Power House

Latest Episodes:

Liz Gehringer: Communicating with confidence Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

On today’s episode of Power House, we welcome Liz Gehringer, the president and CEO of Anywhere Franchise Brands. She brings with her a depth of industry knowledge as she’s responsible for strategic growth, marketing and operations across Coldwell Banker Affiliates, Coldwell Banker Commercial, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, CENTURY 21, and ERA Real Estate.

Clayton and Liz’s conversation today dives deep into the core themes of this show: business growth, leadership, and operational strategy. She talks about her path to leadership, helping others grow through challenges, and approaching the continuation of professional education. In a post-settlement landscape, Liz sees real value in being a generalist and developing a wide range of skills as agent’s roles continue to evolve.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Seek new challenges and take on stretch assignments to grow as a leader.
Develop a wide range of skills to become a strong generalist.
Trust and brand reputation are crucial in the real estate industry.
Agents need to communicate with confidence and clarity, focusing on transparency and building trust with consumers.
The role of agents is evolving in the post-settlement landscape, and they need to adapt to changing consumer needs and expectations.

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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.

Cory Vasquez: The Power of Leading with Calm Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

On today’s episode of Power House, Clayton sits down with Cory Vasquez, the chief marketing officer and most recently promoted to co-president, alongside Vinnie Tracey, at Realty ONE Group. Cory is 20-year communications veteran and joined Realty ONE Group in late 2018 bringing along with her years of experience in a host of communications fields.

During their conversation, Cory talks about her unique background in marketing and communications and how that fits into the world of leading a real estate brokerage at this really unique time for the industry. They also discuss Realty One’s 100% commission model and some of the 2023 performance stats that landed them on the RealTrends Verified Brokerage Rankings.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Realty One Group has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with over 400 locations throughout the US and 20 countries.
The 100% commission model at Realty One Group attracts agents who want to keep more of their commission and offers comprehensive coaching and training programs.
The company focuses on creating a unique culture and giving back to the community, which attracts agents to the brand.
Effective communication and transparency are crucial during leadership transitions and in times of market change.
Real estate professionals need to demonstrate their value and communicate their efforts to clients to combat misconceptions about their work.

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Leo Pareja: Squashing misinformation in the real estate industry Apr 04, 2024

Show notes

This week, we are bringing you a conversation with Leo Pareja, the Chief Strategy Officer at eXp Realty, recorded live with HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins.

eXp was reported as the largest brokerage in the county by sides with 355,000 transaction sides in 2023, according to RealTrends Verified 2024 broker rankings.

This discussion with Pareja aims to bring clarity to chaos by squashing misinformation about the recently proposed real estate commission lawsuit settlement. Collins and Pareja discuss the proposed settlement's impact on the home purchase processes, compensation and home prices. Pareja provides guidance for agents and other housing professionals on communicating with consumers and partners and staying focused on servicing home buyers and sellers.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Agents should focus on operational strategy, clear communication, and adapting to the changes in the industry
Buyer representation contracts and compensation structures will likely still see changes in the future.
The settlement may lead to changes in the industry, but the demand for real estate transactions and the need for professional representation will remain.
Agents and brokers should focus on articulating their value proposition and adapting to the new rules of engagement to thrive in the changing landscape.
Mortgage professionals play a vital role in supporting agents and consumers by providing easy financing and facilitating successful transaction.

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Logan Mohtashami: The man behind the charts Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

On today’s episode of Power House, we are dropping a fantastic conversation with the myth, the legend: Logan Mohatshami, lead analyst at HousingWire. Logan gives a glimpse behind the curtains of his life and his transition to writing about real estate and economic data.

In a previous life, Logan was a high school basketball coach, but has since built his housing career on his passion and obsession for timely and accurate economic data and analyses. He and Clayton talk about the challenges that come with managing a market that never sleeps, the impact of inflation, and the potential for a housing boom in the coming years.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Accurate and timely data analysis is crucial in the housing industry.
Storytelling is essential for conveying complex economic concepts to a broader audience.
Managing a 24/7 market requires passion, dedication, and a strong work ethic.
The housing market has the potential for a boom in the 2020s.

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Mike Tassone: Evolving customer acquisition and lead gen Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

On today’s episode of Power House, we are bringing you a fantastic conversation with Mike Tassone, COO and co-founder of Own Up. Own Up is a concierge mortgage marketplace that allows consumers to access customized data and a network of vetted lenders. Prior to his current role, Mike co-led the residential lending business for Leader Bank, which he helped grow to a top 40 lender in the US during his tenure.

During their conversation, Clayton and Mike talk about the mortgage lender growth strategies, tactics to recruit high-quality loan originators, and the pros and cons of being maniacal Fed-watchers. They also discuss the pricing ecosystem in the mortgage industry and how the NAR settlement may impact mortgage lead gen and the order-of-operations of the homebuying and financing journey.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

The recent Fed meeting had no surprises and the market responded favorably to the expected rate cuts.
Own Up was founded to solve the frustration of mortgage shopping and provide a better consumer experience.
Recruiting high-quality loan originators and focusing on their strengths contributed to the growth of Leader Bank.
The lead generation market has shifted from refinance to purchase, and lenders have had to adapt to the changing landscape.
The future of real estate agents and loan officers depends on their ability to prioritize their time and provide value to consumers.

