Power House

This week on the Power House podcast, we sat down with Jason Pinson, the founder and CEO of Rocktop Technologies, a suite of fintech applications driven by AI and machine learning designed to manage risk on behalf of its clients and partners.Rocktop — and Jason himself — are on a mission to tackle two significant issues in housing: the influx of poor and poorly managed data, and the error-prone processes that undermine asset quality and value. Today we are delving into Jason's career journey and thesis, starting from his days at Bear Stearns to his multi-decade crusade to enhance efficiency and returns for investors in the mortgage industry.Clayton and Jason talk about Rocktop’s efforts aimed at preventing the errors and inefficiencies that reduce mortgage investors’ yields, a problem that ultimately makes housing less efficient and more expensive. They also talk about data standardization, the role of organizations like MISMO, and the expertise and talents behind successful AI and machine learning implementation.Rocktop Technologies will be joining us on stage in Dallas on July 23rd for HousingWire’s AI Summit to explore even more of their focus on machine learning and how they plan to revolutionize the industry.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: The mortgage market is hindered by poor data management and manual error-prone operations. Data standardization is crucial for improving efficiency in the mortgage market. A strong data strategy is essential for implementing AI and machine learning. Combining domain expertise with technical talent is key to success in the mortgage industry. Leading from the front and investing in employee upskilling are important for growth in a volatile market. Related to this episode: Jason Pinson | LinkedIn Rocktop Technologies HousingWire's AI Summit HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

Sierra Interactive CEO, Peter Maglathlin, discusses entrepreneurship in real estate tech and the impact of the NAR settlement. They delve into customer segmentation, the cyclical nature of the real estate market, and the importance of generating seller leads. The conversation also covers the acquisition by Alpine Software Group, the transition to CEO role, and the evolution of real estate technology sales strategy.

Bonnie Wilhelm, CEO of Andromeda Group at Constellation Software, discusses their 'buy and hold forever' strategy. They focus on acquiring businesses in vertical markets, emphasizing autonomy and long-term investments. Constellation's interest in the mortgage industry includes leveraging AI for efficiency and the importance of customer-centric innovations.

Today, we welcome two wonderful guests to the Power House podcast: Rick Roque and Andrew Maas. Rick is the EVP of Retail Growth and Strategy at Sierra Pacific Mortgage with 20+ years in retail mortgage banking, acquiring, managing and growing production volume & market share in companies across the US. Andrew is the Co-Founder & CEO of Pointable, focusing on large-scale deep learning for spoken and written language tasks and has previously worked on data-centric deep learning approaches at Apple.Both Rick and Andrew are going to be joining us as speakers in July for HousingWire’s AI Summit.Clayton’s conversation with Rick and Andrew focuses on the adoption and use cases of artificial intelligence in the mortgage space. According to Rick, current mortgage boardroom sentiment toward AI is “complete confusion” and full of worry about how it will affect the bottom line. They want to demystify that. Strategic AI adoption will split lenders into two groups: those who leverage efficiency tools and those who don’t.They also discuss practical use cases for AI in lending spaces, including streamlining lending workflows, time spent coaching and training, and even how consumers can benefit in discovering and understanding their loan options and application processes.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: AI's impact on the mortgage industry is significant, offering opportunities for efficiency and profitability. The confusion of implementing AI in mortgage is rooted in confusion and a lack of focus on future demands. AI has the potential to revolutionize the mortgage industry by addressing systematic inefficiencies and streamlining processes. There is a need for a shift in executive mentality and budgeting to incorporate AI into critical business needs. Related to this episode: Rick Roque | LinkedIn Andrew Maas | LinkedIn Sierra Pacific Mortgage Pointable HousingWire's AI Summit HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

Today we are chatting with Phil DeFronzo, the founder, president and CEO of mortgage wholesaler TPO Go. Phil, who has been in the mortgage business since 1989, was the former CEO of Norcom Mortgage before he sold the retail business to CMG Financial and pursued the wholesale business.Phil and Clayton talk about his career journey over the past three decades, how he got to where he was today, and the interesting people he met and learned from along the way — including the mentorship of the late Dave Stevens. They also talk about TPO Go’s strategy to differentiate itself and where he sees growth for the industry in the coming years in spaces like renovation loans and automation processes.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Opportunities for growth often arise in challenging times. Focusing on profitability is key to weathering market changes. Renovation loans offer significant market potential, especially in aging housing stock. Brokers with strong product knowledge have a competitive advantage. Automation can improve turn times and enhance the customer experience. Related to this episode: CMG acquires Norcom Mortgage’s retail assets - HousingWire Phil DeFronzo | LinkedIn TPO Go | Linkedin TPO GO HousingWire | YouTube HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

