• Trust This.
  • Posts
  • 🎖️ Trust This: This Memorial Day, Veterans are fighting foreclosures

🎖️ Trust This: This Memorial Day, Veterans are fighting foreclosures

and Texas is coming for the Memorandum of Contract

Author

Joseph Seagle
May 23, 2025

Trust This. 

By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.

👋 Happy Friday! Monday is Memorial Day, the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women. Originally called Decoration Day, it was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" issued by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan in 1868. To learn more about Memorial Day, visit the National Cemetery Administration’s website.

1 big thing: More Vets are sweating foreclosure

📌 The Big Picture: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has terminated the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program as of May 1, 2025, leaving nearly 90,000 veterans with seriously delinquent VA-backed mortgages at heightened risk of foreclosure. 

🕰️ Background: Established in 1944 under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill), the VA loan program was designed to assist World War II veterans in achieving homeownership. Over the decades, it has evolved to offer benefits like zero down payments and competitive interest rates, aiding millions of veterans in securing homes. 

⚠️ What’s Happening: The VASP program, introduced during the Biden administration, allowed the VA to purchase delinquent loans and offer veterans new, affordable mortgages. Its termination, attributed to concerns over taxpayer risk and lack of congressional authorization, has sparked criticism from Republican Congressmen who warn of a looming foreclosure crisis among veterans. 

Congressional Republicans on the VA Committee say they’re working on a “partial claim” program like the one used in troubled FHA loans, and this will replace VASP. But — in the meantime — tens of thousands of veterans are in danger of losing their homes.

Yes but when NPR investigated the closure of the program, the VA halted foreclosures for a year to give Congress time to replace VASP.

🏠 Impact on Real Estate Professionals:

  • Realtors & Mortgage Brokers: An anticipated increase in VA loan foreclosures may lead to a surge in refinancing applications and property listings, particularly in markets with high veteran populations (see Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, Brevard County …). This could present opportunities for clients seeking affordable homes, but may also require sensitivity to the circumstances of displaced veterans.

  • Real Estate Investors: The influx of foreclosed properties could offer investment opportunities at reduced prices. However, ethical considerations and potential community backlash should be weighed when acquiring homes from vulnerable populations, especially in light of current high-profile litigation in Arizona challenging the legality of taking such VA mortgages subject-to.

  • Title Insurance Agents: A rise in foreclosure transactions may increase demand for title services, necessitating thorough due diligence to navigate potential legal complexities associated with distressed properties, and subject-to transactions involving VA loans may draw the attention of Florida regulators and class-action lawyers.

📈 By the Numbers:

  • Approximately 90,000 VA-backed loans are seriously delinquent. 

  • Over 20,000 veterans previously benefited from the VASP program. 

  • Foreclosure rates among VA loans have surged to a five-year high following the program’s termination. 

🔮 What’s next: The real estate industry should prepare for the ripple effects of increased veteran foreclosures, including shifts in housing demand, property values, and community dynamics. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with policymakers and veteran support organizations to advocate for solutions that balance market opportunities with social responsibility.

2. 🏛️ Texas Bill Targets Memoranda in Real Estate Wholesaling

🧠 The Big Picture: Texas House Bill 4063 aims to clamp down on the misuse of a memorandum of contract in real estate deals, a common practice among wholesalers to assert control over properties without holding title. The bill prohibits filing a memorandum unless the contract expressly permits it and includes specific statutory language — backed by penalties for violations.

📜 Why It Matters: For many real estate wholesalers, particularly in states like Florida, where wholesaling thrives, the memorandum serves as a tool to cloud title and block sellers from backing out of contracts. A law like HB 4063, if passed in Texas and mirrored in Florida, could fundamentally alter how wholesalers protect their contractual interests.

📌 Details of HB 4063:

  • A memorandum of contract must include exact statutory wording warning that it doesn’t create a lien.

