The Blue Button Broadcast

Hosted by Accunet Mortgage

Business News Daily Education

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Episodes

320

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Welcome to the Blue Button Broadcast, powered by Accunet Mortgage. It is our mission to help you host the holidays at your new house. On this feed you'll hear from the Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show, the Accunet Ambassadors show highlighting special guests, and more. Accunet Mortgage is an equal housing lender. NMLS ID 255368. Ready to find out if you're ready to buy? Get started by clicking on the Blue Button at www.accunet.com!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 11, 202630 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 10-11-26

David opens with a client story about the real trade behind putting sale proceeds into a new home: $50,000 in cash for roughly $300 a month in savings. Brian runs the math, and the answer may surprise you. Brian also shares how a 1% temporary rate buydown could save a first-time buyer in the Twin Cities about $4,000 in year one. Then it's the September numbers for the five-county Milwaukee area. Single-family sales rose 4.5% to 1,320 closings with a $405,000 median price, while condo sales slipped and condo prices jumped 8%. Brian and David also explain why a seller's first two weekends matter so much, and why this may be the best time in a while to be a buyer. Finally, they unpack a lesser-known Fannie Mae guideline that can exclude another mortgage from your debt-to-income ratio, what documentation underwriters want to see, and why a co-borrower, a divorce decree, or a brother's bank statements can make or break the case. Information, stories, and advice from the front lines of home buying, selling, and financing.

October 5, 202632 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 10-4-26

Rates jumped the most in four years, the jobs report missed by a mile, and the mortgage-backed securities chart looked like a roller coaster. In this week's Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show, Brian Wickert and Tim Holdmann break down what's moving the market and what it means for your next move. Brian and Tim unpack the October 2nd headlines from a weak 29,000-job report and explain why "what's your rate?" is only half the question. The real question is what it costs to get that rate. Then Tim shares a real client story: a young couple in Brookfield, an accepted offer, and three options on the table. They could pay $7,100 for a permanent 6.99% rate, take the higher rate with minimal costs, or choose the lender-paid one-year temporary buydown. Tim walks through the break-even math and shows how a seller credit after inspection can be put to work. Brian also explains why a seller concession can beat a price cut in a softening market, and shares a Minnesota purchase where title insurance and mortgage tax cost more than expected. Plus, a story about a no-regrets offer that won, and why advice and access matter as much as rate.

September 28, 202625 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 9-28-26

Rates climbed again this week, and plenty of nervous buyers stepped off to the sidelines. Brian and David argue that's exactly why serious buyers should lean in. Fewer competitors, softer seller expectations, and a market that's cooling just enough to create opportunity. David breaks down the old mortgage maxim that people don't buy houses, they buy payments, and shows how a modest rate bump translates into real purchasing power. They also explain why every house is its own market, from a brand-new listing in Tosa to a pricey Mequon home that's lingered for two months. They unpack what's driving the rate run-up, why the Fed's recent move barely rattled mortgage rates, and what to watch when the PCE inflation reading lands Wednesday, September 30. Then come two client stories from Brian's desk. A northern Wisconsin family hits the brakes on a home equity line and uses a lightning-fast cash-out refinance to land their dream vacation home. And an Illinois buyer with a bruised credit score protects his cash, survives a low appraisal, and closes on his first home. Plus: a "no regrets" offer strategy, FHA financing, and one very questionable crossbow debate.

September 12, 202628 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 9-12-26

A jump in rates this week after a volatile stretch of Iran tensions, rising oil prices, and hotter than expected inflation data (PPI and CPI). Headlines are already framing it as bad news, but David Wickert and Tim Holdman break down why it's actually good news for home shoppers right now. They walk through the real math: on a $300,000 mortgage, the week's rate movement added just $51 to the monthly payment. Not the doom and gloom the clickbait suggests. Tim explains why rising rates thin out the competition, pushing sidelined buyers to pause their search while informed shoppers keep moving forward with less bidding pressure. The conversation also covers a real client case: a move up buyer navigating parental leave income rules while trying to purchase a new home before selling their current one. Tim details how mortgage guidelines treat leave income, what documentation lenders need, and how timing between a return to work and the first mortgage payment can make or break qualification. David and Tim close out making the case for working with a mortgage advisor rather than chasing the lowest advertised rate, and why crafting a strong offer matters just as much as getting approved.

September 6, 202633 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 9-5-26

Brian Wickert and David Wickert of Accunet Mortgage break down two winning offers and what August numbers actually say about the southeastern Wisconsin market. First, after 87 days on market and a recent $50,000 price cut, a home suddenly drew competition, but the buyer’s original plan was to sit tight and see if his offer got accepted. Instead, Brian pulled the parents, the spouse, and the buyer’s agent onto one call. Why an escalator clause is both a good and mediocre tool, how a 15-day close became real leverage, and the surprise appraisal waiver that showed up at the higher price but purposefully got held back until after acceptance. Second, an Illinois buyer using a 401k loan for his down payment and FHA financing that sellers kept passing over. Sometimes though a Buyer meets and matches on a house that the Seller knows is not a fit for everyone. When the appraised value then came in low, Brian explains why continuing to make counteroffers can be handing away all the leverage. Plus: August closings down 5.5 percent while the median price climbed 8.1 percent to $400,000, why days on market predicts seller flexibility better than anything else, the delayed bump clause, and where rates stand today.

