Let's talk Movement Mortgage w/ Lindsey and Kelsey

For years, Movement Mortgage has been more than an ECAR Affiliate Member, they've been a true partner in supporting REALTORS® and strengthening our local real estate community. 

In this episode, we sit down with Lindsay and Kelsey from Movement Mortgage to talk about the partnership between Movement and ECAR, including their significant investment in our Leadership Development Program and many other initiatives that help our members grow and succeed.

We also dive into what sets Movement Mortgage apart in today's lending landscape, how their team supports buyers and real estate professionals throughout the transaction process, and why they've become a trusted, one-stop resource for mortgage solutions across our area.

Whether you're a REALTOR® looking for a reliable lending partner or a homebuyer navigating the mortgage process, this conversation offers valuable insights into the people, programs, and commitment that make Movement Mortgage such an important part of the ECAR family.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Welcome to Keys to the Emerald Coast, the official podcast of the Emerald Coast Association of World Tourist. Each episode we unlock market insights, advocacy updates, and member stories to help you thrive one key at a time.

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome back, eCar. Thanks for joining us for another episode of Keys to the Emerald Coast. I am Chad Nelson, Marketing and Communications Director with ECAR, joined in studio with Maria Howell.

SPEAKER_04 0:24

Hello, Chad.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

How are you? Good.

SPEAKER_04 0:25

How are you?

SPEAKER_00 0:26

I'm fantastic. I I can't complain. It's a it's a beautiful day.

SPEAKER_04 0:29

Yeah, it is beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

I got out of the office.

unknown 0:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 0:32

Because we're because you're busy.

SPEAKER_04 0:33

Because you got a board meeting tomorrow, I hear.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

We do. We've got lots on the schedule, which is good. Um, it keeps us busy. But yeah, it's nice to get out of the office every once in a while. Yes. In my little closet that is nice and compact. I moved I moved a bunch of stuff in the office that I was about to say, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 0:48

I thought you were gonna say you moved offices. I was like, what?

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Yeah, I I have a tub in the middle of my floor right now that has a bunch of my knickknacks and stuff, and everyone was worried that I was packing my bags. I was like, no, I just needed to stand up because I've been sitting too long. Yeah. Yeah. It was in the way. Well, we are also joined in studio um by some movement mortgage ladies. We've got Lindsay and Kelsey in in studio. How are you guys today?

SPEAKER_03 1:13

I'm doing good, doing good. Happy to be here. Awesome.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Well, thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_03 1:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

Yeah. Well, we've kind of ran through uh a lot of the the e-car leadership and board members, committee chairs, yeah, committee chairs, area directors, all the above. And we really wanted uh a chance to bring in some of our big affiliates and people that really make eCar tick by you know being partners with us. So we wanted to to highlight you guys and and highlight you know what you do and maybe give a little bit more um you know information to our members that either haven't used you or you know give them an opportunity just to highlight what you do. So thanks for joining us. Yeah, um happy to be here. For those that might might not know you or or have met you, kind of give us just a little bit of your backstory um personally, professionally, what got you into this world and this industry.

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Yeah. Um, so my name is Lindy, and um I actually got a degree in biology. Um, so you if you would have asked me, you know, 10 years ago what I was gonna be doing, it definitely wasn't mortgages, but here I am. Um so I actually took a position with Kelsey's mother, Cheryl Douglas, as her assistant when I graduated. And uh what started as uh this job quickly turned into my passion. Um, so I really like helping people solve problems and navigate the biggest financial decision that they make in their life.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

Nice. So for me, obviously, Cheryl being my mom kind of brought me into the business. I grew up around it. You heard Cheryl's phone ring. Didn't matter what time it was, you ran to pick it up. So kind of just got used to being in this sort of atmosphere. And I was in college and she said, Hey, want to take your MLO test? I said, Yeah. And then I just graduated college and I joined her. I've been there ever since.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

Nice. Wow. So how how long how long in I guess this?

SPEAKER_03 2:58

I've been a little over 10 years now.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

Yeah. Wow, 2019 for me.

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Wow.

unknown 3:03

Okay.

SPEAKER_04 3:04

Wow. Yeah, and I've no Cheryl's been in a long time because I know I've been in 28.

SPEAKER_03 3:08

So Well, and I grew up with Cheryl and and her older sister, Paige, and my mom used to Cheryl would be like, I would pay for all the hotel rooms when we went to soccer soccer tournaments. Yeah. And Cheryl would work while my mom drove, and she was like, All right, and that's what she did. Yeah, that's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

I don't know how 28 years, 10 years. So you guys started when you were 12, obviously.

