Fellow "control freaks" raise your hands? Tim Legere, an NCAA ref, recovering small business owner, youth hockey coach, and finance professional, teaches us to control our controllables and plan for (but not sweat) the other stuff!  He shares some valuable takeaways and stories everyone can relate to as you manage your own to do lists.

Effective Events Episode Description: Familiar with the panic of planning an event or fear that nobody will come to your party? It can be an open house, grand opening, client appreciation event, or panel discussion, as real estate professionals or small business owners, we all become event planners at some point, but not always great ones. Heather Chambers, a small business owner, logistics professional, and experienced event planner, joins the podcast to provide pointers on planning an effective and efficient event.

Balancing Work/Life Episode Description: In an "on call" business finding the "right" balance between work and life is a constant struggle. Brian White, VP with Better Living Real Estate, manages a team of realtors, loyal clients, and a family of 8. In honor of Father's Day, Brian shares what he has learned about balancing work and life.  As an added bonus, I call my Dad, to make him cry!!  

Carlina Nabatoff, with The Abundant Group at Keller Williams, has built her business on providing concierge level service for tenants and landlords, in the rental market.  She shares the tips and trends she has seen in the Urban and Suburban rental markets this season.  We discuss how they parallel with the purchase market and what this means for future homebuyers and investors. 

I decode how many lenders are using fancy marketing and carefully picked wording to "sell" their "pre-approval" as unique and special.  I assure you there are no secret spells or magic bullets in the lending world.  It is just math and guidelines.  If it sounds like a lender is "selling" you something new ("good as cash" or "pre-lock" or "guaranteed ___" or "pre-commitment"), it is time to listen to this episode and learn the questions to ask to cut through the marketing.

Every business owner only has so many hours in a day.  So, how do you grow without burnout or sacrificing service?  Travis Wright, a Loan Officer (in SC), shares how building efficient communication, complimentary teams, and transparent work-flow helped him manage expediential growth.  We discuss how to setting-up a solid foundation, in times of low-volume, can prepare you to become a high-volume operation that maintains your expected quality and brand of service.

Attention all home buyers, sellers, realtors (listing and buyer's agents): In today's volatile market, a pre-approval letter can get outdated within hours.  Buyers get approved for a monthly payment (not a purchase price), which means some buyers are sensitive to changes in taxes, insurance, mortgage interest rates, loan amount, new debt, or other variables that impact the monthly payment/buying power. Shopping with an outdated letter is like buying something with Fool’s Gold...it looks great, but is actually worthless! On this episode, Brian Koss, EVP and Head of Retail Production at Mortgage Network, breaks down the pre-approval...What does it mean and what "tricks" are many lenders using.  We try to help you decipher between a legitimate pre-approval and carefully worded marketing.

New lender guidelines for condo approval have many realtors, buyers, and sellers scrambling in the real estate world. On this episode of Finance with Factor, Tonia Magliaro, Manager of Mortgage Network's Condo Department, decodes the potential condo tripwires, and shares tips on ways agents and/or owners can plan for and navigate the lending process.  It isn't difficult with the right teammates on your side...

[E108] Come on, everyone is doing it...Waiving contingencies (inspection, appraisal, financing/mortgage, etc.) when buying a home seems to be expected these days.  But, what does this mean?  Nicole Pinkos, a real estate attorney, with Hornung and Scimone PC, explains the legal risks, liabilities, and how to craft contingency language in your offer(s).  This episode is a must listen for  buyers, sellers, lenders, and realtors trying to be competitive in today's market.