In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Todd Feager, Co-Founder of Haven Home Equity, to explore how lenders and borrowers alike can harness the untapped power of home equity. With over 23 years in the mortgage industry, Todd brings a deep, hands-on understanding of what today’s consumers actually need—especially in the evolving consumer-direct lending landscape.

At Haven, Todd has helped pioneer a structured and strategic approach to using home equity, designed not just to pull out cash—but to build long-term financial stability. This episode centers on what Todd calls “The Haven Framework”, a tri-fecta strategy that focuses on three essential outcomes:

1. Cash-Out Reserves – Creating liquidity for emergencies, life expenses, or future investments.

2. Lower Total Monthly Debt Payments – Combining higher-interest debt into more manageable mortgage-based solutions.

3. Shortened Mortgage Terms – Helping borrowers pay off their homes faster and smarter.

This conversation goes beyond generic advice. Todd offers real-world insight into how loan officers can reframe conversations with borrowers—from selling rates to creating strategic equity plans that maximize both immediate relief and long-term impact. He shares the mindset, tools, and scripting that Haven loan officers use to help clients move from uncertainty to clarity—often in a single call.

Whether you're a lender looking to modernize your offering, or a borrower trying to understand your best path forward, this episode will leave you with tactical takeaways and a renewed sense of what's possible in home equity lending.

Key themes:
– How to succeed in a consumer direct environment
– Making home equity work for borrowers in a high-rate market
– Building scalable lending strategies that actually deliver value
– What it means to offer advice-driven lending—not just products

Brought to you by our sponsors:
Mortgage Connect
Aidium
Floify

What does it take to lead one of America’s largest independent mortgage banks in today’s market—and still put the customer at the center of it all?

In this episode of MikeDrop, we sit down with Justin Messer, the President and CEO of Prosperity Home Mortgage, to unpack the leadership mindset, technology strategy, and service-first culture that’s redefining the mortgage experience from the inside out.

With more than 15 years of mortgage leadership experience, Justin has seen the evolution of the industry from multiple vantage points—from his early roles at Quicken Loans (now Rocket Mortgage) to building out Prosperity’s executive team. Now as CEO, he brings a modern, customer-focused lens to lending—balancing innovation with service, growth with stability, and speed with trust.

Prosperity by the Numbers:

• Licensed in 49 states + DC

• 500+ Mortgage Consultants across the country

• $25 billion funded between 2021–2022

• A subsidiary of HomeServices of America, the largest real estate company by closed units in the U.S.

Under Justin’s leadership, Prosperity has made bold moves to remain at the forefront of tech-enabled lending while never losing sight of the personal touch that makes home financing human. In 2024, the company was ranked #1 in customer satisfaction in J.D. Power’s U.S. Mortgage Origination Satisfaction Study—testament to a leadership style rooted in empathy, experience, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

• How Justin went from the University of Michigan to the top seat of a national mortgage bank

• What “customer-first” really means in a world of automation and algorithms

• Lessons from his time at Rocket Mortgage and The Long & Foster Companies

• What it takes to lead through market shifts, rate changes, and economic uncertainty

• The power of communication, transparency, and culture in building great mortgage teams

Justin also talks candidly about what’s next for Prosperity, and how he’s preparing his team not just for the next quarter—but for the next generation of homebuyers.

Sponsored by:

• Mortgage Connect – End-to-end solutions for the nation’s top mortgage lenders.

• Aidium – The CRM that powers your pipeline and your relationships.

• Floify – The industry-leading point-of-sale platform trusted by lenders nationwide.

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In this powerful episode of MikeDrop, we sit down with Jeremy Davis, President of Mortgage at Southern Bancorp, to explore what it really means to build legacy through lending. Jeremy doesn’t just talk housing; he lives and breathes it—from grassroots advocacy to C-suite leadership. His journey is a masterclass in mission-driven business, and this episode captures his voice, vision, and unwavering belief in economic empowerment through homeownership.

With more than two decades in mortgage and financial services, Jeremy brings serious depth to the conversation. He has led everything from originations and community development to coaching, business growth, and launching inclusive lending platforms. His work is grounded in one truth: homeownership is the cornerstone of generational wealth. And for families too often left behind by traditional lending, Jeremy is on a mission to change that.

As President of Mortgage at Southern Bancorp—a nationally recognized Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)—Jeremy is blending margin and mission with powerful results. Under his leadership, the bank is reshaping access to credit, expanding community lending, and earning accolades like the 2024 MBA Leadership Award for Market Outreach Strategies.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What "legacy lending" really means in today’s world

• How to scale impact without sacrificing integrity

• The role of community banks and CDFIs in building generational wealth

• Lessons from launching FirstBank Forward and InQlusion Mortgage Capital

• Why representation, accessibility, and advocacy still matter in housing

• What the next generation of mortgage leaders needs to hear

Jeremy also breaks down the mindset behind his high-performance culture, his advice to lenders in today’s market, and how anyone in the housing industry can do more on purpose.

If you care about equity, homeownership, and real solutions that work—this is the conversation to hear. Whether you're a loan officer, housing advocate, executive, or just passionate about building a better system, Jeremy's leadership and vision are unmatched.

Sponsored by:

• Mortgage Connect

• Aidium

• Floify