SPEAKER_04 3:29

Well, and the thing is, this that you know, this industry is ever changing, right? And so that it doesn't get boring. So that's why I think right we stay in a long time, right?

SPEAKER_02 3:39

It's always changing, lines are changing, everything's different, different situations, scenarios.

SPEAKER_03 3:44

It's yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Well, I I guess you know, I've kind of been asking this question a little bit, but for this kind of industry, you know, it we talk about it, it is tough, it is ever changing. What's something early on in your career that was really a defining moment for you that ri that helped you understand like this is what I'm supposed to be doing? You talked about, you know, I was a biology major, got into this, and then really found your passion. What what was something that was that aha moment for you?

SPEAKER_03 4:12

Um, so when I first started, to be honest, I was wrapping presents for Cheryl as an assistant. And then, you know, little by little every week I would I would learn more and more and to the point where I was just studying the guidelines, you know, and then I started talking to the customer up front all the way until closing. Like I pretty much was doing the whole process. And um, so a lot of people come with low credit. Um, so one of the situations that I've run into and I still continue to run into is people that come to me that have no credit, very low credit. Um, they have they just really didn't think they were going to be able to buy a house. And I mean, some of these people I've worked with for two years, you know, working on their credit. We talk, you know, once a month, and you know, even it might have been a $75,000 house, but the impact that it made on those people really just like it changes things. Yeah. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 5:02

Yeah, I started in the same type of thing. Um, once you still know you can pass a test and think you're an MLO, but you have to learn all the guidelines, all the loan programs. So I started out the same thing as Cheryl's assistant, and I would sit in her office every day and just listen to her on the phone, how she talked to customers, how she answered questions, and eventually it was me talking to customers and kind of how Lindsay was saying, it's just you work so hard to get these people into their homes, and it's just a great feeling to be able to help them and how happy they are to be able to get into them. Because there is some hard situations we've run into, you know. We've had to, you know, save loans and help people get into them. It's just really nice to be able to get to the finish line and get someone into the dream home.

SPEAKER_04 5:40

Yeah, definitely. It's very rewarding, you know, to to help that, to help them. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:45

And being able to actually see the impact that you're making rather than, you know, not being able to talk to people or like we're talking to people all day. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:53

I used to hate being on the phone because I was so scared to talk to people. Now it's like you could give me a call and text me. Come on, what's up?

SPEAKER_04 6:01

Yeah, and just to see them, you know, just be able to help them create the generational wealth and yeah, just uh, you know, put somebody in a home with the roof over their head, they're safe.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

And you see pictures on Facebook afterwards in the new home or the upgrades they're doing. I love seeing that. I always try to add whoever I can on Facebook to kind of follow the line of what's going on now. Yeah, that is that is awesome.

SPEAKER_04 6:24

So, um, so let's talk about your journey with eCar. So, how um how long have you all been affiliates with us and sponsoring? And I know this year you're sponsoring our leadership development program, which is very, very huge. So, thank you very much for that.

SPEAKER_03 6:41

So, yeah. Um, I'm pretty sure we have been sponsoring since I've been doing this. Yeah, I know since I've been in since 2019, we've been a part of the car. Yeah. And then I started off, I was in the uh YPN, the young professionals group. Yeah. I think Kelsey kind of just that.

SPEAKER_04 6:58

Yes, that's always a group.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

Yeah. But we we love it. Um, you know, I feel like the relationships are they go beyond um because the organizations are very focused on serving people and strengthening our local real estate community. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 7:12

It feels like we're part of the community more being able to go to these events and help where we can and also meet new people where you can recommend to buyers, hey, if you need this person, I have a great contact for you.

SPEAKER_04 7:24

Yeah, yeah, definitely. So what um, so besides leadership, what else are you sponsoring? Um are you all doing the RE bar camp? Do education classes? We've done the bar camp, I think the last three years.

SPEAKER_02 7:36

Yeah, we did the bacon table focused on the room.

SPEAKER_03 7:38

Oh, bacon table, that is like the most famous yeah. Soldiers on the water. She does that one. So we're we're in quite a few. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 7:47

So is this the first time that you all have sat, have, you know, kind of attended the the LDP classes, as we call it. So um, so is it for both of you the first time?

SPEAKER_02 7:57

I've been to one of them. Um, and it actually is helping with this because they gave a speech about public speaking. Oh, I'm kind of taking corners from that right now. So, and I also went on the trip to I think it was um Tallahassee. Yeah, you went to Guard. Yeah, that was neat seeing all the capitals and sitting in the Senate rooms and everything.