  • The underlying contract must explicitly authorize the filing of a memorandum.

  • Penalties include statutory damages of $1,000 per day for wrongful filings, plus actual damages and attorney fees.

  • Courts can issue orders to remove improper filings from public records.

📉 If Florida Follows Suit and enacts a similar law, real estate wholesalers would lose a key enforcement mechanism. Currently, recording a memorandum gives wholesalers leverage, often dissuading sellers from breaching assignment contracts. Removing this option or limiting it to narrowly drafted contracts would shift negotiating power back to property owners.

For investors, the change would:

  • Raise compliance stakes: Sloppy or aggressive filings could trigger costly penalties.

  • Force contract revisions: Standard wholesale agreements would need clear language permitting a memorandum.

  • Increase litigation risks: Sellers and end buyers could challenge improper filings more easily.

🔎 Between the Lines: This legislation reflects a growing scrutiny of wholesaling tactics, especially those perceived as deceptive or abusive. Regulators appear increasingly willing to step in where market practices disrupt seller rights or title clarity.

The Texas Land Title Association proposed and is lobbying for the bill. TLTA is extremely powerful in Texas, just as FLTA is in Florida. When such industry associations recognize a problem and write legislation to fix it, legislators usually listen and take action.

💬 Our Take: Florida wholesalers should monitor this bill closely. It may be a preview of regulatory trends that could spread and reshape real estate deal structures in high-volume wholesale states.

This week on Trust This: Ask Joe Anything, I explain the “Green, Yellow, and Red lights” of asset protection planning timing.

 Listen in or watch on your favorite streaming platform.

3. Catch up fast

  1. What does it mean when the country’s FICO score drops? Bloomberg (gift link)

  2. Economist Paul Krugman games out what it would mean if the U.S. economy experiences another financial crisis because the world loses faith in our credit. Substack

  3. Home sellers are setting “aspirational” prices while buyers have different ideas. Yahoo Finance

  4. Florida passes law to allow e-mailed eviction notices to tenants. Evict.com

  5. Florida’s pandemic housing boom is over. Heading toward another crash? Tampa Bay Times

  6. International tourism to the U.S. drops 61%, and expected to go lower. Travel and Tour World

  7. U.S. Treasury will no longer mint pennies BBC News

  8. Florida couple’s eviction of a tenant turns into a $366,000 code enforcement violation lawsuit with the city. MoneyWise

  9. April’s home sales dropped to the slowest pace for that month since 2009. CNBC

  10. Ending the Fannie/Freddie conservatorship in the cards? MPAMag

4. Closing Thought: The Grit Behind the Uniform — How Vets Turn Military Habits Into Real Estate Tenacity

Rufous surmounted a boulder in the front yard on Wednesday to celebrate his 15th birthday. Photo: Philip Richardson

In the world of real estate investing—a battlefield of its own, with market volatility, deal fallout, and regulatory landmines—the difference between failure and success often comes down to one trait: grit.

Many veterans who transition into real estate bring with them a deep well of grit, cultivated not just in combat but in the daily rigors of military life. What separates them isn’t just their courage under fire. It’s their unwavering commitment to routine.

In the service, habits aren’t optional. They’re ingrained—wake at 0500, polish boots, maintain order, complete drills, march 10 miles with a 30-pound rucksack on your back. This structure breeds more than discipline; it builds mental calluses that protect against the paralysis of uncertainty and fear. When a deal collapses, a contractor walks off-site, or a tenant trashes a unit, veterans don’t freeze. They fall back on their routines—reviewing their systems, reassessing the mission, and taking the next step forward.

This habit-driven grit is their secret weapon. It transforms setbacks into data points, delays into opportunities to recalibrate. For veterans, the real estate landscape, however unpredictable, becomes another mission with objectives, timelines, and a path to execution.

As an attorney, I tell investors: adopt the mindset of a veteran:

  • Build routines that center your day.

