Matthew Gray interviews mortgage banker Sol Skolnik (“Professor Home Loan”) about financing residential investment properties. Skolnik explains his background entering lending in 2006 and why sustainable loan fit matters after seeing risky pre-crash products. They cover who should consider rentals, including portfolio diversification, landlord responsibilities, and using managing agents.

Skolnik outlines key financing options, evaluating areas and rental markets, using inspections, lender qualification factors, and pre-approvals vs TBD commitment letters. Sol also goes through the differences between brokers, mortgage banks, and depository banks. Stay tuned to the end to learn how to contact Skolnik for a free book and lending coverage.

00:37 Meet Professor Home Loan
01:36 Saul’s Mortgage Journey
04:08 Why Sustainability Matters
06:31 Should You Buy Rentals?
08:23 Financing Options Overview
13:33 Rates Terms and Down Payments
15:21 Picking Markets and Pros
17:14 Inspections and Risk Checks
18:34 What Lenders Evaluate
20:33 Picking the Right Market
21:26 Financing and Preapproval Limits
23:25 TBD Commitment Letters
26:02 Choosing Lenders and Brokers
32:18 Refinancing and Doing the Math
33:41 Landlord Responsibilities Reality
37:01 Wrap Up and Disclosures

Resources

Sol Skolnick

914-380-0600

sskolnick@unitedmortgage.com

https://solskolnick2.book.live/mortgage-lenders-buyers-book

Matthew Gray

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/

https://schrockfin.com/

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC

Matthew Gray interviews Harrisonburg/Shenandoah Valley REALTOR® Brad Cohen about moving from solo agent to building Connexa, a boutique brokerage. Brad shares his early start in real estate as a college student, selling 27 homes his first year by networking, taking undesirable leads, and learning business-building skills not taught in licensing.

Brad explains the necessity and vision behind starting Connexa. He highlights the grind of the first year, leaving significant income, hiring his first full-time employee, adding agents, and buying an office in 2024. He discusses unexpected management demands, mentorship, turnover, and balancing marriage with business ownership. Stay tuned at the end for his brief thoughts on the value of a college education based on his life experience!

00:38 Meet Brad Cohen
01:38 Brad’s Origin Story
03:16 First-Year Breakthrough
06:41 Brokerages and Models
12:01 Why Build a Team
17:45 Crunching the Numbers
20:45 Scrappy Startup Year One
24:49 Expected vs Unexpected
27:15 Learning to Lead People
30:55 Marriage Amid the Grind
32:25 Work Life Counterbalance
35:18 Team Turnover and Rebuild
36:56 Boutique Vision and Equity
40:39 Survive to Thrive Stage
41:47 Advice for New Owners
45:21 Is College Necessary?
48:17 Hiring for Grit and Network
49:15 Where to Connect and Wrap

Resources

Brad Cohen

https://connexare.com/agents/brad-cohen

Matthew Gray

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/

https://schrockfin.com/

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC

Matthew Gray interviews Josh Hanna, of Inspire Investing, about faith-based, biblically responsible investing. Josh explains his shift from broad index funds after discovering exposure to abortion and pornography, and describes stewardship as owning part of a business and profiting from its activities.

Inspire uses a proprietary Inspire Impact Score with eight negative screens—abortion, pornography, exploitation, LGBT activism, cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, and gambling—with a no-tolerance exclusion approach, plus a positive scoring system that rewards best-in-class ethical practices. He also details corporate engagement via proxy voting and advocacy, citing Costco’s decision not to stock mifepristone after extended engagement.

00:38 Meet Josh and Inspire
04:28 Stewardship and Ownership
05:42 Biblical Screens vs ESG
10:05 Inspire Three Part Approach
12:02 Embrace Good and Engage
16:13 Impact Score and Exclusions
17:42 Consumer vs Investor Choices
20:27 Building Diversified ETFs
22:58 Common Objections Answered
27:12 Returns and Real Impact
30:11 How to Learn More

Resources

Josh Hanna and Inspire ETFs

InspireInsight.com

InspireETF.com

Matthew Gray

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-gray-cfp%C2%AE-5a2144134/

https://schrockfin.com/

Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a registered investment advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC