Podcast
The REAL in Real Estate
Hosted by Jean Mitchell · EN
Welcome to The REAL in Real Estate with Jean Mitchell, your go-to source for everything property-related! Join us as we delve into fantastic insights, expert tips, and the latest property trends. From buying and selling to investing and renovating, we bring you all the answers directly from industry experts. Tune in and stay ahead in the world of real estate!
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
100% Zero Down Financing in Texas: How to Buy a Home Without a Down Payment
3w ago00:25:20Tap to summarizeShow Notes:Think you need 20% down to buy a home in Texas? You don't. A true 100% zero down loan exists right now, and it is open to any buyer purchasing a primary residence -- no income limits, no location restrictions, no requirement to be a first-time buyer, a veteran, or a doctor.Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Ben Shores of First Community Credit Union to walk through exactly how this loan works, who qualifies, and how buyers are walking to the closing table with little to nothing out of pocket.What you will learn:✅ Who qualifies for 100% financing and what the credit score floor actually is (700 -- not 780, not 800)✅ How combining zero down with seller concessions can get you to closing with almost nothing out of pocket✅ Why this loan is not just for first-time buyers -- and how to use it as a starting point for building a rental portfolio✅ How self-employed borrowers can qualify using bank statements instead of tax returnsBen Shores is a mortgage lender with First Community Credit Union and has 25 years of experience in the industry. He works with buyers across Texas on conventional, alternative, and investment financing -- and attends his closings personally.Phone: 281-798-4712 Email: ben.shores@fccu.orgNote: You do not need to be a credit union member to use Ben's services.Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →DSCR Loans and Zero-Down Financing: How to Build a Real Estate Portfolio with Ben Shores
Jul 800:29:47Tap to summarizeIf you want to build a real estate portfolio but are stuck on income documentation or down payment requirements, DSCR loans and zero-down programs might be exactly what you need. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Ben Shores, a mortgage expert at First Community Credit Union with over 25 years of experience, to break down the financing strategies most buyers and investors never hear about.What you'll learn:✔️ How DSCR loans work: qualify based on rental income -- not paystubs or tax returns -- making them ideal for real estate investors✔️ Why keeping your current home as a rental when you move up could be one of the smartest wealth-building moves you make✔️ How to fund an investment property down payment by pulling equity from your current home, borrowing against your 401k, or cash-out refinancing✔️ A 100% financing program for everyday buyers: no down payment, no income limits, not restricted to first-time buyers -- and you can come to closing with zero dollars if you get a 3% seller contributionBen Shores is a mortgage expert at First Community Credit Union with over 25 years in the lending industry, specializing in strategic mortgage solutions for buyers and real estate investors in Texas.Connect with Ben:Phone: 281-798-4712Email: ben.shores@fccu.orgSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →Creative Real Estate Investing: Seller Financing and the Three Paydays System Explained
Jun 2400:24:30Tap to summarizeIn a high-rate market where traditional financing feels out of reach, seller financing and creative deal structures are opening doors that most buyers and investors don't even know exist. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Chris Prefontaine, a real estate coach and investor with nearly 35 years of experience, to break down his Three Paydays system and why today's market conditions are uniquely suited for creative financing.What you'll learn:✔️ Why stricter bank regulations and higher rates are actually creating more opportunities for creative financing deals -- for both buyers and sellers✔️ How the Three Paydays system works: get paid upfront from the buyer's down payment, monthly from cash flow, and on the back end from principal paydown and markup✔️ What the real timeline looks like when transitioning from W-2 to full-time real estate investing -- and the mindset required to stay the course✔️ Practical ways to use AI in real estate: checking comps, reviewing sales calls, and generating content scripts fasterChris Prefontaine is a real estate coach, author, and podcast host based in Newport, Rhode Island. With nearly 35 years in real estate, he is a Forbes Business Council member and three-time Inc. 5000 honoree. He specializes in creative financing and runs a nationwide coaching program helping investors build long-term wealth through seller financing strategies.Connect with Chris:Free blueprint and books: threepaydaysbooks.comWebsite: smartrealestatecoach.comPodcast: smartrealestatecoachpodcast.comYouTube: Search "Smart Real Estate Coach"Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →Breaking Through Income Plateaus in Real Estate: How Your Self-Image Controls Your Success
Jun 1000:31:34Tap to summarizeBreaking through an income plateau in real estate rarely comes down to a better script or a new lead source. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Kevin Yoder, a 25-year real estate sales veteran and mindset coach, to break down why your self-image acts as an internal thermostat that controls exactly how much success you allow yourself to have.What you'll learn:✔️ Why your self-image functions like a thermostat, regulating the energy you project and the clients you attract -- regardless of your strategy✔️ What creates "invisible income ceilings" even for hard-working, driven agents and team leaders✔️ How to identify a massive, inspiring goal that is truly yours -- free from family expectations or social pressure✔️ How small, consistent daily actions compound over time to permanently rewire limiting self-beliefsKevin Yoder is a real estate team leader and identity strategist based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with 25 years in real estate sales. He now runs Infinite U, a coaching program focused on self-image upgrades for lasting growth.How to reach Kevin:Websites: getinfiniteu.com (Infinite U coaching), imageupgradenow.com (free self-image PDF), soldbyyoder.com, yoderresults.comSocial: YouTube and Facebook -- search "Infinite by Kevin" | LinkedIn -- Kevin Yoder, Real Estate Team Leader and Mindset CoachSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →How to Find Land Deals by Reverse-Engineering What National Home Builders Are Already Buying
May 2700:25:39Tap to summarizeMost real estate investors overlook land -- but national home builders spend millions figuring out exactly where to buy next. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Brandon Cobb of HBG Capital to break down how everyday investors can reverse-engineer those decisions and get into land development before the big builders arrive.What you'll learn:✔️ How to find land by tracking where national builders like D.R. Horton are already developing -- they've done the market research, so target land in those same corridors✔️ Why sitting down with local planning directors and city council members is the fastest way to identify what areas a city actually wants developed✔️ The two golden rules of land entitlement: never buy land before securing city approvals, and always design with your end buyer in mind✔️ How Brandon went from being fired from a medical device sales job to building a private equity firm focused on land entitlement and new constructionBrandon Cobb is the founder of HBG Capital, a private equity firm specializing in land entitlement, land development, and new construction. He also runs the Land Development Accelerator mastermind and hosts the Recession Resistant Real Estate Radio podcast.Connect with Brandon:Website: learnlanddevelopment.com (free six-hour course on finding land, due diligence, and raising money)Company: HBG Capital -- investor-facing private equity for land and new construction projectsPodcast: Recession Resistant Real Estate RadioSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →VA Loan Myths Debunked: What Every Texas Veteran and Realtor Needs to Know
May 1300:25:39Tap to summarizeVA loans are one of the most underutilized mortgage benefits available to veterans, and outdated myths are largely to blame. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Eric Bernstein, president and co-founder of LendFriend Mortgage, to debunk the most common misconceptions about VA loans and show Texas veterans and their agents how to use this benefit effectively.What you'll learn:✔️ Why VA appraisals are not deal-killers -- and what listing agents consistently get wrong about the VA appraisal process✔️ The zero-down advantage of VA loans and how to position VA offers so sellers take them seriously✔️ How veterans can use their VA loan benefit more than once, including in situations most people don't realize qualify✔️ What real estate agents need to know to confidently guide veteran clients through the home buying process in TexasEric Bernstein is the president and co-founder of LendFriend Mortgage and one of the leading voices on VA loan education. His site features a learning center with over 200 blog posts, including roughly 30 articles dedicated to VA loan nuances.Connect with Eric: lendfriendmtg.comWatch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJmsoIfM76wSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →Texas Property Tax Protest Deadline: What Every Homeowner Must Know Before May 15th
