🎙️ Welcome to The Broker Podcast with Jack Stapleton, Founder, Co-Owner, and Broker of Realty Texas — one of America’s most respected independent real estate firms.

In this episode, Jack sits down with Kevin Meyerhoff of Next Level Lending for a candid and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives successful lending partnerships in today’s volatile real estate market. Kevin brings years of frontline lending experience, high file volume, and a clear understanding of how communication, accuracy, and teamwork shape the client experience. Together, Jack and Kevin unpack what agents really need to know when choosing a lender — and why the right relationship can make or break a transaction.

💬 This episode goes deep into the realities of modern lending, from rate volatility and underwriting challenges to communication breakdowns, insurance shocks, and the practical steps agents must take to protect buyers from surprise costs. Jack draws from 23 years in real estate across every major market cycle, while Kevin breaks down lending from the inside — processing, underwriting, file quality, investor rules, and why experience is measured in file count, not years.

With Jack’s background as a board president, MLS chairman, technology innovator, and broker of 400+ agents — and Kevin’s expertise navigating fast-moving loan conditions and complex borrower scenarios — this conversation gives agents a rare, behind-the-curtain view of how great lenders think, operate, and problem-solve.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why communication is the #1 trait agents should look for in a lender — and how poor communication destroys deals, trust, and client confidence.

• The truth about rate volatility in today’s market and why buyers must shop rates within 24–48 hours to get accurate comparisons.

• How insurance premiums, aging roofs, fire zones, hail claims, and geographic risk can blow up a deal — and why agents should secure insurance binders before making an offer.

• Why every loan file is a “fingerprint,” and how file count — not years in the business — builds real expertise and judgment.

• The importance of team structure, including processors, LOAs, and in-house underwriting, and how big-box banks and brokered loans create delays agents can’t control.

• How strong lender–agent relationships prevent stress, manage client expectations, and build trust during tough moments in a file.

• Why early TBD underwriting and thorough pre-approval eliminate surprises that derail buyers in escrow.

• The real dynamic between loan originators and underwriters — and how good lenders fight for the file while protecting the investor from buyback risk.

• The rise of non-insurable properties, premium hikes, and shrinking carrier availability — and what agents must do to safeguard buyers in high-risk areas.

Whether you’re a new agent learning how to evaluate lender partners or a seasoned professional refining your standards, this episode delivers practical insights that help you guide clients, avoid preventable problems, and strengthen your business with better lending relationships.

Subscribe, listen, and join Jack each week as he speaks directly with the professionals shaping today’s real estate landscape — unscripted, honest, and rooted in decades of real-world experience built to help agents, brokers, and clients succeed in any market.