What should buyers, sellers, and investors consider in the Greater Charlotte real estate market?

Sarah Stokes with Coast2Coast Mortgage Lending sits down with Christen Ripoli, REALTOR® with REAL, and Lisa Sarullo, real estate investor with JM&L Company & Monroe Mike, to discuss housing, financing, and rental investment strategies in Charlotte, Monroe, Union County, and surrounding communities.

Hear their perspectives on home price reductions, relocation, seller concessions, temporary 2-1 mortgage buydowns, permanent discount points, and how credit scores can influence financing options. Lisa also shares how she evaluates renovations, rental properties, refinancing, and multiple exit strategies, while Christen discusses buyer activity and the housing needs of families moving to the Charlotte area.

The conversation also explores midterm rentals for buyers waiting on new construction, relocating households, and people needing temporary housing.

Real Estate Roundtable is live now on your favorite podcast platform! Follow the podcast and share this episode with a friend planning to buy, sell, or invest.

CONNECT WITH US

Sarah Stokes
Sr. Mortgage Loan Advisor | Coast2Coast Mortgage Lending
NMLS #1743154 | Company NMLS #376205
Licensed in NC, SC & VA
Phone: 704-301-6040 | 828-772-4638
Email: sarah.stokes@coast2coastml.com
Instagram: @sarahwhitleystokes
TikTok: @lendersarahstokes
YouTube: @SarahWhitleyStokes | @fullystokedpodcast
Links: https://linktr.ee/sarahwhitleystokes

Christen Ripoli
REALTOR® | REAL / Real Broker, LLC
Serving North Carolina and South Carolina
Phone: 330-301-0687
Email: christen.ripoli@gmail.com
Website: https://www.movewithchristen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristenRipoli/
YouTube: Living in Charlotte — accessible through her website

Lisa Sarullo
Real Estate Investor | JM&L Company & Monroe Mike
Serving Monroe, Union County & Greater Charlotte
Phone: 704-275-8871
Email: lisamsarullo@gmail.com
Instagram & TikTok: @lisasarullo
Facebook: JML Company & Monroe Mike

Rates and examples reflect the conversation at recording and may change. Temporary buydowns reduce initial payments; borrowers must qualify at the note rate. Future refinancing is subject to qualification and available terms.

Real Estate, Relationships & Building a Business That Lasts | Haley Gant of Dealmaker WNC

What does it really take to build a successful business, create genuine relationships, and become known in your community?

In this episode of the Fully Stoked Podcast, Sarah Stokes sits down with Haley Gant, mortgage loan advisor with Rate and founder of Dealmaker WNC, a growing real estate investing and networking community in Asheville, North Carolina.

Haley grew up immersed in entrepreneurship and real estate investing. Her parents left the corporate world when she was young, built a real estate investment business, and later launched a hard-money lending company. Those early experiences gave Haley a unique education in real estate, investing, entrepreneurship, networking, and relationship building long before she entered the mortgage industry herself.

Sarah and Haley talk about Haley’s journey from Houston to Western North Carolina, her experience with self-directed IRAs, becoming a mortgage lender, launching Dealmaker WNC, investing in short-term rentals, and the power of consistently showing up, both online and in person.

They also dive into:

• Real estate investing in Western North Carolina
• Building a mortgage business through relationships
• Why Haley created Dealmaker WNC in Asheville
• Networking without constantly asking for referrals
• Social media marketing for entrepreneurs and real estate professionals
• Why consistency creates a compound effect in business
• Short-term rental investing in the Asheville and Brevard area
• Work-life balance as an entrepreneur
• Finding mentors instead of trying to reinvent the wheel
• Moving from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset
• Making intentional decisions about your career and your life
• Jesse Itzler's Big A## Calendar concept and intentionally planning life experiences
• Why sometimes you simply have to start before you feel ready

One of Haley’s biggest messages is simple: you have to consistently put yourself out there.

Whether that means hosting an event, attending an open house, posting on social media, following up with a new connection, or taking one small step toward your goal, those actions compound over time.

