Podcast
RealEstateAF Podcast
Hosted by Mark A Jones - Co-Founder of LoanBot | Sr. ML #513437 · EN
Educational Podcast for Consumers, Mortgage & Real Estate Industry Professionals. We'll Talk About It All! Key Factors podcast, powered by LoanBot . Your Host Mark Jones invites Industry Pros to help uncover & educate on the key factors of various topics. There’s something for everyone so let us be your guides and get educated. Subscribe & Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Facebook, Instagram, & all other podcasting platforms. Host : Mark A Jones Founder of LoanBot Mobile App & ReviewMyMortgage.com Producing Branch Manger Sr. Loan Officer. NMLS ID# 513437NMLS Consumer Access: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/Powered by LoanBot - Smarter Mortgage Matching App.
32episodes
Episodes
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The 97% Problem - Real Estate Broker Perspective
1w ago01:25:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail⚠️ Viewer discretion advised: This episode contains strong language and candid adult conversation.According to the 2026 agent-production chart referenced during this episode, approximately 84% of NAR-registered agents had closed zero transactions between January 1 and July 6, 2026, while approximately 97% had closed four transactions or fewer.So what is actually happening inside the real estate industry?In this unfiltered episode of RealEstateAF, Mark Jones sits down with three experienced San Antonio real estate brokers: Jeff Garza, Robert Saenz and Cesar Amezcua.The panel breaks down why so many agents are struggling, whether real estate has been incorrectly marketed as a side hustle and why simply changing brokerages rarely fixes the real problem.They also get brutally honest about:• Whether real estate licensing standards adequately protect consumers• Why experience and fiduciary responsibility still matter• Massive builder commissions and new-construction incentives• Finding the actual cash value of a new home• Why so many real estate contracts are falling apart• Performative social-media success and “I just capped” posts• The temporary excitement of changing brokerages• What real rainmaker activity actually looks like• Whether struggling agents are surrounded by the wrong people• When becoming a dual-licensed Realtor and loan officer makes sense• Better ways agents can create additional sources of income• Social-media boundaries, lead verification and agent safetyThis is not an attack on struggling agents. It is an honest conversation about the difference between holding a real estate license and building a sustainable professional real estate business.Statistics discussed in this episode are based on a chart displayed and referenced by the panel. RealEstateAF has not independently audited the underlying dataset.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━TODAY’S GUESTSJeff GarzaCEO and Broker, Redbird Realtyhttps://redbird-realty.com/Robert SaenzBroker, Xsellence Realtyhttps://www.xsellencerealtysa.com/Cesar AmezcuaOwner and Sponsoring Broker, CA & Company, REALTORS®https://cacompanyrealtors.com/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CHAPTERS00:00 – Cold Open: Get Better Every Day00:32 – Introducing Jeff Garza, Robert Saenz and Cesar Amezcua02:46 – The 2026 Agent Chart: 84% Closed Zero Transactions08:00 – Real Estate Licensing Standards and Consumer Protection12:25 – Builder Incentives, New Construction and Fiduciary Duty24:37 – Failed Contracts and Performative Social-Media Success31:00 – Brokerage Hopping and the 60-Day Honeymoon50:26 – What Real Rainmakers Actually Do1:00:26 – The 84%, Top Producers and Dual Licensing1:16:45 – Agent Safety, Social-Media Boundaries and Final Takeaways━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━POWERED BY LOANBOTRealEstateAF is powered by LoanBot — Smarter Mortgage Matching.Search LoanBot in the Apple App Store or Google Play.Affiliation disclosure: RealEstateAF host Mark Jones is a co-founder of and holds an ownership interest in LoanBot.LoanBot is an educational mortgage-matching and technology platform. It does not issue loan approvals, make underwriting decisions or provide a commitment to lend.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CONNECT WITH MARKConsidering buying, refinancing or developing a mortgage strategy?Visit:https://MortgageTalkWithMark.comMark JonesBranch Manager and Senior Loan OfficerNMLS #513437iTHINK Mortgage powered by Premier Mortgage Resources, LLCNMLS #116924123 Boerne Stage Road, Suite 103San Antonio, Texas 78255Equal Housing Opportunity━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━CHANNEL AND PODCAST DISCLOSUREThe information presented in this podcast is provided for general educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not legal, tax, financial, investment, real estate, accounting or individualized mortgage advice.Guests appear for informational and discussion purposes and speak on their own behalf. Their statements, opinions and experiences do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of Mark Jones, RealEstateAF, iTHINK Mortgage, Premier Mortgage Resources, LLC, LoanBot or any affiliated organization.No compensation is paid or received in exchange for referrals, endorsements or podcast appearances. Nothing discussed during this episode should be interpreted as an agreement to refer settlement-service business or as a requirement to use any particular real estate broker, lender, title company, insurance company or other service provider.Mark Jones is a licensed mortgage loan originator. This content does not constitute an offer to extend credit or a commitment to lend. All loan programs, interest rates, terms, qualifying requirements and product availability are subject to change without notice. All financing is subject to application, credit review, property approval, underwriting approval and applicable investor or agency guidelines. Not all applicants will qualify, and not all products are available in every state.Mortgage examples discussed during the podcast may be hypothetical and may not reflect current interest rates, loan costs, property conditions or an individual borrower’s eligibility.Premier Mortgage Resources, LLC is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of the United States government, HUD, FHA, VA, USDA or any other governmental agency.Mark Jones | NMLS #513437Premier Mortgage Resources, LLC | NMLS #1169Equal Housing OpportunityNMLS Consumer Access:https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━TEXAS CONSUMER NOTICEConsumers wishing to file a complaint against a mortgage banker or a licensed mortgage banker residential mortgage loan originator should complete and submit a complaint form to the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending.Complaint forms and instructions may be obtained from the Department’s website at:https://www.sml.texas.gov/A toll-free consumer hotline is available at 1-877-276-5550.The Department maintains a recovery fund to make payments of certain actual out-of-pocket damages sustained by borrowers caused by acts of licensed residential mortgage loan originators. A written application for reimbursement from the recovery fund must be filed with and investigated by the Department before payment of a claim. Additional information about the recovery fund is available through the Department’s website.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━👍 Like the episode if you appreciate honest real estate conversations.💬 Are licensing standards too low, or does the market naturally eliminate agents who are not serious about the profession?🔔 Subscribe to RealEstateAF for unfiltered conversations about real estate, mortgages, business and finance.#RealEstateAF #SanAntonioRealEstate #RealEstateAgentsSupport the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Unfiltered - Real Estate, Podcasting & Politics
3w ago01:05:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf you’ve ever crawled a deal to the finish line and wondered why it feels so much harder than it should, you’ll feel seen here. Mark Jones sits down with returning guest Matt Reyna after a last-minute schedule change, and the conversation turns into a raw, useful look at the mindset behind surviving real estate’s peaks and valleys.We start with the simplest performance tool that actually works: small daily improvement. From there, we get specific about what breaks transactions today, especially in new construction. We talk builder lenders, poor communication, and the ripple effect that hits buyers, realtors, and loan officers when expectations aren’t set upfront. Mark lays out why honest lending conversations beat “rainbows and unicorns,” and how transparency keeps clients from panicking when the file gets messy.Then we zoom out into podcasting and personal brand building. Matt shares why he talked about launching a show for years, what finally got him to start, and why consistency matters more than perfect cameras. We also touch the third rail topics that show up everywhere now: political polarization, virtue-signaling marketing, media bias, and why long-form dialogue is disappearing. The thread stays the same: ask better questions, do your own research, and keep getting better.If you got value from this, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Real Estate AF.Support the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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From Boarder to Boardroom - Blanca Abbud
Jun 2401:02:20Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSupport the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Relationships Beat Algorithms When Markets Shift
Jun 1000:57:38Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf you feel like you are doing solid work but nobody knows it, the problem is not your hustle, it is your visibility and your credibility. Mark Jones sits down with Jason Smith, publisher of San Antonio Real Producers, to talk about what actually moves the needle in real estate and small business growth when social media gets loud and trust gets scarce.We get into why print marketing is still effective when it is niche, community-driven, and tied to a real person’s reputation. Jason shares lessons from building a neighborhood publication in The Dominion, where purchasing decisions are intentional and relationships matter. Then we zoom out to the San Antonio real estate market and why the pandemic created a surprising gap: top agents stayed productive while professional camaraderie and vendor access fell apart.Jason explains how Real Producers helps solve that gap by spotlighting top-producing agents, telling real stories, and hosting private events that put the right people in the same room. We also go deeper into the personal side: coaching, closing loops, rebuilding after setbacks, and a four-part framework for growth built on character, clarity, courage, and competence. You will leave with practical ideas for earning referrals, communicating value, and building a business that aligns with the life you actually want.Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone building in real estate, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Support the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Why Real Estate Teams Plateau - Leads Don't Fix Broken Systems
