Clear to Close
41 episodes - English - Latest episode: 20 days ago - ★★★★★ - 13 ratingsEach episode of Clear to Close is a deep dive into topics impacting mortgage and real estate professionals. We’ll be sitting down with industry thought leaders and seasoned mortgage pros to challenge our assumptions and go beyond surface-level discussions for a no-BS view of the issues impacting the industry.
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Episodes
How the NAR Ruling Will Impact Lenders (& the Entire Home-Buying Process)
April 08, 2024 19:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBThe groundbreaking NAR settlement has real estate agents, lending professionals, and home buyers scrambling to understand its ramifications. Here to weigh in is the Clear to Close crew: In this conversation, Alan, Bryan, and Anthony channel their experience in the industry to walk through possible outcomes of the ruling. Specifically, this episode explores how new policy changes are likely to impact lead generation, methods to earn borrower business, and more—and how lenders can best get ahea...
How to Drive Referral Business in 2024's Competitive Mortgage Market
March 12, 2024 18:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBNo one knows exactly what lies ahead this year, but one thing is clear: 2024's market will remain competitive, with make-or-break economic factors influencing recovery and lenders scrambling for profitability amid evolving challenges. One headline set to impact the market is ongoing trouble brewing in the commercial real estate sector: As assets continue to underperform and major debt comes due, impacts will trickle into the housing market and economy in general. Here to talk through this maj...
Major Factors That Could Boost (or Derail) 2024's Housing Market
December 20, 2023 20:44 - 35 minutes - 24.4 MBRecent Fed announcements, declining interest rates, and increased loan activity spell an optimistic end to the year. But is the mortgage industry's renewed sense of hope warranted—and is the worst truly behind us? In this episode of Clear to Close, hosts Alan, Bryan, and Anthony dig into their thoughts on 2024's market, including how they believe rates will trend, economic and global factors that could impact housing, and more.
Borrower Segments & Lending Strategies to Incorporate in Your 2024 Plan (ft. Melissa Langdale, President & COO of TMC)
November 20, 2023 23:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MBThis week on the Clear to Close podcast, we have a special guest: Melissa Langdale, TMC President and COO and a career-long mortgage veteran. In this conversation, Melissa leverages her unique perspective gleaned from interactions with lenders across the industry to provide actionable tips on how to drive revenue and capture market share in 2024.
What's Really Causing Housing Market Woes (& What It'll Take for Conditions to Stabilize)
September 29, 2023 17:28 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBWith Alan Parris freshly back from sabbatical, the Clear to Close team dives into the topic on everyone's minds: housing market challenges. While it's easy to point fingers and ascribe blame at times like these, the truth is that the forces driving today's conditions are varied and complex. In this conversation, we dig into a few of the factors keeping rates high, inventory stifled, and volume low—and talk through what it will take to turn the corner.
Inflation, Rates & Creative Ways to Capture Remaining Borrower Business
September 05, 2023 21:00 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBAs Alan Parris takes a sabbatical from Maxwell, two-thirds of your favorite trio—Bryan Traeger and Anthony Ianni—are back to catch up on the status of inflation, interest rates, and today's market outlook. From the latest CPI numbers to the recent job openings report, Bryan and Anthony talk through economic factors that impact lenders and what they mean for the state of the market as we head into the last month of Q3. Plus, Bryan delves into outside-the-box methods lenders are using to drive ...
The Future of AI in Mortgage
July 28, 2023 15:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBArtificial intelligence: Is it the efficiency-driving copilot you've been waiting for or an increasingly intelligent force vying for your job? To move past polarizing headlines and unpack the truth, we spoke with someone who lives and breathes technology: Maxwell Co-founder & CTO Rutul Davé. In this episode, Rutul breaks down the implications of AI in the mortgage industry in an approachable, easy-to-understand way to help lending professionals understand the best uses cases, opportunities, a...
