Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the Pros

 

“Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the Pros”

                         

What is it that YOU want in life?  The earlier you start owning real estate, the wealthier you can be.  But, even if you have had some set backs and delays, you can make a step forward today.

Jo Garner, Mortgage Loan Officer (901) 482-0354 

Pat Goldstein, Realtor Crye-Leike Realtors (901) 606-2000

Silvana Piadade, Realtor with EXP Realtors 901 647-6661

Gay Young, Realtor EXP Realty (901) 581-6118

Subscribe for weekly Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe podcasts & show notes www.JoGarner.com

#homebuyer #homeseller #realestateinvestor #seniorhousing  

 

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, March 28th, 2026 “Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the Pros.” When life changes… your housing strategy should change with it. No matter your life stage—there is a smart move you can make right now. Whether you are buying your first home or  a move-up home, we have some tips for you.   You may own your home but want to build your income and wealth by buying more homes to use as rental properties.   Finally, you want to plan for the best housing options when you get older and want to retire and be comfortable. Let me introduce you to some experienced realtors who are ready to help you or someone you know navigate whatever stage you are ready to take on.  

 

Introducing Our Real Estate Panel of Experts 

(Jo) Are you getting ready to buy your first home?   Perhaps you own a home but you want to buy another home and move up or over somewhere else. Pat Goldstein, a realtor with Crye-Leike, so glad to have you back in the studio again.  People in our network call you “The Gold Standard” in real estate. Today you are giving us some tips for first-time homebuyers and move up buyers.  Pat, take 30 seconds or so and tell us about yourself and the services you offer your clients. (Pat Goldstein has about 30 seconds to talk about herself and the services she offers her clients.)

 

(Jo) Silvana Piadade, realtor with EXP Realty is in the studio again.  Silvana you have won awards and speak fluent Spanish.  I have worked with you on some of your real estate investors who are at stage in life where they want to buy rental property to build income and wealth over time. You know some rules about how to find and fund these investment properties and distress properties. Today   Take a half a minute and tell our listeners about yourself and what you do for your clients. (Silvana has 30 seconds to intro herself and describe the services she offers)

 

(Jo) Gay Young, realtor with EXP Realty, welcome to your first time in our studio.   Gay, you also have many years experience servicing your real estate clients.  You are certified to help your clients with making good choices on their senior housing transactions.  Take a moment the introduce yourself and tell us about the services you offer your clients. (Gay has about 30 seconds to intro herself and describe the services she offers her clients.)

 

(Jo)  Pat, what are your top tips for first-time homebuyers and move-up buyers?  

(Pat offers a few top tips for first-time homebuyers and shares an example story ) Other guests are free to discuss and ask questions or offer other tips, comments or examples 

Tip 1:   Research to know where you want to live and your personal comfort level on a mortgage payment and down payment. (You can change your house but you can’t change your neighborhood.   Find a general area where you want to live and shop in that area.)

Tip 2:  Homebuyers need to know what your time table is.   If your lease is ending in a couple of months, NOW is the time to start house hunting.  It takes time to find the right home and get offer accepted, home inspections and the mortgage approval.  

Tip 3: What not to do as a seller:  Don’t be at the house when the realtor shows the home.   Sellers tend to say things that turn off the buyer.  She listed a house and seller put in amazing security system and kept telling the buyers about how his security system protected him.  This made the buyer think the neighborhood was not safe and they did not make an offer. 

Jo’s Mortgage Tip for first-time homebuyers     There are special mortgage programs that offer down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and for buyers who are NOT first-time homebuyers.  There are special programs that offer lower-than market rates to make the payments more affordable 

The most common low down payment loans are the government-backed FHA loan, 100% Rural Housing loan program and the 100% Veteran loan.   These loans can be combined with down payment assistance programs and they are assumable, giving the borrower additional strategies to sell the property or rent it out later if a life change happens and they need to move away or just move up to a bigger, better house.  

 

Tip 4: Move-up buyers:    They need to know if they have to sell their home before they buy something new.  Will they qualify on a mortgage to buy another home before they sell their current home.  If they can afford it, there are bridge loan options available to give them to down payment they want to put down on the new home before selling the old one. 

Mortgage Tip :

Jo—mention common financing options for move-up buyers   

HELOC on their current home is cheaper than getting a home equity line on the home you are buying.  

Recast option allows you to pay small amount down on the purchase of the new home 

 

Blancey Bryant-Knows What She Wants and Uses a Little-Known Tool to Get it 

Blancey Bryant was looking forward moving outside the city so she could get back to her farming roots during the hours she wasn’t working.  She lived with her youngest son in the home she had raised her family. He was finishing at the nearby college and planned to move out of state for a career opportunity. She didn’t want to sell her home until he was on his own and able to support himself.  But…the world doesn’t give us opportunities on our own timetable. 

