Land Lady Listens

Real estate investing isn’t just about finding deals, it’s about knowing how to finance them. In this episode of The Landlady Listens, TJ Curran of Go Rascal joins us for a deep dive into today’s lending landscape, from traditional mortgages to non QM products, DSCR loans, and condo hotel financing. With over 20 years in the mortgage industry and now working as a broker with access to multiple len...

Insurance is one of the most important parts of homeownership, yet it's often the least understood. In this episode of The Landlady Listens, Nick Sebastian of Eagle Insurance joins us to break down the essentials every homeowner, buyer, and investor should know about protecting their biggest assets. From understanding coverage options to navigating common misconceptions, Nick shares practical...

The Landlady Listens In this episode of The Landlady Listens , host Meg Hayden sits down with second-generation mortgage broker Alex Wallace from Cornerstone Commercial Capital. Alex breaks down the nuances of commercial lending, pulling back the curtain on everything from Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to private lending solutions. Whether you are a business owner looking to transition...

What happens when a domestic violence shelter decides to become a housing developer? In this powerful episode of The Landlady Listens, Vanessa Volz, President and CEO of Sojourner House, shares how her organization evolved from crisis intervention into creating long-term housing solutions for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Vanessa opens up about the realitie...

Your body has been trying to tell you something… the question is, are you listening? In this new episode of The Landlady Listens, Meg sits down with Dr. Celeste Ruland to explore what it really means to understand, regulate, and heal your nervous system. This conversation goes beyond surface-level wellness and gets into the real, practical ways we can move out of constant stress and back into a pl...

Most people think real estate investing requires massive capital… but what if you could start with as little as $10K? In this episode of Land Lady Listens, Meg sits down with Anne Sabbagh, Glenn Andreoni, and Brianna Andreoni to break down one of the most overlooked wealth-building tools: self-directed IRAs. They unpack how you can use your retirement account to invest in real estate, lend money,...

How do you go from a steady corporate job to managing 550 rental units and $90 million in assets in just a few short years?   In this episode of The Landlady Listens, Meg Hayden sits down with multi-unit investor Andrew Freed to discuss the transition from the "American Dream" cubicle to large-scale real estate success. Andrew breaks down the exact strategies he used to scale rapidly, in...

What actually happens behind the scenes when you try to buy a home? In this episode of The Landlady Listens, Diana Figueroa brings over two decades of lending experience to break down how the process really works—from what lenders are looking for to how different loan options, credit scores, and financial decisions can impact your approval. She shares practical insight on grants and assistance pro...

Appraisals can feel like a mystery until you understand how they really work. In this episode of The Landlady Listens, we sit down with Jamie Moore of Jamie Moore Appraisal, a 35 year veteran in the Rhode Island real estate world. Jamie pulls back the curtain on everything from square footage rules and new construction valuations to the three approaches to value and why showing up for your apprais...

What if your story, no matter how heavy, was actually the foundation for your breakthrough? In this episode of The Land Lady Listens, Meg Hayden sits down with Alicia Brown, a new real estate agent and entrepreneur, to share a deeply personal journey of resilience, healing, and transformation. Alicia opens up about overcoming adversity, breaking generational cycles, and stepping into entrepreneurs...

What happens when you decide to completely rewrite your life story? In this powerful episode of The Landlady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with real estate entrepreneur and founder of the Real Eskater brand, Connie Stowers, to talk about transformation, resilience, and the power of believing in yourself—even when it feels delusional. After navigating divorce, sobriety, career uncertainty, and...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with Josephine Deyo — Business Operations Strategist and founder of KE Process Solutions — to break down the workflows, systems, and high-leverage habits that help entrepreneurs reclaim their time and scale with confidence. From mapping real-estate workflows to implementing CRMs, automations, and SOPs, Jose...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with Coco Pacheco — developer, builder, and real-estate entrepreneur — to talk about building smart, staying ready, and using technology to move faster in an ever-changing market. From flipping his first property at 23 to managing multi-unit new-construction developments across Rhode Island, Coco shares the...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with Jennifer Mello —Broker & Partner at The Mello Group and Founder of AccomplisHER Academy —to talk about leadership, legacy, and creating meaningful impact through business and community. From growing a family-run real estate company into a $100 million operation to launching a movement that empowers...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast ! 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with two powerhouse women in real estate and construction— Allyson Sabbagh , Senior Loan Officer at Seacoast Mortgage Corporation, and Leidy James , owner of Lena’s Home Improvement. They break down the real work of house flipping: financing strategies, managing subs and timelines, budgeting for surprises,...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with Terrence Gray, Director of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) , to explore how Rhode Island is balancing development, environmental protection, and climate resilience. Terrence shares his journey from starting as an entry-level inspector in 1987 to becoming Director of DEM, overseeing ever...

Welcome back to The Landlady Listens Podcast! 🎙️ In this episode, host Meg Hayden sits down with special guest Catia Lestage to dive deep into the power of mindset, meditation, and manifestation. Catia shares how changing your thoughts, writing your vision, and embodying the feelings of your future self can completely transform your reality. From flipping negative thoughts into positive ones, to h...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with Joe Dias, a real estate agent, investor, and developer, to talk about the transition from flipping houses to building new construction—and the lessons learned along the way. Joe shares his journey from his first flip in 2016 to building multiple new construction projects, while also running a hard money lending business. He opens...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with Lina Depina, Community Lending Officer at Washington Trust, to talk about first-time homebuyer programs, grants, and strategies to make real estate investing more accessible. Lina shares how Washington Trust is helping buyers with unique programs like forgivable down payment assistance grants, rate discounts, and tailored lending...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with Ann Sabbagh, founder of Seacoast Mortgage Corporation, to talk about building wealth through multi-family investing, self-directed IRAs, and creative financing strategies. Ann shares her inspiring journey from leaving corporate finance to creating one of the most respected mortgage companies in Rhode Island. She opens up about he...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens , host Meg Hayden sits down with Virginia Des Roches , founder of Ironwood Studio Co , to talk about building dream homes, running a design-build business, and thriving as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Virginia shares her journey from growing up in a family contracting business to leading a one-stop shop that delivers everything from floor plans to furn...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens , host Meg Hayden sits down with Jimmy Murray—real estate investor, property management company owner, and business acquisition strategist—to explore how buying and scaling small businesses can be just as powerful as investing in real estate. Jimmy shares his journey from corporate life to owning Lyon Property Management, managing 900 units across Rhode Island...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with short-term rental queen Danielle Alba and midterm rental strategist Steve London of Casas Collective to dive deep into the business of Airbnb—from design and systems to profitability and longevity. Danielle shares how she scaled her vacation rental portfolio to over a dozen luxury properties across Rhode Island and New Hampshire—...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden sits down with custom home builder Gary Mello and new construction expert Lisa Carrero of Oracle Homes to unpack the entire journey of building a dream home—from concept to closing. You’ll learn how this powerhouse team blends vision, family values, and proven systems to deliver over 100 custom homes with precision and care. Gary and Lisa break...

In this episode of Land Lady Listens, host Meg Hayden welcomes powerhouse attorney duo Glenn and Brianna Andreoni to demystify the lucrative—but often misunderstood—world of tax sales, self-directed IRAs, and private financing. From breaking down what tax sales really are and how investors can acquire properties free and clear, to strategies for earning double-digit returns without lifting a hamme...