Housing News

Housing News

HousingWire

The Housing News podcast explores the most important topics happening in mortgage, real estate and fintech. Each week a new mortgage or real estate executive joins the show to add perspective to the top stories crossing HousingWire's news desk. Hosted by Clayton Collins and produced by Alcynna Lloyd.

29 minutes 4 seconds

Real value: How Class Valuation is redefining AMCs
Today on the Power House podcast, we are bringing you a special sponsored conversation between Zeb Lowe, the director of HousingWire’s Content Studio, and Andrew Bough, the COO at Class Valuation.
Andrew is joining us today to share how Class Valuation is setting new quality standards for appraisals through approaches such as their appraiser scorecard system and creating specialty panels for unique property types. He also talks about tackling industry challenges like an aging workforce and regulatory changes, and how they’re shaping the market with their Appraisal Diversity Initiative.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Class Valuation's scale allows for consistent quality in appraisals.
- Choosing the lowest-paid appraisers is a common misconception about AMCs.
- Performance scorecards help appraisers improve their services.
- Creating specialty panels enhances the quality of appraisals for specific, niche needs.
- The appraisal industry, like many other facets of the housing ecosystem, is undergoing significant change.
- Diversity initiatives and embracing new technology are essential for the future of appraisals.
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders.
Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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21 November 2024, 12:00 pm
28 minutes 35 seconds

Chad Smith: Making Better, better
This week on Power House, Diego chats with industry veteran Chad Smith, the president and COO of Better, who stepped into the role earlier this year from Mission Loans.
Chad and Diego talk about Chad’s decision to join the Better executive team and what they’re working on to help grow Better in 2025, which includes a focus on customer engagement and hiring more experienced LOs and industry experts. They also talk about Tinman, their proprietary platform, and a brand new AI loan assistant tool.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Better’s Tinman platform and AI loan assistant are helping to improve mortgage processing and customer engagement.
- Chad Smith joined Better to drive innovation despite the company’s PR challenges.
- Hiring experienced loan originators is key to Better's growth strategy.
- Better aims to make homeownership more accessible through innovative products.
- The company is focused on driving down fulfillment costs to benefit consumers.
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders.
Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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20 November 2024, 12:00 pm
32 minutes 14 seconds

Daren Blomquist: Rethink your post-pandemic benchmarks
This week on the Power House podcast, Diego sits down with Daren Blomquist, VP of Market Economics at Auction.com. Daren is a friendly face to many of you, and was last on the show in early 2023 to discuss his 2023 forecast. He’s joining us again to talk about what he expects to see in the market post-election and into 2025.
He and Diego talk about a potential market uptick as rates stabilize, how the mortgage rate lock-in effect is still impacting low inventory across the nation, and Auction.com’s plan to expand into non-foreclosure property sales.
Here's what you'll learn:
- We’ll see a ‘Trump bump' in housing data.
- The certainty of the election results will encourage market activity.
- The current bidding activity indicates a sluggish spring market.
- The lock-in effect is keeping inventory low across the country.
- Auction.com is seeing interest from sellers outside of traditional foreclosure.
- Many sellers are turning to auctions as a viable selling option.
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders.
Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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14 November 2024, 12:00 pm
30 minutes 2 seconds

Ginger Bell and Fobby Naghmi’s guide to leading through tough times
This week on the Power House podcast, HousingWire president Diego Sanchez sits down with the co-authors of the recently published real estate and mortgage guidebook, “Leadership Matters.” Fobby is also the SVP of Homecomings Mortgage & Equity, and Ginger is the founder of Edumarketing.
In today’s episode, they talk about why top performers don’t always make the best leaders, — especially in tough times — and discuss the critical role of training and communication in scaling leadership success across organizations.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Leadership is fundamental in all aspects of life, not just professional ones.
- Leaders are forged in challenging times, not in easy ones.
- There is a leadership deficit in the mortgage industry.
- Top performers are not always effective leaders.
- Effective, prepared communication is key during times of change.
- Giving back to the community enhances leadership impact.
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders.
Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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7 November 2024, 12:00 pm
25 minutes 4 seconds

Inside FirstTeam’s billion-dollar growth strategy with CEO Michele Harrington
This week on the Power House podcast, Diego sits down with Michele Harrington, CEO of FirstTeam Real Estate out of Orange County, California. Michele initially started her career in the Marine Corps, but after being stationed in Orange County, she not only fell in love with the beauty of Southern California, she also got bit by the entrepreneurial bug. Now, she leads California’s largest independent brokerage.
Michele and Diego talk about what sets FirstTeam apart from other brokerages and the recruitment strategies that are helping them surpass their goal of $1 billion in recruited teams. They also talk about empowering women in leadership positions and their plans to expand outside of California.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Women hold only 26% of leadership positions in real estate, despite being a majority of agents.
- Empowering women to pursue leadership roles is crucial for the growth of the industry.
- Their recruitment strategies focus on training new agents and placing them in existing teams.
- FirstTeam is on track to surpass $1 billion in recruited teams this year.
- The company aims for organic growth by expanding into adjacent markets.
- Michele's upcoming book emphasizes the importance of self-discipline in achieving success.
Related to this episode:
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders.
Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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31 October 2024, 11:00 am
40 minutes 57 seconds

