Is New Home Construction in Your Plans? Tips From the Builder and Mortgage Pros

 

1^ST SEGMENT 12 MINUTES

LET’S GET STARTED…(Jo) (Good morning, Memphis!  Welcome to our internet listeners and podcast listeners across the 50 states! . You’re on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe. I’m your host, Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Originator.  You can connect with me at www.JoGarner.com. Our topic today January 31^st , 2026 is: “Is New Home Construction in Your Plans? Tips From the Builder and Mortgage Pros” Thank you to attorneys Shelley Rothman and Rob Draughon of Griffin, Clift Everton and Maschmeyer Law Firm for sponsoring this episode.  When you are ready to buy a home or refinance one, call Rob and Shelley for the title work and closing. 901 752-1133. 

Introducing Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes

(Jo) Back in the in the studio we have Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes, custom and subdivision builders   in Mississippi. Craig, you have been in the home building business for many years. And Karen, you have been a realtor for a while now and currently are with Halloran Realty Group in Tennessee and Mississippi.   You pride yourselves on producing a high quality product and fast build times. .   You both started Meadows Homes in 2023. 

 You current subdivision is at Chapel Hill in Holly Springs, Mississippi.  (Craig and Karen have about 1.5 min to introduce themselves and talk about the services they offer their new construction customers )

 

(Jo) Building your home the way you want to live is an exciting milestone in life.   You want to buy a home that lets you live the way you want to live.  Write down the size and amenities you want for your home. You want a mortgage that you can ENJOY paying each month.    What is the maximum house payment you can comfortably pay each month?

   

At first you may think, “ There’s no way I can afford to buy   the house I want.”  You may be surprised at how many methods you can use to free up more funds per month to be comfortable paying the house note.   It is a matter of changing some habits, and substituting a product or service for  something that does not take away the joy in your life, but lowers the bill for it. 

 

I read about a lady named Cherie Lowe. She really dived into cutting expenses in her budget without giving up the joy of life.  She became known as the “Queen of Free” because she found so many ways to get stuff free or close to free. It became fun and a lifestyle change for her. You don’t  have to go so far as Ms. Lowe did, but you can still do some simple restructuring of debt and substituting expensive stuff for less expensive things you want and need.  And it feels good when you get going on this project.  

Let’s take a look at your income and your credit.  You may be surprised how much you can afford buying or building the house where you can live the life you want. 

Once you are prequalified for the mortgage you need, you are ready to go talk to your builder.   Talk with your builder before buying any floor plans. 

 

(Jo) Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes, we have a few minutes before we go to an ad break.  Let’s get started with one or two of your new construction home tips.   (Craig and Karen have about 3- 4 minutes to start launching into their topics until ad break. )

 

OUTRO: You’re on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe. I’m your host, Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Originator. What do YOU want to accomplish with YOUR mortgage?  I can make the mortgage process EASY for you with the right mortgage. Connect with me at JoGarner.com   When we come back, we will be hearing more from Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes.  Stay tuned. 

 

 

 

 

2nd segment is after first   break  8 minutes 50 seconds

 

 

( Waaka Waaka song in background ) COMIC QUERIES (you probably already know the answer, but we want to ask you anyway)

(Jo)  A vision rose up from the ground,
With hammering rhythm and sound,
Each layer stacked tight,
From morning to night,
Till beauty stood tall and profound!

What does this little limerick describe? 

