Messy In The Middle: Podcast for Realtors

The Numbers Every Realtor Needs to Know

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about the exact numbers every realtor needs to know, especially with the current state of the market. They share how you can define the market you want to track, spot trends over time, and better understand actives and pendings.
 
Jefi and Ed also discuss how to have productive conversations with buyers and share a spreadsheet tool they utilize to help them understand the market they represent.
 
QUOTES
“You run into somebody and what’s the question they always ask? “How’s the market?” You want to be able to have that really specific answer and tell them exactly what is going on in the market. It allows you to demonstrate your expertise.” - Ed Billings [03:15]
 
“It takes me five minutes. I set up a search in the multiple listing. I have my spreadsheet ready to go and I literally just transfer information from one place to the next.So when I see people I can actually have a great conversation about the numbers with them.” - Jefi Moultrie [06:10]
TIMESTAMPS
[00:48] Intro
[03:08] Choosing your zip codes
[05:12] Spotting trends over time
[07:26] Define what you’re tracking
[10:50] Pending numbers
[15:16] The spreadsheet
[20:53] Outro
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Roadmap

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share a roadmap they created for the home buying journey. They talk about how home buying has become more complex over time. It can be confusing for buyers but also an opportunity for a realtor to stand out. They discuss how you can educate your clients, define who your clients will be working with, and position yourself as a trusted advisor. 
 
Jefi and Ed also discuss tools that have helped their business grow and deepened their relationships with clients.
QUOTES
“The more I can get shoulder to shoulder with the agent on the other side, the smoother the transaction is usually gonna go. It makes it less toxic when you have a problem and you recognize you are both working together.” - Ed Billings [12:37]
 
“We need to be better at leading our team and leading our clients. Because they are looking to us as trusted advisors. We need to be better. In this market, as the cream rises to the top, the better you are the more business you will have.” - Jefi Moultrie [08:36]
TIMESTAMPS
[00:19] Intro
[01:58] The road map
[05:12] The changing realtor landscape
[08:29] Leading your team and clients
[11:06] Be open to technology
[13:30] The human element
[17:29] Outro
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Peak Review

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share their top three takeaways from Brian Buffini’s Peak Experience, a capstone event for the coaching program they both utilize. They talk about personal areas for potential improvement, how to help clients navigate inflation, and the importance of knowing their needs as a realtor.
 
Jefi and Ed also discuss how to build your agent network and deepen those relationships.
QUOTES
“I think we all know a lot of people that have a lot of resources but are spinning around and they don’t seem to be super happy because they don’t have a lot of time. Being wealthy is having time.” - Ed Billings [05:32]
 
“How we spend our day, is how we spend our life.” - Jefi Moultrie [03:36]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:19] Intro
[01:03] What Jefi and Ed learned at Peak Experience
[03:15] Jefi’s top three take-aways
[05:15] Ed’s top three take-aways
[10:14] Inflation
[15:09] End of year ideas
[17:24] Outro
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Creative Financing with Jeremy Patterson

SUMMARY
In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk with Jeremy Patterson, a lender at Fairway Mortgage in San Diego. Jeremy shares his passion for educating people about financial literacy. He talks about the benefits of having home ownership in your financial portfolio and how it can be a way to protect your family for generations.
Jeremy also discusses the current real estate market and how to help clients navigate fears amid a recession.
 
QUOTES
“Equilibrium is six months. So it is still a very healthy market. It is just not pants on fire hot. It’s hot. So it’s resetting expectations.” - Ed Billings [13:23]
 
“These things are all so intertwined. It’s beautiful because you are leveraging an amazing asset, which is your home, to do something that sets you up for your future.” - Jefi Moultrie [20:33]
 
“My job is not knowing mortgages. It is serving people and helping people make great decisions. I don’t care what the decision is. I think it is more important to give them the data.” - Jeremy Patterson [10:11]
TIMESTAMPS
[00:30] Intro
[01:00] Jeremy’s “why?”
[03:17] Buydowns
[08:09] Recession and the real estate market
[11:03] The current state of loans and the ability to qualify for them
[14:06] Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
[20:11] Financial planning
[24:25] Starting the conversation: Reverse Mortgages
[27:54] Jeremy’s market predictions
[29:37] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Get a Coach: Interview with Julie Pergola from Buffini and Company

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk with Julie Pergola, a Business Coach at Buffini & Company. They talk about the value of business coaching and the importance of generating leads and referrals. 
Julie shares solutions for three common struggles her clients encounter: systems, discipline, and growing your business. 
QUOTES
“Your business starts growing from when you started out, and if you’re not being coached through those transitions you’re gonna hit a ceiling and you’re not gonna be able to punch past it.” -Ed Billings [06:59]
 
“Calendaring for me is always a constant check in for me because I feel like I get smushed into time frames. But when you say that it creates freedom it changed my brain into thinking this gives me time to do what I want to do.” -Jefi Moultrie [14:14]
 
“Sometimes we think we can push ourselves but it is not always the best thing to do. Having that outside accountability partner, that person that will push you to the next level.. think of it in terms of sports. Everyone has a coach to push them to that next level.” -Julie Pergola [07:22]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:30] Intro
[03:09] Systems
[13:09] Disciplines
[18:25] Growing your business
[19:24] Hiring an assistant
[23:46] Keep your focus
[24:50] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
Buffini & Company
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Don’t FSBO Yourself!

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie share tools that contribute to a healthy work-life balance, so you don't FSBO yourself. 
They discuss the importance of having a list of goals and passion projects, how you can work towards them and the benefits of seeking help from a life coach.
 
QUOTES
“The big picture of what we are talking about is looking at your life and saying what are things that  are important to you that you want to work on. You start that  process by making a list of goals.” -Ed Billings [03:03]
 
“Take the time to hire somebody to help you do the fun stuff, or get better at the fun stuff. That is where I think the magic happens with balance in your life.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:41]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:30] Intro
[02:50] Make a list of your goals
[03:30] Categorizing your goals
[06:55] Give yourself a deadline
[09:27] Life balance and coaching
[13:03] Invite your clients into the things you enjoy
[14:37] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Mid Year Update

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie share how you can communicate with your clients using a mid-year update. They discuss how to prepare your clients with information that can help them navigate the current market and make confident choices, whether selling or buying a home. 
 
QUOTES
“When you track numbers over time you can see the trend line. Talk to your clients from knowledge. Remember that articles are designed to be clicked on with salacious headlines. Track numbers and pay attention to the FACTS.” - Ed Billings [16:53]
 
“The more educated you are in what is happening, the better you can lead your clients. They are hiring us to be an expert at what we do.” - Jefi Moultrie [01:51]
 
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:30] Intro
[01:40] How to give a mid year update
[04:40] The number of homes for sale is likely to grow
[10:52] Mortgage rates will likely continue to respond to inflationary pressures
[17:30] Home prices are projected to continue to climb
[20:17] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Stagflation Education

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss what stagflation is, what it means, and how you can become a trusted advisor to your clients on the topic. They share how you can educate your clients and walk them through stagflation's unpredictability.
 
QUOTES
“Work through that stagflation talk track with your clients. Talk about the fundamentals of your market. Like politics, all real estate is local.” -Ed Billings [08:37]
 
“Talk with your clients about stagflation. The more information they have that comes from you, their trusted advisor, the more calm they will be. That will have a ripple effect in your community.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:57]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:20] Intro
[01:15] What is stagflation?
[02:15] What does stagflation mean for your clients?
[04:33] What can your client do?
[08:30] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Accountability Partner

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss the value of having an accountability partner. They share how you can find a good accountability partner, hold each other accountable and establish new rhythms in your life by remaining curious. 
 
QUOTES
“I’m not an every day kinda guy. But, Jefi and I committed to talking once a week. We have been checking in once a week and it has CHANGED our businesses.” -Ed Billings [01:02]
“Set goals and then challenge each other’s goals. We often don’t believe in ourselves as much as other people do. So when you set a goal, share that with your accountability partner and let them hold you to it.” -Jefi Moultrie [03:33]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:22] Intro
[01:15] How to find a good accountability partner
[03:52] How do you stay accountable?
[04:28] Learn from your accountability partner
[06:00] Be curious!
[07:00] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
Enneagram Test
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

1A Baby!

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss a productivity hack called “1A”. They share how this hack can help you focus on emails that are important, lower your stress levels and keep you organized. 
 
QUOTES
“All I look at is the 1A.  Stuff is getting done. Things are filed correctly. It has changed things for me so much in a two week period, I cannot tell you what a difference it has made, because the stress level is down.” -Ed Billings [03:48]
“When I open my email and there is 50,000 emails, I only look in my file “1A”… it is a game changer.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:23]
 
TIMESTAMPS
[00:20] Intro
[00:53] 1A: Jefi to Complete
[02:57] Ed’s 1A hack
[05:30] Outro
 
RESOURCES
The Peak Experience
The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
 
CONTACT
Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com
Ed Billings: edbillings.com
Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com