WAYS TO ENJOY HOMEOWNERSHIP DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Hear some stories of how people enjoy owning their home during the holidays—personally and financially. Home Helpers give insights and ideas on solutions for aging family members to remain at home with non-medical assistance.

Let’s stay connected! Subscribe for weekly Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe podcasts with show notes at www.JoGarner.com

Host: #JoGarner #MortgageExpert 901 482-0354

Co-host: #TimFlesner #GenellHolloway #MidsouthHomeHelpers 901 414-9696

Talk Shoppe Tip #ReverendJoRookHuggins #ChurchoftheHarvest Jo@JoRook.com

Caller: #PamCaviness (former Home Helpers Care Giver.

 

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 general topic WAYS TO ENJOY HOMEOWNERSHIP DURING THE HOLIDAYS. Today is our Christmas show. Lots of families and friends are spending time together celebrating Christmas, Hannukah and other cherished traditions.

Introducing Genell Holloway and Tim Flesner of Mid-South Home Helpers

Genell Holloway and Tim Flesner, co-owners of Mid-South Home Helpers are sitting in the studio. Genell, you and Tim I have been hearing lots of great things about the wonderful job you do caring for your clients and your helpers too. You serve your customers from the heart by providing non-medical assistance for their loved ones who need help with daily living. You run errands, do meal preparation, help with other daily care routines too. Take a couple of minutes and introduce yourselves. Tell us more about the services you offer your clients. (Genell and Tim introduce themselves and talk about the services they offer)

Tim and Genell blend personal empathy with professional expertise to provide quality caregiving through MidSouth Home Helpers. With Tim’s 20+ years in logistics, focusing on training and team development, and Genell’s extensive medical background and personal caregiving experience, they offer exceptional support to families. They understand the emotional and practical complexities of caregiving from personal experience—Tim as a long-term caregiver for his mother and Genell caring for her terminally ill husband and, currently, her mother. Their goal is to deliver compassionate, empathetic care that stands out in the industry. Tim applies his operational knowledge and passion for empowering others to create efficient processes and training systems for caregivers. Genell’s understanding of medical care, insurance intricacies, and end-of-life stages enables her to guide families with insight and sensitivity. Together, their combined skills ensure that MidSouth Home Helpers provides unparalleled care, meeting families where they are and assisting them through the challenges of aging loved ones.

(Jo) HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

(JO) Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. The other night I was sitting on the floor wrapping Christmas presents in our living room and watching Christmas movies. Remember the 1990 movie “Home Alone?” Macaulay Culkin plays 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, who gets yelled at by his family and visiting relatives over stuff Kevin does and says that is irritating to the others. He gets sent up to the attic bedroom closed off from the rest of the house and wishes that his family would disappear forever.

The family gets up the next morning late and rushes off to the airport to fly to Paris, France for their Christmas vacation. They realize after it is too late that they forgot one thing in their hurry. They forgot and left little Kevin at Home Alone. His parents are frantic and trying unsuccessfully to reach him but can’t reach anyone at all for help. The other family members that had been complaining about him the night before were suffering from guilt. Kevin woke and up and believed his wish had come true and his family had just vanished into thin air.

Kevin soon was on a madcap mission to defend the family house from two bumbling burglars who think no one is at home and try to destroy the place. After a couple of days of clever tricks and a battery of bewildering booby traps, Kevin realizes with sadness that his home is not completely home without his parents and his family. He looks up and prays that God will bring him his family back. Let’s not spoil the ending for you…so you have to watch the movie.

This movie reminds me of so many reasons why people enjoy owning their own home. My mortgage customers over the years have shared their stories.

FAVORITE REASONS TO OWN YOUR OWN HOME

  1. Reason #1 It can offer a very nice tax break, especially if you own property that produces income for you as rental property. Check with your licensed financial advisors.

  2. Reason #2 (paydown of principal ) Nice when part of every mortgage payment goes to pay down the principal balance each month and, in some cases can still shelter your income from the IRS.

  3. Reason #3 Other great reasons to own your own home are giving you multiple exit strategies later if no matter what the economic conditions. A. Selling the home later and taking the profit. B. Moving out of the home but keeping it as a rental income producing property. C. Setting up the financing as an assumable loan to help sell the house if the housing market becomes a challenge.

  4. Reason #4: Having the freedom to modify the home and the grounds to customize the home to fit how you and your family can best enjoy living there.

Are you trying to decide whether to rent or buy your home? Do you need to make some modifications to your home or your finances? What do YOU want to accomplish with YOUR mortgage? MAKE YOUR PLAN. LET’S WORK YOUR PLAN. IF THE DEAL WORKS FOR YOU TODAY, LET’S DO IT TODAY. Connect with me at www.JoGarner.com. Email me at Jo@JoGarner.com or just call me at (901) 482-0354. As a mortgage loan originator I see lenders working to provide just the right loan products to meet the needs from these trends. Then, we make the mortgage process EASY

(Jo) Genell Holloway and Tim Flesner of Mid South Home Helpers, please jump in and share some of your ideas on ways you can help families enjoy their home even more for the holidays. Tim and Genell launch into their topics until 9:15 break. We can continue after break)

(Tim)

I have fond memories of my grandparents home, both on my mom’s and dad’s side. As an adult, I look at pictures from when my mom was young in front of their original home. When I was young, they had torn down their original home and had built a more compatible home that was suitable for them as they aged. But my grandparent were basically in the same location for over 50+ years.

In aging, we lose some of our ability to function as well as in our youth. We must make certain modifications as needed in our home. It can be minor things such as Looking for slip and trip hazards, removing throw rugs that could cause falls. Or making things little more accessible by widening door frames or replacing round door knobs with door handles. If needed, modifying bathrooms with updated fixtures or potentially renovating with walk in shower or tub.

As we age, we lose some ability to do some of the basic things we are used to doing. Both Genell and I have experience in seeing this in our parents….
At Home Helpers, we provide the needed assistance, at the level of the individual needs, to help them remain independent.

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 Genell Holloway and Tim Flesner of Mid-South Home Helpers. Reverend Jo Rook Huggins has a holiday tip for us too.

2nd segment 9:18 am – 9:30 am

2nd segment is after 9:15 break from about 9:18Am to 9:30 AM break

 

LET’S TALK SHOP—TALK SHOPPE’S BUSINESS TIP FOR REAL ESTATE PROS:

2nd segment after 9:15 advertising break – (producer to start the song “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive –but bring the volume down on queue) 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. 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 Reverend Jo Rook Huggins who has been serving in the Healing and Wellness Ministry at Church of the Harvest in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Reverend Jo Rook Huggins, you always have an encouraging word for us at Talk Shoppe. What can you share with us today?

(Jo Rook Huggins shares her tip –about 1 minute or so)

How do we contact you, Reverend Jo?

TIP:

TOPICS COVERED BY

Tim Flesner and Genell Holloway of Mid-South Home Helpers

CALLER : PAM CAVINESS, A CARE GIVER FOR HOME HELPERS SHARES HER TESTIMONY ABOUT HELPING OTHERS ENJOY THEIR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

Pam Caviness, former caregiver with Home Helpers talks about what a great opportunity it was to get to work with Home Helpers after she retired. She talked about the excellent work Home Helpers does. She said working with Home Helpers and caring for someone else made her own life better after retirement. She told our listeners that Home Helpers caregivers do a good job.

TIM AND GENELL’S CONTENT

(Genell)

Jo, I know you’re going to talk more about how homeowners can utilize the equity in their home to made modifications that will allow them to stay in their home longer. However, couldn’t they also utilize their home equity to help pay for care in their home. Right? Our property is our biggest investment and asset. And, it’s a wonderful resource to help ensure that we can stay in our home even as we age and need more assistance.

Home Helpers has lots of clients who make the choice to stay in their home every day. Because, they know we will come and help them with those things that are hard for them to do, like laundry and housekeeping, grocery shopping, and cooking. What a wonderful blessing it is to be able to help folks in such a special way.

I have peace of mind in knowing that our caregivers are providing the same level of care for my mother as I would if I was able. She talks about how much she appreciates their help and their interaction with her. This certainly takes the pressure off me trying to help folks with their needs and needing to ensure that my mom is getting what she needs too.

(Tim)

We are so blessed to have some wonderful caregivers who love our clients as if they are part of their families too. Caregiver Michelle has been caring for the same family for over 10 years now. We are privileged to have caregivers like Michelle who build strong relationships with our clients looking after them in such a special way too. The peace of mind that she gives to the family makes everyone’s life easier.

 ________________________________________________________________________

3rd SEGMENT 9:35 AM-9:45AM)

TOPICS COVERED BY JO GARNER, MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER

MORE WAYS TO ENJOY OWNING YOUR OWN HOME

  1. Smart Mortgage Structure to Modify Home—Priscilla Peterson’s story

A popular mortgage strategy with my clients recently has been to refinance their home to include paying off variable rate credit cards and the variable rate Home Equity Line of Credit. Most of these homeowners had acquired quite a bit of variable rate debt due to unexpected family needs and other situations. Others were easily able to carry the variable rate debt but were about to retire and did not want the rising payments that come with rising rates while they were on a fixed income.

