Episode 74: Build Your Path to Homeownership in San Antonio with Faith Cuellar

0:00 All right, we are back, and we're in San Antonio, Texas. We're going to talk about Faith and her journey. And I think you're going to really love this podcast. Welcome to the Between Two Doors podcast. I'm Your Favorite Mortgage Guy and host, Nate Carver. Hey, I'm Nate Carver. And welcome to Between Two Doors. And Faith Cuellar, Welcome to the podcast.

0:42 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it. Absolutely. Hey, before we get into real estate and résumés, I was looking at your bio. Okay. And and there's a sentence in your bio that really caught my attention. And I was like, we have got to do this podcast. You describe yourself as still building, still learning, and always willing to keep showing up. I love that. So before we talk about real estate, doctoral programs, housing affordability or anything else. What are you building right now?

1:22 Well, right now I'm building, you know, my personal life where it's my professional and personal, such as real estate, my school. I'm building a career. I'm building, you know, a legacy that I want to help the people that are around me and my community. And that's very important to me. So I'm building myself, but I'm also going to build others. Awesome. So. So where did you grow up? So I grew up in San Antonio. I've lived here almost all my life.

2:05 And I love the community here. I feel very it's my home base. The people here have always been so welcoming, so warm. And I consider it home. Nice. It's in in your, you know, now you're doing real estate or you've been doing real estate in the state Antonio area as well. Growing up in San Antonio. Were you the rule follower or the troublemaker? Well, I was a little bit of both. I know when to follow the rules, and I know when. You know, sometimes you just have to do what you have to do what you feel is right in your heart.

2:50 And so. But most of the time I. I've always done what's right. So Antonio close ties with family. Is there some things that your family taught you about work that you've brought into your your profession? Yes. My my dad, he always taught us to, like, have a really strong work ethic. He was a very hard worker himself. He believed in doing what's right, treating people fairly and just treating everybody equally. So his his mind frame was always like very calm, very warm, but very direct and very honest.

3:35 He was friends with one. That is your best going to do something? You better put your all into it. Was there was there something about you that surprises people when they first meet you? I've always been a person that I like to talk to everyone. I don't feel shy. I feel social, and I like to hear people's stories, and I like to get to know them as a person. And I think what surprises them is that sometimes they don't see the, the, the stronger part, the, you know, the resilience, the patience, the the strength that it, you know, it takes to just live this life.

4:25 And people sometimes will underestimate me, but that's just, you know. But I am very open as a person to getting to know, you know, people and hearing their stories. So I love helping people. I think that I chose real estate so I can help people because it's a big decision in their life. You know, it's an important one. It's a milestone buying a house. Absolutely. So in your story, in your your bio it talks about change and setbacks and perseverance and rebuilding. You don't have to share anything you don't want to share. Yeah.

5:05 But what, what what did that season in your life look like. Well that season looked like a lot of changed where it's rebuilding, you know, you fall, but you have to pick yourself back up. You know, and that's just part of life. Everybody's going to fail. And sometimes, you know, you have to learn from it. And so that takes a lot of like discipline. That takes a lot of like growth that takes a lot of determination. Because what you're basically doing is you're picking yourself up from the ground and you're changing yourself bettering yourself.

5:49 And that that was hard. That was difficult. That was that was you know painful. Was there. Was there a moment where you just absolutely knew something had to change? Yes, I knew it. The moment was, I want to say where I thought, you know what? I not only want to better myself, but I want to better the lives of my family. And so that was my drive. That's what drew Drew like driven me. And so I felt like it's you either. It's like you either stop the path that you're going to, you're going through, you're on that path and you're like you know what.

6:34 This is not the path I want to be on. And so you just stop it and you go a different path. Yeah. That was what changed. That's what made me go to the path that I'm on my journey. You just make up your mind. Absolutely. I I've learned through experience in military reassignments and new duty stations, new careers. I've learned to embrace. Starting over. Yes. And it's it's scary and it's exciting. And literally, you get to decide who who you're going to be, what you're going to do. And I love meeting people that are in that moment in where they were.

7:18 They know in their honest and they're like, oh, I've started over. You know, it's it's exciting. I mean, it really, it really is exciting. Who who believed in you during that period? I think I a lot of people that believed in me. Were, you know, just I want to say, you know, most of my family and a lot, of course. I think my, my dad, my mom, they've really believed. And just doing what you have to do to get where you want to be. And that was, I always knew that the path that was for me was going to be more, you know, different than what I planned.

8:06 Right. Was there a plan? What? Was there something that kept you moving? Because I know there's there's obstacles. There's always all obstacles and roadblocks or what have you. Yeah, there's always setbacks. That's part of life. There's always going to be, you know, bumps on the road and there. That's just something that you have to, like, go through and you have to persevere. So for me, my mindset was always moving. Keep going. Don't give up. And the most important thing was for me, my my thing that helped me was consistency.

8:47 Yeah. Mr.. Plane self-control. If you don't. My motivation. Yes. Yeah. I've got a motivation board right out and behind the camera, behind the computer screens, and right across it is in big red letters, consistency and that kind of momentum. Just it. It in life finances, investments. It's it's it's just it grows. You know the payoff is you know it's long term short term it's there. Yeah. And that's what has helped me because every I told myself like there are certain like mottos that I go by and one of them is the decisions you make today will affect your tomorrow.

9:34 Your what you're doing today will be your tomorrow. That's it. Do you do you think you'd be the Realtor you are today without going through those experiences? No, I don't think I would be the same person if I didn't go through those experiences. I'm more just more. I've gained more knowledge and more. I guess I've taught myself about life more because those experiences have taught me, you know, about, I guess, perseverance and about what you want in life. Because when it comes down to it, you have to have a strong foundation of what you believe in, right?

10:19 So if I go through that, I would not be the same person that I am right now. Right. So. So why real estate? I chose real estate because I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want to have a career that's, you know, more fulfilling and that helps people. That is a big thing for me. Do you remember your your very first transaction? Yes I do. So clinical. What what was it about that client? Was it helping them buy a home or helping them sell a home? And what was it about that client that's that stood out to you?

11:01 What stood out to me was that I guess you have to. Helping the client has always been a good thing, but in every transaction, there's always something that may come up. Because in real estate, things don't always go as planned. So there were issues and there were little harder. It was a it was a harder first transaction to go, but it taught me so much. It wasn't a smooth selling transaction or, you know, it was one that it helped me grow and learn more about the real estate business. Yeah.

11:41 Always, always, always champion to homebuyers. Your team is your real estate agent, your mortgage loan officer and your insurance agent. And between the three of them, there is a solution. Was there something was there something that scared you when you first became a Realtor? Well, I guess nothing really scared me when I first became a Realtor, but there is things that kind of bothered me where, you know, when you have a deal, and then all of a sudden the deal starts falling apart and you're just like, how do I make this deal not fall apart?

12:22 Yeah, yeah. The the scariest one on me is whenever someone goes and hey, I just bought a car, so that becomes a stable loan deal. Anyway, it's, it's, you know, I've, I've learned that's in my initial conversation is going no new transactions, no new credit cards, none of that good stuff. So to hold office, we're we're on a mission to get a home. So. So what does handing someone their keys mean to you? I think it means to me that I'm helping them make a big decision. And like, I'm helping them with their, I guess, their choice, their life there.

13:07 It's important because they spent they're going to spend so much time in their home. That's where you know, their family, their it's personal. So for me, buying a home is personal. It is is there is there something in that experience that connects with you on a on a heart level? I think it's you know, like I said, it's where I know that I'm helping them. And their big decision that to make the best decision because everybody's different. Everybody wants something different in a home is you want to feel good in your home because your home is you want to feel safe.

13:52 You want to feel, you know, you want to feel like comfortable because that's where you live. Yeah. So like for me, the it's like, you know, it's making them happy. Yeah. Well let's explore that a little bit. You've talked about in your bio what home is in in you described it in, in like in four different terms about security and independence a fresh start and foundation. Can you go deeper in that. Which one of those means the most to you? Well, security is of course important, and having a strong foundation and just having like that peaceful environment, that peaceful atmosphere, that's important.

