Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host, Frankdebankkodo,
the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here in Tampa
Bay for twenty three years, joined by his incredible co host,
Senia Akishana, realtor with Mahara Associates.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Together they have helped finance and close nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Listen right here or.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Fight us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel, or
follow us on Instagram at Frankdebankkodo. Now sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Here's Frank the Bank and Senia. Good morning. Welcome Tampa
Bay to the Business Happy Hour, your number one show
for all things business and entrepreneurial. I am your host,
Frank the Bankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group at
eight one to three, mortgage dot com and forget we
do reverse mortgages as well. If you guys are over
sixty two and you have equity in your home, A
(01:05):
reverse mortgage could really help you out. And no, you
don't lose your home ever. Don't forget that. Go to
reverse guru dot com. So I'm in studio as usual
with my amazing co host Senya Akeshina from Mahara and Associates.
How you doing, Zin, Good.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Morning, Frank. I'm great. Yeah, yes, yes, I'm great to
be here. I know you're always great.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, I am always great most of the time, at
least today. I have a really busy day. So we
are starting a little late on Instagram. We do apologies
for our Instagram followers, but for you guys listening to
us on nine to seventy, we're right on time on
the radio every Sunday morning. Don't forget. You can catch
us not just on our normal time on WFLA on
nine to seventy, but we are also on two other
(01:47):
channels now. You can catch us on twelve fifty whn Z,
another AM channel, and you can also catch us on
FM one oh five point nine. That's right, one oh
five point nine FM. You can hear the business Happy
Are every Saturday morning. So you've got Saturday and Sunday
and if you miss them all, you can find us
on iHeartMedia as a podcast. You have iHeartRadio. I always
(02:09):
say media, it's iHeartRadio as a podcast. You just have
to google the Business Happy Hour podcast and we will
pop right up. Senya, did you know that we have
hundreds of shows on there?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I did, Yes, scrolling that scrolling, Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It's crazy. You know, I don't know why they're not
paying us billions of dollars at this point for all
the shows that we put out there. That's right, that's right.
You hear that money sound over there. So again, Senny Akisha,
my wonderful co host. Senya does real estate. I do
the mortgages. So if your first time listening. Every week,
in the first segment, we like to talk about real
estate statistics because I don't know about you, but a
(02:46):
lot of things are happening in the market right now,
and there's a lot of talk about stocks the market,
what's happening with our government. I think you guys want
to know how does that affect you and how's it
going to affect the real estate market. Every week, Senny
of Rings Statistics and by the way, Mahara and Associates
amazing company. We have not talked about Mahara's stats in
(03:07):
a long time. Do I'm putting you on the spot?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Do you have any of you are putting me on
the spot? You know what?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I do have them somewhere. I'd have to start my
Remarkable tablet. We have our meetings.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Free shameless blug to the Remarkable tablets. By the way,
if you're still using paper, you are so nineteen ninety two.
You got to get with it on the Remarkable tablets.
They're basically liquid paper and saves all your meetings. And no,
we don't get paid for this, but if you want
to pay us Remarkable, we'll gladly take your money. But yeah,
so we're gonna try to maybe we can do a
little stats that put her on the spot. But I
know Sennya always had some great things. And Maharran Associates
(03:41):
been in Tampa, a staple in Tampa for god, how
long is he over twenty years now?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
He has been so maharaan Associates officially, I think twenty
twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Okay, so what about thirteen years?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, but he's been an agent for yeah, for for
a while, for.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
A long time. And you guys have over one hundred
agents on the team. We do.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
We have great agents, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Amazing agents. By the way, Sania, they know how to
reach Frank Theebank contact frankdbank dot com reverse guru. How
about how do they reach you and they have real
estate questions.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I'd love it if they would call me at eight
one three seven five five reel. Or you can go
to Tampa real Estate dot pro.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I like the website and you know, search for properties.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I was there the other day.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I thought you were you.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yes, you actually had. It's pretty neat that you can
get on there and search stuff and see the listings
and see howses.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It's Tampa Properties.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Tampa real Estate dot pro, Tampa pritty.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
That's so easy. Tampa real Estate dot Pro. By the way,
we have a great guest in studio. Would you like
to introduce Susan We do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, Susan Jacobs is finally here with us. We've been
trying to connect. But she's a very busy lady. She
runs a wonderful organization in the Tampa area. You cover Hillsboro,
Pasco panelas correct. Okay, but yeah, she's been doing this
for over twenty years, and I'll let her get into,
you know, all that nitty gritty, give us a background,
(05:01):
because I am curious.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
You know, I don't even know where you're from. Yeah,
but I'm happy to finally meet you.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I've been hearing about you from our neighbor and good friend,
Galen and Courtney and my husband actually went to one
of her events and they donated, and he was like, oh, man,
you have to meet Susan and this is something that
we're gonna, you know, also partner with. And I was thinking,
I'll talk to you. I'm going to talk to Ray
because I think it's a truly wonderful program that you know,
(05:26):
I'm sure brings so many benefits to you know, people
that need.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Cars, yeah, people who would like to help find success
through having wheels. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
And I'll let you know, Susan talk about all the
things that they do, because it's more than just you know,
I thought, oh, just donate cars, but there's a lot
more to it than that. And I think it's a
wonderful organization that you've created.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yes, say, I thought Oprah was going to be here
when I got it. I walked in and I was thinking, man,
and Oprah's gonna be Here's gonna be a car for everybody.
But it's even better than that. It's better than just
going to a TV show and getting a car. This
is gonna be really exciting. It's called Wheels of Success.
When we get to the second segment, like Sennya said,
we'll interview Susan find out where she's from and how
you got into this amazing thing that you're doing helping
(06:07):
people who have jobs find transportation. So it's an awesome story.
So stay tuned, Susan. But by the way, you are
a guest host, So anything Sinny and I are talking
about in the show, chime in. And hey, even if
you don't agree with us, you can test, okay, because
you've been on radio a lot, you know. It's all
about keeping them entertained. It's not always about agreeing with us.
(06:28):
And we're pretty agreeable people though, I think over.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Here, oh, we try to be yes, yes, yes, but
we have Speaking of stats.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I guess do you want me to go through that
room quick? Your time?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
So for our Maharan Associates numbers during our last meeting,
we were a little over one hundred and fifteen million
and closed and pending volume.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Ooh, and this would be like what the first quarter? Yeah, yeah, exactly, Hey,
one hundred and fifteen million. You know, there's a lot
of real estate companies in the whole year. They don't
at one hundred and fifteen million, probably the majority of them.
So we're talking first quarter. How many units? Do you know?
How many units you guys have done? I'm so putting
you on the side.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Let's see, Well, you're putting me on the spot. So
I know that we currently have one hundred and sixteen
active listings.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Wow, So would you say that it's gonna Remember you
guys are in a big real estate company. Would you
say that there is more inventory? Now? Would you say
that there's more?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yes, and more coming, more coming, more coming?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Do you know that? Is that because people are calling
and they're talking, people are calling.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I mean we've got yeah, listing appointments lined up, So
just for April alone, I think, yeah, we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
How does that affect I'm interviewing you now, how does
that affect the real estate market? So when we talk inventory,
for those who are not in our business, that means
what I.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Mean, you know, it's all supply and demand. And you
know when prices went up so much, it's because the
supply was just historic lows, right, So it's that we
are getting the inventory and it's more options for buyers.
For sellers, it's more competition, so you know, they have
to be more flexible on price, you know, be willing
to negotiate. But I think it's great for buyers. I
(08:13):
think if you've been sitting on the fence, start looking, right,
let's start buying.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I mean, do you still feel the same way I
do that right now, the buyers kind of have this
little golden opportunity that the sellers are still wanting to
work with them. So it's probably better to get off
the fence right now.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Well that and beat out the competition, right. Do you
know things change very quickly, Yes, you know so if
I mean even now, I mean you felt an uptick
and you know, mortgage applications and beat the competition, yes,
you know. You don't want to feel that pressure where
you're in a multiple offer situation and I would say,
let's start looking.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, And the multiple offer situation a lot of times
comes from the fact that there's low supply, so you
have a bunch of buyers trying to buy the same property.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I mean sure, but I mean even if you've got
this you know, wonderful listing that's you know, moving ready,
a great location, you know, it's not out of the
norm that there's going to be other people that want it.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, a little competition. So there's that's our advice for
you guys today. Now I'm gonna let Sennya go into
the real stats that she saved up for us today
because I totally put her on the spot asking about
Mohar and as Zosias. But I will say that is
that is a huge number, one hundred and fifteen million dollars.
So what that tells you is, no, they're not too
busy because there's one hundred of them, and Senny is
actually available for you directly to talk to you about
(09:25):
these listings and about being a buyer and whatnot. But
we do believe this is the time. So that's why
we wanted to talk about the a little bit about
the real estate market. Now we're going to talk about
what's happening with sales year over year, right, and well
we are. Do you have anything to chime in on this?
Speaker 5 (09:40):
How are the interest rates?
Speaker 3 (09:43):
That's a Frank question there.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
He likes to plot his Google machine and then actually
give the link and lending.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I'll do that. I'll do that really quick because that
that is that's a So Susan's like the consumer in
the room right now, and so the first thing comes
to her mind is, well, what you're telling us to
buy a house? But what does that mean? Like what
are the rates? So here's what I I love doing, Susan.
