In this raw, no-filter episode of Loan Officer Life, I sat down with Marine Corps veteran and mortgage advocate Sam Royer—one of the loudest and most persistent voices behind the push for the HELPER Act.
What followed wasn’t a scripted chat.
It was a gut-level conversation about purpose, policy, and the real human cost of political inaction.
Sam isn't a lobbyist.
He’s not a politician.
He’s just a guy who saw a gaping hole in our system—where those who serve our communities the most (teachers, cops, firefighters, EMTs) are often locked out of the very communities they serve due to housing affordability.
What makes Sam different?
He decided to do something about it.
Five years later, the HELPER Act (Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder) has 19 Senate co-sponsors, 72 congressional supporters, and a growing grassroots army—but still no finish line.
We talk candidly about:
- What the HELPER Act really is (spoiler: 100% FHA financing, no MI for qualifying community servants)
- Why certain housing orgs and lobbyists have gone radio silent
- The politics behind the curtain (including why some leaders asked Sam to drop teachers from the bill just to make it easier to pass)
- His personal mission to get this in front of President Trump
- Why loan officers, not just lobbyists, hold the key to finishing the job
Sam shares the emotional toll of being “that guy” in the industry—pissing people off while fighting for something that doesn’t benefit him personally.
We also dig into the VA loan debate, take a few friendly jabs at Dave Ramsey, and talk about what it really means to show up for our communities.
This episode is about more than mortgage.
It’s about advocacy.
It’s about impact.
It’s about whether we, as an industry, are willing to put our time, platforms, and political weight behind something that helps those who serve us every day.
If you’re a loan officer looking for a new way to make a difference—and a new product that could change the game in your market—this conversation is your blueprint.
Listen now to learn:
✓ What the HELPER Act does—and doesn’t do
✓ How you can get involved in your local community
✓ Why this legislation could be the next VA loan… for community servants
✓ Where politics and purpose collide—and how to stay focused
✓ Why this matters for every loan officer in America
Resources Mentioned:
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