  • Measure progress in actions, not just outcomes.

  • Create systems that persist when motivation fades.

  • Cultivate habits that bring you back to the mission when knocked down.

Because grit isn’t just about toughness—it’s about staying on task, day after day, especially when results lag behind effort.

Veterans don’t succeed in real estate because they’ve avoided failure. They succeed because they’ve learned to navigate it with structure and resolve. And that’s a lesson every investor can apply — military background or not.

Go Deeper: Trust This podcast interviews — Veterans John Chin, Bernadeau Charles, Robert Vazquez, and Ricardo Rosales, just to name a few

Live Q&A: LLC vs. S Corp for Solopreneurs Limited space.

Looking to formalize your business structure?

Join Besolo CEO Mark Jackson on Tuesday, May 27th for an interactive fireside chat designed specifically for solopreneurs. Besolo has helped hundreds of solopreneurs like you to navigate the challenges of running your own business. Understand the pros, cons, and tax implications of LLCs, S Corps, and Sole Proprietorships.

Get expert insights and actionable tips from our experts with years of experience that is tailored to fractional workers. Seats limited. Reserve your seat now!

We hope you found this helpful â€” any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.

  • Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

  • Have an idea or issue to share? Email us. 

  • Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.

  • Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945

  • Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804

Be on the lookout for our next issue! đŸ‘‹

  • Trust This.
  • Posts
  • 🎖️ Trust This: This Memorial Day, Veterans are fighting foreclosures

🎖️ Trust This: This Memorial Day, Veterans are fighting foreclosures

and Texas is coming for the Memorandum of Contract

Author

Joseph Seagle
May 23, 2025

Trust This. 

By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.

👋 Happy Friday! Monday is Memorial Day, the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women. Originally called Decoration Day, it was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" issued by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan in 1868. To learn more about Memorial Day, visit the National Cemetery Administration’s website.

1 big thing: More Vets are sweating foreclosure

📌 The Big Picture: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has terminated the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program as of May 1, 2025, leaving nearly 90,000 veterans with seriously delinquent VA-backed mortgages at heightened risk of foreclosure. 

🕰️ Background: Established in 1944 under the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (GI Bill), the VA loan program was designed to assist World War II veterans in achieving homeownership. Over the decades, it has evolved to offer benefits like zero down payments and competitive interest rates, aiding millions of veterans in securing homes. 

⚠️ What’s Happening: The VASP program, introduced during the Biden administration, allowed the VA to purchase delinquent loans and offer veterans new, affordable mortgages. Its termination, attributed to concerns over taxpayer risk and lack of congressional authorization, has sparked criticism from Republican Congressmen who warn of a looming foreclosure crisis among veterans. 

Congressional Republicans on the VA Committee say they’re working on a “partial claim” program like the one used in troubled FHA loans, and this will replace VASP. But — in the meantime — tens of thousands of veterans are in danger of losing their homes.

Yes but when NPR investigated the closure of the program, the VA halted foreclosures for a year to give Congress time to replace VASP.

🏠 Impact on Real Estate Professionals:

  • Realtors & Mortgage Brokers: An anticipated increase in VA loan foreclosures may lead to a surge in refinancing applications and property listings, particularly in markets with high veteran populations (see Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, Brevard County …). This could present opportunities for clients seeking affordable homes, but may also require sensitivity to the circumstances of displaced veterans.

  • Real Estate Investors: The influx of foreclosed properties could offer investment opportunities at reduced prices. However, ethical considerations and potential community backlash should be weighed when acquiring homes from vulnerable populations, especially in light of current high-profile litigation in Arizona challenging the legality of taking such VA mortgages subject-to.

  • Title Insurance Agents: A rise in foreclosure transactions may increase demand for title services, necessitating thorough due diligence to navigate potential legal complexities associated with distressed properties, and subject-to transactions involving VA loans may draw the attention of Florida regulators and class-action lawyers.