Blancey’s realtor  knew the kind of country place Blancey was dreaming of owning. As it turns out, her realtor found the perfect bit of land and country home with the functioning greenhouse that Blancey had been searching for.  There could not be a more perfect location, and the price wasn’t bad either.     Blancey felt pushed and pulled in opposite directions.  She wanted to buy the new place, because who knows if another home like that would ever come along.  But, she couldn’t sell the house out from under her son.     

She could have gotten an equity line of credit for the $200K equity she had in her home and use it to pay down on the new home so her note on the new home would not be too high.  But the equity line was a variable rate and Blancey did not like the uncertainty of that. She didn’t want to do a cash out on the old home for a fixed rate mortgage because there were closing costs. 

How was Blancey going to buy the new home in the country and still keep her old home for her son to live in and not borrow against the old home?   The answer was for use to use a little-known tool on her new loan by making it a mortgage with a recast option on it.     

Blancey was still working so she could afford the payment on the old home and the higher payment on the new home.  But when her son moved out of the old home, she would sell it and take the $200K profit and make a large prepayment to pay down the balance on the new home loan.  Instead of having to refinance and pay closing costs, Blancey would exercise her recast option and the mortgage company would lower her payment to reflect the lower paid down balance.  Her mortgage rate would not change.  But her payment would drop from $3,000 per month to about $1,000 per month.   

 

(We can continue these open discussions covering these tips throughout this first segment of the show and after the ad break and throughout the second 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 Ed Hill of Masters Roofing.   See you back in just a moment. 

 

 

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 will ask anyway 

Riddle:
What do you call a monthly bill that can help build wealth instead of just disappearing?

Answer:
A mortgage payment.

• Riddle: What do polite real estate agents drink?
  1. Answer: Proper tea

 

Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe we are talking about Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the 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

Pat Goldstein, Realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors( 901) 606-2000

Silvana Piadade, Realtor with EXP Realty (901)   647-6661

Gay Young, Realtor with EXP Realty (901) 581-6118

TOPICS COVERED BY JO GARNER, PAT GOLDSTEIN, SILVANA PIADADE AND GAY YOUNG 

 

To our listeners:   What life change are you facing right now—and what’s the smartest housing move for you?”

(Jo) Silvana, what are your top tips for people who want to start building an income and wealth by buying real estate for investment? (Silvana offers top tips for real estate investors. Other guests are free to discuss and ask questions or offer other tips, comments or examples ) 

(Jo) Silvana, what are your tips for buyers and sellers dealing with distressed properties. (Silvana offers top tips for buyers and sellers dealing with distressed properties  . Other guests are free to discuss and ask questions or offer other tips, comments or examples ) 

Tip 1. new investor vs savvy investors

Tip 2. example of a new investor who owns a home (young couple who have small children)  purchased an inexpensive home to rent by the university, mortgage being paid by the tenant, couple maintained the home and can sell it when the child is at an age where he/she needs to go to a university and use these funds for higher education.

 

Jo’s mortgage tip Winning play to have real estate pay college tuition

 

Mr. and Ms. Smith knew they wanted their son to be able to college at their alma mater out of state.  The tuition with the living expenses were going to strain their budget, and how much were they going to have to sacrifice to get their son to graduation?  Not much all, as a matter of fact.  The Smiths decided to BUY a home close to the university where their son could live.   Their son went on the loan with them as the owner occupant on a government-backed FHA loan, so the deal didn’t cost much cash out of pocket, and their son rented two of the rooms to other students which more than paid the mortgage payment   Very clever for the Smiths! They made money each month and built equity and their son built his credit at the same time too. Who do you know that could use this smart strategy for their college student? Let’s talk! 

Tip 3. Investing in real estate

REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts): Invest in real estate through the stock market with as little as a few hundred dollars.

Tip 4. House Hacking: Live in one unit of a multi-family property while renting out the others to cover your mortgage

Jo’s mortgage tip:  Use of traditional financing or DSCR low-doc program and the two-step program 

Example of a savvy real estate investor

 

Mr. Investor considers two angles when he goes to purchase a home—the property and the financing. 

When he wants to buy a rental property fast and simple, he uses the low-documentation DSCR investor loan. This loan eliminates a long list of restrictions that traditional financing requires.  He puts 20% or 25% down, does not have to show any income except the lease income or estimated rent income on the property he is purchasing.  The lender looks at Mr. Investor’s credit, the lease income on the property he is buying and the funds he has to pay down.  