On today's episode, we had the pleasure of sitting down with an extraordinary guest you might already know. Since 2014, he has consistently been ranked as the number one real estate educator by the Swanepoel Power 200. Tom is not only a prolific author, but also the Founder and CEO of Ferry International. With a massive following on YouTube and social media, and over 30,000 hours of one-on-one coaching with agents and industry experts under his belt, we are thrilled to welcome Tom Ferry to the Power House podcast.Tom and Clayton’s chat is all about entrepreneurship, personal branding and marketing, and building a strategic approach to business growth in a changing market. He has had a lot of successes — and just as many failures. Now, Tom has a strong focus on building a client-first approach to sales and also has some really interesting thoughts to share about AI, the rise of artisan agents, and scaling a new business through personalized team-building.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: A client-first sales and marketing approach is crucial. Coaching involves understanding the psychology of clients and helping them overcome barriers and mindset shifts. AI can play a significant role in the real estate industry, from coach-client selection to improving customer success and providing valuable insights. There is a rise of artisan agents who focus on providing a high-quality experience for clients, even if they don't do a high volume of transactions. Continuous learning and staying relevant are crucial in the industry, and technology adoption done right can be a game-changer. Related to this episode: Tom Ferry | Linkedin Ferry International | Linkedin Tom Ferry | Instagram Tom Ferry HousingWire | YouTube HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

In this week’s episode, Clayton got the chance to sit down with the president & CEO of UMortgage, Anthony Casa, who joined us in person last month in Scottsdale for The Gathering.During their conversation, Anthony talks about how he went from dropping out of school at only 13 to being the president and CEO of UMortgage, and how his experience during the financial crisis carefully shapes how he approaches his business today. They also talk about finding growth in a shrinking market and the craft of walking a fine line between competition and a consumer-first approach.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Building relationships and providing a great customer experience are key in the mortgage industry. The housing crisis taught Casa the importance of focusing on relationships rather than transactions. Transitioning from one business to another requires developing a strong team and passing on the reins. Casa believes in putting the consumer first and creating a personalized experience. Competition and balance are important for the mortgage industry to thrive. Related to this episode: Anthony Casa | LinkedIn UMortgage | LinkedIn UMortgage HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

Chris Heller, President at OJO and former CEO of Keller Williams, discusses OJO's rebrand to Movoto, acquisition of The LEAD Syndicate for the launch of Lever, and industry changes like fewer, experienced agents and lower commissions. They touch on enhanced services for solo agents, industry shifts, opportunities for consolidation, and the Department of Justice's scrutiny.

This week we are bringing you a sponsored episode recorded live in Scottsdale at The Gathering 2024. Our wonderful guests are Scott Rerucha, the CEO and co-founder of Legacy Group Capital, and Ed Messman, the CIO of Legacy Group Capital. Legacy Group Capital is a private lending company that helps builders and real estate investors acquire property more easily than traditional bank financing. Scott brings over three decades of industry experience from several financial institutions throughout the Puget Sound Region. Ed has over two decades of executive leadership experience with venture capital and private equity-sponsored technology companies.Legacy Group Capital recently announced its acquisition of Rook, a home equity investment company that focuses on providing innovative financing solutions for homebuyers. They discuss the rationale behind the acquisition and their hopes to focus on a group of homebuyers they call the “missing middle.” They also discuss housing affordability issues at large, the state of the market for real estate professionals, and Legacy Group Capital’s model to create solutions for young professionals with fractionalized mortgages.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Legacy Group Capital helps builders and real estate investors acquire property more easily than traditional bank financing. They specialize in finding real estate deals that can produce affordable housing. The company recently acquired Rook, a home equity investment (HEI) company, to offer innovative financing solutions for homebuyers. HEI products reduce down payments and monthly payments for more affordable housing options. Related to this episode: Ed Messman | LinkedIn Scott Rerucha | LinkedIn Legacy Group Capital Legacy Group Capital acquires home equity investment fintech Rook Capital 2024 Finance Leader: Ed Messman | HousingWire HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.

In today’s sponsored episode of Power House, we’re excited to chat with Pat Dodd, the CEO of CoreLogic. Pat brings decades of experience in data and analytics with various roles at Nielsen before joining CoreLogic in 2020 and being named President and CEO in 2022.During their conversation today, Clayton and Pat talk about CoreLogic’s data-driven approach to solving clients’ technology needs and how their Discovery Platform is providing unique granular property insights to help clients make informed decisions when predicting homebuyer behaviors and property risks. They also talk about the wave of different generative AI tools and how they’re fine-tuning their “truth set” to help professionals optimize their day to day.Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Pat Dodd's diverse background in various industries, including data analytics, technology, media, marketing, retail, and package goods, influences his leadership at CoreLogic. CoreLogic focuses on providing B2B solutions and leveraging acquired data sets to drive growth in the housing industry. The importance of industry expertise and access to information and data for professionals to navigate challenges, particularly highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Discovery Center platform offers valuable data transparency and insights, requiring collaboration and providing tools for better decision-making. Utilizing AI, machine learning, and data analytics is crucial for addressing practical needs, improving efficiency, and staying competitive in the real estate industry. Related to this episode: Patrick Dodd | LinkedIn CoreLogic Discovery Platform | CoreLogic® HousingWire | YouTube Enjoy the episode!The Power House podcast is a show about leadership, markets and entrepreneurship in the housing industry. Each Thursday, Clayton Collins speaks with CEOs and founders 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. Clayton Collins is the CEO 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.