SVB Fallout, Fed Rate Pause & How NOT to Pursue Mortgage Leads (Even if You're Desperate)
June 20, 2023 21:00 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBBetween fallout from Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, the latest Fed announcement, and more news of stubborn inflation, there's plenty of economic drama continuing to unfold. The question on every lender's mind is: Has the market finally bottomed out? In our new Clear to Close episode, the Maxwell team is back to discuss the industry's biggest happenings and forecasts for the remainder of 2023, including how hosts Alan, Bryan, and AI think loan volume may trend if rates stay near 7%.
How to Connect with Hispanic Borrowers & Improve Homeownership Access (with Laura Arce, SVP of UnidosUS)
March 09, 2023 19:00 - 55 minutes - 51 MBHispanic and Latino populations are an integral, growing part of American communities and a rising force in U.S. homeownership. Still, many Spanish-speaking borrowers struggle with the financial, logistical, and readiness challenges related to home buying. In our latest conversation on Clear to Close, we sit down with an expert on the topic: Laura Arce. With tenure in public policy and housing policy at Wells Fargo and the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA), Laura now serves as SVP of U...
Ep 032: 2023's Mortgage Market: Reasons for Optimism or False Hope?
February 13, 2023 18:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBTwo and a half months into 2023, the question on every lender's mind is: Are we seeing real signs of market recovery? Headline after headline announces the moderation of rates and the beginnings of volume returning. Still, challenges remain, and in many ways, the trajectory of the market continues to be uncertain. So, what lies ahead for lenders, and how can they plan for likely outcomes?
Ep 031: Bettering Communities through the Power of Homeownership (with Matthew Marshall, Co-founder & CIO of New Story)
December 23, 2022 23:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBNew Story, a nonprofit tackling homelessness through proven, sustainable, and scalable models, has built an impressive 3,380 homes, impacting 15,200+ people across 4 countries. In this episode, we sit down with Co-founder and Chief Impact Officer Matthew Marshall to talk through how New Story got started, the outside-the-box ways it’s tackling homeownership accessibility at scale, and the important lessons we can learn from its innovative approaches.
Ep 030: The Biggest News, Ideas & Takeaways from MBA Annual 2022
November 03, 2022 16:00 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBAs the dust settles from the MBA Annual conference in Nashville, the industry is still abuzz with market predictions, industry announcements, and new concepts that came out of the event. In this episode of Clear to Close, hosts Alan, Bryan, and Anthony unpack the most important takeaways from MBA Annual, including current lender sentiment, breaking news that will impact lenders in 2023, and more.
Ep 029: Lender Sentiment, Market Outlook & Opportunity that Remains as Rates Reach 7%
October 11, 2022 18:00 - 36 minutes - 33 MBAs interest rates rise to levels not seen since the early 2000s, now is the perfect time to take a pulse on the market: How are lenders viewing the current conditions, what challenges will Q4 bring, and does opportunity still exist today?
028: How to Beat the Market with Non-traditional Loan Products (with Chris Ledwidge, EVP of theLender)
August 30, 2022 15:00 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBWhile lenders nationwide struggle with market challenges, Chris Ledwidge of theLender is thriving. A fast-growing wholesale mortgage lender headquartered in California, theLender just landed an impressive spot at #11 overall on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. Its secret to success? Leaning into non-traditional loan offerings that cater to underserved borrowers, especially in today’s climate, where traditional volume is tapering off and the competition for vanilla loans is rapidly tightening. ...
027: How to Channel Learnings from Zillow into Building a Top Borrower Experience (w/ Bryan Mecsey, Maxwell VP of Sales)
July 29, 2022 18:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBBoasting 200 million monthly users, real estate tech giant Zillow is only becoming a stronger competitive force as it expands its presence in the mortgage lending space. In the face of this trend, local lenders have a choice: they can ignore the growing threat or they can bolster their competitive advantages and learn from Zillow's actions. In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Mecsey, Maxwell's VP of Sales and former Zillow employee, to chat about how tech giants have succeeded, where they...