SPEAKER_03 8:14

Good. How about you? Same thing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I love it. I mean, we've I've been to, I think all besides a couple. I had a baby in February. So out of it for a couple. He just started daycare this week. Um but uh I've been to a bunch of them in all of the trainings, and you know, they do personality types and this and that. And so it it really helps just getting to know your customers better and how to, you know, handle them, how to communicate with them better. Um, so I mean I've learned quite a bit.

SPEAKER_04 8:44

Yeah. Now do they have you involved in like the group project or anything um with the program?

SPEAKER_03 8:49

We've been listening to it. Um, I I don't think I'm supposed to say what they're doing yet, but we'll keep that a secret. We won't say anything, but we're kind of can be a pretty good part of that for what I think they're planning on doing. Yeah. Yeah, definitely.

SPEAKER_00 9:05

So why is it so important for mortgage professionals and realtors to stay connected through organizations like e-car and through these events that we're talking about?

SPEAKER_03 9:14

So I feel like real estate works best when we're all collaborating. A successful transaction requires communication and teamwork between agents, lenders, title companies, insurance professionals, and everyone involved. So organizations like e-car create opportunities for us to stay informed, share ideas, build relationships, and ultimately serve our clients better. When we're connected as professionals, our clients benefit.

unknown 9:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Yeah, I think we we talk all the time about the not only realtor to realtor, realtor to mortgage, to I mean, there's if one person doesn't respond, it's like everybody's just waiting around and you know, things can get missed.

SPEAKER_04 9:48

And and we we actually talk about that in new member orientation too. Like we we tell the new members coming in, you know, like, hey, you need to build your team, and that team is your lenders, your title companies, your home inspectors. Like get to know, you know, our affiliates and and build your team.

SPEAKER_02 10:07

It also just kind of builds trust too. So the more you know the person, the more you know their business and how they work, and you know, stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:15

I mean, we I I I think again, it does it doesn't happen without you. It does the the transaction doesn't happen. Um, and it it is, it's about I I think, you know, as our clients, you know, buying, selling side or commercial, residential, it doesn't matter that they're looking for that person that they've either built a relationship with, they know, they trust. Um, and not to say that they can't go out somewhere else, but it's it's a matter of if you're gonna do the job and you do it well and we enjoy the the camaraderie and that that interaction with each other, that's it's meaningful. Um it's one of the biggest, biggest purchases or selling that they're ever going to do in their life, and they want it to go as smooth as possible. So yeah, why not do that with the team that you've built and have connections with?

SPEAKER_04 11:01

And if it's not smooth, that they're there. Because I mean, how many times have you heard the stories of you know, this lender just ghosted us or we didn't hear from them and then we're scrambling, having to find someone, another lender to help us, right? Like you want to be there whether it's good news, bad news, there's a problem, you know. Okay, what can we do? You know, to solve it.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

Amount of text we'll get on a weekend, hey, my lender's not answering. You know, can I have this estimate? Can you send me a free approval letter? And we're always there because we we always want to help. I don't I can't tell what someone what they ask, hey, what's your work schedule? Because I work when I'm needed. You know, I work on weekends, I work weeknights. If there's a slow day at the office, I'll say, Hey, I'll leave early, you know, I've been I'll be ready for tonight when someone needs me.

SPEAKER_00 11:44

I I guess on on that note, I mean, when you think of you know our membership and the realtor community, what do you guys hope that they see in movement mortgage um you know that that might be beyond the the lender or sponsor um that really connects with them?

SPEAKER_02 12:02

So I hope they see us as a true partner. We want to be a resource, whether that's helping solve a fine uh financing challenge, educating buyers and supporting agents or getting back to the community. At movement we're actually known as an impact lender. Um so a lot of our proceeds and profits goes back into community through schools, nonprofits, outreach programs. That's something I'm incredibly proud to be a part of.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

I think we're always looking for those opportunities to give back. It's not about necessarily putting money in our pocket 24-7. Yes, we need to make a living and pay the bills and put food on the table, but what are those opportunities that we can make an impact in our community and be a part of something special? So I love it.

SPEAKER_02 12:45

Lindsay actually organized a pickleball tournament, was that two years ago?

SPEAKER_03 12:50

We raised about what nine thousand, eight thousand something dollars? Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 12:54

That's cool. My dad hit you up for an art pack event idea next year. That's pretty good around, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:02

So one thing I've been looking to get into pickleball. You need to.

SPEAKER_04 13:05

I know, I haven't played there. I love it.

SPEAKER_00 13:07

Out there all the time? Yes. Love it. So indoor, outdoor, does it matter?

