First Sip

Dekimbe Smith

Welcome to "First Sip," the podcast that fills your cup with curious conversations around ways to improve your personal & professional lives. I'm Dekimbe Smith, your host, and each week I dive into different topics that sparks the curiosity of the "Average Joe" that wants more.  Whether you're looking for tips on getting your life together, or strategies for building wealth, First Sip has something for you. So grab your drink, press play, and as always... enjoy your first sip!

  1. 4D AGO

    Market Drip: What a new Fed Chair could change about rates and housing | EP. 149

    Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube We may finally know who could replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair, and this decision could directly shape interest rates, inflation, housing costs, and the overall economy for years. A change at the Fed is not just political news. It can influence how affordable homes are, how secure jobs feel, and how much breathing room everyday budgets have. In this episode of the First Sip Podcast, I break down: Why Trump’s reported pick for the next Fed chair matters for regular people, not just marketsWho Kevin Warsh is and how his past experience during the financial crisis shapes his thinkingHow Fed decisions filter into housing affordability, mortgage rates, and buyer behaviorHow to think about your own 12 to 24 month plan if rates start moving lowerQuestion for you: If mortgage rates dropped by about one percentage point, would you feel ready to buy, refinance, or would you still wait things out? Timestamps: 00:00 – Trump’s pick for the next Fed chair and why it matters 02:24 – Jerome Powell’s recent legacy: inflation, rate hikes, and tough tradeoffs 04:33 – Who Kevin Warsh is and the era that shaped his views 06:34 – Warsh’s current stance on rates and shrinking the Fed balance sheet 08:41 – What this could mean for housing and mortgage affordability 10:56 – Why the era of easy money may not return quickly 12:47 – Why a 1% rate drop can change buying power dramatically 14:49 – Book recommendation: The Color of Law and housing history 17:14 – Investing responsibly and understanding long-term impacts on communities 19:09 – Final thoughts and wrap-up What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    19 min
  2. JAN 21

    Is Buying a Home Still Worth It in 2026? Here's the Truth ft. Jarred Smith | EP. 148

    Watch the full episode on YouTube Is homeownership still the "American Dream"…or has the math and lifestyle completely changed for younger generations? In this episode of the First Sip Podcast, I'm sitting down with Jarred Smith to have a balanced conversation about whether buying a home still makes sense in today’s economy. With rising prices, higher interest rates, and more people prioritizing flexibility, the rent vs buy debate looks very different than it did for previous generations. This is not a sales pitch for buying a home and it's not an argument against renting. It's a real discussion about timing, strategy, and what people are actually optimizing for in this stage of life. We break down: - Why more people are questioning homeownership today - The real tradeoffs between renting and owning - Stability vs flexibility and commitment vs optionality - When buying a home can be a smart move and when it might not be - Why homeownership should be viewed as a strategy, not a milestone If you are renting, thinking about buying, or feeling stuck in between, this episode will help you think more clearly about the decision without pressure or hype. Listen through the end and ask yourself one simple question: What am I optimizing for right now? Thank you for listening, and as always...enjoy your first sip! ------ Join the First Sip community: I’m here to help you make these complicated financial concepts make sense in your own life.  If you're ready to stop playing it safe, and start building a life you actually enjoy, subscribe to the newsletter. Every week I dive deeper into the topics of business, money, and real estate, breaking down the proven systems we'll need to win the long term game. What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    1 hr
  3. JAN 14

    Market Drip: Can Trump’s $200B Plan Lower Mortgage Rates? | Ep. 147

    A $200 billion plan tied to mortgage rates just made headlines, and it’s coming from Donald Trump. The idea is that by buying mortgage bonds, borrowing costs could come down without cutting rates directly through the Federal Reserve. It sounds promising, but how does it actually work, and what does it really change for everyday people? In this episode, I break down the mechanics behind mortgage bonds, the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and why government money flowing into these markets can influence mortgage rates. We also talk about the early market reaction, including recent rate movement and a spike in refinance activity, and where things are still unclear. This episode isn’t about politics. It’s about understanding the system so you can make better decisions around buying, refinancing, or waiting. If you’re watching the market and trying to figure out your next move, this conversation gives you the context most headlines leave out. Thank you for listening, and as always… enjoy your first sip. Watch the full episode on YouTube 📉 Trump’s $200B Mortgage Rate Plan Explained 🏡💰 00:00 – Trump Announces $200B Plan to Lower Mortgage Rates 01:10 – Housing Affordability and Trump’s Recent Ideas 02:10 – Where the $200B Comes From: Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac 02:55 – Early Market Reaction and Mortgage Rates Near 5.99% 04:28 – How Buying Mortgage Bonds Can Lower Mortgage Rates 05:30 – Mortgage Rates Then vs Now and What’s Changing 06:51 – Is This a Real Plan or Just Hype? Election-Year Context 07:55 – Why Some Housing Ideas Never Materialize 09:12 – Refinance Surge, Buyer Activity, and Next Steps What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    10 min
  4. The Harsh Reality of Entrepreneurship ft. David Colon Jr. | Ep. 144

