More Than A Mortgage

In this episode, Gavin sits down with real estate agent Carly Anderson to discuss how authenticity has become one of the most powerful tools in building a successful real estate business. Carly shares the story of her very first clients—her own in-laws—and explains how leaning on mentorship helped her confidently navigate an important listing early in her career. From there, the conversation explo...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with professional real estate appraiser Josh Darrow to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood parts of the home-buying process—the appraisal. Josh shares his personal journey into the appraisal industry, the realities of evaluating homes in today's market, and practical insights that every homebuyer should unders...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage with Gavin Sessions, we uncover how a real estate agent built a successful business from absolute zero without a sphere of influence, without a network, and without an existing client base. Our guest shares how relocating to a new state forced him to start over completely, and how he strategically used open houses, Zillow leads, and consistent daily action t...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with a returning guest Tanner Helm to discuss the systems, routines, and mindset behind building long-term success. Tanner shares how creating structure in his daily life helped him stay focused on the activities that actually move the needle even on the days when everything doesn’t go according to plan. They discuss the importance...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with real estate professional Mack Miller to discuss the journey that shaped her career and the mission behind the way she serves clients. Mack shares how her own first home-building experience — where she entered the process without representation became the turning point that inspired her to help others navigate real estate with c...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with returning guests Matt and Lauren Clark to talk about one of the biggest transitions of their careers. After spending seven years on a successful real estate team, the Clarks made the bold decision to step away, launch Clark Real Estate, switch brokerages, and pursue a deeper vision in new construction and custom home building....

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin sits down with former Boise State football player and real estate entrepreneur Elliot Hoyte to unpack his incredible journey from a small town in England to the blue turf in Boise, Idaho. From growing up playing rugby in England to navigating the pressures of college football, injuries, identity shifts, and eventually transitioning into business and r...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with real estate agent Shaun De Yager to explore the powerful connection between coaching, faith, and serving people in today’s housing market. This conversation dives into the importance of relationships over transactions, trusting the process (even without all the answers), and how life experiences prepare you to guide others...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with Adam Pearce to uncover a refreshing and honest approach to real estate, one that prioritizes guidance over pressure. Drawing from his background in coaching and recruiting, Adam shares why the best real estate professionals don’t “sell” homes they educate, empathize, and help buyers make confident decisions. If you want clarity...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with real estate expert Jenn Hickey to break down the realities of building a successful career in real estate and why it’s far from easy. From working in retail and restaurants to becoming a leader in new construction and development, Jenn shares how foundational experiences in customer service shaped her approach to business, rela...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with Boise-based real estate agent Laura Vaillancourt to uncover the real truth about getting started in real estate and what it actually takes to succeed. Laura shares her journey from working at Disneyland to becoming a full-time real estate professional, all while raising a family. What started as a flexible side hustle quickly t...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with Jordan Mayer, founder of the nonprofit MADE4MORE, to explore one of the most important questions young people face: “Why am I here?”Jordan shares how his experience as a teacher and school leader led him to notice a troubling trend many successful students were graduating with strong grades but little clarity about their p...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with insurance agent Keefan Caron of Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance to unpack one of the most misunderstood—but critical—parts of the homebuying journey: Insurance. Keefan shares how his background in the service industry shaped his people-first approach, why insurance should never be “one-size-fits-all,” and how slowing down to educat...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with returning guest Tim Smith to break down how social media can become a consistent, relationship-driven lead source without chasing viral trends or spending hours on content creation. Tim shares how he treats social media like modern-day prospecting, why consistency beats creativity, and how building simple systems can turn reels...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with Kyle Frederickson, a property management business owner who shares his unconventional journey from Northern California to Idaho and into property management. Kyle explains why separating property management from real estate sales creates better outcomes for investors, homeowners, and tenants alike. From answering phones an...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with Andrew Johnson, an estate planning attorney and former U.S. Marine, to explore why estate planning isn’t about money—it’s about responsibility, service, and protecting the people you love. Andrew shares his deeply personal journey from military service to law school later in life, explaining how witnessing family estate failure...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with Kristie Brackett, an Enrolled Agent and experienced tax professional, to discuss why taxes play a critical role in your ability to buy a home. Kristie shares her journey from Michigan to Idaho, years of RV life traveling the country, and how those experiences shaped her heart for helping people through complicated financia...

In this unique episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions takes the hot seat as his wife, Robyn Sessions, interviews him about the journey that led from corporate success to a purpose-driven career in real estate. Gavin shares his story of growing up in a large family, working his way up from pushing carts to becoming a buyer at Costco, and later stepping into a high-level role at Micros...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Session sits down with Shelby and Dennis of Storybuilders, a faith-driven homebuilding company redefining what it means to build homes—and businesses—the right way. Shelby and Dennis share how they stepped out of successful careers, leaned into partnership, and built an entire construction ecosystem without swinging a hammer themselves. Instead,...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with Matt and Lauren Clark, a married real estate team whose journey into homeownership began early—and intentionally. Lauren shares how military discipline and long-term goal setting led her to purchase her first home at just 22 years old during a historic buying opportunity. Together, Matt and Lauren reflect on how early home...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, Gavin Sessions sits down with Boise native and real estate professional Vance Lichtenburg to explore what truly drives success in real estate—and why passion and purpose matter just as much as pricing and paperwork. Vance shares his journey from growing up in the Treasure Valley to becoming a niche expert in mid-century modern homes, explaining how deep mar...

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with Tanner Helm for a candid conversation about ambition, relationships, and what it really takes to build a meaningful career in business and real estate. Tanner shares how early life experiences taught him that relationships create opportunity, often more than formal qualifications. Tanner's journey highlights the power...

In this episode of More Than a Mortgage, Idaho real estate agent Macey McLaughlin, whose journey from California to Idaho began as a leap of faith quickly turned into a season of uncertainty when she lost her job just two months after relocating—but Macey refused to quit. She shares how her mindset of “Failure is not just an option” and her trust in God carried her through job loss, financial pres...

In this episode of More Than a Mortgage, host Gavin Sessions sits down with financial advisor Tyler to unpack a powerful story of career change, risk-taking, and discovering purpose. From teaching math and science, to working in IT, to finally stepping out on his own in financial services—with four kids—Tyler shares the journey that led him to a career where he never gets “the 2-year itch” again....

In this episode of More Than A Mortgage, real estate professional Brandon Wood shares what it really takes to move to a new state, become self-employed, and build a business from the ground up — including the financial reserves, mindset, and relationship-building required to succeed. Along the way, Gavin and Brandon break down valuable lessons for first-time homebuyers, relocators, and anyone navi...