14:38 So I think the most important I would think is stability. Having that stable, you know, home. And so where you can come, you go outside the world, you have a place to go back to where you feel safe, you feel comfortable, you feel peaceful. And that's important. People need that. What you know, everybody needs that. Yeah. So on the side it can be it's it's numbers and documents. Right. Not very exciting. But you're right there. See if you can capture this for me when you walk into a home with a buyer and and, and and you get to see the this is it moment when they realize this is the one.

15:28 What can you describe that for me or in or the audience? Okay. When I, I'm thinking of the first time I had a, I was with my buyer, a client, and we went to go look at a home. It was at an open house, and it was a unique home. So you never know. Everybody's different. Everybody has a different personal preference of what they like. And it was an older home. It had no hope. So I didn't know what if this if they would like the home or not. But their face lit up. They were like they looked at this home and they were looking around and they were like, oh, I like this home.

16:11 I can see, I can see my furniture right here. I can put this right here. And so that felt so like, you know, good. Because they really liked the whole. And you know, sometimes you don't always have that where someone can say look at a home and they're like, okay. And they're not very interested. But that feeling is just like pure like joy, like, oh, okay, this is this is I can see myself here, I can see myself living here. And I think that's that's so good. Yeah. I imagine it's exciting to start seeing the vision, casting their future and their goals and dreams.

16:52 Yeah, yeah, I try to get some of that in the conversations I have with them on the lending side. But you know, it's yeah, you're on the fun side of it. I'm on the, the numbers. It's all. Right. Side, not Dallas. I'm not jealous. Have you ever had. I don't know what maybe an emotional closing is that or. Yeah. Let's say you go in and you go into closing your title company and buyers are right there, is there? I think I guess I'm thinking maybe first time home buyers, but there could be lots of different scenarios there where we're realizing homeownership is it's really powerful.

17:33 It is. And it's extremely emotional because I've worked with first time homebuyers where they thought that they would not be able to buy a home. And so, there's so many different programs. There's there's so many different incentives. And getting more knowledgeable as a Realtor is so important because the more you know, you're able to help your client and they're thinking, oh, I can't do this or I can't do that, but there is a way to make it happen. And I think that's the emotional side. When I feel like I can actually help someone that thought that it wasn't possible that they wouldn't be able to buy a home.

18:15 I think that's, you know, that makes you feel more just more thankful that for what you can do to help them because they're trying to, you know, look to you for answers and for options and for, you know, what they can do and what's possible, and just giving them that information and guiding them. Yeah. It's I think that's powerful because it helps. It's helping them and helping their life and helping them build a, you know, a life in a home that they're going to live at.

18:56 And that's what's powerful for me, is it makes you realize that a home is not just material, but it's also something that someone everybody needs. Everybody needs a home that's just part of, like having you have to have that for your well-being overall. So I think it's powerful to help people buy a home. And it gets that more powerful. It helps them. Yeah. So you and your you're a successful Realtor, you're thriving. Somebody comes to you and they're like, hey, I'm, I'm, I'm looking to buy a home.

19:37 Have you ever seen them? And maybe they remind you of your journey. Or maybe they're maybe they're like 5 or 6 months behind back in your where you were or years back where you were. And seeing them in that journey, has that reminded you of yourself been a connection point with them? Yeah, so many times there are people that I've met and they tell me their story, you know, and they're looking to buy a home they've been renting for so many years. And I think that, you know, I it where I, you know, was at and where I, you know, felt the same way as they do.

20:17 And so you understand how they feel. You understand like what they're going through. You understand their questions like, how can I make this happen? So I definitely can relate. Nice. Hey, so let's talk about San Antonio, the community that you serve. Tell me about it. I don't know why. I'll try to narrow. Well, I just I love San Antonio. I grew here most of my life. The people here are so warm. They've always been so welcoming. I moved here as a child, so I lived here almost all my life. And it's so diverse here. There's so many different areas here in San Antonio, different sides of towns.

21:03 And I just want to be able to connect more to my community, to help people to understand, like what they're looking for, their options. And San Antonio has grown so much. It's a military city. Yeah. And there's military families. There's a lot of new developments. There's a lot of culture here. There's been there's families here that have been here for generations. There's so much here. And it's grown. So it's grown so much. And it's definitely an a positive direction because it keeps growing. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. When I was, when I was stationed there to the Army, you got Air Force bases.

