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🎙️ The Closing Time Podcast | Featuring Nicole Ward

In this episode of The Closing Time Podcast, we sit down with Nicole Ward, Broker of Real of Ohio, a military veteran, wife, and mother, for a powerful and honest conversation about resilience, growth, and building a career with purpose.

Nicole opens up about her childhood, including being sent to boarding school at a young age, and how those early experiences — followed by her time serving in the military — helped shape the discipline, grit, and mindset she carries today. When asked to describe herself in one word, Nicole doesn’t hesitate: resilient. Her story is one of overcoming challenges, adapting through adversity, and coming out stronger on the other side.

She also speaks candidly about the role her husband has played as her rock — the person who believed in her and encouraged her to take a leap of faith in her career. That leap led her to where she is today, leading Real of Ohio, a brokerage that is growing rapidly and making a strong impact across the state.

From there, Nicole shares real-world real estate advice, including why success in this industry goes far beyond transactions. For her, real estate is about selling yourself — building trust, creating comfort, and forming genuine relationships. People work with people they like, trust, and believe in, and Nicole explains how she brings that mindset into everything she does.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone in real estate, lending, or entrepreneurship — especially those navigating growth, leadership, and life’s challenges while building something meaningful.

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In this episode of The Closing Time Podcast, we sit down with a Loan Originator who made the leap from the traditional banking world to the fast-moving retail lending side — and found a completely new level of freedom, ownership, and opportunity.

We break down what really changes when you move from a bank environment to a retail platform:
• The mindset shift required
• The learning curve of building a business instead of taking whatever walks into a branch
• The surprises—both good and bad—when you lose a steady pipeline and have to create your own
• The wins that come from having real tools, real support, and real control
• How communication, culture, and speed make or break a retail LO’s success

You’ll hear about the challenges of starting over, what it takes to build confidence as a self-generated Loan Officer, and why the retail side isn’t just different—it’s a completely new career if you’re willing to work.

Whether you're a loan officer thinking about making the jump, a leader trying to recruit, or someone who just wants to understand how the business really works behind the scenes, this episode is full of value, perspective, and honest conversation.

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On this episode of The Closing Time Podcast, host Kyle McCort sits down with two experienced loan officers from NFM Lending to tackle one of the most confusing parts of the homebuying process—mortgage myths.

From “you need 20% down” to “you can’t get approved if you have student loans,” there’s no shortage of misinformation out there. Our guests pull back the curtain on the most common myths and FAQs they hear every day, giving you real answers straight from the experts who live it.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a realtor trying to guide your clients, or just curious about how mortgages really work, this episode will leave you better informed, more confident, and ready to separate fact from fiction.

Because when it comes to buying a home, knowledge isn’t just power—it’s the key to unlocking the door to your future.