Mortgage Research Network Podcast

Thinking about buying your first home but overwhelmed by mortgage news, rising rates, and confusing headlines? The Mortgage Research Network Podcast is your no-fluff, data-backed guide to the housing market. We break down the latest trends, stories, and research from MortgageResearch.com into simple, clear insights you can actually use. Hosted with first-time buyers in mind, each episode helps you understand what’s happening in the market and how to use that knowledge to make smarter decisions, from locking in a great rate to choosing the right time to buy. Empowering you with the facts, confidence, and tools to become a homeowner one episode at a time.

Mortgage Research Network Podcast is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 141 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Mortgage Research Network Podcast, a news show with 141 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Mortgage Research Network Podcast

  Homebuyers Have More Leverage. So Why Is Buying Still So Hard?

  Aug 20, 202621 min

  In this episode of the Real Estate Update Podcast, host Paul Centopani speaks with Vivek Sah, Director of the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management at the University of Denver, about why homebuyers may have more negotiating leverage even as buying a home remains increasingly difficult. Vivek explains how higher mortgage rates, rising labor and material costs, land prices, property taxes, insurance, and other expenses have contributed to today’s housing affordability challenges. The conversation also looks at the mismatch between the homes many buyers can afford and the homes being built. Vivek explains why much of the available new construction is concentrated at higher price points, while demand remains strongest for more affordable homes. He also discusses why some buyers are turning to new construction because of builder incentives and mortgage rate buydowns, as well as how rising housing costs are contributing to delayed homeownership, greater demand for single-family rentals, and more multigenerational living arrangements. Vivek also shares his perspective on how first-time homebuyers can prepare financially for homeownership and why he still sees owning a home as an important long-term wealth-building tool for buyers who expect to remain in one place for several years. He discusses budgeting, reducing discretionary expenses, building equity over time, and how home equity can provide financial flexibility later in life. Subscribe for more mortgage news, housing news, homebuyer tips, and real estate market updates. Comment below: What has been the biggest challenge for you in today’s housing market: home prices, mortgage rates, monthly costs, or finding the right property? Connect with Mortgage Research Network: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connected With Vivek Sah: LinkedIn: ⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivek-sah-phd-9b756714/⁠ First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect With a Lender : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/426Gyaw ------ 0:00 – Intro 0:27 – Is It Really a Buyer’s Market? 2:02 – Why Housing Affordability Got So Difficult 5:27 – Where Have the Starter Homes Gone? 7:34 – How Buyers Are Adapting 11:13 – Builders Respond to Multigenerational Living 12:07 – Is the American Dream Changing? 14:23 – How Buyers Can Improve Affordability 16:54 – Advice for First-Time Homebuyers 20:19 – Outro ------ #HousingMarket #Homebuying #FirstTimeHomebuyer

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  Mortgage Research Network Podcast

  Why Rising School Closures Matter for Homeowners

  Aug 19, 20265 min

  More than 1,000 schools closed in 2025, reflecting demographic and enrollment shifts that could have consequences far beyond the classroom. Because school quality can influence where families choose to live and how much they are willing to pay for a home, closures can also affect property values and neighborhood stability. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry examine why schools are closing, how changing demographics are reshaping enrollment, and what these trends could mean for homeowners. Connect with Mortgage Research Network: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with a lender : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/426Gyaw In this episode you'll learn: Why school closures matter for housing: School quality is often closely tied to homebuyer demand, particularly among families with children. How much buyers may pay for better schools: Research has found that stronger school performance can translate into higher home prices in surrounding neighborhoods. What can happen when a school closes: Closures can reduce neighborhood appeal, hurt nearby businesses, and potentially put downward pressure on property values. Why declining birth rates are a major factor: The U.S. fertility rate has fallen sharply, leaving many school districts with fewer children to enroll. How immigration trends affect enrollment: Slower population growth from international migration can further reduce the number of school-age children in some communities. Why public school enrollment is falling: Millions fewer students are attending public schools than just a few years ago, and national enrollment is expected to decline further. How homeschooling and private schools fit in: Some families who left public schools during the pandemic never returned, contributing to continued enrollment pressure. Why lower enrollment creates budget problems: Many school districts lose funding when student counts decline, even though fixed expenses such as buildings and administration remain. How aging in place affects neighborhood schools: When older homeowners remain in family-sized homes longer, fewer properties turn over to younger households with school-age children. The big takeaway: School closures are not just an education issue. Demographic changes, declining enrollment, housing turnover, and school quality are increasingly interconnected, and homeowners may feel the effects through neighborhood demand, local businesses, and property values. Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/school-closures-could-hurt-home-values/

