfull<![CDATA[What makes a real estate agent truly qualified? 🤔]]>In this episode of Kira Gets Real, Kira Witherwax shares her insights on real estate, discussing her qualifications, the best times to list a home, and how to prepare a property for sale. She emphasizes the importance of understanding market timing based on personal life events rather than just market conditions. Kira also highlights the benefits of multi-unit properties for building wealth and stresses the significance of homeownership for long-term financial security.

]]>279428ab-0a34-4394-b0fc-17c91c59ac6bWed, 31 Dec 2025 22:41:30 GMT<p>In this episode of Kira Gets Real, Kira Witherwax shares her insights on real estate, discussing her qualifications, the best times to list a home, and how to prepare a property for sale. She emphasizes the importance of understanding market timing based on personal life events rather than just market conditions. Kira also highlights the benefits of multi-unit properties for building wealth and stresses the significance of homeownership for long-term financial security.</p>no00:23:312What makes a real estate agent truly qualified? 🤔full<![CDATA[NYSAR Grant Funding for Closing Costs?? ]]>Kira Witherwax sits down with Kalen Raynor of the Long Island Board of Realtors, to discuss the NYSAR grant program designed to assist first-time homebuyers. They explore the application process, eligibility criteria, and the positive impact of the grants on individuals and communities. Kalen shares insights on fundraising efforts and the importance of community support in sustaining the program.

]]>df2bc77f-e5de-4261-adb3-d9b2ced588f0Wed, 31 Dec 2025 22:26:19 GMT<p>Kira Witherwax sits down with Kalen Raynor of the Long Island Board of Realtors, to discuss the NYSAR grant program designed to assist first-time homebuyers. They explore the application process, eligibility criteria, and the positive impact of the grants on individuals and communities. Kalen shares insights on fundraising efforts and the importance of community support in sustaining the program.</p>no00:15:173NYSAR Grant Funding for Closing Costs?? full<![CDATA[The Importance of the Homebuyer Consultation]]>In this episode of 'Kira Gets Real Estate', Kira Witherwax introduces her podcast, focusing on real estate questions and community engagement. She emphasizes the importance of buyer consultations, explaining how they help potential buyers understand the home buying process, assess their needs, and find the right agent. Kira discusses the various financing options available and the significance of cash offers in real estate transactions. She also shares insights on building a real estate team to provide better service and encourages community interaction through questions and guest suggestions.

]]>ce470db7-0c8c-4019-a90b-980fcc854001Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:35:41 GMT<p>In this episode of 'Kira Gets Real Estate', Kira Witherwax introduces her podcast, focusing on real estate questions and community engagement. She emphasizes the importance of buyer consultations, explaining how they help potential buyers understand the home buying process, assess their needs, and find the right agent. Kira discusses the various financing options available and the significance of cash offers in real estate transactions. She also shares insights on building a real estate team to provide better service and encourages community interaction through questions and guest suggestions.</p><p></p>no00:22:201The Importance of the Homebuyer Consultationfull