How2Buy

In this episode of How2Buy, I sat down with Ken Furuya, a financial advisor with Prudential Advisors who not only runs his own practice but also leads over 160 advisors across the Mid-Atlantic region. Ken shares his journey from working with one of DC's top realtors right out of college to building a two-decade career in financial services. We dive into what separates great practitioners from grea...

In this episode of How2Buy, I sat down with Libby Rodriguez, the lead of Luminate Bank's renovation department, to talk about something a lot of people don't fully understand: renovation and construction loans. Renovation loans let you finance construction or renovation projects before any work begins, and Libby breaks down how these loans work for different types of clients. She also walks throug...

In this episode of How2Buy, Yusuf Abugideiri CFP®, and I discussed Yusuf's journey from Virginia Tech to becoming a Co-CEO of YeskeBuie, a financial planning firm. We explored Yusuf's philosophy on financial planning as an iterative process and the importance of relationships with clients. Our conversation also covered the current affordability challenges, particularly in wealthy areas, and how to...

In this episode of How2Buy, I speak with financial advisor Atricia Roberts, about her journey from studying abroad in Costa Rica to leading wealth management in the DC metro area. She discussed her approach to holistic financial planning, emphasizing the importance of integrating mortgage decisions with broader financial strategies. Atrica highlighted the value of long-term client relationships an...

In this episode of How2Buy, I interviewed Jess Derr and Josh Beall from Corcoran McEnearney about their unconventional journeys into real estate and how they built their practice to be relationship-driven, process-focused, and deeply client-centric. This conversation dives into why predictable, written processes matter more than flashy marketing; how preparation and repetition allow teams to navig...

In this episode of How2Buy, I sat down with Matt Buchanan to talk through his journey from running an insurance business to becoming a full-service financial planner. We dug into what it really takes to earn a client’s trust, including holding high standards in who we partner with and building the kind of strategic alliances that allow us to give more complete, coordinated advice. One thing we bot...

In this episode, I talk with Alex about how financial advisors can guide clients, especially those in their 30s and 40s, through smart real estate and investment decisions. We unpack different types of investors and why having a clear process and a trusted advisor makes all the difference. Mentioned in this episode:  Alex Vela, CFP®, FBB Capital Partners, https://www.fbbcapitalpartners.com/te...

On this episode of How2Buy, I caught up with Sharmane Medaris, a top real estate agent here in Northern Virginia. Sharmane shares her career transition from hospitality into real estate, and we dig into the strategies that make her so successful with clients, from transparent processes and structured communication to proactive vetting and long-term relationship building. We also get into real esta...

“But make sure that you're doing goals and understanding that first, and then solutions, not the reverse order.” That’s the advice financial advisor Anne shared when we sat down to talk about her 20-year career helping families make smarter money decisions. From real estate and college savings to retirement and financial literacy, we explored why starting with goals makes all the difference. ...

In this episode of How2Buy, I sit down with Jack Shorb, leader of The Shorb Team, to talk about the homebuying process, market trends, and lessons from his years in real estate. During our discussion, Jack shares how his personal passions, tennis and food, connect to his approach in serving clients with energy and discipline.  Listen and hear us dig into what buyers need to know right now to...

In this episode, I interview Matt Grieb, CFP ® , a financial advisor in the DC metropolitan area, to discuss his journey and approach to advising clients. Matt shares his background, business philosophy, and the importance of delivering bespoke, objectively sound advice that creates measurable value for clients.  Tune in to hear my conversation with Matt about the power of comprehensive plann...

In this episode, Jonny and Jessica share how they navigated a complex real estate journey, managing multiple transactions while seizing an unexpected opportunity. Unlike their first experience buying a home, Jonny and Jess needed to use their home equity for a competitive offer when preparing to move from Falls Church to Charlottesville.  Listen to hear the Reeve family share how trust, teamw...

When Eric, a real estate agent himself, and his wife Genevieve decided to move from their DC row home to a larger place in Great Falls, they knew the stakes were high. Even with Eric’s experience, they leaned on a trusted team and a clear process to navigate the transition smoothly and strategically. Tune in to hear why having a proven system (and the right partners) made all the difference, and t...

Are you interested in integrating Bitcoin into your investment strategy? In this episode, I chat with Mike Casey, CFP, who shares how his practice focuses on defined outcome investing to manage risk and meet clients' financial goals with greater predictability. Mike highlights his early adoption of Bitcoin, and explains Bitcoin’s evolution and increasing institutional acceptance.  Listen and...

When COVID hit and work went remote, Sarah figured it was the perfect time to move out of the condo she rented and into her first home. Sadly, there were thousands of other buyers with the same idea. After two years of losing offer after offer (and some earnest money), Sarah decided it was time for a new strategy, which meant aligning with a new real estate agent and lender. And it worked. Learn h...

Buying your first home as a couple can be scary, especially as you are planning your wedding and seeing interest rates rise. But Monica and Ryan knew two things: that they were running out of space in their apartment and that the market would get much more competitive after their April wedding.  Hear how they reduced their overwhelm by aligning with a real estate agent who was an expert on th...

No one believes me when I say we closed a VA loan in 9 days. So on this episode of How2Buy, I talk to that notorious buyer, Rona! Learn what it took to work through the process and close quickly. Mentioned in this episode: Rona Jobe, Founder of LVL-Up Strategies: https://www.lvlupstrategies.com/   Leo Anzoleaga, SVP of Residential Lending: https://www.anzoleaga.com/   Subscribe to the sh...

With two kids off to college, it was time for Todd and his family to downsize! Home buying can be an emotional process, but Todd (a clinical psychologist by trade) took a very analytical approach.  In this episode, learn how Todd found the right agent, chose a mortgage partner who matched his speed, and used "effective forecasting" to select an offer-worthy property. Mentioned in this episode...

Are you a first-time homebuyer who's nervous about buying your first home in the DMV? In this episode, Carol talks about how she and her husband pushed through the unknowns and trusted the process. Just as she prepared for her wedding, Carol did her due diligence with research and interviewing professionals to find the best partners for this journey. The best part? Once they found the home they lo...

Wondering How2Buy your first investment property? In this episode, Leo Anzoleaga and Virginia buyer Justin discuss how real estate investing is not one-size-fits-all. Justin shares his best practices, such as aligning with professionals you trust, educating yourself, and finding a niche that interests you. Wondering How2Buy your first investment property? In this episode, Leo Anzoleaga and Virgini...