The Brutally Honest Loan Officers: The Unfiltered Mortgage Minds

Real Talk on Real Estate with Alyssa Guillermo

In this episode of The Brutally Honest Loan Officers Podcast, Stephen and Derick sit down with Alyssa Guillermo, a real estate agent with over three years of experience, to talk about what real estate really looks like behind the scenes.
Alyssa shares her journey from the hospitality industry into real estate, the financial and mental challenges of her first year, and why experience matters more than hype in this business. Together, they unpack the myths created by social media and reality TV, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable, relationship-driven real estate career.

Big Headlines, Big Ideas — Are These Affordability Fixes Actually Fixing Anything?

Are these “solutions” actually solving anything?In this episode of The Brutally Honest Loan Officers Podcast, Stephen and Derick break down the biggest headlines in housing and finance — and give their unfiltered take on what these changes mean for real buyers and homeowners.
▶️ We cover:• The $200 billion MBS buy from Fannie & Freddie• 50-year and portable mortgage proposals• Banning institutional investors from buying homes• The proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates• Jerome Powell’s DOJ investigation…and the real trade-offs behind each one.
No spin. No sales pitch. Just honest insights on what actually matters.

Our Favorite Loans of 2025 — The Stories Behind the Numbers

This isn’t a highlight reel of the biggest loans we closed. It’s the most meaningful ones.
In this episode, Derick and Stephen share four of their favorite files from 2025 — not because of the loan size, but because of the story behind the numbers.
🎧 You’ll hear:
A client denied by Rocket Mortgage… who closed in 14 days after getting a second opinion
A Realtor who used a creative bank statement strategy to buy a home and avoid a $50k tax bill
A 19-year-old first-time buyer who bought a condo cheaper than rent
A woman who turned one paid-off rental into two cash-flowing properties without touching her investments
These deals weren’t easy. But they’re the reason we do what we do.
If you’re a buyer, Realtor, or just someone who loves a good story — this one’s for you.

Take Advice From People Who’ve Actually Done It

Episode 106 — Take Advice From People Who’ve Actually Done It
In this episode, Stephen and Derick get brutally honest about something that goes way beyond mortgages:
👉 Who should you actually take advice from?
This conversation was sparked by a first-time buyer who said:“I don’t want advice from someone who’s never done this.”
And honestly? He’s right.
🎧 In this episode:
Why experience > theory when it comes to homebuying
The difference between textbook knowledge and lived knowledge
How to spot well-meaning but bad advice from family and friends
Why your lender and Realtor should have walked the path you’re on
Some tough love for first-time buyers getting pulled in the wrong direction
Bottom line:Good intentions don’t equal good advice.If you want results, take advice from people who’ve actually produced them.

What ‘Home’ Really Means at Christmas

This episode is different — and that’s intentional.
In this Brutally Honest Christmas Special, Stephen and Derick step away from rates, markets, and programs to talk about what home really means during the holidays.
They reflect on:
Why Christmas hits differently than the rest of the year
Favorite family traditions and slowing down with loved ones
What it’s like closing homes around the holidays
Lessons learned from a challenging year
Why home is more than an investment — it’s where memories live
Whether you’re a homeowner, renter, buyer, Realtor, or just someone finishing a tough year, this episode is a reminder to pause, reflect, and focus on what truly matters.
🎄 From our families to yours — Merry Christmas.

The Fed, the Forecast, and Your Mortgage in 2026

The Fed just cut rates — again — but if you’re expecting mortgage rates to drop like a rock, think again.
In this Brutally Honest episode, Stephen and Derick break down the latest Federal Reserve meeting in plain English, and explain what it really means for mortgage rates, affordability, and the housing market going into 2026.
Inside:
Why the Fed cut by 0.25% — and what drove the decision
Why mortgage rates don’t follow Fed rates directly
What to expect for the rest of 2025 (and beyond)
The real 2026 outlook — and why waiting might cost buyers more
Straightforward advice for buyers, homeowners, and agents right now
Spoiler: The direction is finally looking better. But no, we’re not going back to 3%.
🎧 Tune in for truth, not clickbait — just the way you like it.

Reacting to Your Spiciest Comments – Brutally Honest Style

We read the comments… and we’ve got thoughts.
In this episode of The Brutally Honest Loan Officers Podcast, Derick and Stephen respond to some of your hottest takes, misconceptions, and truth bombs — straight from the comments section of their videos.
They break down:
Whether banks are really cheaper than mortgage companies
A killer real-life equity story that proves why homeownership works
The brutal truth about over-renovating your home
And why Grant Cardone’s “never buy real estate” advice is complete garbage (especially since he buys ALL the real estate himself)
From misinformation to mic drops, we’re breaking it all down — and keeping it brutally honest.

Why You Can’t Take Your Mortgage With You (But Other Countries Can)

Could portable mortgages be the answer to our locked-up housing market? In this episode of The Brutally Honest Loan Officers Podcast, Derick and Stephen dive into the idea of portable mortgages — loans you can take with you when you move — and why they’re used in other countries but not in the U.S.
They break down:
What portable mortgages actually are (and how they work)
The potential benefits: mobility, affordability, inventory relief
The big challenges: secondary market resistance, investor rules, and lender risk
What would really need to change for this to happen in the U.S.
If you’ve ever asked, “Why can’t I keep my 3% mortgage when I move?” — this episode explains it all. It’s a smart, eye-opening look at how our mortgage system actually works… and what it would take to evolve it.

Gratitude > Grind: Why Thankfulness Wins in Life and Business

In this heartfelt episode, they talk about:✅ The personal moments that keep them grounded✅ What it means to lead with gratitude in a stressful industry✅ Why family, friends, and community always come first✅ The clients, partners, and listeners who make it all worth it✅ How gratitude reframes even the toughest seasons in life

The Truth About Buying a Home in Winter — Pros, Cons, and Power Moves

Spring isn’t the only time to buy — and it might not even be the smartest.
In this episode of The Brutally Honest Loan Officers, Stephen and Derick expose why fall and winter could be your best window to buy a home (and save serious money doing it).
We cover:✅ Why fewer buyers = less competition and better deals✅ The rise of motivated sellers — and how to negotiate with them✅ How slower pipelines = faster closings✅ Real seasonal savings — from appliances to moving costs✅ What to watch out for (weather, low inventory, holiday timing)✅ Pro tips for maximizing your buying power right now
If you’ve been waiting for spring, this might change your entire timeline.
🎧 Tune in to get the honest pros, cons, and off-season playbook for smart homebuyers.