So I'm a wholesale broker, right, which means I get
the rates at the same level of Bank of America
and Wells Fargo do in corporate, but I choose whether
we mark them up or not for the consumers. So
(10:09):
in general we're lower and I'll illustrate that to you
real quick. So we always google it. We go to
the Google machine because that's what all the consumers do, right,
That's how they find everything. And I'm going to say,
what is the thirty year fixed rate today? And we're
going to see what does the Google machine say on
this little AI thing. It says, as of April eight,
twenty twenty five, the average thirty year fixed mortgage rate
(10:30):
is around six point six y nine percent. So what's
interesting about that? Is the actual wholesale rates right now
are more like five point eight seventy five. They are
almost a point lower. But the consumers don't know it
because this is what they live by. They google what
the interest rate is and if Google says it, it's
nothing more than a retail rate. So I encourage all
(10:52):
the consumers, whether you work with my company, Lincoln Lending
or not, a wholesale broker is always going to give
you more options than a bank or retail operation, so
that they are still offering rates at the banks clearly
around six point six six point seven percent, you should
be in the low sixes or high fives on a
conventional mortgage right now. VA. We just locked a VA
(11:15):
yesterday five point five percent five point five percent with
very little cost to the veteran. So the best advice
is do your homework and shop right now. Just like
you're gonna talk to Senia and you're going to shop
for the home, you should shop for the mortgage rate. Don't.
This is what we can talk about in the next segment.
(11:35):
But you know, Susan, would you agree banks are not
the way they used to be? Right?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
No, absolutely not. And part of it also is there's
so many other options, right, it used to be that
where was your pretty much only option?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
That's right, usud walk into the bank and you knew
Jim the banker, and you shook his hand, and Jim
gave you a mortgage or a car loan, and then
you moved on. On that note, we're going to move
on and take a break here in the Business Happy How.
We're gonna be right back with Susan Jacobs and Wheels
of Success. But first the real estate stats. Stay tuned
all the.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Best mortgage or real estate advice from Tampa Bay's top experts.
It's the Business Happy Hour with Frank Debangkoto and Senia.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Hey Tampa Bay, Welcome back to the Business Happy Are
your number one show for all business and entrepreneurial. Well,
we were just talking off air with Susan Jacobs here,
the founder of Wheels of Success, and we were talking.
You know, interest rates used to be a lot higher,
didn't they, Susan.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Yes, I mean back back when when I bought one
of my homes, the interest rate was it's sixteen percent.
Sixteen can you imagine now? People like and when it
went down to ten, I thought I was in heaven, right, Okay, So.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Would you say that people are a little bit spoiled
these days?
Speaker 5 (12:47):
I think so because they don't know the historical of
where the rates were. And so for me, like I
ever read now of three percent, Oh my gosh, that's
like why would I move?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Let me tell you, in your whole life, have you
ever seen interest rates that low?
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Right now?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Right? So, people are spoiled. And the sad thing is
a lot of people are looking at that like that's
the norm, and that's that's what happened.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Everybody thought that was the norm. Yeah, and so when
it went up, I mean, this is still relatively low
compared to.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
And I bought my first house, I had six percent.
I thought it was great.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah, that's actually about what I had on my first house.
I think I was like six and a quarter. So
I got in the industry in two thousand, and when
I got in two thousand, it was kind of the
first REFI boom because they you're talking about my place
was in two thousand. Men. Now, okay, so and you
probably got a rate in the sixes, is what I'm
going to guess something like that back in two thousand. Yeah,
(13:41):
the time that they were in the teens. Was what
in the late eighties, early nineties, maybe something like that, late.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Late eighties, mid eighties to late eighties.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Okay, so to late eighties, you know, and and you know,
obviously they came down that REFI boom was around too,
late nineties to early two thousands when they dropped from
you know, nine eight down into the sixes, and that
made people go crazy. But I love what you said
because you know, you bought houses in the eighties. You know,
there's not a lot of people who can say that
(14:09):
right now, and you understand the difference. But you still
bought a house. That's what's don't you find that so interesting?
You still bought a house.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Right because that was your option. You know, you might
have options. So people are sitting on the fence. Then
your money is less well maybe the rate's going to change,
but now your money has less value, so you have
to start thinking about that. You know, what's going to
happen with your money itself? And what about all the
costs if it's a house that needs work, right, all
(14:39):
of those costs are going to go up now, especially
with all the tariffs exactly, So you might be looking
at a house at this rate but you have to
do a bunch of repair and it's going to cost
you twenty five to fifty percent more to do that repair.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Right right?
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Why? I think, as everybody needs a roof over their heads,
you're paying you know, somebody else for it, or you're
paying your own mortgage.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Right. Oh, let's oh, let's hold on. Let's be a
little more blunt with what Senia just said. She was
being too nice. Everybody is paying a mortgage. The question
is are you paying your mortgage or there many like that? Yes, right,
you were being very nicer and you said, you're like, well,
everybody has a house payment. No, guys, you're paying someone
else's mortgage. All right, So why are you doing that?
(15:27):
If you're renting an apartment, you're paying some big company
who built that apartment is making millions of dollars. What
are you doing? Get up. If Susan bought a house
and found it economically viable to pay fifteen sixteen percent,
I'm pretty sure you can figure out how to afford
six percent. Right, And here's Susan, what do you think
(15:48):
about this? One of my favorite sayings, marry the house,
date the rate. That's what we tell people. It's like, right,
get in. It means get in now, because bryces aren't
exactly going down. We're not gonna have a foreclosure crisis.
You can always refinance. You're just dating that rate. When
a prettier rate comes along, well you just divorce that
other one and you find that pretty one and run off. No,
(16:08):
I'm not talking about actual life, but that's what you
can do, guys. You can always refinance. So our advice,
Sinny and I is get in now.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Speaking of saying, get in now and start building equity,
Like even if the appreciation isn't, you know, crazy high,
you know, my advice would be, this is not a
flippers market right now. No, you know, don't anticipate.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Hey, you're going to buy a house, fix it up, make.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
A bunch of money, you know, buy a home that
you love, marry that house, you know, and plan to
live there for a little while, and you're going to
gain equity and it's a safe investment.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah, you know, I'm like the stock market right now.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We can Okay, so we'll talk about stocks just for
a minute, but then we're going into real estate.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I'm not much of a stock talker. I just you know,
I'm a real estate.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
So I'll just give this advice. I've been investing in
stock since I was eighteen years old. I've been a
little busy in the last couple of days, so I
didn't do what I should have on it and done
and got in and buy a bunch of things. But
I will tell you what the rich will tell you
is the rich get richer when prices go down, right right,
So there's a down economies make more millionaires than up
(17:08):
economies because what do they do they invest when things
are low? You buy low and you sell high. So
don't be scared of the market. Right now it is
time to buy right And if you have stocks, you
don't need to sell them all.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
We should not ready for retirement, right right, right right,
That's where the scary piece is.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
That is scary. So there is definitely a segment of
our population right now that could be on the fence
of retiring. And yeah, it's scary because the things go down,
but listen, I promise you they're coming back. The entire
market is cyclical. It is going to affect you. I
heard somebody this morning on the radio, actually on this channel, saying, oh,
you know, you could sell while things are low and
you know they'll come back, but it's like, why would
you do that? Just hold it. You don't need to
(17:50):
take the loss and rebuy. So anyway, my advice, what
are some of the bigger stocks. Here's your advice. Look
for the bigger names that you know are not going
out of business. Look for the ones who have declined
the most over the last week. Buy those, and when
things turn around, whether it's a month or a year
or whatever, you're gonna have some profit. My advice, buy
some Tesla right now. Tesla's not a cheap stock. But
(18:10):
everybody's hating on Tesla. No matter what you believe politically,
they're hating on Tesla, and it went down with all
the other stuff. I don't think Tesla's going away. I
think it's gonna be the GM of our time. I
think that that it's gonna be there. And they're also
coming out with these robots. I don't know if you
guys have seen. That might be a little scary, but
they're gonna be branded under Tesla. So it's going to
be the first humanoid robot that people can purchase for
(18:32):
their home use to do chores around their home. Yeah,
like laying tile folding laundry. You know, who knows that
they're going to like cook for my kids? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Those futuristic movies are like coming to reolity.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They look just like the ones from I Robot, the
ones of Will Smith. Have you all seen that movie?
It good movie, scary as hell, right, So hopefully elon,
you're not trying to take over the world over here.
But I will say I would recommend that. And there's
another stock you could look into if you want to
be real safe. It's qq Q, right. It follows the
NASTAC Top Companies seven to ten top companies. I believe
in the Nastack. It follows it one. So it's kind
(19:08):
of a way to spread your your risk. If you
don't understand stocks that much, you can buy these funds
that follow groups of stocks.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That sounds like something maybe I could.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's too it's safe, you know. You know, even when
you look at the chart from when the financial crash
of two thousand and eight to twenty ten was look
at the chart. The chart goes like this, Yeah, it
takes a dip, but guess what it does. It keeps
going up. Right, So historically you have all these crazy
things that happen, it's going to continue to go, especially
if you're on younger soide, I'll take Susan's the device.