21:47 And then, you know, outside of that you are the sea world there. Oh, yeah. There. So you, you obviously you decided to stay in and set up your real estate business in San Antonio. What are some some misunderstandings or things outsiders might not know about the area? I think there is the area is very it is a city, but there's so much there's so many beautiful parks here. There's the River Walk, there's the downtown area that's thriving, it's grown, and there's so many other different areas for people to choose from to live, you know, different sides of towns.

22:33 And I think the people probably don't see San Antonio always. They probably see it in one way. But there's so much more to San Antonio. There's beautiful parks, there's Fiesta Texas, there's downtown, there's the River Walk, there's there's a few lakes, there's nature parks, and just a lot of culture, a lot of different things to do here. There's always something to do. There's beautiful areas here that have history and historical homes. I, I just there's so much here. I think people don't realize that.

23:13 I guess because sometimes you just look at, you know, a certain area, but there's so much more. So much more. You. One of the things so down on that River Walk one is there's all the, the historic churches from the missions back when the Spaniards and and Texas history, those in itself are beautiful and totally worth going on. Those tours, I discovered. I can't think of the name of it, but there's a theater down there, like Broadway show theater quality. What's the Majestic? That's it, the Majestic. I saw The King and I there.

23:55 Oh, nice. Yeah. Oh, it was amazing. It was amazing. And anyway, they were it was. I was like, there's so much to do in San Antonio proper. And then outside of it, you could really fill up your calendar if you move to San Antonio. There's a lot to do. One of my favorite things is eating. So let's talk about local eats, your favorite restaurant and what's on your top? Top three. Okay. My top three that comes to my mind that I've had I probably want to save recently is.

24:36 I like the Haywire that's here at La Cantera. I had their chicken fajita plate and it was very delicious. I also like. I do a lot of cooking at home, so. But that would probably be my top one. My second and third. Oh, I'm not sure. Do you have any restaurants that you suggest here? Gosh. I guess The County Line. Yeah, The County Line is one of them. Okay. That stands out down on the down on the River Walk, there is the the famous Mexican restaurant there.

25:19 Gosh, you're gonna have to help me out. La Mesa? Is that it? Is it? How did you pronounce it? Oh. Oh, I probably got it wrong. It's been. It's been at least a decade since I've been. So there's so many good Mexican restaurants there. It is, like, authentic. And you're like, oh my gosh, this is amazing. But I you walk in and it's like walking into a traditional Mexico, what you might imagine. And they had, they have a vendors area where you could buy traditional food to take home, like groceries.

26:01 Right. And then the restaurant, I just line out the door, it's down. It's down on the River Walk. Somebody knows it. I'm gonna I'm gonna get a bring up here since we in the podcast and then. Oh, well, that's the way there's a lot of great restaurants, a lot of great restaurants in San Antonio. Let me let me try to save myself from that. Where are you taking people? They call you and say, hey, we're coming to San Antonio. We want to move to San Antonio. What are the destinations you're definitely going to take them to when visiting San Antonio for the first time? For the first time, I would definitely take them to downtown, the River Walk.

26:46 I would definitely take them to the Alamo. I think that is the tower. I love the tower. You also brought up good ones the mission, the missions that are here and the churches. There's beautiful historic churches and homes. I would definitely take them to those areas to show what San Antonio is about. Yeah. So Texas is experiencing a lot of growth. One place to move to and jobs and all of that. What are you seeing in the community that's changing? I'm seeing that that's changing in the community is that, you know, people are looking for they're more price conscious.

27:31 I, I, I suppose they're looking more at the, the numbers now and they're looking at their interest rates. So like before, you know, you, you'd see buyers and they would come and they would just be like you know, whatever, just help me get home. And now people are more looking at numbers and, you know, incentives. And in Texas it's it's growing so much. People are still moving here and it's going to keep growing. And but I think the most important thing is just the growth and keeping it affordable for people.

28:14 Because like I said, that is a big point where people are moving here is for the Ford ability, for the culture, for, you know, community, because Texas is, you know, Texas is Texas. It's supposed to be like, oh, it's big and Texas and it's, country and it's cowboy and it's but yeah, I think a lot that's changing here is that we are growing as a state. In helping, you know, a lot of people, not just a few, but we want to help the people that I feel like Texas tries to help everyone.

