Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio

CEO John Wieland with The JW Collection joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast as the first Legends of Real Estate guest! Wieland joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment to discuss his incredible 50-year journey in the homebuilding industry. The recipient of more customer satisfaction and professionalism awards than any other builder in Atlanta, Wieland has been building homes in the metro Atlanta area for over 50 years and is responsible for training a large portion of the talent working in the industry today. With a start in 1971, Wieland remarked on how different the industry is today in comparison. Armed with a single hammer, a credit card and his Volkswagen Beatle, Wieland transported building materials to and from job sites. By the end of his first year, his company closed on 12 homes, with six under construction. (Tune into the show to find out how the VW Beatle plays into this!) In direct contrast to today’s open floor layouts, homes previously featured little wasted

Executive Director Susan Jacobs-Meadows with Canine CellMates joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the Beyond the Bars program and how it changes the lives of incarcerated men. Jacobs-Meadows joins host Carol Morgan on the Around Atlanta segment. Jacobs-Meadows has a varied professional background, with experience in many different fields. From serving in the military to owning her own business, Jacobs-Meadows is a woman of many talents! Her exciting path eventually led to her founding Canine CellMates, a rehabilitative program that partners with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, Fulton County Jail and shelter dogs to offer inmates a second chance. The jail dogs program pulls canines out of animal shelters and moves them into Fulton County jail 24 hours a day with inmate handlers. It also offers classes five days a week to teach inmates the necessary skills to handle the dogs successfully. The organization also works to get all of the dogs adopted. Jacobs-Meadows said, “The pro

Senior Loan Consultant with New American Funding Jay Glover joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the current state of the market and the lender’s wide variety of loan products for first-time homebuyers. Glover joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A resident of Gainesville, Georgia, Glover has been in the mortgage industry since 1999 and has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Georgia Southern University. Starting out, he worked on the wholesale side of the industry selling non-QM mortgage products to brokers and community banks. When the market shifted in 2005, Glover transitioned to the retail side. Using the knowledge and tools he acquired while working wholesale, he focused his attention and specialties on first-time homebuyers and new construction. Glover said, “It has kind of landed me as a preferred lender for a couple of builders here in the metro Atlanta area.” New American Funding has been in the mortgage business since 2003 and presently funds over

Head of Sales Mark Schlosser with Landis joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss financial literacy, fair housing and how their rent to own program creates homeowners. Schlosser joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. New to the Atlanta market, Landis is a social impact company before anything else. The company prioritizes providing financial literacy and fair housing to homebuyers. Via one-on-one instruction and a mobile app, Landis provides a step-by-step program for homeownership based on a rent-to-own model. For potential homeowners struggling to qualify for mortgages, Landis purchases a home for them and over 12 to 24 months, coaches them to purchase the home back and achieve the American dream of homeownership. Schlosser said, “Everything we really believe in backs into that core mission of [homeownership].” Frontiers for a hot topic in real estate, Landis investors include the National Association of REALTORS® and Sequoia as well as celebrity investors Jay-Z

President Matthew Womack with Womack Custom Homes joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss new construction, commercial and remodeling projects in Cartersville. Womack joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A fourth-generation builder, Womack is a UGA alumni and has been a part of the building industry his entire life. After graduating from college, Womack worked for a national home builder and then a smaller Atlanta builder to gain field experience. In 2016, Womack teamed up with his brother to form Womack Custom Homes and starting building throughout Cartersville and Bartow County. Starting out, the brothers primarily focused on remodeling due to the high demand in the area. After flipping a few dilapidated homes, the team began to receive custom work requests that led to increased in-town remodeling work during their first year. From there, the company has branched off to include new construction as well as spec projects in 55 plus communities. For clients ques

Team Leader and Senior Loan Consultant Jeff Glick with New American Funding joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to talk about loan limits, mortgage news and the phenomenal growth of New American Funding. Glick joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. Working in the mortgage industry since 2003, Glick has experienced a lot of change in real estate. Backed by an incredible team at New American Funding, Glick shares it has been amazing to be a part of and grow the Southeast team for the last five years. New American Funding is a privately held company owned by Rick and Patty Arvielo. With a $52 billion servicing portfolio, the New American Funding team is dedicated not only to the mortgage industry but is also one of the top mortgage banks in the country. Glick works for the Southeast team headed by Kelly Allison, a significant leader in the market. During the 2008 to 2010 collapse, Glick continued working for the mortgage industry, assisting clients during a tumultuous time

Erica Lockwood, executive partner and managing director of DEI with Joseph Chris Partners, joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) when hiring in the real estate industry. Lockwood joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. An executive recruiter, Lockwood has a 21-year history with Joseph Chris Partners and lives in Houston, Texas. In her role, Lockwood helps companies and people across the country see possibilities during recruitment and company expansions. Based in the Houston market, Joseph Chris Partners is an executive search firm primarily focused on hiring for residential construction and real estate developers, with a large portion of day-to-day roles primarily targeted toward homebuilding. The company also works extensively in the commercial sphere with retail, office and industrial work, as well as mixed-use focuses. The company works across the United States, as well as internationally.  “We’ve been in