Priscilla Peterson (not her real name) had a decent house fixed rate house payment and owed about around $125,000 on a house worth about $315,000. She was about to retire and wanted to get a new roof on her house and new carpet about a $25,000 investment which she originally planned to pay for with a variable rate Home Equity Line. After pulling out her calculator and punching in what damage the rising payments could do to her on a fixed income, she decided to borrow about $40,000 and to cover the home improvements AND pay off her variable rate credit cards with a fixed rate that would never go up.

This cash out refinance would cause the loan that Priscilla now only owed 20 years on to go back to a 30 year loan but the payment would not be too much higher and it would stay FIXED. Her calculator told her that if she kept the variable rate credit balances and got the variable rate Home Equity Line, over the course of the next few years, the $40K for home improvements and other credit could cost her a lot more per month. The cash out refinance for Priscilla Peterson was a small investment in peace of mind.

If you have credit cards and you haven’t checked on your terms in a while, call the number on the back of your credit card. If the rate on your credit card is much higher now, you can see what happens if you ask the credit card company to lower your interest rate substantially. The answer is always no if you don’t ask, so ask, They might lower your rate and you can save on borrowing costs.

  1. Business owner moving the office to his home to save on business rent overhead. (Check zoning rules and neighborhood covenants and retrictions)

  2. Rent out the bonus room to traveling professionals through a short term rental, mid-term rental agency

Clint and Clara were empty-nesters. The days of music blaring up and down the hallway, the din of chatter in the kitchen had all grown silent except for a news program on the television in the living room

For Clint and Clara, renting the bonus room upstairs would bring some extra money to the budget. It would be nice having another person stirring upstairs again too. Clara and Clint signed up with a reputable agency offering short term rentals to traveling nurses and other professionals on a job away from home for three to six months at a time.

Might as well make the house pay for itself for a change.

  1. Modifying your home or a family member’s home for a family member to move in and save on assisted living costs.

4th segment following 9:45 am break about 9:48 to 9:56 am

REAL ESTATE TIP OF THE WEEK

Tim Flesner and Genell Holloway share their tip (about 1.5 minutes)

(Tim) Staying in your home is still an option for those who choose to remain at home as they age. Statistics show that individuals who receive home care as opposed to inpatient rehab or nursing homes have lower mortality rates, similar readmission rates and significant lower costs. In-home care helps others remain independent, wherever they call home. Preparing for long term plans by modifying and/or renovating your homes can assist in keeping an individual’s independence.

(Genell) Financially, purchasing long term care insurance is one way to ensure that you will have the cash to provide for care as you age. There are several options to consider. The longer you wait, the more expensive it will be assuming you are able to obtain coverage. Call me today for more details at 901.270.1127.

Jo Garner’s mortgage tip

I believe you can do ANYTHING in life you want to do if you buy real estate right, take care of it and pay off the mortgage. Do this multiple times and you can do even MORE in life. Homes have increased in value over 800% since 1967. We saw exceptional increases in home values over the last four years. If you can buy your home, pay a little extra to get rid of the mortgage sooner, your house id

Are you short on funds to buy a home? There are assistance programs out there for first-time homebuyers and people who are NOT first-time homebuyers too. Are you having a hard time documenting enough qualified income for your mortgage lender? There are some solutions to get over that challenge. What does your credit look like? There are steps you can take to clear up credit too.

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

Connect with me, Jo Garner,licensed Mortgage Loan Officer, at JoGarner.com (901) 482-0354.

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 1st floor Memphis, TN

(Thank you Manny Corless and Ben Hunter of Independent Planning Group for being Talk Shoppe’s location sponsor)

Go to www.TalkShoppe.com and click the Events tab for the link to get into the event online Talk Shoppe will not be meeting on New Years Day. The next meeting is Wednesday January 8th, 2025 9AM CT I will be presenting: “Maximize Your Marketing Returns with Talk Shoppe-Strategies for Success”

Talk Shoppe could not offer the free educational networking events free to our community without some very giving sponsors.

Thank you to Talk Shoppe sponsor Leah Anne Morse of All Things New. Leah Anne and her team organize your move and help you set up at your new home. They make the move a positive experience. Connect with Leah Anne Morse of All Things New at 901 488-9733.

Talk Shoppe is free to you because of the generosity of our sponsors like Donna Roach of Hearthside Senior Living in Bartlett, TN Donna Roach has a passion for making your loved ones feel at home and cared for at Hearthside. Talk with Donna about your family plans for assisted living. 901 651-2903

  1. Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe reminds you to MAKE YOUR PLAN. LET’S WORK YOUR PLAN. IF THE DEAL WORKS FOR YOU TODAY, DO IT TODAY.

6. Subscribe today for weekly podcasts with show notes at www.JoGarner.com

SPECIAL NOTE: 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. ALL EXAMPLES GIVEN FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ON REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE SHOPPE AND 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.