Jeff Bell: Four pressing topics as you prepare for MBA Annual
This week on the Power House Podcast, HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins sat down with loan originator turned software executive: Jeff Bell, President at Uplist. Jeff joins us to talk about four really pertinent topics in today’s market: leadership, learning, loan monitoring, and recapture.
Uplist just launched what it says is a killer new tool that will help loan officers automatically generate refinance options for their clients. The technology, called “Recapture,” is integrated with the leading pricing engines, and it provides LOs with timely, accurate data that identifies multiple refi opportunities for clients.
Unlike rate alert tools, Uplist’s product fully automates the refinance analysis process. This includes property ownership checks, automated valuation models (AVMs), loan amount amortization and financial benefit calculations.
Those four topics (leadership, learning, loan monitoring, and recapture) discussed in this episode are going to be hotly discussed at this year’s MBA Annual in Denver. Listen in for insightful discussion about streamlining the loan monitoring process, competing in a refinance mortgage market, coaching and more!
HousingWire will be hosting a happy hour on Monday night at this year’s MBA Annual. You can register here.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Coaching can significantly impact personal and professional growth.
- Knowing how to use the right technology correctly is more important than just having technology.
- Prioritize proactive communication with clients instead of reactive.
- Understanding the nuances of a competitive landscape is key for originators.
- Leadership development should always be ongoing.
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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24 October 2024, 11:00 am
29 minutes 36 seconds

The art of giving back with Fairway CEO Steve Jacobson
This week on the Power House Podcast, HousingWire president Diego Sanchez sits down with Steve Jacobson, CEO of Fairway Independent Mortgage to talk about what it takes to build a company culture centered around humility and loyalty.
Diego and Steve also talk about Fairway’s retail growth after their decision to exit wholesale, their plan to sell the business back to its employees, and their commitment to helping communities in need.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Increasing the speed of service gives you a competitive advantage
- Community engagement and giving back are responsibilities of all mortgage leaders
- Succession planning is crucial for long-term success
- Growth strategies should prioritize organic development over M&A
- Relationships between originators and servicers will continue to evolve
Related to this episode:
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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17 October 2024, 11:00 am
50 minutes 4 seconds

Greg Schwartz: A love letter from the salt mines
This week on the Power House Podcast, Clayton sat down with Tomo CEO and co-founder Greg Schwartz to talk about what’s transpired in his business over the last two years — both the good and the bad. They dive into recovery indicators and the investments they’re making in technology and AI.
They also talk about how embracing accountable leadership and having a genuine love for the mortgage business is more important now than ever.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Tomo’s approach and belief in building a purchase-focused mortgage company
- Focusing on health and a work-life balance are essential for effective leadership
- Why market dynamics should be accounted for, but not be used as excuses for performance
- How the Pinterest effect influences first-time homebuyers' expectations
- How to look for leading indicators for market recovery
Related to this episode:
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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10 October 2024, 11:00 am
29 minutes 32 seconds

Key Themes Emerge at HousingWire IMB Summit
In this episode of Power House, we welcome back Rick Roque, Corporate VP of New Growth at NFM Lending. Clayton Collins and Roque sit down during the HousingWire IMB Summit on October 1, 2024 at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas, TX to discuss key themes from the stage and evaluation of top sessions.
Coverage of the event is available on HousingWire, and select session videos will be released for on-demand viewing in the coming days.
The HousingWire IMB Summit is part of HousingWire’s Summit series which include events on AI, mortgage banking and housing economics. The next summit will be the Housing Economic Summit on February 26, 2025.
The Housing Economic Summit is designed to give mortgage and real estate leaders a comprehensive understanding of the economic factors driving the housing market in 2025 — and what it all means for business. Topics include the mortgage rate outlook, housing demographics, home-price trends, housing affordability, the impact of the election and more. HousingWire is gathering the best housing economic experts in one place for this one-day event that will provide you with the freshest data available and the insights you need to meet the opportunity of the 2025 housing market.
Registration is now open. You can register here.
Related to this episode:
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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3 October 2024, 11:00 am
25 minutes 25 seconds

Post-acquisition tech, capital markets and origination strategies with Rob Pieklo and Adam Carmel
This week on the Power House podcast, Clayton sat down with Robert Pieklo, COO of American Financial Resources (AFR) and Adam Carmel, Founder & CEO of Polly to talk about current mortgage market dynamics and growth strategies amid changing rates. They also discuss prioritizing the customer experience, effectively scaling your operations, and how to develop an adaptable product mix as we go into 2025 and beyond.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Cost to completion is a key metric for lenders.
- Forward-looking technology for effectively scaling operations.
- Staying ahead and adapting to changing interest rates.
- Changing of the guard in the mortgage world.
- Win one customer over at a time.
Related to this episode:
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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26 September 2024, 11:00 am
27 minutes 2 seconds

When to compete and when to complement with Marc Trachtenberg
In this episode, HousingWire president Diego Sanchez interviews Marc Trachtenberg, CEO of Silk Title Co. They explore the dominance of the "Big Four" in the title market and how Silk Title's model complements rather than competes with them. Marc also shares insights from the recent RealEdge conference and discusses adapting to new technologies, fostering collaboration, and educating consumers about the title process.
Don't miss Marc at the upcoming IMB Summit on October 1 in Dallas, where he'll delve into Silk Title's vision for the future of the title industry.
Here's what you'll learn:
- Collaboration, rather than competition within the industry can lead to better outcomes for everyone.
- Diverse perspectives and consumer education are crucial for the industry's success.
- There is a significant lack of consumer education regarding the title process and its costs, and that needs to change.
- The title industry needs to redefine its approach to remain relevant in a changing market.
- Understanding risk and title alternatives is essential for both consumers and industry professionals.
Related to this episode:
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The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Clayton Collins is the CEO of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024.

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19 September 2024, 11:00 am
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