Community Table

On this episode of The Community Table, Brad Lloyd of Community Mortgage sits down with Karen Taylor of John Green Realtors for a real, practical conversation about buying and selling homes in the Mid-South. With 19 years in the business, Karen breaks down how she guides first-time buyers, why getting pre-approved matters, what really happens during a home inspection, and why USDA loans might be o...

In this episode of The Community Table, hosts Sophie Sandlin-Raines and Jeremy Holliday of Community Mortgage sit down with Shannan Waters, Katrina Grubb, and Elizabeth Duke — the three co-owners of The Firm, one of Memphis's fastest-growing real estate brokerages. In just five years, they went from signing LLC papers on the hood of a car to being ranked 6 out of 475 firms by volume in the Mem...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Andy, senior lender at Crump Mortgage, sits down with Tyler and Meatha Tapley of Kerala Real Estate — a husband and wife team with nearly 40 combined years in the Memphis and DeSoto County markets. They break down how they built their business through the 2008 recession when nobody was buying, why the basics that worked 20 years ago still work today, an...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Brad Lloyd of Community Mortgage sits down with Adam Underwood of Crye-Leike Real Estate — an investor-turned-agent who got his start in 2003 by renting bedrooms to his college roommates and never stopped. Adam breaks down how he handles first-time buyers vs. investors vs. repeat clients, why he won't show a house without a pre-approval letter, what...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Brad Lloyd sits down with Kendra Bell of Crye-Leike Real Estate — a 20-year veteran who started her career in Columbus, Mississippi after being inspired by a regular Friday night dinner guest and never looked back. Kendra breaks down how she handles first-time buyers, seasoned investors, and repeat clients differently, why she picks up the phone instead...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Jason Woods sits down with Eric Fuhrman, General Manager of Crye-Leike Real Estate, one of the largest privately held real estate firms in the US. Eric shares how he went from knowing nobody in Memphis to building a 20-year career, why top producers find opportunity in any market, and what leadership really looks like when you're responsible for 700...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Melanie Nichols sits down with Juanita Hamilton of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) to break down everything first-time homebuyers need to know about down payment assistance in Tennessee. Juanita pulls back the curtain on how the THDA program actually works, who qualifies, and why it's not just for low-income buyers.

In this episode of The Community Table, host Sophie Raines sits down with Max Rubenstein (Maximum Service Group, Keller Williams) to break down his 10-year journey from brand-new agent to top producer in the Memphis market. Max shares what actually worked early on: Open houses, Door knocking, Calling leads, and doing the “dirty work” no one wants to do. Plus the mindset shifts that helped him push...

In this episode of The Community Table, Sophie and Peterson discuss the role of social media in growing their real-estate related businesses, especially how authenticity and consistency drive visibility and client engagement. Peterson shares his journey from healthcare and fitness into real estate, explaining how his early use of social media in fitness helped build confidence in content creation....

In this episode of Community Table, host Jason sits down with top Memphis real estate agents Ashley Tinker and Rachel Goss of Reed Realtors to discuss takeaways from the Vesta Home Show, current home design trends, and their personal journeys in real estate. They emphasize the show’s role in inspiring both potential buyers and homeowners with modern design ideas — like livable floor plans, bold co...

In this episode of The Community Table, host Andy (“the Yankee Closer”) interviews veteran real estate agents Tracie Gaia and Jason Gaia — siblings with decades of experience in the Memphis market. They discuss their backgrounds, how the current housing market compares to past cycles, and strategies for generating business heading into 2026. Key themes include market trends (prices up slightly, sa...

In this episode of the Community Table podcast, Kevin Ruby interviews Amanda Krill, CEO/EVP of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors (MAR), who shares insights on industry changes, the vital role of associations, technology like AI, and the enduring importance of relationships in real estate. https://www.communitymtg.com/

In this episode, Realtor Alton Cryer joins host Jason Woods from Community Mortgage to break down the true market pulse in the Mid-South, explaining why some homeowners are stuck in ultra-low rates while others are forced to move due to life changes. He details which Memphis neighborhoods are growing, how pricing and condition impact days on market, and why sellers must let go of 2021–22 “phantom...

In this episode, co-owners Angie Ware and Sean Blankenship of Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury join host Andy Ofee from Community Mortgage to share how they’ve led their brokerage through a 30–35% market decline while protecting culture, supporting agents, and making tough decisions with integrity. They discuss balancing high expectations with empathy, the importance of surrounding agents with commun...

In this episode, top producer Amanda Lott joins Sophie Sandlin Raines to discuss national real estate trends, the critical role of affordability and technology, and why realtors must embrace AI without fear of replacement. She shares efficiency strategies like ditching unnecessary calls for texts, the value of association engagement for reputation and smoother deals, and how setting boundaries ena...

In this episode of Community Table, top real estate producers Anna and Tracy from Crye-Leike share insights on their strategies, challenges, and the importance of relationships in real estate, offering a candid look at what drives success in the industry. communitymtg.com