This week on Power House, Diego sits down with Varun Krishna, the CEO of Rocket Companies. Prior to joining Rocket in 2023, Varun came up on the personal finance and enterprise software side of the tech space, with roles at Intuit and Paypal.Rocket has a growth plan to make home ownership easier, enjoyable, and sustainable for homeowners. Diego and Varun talk about how Rocket aims to achieve that by using AI tools to optimize the origination-servicing flywheel and by building long–term relationships with clients, not just one-time transactions. They also talk about recent hires to Rocket, their 2025 brand transformation plan, and whats next in-store for the company.Here's what you'll learn: Buying a home is an emotional process that should be simplified. Building long-term relationships, not just transactions, with clients is essential for success. AI is being leveraged at many points during the homebuying process to enhance operational efficiency and customer service. Rocket has an 85% recapture rate due in part to its customer-centric approach. The TPO channel is a significant priority for Rocket's growth strategy. Rocket’s new marketing strategy aims to position Rocket as the 'Apple of homeownership.' Related to this episode: Rocket Companies | HousingWire Rocket Mortgage Company News and Updates | HousingWire How Rocket Mortgage plans to win in 2025 | HousingWire Varun Krishna| LinkedIn Rocket Companies HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, HousingWire president Diego Sanchez sits down with Justin Messer, the CEO of Prosperity Home Mortgage. Prosperity was recently ranked at the top mortgage originator for customer satisfaction by JD Power.Today — with that top ranking in mind — Justin and Diego talk about Prosperity’s strategic shift from refinance to purchase and their unique real estate affiliated model, which allows them to focus on better borrow communication and expectations. They also talk about recruiting in a competitive market and what he predicts will happen to rates as we head into 2025.Here's what you'll learn: Effective communication with borrowers is crucial for improving customer experience. The company's unique realtor affiliate model significantly impacts their business strategy. Prosperity aims to balance purchase and refinance opportunities strategically. Servicing partnerships are vital for maintaining customer relationships post-transaction. Market predictions indicate stubborn mortgage rates in the short term. The focus on home ownership extends beyond just mortgage lending. Related to this episode: 2024 Vanguard: Justin Messer - HousingWire How Prosperity Home Mortgage plans to make up for lost volume in 2023 |HousingWire Prosperity Home Mortgage Justin Messer | LinkedIn HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Holidays from Power House and the entire team at HousingWire! We have some exciting conversations planned for 2025, so we'll see you in the New Year!If you have any feedback or comments about the show, please reach out at diego@hwmedia.com.The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, HousingWire President Diego Sanchez sits down with loanDepot president and CEO, Frank Martell. Frank, who was a 2016 and 2023 HousingWire Vanguard Awardee, brings to the table over 30 years of mortgage and executive leadership experience.Today’s conversation is all about loanDepot’s return to profitability in Q3 and a behind the scenes look at the launch of Project North Star and their Vision 2025 strategy. Here's what you'll learn: Loan Depot achieved Q3 profitability through directed team effort and strategic focus. loanDepot’s Project Northstar aims to achieve differentiation and profitable growth. Technology should enhance, not replace, human interaction in lending. Understanding and working around customer life events can drive better service. Maintaining a strong company culture is crucial during leadership transitions. Related to this episode: Frank Martell talks loanDepot’s restructuring, path to profitability and M&As | HousingWire Governance - Executive Management loanDepot HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, Diego chats with industry veteran and Guild Mortgage CEO Terry Schmidt. Terry joined Guild in 1985 and she stepped into the CEO role in 2023.Terry and Diego talk about Guild’s proprietary AI system, Guild IQ, and how Guild’s recent acquisitions are a step toward growing their reverse presence. They also talk about how they’re managing through a high-rate environment while keeping up with their customer-for-life strategy, and high employee retention through company culture.Here's what you'll learn: Guild Mortgage has a strong focus on finding cultural fits during acquisitions. They aim to provide a comprehensive customer experience throughout the entire homeownership journey. Listen to your employees, even when you might not like what you hear. Guild is expanding their reverse mortgage channel. The Hispanic community is a key target for future homeownership initiatives. AI integration is enhancing Guild's origination processes and customer service. Related to this episode: Terry Schmidt says Guild is seeing more interest in reverse mortgages | HousingWire Guild CEO offers details on Academy Mortgage acquisition | HousingWire Terry Schmidt | LinkedIn Guild Mortgage HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, Diego sits down with Jay Bray, the CEO of Mr. Cooper. Jay joined Nationstar in 2000 and brings over 25 years of mortgage serving and origination experience. They discuss Mr. Cooper’s growth and acquisition strategy, specifically the Flagstar acquisition, which brought Mr. Cooper's servicing book up to $1.5 trillion from $1.2 trillion at the end of Q3.They also talk about finding a sustainable balance between their servicing and origination business, how banning trigger leads would — or rather, wouldn't — affect their business, and what AI advancements they’re looking at as we head into 2025.Here's what you'll learn: Mr. Cooper’s servicing business has