Be careful. If you're retiring, okay, talk to your financial planner.
(19:40):
But if you're you know, young little bucks over here,
put your money in the market. Send you go invest
stocks today.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
All right, sounds good.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So stats actually we have to take okay, segment now.
As soon as we get back, we'll stats and then
we're going into wheels of success with Susan Jacobs. Stay
tuned here on the Business Happier and don't forget check
it out.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
On Iheartlogo to the Business Happy Hour radio show with
your host, Frank Debank Coodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending
Group right here in Tampa Bay for twenty three years,
joined by his incredible co host, Senia Akishna, realtor with
Mahara and Associates.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Together, they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade listen right here,
or fight.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Or follow us on Instagram at Frank Thebankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Here's Frank de Bank and Senia. Hey, Tampa Bay, welcome
back to the Business Happy Are your number one show
for all things business and entrepreneurial. We are not going
to deviate and squirrel like we just did in the
first half. I'm glad we did talk about stocks though,
because that is on everybody's mind right now. We are
going to move into real estate stats and then we're
gonna be talking about wheels of success with Susan Jacob.
(21:05):
So first, Senya, what do we got?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Okay, Well, I'm gonna stay on topic here and usually
I jump around, but I'm just gonna go down the line.
And this is for our Panela's Pasco Hillsborough, Hernando County.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
We call the MSA.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Locally closed sales year every year. For February we were
down four point nine percent closed sales units. We had
twenty eight hundred and seventy seven units sold. The median
sales price down one point two percent, which gets us
to just under four hundred thousand. The average sales price
(21:40):
was actually up two point four percent, and the average
sales price is five hundred and twelve.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Seven eighty three was five thirteen.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
And I know we always I always use the median
number because it's more you know, representative of the market. Right,
you know what the average sales price being, you know,
so much higher. It's because you know, the higher priced
homes that get out verged in, right.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So that the median shows you kind of year over
year actual price compared to right midline.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
You know, it's more relative because yeah, those numbers obviously
are very different, but still average sales price for our
areas five hundred and thirteen thousand. Median time to contract
is up ten percent. Median time to contract in days
we're at about forty four days, which in Hillsboro it's
a little bit less, but you can expect when you
list your home, you know, before you get a contract.
(22:29):
That's what that number represents. The month's supply. We're up
thirty five point seven percent year every year, but the
month supply is still three point eight.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
We wanted to get closer to six, right.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
I mean even five, five, even five, But I mean
the fact that it's we're still under for you know,
that still speaks something that means that we do need
that inventory that we're getting.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Right, which is troublesome because when when if the rates
drop and more people come into the market supply and demand,
and that's where we could see prices go up. But
I'm going to tell you what this layman guy over
here heard. I heard one point two and one point
something percent. That means nothing to me. That means we
are stable when you're when you're only moving one point
two percent or one point four percent, I mean most
(23:12):
most negotiations are more than one percent when you're talking
about prices in the home.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
So keep in mind, this is February numbers. So we
are now you know that's in.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Our hot selling season January February. You know, things are
just generally, you know, slower after the holidays. So yeah,
this is February numbers.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So I tell you what, I can't wait for March. Yes,
I'm super excited. So with that said, would you like
to introduce Susan a ficial.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yes, let me retroduce Susan. So, Susan Jacobs with Wheels
of Success. You can tell us the website, but I
know it's Wheels of Success dot org and I checked
it out. There's lots of good info on the company there.
But I'm going to go ahead and put my camera
on you because this.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Is your half of the show.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, So, Susan Jacobs, welcome to the show. I actually
spent a lot of time on your website this morning
and I figured out what you did. Why don't we
start by maybe doing a little bit background on you
for a couple of minutes, kind of where did you
come from? And then what made you start this awesome organization?
Speaker 5 (24:10):
So I started this twenty one years ago. I'm actually
a New Yorker. Once in New Yorker, always a New Yorker.
So I grew up never owning a car. I had
a single mom, handicapped mom. She never drove never, but
it never We got everywhere we needed to be because
we had wonderful mass transit right. It was phenomenal, but
I knew what it was like, and that now translates
(24:33):
to for me when I'm dealing with people who have
to carry their groceries walking or on the bus, and
I can tell them stories when I did that. And
I started this basically because I was running a staffing
agency and that was a dilemma. We specialized in hospitality,
and they'd say, well, the bus doesn't run then, or
(24:55):
how am I going to get there? Or my car's
not going to make it over the bridge. I can't
do that every day. And I thought, oh my god,
we're going to find these people jobs and we're going
to lose this business because they can't get there. And
I started researching because there was a lot of money
out there for job training, but they weren't addressing once
you got the job, how were you going to get there?
(25:15):
And there were no programs in Florida. There were programs
up in the Northeast where there's a lot more social
entities going on through with government funding and whatever, but
that wasn't going to happen here. And basically, the company
I was running went from hospitality to manufacturing. They wanted
(25:35):
to switch, which would have been fine, except nine to
eleven happened, and so they couldn't hold on long enough
because they were hospitality based and there was no hospitality.
Nobody was staying at hotels or flying or doing anything,
and so the company closed here, and I was like, okay,
I find jobs for a living. I can find a job.
(25:56):
And I found a job actually with Thompson Cigar Company.
Never smoked a day in my life and still haven't,
but they were wonderful to work for a great company,
and it allowed me to start wheels out of my
home while I was working the night shift from two
to ten.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Oh.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
So that's how we'll started with a car in my garage,
in a car in a friend's garage that were donated
by a tow truck company.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
You are kidding me. You started with two donated cars.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
That's how we started.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
And then what did you do? You found a family
or an individual who needed it?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Well, we really know, we didn't directly. I realized that
you'd have so many applicants if you were reaching out
to people directly, and how were you going to vet them?
So I kind of modeled this after habitat a little
bit the same concept. We wanted you to be invested
in the program. The cars are not free. You do
pay a minimal amount for them so that you have
skin in the game, okay, and you take care of
(26:53):
your car and everything's interest free. That we do and
then also to look at who would be the best refers,
so we started working with all the social service agencies.
We reached out, metropolitan ministries being one of our first
that we've partnered with for years, as well as the
Spring of Tampa Bay because we had a lot of
(27:14):
domestic violence. That's what we specialized in initially. Now we've
expanded way beyond that. And then also employers who were
employers like the Casper family with McDonald's who and Tampa
General Hospital, so people who were using people, especially at
night and on weekends when there wasn't any public transportation
(27:35):
and how you could get to work, we couldn't get
home or vice versa. So we were kind of addressing
though we looked at starting to address those needs. And
then really our first big what I call our first
big break was Triple A came on board with us.
Thanks and that changed everything because they toe in all
(27:57):
our cars for us, and we were having to do
that and so and but it also gave us credibility
because people were like, who were you? When I'd go
out talking to people trying to raise money, they didn't
know me.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, So it was awesome.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
It really changed things dramatic and there. They still tow
all our cars for us. They're a phenomenal company to
be involved with UH. And then we started, you know, expanding,
there were needs other than domestic violence. People would reach
out to us, so are The first group we started
after that was our Veterans group, which we started with
(28:36):
the Health of State Farm and then the next group
was our Caregivers program. UH Cars for Caregivers, which are
patient caregivers, not family caregrovers helped with Tampa General Hospital
helped us start that with us. And then we started
our Wheels to the Future program, which is for kids
aging out of foster care and unaccompanied youth because who
(28:58):
buys them their first car, they did on a parent
to help them so and that was with help of
the Ecker Family Foundation. And then so we had those
programs going, but then we realized, okay, what about all
the other people that don't fit in there, but that
are applying. So somebody who had a major accident only
(29:18):
had PIP insurance and now can't afford anything. Somebody who
had a major illness like cancer, they were doing great.
Now their car's been repoded, their credit's ruined, they're back
in the workforce doing okay, but nobody will give them credits,
so they have to go to buy a car with
twenty percent interests.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
So that is what I understand is probably one of
the biggest prerequisites and I love it, is that they
have to have a full time job. Correct.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
Yeah, we had to narrow it down some ways, you know,
because we couldn't help everybody. So what we said was,
if we can help people who are helping themselves and
have a job full time but just need a way
to get to work so they don't lose it, then
they can help themselves. Once we do that, they're not
going to we need a whole lot of other assistance
hopefully because they're able to get to work, not only
(30:04):
get to work. So what we realized because we do
exit interviews, what we realize is there are the tangibles
and the intangibles. So tangibles are getting to work, getting
a promotion, getting a raise, which a car allows you
to do. But there's also all the intangibles that we
all take for granted in terms of making you part
(30:25):
of community, participating in your kids' school activities, your church
or religious activities, going back to school to increase your
potential earning for earnings, so that they were all those
other things that meant so much to people. And when
you ask them, yes, they told you they got a
raise or or something happened, but those were the things
(30:47):
that were most important to them because they didn't feel
like they were on the sidelines anymore. People tell us,
we went to the beach for the first time. We
have four kids. How were we going to get to
the beach from Tampa on the bus? We just never
went and so or the first time they went through
a drive through in their own car and didn't have
to ask somebody to take them. Those were the things
(31:08):
that the kids remembered and told us about. We had
a family that was crossing us nineteen taking their laundry
to the laundromat, and people making fun of them and
pointing at them, and how that change for them when
they didn't have to do that anymore. Those are the
things most of us don't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
No, we take it for granted. And it's yeah, I
can see how that that hurts them internally and their
self esteem and their motivation. It's yeah, it's everything you described.