(Craig and Karen give the answer:   New home construction)

 

(Jo) Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe, we are talking about “Is New Home Construction in Your Plans? Tips From the Builder and Mortgage Pros”

 

I’m your host,  Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Originator . For your home purchase or a mortgage refinance you can brag about.  We can find the right mortgage product and make the mortgage process EASY on a traditional mortgage, on special programs and outside-of-the-box mortgage programs too.   Connect with me at JoGarner.com

Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes   662- 804-9037

 

TALK SHOPPE TIP

LEAH ANNE MORSE OF ALL THINGS NEW MOVING COMPANY

WWW.ALLTHINGSNEWWTN.COM 

(901) 488-9733

Talk Shoppe is one of our major sponsors on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe.  Talk Shoppe offers free networking and education to our local business community.   If you join the Talk Shoppe Sponsor team, you can get a wide variety of marketing venues at a below-market price.   www.TalkShoppe.com 

 

It’s time to talk shop with Talk Shoppe’s Business Tip For  Real Estate Professionals. Talk Shoppe is a marketing company offering free education and networking to anyone interested in real estate or in business or health and wellness. Talk  Shoppe is made possible by the financial support of its sponsors. For more about Talk Shoppe, go to www.TalkShoppe.com (shoppe)  For our Talk Shoppe Business Tip today we have Talk Shoppe sponsor Leah Anne Morse of All Things New Moving Company. Leah Anne, your moving company is one of the Memphis Most Community Awards winners this year.  You get excellent reviews from your customers you have moved across town or across the country.   You make the moving process EASY and a positive experience.  Leah Anne Morse of All Things New,  what is your Talk Shoppe Business Tip for Real Estate Pros?  

Leah Anne Morse of All Things New offers her tip (about one minute)

Tip:   When you are building a home and designing it the way you want to live, use measurements of each room so that the furniture you are putting into the home will not overcrowd the space. Make sure that where you want locate lamps and other appliances have an electrical outlet nearby etc. 

__________________________________________________________

 

TOPICS COVERED CRAIG AND KAREN MEADOWS OF MEADOWS HOMES 

 

 

“Building It Right: The 7 Things Every Homebuyer Should Know”

 

TIP #1 – Build for How You Actually Live Let’s start with something most people get wrong. They design their home for how they want to be seen, not how they actually live. Instagram kitchens. Pinterest pantries. Open shelves with no dust. But real life has: Muddy shoes Bookbags Laundry Groceries Dogs Kids And chaos. **So ask yourself: Where do people walk in? Where do shoes pile up? Where does laundry land? Where do groceries come through the door? How much storage do you actually need? ****A house that fights your habits will exhaust you. ****A house that flows with your life will bless you. 

 

TIP #2 – Spend Money on What You Can’t Change Later Here’s a hard truth: Paint can change. Cabinets can change. Light fixtures can change. But you will almost never change: Your lot Your floorplan Your ceiling height Your window placement If your living room is dark… it will always be dark. If your kitchen is cramped… it will always be cramped. So invest in: Natural light Open flow Storage Layout that makes sense 

 

TIP #3 – Be a Little Ahead of the Growth This one is huge, and most people miss it. Everybody wants to buy where everything is already built: The restaurants. The schools. The shopping. The traffic. But by the time it feels “perfect,” the prices are already high. Smart buyers look for the edge of growth — places where: Roads are expanding New schools are coming New subdivisions are being planned Local investment is starting You don’t have to be out in the middle of nowhere — you just want to be one chapter ahead of the crowd. That’s how people get: Better lots Lower prices And more future equity **Growth rewards those who arrive early. 

 

TIP #4 – Think in Energy Bills, Not Just Square Footage. This one surprises people. A well-built 2,200-square-foot home can feel better and cost less to live in than a sloppy 3,000-square-foot one. Why? Because of: Insulation Windows Air sealing HVAC sizing Comfort isn’t about size — it’s about how well the house holds what you pay for. You don’t want to keep buying heat and air and watching it leak right outside, and you don’t want to heat and cool spaces you’ll rarely use. 

 

TIP #5 – Don’t Over-Customize for Resale Your house should feel like you. But there’s a line between personal and peculiar.Extreme design choices may feel fun — but they can cost you tens of thousands later when it’s time to sell. So aim for: Neutral foundations Flexible spaces Timeless finishes Then add personality with furniture, art, and color — the things that can move with you. 