Ep 26: How to Capitalize on 2022’s Market with New Loan Products (with Jeff Shearer, Team Manager at Optimal Blue)
June 02, 2022 18:26 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBWith interest rates continuing to rise and the MBA’s revised forecast predicting lower origination volume than expected, the question on every lender’s mind is: How can I find opportunity in 2022’s market to bolster profitability? To dig into the creative strategies today’s lenders are using to fill lost volume, we chatted with Jeff Shearer, Team Manager at Optimal Blue, an industry-leading product and pricing engine. Channeling boots-on-the-ground insight, Jeff speaks to the new loan product...
025: How to prepare for rising mortgage rates and economic volatility
March 31, 2022 22:05 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MBGlobal unrest, Fed rate hikes, and economic volatility: There’s no shortage of topics to discuss in the latest Clear to Close episode, where we’re joined again by Maxwell Solutions Director Anthony Ianni. As a 33-year mortgage veteran, Anthony knows that now is the time for lenders to revamp their strategies, go back to basics, and gear up for a rising rate environment. In fact, by scrutinizing their operations, reimagining their product mix, and thinking like their investors, lenders can fin...
024: How to Drive a Profitable 2022 in Today’s Challenging Market
February 28, 2022 22:20 - 52 minutes - 48.3 MBOn today’s episode, we’re joined by Anthony Ianni, a capital markets industry veteran and team member at Maxwell who works in our Maxwell Capital business. We talk through current market conditions, challenges and opportunities lenders have this year, and three recommended focus areas to drive profitability in 2022.
023: Using Processor Insight to Innovate Back-Office Technology (w/ Alex McEvans, Product Manager at Maxwell)
January 26, 2022 20:37 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBIn today’s episode, we sit down with Alex McEvans, Sr. Product Manager at Maxwell, to discuss how technology can enhance back-office efficiency and create better margins for lenders. A fintech veteran, Alex understands the importance of building thoughtful solutions that truly benefit the people in the process. Using this mindset, Alex recently led the development of Maxwell's newest solution, Processor Edge, a first-of-its-kind processing workflow technology that increases processor capacity...
022: Reinventing the Secondary Market for Local Lenders (w/ Sadie Gurley, GM Maxwell)
September 27, 2021 18:01 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBNow more than ever, capital markets represent a vital area for local lenders to pursue better accuracy, improved economics, and more competitive rates. In this special episode, we sit down with Sadie Gurley, VP & GM of Maxwell Diligence and the newly launched Maxwell Capital solution, offering expanded access to the secondary market for lenders serving America's communities. Sadie uses her extensive experience in the mortgage industry to lay out exactly what local lenders need to compete in t...
021: Leading a team to generate amazing results w/ Sarah Gonzalez
August 31, 2021 21:47 - 45 minutes - 41.7 MBOn this episode of Clear to Close, we sit down with Sarah Gonzalez, COO of First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation (FGMC) and recent HW Vanguard winner, to discuss how leadership practices can dramatically impact mortgage companies. Sarah shares what makes her so passionate about great leadership and how FGMC uses innovative practices to build a culture of excellence and ownership. Tune into this episode for actionable tips from a progressive industry leader on how to boost employee retention, te...
020: Career Variety in the Mortgage Industry
July 30, 2021 13:44 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBOn this episode of Clear to Close, we put down our Margaritas and end our summer break early to have a discussion around job potential and career pathing in the industry. We cover everything from how leaders should be approaching moving talent in their organizations and the leadership style required to Brian's foray into SciFi and Alan's calculations on calories needed to ski across Antarctica. Enjoy!
019: How To Become The Go-To Lender For A Top Real Estate Agent
May 28, 2021 18:33 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MBToday’s purchase-heavy market is here to stay for the foreseeable future. For lenders, that means real estate agents hold the keys to prospective borrowers. In our latest episode, we sit down with long-time real estate agent and author Mindy Jensen to learn how lenders can grow their referral networks and keep the volume flowing. Mindy dives deep into real-world best practices and gives honest advice that both new and experienced lending professionals can use to earn the coveted title of “go-...