SPEAKER_03 13:13

Outdoor, there's only one indoor court, hopefully, right now. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:17

Okay. It's good to know.

SPEAKER_04 13:18

Yeah, we have courts near my place in Niceville that I can walk to. I just need to learn how to play and go do it. Yeah. All right. Maybe we have a pickleball um instruction workshop for play. I can do it. She can teach us.

SPEAKER_03 13:33

I'd love to come at the time.

SPEAKER_00 13:36

Teach an e car class on a pickleball.

SPEAKER_03 13:38

Absolutely. That sounds like a great time. Yeah, I'm going to go.

SPEAKER_00 13:41

Yeah, it's good. Well, uh, Kelsey, you you kind of spoke to it a little bit, but um, what does you know the mortgage life look like right now? What are conversations that you guys are having most often with buyers, agents, homeowners, all that?

SPEAKER_02 13:55

So a lot of the conversations are around credits, Lindsay had mentioned. It's, you know, hey, here's your score where it's at now, here it's where it needs to be to have that better rate. Because everyone was asking about rates. What are rates doing? Are they ever gonna go back to the 2.99 COVID times, you know, which I wish it would, I promise. That was it helped our buyers with that monthly payment. But it's just you never know what rates are really gonna do. They've been changing, you know, daily at this point. And you know, all I can tell them is that you know, rates will eventually go down, we hope, you know. I can't say for sure, but there's always is the choice of refinancing down the future if you do want to get that payment and that rate down, if you really want that house. And another conversation I've been having is you know, this is more of a buyer's market. I see a lot of sellers paying, you know, closing costs than I did back in COVID times because there's not as much competition right now because the rates are higher.

SPEAKER_03 14:47

And then just to add into that, like we're trying to educate people that they're it's not just about the rate, it's more about their overall goals, budget, and long-term plans. Okay. So stop focusing so much on the rates. Yeah, if you love that house, if you want that house, you know, gotta get into it.

SPEAKER_00 15:03

I guess what are some of the the biggest, you know, market factors that are you know currently affecting these transactions?

SPEAKER_03 15:11

Um, so I would say affordability, insurance cost, obviously interest rates and inventory. Buyers are often trying to balance all four at the same time. So rates get most of the headlines, but monthly payment is really what buyers feel. So insurance premium taxes, HOA fees, and home prices all play a role in what a buyer can comfortably afford.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

Because we can tell a buyer, hey, you go to 350, but every single house varies based on taxes and insurance. Sometimes taxes can be very high, just depending on insurance if it's in a flood zone. You know, so it's important for us to get all the numbers correct and make sure their payment is as accurate as possible so that they know all the information they have going in to make an offer on that house.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

What advice would you give to, you know, our our members that really want their this whole process or this transaction to go as smooth as possible? How can they help um really in that transaction piece?

SPEAKER_03 16:03

Um, so I would say my advice is to focus on education and facts rather than predictions. None of us can perfectly predict where the rates will go or the home prices. Um so helping buyers understand their options for today, encouraging them to talk with the lender early, review different loan programs that are available, and understand what payment they're comfortable with. Uh the buyers who feel the most confident are usually the ones who are the most informed.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:27

I just add to that, it's just you really want to make sure that your buyers have the best team possible. You want to make sure that they know all the facts on the program because every program is so different. You want to make sure, hey, this program has this rate. Hey, this program has a second piggyback that has a rate with an extra payment on it. So just they have all the facts so that they know what they're getting into.

SPEAKER_04 16:46

So what type of loans do you offer? So everything. Everything's divine. Yeah, we offer everything. Bank statement loans, like everything.

SPEAKER_03 16:54

No income loan incomes, um, kind of investment ones, CSCR loan of VA, FHA, USDA, second mortgage, yeah, all of them. Down payment assistance, yeah, all of them.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

Wow, that's great. And you say, I mean, each one has you know their own pieces. I I gotta as a lifelong learner myself, like how long does it take to learn all of the ins and outs of all of these different types of loans?

SPEAKER_03 17:21

I mean, I'm still learning and I'm 10 years in.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

Yeah, it's I said it's a job I love because you really can't master it. You're constantly looking up guidelines, you're looking up everything and different programs and new programs come out, like Homotown Heroes every now and then pops back up and then runs out of funds. So you have to come back to the phone. And then changes.

SPEAKER_03 17:36

It was anybody that lived primarily in Florida and had a job full time and then they changed it back this year where it's only, you know, teachers, medical.

SPEAKER_02 17:44

So they it's not even like the guidelines for the same program that came out a year ago. You have to make sure, hey, I just did this loan a year ago, but now this is so different. I have to go back and read up on it and make sure what changed.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

Keeps us guessing.