If you're a real estate investor, Realtor, mortgage professional, entrepreneur, small-business owner, or someone interested in building wealth through real estate, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can use.

CONNECT WITH HALEY GANT

Mortgage Lending - Rate:
https://www.rate.com/HaleyGantt

NMLS 2666636 | 2611 Instagram:
@HaleyWNCLender

Dealmaker WNC:
@DealmakerWNC

Dealmaker WNC is an Asheville-area real estate investing meetup designed to bring together investors, real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in learning more about real estate investing and making valuable connections.

CONNECT WITH SARAH STOKES

Sarah Whitley Stokes
Senior Mortgage Loan Advisor
Coast2Coast Mortgage Lending

NMLS 1743154 | Company NMLS 376205
Licensed in NC, SC & VA

Phone: 828-772-4638 | 704-301-6040
Email: sarah.stokes@coasttocoastml.com
Website: fullystokedhomeloans.com

Instagram: @sarahwhitleystokes
TikTok: @lendersarahstokes
YouTube: @SarahWhitleyStokes
Fully Stoked Podcast: @fullystokedpodcast

Subscribe to the Fully Stoked Podcast for conversations with entrepreneurs, business leaders, real estate professionals, and women doing interesting things in their businesses and communities.

#FullyStokedPodcast #HaleyGant #DealmakerWNC #AshevilleRealEstate #WesternNorthCarolina #RealEstateInvesting #MortgageLender #RealEstateNetworking #AshevilleNC #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #BusinessNetworking #ShortTermRental #RealEstateInvestor #MortgageIndustry

What happens when we invest in teachers? Ultimately, we invest in students—and in the strength of the entire community.

In this episode of the Fully Stoked Podcast, Sarah Stokes sits down with Amy Sperry, Executive Director of the Union County Education Foundation, to talk about supporting educators, strengthening public schools, nonprofit leadership, community involvement, and the power of listening.

Amy has led UCEF since 2013, helping grow an organization dedicated to supporting Union County Public Schools educators and students. She explains what an education foundation actually does and shares some of UCEF's initiatives, including LIFT, GROW and THRIVE Grants, Welcome Home, Erase the Need, and scholarships for future educators. Pasted text

Amy and Sarah also discuss the challenges surrounding teacher retention and why losing an educator—especially during the school year—creates an emotional and financial ripple effect throughout an entire school. As Amy explains, supporting teachers ultimately means supporting children. Pasted text

The conversation then turns to leadership.

Amy shares why listening is one of her highest values, how she approaches difficult conversations with “humble chutzpah,” and why great leaders should recognize the strengths of the people around them and give them opportunities to shine. Pasted text Pasted text

You'll also hear practical ways parents, businesses, and community members can support local schools—from participating in PTOs and school fundraisers to supporting UCEF, connecting the Foundation with sponsors, and simply helping spread awareness.

If you care about education, leadership, nonprofits, teachers, students, or building stronger communities, this is an episode you'll want to hear.

🎙️ Episode live now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & Amazon Music!

Amy Sperry | Union County Education Foundation
🌐 www.ucedfoundation.org
✉️ asperry@ucedfoundation.org
📞 704-296-0725
📱 Instagram: @ucedfoundation

Sarah Stokes | Fully Stoked Podcast Host
Senior Mortgage Loan Advisor | Coast2Coast Mortgage Lending
📞 828-772-4638 | 704-301-6040
✉️ sarah.stokes@coast2coastml.com
NMLS 1743154 | 376205

Guest opinions shared on the Fully Stoked Podcast are their own and are offered for educational and inspirational purposes only. While perspectives may differ, each episode is intended to encourage growth, reflection, and meaningful conversation. Sarah Stokes hosts this podcast with a foundation rooted in faith and a belief in Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah), seeking to uplift and empower listeners through thoughtful dialogue and shared wisdom.

#FullyStokedPodcast #AmySperry #UnionCountyEducationFoundation #SupportTeachers #PublicEducation #UnionCountyNC #TeacherSupport #CommunityImpact #NonprofitLeadership #WomenInLeadership #Leadership #EducationMatters #CommunityLeadership #SupportStudents #UCEF