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Odeta Kushi and Sarah Wheeler on the surge in women's homeownership Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

On today's episode of Power House, we're bringing you a special feature in honor of International Women's Day, which was last Friday, March 8th, and Women's Month, which is the whole month of March. This special feature spotlights two industry powerhouses. HousingWire editor-in-chief Sarah Wheeler leads a conversation with First American Financial Corp. Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi.

During their conversation, Sarah and Odeta talk about home ownership among single, female heads of households, other demographic trends, and what's in store for the spring housing market.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Single women home ownership has been on the rise, driven by higher educational attainment and earning power.
The pandemic had a disproportionate impact on women's employment, but single women have shown resilience and financial growth.
The spring home buying market is expected to be more moderate due to the lack of significant decline in mortgage rates.
Inventory levels remain low, but even a slight increase can provide more options for potential buyers.
Timing the housing market is challenging, and buyers need to focus on their own needs and affordability.

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Frank Martell: Coming through the cycle as a winner Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

In October of 2023 we invited Frank Martell to the stage at HousingWire Annual to chat with Clayton Collins about his new role as CEO of loanDepot and progress toward his Vision 2025 plan. Today, we are bringing you that conversation to your feed as a glimpse into what we call "Battlefield Playbooks” and to preview the amazing interviews that you’ll experience on stage at The Gathering coming up on April 21. Frank and Clayton discuss his vision for loanDepot's future, market trends, regulatory challenges, and more.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

The strategic plan that loanDepot is implementing that emphasizes adaptability to current realities while exploring future opportunities
The importance of focusing on balancing near-term ROI with long-term infrastructure investments, particularly in technology
The benefits of having different but complementary leadership styles within your organization, and how Frank thinks about his strengths and experience in contrasts to founder Anthony Hsieh

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Brian Vieaux & Kyle Draper: Rethinking Everything (about loan origination) Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Today, we are bringing to you a conversation with two wonderful guests: Kyle Draper, speaker, author, and video marketing therapist, and Brian Vieaux, the president and COO at FinLocker.

Kyle and Brian have combined their industry knowledge and networks to co-author a book titled “Rethink Everything: You ‘Know’ About Being a Next Gen Loan Officer” which features a lot of valuable insights and knowledge of what you need to know about next generation loan origination from 37 different industry voices and leaders.

“Adopting an educator-first mindset, coupled with a willingness to reach, assist, engage and nurture early-journey first-time homebuyers, are the defining attributes of a next-gen loan officer. This book aims to empower mortgage professionals to cultivate these essential qualities,” Vieaux said.

They share a lot of that knowledge today during their conversation, including the importance of having a social media presence and strategy, how the different methods and platforms can be utilized to reach the next generation of homebuyers, and how loan originators should be looking to adapt in a rapidly changing market.

Learn more about the book and learnings in this article by HousingWire.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Loan originators need effective social media strategies to reach new home buyers.
Educate, address misconceptions, and add value to engage mortgage audiences.
Personal branding and trust are vital for digital-age loan originators.
Positive mindset drives loan originators' success and business growth.

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Joe Welu: Prioritizing customer journeys for better business outcomes Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Today’s guest is Joe Welu, founder and CEO of Total Expert. Since launching the business in 2012, Joe has led the business from startup to industry leader – trusted by more than 200 leading financial institutions. Total Expert is a five-time recipient of HousingWire’s Tech100 award and Joe is a multi-year recipient of the HousingWire Vanguard Award.

During today’s conversation, Joe explains the early lenders and partnerships that helped shape Total Expert's platform and success, as well as his strategic approach to building and evolving the leadership team. Joe shares his insights on AI not as a trend, but as a tool used to increase productivity and better enhance customer engagement. He also discusses generational trends in homeownership and the opportunities that he sees for lenders to nurture future homeowners.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Delivering the perfect customer journey is key to success in the mortgage industry
Prioritizing excellence and making necessary changes to the leadership team are crucial for growth
Nurturing and educating potential homebuyers can lead to long-term success for lenders
AI has the potential to revolutionize the mortgage technology ecosystem, but it must be used strategically and with a focus on outcomes.

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Victor Ciardelli: The Power of Focus (...on customers, LOs and agents) Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Today’s guest is Victor Ciardelli, the President and CEO of Guaranteed Rate. Over the last 24 years, Victor has led the independent mortgage bank to be positioned as a top-10 national lender that produced over $34 billion in 2023 production volume.

During the conversation, Victor Ciardelli shares his mortgage journey, from selling loans in a call center to founding Guaranteed Rate, and to their acquisition of PHH Home Loans. They also discuss the partnerships with real estate brokerages, technology, compliance and the evolution of loan officer compensation.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

Building a successful mortgage company requires a strong focus on customer experience and trust.
Developing relationships with top-performing real estate agents can drive business growth.
Maintaining control over the mortgage process and providing a clear value proposition to customers and referral partners is crucial.
Manifesting success and staying focused on long-term goals can lead to significant opportunities and partnerships. Bringing the real estate and mortgage sectors closer together is crucial for the housing industry's future success.
Compensation in the mortgage industry has evolved, but new challenges and potential risks have emerged.
Dodd-Frank has had a significant impact on compensation practices, but there are still areas of concern.

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