All Episodes
Displaying 1 - 20 of 49 in total
Lock It or Lose It: The Truth About Mortgage Rate Locks
Hoping to save a few bucks by waiting to lock your mortgage rate? That hesitation could cost you thousands. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how rate locks really ...
Energy Efficiency Pays: Why Homebuyers Suddenly Care
Homebuyers’ interest in energy efficiency has nearly doubled in one year—but not for the reasons you might think. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack why rising utility c...
Tariffs and Timber: How Trade Policy Is Driving Up Housing Costs
A new wave of tariffs could add $30 billion to U.S. housing costs—and most people don’t even know it’s coming. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how rising import t...
When Rates Rise After Pre-Approval: What Buyers Can Do
It’s a common—and stressful—situation: mortgage rates climb after you’re pre-approved, shrinking your buying power. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down how rate bumps...
Gen Z’s Trust Crisis: Why Young Buyers Are Turning Away from Pros
Gen Z’s confidence in mortgage and real estate professionals is collapsing, with trust in loan officers dropping to just 19% and real estate agents to 33%. Tim Lucas a...
Shutdown & Your Mortgage: What Stops, What Slows, What Still Closes
Most shutdowns don’t halt the entire mortgage market—but they can delay key verifications and derail timelines. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explain what actually pauses,...
Recast, Don’t Refi: Cut Your Payment Without Starting Over
Most homeowners haven’t heard of a mortgage recast—but it can slash your monthly payment without a refinance, credit check, appraisal, or new term. Tim Lucas and Craig...
The $2,370 Problem: Taming Soaring Homeowners Insurance
Homeowners insurance premiums are up 70% in five years—now averaging $2,370/year—and for many buyers it’s the hidden cost blowing up monthly payments. Tim Lucas and Cr...
Cash Now, Pay Later? The Real Math Behind Home Equity Agreements (HESAs)
No monthly payment, real cash in hand—what’s the catch? Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down home equity agreements (HESAs), where you trade a slice of your home’s fut...
Live in One, Rent the Rest: House Hacking with 3.5% Down
What if your first home paid you to live there? Tim Lucas and Craig Berry break down owner-occupied multifamily—aka house hacking—so first-time buyers can turn a duple...
AI, Español, and the Keys to a Home: Breaking the Language Barrier
Roughly 5 million U.S. families may be shut out of homeownership due to language barriers—yet a new AI effort could change that. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack how r...
Divorced… and Still Roommates? The 2% Mortgage Dilemma
In today’s affordability crunch, some divorced couples are choosing an unexpected path: sharing a home to keep a ~2–3% mortgage rate. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack ...
The Other Mortgage Market: 3 Million Buyers Outside the System
When traditional mortgages aren’t an option, millions turn to lease-purchase deals, land contracts, and seller financing—often with higher costs and fewer protections....
National Emergency 101: Could It Actually Help Housing?
Home prices up 403% since 1985 while incomes rose 252%—no wonder “national housing emergency” is entering the chat. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explain ...
Housing Emergency, or Just Headlines? What a Declaration Might Change
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted the Administration may declare a national housing emergency—but what could that realistically do for buyers and sellers? In thi...
Offer Accepted → Now What? Navigating the 41-Day Gauntlet
Finding the house takes about 10 weeks—but the real work starts after your offer is accepted. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry map the ~41-day closing maze, ...
Family Boost: How 1 in 4 Young Buyers Get to the Door
A quarter of young first-time buyers are leaning on family funds—gifts or inheritances—to crack today’s tough market. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack...
Housing Emergency? What a National Declaration Could—and Couldn’t—Do
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent floated a bombshell: President Trump may declare a national housing emergency. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry unpack what ...
New Homes < Used? The Price Flip Explained
For the first time in modern real estate, new construction is often cheaper than existing homes—in some markets by a wide margin. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig ...
Refi Window: Up to 3 Million Homeowners Back in the Mone
Mortgage rates have slipped enough to put millions back in the refi game. In this episode, Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explain who benefits, how much you could save, and...