May 1401:04:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYour pipeline can look “busy” and still be broken. The real problem usually shows up in two places: the first phone conversation and the moment you sit down face to face and ask someone to trust you with a sale. I sit down with Christopher Waters, CEO of Waters International Realty and the builder behind Tables OS and RealSync, to talk about what actually moves the needle for real estate agents and team leaders: standards, accountability, and coaching that happens where the work happens.Chris walks through the unglamorous parts of growth, getting humbled, buying coaching on a credit card, failing fast, then building a documented roadmap that lets a team scale without guessing. We dig into “performance enforcement” and why most teams stop at onboarding instead of inspecting execution. He explains how the mystery shopping mindset from other high ticket sales industries applies directly to real estate lead conversion, objection handling, and the listing presentation.Then we go deep on AI sales coaching for real estate. Chris shares why generic AI notes can fall short, how RealSync is trained with rubrics and real sales standards, and what happens when agents get an objective scorecard right after every call and appointment. We cover patterns like pre-close questions that top producers use, red flags that predict low motivation sellers, probability scoring, and how agentic AI is enabling an enterprise model where small teams can operate like big companies without sacrificing service.If you want better conversations, higher conversion rates, and a more scalable real estate business, hit subscribe, share this with a team leader, and leave a quick review so more agents can find the show. What part of your process needs the most coaching right now?Support the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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The Secret to Thriving in Any Real Estate Market
May 1301:05:13Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMark Jones of Real Estate AF sits down with industry veterans Patrick Conway and Adam Hughes to reveal the secrets to building a profitable, sustainable career in any market. They cover the power of coaching, focusing on high-value "green time" activities, and implementing simple systems like the "15 & 1" daily goal to create a referral-based business that lasts. Learn to stop being busy and start being profitable. Key Points* The Power of Coaching: Long-term success is attributed to mentorship and being truly coachable—the ability to execute without opinion.* Better, Not Bigger: A smaller, more focused business can be significantly more profitable (e.g., from 19% to 68% profit margin).* Green Time vs. Red Time: Maximize your income by focusing on "Green Time" (money-making activities) and delegating or systematizing "Red Time" (administrative tasks).* Systems for Success: Implement simple, consistent daily goals like the "15 & 1" rule (15 calls, 1 warm lead) to build momentum.* Referrals Are Key: The most efficient way to grow is to get one new client from every existing client by specifically asking for the business.* Mindset Over Market: Individual effort, strong systems, and a relationship-based approach matter more than overall market conditions.* Build Your Support System: Success requires a strong network, including professional coaches and personal accountability partners.Chapters (Timestamps & Topics)* 00:00 - Intro: The Power of Coaching & Relationships* 01:52 - Origin Stories: From Title Reps to Top Producers* 06:40 - Patrick's "Rookie of the Year" Success & The Roller Coaster Effect* 09:25 - The "Bigger Isn't Better" Philosophy & 68% Profitability* 12:20 - Adam's "Rock Bottom" Turning Point & Defining "Coachable"* 15:05 - Green Time vs. Red Time: Calculating Your $660/Hour Worth* 19:04 - The "15 & 1" Daily Formula & 6 Elements of a Great Call* 22:15 - Building a Referral Engine: The "Just One Deal" Script* 25:30 - The High-Trust Interview: How to Win & Filter Clients* 29:40 - Why Market Conditions Don't Dictate Your Success* 32:12 - A Personal Story of Resilience: The Power of a Relationship Business* 35:00 - Final Takeaways: Embrace the Boring & Run the PlayMark JonesSenior Loan Officer | NMLS #513437iThink Mortgage powered by Premier Mortgage Resources | NMLS #1169Equal Housing OpportunityAll content on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to lend, loan approval, financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or investment advice. Loan terms, interest rates, program availability, down payment requirements, and eligibility are subject to credit approval, underwriting guidelines, investor overlays, market conditions, and change without notice.Opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of iThink Mortgage, Premier Mortgage Resources, any affiliated companies, podcast guests, employers, brokerages, lenders, builders, or industry partners.Guests appearing on this podcast speak on their own behalf. No compensation is given or received for referrals, endorsements, podcast appearances, or business recommendations unless specifically disclosed. Nothing discussed should be interpreted as a referral agreement, endorsement, or guarantee of results.Mortgage examples, payment estimates, rate discussions, affordability scenarios, and loan program descriptions are hypothetical and for educational purposes only. Actual loan options may vary based on credit profile, income, assets, debt-to-income ratio, property type, occupancy, loan amount, location, and current guidelines.LoanBot, ReviewMyMortgage.com, and any related tools or calculators are educational resources only and do not provide loan approvals, credit decisions, uSupport the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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How Daily Habits Turned A Tough Upbringing Into Real Estate Success
