Jennifer Wahlberg: How clear communication turns mortgages into milestones

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
I am Jennifer Wahlberg.

(00:01):
Um, name my business is MovementMortgage.
I just recently came on boardwith him a week ago.
Um and I serve just aboutanybody in the mortgage
industry.
So I help my agents, um, I helpout the clients and really try
to focus on being as responsiveand um informative as possible

(00:22):
with clients in all mytransactions.

SPEAKER_01 (00:25):
So amazing.
Now take me back to how you gotstarted in all of this.
Tell me how you got to where youare today.

SPEAKER_00 (00:31):
So about 25 years ago, I started in the banking
world and um finance andmortgage and everything else.
I grew my business very quicklyand um decided I needed to kind
of segment it off.
So I went into financialplanning and I was a licensed
financial advisor for a longtime.
Then I really um reallyappreciated being able to serve

(00:57):
over the scope of clients, likewhether you're just starting out
or you've matured and and youknow, you're purchasing a four
million dollar home.
So that fits so much better withmortgage because I can come
alongside people, I can helpthem with their credit, help
them with a savings plan, helpthem with all the things, and
really change things on agenerational level for a lot of

(01:18):
clients that maybe used to theirparents renting or whatever.
So it's I love what I do.

SPEAKER_01 (01:24):
Oh, so it seems like you can do kind of a wide
variety of things with them.
It's really awesome.

SPEAKER_00 (01:28):
Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (01:29):
Oh, so you said your goal is to help clients build
better futures through soundfinancial decisions.
What does that mission mean toyou personally?

SPEAKER_00 (01:40):
Again, I think it is it's a it's a biblical mission,
but it's also a very personalmission, you know, for people to
be able to um, you know, upgradehouses, get a lower interest
rate, do the things to give themthat financial freedom is just
amazing.

SPEAKER_01 (02:01):
Ian, how do you ensure every mortgage experience
feels not just efficient, buttruly memorable for your
clients?

SPEAKER_00 (02:08):
I don't think there is such a thing as communicating
too much or um asking too manyquestions or, you know, sitting
down and actually meeting withclients instead of having
everything being sotechnologically driven.
Sure.
Um, so those are things that Ireally, you know, I I show up in
my closings.
I want to make sure they'rehappy.

(02:28):
I want to make sure the processgoes smooth, especially for
people, again, like first-timehome buyers.
So I do mortgages every day, andmost people don't.

SPEAKER_01 (02:37):
So I feel like having that face-to-face
experience is truly just themost important thing when it
comes to a field like this.

SPEAKER_00 (02:44):
Yeah, it is.
Well, because you're dealingwith somebody's, you know, all
their expenses, you're lookingat bank statements, all this
stuff that's very personal.
So just to give that to somebodythat's, you know, not local or
doesn't have a sense of ourenvironment is just feels like
it would be weird for me, youknow, from a client-facing
perspective.

SPEAKER_01 (03:03):
That makes complete sense.
What values guide the way youserve clients during such an
important life milestone?

SPEAKER_00 (03:11):
So I I think having a very strong reputation, having
good integrity.
I always use the words moralcompass because that should not
sway.
You know, it should just be, youknow, you're very directed and
providing a good experience, notnot just for the clients, but
you know, real estate agents,um, transaction coordinators,

(03:35):
title companies, it's it's aprocess in keeping everybody
informed and updated throughout.

SPEAKER_01 (03:40):
So amazing.
And looking back, what's onedefining moment that reaffirmed
your passion for helping peopleachieve home ownership?

SPEAKER_00 (03:50):
Gosh, there's so many.
I think it was this young couplevery recently that didn't have
much to work with financially.
Um they were going to be havingtheir first child Sam.
And just walking them throughthe process of getting into a

(04:11):
home and doing it with, youknow, I think they spent less
than a thousand dollars foreverything.
And, you know, it we just it allcame together and made it work
for them.
But to see them signing at thetable like at their new house,
and they can show me around andexperience like that pride that
they did that, that was it wasawesome.

SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
That's beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 (04:34):
Absolutely beautiful.
Movement Mortgage is known forits love and value people
philosophy.
How do you live that out in yourday-to-day work with clients and
colleagues?

SPEAKER_00 (04:47):
I think it's a lot of being inclusive, um, you
know, inviting people into thegroups and the communities and
things that I network with andallowing them to see my space as
much as it is, you know, goingout there and and, you know,
extending myself out to people.

(05:08):
So just joining the company, theculture has been amazing.
I just can't even describe howwell supported I am and
encouraged and motivated.
It's just, it's been it, Ididn't plan it that way, but I
wouldn't change a thing so far.
So it's been great.

SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
Hey, that sounds like the way to have it.

SPEAKER_00 (05:28):
Yeah, yeah.
And it is, it's another thing.
Like it is a faith-basedcompany.
And for me, that aligns.
That that's important, you know.

SPEAKER_01 (05:37):
It's great to have those kind of core values that
kind of set off everything thatcomes after in a business like
that.

SPEAKER_00 (05:43):
Yeah.
And like when everything in yourlife aligns, you know, your your
family's happy, they're takencare of, you have hobbies and
things that you really enjoy andare passionate about too.
It's it's nice when all thethings align.

SPEAKER_01 (05:55):
And how do you foster trust and clear
communication among all partiesin a transaction?

SPEAKER_00 (06:02):
I would go back down to communication and reputation,
just being consistent, beingtimely with what we need from a
client or, you know, where weare in the process.
Because again, I do it all thetime.
You know, I don't expect that myclients would know, you know,
what the next step is or whatthe process is, even if they've

(06:24):
bought multiple homes before.
Because again, you just don't doit every day.

SPEAKER_01 (06:28):
Right.
It's kind of a once every maybea few years.

SPEAKER_00 (06:32):
Yeah, like five or seven for, you know, like when
you're getting your first home,you might stay there for three,
five, seven years.

SPEAKER_01 (06:38):
Not everybody, but and what does teamwork look like
when you partner with agents,underwriters, and financial
professionals to create aseamless experience?

SPEAKER_00 (06:49):
Teamwork is I think it's pouring into them and them
feeling like they're very wellsupported.
So if it's, you know, making acall and taking that off their
plate for them, or it's, youknow, reaching out to title for
something and being veryproactive so that they know that

(07:12):
they can lean on me if they'rehaving a really busy day.
Because normally realtors,again, like you have to think
like you're the other side,right?
They're out showing houses andsetting up listing appointments
and doing all those things.
Whereas usually I'm in my officeat my desk, unless I'm doing
something fun like this, and I'mable to, you know, send out the

(07:33):
emails or create some marketingor whatever it is for them.

SPEAKER_01 (07:36):
It's nice to definitely feel like you have
someone to lean on to help youout, especially when you're
wearing so many different hats.

SPEAKER_00 (07:43):
Yeah.
In your job.
And I love real estate, but Ihave a lot of respect for some
of these agents that are reallyout there grinding it.
It's they there's so muchknowledge and professionalism to
handle those transactions fromtheir end.
And from, I mean, mine too, butI just love the partnerships.

SPEAKER_01 (08:04):
Awesome.
And what's one piece of advicedo you give clients to help make
them feel more confident intheir financial decisions in
today's market?

SPEAKER_00 (08:15):
Buy the house.

SPEAKER_01 (08:16):
Buy the house.

SPEAKER_00 (08:17):
I think for a lot of people, you know, it's well,
what about the rates?
Are home prices going up?
Like all the differentquestions.
And I think just we have atendency to overthink things and
over process them.
You know, where do I start?
What what does it look like?
And I think knowing who you cango to locally to be that support

(08:39):
to walk you through the processis that's the best thing.
But yeah, my advice is just buythe house.
Even if it's the small house,it's not the dream house, it's
not this and that.
We all start somewhere.

SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
Just gotta pull the trigger sometimes.
Yeah.
And how do you stay proactive inkeeping clients ahead of an
ever-changing market?

SPEAKER_00 (09:02):
It is changing.
I mean, between, you know, nowwe're the shutdown and all these
other things.
You know, some governmententities aren't even open right
now to help close transactionsthat we have on the books.
So I think it's just it goesback down to the communication,
you know, being up front withthings, being proactive instead
of reactive, so that everybodythat you're working with knows

(09:24):
that you you're on top of yourgame.

SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Right.
You're gonna be there and it'sgonna get done right.

SPEAKER_00 (09:28):
We're gonna yeah, we're gonna hold your hand,
we're gonna link arms and we'regonna, you know, we're gonna get
you there.

SPEAKER_01 (09:33):
Awesome.
It's really nice to have thatreliability when I'm putting
myself in, thinking of being afirst-time home buyer and you
you have that experience withwith the company.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
Yeah.
When it should be, it should bea relationship, right?
Whether you're talking aboutwith the clients or the agents
or title or any it should beabout building relationships,
you know, and the clients feellike when they walk away from
that part of the transactionwhere they close, that the
relationship doesn't drop off.
And sometimes that's challengingbecause you know, you're working

(10:05):
on the next day and the nextthing, but to circle back around
and just check in and see howthe family's doing or something.

SPEAKER_01 (10:11):
Exactly.
How do you work how do you wantyour work to impact not just
your clients, but their familiesand financial legacies?

SPEAKER_00 (10:25):
Worked with somebody recently, and it was literally
the on both sides of thetransaction, husband and wife,
it was their first time in anyof their families that somebody
bought a house.

SPEAKER_01 (10:39):
Wow.

SPEAKER_00 (10:39):
Yeah.
And that type of transactionthat changes their life, that
changes the trajectory of theirkids' lives, that changes
everything for them.
And then they had family membersthat started looking at it as
well.
And it's like, you know, we wecan do this.
So yeah, that's an impact.
But I think also to like have animpact with our community and

(11:03):
have an impact and be able tolike support our nonprofits
around here.
That's really important too.
The better we all do, the more,the more opportunities open up.

SPEAKER_01 (11:15):
I really like that point that you made.
And looking ahead, what's yourvision for the next chapter of
your career with MovementMortgage in the communities you
serve?

SPEAKER_00 (11:27):
I feel like I'm just like scratching the surface.
But I feel like this move,because of the presence and the
brand awareness and everythingthat goes along with it, is just
gonna enable me to serve morepeople, come alongside more
agents, and just really do morefor our community in turn.

(11:47):
So that's that's what I thinkthe next chapter looks like.
It's gonna, we're gonna blow itup in a good way.
Thank you.
Yeah, I was actually, it wasit's been so busy in the past
week that I almost felt like,oh, I can't do this today.
There's too much going on.
But I'm like, what a greatopportunity to share for anybody

(12:08):
that needs encouragement orisn't sure, you know, what the
next step is for them.
Just have faith and keep movingforward.
Every day's got something good.

SPEAKER_01 (12:16):
It's very inspiring.
And as we wrap up, is thereanything you would like to add
that I haven't touched on?

SPEAKER_00 (12:25):
Just that I feel incredibly grateful for these
opportunities.
Whether it's, you know, sittinghere with you or, you know,
working with my agents, that isa privilege for us.
So I don't think to ever losesight of that, but that's that's
it's really important for me.

SPEAKER_01 (12:43):
That's wonderful.
Well, thank you so much forjoining me on the podcast today.
It was a pleasure to hear yourstory.

SPEAKER_00 (12:51):
Thank you.
I really enjoyed the time.

SPEAKER_01 (12:53):
Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (12:54):
And the job was beautiful today.

SPEAKER_01 (12:55):
So hey, that always makes it better.