On the House

If you've listened to any of our podcast episodes this far, you'll have heard a lot of information about homeownership from a variety of trusted REALTORS® and lenders. But in this episode, we're interviewing a first-time home buyer who used TSAHC's programs to buy a home. Join our host, Frank Duplechain III, and Alaina Curry, a proud new homeowner , as we discuss the process of...

If you've listened to our other podcast episodes, you'll already be familiar with our tips on how to buy your first home. But today, we're here for the homeowners who have already gone through the homebuying process and are thinking of moving on to a new home. Join us as we sit down with Jamey Hodge with Guild Mortgage to discuss the process of becoming a repeat home buyer and how t...

If you've been hunting for a home in today's highly-competitive housing market, you might already know how hard it is to find a home that's both turn-key and also within your budget. In this episode of On the House, we sit down with Andy Williams , founder and CEO of Recon Realty , a mission-driven realty company that helps veterans transition back to civilian life through real esta...

Our homes are one of the largest assets that most of us will ever have.  But if you don’t have a clear estate plan in place, your heirs could have difficulty documenting their ownership of the property.  In this episode, we interview Crystal Requejo with the Mexican American Unity Council to discuss the importance of estate planning and provide some estate planning tips for homeowners. 

When it comes to buying a home with student loan debt, many people believe that it's impossible to have your cake and eat it too. Well, we're here to let you know that, contrary to popular belief, you can! Join us as we sit down with our very own Frank Duplechain III and  Aubrey Miller with the Q&A Mortgage Team at Cardinal Financial to break down everything you need to know about ap...

With historically-low interest rates, limited housing inventory, and bidding wars galore, today's housing market is chock-full of competition. So how do you outbid your competition? In our eighteenth episode, we meet with  Gracie Perez, a loan officer with Town Square Mortgage , and Alicia Mendoza, a REALTOR® with JP & Associates  to gain some insight on the best ways to win the bid and l...

Down payment assistance programs allow many home buyers to purchase the home of their dreams. Yet despite the fact that the demand for these programs is at an all-time-high, there can still be some misconceptions about how DPA works. In honor of National Homeownership Month, we sit down with Sean Moss, Down Payment Resource’s Senior Vice President and Director of Operations , to debunk some common...

April is National Fair Housing Month, but do you know your housing rights and what's required of housing providers? Join us as Frank Duplechain III and Michael Wilt, our newest guest host, visit with Ellena E. Rodriguez, Manager of Outreach, Compliance & Resolutions with the Texas Workforce Commission's Civil Rights Division to break down what the Fair Housing Act is and the protecti...

When buying a home, it's important to consider all the costs that are involved in the process. But equally important are the taxes that come after the home buying process. This week, we sit down with James Matias , a TSAHC team member who has been a licensed REALTOR® for more than 15 years, to discuss what property taxes are, how they work, and what you can do to save money in the long run.

Is it better to buy or rent a home? The answer often depends on your goals and your particular financial circumstances! In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Johnson Rose, a real estate developer and broker for George E. Johnson Properties in Houston, to break down the pros and cons of both options.

With more Texans working from home than ever, it's no shock that home improvements are on the rise. But as with any major investment, it's important to know what to expect. In this installment of On The House, we meet Lali Shipley with Weiss Architecture and learn how to maximize the value you get out of your home improvement projects.

We've previously covered how to buy a home, but what resources are available for current homeowners that are struggling to make mortgage payments during a financial crisis? We meet with Joyce McDonald , a HUD certified housing counselor and Executive Director of FrameWorks Community Development Corporation , to discuss trustworthy assistance options, as well as how to recognize scams. Please...

Brought to you by popular demand! With mortgage rates at an all-time low, many homeowners have been wondering how to refinance their homes. Kim Lewis with Guild Mortgage Company joins our very own Joniel LeVecque to walk you through the process of refinancing your home and how to tell whether or not it's the right option for you.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, an increasing amount of lenders have moved their mortgage application process into the digital realm. Join TSAHC's very own Joniel LeVecque as we sit down with Valerie Cardenas from Texas National Bank to discuss what home buyers can expect when applying for a mortgage online.

You’re in the home stretch, but are you ready for closing? Join our host Frank Duplechain III, a recent home buyer himself, and Molly Lawson with Supreme Lending as we walk you through the closing process and make sure that your new investment is fully protected. 

Homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, property taxes, and more! This episode, we meet again with TSAHC’s Sarah Ellinor and Denise King from Cornerstone Home Lending to walk you through the process of applying for a mortgage loan (and explain all the costs you may need to consider).

We get it – buying a home is a long-term commitment. That’s exactly why you’ll want to go into the process with a lender you trust and with as much information as possible. This episode features our very own Sarah Ellinor and industry professional Denise King with Cornerstone Home Lending as we discuss how to find your perfect lender and what to expect going into the mortgage application process.

Shopping for your first home is always exciting, but there are a few things that first-time home buyers need to keep in mind while looking for their dream home. Sit down with our host, Frank Duplechain III, and REALTOR® Daniel Garza with DTM Realty Group to discuss house hunting techniques, negotiating an offer, and home inspections.

What goes into calculating a pre-approval? Do you know your DTI ratios? Join Connie Tharp with Hometrust Mortgage and TSAHC’s very own Joniel LeVecque as we discuss the process of finding a lender, discover how mortgage companies look at credit, and the home prices you should consider. 

Do you know the difference between the down payment and closing costs? What about the minimum down payment requirements for each loan type? Jordan O’Brien with Cardinal Financial Company joins TSAHC’s Joniel LeVecque to define and provide examples of closing costs, explain various down payment requirements, and share resources for home buyers that need help with their down payment. 

Your credit score is one of the biggest factors that lenders will use to qualify you for a mortgage.  Is your credit score keeping you from buying a home, or do you simply want to learn more about how your score is determined?  Stacy Lynn Schriever with Highlands Mortgage  joins TSAHC’s Joniel LeVecque to explain how credit scores are calculated and how to review your credit report and improve you...

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions most of us will ever make. Fortunately, there are nonprofit resources that can help guide you through the process.  Franky Bonilla with Supreme Lending joins TSAHC’s Sarah Ellinor to provide an overview of the home buying process and instructions on how to find a home buyer education provider.

Welcome to On the House , a podcast about homeownership and the home buying process. For our first episode, we'll introduce ourselves and answer some frequently asked questions about our down payment assistance programs.  Want to learn more about down payment assistance?  Then this is the episode for you!