In this impactful episode of Lending Forward, host Bill Hitchcock sits down with Gary Acosta, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), to explore the intersection of advocacy, entrepreneurship, and homeownership in the Latino community. Gary shares how NAHREP empowers members through things like business growth and inspired leadership, and in this episode he emphasizes why both are essential in closing the wealth gap through homeownership.

They dive into policy challenges and opportunities under the current administration, including DACA, FHA eligibility, DEI, and the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Gary also sheds light on how NAHREP is preparing the next generation of Latino professionals for transformative change in the industry.

Plus, get the inside scoop on Gary’s personal commitment to helping others build generational wealth.

If you're a lender, Realtor, or industry partner looking to support underserved communities and grow your business, this is a must-listen.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts every week from the people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

Thanks to our friends at ActiveComply for sponsoring this episode!

On this episode of Lending Forward, we’re joined by Joe Marsocci, Sr. Director of Mortgage and Capital Markets at FICO, to break down credit scoring misconceptions, explore risk modeling in lending, and uncover how mortgage professionals can better guide and empower today’s borrowers.

With decades of experience in the financial industry, Joe brings a data-backed perspective on everything from the truth about FICO score versions to the role of consumer behavior in lending decisions. We discuss the importance of educating clients early, how score migration impacts risk, and why tools like MyFICO.com are essential for preparing first-time homebuyers.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for loan officers, real estate professionals, and anyone looking to better understand the mechanics behind credit scoring and consumer risk management.

What You’ll Learn:
-Why consumer education should start before a loan application
-How behavioral trended data affects credit models
-The importance of refreshing and managing scores over time
-Why portfolio scoring and early risk detection matter more than ever
- and more!

Whether you're helping a client build credit or looking to stay ahead of the industry curve, this conversation with Joe Marsocci will elevate your approach.

And a big thank you to our friends at Informative Research for sponsoring this episode!

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts every week from the people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

In this wide-ranging discussion, Barry Habib - CEO of Highway.ai - and host Bill Hitchcock explore the complex issue of tariffs and their broader implications for the U.S. economy and the housing market. Barry explains how tariffs act as a consumption tax paid by importers, often passed on to consumers, and how they can shrink margins and slow economic activity, potentially increasing the risk of recession.

Yet, Barry offers perspective: despite media alarm, the actual impact on consumer prices may only be around 4–5%, not the full value of the tariff. He compares implementing tariffs to starting a new fitness regimen - painful at first, but potentially necessary for long-term health, in this case, economic sustainability amid ballooning deficits.

Bill and Barry also underscore the importance of mortgage professionals staying educated and focused. They point out that housing often performs well during recessions, with falling interest rates and stable or rising home values - except during the 2008 financial crisis. Barry’s national forecast? A solid 4.1% appreciation in home values this year, which, when combined with mortgage leverage, can translate into significant wealth creation for homeowners.

Lending Forward is the home for real discussions about the industry we love. Hear first-hand accounts every week from the people at the heart of the business – Mortgage Bankers, Realtors, Financial Advisors, Coaches, and more – as they cultivate transparency around the future of lending.

So tell us, how are you lending it forward?

Thank you to our friends at Highway.ai for sponsoring this episode!