performed well in a rising rate environment. Flagstar's acquisition brought Mr. Cooper's servicing portfolio up to $1.5 trillion. AI is enabling revenue growth without increasing headcount. Long-term customer relationships will mitigate potential trigger lead bans. The industry needs to be ready for higher rates, for longer. The future of our business is all about enhancing customer experience. Related to this episode: Mr. Cooper to acquire Flagstar's servicing and TPO businesses for $1.4B in cash | HousingWire Mr. Cooper Jay Bray | Mr. Cooper Group Jay Bray | LinkedIn HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, Diego sits down with James Dwiggins, the CEO and co-founder of national real estate franchise, NextHome. Guided by a “humans over homes” philosophy, the brand focuses on quality over quantity, with 600 offices and 6,000 agents across the country.James has a lot of experience in the real estate world, and with that comes a lot of strong opinions — namely on clear cooperation policies, legal issues with dual agency, and MLS practices. He also shares why, despite its issues, NAR’s advocacy work shouldn’t go unnoticed by agents, and what NextHome is doing to grow in the face of industry challenges.Here's what you'll learn: NextHome operates under a 'humans over houses' philosophy. 40% of growth comes from referrals and they don’t require franchisees to recruit aggressively. The NAR settlement is just the beginning of changes in real estate commissions. Many agents lack training on new compensation structures post-NAR settlement. Dual agency presents significant conflicts of interest. NAR plays a crucial role in advocating for real estate professionals. Clear cooperation policies benefit the marketplace and consumers. Related to this episode: Commission lawsuits: Latest news and insights | HousingWire NextHome joins the list of firms to settle the commission lawsuits | HousingWire James Dwiggins | LinkedIn NextHome HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the Power House podcast, we are bringing you a special sponsored conversation between Zeb Lowe, the director of HousingWire’s Content Studio, and Andrew Bough, the COO at Class Valuation.Andrew is joining us today to share how Class Valuation is setting new quality standards for appraisals through approaches such as their appraiser scorecard system and creating specialty panels for unique property types. He also talks about tackling industry challenges like an aging workforce and regulatory changes, and how they’re shaping the market with their Appraisal Diversity Initiative.Here's what you'll learn: Class Valuation's scale allows for consistent quality in appraisals. Choosing the lowest-paid appraisers is a common misconception about AMCs. Performance scorecards help appraisers improve their services. Creating specialty panels enhances the quality of appraisals for specific, niche needs. The appraisal industry, like many other facets of the housing ecosystem, is undergoing significant change. Diversity initiatives and embracing new technology are essential for the future of appraisals. Related to this episode: Class Valuation Andrew Bough | LinkedIn HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Power House, Diego chats with industry veteran Chad Smith, the president and COO of Better, who stepped into the role earlier this year from Mission Loans.Chad and Diego talk about Chad’s decision to join the Better executive team and what they’re working on to help grow Better in 2025, which includes a focus on customer engagement and hiring more experienced LOs and industry experts. They also talk about Tinman, their proprietary platform, and a brand new AI loan assistant tool.Here's what you'll learn: Better’s Tinman platform and AI loan assistant are helping to improve mortgage processing and customer engagement. Chad Smith joined Better to drive innovation despite the company’s PR challenges. Hiring experienced loan originators is key to Better's growth strategy. Better aims to make homeownership more accessible through innovative products. The company is focused on driving down fulfillment costs to benefit consumers. Related to this episode: Better taps Chad Smith as new president and COO | HousingWire Chad Smith | LinkedIn Better HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Power House podcast, Diego sits down with Daren Blomquist, VP of Market Economics at Auction.com. Daren is a friendly face to many of you, and was last on the show in early 2023 to discuss his 2023 forecast. He’s joining us again to talk about what he expects to see in the market post-election and into 2025.He and Diego talk about a potential market uptick as rates stabilize, how the mortgage rate lock-in effect is still impacting low inventory across the nation, and Auction.com’s plan to expand into non-foreclosure property sales.Here's what you'll learn: We’ll see a ‘Trump bump' in housing data. The certainty of the election results will encourage market activity. The current bidding activity indicates a sluggish spring market. The lock-in effect is keeping inventory low across the country. Auction.com is seeing interest from sellers outside of traditional foreclosure. Many sellers are turning to auctions as a viable selling option. Related to this episode: Foreclosures expected to grow slowly to end 2024: Auction.com | HousingWire Daren Blomquist LinkedIn Auction.com HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Diego Sanchez speaks with CEOs, founders, and executives from the mortgage and real estate sector to reveal how housing executives think about business growth, operational strategy, and leadership. The Power House podcast reveals the full picture through the stories of the industry’s most impactful leaders. Diego Sanchez is the president of HousingWire, and the Power House podcast is produced by HousingWire’s Content Studio. Initially launched in 2019 as the Housing News podcast, the show was relaunched as Power House in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices