🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, we sit down with Shelby Seeley, a top-performing real estate agent in Northern California, to break down everything first-time homebuyers need to know. From overcoming fear and confusion to understanding powerful programs like California’s DREAM program, Shelby shares how education, guidance, and taking the first step can completely change your financial future.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Shelby Seeley – Real Estate Agent & First-Time Buyer Specialist

Shelby Seeley is a licensed real estate agent and team leader with Rick Fuller Inc. Realtors, serving buyers and sellers across Northern California, including Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, and Concord. With more than $100 million in career sales volume and hundreds of closed transactions, she ranks among the top 1% of agents within her brokerage.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why first-time buyers struggle—and how to overcome it

✔️ The biggest mistakes new buyers make (and how to avoid them)

✔️ How programs like the DREAM program can boost affordability

✔️ Why education and guidance are key to success

✔️ How real estate builds long-term and generational wealth

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Shelby Seeley:

🌐 Website → https://shelbyseeley.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/_shelby_seeley

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/shelby.seeley.98

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage on My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with real estate expert Sean Brunske to explore creative real estate investing and the future of housing construction.

Sean shares how his work with HomeVestors — known nationwide for the “We Buy Ugly Houses” brand — helps homeowners quickly sell properties in complicated situations. From foreclosure challenges to time-sensitive relocations, he explains how cash buyers can solve real estate problems that traditional sales often cannot.

The conversation then shifts to one of the most exciting trends in modern construction: modular homes. Sean explains how these homes are built in factories, transported to site, and assembled quickly — sometimes allowing homeowners to move in within months instead of years. The episode also explores how modular construction could help communities like Altadena rebuild faster after devastating wildfires.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Sean Brunske – Real Estate Associate & Investment Specialist

Sean Brunske is a real estate associate and investment specialist with RE/MAX Champions in Upland, California, with more than 25 years of experience serving clients across Southern California and Arizona. In addition to being a top-producing agent, he is a HomeVestors® franchise owner focused on providing solutions for complex property situations. Sean is also recognized as a RealTrends Verified professional, with expertise spanning residential sales, commercial real estate, property management, and investment strategy.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How the “We Buy Ugly Houses” model helps homeowners solve difficult property situations

✔️ Real-life stories of helping distressed sellers and resolving complicated property challenges

✔️ The difference between manufactured homes and modular homes

✔️ Why modular construction can drastically reduce building timelines

✔️ How modular homes could help communities rebuild faster after disasters

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Sean Brunske:

🌎 Website → https://www.s2amodular.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/sean.brunske

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/seanbrunske/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-brunske-44219a12/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this exciting episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with licensed mortgage loan officer Abe Hakawati to discuss innovative 2026 homebuyer programs, expanded FHA guidelines, bank statement loans, and a powerful Earned Equity Program helping buyers qualify with just 3.5% down. If you’re self-employed, credit-challenged, or think homeownership is out of reach — this episode is a must-watch!

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Abe Hakawati – Licensed Mortgage Loan Officer

Abe Hakawati is a licensed mortgage loan officer affiliated with Loan Factory and licensed in both California and Texas. He assists borrowers with a wide range of mortgage products, including conventional loans, jumbo mortgages, HELOCs, reverse mortgages, and other customized financing solutions. Abe also partners with MyLoanDesk.com, a digital mortgage platform offering conventional, portfolio, and commercial programs designed for borrowers with unique income or property scenarios that may not meet traditional bank guidelines.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ A look at new 2026 mortgage programs for first-time buyers

✔️ How lenders evaluate debt-to-income ratios and borrower eligibility

✔️ How bank statement loans help self-employed buyers qualify

✔️ When Non-QM loans make more sense than traditional mortgages

✔️ The long-term financial and community benefits of homeownership

New 2026 Programs Are Expanding Access to Homeownership

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Abe Hakawati:

🌐 Website → http://www.myloandesk.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/talk2abenow/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, Natalie Salins sits down with Philip Ganz, Founder of Next Wave Mortgage, to break down the real difference between seasoned loan officers and today’s rapid, automated pre-approval systems. From the “FedEx underwriting days” to modern AI-driven approvals, they discuss why experience, attention to detail, and storytelling still win in mortgage lending. They cover income calculation mistakes, variable income pitfalls, cash-to-close transparency, and why landing the plane smoothly matters more than flashy marketing.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Philip Ganz – Founder of Next Wave Mortgage | Multi-State Licensed Mortgage Professional

Philip Ganz is the founder of Next Wave Mortgage and a multi-state licensed mortgage professional with expertise in residential lending and real estate investing. He owns rental properties and is known for applying data-driven SEO and digital marketing strategies to modern mortgage and real estate education.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why rapid pre-approvals don’t always mean rapid closings

✔️ The #1 income mistake that causes loan suspensions

✔️ How seasoned loan officers structure and “tell the story” of a file

✔️ Why cash-to-close transparency prevents buyer panic

✔️ The pilot analogy: why you want experience landing your mortgage

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Philip Ganz:

🌎 Website → https://makefloridayourhome.com/

📘 Facebook → https://facebook.com/philipganz

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/askamortgageexpert/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/askthemortgageexpert/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, Natalie Salins sits down with San Fernando Valley real estate expert Alexis Ubeda to break down the biggest misconceptions first-time homebuyers have — especially the myth that you need 20% down to buy a home.

They dive deep into zero-down programs, FHA financing, VA loans, CalHFA options, and the highly talked-about California Dream For All shared appreciation program. If you’re thinking about buying in 2026, this is a must-watch conversation packed with insider knowledge and practical advice.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Alexis Ubeda – Real Estate Professional | Host of Safe At Home Podcast

Alexis Ubeda is a San Fernando Valley real estate professional who has helped dozens of families buy and sell homes since 2013, building a referral-based business rooted in trust and local expertise. He is also the host of Safe At Home Podcast, where he shares insights on real estate and community life in the 818.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ The #1 misconception first-time buyers have about down payments

✔️ How VA, FHA, and CalHFA programs really work

✔️ What happened to California grant programs over the years

✔️ How the Dream For All shared appreciation program works

✔️ Why asking questions is the first step to homeownership

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Alexis Ubeda:

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/alexis.ubeda.52/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/agentubeda

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this powerful episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Mike Milligan, CFP®, Founder and CEO of One Oak Financial, to break down how real wealth is built in America. From the rent vs. buy debate to retirement strategies and Roth IRAs, Mike shares practical financial wisdom to help first-time homebuyers and future retirees take control of their financial future. If you want to understand how ownership builds wealth and why taxes matter more than you think, this episode is a must-watch!

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Mike Milligan, CFP® – Founder & CEO of One Oak Financial

Mike Milligan, CFP® is the founder and CEO of 1 Oak Financial, a financial planning firm he built to redefine retirement and legacy planning with a client-first approach. He brings over 26 years of experience in financial planning, is a published author, podcast and radio show host, and serves as a university lecturer, helping individuals and advisors retire with clarity and build lasting financial legacies.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why homeownership is one of the primary ways Americans build wealth

✔️ The powerful math behind renting vs. buying

✔️ How refinancing can create long-term financial leverage

✔️ Why Roth IRAs may be one of the smartest retirement tools today

✔️ How taxes impact your future wealth and retirement strategy

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Mike Milligan:

🌐 Website → https://1oakfinancial.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/1oakfinancial/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemilligancfp/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!
💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with mortgage broker Alejandro Szita to break down Non-QM loans and why they are often the smartest solution for self-employed borrowers, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Alejandro explains what Non-QM really means, how conventional guidelines fall short for business owners, and why time, flexibility, and holistic underwriting matter more than chasing the lowest rate.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Alejandro Szita – Mortgage Broker & Founder of Prosperity Lending

Alejandro Szita is a mortgage broker and founder of Prosperity Lending, specializing in financing solutions for artists, entrepreneurs, and self-employed professionals. With experience in real estate since 2006 across residential, commercial, and capital-raising roles, he is known for structuring loans for complex income profiles and is a regular guest on real estate and finance podcasts.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What Non-QM loans actually mean (and what they don’t)

✔️ When Non-QM makes more sense than conventional financing

✔️ Why self-employed borrowers struggle with traditional guidelines

✔️ How Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae differ for business owners