📈 By the Numbers:

  • Approximately 90,000 VA-backed loans are seriously delinquent. 

  • Over 20,000 veterans previously benefited from the VASP program. 

  • Foreclosure rates among VA loans have surged to a five-year high following the program’s termination. 

🔮 What’s next: The real estate industry should prepare for the ripple effects of increased veteran foreclosures, including shifts in housing demand, property values, and community dynamics. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with policymakers and veteran support organizations to advocate for solutions that balance market opportunities with social responsibility.

2. 🏛️ Texas Bill Targets Memoranda in Real Estate Wholesaling

🧠 The Big Picture: Texas House Bill 4063 aims to clamp down on the misuse of a memorandum of contract in real estate deals, a common practice among wholesalers to assert control over properties without holding title. The bill prohibits filing a memorandum unless the contract expressly permits it and includes specific statutory language — backed by penalties for violations.

📜 Why It Matters: For many real estate wholesalers, particularly in states like Florida, where wholesaling thrives, the memorandum serves as a tool to cloud title and block sellers from backing out of contracts. A law like HB 4063, if passed in Texas and mirrored in Florida, could fundamentally alter how wholesalers protect their contractual interests.

📌 Details of HB 4063:

  • A memorandum of contract must include exact statutory wording warning that it doesn’t create a lien.

  • The underlying contract must explicitly authorize the filing of a memorandum.

  • Penalties include statutory damages of $1,000 per day for wrongful filings, plus actual damages and attorney fees.

  • Courts can issue orders to remove improper filings from public records.

📉 If Florida Follows Suit and enacts a similar law, real estate wholesalers would lose a key enforcement mechanism. Currently, recording a memorandum gives wholesalers leverage, often dissuading sellers from breaching assignment contracts. Removing this option or limiting it to narrowly drafted contracts would shift negotiating power back to property owners.

For investors, the change would:

  • Raise compliance stakes: Sloppy or aggressive filings could trigger costly penalties.

  • Force contract revisions: Standard wholesale agreements would need clear language permitting a memorandum.

  • Increase litigation risks: Sellers and end buyers could challenge improper filings more easily.

🔎 Between the Lines: This legislation reflects a growing scrutiny of wholesaling tactics, especially those perceived as deceptive or abusive. Regulators appear increasingly willing to step in where market practices disrupt seller rights or title clarity.

The Texas Land Title Association proposed and is lobbying for the bill. TLTA is extremely powerful in Texas, just as FLTA is in Florida. When such industry associations recognize a problem and write legislation to fix it, legislators usually listen and take action.

💬 Our Take: Florida wholesalers should monitor this bill closely. It may be a preview of regulatory trends that could spread and reshape real estate deal structures in high-volume wholesale states.

This week on Trust This: Ask Joe Anything, I explain the “Green, Yellow, and Red lights” of asset protection planning timing.

 Listen in or watch on your favorite streaming platform.

3. Catch up fast

  1. What does it mean when the country’s FICO score drops? Bloomberg (gift link)

  2. Economist Paul Krugman games out what it would mean if the U.S. economy experiences another financial crisis because the world loses faith in our credit. Substack

  3. Home sellers are setting “aspirational” prices while buyers have different ideas. Yahoo Finance

  4. Florida passes law to allow e-mailed eviction notices to tenants. Evict.com

  5. Florida’s pandemic housing boom is over. Heading toward another crash? Tampa Bay Times

  6. International tourism to the U.S. drops 61%, and expected to go lower. Travel and Tour World

  7. U.S. Treasury will no longer mint pennies BBC News

  8. Florida couple’s eviction of a tenant turns into a $366,000 code enforcement violation lawsuit with the city. MoneyWise

  9. April’s home sales dropped to the slowest pace for that month since 2009. CNBC

  10. Ending the Fannie/Freddie conservatorship in the cards? MPAMag

4. Closing Thought: The Grit Behind the Uniform — How Vets Turn Military Habits Into Real Estate Tenacity

Rufous surmounted a boulder in the front yard on Wednesday to celebrate his 15th birthday. Photo: Philip Richardson

In the world of real estate investing—a battlefield of its own, with market volatility, deal fallout, and regulatory landmines—the difference between failure and success often comes down to one trait: grit.