 

TIP #6 – Choose the Builder, Not Just the Price Let me say this gently but clearly: The cheapest builder often becomes the most expensive. Through: Delays Change orders Mistakes Stress Broken promises Disorganization Think about the saying “you get what you pay for” There’s a lot of truth to that. A home is too important to gamble on. Choose: Communication Integrity Warranty Experience Because peace in the process is just as important as the final product. 

 

TIP #7 – AI Is Changing How Homes Are Designed and Built This is something most people don’t realize yet — but it’s huge. Artificial intelligence is already being used to: Design better floorplans Optimize material usage Predict maintenance issues Improve energy efficiency And reduce waste The process for builders is also becoming more streamlined and more organized with the help of AI tools. In the near future, homes will be: Smarter. More efficient. More customized. 

 

And better built than ever before. The buyers who choose forward-thinking builders today will live in homes that age better tomorrow. Closing Comments: When you choose: The right design The right location The right builder And the right future-focused approach =You don’t just get a house — you gain peace, equity, and legacy.

 

 

 

 

 

3^RD SEGMENT 12 minutes

 

 

• For Did You Know  today…(see if you can guess the answer before we do)  
•  
• (Karen Meadows)  Trivia Question:  What is the name of this historic house in Memphis, TN?

 

Hint #1: One of Memphis’s oldest remaining residences, was built in the 1830s by an Irish immigrant and stands in what’s today Victorian Village.

Hint #2:  Memphis’s first Catholic Mass (1839), first Catholic marriage (1840), and first Catholic baptism (1841) all happened right inside this modest clapboard home.

 

(Jo)  Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe, we are talking about “Is New Home Construction in Your Plans? Tips From the Builder and Mortgage Pros

I’m your host,  Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Originator . For your home purchase or a mortgage refinance you can brag about.  We can find the right mortgage product and make the mortgage process EASY on a traditional mortgage, on special programs and outside-of-the-box mortgage programs too.   Connect with me at JoGarner.com

Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes   662- 804-9037

 

TOPICS COVERED BY JO GARNER, LICENSED MORTGAGE OFFICER

 

 

If you can’t find it, build it—Ian and Isabelle Ikerd’s strategy to make their own inventory

Ian and Isabelle were budget conscious and didn’t want to jump out and buy a home and regret it later.    They both agreed on the type house they wanted, the amenities they wanted and the down payment and monthly payment they could handle.   The problem?   The type house they wanted was already under contract by someone else.  They had been diligently driving around for over a year looking for a home.  When they found one, someone else beat them during competitive bidding from multiple parties offering to buy.  

“The houses that have what we want are either too big, too expensive or just won’t fit how we want to live in it.”   Ian wanted to custom build a home but Isabelle pointed out that it would take a longer time  to build and who knew what mortgage rates would be before they could lock in the mortgage rate. 

The answer for  the Ikerd’s was the one-time construction-to-permanent mortgage that would allow them to lock in the price of the home with their builder. They could also lock in a fixed mortgage rate right away that would protect their mortgage rate until they could finalized the terms when the home construction was complete.  If they could close within 360 days, they would not have to requalify for the loan and they would already have their fixed rate mortgage they locked in at the start of construction.   Ian and Isabelle could sleep peacefully at night and enjoy their home building journey.

How the One-Time Construction to Permanent Mortgage Works

One loan. One closing. Converts automatically to a regular mortgage.

Advantages 

Disadvantages:

 

 

 

            MAKE YOUR PLAN. LET’S WORK YOUR PLAN. IF THE DEAL WORKS FOR YOU TODAY, LET’S DO IT TODAY.  I can make the mortgage process easy. Connect with me at www.JoGarner.com   You can email me at Jo@JoGarner.com or call me at (901) 482-0354 

 

 

4^th Segment  8 minutes and 50 seconds

 

 

(THE SONG UpBeat Inspirations  PLAYING IN BACKGROUND )    INSIGHTS & INSPIRATION  Jo shares this story

 

“My New Home”

There was a woman named Carla who had spent years dreaming about her perfect home. She knew exactly what she wanted — an open kitchen for family gatherings, sunlight pouring through big windows, and a quiet space to work from home.

