Nestology Podcast

After our first episode on Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), AKA reverse mortgages, we received a lot of great questions from listeners and clients — so we’re back to answer your questions!

In this follow-up episode, we’re answering the most common questions and clearing up confusion around how reverse mortgages actually work.

Reverse mortgages can be a helpful tool in the right situation, but they’re often misunderstood. As always, we want to help make this simple and easy to understand.

For more information on these loans, connect with Shelley:
www.shelleyconnell.com

If you’ve been curious about investing in real estate but worried about qualifying for another mortgage, DSCR loans might be worth understanding. In this episode, we break down what DSCR loans are, how they work, and why they’ve become a popular financing option for real estate investors.

Unlike traditional mortgages that rely heavily on personal income, DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans focus on the income the property itself can generate. That means qualifying for an investment property can look very different than qualifying for your primary home.

In this episode, we cover:

• What a DSCR loan is and how it works
• How lenders evaluate rental income
• Who these loans are best suited for
• Pros and cons compared to traditional financing
• What investors should know before using a DSCR loan

Whether you’re thinking about your first investment property or growing a portfolio, this episode will help you understand how DSCR loans fit into today’s real estate financing landscape.

To learn more or to start the process, connect with Shelley at www.shelleyconnell.com

Credit scores can feel mysterious, confusing, and sometimes frustrating, especially when you’re preparing to buy a home. In this episode, we break down how credit scores actually work and why they play such an important role in the mortgage process.

We talk about what factors impact your credit score, common misconceptions about credit, and practical steps you can take to improve your score if you’re planning to buy a home in the future. Shelley also shares insight from the lending side about what lenders really look at and how your credit score affects your loan options and interest rate.

Whether you're actively preparing to buy a home or just want to better understand your finances, this episode will help you feel more confident navigating the world of credit.

This week we are having some fun. We love HGTV. It’s inspiring, entertaining, and sometimes dangerously convincing. But as much as we enjoy the “TV magic,” real life buying, selling, and renovating doesn’t always happen in 30-minute segments with a perfectly wrapped bow at the end.

In this episode, we’re breaking down the biggest things HGTV gets wrong and why it actually matters for homeowners. From unrealistic renovation timelines and budgets to surprise demo drama and effortless DIY projects, we talk about what really happens behind the scenes in real estate.

We cover:

• Why renovation timelines on TV are rarely realistic
• The truth about those “budget-friendly” remodels
• What TV leaves out about the buying process
• The fake drama (and lack of real drama)
• The emotional and financial realities that don’t make the final cut

This episode isn’t about ruining the fun... it’s about setting realistic expectations so you do not have surprises when you do live it!

HGTV is great for inspiration… but real life requires a little less TV magic and a lot more planning.

In this episode, we’re joined by Alex Murray, a certified life and business coach and owner of Unleash You Coaching. We have conversation about fear, mindset, and the root causes that often keep us stuck — in business, home life, and personal growth.

We talk about how fear shows up in different ways, why simply knowing what to do isn’t the hard part, and how uncovering the why beneath our fears is often the key to real change. Alex shares insight into the coaching process and how creating awareness around patterns, beliefs, and emotional blocks helps people move forward with more clarity and confidence.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Common fears that hold people back from taking action
• How fear can disguise itself as procrastination, overwhelm, or perfectionism
• Why surface-level fixes don’t create lasting change
• Steps to start identifying the root cause behind fear and resistance
• How intentional self-reflection can lead to healthier balance and growth

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from pushing harder — it comes from understanding yourself better and taking intentional steps forward, even when fear is present.

To connect with Alex, please find her here:
https://www.unleashucoaching.com/
Website: www.unleashucoaching.com

IG: www.instagram.com/unleashyoucoaching/

FB: www.facebook.com/unleashyoucoaching/

LI: www.linkedin.com/in/alexandramurray01/

You asked, we answered! Here is another Q&A episode, we’re answering some of the questions we have received.

