Laugh, Lend & Eat

Laugh, Lend & Eat Welcome to Laugh, Lend and Eat, the podcast hosted by Fobby Naghmi and Madison Keenan.

This podcast is all about three things they love - laughing, mortgage lending, and eating good food.

05/17/2026

I’ve been in the mortgage biz since 1994, and I have to say that 2026 has been a very odd year. Some LO’s are killing it, while some are struggling. Where are you at?

04/13/2026

Who says the mortgage industry has to be boring? 🕺💃

Not when you bring Dalila Ramos, Gallant and Lindsey Meyer together for an episode of "Ask Fobby Anything" pure electricity with some world-class dance moves! You're gonna wanna turn the sound on for this clip!
Full episode drops this Wednesday!!!

03/11/2026

The Mortgage Industry Doesn’t Have a Product Problem.
It Has a Trust Problem.

I recently sat down with Kristin Messerli, Executive Director of FirstHome IQ, on Laugh, Lend & Eat, and one statistic from their latest research really stopped me in my tracks:

Only about 20% of consumers trust lenders and Realtors to guide them through buying a home.

Think about that for a moment.

In our industry we spend a lot of time talking about:

• interest rates
• loan products
• guidelines
• affordability challenges

But what if the real challenge isn’t the product…

What if it’s trust?

Kristin shared powerful insights about the growing financial literacy gap, why younger buyers feel overwhelmed by the homebuying process, and why the loan officer of the future may need to look more like a financial educator and trusted guide than a salesperson.

We also discussed an initiative I think is incredibly important right now.

FirstHome IQ is partnering with the Mortgage Bankers Association to bring local loan officers to Washington, D.C. to advocate for housing affordability and sustainable homeownership.

The idea is simple but powerful.

Loan officers talk to homebuyers every day. We see the real barriers people face. And when we bring those real-world experiences to policymakers, we help ensure the voices of our communities are heard at the highest level.

It’s about showing the people we serve that we’re not just closing loans — we’re fighting for the future of homeownership.

Take a minute to watch the short clip below.

If you want to learn more about how loan officers can get involved in the advocacy effort, I’ll drop the link in the comments.

Curious to hear your perspective:

How does our industry rebuild trust with the next generation of homebuyers?

02/16/2026

Would you bring up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to a James Beard Award–winning chef?

Well… Fobby did.

And what happened next?

It wasn’t what we expected.

Instead of brushing it off, Chef JJ Johnson reminded us why food is never just food — it’s memory, identity, and leadership all in one bite.

02/03/2026

Some podcast guests show up ready with talking points.
Some show up serious.
Some tolerate my dad jokes so they can create content.

And then there’s Nick Friedman, president of HomeLight.

Nick came on Laugh, Lend & Eat ready to talk about real issues in today’s housing market—certainty, liquidity, Buy Before You Sell—and somehow also survived:
• panda debates
• rumors of his death
• honey diets
• completely unnecessary tangents
• and whatever else we threw at him

And he rolled with all of it. Like a pro.

That’s usually a good sign of a strong leader—someone who can have fun and deliver substance without losing the thread.

Great conversation, great guest, and a reminder that the best discussions don’t always sound like board meetings.

If you want smart insights with a little chaos mixed in, this episode is worth the watch!

11/25/2025

The Media Loves a Scary Headline… But Here’s the Truth About That “20% Spike in Foreclosures.”

Every few months, we get another round of dramatic foreclosure headlines — and right now, the big one is a 20% year-over-year increase in filings.
Sounds alarming… until you look at the full picture.

Here’s what the data actually shows:

We are nowhere near 2008.
ATTOM and PR Newswire both emphasize that activity is still well below historic highs.

This is more “normalization” than crisis.
After years of artificially low foreclosure activity (pandemic protections, record equity, cheap money), we’re simply returning to baseline.
Sources: HousingWire, CBS News

Risk is not nationwide.
Some states are seeing real increases — others, like the Washington, D.C. metro, actually posted year-over-year declines in foreclosure starts.
Source: ATTOM

The driver isn’t a collapsing market — it’s affordability.
Higher insurance, taxes, utilities, and interest rates are squeezing some households. Adjustable-rate resets are adding more pressure.
That’s math… not a meltdown.

The takeaway?

A 20% rise in filings makes for a great headline — but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
We’re seeing a market adjusting, not unraveling.

If you want more breakdowns that cut through the noise, hit Like & Subscribe to Laugh, Lend & Eat. We’ll continue to provide you with insights without sensationalism.

11/21/2025

Let’s take a vote…would you do an all honey diet to lose weight?

A little Friday humor. Have a great weekend everyone!
06/06/2025

A little Friday humor. Have a great weekend everyone!

A dog and his bone = true love ❤️
09/26/2024

A dog and his bone = true love ❤️

NAMMBA CONNECT 2024 🌞 Orlando, FLI’m thrilled to be on the panel for the breakout session “Building High-Performance Tea...
08/08/2024

NAMMBA CONNECT 2024 🌞 Orlando, FL

I’m thrilled to be on the panel for the breakout session “Building High-Performance Teams: Effective Recruiting Strategies for Mortgage Branch Managers” on Friday, August 23, from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Heidi Iverson, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Mobility Market Intelligence (MMI), will moderate the session.

Joining me are some incredible industry leaders:
🌟Carolina Vergara, VP of Sales at Mpower Home Loans by First Option Mortgage

🌟Gene Frazier, Vice President & Producing Area Manager at Highlands Residential Mortgage

We will explore the strategies and best practices that have helped us build and sustain high-performance teams in the mortgage industry. Whether you’re a mortgage branch manager or looking to enhance your recruiting techniques, this session is for you!

I’m looking forward to sharing insights and learning from my fellow panelists. Let’s connect, collaborate, and elevate our industry together!

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Springfield, VA

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+17034732340

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