I was picturing the different types of people and it's
not just one group.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
You guys, so we so stereotype who needs help. It
could be your nextraor neighbor. They got cancer and now
they've lost everything.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Right, Okay, on that, We're going to take a quick
break and come back to the Business Happier in just
a second. But Susan had a great point. Just like
inflation affects people retired of all age and all groups,
so does loss of transportations.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Get Business Radio Show with your host Frank the bank Koto,
owner of Lincoln Lending Group, and his co host Senya Akishana.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Realtor with Mahara and Associates. Hey, Tampa Bay, welcome back
to the Business Happy Hour, your number one show for
all things business and entrepreneurial. We are having a great time. Senya.
We Susan from Wheels of Success. And by the way,
if you were listening to the last seven, Susan is
a great talker. She she. I love guests like this
because they can just take the show.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
I love it especially I'm a quiet one, so I
love it when somebody else can do the talking. But
from where we left off in the last segment, I
just wanted to say, yes, we do. The majority of
us take you know, car ownership for granted, but even that,
you know a moment when your car does break down
and you're without it for even just today, I mean,
it just wreaks havoc on your life. Yeah, you know,
(32:51):
and Tampa is just we're not a pedestrian friendly city.
It's really hard to get around if you don't have
a car. I mean, it's great to have ubers and
all that, but man, that's.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
That's really expriss.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
That's more.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
You take three ubers, you could make a car payment.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Absolutely, so it's not really an option for most people.
And on your website, I did see a stat that, uh,
Tampa and our Tri County area is like one of the.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
Top twenty five metropolitan areas the costs for transportation and
also one of the only ones that doesn't have mass transit.
So that makes it even more difficult for people. Now,
when I started, we didn't even have Uber, so at
least that's an option, even though, like you said, it
is so pricey. So you know, you end up spending
all of your money that you might have had towards
(33:38):
a down payment to go buy a car somewhere on
Uber and now you don't even have that, so it's
kind of catch twenty two at that point to do that,
plus the rising cost of insurance rates. You know, we're
one of the highest areas for insurance rates here as well,
so trying to get into a car, especially if you
haven't had a car now you're considered a first time driver,
(34:02):
so your rates are really really high. So okay, you
found a car, but how do you afford That's why
we have so many people driving without insurance. So it's
it's just a catch twenty two all the time.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
That doesn't help the insurance.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
That's correct, correct, So it's just really tough. So our
program helps with all of those things, not just with cars.
We do car repairs, both major and minor, and we
started doing a lot more car repairs major because again,
your mechanic might have said the car is not worth
fixing because it's four thousand dollars, but you can't buy
(34:35):
a car for four thousand dollars anymore. So if we
can fix it and say, okay, that car is going
to be great for at least a year, now, we've
given you another option till maybe you can have the
money to buy another car.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Companies that partner with you to fix the car.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Absolutely, we have different mechanics that partner with us and
give us discounted rates. We have whether it be even
for windshiels, batteries, all the kind of things. But you
you can help as well what we call build a car.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Okay, So people.
Speaker 5 (35:04):
Say, well, I don't On average it's about three thousand
to thirty five hundred for us to get a car
back on the road that's donated. But people say, well
I don't have that, I can't donate it. You can
help build it. Donate one hundred dollars, okay, that'll help
us buy a battery. Join our Nuts and Bolts Club
where you can donate as little as five dollars a
month and know that over the course of a year
(35:25):
you're going to buy a part for someone's car to
get it done. So we've tried to come up with
creative ways to make it worthwhile for you to donate.
And the good thing about our charity is you can
actually see where the donation went. It doesn't just go
into a big pot. You can see the car. We
invite you to the car presentations so you can see
(35:46):
if you're a sponsor of a car, if you want
to sponsor the whole thing. You can come see it
given out. You can remain anonymous if you want, but
still be there, but you can really see the impact.
We don't have a charity where you can walk through
a hospital or you can do whatever. So the only
way you can really get what we do is seeing
a car being donated, whether it be on on the
(36:07):
media yeah okay, or in person, you can really see
the true impact that's going to have on someone's life.
And then we follow that person for a year, so
we also let you know at the end of a
year where that person is and how your donation is helped,
whether it be the car donation or the funding to
help repair that car.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
God, I love it. I actually have someone I need
to connect you with who runs a car Junkyard, and
I think that could be That would be great connection
for somebody. By the way, guys, I know you're listening
to the story and it's a great story. But we
need your help, and so do Susan. And how can
you help is you can go to Wheels of Success
dot org and that's where you can sign up. I've
already looked at it this morning, so I've saw the
build a car, I didn't see the nuts and bolts things,
(36:46):
so beg. I probably didn't read far enough, but that's
a great way. Even if you have five dollars a month,
go to Wheels of success dot org. You can see
some of the stories. You guys have some video links.
You can see some things. I know Senny and I
would love to come to one of these one day.
Maybe love to have you and do a little social
media out there.
Speaker 5 (37:04):
Our goal is a car a week. Oh wow, that's
what we tried to do, is a car every week
sometimes and we're moving up to a car and a
half every week. So we're there every other Saturday. So
we do one usually on every Friday and every other Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Now where is this held so well, it can be held.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Two places, either at our location which is on Florida Avenue,
or at the funder's location if they want it there.
It's a great morale boost to have all your employees
come out and see what you as a company help
do in the community. That you're not just about making money,
you're also about helping. So GT Financial is one of
our partners and we do you know, presentations at their
(37:43):
headquarters as example, and so that's like a great opportunity
to do that as a business. Yes, we have friends
that have gotten together, which is how I met Sandia
and and sponsored a car. Six friends got together put
in five hundred dollars each and sponsored a car.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
So that that's essentially what it takes. Three thousand bucks.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
That's on average.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Now we can do it.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Tariffs and everything happening. We don't know where that's gonna
go because the not only will the price of cars
go up, but the price of parts are gonna go up.
So we're crossing our fingers that it's not, you know,
gonna kill us in terms of our budget set a
year in advance, you know, so we're gonna have to
come up with that additional funds. But on average, that's
what it is because some of them are smaller, you know,
(38:26):
some of the repairs and again we don't only do
repairs in cars. We help with insurance, we help with tagging,
we help with impounds, anything that's ki related that's keeping
you from getting to work.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Yes, that's what we focus on. So I'm going to
commit mahar And Associates and Lincoln Lending Group right now.
We're going to figure that out. I think what we
could do is we could advertise this and we could
do a little bit out of every closing for like
the next quarter or something like that. That's cool, and
you talk to all the agents. I'll talk to all
the brokers, and I guarantee we could do it. We
would love to help you.
Speaker 5 (38:59):
Fantastic.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Yeah, I love this organization. Like, what a great thing, Susan.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
Yeah, this is really neat. This is very unique. I've
never heard of such a thing. I know a lot
of people have trouble with transportation, and like you said,
it's it can lead to so many wonderful things you
can And I love the prerequisite. You're not just giving
things away. They've got to have skin in the game.
One of my favorite sayings. And they gotta have a job.
And listen. If you're doing that, you deserve a car. Right,
(39:23):
let's help them out. So we only have about thirty
seconds left. Anything you want to leave the listeners with, Susan.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
Uh, just that we need your car donations now more
than ever and uh, you know Wheels of Success dot Org.
Don't it your car and we'll let you know what
happened to it.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
And don't forget it is a tax right at your
guy was my last statement. I say, I stole it
from tax right off. I want you to go to
Wheels of Success dot org. If you're on Instagram and Facebook,
like and share this, get it out to everybody. I
put it in the description Wheels of Success dot org. Susan,
thank you for coming on today.
Speaker 3 (39:54):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (39:55):
Great what a great opportunity for us.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yes, awesome. Well, well we'll support you and we'll see
everybody next week on the Business Happy of Sinnia. Have
a great week.
Welcome to the Business Happy Hour radio show with your host, Frankdebankkodo,
the owner of Lincoln Lending Group right here in Tampa
Bay for twenty three years, joined by his incredible co host,
Senia Akishana, realtor with Mahara Associates.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Together they have helped finance and close nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Listen right here or.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Fight us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel, or
follow us on Instagram at Frankdebankkodo. Now sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Here's Frank the Bank and Senia. Good morning. Welcome Tampa
Bay to the Business Happy Hour, your number one show
for all things business and entrepreneurial. I am your host,
Frank the Bankkodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending Group at
eight one to three, mortgage dot com and forget we
do reverse mortgages as well. If you guys are over
sixty two and you have equity in your home, A
(01:05):
reverse mortgage could really help you out. And no, you
don't lose your home ever. Don't forget that. Go to
reverse guru dot com. So I'm in studio as usual
with my amazing co host Senya Akeshina from Mahara and Associates.
