Interest rates are playing a pivotal role in the housing market these days sparking curiosity from home buyers and sellers as to how mortgage interest rates are determined and if there is hope on the horizon for when they may come down. Tune in as we sit down with Erin Dee from LoanPeople to learn all about the role of the Federal Reserve Bank, how its actions impact interest rates, and how home buyers can be best prepared to get the best interest rate possible.

Loan officers and REALTORS®  -- Want to take a closer look at what might be in store for the housing market and the economy in general? Join us as we sit down with Jed Guenther with Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC to discuss the state of the economy and how that might influence future housing trends.

Please note that this episode was recorded in late January 2024, so economic commentary will be current to that point in time. 

This week, we're focusing on spotlighting the great work one of our nonprofit partners is doing in the Houston area. Join us as we sit down with Kathy Flanagan-Payton from Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (Fifth Ward CRC) to discuss the history of Houston's historic Fifth Ward, the services that Fifth Ward CRC offers, the work they're doing as part of the Harris County Homeownership Collaborative, and more! 

As much as we LOVE talking about everything about homeownership, we know how intimidating the homebuying process can be, especially for first-time home buyers. That's why our very own Frank Duplechain sat down with Angela Guerrero and Victoria Garcia with Avenue to discuss how to combat higher interest rates, become better educated on the homebuying process, and finally break into homeownership!

This podcast episode was originally recorded as part of a webinar hosted by Avenue in late October 2023. 

Housing voucher programs are well known for their successes in helping households across the country secure affordable rental housing. But did you know that housing vouchers can be used towards a mortgage payment on a home? Join us as we sit down with Alyson Griffin, Branch Manager with Cross Country Mortgage, to discuss how housing vouchers can help families build generational wealth through homeownership.

www.housingvoucher.com

¡Junio es el Mes de la Propiedad de Vivienda y lo celebramos trayendo a los hispanohablantes los conceptos básicos sobre la asistencia para el pago inicial y los programas de Certificado de Crédito Hipotecario! Acompáñanos mientras nos sentamos con Karla Mendoza, oficial de préstamos en First Community Mortgage, para una conversación de todo lo que necesitas saber sobre cómo ahorrar dinero al comprar una casa.

June is Homeownership Month, and we’re celebrating by bringing Spanish-speakers the basics on down payment assistance and Mortgage Credit Certificate programs! Join us as we sit down with Karla Mendoza, a loan officer with First Community Mortgage, to discuss everything you need to know about saving money when buying a home.

This week we’re turning our On the House spotlight to supportive housing, which plays a key role in helping families and individuals achieve housing stability so they can focus on other financial goals (like homeownership) in the future. There’s no greater expert on the topic of supportive housing than Joy Horak-Brown, President and CEO of New Hope Housing in Houston.

When it comes to architecturally designing a home, many often assume that the more luxurious it is, the more expensive it becomes. But in this week's episode, our guest host Michael Wilt sits down with Eric Robinson and Kevin Deabler, co-founders of RODE Architects to debunk that myth as they discuss the intersection of design and affordability during the development process. The episode explores how these architects intentionally think about how housing developments are formed by and for their communities as well as the role they think the design community should play when it comes to offering up solutions and new approaches to address affordability challenges.

Whether you're in a highly-competitive housing market or one that's a bit more rural, non-traditional housing is a great option for home buyers who are looking to balance availability with affordability. But buying a non-traditional home can present other challenges, particularly when it comes to financing. In this episode, we sit down with Aubrey Miller with Q&A Mortgage to discuss the ins and outs of purchasing manufactured homes, tiny homes, shipping container homes, barndominiums, and more!

As kids across Texas head back to school, we thought it might be a good time for us to get some learning in too! In this episode of On The House, our very own Sarah Ellinor will be sitting down with Gracie Perez, a loan officer with Cardinal Financial, to dig through the wealth of information on how to shop for a mortgage loan.