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Welcome back to Realty Check! We are 11 episodes in, and today we’re pulling back the curtain on the secretive world of mortgage lending. Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes after you apply for a loan? We’re doing a deep dive into the nitty-gritty (but not too geeky!) drama of the wholesale market, focusing on the industry giant: United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM). From the "All-In" contract wars to gamified underwritings and free trips to Michigan, Leni and Amanda share the insider tea you won't hear from your local bank. Plus, we catch up on neighborhood pool hangs, being an extrovert magnet, and navigating life as a single mom. Are we crying? Thriving? Tune in to find out!

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

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We made it to double digits! To celebrate Episode 10, we’re ditching the formal studio setup and hiding out in Amanda’s brand-new car for a classic "gab sesh." No scripts, no agendas. Just two girlfriends decompressing, yapping, and getting real about the "dumpster fire" world outside.

From geriatric pregnancies to psychological thrillers, we’re covering the wide, weird spectrum of our current obsessions. If you’ve ever felt like you’re oscillating between being a high-achieving professional and a brain-rotted reality TV fan, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we chat about:

• The "Third Space" Concept: Why we all need a place outside of home (1st space) and work (2nd space) to find community, and how jujitsu became that for Leni.
• Competitive Spirits: A cautionary tale about why you never want to be on Amanda’s mom’s team during holiday charades.
• Healthy Losing: How competing in a jujitsu bracket you’re "guaranteed to lose" is actually a powerful lesson for our kids.
• The Book Club & Bravo Rot: Amanda’s deep dive into Ruth Ware’s thrillers vs. Lenicia’s love for dark, sad, South American cult novels and whimsical K-dramas.
• The Gay Awakening: Lenicia reveals the 1997 rom-com scene that changed everything.
• The "Unreliable Narrator": Why we love books that make us question our own sanity (shoutout to The Sympathizer).

Whether you’re a "Master's Division" athlete or a "Below Deck" flyer, join us in the driveway for a much-needed breath of air.

"To-Read" List Mentioned:

• In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
• The Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
• The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick

Connect with Us:

• Instagram: @exploresacliving | @leniyourloanofficer

Help us celebrate 10 episodes! Leave us a review or DM us on Instagram with your own "Crying or Thriving" moment from this week. We’d love to feature it in a future episode!

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

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Last week, we talked about the "golden window". That magical 9-4 slot where productivity is high and calendars are clean. This week? Reality hit. Between spring break, random teacher in-service days, and the never-ending cycle of school germs, that window doesn't just close, it disappears under a pile of laundry and snack requests.

Join Amanda and Lenicia for an honest conversation about what happens to your business when you’re forced to pivot from professional to full-time activities director overnight. We’re getting real about the juggle, the "tag-along" lifestyle, and how to keep your sanity when your office hours move to the splash pad.

In this episode, we explore:

• The IKEA Productivity Hack: How to leverage 60 minutes of childcare and a meal deal to reclaim an hour of your workday.
• Strategic Screen Time: Navigating the "iPad kid" debate and using technology as a tool for survival. Plus, how we deal with the inevitable mom guilt from opposite ends of the spectrum.
• Professional Transparency: The exact scripts we use to tell clients a kid is in the backseat without losing your professional edge.
• The Power of Trade-Offs: Why leaning on your "mom-munity" for childcare swaps is the ultimate summer business strategy.
• Financial Prep: Why saving for "fee season" and setting a survival minimum is crucial for navigating the ebbs and flows of the school year.

Grab your coffee, your tea, or your kid’s leftover juice box. It’s time for a reality check on balancing a thriving career with the unpredictable life of a parent.

Connect with Us:

• Instagram: @exploresacliving | @leniyourloanofficer

Shoutout to our listeners! Whether you’re in Ashburn, Virginia, Singapore, or right here in Sacramento, we want to hear from you. Reach out on Instagram and let us know what topics you want to hear us tackle next.

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

Send us Fan Mail

Is it possible to run a high-volume real estate business without losing your mind (or your sleep)? This week on Realty Check, Amanda and Leni take you behind the curtain for a literal "day in the life" of an agent and a loan officer who are also primary parents.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about:

• The "Crying vs. Thriving" Scale: From infected fingers and ER pre-approvals to the manic stress of buying a used car in a competitive market.
• Energy Blocking: Why Amanda stops answering the phone at 4 PM and how Leni survives on five hours of sleep.
• Productive vs. Busy Work: Why a "curated" Instagram post might be wasting your time while a "raw rant" or a 5-minute coffee shop chat is actually making you money.
• The Power of the Flex Day: How we structure our weeks to allow for mid-week lunches and school "screwballs."
• Nurturing Your Pillars: Why being the T-ball sponsor or sitting on a nonprofit board is more than just "giving back"—it's the heartbeat of a relationship-based business.