How you doing, Zin, Good.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Morning, Frank. I'm great. Yeah, yes, yes, I'm great to
be here. I know you're always great.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Yeah, I am always great most of the time, at
least today. I have a really busy day. So we
are starting a little late on Instagram. We do apologies
for our Instagram followers, but for you guys listening to
us on nine to seventy, we're right on time on
the radio every Sunday morning. Don't forget. You can catch
us not just on our normal time on WFLA on
nine to seventy, but we are also on two other
(01:47):
channels now. You can catch us on twelve fifty whn Z,
another AM channel, and you can also catch us on
FM one oh five point nine. That's right, one oh
five point nine FM. You can hear the business Happy
Are every Saturday morning. So you've got Saturday and Sunday
and if you miss them all, you can find us
on iHeartMedia as a podcast. You have iHeartRadio. I always
(02:09):
say media, it's iHeartRadio as a podcast. You just have
to google the Business Happy Hour podcast and we will
pop right up. Senya, did you know that we have
hundreds of shows on there?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I did, Yes, scrolling that scrolling, Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
It's crazy. You know, I don't know why they're not
paying us billions of dollars at this point for all
the shows that we put out there. That's right, that's right.
You hear that money sound over there. So again, Senny Akisha,
my wonderful co host. Senya does real estate. I do
the mortgages. So if your first time listening. Every week,
in the first segment, we like to talk about real
estate statistics because I don't know about you, but a
(02:46):
lot of things are happening in the market right now,
and there's a lot of talk about stocks the market,
what's happening with our government. I think you guys want
to know how does that affect you and how's it
going to affect the real estate market. Every week, Senny
of Rings Statistics and by the way, Mahara and Associates
amazing company. We have not talked about Mahara's stats in
(03:07):
a long time. Do I'm putting you on the spot?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Do you have any of you are putting me on
the spot? You know what?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
I do have them somewhere. I'd have to start my
Remarkable tablet. We have our meetings.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Free shameless blug to the Remarkable tablets. By the way,
if you're still using paper, you are so nineteen ninety two.
You got to get with it on the Remarkable tablets.
They're basically liquid paper and saves all your meetings. And no,
we don't get paid for this, but if you want
to pay us Remarkable, we'll gladly take your money. But yeah,
so we're gonna try to maybe we can do a
little stats that put her on the spot. But I
know Sennya always had some great things. And Maharran Associates
(03:41):
been in Tampa, a staple in Tampa for god, how
long is he over twenty years now?
Speaker 4 (03:46):
He has been so maharaan Associates officially, I think twenty
twenty twelve.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
Okay, so what about thirteen years?
Speaker 4 (03:53):
Yeah, but he's been an agent for yeah, for for
a while, for.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
A long time. And you guys have over one hundred
agents on the team. We do.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
We have great agents, Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Amazing agents. By the way, Sania, they know how to
reach Frank Theebank contact frankdbank dot com reverse guru. How
about how do they reach you and they have real
estate questions.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
I'd love it if they would call me at eight
one three seven five five reel. Or you can go
to Tampa real Estate dot pro.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I like it.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
I like the website and you know, search for properties.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I was there the other day.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I thought you were you.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
Yes, you actually had. It's pretty neat that you can
get on there and search stuff and see the listings
and see howses.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, I like it.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
It's Tampa Properties.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Tampa real Estate dot pro, Tampa pritty.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
That's so easy. Tampa real Estate dot Pro. By the way,
we have a great guest in studio. Would you like
to introduce Susan We do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, Susan Jacobs is finally here with us. We've been
trying to connect. But she's a very busy lady. She
runs a wonderful organization in the Tampa area. You cover Hillsboro,
Pasco panelas correct. Okay, but yeah, she's been doing this
for over twenty years, and I'll let her get into,
you know, all that nitty gritty, give us a background,
(05:01):
because I am curious.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
You know, I don't even know where you're from. Yeah,
but I'm happy to finally meet you.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I've been hearing about you from our neighbor and good friend,
Galen and Courtney and my husband actually went to one
of her events and they donated, and he was like, oh, man,
you have to meet Susan and this is something that
we're gonna, you know, also partner with. And I was thinking,
I'll talk to you. I'm going to talk to Ray
because I think it's a truly wonderful program that you know,
(05:26):
I'm sure brings so many benefits to you know, people
that need.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Cars, yeah, people who would like to help find success
through having wheels. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
And I'll let you know, Susan talk about all the
things that they do, because it's more than just you know,
I thought, oh, just donate cars, but there's a lot
more to it than that. And I think it's a
wonderful organization that you've created.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yes, say, I thought Oprah was going to be here
when I got it. I walked in and I was thinking, man,
and Oprah's gonna be Here's gonna be a car for everybody.
But it's even better than that. It's better than just
going to a TV show and getting a car. This
is gonna be really exciting. It's called Wheels of Success.
When we get to the second segment, like Sennya said,
we'll interview Susan find out where she's from and how
you got into this amazing thing that you're doing helping
(06:07):
people who have jobs find transportation. So it's an awesome story.
So stay tuned, Susan. But by the way, you are
a guest host, So anything Sinny and I are talking
about in the show, chime in. And hey, even if
you don't agree with us, you can test, okay, because
you've been on radio a lot, you know. It's all
about keeping them entertained. It's not always about agreeing with us.
(06:28):
And we're pretty agreeable people though, I think over.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
Here, oh, we try to be yes, yes, yes, but
we have Speaking of stats.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
I guess do you want me to go through that
room quick? Your time?
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Absolutely?
Speaker 4 (06:39):
So for our Maharan Associates numbers during our last meeting,
we were a little over one hundred and fifteen million
and closed and pending volume.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Ooh, and this would be like what the first quarter? Yeah, yeah, exactly, Hey,
one hundred and fifteen million. You know, there's a lot
of real estate companies in the whole year. They don't
at one hundred and fifteen million, probably the majority of them.
So we're talking first quarter. How many units? Do you know?
How many units you guys have done? I'm so putting
you on the side.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
Let's see, Well, you're putting me on the spot. So
I know that we currently have one hundred and sixteen
active listings.
Speaker 2 (07:18):
Wow, So would you say that it's gonna Remember you
guys are in a big real estate company. Would you
say that there is more inventory? Now? Would you say
that there's more?
Speaker 3 (07:26):
Yes, and more coming, more coming, more coming?
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Do you know that? Is that because people are calling
and they're talking, people are calling.
Speaker 4 (07:34):
I mean we've got yeah, listing appointments lined up, So
just for April alone, I think, yeah, we're gonna.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
How does that affect I'm interviewing you now, how does
that affect the real estate market? So when we talk inventory,
for those who are not in our business, that means
what I.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Mean, you know, it's all supply and demand. And you
know when prices went up so much, it's because the
supply was just historic lows, right, So it's that we
are getting the inventory and it's more options for buyers.
For sellers, it's more competition, so you know, they have
to be more flexible on price, you know, be willing
to negotiate. But I think it's great for buyers. I
(08:13):
think if you've been sitting on the fence, start looking, right,
let's start buying.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I mean, do you still feel the same way I
do that right now, the buyers kind of have this
little golden opportunity that the sellers are still wanting to
work with them. So it's probably better to get off
the fence right now.
Speaker 4 (08:29):
Well that and beat out the competition, right. Do you
know things change very quickly, Yes, you know so if
I mean even now, I mean you felt an uptick
and you know, mortgage applications and beat the competition, yes,
you know. You don't want to feel that pressure where
you're in a multiple offer situation and I would say,
let's start looking.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, And the multiple offer situation a lot of times
comes from the fact that there's low supply, so you
have a bunch of buyers trying to buy the same property.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
I mean sure, but I mean even if you've got
this you know, wonderful listing that's you know, moving ready,
a great location, you know, it's not out of the
norm that there's going to be other people that want it.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Yeah, a little competition. So there's that's our advice for
you guys today. Now I'm gonna let Sennya go into
the real stats that she saved up for us today
because I totally put her on the spot asking about
Mohar and as Zosias. But I will say that is
that is a huge number, one hundred and fifteen million dollars.
So what that tells you is, no, they're not too
busy because there's one hundred of them, and Senny is
actually available for you directly to talk to you about
(09:25):
these listings and about being a buyer and whatnot. But
we do believe this is the time. So that's why
we wanted to talk about the a little bit about
the real estate market. Now we're going to talk about
what's happening with sales year over year, right, and well
we are. Do you have anything to chime in on this?
Speaker 5 (09:40):
How are the interest rates?
Speaker 3 (09:43):
That's a Frank question there.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
He likes to plot his Google machine and then actually
give the link and lending.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
I'll do that. I'll do that really quick because that
that is that's a So Susan's like the consumer in
the room right now, and so the first thing comes
to her mind is, well, what you're telling us to
buy a house? But what does that mean? Like what
are the rates? So here's what I I love doing, Susan.
