Power House HousingWire

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.
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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.
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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.
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This week we are sharing an exclusive conversation recorded live at The Gathering in Scottsdale, this time with the esteemed Chris Heller, current president at OJO and former CEO of Keller Williams. Chris has worn many hats with over 35 years of experience in the real estate industry in multiple leadership and advisory roles under his belt. 
In today’s conversation with Clayton, they talk about OJO’s consumer-facing rebrand to Movoto and their recent acquisition of The LEAD Syndicate to launch Lever, a platform delivering an all-in solution suite for agents. They also talk about anticipated changes on the horion as the commission changes take effect, such as an industry-wide shift of fewer, more experienced agents and a downward trend in commissions.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

The Lead Syndicate acquisition aims to enhance services for solo agents and provide support in areas such as database management, marketing, and transactions.

The upcoming changes in the real estate industry will require agents and brokerages to focus on higher-value services and adapt to new market dynamics.

The industry is likely to see opportunities for consolidation and M&A as companies look to combine resources to navigate the changing landscape.

The Department of Justice's ongoing scrutiny of the industry and potential consumer impacts should be closely monitored.


Related to this episode:

Chris Heller | LinkedIn

OJO acquires The LEAD Syndicate, launches Lever by Movoto | HousingWire

Movoto

OJO Labs

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.
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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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices