October 15, 2025 • 29 mins
The affordable housing crisis looms large across America, but innovative solutions are emerging right here in Northeast Tennessee. Jonathan Tipton and Steve Reed, mortgage professionals at Benchmark Home Loans, have launched Land to Homes—a groundbreaking venture transforming manufactured housing into a viable pathway to homeownership for first-time buyers.
Gone are the stigmas of yesterday's mobile homes. Today's manufactured housing is built to strict HUD standards in controlled environments, resulting in sturdy, high-quality homes that often exceed local building codes. For families struggling to find traditional homes under $250,000 that don't require extensive renovation, Land to Homes offers a compelling alternative: brand-new manufactured homes with warranties on spacious lots, typically ranging from 3/4 to 1 acre.
What sets Land to Homes apart is their turnkey approach. They handle everything—finding suitable land, navigating complex permitting processes, installing the home, and delivering a complete package ready for move-in. For qualified buyers using VA or USDA loans, this can mean zero down payment options for a brand-new home.
The podcast reveals a particularly moving success story of a family of six living in a camper who, through Land to Homes' creative financing, moved into a double-wide home on their own land instead of a single-wide in a trailer park—with nearly the same monthly payment they would have paid elsewhere.
Beyond affordability, Jonathan and Steve emphasize the profound benefits of homeownership: wealth building through equity, creating safe environments for families, and the statistical advantages for children raised in owner-occupied homes. They challenge the narrative that homeownership is unattainable for younger generations, offering practical advice about financial discipline and reminding listeners that while the first home purchase is always the most challenging, it remains achievable with proper planning.
Ready to explore affordable homeownership options? Visit land2homes.us or call 423-670-0470 to discover how Land to Homes might help make your homeownership dreams a reality.
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Benchmark Happenings, Brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, JohnsonCity, Kingsport, Bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans, and now your host,Christine Reed.
(00:43):
And now your host, Christine.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Reed.
Welcome back everybody toanother episode of Benchmark
Happenings, and today we have aspecial occasion the superstar
of our show today.
I can't believe I actually gothim to come on a podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Steve did Is Jonathan Tipton and my husband Steve
Reed, so welcome back.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Awesome, we're glad to be here.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Well, I'm glad to see JT joining us here.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I know Me too.
How long has it?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
been.
It's been a while.
Yeah, it's been a while.
This is just not your thing, isit?
No, I don't mind it, but youjust got to catch me in the
right mood.
I guess Steve just caught me inthe right mood today.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, so today one of the things Steve and I have
been talking and we've sort ofbeen getting involved in the new
business adventure thatJonathan, you and Steve have put
together Land to Homes.
So really today is going to beabout affordable housing.
(01:54):
So, jonathan, do you want totell us a little bit about Land
to Homes and sort of how you gotstarted and what you all are
providing now to the community?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Sure, absolutely.
So we started out looking atthis saying you know, our
clients from the mortgage sidewere not finding affordable
housing.
So we saw the need foraffordable housing and out of
that came the manufacturedhousing.
We were looking at that kind offiguring out ways to do it.
So we've now set up adealership basically to where we
can now sell manufacturedhousing.
(02:27):
So we go out, look for land,find land and then set up
affordable housing on that andthen sell it once it's completed
or sell them, you know, beforethey're completed and have
people picking out their houseand kind of getting to be a part
of that as well.
So just really saw that needand then trying to jump in and
figure out a way to do that.
And then it helps, obviously onthe mortgage side, but then it
(02:48):
also helps us provide affordablehousing where others couldn't
find it.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, that's awesome.
So how has it gone so far?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
since you guys have started this.
Well, I think you talked aboutit being a business adventure.
Well, I think you talked aboutit being a business adventure.
We thought about it as abusiness venture, but it has
been an adventure.
We have really seen that youknow they have a really tight
budget.
I mean it's, you know, a lot ofpeople can't go over 250, 260.
(03:31):
And you know so, which makes ita challenge for us.
But we try to, you know, kindof tailor make something that
will fit their budget.
We can't always do it, but wesure, we sure try to do it.
So we just saw the need, evenmore than we expected, and I
(03:54):
think that's helped to grow the,the company and you know, and
grow us.
We've, we've learned a lotalong the way and and still
learning.
But you know our goal is to,you know, to help help our
clients get into homes, get intohomes in an affordable manner.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
And so, basically, if we look at real estate today, a
house can you even find a homein this market through real
estate for $250 or even $300?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
You can, but it's going to be something that needs
a lot of work.
It's not something that yourtypical first-time home buyer is
looking to purchase.
It's going to be somethingthat's going to require a lot
more work or a lot more, youknow, effort that they're going
to have to put in or moneythey're going to have to put in
that they don't have to put in.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I mean, there's some things out there, but it's very,
very challenging the other partof that is if they do find
something and, as he said, itneeds a lot of work, that
creates an issue with the loanend of it, because if it needs a
lot, a lot of work, then wecan't get financing until that
house meets a certain standardfor appraisal guidelines.
(05:00):
So those homes are hard topurchase without cash and most
first-time homebuyers are notpaying cash.
So they're kind of in acatch-22 because, yeah, they can
find a house for $250 or even$200, but if it won't pass
appraisal you can't lend on thatparticular house.
So that makes it tough and youkind of contrast that with being
(05:21):
able to buy a brand new productthat has a warranty and they
can jump right in.
So it just seems to be a muchbetter fit.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And manufactured housing today is so much
different than, say, 20 yearsago absolutely and and it's
really and I think, just gettingover that um, I don't know if
I'm choosing the right words butstigma of manufactured housing.
So, jonathan, can you talk alittle bit about how those homes
(05:53):
are actually made, to kind ofput you know people listening at
ease that you know these aretruly quality homes.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Absolutely so.
I mean, when we got our firstcouple in, I mean we were both
very surprised, once they gotset up, how firm they were, how
sturdy they were.
I mean you didn't feel movement.
I mean it feels like a truehouse.
I mean they're built now tostandards that are probably
stricter than most countystandards because they're
manufactured Any manufacturedhousing goes through HUD and is
inspected by them and it'sprobably a lot stricter
(06:24):
standards than what some ofthese counties actually have.
So I mean, and they're built ina controlled environment.
Weather's not an issue, it'snot.
You don't have lumber andthings that are sitting out in
the rain for days on end or anyparts of that.
So I mean, and it allows it tobe done quicker and, you know, a
little more efficient as welltoo.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So when you guys finish your product, what are
you providing for that client?
Because is it turnkey fromstart to finish?
What are some things thatdifferentiate your manufactured
homes that you're providingversus others?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Well, it is turnkey and that's a huge part of it,
because when you get a clientthat's out maybe looking to buy
a piece of land and then they'retrying to figure out how to get
a permit and there's severalpermits required and how to
navigate that process, that's areally.
I mean clients have done that.
(07:18):
It's not rocket science butmost people have nine to five
jobs and they have families andthey just don't do it every day.
So we're used to navigating thepermit process.
Be able to we look at land, wecan evaluate it.
Some is harder than others.
We have to get our grader tokind of go out and give us an
opinion.
But we navigate that wholeprocess, purchase the land and
(07:42):
get the permits, put the home onthe land and when we say
turnkey, we hand them the keysat closing and that's it.
They don't have to really doanything Now.
Some will come back.
We've got a lady now that'sadding on a porch and a back
screen porch and a garage sothey can come back and do things
later.
But as far as living in thehouse, you can get your loan up
(08:05):
to 100 percent in some cases.
If you're a veteran or USDAloan, you can zero down, turnkey
, move right in.
So that's a whole lot differentprocess than navigating
everything else and trying to,you know, segment it to buy land
, do permits and et cetera.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, and and do most people want?
Like, are you seeing peoplewanting more land with their
home in these cases, versus whatyou know?
A lot of us live in a postagestamp neighborhood where you
have lots that are extremelysmall.
You have a huge house on asmall lot, so are people
(08:43):
demanding more land with theirmanufactured homes?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I would say in most cases, yes, we do have some that
are not a lot of land, becauseyou still have some people who
don't want that as much to takecare of, but most people, it
seems like, at least want anacre.
I mean, an acre is kind of themagic number for most people and
most of our lots are aroundthat you know three quarters an
acre to an acre range.
But most people do want to haveabout an acre or so of land or
(09:09):
more.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, and they can come in here and meet with the
two of you in the process andpick out a floor plan, maybe
pick out some colors and thingslike that, right.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Pick out land, we keep an inventory of land and it
seems like the land is the key.
Once they find the land, it's alittle bit easier to pick out
the house sometimes, but theland, everybody has a location
they want to be, so there's achallenge.
And then they have, as Jonathanmentioned, they want an acre
(09:41):
and sometimes more.
That's a challenge because weget a lot of people or we get
some people that want two acresor three.
Well, that's a bigger challengebecause then you start getting
into that price point is goingto get up there a little bit.
You know, if you want over anacre, price point is going to
get up there a little bit.
You know, if you want over anacre, and I think some folks
(10:01):
look at an acre of land and say,oh, that's bigger than I
thought it was and that'sprobably enough, you know.
But there are a few that wanttwo or three acres and that
really, you know that drives upthe price for us and them and,
um, so yeah, yeah, an acre is anice place to start, but
anything less it seems like, youknow, people normally want an
(10:23):
acre to.
You know, three quarters to anacre.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah, having a little bit of that privacy, the
American dream.
So, jonathan, steve and I weretalking this morning about, you
know, a big buzz, you know, foryounger people and you're part
of that younger generation.
But we're also looking at youngadults coming out of college.
(10:46):
How can they afford a home?
And you're hearing that itseems like all the latest buzz
is everything's too expensive.
They're not going to be able toafford a home.
It just seems like there's thisnegative cloud over our younger
generation living in thiscountry.
(11:07):
And Steve and I were talking.
Like you know, everygeneration's had it hard.
We've all had difficult times.
When Steve and I got married,we were in debt.
Well, he was in debt, I wasn't.
We lived on a boat for twomonths.
I mean, you know we rented outmy house and you know you did
(11:28):
what you had to do.
You cut back, you tightenedyour belt, you did without a lot
.
So in your case, you know whatare some of the things that you
would recommend to youngerpeople of, instead of buying
into this, just this negativetalk about you know how hard
(11:49):
things are of wisdom that youcould provide for people to have
.
What are some things they couldstart doing to where they could
actually afford, you know,purchasing a home one day.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So one that I've seen a lot lately is student loans.
So my advice there is is don'tlive off your student loans,
because when you live offstudent loans you're going to
pay for that when you go to tryto buy a house.
I mean, we've seen a lot ofclients and maybe you have to
and it is what it is at thatpoint.
But I mean we've seen a lot ofclients come in who have an
exorbitant amount of studentloans, more so than what I would
(12:25):
have felt like they've spent incollege, on college, and have
financed four to six years ofthem living there, and then it's
a challenge on the back end.
So I would say watch that, Getout there.
I mean, try not to get too farinto debt in the beginning.
Watch the credit cards, Watchthose things, but the biggest
thing we see probably in thosecases is student loans.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Which is a mortgage in their self.
Some of them are more than amortgage.
Yeah, I met with a coupleyesterday and just her student
loans were $200,000 is how muchshe owed, so she's already got a
mortgage you know, and that'stough.
And he's got student loans aswell, and you?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
know you're not paying those in college so you
don't notice it, but we have tocount that payment.
So that would be one area thatI would really try to watch is
don't go like you all just said.
You got to cut back and mayhave to do different things, but
don't live off the studentloans and because that's going
to cause some issues later on.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Skip the six dollar lattes.
You know, live like no one else.
So later you live like no oneelse.
I mean it's like, how bad doyou want it?
It's achievable.
It is still achievable, right,and I know, you know politicians
like to get on TV and you knowtell you it's not achievable,
that it's gotten tougher, I'lladmit that.
(13:48):
But it is still very achievable.
I think it's going to get evenmore achievable as we see.
You know, home prices, kind oflevel out rates, get a little
bit better.
So it's still very achievable.
So don't believe everything yousee on TV.
But it's not like you can justtake a pill for a quick fix.
I mean you have to do the work,you have to skip the lattes.
(14:14):
You might want to work incollege.
You know you're going to haveto do the hard things.
So, and the other thing, justto go back to what you were
saying about living on a boatand being in debt Now, that's
true, but I'd rather live on aboat and be in debt is have a
million dollar house paid for.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So that's just the way it goes, coming from a true
boater a true boater, a lover ofboats.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And water.
Thank God, it was only twomonths, it was only what?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
How big was that boat ?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
It was about 26 feet.
It was small, it was a regalcabin cruiser.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, it was very, very small Some people have
larger fishing boats, so itwasn't big, but anyway.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
No, in all seriousness, no, I mean, the
politicians need to be talkingmore about you know how?
And encouraging people in youknow, hey, do the hard things
and instead of being like, well,you know our country's, you
know going down the tubes, let'sencourage people to work and do
the hard things and skip a fewlattes and, you know, save up a
little money for the downpayment.
The barrier to entry isdifficult, but once you own a
home and you start buildingequity, it's easier to move up.
Yes, the first one's thehardest.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Absolutely.
And I'll say this.
I just thought of this.
I mean I bought.
I graduated college in 08,bought my first house in 2010.
And we all know what marketthat was in, I mean, and I
started in the banking world ofall industries in 2009.
So I mean it's achievable, butyou've got to work at it.
I mean I worked my way throughschool.
I had no student debt and Ipaid for college as I went.
(15:49):
So I mean it was different theexperience than some, but I mean
I got on the back end and wasable to do that, so it's
possible right definitelypossible right.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I mean, I remember when I went back to school to um
to earn my degree, you know Ihad to work and I had very few
student loans, but I wasn't um,I didn't live, you know, the
college life dream of the bigparties and the spring break
(16:18):
trips.
And I think we've become anentitled society and I think
we've not done our children agood service of allowing them to
think that they should havewhat we have because we worked
hard for what we have and soeverybody has to start somewhere
(16:39):
and build up, and I think we'vegotten away from that ethic of
hard work and it's easy forpeople not to work hard if the
politicians are all saying, yeah, it's difficult, it's you know.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
hey, how about encouraging young people?
You?
know hey and letting them knowit's not going to be easy.
I mean, we go to a lot ofpolitical events and it seems
like everyone starts out with ohmy grandfather, here's what he
did and here's what.
Well, these young people likewe were talking, they don't care
what your grandfather did.
Tell me how I'm going to beable to afford a house or what I
(17:17):
need to do to buy a house.
I don't care what yourgrandfather did back in the
forties, you know.
And so they need to get morecurrent with their audience.
I know there's, you know theiraudience is older as well, but I
mean they, if they want torecruit young people to the fray
, they need to speak theirlanguage and tell them hey, you
may need to skip a trip to theCaribbean or a latte once a week
(17:39):
and save for this.
So it's just not being talkedabout enough, it's not being
encouraged.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
And even if you don't save up the down payment,
there's solutions for that.
But you've got to really watchthe debt side to be able to
qualify for those solutions.
But there are solutions for nothaving a down payment.
If you can't save a downpayment but you can pay your way
through college, I mean itcould still work.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
You just can't have both of them.
I mean, you can't have anexorbitant amount of student
loans and not pay your waythrough college, don't have any
down payment.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I loans and you know not pay your way through college
don't have any down payment.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
I mean you'd have you got to have one or the other
Right, so you got to work at it.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and do you think, I thinkat any time, jonathan, I think
you and Steve would be willingto sit and meet and talk with
any young person that you knowis like, hey, I, you know, I
kind of listened to this podcastand you know how can, what are
some things that I can do, youknow, to help me be able to?
(18:36):
You know, maybe pull it back alittle bit.
What about?
I mean, like, would youencourage people to, to get a
budget?
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I mean but you have to be coachable.
You know most people just thinkthey've got it all together.
They know it all.
They don't want to listen toany kind of coaching, and we've
all been there, but they have.
It has takes a certain amountof humility just to come in, and
we see that rarely, I guess.
And but you know, with somehumility and you come in and say
(19:06):
, hey, we know, you guys are theprofessionals, you've been
doing this for years and it'snot about us and not trying to
pump ourselves up, but we canguide people, like Jonathan says
, if they will let us.
But you know a lot of people,they'll take your advice and go
put it on a shelf somewhere andthat's the last they think about
(19:27):
it or go to the next person andstuff.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So, jonathan, from your perspective, what do you
think and like with yourgeneration?
What's really important for foryou and your generation?
As, at your age being, you'remarried.
Now you have children in school, what are some of the things
that you look out for in thefuture?
What's really important to you?
Speaker 3 (19:49):
providing a safe place for my kids, a way that
they can grow up and I won't saycontrol the environment, but
put them in a safe environmentwhere they can hopefully learn
and learn how to work hard andthrive in that.
Um, that.
I mean, that's a big thing forus.
We've been talking about.
We were talking about that lastnight actually okay with macy,
(20:09):
we were talking about somethings with that, and it's just
like creating that environmentto teach them so that whenever
they become 18, 20, or howeverold, they're able to do that and
make the right decisions andhave the knowledge to do that.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And what does that safe environment look like?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I mean it starts at the house.
I mean it starts where they'vegot a safe place to be and know
that they can be there and youknow they're safe, they're taken
care of.
And then school you know theschool that they're in.
But I mean it starts at home,at the house.
So that's an important thing asyou start having kids.
I mean I didn't think aboutthat in the beginning.
I was like, okay, whatever,I'll buy a house because there's
(20:56):
a tax credit.
I mean whatever.
I mean you know it's.
I mean literally.
I mean I bought it on the lastday of the tax credit expiring
and.
But I mean now it's totallydifferent.
It's not just that, it's moreof a place that I can raise my
kids, that they're going to besafe, that they're, you know
we're trying to create.
We're in that age where we'recreating an environment where
their friends want to come over.
You know we want their friendsto want to come over, versus our
kids want to leave the houseall the time.
(21:17):
So it's just it shifts and itis important.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
But you know statistics have shown that
homeownership is so good for youknow, keeping for families, but
keeping down crime, you knowthere's there's let the crime
rates less if you're raised in ahome that you own, versus rent,
I mean.
So there's so many good thingsabout owning the American dream.
(21:44):
I mean so many positive thingsyou could break down.
We won't do that here but maybethat's for another show.
But just like you say, a safeenvironment, I mean the
positives are endless really forhomeownership and we need more
of it.
In the US it's dropped off alittle bit and what's scary is a
(22:05):
lot of even married couples nowtheir dream's not even to own a
home, they just want to travelthe world.
Well they're not going to buildthat wealth.
While they're doing that, youknow they don't have a home
appreciating, they're payingrent.
So they're going to wake upmaybe in 20 years and be like
well gosh, where's my $300,000worth of equity?
(22:27):
I could have went, cashed outor whatever.
You're not going to have it.
So worth of equity I could havewent and cashed out or whatever
.
You're not going to have it.
So it's just.
It's a balance.
You need a little bit of abalance of both.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
So it's always a positive to be a homeowner, for
we had a lady on that's overheadfor this area and we talked
about the median income here inJohnson City was $40,000 a year
(22:57):
and also the fact thathomeownership created more
children graduate from highschool that grow up in a home.
Graduation rates are higher,graduation rates are higher, so
there are a lot of positives tothat.
So, jonathan, so what'sprobably your venture into this
land to homes?
What's one of your favoritestories of helping a family that
you can share?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
So and y'all might have talked about this one
before, but one of my favoritesis we had a family who came in.
They didn't think they'd beable to afford anything.
We put things together and sowith the loan side we can give
them a lower interest rate thanthey would otherwise get.
So basically we take any moneywe'd make and kind of give it
back to the client on the loanside.
And this client comes in.
(23:38):
Clayton was going to put theywere living in a camper.
Clayton was going to put themin a single wide in a trailer
park on I don't think it wasland that they were going to own
, but maybe it was but in atrailer park A single wide, a
single wide, four kids and twoadults in this house.
And then we sat down with themand with us being able to give
(24:01):
them a drastically lowerinterest rate than they were
getting through the competitor,we're able to put them in a
double wide.
We've now got land undercontract for them in a
neighborhood, not in a trailerpark, and they're going to have
double the square footage thatthey were going to have and
they're going to have fourbedrooms.
So I mean, that was one ofthose stories.
That was, it was reallyrewarding with about the same
(24:24):
payment.
They were.
The payment was very, veryclose to the same, almost, if
not exactly, the same, and thedifference was, you know, the
interest rate was a drasticdifference, and that's the
difference when you start doinga title loan versus a mortgage.
But I mean it, it made a bigdifference.
And then we were able to.
You know, they were so excited.
I mean I asked him one day aboutsomething.
I forget what I asked him, buthis response was I'll do
(24:46):
anything you need.
I mean, and it's like thank youfor taking care of my family.
I mean, if he said that once, Ibet he said it 10 times, and so
it's just to me.
It's just, I mean the loan side.
You don't get those stories,you don't get the rewarding side
like that.
It's a little different on theloan side because we're not.
You know, everybody wants to bein a house, they don't care
about the loan.
(25:07):
So this side has opened up alot more for me.
It's a lot more rewardingbecause we're able to help
people and you know it'senjoyable.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
So that's one of my favorites.
We're going to have one bigparty when we hand them the keys
.
That's going to be a fun day.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Absolutely.
I can't wait.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
So yeah, we've got it under contract.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
We've got their house ordered and so hopefully by
middle part of November to endof the year they should be in
the house.
We hope.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
I think that could be Land to Home's first
housewarming party.
Yes, because I will be ready tocelebrate that.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yes, we need to bring food and housewarming gifts.
Yeah, that'll be a lot of fun,yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
We don't care, I mean even about the publicity of it.
I don't even care if it getsput on Facebook or anywhere I
just want to celebrate with thefamily, with them, yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And here's a funny thing you know you've got to
make money doing things, but wewere in there meeting with them
and I stepped out to try tofigure out pricing.
So I go back there.
I had text Steve and he was, ofcourse, meeting with him still,
and so I mean he didn't answerand I made an executive decision
.
I said we're just not makinganywhere near what we'd normally
make on this house, I meanbecause we're going to get these
(26:20):
people in this house.
And about five minutes later,as I'm getting ready to head
back in, he comes in and he sayshey, I want to talk to you
about something.
I think we just need to notmake as much on this one and
make it work.
And I had already made thatdecision to do it.
But, we were both on the samepage and hadn't even talked
about it, because we just wantedto help that family, and so I
mean, things like that are justreally rewarding.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
That is, and you're doing a good work and you are
providing affordable housing topeople and it's a beautiful home
.
They're beautiful homes and sowe do have Land to Homes website
.
You're on all social media.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I know you've got, we are yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Okay, we are now yes I know Brittany.
Steve's daughter, brittany, hasmade that happen for us.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
She is a benchmark.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Brittany is posting those things and Christine and
Dawn have been sharing, so Ihave noticed it.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Yeah, yes, we are sharing.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
And so, anyway, we'll wrap it up, guys.
Anything else you would like to?
Any last words or anythingbefore we?
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Well, I would just say if someone wants help
navigating the process and wantsto see how easily you can
purchase one of these homes, tocall us or go to land2homesus
and we have a lot of our.
This don't sound right, but alot of our lot inventory, a lot
(27:53):
of our land inventory on thewebsite, some of our past
projects.
You can learn a lot about us onthe website, but you can even
learn more about us if you comein or call us and sit down and
talk to us and just see howaffordable it is and how
creative we can be to make itwork for you.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Awesome, All right guys?
Well, thank you for being onand talking about affordable
housing and land to home.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Absolutely.
I enjoyed it.
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(28:43):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(29:06):
Benchmark Happenings.
This is Benchmark Happenings, Brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, JohnsonCity, Kingsport, Bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans, and now your host,Christine Reed.
(00:43):
And now your host, Christine.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Reed.
Welcome back everybody toanother episode of Benchmark
Happenings, and today we have aspecial occasion the superstar
of our show today.
I can't believe I actually gothim to come on a podcast.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
You didn't.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Steve did Is Jonathan Tipton and my husband Steve
Reed, so welcome back.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Awesome, we're glad to be here.
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Well, I'm glad to see JT joining us here.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
I know Me too.
How long has it?
Speaker 3 (01:22):
been.
It's been a while.
Yeah, it's been a while.
This is just not your thing, isit?
No, I don't mind it, but youjust got to catch me in the
right mood.
I guess Steve just caught me inthe right mood today.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Well, so today one of the things Steve and I have
been talking and we've sort ofbeen getting involved in the new
business adventure thatJonathan, you and Steve have put
together Land to Homes.
So really today is going to beabout affordable housing.
(01:54):
So, jonathan, do you want totell us a little bit about Land
to Homes and sort of how you gotstarted and what you all are
providing now to the community?
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Sure, absolutely.
So we started out looking atthis saying you know, our
clients from the mortgage sidewere not finding affordable
housing.
So we saw the need foraffordable housing and out of
that came the manufacturedhousing.
We were looking at that kind offiguring out ways to do it.
So we've now set up adealership basically to where we
can now sell manufacturedhousing.
(02:27):
So we go out, look for land,find land and then set up
affordable housing on that andthen sell it once it's completed
or sell them, you know, beforethey're completed and have
people picking out their houseand kind of getting to be a part
of that as well.
So just really saw that needand then trying to jump in and
figure out a way to do that.
And then it helps, obviously onthe mortgage side, but then it
(02:48):
also helps us provide affordablehousing where others couldn't
find it.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, that's awesome.
So how has it gone so far?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
since you guys have started this.
Well, I think you talked aboutit being a business adventure.
Well, I think you talked aboutit being a business adventure.
We thought about it as abusiness venture, but it has
been an adventure.
We have really seen that youknow they have a really tight
budget.
I mean it's, you know, a lot ofpeople can't go over 250, 260.
(03:31):
And you know so, which makes ita challenge for us.
But we try to, you know, kindof tailor make something that
will fit their budget.
We can't always do it, but wesure, we sure try to do it.
So we just saw the need, evenmore than we expected, and I
(03:54):
think that's helped to grow the,the company and you know, and
grow us.
We've, we've learned a lotalong the way and and still
learning.
But you know our goal is to,you know, to help help our
clients get into homes, get intohomes in an affordable manner.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
And so, basically, if we look at real estate today, a
house can you even find a homein this market through real
estate for $250 or even $300?
Speaker 3 (04:21):
You can, but it's going to be something that needs
a lot of work.
It's not something that yourtypical first-time home buyer is
looking to purchase.
It's going to be somethingthat's going to require a lot
more work or a lot more, youknow, effort that they're going
to have to put in or moneythey're going to have to put in
that they don't have to put in.
Speaker 4 (04:38):
I mean, there's some things out there, but it's very,
very challenging the other partof that is if they do find
something and, as he said, itneeds a lot of work, that
creates an issue with the loanend of it, because if it needs a
lot, a lot of work, then wecan't get financing until that
house meets a certain standardfor appraisal guidelines.
(05:00):
So those homes are hard topurchase without cash and most
first-time homebuyers are notpaying cash.
So they're kind of in acatch-22 because, yeah, they can
find a house for $250 or even$200, but if it won't pass
appraisal you can't lend on thatparticular house.
So that makes it tough and youkind of contrast that with being
(05:21):
able to buy a brand new productthat has a warranty and they
can jump right in.
So it just seems to be a muchbetter fit.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And manufactured housing today is so much
different than, say, 20 yearsago absolutely and and it's
really and I think, just gettingover that um, I don't know if
I'm choosing the right words butstigma of manufactured housing.
So, jonathan, can you talk alittle bit about how those homes
(05:53):
are actually made, to kind ofput you know people listening at
ease that you know these aretruly quality homes.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
Absolutely so.
I mean, when we got our firstcouple in, I mean we were both
very surprised, once they gotset up, how firm they were, how
sturdy they were.
I mean you didn't feel movement.
I mean it feels like a truehouse.
I mean they're built now tostandards that are probably
stricter than most countystandards because they're
manufactured Any manufacturedhousing goes through HUD and is
inspected by them and it'sprobably a lot stricter
(06:24):
standards than what some ofthese counties actually have.
So I mean, and they're built ina controlled environment.
Weather's not an issue, it'snot.
You don't have lumber andthings that are sitting out in
the rain for days on end or anyparts of that.
So I mean, and it allows it tobe done quicker and, you know, a
little more efficient as welltoo.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
So when you guys finish your product, what are
you providing for that client?
Because is it turnkey fromstart to finish?
What are some things thatdifferentiate your manufactured
homes that you're providingversus others?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Well, it is turnkey and that's a huge part of it,
because when you get a clientthat's out maybe looking to buy
a piece of land and then they'retrying to figure out how to get
a permit and there's severalpermits required and how to
navigate that process, that's areally.
I mean clients have done that.
(07:18):
It's not rocket science butmost people have nine to five
jobs and they have families andthey just don't do it every day.
So we're used to navigating thepermit process.
Be able to we look at land, wecan evaluate it.
Some is harder than others.
We have to get our grader tokind of go out and give us an
opinion.
But we navigate that wholeprocess, purchase the land and
(07:42):
get the permits, put the home onthe land and when we say
turnkey, we hand them the keysat closing and that's it.
They don't have to really doanything Now.
Some will come back.
We've got a lady now that'sadding on a porch and a back
screen porch and a garage sothey can come back and do things
later.
But as far as living in thehouse, you can get your loan up
(08:05):
to 100 percent in some cases.
If you're a veteran or USDAloan, you can zero down, turnkey
, move right in.
So that's a whole lot differentprocess than navigating
everything else and trying to,you know, segment it to buy land
, do permits and et cetera.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Yeah, and and do most people want?
Like, are you seeing peoplewanting more land with their
home in these cases, versus whatyou know?
A lot of us live in a postagestamp neighborhood where you
have lots that are extremelysmall.
You have a huge house on asmall lot, so are people
(08:43):
demanding more land with theirmanufactured homes?
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I would say in most cases, yes, we do have some that
are not a lot of land, becauseyou still have some people who
don't want that as much to takecare of, but most people, it
seems like, at least want anacre.
I mean, an acre is kind of themagic number for most people and
most of our lots are aroundthat you know three quarters an
acre to an acre range.
But most people do want to haveabout an acre or so of land or
(09:09):
more.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, and they can come in here and meet with the
two of you in the process andpick out a floor plan, maybe
pick out some colors and thingslike that, right.
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Pick out land, we keep an inventory of land and it
seems like the land is the key.
Once they find the land, it's alittle bit easier to pick out
the house sometimes, but theland, everybody has a location
they want to be, so there's achallenge.
And then they have, as Jonathanmentioned, they want an acre
(09:41):
and sometimes more.
That's a challenge because weget a lot of people or we get
some people that want two acresor three.
Well, that's a bigger challengebecause then you start getting
into that price point is goingto get up there a little bit.
You know, if you want over anacre, price point is going to
get up there a little bit.
You know, if you want over anacre, and I think some folks
(10:01):
look at an acre of land and say,oh, that's bigger than I
thought it was and that'sprobably enough, you know.
But there are a few that wanttwo or three acres and that
really, you know that drives upthe price for us and them and,
um, so yeah, yeah, an acre is anice place to start, but
anything less it seems like, youknow, people normally want an
(10:23):
acre to.
You know, three quarters to anacre.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Yeah, having a little bit of that privacy, the
American dream.
So, jonathan, steve and I weretalking this morning about, you
know, a big buzz, you know, foryounger people and you're part
of that younger generation.
But we're also looking at youngadults coming out of college.
(10:46):
How can they afford a home?
And you're hearing that itseems like all the latest buzz
is everything's too expensive.
They're not going to be able toafford a home.
It just seems like there's thisnegative cloud over our younger
generation living in thiscountry.
(11:07):
And Steve and I were talking.
Like you know, everygeneration's had it hard.
We've all had difficult times.
When Steve and I got married,we were in debt.
Well, he was in debt, I wasn't.
We lived on a boat for twomonths.
I mean, you know we rented outmy house and you know you did
(11:28):
what you had to do.
You cut back, you tightenedyour belt, you did without a lot
.
So in your case, you know whatare some of the things that you
would recommend to youngerpeople of, instead of buying
into this, just this negativetalk about you know how hard
(11:49):
things are of wisdom that youcould provide for people to have
.
What are some things they couldstart doing to where they could
actually afford, you know,purchasing a home one day.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
So one that I've seen a lot lately is student loans.
So my advice there is is don'tlive off your student loans,
because when you live offstudent loans you're going to
pay for that when you go to tryto buy a house.
I mean, we've seen a lot ofclients and maybe you have to
and it is what it is at thatpoint.
But I mean we've seen a lot ofclients come in who have an
exorbitant amount of studentloans, more so than what I would
(12:25):
have felt like they've spent incollege, on college, and have
financed four to six years ofthem living there, and then it's
a challenge on the back end.
So I would say watch that, Getout there.
I mean, try not to get too farinto debt in the beginning.
Watch the credit cards, Watchthose things, but the biggest
thing we see probably in thosecases is student loans.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
Which is a mortgage in their self.
Some of them are more than amortgage.
Yeah, I met with a coupleyesterday and just her student
loans were $200,000 is how muchshe owed, so she's already got a
mortgage you know, and that'stough.
And he's got student loans aswell, and you?
Speaker 3 (13:06):
know you're not paying those in college so you
don't notice it, but we have tocount that payment.
So that would be one area thatI would really try to watch is
don't go like you all just said.
You got to cut back and mayhave to do different things, but
don't live off the studentloans and because that's going
to cause some issues later on.
Speaker 4 (13:26):
Skip the six dollar lattes.
You know, live like no one else.
So later you live like no oneelse.
I mean it's like, how bad doyou want it?
It's achievable.
It is still achievable, right,and I know, you know politicians
like to get on TV and you knowtell you it's not achievable,
that it's gotten tougher, I'lladmit that.
(13:48):
But it is still very achievable.
I think it's going to get evenmore achievable as we see.
You know, home prices, kind oflevel out rates, get a little
bit better.
So it's still very achievable.
So don't believe everything yousee on TV.
But it's not like you can justtake a pill for a quick fix.
I mean you have to do the work,you have to skip the lattes.
(14:14):
You might want to work incollege.
You know you're going to haveto do the hard things.
So, and the other thing, justto go back to what you were
saying about living on a boatand being in debt Now, that's
true, but I'd rather live on aboat and be in debt is have a
million dollar house paid for.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So that's just the way it goes, coming from a true
boater a true boater, a lover ofboats.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
And water.
Thank God, it was only twomonths, it was only what?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
How big was that boat ?
Speaker 4 (14:44):
It was about 26 feet.
It was small, it was a regalcabin cruiser.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Yeah, it was very, very small Some people have
larger fishing boats, so itwasn't big, but anyway.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
No, in all seriousness, no, I mean, the
politicians need to be talkingmore about you know how?
And encouraging people in youknow, hey, do the hard things
and instead of being like, well,you know our country's, you
know going down the tubes, let'sencourage people to work and do
the hard things and skip a fewlattes and, you know, save up a
little money for the downpayment.
The barrier to entry isdifficult, but once you own a
home and you start buildingequity, it's easier to move up.
Yes, the first one's thehardest.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Absolutely.
And I'll say this.
I just thought of this.
I mean I bought.
I graduated college in 08,bought my first house in 2010.
And we all know what marketthat was in, I mean, and I
started in the banking world ofall industries in 2009.
So I mean it's achievable, butyou've got to work at it.
I mean I worked my way throughschool.
I had no student debt and Ipaid for college as I went.
(15:49):
So I mean it was different theexperience than some, but I mean
I got on the back end and wasable to do that, so it's
possible right definitelypossible right.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I mean, I remember when I went back to school to um
to earn my degree, you know Ihad to work and I had very few
student loans, but I wasn't um,I didn't live, you know, the
college life dream of the bigparties and the spring break
(16:18):
trips.
And I think we've become anentitled society and I think
we've not done our children agood service of allowing them to
think that they should havewhat we have because we worked
hard for what we have and soeverybody has to start somewhere
(16:39):
and build up, and I think we'vegotten away from that ethic of
hard work and it's easy forpeople not to work hard if the
politicians are all saying, yeah, it's difficult, it's you know.
Speaker 4 (16:53):
hey, how about encouraging young people?
You?
know hey and letting them knowit's not going to be easy.
I mean, we go to a lot ofpolitical events and it seems
like everyone starts out with ohmy grandfather, here's what he
did and here's what.
Well, these young people likewe were talking, they don't care
what your grandfather did.
Tell me how I'm going to beable to afford a house or what I
(17:17):
need to do to buy a house.
I don't care what yourgrandfather did back in the
forties, you know.
And so they need to get morecurrent with their audience.
I know there's, you know theiraudience is older as well, but I
mean they, if they want torecruit young people to the fray
, they need to speak theirlanguage and tell them hey, you
may need to skip a trip to theCaribbean or a latte once a week
(17:39):
and save for this.
So it's just not being talkedabout enough, it's not being
encouraged.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
And even if you don't save up the down payment,
there's solutions for that.
But you've got to really watchthe debt side to be able to
qualify for those solutions.
But there are solutions for nothaving a down payment.
If you can't save a downpayment but you can pay your way
through college, I mean itcould still work.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:02):
You just can't have both of them.
I mean, you can't have anexorbitant amount of student
loans and not pay your waythrough college, don't have any
down payment.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I loans and you know not pay your way through college
don't have any down payment.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
I mean you'd have you got to have one or the other
Right, so you got to work at it.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and do you think, I thinkat any time, jonathan, I think
you and Steve would be willingto sit and meet and talk with
any young person that you knowis like, hey, I, you know, I
kind of listened to this podcastand you know how can, what are
some things that I can do, youknow, to help me be able to?
(18:36):
You know, maybe pull it back alittle bit.
What about?
I mean, like, would youencourage people to, to get a
budget?
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (18:45):
I mean but you have to be coachable.
You know most people just thinkthey've got it all together.
They know it all.
They don't want to listen toany kind of coaching, and we've
all been there, but they have.
It has takes a certain amountof humility just to come in, and
we see that rarely, I guess.
And but you know, with somehumility and you come in and say
(19:06):
, hey, we know, you guys are theprofessionals, you've been
doing this for years and it'snot about us and not trying to
pump ourselves up, but we canguide people, like Jonathan says
, if they will let us.
But you know a lot of people,they'll take your advice and go
put it on a shelf somewhere andthat's the last they think about
(19:27):
it or go to the next person andstuff.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
So, jonathan, from your perspective, what do you
think and like with yourgeneration?
What's really important for foryou and your generation?
As, at your age being, you'remarried.
Now you have children in school, what are some of the things
that you look out for in thefuture?
What's really important to you?
Speaker 3 (19:49):
providing a safe place for my kids, a way that
they can grow up and I won't saycontrol the environment, but
put them in a safe environmentwhere they can hopefully learn
and learn how to work hard andthrive in that.
Um, that.
I mean, that's a big thing forus.
We've been talking about.
We were talking about that lastnight actually okay with macy,
(20:09):
we were talking about somethings with that, and it's just
like creating that environmentto teach them so that whenever
they become 18, 20, or howeverold, they're able to do that and
make the right decisions andhave the knowledge to do that.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
And what does that safe environment look like?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
I mean it starts at the house.
I mean it starts where they'vegot a safe place to be and know
that they can be there and youknow they're safe, they're taken
care of.
And then school you know theschool that they're in.
But I mean it starts at home,at the house.
So that's an important thing asyou start having kids.
I mean I didn't think aboutthat in the beginning.
I was like, okay, whatever,I'll buy a house because there's
(20:56):
a tax credit.
I mean whatever.
I mean you know it's.
I mean literally.
I mean I bought it on the lastday of the tax credit expiring
and.
But I mean now it's totallydifferent.
It's not just that, it's moreof a place that I can raise my
kids, that they're going to besafe, that they're, you know
we're trying to create.
We're in that age where we'recreating an environment where
their friends want to come over.
You know we want their friendsto want to come over, versus our
kids want to leave the houseall the time.
(21:17):
So it's just it shifts and itis important.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
But you know statistics have shown that
homeownership is so good for youknow, keeping for families, but
keeping down crime, you knowthere's there's let the crime
rates less if you're raised in ahome that you own, versus rent,
I mean.
