I'm happy to have Jessica Bishop, a sales manager at Reliance Mortgage in Pensacola, Florida, on the show today. Jessica is in Florida, but she still has Kentucky roots. We'll learn how she ended up in Florida and how she became a loan officer. 

We learn how she focuses on building relationships with real estate agents, lenders, and clients. She is committed to finding the right loan for each person, likening it to solving a puzzle to find the perfect loan for every client.

She shares information about different loan products that can significantly help first-time buyers. She also encourages clients to ask questions and truly understand what they're getting into. Her biggest piece of advice is to meet with a loan officer before even looking at houses to ensure that you can get a loan with a payment you can afford. 

Jessica deeply cares about buyers and finding loan products that fit their individual circumstances, including specialized programs that help lower interest rates and 100% financing loans that are especially beneficial for first-time buyers.

Episode Highlights: 

[00:59] Jessica has Kentucky roots. She was a Kentucky girl for about 20 years. 

[01:52] Jessica's husband was supposed to be working in Florida for only 6 months. They ended up loving it there so much that they stayed.

[02:24] Jessica worked as a legal secretary and then became a real estate agent. She later became a loan officer at Navy Federal Credit Union. She then went out on her own which was the best thing that she ever did.

[03:30] Some of the most important relationships a real estate agent can have is with the lender and the title company.

[04:35] Finding a loan that's the best fit for each individual client is like putting together a puzzle.

[05:13] Putting everything together and getting someone in a new house really feels like accomplishing something.

[05:48] The market has changed so much that lenders need to be able to move with the market.

[06:13] Jessica shares some unique mortgage products offered at Reliance Mortgage that include getting lower interest rates for the buyer. 

[09:28] They also offer 100% financing. There are a lot of grant programs that help people get into homes without putting a lot of money up front. One of their products is 100% financing FHA loans. There's a second lien that covers up to 5% that would include the down payment and some of the closing cost.

[11:34] There are many programs available to help people get into a home.

[12:30] It's really smart to talk things over with someone that can help you get the big picture when it comes to your credit and available programs.

[13:49] Even before you start home shopping, get in touch with the lender and have a consultation where you can go over your credit report and decide how much you want to spend.

[14:28] You need to know what you're approved for but also the monthly payment that you're willing to spend.

[15:39] You never want to overextend yourself. Always leave yourself some breathing room, because you never know what's going to come up.

[16:33] You want to work with someone who cares about your well-being, makes sure you are comfortable, and tells you the truth.

[18:58] Jessica makes clients feel comfortable and confident and safe when they ask her questions.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Home - Springdale Title, LLC
• Jessica Bishop CMG Home Loans