May 101:07:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYour business can’t outgrow your habits, and this conversation proves it the hard way. I sit down with Yetzak Pearson, a Texas real estate broker whose path to success starts in a place most people can’t imagine: an off-grid childhood inside a religious cult, years of family labor, and then a rough “normal life” that included partying, arrests, and a rock-bottom wake-up call. What changes everything isn’t a hack or a lucky break, it’s the decision to get better every single day and keep making small, aligned choices when nobody’s watching.We get practical about what that looks like in real estate: doing the pre-work before you get paid, investing in education beyond the bare minimum, building belly-to-belly relationships through networking, and creating content even when you feel awkward on camera. We also talk about identity and self-talk, why learning your strengths (DISC, CliftonStrengths, coaching frameworks) can make you a better communicator, and how “permission to say no” protects your time and raises your standards. If you’re searching for real estate mindset, real estate coaching, time management for Realtors, or how to grow a referral-based business, you’ll get clear steps you can use immediately.We also tackle AI in real estate, including how Yetzak uses ChatGPT and systems to offload low-value work, and where he draws the integrity line so technology supports relationships instead of faking them. If you want to build a career that lasts, this one will challenge you and give you a plan. Subscribe for more Real Estate AF, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with the one habit you’re committing to next.Support the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Get Better Every Day
May 100:31:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSupport the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Trust Beats Sales When The Market Shifts
Apr 901:03:02Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA $300 fish dies on the drive home, a store owner throws out a challenge, and a new San Antonio small business is born. That’s just one of the stories Ronil Harwood brings as we reconnect on Real Estate AF. Ronil is a Keller Williams real estate professional with a background in aviation and the co-owner of CHARE Aquatics, and his journey is a masterclass in what happens when you refuse to stay comfortable.We talk about the practical foundation that shaped him early, including a church-led youth program that taught real-world skills like resumes, interviews, finances, and how to carry yourself with confidence. From there, we trace his move from New York to Texas, how buying his own home exposed the lack of home buying education, and why today’s real estate market rewards trust more than a polished sales pitch. If you’re a San Antonio Realtor, a new agent, or a homeowner thinking about buying or selling, you’ll hear clear guidance on pre-approvals, setting expectations, and having the tough conversations that protect your time and your client’s outcome.We also go deep on entrepreneurship, collaboration, and building systems that scale, from dependable vendors and redundancies to relationship marketing that keeps you top of mind long after closing. Ronil shares daily non-negotiables like God first, staying healthy, and giving people simple moments of positivity, plus we swap routines on doing hard things daily to sharpen mindset.If this hit home, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. What’s one habit you’ll commit to for getting better every day?Support the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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Why So Many Realtors and Lenders Are Leaving the Business?
Apr 200:56:15Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWho’s still standing in the mortgage and real estate industry? Why… This video emphasizes the power of daily "self improvement" and taking "one small step" towards your goals. It highlights the importance of consistent "motivation" and developing a strong "mindset" for "personal growth", especially for an "entrepreneur" aiming for "success habits" in a dynamic market. In this episode of Real Estate AF, Mark Jones sits down with Alejandra Glass for a blunt conversation about what it actually takes to stay alive in today’s real estate and mortgage market.They break down what’s really happening in San Antonio, why so many agents and lenders are struggling, how builders are changing the game, why buyers are stuck on rate instead of payment, and what separates the pros who adapt from the ones who disappear.If you're a loan officer, Realtor, homebuyer, seller, or investor trying to make sense of this market, this episode is packed with practical insight.Learn More:Connect with Mark Jones:https://MeetMarkJoneshttps://MortgageTalkwithMark.comhttps://ithinkmtg.comTimestamps:00:00 Intro2:01 Meet Alejandra Glass8:06 From loan officer to branch leader11:26 What lenders are seeing in today’s market14:11 Builders, incentives, and losing deals to new construction17:24 Why buyers focus on rate instead of payment20:12 The personal touch that keeps clients loyal26:16 Why getting buyers to commit is harder now30:35 Bad mortgage advice, AI, and information overload31:44 How agents and lenders survive this market33:35 LOAs, systems, and evolving your business39:09 Discipline, consistency, and daily habits41:28 San Antonio market data and the “balanced market” debate45:14 Why investors are still buying49:22 Rapid fire53:04 Final advice for buyers, sellers, and loan officersMark JonesSr. Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #513437iThink Mortgage powered by Premier Mortgage Resources | NMLS #1169Equal Housing LenderSupport the showRealEstateAF is Powered by LoanBot.com Host: Mark Jones | Sr. Loan Officer | NMLS# 513437 If you would like to work with Mark on your next home purchase or as a partner visit iThink Mortgage.
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