But when the builder priced out her dream floor plan, the number came in higher than what she could comfortably afford. For a moment, Carla thought she’d have to give up on building altogether.

Instead, she paused — and got creative.

She looked at her budget closely and made a few small sacrifices: fewer takeout meals, trading her car for a smaller payment, and postponing a couple of luxury extras. Then she sat back down with her mortgage professional and builder.

The builder suggested smart adjustments — slightly smaller front porch to make more room inside, a more efficient layout, and choosing finishes that saved money without sacrificing beauty.

Suddenly, the numbers worked.

Carla still got the bright kitchen, the open feel, and the home she’d imagined — just designed more wisely.

When she finally held the keys, she nodded with realization.
“I didn’t lower my dream,” she though. “I just built it smarter.”

What do You want in life that seems out of reach?  Don’t lower your dreams. Work on smart strategies to build it to reality. 

 

 

 

(Jo) Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe, we are talking about “Is New Home Construction in Your Plans? Tips From the Builder and Mortgage Pros”

I’m your host,  Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Originator . For your home purchase or a mortgage refinance you can brag about.  We can find the right mortgage product and make the mortgage process EASY on a traditional mortgage, on special programs and outside-of-the-box mortgage programs too.   Connect with me at JoGarner.com

Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes   662- 804-9037

 

REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE WEEK 

Craig and Karen Meadows of Meadows Homes  gives a tip (about 1.5 minutes)

Tip:  Choose the builder and not the price.  You get what you pay for.  The cheapest builder could end up being the most expensive outcome in the long run.    A good builder can keep the project and qualify on track and save you headaches later. 

 

 

 

 

What do YOU want to accomplish with YOUR mortgage?  I have the knowledge and experience. Let’s look at traditional mortgage products, alternative mortgage products and even combinations of products. I can help you get you what you need and make the mortgage process EASY.     Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Officer 901 482-0354   www.JoGarner.com 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:   

Talk Shoppe equips with education, engages by offering connection opportunities between business people and empowers businesses in a supportive community. Talk Shoppe meets every Wednesday 9A-10A CT at Independent Planning Group’s conference room 110 at Clark Tower 5100 Poplar Ave 1^st floor Memphis, TN

(Thank you Ben Hunter 901 660-2912 outstanding Financial Professional at Independent Planning Group for being Talk Shoppe’s location sponsor)

Talk Shoppe on Wednesday February 4^th, 2026  9AM   for “From Stress to Strategy: The Case for Property Management” Stephanie Jones Evernest Property Management

Talk Shoppe says thank you to the generous sponsors who make the free education and networking possible to our local business community. Thank you to Leah Anne Morse of All Things New organizing and Moving Company for your generous support of our business and real estate community.  If you are planning to move across town or across the country , call Leah Anne Morse of All Things New 901 488-9733.

SPECIAL NOTE: REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE SHOPPE DOES NOT ENDORSE 100% OF THE CONTENT ON THIS EPISODE.  REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE SHOPPE  RECOMMENDS THAT YOU CONSULT WITH A FINANCIAL, LEGAL OR OTHER CERTIFIED, LICENSED PROFESSIONAL BEFORE ACTING OR INVESTING ON ANYTHING YOU HEAR OR SEE FROM THE CONTENT ON THIS SHOW OR BLOG POSTS. THE INFORMATION WE SHARE ON REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE SHOPPE IS GENERAL IN NATURE MEANT FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND NOT AN OFFER TO LEND.  EXAMPLES GIVEN FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ON REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE SHOPPE AND MOST ARE BASED ON TRUE STORIES BUT WE USE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS AND DO NOT DIRECTLY REFLECT REAL PEOPLE OR EXACT DETAILS IN ANY OF THE SITUATIONS. JO GARNER IS A LICENSED MORTGAGE LOAN ORIGINATOR. (EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY)