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  Mortgage Research Network Podcast

  Inherited a Home? You May Not Have to Refinance the Mortgage

  Aug 17, 20265 min

  People who inherit a home may have the right to keep its existing mortgage instead of refinancing into a new loan. But some mortgage servicers have reportedly made that process difficult, potentially exposing heirs to higher payments, delays, and even foreclosure risk. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry explain the protections available under federal law, the problems some homeowners have reported, and what heirs can do if a servicer stands in the way. Connect with Mortgage Research Network: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with a lender : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/426Gyaw In this episode you'll learn: Why heirs may not need to refinance: Federal law can allow certain people who inherit or receive a home to assume the existing mortgage rather than replace it with a new loan. Who may be protected: The rules can apply to surviving spouses, children, people awarded a home through divorce, and certain other successors in interest. Why refinancing can be costly: Replacing an older low-rate mortgage with a new loan at today’s rates could significantly increase the monthly payment. What homeowners have reported: Consumer complaints include being denied access to mortgage accounts, having payments blocked, and being asked repeatedly for the same documentation. Why servicing delays can become dangerous: Long processing times can contribute to missed payments, legal expenses, delinquency, and potentially foreclosure. How divorce cases can become complicated: A servicer’s refusal to release a former borrower from liability can create financial and legal problems even after ownership has changed. Why domestic violence survivors may face added risks: Some servicing practices can expose account information or require involvement from an abusive former partner. What documentation heirs may need: Depending on the circumstances, servicers may request records such as a death certificate, will, or court order to establish the new owner’s rights. Why keeping detailed records matters: Saving copies of documents, communications, and attempted payments can help establish what happened if a dispute needs to be escalated. The big takeaway: Inheriting a home does not automatically mean refinancing its mortgage. People who believe a servicer is improperly blocking an assumption should understand their rights, document their efforts carefully, and consider legal help if their home is at risk. Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/mortgage-servicers-pressure-heirs-to-refinance/

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  Mortgage Research Network Podcast