Many veterans who transition into real estate bring with them a deep well of grit, cultivated not just in combat but in the daily rigors of military life. What separates them isn’t just their courage under fire. It’s their unwavering commitment to routine.

In the service, habits aren’t optional. They’re ingrained—wake at 0500, polish boots, maintain order, complete drills, march 10 miles with a 30-pound rucksack on your back. This structure breeds more than discipline; it builds mental calluses that protect against the paralysis of uncertainty and fear. When a deal collapses, a contractor walks off-site, or a tenant trashes a unit, veterans don’t freeze. They fall back on their routines—reviewing their systems, reassessing the mission, and taking the next step forward.

This habit-driven grit is their secret weapon. It transforms setbacks into data points, delays into opportunities to recalibrate. For veterans, the real estate landscape, however unpredictable, becomes another mission with objectives, timelines, and a path to execution.

As an attorney, I tell investors: adopt the mindset of a veteran:

  • Build routines that center your day.

  • Measure progress in actions, not just outcomes.

  • Create systems that persist when motivation fades.

  • Cultivate habits that bring you back to the mission when knocked down.

Because grit isn’t just about toughness—it’s about staying on task, day after day, especially when results lag behind effort.

Veterans don’t succeed in real estate because they’ve avoided failure. They succeed because they’ve learned to navigate it with structure and resolve. And that’s a lesson every investor can apply — military background or not.

Go Deeper: Trust This podcast interviews — Veterans John Chin, Bernadeau Charles, Robert Vazquez, and Ricardo Rosales, just to name a few

Live Q&A: LLC vs. S Corp for Solopreneurs Limited space.

Looking to formalize your business structure?

Join Besolo CEO Mark Jackson on Tuesday, May 27th for an interactive fireside chat designed specifically for solopreneurs. Besolo has helped hundreds of solopreneurs like you to navigate the challenges of running your own business. Understand the pros, cons, and tax implications of LLCs, S Corps, and Sole Proprietorships.

Get expert insights and actionable tips from our experts with years of experience that is tailored to fractional workers. Seats limited. Reserve your seat now!

We hope you found this helpful â€” any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.

  • Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

  • Have an idea or issue to share? Email us. 

  • Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.

  • Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945

  • Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804

Be on the lookout for our next issue! đŸ‘‹

About Smart Sites

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Smart Sites has created 5 blog entries.
  • Trust This.
  • Posts
  • 👋 Trust This: Privatizing Fannie & Freddie

👋 Trust This: Privatizing Fannie & Freddie

But if stagflation rears its head, the government may have to go even deeper on its bets in Fannie and Freddie that started in the last Great Recession

Author

Joseph Seagle
April 25, 2025

Trust This. 

By Joseph E. Seagle, Esq.

👋 Happy Friday! Today is 🌳 Arbor Day. While the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, the next-best time to plant a tree is today. Or, as Warren Buffet is quoted as saying, "the tree you plant today provides the shade for tomorrow."

❗️Situation Awareness: U.S. tax returns and Florida corporate and LLC anual reports are due May 1 for those residing in Florida.

1 big thing: Privatizing Fannie & Freddie

Photorealistic illustration of Bill Ackman in front of a government building with signs "Fannie Mae" and "Freddie Mac" in front of him as sign saying "Privatizing Fannie & Freddie" also appears before him

🏛️ The Big Picture: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been in federal conservatorship since 2008, a move triggered by the housing market collapse that rendered them insolvent. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) took over management, backed by a U.S. Treasury lifeline through Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements. Despite returning to profitability, the two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) have remained under tight federal control for over 16 years .

