Our Happy Valley Home

05/15/2026

04/21/2026

Inventory is tight in State College with only 1.83 months of supply!

Use this leverage to your advantage and price your home strategically for a swift sale.

Let's connect to get started. 📈🏡
Frances I. Thorsen | Realtor®
eXp Realty LLC
State College, PA
[email protected]
License | RS148436A
Direct: 814-318-8444
Office: 888-397-7352

02/22/2026

Someone Is Stealing From Your Grandmother — And She Doesn't Even Know It

I've spent 40 years in real estate, in the last few years watching seniors get taken advantage of in ways they never see coming.

Not by scammers. Not by bad actors in dark alleys.

By institutions they trust.

I just published an article about what I call Shadow Fees — the hidden referral payments that quietly strip thousands of dollars from senior home equity every single day, with the full knowledge of the industry and the silent blessing of its own governing body.

In November 2025, NAR had a chance to require disclosure of these fees.

They voted it down.

This piece is my response.

If you have a parent, grandparent, or client over 65 who is selling a home — please read this. And share it. They deserve to know what's happening to their money.

https://blogmother.substack.com/p/someone-is-stealing-from-your-grandmother?r=k9dau

02/11/2026

After 40 years in real estate, I've learned one thing: transparency isn't just good for consumers—it's essential for our industry's future.

That's why I'm excited to share Property Pleadings ([propertypleadings.com](http://propertypleadings.com/)), a comprehensive tracker of the real estate commission lawsuits that are reshaping how we do business.

Check it out:
(https://lnkd.in/emF_-SR7)

🔍 What it covers:

✅ $1.8B+ in settlements across multiple cases
✅ Timeline from the 2019 Moehrl filing through 2026 developments
✅ Detailed analysis of legal strategies used by Cohen Milstein, Hagens Berman, and Susman Godfrey
✅ Settlement eligibility tools for homeowners
✅ COMING SOON: Weekly lawsuit digests breaking down complex legal developments.

🤖 Built with AI: I created this entire site using [Manus AI]
(https://www.linkedin.com/company/manus-ia/)—no coding required. Every image, chart, and infographic you see was generated with Nano Banana inside Manus. As someone who's spent decades in real estate (not web development!), I'm amazed at what's now possible for non-technical creators. (OK, so maybe I'm a little techy...)

⚖️ Why this matters: These lawsuits have opened the door to negotiable commissions and transparent practices. But that door only stays open if we walk through it—buyers, sellers, and agents alike.

I need your help: If you spot any inaccuracies, outdated information, or missing cases, please let me know. This is a living resource, and I want it to serve our industry well.

What lawsuits should I add next? I'm particularly interested in:

✅ Data privacy/MLS disputes
✅ Emerging state-level commission cases
✅ International cases that might inform US practices

Thoughts? Corrections? Suggestions?

https://www.propertypleadings.com

Send a message to learn more

02/07/2026

BREAKING: Why This Week's Compass v. Zillow Ruling Is a Massive Win for Transparency in Real Estate 🏡

After 40 years in this industry, I've learned to spot the difference between genuine innovation and old tricks dressed up in new language.

This week, a federal judge denied Compass's attempt to force Zillow to help them hide listings from the American public. And it matters more than you might think.

Judge Vargas just confirmed what consumer advocates have been saying all along: demanding transparency ISN'T anticompetitive. Requiring equal access to listing information ISN'T monopolistic.

Compass wanted to bring back the "walled gardens" that kept real estate opaque and insider-driven for decades. Zillow said no. eXp's Glenn Sanford said no. And now the court has said no.

The bottom line: Everyone deserves equal access to the same real estate information at the same time. Not just people who happen to use the "right" brokerage.

This ruling protects:
✅ Buyers searching for their dream home
✅ Sellers who deserve access to ALL potential buyers
✅ Transparent markets over private networks
✅ Competition based on service, not information hoarding

Full analysis below. Would love to hear your perspective—especially from my fellow agents and brokers. Are we building a more transparent industry, or are we sliding back into the old gatekeeping model?

https://blogmother.substack.com/p/compass-lost-consumers-won-why-this

02/07/2026

BREAKING: Why This Week's Compass v. Zillow Ruling Is a Massive Win for Transparency in Real Estate 🏡

After 40 years in this industry, I've learned to spot the difference between genuine innovation and old tricks dressed up in new language.

This week, a federal judge denied Compass's attempt to force Zillow to help them hide listings from the American public. And it matters more than you might think.

Judge Vargas just confirmed what consumer advocates have been saying all along: demanding transparency ISN'T anticompetitive. Requiring equal access to listing information ISN'T monopolistic.

Compass wanted to bring back the "walled gardens" that kept real estate opaque and insider-driven for decades. Zillow said no. eXp's Glenn Sanford said no. And now the court has said no.

The bottom line: Everyone deserves equal access to the same real estate information at the same time. Not just people who happen to use the "right" brokerage.

This ruling protects:
✅ Buyers searching for their dream home
✅ Sellers who deserve access to ALL potential buyers
✅ Transparent markets over private networks
✅ Competition based on service, not information hoarding

Full analysis below. Would love to hear your perspective—especially from my fellow agents and brokers. Are we building a more transparent industry, or are we sliding back into the old gatekeeping model?

A real estate veteran explains why Judge Vargas got it exactly right—and why your ability to find your dream home just got a whole lot better.

04/27/2025

Ready for a baking tip?

Use a small ice cream scoop to portion cookie dough like a pro! 😉

What's your favorite ? Share below!

04/27/2025

Want to redefine your space without commitment? Explore innovative temporary wall solutions that offer flexibility and style! Ideal for creating divisions, adding privacy, or enhancing decor, these options can transform any area. Discover creative ways to make your space work for you! 😉

Discover creative temporary wall ideas to personalize spaces with style. From dividers to artful partitions, transform your home effortlessly.

04/26/2025

Have you ever heard the term wainscoting?

04/26/2025

If you want your kitchen before and after to look great even when you do the DIY kitchen makeovers yourself, try some of these small and large projects yourself! 😉

Looking to renovate or remodel your dated kitchen? Get inspired with these kitchen makeovers and remodeling ideas.