28:54 People that move here, people that are not from here. And so I think that's the biggest change I've seen. Yeah. Well it is it is the friendly state. Yeah. You know, for people outside of Texas, if you don't know this, if you're in school in Texas and if you're a teacher or you want to be a teacher, they don't care if you go to if you have a degree or a masters, you have to take Texas history, before you can teach. If you want to graduate, you're getting Texas history and it you know, and it's such it's so rich, so rich. And I don't know of anyone else. They do that, you know, I don't know of any other state that does that.

29:35 Sure. There's somebody but Texas. I'd make the whole country study Texas history. All right, so for you, if real estate wasn't enough, you've decided to pursue your doctorate, too? Yes. Why? I chose to pursue my doctorate because I'm a life I love to learn. I want to keep learning as much as I can. It helped me in my real estate career. It's helped me in communication. It's helped me grow as a person personally and professionally. So I guess I'm a student still. But you know what? I'm probably always going to be a student because I just want to keep learning as I can.

30:20 I think that's just, I don't know, that's me personally. I like to learn. Yeah. So. So what are you studying? Okay, so I'm getting a doctorate in business administration. Okay. Yay! Yes. And it's a lot, a lot, a lot of work. It's a lot of work. A lot of learning, a lot of reading, a lot of writing. But I'm, you know, I'm loving it. It's very. It helps me. It helps me also with real estate because it's helping me, you know, for my business, for my personally. And, but I, I just feel like if you stop learning, you're not living.

31:06 You're just not living. You're not going to live like the the full, fulfilling life that you want to live. And I feel like knowledge is power. That's what I've always thought. Well, and it's definitely going to have huge dividends in your real estate business as your teams grow and and you start building out all the systems, you have to you have to have to actually run a business, any business, but certainly real estate. Good for you. Good for that's exciting. I can't I just I know with having a running a business, a real estate business, running and then pursuing a doctorate, you are you're on fire.

31:48 You're busy. So, yeah. So has your research in pursuing your doctor changed how you look at your clients? It has this class that I'm taking right now has been a lot about. Learning about people's behavior and situations and studying, researching and observe observations and so many different methods of just learning how to research. And I think that it's helped me realize that you have to look at every client very carefully and be a lot more detailed and a lot not to be biased and not to assume, but to really listen to them, what they need and what they're looking for.

32:48 So I'm to try to bring that back to real estate. Is home ownership still achievable for an ordinary working family? Yes it is. It is achievable for a, you know, working family. I know that right now, like the times are not always easy for everybody. And that's just, you know, it's that's for just in general. But it is achievable. There is so many different incentives. There's seller concessions. There's sellers that are motivated to sell that will give you incentives. There's programs that help you with down payments.

33:30 There's programs that Texas has that the city has. There's so many different options. And I think that it's definitely a cheaper. Yeah. On on the lender side, the tools I have to be able to get a, get a buyer to closing. You know, first you know we want to talk about, you know, purchase price and the monthly payment with that can look like. And then the last thing would be the cash close amount. And sometimes that's a heavy lift. Or borrower if they got to put it down earnest money and down payment, they don't know how much down payment they need to put down. So talking them through that, it can be fantastic.

34:12 But then when I tell them there's a an opportunity for the seller to do a concession and actually pay the closing cost, that's when they start to get real excited about the lending side of it, because between you and me and putting that plan together. So whenever you go make an offer and, and to go with the seller's agent, that tends to be a that's an opportunity that can that removes the closing cost. Question. Yes. Make it home. You know, I do a lot of VA loans. I do in in the borrower the veteran or active duty person is oftentimes getting their home with zero cash out of pocket.

35:00 You know, and you know there you know, there's the VA funding fee whether or not they're exempt from that or not. Or I'm writing them a check at closing and they're like, what's that? And I was like, that's the difference. You don't, you know, I'm not. So happy. Yeah. And you know, and that happens and that, that happens in traditional, you know, you know, government backed loans, FHA and conventional, you know, being able to leverage the value of the home, the equity in it and what the seller needs, because you never know as a buyer. You never know what the seller's needs are beyond selling the home. You don't know what their why is.

