As the year winds down, most real estate agents feel the pull to jump straight into 2026 real estate goal-setting mode. New targets, fresh marketing campaigns, ambitious listing goals—it’s all very energizing. Not so fast. Here’s what I’ve learned in nearly 30 years in this business: the most successful agents pause first. They look back […]
How top agents use 2025 lessons for smarter 2026 business goals Read More »
As interest rates continue to ease and borrower confidence rebuilds, originators are operating in a market that demands both adaptability and creativity. To better understand how mortgage professionals are approaching today’s environment, I asked four experienced originators to share how they’re guiding clients, leveraging non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) solutions, and refining their playbooks to stay competitive.
The originator’s playbook: Competing and growing in a shifting market Read More »
For many borrowers, the appraisal is the most stressful step in a refinance: part mystery, part high-stakes hurdle. Will the home appraise high enough? Will it delay closing? What actually determines the final value? Lenders can help ease these concerns by adopting the right combination of technology, strategy, and partnerships to modernize the process. A
Making the 7-day refi reality: Modernizing mortgage appraisals Read More »
For the past decade, rate marketing has been the dominant gravitational force in mortgage acquisition. Whoever shouted the lowest 30-year fixed rate the loudest won the most attention. But attention has never been the same as intent, and intent has never been the same as a closed loan. What’s happening now is more fundamental than
Just in time for the holidays, Troy Palmquist looks at how this legacy manufacturer bounced back from a market downturn and how agents can, too A few weeks ago, on a podcast, I was asked which brands I admire most. Without hesitation, I said LEGO. The toy company has an incredible comeback story, from the
What real estate can learn from LEGO’s reinvention Read More »
As someone who’s spent decades in the mortgage trenches—and as one of the owners of a $1 billion independent mortgage banking company—I’ve seen a few sunrises and sunsets in this industry. The 2008 crisis. Conservatorship. Waves of QE. Worsening LLPA’s. Adverse market fees. The pandemic housing chaos. Two percent refinances. The fastest rate spike in
From the warming drawer to the freezer: Tariffs, the Supreme Court and housing Read More »
For almost 40 years of training real estate agents, one truth has stood out above the rest: memorized scripts don’t move people. In fact, they can actually hold you back and hurt your business. I’ve long been called the “godfather of metaphors and analogies,” and for good reason — it’s the basis of all my coaching. Why metaphors beat memorized scripts The
Real estate agents: throw away the scripts and speak from the heart Read More »
In a housing market that has quietly entered a prolonged freeze, real estate professionals are facing a shift. Homeownership is no longer the dominant driver of client movement. Increasingly, the rental side of the business offers opportunity, relevance, and recurring engagement. Agents who embrace this change and become data-driven advisors can gain a real advantage.
UMH CEO Sam Landy should be thanked for sharing via HousingWire his recent op-ed which weaves together what is arguably a subtle call for the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) to do what the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) called for amendments to the ROAD to Housing Act 2025. Consider carefully what Landy did
Veterans Day serves as a meaningful opportunity to honor the sacrifices made by the men and women in uniform who have served our country. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the challenges veterans face as they transition back to civilian life, including navigating the homebuying process. For real estate professionals, it’s important to recognize
Helping heroes home: how real estate pros can better serve veterans Read More »