Whether you're an agent looking for a better way to manage your schedule or just someone who enjoys a good "yapping" session about the chaos of life, this episode is for you.

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

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Is your brokerage a partner in your success, or just a place to hang your license?

In this episode, Amanda and Leni dive deep into their personal "brokerage journeys". Sharing the highs, the lows, and the pivotal moments that led them to where they are today. Whether you are in real estate or the mortgage industry, the environment you choose dictates your ceiling. We’re breaking down the exact checklist you should use when vetting a firm and the "red flags" that signal it’s time to find a new professional home.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Origin Stories: Our personal paths from Day 1 to today.

The Value Gap: What a brokerage should provide versus what many actually do.

The "When" Factor: 3 signs it is officially time to consider a move.

Culture vs. Commission: Why the highest split isn't always the biggest win.

Join Our Teams: How we are building differently and how you can get in the room with us.

Ready to Level Up?
We are both actively growing our teams and looking for high-vibe, driven professionals to join us. If you’re curious about what a partnership with us looks like, let’s chat:

Connect with Amanda (Real Estate): https://calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor/exp-chat

Connect with Leni (Mortgage): leni@hawkinshl.com or text 916-402-1224

Don’t forget to subscribe and leave us a review if this episode helped you gain clarity on your career path!

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

Send us Fan Mail

The Power of the Collective: A Masterclass in Career Evolution.

What happens when a former school teacher decides to rewrite the rules of real estate? You get a brokerage that feels less like a corporate ladder and more like a collaborative community.

In this episode of The Realty Check Podcast, we sit down with Darcy Hargrove, a powerhouse Realtor and Broker-Owner based in West Sacramento. Darcy takes us through her incredible career trajectory—from the classroom to joining a high-performing team, and ultimately taking the leap to launch her own unique brokerage model.

Darcy’s brokerage isn’t your standard "big box" office. It’s a collaborative collective designed for the modern agent. We dive deep into why she chose a model where agents maintain full control over their expenses and marketing while gaining the invaluable benefit of a shared, like-minded community.

We discuss:

The Transition: How teaching skills translate perfectly to the real estate world.

The Leap to Broker-Owner: The mindset shift required to move from agent to owner.

The Collective Model: Why autonomy plus community is the "secret sauce" for veteran agents.

West Sacramento Vibes: Darcy’s take on the local market and building a business in her own backyard.

Whether you’re an agent looking for a new way to work or an entrepreneur curious about alternative business models, Darcy’s insights on community and independence are a breath of fresh air.

Connect with Darcy Hargrove:

Website: https://www.connectrealestatewest.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darcyhargrove/

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

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Lead generation doesn’t fail because people aren’t working hard enough.
It fails because they’re trying to use strategies that don’t fit who they are.

In this episode, Amanda Freeman and Leni Lopez unpack what relationship-based lead generation actually looks like in practice, the good, the uncomfortable, and the long game most people underestimate.

We talk about repeated behaviors, social media as a trust-building tool, community involvement, referrals, and why desperation quietly kills connection. This episode is for agents who want to build a business that lasts without burning out or becoming someone they don’t recognize.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional lead gen wasn’t built for you, this episode explains why, and what to do instead.

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573

Send a text

In this episode, we sit down with Lori Hawkins to talk through her full career journey in the mortgage industry, starting as a lender assistant, moving into processing, underwriting, owning a processing company, and eventually opening her own mortgage brokerage.

We talk about what each role taught her, why understanding every layer of the loan process changes how you show up for clients, and how experience builds trust in an industry where details matter and mistakes are expensive.

This conversation is about more than career growth. It’s about playing the long game, building credibility through real work, and why relationships thrive when you actually know what you’re doing behind the scenes.

If you’re a buyer, an agent, or someone building a career in real estate or lending, this episode will change how you think about expertise, trust, and who you choose to work with.

Connect with Lori:
Lori Hawkins
Instagram: @lorilackeyhawkins
Website: hawkinshomesloans.com

Stay Connected to the Podcast
Follow us on Instagram: @realtycheckpodcast
Have a topic idea or story to share? Reach out!
Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so you never miss an episode

Connect with Leni Lopez (Your Lender Bestie)
Instagram: @leniyourloanofficer
Ready to talk lending or get preapproved? Email her team: leni@hawkinshl.com
Website: LopezNguyen.com
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS 1366630/225910
Hawkins Home Loans, Inc.

Connect with Amanda (Your Realtor Bestie)
Instagram: @exploresacliving
Email: amanda@exploresacliving.com
Website: Exploresacliving.com
Curious about buying or selling in Sacramento County or beyond? Schedule a no pressure call: calendly.com/amandafreemanrealtor
Amanda Freeman | eXp | DRE 02150573