35:40 And so if they're willing to do that man it's a win-win for everybody. Yeah, it helps them in the long run. All right. So it's some general stuff. Do buyers, when they come to you about buying a home, Do they are they automatically are they in the mindset that they have to bring 20% down? No. I think they don't know. Some assume that they do have to put 20% down. Some assume that, you know, they don't know the programs. They don't know.

36:20 Between loan programs such as conventional, FHA, and VA, they don't know. You know, some just don't know at all. And you have to guide them. It's literally you're just, you know, showing them and trying to help them. And I think that's why the relationship part between Realtors and lenders is so important. Right. So so one of the things I love doing is building what I call clear mortgage plans. And I'll, I will talk to a potential buyer and, and we'll lay out for them, you know, whether it's in 30 days or if it's a year or somewhere in between that timeline of what it's going to take for them to get them mortgage ready.

37:09 Yeah. Are there tips that you have for, let's say, buyers who maybe they need 6 to 12 months to get mortgage ready to clean up a credit score or saves for the down payment or earnest money. Yeah, there is some tips. I think the the biggest tips is to stay in close contact with your Realtor and with the lender. The tip is of course always. Sometimes it you have to be patient and you have to just learn as you go about what you need to do.

37:51 And so I think the biggest thing is just helping them to be patient and to guide them to get into that place where they're ready to buy the home. Yeah. Because sometimes that takes a lot of time. Not everybody I meet, of course, is going to be ready. Right. So I mean, I know I'm in there. And one of the things I'll ask is I'll ask him, you know, if they're renting, oftentimes they are. that they're looking at buying. And I'll find out that their rent for the amount that they're paying in rent, the home that they can buy can be equal to or less.

38:38 And that and then on then I'll start having this conversation. Well, let's talk about equity capture because you're paying your own mortgage. And so, you know, even if your rent, even if it's even a little bit above your rent, you're paying yourself back and getting to show them that difference is, is tends to be a huge win for them, because they can see the long term wealth accumulation, whereas they're renting, they're getting they're getting a roof over their head. But that's it. Yeah. They're not getting nothing out of it. They're just yeah, like you said, they're have a roof over their head. And I think that's another important thing is just helping them realize that home ownership is long term.

39:22 It's not temporary. They're owning their home and they're able to, you know, like you said, build wealth. Yeah. Tell me. All right. So your name is Faith. So I'm going to ask what role does faith play in your life. Well I faith is very important. I believe in having faith. And I love to pray and to like, you know, that's important to me. And so I just believe, like you have to have a strong foundation of what you believe in. Also with your just having morals, high standards and that integrity to like, keep, keep moving in the right direction.

40:08 And so faith is very important to me. It's literally the foundation of my life. I love it. So if you're if you're not watching this, if you're listening to the podcast, we have a guest that showed up. Who? You. Oh my God, that is my hot princess. Yeah, she. He's clearly in charge and love. She's she's. If you can't see this if you go to pop on YouTube. Yeah. Let's get that cat in love with you. So I love it. That's why we do these things. We record and live. Right. And so. Yes. Yeah, that's a good cat.

40:50 Yeah. Well, tell me, do you think you think purpose is something that you find or something that you build? Okay. Purpose is something that you have to build, I believe. But in order to build it, you have to find it. So you do have to find your purpose first. I believe, and so I believe that once you realize your purpose, it's just from there you keep moving forward. And so I guess it is more you have to you know what? It's not fine. It's more you realize your purpose. What do you think? Yeah.

41:32 What's your. Realizing it? Like I gotta say. Okay. Nobody. Nobody wakes up or is born thinking they want to be a mortgage lender. Nobody. You find your way in through it, through life's journey. Yeah. And then you realize it's a calling. Yeah, yeah. And that's I mean my story on that. It's been on other podcast. I'll keep it super, super short but I, I went to I was an Uber driver after I got out of the Army. Didn't know what I wanted to do. So. I need money to work. So I was a driver. I ended up doing that for like three and a half years and it was a lot of fun.