So I'm a wholesale broker, right, which means I get
the rates at the same level of Bank of America
and Wells Fargo do in corporate, but I choose whether
we mark them up or not for the consumers. So
(10:09):
in general we're lower and I'll illustrate that to you
real quick. So we always google it. We go to
the Google machine because that's what all the consumers do, right,
That's how they find everything. And I'm going to say,
what is the thirty year fixed rate today? And we're
going to see what does the Google machine say on
this little AI thing. It says, as of April eight,
twenty twenty five, the average thirty year fixed mortgage rate
(10:30):
is around six point six y nine percent. So what's
interesting about that? Is the actual wholesale rates right now
are more like five point eight seventy five. They are
almost a point lower. But the consumers don't know it
because this is what they live by. They google what
the interest rate is and if Google says it, it's
nothing more than a retail rate. So I encourage all
(10:52):
the consumers, whether you work with my company, Lincoln Lending
or not, a wholesale broker is always going to give
you more options than a bank or retail operation, so
that they are still offering rates at the banks clearly
around six point six six point seven percent, you should
be in the low sixes or high fives on a
conventional mortgage right now. VA. We just locked a VA
(11:15):
yesterday five point five percent five point five percent with
very little cost to the veteran. So the best advice
is do your homework and shop right now. Just like
you're gonna talk to Senia and you're going to shop
for the home, you should shop for the mortgage rate. Don't.
This is what we can talk about in the next segment.
(11:35):
But you know, Susan, would you agree banks are not
the way they used to be? Right?
Speaker 5 (11:39):
No, absolutely not. And part of it also is there's
so many other options, right, it used to be that
where was your pretty much only option?
Speaker 2 (11:49):
That's right, usud walk into the bank and you knew
Jim the banker, and you shook his hand, and Jim
gave you a mortgage or a car loan, and then
you moved on. On that note, we're going to move
on and take a break here in the Business Happy How.
We're gonna be right back with Susan Jacobs and Wheels
of Success. But first the real estate stats. Stay tuned
all the.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
Best mortgage or real estate advice from Tampa Bay's top experts.
It's the Business Happy Hour with Frank Debangkoto and Senia.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
Hey Tampa Bay, Welcome back to the Business Happy Are
your number one show for all business and entrepreneurial. Well,
we were just talking off air with Susan Jacobs here,
the founder of Wheels of Success, and we were talking.
You know, interest rates used to be a lot higher,
didn't they, Susan.
Speaker 5 (12:29):
Yes, I mean back back when when I bought one
of my homes, the interest rate was it's sixteen percent.
Sixteen can you imagine now? People like and when it
went down to ten, I thought I was in heaven, right, Okay, So.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Would you say that people are a little bit spoiled
these days?
Speaker 5 (12:47):
I think so because they don't know the historical of
where the rates were. And so for me, like I
ever read now of three percent, Oh my gosh, that's
like why would I move?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Let me tell you, in your whole life, have you
ever seen interest rates that low?
Speaker 5 (13:03):
Right now?
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Right? So, people are spoiled. And the sad thing is
a lot of people are looking at that like that's
the norm, and that's that's what happened.
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Everybody thought that was the norm. Yeah, and so when
it went up, I mean, this is still relatively low
compared to.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
And I bought my first house, I had six percent.
I thought it was great.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Yeah, that's actually about what I had on my first house.
I think I was like six and a quarter. So
I got in the industry in two thousand, and when
I got in two thousand, it was kind of the
first REFI boom because they you're talking about my place
was in two thousand. Men. Now, okay, so and you
probably got a rate in the sixes, is what I'm
going to guess something like that back in two thousand. Yeah,
(13:41):
the time that they were in the teens. Was what
in the late eighties, early nineties, maybe something like that, late.
Speaker 5 (13:46):
Late eighties, mid eighties to late eighties.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Okay, so to late eighties, you know, and and you know,
obviously they came down that REFI boom was around too,
late nineties to early two thousands when they dropped from
you know, nine eight down into the sixes, and that
made people go crazy. But I love what you said
because you know, you bought houses in the eighties. You know,
there's not a lot of people who can say that
(14:09):
right now, and you understand the difference. But you still
bought a house. That's what's don't you find that so interesting?
You still bought a house.
Speaker 5 (14:17):
Right because that was your option. You know, you might
have options. So people are sitting on the fence. Then
your money is less well maybe the rate's going to change,
but now your money has less value, so you have
to start thinking about that. You know, what's going to
happen with your money itself? And what about all the
costs if it's a house that needs work, right, all
(14:39):
of those costs are going to go up now, especially
with all the tariffs exactly, So you might be looking
at a house at this rate but you have to
do a bunch of repair and it's going to cost
you twenty five to fifty percent more to do that repair.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Right right?
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Why? I think, as everybody needs a roof over their heads,
you're paying you know, somebody else for it, or you're
paying your own mortgage.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Right. Oh, let's oh, let's hold on. Let's be a
little more blunt with what Senia just said. She was
being too nice. Everybody is paying a mortgage. The question
is are you paying your mortgage or there many like that? Yes, right,
you were being very nicer and you said, you're like, well,
everybody has a house payment. No, guys, you're paying someone
else's mortgage. All right, So why are you doing that?
(15:27):
If you're renting an apartment, you're paying some big company
who built that apartment is making millions of dollars. What
are you doing? Get up. If Susan bought a house
and found it economically viable to pay fifteen sixteen percent,
I'm pretty sure you can figure out how to afford
six percent. Right, And here's Susan, what do you think
(15:48):
about this? One of my favorite sayings, marry the house,
date the rate. That's what we tell people. It's like, right,
get in. It means get in now, because bryces aren't
exactly going down. We're not gonna have a foreclosure crisis.
You can always refinance. You're just dating that rate. When
a prettier rate comes along, well you just divorce that
other one and you find that pretty one and run off. No,
(16:08):
I'm not talking about actual life, but that's what you
can do, guys. You can always refinance. So our advice,
Sinny and I is get in now.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Speaking of saying, get in now and start building equity,
Like even if the appreciation isn't, you know, crazy high,
you know, my advice would be, this is not a
flippers market right now. No, you know, don't anticipate.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Hey, you're going to buy a house, fix it up, make.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
A bunch of money, you know, buy a home that
you love, marry that house, you know, and plan to
live there for a little while, and you're going to
gain equity and it's a safe investment.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Yeah, you know, I'm like the stock market right now.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
We can Okay, so we'll talk about stocks just for
a minute, but then we're going into real estate.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I'm not much of a stock talker. I just you know,
I'm a real estate.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
So I'll just give this advice. I've been investing in
stock since I was eighteen years old. I've been a
little busy in the last couple of days, so I
didn't do what I should have on it and done
and got in and buy a bunch of things. But
I will tell you what the rich will tell you
is the rich get richer when prices go down, right right,
So there's a down economies make more millionaires than up
(17:08):
economies because what do they do they invest when things
are low? You buy low and you sell high. So
don't be scared of the market. Right now it is
time to buy right And if you have stocks, you
don't need to sell them all.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
We should not ready for retirement, right right, right right,
That's where the scary piece is.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
That is scary. So there is definitely a segment of
our population right now that could be on the fence
of retiring. And yeah, it's scary because the things go down,
but listen, I promise you they're coming back. The entire
market is cyclical. It is going to affect you. I
heard somebody this morning on the radio, actually on this channel, saying, oh,
you know, you could sell while things are low and
you know they'll come back, but it's like, why would
you do that? Just hold it. You don't need to
(17:50):
take the loss and rebuy. So anyway, my advice, what
are some of the bigger stocks. Here's your advice. Look
for the bigger names that you know are not going
out of business. Look for the ones who have declined
the most over the last week. Buy those, and when
things turn around, whether it's a month or a year
or whatever, you're gonna have some profit. My advice, buy
some Tesla right now. Tesla's not a cheap stock. But
(18:10):
everybody's hating on Tesla. No matter what you believe politically,
they're hating on Tesla, and it went down with all
the other stuff. I don't think Tesla's going away. I
think it's gonna be the GM of our time. I
think that that it's gonna be there. And they're also
coming out with these robots. I don't know if you
guys have seen. That might be a little scary, but
they're gonna be branded under Tesla. So it's going to
be the first humanoid robot that people can purchase for
(18:32):
their home use to do chores around their home. Yeah,
like laying tile folding laundry. You know, who knows that
they're going to like cook for my kids? I don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Those futuristic movies are like coming to reolity.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
They look just like the ones from I Robot, the
ones of Will Smith. Have you all seen that movie?
It good movie, scary as hell, right, So hopefully elon,
you're not trying to take over the world over here.
But I will say I would recommend that. And there's
another stock you could look into if you want to
be real safe. It's qq Q, right. It follows the
NASTAC Top Companies seven to ten top companies. I believe
in the Nastack. It follows it one. So it's kind
(19:08):
of a way to spread your your risk. If you
don't understand stocks that much, you can buy these funds
that follow groups of stocks.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That sounds like something maybe I could.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
It's too it's safe, you know. You know, even when
you look at the chart from when the financial crash
of two thousand and eight to twenty ten was look
at the chart. The chart goes like this, Yeah, it
takes a dip, but guess what it does. It keeps
going up. Right, So historically you have all these crazy
things that happen, it's going to continue to go, especially
if you're on younger soide, I'll take Susan's the device.
Be careful. If you're retiring, okay, talk to your financial planner.
(19:40):
But if you're you know, young little bucks over here,
put your money in the market. Send you go invest
stocks today.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
All right, sounds good.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So stats actually we have to take okay, segment now.
