On the House

Welcome to On the House, a podcast focusing on homeownership and the home buying process. On the House is produced by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, a nonprofit that provides down payment grants and tax credits to home buyers. Learn more at www.tsahc.org.

Episode 35: Interested in Interest Rates?

Interest rates are playing a pivotal role in the housing market these days sparking curiosity from home buyers and sellers as to how mortgage interest rates are determined and if there is hope on the horizon for when they may come down. Tune in as we sit down with Erin Dee from LoanPeople to learn all about the role of the Federal Reserve Bank, how its actions impact interest rates, and how home buyers can be best prepared to get the best interest rate possible.

04-18
36:00

Episode 34: Looking Forward with Jed Guenther

Loan officers and REALTORS®  -- Want to take a closer look at what might be in store for the housing market and the economy in general? Join us as we sit down with Jed Guenther with Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC to discuss the state of the economy and how that might influence future housing trends. Please note that this episode was recorded in late January 2024, so economic commentary will be current to that point in time. 

03-14
44:45

Episode 33: Catching Up with Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation

This week, we're focusing on spotlighting the great work one of our nonprofit partners is doing in the Houston area. Join us as we sit down with Kathy Flanagan-Payton from Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corporation (Fifth Ward CRC) to discuss the history of Houston's historic Fifth Ward, the services that Fifth Ward CRC offers, the work they're doing as part of the Harris County Homeownership Collaborative, and more! 

02-22
26:29

Episode 32: Homeownership, Housing Counseling, and More with Avenue

As much as we LOVE talking about everything about homeownership, we know how intimidating the homebuying process can be, especially for first-time home buyers. That's why our very own Frank Duplechain sat down with Angela Guerrero and Victoria Garcia with Avenue to discuss how to combat higher interest rates, become better educated on the homebuying process, and finally break into homeownership!This podcast episode was originally recorded as part of a webinar hosted by Avenue in late October 2023. 

12-07
52:43

Episode 31: Housing Vouchers and Homeownership

Housing voucher programs are well known for their successes in helping households across the country secure affordable rental housing. But did you know that housing vouchers can be used towards a mortgage payment on a home? Join us as we sit down with Alyson Griffin, Branch Manager with Cross Country Mortgage, to discuss how housing vouchers can help families build generational wealth through homeownership.www.housingvoucher.com

11-16
27:30

Episode 30: Todo Sobre Los Programas de TSAHC (En Español)

¡Junio es el Mes de la Propiedad de Vivienda y lo celebramos trayendo a los hispanohablantes los conceptos básicos sobre la asistencia para el pago inicial y los programas de Certificado de Crédito Hipotecario! Acompáñanos mientras nos sentamos con Karla Mendoza, oficial de préstamos en First Community Mortgage, para una conversación de todo lo que necesitas saber sobre cómo ahorrar dinero al comprar una casa.June is Homeownership Month, and we’re celebrating by bringing Spanish-speakers the basics on down payment assistance and Mortgage Credit Certificate programs! Join us as we sit down with Karla Mendoza, a loan officer with First Community Mortgage, to discuss everything you need to know about saving money when buying a home.

06-08
16:39

Episode 29: An Interview with Joy Horak-Brown

This week we’re turning our On the House spotlight to supportive housing, which plays a key role in helping families and individuals achieve housing stability so they can focus on other financial goals (like homeownership) in the future. There’s no greater expert on the topic of supportive housing than Joy Horak-Brown, President and CEO of New Hope Housing in Houston.

05-18
47:52

Episode 28: Affordable Housing and Design with RODE Architects

When it comes to architecturally designing a home, many often assume that the more luxurious it is, the more expensive it becomes. But in this week's episode, our guest host Michael Wilt sits down with Eric Robinson and Kevin Deabler, co-founders of RODE Architects to debunk that myth as they discuss the intersection of design and affordability during the development process. The episode explores how these architects intentionally think about how housing developments are formed by and for their communities as well as the role they think the design community should play when it comes to offering up solutions and new approaches to address affordability challenges.

11-17
57:02

Episode 27: How to Buy a Manufactured Home

Whether you're in a highly-competitive housing market or one that's a bit more rural, non-traditional housing is a great option for home buyers who are looking to balance availability with affordability. But buying a non-traditional home can present other challenges, particularly when it comes to financing. In this episode, we sit down with Aubrey Miller with Q&A Mortgage to discuss the ins and outs of purchasing manufactured homes, tiny homes, shipping container homes, barndominiums, and more!

10-13
20:57

Episode 26: The ABCs of Shopping for a Home Loan

As kids across Texas head back to school, we thought it might be a good time for us to get some learning in too! In this episode of On The House, our very own Sarah Ellinor will be sitting down with Gracie Perez, a loan officer with Cardinal Financial, to dig through the wealth of information on how to shop for a mortgage loan. 

08-18
35:58

Episode 25: How Affordable Housing is Made

If you've been following TSAHC or our On The House podcast series, you'll likely be familiar with the fact that we are big fans of affordable housing. But have you ever wondered how affordable housing opportunities are created? Come and chat with us as our host Frank Duplechain III and David Danenfelzer, TSAHC's Senior Director of Development Finance, delve into the development side of the affordable housing industry!

07-21
27:23

Episode 24: All About the MCC Program

It's National Homeownership Month and we're celebrating by focusing on one of the best-kept money-saving secrets that first-time home buyers can find: the Mortgage Credit Certificate! In this episode, we sit down with Donnetta McGrew, TSAHC's MCC Compliance Manager, as we go over the benefits of the MCC and  how it can save home buyers money.

06-16
23:11

Episode 23: An Interview with a TSAHC Home Buyer

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 buying a home from the home buyer's perspective!

04-14
28:55

Episode 22: Selling or Renting Your Current Home

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 to decide whether to sell or rent out your current home. 

02-03
35:00

Episode 21: How to Buy a Fixer Upper

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 estate. If you're curious about the expert tips and tricks that it takes to buy a fixer upper, be sure to tune into the discussion! 

12-09
29:08

Episode 20: Protect Your Home. Have an Estate Plan

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. 

11-11
24:08

Episode 19: Buying a Home with Student Loan Debt

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 applying for a mortgage when you have student loan debt.

08-05
27:01

Episode 18: Tips for Winning the Bid in a Competitive Market

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 land the home of your dreams.

07-15
34:27

Episode 17: Busting Common DPA Myths

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 myths that home buyers hear about down payment assistance.

06-10
31:15

Episode 16: An In-depth Conversation About Fair Housing

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 protections it provides.

04-15
52:41

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