Now, investor Bill Ackman is proposing a dramatic exit strategy — one that could bypass Congress and reshape the U.S. mortgage landscape.

📜 Why They Went Into Conservatorship: The 2008 financial crisis exposed massive risk and undercapitalization at Fannie and Freddie. In response, FHFA (currently headed by William Pulte) stepped in, and the Treasury injected $193 billion to keep them afloat. In exchange, the government gained sweeping control and future dividends — which now total over $310 billion paid back by the GSEs.

⏳ Why It’s Lasted So Long: Despite years of profits and reform, political inertia and fears of destabilizing the housing finance system have kept the GSEs in conservatorship. Regulators have been cautious, citing the need for adequate capital buffers and market stability before handing back the reins. It also hasn’t hurt that the profits have been going to the U.S. Treasury as general revenue since the conservatorship began.

💼 Ackman’s Exit Plan:

Ackman proposes a pathway to privatization without involving Congress:

  • Forgive the Treasury’s remaining preferred stake, arguing it’s already repaid with a solid ROI of 11.6%.

  • Lower capital requirements to 2.5% from the current 4.25%, freeing up capital and avoiding rate hikes.

  • Launch staggered IPOs — Fannie in 2026 ($5B), Freddie in 2027 ($15B).

  • Maintain government support through 25 basis point credit guarantee fees, preserving a form of backstop 

💡 What This Means for You:

Realtors & Mortgage Brokers:

  • Lower capital requirements mean no G-fee hikes, keeping mortgage rates stable.

  • A privatized, streamlined Fannie and Freddie could lead to faster loan approvals and greater product innovation.

Title Insurance Agents:

  • Market certainty around mortgage-backed securities could reduce transaction delays and increase closing volume.

  • However, the risk remains that perceived instability in privatized GSEs could spook investors, especially without full faith in a government backstop.

💰 Impact on the Treasury:

  • The U.S. government retains 79.9% warrant rights in both firms — a potential windfall if stocks rise.

  • Forgiving billions of dollars in value might spark a political backlash, especially in an election year.

The Bottom Line: Ackman’s plan revives the conversation around ending a decade-plus conservatorship. If successful, it could usher in a new era of private-market flexibility while preserving taxpayer protections — but only if trust in the system holds.

Go Deeper: HousingWire

2. Housing faces a stagflation storm

🏠 As stagflation looms in 2025, real estate professionals—agents, brokers, and investors—must navigate a market marked by high inflation, stagnant growth, and rising interest rates.

📉 The Big Picture: Stagflation, a rare economic condition combining inflation and economic stagnation, is impacting the housing market. Mortgage rates are climbing, consumer confidence is waning, and affordability is at a low point. This scenario is reminiscent of the 1970s housing downturn.

💸 Key Impacts

  • Mortgage Rates: 30-year fixed rates have surged past 6.5%, reducing buyer purchasing power.

  • Home Prices: Prices are softening in many markets, with some areas experiencing declines of up to 10%.

  • Investor Caution: Real estate investors are reevaluating portfolios, focusing on cash flow over appreciation.

  • Property Taxes: Inflation-driven property assessments are increasing tax burdens, squeezing margins.

  • Insurance Rates: As inflation increases the prices of construction materials, insurance premiums will also need to rise to keep pace, ensuring that claims payments adequately cover the cost of repairs.

🧭 Strategic Moves

  • Realtors: Educate clients on market shifts; emphasize long-term value over short-term gains.

  • Mortgage Brokers: Offer adjustable-rate mortgages and other flexible financing options to attract rate-sensitive buyers.

  • Title Agents: Streamline closing processes to reduce transaction costs and delays. Also, guard against contract cancellations, avoiding unnecessary work that requires more labor costs; consider collecting costs for surveys, title searches, and municipal lien searches up front from buyers and sellers.

