🎙️ 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 Ginger Cartwright, a seasoned mortgage professional with 35 years in the lending industry, for a deep, honest conversation about what really happens behind the scenes of a home loan — and why communication, preparation, and trust matter more now than ever heading into 2026. Ginger’s career spans nearly every role in lending, from closer and processor to loan officer, giving her a rare, 360-degree understanding of how deals succeed… and how they fail.

💬 This episode dives into the human side of lending — the fear buyers feel, the frustration that documentation requests can cause, and why a calm, experienced lender can make the difference between confidence and panic. Jack brings 21+ years of real estate leadership and broker perspective, while Ginger shares real-world insight from decades inside underwriting guidelines, investor rules, and client-facing conversations that shape outcomes long after the closing table.

You’ll also hear a clear-eyed discussion about the market ahead: where interest rates are realistically headed (and where they’re not), why waiting for “perfect” conditions often backfires, and how buyers should think about price, payment, refinancing strategy, and long-term wealth. Ginger breaks down why rates in the 2s and 3s were an anomaly, what affordability really means in today’s environment, and why fear often shows up precisely when opportunity does.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why lending is a people business — and why trust and follow-up don’t end at closing • The critical role of the processor, and why poor communication is the fastest way to derail a transaction • How experience across closing, processing, and origination creates smoother loans with fewer surprises • Why documentation requests feel repetitive — and how great lenders explain the why, not just the what • A realistic outlook on interest rates in 2026 and why ultra-low rates are unlikely to return • The “buy now, refinance later” strategy — and why price matters more than rate over time • How fear, media noise, and economic uncertainty freeze buyers — even in favorable markets • Why paying your own mortgage builds wealth, while renting builds it for someone else • What great agents and great lenders have in common: proactive communication and expectation-setting • Why the scariest moments are often the smartest times to buy

Whether you’re a buyer navigating uncertainty, an agent working to reduce risk for your clients, or a professional preparing for the realities of the 2026 market, this episode delivers grounded advice, decades of experience, and practical insight you can actually use.

Subscribe, listen, and join Jack each week as he speaks with the professionals who truly understand real estate — unscripted, honest, and built on real-world results.