  Why New Federal Guidance Could Make ITIN Mortgages Harder to Get

  Aug 14, 20265 min

  New federal guidance is putting greater scrutiny on mortgages made to borrowers who use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers. Although the guidance does not ban ITIN mortgages, it could make some lenders more cautious about approving borrowers whose immigration or employment status may affect their ability to repay. Tim Lucas and Craig Berry examine why regulators are focusing on this small segment of the mortgage market, what the guidance actually says, and how it could affect prospective homebuyers. Connect with Mortgage Research Network: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with a lender : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/426Gyaw In this episode you'll learn: What an ITIN is: The IRS issues Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to people who need to file and pay taxes but are not eligible for Social Security Numbers. Who may use an ITIN to get a mortgage: ITIN borrowers can include foreign nationals, non-resident investors, and people who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. Why regulators are raising concerns: Federal agencies have warned that deportation or changes in a borrower’s employment status could disrupt income and increase repayment risk. What the new guidance requires: Lenders are being reminded to identify, measure, monitor, and control risks through appropriate underwriting and risk-management practices. Why the guidance is not an outright ban: Banks and credit unions may still offer ITIN mortgages, but the added scrutiny could discourage some lenders from approving them. How small the ITIN mortgage market is: Only about 5,000 to 6,000 ITIN mortgages were issued in 2023, representing a tiny fraction of total mortgage originations. Why the risk remains difficult to measure: Regulators have not presented clear evidence that ITIN borrowers default at higher rates, and available research suggests many may be reliable borrowers. How immigration enforcement affects the debate: Stricter enforcement could increase the risk that some borrowers lose income or leave the country before their mortgages are repaid. Why the policy could affect local housing markets: Reduced access to ITIN mortgages could limit homebuying demand and homeownership opportunities in communities where these loans are more common. The big takeaway: The new guidance does not eliminate ITIN mortgages, but it may create additional hurdles for borrowers and make lenders more hesitant. Without better data on repayment performance, it remains unclear whether the added scrutiny reflects a meaningful credit risk or could unnecessarily restrict access to homeownership. Read the full article: https://www.mortgageresearch.com/articles/new-government-guidance-itin-mortgages/

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  Mortgage Research Network Podcast

  Should You Consider an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage in 2026?

  Aug 13, 202617 min

  In this episode of the Real Estate Update Podcast, host Paul Centopani speaks with Shawn Yerkes, Group President of Financial Services at Genstone Companies, about when an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, may make sense for a homebuyer. Shawn breaks down how common ARM structures work, including the initial fixed-rate period, adjustment schedule, SOFR index, margin, and rate caps. He also explains how ARM underwriting compares with fixed-rate mortgages and why lenders generally want to make sure borrowers can handle the possibility of a higher future payment. The conversation also explores the situations where an ARM may offer an advantage over a fixed-rate mortgage. Shawn discusses how a lower initial rate can increase purchasing power, why borrowers who expect to move before the first adjustment may be better positioned to consider an ARM, and why future income, home equity, property values, and refinance options should all factor into the decision. He also explains why today’s adjustable-rate mortgages differ from many of the riskier products associated with the housing crash, including tighter underwriting, documented income requirements, and clearer adjustment caps. Shawn also covers the biggest risks borrowers should consider before choosing an ARM, including the possibility that rates could rise or property values could fall before they are able to refinance. He explains when refinancing into a fixed-rate mortgage may make sense and why ARM usage tends to increase when mortgage rates are higher. His main takeaway for first-time homebuyers is to understand their own financial profile, think through the worst-case scenario, and have a clear exit plan before taking on the additional uncertainty of an adjustable rate. Subscribe for more mortgage news, housing news, homebuyer tips, and real estate market updates. Comment below: Would you consider an adjustable-rate mortgage for a lower initial rate, or would you rather stick with the certainty of a fixed-rate loan? Connect with Mortgage Research Network: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MortgageResearchNetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/mortgageresearchnetwork/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/mtgresearchnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MortgageResearch.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Shawn Yerkes: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnyerkes/ First Time Homebuyer Cheat Sheet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4w8CiVM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Homebuyer Calculators: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/4n0hDPv ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect With a Lender : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/426Gyaw ------ 0:00 – Intro 1:03 – What the Numbers on an ARM Mean 2:54 – How ARM Rates Adjust 3:34 – ARM Qualification Requirements 4:24 – When an ARM Can Make Sense 5:25 – Who May Benefit From an ARM 6:48 – Planning for the Worst-Case Payment 8:03 – Are Today’s ARMs Safer Than Before 2008? 9:33 – Can an ARM Increase Your Buying Power? 10:22 – The Biggest Risks of an ARM 11:39 – Can You Negotiate ARM Terms? 12:15 – When to Refinance Out of an ARM 13:49 – Why ARM Usage Rises When Rates Are Higher 15:28 – Shawn’s Advice for First-Time Homebuyers 16:46 – Outro ------ #AdjustableRateMortgage #MortgageRates #HomebuyerTips

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