🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with top-producing real estate professional Nick Ahrens to break down one of the biggest financial decisions people face: renting versus owning. With over 12 years of experience, Nick explains why waiting to buy often costs more than people realize, how appreciation and leverage work in a buyer’s favor, and why real estate remains one of the strongest long-term wealth-building tools. This conversation is packed with real numbers, real stories, and practical guidance for anyone feeling stuck on the fence.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest:🏡 Nick Ahrens – Top-Producing Real Estate Agent & Founder of the North Denver Report

Nick Ahrens is a real estate professional with 12+ years of experience and a top-performing agent with The Apollo Group at eXp Realty. He has received multiple industry recognitions, including Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement, Diamond Club, and Titan Club awards. Based in Colorado, Nick also has active real estate experience in Southern California, and is the founder of the North Denver Report, a platform focused on local market insights and community coverage.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why renting long-term can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars

✔️ How appreciation quietly works against buyers who wait

✔️ The difference between investing in real estate vs the stock market

✔️ How leverage helps homeowners build wealth faster

✔️ Why education and the right real estate team matter

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

💼 Connect with Nick Ahrens:

🌐 Website → https://www.youranthemhome.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/nickahrensrealestate/?hl=en

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins welcomes nationally recognized mortgage expert Lindsay Barron LaBonte for a timely and practical conversation about interest rates. Together, they break down one of the most misunderstood topics in real estate: the difference between Federal Reserve rate cuts and actual mortgage rates.

Lindsay explains how mortgage-backed securities work, why rate drops are often “priced in” before Fed announcements, and why chasing a quarter-point rate change may not be worth the stress. They also discuss refinancing timing, market volatility, affordability, perspective on payments vs. rates, and how homeowners can stay informed without getting overwhelmed.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Lindsay Barron LaBonte – Branch Manager, Applied Mortgage Team | Nationally Recognized Mortgage Professional

Lindsay Barron LaBonte is a nationally recognized mortgage professional and community leader based in Northampton, Massachusetts, with more than 19 years of experience in the lending industry. As Branch Manager of the Applied Mortgage Team, the Northampton branch of HMA Mortgage, she has helped thousands of individuals and families achieve homeownership while emphasizing financial education and long-term planning. Consistently ranked among the top loan originators in Western Massachusetts, Lindsay has been a Banker & Tradesman Top Loan Originator across Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties for eight consecutive years, and is a Scotsman Guide Top 1% Woman Originator nationally. She was also featured in Mortgage Banking Magazine’s 2022 Powerful Women in Mortgage Banking and hosts the podcast Real People, Real Estate, showcasing real estate stories rooted in the Western Mass community. Alongside her professional success, Lindsay is deeply committed to local service, supporting more than 30 nonprofit organizations and serving on the board of the United Way of Franklin and Hampshire County as well as several community committees.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why Fed rate cuts don’t instantly change mortgage rates

✔️ How mortgage-backed securities influence daily rate movement

✔️ Why rates are often “baked in” before big Fed announcements

✔️ The real impact of a 0.25% rate change on monthly payments

✔️ When refinancing makes sense — and when it doesn’t

🎵 Whether you're a first-time buyer, homeowner, or investor, this episode offers clarity in a confusing rate environment.

💼 Connect with Lindsay Barron LaBonte:

🌐 Website → https://appliedmortgageteam.com/

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/lindsaybarronlabonte381413/

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

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Abdi Sabet, a Northern California realtor with The Agency and a former senior network & systems engineer. Abdi shares how he transitioned from 16 years in the tech world to becoming a successful real estate agent — and how his engineer mindset, passion for communication, and mastery of AI tools like ChatGPT give him a powerful competitive edge. He reveals how tech shaped his systems, why documentation and communication matter more than ever, how AI supports his marketing and lead generation, and why authenticity wins in a market full of “mega agents.” This episode is packed with practical insights for agents wanting to work smarter, communicate better, and use modern tools without losing the human touch.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Abdi Sabet – Realtor at The Agency | Former Senior Network & Systems Engineer

Abdi Sabet is a Realtor with The Agency, serving the East Bay area of California, including Oakland, Berkeley, and Walnut Creek. A former senior network and systems engineer, he applies a detail-oriented and problem-solving approach to real estate. Abdi has facilitated numerous transactions with sales ranging from $825,000 to $3.6 million and maintains a 5.0-star Zillow rating, reflecting his professionalism and client satisfaction. Fluent in English and Farsi, he provides tailored services to a diverse clientele.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How Abdi transitioned from engineering to real estate

✔️ Why communication & documentation are the “secret weapons” agents overlook

✔️ How AI tools like ChatGPT can improve marketing, systems, scripts & productivity

✔️ How to stay competitive against mega brokerages through trust & personal branding

✔️ How AI assists with market data, disclosures, drip campaigns & lead generation

🎵 Whether you're a new agent, veteran, or tech-curious professional, this episode shows how smart tools + smart processes = better business.