The week we are going to break down:

• How buying or selling a home between family members works
• What earnest money is and why it matters
• What an escrow shortage is and why your payment might suddenly change
• How to properly price a home in today’s market

Whether you’re buying, selling, or just trying to better understand the process, this episode is packed with straightforward explanations to help you feel more confident and informed.

Have a question you want us to answer next? Send it our way — future Q&A episodes are coming!

Interior design trends are always a fun conversation and 2026 is giving us so much to talk about. While we’ll always be advocates of doing what you love in your home (and not chasing every trend), this year’s design direction has us genuinely excited.

In this episode, we break down the interior design trends for 2026 that are moving us away from sterile, bland spaces and back toward homes that feel cozy, lived-in, and full of personality. Think warmth, texture, layered spaces, and, YES, color is having a major moment.

We’re sharing what we’re loving, what we can live without, and how to incorporate trends in a way that still feels timeless and personal. And because design is visual, we’ve shared tons of inspiration and examples on our social media, so be sure to follow along while you listen.

Whether you’re planning a full refresh or just looking for ideas to warm up your space, this episode is all about creating a home that feels good to live in.

Send us a text

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with friends and family or leave us a review! Have questions or stories to share? Send them our way, and they might be featured in a future episode!

Stay Connected:
- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and visuals.
- Visit our website at NestologyPodcast.com for additional resources and episode archives.
- Email us at [email protected] with your questions and stories!

In this episode, we’re talking about goal setting...but not the hustle-at-all-costs kind. We share how we use Darren Hardy’s Best Year Ever framework to reflect on the previous year and set goals that are intentional, balanced, and aligned with real life...not just work or money.

We open up about how challenging the last few years have been mentally and emotionally, and why that has changed how we think about success. From personal growth and family priorities to health, rest, and joy, we talk through past goals, lessons learned, and what we’re focusing on in the year ahead.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to “do more” while still feeling exhausted, we hear you! We hope this episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect honestly, and create goals that support the life you actually want to live.

Send us a text

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with friends and family or leave us a review! Have questions or stories to share? Send them our way, and they might be featured in a future episode!

Stay Connected:
- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and visuals.
- Visit our website at NestologyPodcast.com for additional resources and episode archives.
- Email us at [email protected] with your questions and stories!

Surprise — Jessica has been gone for weeks! But thanks to pre-recorded episodes, you never would’ve known. Now that she’s back from her massive road trip sabbatical, we’re finally catching up on everything… including how to podcast again. 😆

Between solar flares, bizarre tech glitches, lost audio, and several “wait… what were we saying?” moments, this episode got a little chaotic. We did our best to edit around the weirdness, but you might hear a few wonky spots. Just roll with us — we certainly had to!

Jessica shares stories from her big adventure, Shelley catches us up on her world, and together we laugh our way through a very real, very unpolished behind-the-scenes return to the mic.

You didn’t know we were gone… but wow, it feels good to be back. 💫

Send us a text

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with friends and family or leave us a review! Have questions or stories to share? Send them our way, and they might be featured in a future episode!

Stay Connected:
- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and visuals.
- Visit our website at NestologyPodcast.com for additional resources and episode archives.
- Email us at [email protected] with your questions and stories!

Selling your home during the holidays doesn’t have to be stressful—or mean skipping the decorations you love. In this episode, we share our favorite tips for selling your home during the holiday season, from smart showing strategies to festive (but tasteful) staging ideas.

We talk about how to strike the right balance between warm and welcoming décor and keeping your space show-ready, why holiday buyers are some of the most serious ones you’ll meet, and how to make your home stand out during a slower season.

Whether you’re decking the halls or de-cluttering for showings, this episode will help you sell successfully while still enjoying the season.

Send us a text

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with friends and family or leave us a review! Have questions or stories to share? Send them our way, and they might be featured in a future episode!

Stay Connected:
- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and visuals.
- Visit our website at NestologyPodcast.com for additional resources and episode archives.
- Email us at [email protected] with your questions and stories!