As soon as we get back, we'll stats and then
we're going into wheels of success with Susan Jacobs. Stay
tuned here on the Business Happier and don't forget check
it out.
Speaker 1 (20:00):
On Iheartlogo to the Business Happy Hour radio show with
your host, Frank Debank Coodo, the owner of Lincoln Lending
Group right here in Tampa Bay for twenty three years,
joined by his incredible co host, Senia Akishna, realtor with
Mahara and Associates.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Tampa's top real estate company.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Together, they have helped finance and clothes nearly one billion
dollars of real estate every year.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
If you're looking for local mortgage or real estate advice.
Speaker 1 (20:25):
The Business Happy Hour team has been right here on
news radio WFLA for over a decade listen right here,
or fight.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Us on the Business Happy Hour YouTube channel.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Or follow us on Instagram at Frank Thebankkodo. Now, sit back, relax,
and get ready for some serious mortgage, real estate and
business talk with two of Tampa's top experts.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
Here's Frank de Bank and Senia. Hey, Tampa Bay, welcome
back to the Business Happy Are your number one show
for all things business and entrepreneurial. We are not going
to deviate and squirrel like we just did in the
first half. I'm glad we did talk about stocks though,
because that is on everybody's mind right now. We are
going to move into real estate stats and then we're
gonna be talking about wheels of success with Susan Jacob.
(21:05):
So first, Senya, what do we got?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Okay, Well, I'm gonna stay on topic here and usually
I jump around, but I'm just gonna go down the line.
And this is for our Panela's Pasco Hillsborough, Hernando County.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
We call the MSA.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
Locally closed sales year every year. For February we were
down four point nine percent closed sales units. We had
twenty eight hundred and seventy seven units sold. The median
sales price down one point two percent, which gets us
to just under four hundred thousand. The average sales price
(21:40):
was actually up two point four percent, and the average
sales price is five hundred and twelve.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Seven eighty three was five thirteen.
Speaker 4 (21:48):
And I know we always I always use the median
number because it's more you know, representative of the market. Right,
you know what the average sales price being, you know,
so much higher. It's because you know, the higher priced
homes that get out verged in, right.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
So that the median shows you kind of year over
year actual price compared to right midline.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
You know, it's more relative because yeah, those numbers obviously
are very different, but still average sales price for our
areas five hundred and thirteen thousand. Median time to contract
is up ten percent. Median time to contract in days
we're at about forty four days, which in Hillsboro it's
a little bit less, but you can expect when you
list your home, you know, before you get a contract.
(22:29):
That's what that number represents. The month's supply. We're up
thirty five point seven percent year every year, but the
month supply is still three point eight.
Speaker 5 (22:39):
Right.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
We wanted to get closer to six, right.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
I mean even five, five, even five, But I mean
the fact that it's we're still under for you know,
that still speaks something that means that we do need
that inventory that we're getting.
Speaker 2 (22:51):
Right, which is troublesome because when when if the rates
drop and more people come into the market supply and demand,
and that's where we could see prices go up. But
I'm going to tell you what this layman guy over
here heard. I heard one point two and one point
something percent. That means nothing to me. That means we
are stable when you're when you're only moving one point
two percent or one point four percent, I mean most
(23:12):
most negotiations are more than one percent when you're talking
about prices in the home.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
So keep in mind, this is February numbers. So we
are now you know that's in.
Speaker 4 (23:22):
Our hot selling season January February. You know, things are
just generally, you know, slower after the holidays. So yeah,
this is February numbers.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
So I tell you what, I can't wait for March. Yes,
I'm super excited. So with that said, would you like
to introduce Susan a ficial.
Speaker 4 (23:35):
Yes, let me retroduce Susan. So, Susan Jacobs with Wheels
of Success. You can tell us the website, but I
know it's Wheels of Success dot org and I checked
it out. There's lots of good info on the company there.
But I'm going to go ahead and put my camera
on you because this.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
Is your half of the show.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
Yeah, So, Susan Jacobs, welcome to the show. I actually
spent a lot of time on your website this morning
and I figured out what you did. Why don't we
start by maybe doing a little bit background on you
for a couple of minutes, kind of where did you
come from? And then what made you start this awesome organization?
Speaker 5 (24:10):
So I started this twenty one years ago. I'm actually
a New Yorker. Once in New Yorker, always a New Yorker.
So I grew up never owning a car. I had
a single mom, handicapped mom. She never drove never, but
it never We got everywhere we needed to be because
we had wonderful mass transit right. It was phenomenal, but
I knew what it was like, and that now translates
(24:33):
to for me when I'm dealing with people who have
to carry their groceries walking or on the bus, and
I can tell them stories when I did that. And
I started this basically because I was running a staffing
agency and that was a dilemma. We specialized in hospitality,
and they'd say, well, the bus doesn't run then, or
(24:55):
how am I going to get there? Or my car's
not going to make it over the bridge. I can't
do that every day. And I thought, oh my god,
we're going to find these people jobs and we're going
to lose this business because they can't get there. And
I started researching because there was a lot of money
out there for job training, but they weren't addressing once
you got the job, how were you going to get there?
(25:15):
And there were no programs in Florida. There were programs
up in the Northeast where there's a lot more social
entities going on through with government funding and whatever, but
that wasn't going to happen here. And basically, the company
I was running went from hospitality to manufacturing. They wanted
(25:35):
to switch, which would have been fine, except nine to
eleven happened, and so they couldn't hold on long enough
because they were hospitality based and there was no hospitality.
Nobody was staying at hotels or flying or doing anything,
and so the company closed here, and I was like, okay,
I find jobs for a living. I can find a job.
(25:56):
And I found a job actually with Thompson Cigar Company.
Never smoked a day in my life and still haven't,
but they were wonderful to work for a great company,
and it allowed me to start wheels out of my
home while I was working the night shift from two
to ten.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Oh.
Speaker 5 (26:15):
So that's how we'll started with a car in my garage,
in a car in a friend's garage that were donated
by a tow truck company.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
You are kidding me. You started with two donated cars.
Speaker 5 (26:27):
That's how we started.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
And then what did you do? You found a family
or an individual who needed it?
Speaker 5 (26:31):
Well, we really know, we didn't directly. I realized that
you'd have so many applicants if you were reaching out
to people directly, and how were you going to vet them?
So I kind of modeled this after habitat a little
bit the same concept. We wanted you to be invested
in the program. The cars are not free. You do
pay a minimal amount for them so that you have
skin in the game, okay, and you take care of
(26:53):
your car and everything's interest free. That we do and
then also to look at who would be the best refers,
so we started working with all the social service agencies.
We reached out, metropolitan ministries being one of our first
that we've partnered with for years, as well as the
Spring of Tampa Bay because we had a lot of
(27:14):
domestic violence. That's what we specialized in initially. Now we've
expanded way beyond that. And then also employers who were
employers like the Casper family with McDonald's who and Tampa
General Hospital, so people who were using people, especially at
night and on weekends when there wasn't any public transportation
(27:35):
and how you could get to work, we couldn't get
home or vice versa. So we were kind of addressing
though we looked at starting to address those needs. And
then really our first big what I call our first
big break was Triple A came on board with us.
Thanks and that changed everything because they toe in all
(27:57):
our cars for us, and we were having to do
that and so and but it also gave us credibility
because people were like, who were you? When I'd go
out talking to people trying to raise money, they didn't
know me.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, So it was awesome.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
It really changed things dramatic and there. They still tow
all our cars for us. They're a phenomenal company to
be involved with UH. And then we started, you know, expanding,
there were needs other than domestic violence. People would reach
out to us, so are The first group we started
after that was our Veterans group, which we started with
(28:36):
the Health of State Farm and then the next group
was our Caregivers program. UH Cars for Caregivers, which are
patient caregivers, not family caregrovers helped with Tampa General Hospital
helped us start that with us. And then we started
our Wheels to the Future program, which is for kids
aging out of foster care and unaccompanied youth because who
(28:58):
buys them their first car, they did on a parent
to help them so and that was with help of
the Ecker Family Foundation. And then so we had those
programs going, but then we realized, okay, what about all
the other people that don't fit in there, but that
are applying. So somebody who had a major accident only
(29:18):
had PIP insurance and now can't afford anything. Somebody who
had a major illness like cancer, they were doing great.
Now their car's been repoded, their credit's ruined, they're back
in the workforce doing okay, but nobody will give them credits,
so they have to go to buy a car with
twenty percent interests.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
So that is what I understand is probably one of
the biggest prerequisites and I love it, is that they
have to have a full time job. Correct.