🔍 What to Watch

  • Policy Changes: Potential government interventions, such as housing subsidies or interest rate adjustments, could alter market dynamics.

  • Economic Indicators: Monitor inflation rates, employment data, and consumer spending for signs of economic recovery or further decline.

📌 Bottom Line: Stagflation presents challenges for the housing market, but with informed strategies and adaptability, real estate professionals can navigate this complex landscape.

This week Al Nicoletti and I sat down to chat about probate issues for real estate investors. Listen in on a couple of lawyers discussing all the probate profits and pitfalls.

 Listen in or watch on your favorite streaming platform.

3. Catch up fast

  1. Wanted: Central Florida contractor for defrauding elderly woman out of $300K. Daytona Beach News-Journal

  2. The latest update on Homevestors. Propublica

  3. The top-5 profitable short-term rental markets. Bigger Pockets

  4. How will the Trump Tariffs and Deportations affect the housing market? Bankrate

  5. Mortgage demand sinks 13% as rates soar. HousingWire

  6. New home sales jumped in March, but how will Trump’s tariffs’ volatility affect it in the future. MPAMag

  7. Rents fell slightly in March, but tariffs could make life harder for tenants. Redfin

  8. How Gen Z will re-write the rules of homebuying. Cotality

  9. Court stops mass firings at CFPB ABC News

  10. The Sun Belt housing market’s slowdown is causing D.R. Horton Homes and other large home builders to pull back FastCompany

4. Closing Thought:

This quarter, we volunteered to inspect backpacks that will be part of the 25,000 backpack event for students of Orange County Public Schools in June. (L-R), Matt, Rick, Joe, Rachael, Mariana, Vanessa, and Jimmy.

🧠 The Big Idea: Psychologist and author Adam Grant once said: “Wisdom is not believing everything you think. Emotional intelligence is not internalizing everything you feel.” For real estate professionals and entrepreneurs, this insight is a game-changer—especially in high-stakes environments where emotions run hot, and quick decisions are critical.

📊 Why It Matters: In the world of deals, deadlines, and demanding clients, your ability to pause and question your own thoughts can mean the difference between a strategic win and a costly misstep. Emotional intelligence isn’t about suppressing emotions—it’s about managing them effectively. If you internalize every feeling—frustration, fear, anxiety—you risk burnout, bad communication, or blowing up your team culture.

💡 What You Can Do:

  • Challenge Your Thoughts: When you catch yourself thinking “This deal is falling apart,” or “I’m a terrible negotiator,” ask: Is that true? Flip the script by looking at the evidence and considering alternatives.

  • Label Emotions, Don’t Absorb Them: When you feel overwhelmed, say to yourself: “I’m noticing anxiety.” This subtle shift gives you space to respond, not react.

  • Create a Feedback Loop: Surround yourself with people who will challenge your thinking—not just echo it. Wise leaders invite pushback.

📈 The Bottom Line: Grant’s quote is a reminder that high performance isn’t just about hustle—it’s about mental clarity and emotional maturity. In real estate and business, your mindset can close (or kill) the deal. Don’t believe every thought. Don’t become every feeling.

🛠️ Try This: Start your week with a “Thought Audit.” Write down 3 thoughts or feelings that are clouding your judgment. Next to each, write an alternative interpretation. You’ll be surprised how much lighter—and sharper—you feel.

We hope you found this helpful â€” any feedback is appreciated and can be shared by hitting reply or using the feedback feature below.

  • Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.

  • Have an idea or issue to share? Email us. 

  • Connect with us using your preferred social media and website links for MyLandTrustee and Aspire Legal Solutions.

  • Our mailing address: PO Box 547945, Orlando, FL 32854-7945

  • Our physical address: 1901 West Colonial Drive, First Floor, Orlando, FL 32804

Be on the lookout for our next issue! đŸ‘‹

Go to Top