An overgrown, collapsing house sat untouched for 15 years until Mike Lovelace decided to do something about it. In this episode, you'll learn how one determined agent used old-school tools, a petition, and a builder’s mindset to restore value and dignity to a forgotten neighborhood. The payoff? A heart-wrenching story of lost memories found again. Tune in, and you might just be inspired to take action in your own community!

Key takeaways to listen for

• How one neighbor’s frustration turned into a community-led effort to restore property value and safety
• Why Mike chose an old-school petition to get attention from county officials finally
• The surprising ripple effects a neglected property in a neighborhood has on home value
• Ways Mike leveraged real estate tools, relationships, and sheer persistence to create solutions beyond a transaction
• Why advocacy might be the most important part of the job of a REALTOR®

About Mike Lovelace
Mike is a North Carolina-based REALTOR® with a deep background in tech, finance, and public service. A former trading systems administrator for major firms, Mike brings precision, integrity, and a heart for community to every real estate transaction.

Licensed originally in New Jersey and now serving Eastern North Carolina, he’s known for going above and beyond, whether it’s helping clients navigate tricky deals or spearheading neighborhood-changing efforts like abandoned property restorations.

Connect with Mike

• Facebook: Mike Lovelace, Realtor at United Real Estate East Carolina
• X: @mikesellsenc
• Email: mikesellsenc@gmail.com

Connect with Leigh
Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app at https://pod.link/1153262163, and never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.com. DM Leigh Brown on Instagram @ LeighThomasBrown.

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Student loan payments are back, and millions of borrowers have no idea they're already delinquent. In this episode, Brian Vaughan breaks down what’s happening with student loans, how it could tank your credit score without warning, and what to do before applying for a mortgage. Plus, we dive into what’s coming this summer with medical debt reform and a wild loan story involving a surprise job switch that actually saved a deal.

Key takeaways to listen for

• Student loan chaos: Why millions of Americans are unknowingly delinquent
• Steps to take if your student loans have damaged your mortgage eligibility
• Why pulling your credit report annually should be your new self-care ritual
• A game-changing credit policy shift that could open doors for buyers
• Reasons job changes mid-mortgage can derail deals and how to time them right

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Free Credit Report
• Annual Credit Report.com
• Credit Karma
• CreditWise | Free Credit Score, Credit Report & Monitoring

About Brian Vaughan
Brian is a loan officer and co-manager of Fairway Mortgage in Burlington. In addition to lending people money to buy homes, he takes his black tea with milk, quotes Shakespeare less than he would prefer, and is somewhat of a soccer fanatic. Brian lives in Georgia, VT, with his wife, four kids, and Goldendoodle, Dame Judi Dench.

Connect with Brian

• Website: Brian Vaughan, Burlington, VT - NMLS# 2046057
• Instagram: @brianvaughanmortgages
• LinkedIn: Brian Vaughan
• Email: brian.vaughan@fairwaymc.com
• Phone Number: 802-489-7186

Connect with Leigh
Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app at https://pod.link/1153262163, and never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.com. DM Leigh Brown on Instagram @ LeighThomasBrown.

Sponsors
"You Ask. Leigh Answers." Your Affordable Coaching Program
Hey there, real estate pros! Are you ready for some more Leigh Brown wisdom in your life? Then don't miss out on my brand-new program, "You Ask. Leigh Answers." It's your exclusive gateway to the insights and advice you need to supercharge your real estate business. With "You Ask. Leigh Answers." you get Direct Access to Leigh Brown, directly! Expert Coaching, Community Connection, and Extensive Resources. Whether listening to this on the go or watching at home, sign up today at Answers.RealEstate and take your business to the next level. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

🔗 https://answers.realestate/

If you’ve ever cursed your phone during a cold call, this episode might just change your tune. Nicholas Nick (yes, that’s really his name) shares how a hospitality career turned into a multimillion-dollar real estate lead-gen company. Plus, stick around to hear how one Vermont fourplex turned into a snow-covered, flood-prone, tenant-infested financial disaster with a $20K eviction twist!

Key takeaways to listen for

• How managing restaurants for 13 years trained Nick to dominate customer service in real estate
• Why cold calling is still one of the best free lead gen methods
• The one powerful script line that transformed Nick’s sales strategy
• Reasons great customer service always wins in sales conversations
• A big lesson for aspiring real estate professionals

About Nicholas Nick
Nicholas is the founder of Lead Mining Pros, one of the top real estate lead generation companies in the U.S. With over a decade in the industry and a background in hospitality and real estate education, Nicholas built his business to help investors and agents grow through cold calling, text messaging, skip tracing, and done-for-you lead services.

Connect with Nicholas

• Website: Lead Mining Pros
• Instagram: @nicholasnicksays
• Facebook: Nicholas Nick
• YouTube: Lead Mining
• Phone Number: 727-877-8772

Connect with Leigh
Please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app at https://pod.link/1153262163, and never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.com. DM Leigh Brown on Instagram @ LeighThomasBrown.

Sponsors
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