The Blue Button Broadcast

Hosted by Accunet Mortgage

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Episodes

315

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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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

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.

July 25, 202629 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 7-25-26

The Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show: Rate Hikes, Rock Solid Offers, and a Maternity Leave Curveball Rates ticked up this week thanks to renewed tension in the Strait of Hormuz, so Brian Wickert and Tim Holdmann tackle the question every buyer eventually asks: lock now, or float and hope? Their answer comes down to one simple gut-check question that cuts through the anxiety. From there, Brian shares a live, in-progress deal: a first-time buyer in her 50s, a giant down payment, and a scramble to out-position a big bank’s lackluster pre-approval with an appraisal waiver and a Rock Solid Guaranteed Pre-Approval — all before an open house the next morning. Tim brings the drama with a maternity-leave-to-part-time employment switch that nearly torpedoed a closing, plus an update on the VA buyer navigating a marital settlement agreement deadline to get his offer in before the weekend. Along the way: why “the same big bank downtown” isn’t always the flex your accountant buddy thinks it is, why asking a client the same question twice is a cardinal sin, and why sometimes you just have to move forward without 100% certainty — because houses don’t wait.

July 19, 202632 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 7-19-26

This week, Brian and Tim are breaking down exactly why the Rock Solid Guaranteed Pre-Approval just got a major upgrade—and why sellers are actually excited about it. Plus, hear the wild story of a first-time buyer with just 3% down who crushed it in a competitive market. Spoiler: escalator clauses and strategic appraisal gaps are game-changers. But wait, there’s more. If you’ve got a mortgage already, Tim’s got some seriously smart refinancing moves up his sleeve. From Rate Busters that save you thousands in year one to fixed-rate second mortgages for that dream kitchen remodel—these guys cover the plays that actually work. Whether you’re a first-time buyer tired of losing offers, a homeowner thinking about tapping your equity, or just curious about how the mortgage game really works, this is the show where complex gets simple and boring becomes actually useful.

July 11, 202632 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 7-10-26

Podcast Episode Description: Condos, Down Payments & Getting the Deal Done Join Brian Wickert and David Wickert as they kick off another episode of the Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show with real stories that’ll make you smile—because mortgage lending doesn’t have to be complicated! New Construction Condos Got You Down? Not at Accunet. Brian shares an awesome win: a couple got shut down by a traditional bank on a new construction condo deal, but one phone call to Accunet changed everything. How? The Accunet team knew the rules inside and out, got them approved in two days, and proved that experience beats bureaucracy every single time. The 20% Down Myth? Busted! David walks a successful couple through the math on a $750,000 home purchase. Spoiler: putting 10% down with just $83/month in PMI beats locking up $75,000 when you could use that cash for the inevitable new homeowner air conditioning unit emergencies, home upgrades, or kickstarting your kid’s college fund. Smart money moves beat rigid rules. Selling One Home, Buying Another? No problem! Brian reveals the insider playbook for sequential closings—timing funds transfers, coordinating with title companies, and knowing which banks make wiring money easy. Details matter, and Accunet sweats them so you don’t have to. It’s another jam-packed episode of solutions, laughs, and real expertise.

June 29, 202629 min

Accunet Mortgage & Realty Show 6-28-26

In this episode of the Accunet Mortgage and Realty Show, David Wickert and Tim Holdmann dig into the strategies that help home buyers win in a competitive market—without taking on reckless risk. Tim shares the story of clients who lost five offers in desirable Madison neighborhoods before asking for help. He walks through the three levers that transformed their next offer: modifying the inspection contingency with gap coverage, waiving the appraisal contingency (and why that’s far less scary than buyers assume), and committing to a fast two-week loan commitment. The key insight? Sellers value certainty above almost everything, and a smart buyer helps the seller tell the story they want to tell. David then explains how he quarterbacked a bridge loan for an elderly couple moving from a paid-off family home into a Waukesha County condo—even though Accunet wasn’t doing the long-term financing. From coordinating the bridge lender to looping in the financial advisor, David acted as the “wedding planner” who keeps every piece moving toward an stress-free closing.