The lender evaluates the appraisal and the property has to have good title.    MUCH quicker and easier to get closed in less than 30 days. The DSCR program also allow Mr. Investor to get the loan and title in the name of his LLC business, giving him a layer of asset protection. 

If it is a loan amount below $75K, the traditional Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan is a good fall back 

Fixer-upper purchases- Mr. Investor gets one loan from a hard money lender to cover the purchase and renovation costs on the rental property.   When the renovation is done, we can pay off the temporary hard money loan with a permanent mortgage with a low payment on the traditional loan or DSCR loan. 

 

____________________________________________________________

3^RD SEGMENT 12 minutes

 

 

• For Did You Know  today…(see if you can guess the answer before we do)
• Who am I ?
•  (built in Memphis in 1924 to be an alternative to the Peabody Hotel), it was once the city’s tallest hotel and hosted legends like Elvis Presley and President Lyndon Johnson. This hotel was once Memphis’ tallest hotel and a premier social hub, famous for its Balinese Room, roof garden. After closing in 1968, the historic Italian Renaissance-style building was repurposed into apartments and later converted into luxury condominiums in 2004.
• ANSWER   Hotel Claridge/  Claridge House Condos
•  
• Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe we are talking about Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the 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
•  
• Pat Goldstein, Realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors( 901) 606-2000
• Silvana Piadade, Realtor with EXP Realty (901)  647-6661
• Gay Young, Realtor with EXP Realty (901) 581-6118

 

 

 

TOPICS COVERED BY PAT GOLDSTEIN, SILVANA PIADADE, AND GAY YOUNG  AND JO GARNER continued

(Open discussion tips from each of the guests)

We can answer questions we get texted to us from anyone watching our live YOUTUBE viewers)

 

(Jo) Gay Young, what are your tips for your customers trying to decide on the best senior housing options for their loved ones? (Gay offers top tips for senior housing customers. Other guests are free to discuss and ask questions or offer other tips, comments or examples ) 

 

Tip 1. What  to Consider (in your decisions)

Tip 2. How to Prepare (to make the move)

Tip 3. Where are the Options (to go)

Tip 4. Who (the team) can Make it Happen

 

Jo’s mortgage tip for senior housing options: 

The IMPROVED Reverse Mortgage Program

 

Reecy Roland (not her real name) was around 70 years old and realized there were still a lot of adventures  she wanted to experience in life  but knew she wanted to remain living in her home. 

In the past she never considered getting a reverse mortgage that would give HER a lump sum of cash AND a monthly income because she wanted her kids to inherit her home.

But, after talking with her financial advisor and her mortgage lender, she decided the reverse mortgage program had improved with better safety features that would make it easier for her family to still inherit her home one day when she was no longer with them. 

Improvements included  limits on how much the lender could require to be paid back, leaving more time and more options for the family to still have some equity left in the home when it was time to pay back the mortgage. 

The HECM would allow her a small lump sum to do some repairs and improvements on her home.  It would pay off the small mortgage balance still owing and would give her a monthly income.  The monthly income would help her experience some items on her bucket list.  One day it could help her afford to get assistance so she could remain living in her home longer.   When she would no longer be living in the home, there were options for her family to pay off the reverse mortgage and own the remaining equity.  

Another reverse customer of mind used the lump sum from their reverse mortgage on their primary residence to purchase a vacation home out of state so they could spend summers making memories with the kids and grandkids. 

OTHER COMMON FINANCING OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES LOOKING FOR SENIOR HOUSING SOLUTIONS

Some families choose to sell their old home and buy a different home that allows their older family member to live with them and still have their private space.   Many times the down payment and income to qualify for the home purchase comes from the older family members and the younger ones buying the home. 

Some families get a home equity line or a renovation and repair mortgage to modify the home they have to make it work for the added family members that will be living there. 

 

 

Comment from Jo Garner

Thoughts When Deciding On Your Mortgage Financing

• “Don’t let a life change catch you financially unprepared—plan your move” 
• (Reverse mortgage, cash out refinance to lower over all cost of debt)
• “You don’t need perfect rates—you need the right strategy” 
• (first time home buyer story Katherine fha usda VA dpa  bond)
• “Equity, creativity, and timing can solve most housing challenges” 
• “Every problem property or life transition can become an opportunity with the right team” 

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 & INSPIRATIONS

Most people think success has a deadline—but proves it doesn’t. This famous person faced failure after failure early in life—lost jobs, failed businesses, and setbacks that would have stopped most people. In his 60s, after his restaurant lost business due to a new highway, he was left with just $105 from Social Security. But instead of giving up, he took his fried chicken recipe on the road. He knocked on doors, heard ‘no’ over a thousand times—but kept going until one person said yes. That one yes meant that Colonel Harland Sanders had hit the jack pot that we know today as the   Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant chain. The lesson? It’s never too early—or too late—to turn a life change into your greatest opportunity.”