QUOTE CORNER:

Anonymous “Three phrases that sum up Christmas—Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men and Batteries Not Included.”

REJOINDERS:

    1. Santa Claus (Chuck Bohannon, booking agent) 90`1 619-6436

    2. Jackie Woodside, Marlborough, Massachusetts

    3. Nick Sammons, Truvine Renovations Memphis, Tn

Transitional Music: “Caroling, Caroling (Christmas Bells Are Ringing) by Nat King Cole;“The  First Noel”  by Elvis Presley; Christmas Canon by Trans Siberian Orchestra; “Taking Care of Business” by Bachman Turner Overdrive for the Talk Shoppe Business Tip for Real Estate Pros

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.

Now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble

ABOUT MID-SOUTH HOME HELPERS

901- 414-9696

About Our In-Home Supportive Services

Providing In-Home Supportive Services for Seniors, Individuals with Disabilities or Illness, or Those Recovering from Injury or Surgery

Home Helpers® Home Care is a in-home care service that provides top quality in-home care and in-home supportive services. Our Cared-4 program is a holistic approach to meet the four primary areas of need, helping your loved one stay safe and independent at home.

To learn more about us, call (901) 414-9696 or schedule your free In-Home Care Assessment.

Comprehensive In-Home Supportive Services for Enhanced Quality of Life

At Home Helpers® Home Care, we are dedicated to providing exceptional in-home supportive services that prioritize the well-being and independence of your loved ones.

Our team of experienced caregivers is committed to understanding and addressing the unique needs of each client, ensuring that they receive the best possible care tailored to their individual circumstances. As one of the nation’s leading providers of senior care, we deliver a broad range of services designed to support clients facing various conditions and challenges.

THE HOME HELPERS HOME CARE MISSION IS TO:

  • Care for your loved ones like a part of our extended family, keeping them safe and independent at home

  • Provide peace of mind to both you and your loved one

  • Allow your loved ones to retain an independent and comfortable lifestyle in their homes or wherever they lay their head at night

Our Mission and Core Values

The mission of Home Helpers Home Care is to treat your loved ones with the same care and compassion as if they were part of our extended family. We focus on keeping them safe, independent, and comfortable in their own homes. Our in-home supportive services are designed to provide peace of mind for both clients and their families, allowing your loved ones to enjoy a high quality of life while remaining in a familiar and secure environment.

What We Offer

Since our founding in 1997, Home Helpers Home Care has been at the forefront of providing professional in-home supportive services. For over 25 years, we have been dedicated to offering one-on-one compassionate care that allows clients to stay where they belong—at home.

We understand that every situation is unique, and our goal is to provide the right level of care to ensure comfort and independence for each client.

WHO WE CARE FOR:

  • Seniors: Helping older adults with daily activities, personal care, and companionship to ensure they remain safe and comfortable at home

  • New mothers: Providing assistance with newborn care and household tasks to support new mothers during the postpartum period.

  • Working parents: Offering respite care and support for working parents who need help managing household responsibilities and childcare.

  • Individuals who require recuperative care or continuing care: Assisting those recovering from surgery, injury, or managing chronic conditions with personalized care to aid in recovery and daily living

Our services and schedules are customizable, so whether you or your loved one are looking for assistance for just a few hours a day or around-the-clock, we can accommodate your needs. During your free In-Home Care Assessment, we’ll discuss these needs and further discuss the services we provide.

Personalized Care Plans

At Home Helpers, we take a personalized approach to in-home supportive services. During a free In-Home Care Assessment, we will thoroughly evaluate the needs of your loved one and discuss how our services can be customized to meet those needs. This assessment helps us create a Care Plan that is specifically designed to enhance the quality of life for your loved one while providing the necessary support to maintain their independence.

Our Commitment

We are committed to delivering in-home supportive services that enhance the quality of life for our clients while providing peace of mind for their families. Our caregivers are trained to offer compassionate, reliable care that meets the highest standards. By focusing on personalized care and maintaining open communication, we ensure that every client receives the attention and support they need to thrive in their home environment.

Resources are also available even when our Caregivers aren’t there through 24 Hour Monitoring. To learn more about our specific services, check out our Services page.

 

ABOUT JO GARNER-MORTGAGE LOAN OFFICER:

www.JoGarner.com (901) 482 0354 jo@jogarner.com twitter @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. 

In addition to her work in the mortgage field, Jo Garner  is the primary sponsor and founder of Talk Shoppe in Memphis. www.TalkShoppe.com Jo Garner also host the radio show Real Estate Mortgage Shoppe airing on News Radio AM 600 WREC and iHeart Radio with podcasts and show notes published on www.JoGarner.com Pick up Jo Garner’s book on Amazon or Barnes

Noble “Choosing the Best Mortgage-The Quickest Way to the Life You Want”