 

• QUOTE CORNER “Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.  –InboundREM

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CREDITS

REJOINDERS:  

1. Taylor Morse of Cartridge World of Collierville 901 853-3230
2. Tim Flesner, MidSouth Home Helpers   (non-medical assistance in the home) 901 414-9696
3. Allen McCool of Stephenson and Associates real estate appraiser 901 550-2100

Transitional Music: First Segment    “WAAKA WAAKA” (PD) for Comic Queries;    “Brighter Tomorrows” by Stocktunes for Did You Know segment;  “Upbeat Inspiration” by Ikoliksaj for Insights and Inspiration segment.

INTRO AND OUTRO THEME MUSIC  “Country Roads” by Sergie Pavkin

PICK UP YOUR COPY OF “CHOOSING THE BEST MORTGAGE-THE QUICKEST WAY TO THE LIFE YOU WANT” by: JO GARNER

 

An essential guide for real estate professionals and their customers.

 

On Amazon and Barnes and Noble

 

 

ABOUT CRAIG AND KAREN MEADOWS OF MEADOWS HOMES 

901 620-7554

www.MeadowsHomesofMS.com 

BIO: From the mid 1990’s Craig began working in the construction industry and always had an affinity for architecture and home building. However, the 2008 housing market crash led him to earning a business and engineering degree that took him all over the world in the oil and gas industry, for about 10 years. But with 4 children he really wanted a career that kept him home with his family and with one he could build a legacy.  Once the housing market began to bounce back he really focused his attention on home building. He prides himself on producing a  high quality product and fast build times. His Wife Karen of 30 years is a real estate agent with Halloran Realty Group in both TN and MS. This dynamic duo started Meadows Homes together in 2023 and business continues to grow. The demand for custom new construction has been on the rise. In an ever changing market with costs increasingly rising it’s been important to them to find innovative ways to cut costs for their customers so everyone can have their dream home. 

 

 

 

ABOUT JO GARNER-MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER:

www.JoGarner.com    (901) 482 0354  jo@jogarner.com  X     @jogarner   NMLS# 757308 

(currently working with Everitt Financial dba Supreme Lending)

ONLINE LOAN APPLICATION :   https://jogarner.supremelendingLO.com 

 “Whatever YOUR   personal priorities are, my job is to help you get the mortgage terms that will give you bragging rights when you talk about it and help you score on  hitting your goals .”

As a mortgage loan officer, my job is to help you get to the  benefits you want from your financing terms.  What is most important to you? I can help you find the financing terms that will help you get to what you want.   What is your comfort level on a house payment? How much are you comfortable paying down,? What type of financing do you need to get the house you want to buy or refinance?

 Different clients have different priorities in life—some are buying their first home with very little down payment funds.  Some are recovering from medical challenges, divorces or preparing to send children to college and some are embarking on a long term goal of buying properties to build rental income.”

 Jo Garner is a mortgage officer with extensive knowledge in helping her clients find the right mortgage program and making the refinance or home purchase mortgage process EASY.  She offers conventional, FHA, VA or other loan programs for primary residences, second homes and investment properties.  

Jo can help you look at rent vs buy, when it makes sense to refinance, how to get the best deal on your home  purchase financing.   

Jo Garner  has been in the real estate/financing business for over 30 years.  She grew up in West Tennessee and got her start in real estate in Portland, Maine where she first began her real estate career. She received her real estate education from the University of Southern Maine  and was personally mentored in San Diego, California  by Robert G. Allen, author of Nothing Down, Creating *Wealth and The Challenge.

On moving back to West Tennessee in 1987, she went into business buying and selling discounted owner-financed notes secured on real estate.  In 1990 Jo went to work for a residential mortgage company and has been a mortgage loan officer for over 30 years.