What is it that YOU want in life?  I believe you can accomplish ANYTHING owning real estate if you buy it right and take care of it. The earlier you start owning real estate, the wealthier you can be.  But, even if you have had some set backs and delays, you can make a step forward today.   Call me, call these realtors we have in the studio. We can be your experienced team to help you avoid mistakes and take advantages of opportunities in real estate. 

Call or text me today at 901 482-0354.  I can assist you in comparing which mortgage financing option is the most likely to give you the biggest return.   www.JoGarner.com 

Today on Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe we are talking about Turn Life Changes Into Smart Housing Moves-Real Estate Tips From the 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

 

Pat Goldstein, Realtor with Crye-Leike Realtors( 901) 606-2000

Silvana Piadade, Realtor with EXP Realty (901)   647-6661

Gay Young, Realtor with EXP Realty (901) 581-6118

 

THIS SEGMENT YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 2 TO 3 MINUTES TO FINISH UP TIPS AND INFORMATION WE DID NOT GET TO SHARE IN THE EARLIER SEGMENTS 

 

 

REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE WEEK

Jo Garner’s tip :   

What do you want to accomplish with YOUR mortgage?  Whether you are buying a house or refinancing,  let’s explore the best mortgage product that will get you quicker to the life you want.  It might be a traditional government-backed mortgage, a special mortgage product or an outside-the-box, in-house mortgage.

If you are a first-time homebuyer, lets explore special programs, especially down payment assistance programs. 

If you are a move-up buyer, lets explore shorter term loans and recast programs. 

If you are an investor, lets try on some low-doc, low interest rate DSCR programs 

If you are over 62 years old and plan to live in your home for many years, let’s explore a reverse mortgage.  

 

 

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 April 1^st , 2026 9AM CT Trademark Basics for Entrepreneurs presented by Attorney Mark Field of Evans Petree Law Firm

Thank you to one of Talk Shoppe’s most jovial sponsors—Santa Claus.  For your special family event or Christmas in July event, contact Santa’s booking agent, Chuck Bohannon at 901-619-6436

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 Dori Warner on being a realtor “ I am basically a full time psychologist that sells houses now and then”
• John Paulson “ If you don’t own a home, buy one.  If you own a home, buy another one. If you own two, buy a third. And lend your relatives the money to buy a home too. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CREDITS

REJOINDERS:  

1. Ed Hill of Masters Roofing 901 273-6594
2. Real Estate Attorneys Rob Draughon and Shelley Rothman, Griffin, Clift, Everton, and Maschmeyer Law Firm 901 752-1133
3.  Allen McCool, 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 PAT GOLDSTEIN, REALTOR WITH CRYE-LEIKE

(901) 606-2000

https://patgoldstein.crye-leike.com 

2006 MAAR Realtor Associate of the Year 2005 MAAR Presidential Award Recipient TAR Leadership Graduate Member National Association of Realtors

·         Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club. Toastmasters Division Governor CBS (Certified Builder Specialist) 

·         CRA (Certified Relocation Associate) 

·         CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) 

·         GREEN (Green Agent) 

·         GRI (Graduate, Realtors Institute) 

·         MMDC (Crye-Leike Multi-Million Dollar Club) 

·         SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) 

·         SRS (Seller Representative Specialist) 

I moved from Houston Texas in 1997, I am originally from Latin America (Bilingual) fluent in Spanish. I  have   over 15 years of experience in residential real estate and hold several accreditations but for the purpose of this conversation: CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert, my forte in Short Sales.  I earned my Broker’s license.  My previous training in customer satisfaction comes from a background in the hospitality industry and most of my clients are direct referrals.  I love music and good food.  Why me?  Because I listen, I care and I deliver.

Silvana Piadade, CRS, ABR, CDPE, MRP, CPRES

Broker

TN Company Lic# 257511

TN Agent Lic# 289316

EXP Realty

Cell 901-647-6661

www.FindHomesinMemphis.com

CB International President’s Elite Award 2015-2014

2016 Real Trends – Best Real Estate Agents in America

Client Reviews: https://www.zillow.com/profile/user8150076/#reviews

CONTACT INFO:

Cell 901-647-6661

Website:   www.FindHomesinMemphis.com

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.