January is here and so is the Mortgage Strong Podcast. FirstTrust Home Loans CEO Glenn Strong is joined by his ride-or-die executive team — President Ben Paul, CFO Erika Martens, and COO Michelle Rocha — to recap a record-setting 2025 and talk about what’s ahead.

The team shares big wins across the company, including FirstTrust Home Loans ranking #2 overall in Arkansas mortgage production, year-over-year company growth, and what it takes to keep building as an independent lender. Ben brings the numbers — including more than 3,200 homes closed. Erika dives into the behind-the-scenes work that makes Construction-to-Perm possible and the advocacy work that protects borrowers. And Michelle highlights the operational shifts and teamwork that helped keep turn times strong, averaging just over 21.8 days.

They close with a forward-looking take on 2026: building momentum the right way, using AI to smooth workflows without losing the human touch, and a practical rate outlook heading into spring.

Fall keeps moving and so does the Mortgage Strong Podcast. FirstTrust Home Loans CEO Glenn Strong sits down with Processing Manager Heather Griffin and Underwriting Manager Sam Deen for a behind the scenes conversation about how processing and underwriting work together to get loans to the finish line.

Nearing the end of another record year in a less than perfect market, Glenn, Heather and Sam walk through what a “normal” day really looks like in processing and underwriting (spoiler alert, there is no such thing). They talk about why FirstTrust sticks with consistent teams and how open door communication with sales keeps things moving when the calendar and the pipeline are both packed. They also share how trust, flexibility and a strong culture have shaped their careers and the way their teams work together today.

As this episode drops just after Thanksgiving, Glenn, Heather and Sam wrap up by sharing what they are most grateful for this year at home, inside the FirstTrust family and in the work they get to do helping borrowers into better financial situations and homes of their own.

#MortgageStrong #FirstTrustHomeLoans #MortgageOps #Processing #Underwriting #Thankful

This month, FirstTrust CEO Glenn Strong sits down with two special guests for a timely Halloween episode — our very own Madi Strom, who’s just starting her journey toward homeownership, and her loan officer Hunter Strong. Together, they unpack what can feel like a “scary” process for first-time buyers and prove that, with the right guidance, there’s nothing frightening about financing your first home.

From common fears around credit, work history, and rejection, to understanding pre-approvals, payments, and choosing the right loan type, Glenn and Hunter break down how education and trust turn uncertainty into confidence. Madi shares her firsthand perspective of beginning the homebuying process, while Hunter explains how he approaches every new borrower — not as a sale, but as a partnership built on honest advice and financial understanding.

This episode is a great listen for first-time buyers, realtors, and even seasoned homeowners who want to hear what today’s market feels like from the front lines. Tune in for a conversation that reminds us all: the only thing to fear in the mortgage world… is not getting started.

#MortgageStrong #FirstTrustHomeLoans #FirstTimeBuyer #MortgageEducation #HomeBuyingJourney #MortgageTips #HomeOwnership