General Manager Kelly Fink with Milesbrand joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the company's successful history in the real estate industry. Fink joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment. A member of the homebuilding and real estate industry for 25 years, Fink has spent the majority of her career working directly for homebuilders, developers and real estate companies, typically in marketing and sales roles. In her current role as General Manager, Fink is enjoying the agency side of the business. Fink said, “Real estate is really what I love and I just love being in this industry.” With a Masters in Residential Marketing (MIRM) designation from the National Association of Home Builders, Fink is very involved at a national level with the National Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) and Atlanta SMC. A dedicated member of the industry for 30 years, Milesbrand is a full-service branding and marketing agency for real estate developers and home builders. When Dave Miles,

My Hometown Realty Group Founder and CEO Amy McCoy joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss fair housing and DEI. McCoy joins host Carol Morgan on the All About Real Estate segment to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) while sharing the difference between a Realtist and Realtor. Serving the Georgia markets for over 17 years, McCoy is an active member on several real estate boards with previous experience as president of the West Georgia Board of Realtors. McCoy also shared she is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion and defining equitable solutions for the housing industry. McCoy said, “Through inclusion and the expansion of fair housing efforts, it is my hope that my reputation will continue to earn me that respect between my comrades and colleagues…so that those [who] want to invest in their community of choice, have an opportunity.” Embracing the title of Realtist in place of Realtor, McCoy remains a proud member of the Realtor organization. Also known as the Nation

Atlanta Jewish Life Festival Moved to February 27 Editor and Managing Publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times Kaylene Ladinsky joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival. Ladinsky joins radio show host Carol Morgan for the Around Atlanta segment. Since 2011, Ladinsky has worn many hats at the Atlanta Jewish Times, from writer, associate publisher and business manager to her current roles as editor and managing publisher. She is a recipient of multiple Simon Rockower awards and currently serves as an executive board member of the American Jewish Press Association as well as a member of the National Newspaper Association. Producer of the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival, Ladinsky shared the event’s purpose is to celebrate the Atlanta Jewish community. With a new date on February 27, the event is open to everyone and takes place at the Georgia Aquarium, showcasing live music, entertainment and nosh! Each ticket also includes all-day access to the aquarium’s exhibits

Blue Tangerine Owner Greg Bray joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss marketing tactics for the new year and website building tips. Bray joins host Carol Morgan for the All About Real Estate segment. An internet professional long before it was widely used, Bray was a computer science major at Brigham Young University. Since the '90s, Bray has been working on websites and now owns the widely respected Blue Tangerine, a digital marketing and website development agency. Bray said, “I really love helping people build their businesses. That’s truly the heart of what I love.” Blue Tangerine specializes in online lead generation for residential construction home builders. After constructing a better website, Blue Tangerine helps drive increased traffic with tools such as SEO, page search and email marketing. With proper techniques, the traffic then converts into leads. Blue Tangerine analyzes traffic on a consistent basis to ensure the site is reaching desired audiences. The past two years of

Dementia Spotlight Foundation Co-Founder and Executive Director Whitney DeMarlo Oeltmann joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to share the Foundation's story. Oeltmann joins host Carol Morgan for the Around Atlanta segment. At 68 years old, Oeltmann’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Following his diagnosis, the family struggled to find resources and support to cope and move forward. In response to the lack of resources, Oeltmann and her mother founded the Dementia Spotlight Foundation, a nonprofit to support dementia patients and their families. Modeled after Oeltmann’s experience, the Foundation fills a lot of gaps that are missing for them. Through her journey, Oeltmann noticed a lack of knowledge surrounding dementia and its most common form, Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is a terminal brain illness that results in the loss of memory and often leads to further complications. With other terminal diagnoses, patients receive a path forward to cope with what lies ahead. Unfortunat

New American Funding Regional Sales Manager Jason Redman joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss unique loan products for military borrowers. Redman joins host Carol Morgan for the All About Real Estate segment. With 21 years of mortgage experience, Redman’s background also includes working as a police officer with experience as an instructor, dog handler and SWAT officer. Before his time as a civil servant, he served in the Air Force. Now, he works alongside his wife to assist as many customers as possible with mortgages. One of the top 10 privately-owned mortgage companies in the United States, New American Funding is a dominant force in the southeast in new construction,  purchase loans and more. The New American Dream initiative and minority-focused programs are stable commitments to the surrounding communities in many different aspects. Redman said, “We’ve had a good focus with strong leadership that’s made us who we are. I think people look for a company that has the right culture