Speaker 5 (29:44):
Yeah, we had to narrow it down some ways, you know,
because we couldn't help everybody. So what we said was,
if we can help people who are helping themselves and
have a job full time but just need a way
to get to work so they don't lose it, then
they can help themselves. Once we do that, they're not
going to we need a whole lot of other assistance
hopefully because they're able to get to work, not only
(30:04):
get to work. So what we realized because we do
exit interviews, what we realize is there are the tangibles
and the intangibles. So tangibles are getting to work, getting
a promotion, getting a raise, which a car allows you
to do. But there's also all the intangibles that we
all take for granted in terms of making you part
(30:25):
of community, participating in your kids' school activities, your church
or religious activities, going back to school to increase your
potential earning for earnings, so that they were all those
other things that meant so much to people. And when
you ask them, yes, they told you they got a
raise or or something happened, but those were the things
(30:47):
that were most important to them because they didn't feel
like they were on the sidelines anymore. People tell us,
we went to the beach for the first time. We
have four kids. How were we going to get to
the beach from Tampa on the bus? We just never
went and so or the first time they went through
a drive through in their own car and didn't have
to ask somebody to take them. Those were the things
(31:08):
that the kids remembered and told us about. We had
a family that was crossing us nineteen taking their laundry
to the laundromat, and people making fun of them and
pointing at them, and how that change for them when
they didn't have to do that anymore. Those are the
things most of us don't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
No, we take it for granted. And it's yeah, I
can see how that that hurts them internally and their
self esteem and their motivation. It's yeah, it's everything you described.
I was picturing the different types of people and it's
not just one group.
Speaker 5 (31:41):
You guys, so we so stereotype who needs help. It
could be your nextraor neighbor. They got cancer and now
they've lost everything.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
Right, Okay, on that, We're going to take a quick
break and come back to the Business Happier in just
a second. But Susan had a great point. Just like
inflation affects people retired of all age and all groups,
so does loss of transportations.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Get Business Radio Show with your host Frank the bank Koto,
owner of Lincoln Lending Group, and his co host Senya Akishana.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Realtor with Mahara and Associates. Hey, Tampa Bay, welcome back
to the Business Happy Hour, your number one show for
all things business and entrepreneurial. We are having a great time. Senya.
We Susan from Wheels of Success. And by the way,
if you were listening to the last seven, Susan is
a great talker. She she. I love guests like this
because they can just take the show.
Speaker 4 (32:29):
I love it especially I'm a quiet one, so I
love it when somebody else can do the talking. But
from where we left off in the last segment, I
just wanted to say, yes, we do. The majority of
us take you know, car ownership for granted, but even that,
you know a moment when your car does break down
and you're without it for even just today, I mean,
it just wreaks havoc on your life. Yeah, you know,
(32:51):
and Tampa is just we're not a pedestrian friendly city.
It's really hard to get around if you don't have
a car. I mean, it's great to have ubers and
all that, but man, that's.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
That's really expriss.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
That's more.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
You take three ubers, you could make a car payment.
Speaker 4 (33:06):
Absolutely, so it's not really an option for most people.
And on your website, I did see a stat that, uh,
Tampa and our Tri County area is like one of the.
Speaker 5 (33:18):
Top twenty five metropolitan areas the costs for transportation and
also one of the only ones that doesn't have mass transit.
So that makes it even more difficult for people. Now,
when I started, we didn't even have Uber, so at
least that's an option, even though, like you said, it
is so pricey. So you know, you end up spending
all of your money that you might have had towards
(33:38):
a down payment to go buy a car somewhere on
Uber and now you don't even have that, so it's
kind of catch twenty two at that point to do that,
plus the rising cost of insurance rates. You know, we're
one of the highest areas for insurance rates here as well,
so trying to get into a car, especially if you
haven't had a car now you're considered a first time driver,
(34:02):
so your rates are really really high. So okay, you
found a car, but how do you afford That's why
we have so many people driving without insurance. So it's
it's just a catch twenty two all the time.
Speaker 2 (34:13):
That doesn't help the insurance.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
That's correct, correct, So it's just really tough. So our
program helps with all of those things, not just with cars.
We do car repairs, both major and minor, and we
started doing a lot more car repairs major because again,
your mechanic might have said the car is not worth
fixing because it's four thousand dollars, but you can't buy
(34:35):
a car for four thousand dollars anymore. So if we
can fix it and say, okay, that car is going
to be great for at least a year, now, we've
given you another option till maybe you can have the
money to buy another car.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
Companies that partner with you to fix the car.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Absolutely, we have different mechanics that partner with us and
give us discounted rates. We have whether it be even
for windshiels, batteries, all the kind of things. But you
you can help as well what we call build a car.
Speaker 2 (35:02):
Okay, So people.
Speaker 5 (35:04):
Say, well, I don't On average it's about three thousand
to thirty five hundred for us to get a car
back on the road that's donated. But people say, well
I don't have that, I can't donate it. You can
help build it. Donate one hundred dollars, okay, that'll help
us buy a battery. Join our Nuts and Bolts Club
where you can donate as little as five dollars a
month and know that over the course of a year
(35:25):
you're going to buy a part for someone's car to
get it done. So we've tried to come up with
creative ways to make it worthwhile for you to donate.
And the good thing about our charity is you can
actually see where the donation went. It doesn't just go
into a big pot. You can see the car. We
invite you to the car presentations so you can see
(35:46):
if you're a sponsor of a car, if you want
to sponsor the whole thing. You can come see it
given out. You can remain anonymous if you want, but
still be there, but you can really see the impact.
We don't have a charity where you can walk through
a hospital or you can do whatever. So the only
way you can really get what we do is seeing
a car being donated, whether it be on on the
(36:07):
media yeah okay, or in person, you can really see
the true impact that's going to have on someone's life.
And then we follow that person for a year, so
we also let you know at the end of a
year where that person is and how your donation is helped,
whether it be the car donation or the funding to
help repair that car.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
God, I love it. I actually have someone I need
to connect you with who runs a car Junkyard, and
I think that could be That would be great connection
for somebody. By the way, guys, I know you're listening
to the story and it's a great story. But we
need your help, and so do Susan. And how can
you help is you can go to Wheels of Success
dot org and that's where you can sign up. I've
already looked at it this morning, so I've saw the
build a car, I didn't see the nuts and bolts things,
(36:46):
so beg. I probably didn't read far enough, but that's
a great way. Even if you have five dollars a month,
go to Wheels of success dot org. You can see
some of the stories. You guys have some video links.
You can see some things. I know Senny and I
would love to come to one of these one day.
Maybe love to have you and do a little social
media out there.
Speaker 5 (37:04):
Our goal is a car a week. Oh wow, that's
what we tried to do, is a car every week
sometimes and we're moving up to a car and a
half every week. So we're there every other Saturday. So
we do one usually on every Friday and every other Saturday.
Speaker 2 (37:18):
Now where is this held so well, it can be held.
Speaker 5 (37:20):
Two places, either at our location which is on Florida Avenue,
or at the funder's location if they want it there.
It's a great morale boost to have all your employees
come out and see what you as a company help
do in the community. That you're not just about making money,
you're also about helping. So GT Financial is one of
our partners and we do you know, presentations at their
(37:43):
headquarters as example, and so that's like a great opportunity
to do that as a business. Yes, we have friends
that have gotten together, which is how I met Sandia
and and sponsored a car. Six friends got together put
in five hundred dollars each and sponsored a car.
Speaker 2 (38:02):
So that that's essentially what it takes. Three thousand bucks.
Speaker 5 (38:04):
That's on average.
Speaker 2 (38:05):
Now we can do it.
Speaker 5 (38:06):
Tariffs and everything happening. We don't know where that's gonna
go because the not only will the price of cars
go up, but the price of parts are gonna go up.
So we're crossing our fingers that it's not, you know,
gonna kill us in terms of our budget set a
year in advance, you know, so we're gonna have to
come up with that additional funds. But on average, that's
what it is because some of them are smaller, you know,
(38:26):
some of the repairs and again we don't only do
repairs in cars. We help with insurance, we help with tagging,
we help with impounds, anything that's ki related that's keeping
you from getting to work.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Yes, that's what we focus on. So I'm going to
commit mahar And Associates and Lincoln Lending Group right now.
We're going to figure that out. I think what we
could do is we could advertise this and we could
do a little bit out of every closing for like
the next quarter or something like that. That's cool, and
you talk to all the agents. I'll talk to all
the brokers, and I guarantee we could do it. We
would love to help you.
Speaker 5 (38:59):
Fantastic.
Speaker 3 (39:00):
Yeah, I love this organization. Like, what a great thing, Susan.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
Yeah, this is really neat. This is very unique. I've
never heard of such a thing. I know a lot
of people have trouble with transportation, and like you said,
it's it can lead to so many wonderful things you
can And I love the prerequisite. You're not just giving
things away. They've got to have skin in the game.
One of my favorite sayings. And they gotta have a job.
And listen. If you're doing that, you deserve a car. Right,
(39:23):
let's help them out. So we only have about thirty
seconds left. Anything you want to leave the listeners with, Susan.
Speaker 5 (39:29):
Uh, just that we need your car donations now more
than ever and uh, you know Wheels of Success dot Org.
Don't it your car and we'll let you know what
happened to it.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
And don't forget it is a tax right at your
guy was my last statement. I say, I stole it
from tax right off. I want you to go to
Wheels of Success dot org. If you're on Instagram and Facebook,
like and share this, get it out to everybody. I
put it in the description Wheels of Success dot org. Susan,
thank you for coming on today.
Speaker 3 (39:54):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (39:55):
Great what a great opportunity for us.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Yes, awesome. Well, well we'll support you and we'll see
everybody next week on the Business Happy of Sinnia. Have
a great week.
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