Control what’s controllable with EmpowerHome CEO Sarah Reynolds
Today on Power House, we have a crossover episode with the RealTrending podcast. Host Tracey Velt sits down with Sarah Reynolds, CEO of EmpowerHome with Keller Williams.
Sarah and Tracey talk about how to keep real estate fun, why focusing on controllable factors fuels success more than anything else, and the strategies that EmpowerHome uses to stay ahead of trends She also talks about how agent gratitude is at the heart of her leadership and how EmpowerHome is evolving to serve over 100 families a month.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Focus on what you can control, not market conditions.
Making real estate fun again boosts individual and team morale.
Hiring with a growth mindset is key to innovation.
We’ll start to see new, emerging agents in response to market changes.
Client needs should always be the true north when driving industry policy changes.
Empower Home aims to serve 100 families a month.
Related to this episode:
Sarah Reynolds | EmpowerHome
EmpowerHome Team
Sarah Reynolds | LinkedIn
HousingWire | YouTube
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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31:09
Building an affordable future with NeighborWorks CEO Marietta Rodriguez
On today’s episode of Power House, Diego sits down with Marietta Rodriguez, President and CEO of NeighborWorks America, to talk about their mission to expand affordable housing across the nation. NeighborWorks America is a congressionally chartered nonprofit that supports a network of community organizations that develop rental and homeownership opportunities for low-income households.
Marietta shares how the organization ranks among the top 100 homebuilders across the US, talks about the dynamics of urban vs. rural housing, and why solutions like modular construction should be popularized. She also talks about building community trust to overcome NIMBY challenges and how NeighborWorks maintains bipartisan support in a politically divided landscape.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
NeighborWorks America was created to combat urban disinvestment.
The organization supports a network of nonprofits focused on housing and community development.
They provide grants, training, and technical assistance to local organizations.
NeighborWorks is a significant player in the affordable housing market.
Community trust helps overcome NIMBY challenges in housing development.
Rural housing issues require different strategies compared to urban challenges.
Related to this episode:
NeighborWorks America
How a housing nonprofit survives the age of DOGE | HousingWire
Marietta Rodriguez | LinkedIn
Marietta Rodriguez | FDIC.gov
HousingWire | YouTube
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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28:20
The secret to recruiting top talent with NAF CEO Patty Arvielo
On today’s episode of Power House, Diego sits down with Patty Arvielo, the co-founder and CEO of New American Funding to talk about what it takes to thrive in a challenging housing market.
New American Funding has grown 60% organically over the last year, has had significant market expansion over the past two years — all white maintaining a 98% profit retention rate over the past two decades. She walks through her 44-year leadership journey, from teenage data entry clerk to CEO, and how her partnership with co-CEO (and husband) Rick Arvielo drives their strategic edge.
They also dive into the importance of company authenticity over flashy sign-on bonuses, and how Patty is paving the way for more women to step confidently into leadership roles in mortgage.
Patty will be joining us on stage this year at The Gathering. Dont miss out — register here!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Anticipating market cycles will always be key to growth.
Steady, consistent organic growth beats out acquisitions.
Genuine culture, not quick incentives, will attract top talent.
Empathetic leadership matters more than you think.
End-to-end platforms should be seen as opportunities, not threats.
Women should be open to taking career risks.
Strong relationships are the foundation of strong companies.
Related to this episode:
Agenda | 2025 HousingWire: The Gathering
Registration | 2025 HousingWire: The Gathering
Patty Arvielo | New American Funding
New American Funding
HousingWire | YouTube
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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30:30
Behind the scenes of “Own the Dream” with Rocket and Mr. Cooper
On today’s episode of Power House, Diego sits down with two big names in housing: Varun Krishna, the CEO of Rocket Companies, and Jay Bray, the CEO of Mr. Cooper. They discuss combining powerful brands and redefining what it means to own a home in the U.S.
Varun shares how the “Own the Dream” campaign has been a complete marketing revolution for Rocket. He also breaks down the strategy behind acquiring both Redfin and Mr. Cooper, and how they’re building a fully integrated experience across the entire homeownership journey.
Jay dives into the shared vision that drove the Mr. Cooper deal and discusses how Rocket’s AI-driven platforms will transform mortgage servicing and broker partnerships.
Varun and Jay will be joining us on stage this year at The Gathering, alongside Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. Dont miss out — register here!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Own the Dream is a revolutionary marketing strategy for Rocket.
Mergers and acquisitions are key to achieving growth.
Homeownership is the core focus of Rocket's strategy.
AI will play a significant role in optimizing the mortgage process.
The future of servicing is about growth and integration.
Related to this episode:
Agenda | 2025 HousingWire: The Gathering
BREAKING: Rocket CEO Varun Krishna Returns to The Gathering for Keynote Fireside Chat | HousingWire
Rocket Companies to acquire Mr. Cooper in bombshell $9.4B deal | HousingWire
Rocket’s 'Apple of homeownership' flywheel is getting more complex | HousingWire
Varun Krishna shares Rocket’s plan to “become the Apple of homeownership” | HousingWire
Rocket Companies announces deal to acquire Redfin for $1.75 billion | HousingWire
Rocket Companies
Mr. Cooper
Jay Bray | LinkedIn
Varun Krishna| LinkedIn
HousingWire | YouTube
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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33:56
Answering 2,000 agent questions a day: Inside The Real Brokerage playbook
Today on Power House, we have a crossover episode with the RealTrending podcast. Host Tracey Velt talks to Tamir Poleg, CEO of The Real Brokerage.
Tamir and Tracey talk about using AI to optimize daily operations, including the automation of thousands of inquiries with an AI assistant. He also talks about how Real scales without losing its culture, the shifting dynamics between agents and clients, and why brokerages must shift to a consumer-first mindset.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Real is both a technology and a real estate company.
AI enhances operational efficiency and client service.
A strong company culture attracts like-minded agents.
Leadership will always involve taking responsibility for failures.
Automation can replace many tasks traditionally done by agents.
AI will play a significant role in decision-making for real estate transactions.
Related to this episode:
The Real Brokerage
Tamir Poleg - The Real Brokerage Inc | LinkedIn
Real Brokerage leverages agent count growth for soaring revenue | HousingWire
Best Real Estate Brokerages in United States | RealTrends Verified
HousingWire | YouTube
Enjoy the episode!
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.
Ireland