Fischer Homes Builds Poplar Place, First Atlanta Active Adult Community Fischer Homes Marketing Manager Carrie Rogiers joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the builder’s first active adult community in the Atlanta market. Rogiers joins show host Carol Morgan for the All About Real Estate Segment. Responsible for social media, public relations and marketing new communities, Rogiers has been with Fischer Homes for eight years. Before this role, she held an agency position working on various CPG brands such as Procter & Gamble and Hershey. Craving something new, Rogiers wanted to switch to a more client-based role. While building her own home with Fischer Homes, Rogiers developed a meaningful relationship with her sales counselor and today, she is the company’s marketing manager! Rogiers said, “It’s truly a great fit. It’s a lot of fun and a great company. I’m glad to be a part of it!” Founded in northern Kentucky, the privately held builder recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. The

Black Film Festival Atlanta Founder Raecine Tyes joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to invite you to attend this year’s event. She also reminisces on the event’s impressive first year while sharing details about what to expect when the festival returns Feb. 1-6, 2022. Tyes joins show host Carol Morgan for the Around Atlanta segment. An author of two motivational books and a children's novel with experience in event coordinating and production, Tyes has always loved film and anything creative. When she came up with the idea for Black Film Festival Atlanta, Tyes’s mission was to highlight the work of talented filmmakers who may not have the opportunity to showcase their products. Tyes said, “Our goal is also to educate the new filmmaker with industry-related resources and to try to provide an excellent opportunity for networking.” Whenever industry experts are willing to take the time to share industry-related tips or advice for independent filmmakers, it is incredibly beneficial for both partic

State of Atlanta Housing Market with FMLS FMLS President Jeremy Crawford joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the current state of the Atlanta housing market and the company's pioneering virtual services. Crawford joins hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the All About Real Estate segment. A premier Atlanta multiple listing service (MLS), FMLS has over 56,000 brokers and agents using its service. In the last year, the company experienced 15 percent in growth and is now the fourth-largest MLS in the nation, with brokers from every state as well as outside the U.S. Crawford said, “I always love to talk about the stats and talk about the data. What we saw last year really paved the way for 2022.” Atlanta Home Prices Increasing Rapidly In a recent publication, Bloomberg shared that Atlanta is posting faster pricing increases than any other metro area market in the nation. Inflation, unemployment down to 2.4 percent and rent increasing by 24 percent year over date are all components th

President of St. Bourke Ben Simpson joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the land planning, St. Bourke’s history and its contribution to placemaking in metro Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Simpson joins hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the All About Real Estate segment. Passionate business owner, property developer, community builder and placemaker are just a few things that describe Simpson. With a 25-year track record of leading great project teams and stakeholders, Simpson strives to create vibrant communities and developments for clients. Simpson took on the role of president at St. Bourke after working with Australia’s largest residential community builder and diversified property group, Stockland, for 16 years. In his previous role, Simpson was responsible for the design, management and development of a significant property portfolio valued at more than $16 billion, which included 23,000 residential lots across seven major master-planned communities. Before worki

Vice President of Sales for Smith Douglas Homes Jamie Chastain joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss the builder's new metro Atlanta communities. Chastain joins hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the All About Real Estate segment. A Georgia native, Chastain started in the industry 24 years ago in general real estate and, in the early 2000s, made the switch to new home sales. Chastain remarks that she feels lucky to have the opportunity to grow her career into a leadership position at Smith Douglas Homes in Atlanta. With a mission to provide a wide range of affordable housing, Smith Douglas Homes has been a prominent metro Atlanta builder for over 40 years. Chastain said, “Quality and affordability are a high focus, and it has been a little challenging this year to keep that vision alive.” When Founder Tom Bradbury launched the company, the Atlanta market mainly consisted of private home builders, now the market is comprised mainly of large public home builders. Today, Smith Dougl

Youth and Millennial Engagement Coordinator Cameron Friend and Farris Watkins, great-niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., join the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss The King Center and the great legacy of Dr. King. Friend and Watkins join hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the Around Atlanta Segment. With a tremendous legacy to uphold, part of Friend’s role as youth and millennial engagement coordinator at The King Center is to find ways to connect upcoming generations with the principal steps towards nonviolence. Established by Coretta Scott King in the year Dr. King was assassinated, The King Center upholds the teachings of the late Civil Rights leader and offers training and education focused on the center’s mission. Friend works to find ways to share the story of Dr. King with younger generations looking to help solve challenges throughout the world. Friend shared, “We just want to make sure we’re empowering and equipping the next generation with the tools necessary to help them und

New Home Sales Consultant and Associate Broker with McKinley Homes Xi Veerkamp joins the Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio podcast to discuss her impressive OBIE win as well as recent McKinley Homes developments. Veerkamp joins hosts Carol Morgan and Todd Schnick for the All About Real Estate segment. After moving to the U.S. to complete her undergraduate degree in 2008, Veerkamp received her M.B.A. in real estate from Georgia State University. In 2018, she joined the McKinley Homes team as a land acquisition analyst and later, became the land acquisition manager before transitioning into her role in new home sales. Although a relatively new company, McKinley Homes is a fast-growing metro Atlanta builder, experiencing nearly 40% growth year over year. With plans to reach 1,000 closings in the Atlanta market as well as expand into other markets, McKinley Homes is celebrating the ground-breaking of a 40-unit luxury condominium development in New York. Not limited to residential projects, the builder also specia