018: Building a More Inclusive Industry One Event At a Time (w/ Jeri Yoshida & Molly Dowdy)
April 30, 2021 12:29 - 53 minutes - 48.5 MBOn today's episode, we sit down with NEXT Mortgage Events Co-founders Jeri Yoshida and Molly Dowdy to discuss the changing role of women in the industry. Learn why Jeri and Molly launched NEXT and its growing impact, from increasing visibility for underrepresented groups to flipping the industry conference format on its head. For entertaining stories and thought-provoking takeaways, don’t miss this one!
017: Intro to Capital Markets (w/ Rob Chrisman)
March 29, 2021 14:57 - 47 minutes - 43.7 MBCapital markets are a critical part of the mortgage industry. You’re probably generally familiar with the term and likely know it’s a department in your company. At the same time, you may not realize the important role it plays in a lender’s profitability and a borrower’s ability to get into their new home. In our latest episode, we sit down with industry veteran and self-proclaimed “capital markets guy” Rob Chrisman to give our audience an easy-to-understand introduction to capital markets. ...
016: How to Boost Your Brand with a Sharing Mindset (w/ Michael Hammond, Founder NexLevel Advisors)
February 25, 2021 21:29 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBIn this episode, we sit down with NexLevel Advisors Founder and industry vet Michael Hammond to discuss the surprising returns that sharing and being open in the mortgage industry can bring to your brand and your business. The marketing game is changing, and consumers have new expectations for the people and companies they work with. Learn how a sharing mindset can help you create a stand-out brand relevant to today's customers in this insightful conversation.
015: Building A Company For the Long-term (w/ Kevin Peranio, CLO PRMG)
January 29, 2021 14:12 - 43 minutes - 39.8 MBOn today's episode we sit down with Kevin Peranio, Chief Lending Officer at PRMG, and pick his brain on how he approaches business problems, his focus on building for the long term, what giving looks like in the industry, and even a little caffeine advice. Enjoy!
014: 2021 Mortgage Lending Resolutions
December 21, 2020 23:07 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBOn episode 14, we sit down for a roundtable discussion, joined by Maxwell Director of Content Allison Leung. Today's topic? 2021 mortgage lending resolutions. Right now, you might finally have time to take a breath as this crazy year comes to a close. That makes it the perfect opportunity to start preparing for how you'll grow (and thrive) in 2021. Join us as we discuss the top 5 things every lender needs to be considering as we head into the new year. Listen now!
013: Becoming a Go-to Lender for New Homebuyers (Ft. Kristin Messerli, Founder Cultural Outreach)
November 24, 2020 23:33 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBOn this episode, we sit down with Kristin Messerli, Founder of Cultural Outreach and next gen homebuyer guru. She recently released her insightful Next Gen Homebuyer Report, and today, we chat about its results and implications for lenders across the country. It’s long been theorized that millennials either aren’t interested in homeownership or lack the finances to make the purchase. In reality, this generation now represents the biggest cohort of home buyers—a trend only predicted to grow. J...
012: Discovering Your Core Competency (Ft. John Paasonen, CEO & Co-Founder Maxwell)
October 28, 2020 20:18 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBUnless you’ve been living under a rock, you know times are crazy right now—from a global pandemic and unprecedented economic environment to a contentious election season and interest rates spurring more loan volume than many lenders have seen in decades. In times like this, it’s tempting to go into execution mode and focus purely on the day-to-day. Still, despite chaos and unpredictability, the best lenders are refocusing their businesses, aligning their resources and skills, and doubling dow...
011: A Forgotten History- How the Gov’t Segregated American Neighborhoods (Feat. Richard Rothstein, Author of "The Color of Law")
September 23, 2020 12:02 - 56 minutes - 52 MBWe encourage all of our listeners to read Mr. Rothstein's book. Purchase The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America here.