    12/01/2025

    The Harsh Reality of Entrepreneurship ft. David Colon Jr. | Ep. 144

    Starting a business sounds exciting until you hit the weeks that nobody warns you about. The slow weeks. The weeks that test your confidence. The moments you wonder if you made the right choice. In this episode I sit down with David Colon to talk through the real side of entrepreneurship and the lessons we both learned the hard way. David built his career in the tax industry from the ground up. He has seen people rise fast, quit early, lose momentum, or finally break through. This conversation goes deep into what it actually feels like to build something of your own when the income is inconsistent and the support system isn’t always there. We talk about adapting quickly, dealing with doubt, managing those tough financial swings, and why so many new entrepreneurs walk away before they ever see progress. David shares the turning points in his own story and the mindset shifts that helped him stay committed when things got difficult. If you have ever thought about starting your own business or you’re already in it and feeling the pressure, this episode gives you the honest perspective that most people avoid. Watch the full conversation to hear: • The early struggles that shaped David’s journey • Why support matters more than people admit • How inconsistent income affects your mindset • The moment entrepreneurship starts to feel real • What we wish someone told us before we started Thank you for listening and as always...enjoy your first sip! What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    1h 8m
  5. Market Drip: Stocks Are Down, Bitcoin’s Tanking, Foreclosures Are Up…What’s Next? | Ep. 143

    11/21/2025

    Market Drip: Stocks Are Down, Bitcoin’s Tanking, Foreclosures Are Up…What’s Next? | Ep. 143

    This episode started with a simple question that’s been sitting in the back of everyone’s mind lately...if prices are falling almost everywhere, why does it only feel harder to live your regular life? Groceries are still high. Gas is still high. Bills feel heavier. Yet stocks are sliding, Bitcoin wiped out almost a year of gains, collectibles are selling off, and foreclosures are climbing again. On paper it looks like a cooling economy, but in real life it feels nothing like relief. So I wanted to sit down and pull apart the signals one by one. Not from a place of panic, but from a place of curiosity. What do these drops actually mean. Who is moving the market. Why foreclosures are rising even though demand for homes is still intense. And how much of the story gets distorted by headlines built to grab your fear before your attention. Across Bitcoin, stocks, collectibles, and the housing market, I’m trying to understand what’s real, what’s noise, and what still needs clarity.  If you want a grounded look at whether we are entering the recession everyone has been whispering about, this conversation will give you a better picture. Thank you for listening and as always...enjoy your first sip! What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    22 min
  6. Market Drip: Could a 50 Year Mortgage Make Homes Affordable Again? (No, but let’s talk about it) | Ep. 142

    11/14/2025

    Market Drip: Could a 50 Year Mortgage Make Homes Affordable Again? (No, but let’s talk about it) | Ep. 142

    People are talking about this new idea for a 50 Year Mortgage. Lower payments, easier entry and a chance to finally grab the home you’ve been staring at for years... at least that’s how it’s being sold. In this week’s episode of the First Sip Podcast, I’m breaking down what a 50 year mortgage really means for buyers today. It sounds like a shortcut in a market where rates are high, prices are annoying, and inventory is non-existent. But once you look at the long term cost, the impact on interest payments, and how this doesn’t fix the real issue of not enough homes being built, the picture changes fast. This episode goes into the math, the policy talk and the reality behind why affordability feels like it keeps slipping further away. What we’re talking about this week: How a fifty year mortgage lowers the monthly payment in the short termThe massive long term interest cost most people never calculateWhy the real problem is still inventory shortages and zoning roadblocksHow policy conversations distract from the need for more buildingWhat first time buyers should think about before jumping at lower paymentsIf you’ve ever wondered whether these plans help regular buyers or just shift the pressure around, this episode will give you the clarity you need to think long term, not just month to month. Thank you for listening and as always...enjoy your first sip!☕️ What did you think about this episode? -------------------------------- 🏡 Ready to take the next steps towards your future home? I'm here to help! Call or Text: 267-715-9872 Email: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com Connect With Me Online: YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram For podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: dekimbeconnects@gmail.com

    18 min
5
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

Welcome to "First Sip," the podcast that fills your cup with curious conversations around ways to improve your personal & professional lives. I'm Dekimbe Smith, your host, and each week I dive into different topics that sparks the curiosity of the "Average Joe" that wants more.  Whether you're looking for tips on getting your life together, or strategies for building wealth, First Sip has something for you. So grab your drink, press play, and as always... enjoy your first sip!