💼 Connect with Abdi Sabet:

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

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/abdi.realestate/reels/?hl=en

🎙 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/

🚀 In this inspiring episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Karla Ukman, a wealth planner and financial coach breaking barriers in the financial industry. Karla, founder of Artemis Wealth Management, shares her personal story from financial struggle to becoming an advocate for women and marginalized communities in wealth planning. She explains why not all debt is bad, how to use money as a tool, and the difference between a financial advisor vs. financial planner. We also dive into homeownership’s role in building generational wealth, the myths holding women back financially, and how to align money with values and purpose.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Karla Ukman – Wealth Planner, Financial Coach & Founder of Artemis Wealth Management

Karla Ukman is “Not your father’s advisor”™️. After being dismissed early in her financial journey for not having “enough money,” she experienced firsthand how traditional finance excludes those without generational wealth. She founded Artemis Wealth Management to change that. As a wealth planner and financial coach with over 13 years of experience, Karla partners with women and marginalized communities to help them align their money with their values.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why not all debt is bad—using it as leverage to build wealth

✔️ Financial advisor vs. financial planner – what's the difference?

✔️ How to use money as a tool, not a stressor

✔️ Financial barriers women still face—and how to break them

✔️ How to align money with values, purpose, and legacy

🎵 Whether you're planning your first home purchase, managing debt, or building financial freedom—this episode is packed with real, practical guidance.

💼 Connect with Karla Ukman:

🌎 Website → https://www.artemiswealth.net/

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

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

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

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Rachel Clark, Executive Director of the Broker Action Coalition (The BAC). Rachel breaks down how The BAC is actively shaping mortgage legislation in Washington D.C. to protect both consumers and mortgage professionals. She reveals the inside story of how the Trigger Lead Ban was passed into law, ending the sale of consumer data after credit pulls — a major victory for privacy and the mortgage industry. Rachel also discusses upcoming legislation that could eliminate lifetime FHA mortgage insurance, improve VA loan awareness, and reform LO compensation to level the playing field for brokers.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Rachel Clark – Executive Director, Broker Action Coalition

Rachel Clark is the Executive Director of the Broker Action Coalition, where she oversees day-to-day advocacy operations. With deep expertise in grassroots organizing and legislative strategy, she leads efforts to advance the coalition’s mission of protecting consumers and supporting mortgage professionals nationwide.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What The Broker Action Coalition does and why it matters

✔️ How the Trigger Lead Ban became federal law

✔️ How consumer data is bought, sold, and finally protected

✔️ Upcoming bills: FHA Mortgage Insurance Freedom Act & VA loan awareness

✔️ Possible changes to LO compensation and APR fairness

✔️ How brokers can get involved in legislative advocacy

🎵 Whether you’re a mortgage professional, real estate agent, or consumer — this episode sheds light on the laws that affect your business, your clients, and your privacy.

💼 Connect with Rachel Clark:

🌎 Website → https://brokeractioncoalition.com/

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/groups/brokeractioncoalition

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

🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/broker-action-coalition

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Valerie Van de Zilver, a seasoned real estate professional and senior transition specialist. With over four decades in the industry, Valerie shares her journey from running a mortgage company to creating two radio shows — Always Ageless Radio and SoCal with Val. She opens up about her personal inspiration from her 106-year-old mother, lessons in longevity, and her mission to help seniors transition gracefully through life’s major changes.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Valerie Van de Zilver – Real Estate Professional & Senior Transition Specialist

Valerie Van de Zilver is a seasoned real estate professional and Senior Transition Specialist based in Southern California. With over four decades of experience and more than $21 million in closed transactions, she has become a trusted guide for clients navigating major life changes, especially seniors transitioning to new living situations. Valerie is also the host of Always Ageless Radio, where she shares insights on thriving at every stage of life and highlights resources for aging gracefully. As the founder of Powermarketing, Inc., she combines her deep knowledge of real estate with a passion for education and community support.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How Valerie built a 40-year career in real estate and mortgage lending

✔️ The inspiration behind her Always Ageless brand and radio show

✔️ Lessons in longevity and sustaining success through mindset

✔️ Insights on working with seniors and supporting family transitions

✔️ The importance of service, purpose, and protecting clients with care

🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or simply passionate about purposeful living, this episode offers heartfelt inspiration and timeless wisdom.

💼 Connect with Valerie Van de Zilver:

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

📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/therealvaleriev

🔗 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/valerievdz

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Robbyn Battles, a California-based real estate expert with over 30 years of experience. From serving as a Commissioner on the LA County Tax Appeals Board to understanding generational market shifts, Robbyn shares lessons on client relationships, community service, and adapting to evolving technology in real estate. This conversation is filled with stories, humor, and real-life wisdom from decades of navigating the housing industry.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Robbyn Battles – Senior & Luxury Real Estate Specialist

Robbyn Battles is based in California with over 30 years of industry experience who began assisting in her parents’ real estate business at age 13 and later took over their operations. She holds certification as a Senior Real Estate Specialist and as a Luxury Home Marketing Specialist. In 2022, she was ranked among the Top 1% of agents in the U.S. by RealTrends. She also served as a Commissioner on the LA County Tax Appeals Board, appointed by the LA County Supervisor’s Office.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What it’s like serving on the LA County Tax Appeals Board

✔️ How real estate has evolved over 40 years

✔️ The biggest generational and technological shifts in the housing market

✔️ Strategies for helping senior and boomer clients transition

✔️ How authenticity and storytelling build long-term client trust

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

💼 Connect with Robbyn Battles:

🌎 Website → https://thehouseagent.com/

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

📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/RobbynBattles

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

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins sits down with Adam Brawer, founder of Brawer Estates and one of Los Angeles’ most innovative luxury real estate agents. Adam shares expert insights on how buyers can successfully buy before they sell, the strategies to win bidding wars, and creative ways to structure financing in today’s market. With his background in entertainment and a reputation for relationship-driven dealmaking, Adam reveals how creativity, honesty, and strategy can help both agents and clients thrive — even in competitive luxury markets.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Adam Brawer – Founder of Brawer Estates | Luxury Real Estate Expert, Los Angeles

Adam Brawer is the President and Founder of Adam Brawer Estates, affiliated with Compass in Los Angeles. He specializes in luxury residential transactions in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Venice, with a track record of representing A-list clients and off-market deals. Adam was awarded the “Fastest-Growing Agent” distinction by Homesnap from among over one million agents nationwide.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ Why “buying before selling” gives you a competitive edge in today’s market

✔️ How to structure contingent and non-contingent offers effectively

✔️ Creative financing solutions: cash-out refis, HELOCs, and margin loans

✔️ How to win a bidding war — even against all-cash offers

✔️ Why communication and transparency build trust with clients

🎵 Whether you’re a realtor or homeowner, this episode gives you the insider edge to navigate buying, selling, and winning in real estate.

📇 Connect with Adam Brawer:

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

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

🌐 Website → https://adambrawerestates.com/

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins chats with Jon Swire, top-producing real estate advisor and UCLA instructor. Jon shares how he pivoted from tech startups to building a thriving real estate business with over a billion dollars in transactions. From his cold-calling grind to teaching investment real estate and writing his own book, Jon reveals the mindset, structure, and discipline behind long-term success in multifamily real estate.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Jon Swire – Real Estate Advisor, Author & UCLA Instructor

Jon Swire is a top-producing real estate advisor at The Agency specializing in Los Angeles multi-family properties. His distinguished career includes closing over 500 transactions for more than $1 billion in sales, earning him the remarkable ranking of #3 Agent in the United States. A consistent top 5% international producer, Swire is also a published author and a respected real estate instructor at UCLA Extension, cementing his status as a leading authority in investment real estate. 

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ How Jon transitioned from software sales to real estate success

✔️ The power of discipline, structure, and goal setting in business

✔️ The real value of multifamily investing vs. residential

✔️ Lessons from the 2008 market crash and adapting in downturns

✔️ How to overcome fear and take action in real estate investments

🎵 Whether you’re an investor, agent, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode offers valuable lessons on mindset, risk-taking, and financial growth.

💼 Connect with Jon Swire:

🌐 Website →https://www.jonswire.com/

🌐 Website → https://www.theagencyre.com/agent/jon-swire

🎙 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/

🚀 In this episode of Mortgage On My Mind, host Natalie Salins welcomes Matias Baker Masucci, a seasoned Beverly Hills realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. Known for his expertise in luxury, trust, and probate sales, Matias brings over two decades of experience helping clients navigate complex real estate transactions with clarity, integrity, and discretion. Matias shares insider knowledge about fraud prevention, taxation advantages, and why estate planning is the ultimate key to protecting generational wealth.

🎧 Hosted by: Natalie Salins

👤 Guest: 🏡 Matias Baker Masucci – Luxury Realtor | Probate & Trust Specialist | Host of The Probate Realtor Show

Matias Baker Masucci - A seasoned Beverly Hills Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Matias specializes in luxury real estate across Los Angeles. Fluent in Italian and known for his integrity and results, Matias also hosts The Probate Realtor Show, sharing insights on navigating complex legacy transactions.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

✔️ What probate really means and why it matters in real estate

✔️ The difference between full authority and limited authority probates

✔️ How to avoid fraud and protect estates from exploitation

✔️ The tax advantages of selling inherited properties

✔️ How investors find opportunities in probate and trust sales

✔️ Common misconceptions and how long the probate process really takes

🎵 Whether you’re an agent, investor, or family member managing an estate, this episode offers practical, real-world advice for navigating probate confidently.

💼 Connect with Matias Baker Masucci:

🌐 Website → https://everyla.com/

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

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

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

🎙 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/