Bad Deals Only
Claim This Podcastby Seth Williams
Podcast Overview
<p><strong>Bad Deals Only</strong> is a podcast about bad deals, bad decisions, and the lessons that come from them.</p> <p>We break down real estate deals gone wrong, business mistakes, financial missteps, and everyday decisions that cost more than they should. Each episode dives into why these deals failed, what people missed in the moment, and how to avoid making the same mistakes yourself.</p> <p>This podcast covers real estate investing, business strategy, money management, work culture, negotiation mistakes, and the hidden costs behind decisions that look good on paper. No gurus, no fake success stories, and no pretending hindsight is obvious.</p> <p>If you are interested in real estate, business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, or learning from other people’s expensive mistakes, <strong>Bad Deals Only</strong> delivers honest conversations, strong opinions, and practical takeaways.</p> <p>New episodes weekly.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/22/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 23, 2026
Bad Deals Only Ep. 12 | Boston's Brutal Summer Real Estate Market & Selling Your Own House
Boston’s summer real estate market is slowing down and the deals still happening are brutal. Seth Williams and Nick Nardone on why everyone is so difficult right now, Seth buying and selling his own house, plus a Father’s Day Overrated vs. Underrated on Cape Cod.
June 6, 2026
Bad Deals Only Ep. 11 | Escalation Clauses & the Trust That Blew Up a Closing
Two real estate vets, zero filter. Seth Williams and real estate attorney Nick Nardone break down how deals actually get done — and undone — in today's market. Seller financing, no-cap escalation clauses, escrow holdbacks, and the trust that nearly blew up a closing. Real tactics, real bad deals, and a lot of laughs along the way. In this episode: How a business coach's dare turned into a one-phone-call property sale The creative-financing playbook Seth used to buy a Winthrop three-family with almost nothing down — then refinance his way into a $1.25M asset Real estate team economics: why chasing splits is a trap, and how to track where your deals actually come from "Every deal is a dumpster fire" — the walkthrough issues plaguing closings and the listing-agent moves that prevent them Escrow holdbacks: how holding back proceeds gets a stalling seller moving The Escalation Clause Masterclass — when a no-cap escalation wins, and the "will you be pissed?" test for finding a buyer's true number Pricing strategy: why you sometimes let the market punch an overpriced listing in the face The "relay race" of a deal — communication and extension etiquette that keep closings on track The bad deal: a trust with no successor trustee, a mystery title issue, and how to enforce a contract instead of walking away A lender PSA: why "volcano insurance" is the reason you don't run a condo through Rocket Mortgage Full circle — selling a home Seth repped 10 years ago (and hasn't set foot in since 2017) Chapters: 00:00 — A coach dares Seth to grow, so he sells a property on one phone call 01:52 — Creative financing 101: buying a Winthrop three-family with seller financing 10:00 — Team splits, leads & why "chasing splits" backfires 17:00 — Memorial Day weekend, stroller purges & a Beacon Hill condo-conversion run 20:56 — The Newport "Nardo Museum" & an underperforming Florida house 33:13 — "Every deal is a dumpster fire": walkthroughs & listing-agent must-dos 34:00 — Escrow holdbacks that actually motivate sellers 35:46 — Escalation Clause Masterclass: the no-cap strategy 41:24 — Pricing strategy: let the market do the talking 44:10 — The deal "relay race": communication & extensions 49:28 — The bad deal: a broken trust, a title issue & enforcing the contract 59:56 — Rocket Mortgage vs. a condo: the "volcano insurance" saga 64:06 — Full circle: selling a home he repped a decade ago 73:40 — Underrated/Overrated: Memorial Day, grad parties & dance recitals Bad Deals Only is the real estate podcast that tells you what really happens behind the closing table — hosted by Seth Williams of Reference Real Estate with real estate attorney Nick Nardone. If it helped (or just made you laugh), follow the show and send it to an agent who needs to hear it. Reference Real Estate — Winthrop & Greater Boston | sellinboston.comFollow Bad Deals Only on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen. Bad Deals Only is for entertainment and general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk to a licensed professional before making real estate decisions.
