Authors
Steve Nicastro

Steve Nicastro

Managing Editor

Steve Nicastro has been part of the Real Estate Witch team since 2021. He brings a unique consumer-first perspective to the platform, and with three years under his belt, Steve has become a trusted voice for readers seeking clarity and empowerment in their real estate decisions.

Steve's path to becoming Managing Editor at Clever Real Estate was paved with real-life experiences as a real estate consumer. His hands-on approach in Charleston, SC, where he closed over $6 million in transactions between 2020 and 2021, has given him a deep understanding of buyers and sellers' challenges and victories.

He previously worked as a personal finance writer for NerdWallet for over six years. His insights have been featured in prominent publications like the Associated Press, MarketWatch, and USA Today.

When he's not writing or thinking about real estate, Steve can often be found embracing his passion for golf at the local course, sipping on ice coffee at Starbucks, channeling energy at the gym, or enjoying quality time with his family.

Expertise

  • Real estate commission
  • Selling a house without a realtor
  • Finding a realtor
  • Cash home buyers
  • Home value estimates
  • Real estate investing
  • Rent to own homes

Media appearances

Featured Published Articles

  • How Chase home values work | Should I trust it? | Chase accuracy rate | Pros and cons | Real example | Alternatives | FAQ How accurate is the Chase home value estimator? We found the Chase home value estimator to be less accurate compared to its peers. It often underprices homes, even though Chase claims…

  • How it works | Step-by-step guide | Real example | Pros and cons | Bank of America alternatives | FAQ | Why trust us How accurate is the Bank of America home value estimator? The Bank of America home value estimator compares favorably to Chase and other large banks offering home values, but we still didn't…

  • How does PennyMac work? | Should I trust it? | Step-by-step guide | Pros and cons | Real example | PennyMac alternatives | FAQ How accurate is the PennyMac home value estimator? We found the PennyMac home value estimator more accurate and useful than some of its competitors, but we still ran into issues when…

  • How does it work? | Should I trust it? | Redfin accuracy rate | Pros and cons | How to use it | Alternatives The Redfin home value estimator is one of the most accurate home value estimators online. But when we tested it, its estimates were still often off by thousands of dollars. Redfin…

  • Learn the truth about how much real estate agents make when they help you buy or sell a home, and how their earnings add up.

  • The single biggest expense involved in the sale of a home is the payment to the real estate agents who help with the transaction. Realtor commission is typically 5–6% of the sale price, so it can be thousands or tens of thousands of dollars depending on the home.