010: Technology Adoption in the Mortgage Industry (Feat. Patrick Burns, CEO, Spruce)
August 17, 2020 22:55 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBToday on the pod, Alan and Bryan sit down with Spruce CEO Patrick Burns to talk about technology adoption in the mortgage industry and how COVID-19 is impacting mortgage tech adoption.
009: Thinking Like an Executive (Feat. Kurt Reisig, American Pacific Mortgage)
July 22, 2020 17:54 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBOn today's episode, we throw it back to TMC's Winter Conference in New Orleans back in February when we sat down with American Pacific Mortgage's Kurt Reisig to talk about the evolving role of the loan officer and how mortgage professionals can learn to think like an executive to extend their career potential.
008: Leading a Remote Sales Team feat. Tyler Johnson & Mike Brouwer (LIVE Happy Hour Bonus Episode)
June 04, 2020 19:32 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBOn today's bonus episode and first LIVE recording of Clear to Close, we're joined by Tyler Johnson (Business Development Manager, Prosperity Home Mortgage) and Mike Brouwer (Chief Customer Officer, Maxwell) to talk all about how to lead a remote sales team. This was a happy hour episode, so get your drinks ready 🍻
007: How Leaders Guide Their Teams through Turmoil feat. Rich Swerbinsky, COO, The Mortgage Collaborative
May 20, 2020 20:43 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBOn today's pod, we sit down with The Mortgage Collaborative COO Rich Swerbinsky to look at what lenders are doing to make the most out of these tumultuous times and set themselves up to thrive in the future.
006: The Great Remote Work Experiment — How to Work from Home without Losing Your Mind
April 15, 2020 22:03 - 46 minutes - 42.6 MBDON'T MISS CLEAR TO CLOSE LIVE! Join us for a virtual industry happy hour on April 23rd at 5pm EST. Get more info & register here: https://maxwell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DFeU0q02TbGuhBcMxW0smw [eBook Download] Lend from Home: Practical Tips for Remote Mortgage Teams
005: Mortgage Hall of Fame feat. Rob Chrisman
March 16, 2020 13:00 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBYou've seen him keynoting conferences and in your inbox around 6AM with his industry newsletter each morning, and now you can hear him on Clear to Close. That's right; the man, the myth, the legend Rob Chrisman sat down with us recently to discuss everything from remote work, the future of the industry, cyber-security, the story behind the Chrisman Report, and beyond. In our opinion, this guy has a guaranteed seat in the Mortgage Hall of Fame.
004: Diversity & Inclusion in Mortgage (feat. Patty Arvielo, President & Co-founder, New American Funding)
February 19, 2020 21:44 - 50 minutes - 46 MBOn today's pod, Alan, Bryan, and Chelsea sit down with Patty Arvielo (President & Co-founder, New American Funding) to talk about diversity and inclusion in the mortgage industry. Patty is well-known across the industry for her commitment to promoting diversity & inclusion in mortgage, leading by example at NAF with an employee base that is 58% female and 43% minority. It was an absolute pleasure talking with Patty; this is an episode you don't want to miss.
003: The Future of the Loan Officer (Feat. Ernie Graham, CEO, Homebot)
January 20, 2020 20:02 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBWe sit down with Homebot CEO Ernie Graham to discuss the changing role of the loan officer in today's digital landscape.
002: Mortgage Marketing Madness
December 17, 2019 21:37 - 1 hour - 61.6 MB0:00 - Intro & Marketing Background 3:30 Mortgage & Digital Marketing - the customer journey is multi-faceted and typically involves digital touchpoints 6:20 - figuring out where to focus your marketing efforts with minimal budget 8:30 - understand your target customer and figure out where the best place to reach them is. social? Ad spending? Direct mail? 10:00 - understand your marketing goals - ensure marketing goals align to larger operational goals 10:30 - A/B...
001: Clayton Collins, CEO, HousingWire
November 20, 2019 17:28 - 42 minutes - 24.1 MBIn our premiere episode, our hosts Alan Parris and Bryan Traeger sit down with HousingWire CEO Clayton Collins to dig into the challenges and opportunities of running a media publication in today’s digital age.