May 22, 2026
Bad Deals Only Ep. 10 | Hole-in-the-Floor FHA & Puppies at the Closing
An AI assistant that drained its own budget, a hole-in-the-floor FHA deal, and a litter of puppies born on a seller's porch the morning of closing. Seth Williams and real estate attorney Nick Nardone get into the deals that go sideways, the brokers who pass the buck, and why the agent who solves the $300 problem is the one who gets the next call. In this episode: How Seth's AI build went off the rails: team accounts drifting apart, runaway token spend, and an assistant that forgot it ever built the show notes Why buyers and sellers now expect AI-grade prep from their agent, and how that is thinning the herd The $300 bulkhead standoff: two brokers and two attorneys arguing over weather stripping, and the "be the source" rule that keeps clients calling you back A dilapidated two-family, an FHA offer that should never have qualified, and the hold harmless agreement that kept the deal alive Appraisal shortfalls: how a rebuttal actually works, and the need-to-know way to brief a client so you solve the problem instead of just stressing them out The bad deal: a cashier's check that burned up in a car fire on the highway, plus how you recover a lost bank check Puppies at the closing table: a German shepherd litter on the front porch, a missing seller, and a junk-removal holdback that turned into a credit The 9,000 square foot move that ran three days late, and the listing-agent habits that prevent it Underrated or overrated: ADUs in Winthrop vs Revere, Memorial Day weekend, Mother's Day, and title insurance Chapters: 00:00 : The AI experiment that spent its own money (and forgot the show notes) 09:30 : A Monday from hell: sideways deals, a flat tire, and a near-death MacBook 12:00 : Why agents who skip AI are starting to fall behind 16:00 : The $300 bulkhead fight and the "be the source" rule 20:00 : The hole-in-the-floor FHA deal and the hold harmless fix 28:00 : Appraisal shortfalls, rebuttals, and need-to-know client updates 29:30 : When a small brokerage goes quiet on an escrow refund 35:00 : The bad deal: a cashier's check that went up in flames 38:00 : Puppies on the porch: a Marshfield closing in chaos 41:00 : The 9,000 square foot move that ran three days late 44:00 : Listing-agent habits that keep closings on track 47:30 : Underrated or overrated: ADUs, Memorial Day, Mother's Day, and title insurance Bad Deals Only is the real estate podcast that tells you what really happens behind the closing table, hosted by Seth Williams of Reference Real Estate in Winthrop and Greater Boston, with real estate attorney Nick Nardone, partner at Touchstone Closing & Escrow. If it helped, or just made you laugh, follow the show and send it to an agent who needs to hear it. Reference Real Estate, Winthrop & Greater Boston | sellinboston.comNick Nardone, Touchstone Closing & Escrow | touchstoneclosing.comFollow Bad Deals Only on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen. Bad Deals Only is for entertainment and general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk to a licensed professional before making real estate decisions.
11 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Bad Deals Only?
<p><strong>Bad Deals Only</strong> is a podcast about bad deals, bad decisions, and the lessons that come from them.</p> <p>We break down real estate deals gone wrong, business mistakes, financial missteps, and everyday decisions that cost more than they should. Each episode dives into why these deals failed, what people missed in the moment, and how to avoid making the same mistakes yourself.</p> <p>This podcast covers real estate investing, business strategy, money management, work culture, negotiation mistakes, and the hidden costs behind decisions that look good on paper. No gurus, no fake success stories, and no pretending hindsight is obvious.</p> <p>If you are interested in real estate, business, entrepreneurship, personal finance, or learning from other people’s expensive mistakes, <strong>Bad Deals Only</strong> delivers honest conversations, strong opinions, and practical takeaways.</p> <p>New episodes weekly.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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