Apr 2900:28:38Tap to summarizeIf you're a Texas homeowner and haven't filed a property tax protest, you're almost certainly overpaying. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Mickey Le, a property tax expert and partner at Ad Valorem Tax Management with 30 years of experience, to walk through everything you need to know before the May 15th deadline -- especially in Harris County.What you'll learn:✔️ Why you should protest your property taxes every single year -- and why not protesting almost guarantees you're leaving money on the table✔️ The key deadlines: appraisal notices go out around April 17th in Harris County, and you have until May 15th to file your protest✔️ How to request the county's own evidence 14 days before your hearing -- and what errors to look for, like misclassified living space or unfair comparable sales✔️ Why contractor estimates for foundation or roof issues are powerful evidence, and how to check that your Homestead, Over-65, or Disabled Veteran exemptions are correctly appliedMickey Le is a property tax consultant and partner at Ad Valorem Tax Management in Houston, Texas, with 30 years of experience helping homeowners reduce their property tax bills across Texas.Connect with Mickey:Phone: 713-977-4197Email: mle@atmtax.comSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →AI Automation for Real Estate Agents: How Agentic AI Works and Where to Start
Apr 1500:25:14Tap to summarizeAgentic AI is moving beyond chatbots -- and real estate agents who understand the difference are already pulling ahead. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Eric Bramlett, an Austin-based broker at Bramlett Partners and Inman contributor, to break down how agentic AI works and where agents can start using it today.What you'll learn:✔️ The difference between generative AI and agentic AI -- and why agentic AI acts as a "digital teammate" that can reason, write code, and execute multi-step tasks independently✔️ Practical ways Eric's brokerage uses AI agents: routing support tickets, generating weekly company health reports, and auditing website SEO automatically✔️ Why you must always verify AI output -- AI can "hallucinate" confidently incorrect information, and high-consequence tasks need a human or secondary AI review✔️ How to get started without feeling overwhelmed: pay for a premium tool, use organizational features like Projects, and simply explore what it does well and where it strugglesEric Bramlett is a broker at Bramlett Partners in Austin, Texas, and a contributor to Inman. He focuses on the Austin real estate market and welcomes referrals for buyers and sellers moving to the area.Connect with Eric:Search for Eric Bramlett or Bramlett Partners onlineInman: find his articles with an Inman membershipReferrals: Austin, TX marketSubscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →How to Successfully Protest Your Texas Property Tax Assessment
Apr 100:25:25Tap to summarizeWondering how to protest your property tax assessment in Texas? Every spring, Texas homeowners have the right to challenge their county appraisal district's valuation — and most are overpaying simply because they do not know how. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Mickey Le, a property tax consultant with Ad Valorem Tax Management in Houston, to break down the entire protest process so you can walk into your appraisal review board hearing prepared and confident.In this episode you will learn:- How county appraisal districts determine your assessed value and where their data is often wrong- How to document your home's hidden flaws that appraisal districts cannot see from satellite images or permits, and use them as evidence at your ARB hearing- What comparable sales to pull and how to present them to argue your home's market value- When hiring a professional tax protest firm pays off versus handling the protest yourselfMickey Le is a property tax consultant with Ad Valorem Tax Management, a Houston-based firm specializing in residential and commercial property tax reduction across Texas.Phone: 713-977-4197Email: mle@atmtax.comWatch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXXOCp96-04Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →How to Avoid Real Estate Lawsuits in Texas: Legal Tips for Agents, Buyers, and Sellers
Mar 1800:28:41Tap to summarizeReal estate transactions come with legal landmines most agents and buyers don't see until it's too late. Host Jean Mitchell of Trilogy Real Estate sits down with Grant Harpold, a partner at Buck Keenan LLP and legal counsel for the Houston Association of Realtors, to break down the legal updates and best practices every Texas agent, buyer, and seller needs to know right now.What you'll learn:✔️ The new Harris County FEMA flood maps post-Harvey -- what changed, why it matters, and what agents must disclose to clients in affected areas✔️ Flood insurance timing: why buyers need to line up coverage well before closing due to the 30-day waiting period, and how to check if a seller's policy is transferable✔️ How to protect yourself on Seller's Disclosure Notices -- why every box must be completed by the seller and what happens when it isn't✔️ Showing agreements, Buyer Representation Agreements, and why "time is of the essence" in Texas contracts means contract deadlines are non-negotiable hard datesGrant Harpold is a partner at Buck Keenan LLP in Houston, where he represents corporations, businesses, and individuals in real estate and complex litigation matters. He also serves as legal counsel for the Houston Association of Realtors.Connect with Grant:Email: gharpold@buckkeenan.comDirect: 713.546.2431Firm: 713.225.4500Office: 2229 San Felipe, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77019Subscribe to The REAL in Real Estate on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Transcribe →