42:16 I met so many meet people. One of my last passengers owned bank and with a very long ride, and when I dropped him off, he lived across the street from Tony Romo. There's a Tony Romo plug. Oh yeah. And he goes deep. He goes, Nate, you got to get hit on your shoulder. You should go get your mortgage license. Come work with me. I'm like what? And that was it. I had no idea how to go learn how to spell mortgage. It's got two G's. There's a there's a T in there anyway. And that's almost seven years now. And and it's so weird. I knew a lot about real estate. Real estate investing. I was big on that and still am. And. But the mortgage, it just never registered to me as a profession.

43:01 And then and there it was. And I jumped at it. And then when I closed my first loan, the excitement there, I knew I was hooked, I was hooked, I mean, what I was doing for that particular family in that moment, I was hooked. So, yeah. Finds it, finds you. We're running out of time. So I'm going to I'm going to fire off rapid fire questions for you just to. This will be fun. Morning workouts or evening workouts? Oh, man. Afternoon.

43:42 Okay. Evening. Okay. Weights or cardio? Oh, cardio. All right. Coffee or an energy drink? Coffee? Coffee. Good. How do you take it? Black? Cream? Got a special way of. Doing it. Black and white. Cream. Cream. All right. Tacos or barbecue? Oh, barbecue. Yeah, yeah. Heels or sneakers? Sneakers. All right. New construction or historic homes? Historic homes. Yeah. All right. City or country? Country. Country. All right. Vacation wise. Beaches or mountains?

44:25 Beaches. Books or podcasts? Books. Books. I won't be offended. All right. Early bird or night owl? Early bird. All right. What's your dream vacation? Let's see. Dream vacation would be. I don't know. Maybe going to somewhere different. Such as? Like Thailand or. What's that other beautiful beach? Tahiti? Yes. Yeah, that's on the list. All right. We've mentioned earlier, but a favorite Texas restaurant, hands down the number one.

45:09 Number one. Favorite Texas restaurant? Oh, man, that's a hard one. I can't think of why. Off the bat. So, any for you? Oh, gosh. Well, my go to default is Texas Roadhouse. But. Oh, I. Do like Texas Roadhouse. I love their roles. Yeah, I just love a good steak. Yeah. That one. Meat, seafood. That's up in Dallas. Anyway, that's a good one. Let's see what's always playing in your car. Let's see. I mostly listen to a few podcasts.

45:51 I listened to some soft country music. Just all types of music. I listened to everything, so I listened to oldies. I listened to classic rock. Everything. Variety. All right. What's the most controversial real estate opinion you have? Oh, controversial. Oh. Let's see, I think that okay, so I probably and I don't I don't know if I should say this, but I, I don't know, maybe I shouldn't say that, but I think that my most it's opinion. Right. Okay. Okay. Just an opinion. Okay. And is that a lot of people look at the interest rates.

46:35 And I feel like the interest rates, they do matter, but I don't think they matter as much as, you know, as people have put on it. But that's just my opinion. Like I said. I second that opinion in yeah, I do, and it's a good lender having a plan for that in the future and understanding that the acquisition of the property is the paramount key thing. Period. Everything else after that, you know, you know, we've all heard the thing date the rate, marry the house, that's all. Yeah, I. 100%.

47:16 We're out of time. So look how how is the best way for somebody to connect with you? The best way is to. They can directly message me, email me, call me. I'm always on my phone. So that is the most best way. All right, I'll put those links wherever you're consuming this. Yeah. Those links will be down below. Last question, Faith. We spend our careers helping people get through the front door. But what do you believe actually turns a house into a home? I think what actually turns a house into a home is, you know, the people that your family, the love, the the peace, the safety.

48:04 And, you know, just having that security that everybody needs and that, you know, having that open where you can feel safe and be yourself, and that's what turns your house into a home is just, you know, making it your own, making it your own home. I love it. Thank you, Faith. Everybody. This has been another episode of Between Two Doors. Faith. Real estate agent, excellent real estate agent down in San Antonio, Texas. If you're looking to buy or sell a home, please reach out to her. And if you want to talk finances and get a clear mortgage plan, I'm Nate Carver, Your Favorite Mortgage Guy, and host of Between Two Doors.

48:51 Look forward to seeing you again. We'll do some more podcasts. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much, Nate. Have a good one.