SPEAKER_03 17:57

So if you're not, if you're really not fully invested in this job, you know, a lot of people I know do things part-time, but you can't be good at it or the best at it, or provide what you need to um be able to give to a buyer because you're not fully invested. You're not keeping up with all the guideline changes and watching the rates every 30 minutes to see what they do to you know lock somebody in. So I mean, it it definitely takes a lot of time.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

Oh, that's well said. I I I think that's important for our you know, our members to hear that being a realtor is yes, you can do it part-time, but it's not necessarily a part-time job. It's uh it's investing not only in yourself, so that way you can be the best version for yourself and for your clients, but yeah, that I mean there's it's an ever-changing world. And if you're not in that world all the time, you you might not be as successful. Yeah. So it's that's wise advice, I think.

SPEAKER_01 18:51

Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

Well, uh, you know, we talked about how how incredible you guys have been as you know, partners with eCar. What are you guys looking forward to in the future, the next the next year uh in terms of that partnership, different ways that you can get connected, different ways that you know continue to make that that partnership mutually beneficial?

SPEAKER_03 19:12

So I would say that I'm excited about continuing to build relationships uh to be able to provide value. So whether that's through education, community involvement, market updates, or simply being available as a resource, I want e-car members to know that they have a partner they can call. The real estate industry, like we were just talking about, is always evolving, but strong relationships never go out of style. So just looking forward to continuing to grow along e-car and helping our local community thrive.

SPEAKER_00 19:36

I love it.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

Yeah. We get to have them around for uh longer.

SPEAKER_00 19:39

Yeah. Continue to go to some of these, you know. We we talked about going to Tallahassee and going to some of those. So no, it's fantastic.

SPEAKER_04 19:47

Are y'all going to uh the August convention with us?

SPEAKER_02 19:51

I think so. Um right now. Um, the only reason I wouldn't go is because I go scalloping annually. Oh that's fine.

SPEAKER_04 20:03

Yeah, I think it starts August 19th.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

See, opening day is the 16th.

SPEAKER_04 20:07

Oh.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

I don't think so. The next week for our company trip though.

SPEAKER_03 20:12

Oh, I know I'm going twice.

SPEAKER_04 20:15

Oh, that sounds fun. I love it. Yeah, that's at Port St. Joe, right? Do you go over that area? Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 20:20

Our company rented out Black's Island for this region. Oh, yeah, I think I've seen that before. Yeah, so I've always driven by it. It always looked like dessert, deserted. I know it does. I guess they like revamp the whole thing.

SPEAKER_04 20:32

So you haven't been out there in a while. That sounds fun. And you got to eat at that what at Indian Raw Pass? Oh, is it Indian Pass?

SPEAKER_02 20:41

We we the first night we do the fresh scallops that we do the next night go to India Pass.

SPEAKER_04 20:45

Indian Pass. They got the raw oysters, baked oysters. Like it's just, yeah, it's really great.

SPEAKER_00 20:52

Awesome. Well, is there anything I'm missing? Anything that uh you know our membership needs to hear, anything you guys want to highlight about uh about your company?

SPEAKER_02 21:01

So at the end of the day, our goal is simple be a trusted resource, communicate well, and help people make confidence confident decisions. Whether it's a first-time home buyer, a seasoned homeowner, or a realtor partner, I want people to know they have the lender for life.

SPEAKER_00 21:16

Love it. Love it. Yeah, yeah. Can't say it better myself.

unknown 21:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:20

Well, awesome. Well, thank you guys so much for joining us.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

Yeah, thanks for having us. This was fun.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

Uh obviously, thanks so much for for the the incredible partnership that you provide for our members and to be that trusted source. So you know, we can't again, we can't do they can't do what they do without you guys.

SPEAKER_04 21:37

So yeah, we appreciate your support.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

It's incredible.

SPEAKER_04 21:40

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 21:41

Awesome. Well, thanks so much. Thanks, thanks everybody for joining us. Uh, thanks for listening in. Always uh the this this podcast is for you. Um we want to hear from you, so please reach out. You can find me at the office, as always, chat at ecarecor.com. Um, you can call the office and just ask for chat if there's something you want to hear about. There's somebody that you feel like we should bring into you know the the JVC studios. Um can be Scott Mallory. With with good old Scott Mallory, um, our our you know favorite DJ as always. But um yeah, reach out. We we want to hear from you. Um this podcast is for you, so so um please let us know what you want to hear. And until next time, we'll talk to you soon.

SPEAKER_04 22:24

Goodbye.