August 31, 202631 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 8-30-26

Rates Ticked Up, But Buyers Aren’t Backing Down Commentary coming out of the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole conference send the 10-year Treasury back toward 4.7%, and Brian Wickert and Tim Holdmann break down exactly what that means for today’s mortgage rates, including Accunet’s current no-point, low-point, and rate buster options. Despite headlines claiming buyers are pulling back, the local data says otherwise. Realtor.com’s Market Clock still shows the area as a strong seller’s market, and Kenosha remains one of the hottest housing markets in the country, drawing triple the national average in listing views. Brian and Tim share real client stories from the past week: a Florida-based family using a large IRA balance to satisfy asset requirements without touching the account, a move-up couple weighing a self-employed income calculation and a cosigning brother to boost buying power, and an FHA buyer whose thin down payment finally landed him a gut-renovated starter home after two rejected offers. Plus, why a detailed pre-approval letter (not a vague bank promise) is winning offers in competitive situations, and how the Rock Solid Guaranteed Pre-Approval’s $10,000 seller guarantee is helping buyers stand out. Real stories, real numbers, from the front lines of home buying, selling, and financing.

August 24, 202631 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 8-23-26

No Regrets, No Lull: Real Stories From the Front Lines of Home Buying David Wickert and Tim Holdmann are back with three fresh success stories proving there’s no such thing as a summer slowdown in real estate. First up: a couple who’ve owned their home since the Clinton administration finally catch their dream house after three years of searching — offering 13% over list price to secure a place where their adult son, who lives with them for medical reasons, will be taken care of long after they’re gone. Then Tim shares an update on his Wauwatosa first-time buyer, whose fast-financing, no-appraisal-contingency offer not only won the house but scored her a $3,400 seller credit. Finally, David breaks down a relocating client using a brand-new Freddie Mac asset dissipation rule — dividing assets by 180 months to boost qualifying income without touching retirement accounts. Along the way, David and Tim talk engagement-ring negotiating strategy, the “how bad do you want this house” question every buyer should ask themselves, and why the mortgage industry’s rulebook keeps getting smarter — and more human. Whether you’ve been house hunting for three weeks or three years, this episode is a reminder: the right house, and the right plan, are worth a good plan.

August 16, 202631 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 8-16-26

State Fair Season, No-Regrets Offers, and the New World of Condo Financing David Wickert and Tim Holdmann kick off this episode with some Wisconsin State Fair love before diving into the real estate action heating up despite the calendar turning toward fall. Tim shares the play-by-play of helping a Wauwatosa first-time buyer navigate a multiple-offer situation—walking through the math on escalating an offer, waiving the appraisal contingency strategically, and structuring a lightning-fast financing timeline to win the deal. David follows with a story about buyers who came to Accunet after early hunting elsewhere, and how a “no regrets” offer strategy and Rock Solid Guaranteed Pre-Approval helped them beat out the competition—closing loan commitment in just three business days. The back half tackles a major shift in the mortgage world: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s elimination of “limited review” for condo purchases as of August 6. David and Tim break down what full review means for buyers, HOAs, and real estate agents—covering insurance requirements, reserve fund thresholds, budget scrutiny, and why some condo associations may not be ready for what’s coming. Practical advice, real client stories, and a look at where condo financing is headed next—all from the team at Accunet Mortgage.

August 9, 202633 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 8-8-26

This week on the Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show, hosts Brian Wickert and Tim Holdmann break down why the interest rate you get quoted matters far less than what you actually pay to get it. They walk through real current rate scenarios — comparing a lower rate with hefty discount points against a higher rate with minimal costs — and show how the “cheaper-sounding” rate can actually cost more over time. They also revisit their popular “Rate Buster” buydown option and share a client story of stacking successive one-year rate reductions to keep payments low while waiting for the market to improve. In the market update segment, Brian shares fresh southeastern Wisconsin home sales data, noting June 2026 hit a four-year high for closed sales, with both June and July posting year-over-year price gains — proof the local market remains active even as national headlines suggest otherwise. Finally, Tim shares a cautionary real-world story about buyer agent commissions since the 2024 industry changes, explaining how a mismatch between a buyer’s agency agreement and what a seller agreed to cover almost cost his clients an unexpected $5,000 at closing — and how it got resolved. Practical, numbers-driven insight for anyone buying, selling, or financing a home in southeastern Wisconsin.

August 4, 202633 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 8-3-26

In this episode of the Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show, Brian Wickert and David Wickert explain what the Federal Reserve’s latest decision means for mortgage rates and why long-term rates can still move even when the Fed leaves its short-term rate unchanged. They also share a real-world example of how a stronger pre-approval, an appraisal waiver, verified income and assets, and a fast closing timeline helped a buyer present a more competitive offer. Brian and David discuss Accunet Mortgage’s $10,000 seller guarantee and how thoughtful loan preparation can give both buyers and sellers greater confidence. The conversation also covers options for homeowners who want to buy before selling, including home equity lines of credit, larger down payments, loan recasting, and temporary payment strategies. Finally, David outlines several non-qualified mortgage options. These include asset-depletion loans for borrowers with substantial savings but limited taxable income, alternative documentation for self-employed borrowers, and debt-service-coverage-ratio loans for real estate investors. Throughout the episode, Brian and David focus on practical ways to structure financing around each borrower’s goals, rather than forcing every situation into the same standard mortgage approach. It is a useful overview for homebuyers, homeowners, self-employed borrowers, retirees, and investors planning their next move.