So there's so many good thingsabout owning the American dream.
(21:44):
I mean so many positive thingsyou could break down.
We won't do that here but maybethat's for another show.
But just like you say, a safeenvironment, I mean the
positives are endless really forhomeownership and we need more
of it.
In the US it's dropped off alittle bit and what's scary is a
(22:05):
lot of even married couples nowtheir dream's not even to own a
home, they just want to travelthe world.
Well they're not going to buildthat wealth.
While they're doing that, youknow they don't have a home
appreciating, they're payingrent.
So they're going to wake upmaybe in 20 years and be like
well gosh, where's my $300,000worth of equity?
(22:27):
I could have went, cashed outor whatever.
You're not going to have it.
So worth of equity I could havewent and cashed out or whatever
.
You're not going to have it.
So it's just.
It's a balance.
You need a little bit of abalance of both.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
So it's always a positive to be a homeowner, for
we had a lady on that's overheadfor this area and we talked
about the median income here inJohnson City was $40,000 a year
(22:57):
and also the fact thathomeownership created more
children graduate from highschool that grow up in a home.
Graduation rates are higher,graduation rates are higher, so
there are a lot of positives tothat.
So, jonathan, so what'sprobably your venture into this
land to homes?
What's one of your favoritestories of helping a family that
you can share?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
So and y'all might have talked about this one
before, but one of my favoritesis we had a family who came in.
They didn't think they'd beable to afford anything.
We put things together and sowith the loan side we can give
them a lower interest rate thanthey would otherwise get.
So basically we take any moneywe'd make and kind of give it
back to the client on the loanside.
And this client comes in.
(23:38):
Clayton was going to put theywere living in a camper.
Clayton was going to put themin a single wide in a trailer
park on I don't think it wasland that they were going to own
, but maybe it was but in atrailer park A single wide, a
single wide, four kids and twoadults in this house.
And then we sat down with themand with us being able to give
(24:01):
them a drastically lowerinterest rate than they were
getting through the competitor,we're able to put them in a
double wide.
We've now got land undercontract for them in a
neighborhood, not in a trailerpark, and they're going to have
double the square footage thatthey were going to have and
they're going to have fourbedrooms.
So I mean, that was one ofthose stories.
That was, it was reallyrewarding with about the same
(24:24):
payment.
They were.
The payment was very, veryclose to the same, almost, if
not exactly, the same, and thedifference was, you know, the
interest rate was a drasticdifference, and that's the
difference when you start doinga title loan versus a mortgage.
But I mean it, it made a bigdifference.
And then we were able to.
You know, they were so excited.
I mean I asked him one day aboutsomething.
I forget what I asked him, buthis response was I'll do
(24:46):
anything you need.
I mean, and it's like thank youfor taking care of my family.
I mean, if he said that once, Ibet he said it 10 times, and so
it's just to me.
It's just, I mean the loan side.
You don't get those stories,you don't get the rewarding side
like that.
It's a little different on theloan side because we're not.
You know, everybody wants to bein a house, they don't care
about the loan.
(25:07):
So this side has opened up alot more for me.
It's a lot more rewardingbecause we're able to help
people and you know it'senjoyable.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
So that's one of my favorites.
We're going to have one bigparty when we hand them the keys
.
That's going to be a fun day.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Absolutely.
I can't wait.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
So yeah, we've got it under contract.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
We've got their house ordered and so hopefully by
middle part of November to endof the year they should be in
the house.
We hope.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
I think that could be Land to Home's first
housewarming party.
Yes, because I will be ready tocelebrate that.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yes, we need to bring food and housewarming gifts.
Yeah, that'll be a lot of fun,yeah.
Speaker 4 (25:50):
We don't care, I mean even about the publicity of it.
I don't even care if it getsput on Facebook or anywhere I
just want to celebrate with thefamily, with them, yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
And here's a funny thing you know you've got to
make money doing things, but wewere in there meeting with them
and I stepped out to try tofigure out pricing.
So I go back there.
I had text Steve and he was, ofcourse, meeting with him still,
and so I mean he didn't answerand I made an executive decision
.
I said we're just not makinganywhere near what we'd normally
make on this house, I meanbecause we're going to get these
(26:20):
people in this house.
And about five minutes later,as I'm getting ready to head
back in, he comes in and he sayshey, I want to talk to you
about something.
I think we just need to notmake as much on this one and
make it work.
And I had already made thatdecision to do it.
But, we were both on the samepage and hadn't even talked
about it, because we just wantedto help that family, and so I
mean, things like that are justreally rewarding.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
That is, and you're doing a good work and you are
providing affordable housing topeople and it's a beautiful home
.
They're beautiful homes and sowe do have Land to Homes website
.
You're on all social media.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
I know you've got, we are yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Okay, we are now yes I know Brittany.
Steve's daughter, brittany, hasmade that happen for us.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
She is a benchmark.
Speaker 3 (27:09):
Brittany is posting those things and Christine and
Dawn have been sharing, so Ihave noticed it.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
Yeah, yes, we are sharing.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
And so, anyway, we'll wrap it up, guys.
Anything else you would like to?
Any last words or anythingbefore we?
Speaker 4 (27:30):
Well, I would just say if someone wants help
navigating the process and wantsto see how easily you can
purchase one of these homes, tocall us or go to land2homesus
and we have a lot of our.
This don't sound right, but alot of our lot inventory, a lot
(27:53):
of our land inventory on thewebsite, some of our past
projects.
You can learn a lot about us onthe website, but you can even
learn more about us if you comein or call us and sit down and
talk to us and just see howaffordable it is and how
creative we can be to make itwork for you.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Awesome, All right guys?
Well, thank you for being onand talking about affordable
housing and land to home.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
Absolutely.
I enjoyed it.
Thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (28:22):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(28:43):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(29:06):
Benchmark Happenings.
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