✔️ Lending advice for first-time buyers and loan officers

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Alejandro Szita:

🌐 Website → https://www.prosperitylending.us/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with investor and author Patrick Grimes to unpack what “passive income” really means and why true wealth requires diversification beyond traditional real estate and Wall Street. Patrick shares his journey from engineering to investing, lessons learned from major market downturns, and how alternative asset classes like medical and legal finance can create recession-resilient income.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Patrick Grimes – Investor, Founder & CEO of Passive Investing Mastery, Author

Patrick Grimes is the Founder and CEO of Passive Investing Mastery and an Amazon bestselling author. With a career spanning engineering, business, and real estate, he has built expertise in recession-resilient investments that generate passive income and long-term financial security. Through his work, Patrick helps professionals and families create wealth beyond Wall Street by focusing on proven, cash-flowing strategies in real estate and alternative assets.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why single-family rentals often aren’t truly passive

✔️ Lessons from losing money during major market downturns

✔️ Why diversification beyond Wall Street matters

✔️ How medical and legal investments generate cash flow

✔️ What non-correlated assets are and why they build resilience

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Patrick Grimes:

🌎 Website → https://passiveinvestingmastery.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/lifeoncloudnine

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/passiveinvestingmastery/

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricksgrimes/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with luxury real estate expert Stefan Pommepuy to explore what it really takes to succeed in high-end markets like Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and the Hollywood Hills. Stefan shares his unconventional path into luxury real estate, the realities of large transactions, the impact of the Mansion Tax, and how buyers and sellers navigate today’s complex Los Angeles market.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Stefan Pommepuy – Director of Estates Division at The Agency | Luxury Real Estate Expert

Stefan Pommepuy is Director of the Estates Division at The Agency in Beverly Hills, representing buyers and sellers across Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Bel Air, and the Hollywood Hills. With nearly two decades in the industry, he has been recognized as a Chairman Award winner multiple times and named to RealTrends + Tom Ferry America’s Best, placing him among the top-performing agents nationally.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How Stefan broke into the luxury real estate market early in his career

✔️ The pros and cons of focusing on high-end versus standard transactions

✔️ Why luxury deals can be simpler—and more complex—at the same time

✔️ The real impact of the Los Angeles Mansion Tax on buyers and sellers

✔️ How financing, down payments, and creative deal structuring work in LA

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Stefan Pommepuy:

🌐 Website → http://www.stefanpommepuy.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/stefanpommepuy/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/stefan.pommepuy/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

🔖 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Grant Inaba, a seasoned real estate agent, team leader, and coach with over 13 years of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area. Grant breaks down the realities of revenue share brokerages, compares traditional, cloud, and hybrid models, and explains why long-term sustainability, retirement planning, and coaching are becoming essential for agents. The conversation also explores team dynamics, Redfin’s model, agent stability, IPO opportunities, and how lead generation is reshaping the industry.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Grant Inaba – Real Estate Agent, Team Leader & Coach

Grant Inaba is a real estate agent and team leader with over 13 years of experience in the San Francisco Bay Area, specializing in Berkeley, Walnut Creek, and Oakland. He leads the Good Real Estate Team and has completed hundreds of residential transactions across a wide range of price points. Grant is known for his collaborative mindset, focus on online lead generation, and forward-thinking approach to brokerage and team growth.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ The difference between traditional and revenue share brokerages

✔️ Why cloud and hybrid brokerage models are gaining traction

✔️ How revenue share can support long-term retirement planning

✔️ The value of teams versus working solo in real estate

✔️ How coaching helps newer agents succeed in virtual brokerages

🎵 Whether you're a new agent or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable insights!

💼 Connect with Grant Inaba:

🌐 Website → https://www.homes.com/real-estate-agents/grant-inaba/m8jqrrk/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/grantgoodagent/

🎙 Follow Natalie Salins – Mortgage On My Mind:

🌎 Website → https://movement.com/lo/natalie-salins

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/natalie.salins/

📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/natalie_salins/?hl=en

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-salins-1029583b

💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate – https://iconsofrealestate.com/